I want to start by thanking Hodder & Soughton, Netgalley and Axie Oh for giving me an ARC of this title to review. I was incredibly excited as soon as I heard about this book, loving anything to do with oriental folklore and myth and being a big fan of Miyazaki’s work, especially Spirited Away which this book has been likened to. A few reviews I have seen have said the characters seem lacking but personally I didn’t feel that way at all. I admit a few secondary characters I would have liked to know more about, have them take centre stage but the book would have been too long and after all this is a retelling of a Korean myth so it couldn’t deviate too far besides I can live in hope that Oh maybe brings back a few characters in another book! A girl can dream!

So we know this is retelling of a Korean legend with a feminist twist but what exactly can you expect? Well for a start off you can expect action, intrigue, rich folklore and a touch of romance. I have to say the latter I was not sure I would enjoy but I actually became a little too invested!

We follow Mina whose homeland has been ravaged by deadly storms for generations. The people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them to despair and death. Believing nothing else could work they try to appease him by sending a maiden into the sea in hopes that his ‘true bride’ will be found and chosen, and the cycle of destruction will end. So far it never has.

This year the fate falls to Shim Cheong – the most beautiful girl in the village and Mina’s brother’s beloved. Surely, she must be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is due to be sacrificed, Mina’s brother follows her, despite knowing only death will await for daring to interfere. Only her brother wasn’t the only one breaking the rules and to save her brother Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Finding herself in the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina finds the Sea God, but he is trapped in an enchanted sleep. Determined to finally end the cycle and with a growing group of rag-tag demons, gods and spirits as well as a mysterious young man Mina sets out to wake the Sea God. But a human cannot live long in the land of the spirits and some will do anything to keep the Sea God from awakening.

Obviously since this is an ARC I won’t spoil the plot much further but I will say that for a short while I was worried for a somewhat bittersweet ending, thankfully it wasn’t fully the case and that the last chapter did really get to me. It was so beautiful and yet so simple. The perfect closure to this wonderful retelling that didn’t lose any of the strength or will of the protagonist as can sometimes be the case in tales that end somewhat happily ever after.

The characters are all memorable and as I said above while I would like a bit more flesh added to some of the secondary ones but this is only one book and you can’t expect that. The world building itself was quick but well thought out and beautifully brought to life. We are quite literally thrown into the Spirit Realm with Mina and we learn about the world along with her which was refreshing and something I really enjoyed within the book.

Mina herself was a bit of a dream protagonist particularly for a YA book. I do love YA but sometimes the protagonists can be a bit too perfect or seem to be. Mina was different. She is scared, she cries, she feels confused and concerned but through it all she remains determined. For the first time in a long time I actually ended up liking Mina within the first few pages.

All in all this book is a wonderful Fantasy, one that I will definitely re-read and recommend to my fellow YA and Fantasy lovers and those who love re-tellings of legends and myths. I can definitely see why some would liken this in it’s enchanting style to Miyazaki’s Spirited Away and I think it does actually deserve that comment but it also deserves to be seen as its own wonderful and magical tale of a girl who fell beneath the sea.

A captivating plot set in a richly detailed fantasy world with a brilliantly determined protagonist- what’s not to love!

I loved this book so much!!! From the very first page it jumps right into this magical story. The world Axie Oh created was beautiful and lush, and I couldn’t stop reading! Mina was such a great main character, even from the very beginning she shows her true colors! She was brave, selfless, loyal, smart and caring. She did everything she could to save her family and her people, even at the risk of her own life and happiness. The other characters were great as well…Shin, Namgi, Kirin, Nari, Mask, sweet Dai & Mikki will all have a special place in my heart! This story was so well written, I honestly was sad when it ended! When you come across a magical, beautiful world like this..it is often hard to leave! I would love more books to take place in this incredible world..If Axie Oh should decide to write more, I will 100% read them!

