It has been a whole three years since my first post on this novel series, and I can scarcely believe that I am only now reviewing book one! To clarify, I am specifically reviewing the novels for Under the Oak Tree. I’m aware that the comic version exists, but it won’t be the focus of this post.
Truthfully, I’ve been a fan of Under the Oak Tree for a looong time, but the publication of official English translations has been chaotic and frustrating. Read more about that below… I can only hope and pray that Inklore (who also publish the Lore Olympus hardbacks) continue to release these gorgeous volumes!
Under the Oak Tree – A Short History of Its Many Translations
Originally, Under the Oak Tree was and it a duology and a side story that was published chapter by chapter on RidiBooks in Korean, authored by Suji Kim. I’ve read rumours that more was planned for the series, including another side story, but Kim cut these and has since moved on to other ideas.
Under the Oak Tree gained a following in English-speaking communities via hardcore fans who machine-translated the chapters on RidiBooks. Others discovered the story via illegal fan translations. The book is also available on the rather niche platform ‘Manta’, which looks a lot like Webtoon and specialises in comics.
It took me a long time to navigate the Manta app to the novel section. Not a great user journey.
Around 2020, Amazon published five e-books covering the original ‘Book 1’ of the Under the Oak Tree duology on Kindle. followed by the side story, Riftan’s POV, which I reviewed a few years ago.
I diligently waited for the finished translation of ‘Book 2’ before purchasing Amazon’s e-translations. Unfortunately, before I bought them, the ebooks mysteriously and unceremoniously vanished from Kindle, including Riftan’s POV.
Fast forward a few years, and the books are now getting physical publications through Inklore. By July 2026, they will have published a total of three stunning hardbacks capturing book one of Suji Kim’s magnificent romance in English, with book four scheduled to come later.
Note: Amazon published the original Book One as five ebooks. Inklore published the original Book One as three volumes.
Inklore’s Under the Oak Tree: Volume Four (The Novel) will not continue Riftan and Maximillian’s romance, but will instead tell the prequel story, previously known as Riftan’s POV.
I hungrily await the publication of Under the Oak Tree: Volume Five (The Novel) so I can finally, finally, read new chapters (I don’t want to read them on Manta).
Speaking of Manta, readers can also discover the Under the Oak Tree novel on the Manta app. There, you can read it chapter by chapter using the daily pass system, which sounds excruciating, or purchase the chapters using ‘gems’ to ‘unlock’ them, which sounds like nonsense.
The Manta chapters are much shorter than the Inklore chapters, which pull them together. A Manta chapter is typically two thousand words long, which, in paperback terms, is about eight pages.
As a reader, I’m not a fan of this system and won’t be engaging with it.
The final option is to purchase an ‘unlimited’ Manta membership for a month and binge-read the series, but it also means losing access after the month is over. I never want to see a Netflix for novels, so I will be avoiding contributing to this system and will patiently await Inklore’s physical publications so I can properly own the books.
It’s also worth noting that the translation on Manta is slightly different from the Inklore publication, perhaps due to Inklore’s localization team. I prefer Inklore’s tweaks, minimal though they are. Though I couldn’t tell you which version would be closest to Suji Kim’s original Korean vision, I would be interested to know!
Should I Read Under the Oak Tree (Novel)?
Spoilers for the opening of the first Inklore book.
Only you can truly answer that question, but to help you make the decision, I can share some of its themes and triggers.
Under the Oak Tree is a romance fantasy series for adult audiences, hence why this review is in my 18+ reviews category. It is a story about two abused individuals learning how to communicate and end the cycle of their trauma, if they can, and for that story to be told, elements of the abuse they have suffered must also be part of the novels in this series. As such, book one contains very explicit sex scenes, including marital rape, which is a flashback early in the first novel.
If I had known this going in, I doubt I would have read the book. As it was, I didn’t know, read it, and enjoyed the character development that ensued. However, I am sure that this will be a big turn off for a lot of people.
This is not a book for people who want strong female leads from the get-go. Under the Oak Tree is a slow burn, and while I believe that our heroine will reach her independence eventually, her journey to overcome her trauma is an arduous one that cannot be rushed. Expect a teary and frustrated female lead for book one.
Additionally, expect parental violence in this series.
Where/How to Read Under the Oak Tree Novels in English
- Inklore
Depending on what country you live in, you may be able to find Under the Oak Tree in your local shops. Otherwise, there are various options on Amazon in Europe, the U.K., and the U.S.
These are not cheap books, but there’s usually a discount on the pre-orders, and you could set an alert on your local second-hand platform to see if you can get lucky.
- Manta
Download the app, make an account, and use free daily passes or buy gems to read Under the Oak Tree. The cheapest method is a month’s membership, but you need to be a fast reader to make the most of it.
