Description Book of the Year, selected by media outlets, bookstores, and publishers #1 Korean Novel of the Year, chosen by readers How does evil exist, and how is it ignited? A 'dark forest' of human nature, dredged up from the depths. Jeong You-jeong, beloved by countless readers for the overwhelming narrative power and explosive storytelling of every work she publishes, returns with her first novel in three years since her previous work, 28. Because she is a writer whose every new release makes readers eager for the next, anticipation for this new novel ran high for the full length of that wait — and upon publication, it immediately topped bestseller lists at every bookstore, earning passionate praise and support. It was also named the #1 Book of the Year by both Dong-A Ilbo and Munhwa Ilbo, the #2 Book of the Year by Chosun Ilbo, Book of the Year by numerous bookstores and publishers, and the #1 Korean Novel of the Year as voted by readers. True to form as a writer who always delivers unexpected twists within her stories, Jeong You-jeong's imagination shines in an entirely new direction in this work. Rather than inviting readers into an unknown world, she draws them deep into the human interior. Having relentlessly kept her gaze fixed on 'evil' throughout her career, with this new novel, The Origin of Species, the author becomes evil itself — offering an even more refined and profound insight into the nature of evil, in a style that remains unmistakably her own. In her debut work, Spring Camp of My Life, evil took the form of Jung-ah's father; in Shoot Me in the Heart, it was Spot; in The Seven Year Night, Oh Young-je; in 28, Park Dong-hae. Each time, she created and gave shape to a different villain — yet she was never satisfied. If anything, she grew increasingly thirsty and frustrated, because they were always 'him.' There were limits to portraying evil through an outsider's eyes. In the end, it had to be 'I.' It had to be the subject, not the object — the only way to turn inside out the 'dark forest' that resides somewhere within all of our natures. The only way to show what form the evil within takes, what ignites it, and how it evolves. — From the Author's Note The story begins when the protagonist discovers his mother murdered inside their home by 'someone,' and the narrative centers on the truth that unfolds as that 'someone' is revealed. Aside from flashbacks, the story unfolds over the course of just three days — yet readers will experience an unfamiliar and extraordinary world: an unflinching look at the true, hidden face of evil that no other work has fully shown before. This is made possible by the author's remarkable insight in meticulously depicting the abyss of evil. Perhaps evil is not so far away after all. The author suggests that the most terrifying thing is not out there, but right here — within us. The novel retains her signature speed and pull, driven by rapid pacing, unflinching prose, and a tightly constructed plot. But this time, while scaling back the scope of the narrative, she has amplified the tension and density with precise, meticulous descriptions that waste not a single second, deepening her already penetrating gaze on humanity and society. Readers will find a writer who, without betraying their expectations, has grown to an entirely new level — offering a completely different reading experience from anything she has written before. "I have finally met the greatest enemy of my life. And that enemy is me!" The protagonist, Yu-jin, wakes to the smell of blood. Before his seizures begin, the scent of blood always comes first. Yu-jin had stopped taking his daily medication for several days, and as always happens when he goes off it, he felt a surge of energy — which led to his 'dog sickness' flaring up the night before, sending him out into the night. As he lies waiting for the seizure he knows is coming, he gets a call from Hae-jin, who was adopted into the family ten years earlier and now occupies the place once held by Yu-jin's older brother. Hae-jin says he hasn't been able to reach their mother since the night before, and asks if everything is all right at home. Getting up, Yu-jin discovers his room soaked in blood — and himself covered in it as well. Following the trail of bloodstains from his upstairs bedroom, down the stairs, and into the living room, he finds his mother's body, brutally murdered. At last, he begins to understand that something has gone terribly wrong — something he had always understood in theory, but had never actually experienced.