#the story of gumiho

[sunsuns-babie]

My Roommate is a Gumiho | SMAU+WRITTEN

A/N: Inspired by the Kdrama of the same name starring Lee Hyeri and Jang Kiyong. The plot will loosely follow similar main plot points to that of the Kdrama but with new twists added so you won’t get much of a spoil if you have or haven’t watched the drama!

main pairing(s): choi yeonjun x f!reader x kim sunoo

secondary pairing(s): minor kang taehyun x f!reader and f!reader x choi soobin

summary: To become human a, 999-year old Gumiho (Nine-Tailed-Fox), Choi Yeonjun needs to fill his fox bead with human energy before he turns 1,000-years. One day a college girl, Y/L/N Y/N, accidentally swallows Yeonjun’s fox bead. A Nine-Tailed-Fox bead can live in a human for ONLY one year and after a year is up it will break inside the human who holds it. This means Y/L/N Y/N will die and Choi Yeonjun will lose his chance at becoming human unless they can figure out how to safely get it out without just killing the girl anyway.

gumiho definition 1: A Gumiho/Kumiho or Nine-Tailed-Fox in English is a creature in folktales from East Asia and in legends in Korea. The Korean legend states it can freely transform into a beautiful woman or even a handsome man that will seduce men/women in order to eat their liver or heart.

gumiho definition 2: A Nine-Tailed Fox is a beasts of whom resembles a fox and can transform into an attractive person. In beast form it has four feet and nine tails, with a new tail growing every 100 years. After a millennium (1,000 years) on Earth, the worthy fox may then ascend to the Heavens and join the gods.

characters: choi yeonjun, yu jimin “karina”, han yujin, choi beomgyu, kang taehyun, huening kai, lee chaeryeong, nakamura kazuha, choi soobin, kim minjeong “winter”, lee heeseung, hong seunghan, danielle marsh, lee wonhee, kim sunoo, choi yewon “arin”, and mentions of more

status: coming soon

warnings: profanity, mentions of death & almost deaths, minor violence, allusion to sexual acts

Author’s Note: If you’re a follower of mine that followed me for my other Sunoo focused SMAU “If I Get My Way”, I’m currently reworking the plot and considering re-uploading it after I’ve made the necessary changes. I apologize if you’re waiting for more chapters for that work and are surprised to see this announcement but I promise I’m working on “If I Get My Way” and making it better. It won’t be forgotten because I have a lot of plans for it!

Index!

profiles: da gang 🤪 + yujin, team minjeong + wonhee, the nine-tailed foxes + the mountain spirit

01. It Took You 2 Weeks

02. Beomgyu’s DRUNK-DAZE(D)

03.

taglist (open): if you want to be added to this specific smau’s taglist or the permanent taglist send an ask specifying which one, please!

[alloveydovey]

Hellooooo, dramas from this past month :) I had a lot of fun watching most of these, which hadn't been happening lately.

The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract, 2023 (kdrama) 7.5/8

A woman from the past travels to the future where she meets a man who resembles her deceased husband. In need of a wife, he strikes a contract with her, and blah blah blah, you know what happens next.

The chemistry was there 100%, the comedy too, but overall, I think it was just a mid watch for me. I was three episodes away from finishing but was struggling big time because I was getting bored.

The Romance of Tiger and Rose, 2020 (cdrama) 8

A scriptwriter ends up inside her own creation as a side character who dies early on in the drama and has a really bad reputation.

This was hilarious. Laughing out loud alone type of hilarious. It didn't make any sense at all, and it was extremely silly and sometimes even frustrating, but both actors were so great with the comedy (Zhao Lusi the actress that you are), so everything was just fun and romantic and cute... and weird enough, emotional af as well. I love these types of dramas where, after watching, you kinda feel empty inside lol. Comfort drama material? 100%

My Demon, 2023/24 (kdrama) 8

A demon becomes powerless after crossing paths with a cold heiress (who he obviously knew in their, guess what? Yes, past lives)

Kim Yoo Jung and Song Kang (his character is everything) were so cute in this! Their chemistry was definitely chemistring. I loved the concept and all, but for some reason, I couldn’t put my whole heart into this drama, which resulted in me being a bit disappointed. I’d get bored sometimes. I still don’t know if it’s my problem though. Maybe it wasn't the right time to watch it since I had been watching so many dramas with similar storylines. I’ll give them this, though, these two were truly a comedic duo™️

My Man is Cupid, 2023/24 (kdrama) 8

A love fairy accidentally shoots himself with an arrow and ends up in love with a human, condemning him and his group of cupids to 500 years on Earth. In modern day, he gets entangled with a veterinarian who might be connected to what happened in the past. Also! Murder mystery.

This one just goes to prove that liking a drama is all about vibes for me. Is this different from what I’ve been watching? Nope. It’s not better than the other ones above with similar premises. Yet somehow, unlike the others, it got my attention way more, and I totally binged it. Even when this particular one had some very confusing, probably so-so writing, moments. Granted, it has Nana in it. Nana makes everything worth it (Jang Dong Yoon was cute as well lol).

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, 2010 (kdrama) (rewatch!) 7.5 ⭐️

A cute gumiho saves an irresponsible rich kid who wants to become an action star by giving him her bead. Both of them gotta stick together while he heals.

Like I said back when I first saw this, COMFORT!! And I was in the mood for something silly and sweet after the same themes over and over again. I can't get over how cute Shin Min A and Lee Seung Gi are in this.

Falling Into You, 2022 (cdrama) 9

A student-athlete wants to do high jump but doesn't have the required height for the sport, so a postgraduate student-coach decides to take him under her wing and train him. Noona love story ensues.

So... I have a lot of mixed feelings about it because, all in all, I think this is one of the best cdramas I've watched. It's beautifully shot, the music is incredible, and the pacing, story, characters, and acting are all impeccable. Aside from Meet Yourself (fav ever) it's truly one of the most naturally acted cdramas I've seen so far as well. Even outside the romance part, everything was really good.

Now, was it inappropriate? For me, at least, I think it was. This young student is supposed to be 20, and his coach is said to be about to turn 28. They are both consenting adults (let's put it that way), but the power dynamics thing is still there. Overall, it was a nice surprise, and I completely binged it.

Welcome to Samdal-ri, 2023/24 (kdrama) 9

After a scandal, a famous photographer runs back to her hometown. Her ex, with whom she had an intense fallout (childhood friends to lovers), is there, and it seems like neither of them has moved on. (Also about family, and grief)

From the moment I saw Shin Hye Sun and Ji Chang Wook's pictures next to one another on a tweet saying they were going to be in a new drama together, I knew this was going to be a 10/10 in my books. Maximized joint slay. Add the hometown cha cha cha vibes, and you have an amazing tear-jerker drama. The rest of the cast is a great complement as well; their acting and their stories just make everything really emotional (I cried a lot lol), but it is 100% worth the watch. I'll be honest about one thing, though. As much as I loved it, it took me a while to finish the last two episodes cause I feel like they dragged the story a bit.

Princess Hours/Goong, 2006 (kdrama) 8

In a reimagined modern SK, a girl from an ordinary family gets hitched to the crown prince because of a promise both of their grandparents made in the past. A Diana x Charles x Camilla drama ensues (but like, with a happy ending).

This is what I like to call DRAMA™️. The type you hate everyone's behaviors, and you laugh, and you hate the ML, but you also want him to get with the FL, and you start hate watching, and then you giggle when they share moments and completely forget ML is a really shitty person lol. I started this cause I got sick, and I got way into it. ML being a major asshole and the FL having no self-respect (like the good old dramas and telenovelas) aside, I enjoyed binging this, and I can see why it was so popular. Their romance, though deeply flawed and a product of the time the drama was made, had some great moments, slow burn and natural as well. I was lowkey hoping for a happier ending, tho, but it was cute enough. Also, music bro, that main song is never getting out of my head. Comfort drama material: 100%

Playful Kiss, 2010 (kdrama) 5

FL confesses to ML, and he rejects her harshly. When her house collapses, her father moves them in with an old friend, who ends up being ML's father.

