Synopsis
A powerful, unforgettable debut novel for fans of PACHINKO and HOMEGOING
'Spellbinding. Jiyoung Han deftly weaves magical realism into a devastating account of the Japanese Imperial Army's brutality in the early 20th century' KARISSA CHEN
Spanning the 20th century, Honey in the Wound follows a mysteriously gifted lineage of Korean women as they are displaced across Asia by Japanese imperialism. At this novel's heart is Young-Ja, whose family is killed by Japanese soldiers. Her magical gift - the ability to infuse her cooking with her feelings: love, peace, delight - shifts into something far more powerful as her sorrow and anger seep into her confections.
When her talent is noticed by a Korean resistance fighter, she is taken to Manchuria and becomes enmeshed in a network of spies at a teahouse favoured by Japanese officials. Haunted at every turn by the spectre of Japanese soldiers, Young-Ja must learn to persevere, even against the brutality of the Imperial Army.
With spellbinding intergenerational sweep and atmospheric magical realism, Honey in the Wound explores the ways colonialism forces one family to transform and ultimately survive.
***
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
'This novel swept me off my feet'
'I will NEVER forget it'
'One of the most powerful reads I've ever stumbled upon'
'It will bring out every emotion you have'
'A breathtaking debut, rich, emotional, and steeped in myth and history'
'What Jiyoung Han has done here is nothing short of a multi-generational feminist epic'
'Spellbinding. Jiyoung Han deftly weaves magical realism into a devastating account of the Japanese Imperial Army's brutality in the early 20th century' KARISSA CHEN
Spanning the 20th century, Honey in the Wound follows a mysteriously gifted lineage of Korean women as they are displaced across Asia by Japanese imperialism. At this novel's heart is Young-Ja, whose family is killed by Japanese soldiers. Her magical gift - the ability to infuse her cooking with her feelings: love, peace, delight - shifts into something far more powerful as her sorrow and anger seep into her confections.
When her talent is noticed by a Korean resistance fighter, she is taken to Manchuria and becomes enmeshed in a network of spies at a teahouse favoured by Japanese officials. Haunted at every turn by the spectre of Japanese soldiers, Young-Ja must learn to persevere, even against the brutality of the Imperial Army.
With spellbinding intergenerational sweep and atmospheric magical realism, Honey in the Wound explores the ways colonialism forces one family to transform and ultimately survive.
***
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
'This novel swept me off my feet'
'I will NEVER forget it'
'One of the most powerful reads I've ever stumbled upon'
'It will bring out every emotion you have'
'A breathtaking debut, rich, emotional, and steeped in myth and history'
'What Jiyoung Han has done here is nothing short of a multi-generational feminist epic'
Details
16 April 2026
9781786587312Imprint: Manilla Press
Reviews
Honey in the Wound is unspeakable history given the power of myth and fable. Every word is truer than truth.
Honey in the Wound is a spellbinding debut, both a lyrical fable and unflinching testimony. Jiyoung Han deftly weaves magical realism into a devastating account of the Japanese Imperial Army's brutality in the early 20th century, granting her characters - and voices like them silenced throughout history - power and agency. The resulting work leaves one shaken. Absolutely unforgettable.
A fierce and mythic family saga, Honey in the Wound moves with the urgency of anti-colonial resistance and the grace of folklore. Even as history bears down, its most magical moments rise from the sorrow, fury, and enduring love of ordinary lives. Refusing to let the ghosts of the Japanese empire fall silent, the novel honors the truth still burning in the wound.
With heartbreaking passion, Honey in the Wound refuses to turn away from the dark underbelly of history, putting words to those who are forgotten and who survive despite. Jiyoung Han's prose is lush and fiercely inventive, wresting immense beauty and hope from great despair. This is a startling and unforgettable debut.
