Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Oh's previous book (XOXO) was one of my favourite reads of last year so I was very excited to delve into this book, since I am a huge fantasy fan. The author does an amazing job with this gorgeous Korean mythology inspired world and the culture. This was a beautiful story and also gave me major Studio Ghibli vibes (which I love). I definitely recommend this book as it is truly one that will stick with you.

The Girl who Fell Beneath the Sea is a beautifully imagined world with clever creative reimagined storylines.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overview:
The storms have ravaged the human lands for a while, with Mina’s people believing the Sea god is their protector but has cursed them. To appease him they send a maiden into the sea in the hopes one will please him as his true bride.
When her brother’s secret girlfriend is sent to be the next bride, Mina instead flings herself overboard to save them both, and discovers the land of spirits with the sea god himself trapped in an enchanted sleep.
She cannot live for long in the land of spirits- but can she wake him and bring an end to the storms?

Review:
Plot and World building- It had such an intriguing premise which is one of the main reasons I requested this. Based on Korean folklore and touted as for fans of Spirited Away? Sign me up.
The overall plot was enthralling and engaging, with a never ending gaggle of folklore references and explanations so anyone not familiar with the story can keep up. There is a whole host of characters and mystery to follow and the plot was extremely fast paced in order to run through such a detailed story in quite a short timeframe.
I will be honest there were some places I had to reread to make sure I understood what was happening, and some of the descriptions and language seemed quite basic and not expanded on-but honestly it’s YA, a lot of YA fantasy does this now so I was expecting it. Please bear in mind I had just come from reading a high adult fantasy which is probably why I felt that way. It made me take a while longer than I normally would to read it to be honest, but that’s probably just a specific to me issue.
Now I loved the similarities to the “spirited away” aspect- the land of spirits is beautifully intricate and explained and I loved every second, but the first few chapters in the lead up took me a while to get my head around. Push through- I promise it gets there.

Characters
Mina is a beautifully executed protagonist in her mission and I loved every second of her selfless development. There’s a whole host of side characters in the spirit realm who all compliment her journey and development so well it was a genuine delight to see a larger character cast get such good development alongside the protagonist. .

Final Thoughts,
Beautifully imagined, expertly developed and overall well executed retelling, genuinely recommend for any fellow Spirited Away Fans.

This book gave me such a massive book hangover, one I’ve not had in months. That is a sign of a wonderfully written book for me.

Just like the waves swept our heroine beneath the waves, this is how Mina’s story swept me away as well. Immersed in myth and folklore, we follow Mina, who sacrifices herself for her beloved brother, and she enters the realm of the spirit. I won’t lie, throughout this gave me “Spirited Away” by Miyazaki vibes and it felt I was transported into this dreamy and magical realm. It was truly mesmerising. Oh has the ability to make you fly away with her stories within the story, whilst at the same time convey powerful life lessons about family, love and perseverance.

This has already conquered my heart in the YA fantasy and the effects of this wonderful story will linger for quite some time.

Thank you so very much to @readeatretreat and @hodderscape for gifting me with a la early review copy.

“The Sea God isn’t angry, Mina. He’s lost. He’s waiting, in his palace far beyond this world, for someone brave enough to find him”.

I was charmed from the very first page. The first evening I read 70 pages non-stop - which for me is a big and very rare deal!
I fell beyond the sea with Mina into the extraordinary, mesmerising world of Korean mythology. Every turn of events was so fresh and unexpected, the characters - enigmatic and irresistible!
Shin, Namgi and Kirin stole my heart, I want to read about their adventures and everyday-interactions all the time!
Mina and her brother have the most heartfelt relationship. And I was also so touched by the story of Dai and Miki.
I was so glad to unravel their secrets during the course of the book, very gradually and still having more surprises to come.

I have never read a book on Korean mythology before, and Axie Oh made me fall in love with it. I am now hungry for such stories!
There’s so much I want to say about The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea, and it’s only the good things.
How it’s sweet, and vivid, and wise all at the same time.
Special awe is reserved for the team behind the cover - I cannot name any other book where outside and inside represent each other so perfectly! The art and design are remarkable and magical!

