YA Korean Mythology

 Last of the Talons by Sophie Kim

This was spectacular. I enjoyed every minute. I love a book steeped in mythology and if I get to learn about a new culture, or a new aspect of a culture, all the better! Lina is not just a teenage assassin, she is THE teenage assassin. She is the Reaper. She is also a thief. She is sent to an abandoned temple to steal a tapestry. But this pisses off the Pied Piper so he kidnaps her boss thinking this will upset her and she will come to him. Only, she hates her gang boss and her only concern is getting to her little sister. But, the Pied Piper takes her to his realm and gives her a bargain: she has 14 days to kill him or at the end of those days he will kill her. She agrees. Her first attempts is unsuccessful and he gives her kitchen duty. Then, he takes her on a dinner date and tells her some of his backstory. They are falling for each other, but she is fighting it. I LOVE ENEMIES TO LOVERS! She finds the resistance and joins them thinking it will help her with her goal to kill him. But, the leader of the resistance catches them kissing and tries to kill her. She makes it back to the palace, barely, and the healer is able to save her. Then we get a WHO DID THIS TO YOU! Once she wakes up he calls off the bet and they work together to end the resistance. It works, mostly because she now has the power to turn part of her body into a snake. He gets her sister and brings her to his realm to protect her then he agrees to let her old gang boss go and make him think that she's dead so she can get her revenge, which is book 2.  This sets up book 2 beautifully and I can't wait to read it!