Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweet Korea-inspired romantasy slowed by history, politics.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
THE LAST TIGER is the story of two teens living in the Tiger Kingdom during a decades-long occupation by the Dragon Kingdom. Lee Seung is a servant in the wealthy Choi household, where he strikes a bargain with their youngest daughter, Eunji. Eunji will tutor Seung so he can take an exam that, if he passes, will mean a better life for him and his family. In exchange, Seung will teach Eunji how to sneak out of her super-strict household and roam around town and the countryside in relative freedom. They start to develop feelings for each other, but when Seung fails the exam and Eunji passes with flying colors, they part ways, probably forever. A year later, each for their own reason, Eunji and Seung try to find the last tiger left in the kingdom before the ruthless Dragon general finds it and kills it. As the different factions close in on the last tiger, can the star-crossed teens find a way forward, for themselves and their country, together?
Is It Any Good?
This is a sweet romance between two teens who are each chafing against their own, very different circumstances. Teens will find Seung and Eunji easy to root for as they struggle against the forces and people that keep them from being free to embrace their own destinies. Based on Korean history and folklore, the fantasy world is richly imagined and populated with colorful, if sometimes easy to type, characters. The writers are at their best during exciting chase and action sequences that build suspense and keep the pages turning. Unfortunately, those are few and far between until about halfway through, as social injustice and being oppressed are explored at length. There's a lot of food for thought here, but sometimes the messages start to feel more like a history lesson than a sweeping epic. The diary excerpts offer infrequent but unique insight into the real people who inspired the story. It's refreshingly self-contained and ends on a hopeful note.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Last Tiger. Is it too much? Does it have a different effect on you if it's in a fantasy realm rather than the real world?
Which pairs of characters make better teams? How do they learn to build trust and work together?
How does Eunji become empathetic toward people living in poverty?
Did you know much about Korean history, especially when it was occupied by Japan? What did you learn? What else would you like to know?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Activism , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Kokila
- Publication date : July 29, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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