Dokebi Bride: Vol. 3

by Marley

Synopsis
Understood by no one, and still coming to terms with her ability to interact with the spirit world, Sunbi ventures deeper into darkness. In a rainy forest, she tries to lure out the impish dokebis, hoping to enlist their aid. Knowing they cannot clean themselves, she throws pain on one decidedly earthy spirit and offers to wash him in exchange for his help. The dokebi agrees to Sunbi's deal -- but will this roguish imp be able to help her defeat the powerful forces threatening her body? Meanwhile, back in so-called real life, Sunbi's classmate Taehoon continues to have feelings for her... and her human family decides she needs psychiatric care! It all comes to a head in Volume 3 of this hair-raising, mind-expanding thriller!

Review
Finally Sunbi finds someone who may be able to help her, a dokebi, a spirit who is neither good nor bad, but who can be helpful. However, while luring the dokebis out was a chore in and of itself, getting one to help her is far from easy. The one she picks wants to kill her for putting paint on him, and then ... he finds out she's a she. He flips out after that, saying how cute she is, and tries to force himself on her. Fortunately, she stops him (I don't quite know how), and he becomes more cowed towards her. Soon after that, they come to an understanding, and he gives her a ring that she can summon him with (by licking it!). I get the feeling that he is enthralled by her, and he brags to his friends how cute she is. It's actually kind of cute to watch them together, as he's quite a lech, and she's always strong and in control. I laughed out loud at his antics several times, and I think things are going to get better for Sunbi.

The only dark shadow that I didn't like was the paranormal stuff. I don't believe in anything like that, but of course, I can suspend my disbelief for a story. The people in the book talk callously about "skeptics" because they think we have closed minds. I think a lot of that is misunderstand skeptics and science, but I also do recognize that this is a story, so perhaps they're only referring to skeptics in their world.

Where's it going to go from here?

Final thought: I'll keep collecting this series.