A pleasant surprise, I've had a bit of a disaster in reading asian fantasy of late, with either cliché after cliché or overly complex world building and was worried this book too might have these foibles. Thankfully not the case and I greatly enjoyed the book and dynamic between the two main characters the grumpy fallen god and more than slightly sarcastic fox demon forced together to solve mysteries and subsequently falling in love with each other despite the fact that the dynamic duo clearly find the other annoying at the start of the novel. Can't wait for Book 2....


Thank you for the ARC Netgalley & Hodderscape, it brightened up my spring reads.

This was a dnf from me. I tried to read it but everytime I did I was literally struggling to stay awake and focused. Had to ditch for my sanity

A dazzling contemporary fantasy filled with Korean mythology, this book is such a fun time.
When a fallen God and a Gumiho team up to track down and exterminate a demon hell bent on destruction there was always going to be drama, especially when Kim Hani is the notorious Scarlet Fox known for being a killer and eating men's livers.
Hani may have retired from her soul snatching ways, but that doesn't stop her from irritating the annoyingly handsome fallen God. She works as a barista in a cute little coffee shop and takes great pleasure in tormenting him.

Seokga the fallen has been exiled from his heavenly kingdom and has found himself on the mortal realm working towards his redemption and the return to his status as a God in his rightful place back on Okhwang.
After making a deal with his brother to kill both the demon that is wreaking havoc and the infamous Scarlet Fox, he has his work cut out, least of all because Hani has no intention of being caught.

With hilarious banter, enemies to lovers, and a high stake plot, I really enjoyed The God And The Gumiho. It did take me a little while to get into it, but after about 25% of the way through the e-book, I became fully invested. Hani is hilarious! Her quick one-liners and the way she continually winds Seokga up made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions. The writing style is easy to read, and whilst the first half of the book is slower, this didn't ruin anything for me.
I believe this is only the first book in the series, so I can't wait to see what happens next. Korean mythology has always been fascinating to me, so I loved the opportunity to learn more.
If you love fantasy and you love romance, I would definitely recommend this one. It's original and quirky, and like I said, just a really fun time.

The book was quite engaging and enjoyable. I particularly appreciated the portrayal of Korean culture and the rich cultural beliefs and myths from Asian countries. It's truly fascinating to delve into the vivid and colorful myths of different cultures.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of "The God and the Gumiho".
It's a story set in Korea in 1992. Hani is a shapeshifting, coffee-making, soul-devouring and grumpy gumiho. Seogka is a once-fallen, banished, coffee-loving and grumpy god who's now working as a detective. They start to work together in order to save the world from its downfall. And they definitely can't stand each other. Because they have completely different goals. Seogka wants to regain his status as a god and Hani definitely wants to keep her past secret. But this might be a little bit more difficult than she imagined.
The story is well-crafted and a pure delight. You can't put the book down.

I loved this book! I initially requested it since a few friends had recommended it and I wasn’t disappointed!
It has everything a good fantasy needs; a compelling worldbuilding and interesting, multifaceted characters. I’m very excited to read more from this author soon!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free earc, all opinions are my own!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

I'm not overly familiar with the mythology used within this world, but it was so great to delve into it for this tale. Learning more about the Gumiho and seeing how it's woven through the story, it just gave the whole thing a fresh and interesting twist for myself. I also loved Hani as a character and hers were my favourite chapters, and when I'm reading an enemies to lovers, I much prefer it from the female point of view (and this book proved to be no exception).

A fun read for lovers of romantasy.

You know when you start a book and right away you get the feeling that you're not going to like it? That's what happened with this one and it was a bummer because I loved the cover and I loved the description.

Sadly, I disliked the writing style and tone immediately, but I kept going. Then, when we're introduced to characters who are immortal and hundreds of years old, but they act like teenagers, I knew this book just wasn't for me.

They're given these rich stories as backgrounds; one is the god of trickery and the other is a being that eats men's livers, but the way they speak and act doesn't match that at all because the author, for some reason, made them sound like modern-day teenagers. The "banter" was weak as well and, overall, I just didn't care for this at all.

