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The Queen of the Spirit Woods
By Sharon Choe
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Table of Contents
About the Book
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea meets The Cruel Prince in this epic, lush young adult romantic fantasy following a royal kitchen maid who gets swept up in dangerous palace intrigue and a forbidden love triangle…and accidentally becomes the vessel for thousands of spirits and deities.
A kingdom on the brink of colonization.
Ten thousand nature spirits and deities seeking a vessel.
A genial nobleman and a grumpy prince uncovering the secrets at Court…
And the girl at the center of it all.
Mirae has a dangerous secret: She has faked her way into a job as a royal kitchen maid with the hope of sending money to her family. And life in the kitchens isn’t easy. The palace is in an uproar after a recent assassination attempt on the king, and Mirae nearly gets fired after inadvertently getting in the crosshairs of Jae, the prickly crown prince, during his investigation.
Her position gets even more precarious when a chance encounter with a witch in the mysterious spirit woods makes her the vessel of ten thousand spirits and deities. When her new powers spill out into the palace kitchens, Wonshik, a kind nobleman, lends a helping hand. Soon Mirae finds herself embroiled in a power struggle between the queen and Wonshik’s best friend, Prince Jae.
With the help of a fellow kitchen maid and a meddlesome ghost, Mirae must untangle the web of lies to find the traitor within the palace. But an encroaching threat from the empire to the east looms ever closer, and the palace is rife with lies and shadowy allegiances. Who can Mirae trust?
A kingdom on the brink of colonization.
Ten thousand nature spirits and deities seeking a vessel.
A genial nobleman and a grumpy prince uncovering the secrets at Court…
And the girl at the center of it all.
Mirae has a dangerous secret: She has faked her way into a job as a royal kitchen maid with the hope of sending money to her family. And life in the kitchens isn’t easy. The palace is in an uproar after a recent assassination attempt on the king, and Mirae nearly gets fired after inadvertently getting in the crosshairs of Jae, the prickly crown prince, during his investigation.
Her position gets even more precarious when a chance encounter with a witch in the mysterious spirit woods makes her the vessel of ten thousand spirits and deities. When her new powers spill out into the palace kitchens, Wonshik, a kind nobleman, lends a helping hand. Soon Mirae finds herself embroiled in a power struggle between the queen and Wonshik’s best friend, Prince Jae.
With the help of a fellow kitchen maid and a meddlesome ghost, Mirae must untangle the web of lies to find the traitor within the palace. But an encroaching threat from the empire to the east looms ever closer, and the palace is rife with lies and shadowy allegiances. Who can Mirae trust?
About the Author
Photo courtesy of author
Sharon Choe holds a PhD from the University of York and is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen. Born in the United Kingdom, Sharon has lived all across the UK, though now she calls Copenhagen, Denmark, her home. As a child of diaspora and wandering, she grapples with what it means to belong in both her academic and creative work. You can usually find her in independent coffee shops across different cities, either writing, knitting, or chasing down the perfect chai latte—sometimes doing all three at the same time. The Queen of the Spirit Woods is her debut novel.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (November 3, 2026)
- Length: 352 pages
- ISBN13: 9798347106486
- Grades: 9 and up
- Ages: 14 - 99
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Raves and Reviews
A Summer/Fall 2026 Indies Introduce Selection
★ "Choe blends fantasy, court intrigue, and Korean folklore and history into a propulsive debut set centuries ago in a fictional Korean kingdom. . . The lively supporting cast, including a mischievous spirit, lends humor to the fantastical elements, making the emotional turns of the final act all the more affecting. Precise historical detail and brisk narration culminate in an assured supernatural adventure about identity and destiny."
– Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
"The intermingling of fantasy and political intrigue inspired by real events from the early-20th-century Japanese colonization of Korea creates a uniquely compelling adventure. . . A striking and refreshingly entertaining blend of history and mythology."
– Kirkus Reviews
"The book is lavish with captivating descriptions of magic and scenery. . . Filled with action and subterfuge, this is a recommended purchase for readers who enjoy Korean folklore or romantasy peppered with political intrigue and ghosts."
– School Library Journal
“Inspired by Korean history and folklore, this fantasy mixes lyrical writing and lush worldbuilding with mediumship, royal intrigue, murder, and slow-burn romance. It’s a delightful tale of a kitchen maid catching the attention of a grumpy prince and a charming nobleman — and a critique of deforestation, colonialism, social injustice, and violence in its portrayal of a kingdom on the cusp of political and cultural change. Fans of June Hur, Axie Oh, and Julia Riew have found their next must-read. Sequel now, please!”
– —Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books, Beverly, MA
“This rich fantasy grounded in Korean history has all the good bits: secrets, deadly politics, ghosts, gods, and a healthy dose of handsome noblemen with major parental issues.”
– —Angela Whited, Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, MN
“This historical fantasy story provides a much needed telling of the Korean experience inspired by true events and folklore. Told from the perspective of both a young commoner and a prince, this lovely romance weaves between reality and the spirit world effortlessly, providing a message of hope in an unfair world.”
– —Easty Lambert-Brown, Ernest & Hadley Booksellers, Tuscaloosa, AL
Resources and Downloads
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