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh is one of those books that I desperately wanted to fall in love with but ultimately ended up feeling pretty ambivalent about. It is a Korean-inspired fairytale about a girl who sacrifices herself to marry the Sea God to save her family and broader community and gets more than she bargained for in the process. It is well-written and lyrical, and reads pleasantly. Picking this one up will make for an evening well-spent, as it is an entertaining and compelling book, but it doesn’t feel like a must-read to me. My main gripe with it is that the characters really aren’t that fleshed out, which in a poetic tale like The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea makes or breaks the story for me personally. I never felt like I got to know who Mina is as a person other than a quite generic YA heroine who is self-sacrificing, brave and cares for her family and community. For me, this was a three star read, but I can see it working much better for readers who aren’t quite as character-oriented as I am.

A big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book, which was one of my most anticipated releases, not only because of this gorgeous cover but also because I was excited to read this Korean fairytale that sounds and indeed IS magical.

I have to say that I adored ALL of the characters and realised how well written they all are(this doesn’t happen often in books I’ve read). The main character was very relatable and I loved following her journey and the decisions she made. She has clearly gone through a lot and cares about her family and her people and I loved how she tried to do her best no matter what. Shin, Namgi and Kirin were also very likeable and I found myself simping over every single one of them the whole time. In addition other side characters such as the Mask and other members of the MC’s family were a nice insertion to the story.

The world and the ‘magic system’ was incredible, and I loved the author’s writing and descriptions of the place or specific scenes that made the reading experience magical. As a standalone, the book was fast paced, with every chapter ending in a cliffhanger and making me want to read more ( I literally finished the book in two sittings). I didn’t exactly guess the plot twist but I had some similar ideas and so it was still enjoyable.

Finally there is a bit of romance in this book, which was the cutest and most adorable thing and it also made me cry. The whole ending itself was emotional, but Mina’s and Shin’s story made everything even more touching and beautiful. I would recommend this book for everyone as it is a very quick read but at the same time magical and emotional. This book also reminded me of the “Six Crimson Cranes”, so if you liked that book I believe that you will love this one too.

The girl who fell beneath the sea is a gorgeous tale of bravery, love and family that quite frankly made me feel all squishy when I'd finished.

For the last 100 years, the people have sacrificed a young girl to the waves to become the true bride of the sea god, in the belief that will bring peace to the lands and an end to the storms that ravage the crops. When Shim Cheong faces her fate alongside Joon, the boy she loves, Joon's little sister Mina can't allow Cheong to face a fate she never chose. So, Mina decides to offer herself as the sea god's bride and dives beneath the waves. She arrives in the spirit world, a strange, wonderous and dangerous realm where Mina must uncover the mystery of why the sea god sleeps and choose her own fate.

When I initially read that this was based on spirited away I wasn't overly impressed as I never truly liked the anime. However, this book took all the wonderful parts of Spirited away and put them into something cohesive. The story is based on a Korean myth and blends the two into something original and unique. The main character of Mina is a mix of someone who is strong, loyal, fierce and yet so kind. I loved how she adored her family and her neighbours, each decision she made was based on how it would impact the people she cared about. Mina is joined by amazing characters both in the spiritual and mortal worlds. You genuinely get swept away with Mina and her quest. This novel is beautifully written and so hard to put down!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an arc.

So....that premise, that cover = superb!

Mina makes the ultimate sacrifice for her brother, Joon, by taking the place of the Sea God's bride instead of his love and finds herself in the spirit world.

It starts off with a bang, no waiting around here! The fast pace continued through the book but I did find it maybe too fast in places.

I won't really say much about the plot but there was one part that really resonated and stuckwith me, so true of the world today:

'Your people suffer not because of any great will of the gods, but because of their own violent acts. They wage the wars that burn the forests and fields. They spill the blood that pollutes the rivers and streams. To blame the gods is to blame the land itself. Look upon your reflection to find your enemy.'
(Note - I read an arc so these wording could change in the final copy)

I loved the side characters, Namgi, Kirin and Dai and obvs Shin (swoon!) Mina was a force to be reckoned with!

Was a lovely story with a twist that I didn't see coming. And that ending. Made my heart sing.

A massive thank you to Netgalley for breaking my heart by providing me with an advanced copy of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh!

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is the story of a girl who's country is plagued by constant storms and weather anomalies, all of which are attributed to an irate Sea God. The people believe that the only way to appease this god is by sacrificing a girl each year to be the bride to this god. They believe that once the one true bride is sacrificed these storms will stop.