It felt like the author had good ideas but kinda ruined them in trying to get the story to fit popular tropes. In my opinion, of course. I see a lot of people loving this and that's great, I wanted to be in that group.

This urban fantasy novel is a mix of Korean mythology, romance and mystery.
This book is pitched as Adul but very much reads YA, our main character; these supernatural beings, supposedly hundreds of years old, act like moody teenagers. Despite my issues with the character, I did enjoy the setting and atmosphere of the story. It evoked strong vibes of popular K-dramas.

Neutral Rating.

Unfortunately this book did not work for me, but I know it will work for others. So many of my friends enjoyed this ARC and I am honestly jealous I wasn't able to click with it in the same way.

I love the premise. The setting is original and fresh and the fantasy-murder mystery space needs more love. The humour was cute and playful and something I enjoy seeking out in my adult fantasy as I gravitate further from the YA demographic. I also really appreciated the use of mythology and folkloric elements here, and the way they were woven in to every day life in the city.

I think the characterisation and the tone of the writing just didn't hit the note I was personally looking for. Both Hani and Seokga feel like teenagers, and not just in their mannerisms but in their critical thinking skills and their emotional maturity. I love a bit of petty playfulness, the jaded immortal god who has lived so long he's reverted back to a state of adolescence, etc etc. But these two just feel like they don't have any of the personal history we are told they have accumulated in their many centuries of living. They feel inexperienced at life. And it threw me off over and over in a way that prevented me from becoming engaged and seeing them as real people rather than conceptual ones.

The tone of the writing also didn't land for me. I love playful humour but this book swings wildly between moments of light hearted fun and serious topics such as SA and physical violence, misogyny and female oppression. One moment Hani is bantering with her friend, the next she is trying to make a serious comment on the safety of women walking home alone at night. These ARE important topics, but they felt shoehorned in, wedged into gaps that didn't suit them, approached without nuance and care. The writing also felt very YA in this regard. I would personally place this title closer to a YA target audience than an adult one, not just for lack of mature content but for the maturity of the language and the tone of the writing. Both of these issues, though, are ones that probably shouldn't be taken too seriously with an adult debut, and I am hopeful Kim will grow into her adult writing with future instalments.

Having said all that, this world has a lot to offer. And I have seen so many people enjoying their time in it, if you think you could overlook these issues with the execution I would highly recommend giving this series a try.

This was the perfect slow burn K-drama esque novel.

Hani is a Gumiho who has been hiding since killing and eating livers has been made illegal, esepcially after her last killing spree which shored up her stores to sustain her for over a century. Seokga is a grumpy trickster God who has been cast out of heaven due to his attempt to overthrow his brother's rule. He loves coffee and Hani loves to annoy him when he comes in to get his caffeine fix.

Their banter is hilarious especially as Hani tries to protect her friend Somi from being arrested. I loved seeing Seokga and Hani falling for each other, but I especially enjoyed Seokga softening as he spends more time with Hani and he wonders if he wants to leave her to go back to heaven. The way that they put each others needs first is beautiful and tear-jerking.

Pick this up for a slow burn Korean novel with vividly painted imagery.

Thank the gods there will be another book about these characters. I didn’t really expect to love this book as much as I did, but it blew my mind away. If you’re a fan of fantasy K-dramas, this is the book for you. Looking back on it, it gave me the same feelings that Alchemy of Souls did, and considering that’s my favorite K-drama ever, that’s saying something.
The mythology was fascinating and I really appreciated the way the author incorporated both mythological creatures and their descriptions in English for those of us who don’t know all of them. The plot was amazing, the characters funny, endearing and still managed to come off as murderous, which I adored. The romance was the kind of slow-burn that didn’t drag too long and was satisfyingly because of the way that they don’t fight their feelings.
The writing is so visual I could just see the scenes playing out in my head as if I was watching this book rather than reading it. It gave me all the feels and I was thoroughly engrossed in my reading.
Although I guess it could be read as a standalone, you'll be wanting to read the sequel for sure, and I, for one, am dying to read the next book!

