for the past century, storms have devastated mina’s homeland. her people believe the sea god has cursed them, and each year they attempt to appease him by sacrificing a girl to be his bride. this year’s bride is shim cheong of the old korean folktale; in this retelling she is also the beloved of mina’s brother, joon.

when mina sacrifices herself in cheong’s stead, she is transported to the spirit realm, where she finds herself in a race against time to save not only her people, but the sea god himself.

the writing in the girl who fell beneath the sea was just beautiful. i was captivated by the lush, magical world of the spirit realm, the beings mina met there, and the exploration of love, loyalty, and destiny. while the story meandered at times and i would have liked to see more of the romance, the ending was so damn good and i hope this won’t be axie oh’s only fantasy novel.

What a great Korean fantasy. I loved Mina from the first chapter. Some parts of the book were a little predictable but it didn't bother me at all.
The writing is beautifully done. There are lots of wonderful descriptions but it did not feel sloggy or to slow down the story. The book is full of character driven story telling, but there were also parts where the plot drove the story forward.

Following the releases of the Rebel Seoul series (2017, 2019) and XOXO (2021), Axie Oh is back with The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea. In this novel the author invites readers to immerse themselves in the fairytale retelling of the classic Korean folktale “The Tale of Shim Cheong”.

Deadly storms have destroyed Mina’s hometown for generations. Believing the Sea God has cursed them, the villagers sacrifice a young girl every year, throwing her into the sea to become the Sea God’s bride hoping that one day one will be his true bride and put an end to the curse. Mina, did not plan on becoming the Sea God’s latest bride. But, motivated by her love for her brother, she throws herself into the sea to save her brother’s beloved, the beautiful Shim Cheong, from being sacrificed. And so, Mina is whisked away to the Spirit Realm, where she discovers the Red String of Fate that ties her to the Sea God. But he is not the all-powerful being she expected to see. In the split of a second, her fate is altered once again and she loses her soul and so she finds herself joining a group of different characters that will help her on her journey to retake her soul before she is bound to the Spirit Realm forever as well as to find a way to bring calm to the sea and peace to her community whilst also uncovering some truths about the magical world.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a mesmerising action packed fantasy that perfectly blends folklore creatures into a story that deeply focuses on people’s connection with each other and the relationship between humans and gods. It’s got action and adventure set on a magical realm and it mixes it well with themes of love (both romantic and platonic), found family, and loyalty. A story that will captivate any reader from the very first page.

The characters are lovable and their journey is enjoyable. The main character, Mina, is a great heroine; she’s an independent, determined, and selfless teenager who’s main focus is to protect her loved ones. She really has incredible determination, she never gives up and is always trying to come up with new ideas and making decisions. Her loyalty to her family and her bravery definitely shine through the pages. The secondary characters are just as lovable and charming as Mina and compliment her perfectly as her companions in her journey. However, it’s harder to connect with some of them due to the pacing of the story. The romance between the characters is soft, and cute, and definitely a slow-burn, a trope so very loved by many.

The author throws us into the middle of the action right from the very first page and it keeps it up right up until the end. There’s a lot of these action sequences that keep up the tension throughout but there are also some slower, more soft moments that make the storytelling perfectly balanced. The progression of the plot feels logical and the plot twists are also very well executed. The author also makes a wonderful use of flashbacks and stories within stories making this the perfect blend of world building and information. This way, the main character discovering things as the story progresses is mixed well with conversations she had with her grandmother and with the stories she told her.

It’s easy to see why the book has been compared to the acclaimed and beloved Ghibli film, Spirited Away. The author has captured perfectly the folkloric and mythological inspirations of folklore in her writing, making the story and the world feel very vivid and whimsical. This vivid mythology, the entrancing spirit world, the heartfelt romance, and the themes of loyalty and bravery certainly parallel the animated film. However, The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea is its own very unique tale and one shouldn’t read it with the animated film in mind.

