The Last Tiger
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3.6 • 5 Ratings
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Inspired by true stories from the authors’ grandparents’ lives during one of the darkest periods in Korean history, The Last Tiger is a debut young adult fantasy novel about the power of love to give voice to a broken people.
In a colonized land where tigers are being hunted to extinction and ancient magic stirs, two star-crossed teens—Lee Seung, a servant yearning for freedom, and Choi Eunji, a noble girl defying tradition—join forces to try and reshape their respective fates.
But their relationship evolves from begrudging accomplices to bitter adversaries as they soon find themselves on opposite sides of a battle over the last tiger, a symbol of their people’s lost freedom and key to the liberation of their country. As the ties between Seung and Eunji are complicated by their conflicting loyalties, tensions rise—especially when a charming princeling of the empire begins to rival for Eunji's affection.
In this friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story of forbidden romance, antagonists turned allies, oppression and liberation, neither Seung nor Eunji can abandon their mission—or each other. And as they embark on separate quests to find the elusive creature, each must also find the power within themselves to make their own destiny.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Sibling debut authors Brad and Julia Riew weave Korean folklore and history with intimate familial recollections in this magic-infused tale of star-crossed teens fighting for their forbidden love. Both Lee Seung and Choi Eunji yearn for freedom: Seung from his duties serving the noble Chois, and Eunji from her family's grandiose yet restrictive lifestyle in the Dragon Empire. Following the teens' chance encounter, they strike a deal: Eunji will tutor Seung, who harbors a desire to master ancient ki magic, in preparation for the Adachi Training Academy entrance exam, while Seung will keep Eunji's unchaperoned outings a secret (and help her improve her escape techniques). Their rendezvous foster a budding romance until a tiger—a symbol of the Tiger Colonies thought extinct by the colonizing Dragon Empire—suddenly appears. Soon, Seung and Eunji find themselves on opposite sides of a cultural divide, their love further complicated by the arrival of a charming princeling suitor vying for Eunji's affection. This grounded fantasy, inspired by the authors' grandparents' love story, incorporates excerpts of correspondence from their grandmother and grandfather. Expansive worldbuilding draws on historical tensions during Japan's occupation of Korea; authors' notes provide additional context. Ages 12–up.
Customer Reviews
Captivating and enthralling!
The Last Tiger was such an enrapturing retelling of this part of history, with the ki-filled (magical) twist. As someone who has been fascinated with all aspects of Asian histories and cultures, I very much enjoyed all aspects of this novel. The plot twists in the story were delectable and whet my appetite for more so that this book was impossible to put down. I also thought it was well planned to have the anecdotes and quotes from the authors’ grandparents throughout the book. It was endearing to see and a great way to ground the reader into the history in the real world. After finishing this novel, I may continue to think about Seung, Eun Ji, Kenzo, and Jin and continue to carry them in my heart. I would love to one day read more from this sibling author team.