Happy book birthday to Yoon Ha Lee’s newest space opera, Tiger Honor! How nice to kick off 2022 with a brand new adventure. We’re going to go dark for a few hours so we can read it from cover to cover. But before we do, let’s have a meet-and-greet with the new book’s hero.
(And take note: Dragon Pearl spoilers ahead.)
Welcome back to the Thousand Worlds! This time around, your guide across this vast, mythological cosmic landscape is Juhwang Sebin, a young nonbinary cadet with dreams of one day commanding their own battlecruiser. Dragon Pearl taught you all about the role of fox spirits in this universe. Now you’ll get to see the Thousand Worlds through the eyes of a tiger spirit.
13 Going on 30
Like all tiger spirits, Sebin possesses the ability to shift between their human form and their tiger form. In tiger form, Sebin could easily be mistaken for a full-grown adult cat. As a human, they’re still held back by their age and relative inexperience as the youngest member of the Juhwang Clan. Thankfully, tiger spirits live to be hundreds of years old. That is, as long as they don’t join the Space Forces and get caught in battlecruiser explosions.
Welcome Aboard the Haetae
But Sebin has no desire to sit around on their home planet of Yongii, drinking tea and watching holo shows for centuries. Since childhood, Sebin has been training diligently in the hope of one day joining the Space Forces and rising to the rank of captain, just like their uncle Hwan. Luckily for Sebin, the Space Forces have lowered the age of enrollment from fifteen to thirteen due to increasing raids on the borders of the Thousands Worlds, and Sebin is assigned to the battlecruiser Haetae. Unluckily, dear old uncle Hwan recently revealed his true stripes to Space Forces High Command. . . .
You Don’t Get to Choose Your Family
Following the events of Dragon Pearl, the Space Forces have sent out a warrant for Captain Hwan’s arrest. Kind of hard to prove yourself as a new cadet when your famous uncle has been branded a traitor. It’s even worse when said uncle was the one who taught you all about serving with honor in the first place. But Sebin won’t be deterred. Even if it’s now more likely that the only things they’ll command on the Haetae are a mop and bucket.
But You Can Choose Your Friends (As Long as You’re Assigned to the Same Ship)
All the battle training in all the worlds will only get you so far in life if you don’t have the right allies by your side. As Sebin seeks to prove Hwan’s innocence, they will cross paths with other new cadets, such as math nerd Baik Jee, the celestial weapons master Euna, and the imugi medical expert Namkyu. Oh, and of course, Kim Min is also on board the Haetae. Remember her?
Let’s just say that Min’s not too happy about encountering another member of the Juhwang Clan aboard the Haetea. But we’re sure they’ll get along just fine.
Want to learn more about Sebin? Be sure to pick up Tiger Honor, on sale now!