A "raw, visceral and beautiful" novel tracing nearly a century of Korean history and the effects of colonialism has been shortlisted for a prestigious debut fiction prize.
Honey In The Wound by Jiyoung Han
Honey In The Wound by Jiyoung Han follows a gifted lineage of Korean women displaced across Asia by Japanese imperialism over 90 years of Korean history. It examines how colonialism forces a family to transform in order to survive. The novel is among the contenders for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2026.
The story centers on a girl named Young-Ja, whose family is killed by Japanese soldiers. She becomes entangled in a network of spies and learns to endure the brutality of the Imperial Army. A review by the retailer described the novel as "devastating yet profoundly tender," while another called it a "beautiful blend of magical realism and shocking historical events."
Shortlist of Five Other Books
The shortlist includes five other books from new authors, voted on by a panel of Waterstones staff. The prize aims to "inspire new voices, help create bestsellers, and establish enduring careers for debut authors."
- A Private Man by Stephanie Sy-Quia – hailed as "beautifully told" and "strikingly atmospheric," set in 1950s Rome, it tells of a forbidden romance between a priest and a woman with generational consequences.
- Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash
- Under Water by Tara Menon
- May We Feed The King by Rebecca Perry
- The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski
Prize Background
The award is open to fiction novels of all genres. Previous winners include Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon (2024) and The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty (2022). Last year's prize was won by Lucy Steeds for The Artist, which later won the Waterstones Book Of The Year prize in 2025.
Comment from Waterstones
Bea Carvalho, Waterstones' head of books, said the retailer is "proud" to present the shortlist, which indicates "an exceptionally bright future for fiction." She added: "This is a shortlist which showcases writing of tremendous energy, poetic precision, and spry humour, balancing nostalgia with innovation to stunning effect. It features genuinely vital global history and profound questions on the weight of faith and grief, while considering ecological change and the destruction of dynasties and legacies. Here, booksellers have championed six bold and confident authors who celebrate the beauty, joy, and absurdity to be found in the every day. There is pure magic and electricity in these pages: we cannot wait to share them with our customers, and to see what these exciting authors do next."
The winner will be announced on July 16.