All in all, The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea is a beautiful, poetic, heartfelt, and mesmerising retelling that will captivate the readers from the very first page. A tale brimming with love, heart, and spirit that will take you away on an enchanting journey through a very magical realm. Perfect for those who love found family tropes, East-Asian folklore stories, and slow-burn romances.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an immersive story under the ocean waves where a girl must figure out how to save her family and the Spirit Realm before turning into a spirit herself. Everything starts with a sacrifice and while navigating the Spirit Realm, Mina's uneasy alliance with Lord Shin of Lotus House sets her on a journey to break the Sea God's curse while trying to remain human herself.

The world is so engaging and I loved exploring the different aspects of Korean mythology as Mina discovers more about the gods and goddesses her people pray to. There's this interesting conversation regarding the roles of prayer and faith as well as the power that stories hold over each of us. As Mina adjusts to the Spirit Realm and her constantly changing role in their society, it's the stories from her grandmother that give her hope and drive her actions even when the situation may seem hopeless.

Alongside Mina, there is a lovable cast of characters that honestly stole the show for me. As much as I enjoyed following Mina's perspective and she made a strong YA protagonist, it was Namgi, Mask, and the rest of the spirits that left the biggest impression. Mina is powered by the sense of duty to protect her family which fuels her first movements at the beginning, but it's those she meets in the Spirit Realm that continue to push her to find the solutions to save both humanity and spirit.

Axie Oh manages to weave so many layers of loyalty and honor into the story that it brings to life a deep sense of determination, making it easy to root for the characters as their journey progresses. Mina learns that the gods and spirits from her grandmother's stories are real and despite their power, they are as reliant on humanity's faith to give them purpose as humanity is reliant on their influence. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a story of relationships - familal, platonic, and romantic - and the power of paving your own destiny to change the fate of those you love for the better

This story took me by surprise. Anytime a blurb compares a book to something else, in this case my beloved Spirited Away, I always take it with a grain of salt and go in skeptical. But oh boy did they get this one right and it makes my heart happy. The world building is vibrant and elaborate. I could see it all playing out so vividly, as beautiful as any Myazaki film. There’s even a romance, which is usually not my cup of tea, but the way this one played out was so sweet and heartwarming. It was not at all angsty or cringey (which I appreciate). I think that if you are someone who enjoys Studio Ghibli films or anime shows such as Inuyasha, you might really find yourself sucked into this tale. It was fun and fast paced and I highly recommend.

I just finished this book and am in awe. What a beautifully woven tail of love and loss, of family ties and sacrifice, of human behavior and the spirit world. Steeped in traditional folklore this enchanting tale will appear to a wide range of readers and take you on a magical journey unlike any you’ve experienced before. I highly recommend this book even if it’s outside your usual genre. This one will stay with me for awhile. Thank you NetGalley and McMillan publishing for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was actually a really enjoyable read even though I didn't end up loving it. It was magical and fun and gave me Spirited Away (which I love) vibes, but I definitely feel like the execution could've been better. I liked the themes and the setting, right from the beginning you can already tell that it is going to be a wholesome and heartwarming story and that's exactly what we get by the end. I also really liked how fast and straightforward this was. The plot starts off immediately (literally the first chapter), and there's never a moment where the characters are just idling around or have scenes that aren't necessary to the plot. However, the fast pacing of the story is also the downside of this book. Characterization and the relationship of the characters were overlooked and I ended up not getting emotionally attached to any of them. Although the characters were likeable, I still wish the author took time for us to get to know them, their motivations, and really develop the relationships that they have with one another. The same goes for the romance. I was rooting for them since the beginning and, sure, they're cute and they had their sweet moments, I just wish the buildup to the blossoming romance didn't feel so rushed. Honestly everything felt rushed which is why I couldn't really feel attached to the story, the world, and the characters. The writing is also very simple, and I feel like because of that it couldn't fully capture the whimsicalness of the story. Another thing I noticed as well is that some of the things that happened are too convenient to the plot that sometimes it doesn't make sense and I'm just ????? at it. Tbh this had a lot of potential and I'm kinda bummed that it was a bit wasted, but overall I still had a good time reading it. If you just want a fun, magical, and wholesome read this would definitely be a great book because it's such a quick and easy read.

