“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.

Mina sacrifices herself to be the Sea God's bride, in order to save her older brother's true love. She falls to the Spirit Realm, hoping that she will be accepted and that being the 100th bride will finally stop the droughts, floods, and war that have ravaged her home lands since the Emperor was murdered 100 years ago. Only, when she arrives, the Sea God is sleeping and the Lord of Lotus House, Shin, cuts the thread of fate that attaches Mina to the Sea God (which also leads to him stealing her soul). Now, she must retrieve her soul from Lord Shin, or risk turning into a spirit and her sacrifice being for nothing.

This book was so good, so good. Right from the beginning it literally dives into action, with Mina jumping into the Sea. from there it progresses quickly and does not stop. I was enthralled, I devoured this audiobook in two days. I loved the world building, the magic, the mythology, and every single character.

Mina was especially well written. She is loyal, loving, and willing to question everything. She is forthright, honest. And she is angry, so angry at the Gods and their disinterest and abandonment of the humans who continue to pray to them even when their world is being destroyed. Mina is also a storyteller, so her soul becomes a bird (a magpie) and her voice is stolen. When she retrieves it, her stories help her connect to the Sea God. They also are meant to open the eyes of the Sea God and Lord Shin to the world of humanity (and the stories link very closely to what is happening to Mina). I just love her so much, she is exactly how a character should be written. She is easy to empathize with, she is confused, but she works to figure things out, she falls into despair, but she still does everything she can for those she loves.

All the elements of this book so perfectly align. There are spirits, Gods, demons, magic, the red string of fate, enemies to lovers, found family. This book had all those and more. Lord Shin seems evil, but as the story unfolds you begin to better understand the tenuous political environment of the spirit realm. He keeps the Sea God safe, but in doing so allows the human world to be ravaged. He is strong, but there is something about him that is fragile and loveable (as Mina finds out). Also, his two closest friends/soldiers/advisers were highlights in this book (Namgi and Kirin), one so bright and vibrant, the other so dark and sullen, continuously bothering each other, but loyal to the end.

The book is fast paced, action packed, and full of emotion. There are no true villains, just those looking for power, angry from being left behind, those who have lost their memories of who they are and who they mean to protect. Humans and Gods alike can make mistakes, can be awful, but can also be kind, can try their hardest to change. I like that this book shows depth and courage. That Mina is afraid, but she is also strong, she is willing to risk it all to show the Gods that sometimes things are worth fighting for, worth changing for. That fate can be something you can fight against or determine for yourself. I especially love her interactions with the Goddess of the Moon (a fierce warrior out for complete control of the spirit realm).

Lord Shin and Mina's interactions had me laughing, gasping, and eager for their next interaction. Immediately she intrigues him, this plain girl with lots of words. He wonders how she came to be the Sea God's bride and is begrudgingly impressed by her. He is so keen on protecting the Sea God, that he cannot see what this means for the human world, the one which has been abandoned. He also finds humanity fickle, untrustworthy, greedy, and unworthy of the Gods attention. It is only through the eyes of Mina that he begins to doubt himself and to see humanities worth. Their back and forth, their chemistry and connection propel the story of this book forward and make the reader ache for each new chapter.

Just, really, read this amazing book. I give it all the stars and it might already have stolen the Best Book of 2022!

I want to preface this review by saying that I was incredibly happy to receive the eARC for this book because this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022. Spirited Away is one of my all-time favorites, so much so that I actually use it in my hero's journey unit, which the students really enjoy. I got to read through this book while all of my students were watching Spirited Away, and, I have to admit, this book made me feel like I did watching Spirited Away for the first time. I've already name-dropped the Ghibli film at least three times, but I don't think that I could, in good faith, separate the two works because my love and appreciation of this book is so entwined with a love I already had that feels so familiar. This isn't to say that this book isn't original because I was struck by how beautiful the prose was and how mature the writing was. I think that my students will love the suggestion to read this book if they are looking for journeys similar to Chihiro's.

This is the first book I’ve read where the book actually fits with what it is being described as. This definitely gave me Studio Ghibli vibes! It was written so beautifully and I loved it so much! It kept my attention the whole way through and I didn’t want it to end. I loved that there was a sense of mystery to it as well. I highly recommend reading this one!

This was a lovely little read that certainly lived up to my expectations. This is a worthy addition to any library or collection!

This story is absolutely gorgeous. The mythology, the spirit world, and the beautiful writing make this book one of the most gorgeous things I’ve ever read. The characters will have your heart immediately and the world is just beautiful.

This book is my favorite Axie Oh book to date. The writing really allowed me to step into the world and I couldn't stop myself from finishing the book once I started. Mina was such an endearing character, I could tell the care that went into the book. I enjoyed learning about the culture. There was no point in which I felt overwhelmed with information. I just wish it was longer or a duology. I fell in love with so many characters and their relationships with each other inside the spirit realm was so interesting.

This was a beautifully written story. I felt like I was watching a C-drama. I enjoyed the overall story and the bond stressed between mother and daughter.

I waited too long to read this on Netgalley but I got from Fairyloot and finally read it. I am so mad at myself for waiting so long to read it! It was so, so good! The storytelling was beautiful, and the world was so magical. A new favorite for sure.