I love k-dramas and, therefore, I love this book. It has sass, bit of a slow burn and all the k-drama tropes I love!

Kim Hani, a gumiho who is overfull from devouring souls as the Scarlet Fox she once was, now works at the Creature Cafe and loves to annoy a certain irritating trickster god. That god is Seogka who has fallen. He now works as a detective who goes after unruly creatures. A dangerous demon, a threat to the city and probably the whole of the mortal plane, escapes the underworld and Seofka is given the chance to be reinstated as a god. All he has to do is catch the demon and the elusive Scarlet Fox. Then unbeknownst to him, the fox is right under his nose as Hani becomes his assistant...

Taking Korean mythology and giving it a delightful spin, the author weaves her own fantastical tapestry and draws you in, from the captivating first pages, and doesn't let go. The worldbuilding is exceptional, evocative almost sensual, the plethora of details so beautifully intrinsic to letting you touch this world. Info is conveyed in a conversational, friendly manner and I never tire of learning about these creatures, gods, the different realms.

Wit and a sarcastic flair walk hand in hand in the narrative while you enjoy the excellent humor threading through. Seogka is grumpy, so handsome and he knows it, oozing arrogance, while the sly, very clever Hani is more sunshine and sass. And she doesn't take shit from anyone. You will adore the inevitable butting of heads. Despite their distaste for each other they begrudgingly work well together. And it sure is entertaining. The internal battle of growing feelings for each other and the positive development of their personalities are depicted wonderfully. You will chuckle and outright laugh. A lot.

This is not just a fun premise (even though enemies to lovers is one of my faves) there is meat to the story. The POVs are all-encompassing, guiding you so well in knowing everything that is happening around them, that you often forget whose POV it is supposed to be. But you recognize each protagonist's individuality and acknowledge their journey. Intelligent storytelling gifts us with vibrant, exciting scenes, breath-stealing anticipation and delicious unpredictability.

This is a story about redemption. About acceptance and opening yourself to caring for others. It's a mystery, a hunt, a race against time, a heart-seizing romance brimming with captivating fantasy. You will absolutely fall in love with this book as I did.

THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN. I'm fully admitting that I'm reviewing this right now based on my level of enjoyment because while there may be some flaws that I can recognize or remember, I also did have a really great time reading this. The God and the Gumiho reads like a fantasy k-drama for me and although I haven't really watched any in that category, it was easy to imagine it up in my head. I loved the setting and loved seeing how these myths are blended into the mortal world. Most importantly, I loved Hani, Seokga and their banters. Without the banters, I don't think I would've enjoyed this that much. The romance was just okay to me (again it was the banter that I truly enjoyed, and while I think the romance was cute, I think it could've been better developed). There were also some parts where I felt like it was clunky and I also thought some of the dialogs are a bit over the top, but again I did imagine this as an actual K-drama and I felt like they weren't really out of place for that.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me of an arc!

(this is directed to the author but miss Sophie Kim, are you an ARMY because that Jungkook mention in the ending....)

First of all, a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

The God and the Gumiho is the first instalment in the Fate's Thread series in which we follow Hani, the famous Scarlet Fox, and Seokga, a fallen God, as they work together in order to solve an investigation and stop a demon that could endanger the world, if not captured.

Can we just take two seconds to admire the cover of this book? Kuri Huang did an amazing job. I am in love, and this is one of the reasons why I decided to request this book on NetGalley, along with the synopsis and the fact that this book is a Korean fantasy.
And it did not disappoint. I used to be a huge fan of k-dramas, and this contains all the things I loved about them: a grumpy fallen God, a sunshine gumiho (nine-tailed fox), adorable sidekicks, and a plot to die for. It is really interesting with a good amount of suspense, and a little bit of spice.
Imagine if Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Suspicious Partner and My Roommate is a Gumiho had a baby? It would be this book.
Do you need more elements for me to convince you to read this book? There is magic. A brilliant worldbuilding which is not too complex. The one-bed trope. Forced proximity. Enemies to lovers. Romance. Mystery. Korean mythology.

