Synopsis:
After the destruction of her entire Talon gang, eighteen-year-old Shin Lina―the Reaper of Sunpo―is forced to become a living, breathing weapon for the kingdom’s most-feared crime lord. All that keeps her from turning on her ruthless master is the life of her beloved little sister hanging in the balance. But the order to steal a priceless tapestry from a Dokkaebi temple incites not only the wrath of a legendary immortal, but the beginning of an unwinnable game…
Suddenly Lina finds herself in the dreamlike realm of the Dokkaebi, her fate in the hands of its cruel and captivating emperor. But she can win her life―if she kills him first.
Now a terrible game of life and death has begun, and even Lina’s swift, precise blade is no match for the magnetic Haneul Rui. Lina will have to use every weapon in her arsenal if she wants to outplay this cunning king and save her sister…all before the final grain of sand leaks out of the hourglass.
Because one way or another, she’ll take Rui’s heart.
Even if it means giving up her own.
Publication Date: September 27th, 2022
My Rating:
My Favourite Quote:
A bitter taste floods my mouth. I cannot imagine what it is like, to live peacefully, in such splendour, that one chooses to manufacture danger.
My Review
A big shout out to Entangled Publishing for hosting a read-along and providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Entangled hosts a read-along you can safely presume I’m going to sign up, no matter what’s happening. Even if it’s my wedding in four days (it’s not) and those four days require me to be reading and participating in the discussion, I’ll be there. They’re honestly one of the best experiences I’ve had thus far and I cannot recommend it enough. If you’re interested, please think about joining! The discussion questions are so thoughtful and I enjoy them just a smidge more than the reading even when the book is fantastic (and Last of the Talons was!). It’s like a lovely little prize at the end of every allotted set of chapters! I get to spam messages about what I think. Also there are giveaway prizes! Honestly it’s a win-win-win. And no, I was not asked to promote it, I’m just here spreading the love.
When I read the blurb of Last of the Talons I knew I had to read this book. Also to me, the girl on the cover looked so much like Han So-hee so I gleefully imagine her as Shin Lina nearly the whole time. Or whenever I remembered. Anyway, that being said, I think Last of the Talons has one of the more heartbreaking narratives I’ve read. The tone of the book—set by the voice of the FMC whose perspective the book runs in—has a hardened, bleak, gritty perspective to it. It reads a little like (tonally, speaking) K. S. Villoso’s The Wolf of Oren-Yaro. There’s an undercurrent of hopelessness, but the character brings in a lot of their sheer will that has the power to change their circumstance.
As mentioned earlier, the book reads in a single first person POV over the span of forty eight chapters. Shin Lina is a reliable, steady, intelligent and honest narrator. The emotions she drags out are a consequence of our empathy to her situation. She never tries to convince you of her feelings/decisions, she states things as they are and you’re drawn in by her honestly and plight. The writing that’s strongly intertwined with the voice of the FMC, is as strong willed as its main character. It never bends, yields or takes any prisoners. The author promises a reading experience that’s rich culturally and I love that it was delivered. I loved all the mentions of anything part of the Korean culture and folklore and seeing it brought so much familiarity (from all the Korean content I’ve engaged in over the years), I loved it!
The world building for me was nearly perfect. I’ve watched and engaged in so much content related to Korean folklore that it was just a reiteration of what I already knew. The rest of the world building was linked to the FMC’s situational set up which was just as beautifully done. The author takes us on an interesting journey of Shin Lina’s mind, emotions, present and past at the perfect moments, dragging us in slowly and hooking us til the end. I was with the author every second of the book and never struggled with anyone/anything.
In my opinion, the plot we see in this book is just a part of the whole. I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again, why? ‘Cos I can. After being a reader for the majority of my 29 years of living, I’ve fairly come to understand/predict which direction the story will bend and where we are likely heading. I expected some parts of the book but the others I was blindsided by! I love when an author can do that to a seasoned reader (yes, it is myself I speaketh of 💅). There’s one primary plot which gives way to many sub plots that explore the worlds of both the MMC and the FMC.
I loved every interaction between the main characters in Last of the Talons. The ebb and flow of their connection from the very moment they meet to the last page was emotionally satisfying, thrilling and you’re waiting to see what’s coming next. They have the strangest graph—in a good way. They go from strangers-to-enemies-to-areweloversarewenot-to-reluctant-allies-to-friends. Maybe. It’s not so easy to break it down though, I’m simplifying it. *waves green flag* Love relationships with immense green flag potential!
The pace was fantastic, it never lets up and keeps us glued to the pages. The chapters are all short, ranging between 1 to 9 minute reads (based on my reading speed). They’re to the point and pack a punch. Just perfect 🤌🏻✨.
Five stars! There’s so much emotion in this read that I didn’t expect to feel. There’s so much story in these pages. Last of the Talons will always hold a special place in my heart. Check trigger warnings! The second book has released so you won’t be left bereft once you’re done with this baby!
Heart's Content 