So after Goong, I thought I'd probably be able to watch this. Wrong. Shin's got nothing wrong in comparison so Seung Jo. Seung Jo is probably my most disliked ML ever lol. I binged this, hoping it'd get better, or just like Shin in Goong, he'd change a bit after getting together with FL. But nope, he remained an asshole throughout the whole thing. Gotta love that consistency. Comfort drama material: 1% (I saw the comments on Viki, and I don't know how people rewatched this, lol.)

[its-chelisey-stuff]

i swear i have a long list of kdramas i want to watch that were announced over the past year but, they just don’t seem to air lol

[noona-is-afk]

I’m the queen of never finishing dramas so help me pick which one from my backlog to finally finish this week

[writers-potion]

Fantastical Asian Monsters (Part I)

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram!

I Fly Undead, Gangsi (殭屍)

Nationality: China Form: Human-type Size: 1.5~1.7m

Gangsi first appeared in the late Ming Dynasty, but it was most common during the Qing dynasty. Thus, Gangsis often appear in Qing attire.

When people died in battle, they attached an amulet to the body which helped them to return to their hometown.

if the amulet falls in the middle, they become Gangsi and wander. It is said that the whole body has already hardened and cannot walk like a human, but they can fly / jump around.

When attacked by Gangsi, the attacked person also turns into Gangsi, but if they hold their breath or run over a tree, Gangsi cannot find them.

I’m So Hungry, Go-su-yeo-chil (고수여칠)

Nationality: Korea Form: Human-type Size: 1.6m

It is a monster in the form of a dried-up man.

It has thin bone-like leg with a paper skirt around it, and it is hard to see the upper body. It is said to make an old woman's voice and imitate the voice of a dead family member or relative

They enter a house to eat food, tear window paper, and throw tiles or stones to cause damage.

Will You Marry Me? Gumiho (구미호)

Nationality: Korea/China/Japan Form: Animal-type Size: 1.6m

It is a fox monster with nine tails.

Foxes appear in various countries and are said to have the ability to attract people. Foxes do not have nine tails from birth, andhen they develop a tail every few hundred years and have all nine tails, they become an immortal monster.

Although it is a fox, it can be turned into a beautiful person, and it is said that it gets energy from humans or eats human liver through fox beads.

It is said that people who are deprived of energy may not die if they are lucky, but all people who are deprived of their livers will die.

There is a story that if a Gumiho eats 100 livers, marry a human, and don't get identified for 100 days, a Gumiho will turn human.

Droppings of Doom, Gwicha (鬼車)

Nationality: China Form: Bird-type Size: 1.5~2m

It is a monster in the form of a bird with nine heads. It is also called a 'tune' because it has nine heads on one body. The ear car looks similar to an owl as a whole, but it is said that the nine faces sometimes look similar to the human figure. It is said to be about 3m in size when both wings are unfolded. Blood keeps dripping from one of the nine heads, and if a person gets hit with it, not only the person but also the person

Even Nira's family suffers from misfortune. However, even if your car is not hit by blood, it enters people's homes on its own to spread misfortune or take away people's souls.

It is said that the car is blind during the day, so they usually go around only at night, and at this time, they become blind immediately just by looking at a small fire debt and fall even when they fly. So people say that when a car comes in the middle of the night, they immediately light a candle or make the dog bark and drive it away.

The ultimate oval face, Nopperabo (のっぺらぼう)

Nationality: Japan Form: Human-type Size: 2m

This is a monster with a human face but no eyes, nose, or mouth.

It is said to appear both as a woman and a man, and show his face to a person who stands still and talks to him on a dark night road.

They surprise humans to mak them run away, or surprise customers who come after being in a cart bar or noodle restaurant.

It is said that there are several strands of hair attached to the clothes of a person who meets Nopperabo.

Known as an "egg ghost" in Korea.

Forfeit Your Firstborn! Langda

Nationality: Indonesia Form: Human-type Size: 1.5~1.7m

It is a monster in the form of a human woman, with eyes that are likely to protrude from the red face, a tongue that stretches to the waist, and four tusks protruding out of the mouth, and its head is always loose and worn.

Langda is a wicked creature that preys on infants and uses black magic, with the ability to control low-ranking demons and other monsters, and the ability to freely transform into other creatures. It is said that by swearing at people or spreading diseases, they lose their lives and damage crops. However, they also use magic to heal people's suffering and diseases by whimpering, which is why some areas open Langda

It is said to be worshipped as a god and regarded as the guardian deity of the village.

No Ordinary Leech, Bes Kemwar

Nationality: Malaysia Form: Worm-type Size: 0.1~0.2m

It is a monster in the form of a furry earthworm. Beth Kemwer always bites her tail and curls its body into a round shape.

It eats crops such as rice and vegetables as a staple food, and it is usually hard to see, but in February, it appears near the river.

If a person drinks water from a river containing Baskemwor or from a river where Baskemwor's hair has fallen, the body swells up, hives rise, coughs and even bleeds. If you get treatment early after bleeding, you can recover quickly, but over time, the pain gets worse and you lose your life because you can't eat or drink.

It is said to live mostly at the end of branches, and people who pass by trees near it also develop hives and swell up all over their bodies. The swelling does not go until two or three months later.

Mongolian Death, Olgoi-Khorkhoi

Nationality: Mongol Form: Worm-type Size:0.6~14m

It is a huge, fat worm-shaped monster. It is also called the 'Mongolian Death Will'.

Each individual has a various size, and his whole body has a bright red color. There are several pointed tentacles on one side of his body, not a head. He can't see because he has no eyes, but he has excellent touch and hearing.

Olgoi corcoi only live in the desert and roam freely in the sand, and when a person or camel appears, it appears on the sand, eats and disappears in an instant. It is said that it emits a strong acidic poison a little away from the prey, which melts the prey, and when it feels dangerous, it releases electricity to make the other person electrocute.

Look Me in the Face, Inmyeonsu

Nationality: East Asia Form: Hybrid Size: 0.7~1m

It is a monster in the form of a bird.

Human turkeys have human faces and arms on their bodies, or their entire upper bodies are shaped like humans. They exist all over the world, and they have very different looks and characteristics from time to time and country.

They are considered sacred beings that prevent bad luck for people, and they are also considered ominous beings that eat people and harm villages.

The mere appearance of human turkeys caused natural disasters and wars in the world.

They make beautiful sounds and bless people with their own unique sounds, but as soon as they hear human turkeys, damage may occur and people and livestock may be killed

Living on Your Scent, Gandharva

Nationality: India Form: Human-type Size: 1.7m

A humanoid monster that hunts down scents.

Sometimes called "Gundalba"; or "Shimhyang."

Gandharba is not an individual, but a race, which protects children and the weak from evil. Gandharba was born in water, but he is able to roam freely in the sky and on earth. With a horse tail on his human body, golden wings and birds.

Gandharba eats fragrant scents as their main food, and they always have a scent around them. They are mostly masculine and like beautiful women so much that they sometimes form relationships with humans.

They generally enjoy freewheeling life, but they are said to be extremely jealous.

References:

The monster profiles have been adapted from <동양 문화 속 괴물들의 이야기 괴물도감 (동양편)> written and illustrated by 고고학자(강석민). All image credits in this post goes to 강석민. Translation from Korean to English by me. 