I cannot recommend this book enough, and I can't wait to read the sequel!

I did like this book but found a 2 things mainly that just made it hard for me to really get into the book fully.
1. The language
I really struggled with the Korean mythology. I don't know anything about Korean lore and so I had to keep stopping to learn or remind myself what something was or looked like. It was a little frustrating but I can also accept that my knowledge might be lacking.
2. The ages of MC
They're supposed to be extremely old but act like bratty teenagers for most of the book. Really struggled to see the appeal in Seokga and Hani seemed a little one dimensional for me.

all praise to sophie kim.
the god and the gumiho follows a retired nine-tailed fox kim hani, known as the scarlet fox, who joins forces with seokga the fallen, a disgraced trickster god. their unlikely partnership forms to hunt down a powerful demon threatening humanity.; the euodukisini. seokga seeks redemption and reinstatement as a god, while hani aims to preserve her anonymity. despite their bickering and secret agendas, they find themselves drawn closer as they confront the looming apocalypse. their ultimate challenge lies in whether they can unite to save the mortal world or let their hidden motives tear them apart.

i haven't had this much fun reading in such a long time. the book occasionally had the feel of a wattpad story, but it was well-researched in korean mythology and maintained good pacing throughout. i managed to anticipate the plot twist, but i was caught off guard because i had anticipated the story would continue in its previous direction. the 4 stars are because this is marketed as an adult fantasy, but had the world-building of a ya novel which bothered me at times. another thing was that the god and gumiho have lived for thousands of years and still act like teenagers. the only mention of their old age would be when their exhaustion was mentioned.

im not one for romance but i feel like hani x seokga might be one of the best enemies-to-lovers or grumpy x sunshine ive read. they both hated each other, they yelled, screamed, and fought...it was so delicious. the ending of this book had me in literal shambles because sophie lock your doors i need the sequel right now!! the red string of fate, the resurrection, seokgas pain...gosh.

when seokga said him and hani would see the sunrise together I WAS BACKFLIPPING, SOMERSAULTING, i was becoming a professional gymnast. a lot of room for improvement but still very good.

thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

Better than i thought, even though it was a bit difficult to get through at the beginning as there were many characters introduced and the plot was already a bit heavy, i found the latter part of the book to be quite bittersweet which tugged at my heart-strings. the characters were fun to read, annoying sometimes but it didn't hinder any excitement during my reading. the chemistry was okay, it wasn't anything great but good enough for me. i believe this would be eithet a duology or series, so i look forward to the next one.

thank you Netgalley and publisher for the arc.

"The God and the Gumiho" is a delightful adventure, driven by two devious, morally grey protagonists. Seokga, who exudes a lot of MCU Loki energy, is arrogant and expects mortals to cater to his whims despite having lost his god powers and status. Hani, unrepentant about her past as the Scarlet Fox, believes that consuming souls is in a gumiho's nature and sees no need to apologize for it. Their dynamic is refreshingly different from the classic "play by the rules" versus "break the rules" pairing, as both characters have their own distinct moral lines.

The novel offers an engaging mystery adventure set in a "creature" world that coexists with the mortal one, complete with glamoured shops and agencies cleaning up supernatural messes. Hani and Seokga's investigation spans across South Korea, leading to numerous creature encounters as they search for the human host of a demon. The exploration of this supernatural world adds depth and excitement to their journey.

However, some aspects of the mystery could have been better executed. The protagonists tend to latch onto theories too quickly, often not considering alternative suspects or explanations. Despite this, the interactions between Hani and Seokga are a highlight, with Hani's trickster ways providing both humor and intrigue as she steers the investigation and gets under Seokga's skin.

For those familiar with the K-Drama space, which inspired this book, "The God and the Gumiho" may hold additional charm. Nevertheless, it serves as a perfect comfort read, blending crime-solving with a budding romance between two crafty characters. The growth of Hani and Seokga throughout the story, while subtle, adds depth to their relationship and the overall narrative.