Reading this book was a pure joy. I am both glad and saddened to have finished it, it was such a beautiful experience.
I hope the Goddess of Moon and Memory will let me keep all the precious details about this story.

Thank you so much to the publishers and NetGalley for letting me fall in love with Mina's story!

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a YA retelling of Hayao Miyazaki’s animation Spirited Away. Mina, the sole point of view character, is a girl of sixteen living in a seaside village in a vaguely Asian world. To save her brother from heartbreak, she sacrifices herself to the Sea God instead of the girl chosen for it to stop storms that have ravaged the country for a century.

A dragon leads her to a world beneath the sea where the spirits of the dead live in a large city. But instead of becoming the Sea God’s bride, her soul is taken away. She has one month to find it or she becomes a spirit too.

But everything is not well in the city of spirits. The Sea God is under a curse that prevents him from ruling and stopping the storms. Political machinations aim at removing him from the throne. Mina sets out to break the curse, as it’s the only way to save her world.

It’s a book about family, friendships, destiny, and of course fated love. Bound to first one and then another inhabitant of the spirit world, Mina has to figure out her true heart in order to break the curse.

The world is fairly simple. I would’ve wanted more done with the fish and sea surrounding the spirit city and at times I struggled to remember the place is supposed to be Chinese, but everything described has its place.

This is an easy read: the chapters are short, and the language isn’t complicated. The plot advances organically and if there aren’t great surprises—at least if you’ve seen Spirited Away—the small twists and turns are where they should be. Despite the age of the protagonists, it’s maybe a tad naïve for the intended audience, but it’s perfect for the middle grade readers and soft-hearted adults.

Oh my god. This book!!!! I don’t know how but I feel like my heart is broken but also ready to burst.

The cover is astonishingly beautiful and it perfectly mirrors what’s inside. Every sentence takes your breath away, it’s lyrical but not to the point of annoyance or causing misunderstanding. I loved it!

If I had to say anything I didn’t like, I did guess one of the bigger plot twists which was actually quite exciting! And I think it could have been longer, because I could spend weeks in that book and not get tired.

Without a doubt it’s going to be one of my favourite reads of 2022!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this gifted e-ARC! You rock <3

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh is a phenomenal book. It is in a league of it's own but is also an ideal read for fans of The Bear and the Nightingale and City of Brass.

For as long as anyone can remember the people of Mina's village have been plagued by deadly storms. Local legend has it that the storms are caused by the wrath of the Sea God. In order to appease him a maiden is sacrificed every year to be his bride.

When the love of her brother's life is due to be sacrificed Mina offers herself instead. Mina wants to end the curse once and for all but with Gods and Demons set against her how will she fair?

"The myths of my people say only a true bride of the Sea God can bring an end to his insatiable wrath. When the otherworldly storms rise from the East sea, lightning breaking the sky and water ripping up the shore, a bride is chosen and given to the Sea God.

Or sacrificed, depending on the measure of your faith."

Mina is a strong female protagonist but she is also vulnerable at times and this made her more three dimensional and less like part of yet another trope. She has fears and weaknesses but she is able to overcome them.

"There's a warmth in my chest that nothing and no one can take from me. This is the strength I call upon now, because even if I am afraid, I know I've chosen this.

I am the maker of my own destiny."

I love the way the author explores the different myths and legends and weaves in such intricate details to make the story come alive.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an exquisitely detaied and beautifully written book and I cannot recommend it enough.

I was given a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

what an opening. Immediately draws you in wanting to know what is next. this fairytale of sacrificing yourself
to the sea as a bride only instead of drowning, you find yourself in the Spirit Realm of the Sea God. the mountain of creativity is positively Miyazaki.

props for a beautifully illustrated cover.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a magical, mythical tale with endearing characters and dream-worthy worldbuilding. Oh’s writing is vivid and musical, encapturing the reader from the very first word and not letting them go until well after the last page is turned.