Under the Oak Tree: Volume One – Spoiler-Free Summary
This book is a difficult romance between two young adults. Dealing with themes of toxic masculinity and codependency, it will be a tough read for some. It also features serious determination and a strong will to live that others, me included, will find inspiring.
I love these books a lot, but they’re hard to talk about without running into spoilers! I think this is because so many of its moments are so emotional, even the smallest occurrences feel bigger than they would be in other tales.
Under the Oak Tree: Volume One – Spoilery Thoughts
My favourite moments in this book are the ones centered around Maxi coming out of her shell. I loved watching her learn that she could refuse Riftan without drastic consequences, and how she grows into the space allowed to her in Calypse Castle. Of course, the support she gets from the people around her is also heartwarming. I think this is what makes Ursuline’s outburst against her stutter near the end of the book so shocking. Until that moment, Maxi’s successes have been difficult, but she hasn’t faced any serious setbacks to her development.
Ursuline’s comments, however, threaten to undo a lot of her beautiful progress. It’s a real cliff-hanger to see how fast she will recover in book two!
Under the Oak Tree: Volume One Spoilers – Chapter Guide
Chapter 1 – Memories of their wedding night, Riftan takes Maxi away from her familial home, Croyso Castle.
Chapter 2 – Rude times at the inn and a description of the morning after. Maxi learns she isn’t so terrified of Riftan and her departure from home as she thought she would be. She also learns that Riftan really does believe in the sanctity of marriage, and therefore, he would not cheat on her.
Chapter 3 – The couple sleep in a barn with the other knights. Maxi travels by carriage towards Riftan’s home in Anatol. The reader is introduced to Ruth the wizard and his magic. It’s a long way to Anatol, so the group sleep rough in the forest, Maxi stays in the carriage.
The knights are somewhat introduced as a group, and it’s clear they don’t like Maxi much. Riftan is the exception, and he is steadfast in his adoration.
Finally, they arrive at Anatol castle—it’s unfurnished, and it’s Maxi’s fault! The chapter ends on a sleepy bath scene.
Chapter 4 – Riftan and Maxi engage in honeymoon activity. During the day, Maxi despairs as she must now decorate the castle within the budget, and she has no idea what she is doing. The maid Ludis and castellan Rodrigo are good to her.
Chapter 5 – Riftan must go the Capital of Whedon to receive the King’s praise for slaying the dragon. Maxi is sad about his departure. Ruth discovers Maxi’s poor accounting skills and quietly (but fiercely) tutors her before she commits too large an expenditure.
Chapter 6 – Maxi wants to remove the dead-looking oak tree in the castle courtyard, but Ruth says no. He discovers Maxi’s affinity for magic while trying to restore the tree supernaturally.
Maxi’s decorations are implemented—they’re lovely—and to Maxi’s chagrin, Ruth adds books to the spending list.
A troup of armed men from Livadon arrive at the gate. A dispute breaks out, but Riftan arrives before things get too messy.
Riftan carries Maxi to the bedroom.
Chapter 7 – Maxi guiltily receives Riftan’s gifts from the capital because she believes she lies to him in pretending to be a sophisticated noble lady, when really, she hides her abusive past from him. To feel better, Maxi helps Ruth with the making of the magical defensive device to better protect the castle against invaders.
Riftan gets jealous of her friendship with Ruth and takes Maxi for a horse ride. Maxi’s guilt over hiding her traumatic past from Riftan builds, especially when he confesses that he detests liars.
Chapter 8 – Riftan must leave to take care of a goblin horde in the mountains. In his absence, winter arrives, and Anatol suffers a werewolf attack. Maxi goes to help the wounded survivors and struggles with the horror, but succeeds in helping.
Following from this, Maxi agrees to let Ruth teach her magic so that she might magically heal the wounded in future attacks.
Chapter 9 – Riftan returns and Maxi continues to study magic. Riftan finds three stray kittens and gifts them to Maxi. Maxi accidentally gets drunk with the knights, and they lighten up a bit around her. Riftan is not impressed that his comrades got his wife drunk without him around. He carries her to bed.
Chapter 10 – Maxi struggles to gauge mana in the environment. Riftan learns about her studies and gets angry. Maxi wilts under his need for control, and Riftan struggles with himself to be a better man. Together, they go on a romantic horse-ride where Maxi sees her first snow fall. Riftan is still moody.
Chapter 11 – Ruth has a new idea to teach Maxi about mana, and it works! Her abilities with magic progress, and soon it is time for her to try a real healing spell. By visiting the knights, unsolved tensions break out as Ursuline insults Maxi’s stutter, causing Riftan’s rage, and Maxi’s decision to ask Ruth for help in improving her speech.
Book one ends with Maxi fearing the future, not knowing if Riftan will be called to a new campaign, and feeling her hidden traumatic past as a growing rift between them.
Thank you for reading my review! I will review Under the Oak Tree: Volume 2 and Volume 3 this year, in 2026! Subscribe for an email notification when my reviews go live:
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