Honey in the Wound by Jiyoung Han

Honey in the Wound by Jiyoung Han

The bestselling debut novel for fans of PACHINKO and HOMEGOING

'A rich, sweeping novel' EMMA NANAMI STRENNER
'Spellbinding' KARISSA CHEN
'A fierce and mythic family saga' SILVIA PARK

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.

Spanning the 20th century, with spellbinding intergenerational sweep and atmospheric magical realism, Honey in the Wound explores the ways colonialism forces one family to transform and ultimately survive.

***SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE ***

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'

Honey in the Wound is unspeakable history given the power of myth and fableEvery word is truer than truth. * Anton Hur, award-winning translator and author of TOWARD ETERNITY *
In Han's courageous debut, magic is a form of resistance which, like hope, bolsters the human spirit. Within seemingly ordinary people, there are extraordinary powers. This isn't just a story, it's a record of the brutality of invasion, occupation and war. * Eve J. Chung, author of DAUGHTERS OF SHANDONG *
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. * Silvia Park, author of LUMINOUS *

Jiyoung Han was born in Seoul, Korea, and grew up in the American Midwest. She has lived and worked in four continents but now calls San Francisco home. When not writing, she conducts research in climate change and human decision-making. Honey in the Wound is her debut novel.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781786587312
ISBN 10	1786587319
Title	Honey in the Wound
Author	Jiyoung Han
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Bonnier Books Ltd
Year published	2026-04-16
Number of pages	320
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.