The Gumiho King's Bride

by Bex Gil

Nine tails.

Nine trials.

Baek Jiwon, the disabled daughter of an alcoholic, struggles to keep food on the table while her father gambles away the little money she earns. When the day comes for a noble family to honor an ancient agreement to provide the next bride for the Gumiho King, Jiwon finds out that she has been sold by her father and will be sent as a noblewoman’s replacement.

Jiwon doesn’t know what to expect when she arrives in the Mythical Lands, but it certainly isn’t a standoffish king trapped by a centuries-old curse. Discovering all the myths are but lies and half-truths, she now holds the fate of a king in her hands. To break his curse, she will have to endure nine trials, but she, too, has her own curse to break, one in which she must face herself or fail the both of them.

This new adult/crossover Korean romantasy book is perfect for fans of Sue Lynn Tan's Immortal and Sophie Kim's The God and the Gumiho.

Genres: Romantasy

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2025

Reviews

[DragonRider Elf · Rating 5 out of 5]

In. Love.

First and foremost, content warnings:

Sexual content: Kissing (somewhat detailed), a near sex scene, attempted SA (on page), mentions of a character having had sex (though treated as a past mistake), a guy briefly alludes to a debt being payed off… physically.

Language: N/A

Violence/gore: Wounds sustained on page (not graphic), mentions of both humans and animals being decapitated, abuse of a child (by other children), and death.

Guys, I loved this book. It just so happens that Beauty and the Beast retellings are my favorites, along with Korean mythology. I especially love a good Gumiho romance. If all of that sounds like something you’d like… you need to read this book!

Jiwon is our sole POV and FMC. She has had a very hard life, being abused by her deadbeat father and her employers. On top of that, she has CP (Cerebral Palsy). Her life changes when she is sacrificed to the Gumiho king, presumably to be eaten… except, well, he’s not what he seems, and just maybe, the stories told of him eating the hearts of mortal women aren’t true.
I really loved Jiwon. I’m not a fan of single POVs when the FMC is the one it’s told from, but I really enjoyed her and didn’t even pay attention to the fact that she was whose head I was in the whole time.
I feel like I relate to Jiwon a lot. She has an issue controlling her temper, so do I. She has a disability that causes her pain, so do I. She feels like an outcast, often, so do I. She struggled with a lot of things I also do. I may not have CP, but I understand her in a lot of ways. Honestly, for me personally, she was one of the most relatable characters I have read.
She persevered, she was strong, but that didn’t keep her from having emotions, and it didn’t keep her from having flaws.
I seriously can’t think of a character I have felt so deeply about. I felt seen through her.

Inha, my boy. I love this guy. I can’t lie, he was fickle for a while, and it got on my nerves a few times… but he redeemed himself. I do have to say, though… I imagined him with that red/brown hair Lee Yeon had in Tale of the Nine-Tailed. They really weren’t even similar characters, but I had to make myself remember he had white hair.
Something I really loved about Inha was the fact that he had more to his story than just being cursed for his vanity (like Beast). He still gave off the classic beast vibes though (which I loved).
Y’all, something about “beasty” men asking for consent is so precious to me! Inha was king in more than one way, but he was a respectful king too.
He’s so cute, too. The fact that he has a tail and ears makes him so much more endearing and adorable. He’s like a puppy sometimes and I love it!!!

The side characters in this story were so good too!
Sassy sentient bird who secretly loves you? ✔️
Girls girls who just want to see you happy? ✔️
Super sweet golden retriever guy who loves you platonically? ✔️
Wise mentor figure with a billion quotable lines? ✔️

The spiritual parallels weren’t lost on me here either (I loved them so much!!!).
The nine trials seemed awfully reminiscent of the nine fruits of the spirit. Maybe I’m reading into it… but I think it was intentional.

I loved the trials aspect a lot. It wasn’t the traditional trial theme with monsters and such. I won’t spoil it, but I think they were all done beautifully.

Overall, this was an amazing book. I’m really not a book critic. I don’t look over every word and ensure nothing is out of line. I know a good story when I see one, however, and this is such a story.

I received an E-ARC copy of this book, although all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[thelilcloseddoorbookgal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book! Yes, it’s an entertaining romantasy with some familiar elements, but it’s not just dessert. It’s a full meal. The setting gave me whimsical and cozy (not boring) vibes, and I thought the mythological creatures were cool. I love foxes, hehe. Both of the MCs grew on me more and more throughout the story. I liked the twist on the trials the FMC had to go through. Whereas with other fantasy books, they’re usually trying to kill other people, this one focused on different kinds of strength, which tied in with the themes nicely. My favorite part was the FMC’s character growth. This was the first time I’ve ever read a book with cerebral palsy rep, and I thought the author did a great job. Any chronic illness is not a “one size fits all,” and I think it’s important to remember that when going into the story. The romance aspect was sweet and heartwarming. I thought it was a good balance between having flawed characters and having a healthy relationship and a comfort read. This is the first in a standalone series, and I’m definitely interested in reading the other ones in the future.