The story starts off with the main character, Mina, trying to find and follow her brother on one of these sacrificial nights. A few things don't go as planned and Mina ends up in the ocean and is taken as the intended bride. But when she wakes up in the spirit realm things are very different than what was believed. Although she was not the one that was meant to be sacrificed she still thinks she might have a way of fixing things for the human world - to bring back order.

This book was devoured in two days (it would have been one sitting if I did not have to work as well!). I've always loved Korean culture, but this book was the biggest warm embrace of a YA fantasy book that exists. If you love historical K-dramas, Ghibli or books like Julie Kagawa's Shadow of the Fox, then this is definitely the book for you. The characters are amazing and the small truths that are revealed in the last half are so heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time that I am not lying when I say I cried my eyes out.

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for their next Asian inspired fantasy read. It truly is a masterpiece!

This story and author blew me away with a magical world and a mani character who won my heart. A refreshing read with great world building, fairytales and cultural ties.

A human girl living in a world of the spirits , imugi, gods and dragons. Such an interesting tangled world. I had to keep reading to find out what happens to the MC Mina. The story as it plays out is full of intrigue, twists and turns.

Giant forests, gods, priestesses and the red string of fate. Mina is working to appease the sea god and save her people.

A beautiful book with lessons on life, family, love and faith.

I’d recommend this to people who enjoy a more fairytale style of story. A beautiful heartfelt message intertwined through the sorry of family and fate. Excited to read more form this author.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughten for sharing with me the e-ARC.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh is a beautifully written novel with characters that are impossible not to fall in love with. I was hooked from the very first chapter and not only because of the fast-paced action but also Axie Oh's exquisite writing that made for a wonderfully whimsical reading experience. I loved this book so much that I immediately started reading XOXO which is another one of her novels.

I adored this mythical, female-led, fantastical tale of bravery, family and friendship.

The world building is quick and immersive. Our protagonist is flawed, scared and has a propensity for tears. That said, she's also brave, loyal and unwilling to sit round and wait to be rescued.

I'll be getting it on the school library shelves the day it's published!

What immediately captivated my attention was the cover. I mean, how beautiful is it? I would give 5 stars only for it. Alas, I can't do that because the story wasn't as exceptional as I expected. The main concept was interesting but wasn't well developed. I felt it rushed, and the characters and their relationships weren't fleshed out properly. The writing style was okay but too YA for my liking. I had great expectations but the book didn't live up to them. Maybe a younger audience could enjoy it more than me.

Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead. Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep.

Firstly, lets talk about the stunning cover of this book but I cannot find the artist right now but trust me it's lush, there is also another version of the cover which is full on heart eyes emoji! Some of the artwork on books these days is amazing!

So the blurb of this book caught me, I thought it sounded very much like one of my favourite films Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away so I picked it up immediately. Once Mina got to the spirit world it was almost beat for beat like Spirited Away to the point where I thought that the author had just watched the film and written down what was happening, however thankfully this did not last long at all and I was gleefully thrown into the story and trying to guess what would happen next.

The story itself is a retelling of a Korean fairytale Shim Cheong and whilst reading it I could definitely feel the fairytale aspects of it. I actually wish this was an adult book rather than a Teenage/YA because I would have loved to get more in detail with the world building and characters. Some of it was only surface level and I would have liked to know more. For a standalone though it was a beautifully written delve into Korean folklore, you do care about what is going to happen to the characters and how they interact with each other is cute.

I devoured the book and read it in almost one sitting (stupid life getting in the way), it was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes strong female characters and a mythical world setting.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Hodder & Stoughton for this arc.

I have seen some reviews of Axie Oh's 'Xoxo' (yet to read that one) and so the moment I saw the author's name, my fingers involuntarily moved to the request button. If there was any hesitation that was spirited away by that gorgeous cover (you will probably get a headache choosing the US and UK editions). Really hard to resist a mythological retelling wrapped in such a charming cover.
I can't say that the story is unique; seasoned fantasy readers might guess the plot from the very beginning. Well, it didn't really go the way I thought, except for the mystery surrounding the Sea God (spot-on on that one). What makes this such an enchanting read is the remarkable prose that pulls you into this world and the courageous girl willing to fight her fate. Away from home, she builds a new family of kindred spirits supporting every step of her way.
Shin and his companions is another unforgettable bunch providing an equal mix of hilarity and severity. Wouldn't mind seeing Namgi and Kirin again in another adventure in their own separate stories. A wonderful story about family and fighting for what you love. Five glowing stars without a doubt!