Feel free to ask me questions, if any :)

[mint-yooxgi]

Forever - Yandere!Kitsune!San

Yandere AU & Gumiho AU - First Person POV

Genre: Mature, Smutty Themes, Internal Monologue

Pairing: San X Implied Chubby!Reader

Words: 1,873

Warnings: Possessive thoughts, some smutty thoughts, and minor violent thoughts. This is a Yandere story, it will contain themes such as stalking, violence, obsession, possessive natures, and just general overall creepiness and swearing. You have been warned.

A/n: Oof, so I finally got around to writing this one and I'm honestly really happy with how it turned out!! It's a lot fluffier than I thought it would be, but Sannie is just a very excited boy in this imo. Anyways, as always, Feedback is greatly appreciated! Enjoy!~

The Eighth of The Feral Drabbles

The full moon is bright tonight. The leaves of the forest do nothing to hinder its glow, the light filtering through the branches and dancing across your skin. Yet, you are what truly captivates me.

Your hands are so soft, held delicately in my own. We fit perfectly together, as if you were made for me. A fact of which I know to be unquestionably true, for I am now certain that I have been made for you.

In all of my long years on this earth, I have found no other like you. It is you that has captivated me ever since the moment that we met, and I don’t think I will ever stop loving you. You have claimed my heart in a way I never thought possible, and now, all I want to do is consume you in the same ways that you have consumed me.

It’s nothing malicious, I promise. I could never hurt you. I would rather cut off my own tails than so much as bring you any ounce of pain. Besides, I wouldn’t be holding true to the promises I just made you this evening, now, would I?

There’s more than one reason why I asked you to meet me tonight. The moon was only one of them. I wanted it to set the scene - to be the unmistakable backdrop to the start of our forever together.

I had to have you. I love you. I need you, and I think it only fair that I tell you this.

You’ve always known what I am. You’ve known from the very first moment that we met. I honestly don’t think I could have hid it from you even if I tried. You’re very perceptive that way. A fact of which only made me fall for you harder.

You never feared me. In fact, you welcomed what I am with open arms. I can still remember your curiosities that came spilling out of your mouth when we first met, and even now, I don’t think I will ever grow tired of them.

I could never grow tired of you.

I have guarded this mountain for as long as I can remember, and now, it shall be ours. This will be our path that songs are written about; our love that legends get told of. Nothing, no one, will ever change that. I’ll ensure of it, even if it’s the last thing I ever do.

Gently, leaves fall all around us. Their vibrant colours of red, orange, and yellow only serve to make this moment all the more special. After all, this time of year is important for my kind. It’s when we choose our life mates, if we ever find someone worthy to be called that.

I most certainly have.

I found you.

Courting you hasn’t been easy. I am, unfortunately, bound to this mountain, so I could never go and visit you like I constantly wanted. I always had to wait for you to come see me. Being away from you is like suffering from a severe drought without being able to ever quench my thirst no matter how much water I drink. Without you in my life, I am empty; I am lost.

I’m pretty sure I made a fool of myself more often than not whenever you finally came to see me, but waiting for you to show up each time drove me to the very brink of insanity. So, really, you can’t blame me for all of the times I tripped over myself as soon as I sensed you cross the boarders of my land. Besides, seeing you smile - hearing you laugh - and all because of me made me- makes me happy beyond belief.

I knew I had to have you, to make you mine. I can’t live without you.

You- you complete me.

Every time I saw your face I would immediately become overjoyed. I could barely keep my heart from racing, just as it does now as I lead you back to our home.

Our home.

It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

I won’t lie to you, My Precious, I have desperately been waiting for the day where you finally come to live with me. I have been fantasizing about it for too long. I’ve always wanted to curl up next to you in bed, pulling you in closer as I wrap you in my tender embrace. I want to cook for you, and watch your face light up like it always does when I bring you special treats meant only for you. I want to hold you while we gaze at the stars, of which could never compare to your beauty.

More than all of that, I want to love you unconditionally. I want to be the first thing you see when you wake up, and the last thing you know before you sleep. I want to kiss you breathless, and wrap you up in my tails when you’re cold. 

Fuck- speaking of my tails, I want to hold you close as we make love, wrapping one or two around your waist as we cling onto each other desperately. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get enough of you, and I hope you can say the same for me.

I’m not blind, I’ve seen the way you look at me. I know I can make you shy. Heck, just the other day you started stuttering when I was showering you in praise! You looked so cute trying to hide your face behind your hands. Really, all I wanted to do was take you into my arms and kiss you, but you weren’t mine yet.

If I’m going to court you, then I’m going to do it properly.

And I did.

Now, I don’t have to worry about holding myself back! I can hold your hand whenever I want. I can shower you in all of my affections like you’ve always deserved! I can kiss you, and hug you, and hold you close like I’ve always dreamed. More than all of that though, I can reassure you of my never ending love for you until the end of time. Those doubts and insecurities will have no place in your mind any longer. Not while I’m around to quell them.

Of course, I will always make sure to do everything with your consent! I’m not a monster. At least, not to you.

I can’t promise I’ll be able to stay as calm as I usually am with you if anyone were to try and take you away from me. Anyone that dares to hurt you, cheat you, steal your heart from me, or anything of that sort will know the true wrath of the mountain spirit that guards that which is most precious to him.

In case you’re wondering, that’s you. You are the most precious thing to me in this world. That’s why you’re My Precious!

Oh, how I cannot wait to fall asleep beside you tonight! I’ll do my best to control myself, but you seriously have no idea what you do to me. Simply being this close with you, and knowing you fancy me, too, is making my head spin. Already, my thoughts are consumed with absolutely ravishing you when we get home, and completing every mating ritual I know of to solidify that bond between us.

Maybe I should stop holding your hand…

No.

Impossible.

I don’t think I could tear my touch away from yours, even if I tried. You’re mine now, and I’m yours. Feeling your fingers intertwined with mine only solidifies that.

Though, it’s certainly not helping my wandering thoughts…

This is what it will feel like holding onto your hand as I make love to you. This is what your warmth will feel like radiating against my own as our bodies intertwine in the most intimate of ways.

It only makes me even more desperate for that which has still yet to come…

I want to serve you, My Precious, and I want to make sure I do it right. Too many nights have been spent living in my fantasies of all that I want to do to you - all that I want to do with you. Nights exactly like this.

Oh, I know it’s still quite early in our relationship - we only just agreed to live together - but I can’t help it! I have spent countless hours thinking about all of the different ways I will claim you, and everything in between.

If I’m being honest, I desperately want to do so beneath the light of the full moon on my sacred grounds near the summit of my mountain. It’s a place only I can get to, and now that you’re with me, only you are allowed to set foot upon such a sacred part of my territory. I can just picture how your skin will glow, just as it is now, beneath the uninterrupted radiance of the moon. 

Your back will arch upon my alter as I lose myself between your thighs. Lips, tongue, fingers, cock: all of me belongs to you. I live to serve you, and I can think of no better place to do so than on my most holiest of spaces.

I worship you, and I will spend the rest of our lives proving just that.

Oh, please, Precious, won’t you let me get lost in you? All I want is to feel your body pressing against mine. I want to feel your thighs trembling around my head as I give you yet another earth shattering orgasm. I need to feel your juices dripping down my chin as an offering to the ecstasy I’ve provided for you. I want to feel you pull me closer, your nails scratching into the skin of my back as your legs squeeze around my waist. I so desperately want to feel you brush a delicate hand over my tails- hell- all over my body.

I know from the way you stare at me that you want this, too.

You’re not subtle in the least, Precious. I’ve seen you admiring me when you think I’m not looking.

Do you also think about what it would feel like for my arms to wrap themselves around you as I roll my hips so sensually into yours? Do you long to run your fingers through my hair, only to grip it tight to pull me in closer to you? I bet you’ve longed to know what I’m capable of, if I’m truly capable of pleasing you as your lover should, just as I have, haven’t you?

