The Devoted
Author: Catherine Cho
Genre: Literary Fiction | Crime | Family Drama
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5 stars)
Synopsis
Raised in a quiet Hong Kong village by their grandmother, Eunha and her brother Solomon grow up sheltered from the violent world their father inhabits.
As a Dragon Head within the infamous Triads, their father's life is built on power, loyalty and crime, a world their grandmother desperately tries to keep at a distance.
Years later, Eunha has built a seemingly respectable life of her own. But when her young son is kidnapped, she's forced back into the criminal underworld she spent her entire life trying to escape.
As past and present collide, Eunha must confront old loyalties, buried emotions and the question of whether any of us can truly outrun our past.
My Thoughts
Oh boy...
This one ended up being a bit of a mixed bag for me.
The story itself isn't bad at all.
In fact, it's quite an emotional one, focusing on family, grief, sacrifice, and the lasting impact of growing up in the shadow of organized crime. Rather than centering on the Triads themselves, the novel is much more interested in how that world shapes the people living around it.
We follow Eunha through both past and present timelines, watching her childhood gradually connect with the woman she eventually becomes. I really enjoyed this structure because it slowly revealed why certain relationships mattered and how her upbringing continued to influence the choices she made as an adult.
Where the book lost me a little was the pacing.
The opening chapters immediately made me think we were heading toward a tense crime thriller, especially once the kidnapping enters the picture. Instead, the novel unfolds in a much quieter, more reflective way.
It felt less like experiencing the events alongside Eunha and more like listening to someone recount the story of their life.
That's not necessarily a bad thing...
It just wasn't what I had expected.
I think a large part of my experience came down to expectations. Going in, I anticipated something with stronger thriller elements, but The Devoted leans much more heavily into literary fiction and character-driven storytelling.
That said, I did become more invested during the final portion of the novel. Once the different timelines and storylines began coming together, I found myself much more engaged with where everything was heading.
And then there's Kai...
Let's just say...
I had hope.
Had.
I'll leave it at that. 😅
Final Thoughts
The Devoted is a thoughtful, emotional novel about family, identity and the weight of the past.
While it didn't deliver the level of suspense I was expecting, it offers a character-focused story with strong emotional themes and an interesting look at the lives surrounding Hong Kong's criminal underworld.
It wasn't quite the book I thought I was picking up, but it's certainly one that will appeal to readers who enjoy slower, literary fiction driven by relationships and personal growth rather than nonstop action.
⭐️ 3.5 stars
ARC Disclaimer
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
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