Okay, so since Spirited Away is my favorite movie of all times this was a clear must-read for me from the get-go and I am so happy it actually managed to deliver.

It's a beautifully written retelling of a classic korean tale and I was completely enchanted by it. I don't know much about korean mythology, but it felt a lot like reading one of the Ghibli movies I love.

I was immediately taken in by the adorable characters in the whimsical, imaginitive spirit realm it was set in. The story focuses on bonds between friends and family next to the sweetest love story.
It was a really quick read and easy read for me that I couldn't put down.

The ending is rather predictable, but I really didn't mind. It's an absolute feel-good story to me and I adored it so much. I will definitely buy the book when it comes out, so I can re-read in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an okay book. It was one of my most anticipated releases of 2022 and I am still glad I got the opportunity to read an ARC of it.
The best thing about The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was undoubtedly the setting; it felt very vivid and well crafted, I could imagine myself wandering in the Spirit Realm along with Mina; it was also pretty original, I had never read of a realm such as this one and I think I'd read more books set in the same universe.
Another thing I really liked was how important of a role stories played in this book. It was really nice, as the story itself was crafted a bit like a fairytale itself.
I found the plot a bit boring and the plot twists were easily predictable, but my main issues is that everything felt too convenient. When I read fantasies, I want the stakes to be higher, the feelings deeper and everything a bit more tension-filled. I expected everything to go as it indeed went, so there was nothing to keep me engaged.
I also did not like the romance, but I expected as much, since I am more of a slow-burn person, and I knew I would not get that, as this is a standalone (which I really appreciate nonetheless). In general, they were a cute couple, but not to my taste.
As I said, I would read more books set in this universe, especially if they featured Kirin and Namgi, which were my two favourite characters -- and which I ship a lot, thank you very much.
Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for this e-ARC!

in Book Reviews · December 19, 2021

Book Review | The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
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A while ago I heard about a story that was similar to Studio Ghibli creator Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, and really that was all I needed to be very excited about this gorgeous book, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, by Axie Oh.

Huge thank you to Kate from Hodder for providing me with a physical proof (it came in such an adorable little package) and… I fell in love with this story.

Full review below!




About the Book
Title: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
Series: Standalone
Author: Axie Oh
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release Date: February 22nd 2022
Pages: 336
Source: Proof copy gifted by the publisher (this in no way affects my review which is honest and unbiased)
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis
‘Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…‘


Review
I guess I’ll start off this review by saying that if you’re after a book that will 100% have you in tears, this is a very very good choice. Happy tears at the end! And then sad tears when you realise it’s the end… I had to double check for more pages. It had a perfect ending for a standalone, I just wanted more of the beautiful story!


US Cover Illustrated by Kuri Huang
Also, this is another book where you’re very likely to be struggling between the gorgeous UK cover, as illustrated by
Karl James Mountford (featured above) and the US cover which can be found to the right. Honestly, both of them are perfect for the story. Get both if you can :’)

SO! The story. Our main character, Mina, knows that her brother Joon is unbelievably in love with Shim Cheong, and she him. But, Shim Cheong is the most beautiful girl in the village, and so she’s believed to be the girl fated to end the curse of the Sea God, which would be from being sacrificed to him to become the Sea God’s bride. Mina knows that Joon is trying to stop it from happening, and to keep both him and Shim Cheong safe she intervenes and sacrifices herself instead. (Being taken to the Sea God’s spirit realm by a DRAGON, no less.)

Once Mina is in the spirit realm, she finds that the beloved Sea God is no more than a mere boy, stuck in a very long sleep. Here is where she also meet Lord Shin… who tasks himself with protecting the Sea God, and so separates Mina’s fate from that of the Sea God’s, to keep him safe. In doing so, Mina is separated from her own spirit, which is then stolen by Shin.