Don’t worry, Precious, even if it takes time, I promise to learn every little detail about what makes your body sing. I promise to please you in every way I know how: physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. I want to see your soul come alight with me, for you have already begun to make my own shine.

I promise you’ll never have to worry about anything again.

Everything that I am belongs to you. For now, though, let’s take it one day at a time.

For now, let’s start with tonight.

The start of our forever.

[redgoldsparks]

January 2024 reading and Reviews by Maia Kobabe

I post my reviews throughout the month on Storygraph and Goodreads, and do roundups here and on patreon. Reviews below the cut.

Electric Bones volume 1 by Hazel and Bell 

Lucian is the son of a minor nobleman and the CEO of the galaxy's biggest AI company, but he's not so rich that he can't get in trouble. After being fired as a programmer from Echo Station he joined a startup with a couple friends and is now fishing for funding at an elite tech expo on board an expensive and exclusive space vessel. There he sees someone he thinks he recognizes- Ezra, a grey robot, an fully sentient AI who worked on Echo Station as a researcher and partially cost Lucian his job. So why is Ezra now working on the space vessel as an escort? Unless it's not Ezra, but just a look-alike robot model? These questions drag Lucian into the beginnings of tangled web of intrigue which include kidnapping, AI-hacking, and murder. I've been reading this story online as a webcomic for years; you can still read all of volume one here: https://electricbonescomic.com/index.... But last year I also backed the kickstarter, and just sat down to re-read the whole story in print form, including a sexy little bonus comic. I love these characters, I love the rich colors, the lovely sense of flow and design of the pages. I can't wait for volume two!

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha

Action packed and exciting, this family drama is full of unexpected twists and turns. I loved the focus on female characters: passionate Kai, whose love of martial arts and sense of justice cannot be contained by the normal rules of Joseon society; her mother, Meorhu, a fragile woman with a surprising past; Sura, a thief turned mercenary; and the Gumiho herself, the deadly but alluring fox spirit who impacts the lives of all the others with her magic and charisma. The art is rich with historical details, beautiful nature scenes, and fast paced fight scenes. Lovers of ghost stories, kdramas, and queer re-tellings of fairy tales will find much to enjoy here. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of this book! Pre-order it now, or look for it in bookstores in mid-February 2024.

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles read by Martyn Swain

What a delightful return to Romney marsh! This book picks up 13 years after the dramatic conclusion of the previous installment. Luke Doomsday is now a secretary, looking for a new position in a large house were he can keep books and solve his master's problems. Rufus, the recently minted Earl of Oxney, formerly a major in the army and son of a draper, has problems. For one, he never expected to inherit and his uncle is doing everything he can to prove Rufus illegitimate in court. For another, the previous Earl of Oxney was a selfish old bastard who let the estates fall into terrible disrepair, while Rufus' timid cousin kept poor account of the estate's money in a chicken scratch handwriting. Rufus struggles to read at the best of times, and he can barely make sense of his newly inherited account books. When Luke shows up on his door, it feels like a godsend. The men are immediately attracted to each other, though both have reason to be wary. And Luke, in seems, may have come to Stone Manor looking for more than a job. This series is such a fun mix of spicy romance, action, mystery, and danger. I'm really enjoying the setting and time period, which is just after the end of the Napoleonic wars. I really hope there will be more books to come!

Translation State by Ann Leckie

No one is doing it like Ann Leckie! This sci-fi novel uses six different pronoun sets (actually kind of seven, except one is the same set just used culturally very differently by different groups of people). It’s fantastic. We’ve got they/them, e/em/eir, sie/hir, it/its, he/him, she/her, and she/her again except used as a universal pronoun regardless of gender (which works great inside the Radch Empire and badly outside of it). I'm on the fence about whether this book can be read as a stand alone, or if it would only really make sense after having read at the Imperial Radch trilogy and Providence. I suppose it depends on what level of baffling alien customs and politics you are willing to tolerate. This book opens with Enae attending hir grandmaman's funeral, only to learn that the seemingly wealthy old woman had sold her entire estate to a stranger before her death. For the first time in her life, Enae leaves home with a Foreign Affairs job: to see out a fugitive who left Presger space some 200 years prior. Enae isn't expecting to succeed, but sie gives it hir best shot- and in doing so completely upends the lives of a widening circle of bystanders including Reet, a man of unknown parentage, and Qven, a juvenile Presger. This book finally begins to explain this inhuman and terrifying species, and the reason why the Presger-Radachii Treaty defines the rules of so much of this universe. I deeply enjoyed this installment; it makes me want to go back and re-read the original trilogy.

Brooms by Jasmine Walls and Teo Duvall 

Set in an alternate 1930s, Mississippi, this story follows a group of friends and found family who have to hide their magic from the restrictive and racist government. They survive at the margins, but they don't let the fear of prosecution stop them from doing what they love: racing together as a team. Deep in the woods seers and witches host carnival like events where racers on brooms compete for prize money and glory. Each of them has reasons why they need to win; lives and futures depend on it. This book is deeply queer with a diverse and magical cast. If you're looking for historical fiction where the trans and lesbian brown witches win, this one's for you.

Boys Weekend by Mattie Lubchansky

Sammie is a recently out nonbinary transfemm but their college friend group has not picked up on that fact yet. When Sammie is invited to be the "best man" at their friend Adam's wedding and attend a bachelor weekend at a high-tech, no-laws resort built on top of the Pacific Garbage Patch they decide to go in stealth mode. The resort is a pyramid scheme mutated with a strip club, business conference, all you can drink brunch bar, pro-gamer, most-dangerous-game corporate nightmare. Also, the waters around it are infested with terrifying flesh-eating monsters and someone is trying to raise an eldritch god. It takes every bit of queer resistance Sammie possesses to survive this bleak, hilarious, and surprisingly moving tale. In both their fiction and nonfiction comics, Lubchansky continues to hold up the black mirror to our own dystopian times.

Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa 

A very queer high school rom-com comic with a satisfying message about growing into yourself and seeing others truly for who they are. It opens with a love triangle, but subverts that form into a more complicated shape by the end of the tale. Strong character designs and very effective limited color palette.

The Moth Keeper by K. O’Neill 

In a desert village, a group of folks choose to live a nocturnal life to keep the moon company, and to care for a small group of magical moths, the only creatures who can pollinate a magical tree which helps sustain the whole ecosystem. One youngster, Anya, volunteers for the important but lonely job of Moth Keeper. She yearns to be of service to others, and feels she must earn her place in the village. In reality, help and friendship are only an ask away, and in this space everyone is cared for. This is a very beautifully illustrated and brief tale of responsibility, community, and resilience.

Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls

What an accomplishment! I savored every page of Feeding Ghosts, absolutely floored by the labor and courage that went into the writing of this book. The inking is gorgeous, the history is clear, digestible, and devastating. This book threads the line between honesty and compassion in a way that I appreciate so much in any memoir, but especially one dealing with family. Hulls lays out the story of three generations of women starting with her grandmother, Sun Yi, a Shanghai journalist who faced intense persecution during the rise of Communism in China, who penned a popular and scandalous memoir and then suffered a mental breakdown. This left her only daughter, Rose, a student at an elite boarding school with no parental figures and no other family to lean on. Eventually Rose earned a scholarship to an American university and in the end moved her mother into her California home. Sun Yi haunted that home during the author's own childhood. The unexamined trauma and codependency of Sun Yi and Rose drove the author to the extreme edges of the Earth, seeking freedom from their ghosts. But in the end, she stopped running from her family history and turned, instead, to face it. Shelve this book with Maus, Fun Home, Persepolis and The Best We Could Do.

