Publishers Weekly
06/26/2023
A teen must defeat an ancient evil to protect her family and claim her birthright as queen in Jeong’s Korean mythology–inspired fantasy debut, a series launch. As the crown princess of Seolla, 16-year-old Mirae has for her entire life been preparing to become queen—and, by extension, the warden of an evil magic called the Inconstant Son. But when the “generational madness” brought about by the sinister magic’s influence consumes her mother sooner than expected, Mirae must prove she’s ready to ascend the throne by completing the Trial of the Gods. The trial is meant to test her ability to control all four elements, create illusions, and manipulate time—basic tenets of Sacred Bone Magic. Before she can complete the trial, however, Mirae’s beloved older brother Minho is kidnapped by an unknown entity. To rescue him, Mirae, along with her younger brother Hongbin, Minho’s palace aid Siwon, and Captain Jia of the Wonhwa guards, must combat the Inconstant Son’s growing power and reckon with long-buried family secrets. Though sporadic time jumps occasionally cause confusion, the intricate worldbuilding and elaborate magic system, along with Mirae’s growing confidence in herself and developing understanding of what it means to rule, add plentiful layers of intrigue to this whirlwind adventure. Age 13–up. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (June)
From the Publisher
Reminiscent of the greatest fantasy classics but wholly unique, with roots in Korean history and mythology, this riveting debut is filled with fierce friendships, hidden foes, and a young queen on an adventure that will either save or break her world. I couldn’t put this one down! — Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
A twisty, riveting page-turner filled with bold surprises! In this thrilling debut fantasy, Jeong draws richly from Korean myths and legends, conjuring an immersive world where dark magic looms, destiny beckons, and one girl's unique ability to jump through time sets her on a collision path with fate. — June CL Tan, author of Jade Fire Gold
A stunning ode to Korean mythology, And Break the Pretty Kings is a captivating modern update on the classic fantasy adventure. — Tanvi Berwah, author of Monsters Born and Made
"Brimming with rich magic and delicious prose, Jeong deftly weaves a time-bending tale of family, love, and the true cost of destiny. Get ready to have your heart stolen by this stunning debut." — Swati Teerdhala, author of The Tiger at Midnight trilogy
“Steeped in Korean mythology, Mirae’s magic and world is beautifully depicted… A lyrical, magical tale sure to entertain readers of Elizabeth Lim.” — School Library Journal
School Library Journal
07/01/2023
Gr 6 Up—Mirae has trained all her life to pass the Sacred Bone trials and inherit the queendom of Seolla. However, her training is cut years short when her mother succumbs to the madness that stems from protecting Seolla from sworn enemy, the Inconstant Son. When the trial goes horribly wrong, her parents are incapacitated and her brother Minho is kidnapped by Seolla's neighboring kingdom, Josan. Mirae, cheeky younger brother Hongbin, friend and protector Captain Jia, and Josan servant Sewon, who was present at the time of Minho's kidnapping, set out to save Minho, reunite the two kingdoms, and destroy the Inconstant Son. Steeped in Korean mythology, Mirae's magic and world is beautifully depicted. Her struggle to understand her newfound powers, whom to trust, and the secrets of the centuries-old feud with the Inconstant Son, and even his very identity, add urgency and tension to the story. However, the scattered plot detracts from the emotional impact and can be hard to follow. Problems are often too easily resolved, leaving character development between Mirae and her antagonists feeling unearned. Mirae's ability to transport to the future for a short time gives readers a tantalizing glimpse at their possible downfall, heightening the stakes, but sometimes feels more like an afterthought than purposeful breadcrumb. VERDICT A lyrical, magical tale sure to entertain readers of Elizabeth Lim, but one that twists too much, too soon.—Elisha Sheffer
Kirkus Reviews
2023-04-12
Wielding magic powers, a crown princess must save her brother and her queendom from an ancient evil and a looming war.
Due to her mother’s sudden illness, 16-year-old Mirae faces the Trial of the Gods in order to assume her birthright and protect the queendom of Seolla. With her mother’s magic growing more unstable, Mirae must quickly master Seolla’s three magic systems: Jade Witchery (controlling the four elements), Ma-eum Magic (creating illusions), and Horomancy (manipulating the rules of time). Mirae is under pressure to keep an ancient evil locked away, stop the sovereign state of Josan from starting a war, and fulfill the prophecy to lead Seolla into its golden future, avoiding eternal ruin. So, when the trial goes wrong and an evil creature kidnaps Minho, her older brother, Mirae takes matters into her own hands. Journeying into enemy lands with her younger brother, loyal Capt. Jia, and Minho’s servant, Mirae learns dark family secrets that could change her world forever. Trust, betrayal, lies, truth, selfishness, selflessness, and familial love affect Mirae’s choices as she strives to rescue Minho and protect the queendom. Full of action-packed twists and turns, this magical, fast-paced story is exciting, but there’s a lot going on, including jumps in time that can be confusing. The rich, historical, Korean-inspired worldbuilding and descriptions will draw readers in with references to Korean history, food, clothing, and mythology.
Complex and captivating. (Fantasy. 13-18)
