The Omen Girl coming October 7th, 2025 from Wattpad Books; 288 pages
Content Warning: Death, violence, gore, murder
About the Author: “Yueh Yang is a Canadian immigrant born to a Korean mother and Taiwanese father. Moving as a child from the small summer island of Taiwan to the vast winter wonderland of Canada set in her a love and awe for the beauty of different worlds. Her works are a colorful blend of science fiction and fantasy, and often explore the premise of barriers, be it language or otherwise. She is a piano teacher by day, and an avid consumer of all things movies and anime by night. She lives in Toronto with her husband, daughter, and cat” (Bio from publisher’s website).
Find Yueh Yang on the following platforms:
This story centers around a girl named Sozo, who was born with a stain on her skin. Ever since, people have looked at her not as a girl, but as something to fear. Though her mark defines her place in the world, it is also something she can hide by will. When her mentor urges her to enter the Decade Race, a high-stakes competition that grants one wish to its winner, Sozo agrees, hoping to change the fate of others like her. To compete, she must hide both her identity and her past, stepping into the life of another. As the race progresses, Sozo forms unexpected connections, including a relationship with Naqi, whose light contrasts Sozo’s shadows in every way. But with every lie she tells to survive, the truth threatens to surface.
I was first drawn to The Omen Girl because of its cover, which caught my attention right away. Once I started reading, I really enjoyed the story. The Omen Girl by Yueh Yang is a thoughtful young adult book that explores identity, feeling excluded, and choosing your own path. The magic system felt fresh and different, unlike anything I had read before. I can tell Yang spent a good amount of time setting the scene, which I appreciated. It made me want to look up parts of the world she described just so I could picture it better. One of my favorite observations was how the book blends different Asian influences instead of focusing on just one culture. Whether it was the architecture, the festivals, or even the food, it made the world feel more real and diverse. The diverse cultural elements strengthen the story and offer a refreshing representation that is often missing in young adult fantasy. The main character, Sozo, also really stood out to me. Sozo’s strength and vulnerability made her feel real and relatable, showing her growth despite the challenges she faces. As a person of color, I understand how people can make assumptions before actually getting to know you, so even though Sozo’s “stain” is not about race, I could relate to how she is judged unfairly. I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a story that is a bit dark but also touches on themes like expectations, loss, pushing through tough times, and figuring out who you really are. It felt honest and reminded me to think about how important it is to look beyond first impressions.
The Omen Girl releases on October 7th, 2025.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Wattpad Books for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Keonte Emerson, Pine Reads Review Writer & Editor