I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I initially had a difficult time getting into this book. It had a slow start, after the lyrical first chapter. I stuck with it, though, and ended up loving the second half. I think one of the things that was off-putting to me was how fast the love story seemed to develop, but given the overarching theme of fate that was probably by design. Once the narrative picked up for me I couldn’t put it down, but that wasn’t until like 60% or so. Given how much everyone has loved this one, I think maybe I just wasn’t in the right mind frame? But ultimately I give it a 4/5 stars. It was imaginative and lovely and I love mythological stories.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

I am absolutely delighted to say that Axie Oh has done it once again! The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is such an enthralling and beautiful novel. Let me say that I haven't devoured a book this quickly in a while.

I was interested in this book the moment I saw the cover and read the description. I was hooked right from the opening, and I just knew I was going to be in for a treat. Even though we don't know much about Mina and Joon in the beginning, the bits and pieces are enough to show that they care about each other, and I love a good sibling bond. The first meeting between the sea god and Mina was not what I expected, and I thought it was a really interesting plot development. I also loved the other characters, especially Shin. I really enjoyed the layers to his character and each time we got to know more about him. It was also interesting to read about all the other gods, what they represent, and their motives. I was also curious about Mask and Dai and how they were involved in everything, and finding out about their identities was a lovely reveal. I thought Mina was a wonderful main character as she has so much strength within her but also compassion that really shines through.

And of course I have to mention the romance. It was so cute, I was truly screaming, crying, kicking my feet at 3am. I love them so much. The plot twist at the end also surprised me. I think some people may have guessed it, but it got me. I was honestly so enraptured in the plot that I didn't see it coming, and I thought it was a wonderful twist. I only wish we got a little more of an epilogue just because I want to see more of the romance/cute moments between the two.

Overall, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was a novel that I honestly could not put down. I highly recommend this to everyone, especially those who enjoy fantasy!

I found this to be beautifully written and loved the story. I'm unfamiliar with most Asian mythologies so I appreciated learning about Korean storytelling and stories. Mina was an inspiring heroine and I loved her relationships with her family and friends.

This was one of my most anticipated books, but sadly I just didn't like it. I spent most of the time confused. I felt like nothing was explained and once it was, it wasn't done in a cohesive way. This one just wasn't for me.

Absolutely loved this and I do not think I have ever read a book like this before! This book gave me a vibe like her previous book which is called XOXO where the character FL falls in love with a trainee and I loved both of her books. If you love retellings and especially Korean fairytale retelling, then please read this!
4 stars!!

*eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Positives: Short and sweet. A Story filled with lots of love and hope.

Negatives: Not much plot. For a story with a deadline, it lacks urgency.

3.5 stars

I was first drawn to this book because of its beautiful cover! The plot did not disappoint me either! It is a bit slow paced but with purpose, if that makes sense. This fairytale retelling will absolutely make my rereads list, and I will be recommending it to my YA readers!

It’s a beautiful, heartwarming and insightful story. A fairytale of old.

I loved Mina’s character; her determination and steadfastness. Even though non of the reviles are surprising, it is still a blast to read. It’s so full of live and wonder and fairytale magic and wisdom.

I don’t even know how to put into words how beautiful this story was. From the exquisite writing to the well written characters to the engaging storyline, this book really had everything I wanted and needed.

Stopped at 14%. Feels very YA with a hero’s journey set up. Our average YA reader is likely to enjoy. The opening is interesting, and it’s likely three to four stars for the middle grade/YA age group if it continues as it has. Adults, not as much.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC.

I…LOVED this book.

Over the summer I read XOXO, which was such a fun and swoony story. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea keeps some of the elements that made XOXO an addicting read (new places/experiences, family, ~romance~) but brings a different side of Axie’s writing to the forefront. It’s one of those stories that captivate you, pulling you into a new world. I wanted to both read Girl in one day and take the time to soak in every little detail.

Girl is told from the perspective of Mina, the younger sister of the infamous Shim Cheong’s lover. I loved how Axie reinterpreted the core of the original Korean folktale by expanding the perspective of the story (aka adding Mina) but also clearly asked questions, digging deeper into the characters and their hearts. Plus, Axie wove her story with such elegance and lyricism that it was hard not to want to stay by the characters’ sides.

Retellings always appear with simple curiosities like “what if” and “why”: Why is Shim Cheong almost a myth before she is even gone? Why do Mina’s people believe that *girls* must be sacrificed to appease the Sea God and his anger? Why can’t Mina—and the others in the story—be in charge of their fate, their destiny? Why do others have a say in how they live their lives, both on earth and after death?

Mina is a protagonist that everyone needs. She’s a character is never shies away from expressing her fear, but she also understands that she’s worthy, that she’s loved, and that she’s in control of her fate, whether others try to push her into a predetermined path or not.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a beautifully told retelling of a Korean fairy tale. In this version, Mina, a young woman who is not especially beautiful or talented, makes a split-second decision to sacrifice herself to the Sea God, an angry spirit taking out his vengeance on her people. When she takes the place of another, she falls into the sea and then into the spirit realm where she is not quite sure what to expect. She learns that the Sea God is not ignoring her people or is angry at them, he is cursed to sleep. In his place, Lord Shim is managing his affairs and Mina's fate is tied directly to Lord Shim's. Mina has one month to awaken the Sea God and to recover her own lost soul before she must stay in the spirit world forever.