I Keep My Exoskeletons To Myself by Marisa Crane read by Bailey Carr 

I really struggled with this book. I almost DNFed at 25%. Ultimately, I did finish it, and I am glad I did because I think the final act was my favorite part of the story. However, I think the title and cover set me up with expectations of what this book would be which were very different than what the book actually delivered. This is not science fiction- despite the fact it was nominated in the science fiction category in the Goodreads Choice Awards. It is only barely speculative. This is a book about grief, depression, and parenting a baby and then a young child as a single mom struggling with loss and borderline alcoholism. There were passages of the book which struck hard, individual observations and lines which rang like bells. There is also nearly no plot and I was frustrated by the lack of world building. I wanted to know more about the laws governing extra shadows- were Shadesters allowed to vote, hold passports, travel across state lines? Had anyone experimented with the removal of Shadows? When and how did cameras get installed in apparently every home in American, and how did the government hire and pay for a workforce of seemingly 1:1 surveillance agents to citizens? Also, how on earth did Kris manage to pay for a whole apartment on a single salary working a call center job, especially when as a Shadester she had to pay extra taxes? I understand that this is literary fiction, and these questions are obviously not the ones the book was interested in answering. But it felt strange to me that a book so focused on parenting would not include a single passage about struggling to pay for or arrange childcare. The "pop quizzes" that break up the text did not work well in audio, and did not add anything to my experience of this book. Ultimately, I would only recommend this novel to a vary narrow audience of readers who enjoy lit fic, and are willing to spend a lot of time in the POV of a character teetering on the edge of a mental breakdown through much of the story.

Atana and The Firebird by Vivian Zhou

Atana is a mermaid, but she was banished from her home to live alone on island for a reason she doesn't understand. One night a curious young firebird leaves her flock in space to come down and visit Earth, and she convinces Atana to go an adventure. They are soon pursed by magic hunters, but they also make friends, and end up as invited guests in the Witch Queen's palace. She makes them welcome in her massive library and gardens, but she also has ulterior motives. This is a fast paced story of magic, friendship, and young people slowly learning about the forces larger than themselves that shape their world and their lives. I really enjoyed the art, it has a very active, energetic line which serves the action scenes particularly well. I can tell the author came from an animation background! I am glad that the ending set up potential future installments in this world.

Portrait of a Body by Julie Delporte  

I really loved the colored pencil illustrations of this book, especially the botanical drawings, and the kind of abstract relation of the text and images. I thought the drawings paired extremely well with the hand lettering even if at times I struggled with some of the cursive capitals. This is a candid memoir of recovering from sexual assault and a dysfunctional relationship to ones body and sexuality, of stepping into queerness and self-acceptance. I couldn't really relate to the author's journey, but I appreciated the honestly and thoughtfulness with which the more challenging themes were handled.

Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb read by Nick Taylor 

This book, and this series, has earned Robin Hobb a permanent place in my list of favorite authors. This story goes so hard, weaving together threads that are 9 volumes and 30 plus years of in-story history in the making. The final confrontations, reunions, and farewells at the end of this story were hard earned and so well written. This very much felt like it could have been a final volume of the Realm of Elderlings series, but I know that there are 7 more books to come and I can't wait to see what else this series has in store for me!

System Collapse by Martha Wells read by Kevin R Free 

This book picks up right after the end of the previous volume and I had, unfortunately, completely forgotten most of the previous plot. Once I got myself oriented I still had a great time with it. Wow, I just love watching Murderbot learn and grow and solve problems in unique and interesting ways! I kind of want to go back and re-listen to the whole series.

The Chromatic Fantasy by H.A. 

This comic blew me away. One of the most beautiful, strange, artistically ambitious and deeply trans books I've read in a while. Aesthetically, its as rich as a stained glass window or illuminated manuscript. Its narrative is psychedelic but emotionally it rings so tender and true. The story opens with Jules, a transman trapped in a nunnery who accepts a deal with a devil who promises to help him live as a man. Possessed and impervious to physical harm, Jules turns to a life of debauchery and crime. Then he meets another trans criminal, the poetic thief and thespian Casper, and they begin to fall for each other. They see each other as no one else ever has, they validate and treasure one another, but Jules' devil is a jealous master. The devil would rather see Jules burn than thrive. This is one of those books that made me want to draw, made me want to write, made me want to be bolder, weirder, freer, wilder in my story telling. An instant favorite, I expect I'll return to this over and over.

Mall Goth by Kate Leth

Liv's parents are on the verge of divorce; they've just moved to a new town and Liv will be starting at a new high school. At her last school, Liv was bullied for being openly queer and an unapologetic mall goth, and she is understandably hesitant to accept friendship overtures at the new school. However, a supportive male English teacher and a fellow goth gamer boy start to make Liv feel welcome. The goth introduces her to an MMORPG and the English teacher praises her essays and gives her Lolita. Both of them start regularly DMing Liv late into the night, more than is appropriate for the relationships they have. This book is in large part about a teen navigating confusing advances and how and when to disclose things that make her uncomfortable but feel hard to speak about or define. I thought that aspect of the story was handled very well. Some of the pacing in the friendship plot lines surrounding it felt a bit rushed, a few sections underdeveloped, but ultimately I think this book tackled an important issue not often seen in YA comics. It is also steeped in early 2000s Hot Topic/emo music/pop culture references- if you were there, you'll know.

What’s Wrong? Personal Histories of Chronic Pain and Bad Medicine by Erin Williams 

Williams illuminates, through memoir, interviews, and mixed media illustrations the extreme failures of the US healthcare system to address chronic pain. These failures are especially common for patients of color, patients who struggle with addictions, patients who are queer or survivors of assault and trauma. If you had any illusions that the systems of medical care are working in this country, shed them now. This book is half cathartic, half infuriating to read. I really appreciated the honesty and vulnerability of the interviewees and the trans and nonbinary inclusiveness of the language surrounding pain tied to the reproductive system.

[captain-mj]

Your körangi gumiho story gives me life. Would you be willing to write more for it? 😳