Mina is the perfect protagonist: not considered typically beautiful nor brave in her small village and certainly not one of those chosen to be the Sea God’s bride but, through Oh’s use of first person perspective, she takes us on an incredible adventure full of magic, gods, demons and spirits.

Mina’s kind, humble and selfless personality directly clashes with the Sea God’s melancholy as well as Shin’s mysterious nature and dubious loyalties but this makes their characters and relationships all the more complex. Mina’s stubborn nature really resonated with me and you know I love any novel with a healthy dose of humour and sarcasm, meaning I automatically loved the characters of Mask and Namgi.

But most of all? I loved the story! The descriptive prose, easy interactions within characters and slow reveal of the spirit world surrounding Mina creates an amazing YA fantasy novel with a sweet romance.

I have to admit, I spotted some of the plot twists coming and the romance itself did feel a little bit forced proximity trope-y to begin with but I simply didn’t care! This gorgeous novel is a page turner and one that I will definitely find myself reading over and over again.

Now all I need is a physical copy and if it has a map? Oh, I’ll be in heaven!

A wondrous feminist retelling of the Korean myth of Shim Cheong.

Each year one girl is chosen to be the Sea God's bride. She will be thrown to the sea to appease his wrath. To save her brother's beloved, Mina will take her place and throw herself into the sea. She will follow the Red String of Fate into the spirit realm, to the Sea God himself...and that will only be the beginning.

I loved the wondrous feeling Axie Oh created in the spirit realm. It reminded me of one of my favourite film's, Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away. I admired Mina's determination, kindness and strength, but above all, her devotion to her family.

Mina is a storyteller and makes us consider how through stories we can see the truth and learn about the world and ourselves. More than that, this retelling upends the traditional, making us question the nature of fate, choice and sacrifice; is it sacrifice if it is the only thing you can do "to breathe?"

This myth was new to me and I thoroughly enjoyed this retelling. An enchanting, adventurous tale that made me want to find out more about the myths.

Favourite quotes:
"It is true that a wish is a piece of your soul. Because a true wish is something that if it never came true, it might break your heart."

"Nothing extraordinary is ever done out of reason or logic, but because it's the only way for your soul to breathe."

This book is beautiful both on the outside and in the inside! It is woven with magic and spirits and gods and goddesses and curses, along with love, friendship and familial love. The world building is utterly marvelous, when you read it, you feel like you yourself are in the Spirit Realm!

What I loved the most was the different relationships and deep love and affection shown in the book - the one between Mina and her grandmother (familial love), Mina and Namgi (Friendship) and between Shin and Mina (love for each other).

A must read if you like adventures, magical world, a strong protagonist, familial love and found family.

It goes without saying that this is one of my favourite reads ever!

“Beneath the sea, the dragon sleeps …”

4.75 Stars

Synopsis: When Mina sacrifices herself in place of her brother’s beloved, Shim Cheong, to be the Sea God’s Bride she is swept into the Spirit Realm. Determined to break the Sea God’s curse and save her family and her people, Mina must fight against those who want the Sea God to stay sleeping. But Mina is human, and the world of Spirits is no place for her.

The Girl Who Fell Benneath The Sea, by Axie Oh, is a beautiful beautiful book. Inspired by Korean mythlogy/tales, this is a gorgeous tale of fate, love and loyalty and I was truly and completely swept away.

Oh’s witing is gorgeous. From start to finish the book is intensely vivid with stunning descriptions that paint incredibly evocative settings. And yet, even with all of the beautful descrptions the prose still flows easily and is incredibly light and engaging. The prose perfectly draws you in and lets you read with ease while building intricate settings and scenes. Not only does the prose have depth, but the pacing is also perfect for the story. The book is relatively short and yet packed with so much emotion, and action, and stories all of which are perfectly balanced so that the book’s pacing feels perfectly balanced. This is only solidified by the dialogue throughout the story, with a careful balance of heartfelt conversations as well as wit, humour and sarcasm, everything in Oh’s prose works cohesively and beautifully.

