Sophie Kim has gone above and beyond by writing The God and the Gumiho. I knew I was going to enjoy this book, purely from the premise and the gorgeous cover alone but I didn't expect to fall for it as hard as I did. I devoured this book in a single sitting, I couldn't stop reading it

I really enjoyed the Korean folklore, being a K-Drama fan really made my senses go crazy while reading this book. The creatures mentioned are super interesting, the world building is really balanced and detailed.

This book is a perfect example of how well a retelling works when it is done right. It's a stunning masterpiece of of multiple tropes working well with each other.

So much fun!
Kdrama and mythology in one book! I love the cover too, it's definitely what drew me in!!!!
Such a fun read

- A k-drama in book format -
This book is set in New Sinsi, a fictitious Korean city, in 1992 and follows the events of two main characters: Seogka, god of deception, who after a coup at the reign of his brother and emperor of the gods Hwanin, loses his divine powers, his kingdom and is sentenced to live in the mortal realm (called Iseung) and serve his sentence by killing 20 thousand unruly monsters (Unrulies). Only then can he regain his powers and his kingdom. Hani on the other hand is a gumiho (or kitsune in Japanese - the nine-tailed fox) is the most wanted creature in the whole city and works in a café, even though she hates coffee. Seogka hates the mortal world, but the only thing he loves is coffee. The two eventually meet in the café where Hani works.

- A perfect balance of world building, plot and romance -
The world is well thought out and several creatures belonging to Korean mythology are mentioned: gumiho, haetae, dokkaebi, gwisin. Some gods are mentioned with their kingdoms located in planes other than the mortal one. On the one hand, the visual and easy-to-follow narration style was evocative. On the other hand, however, I would have appreciated if the creatures (and in general any Korean words, e.g. some dishes) had been described. Some are described in a few words, yes, while many others are taken for granted. As a result, I could not imagine in my mind what each creature looked like and how it was revisited by the author. Several times during the reading I wished I had a glossary, because
(a) it is frustrating to go searching on wikipedia all the time for the names of the creatures,
(b) the book is currently published in English-speaking countries and I doubt that most people are familiar with all the creatures and dishes mentioned.

- Mystery plot with 'bad guy' assistant trope -
The plot is investigative in nature: several murders occur, clues are sought, research is done and a demon of darkness invades the city shedding more blood. As Hani is a potential suspect, he applies to be Seogka's assistant in order to throw him off the scent, but then they have to join forces. The plot managed to keep me glued to the book. At first, I thought it was very predictable, but there are a couple of plot twists towards the end that I didn't expect and enjoyed. I did regret that the final battle was handled in a rushed manner after so much tension.

- Tropey romance and forced soap opera-style interactions -
The romance felt 'tropey': it revolves around the already-seen enemies-to-lovers. In this case, the evolution is very lightning fast as it happens within a week.

"Less than a week ago she's been dumping far too much sugar and cream into Seogka's coffee and handing it to him with a scowl. And while she still plans on continuing to do the same, it is entirely possible that she will hand the coffee to him with a smile instead of a sneer. Yet the absurdity of the situation quickly fades. [...] Seogka and her just make sense."

Although I liked the main characters, their romance didn't blow me away (maybe because I'm biased and saturated with those tropes), but I loved their banter. I found myself laughing several times at how much they teased each other, especially in the first half of the book. Despite being advertised as 'adult', the characters were very immature. Besides, they should have had a lot of experience, being creatures over a hundred years old. What I did appreciate, however, was the lack of graphic sex and swearing, something that is now abused when books are rated 'adult'.

" "Do you have kids? Demigod kids?" Hand watches with interest as the trickster god chokes on his own spit. "The other members of the pantheon have a whole gaggle of them running around" she adds as Seogka continues to sputter. [...]
"I am considering throwing you out of my car." Seogka replies."

I found the interactions and events very forced and convenient, soap opera style. Perhaps this is intentional, as it is advertised as a K-drama, but it is always something that makes my nose twitch.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and will read the sequel, but it's not much different from other romances in (a) the lack of worldbuilding and (b) the usual clichés.

