I actually recently reread this. I liked it better on the reread than the first time through. The first time I was really hung up on how this really felt like some Spirited Away fanfiction. Haku for days. Overall the setting was nice and atmospheric. I would like young, female MCs to need less saving from all their poorly thought out decisions.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

It took me a second to get to this title but I'm glad I finally made it because I ended up really enjoying this and wow, sometimes it feels hard to find a book where I really LOVE the romance. But this HAD me.

I will say tho, that my least favorite moments were the ones that nearly overlapped with Miyazaki's Spirited Away, which was a big chunk of the start. Idk why since that's in my top 3 movies (probably, if I had a top 3 list, lol).

Regardless, the book did charm me by the end. I thought the ending was great, the mythology engaging, and the characters fun and inspiring (Mina's fire was especially fire ;) hehe)

What a lovely, unexpected read. We go into the early chapters with some clear expectations of what is coming. And many of those expectations are ultimately confirmed. But the journey to that point is lovely and almost meandering. The cast of characters is odd but distinct. For all their magical nature they feel very real and consistent. Its incredibly atmospheric and that alone makes it worth a look.

4.5 stars, rounded up

Wow, I kinda hate myself for not reading this sooner!

This story is fantastic and magical, a beautifully woven narrative with its own uniquely creative take on the Korean folktale "The Tale of Shim Cheong."

THE GIRL WHO FELL BENEATH THE SEA tells the story of Mina, who gives herself as a bride sacrifice to the Sea God, in order to appease him (and stop the storms that ravage her land) and take the place of her brother's beloved Shim Cheong. There in the Spirit Real, Mina meets a cast of spirits and gods that help her on her way to find and wake the Sea God.

Axie Oh is very gifted storyteller, and this book engaged me from beginning to end. It's a captivating story of duty and sacrifice, family and fate. The worldbuilding and writing are utterly mesmerizing. A new book I'm adding to my "books to recommend" arsenal.

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

The first thing that drew me in was the beautiful cover of this book. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is stunning, from the cover to the writing inside. Once I started, I couldn't stop reading.

Axie Oh is an excellent author, and this story is just impeccable. The world building and character building are both incredible, and you fall in love with each and every aspect of the story along the way.

I give this read an easy 5 stars, and would give more if it were possible. One of my top reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, and also thank you to the author for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This book was not for me. It was not bad, the writing was just not the right fit for me as a reader pacing wise.

There will always be something about East Asian culture that has me absolutely fascinated and hooked. I fall in love with their stories each and every time. The fantasy, the romance, the angst and the culture. This is something evreyone needs to read especially when diversifying their fantasy reads!
Thanks NetGalley

The vibes are immaculate! I didn't see those twists coming wow. Mina and her family have my whole heart <3

“Stories are both an escape from the truths of the world and the only way to see them clearly.”

I wish to dissect this book and tattoo its remnants on my soul forever. Basically that was the weirdest way of saying I loved this book. It is something that I need to get my hands on a physical copy of as I fully intend to reread and annotate. I read a lot of fantasy and sometimes feel a bit fatigued by the clear mechanics of making a good fantasy story sellable with the usage of tropes even if they do not necessarily fit, but that was not the case with this book. This book felt deliberate, and each work felt well intentioned.

It is a lyrical masterpiece that will likely stay with me for the rest of my life.

OMG I love this book, can't say this enough when I recommended this book to literally anyone who would listen to me.

While this world was intriguing, I don’t think the plot was fully for me. The writing was adequate and the story was well written, but it may have been more of a personal preference. The characters felt a bit flat to me. Overall, an okay read. But I did feel I was slogging through it at times.

This book was so beyond magical. It felt like reading a warm cup of tea in a magical cafe during a bad storm (which is my favorite weather)! I was so invested in the characters while reading this. It’s fast paced and gets you excited immediately upon reading the first chapter and never loses momentum throughout the whole story. I think anyone would enjoy this story and find it charming and exciting.

As with most books lately, it seems like I am drawn in by a strong beginning and then everything just falls apart.

The book felt like one long story, one told verbally that moved from one scene to the next with little elaborate explanation or prose. The character did this, they did that. Then this happened. It was an easy read because of this. I wasn’t getting mired in long drawn out complicated explanations. It felt like a myth that was expanded to become a novel, with the bare bones of the story, but little further embellishment.

I enjoyed some of the visuals, like the continued presence of the red string of fate. And the characters were interesting on the surface, though could have used more development.

The ending felt rushed because of massive amounts of time passing before the final act. It also felt too easy. Though I’m sure Mina suffered because she was missing her love, it was very glossed over by years and months passing.

I would recommend this book for middle grade readers, or young YA. Though the main character is about sixteen, the book read much younger for me. It’s a nice retelling, but isn’t anything amazing.

I loved the world - it’s so fantastical and fun. The world building was slow at times but the plot twists were lovely and the pacing was incredible. the mythology was very cool and the characters were so loveable

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I thought this book was such a fun story about discovery and love. The author does a great job at molding these characters into people we root and cry for. I also love when a good fantasy book is a stand alone so I can consume the entire story in one sitting.

I fell pretty hard for this book, Charming and immersive, with delightfully nuanced characters, Axie Oh has created a world so rich, I feel like I'm in debt (but in the best way possible). Right off the bat, Mina is introduced as strong and willful and you can't help but root for her the whole way through. Steeped in Korean mythology and folklore, it was unexpectedly emotional as well. I was even fighting back tears during the visit to Spirit House (the hazards of listening to audiobooks while putting on makeup). This is the second Axie Oh book I've read and I'm ready to add her to the list of authors I will read no matter what.

I found this book slow to start and the story harder to follow than I was hoping for.

I had high hopes going in and found it lacking. I know there will be others who greatly love all this story does for older lore. It just wasn’t for me

In this retelling of a traditional Korean story The Tale of Shim Ch'ŏng, readers follow Mina, who sacrifices herself to become the Sea God's bride to save her brother's love, who was supposed to be the sacrifice. In doing so, so finds herself in the Spirit Realm, bound to the Sea God, an entity who is nothing at all like she imagined. The Spirit Realm, so unfamiliar to Mina, and as she meets people and learns to navigate this beautifully fleshed out world, we watch as she learns to use her own strength and voice to save the people she loves. The story has been compared to Miyazaki's Spirited Away, and will likely resonate strongly with fans of his work. With the enchanting cover art, though, many fantasy readers are likely to pick it up and be drawn into Mina's compelling adventure.