There was so much to love about this book. The writing was so beautiful, and I loved the characters and the worldbuilding. I wish I could explore this gorgeous and fantastical place. I can definitely understand the comparison to Spirited Away, but it's not quite the same. It stands up beautifully on its own outside of a comparison to anything else. I know several teens who will love this book and I'm so excited to recommend it to them.
Recommended for middle school and up.

This book was possibly the most anticipated read of 2022 for me! I loved the story and how it came together. :While I know Spirited Away is not Korean, I saw a lot of similarities with Girl and Spirited. It was beyond magical and I'm so glad it came through and I didn't let myself hype myself up to much for it!

Axie Oh is definitely a must read author and I will preorder all of her books!

This book was such a delight to read - from the Spirited Away vibes to the fact that it weaves together Korean mythology and fairy tales, it was precisely my cup of tea. Were some things predictable? Certainly. But there were at least a couple twists I didn't see coming, and the overall themes just worked for me beautifully. The romance is sweet and not overbearing, and there are friendships that warm the heart as well. The story is well paced, not too long, and a standalone--which is a rare, rare breed in YA. Highly recommend!

Thank you Feiwel & Friends for letting me read this before my fairyloot edition came in!


Themes:
retelling of fairytale
enemies to lovers
hidden pasts
fated destinies
family ties
underwater setting

3.5 rating
I love fairy retellings. And Axie Oh can really write a setting! I loved the buildings and the underworld. She seemed to write the side characters very well but somewhat missed the mark on fleshing out the main character: Mina. For all the descriptions of living in a fishing village, she didnt have any opinion or actions on how these strangers are waiting on her hand and foot taking care of her, even combing her hair as a Lady. I've read plenty of books with female characters being weirded out or refusing that kind of service due to their background so to see no reaction in this book was just weird to me. Mask, Miki and Dai almost made me cry! Half the plot was pretty slow but in the end i did like it and i cherish my special edition very much.
Love to see more from this author.

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy of the book for my honest review.

Inspired by the tale of Shim Cheong- a Korean folktale, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a remarkable story about a girl who should sacrifice herself to the sea God so she could stop the upcoming storm from happening to her homeland. We follow the MC, Mina, in her journey in which she sacrifices herself in place of the girl her brother loves to save him, and she ends up in the Spirit Realm. She now must find a way to become the Sea God’s true bride to end all the suffering of the citizens before her time runs out.

I absolutely love the mythology in this book. The themes of love and family are great. The lyrical storytelling and the action-packed plot force you to keep on reading. And my favorite: the shocking twist and turns.

This book is by far one of the best books I read to Axie Oh. Overall, I recommend this book to YA fantasy books fans.

I loved this atmospheric, fairytale-esque retelling. I felt like I was swimming right along with Mina. I liked the emphasis on sibling and family relationships throughout the novel, and how supportive Mina was of the other sacrificed girls. While slightly more slow-paced than what I usually read, I still enjoyed The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea.

3.5/5 stars!

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a whimsical story steeped in mythology and filled with themes of love, loyalty and followings one's fate. There were many aspects of this book that I loved and other aspects where it fell short for me. I absolutely adored the dreamlike writing style of this book and felt as if I was transported to a fairy tale land. The mythology was absolutely stunning and was what kept me interested in this book to the very end. I enjoyed the characters, however felt that they were a bit two dimensional and didn't have as much depth to them than what I hoped. I really wish we saw more of the side characters and that their back stories were expanded upon as well. I really wanted to like the romance and it did show a lot of promise in the beginning, but felt it fizzled out as the book progressed. Although the book didn't wow me (I think that has to do with my very high expectations), there were a lot of great unique aspects to this book that I think readers will really enjoy!

This book was a dream to read!

Likes:
lyrical storytelling
gorgeous mythology
action packed start
fairytale quality
brave and unique heroine
atmospheric prose
dragons!
slow burn enemies to lovers
shocking twist of events
stories within a story
reminiscent of Spirited Away and other Studio Ghibli films

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

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a story inspired by the tale of Shim Cheong—a Korean folktale that tells of a girl sacrificed to be the Sea God’s bride. But in this telling, it isn’t Shim Cheong who finds herself swept beneath the sea but Mina. Determined to save her older brother, she sacrifices herself in place of the girl he loves and ends up in the Spirit Realm where she must find a way to become the Sea God’s true bride to end the suffering of her people before her time runs out.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a story about the bonds of family, both born and chosen, and the way that we are the writers of our own stories. As the Sea God’s Bride, Mina is bound by the Red String of Fate and it is up to her to decide what that means. The love that Mina holds for her family and friends is palpable as she navigates the fate she claims for herself when she takes Shim Cheong’s place. The plot occasionally feels like it carries Mina along rather than her directing its course. This blurs the line between fate and agency, reflecting Mina’s internal struggle to distinguish between them. The romance is tender and sweet while the atmosphere is characterized by a sense of dreamlike wonder cut with the ramifications of being alive in the Spirit Realm.

A fairytale through and through, GIRL is a reimagining that draws an enchanting world and plot-driven adventure out of the familiar shell of a story. This book sits close to my heart as Axie Oh weaves not just the tale of Shim Cheong but other folktales into the overall shape of the story. At its core, this is a story about the truths in stories and the way that storytelling shapes our understanding of the world, and seeing the stories that I read in Korean classes growing up portrayed in a young adult novel means more than I can say.