I recommend it to those who like K-drama and the tropes I mentioned above (enemies-to-lovers, assistant to the evil guy who is not evil after all).

PS. Please, consider that citations are not definitive and high change upon publication.

Loed the idea but not the execution. I pretty much like the Korean mythology and reading about it but I dunno this was just not for me. Just at some point it lost its charm and I think it would have benefitted if it was a little bit condensed.

The cover of this book is gorgeous and it was so much fun to read! If you're familiar with K-drama this will hit home and be very entertaining to you! I loved the characters and it was so fun to get to know their stories and it seemed very original to me. The further the story continues the better it gets. Everyone should give it a try!

Rating - 4.75⭐️

This book was so much fun!! The plot and characters were entertaining. While reading, it felt like I was watching a very funny kdrama. There could be a scene that’s supposed to be serious but still manages to be funny with the dialogues and the way the scene was narrated.

Hani was such a strong fmc!! I was rooting for her throughout the book and I loved every choices she made. I also enjoyed Seokga as an mmc! I think he had a great character development and loved how much of a simp he became for Hani.

I was very much entertained with every single interaction between Hani and Seokga and they make such a great partners in crime duo.

I was very satisfied with the ending. There’s potential for a sequel with that open ending but I’m also incredibly happy with the way this book concluded that it could be a standalone.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊.

Look, when your book has Grumpy x Sunshine, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Forced Proximity, and If I Don't Drink Coffee This Instant I'm Going To Die And Take You All Down With Me To The Seventh Circle Of Hell (that definitely counts as a trope right?), it's going to be a hard ask for me not to rate it highly. Especially when all that is set in a grungy, contemporary fantasy world rich in folklore and mythology I'd never come across before (but am now desperate to explore further). I suspect The God and the Gumiho may be a gateway d̶r̶u̶g̶ book.

I love that the author knowingly leans into the realm of K-Drama, giving a distinctly modern twist to a story that wouldn't have reached its full potential if kept completely oldy-worldy and traditional. The stakes feel weighty and grounded - actions have real consequences and the characters have to navigate their way through them. It never shies away from the darker, grittier essence of those old Korean mythologies either (Gumihos are supremely awesome). There's a depth and lived-in-ness to it all. A somethingness. Character progression feels earned and natural, and their relationships to one another develop in a similar way.

I'm can't wait to read more of Sophie Kim's work in the future. (And to get my hands on a hard copy of this once it's out in June!)

Title: Completely Enthralled by this Gem!

I am utterly captivated by this masterpiece! Morally ambiguous main characters, set against the vibrant backdrop of Korea, weave a beautiful love story that left me yearning for more. That ending has left me desperate for the next installment!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing the review copy.

Absolutely blown away by this one! Morally grey x morally grey main characters, with a vibrant Korean setting and a beautiful love story! I desperately need the next one after that ending!!

Summary

This deliciously swoony and brilliantly funny contemporary Korean fantasy follows Hani, a sly shapeshifting fox known as a Gumiho, and Seokga, a fallen trickster God, as they work together to unravel the mysteries behind a rogue demon of darkness and kill it before it turns the mortal world into its very own hell. However, the demon is not the only thing they have to haunt, as Seokga is offered the opportunity to be reinstated as a powerful god once more by his brother, who is the King of the Gods, if he manages to kill the demon... as well as a notorious gumiho known as the Scarlet Fox. Hani is the Scarlet Fox, and she has guarded her secret identity as a notorious legendary gumiho for thousands of years. With Seokga on her trail, Hani is willing to go to any lengths to prevent him from unravelling her secret, and she does so by coming up with her own brilliant plan to deceive him in his investigations.Yet, the god and the gumiho find that despite what their own logic dictates, their hearts are inexplicably bound to unravel too.