The story is told from Mina’s point of view, she is the main character and quite the driving force in the story. I loved Mina’s perspective, being a human swept into the Spirit Realm we only have her human knowledge of Spirits and the Gods/Goddesses, so it was incredibly fun and interesting to watch her and learn with her in the Spirit Realm. Her perspective worked well to maintain mystery throughout the book and made the twists and turns enjoyable, shocking and emotional – I also really loved getting to know all the other characters with her! Mina’s perspective worked perfectly with the plot and the pacing, giving us just enough information at just the right times. I also really enjoyed her memories and stories, especially her stories passed down to her from her Grandmother – the familial aspect of the story was strong and beautifully incorporated, the stories and Mina’s perspective really gave you the heart of this book. Both the prose and POV really make you connect with this story because you can feel the love, the heart, beneath it – the book is infused with it.

So the plot! I LOVE mythology, So when I saw this had mythological inspirations I had to investigate. The plot has influences from Korean Mythology, namely the Sea God and the tale of Shim Cheong, however, this story is entirely its own with the focus being on Mina, a girl who choses to take Shim Cheong’s place. Mina is 16 and takes Cheong’s place to protect her brother from losing the one he loves, but also for her own goals too. When Mina follows the Red String of Fate to the Sea God she comes to realise there is more to the Sea God’s curse than her and her people believed, and that some in the Spirit Realm do not want to see him wake.

I absolutely loved the plot. It felt traditional and unique all in one. I loved Mina trying to figure out how to wake the Sea God, her working with Shin, meeting Namgi and Kirin, and other Spirits too like Mask, Dai and Miki! While Mina has assumed the role of the Sea God’s Bride, she has to tackle more than if this is truly her fate. As Mina fights for her own soul and the Sea God, she unravels the truth of the Sea God’s curse, but not without the threat of assassins, vengeful Gods and the truth about her own fate. From the start I was engaged with this story and everything about it. I loved the mystery, the idea of fate, the puzzle and the twists and turns the story takes. But mostly I loved how the story deals with love, fate, loyalty and family. From choosing your fate to having your fate choose you, to the stories that are fiction but reveal bittersweet truths, to the love of family but also of friends and romantic love – the themes woven into the story are strong and heartwarming.

SLIGHT SPOILER:: I was worried actually about the emergence of a love triangle in this book (because I am not a fan) and yet Oh actually sidesteps this trope in a way I found compelling and emotional – I really liked how it was narrowly avoided and yet the dynamic was powerful and worked well to explore what it truly means to love, and that love is more than just romantic .::SPOILER END!

Ok So I just really loved the plot, the story, the mythology. And I really loved Mina’s little stories that were told thoughout as well. There is a lot of depth to this story that while magical and beautiful on the surface, it holds so much more beneath it.

Characters. Let’s talk about this stunning cast of characters. Mina, the MC, is fantastic. She is stubborn, headstrong and determined but soft and full of love and hope. Every decision she makes is one born out of a desire to help her family but also to follow her own heart. I loved Mina’s character a lot, from her warmth to her stories to her love for others but also for her cleverness, her wit and sarcasm. She is a great heroine for this story. All of the other characters are equally well developed too – from Shin who get’s off to a rocky start with Mina, but has a void in his own heart and mind. Shin is sharp and to the point but has a vulnerability to him that was sweet. then we have Namgi and Kiring, who were fantastic additions from their bickering to their polar opposite personalities, and I loved their dynamic with Mina too. Then we have Mask, Dai and Miki, a trio of Spirits that you can’t help but love. Their mischief but seemingly good intentions makes you warm to them quickly.

Then you have the Sea God, sleeping from a curse and yet a character we come to connect with. The Sea God is a character that is complex and intriguing in a unique way that i’ll leave for you to find out youself! But we also get to learn more about other Gods/Goddesses too which add so much more to the world too! All of the characters are well written and you can’t help but connect with all of them over the course of the book.

