The Last Tiger

By Julia Riew & Brad Riew

Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey

Inspired by the forbidden love story of their Korean grandparents – who married across classes for love in a time of arranged marriages for standing – Julie Riew and Brad Riew have brought to life a world of passion and power and trust and betrayal in The Last Tiger.

Choi Eunji, youngest daughter of a noble family of the Tiger Kingdom, craves nothing more than autonomy and a chance to prove to her father that she is worth more than an arranged marriage. Lee Seung, servant and son of a miner, dreams of passing the exam for a chance at Adachi Academy and the change that could bring to his life and family. When they collide in a crowd, their lives are woven together more tightly than they could ever expect.

As Seung and Eunji are thrust back together, they find themselves on opposite sides of a decades-long battle for the Tiger Kingdom’s liberation from the Dragon Empire. The discovery of the last tiger offers a lifeline they both desperately need and neither are willing to sacrifice. But to take the last tiger for their own mission could mean sacrificing the other, and neither of them is sure they’re prepared to do that. To save their kingdom, themselves, and maybe each other, they need to harness their own powers to write a new destiny.

Built on the landscape of mid-twentieth-century Korea and infused with magical powers based on exam grades and social standing, The Last Tiger evokes a world ready for readers to lose themselves in. Full of satisfying characters, heartbreaking drama and harrowing adventures, this is a slow-burn emotional drama draped on the shoulders of an exciting historical adventure. When emotions dip for a satisfying break, the action kicks back in to keep readers on their toes throughout this epic tale that is sure to inspire an interest in history and travel. Suitable for any teenage readers of historical fiction who may be looking for a taste of fantasy.

Penguin 2025

Julia Riew

Brad Riew