I received an eARC for a review.

Spice level: kisses only, mentions of sexual intercourse and desire but not explicit or lewd
Content/trigger warnings: Mentions of child abuse, attempted SA, bullying, humiliation, and mentions of parental death

[Lexi Maurer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟 rounded up~

The Gumiho King’s Bride is a Korean fantasy romance story, inspired by Beauty and the Beast and repping a disabled FMC, with a really refreshing take on the classic “trials” story archetype we see in classic mythology. This book reads like a fairytale, with curses and mystical creatures and evil sisters and dashing kings.

I had such a fun time reading this! The way Bex Gil describes the setting and the magical elements of this world is enchanting, immersing you in the historical Korean culture while also introducing the fascinating creatures from Korean mythology. I haven’t read many Korean fantasy books yet so I felt like I got to learn a lot about the mythology, so that was really interesting. (I’m looking forward to her future books in this series!)

What really stood out to me the most about this book was the character growth and development, along with the really profound truths and morals liberally sprinkled throughout the book. This is a story about love and courage, about doing what’s right even when your circumstances give you every excuse to do wrong, and forgiveness and healing past a lifetime of hurts and wounds. Jiwon is such a beautiful depiction of how every person should strive to live and be better, to make the best of your circumstances and not let bitterness turn you into a hateful person. She is such a likeable MC and I found myself admiring her and wanting to emulate her doggedness and determination. Inha was out here giving me unrealistic expectations for a man, with his patience with Jiwon and his endless compassion for her, caring for her needs and reassuring her of his love.

And of course, we can’t forget the FANTASTIC side characters!! Seonghwa had me chuckling on multiple occasions, and Shinhye and the other gumiho maids were so sweet and kind 😭 had me tearing up at the end there for real. I love how Bex makes each of the characters in her stories full of depth and personality, each one feeling like their own person with their own flaws and motivations. Absolutely scrumptious writing.

My only critique of this book is that it wasn’t longer ❤️🌙🐉🦊🐦‍🔥

*I received this book as an eARC but my review is entirely my own honest opinion. I definitely recommend this book~

[Audrey Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
To start off, this is my first review of a book ever, so please be kind to me and my writing that I am definitely not double checking for grammar or anything of the sort as this has become a much longer review than I anticipated… as well, this is not very formal writing. Hope you enjoy!

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. However, I will be buying a physical copy when it comes out as I was planning on doing that regardless of the ARC. Physical books are way better and especially when they have art in them (thanks Bex Gil for the artwork)!

Warnings: Mentions of child abuse and parental death, attempted SA, and bullying. As well, some detailed kissing scenes and after sex humiliation (or as I like to call it, psychological trauma).

If you are looking for a book with:
a happy ending, romance, fantasy world, magical beings, Korean mythology, disabled (differently abled) protagonist with grit, beauty and the beast inspired, and more… Than this is a book for you!

This was everything I have dreamed of in a fantasy romance book. I am a sucker for happy endings and it gave you all that and then some. Of course, I would love to read more about our two main characters, Jiwon and the mysterious Gumiho King, but I was more than content with the ending.



My honest thoughts (with spoilers):

Positives-
My favorite aspect of this book was that the main character is disabled (differently abled), which she has cerebral palsy specifically. The reason for this is because even with Jiwon’s physical disability, she can still do anything she sets her mind to, it doesn’t determine her worth, and she is someone worthy of love. These three messages are what hooked me into this book and how I fell in love with it.

