THE LAST TIGER, by Julia Riew and Brad Riew, Kokila, July 29, 2025, Hardcover, $21.99 (young adult)
Two teens from warring factions find themselves in a fight to shape their futures in The Last Tiger, by Julia Riew and Brad Riew.
In a colonized land where tigers are being hunted to extinction and ancient magic stirs, two star-crossed teens—Lee Seung, a servant yearning for freedom, and Choi Eunji, a noble girl defying tradition—join forces to try and reshape their respective fates.
But their relationship evolves from begrudging accomplices to bitter adversaries as they soon find themselves on opposite sides of a battle over the last tiger, a symbol of their people’s lost freedom and key to the liberation of their country. As the ties between Seung and Eunji are complicated by their conflicting loyalties, tensions rise—especially when a charming princeling of the empire begins to rival for Eunji’s affection.
In this friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story of forbidden romance, antagonists turned allies, oppression and liberation, neither Seung nor Eunji can abandon their mission—or each other. And as they embark on separate quests to find the elusive creature, each must also find the power within themselves to make their own destiny. —Synopsis provided by Kolika
The Last Tiger was born out of true stories from the authors’ family. Sibling authors Julie and Brad Riew’s grandparents lived in Korea during one of the darkest periods in Korean history — the Japanese occupation of Korea.
Their grandfather was poor. Their grandmother wealthy. They fell in love in a time of arranged marriages and were separated during the Korean war, only to find each other again after the conflict.
Their lives directly inform the heart of The last Tiger, a fantasy novel that centers on giving everyone a voice. It’s because of this thread that the book works, but it’s not perfect.
It almost feels as if the authors took on too much. A greater exploration of both the political and magical systems — especially the magical — would have made for a richer overall experience.
The story is told through the alternating first-person viewpoints of Seung and Eunji, helping readers see “both sides.” They’re both likeable characters, though neither is particularly dynamic.
What threw me off the most was the setting. In the beginning, The Last Tiger feels like it takes place in late medieval-ish times. But as the book progresses, modern elements and modern technology suddenly make an appearance. It made me feel like I was reading two books or the characters time-traveled. There was no real explanation or set understanding in the world-building.
While The Last Tiger didn’t completely hit the mark for me, it was still entertaining. I suggest checking it out from the library prior to purchase to make sure it’s a good fit.
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