The Last Tiger

Sibling debut authors Brad and Julia Riew weave Korean folklore and history with intimate familial recollections in this magic-infused tale of star-crossed teens fighting for their forbidden love. Both Lee Seung and Choi Eunji yearn for freedom: Seung from his duties serving the noble Chois, and Eunji from her family’s grandiose yet restrictive lifestyle in the Dragon Empire. Following the teens’ chance encounter, they strike a deal: Eunji will tutor Seung, who harbors a desire to master ancient ki magic, in preparation for the Adachi Training Academy entrance exam, while Seung will keep Eunji’s unchaperoned outings a secret (and help her improve her escape techniques). Their rendezvous foster a budding romance until a tiger—a symbol of the Tiger Colonies thought extinct by the colonizing Dragon Empire—suddenly appears. Soon, Seung and Eunji find themselves on opposite sides of a cultural divide, their love further complicated by the arrival of a charming princeling suitor vying for Eunji’s affection. This grounded fantasy, inspired by the authors’ grandparents’ love story, incorporates excerpts of correspondence from their grandmother and grandfather. Expansive worldbuilding draws on historical tensions during Japan’s occupation of Korea; authors’ notes provide additional context. Ages 12–up. (July)