Robin Ha

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Edelweiss. Trigger warning for violence, including sexual assault and harassment.)

I greatly enjoyed Robin Ha's graphic novel memoir, 2020's ALMOST AMERICAN GIRL, which detailed her abrupt move from Seoul, South Korea, to Huntsville, Alabama, as a teenager - and her subsequent discovery of comic books, which helped her cope with the isolation and loneliness. As much as I was already anticipating THE FOX MAIDENS, I've got to say - Ha show more has really outdone herself. This queer, feminist reimagining of the Korean Fox Maiden story is simply breathtaking.

Kai is the youngest of General Song's three children - even though her mother is his first wife. When Meorhu Kim failed to conceive, Tamjin felt compelled to take a second wife, who bore him two boys, Bisap and Jinho; a happy surprise, Kai arrived several years later. Despite her culture's rigid patriarchal norms, the celebrated General Song - slayer of Gumiho, the Fox Maiden responsible for a veritable killing spree - decides to train Kai alongside her brothers. She first learns, then comes to dominate in Palgwaedan; as a teenager, she even joins her father as a detective in the Royal Legion.

Naturally, this doesn't go over well with everyone: not with Bisap and Jinho, nor their mother, Madam Lee; not with General Song's colleagues; and certainly not with many of the villagers. Rumors of sorcery follow Kai wherever she goes. Even Kai's own mother is dismayed by her daughter's inability to act more "ladylike."

However, when General Song's enemies, the Peacekeepers, orchestrate a coordinated attack on the family, it is Kai and her own mother - who, as it turns out, is a surprisingly deadly archer - who drive the invaders away.

Just as things are looking up for Kai - who, against all odds, is able create the nontraditional sort of life she envisions for herself - her mother's closely held secret threatens to upend everything she's built.

I so very badly want to say more, but so much of the joy is in the discovery!

THE FOX MAIDENS is a magical tale that's epic in scope. Kai, Sura, Meorhu, Tamjin, and Gumiho's stories dovetail in ways that are both tragic and uplifting, enchanting and electric. Meorhu and Gumiho are especially compelling characters, and I wasn't surprised to find myself rooting for the 'villains' and 'monsters' in what is essentially a rape revenge story. The artwork is equally masterful: the fox maidens in particular are bewitching, and the full-page panels at the beginning of each chapter are *chef's kiss* tattoo worthy.

THE FOX MAIDENS is an instant favorite, one of my firsts this year. show less

A feminist and Korean werewolf story of sorts that is set in the 16th century. A teenage girl who is smarter and better at martial arts than her half-brothers helps her father fight off assassins and a nine-tailed fox demon that has stalked her family for decades.

It's a terrific mix of family drama, action and adventure thrills, and grisly horror.

Expressive illustrations and the story is nicely balanced, nothing in her life was presented as all good or all bad which to me is key for feeling like a memoir is truly being honest.

The author affectingly conveyed her loneliness and isolation early on in America. I also liked that the story wasn’t solely about finding her footing in the US, there’s interesting forays into Korean life as well, school, gender roles, beauty standards, etc., and as I mentioned above, I liked that neither show more country is presented as all good or all bad, each has its merits and flaws.

The balanced storytelling and honesty was most apparent and most engaging in the depiction of Chuna/Robin’s mom, the mom’s habit of not including her daughter in big life decisions that affect both of them, her choices in men, its messy stuff and to a large degree culturally dictated, there were moments I resented her on Chuna/Robin’s behalf and still more moments where I felt for this woman. show less

I was drawn in by the story of a 14-year-old South Korean girl suddenly finding herself an immigrant living in Huntsville, Alabama, struggling with English, racism, and bullies. But by the end I was fascinated by the portrait of her mother, a strong-willed and fiercely independent woman who resented the sexism of Korean culture and decided better opportunities for her and her daughter might be found elsewhere.