Since its release last June, Netflix’s biggest original movie has become a global hit, earning awards and breaking viewing records. The film is a unique blend of Korean folklore and contemporary culture, centering around the K-pop group Huntrix. They use their music to create a magical shield against demons known as the Honmoon. Huntrix tries to permanently seal away the demon world using a special golden Honmoon, but they face opposition from a rival boy band, the Saja Boys, who are secretly demons determined to destroy them.
Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans co-wrote and directed KPop Demon Hunters, a film heavily influenced by Kang’s Korean background and the vibrant world of K-pop. The movie blends elements of K-pop, anime, and Korean folklore, creating a story deeply connected to Korean culture. Kang describes the film as a tribute to K-pop, and she researched Korean shamanism—specifically the historical use of music and dance in shamanic rituals—to build the backstory of the demon hunters. If you’re looking for a similarly captivating story with similar themes and inspiration, this film is a great choice.
The God and the Gumiho Has an Enemies-to-Lovers Trope
Sophie Kim’s The God and the Gumiho is the first book in the Fate’s Thread duology. It’s a modern fantasy story centered around Kim Hani, a gumiho – a nine-tailed fox spirit from Korean and East Asian legends, once known as the Scarlet Fox. Hani now works in a café, but is constantly annoyed by Seokga, a mischievous god who was banished from heaven after trying to take over.
A dangerous demon breaks free from the underworld, putting all of humankind at risk. Seokga, a former god, is given a chance to earn back his honor by destroying the demon and a powerful nine-tailed fox spirit. However, Hani will do whatever it takes to prevent this, even joining forces with Seokga’s enemy to keep her true identity hidden. This story combines thrilling action, a puzzling murder mystery, and a complicated love-hate relationship, all rooted in captivating Korean folklore.
XOXO Features a Secret Romance With a K-Pop Idol
Many of Axie Oh’s books explore similar ideas, and her novel XOXO is a sweet romance about Jenny, a Korean-American girl, and Jaewoo. They meet when Jaewoo visits Los Angeles, and Jenny falls for him right away. Later, when Jenny and her mom move to Seoul, she’s thrilled to run into Jaewoo again – especially when she discovers he’s a member of a hugely popular K-pop group at the city’s top arts school.
Jaewoo, like many K-pop stars, isn’t allowed to date because his image as a single performer is carefully protected. Jenny faces a difficult choice: pursuing a relationship with Jaewoo could cost her a place at her dream school and jeopardize her aspirations of becoming a professional cellist, while also potentially ruining his career. This modern love story asks if their connection is worth such high stakes. Though different in theme from KPop Demon Hunters, the story offers a realistic look into the pressures and downsides of the K-pop industry.
Wicked Fox is an Urban Romantasy Set in Modern-Day Seoul
Okay, so I just finished Wicked Fox, and let me tell you, it’s a fantastic start to what promises to be a really gripping young adult romantasy series by Kat Cho. The story centers around Miyoung, an eighteen-year-old with a secret – she’s a gumiho, which basically means she needs to… well, consume men’s souls to stay alive. Things get interesting when, during a hunt, she finds this guy, Jihoon, getting attacked by a Dokkaebi. Against her better judgment (and her survival instincts!), she saves him, but ends up losing the very thing that contains her soul – a fox bead. I’m already hooked and need to know what happens next!
Jihoon feels drawn to Miyoung, even though he’s heard she’s a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox spirit. When Miyoung’s spiritual bead is activated, it reignites a long-standing family conflict, and Jihoon finds himself caught in the middle. Wicked Fox is a reimagining of Korean folklore geared towards young adults, with a darker tone. Like the story of Rumi and Jinu, Kat Cho’s Gumiho books blend a passionate romance with dangerous, life-threatening situations, all set in a modern, fantastical city.
Yueh Yang’s Debut is a Chosen One YA Fantasy
Yueh Yang’s first novel, The Omen Girl, originally shared on Wattpad, is a young adult fantasy story about magic, finding forgiveness, and a powerful love. The book centers on Sozo, a young woman left by her parents because of a visible mark—a sign of being part of the Omen race, who are often seen as criminals. Guided by her mentor, Esp, another Omen, Sozo hides her mark and enters the Decade Race of Stars, hoping to win the ultimate prize: a single wish.
In a desperate fight for survival, Sozo needs to win a challenging race, battling monsters and other competitors while also controlling a dark, monstrous power within herself. Author Yueh Yang’s novel, The Omen Girl, is set in a vibrant, Asian-inspired world that blends sci-fi elements of solarpunk and steampunk – a style the author calls “Ghiblipunk.” Like her previous work, KPop Demon Hunters, this book combines magic, Asian culture, and thrilling adventure, and explores themes of facing inner struggles, accepting yourself, and finding healing.
Burn the Dark Features a YouTuber Witch Hunter
Like the characters in Rumi, Mira, and Zoey’s stories—who lead double lives as K-pop stars and demon hunters—S.A. Hunt’s horror novel, Burn the Dark, introduces a popular YouTuber whose videos about hunting witches are surprisingly genuine. Driven by a desire to avenge her mother’s death, Robin goes back to her hometown of Blackfield to confront the witches responsible, but her pursuit of justice is complicated by a dangerous entity called the Red Lord.