Overall, The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea, by Axie Oh, is a beautiful and captivating story of Gods, loss, love, family and fate I would highly recommend this to fantasy lovers who enjoy a beautiful story full of heart.

*I received an eARC via #Netgalley from Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review -Thank you!!*

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enchanting retelling of the classic Korean folktale, "The Tale of Shim Cheong". While I am not familiar with the original tale, I really like the author's portrayal of it in this book.

I loved the storytelling. It is very poetic with fairytale vibes. The world building is also great, I really liked the Spirit Realm. I loved the characters too. They all are unique and well crafted. The trio of Mask, Dai, and Miki is my favourite. Also, the love interest is so well crafted, I loved him.

Overall, I liked the plotline but somewhere in the middle, it became a bit messy and a little confusing. But, the ending is satisfactory.

To conclude, It's definitely an enjoyable read. If you love retellings, mythology, and fantastical stories with a bit of romance, go for it.

On the other hand, I think that gorgeous cover is enough to convince people.😂

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

4.5 stars

Mina is not a Sea God’s bride. She would be the first to say so, although her community would be quick to echo this sentiment. She is unexceptional in most ways – she is not strong like Wol or talented like Hyeri. And yet, when her brother’s betrothed, Shim Cheong, stands at the prow of the boat, reluctant but duty-bound to sacrifice herself to the Sea God in hopes it will quell the storms that have devastated their village for a hundred years, it is Mina instead who valiantly dives into the water, choosing death to save the life of another.

Mina does not die, however, for she awakens in the land of spirits, where the storied gods are real – among them, the dormant Sea God, with whom she finds herself soul-bound and tethered by the Red String of Fate. Given the opportunity, Mina resolves to discover the truth behind the curse that plagues their village with deadly, periodic floods, although she soon learns that she must do so and restore her soul within thirty days, otherwise she will remain a spirit forever.

Although I can’t say why, this book was a slow start for me, taking me several days to slog through the first hundred pages until I was hooked in and devoured the rest of the story in half a day. Once I was into it, I started to really root for Mina and loved seeing her grow alongside other companions in her journey. I enjoyed the dynamics between characters, especially those who start off as standoffish and warm up little by little. The characters are so strongly developed from when we first meet them that it’s hard to believe the story takes place within a month.

I didn’t mind that the adversities weren’t extreme or that there weren’t many “risks” taken with this story - in the same way you can’t fault Alice in Wonderland or Spirited Away for lacking any real grit, Oh’s novel was thoroughly enjoyable and inventive while still being skillfully nuanced, leaving me overall with a feeling of joy and fulfillment with the story’s direction.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was the first young adult novel I’ve read in a really long time and I appreciate that it didn’t fall into any of the tropes that caused me to put the genre on pause. It was also one of those books that I didn’t think I was going to love as much until coming to the ending, which wrapped things up so beautifully and really made me appreciate all the little details that clicked into place.

All in all, this book was a lovely escape that will comfort the reader like a warm hug.

Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this charming read!

“Some might even call it a sacrifice- maybe that’s what people believed when I jumped into the sea in place of Shim Cheong. But I think it might be the other way round. I think it would be a terrible sacrifice to do nothing.”

Annually a ‘Sea Bride’, chosen for their beauty, wisdom and so forth, is sacrificed to the Sea God to appease him and calm the storms that have raged every year for the last one hundred years. With them sinks the hope that this will be the final year of the storms, that this will be the girl that will break the curse that demands a bride and brings destruction. Mina is not that chosen bride. Yet, when her brother's beloved is chosen, Mina knows what she has to do. However, arriving in the Spirit Realm, a bustling city of Gods, mythical beasts, demons and ancestors, she finds her betrothed in an enchanted sleep and both assassins and loyal servants out to use or kill Mina for their own motivations. Now Mina is on the clock to wake the Sea God before time runs out for those in the city of spirits and those on land and humans don’t last long where spirits dwell.