Review

Firstly, I would like to emphasise I don’t think I have ever read a book that contained the sort of humour that will induce me to squeal with laughter. This book is so brilliantly hilarious, witty and full of charm that upon the first few pages of reading, I knew that I was going to absolutely adore this book, its characters and the world that the writer has so masterfully built. I can’t get over how brilliantly funny the dialogues and the characters were – the humour was so natural, and the writing is just so fantastic! If you are a fan of k-dramas, sunshine x grumpy tropes (done in such a sparklingly, achingly wonderful way), enemies to lovers, romance and even some spice, this book is perfect for you. I loved it so much, and I need to now cure this void inside my heart because I finished this too quickly, and I will probably reread it again once I finish this review. Also, I found the references to pop culture, fan fictions and ‘biases’ so funny and I think that if, like me, that is your kind of humour, you will adore the banter and dialogues in this book.

I feel like the main characters in this novel really shine, as in they truly are the perfect morally grey FMC and MMC for me. First and foremost, Hani was such an amazing FMC who exemplified a certain depth and complexity that only very skilled writers are adept at weaving into their stories. She was so wonderfully fierce, seductive, morally ambiguous, selfish and cunning yet she was also ferociously protective, endearing, charming and full of life and humour. Her character development was so wonderful to experience, and I loved the fact that she was not a perfect and morally righteous character but a very flawed and realistic FMC with the potential to grow and grow she did!! Indeed, she had redeemed herself in the end. Her love for Seokga is just so true and heartfelt.

As for Seokga, oh how I adored him! He is cruel, snarky, cold, uncaring and grumpy but underneath all that veneer of self-importance, superiority complex and arrogance, he really is just a soft baby who is thousands of years old and will do anything for his girl. I loved his trickster nature, especially at some of the things he did at the end (gave me a good chuckle) and the way that Hani has brought out the compassion and love in him just made me melt in a puddle of my own tears.

The dynamic, tensions and eventual romance between Hani and Seokga was just delicious, to-die for, tender at the right moments and just so very swoon worthy. I loved their interactions and I found that they kind of give me Bonnie and Clyde vibes! I was so invested in their romance because in the beginning, their interactions were truly one that was between two enemies, and I was interested to see how the writer would develop their relationship, especially with Seokga being the grumpy god that he is.

Also, a noteworthy mention is Hwanin and Seokga’s sibling dynamic!! We get glimpses of their dynamic as well as Hwanin’s character throughout the book, but it isn’t until the end that we really get a better scope of their relationship and of Hwanin himself. I must admit that my heart goes out to Hwanin and I really want to see more development in their bond in the next book!!! Their sibling dynamic is one of my favourites already and we didn’t even get all that much of it even at the end!

In terms of the ending, I felt that it was executed beautifully, and the certain element of redemption was done so fittingly. Although some parts did break my heart, I think that in this kind of story and with our type of morally ambiguous characters, it was very well implemented. The ending was satisfying but also really makes me want the next book!

Overall, this story is just so fantastic, and perfectly balances morally grey characters with such deft ease and it is masterful in its incorporation of Korean mythology into a contemporary fantasy setting. If you’re a fan of masterfully crafted contemporary fantasy with a Korean twist, sufficiently swoony romance to make you giddy, fantastic banter and humour and a good dose of sparkling, loveable characters, then look no further because you will probably devour this book. Or it will devour you instead, depending on how you deal with the void that you will be left with once you finish this gorgeous book.

Enjoyed:

- The unusual setting, and all I learnt about Korean mythology and culture through the book
- Enemies → begrudging allies → friends
- Feels like a cosy, easy read. I am sure this could be many people’s go-to comfort book. Kind of like a Korean *Legends & Lattes*
- Very visual, I could imagine everything and everyone quite well

Neutral / mixed feelings:

- The plot is quite predictable and tropey. But honestly? I didn’t mind that too much. Tropes are fun, and the world is already unpredictable enough
- The prose is good, both easy and visual, but it reads kind of YA-ish / fanfiction-y. Not a bad thing, as I like YA and fanfiction, but it didn’t always feel like the right vibe for the story.
- The characters were interesting as creatures of Korean folklore, but I didn’t quite connect with them and the character development felt rushed at certain points
- The tension between Hani and Seokga was nice, but perhaps slightly overdone in my opinion

Not my cup of tea:

- The romance. It’s enemies to lovers, but the shift felt too abrupt in a way that took me out of the story
- Following up on that… there are quite a few scenes between Hani and Seokga that are cute but didn’t seem to add much to the story, so they made the pacing drag.
- And that is also connected to my last point, which is that I would have liked this book better if it had been a little more condensed, with some of the fluff removed. But that’s just me!