**Side note, on the message of “everyone deserves a happily ever after,” I think this book does a great job in showing that!
As well, this difference from the typical heroin archetype was refreshing and brought me joy!**

Jiwon is depicted and shown to be a strong, courageous, and adventurous woman, but might let her anger take control at times. She was shown as human and that means having flaws. Not to mention, it was not just Jiwon that had flaws, but other characters too (e.g. Inha, the Song sisters, Jiwon’s dad, and more). When the author makes the characters flat and boring with no dimension, I struggle to read those books. I am thankful that Bex Gil brought life to these characters with real life interwoven in the story, not hiding from reality despite this being a fantasy book with a happy ending.
Another thing I loved was the ending! I’ve already said this, but the ending was all that and then some. Not only did they get to live happily ever after together, but she became a Gumiho herself! I have never read a story that actually goes through with that when it comes to characters with different life spans. It’s always either left up to the reader to decide the ending or they live a happy life with what time they have or the immortal being turns into a human or there’s a catch.
As well, most if not all story plot lines got tied with a knot by the end of the book.
Including:
A conclusion to Jiwon’s connection to the Song sisters. Inha tells Jiwon what his dream was (her being with him of course). What happened to the previous women that came as Inha’s bride (I love that each of their stories were told too, even if they were short, such as the one who died directly after getting out of her carriage, really sad though). And plenty other plot lines, including the question of whether Jiwon could shift into her new fox form as a Gumiho (she could).

There is much more to talk about, such as Inha and other characters, but this is getting way too long. I will let the readers make their own decisions on how they feel about the rest of the characters and the story. However, I do have to say that Inha is a 10/10. We love a man/Gumiho who asks for consent (e.g. asking to kiss Jiwon before doing it) and respects one’s decisions (e.g. Inha waiting to have their special night together until they are joined as one). Inha even tries to protect Jiwon from sacrificing herself for him and makes that decision with all the Gumiho. We get to see both Inha and Jiwon grow as people do in real life!

Critiques-
When the book started to shift towards the romantic part of the story it felt a bit rushed and out of no where. I just felt no chemistry at first between the two main characters and it really confused me. Especially when Inha made the first move out of no where (e.g. Inha asking permission from Jiwon to kiss her) and then suddenly Jiwon thought she was in love with him, but also not completely sure yet.
More over, the same could be said about some of the trials, which were quick and simple. I would not say easy though. However, at times I felt like more could have been written, such as the first trial. The first trial felt like a whirlwind of emotions and much faster paced than it actually was. Instead, I wish it was more drawn out or written in a way that made it seem like it took a long time to get to the top of the mountain, such as adding parts of boredom. I do like how Jiwon’s resilience showed through in this first trial despite feeling fast paced.
There was also little to no action, which doesn’t really bother me, but I realized after some time that it didn’t feel like much was risked, until the end (which was only on Jiwon’s side). Of course, I think how the book is written is perfectly fine, but I do wish there was more risk to these trials or even just in the book in general to show their love slowly growing for one another and with more strategic reasoning that doesn’t involve their love for each other showing up out of nowhere. I mean Inha did save her from those bulgae, but I don’t know… something just felt off in the timing for the start of their romance.
I do have to say, returning to how quickly they fell in love, that I do fantasize this for myself. So, as a romantic at heart this doesn’t bother me a bunch, but I thought this critique should be said nonetheless.



My favorite quotes:

“The only comfort in this pain is that it is a pain I chose to inflict upon myself.”

“I learned long ago that one’s rudeness to me has less to do with me and more to do with them.”

“Petty revenge tastes sweet at first, but it is most often followed by a bitter aftertaste.”

“Forgiveness is a key. First, you unlock your own chains, and then you offer it to the offender. It is up to them if they choose to free themselves. Some cannot even see their own shackles, and in the next life, they will be dragged down by them.”

“Two broken souls make one perfect whole.”

“Maybe this will morph into a myth of its own: the story of a mortal and mythical, a love that broke the chains binding both of them. I’m not much of a storyteller, but I trust the great writers of the world to embellish it into quite the romance.”

Last thoughts:
As a fellow Christian as the author, Bex Gil, I pray that this book is read by many different women that can see that even they deserve love, just like the sacrificial love of Jesus, but also in a human way with flaws like in this story!
Praying for you Bex Gil and wishing you the best in your career as an author! Can’t wait to read more of your books in this universe and I was pleasantly surprised to get mentions of Bora and Seojun from Bound to the Tyrant King.
Which if anyone read this far, I highly recommend Bound to the Tyrant King by Bex Gil for anyone who loved this book or likes historical k-dramas.

Anyway, this is me signing out.

-Audrey Pearce

[H. K. Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars. I read this as a beta reader--a few things may have changed since I read it--but this is my short. sweet, and honest review.

I loved this book! It's refreshing to see disability that's represented in such a realistic way. Character development was fantastic, and all the Korean mythology/folklore was fascinating to learn about. The romance was so sweet and had me giggling and kicking my feet at times.

I'm also in love with the cover, which was drawn and designed by the author btw (no AI, just pure skill).

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for picking me as an ARC reader!

As always, Bex outdoes herself with her representation and characters! I loved the world and the story—everyone needs to read it!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.25 stars