KPop Demon Hunters hit Netflix in August, and nobody was prepared for how it would take the world by storm. One of the songs from the film, “Golden,” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the soundtrack became the first to have four simultaneous top-10 hits on the Hot 100. And if you've been outside this Halloween season, you'll have noticed every child was dressed as either Rumi, Mira, or Zoey.
The film is a love letter to Korean culture, diving not only into interesting Korean folklore, but into the global phenomenon of KPop music. Even for those who have yet to be swept away by the KPop fanaticism will enjoy the gripping fantastical elements of this animated film. Not to mention, of course, the enemies to lovers romance budding between Rumi and Jinu.
While we know there's a sequel to this mega-hit movie currently in development, we also know that when you love something this much it can be hard to wait. So to fill the void in your chest, here are eight books like Kpop Demon Hunters you can read tonight!
The God and the Gumiho
Kim Hani was infamously known as the Scarlet Fox, a Gumiho (a creature from Korean folklore described as a nine-tailed fox with shapeshifting abilities) that devoured souls. But after getting too full, she retired from that life. She lives simply now—or as simply as she can—working in a coffee shop and pestering an annoyingly handsome trickster god.
Seokha the Fallen has been exiled from the heavenly kingdom of Okhwang. Now he is stuck in the mortal realm seeking redemption, all while suffering through conversations with an irritating yet charming barista.
When a powerful demons escapes the underworld, all of humanity is at risk. The emperor of Okhwang offers Seokga a deal: slay the demon and the elusive Scarlet Fox, and be reinstated as a god.
Hani isn't going to let Seokga uncover her secret identity, let alone kill her. So she has a scheme of her own up her sleeve. She'll team up with the trickster to help him vanquish the demon, but she will undermine his investigation into the Scarlet Fox.
But as these new partners bicker through a long string of mayhem, they find themselves undeniably drawn to one another. As unlikely as this couple may be, they may be the only ones who can save the world—unless their secrets tear them apart.
A Crane Among Wolves
Joseon, 1506. Under King Yeonsan's tyrannical rule, the people suffer endlessly with no way to stop him from taking their land for recreational use, burning books, and capturing and abusing women and girls.
Though the kingdom has been steeped in cruelty, 17-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered and privileged life. But when Suyeon, her older sister, becomes the king's next plaything, Iseul leaves the peace of her village to travel to the capital to get her back. Unfortunately, she quickly learns that challenging the king's power means to stare certain death in the face.
Meanwhile, Prince Daehyun has lived in his despicable half-brother's dark shadow his whole life. As King Yeonsan revels in violence, Daehyun wants nothing more than to dethrone him for good. But he'll need help to stage this dangerous coup, and he cannot risk trusting anyone.
When Iseul and Daehyun cross paths, they immediately despise each other. But they both hate the king even more.
Collaborating with Iseul's family connections and Daehyun's royal privileges, they hesitantly join forces to risk everything to free the people and bring a tyrant to his knees.
The Omen Girl
Born cursed, Sozo is marked with what's called an Omen stain. She has lived her life hiding, reviled as a monster. But she has decided to stop running.
All alone since her parents abandoned her, Sozo lives on the streets. She makes it through by using her special ability, the power to conceal her curse. This unusual talent was taught to her by an enigmatic mentor, Esp, in order to infiltrate and compete in the legendary challenge known as the Decade Race of Stars.
This is a deadly race that offers a prize too good to resist: one wish for absolutely anything. Esp wants the wish to use it to reshape the world, so Sozo convinces her that the danger is all worth it. However, keeping her stain and her monstrous side hidden becomes more and more difficult with each challenge. And everything gets confusing once she meets Naqi, who provides her with a kindness and friendship she has never known.
Sozo begins to have doubts as she fights her way through the race. Should she give up everything to give the wish to Esp, even if it could end up hurting Naqi?
Only a Monster
Joan has just learned the terrible truth that her entire family is made up of monsters with terrifying secret powers. Now she has but one rule to follow: Never let anyone know what she is, or that monsters even exist.
To make matters even more difficult, it turns out the cute boy at work isn't just any boy. He's a legendary monster slayer who will stop at nothing to end her family.
In order to save both herself and her family, Joan must embrace her monstrous side. After all, she's not the hero of this story…
Burn the Dark
Punk YouTuber Robin has gone viral for her vividly realistic witch hunter videos. The thing is, though… the videos are real, and her millions of viewers have no idea they're watching nonfiction.
All Robin wants is to get revenge against the coven that wronged her mother in the past. Coming home to rural Blackfield, Robin reunites with old friends and meets some new ones on her path to justice.
But then an enigmatic threat known as the Red Lord provides some new obstacles.
This Savage Song
In this captivating tale from V.E. Schwab, Kate Harker and August Flynn will one day inherit a divided city—a place so overrun with violence that actual monsters have bred from the chaos.
Kate wants to follow in her ruthless father's footsteps, letting the monster wander freely and making humans pay for their protection. August wants nothing more than to be human—to be kind and noble like his own father who protected the innocent.
But August is one of the monsters. A monster with the power to steal a soul with a strain of music.
After Kate is expelled from her sixth boarding school, August jumps at the chance to keep a close eye on her. But after Kate discovers August's secret, they become the subjects of a failed assassination attempt, forcing them to flee for safety.
One Dark Window
It's not just luck that's keeping Elspeth Spindle alive in the mist-covered kingdom she calls home. There's a monster in her head called the Nightmare, an ancient and fickle spirit that protects both Elspeth and her secrets.
Unfortunately, nothing—especially magic—comes for free.
Elspeth's life takes an unexpected turn when she meets a mysterious highwayman on a woodsy road. Pulled into a world of darkness and lies, she joins a risky mission to cure the kingdom of the dark magic that's been infecting it. But this strange highwayman turns out to be Captain of the Destriers, the King's nephew who is guilty of high treason.
Now he and Elspeth only have until the Solstice to gather a dozen Providence Cards, which are the key to the cure. But as the stakes skyrocket alongside their burning attraction, Elspeth must face her most terrible secret.
The Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind, and there may be no way to stop him.
Our Infinite Fates
Evelyn has live through a thousand lifetimes, and she remembers each of her past lives. She also remembers that in each one she's been murdered before her 18th birthday. Her killer is Arden, a supernatural being who is tied to her soul.
This time around, however, Evelyn is pretty happy with her life. Plus, her little sister needs her around to survive.
In order to protect her sister, Evelyn must track down the centuries-old devil that hunts her through every reincarnation before they find her first. She's got to figure out why she's being hunted and break their cure once and for all.
And most importantly, she must try not to fall in love with Arden, as she has in every ill-fated lifetime before.
