This novel takes the reader "behind the scenes" into the world of competitive K-Pop and all the exhaustive physical work, mental stamina, and drama these performers are subjected to personally and publicly. I enjoyed the dual time line and development of Candie's and Sunny's characters.
The try-outs for the latest K-Pop sensation and elimination rounds reminded me of watching reality television shows. I really wanted to find out the answer to Mina's mysterious death.
What bothered me was how Sunny had been out of the music industry for two years and had no difficulty popping right back in with her physical stamina or musical singing abilities. Going from couch to hours of dancing while singing with little problem is not believable and I couldn't suspend my belief that any person could achieve this feat.
This book covered the high costs of fame--the sex scandals, the cancel culture, the price of being beautiful--and did this well. But I think it tried to do too much in one novel with the romance, mythology, and revenge plot lines also intermingled. Often I felt like big parts were missing.
The try-outs for the latest K-Pop sensation and elimination rounds reminded me of watching reality television shows. I really wanted to find out the answer to Mina's mysterious death.
What bothered me was how Sunny had been out of the music industry for two years and had no difficulty popping right back in with her physical stamina or musical singing abilities. Going from couch to hours of dancing while singing with little problem is not believable and I couldn't suspend my belief that any person could achieve this feat.
This book covered the high costs of fame--the sex scandals, the cancel culture, the price of being beautiful--and did this well. But I think it tried to do too much in one novel with the romance, mythology, and revenge plot lines also intermingled. Often I felt like big parts were missing.