You might love this if you loved Legends & Lattes, k-dramas, mythology, exploring different cultures, cosy urban fantasy, and enemies-to-lovers.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.

Sometimes there are books that you think will be perfect to read and when you start reading it, you find out it is indeed perfect. This is one of those books.

First of all, the world building was really good and nice developed. The writing style was something I had to get used to because it was almost poetic but ones I got used to it, I really started to enjoy it.

The characters were perfectly imperfect and I really liked them. The banter, the humor, the chemistry and romance was really good. Seokga was someone I had to grow into because he almost despiced me with his actions but later on, he started to chance and grow and became someone I really started to like. Being a God of Mischief, I really liked the humor and it made me laugh. He reminded me with that of Loki, who I really like, so reading this character with the same mischief was really fun.
Hani was a character I liked from the start, yes she is some kind of selfish but she also has a warm and caring side. And I really liked her through the book.

The plot was good, and I really loved the ending, for me, the book could use another chapter because I was missing something at the ending. Hopefully there will be a bonus chapter that includes a last chapter because I want more!

The only reason I decided to give this book 4* instead of 5 was because of the many mythological names and terms. For me, there was too much of it and it pulled me out of the story every time, so i decided to skip those names and stick with the characters and plot.

Definetely will going to buy the hardback of this book because I love to read it again in the future!

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for this arc in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed the experience I had whilst reading this, and will absolutely be reading the next book in the series.

What initially drew me to this book was the cover - it's absolutely gorgeous and I honestly added this book to my TBR before even reading the synopsis. Luckily, when I did get around to reading the synopsis I thought it was right up my alley, and although I feel like it fell flat in some places, my reading experience was overall positive. I thought the writing style was very easy to get into and Sophie Kim didn't really overcomplicate anything - everything was well described and I thought the plot was really well thought out. I did find sometimes that I was getting annoyed with the repetition - she uses phrases like 'very, very, very' a lot, and it just felt like she was overcompensating to get the word count up a little, and it just totally wasn't necessary at all most of the time. The emphasis came through in the storytelling without having to repeat words over and over.

I enjoyed the characters - my favourite being the main character Seokga and I loved the journey he went on throughout the story. It felt like there was great character development with his character, although sometimes I feel like his development moved too quickly and I would have liked to have seen a bit more of his characters changes.

I'd definitely recommend this book to friends, however I would have to point out it reads very much like YA and I'm honestly not sure if it was supposed to be under the YA or new adult bracket.

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review The God and the Gumiho.]

Rating: 5/5

Let me just start by saying that The God and the Gumiho has swiftly become one of my all-time favourite fantasy reads. And I don’t say this lightly, but seriously, it’s that good. I had an inkling that I’d enjoy this as I love kdramas with similar themes, and oh boy, the first page had me grinning because I knew right away that I was going to love this book. Everything was perfect, truly I wouldn’t change a single element of it. The pacing was superb, the balance between fantasy and contemporary was spot on, and the characters are some new favourites for me. This is a book that all fantasy lovers (bonus points if you enjoy kdramas) need to read.

This story follows Seokga, a fallen god, and Hami, a secretly infamous gumiho, as they grudgingly work together to solve a murder mystery. Their relationship is the type that I dream to uncover whenever I start a new book. The chemistry, the tension, the hate to tentative friendship to tender fondness is everything!!! I fell in love with this pair and their hilarious banter so quickly that I could feel myself slowing down my reading pace, just so I could enjoy being in the moment with them for longer.

Although my favourite element of this book is definitely the steadily building romance, there’s also so much more to love. This story is a carefully crafted masterpiece taking inspiration from Korean mythology that will hook you in the most delicious sense. I have some familiarity with the mythological names and terms that pop up but I’m certain I’d have still loved this even without that knowledge. Everything stitches together so perfectly, leaving you with an addictive contemporary fantasy drama that is simply impossible to put down.