Title: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Things to know:

Retelling (Korean folklore)
YA
Femenist
Romance
Strong Female MC

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…

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

I adored The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea! The main character, Mina, is a strong willed 16-year-old girl who would do anything to protect and save those she loves. I am a sucker for retellings of folklore (especially Korean, Chinese, & Japanese folklore!!) and this one did not disappoint. The world building was brilliant and vivid. I will be buying a hard copy of this one for my forever shelf, and look at how gorgeous that cover is! I will be looking forward to more from Axie Oh.

I would recommend this book to those who are also fans of folklore, feminist tales, and tales of fate. If you enjoy Elizabeth Lim books or Studio Ghibli films this book is for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for early access to this title.

This book holds my heart 💖

From the very first page I was swept away by incredible imagery, masterful storytelling, and a yearning soul deep for a Happily Ever After.
I honestly cannot be more obsessed with this book. The stories (of which there are many) it tells kept me vying for more. I never wanted it to end.

Mina is brave and strong and true to herself, something I admire. Her determination and hope is so strong that I physically felt it. She may be my favorite heroine ever.
The twists and turns were woven in the most captivating way. I was constantly trying to figure things out, piecing together the pieces I was given. It was so much fun. I just could not stop reading!

I adore every character with every bit of me. I adore the imagery. It's so beautiful and descriptive that it was beyond visual to me. Like watching an incredibly beautiful film.

I truly do not have the words to describe the perfection of this book, but I highly recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The imagery in this book was BREATHTAKING. It was like I was submerged in the undersea kingdom with Mina. This definitely had Spirited Away vibes, and reminded me of the folktale Urashima Taro. The stakes were there and the setting was gorgeously fleshed out, but personally, the characters felt a little flat, making this beautiful book 4/5 stars.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enchanting, heartfelt story inspired by the tale of Shim Cheong, a girl who sacrifices herself to help her father. In this retelling, Shim Cheong wavers in her final moments, but Mina immediately sacrifices herself for her brother Joon and the woman he loves.

While I was familiar with the tale of Shim Cheong, I felt like I was tossed into the middle of a story without an understanding of what was going on. Mina plummeted into the sea without much of an introduction, but her time in the Spirit Realm was interspersed with her memories of her family along with folktales she shares or recalls. This helped to provide the foundation I thought was initially lacking. Additionally, the story itself meandered at times; things were happening and characters were doing things but also nothing was going on. It wasn't until the second half of the book that the story picked up, and I began to enjoy it a lot more.

The themes the book highlights contributed to why I liked the book despite my initially shaky start. I especially liked the emphasis on fate being a combination of something that happens to someone and something that can be altered. Along with fate, family and loyalty dominate the book. Mina’s sacrifice and her reasons for taking Shim Cheong’s place highlight these themes. I was moved most by Mina's faith and hope.

While I may have been hesitant in the beginning, I couldn't help but grow to like the book. Should Oh decide to return to this world in another book, I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up. (4.5 stars rounded to 5)

First off, thank you to Netgalley for giving me the privilege of reading an ARC copy of this prior to its release. I LOVED the whimsical atmosphere Axie Oh has to offer in this captivating story. The mythology and beautiful spirit world that was created were absolutely breathtaking.

If you are a Studio Ghibli fan, I think this book is one to add to your TBR. The "Spirited Away" vibes this book gave off were just *chef kiss*. I loved being transported into the world I am already a fan of and seeing the way Axie Oh made it her own was just beautiful.

I don't have the proper words to express how much I loved this book, but it was absolutely perfect in the aspects of loyalty, imagination, bravery, and love.

I received this book as an ARC through net galley, which does not influence my review. This was an enjoyable read, and I love the world building.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh was a lovely story. The writing was light and easy and I just kept going because I wanted to know what Mina was going to do and where she was headed next. It was all very dreamlike and incredibly charming. A sweet enough fairytale story with a happily ever after ending.
My attention was first caught by that beautiful cover and then the summary was interesting enough that I just had to read this. Very happy to have done so, light fun read.

Thank you so much Fierce Reads, YALL Fest, and Netgalley for sending me an eARC!

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

*4.5 stars*

This book was so good! We follow Mina as she travels to the spirit realm after sacrificing herself to the Sea God in place of her older brother's girlfriend. As she learns what her fate is and how she battles to overcome it, she slowly falls in love with Lord Shin. All along, she has been trying to figure out how to break the curse on the Sea God, but is who everyone thinks he is the reality? Will Mina succeed in breaking the curse and saving her world?

