A haunting urban fantasy from a promising new voice
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis
Ghosts that speak in smoke. Spirits with teeth like glass. A parasitic, soul-eating spirit worm has gone into a feeding frenzy, but all the Jong-ro Police Department’s violent crimes unit sees is a string of suicides. Except for Kim Han-gil, Seoul’s only spirit detective. He’s seen this before. He’ll do anything to stop another tragedy from happening, even if that means teaming up with Shin Yoonhae, the man Han-gil believes is responsible for the horrifying aftermath of his mother’s last exorcism.
In their debut novella, Sam Kyung Yoo weaves a tale of mystical proportions that’s part crime-thriller, part urban fantasy.
Sam Kyung Yoo’s debut novella Small Gods of Calamity is a an intriguing urban fantasy that shows flashes of creativity, but is held back by its lack of ambition. While it doesn’t fully capitalise on its potential (yet!), there’s enough here to suggest Yoo is a writer to watch.
The story follows Kim Han-gil, a Seoul detective with the rare ability to sense and interact with spirits. When a spate of apparent suicides hits the city, Han-gil realises something more sinister is at play – a parasitic, soul-devouring spirit is on the loose. To stop it, Han-gil must team up with Shin Yoonhae, a man he blames for a traumatic past incident. This central conflict and uneasy partnership drives much of the narrative.
Yoo’s writing is strong, with vivid, unsettling descriptions of the malicious spirits that haunt the city. The way all the characters perceive these entities differently is a clever approach that adds tactile, sensory elements to the fantasy. For example, Han-gil perceives spirit energy as scents, leading to some memorable vivid literary motifs like the smell of the ocean. The use of senses, and occasionally sense-deprivation, is refreshing and elevates the reader’s experience significantly. There are also some genuinely creepy, atmospheric moments that showcase Yoo’s talent for horror, reminiscent of Junji Ito’s goosebump-inducing tales and illustrations.
The characters, Han-gil and Yoonhae in particular, are pleasingly believable. It’s easy to veer into trope territory, but Yoo gives them interesting and realistic idiosyncrasies, and unique flaws, that make them almost a bit too recognisable. Yoo does a good job making them feel human, even if the dialogue between them can occasionally feel slightly stilted.
Unfortunately, the overall story feels a bit watered down. At just 144 pages, Small Gods of Calamity reads almost like an extended short story. The plot moves along at a brisk clip, with the climactic confrontation happening perhaps a bit too easily. I would have liked to see the narrative have more room to breathe and explore the rich mythology and worldbuilding Yoo has constructed.
Overall, “Small Gods of Calamity” is a promising and enjoyable debut, but doesn’t fully capitalise on its intriguing premise. Yoo’s talent for vivid, atmospheric horror writing is clear, and the main characters are compelling. But the story ultimately feels a bit undercooked, lacking the narrative depth and expansiveness to truly elevate it.
For fans of dark urban fantasy looking for a quick, creepy read, it’s worth checking out. But those seeking a more epic, immersive experience may find it leaves them wanting more. Still, Yoo demonstrates enough potential here to warrant a close eye on future endeavours. I, personally, would love to see a 400 page sequel to Small Gods, complete with other interesting malicious spirits, more complex struggles against them, and a more detailed explanation of where these spirits came from and their purpose.
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Some thoughts from other reviewers
“What I really loved and was really surprised by is how well this story is paced and flows considering it’s incredibly short.”
Kelly
Goodreads
“The characters were interesting and well developed (for the most part) and the level of LGBTQIA+ representation was fantastic.”
Kelsey
Goodreads
“Reading this felt like I was watching a Korean movie or thriller-mystery drama. How the story unfolds, how characters are related to each other, and also some terms [might be] hard for readers to understand if they are not into Korean culture.”
Farwa Khanzada
Goodreads
“The thing is, I was left wanting more – the small thing keeping it from being a five-star read for me.”
Kamilė
Goodreads
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