Of course! Direct continuation of this post

Also someone said König gave off yandere vibes and I decided to lean into that.

~~~~

König held the now the still heart in his hand out to Horangi. “Hungry?”

Horangi stared at him for a moment but König didn’t waver. Slowly, achingly, he slipped his mask off, along with his sunglasses. His eyes. Chips of the night sky fitted to him. Along his face were scars, clearly made by a person with the intent to harm. Carved cruelly into him. König thought he was the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

Stunningly beautiful. König wanted to map out those constellations. The stars that spanned through his eyes. He wanted to learn to paint just so he could capture that beautiful face on paper. 

Horangi stepped forward, but he didn’t take it from his hands. He leaned down and bit into the chunk of flesh König held. His teeth tore through it like butter and blood smeared across his face. 

König stared at him, caught like a traveler seeing a will-o-wisp. Damnation surrounded Horangi and König wanted to walk straight into it. Horangi held König’s wrist gently, eating from his hand. It sent sparks through him, a desperate thrum that wanted more. He remembered the ears under the helmet and wondered if they were twitching now. 

His tongue darted out to lick at some of the blood that was pooling and starting to drip from his hand. It felt rough, a bit like a cat, probably meant to rip flesh off of bone. 

“Horangi.” It wasn’t a question, or a comment, just a soft speaking of his name. Horangi looked up at him, eyes fluttering just a little. 

“Would my blood taste as sweet?” König mumbled softly and that caught Horangi’s attention. His eyes flicked over König’s throat then to his chest. 

“Sweeter.” He sounded a bit strained. “It’s not smart to push your luck like that, ya know. I’m not one of the vampires from those novels you read.” 

König blushed. “You know too much about me. I know nothing about you.” He shuddered as his tongue swiped over more of the blood. “It’s unfair.” What game were they playing? König wasn’t sure, he just knew he wanted to play until he lost. 

“You like playing with fire. I expect nothing else from you.” Horangi finished eating and then licked König’s hands clean. He watched König‘s eyes carefully, wishing he didn’t have the hood.

König leaned down and moved as if to kiss him before also realizing the problem of the hood as well. They stared at each other. 

“König,” Horangi said very gently, “come to my room tonight, if you want to know more. We can’t stay here for much longer.”

“Understood.” König reached up and gently wiped the blood off of his face. Horangi let him before fixing his mask and pulling away. The mission went smoothly and both of them fell into the normal rhythm of fighting side by side. 

Like a moth to flame, ready to burn its wings, he found himself heading to Horangi’s room. He didn’t even wait until night, just as soon as they were allowed to leave the debrief. His entire body thrummed at the idea to see more. Horangi’s ears, the tails that had made his head hurt when he first saw them. The idea of seeing Horangi undressed passed through his mind and he almost tripped. He doubted he would. Horangi satisfying his curiosity and Horangi... satisfying him in other ways were very different. 

König entered the room, Horangi sitting on his bed already. Helmet off. 

The ears. 

König wanted so badly to pet them. He sat across from him. 

“So. What do you want to know?”

“What are you?”

“Gumiho. Or Kumiho.” Horangi hummed. “Ever heard of a kitsune?”

“Yes. Nine tailed fox.”

“Precisely.” There they were. Now that they were in a well lit room, König could see them a little better. “We’re counterparts to each other. I’m a little more... vicious I guess you can say. Eat people’s hearts out. Literally.” Horangi smiled with all of his teeth, eyes narrowing. He was trying to scare him. 

Didn’t work.

König nodded. “I can see where the legends of them being unearthly beautiful came from.”

Horangi stared, startled. “Do you have no survival instinct? I’m a monster that eats people’s fucking hearts. Sometimes their livers.”

“I ripped someone’s heart out for you.” König pointed out. “And I know you won’t hurt me. You would’ve done it while I was hurt. You fixed me.”

“König. I...” Horangi shook his head. “You’re... You’re not foolish. Why are you acting like this? Trusting that I’ll ignore my instincts to tear you in half?”

König hummed. “I deal with death every day. Being killed by you... It’s not the worst way to go. And I trust you wouldn’t.”

“Nevermind. Maybe you are foolish.” Horangi said softly but he didn’t move away as König moved closer. “Remove your hood.”

“Why?”

“It’s only fair.” 

König removed his mask, feeling the air on his face like a cold hand. Horangi stared at him before leaning in, kissing him again. Instead of before when it felt almost clinical, far too fast to be enjoyed, this was slow, König taking the lead this time. He kissed back, pulling Horangi in closer until he was slotted in his lap. His hands eventually settled on his hips, holding him in König’s lap. 

“Alright. I’ll let you in.” Horangi whispered against him. “I’ll still kill everyone here if I have to though.”

“It won’t come to that. I promise.” 

[buldakdrama]

5 Fantasy K-Drama to take you on a trip to Fantasia

K-dramas have always been the biggest and best escape for us fans. After a long and tiring day at work or school, all we want is to melt down into the couch and watch our comfort Kdramas for the ultimate healing. This comfort may add up with some thrill and excitement and take the overall experience on a different level when the theme of the drama deals with fantasy.

Just imagine, a bowl full of snacks and a magical mystical drama to make you forget about all the struggles about the day - exciting, isn’t it? 

This is what brings us here today to write about the 5 fantasy K-dramas that will leave you wailing for more. So, let's get into the list, 

1. Goblin - The lonely and great god (2016)

When the talk is about fantasy k-dramas, there is no way Goblin - the lonely and great god can be missed!  This 2016 drama is undoubtedly one of the exemplary ones in kdrama history. It tells the story of a military general Kim Shin, played by Gong Yoo, who is framed and killed as a traitor. He, however, becomes an immortal Goblin because of the curse he receives from the almighty. The only person to help break his curse is Goblin’s Bride, played by Kim Go Eun as Ji Eun Tak. This drama also features Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na in two very interesting roles. The storyline progresses as the Goblin meets Ji Eun Tak and falls in love on the way to seek his respite from his immortal life. Ji Eun Tak also accepts magical changes in her life brought by the Goblin. This drama is a perfect inclusion in your list if you fancy supernatural boyfriends. Moreover, the magical elements, such as seeing ghosts, opening doors to different places, flying cutlery, summoning Goblin with a blown-out candle etc., can work as the perfect distraction of the heavy angst hidden behind. All in all, this drama certainly has the potential to become one of your most favorite dramas of all time and that is why you should give it a try if you have not yet. 

2. Hotel Del Luna (2019)

Till this date Hotel Del Luna is one of the most unique dramas to be ever made. From the plot to the characterization, everything is unmatched. This 2019 fantasy drama deals with the story of a supernatural hotel, where the souls of deceased people come and rest for a few days before they carry on their journey towards their next life. Hotel Del Luna is run by Jung Man Wol, played by IU, who is bound to this hotel in a neither alive nor dead state due to the sins she committed in her lifetime. The only way Jung Man Wol can break free is by seeing off the very last guest of the hotel. However, for that she needs some assistance and that is provided by the hotel’s new manager Koo Chan Sung, played by Yoo Jin Goo. The story unfolds one by one as Man Wol and Chan Sung solve various issues associated with the guests of the hotel, gradually seeing off the staff Man Wol has worked closely with. This magical theme of the drama goes hand in hand with the philosophical development. Man Wol and Chan Sung duo sometimes fight evil spirits with magical powers and sometimes they root for helping out their ghost guests with their (freshly-ended) life conflicts as they keep on entertaining the viewers without a single boring episode. Hotel Del Luna not only brings a magical refreshment but also enriches the viewers with some crucial life lessons in a very philosophical way. And that is what makes it a must watch for you.

3. Tale of the Nine tailed (2020)