This book is dripping in Korean mythology and I love it 😍 The plot was great and kept me entertained the entire time. This is definitely a binge read (I personally read it in 4 to 5 hours). Mina is such a strong heroine with deep belief and trust in stories. I love her dynamic with Shin. The ending was beautiful and the perfect way to close the story.

However, I was a little underwhelmed. Maybe it's because I'm in a reading slump or because I've just heard how amazing this book was, it fell a little flat for me. I was expecting a little more. The pacing of this book was SO fast too. I thought it took place over a week at MOST but it actually was over three weeks somehow.

Overall though, a great retlling full of mythology and about destiny. This book is for fans of Six Crimson Cranes and Mulan.

📖 This was such a lovely story and the cover is gorgeous. The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea will whisk you away on a magical journey you’ll definitely enjoy.

✍️ It was beautifully written. The writing felt light hearted and charming, like a dream. It captivates you from the start. There were so many unexpected turns and twists throughout the story. You never know what’s coming.

The characters were well rounded and I actually liked every single one of them. There’s romance in the story, but it is not the central theme.

I need the movie now, please.

I picked up this title because it reminded me of the popular manhwa Bride of the Water God. Mina wasn't supposed to be sacrificed to the Sea God, but in the moment she offered herself as an alternative bride and the Sea God accepted. Now, she finds herself not dead, but in the Spirit Realm. But her fate is quickly severed from the Sea Gods, when she learns he is in a deep sleep and will not wake. With only thirty days until her human body succumbs to the Spirit Realm, she gathers allies and sets off to break the Sea Gods curse.
I can't resist a storyline like this, and I am thrilled to see more Korean-based stories being published. This story is gripping, immediately pulling readers in with charming characters, an immersive world, and a ticking clock.

This book was beautiful from the very start. I totally see the connection to Spirited Away as I imagined something similar when our MC entered the seemingly empty spirit realm. The imagery was so well done that I hardly ever had a hard time picturing something while reading. The story itself is so beautifully lyrical and reads like a fairytale and a story within a story in a way, but it wasn't slow like some fairytales. The intrigue and emotion started right off the bat. I was invested from the first chapter, the first page.

I loved reading a story so full of love and family. Mina was so brave and protected her family so fiercely that she would do anything to let her brother have the life he wanted. She's brave and headstrong and fights from the very beginning.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I have been very interested in Korean myth retellings ever since reading Folklorn and this truly lived up to what I hoped it would be! It's sweeping and magical and I would recommend it to those that enjoyed the atmosphere of Six Crimson Cranes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC!

I think this book had ooooooodles of potential, but fell a bit flat for me. I seem to be in the minority, though, and I'm happy to be there as this book DOES deserve a lot of love.

The vibes are on point, as are the descriptions and world-building- I wanted so much more. And I really really loved the potential of the story and can see that it is very special to the author. It's clear to me that a lot of love went into writing this book.

Unfortunately the atmospheric vibes and lush and gorgeous place descriptions get a bit lost in a convoluted story with clunky dialogue, especially in the case of the Goddess of Moon and Memory. For me, this is a case of a book that could have been spectacular with a better edit but I will definitely look for anything else Oh writes because the world she built was truly beautiful and the world needs more characters like Mask and Dai.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!

I have found another favorite for 2022. This one is packed full of adventure, emotion, mythology, and best of all love.

I honestly wasn't sure to expect when I started reading this one as this isn't a genre that I'm normally reading. I love reading fantasy, but I haven't read much Asian mythology and folklore type fantasy. I have been wanting to read more of this genre as I have always loved these types of movies.

This is such a beautiful written story, one I read in under 24 hours. It is seriously that hard to put down.

I absolutely love Mina. She is strong, determined, kind-hearted and just an all-around lovable character. Her story entwined with Shin's was perfect and made my heart so full.

I also really love how the story encompasses family and friends and what one would do for their love of the same. This isn't just a fantasy, this is a story with meaning. Of course you know, and saying that, that means there were times that I had tears in my eyes and loved every minute of it.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.