Although KPop Demon Hunters introduced Rumi’s adoptive mother, it didn’t delve into her relationship with her biological mother, who had passed away, or fully explain how much demonic power Rumi inherited. Burn the Dark, however, centers on Robin’s grief and her quest for revenge, and explores the complex bond between mother and daughter. Rumi’s relentless pursuit of demons and her longing for a perfect life stem from her feelings of shame about being part demon.
Monsters of Verity Duology is in a City Overrun With Monsters
Victoria Schwab’s novel, This Savage Song, kicks off the Monsters of Verity duology. This young adult urban fantasy is set in a city torn apart by war and filled with monsters, and it centers on Kate Harker and August Flynn, the children of rival leaders. They both have very different ideas about how to save their city, and the story follows their choices – will they become heroes or villains?
Kate wants to rule like her father, who allows monsters to exist in exchange for human payment, while August strives to be a good and compassionate protector – despite not being human himself. Like Rumi from KPop Demon Hunters, August, one of the main characters in This Savage Song, battles with his monstrous nature and tries to conceal the physical changes happening to him. He also shares similarities with the Saja Boys, as he can capture a soul using music – they use their popular song “Soda Pop” for the same purpose.
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces Follows a Disgraced K-Pop Idol
Linda Cheng’s first novel, Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, is a thrilling and terrifying story about a former teen idol trying to rebuild her life. Sunny Lee’s pop career ended in scandal, and she joins a K-pop workshop hoping for a comeback and answers about the death of her friend and bandmate, Mina. But as Sunny seeks the truth, she’s plagued by ghostly visions of Mina, and her fellow contestants begin to suffer increasingly horrific and violent injuries.
Like the novel KPop Demon Hunters, Gorgeous Gruesome Faces combines Korean culture, music, and fantastical elements. This young adult horror story, with sapphic themes, draws inspiration from psychological thriller anime and explores the disturbing underbelly of the K-pop world, tackling issues of toxic fame and unrealistic beauty expectations. The novel uses intense body horror to represent the trauma and pressures faced by idols, and blends supernatural themes with mythology to examine the dangerous connection between celebrity and obsession.
Song of the Six Realms is Inspired by Chinese Mythology
The new young adult historical fantasy novel, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Magic Steeped in Poison, draws inspiration from Chinese mythology and Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. The story centers on Xue, a gifted orphaned musician, who accepts a position with the mysterious Duke Meng. As the Duke’s behavior becomes more questionable and a dangerous creature attacks, Xue discovers that the Six Realms are facing imminent catastrophe.
Song of the Six Realms is a beautifully written story with vivid descriptions and a poetic style. Like the novel KPop Demon Hunters, music is central to the experience, but this book is unique in being written as a series of verses instead of traditional chapters. It focuses on music, poetry, and creating a detailed and immersive world. Inspired by Chinese Shenmo fantasy, Song of the Six Realms explores themes of inner strength and personal growth within a fantastical East Asian setting, and features a subtle, heavenly romance.
A Crane Among Wolves is Based on a True Story
June Hur’s novel, A Crane Among Wolves, is a young adult historical romance set during the reign of King Yeonsan, a Korean ruler known as one of the most cruel tyrants in history. King Yeonsan was infamous for his brutality and for forcing hundreds of women to become palace performers. The story follows seventeen-year-old Iseul, who bravely leaves her home to rescue her sister from the king’s control. She unexpectedly meets Prince Daehyun, the king’s half-brother, who is also seen as an outcast. Though they initially dislike each other, Iseul and Daehyun bond over their shared animosity towards the king.
I’m really drawn into this story about a group forced to work together! They’re trying to pull off a risky coup – it’s the only way to rescue Iseul’s sister and overthrow the cruel ruler who’s been oppressing their people. It reminds me of how fast-paced and exciting KPop Demon Hunters is, but A Crane Among Wolves also beautifully showcases Korean culture. Beyond the intense plot, there’s a really compelling romance brewing between enemies. I’m hoping the movie delves deeper into the history of their demon hunters, maybe by looking at June Hur’s novel – it’s known for being incredibly well-researched and could add so much depth to their world.
Song of the Last Kingdom is a Dark Fantasy Duology
Inspired by ancient Chinese myths, Song of Silver, Flame Like Night is the first book in a two-part fantasy series. It tells the story of Lan, a young woman trying to uncover her forgotten past and the meaning of a mysterious burn on her arm. She’s the only one who can see the mark, until she encounters Zen, a powerful magician from the Last Kingdom—one who is said to draw his power from demons.
Zen realizes Lan is a skilled magic user and brings her to a group of powerful masters. They’re plotting to overthrow the Elantians, who colonized Lan’s kingdom, murdered her mother, and banned magic among her people. Both Lan and Zen possess hidden secrets and immense power – the ability to either free their people or destroy everything. This young adult romantasy novel, inspired by East Asian mythology and similar in style to KPop Demon Hunters, features familiar folklore, magical systems, and a battle against demons.
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2026-05-09 00:16