Are you interested in Korean folklore? And do you enjoy horror? If yes, then Tale of the Nine Tailed is the right drama for you. This 2020 drama tells of a tale associated with a Gumiho, nine tailed fox and his immortal journey to find his first love’s reincarnated version in 2020. Lee Yeon, played by Lee Dong Wook, is a nine tailed fox who gave up his mountain spirit position to find his first love, A Eum, again. A Eum is now reincarnated as Nam Ji Ah, played by Jo Bo Ah, who comes across Lee Yeon while looking for her lost parents. The story progresses when Lee Rang, Lee Yeon’s brother (played by Kim Bum), wakes up the imoogi in order to take revenge on his brother. Imoogi, played by Lee Tae Ri, is the main villain of the story and makes the drama more and more intriguing. The drama is sometimes bone-chilling, sometimes packed with action and sometimes deals with loneliness of the characters’ lives. Again, if you are a fan of the supernatural boyfriend trope then you are bound to enjoy Tale of the Nine tailed.

4. The King: Eternal Monarch (2019)

Fantasy mixed with royalty, that too in modern context? Perfect, isn’t it? Yes, that is what you get from The King: Eternal Monarch. The story of this 2019 drama sets in place when the King of Kingdom of Corea, Lee Gon, played by Lee Min Ho, finds a door that leads him to a parallel world, and he lands in Republic of Korea. There he comes across Lieutenant Jung Tae Eul, played by Kim Go Eun, someone he already knew but never got to see before. They fall in love as the story progresses but start to face several complications as two different worlds start mixing up with each other due to the villain’s advances. The fantasia of this drama lies in the magical power of a royal flute, which can open doors to several different versions of the universe, can delay death and age, can change, stop and help in traveling through time. The drama is a perfect example of a rom-com with a magical backdrop, a perfect choice when you need something light-hearted yet thrilling to enjoy.

5. The Sound of Magic (2022)

“Annarasumanara” – the sound of magic, is the most realistic fantasy drama to be included in the list. This 2022 drama represents a perfect picturization of struggles and survivals. The story deals with the life of a young, intelligent yet poor schoolgirl Yoon Ah Yi, played by Choi Sung Eun. She fights for her survival each day as she tries to pay off her father’s debt while paying for her and her sister’s school fees all alone. By the turn of events, she meets Ri Eul, played by Ji Chang Wook, who is a magician sheltered in an abandoned amusement park. Ri Eul brings a wave of magic and happiness in the tough life of Yoon Ah Yi and soon they get another companion, Na Il Deung. Na Il Deung, played by Hwang In Youp, is Yoon Ah Yi’s classmate and the top student, who is immensely burdened with his parents’ expectations. Both of them try to find a respite from their real life struggles with the help of Ri Eul’s magic. With only 6 episodes this drama can make you cry and smile at the same time. The character of Ri Eul is so mysterious yet so touching that it will leave you wanting for more, especially because of the twist in the end.

So, this is our list of 5 fantasy Kdramas that will take you on a trip to fantasia. Nevertheless, Doom at your service, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, Moon Lovers: Scarlet heart, My Love From The Star etc. are some of the standard recommendations that you can go with without any hesitation.

-- Admin Nika

[mantizimus]

Hello! Could I request HCs of Ahri and Yasuo from League of Legends with a [Reader] [Gender Neutral] who’s a Shinigami like from the Bleach franchise? I thought these characters would make sense since Ahri is connected to the supernatural/spiritual stuff as a Gumiho and Yasuo + [Reader] can train together with their styles of swordsmanship.

League of Legends request? They exist? What a surprise...

Shinigami S/O

Ahri

Very intrigued by your abilities.

Hoping you're not mad at her for devouring all those souls.

Flirts with you quite often.

Expect her to try to copy your abilities.

Ahri is a rather inquisitive person, so don’t be surprised by a bunch of questions about the Soul Society.

Often asks you to control her so that she doesn't eat another soul.

Loves to hear stories about your battles.

Sometimes wonders what Hollows taste like.

Yasuo

This guy is very curious about where you learned to wield a sword.

You will definitely become his teacher.

From time to time he thinks about whether his brother could get into Soul Society.

Sometimes wonders if he will be able to master abilities such as Shunpo or Kido.

Yasuo often talks to you about his past.

Dreams of one day fighting with the Hollows.

You often exchange stories about the battles you have been involved in.

[zheniakirsikkalove]

Interview with Lee Dong Wook for GQ (11/2020)

During his interview, the actor spoke about wrapping up filming for his latest drama “Tale of the Nine-Tailed.” His character Lee Yeon is a male gumiho (a mythical nine-tailed fox) and a former mountain spirit.

Lee Dong Wook shared, “He’s cool. He’s also very talented. However, I think his heart is much cooler than his physical appearance. This can sound cheesy but a regular personality cannot become a mountain spirit. I think of him as a character with a strong inner self.”

In a previous interview, Lee Dong Wook had explained that rather than specifically preparing for his role in “Hell is Other People,” he acted more on the spot. He talked about using this method again while filming “Tale of the Nine-Tailed,” commenting, “Thankfully, the director gave me the green light. I was able to freely act with regards to the setup of the situation, the details, and the lines. Actually, about a third of my lines were improvised.”

Lee Dong Wook continued, “This was the same for ‘Goblin‘ but I believe that the core of fantasy is the extent of your freedom in the world that the writer has created. It’s not like you can interview monsters or a gumiho so there’s not a lot that you can prepare. You just have to freely let it flow it on set.”

The interviewer mentioned a comment that Lee Dong Wook frequently makes about how being an actor is a career where one needs to be selected and needs to receive recognition. Adding that Lee Dong Wook does not seem to ever have been lacking either, they asked what he thinks is the most important factor in “being selected.”

Lee Dong Wook answered, “You obviously have to be good at acting and being diligent is important. People ask how I’ve worked for 21 years straight without resting but I just worked hard when people sought me out. Now I believe people view me and think, ‘Lee Dong Wook doesn’t take shortcuts.'”

As he’s acted in many fantasy works, Lee Dong Wook was asked what kind of fantasy world he typically dreams about. He revealed, “One of my fantasies is being the frontman of a global rock band. I am so jealous of people who can sing well. I also get curious how it would feel to radiate sexiness while singing on stage.”

He continued, “I also have these fantasies. To become a famous athlete and put on a big celebration after scoring a goal or throwing my bat after hitting a home run. One day, I’ll play one of these roles.” Lee Dong Wook then jokingly added, “Oh, I can’t. If I were an athlete, I’d be at the age where I have to retire.”

Bouncing off his dream of becoming a musician, Lee Dong Wook also talked about his favorite songs of the year. He shared, “These days I’ve been really into DAY6. I especially like the song ‘You Were Beautiful.’ When I hear the lyrics ‘You were beautiful, your eyes that looked at me, your voice that called out to me,’ I think about the heartwarming story between Lee Yeon and Ji Ah.”

source

[hyunbunlix]

Killing Strangers [SKZ x John Wick AU]

Series Summary: Three up-and-coming hitmen—Yang Jeong In (“The Gumiho”), Hwang Hyun Jin (“Hwang”), and Felix Lee (“The Smiler”)—find themselves in contact with the shadowy info broker “Blackbox,” though whether they’re on her good side or not is in a constant state of flux. Despite the potentially devastating consequences, not all ties in life are easily severed. As the three men find themselves stuck in her orbit, they’ll have to decide whether they’ll give in to the pull, or do whatever it takes to break free from the gravity.

Main Characters: Jeongin, Hyunjin, Felix, older fem!OC (Blackbox)

Side Characters: rest of SKZ, OCs as needed, cameos and mentions from the John Wick franchise

General content warnings/tags: age-gap romance (older woman/younger men), reverse harem/polyamory, absurd amounts of unprotected sex, taboo sexual situations, violence & murder, Felix starts out as an antagonist, everyone is hot and at least bi-curious

What IS present in this series: polyamorous relationship dynamics, explicit sexual content, copious amounts of angst, morally grey people doing questionable-to-terrible things, many references to the world of John Wick

What ISN’T present in this series: cheating, SA, relationship jealousy, relationship infighting

Notes: This series is structured like most modern romance/erotica series, in that every part can be read and understood as a standalone. Greater context will be achieved by reading all the parts in order, but if you’re just here for sexytimes with your member of choice, feel free to jump around! Each part is labeled according to the focus of the sexual content, though Jeongin, Hyunjin, and Felix are all important to the story as a whole.

Parts:

0. Warden [Hyunjin]

1. Paragon [Jeongin]

2. Affirmation [Hyunjin]

3. Renegade [Felix]

4. Solace [Jeongin]

5. Penance [HyunIn]

6. Reinstatement [Hyunjin]

7. Ceasefire [Felix]

8. Alignment [Jeongin]

8.5. TBA [Felix]

9. TBA [Hyunjin]

10. TBA [HyunLix]

11. TBA [Jeongin]

12. TBA [HyunLix]

13. TBA [Felix]

[winter-dayz]

Fictober 2023

winter-dayz

A collection of oneshots for Fictober 2023.

Not every story is a romantic pairing. In some oneshots, the reader/main character is a villain; in some, the idol character is a villain. Please be aware that many are heavily horror or angst-themed.

READ ALL WARNINGS AND TAGS IN EACH ONESHOT.

Taglist:  @soobin-chois

Kim Jisoo: It's only a dream... College AU; Nightmare on Elm Street AU Genre: Horror

Lee Hoseok: Freedom or the Kindness of Death Hybrid AU; Shapeshifter AU Genre: Horror

Lalisa Manobal: Eternal Love Vampire AU Genre: Angst, Fluff, Horror, Smut

Mark Tuan: A Polite Haunting Ghost AU Genre: Horror

Jeon Jungkook: His Treasure Dragon AU Genre: Horror; Smut

Lee Jooheon: Anything Goes The Purge AU Genre: Smut

Felix Lee: So naive... Fairy AU Genre: Angst; Horror (if you squint)

Kim Seungmin: Lonely St. Grim Reaper AU; Soulmate AU Genre: Angst; Fluff

Min Yoongi: Betrayed Gumiho AU; Korean Mythology AU Genre: Angst; Fluff; Horror

Choi Yeonjun: Old Wives' Tales Werewolf AU Genre: Fluff

Shin Yuna: Bringer of Death Mummy AU; Inspired by The Mummy (1999) Genre: Angst; Fluff

Kim Namjoon: Reclamation Dryad AU; Greek Mythology AU Genre: Fluff; Horror

Park Jimin: Movie Marathon Scary Movie Night Genre: Fluff

Kang Taehyun: Only silence remains Shadow People AU Genre: Horror

Lim Jaebeom: I Can't Lose You Deadly Games AU; Inspired by Squid Game & Alice in Borderland Genre: Angst; Horror

Choi Beomgyu: Field of Daisies Dokkaebi AU; Korean Mythology AU Genre: Fluff

Jung Hoseok: Avra K'davra Golem AU Genre: Angst; Fluff

Kim Yugyeom: Guardian Demon AU Genre: Fluff

Lee Chaeryeong: First Serial Killer AU Genre: Horror

Yang Jeongin: The Walls The Boy AU; Inspired by The Boy (2016) Genre: Fluff

Shin Ryujin: For the Best Alien AU; Yandere Genre: Fluff; Horror

Kim Taehyung: Capable Android AU Genre: Smut

Han Jisung: The Ring Ghost AU; Possession AU Genre: Fluff

Lee Minhyuk: Promise Haunted House Genre: Fluff

Lee Minho: Left Behind Friday the 13th AU Genre: Angst (with a happy ending); Horror (if you squint); Smut

Kim Jennie: Catch 'em, kill 'em Amityville Horror AU Genre: Horror; Smut

Yoo Kihyun: Luring Siren AU Genre: Fluff; Horror (if you squint)

Choi Youngjae: Consequences of a Spellbook Magic AU; Witchcraft AU Genre: Angst

Hwang Hyunjin: Bound to You Cerberus AU; Goddess AU; Greek Mythology AU Genre: Fluff; Smut

Choi Soobin: Every side of the story Greek Mythology AU; Gorgon AU Genre: Fluff

BamBam: Best Halloween Ever Halloween Party; Non-Idol AU Genre: Fluff

[librarycomic]

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha. Balzer + Bray, 2024. 9780062685124. 314pp. https://www.powells.com/book/-9780062685124?partnerid=34778&p_bt

Ha's first fictional graphic novel, a historical fantasy set in Joseon-era Korea, follows her Cook Korean! graphic cookbook and Almost American Girl, her graphic memoir. The memoir shows Ha's love of Korean fantasy manhwa, so the subject of this book isn't a huge surprise, but this one makes the variety of her comics work truly impressive.

At the center of this tale is the gumiho, a nine-tailed fox with magical powers associated with seductive and evil women. General Song is famed for having killed gumiho. He has three children by two wives, and he teaches martial arts not only to his sons but also to his daughter, Kai. Because she's a better fighter than both her brothers everyone says she's gumiho's daughter. She's also clearly someone we can root for, as evidenced when she stands up for a poor young girl being beaten as a suspected thief early in the book.

Unfortunately for Kai, the rumors are kind of true, as she finds out when she gets her first period and starts to turn into a fox. Her mother takes her away to the mountains where Kai meets gumiho, who survived her conflict with Kai's father. Gumiho teaches Kai what she must do to hide her fox-nature and continue to live in the world of men.

The whole story is super bloody (though not as much on the page as in the reader's mind), and it turns into a murder mystery toward the end with Kai helping her father investigate a series of murders while trying to make sure he doesn't discover the culprit. A romantic ending ties up the story; it's a bit melodramatic, but Ha makes it work. And I can't wait to read whatever comics Ha creates next.

[richincolor]

Book Review: The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha

Publisher’s Summary: Kai Song dreams of being a warrior. She wants to follow in the footsteps of her beloved father, the commander of the Royal Legion. But while her father believes in Kai and trains her in martial arts, their society isn’t ready for a girl warrior.

Still, Kai is determined. But she is plagued by rumors that she is the granddaughter of Gumiho, the infamous nine-tailed fox demon who was killed by her father years before.

Everything comes crashing down the day Kai learns the deadly secret about her mother’s past. Now she must come to terms with the truth about her identity and take her destiny into her own hands. As Kai desperately searches for a way to escape her fate, she comes to find compassion, and even love, in the most unexpected places.

Set in sixteenth-century Korea and richly infused with Korean folklore, THE FOX MAIDENS is a timeless and powerful story about fighting for your place in the world, even when it seems impossible.

My Thoughts: Kai is a character that readers will not soon forget. It’s not just that she crosses paths with Gumiho, though that plays a part. Beyond that, it’s Kai’s persistence and belief in herself that is remarkable. The rules of the society are strict when it comes to class and gender and Kai has to fight against a lot, but she refuses to back down.

Before the story begins, the author provides background information about Gumiho. There is also an overview of the societal roles which have an effect on everything that follows. Throughout there is plenty of action, stealthy creatures that hunt, multiple violent deaths and a lot of other things going on, but readers can’t help but constantly notice how pervasive the gender and class structures are in this time and place. Women–poor women especially–have very few options. While this is a grim truth, it’s not the only truth. Kai and other women do sometimes find ways to work around or through the system to get what they need or want.

There is a young woman who has noticed Kai and it is interesting to watch that unfold. The love interest is not the main part of the story for a majority of the book, but becomes increasingly important over time. I would have liked there to be a little more attention to developing the relationship because it feels a little abrupt, but it’s still a nice element of the story.

Along with an intriguing storyline and relationships both familial and romantic, the illustrations are gorgeous. The design is striking and the colors are used very effectively. When scenes are in the present timeline during the day, the five traditional Korean colors are generally used–red, blue, yellow, white, and black. A slightly brownish monochrome is used for scenes that take place in the past and sometimes a single pop of color is included in a panel or two. The night scenes are usually grays and blacks with one or two accent colors. This helps the reader easily transition from one scene to another. The chapter divisions kind of break this pattern. They may have colors beyond the traditional palette and generally have a softer, more romantic look to them.

The book is a feast for the eyes and the storytelling both through text and images is compelling. I can tell I will be reading and re-reading this one many times.

Recommendation: Get it soon especially if you enjoy historical K-dramas, Gumiho, and/or thrillers with a dash of love. Check out the peek inside below to get a taste of the story and art.

Extras:

Peek inside the book at Epic Reads (first 17 pages)

Book Trailer on Instagram

Robin Ha shares her drawing process, talks about her first two graphic novels and then shares a brief bit about THE FOX MAIDENS in this video.

Publisher: Balzer & Bray Pages: 320 Review copy: Digital ARC & final copy via publisher Availability: On sale February 13, 2024

[dramadramallama]

Ep 11 - Talk about being dramatic... My god, relax, this is a goofy cute love story! What's with the abrupt tone switch? I need my shaman girl to slap some sense into bo-gyeom a little faster. Or his gumiho henchman. Anyone at this point.

The writing failed to make me care about that past life love story, I was over it 2 episodes ago. You're telling me this godly being had 500 years to take a chill pill and maybe try to find his own lost love (she's right there, reincarnated, and he keeps ignoring it??? Hello?) but he continues to act pissy in the most over the top way. He needs to take up a new hobby asap.