Overview

A lyrical and suspenseful debut novel about a mysteriously gifted Korean family confronting the brutality of the Japanese empire. A sister disappears and returns as a tiger. A mother's voice compels the truth from any tongue. A granddaughter divines secrets in others' dreams. Spanning ninety years as one family is displaced across Asia, this novel follows Young-Ja, who finds herself struggling to survive after her family is killed by Japanese soldiers. The magical gift that once brought her joy - the ability to infuse her cooking with her feelings: love, peace, delight - transforms into something more powerful as her sorrow and anger seeps into her confections. When her talent is noticed by a Korean resistance fighter, she's taken to Manchuria where she becomes enmeshed in a network of spies at a teahouse favoured by Japanese officials. Haunted at every turn by the spectre of Japanese soldiers, she endures horrors and brutality at the hands of the Imperial Army. With spellbinding inter-generational sweep and atmospheric magical realism, Honey in the Wound explores the ways colonialism forces one family to transform, and ultimately survive. *** WHAT READERS ARE SAYING: 'This novel swept me off my feet' 'I will NEVER forget it' 'One of the most powerful reads I've ever stumbled upon' 'It will bring out every emotion you have' 'A breathtaking debut, rich, emotional, and steeped in myth and history' 'What Jiyoung Han has done here is nothing short of a multi-generational feminist epic'

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9781786587312

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Reviews

Honey in the Wound is unspeakable history given the power of myth and fable. Every word is truer than truth. * Anton Hur, award-winning translator and author of TOWARD ETERNITY * Honey in the Wound is a spellbinding debut, both a lyrical fable and unflinching testimony. Jiyoung Han deftly weaves magical realism into a devastating account of the Japanese Imperial Army's brutality in the early 20th century, granting her characters - and voices like them silenced throughout history - power and agency. The resulting work leaves one shaken. Absolutely unforgettable. * Karissa Chen, author of HOMESEEKING * A fierce and mythic family saga, Honey in the Wound moves with the urgency of anti-colonial resistance and the grace of folklore. Even as history bears down, its most magical moments rise from the sorrow, fury, and enduring love of ordinary lives. Refusing to let the ghosts of the Japanese empire fall silent, the novel honors the truth still burning in the wound. * Silvia Park, author of LUMINOUS * With heartbreaking passion, Honey in the Wound refuses to turn away from the dark underbelly of history, putting words to those who are forgotten and who survive despite. Jiyoung Han's prose is lush and fiercely inventive, wresting immense beauty and hope from great despair. This is a startling and unforgettable debut. * Janika Oza, author of A HISTORY OF BURNING * In Han's courageous debut, magic is a form of resistance which, like hope, bolsters the human spirit. Within seemingly ordinary people, there are extraordinary powers. This isn't just a story, it's a record of the brutality of invasion, occupation and war. * Eve J. Chung, author of DAUGHTERS OF SHANDONG * A spellbinding epic that captures the resilience and spirit of Jiyoung Han's unforgettably drawn characters. I'll be thinking about this powerful debut for many years to come. * Jung Yun, author of SHELTER and O BEAUTIFUL * This novel is a testimony of, and a testament to, the indestructible spirit of women. It forces you to hear and see, to bear witness, to make sure nothing like comfort women ever happens again. Terrific writing. Enchanting in every way! * Chikodili Emelumadu, author of DAZZLING *

In Han's courageous debut, magic is a form of resistance which, like hope, bolsters the human spirit. Within seemingly ordinary people, there are extraordinary powers. This isn't just a story, it's a record of the brutality of invasion, occupation and war. * Eve J. Chung, author of DAUGHTERS OF SHANDONG *

Honey in the Wound is unspeakable history given the power of myth and fable. Every word is truer than truth. * Anton Hur, award-winning translator and author of TOWARD ETERNITY * In Han's courageous debut, magic is a form of resistance which, like hope, bolsters the human spirit. Within seemingly ordinary people, there are extraordinary powers. This isn't just a story, it's a record of the brutality of invasion, occupation and war. * Eve J. Chung, author of DAUGHTERS OF SHANDONG * A fierce and mythic family saga, Honey in the Wound moves with the urgency of anti-colonial resistance and the grace of folklore. Even as history bears down, its most magical moments rise from the sorrow, fury, and enduring love of ordinary lives. Refusing to let the ghosts of the Japanese empire fall silent, the novel honors the truth still burning in the wound. * Silvia Park, author of LUMINOUS * With heartbreaking passion, Honey in the Wound refuses to turn away from the dark underbelly of history, putting words to those who are forgotten and who survive despite. Jiyoung Han's prose is lush and fiercely inventive, wresting immense beauty and hope from great despair. This is a startling and unforgettable debut. * Janika Oza, author of A HISTORY OF BURNING *

Author Information

Jiyoung Han was born in Seoul, Korea, and grew up in the American Midwest. She has lived and worked in four continents but now calls San Francisco home. When not writing, she conducts research in climate change and human decision-making. Honey in the Wound is her debut novel.

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