Another reason I’m not surprised that I loved this is because I adore Loki the trickster god in just about every time he pops up in literature, film etc. Seokga is very similar and his mischievous streak had me laughing and kicking my feet on numerous occasions. Although we don’t see it too often, his relationship with his brother, Hwanin, sometimes reminded me of Loki and Thor (especially how they’re portrayed in the Thor films) which made me love him even more.

Also there’s spice and I wasn’t expecting that!! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t need spice to love a romance but I also will never say no to it, and it’s executed perfectly here. The tension and longing between Seokga and Hami is honestly so gripping and I was squealing whenever they so much as brushed hands.

I really could go on and on but all you have to know is that you need to read this book as soon as it comes out. If you like fantasy romances then you’ll love it, but if you also like mythology, murder mysteries, buddy cop stories and a lot of banter (with a pinch of heartbreak), you’ll love it even more.

I did not love this, unfortunately.

I liked the idea of basically getting a fantasy kdrama romance in a book format, and bits of it were nice: immersion in the mythology, fantastical creatures drudging along with their day jobs at the background of the modern world, some fanciful near-cinematic description choices (I had to laugh at the opening sakura blossom flying to the city in slo-mo). What I didn't like was, well, everything else - the characters and their interactions. They seemed so weirdly juvenile and cheesy, to the point of giving me second-hand embarrassment on every other page. Maybe this type of situational humor which is not uncommon to comedic moments in kdrama is easier (or I'm more used to) in seeing in visual form, but as reading -- I have to pass. The visual drapings of fantasy kdrama seemed to be hung on the bones of a pretty mediocre modern romance from the early 2000s, up to the pitch of teenager-level banter and mentions of RPF. I don't know, I feel like I'm too old for this.

One of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and it did not disappoint! The world building, characters and banter were fantastic and the humour??? 10/10

Hani & Seokga are a brilliant enemies to lovers couple and as mentioned before, the banter was perfect. The evolution of their relationship over the book was so natural and took time to build up as Hani first decides to become his assistant for her own safety and a tiny bit of mischief... Roadtrips, stakeouts and fairy bargains all help bring the two closer together and it makes for a super fun read.

The investigation itself is also really well done, the clues are all there for the reader to uncover alongside Hani & Seokga. If you're a fan of urban fantasy, kdrama, enemies to lovers romance & thrilling investigations then look no further.

Thanks to Netgalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the arc. I really loved this one!

Perfection!! this was absolutely amazing!!!I devoured this! this was so much more than what I expected!
I honestly have no words but just one.BRILLIANT. If you have not added this to your tbr you have to please .it's a must read if you are in need for a great fantasy!
Can't wait to have a special edition on my shelf! Amazing read, definitely recommend! 5 stars!!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review*

DNF

Unfortunately, this book is written in third-person present tense. I am fully blaming ADHD and related processing issues for this, but this style is honestly like nails on a chalkboard for me. I made it a couple chapters in before I had to stop.

As I would have immediately put this book back on the shelf had I found it in a store or read a sample on Kindle, I can only say that I am not the target audience for this work and I genuinely think there are folk out there who will enjoy it. As such, I am giving this 3 stars because the characters seemed interesting and there seemed a lot of promise in the story, but I just couldn't get past the style.

after such a long time since my last contemporary fantasy, it took me a little while to get used to references of fanfiction and gossip columns in a fantasy setting. however, once I got over this small bump, I couldn’t put this book down!

the story follows Seokga and Hani, two completely different people that should not work as a couple in theory, but who actually make a lot of sense by the end of the book. I remember thinking at the start that there was no possible way for them to fall in love, and I was really curious how the author planned on pulling off the romance part. the answer is spectacularly! I also appreciated their character development a lot, specifically Hani’s journey from selfishness to selflessness and Seokga’s switch from a closed-off god with a superiority complex to a kind and easy-to-root for one.

as for the plot, it was sufficiently interesting with its fair share of twists and turns, however I do think it dragged on in the last act and it could have been more comprised.

the ending was surprising and wrapped up the story really nicely. definitely recommend!