Things don’t exactly go to plan… and Mina ends up with her fate tied to Shin’s. This happens within the first third of the book and everything gets so much more eventful after that (which is saying something, because even before then so much happens).

Mina has a love for stories, thanks to her Grandmother, and this results in us hearing a lot of them throughout which just add to magical elements of the story itself. At one point, she actually tells the Tale of Shim Cheong itself.

When I went to write up this review, it was actually the first time I looked into ‘The Tale of Shim Cheong‘, the Korean folktale the story is a retelling of. So… in the folktale, Shim Cheong sacrifices herself to “cure” her father’s blindness, and ends up marrying the emperor as a reward whilst her father regains his eyesight. I love how Axie turned the tale into such a beautiful story, and I really love how there’s no change to Shim Cheong’s father. I don’t know if it was intended to be that way, but to me it seems like Axie’s way of saying Shim Cheong’s father’s blindness never needed to be “cured”, and I love that.

In terms of the world-building, it is genuinely beautiful. The idea of a world under the sea with floating fish, dragons and other mythical creatures… although it sounds dangerous, it would also be gorgeous to see. Axie Oh writes it in such a way you can picture it all perfectly.

Characters, obviously Mina is a remarkable girl. She doesn’t take long to decide to sacrifice everything she has to save her brother and throughout the story she’s determined to break the Sea God’s curse and save the living people, no matter what sacrifices she has to give up along the way to achieve this. She goes through heartbreak and is hurt physically, but even still she persists throughout to help as many as she can.

Shin is one of those secret cinnamon rolls. He appears mysterious and heartless but you quickly find out that there is a lot more to him, and he’d do anything for his friends. Including Namgi and Kirin, who basically act like two brothers who squabble consistently but they are equally lovely people. Mina also meets three mysterious spirits in the world, who help her from their very first encounter, Dai, Mask and baby Miki. Every time they popped up in the story, I couldn’t help but smile. They’re forever cute and these six characters definitely end up fulfilling the ‘found family’ trope (a personal favourite).

The world may be beautiful, but it’s also deadly. And Mina finds out that there a lot who are hoping to destroy the Sea God once and for all. Her faith in the gods and goddesses is tested also, as she finds out they aren’t all she had hoped for.

Of course, the biggest comparison is that of to Spirited Away… but I will admit at times I was also reminded of Studio Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle. So, basically, if you love Ghibli in general you’ll love this story. You’ll laugh, you’ll probably cry and you’ll smile a lot reading this story. It’s one that you 100% need to get your preorders in for!

there is so much comfort found within the stories of this book, each character brought so much to this story and i adored it. the story has been so beautifully thought out and created and i cherished reading it. i can’t wait for everyone to read this story!

I devoured this book. It is the kind that will keep you turning the page as the clock strikes 4am, and that’s exactly what I did.

I cannot rate this book highly enough. The world created by the author is so complex, and yet it is told to the reader so simply that you don’t have to try hard to find yourself immersed in it. Before reading this book. I had seen a small section of a review comparing the novel to spirited away, and it definitely has that feel about it.

The author is able to balance the mortal world with the otherworldliness of the sea gods kingdom, and makes you the reader feel as though we could find ourselves there one day, just beneath the waves.

The characters were written really well, I felt as though I could connect to every one of them, and Mina as the heroine is someone that you are rooting for the entire way through the book.

There are a few twists and turns, and the author doesn’t give much away. There are a few hints to some of the plot lines which are easily noticed in hindsight, once we are told the truth. But the reason I could not put this book down was that I genuinely did not know how it would turn out, how Mina would save her people, if she would be able to leave the sea. The plot is so well constructed, every tiny detail is necessary for some reason or other, that is not immediately clear.

I would recommend this book, and I will be re-reading again in the future. I would love a sequel!

I really loved this! This book has definite Spirited Away vibes which I LOVE. The settings and characters were unique and intriguing and from the very first page I was hooked! throughout the whole book I had to battle with whizzing through it because I just had to find out what happened next, and wanting to take my time to enjoy every little detail of the characters and the world that the author has created. I loved it and will definitely be buying a copy when it comes out, as well as recommending it in the library.