This feminist retelling of the Korean folktale, ‘The Tale of Shim Cheong’, is reminiscent of both Six Crimson Cranes (though this is a standalone) and the cultural classic Spirited Away. The setting is full of wonder and magic, with dramatic landscapes above land full of sky’s bursting with storms, budding rice fields, cliffs and mountains all nestling a small village on the cusp of the sea. Whilst below the surface lies a colourful city where anything is possible, rivers of the dead alongside forests hiding the future, city streets brimming with shops of wonder alongside dumpling vendors. Axie beautifully describes it all.

I loved the way Axie digs further and explores the idea of gods and worship and the relationship they share, how one influences the other. Even in the little details, using the city and setting to add symbolism, history and literary devices. Where the conversations take place have just as much meaning at points as the conversations themselves. It all shows such attention to forethought.

"You claim the gods should love and care for humans. I disagree. I don't think love can be bought or earned or even prayed for. It must be freely given."

Perhaps it is because the book is based on an actual folktale or because it seems aimed slightly at the younger side of young adult, but for the most part, I guessed the plot twists and ending but Axie’s writing, descriptions and characters all kept me riveted. My eyes still misted at certain reveals, and it still gave a level of satisfaction to be correct whilst remaining heart-warming. Love is explored in so many different facets; friendship, familial, romance, through worship and the list goes on. I also feel like it introduces us to the characters in a more intimate way I haven’t read before from Axie and so we get to know them better. It just made my heart burst.

It’s not epic fantasy or high literature, its generation worn and softly handled from family to family, embellished or altered slightly here and there and presented in Axie’s brilliant feminist penmanship because it’s a folktale with a beating heart of learned lessons, family, sacrifice and, and yes, I’ll say it again, love. So if you’re looking for an easy to read standalone with vibrancy and heart, look no further.

3.5 stars.

There's lots to like in this book, the Korean mythology inspired setting is whimsical and vibrant and reads like a fairytale full of spirits and magical creatures. However, I struggled to fully connect with the novel at times--the pacing is occasionally off, with events either being resolved too quickly, or plot threads going on for too long. I also am not a fan of first person narratives, which this book is; I would have enjoyed the scope of the story expanding past the perspective of protagonist Mina and getting more detail on some of the other characters, especially those from the fantasy realm.

(Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC.)

wow what a great book. I fell in love with the beautiful cover and the blurb sounded very promising. Absolutely appropriate for this great plot. Axie Oh has a wonderful writing style. It is easy to read, exciting and full of emotions. I couldn’t put the book down and I finished it in two days. The plot was well thought out and I love the Asian mythology touch. Such a fulfilling read. When reading, it never gets boring and you’re rooting for Mina the whole time. So far, it was one of my favorite reads this year

The characters are well developed and I was able to follow the plot well. The behavior was also easy to understand. It was exciting, fast paced and had an absolut fulfilling ending.

The girl who fell beneath the sea was an absolute joy to read! I absolutely loved the characters and their development throughout the book!! I also loved the style of writing! It was very whimsical and magical and it captured me straight away! I’ll definitely be recommending this book!! Absolutely brilliant!!
Axie Oh is fast becoming one of my favourite authors!

Exquisite! Axie walks you through the art gallery of her version of the Korean Legend, Shim Cheong.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the eARC.

One release I was absolutely excited for was The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. I've had my eye on reading something by the hand of Axie Oh for a while and after reading this I am certainly interested in reading other things by her hand.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a mythological and fairy tale type story where the gods and goddesses are important and story telling even more so. Axie Oh manages to weave that feel throughout the story well. Sometimes there were moments that felt so fleeting in its beauty, others that were hard to grasp as Gods and Goddesses often are.

I think that for me the story didn't live up to its maximum potential. I found the 'twist' easy to guess. I knew it right from the start where we met them that it was going to turn out that way and I don't understand how nobody else caught it. And I thought the ending to this story would have benefitted from a more open ending instead of the ending we got.

Regardless I still think this is a good story to read, especially if you love fairy tale type stories.