Description
In a colonized Korea where ancient magic flickers beneath the weight of oppression, two teens from opposite sides of society are drawn into a dangerous hunt for the last tiger—an emblem of a freedom that feels almost mythic. Lee Seung, a servant yearning to break his chains, and Choi Eunji, a noble girl challenging the rules that cage her, begin as uneasy partners in a plot to reshape their fates, only to discover that love can be both a refuge and a battlefield. As loyalties fracture and a charming imperial princeling complicates Eunji’s choices, their bond shifts from begrudging alliance to bitter rivalry—forcing each to confront what they truly owe to their people and to themselves. Blending YA fantasy with a romance that turns friends into enemies and back again, this debut delivers a stirring story of liberation, identity, and the courage to speak for those who have been silenced.
Available Editions
paperback
Penguin Group
Published Jul 29, 2025
417 pages
ISBN: 9798217002047
Reviews
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Community Reviews(1)
okay alright. sure. this was mostly fine, mid at best. eunji was not likable and her redemption was heavy handed, abrupt, but thankfully not well received by everyone which added authenticity to her complicity being unpacked. seung, jin, and even kenzo were just written so much better than eunji that i got bummed out that she fell so flat comparatively. and idk about you but i really don't like the "forgive your oppressors because they're human too" schtick. i do NOT fuck with that. <br/><br/>for concerns that this story is a bastardization or exploitation of the riew grandparents, keep in mind that julia and brad were asked to write specifically a fantasy novel with the flavor of their story—not their story verbatim. however... sorry to grandma riew whose perspective was drastically changed for storytelling purposes and only ended up making a girl i didn't like.
Details
First Published
2025
Language
eng
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for The Last Tiger by Julia Riew.