This book was such a fun take on mythology. I have been super into Asian myth and it was such a refreshing take.8 was drawn in and kept attentive from page one to the end. I need every version of this stunning book on my shelf.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh is a young adult fantasy novel where every year a girl is sacrificed to the sea to be the sea gods bride in order to stop the storms. Mina decides to sacrifice herself in order to save the life of the girl her older brother loves. When she arrives in the spirit realm the sea good is in an enchanted sleep. Mina with the help of Shin and several other spirits, demons, and gods has one month to save herself, the sea god, and her village. However, there are those who don't want the sea god to awaken. This story remined me of the movie Spirited Away and if you like that movie you will like this book. I did figure out the twist fairly early but I still liked the story and the characters. I received an early review copy through Netgalley.

Omg, this one has to be one of my favorite reads yet this year! I absolutely love the atmosphere and the world building. It was perfectly put together. The characters definitely won me over. I am definitely a fan of Axie Oh!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this advance reader copy.


Description from NetGalley:
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…

This book really just takes off from the first few pages and doesn’t stop. Mina’s world is turned upside down from the beginning and has to learn quickly to stay alive. I got major Spirited Away vibes, which I love. It didn’t feel like its length, and the writing was excellent. I do wish it was a bit longer because I enjoyed Mina and the rest of the cast of characters.

Overall: 4.5/5

This was an AMAZING story!!! Hands-down one of my favorites so far this year! The world building was beautiful! And the characters!!!! Shin and Mina are my favorite. The strong ties to family, and chasing your fate is a wonderful message for everyone!

Mina does not particularly want to be the Sea God's bride. But the only other option is the love of her brother's life — so she jumps into the sea and into the realm of spirits.

I loved Mina, with her stories and her determination. I loved goofy, sardonic Namgi and reserved Kirin. I loved the sad boy-god and steadfast Shin. I loved Mask and Dai and Miki.

While I have some critiques (the pacing felt off at times, I'd have loved more exploration of the Sea God, etc) the overall book was beautiful and bittersweet. I cried at the end, which is very rare for me to do.

A beautiful tale full of love and mysticism.

I truly loved all of the characters, but Mina has my whole heart. She is soft, yet her strength is endless.

The author did a stunning job with the writing style - it really felt like reading a classic folktale.

It wasn’t an overly complex fantasy story, it was heartwarming and relaxing and just fills you with joy.

4.5/5 stars, a wonderfully unique fantasy story

"Don't chase fate, Mina, let fate chase you"

This was one of my most anticipated reads of this whole year, and I have to say it did not disappoint. While this book is average length, the arc e-book copy made it extra long, and I think that's why it took me so long to read. The beginning was a bit slow, and I had to pay attention to get into the story but I still loved the feeling of the writing and the setting then. I am so happy I continued and was able to read this lovely book.

Having such a whimsical setting really helped this story reflect the original fairytale that it is trying to retell. Everything felt so magical especially as Mina was experiencing things for the first time in the Sea God's kingdom. There was also so many instances where I found myself really wanting to be apart of the story, and be able to witness events and travel places with the characters. As well, the plot wasn't extremely fast paced but in a really good way. It allowed for necessary pauses with the characters, so that the reader can view them in new ways. It was so fun in almost every way to read and definitely felt like a delightful retelling.

Mina was such an amazing main character, while she had never been outside her village really, she didn't let that stop her from showing bravery when she was in the kingdom. In the beginning she felt a bit helpless and scared, as many people would, but she grew to be such a strong woman in that time. I adored how she stood up for herself and others constantly, as well as wasn't afraid to fight for herself when she needed to. Her empathy for everyone around her really impacted the story in so many positive ways, including teaching others more about it. The one thing I wish could have been expanded on a bit more was her connection to her family. She talked constantly about how her grandmother told her things, like stories and words of wisdom, but we never saw much of it other than that. I think in the beginning it would have been beneficial for the reader to spend a bit more time with her and her family together, to really help establish that connection.

Shin was instantly an intriguing character to me, obviously as he was set up as the enemy (in this light enemies to lovers romance). He was a mysterious assassin who took Mina's soul and then was forced to work with her. It is established right away that he is hiding lots of secrets, and as the story progresses those secrets are slowly unraveled. Watching him grow as a character was such a wonderful thing, and learning about his past was so sad. In the end he was a wonderful character who ended up being integral to the story, and I just adored him.

One of my favorite parts about this wonderful book was the romance, I knew almost from the beginning it was going to happen, but it was a bit out of nowhere. However, regardless of this I really enjoyed how the romance ended up playing out. It grew softly and slowly, but it was really pure and seeing Mina and Shin grow together was really cute. Some of their conversations had me smiling so hard, I really did adore them and they deserve the world.

Overall, this was a wonderful and whimsical retelling filled to the brim with heartfelt characters, adorable romance, and fantastic world building. I loved basically every aspect, especially the main characters and their romance. I highly recommend for any fantasy fan and retelling fan.

[TW: death of a family member, violence and blood, human sacrifice, self-harm, memory wiping, manipulation]

What an interesting story! I am not familiar with the ancient story that this book is based off of, but after researching it I really enjoyed the book. There were some parts of it that could have been edited/omitted, but overall the story was interesting, enjoyable, and well done.

I really enjoyed this book! This is my first novel from Axie Oh, and I'm excited to read her backlist. The atmosphere in this was impecible, and the way the character saw the word was always accurately shown through the writing. I couldn't get enough of this story and it's beautiful writing.

This book was not my favorite, but I did like it. I just wish it was a bit longer, and the pacing felt a little off to me. If it was a bit longer, I think it would've been possible for the story to be fleshed out a bit more and have a bigger impact on the reader's emotions.