A death, a lie, a secret. For twenty-six summers he didn't have the courage to face the past. Lee Hanjo is an artist at the peak of his fame, envied and celebrated. Then, on his forty-third birthday, he awakens to find that his devoted wife has disappeared, leaving behind a soon-to-be-published novel she'd secretly written about the sordid past and questionable morality of an artist with a trajectory similar to Hanjo's. It's clear to him that his life is about to shatter and the demons from his past will come out. But why did his wife do it? Why now? The book forces Hanjo to reflect on a summer from his youth when a deadly lie irreversibly and tragically determined the fates of two families. From master storyteller J. M. Lee, one of Korea's most renowned authors, comes an unforgettable novel of hidden truths, denials, and their inevitable repercussions. Everyone still left standing from that terrible summer so long ago must finally reckon with the deceptions that started it all and, twist after shocking twist, reap both the suffering and the vindication that comes with revenge.

Shadows of the Dark Crystal is the first book in a series of young adult novels set in the world of Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal and ties into the Netflix The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance series. The story takes place years before the events of the classic film and follows the journey of a young Gelfling woman who leaves her secluded home to uncover the truth surrounding the disappearance of her brother who has been accused of treason by the sinister Skeksis Lords. Praise for Shadows of the Dark Crystal: "With deft nods to the original Dark Crystal movie and a passionate attention to detail, the author has fashioned an impressive prequel. Fans (who will instantly recognize certain elements) and newcomers alike will find themselves immersed in a new narrative, with new protagonists and dangers to face. Readers who crave otherworld fantasy such as Jaleigh Johnson's The Mark of the Dragonfly and Paul Durham's The Luck Uglies will enjoy discovering this new series." -School Library Journal "While young readers probably won't have seen the film, the books might lead them to it; even if they don't have that point of reference, Henson's world is richly imagined here, and it will be well worth the projected four books to explore the landscape, characters, and storylines." -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Characters and situations are compelling, and this first of a planned four-volume series aptly sets the stage and the conflict and tugs strongly on the heartstrings, setting readers up for more great adventures" -Booklist Before you watch the upcoming Netflix series, read the original novels from J. M. Lee (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) that intertwine with the events of the series. Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Shadows of the Dark Crystal is set years before the events of the classic film and follows the journey of a young Gelfling woman who leaves her secluded home to uncover the truth surrounding the disappearance of her brother who has been accused of treason by the sinister Skeksis Lords.

An unidentified body is discovered in New York City, with numbers and symbols are written in blood near the corpse. Gil mo, a North Korean national who interprets the world through numbers, formulas, and mathematical theories, is arrested on the spot. Angela, a CIA operative, is assigned to gain his trust and access his unique thought-process. The enigmatic Gil mo used to have a quiet life back in Pyongyang. But when his father, a preeminent doctor is discovered to be a secret Christian, he is subsequently incarcerated along with Gilmo, in a political prison overseen by a harsh, cruel warden. There, Gilmo meets the spirited Yeong-ae, who becomes his only friend. When Yeong- ae manages to escape, Gil mo flees to track her down. He uses his peculiar gifts to navigate betrayal and the criminal underworld of east Asia-a world wholly alien to everything he's ever known. In The Boy Who Escaped Paradise, celebrated author J. M. Lee delves into a hidden world filled with vivid characters trapped by ideology, greed, and despair. Gil mo's saga forces the reader to question the line between good and evil, truth and falsehood, captivity and freedom.