Honestly, there were moments of slowness but overall I enjoyed the story. Being Korean myself, I loved seeing all of the folklore elements.

honestly i had been so excited for this book when it was announced because korean folklore fiction?! absolutely a yes! it grabs you so well & just wont let go! 🤩 hope to be approved for the second! 🙇

This was easily one of my favorite books of 2024. Sophie Kim knows how to tell a story - this was full of humor and light-hearted fun, mixed with mystery to keep the reader intrigued, and an emotional ending that actually caught me off guard and had me crying. I was so surprised this wasn't a standalone but I'm looking forward to the next book.

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this one. There was just too much info dumping without a whole lot of explanation. It was hard to follow. I did like the characters, but the plot and writing style just didn’t work for me.

✨ The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim ✨
⭐ 3.5/5 stars

This book was a bit of a struggle for me at first, but that’s more about my personal reading preferences than the book itself. Murder mysteries aren’t typically my genre of choice, so I found the first 60% a little slow and harder to engage with. However, once I got to the core of the story, I was completely hooked. The emotional depth, folklore-inspired twists, and poignant moments really drew me in, and I finished the rest of the book much faster than the beginning.

While it wasn’t a standout for me due to my preferences, I believe readers who enjoy intricate mysteries with a touch of mythology and heartfelt drama will really appreciate this one. The story’s emotional payoff made it worth the read, and I’m planning to continue the series—I’m curious to see where it goes next.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review! While it didn’t fully align with my reading tastes, I can see it resonating with others who enjoy this blend of mystery and mythology.

The God & the Gumiho started off strong but lost momentum pretty quickly. I think some elements may have made more sense to me if I was more familiar with K dramas. Because I'm not as familiar with that genre I feel like there were some things about The God & the Gumiho that I just couldn't appreciate or understand.

My Selling Pitch:
Korean mythology Zootopia.

Pre-reading:
Here’s the thing, Fairyloot picks never seem to work for me, but I am obsessed with this special edition. The character art is so good! So I have decided to oh so benevolently pick it up. You’re welcome lol.

(obviously potential spoilers from here on)
Thick of it:
Every single time I pick up a book with an author’s note warning that it’s taken creative liberties with the original mythos, I’m like cool, cool, cool. I don’t know the original mythos. Go off, bestie. I’ll believe whatever you tell me.

Already cinematic. That’s fun.

A March book

I feel like me and bowler hats have beef at this point. (A bowler hat is evil and only Ruthless Vows has ever let me down.)

I wish I had pictures of all the creatures in this or like a little creature diagram at the beginning of the book.
Seokga- snake cane Loki
Gumiho (Hani)-fox shifters
Haetae-lion shifter cops
Dokkaebi-goblins

The way the audiobook is shrieking her name is driving me nuts.

It’s weird to add fangirl nonsense into urban fantasy. (But it kinda fits the anime vibes this book has, so I don’t hate hate it.)

Also, where did your bias instead of your favorite come from? Like I’m not part of that section of fan culture, and it’s weird to me.

It’s so wild to me how many cultures have that fallen god of charisma. Like he's Lucifer and Loki.

It’s like campy melodrama, and I see the anime influence/fanfiction in it, but it’s kinda fun!

It’s a little Zootopia/Crescent City. (It’s another copy paste.)

It’s a little info dumpy, but the info dumping is also necessary because I don't know the culture. And it’s not that bad. It’s like bite size info dumps.

Is Somi gonna be attacked and then Hani goes on a revenge killing spree?

Camaraderie🎶 I mean

The chokehold Jack the Ripper has on retellings.

This is just Korean fantasy Zootopia.

Killing Eve but make it straight hahahah.

I would love her to be his assistant. This is so fun.

Sly fox, dumb bunny

I'm loving this. It’s so cartoony.

My brain is really skipping over the names and like the audiobook does not pronounce them phonetically. So when I do read it physically, I’m having a little trouble figuring out who is who, but that’s a me problem. That’s not the book’s fault. I’m just stupid a stupid American.

I think the pacing could be a little bit snappier. It took 25% of the book just to set it up and like granted there’s a lot of mythology that we have to learn, but I think we could’ve done it faster.

Could he have possessed the water God because that’s the only extra character they’ve brought up and they already brought up that he was out of characterly eating fish. (Nope.)

It reminds me of that Heartless Hunter book.

I like their dynamic, but they really don’t have a good reason to be enemies. I feel like we could’ve done better there.

I wish it would chill with the bathroom humor.

I’m at a 3 star.

Oh, one bed, please!

It’s weird because this book has the beats that would make for a really good rom-com. It’s just that none of the emotions and dialogue fit.

It really doesn’t fit that they’re like 1000 years old and acting like this when her whole power is like seduction. Like it just doesn’t fit.

Not a piney boy

For the clue! (For the plot.)

Nah, chains and whips just excite him.

I don’t want Somi to be the murderer. That’s annoying.

Title drop

How does caffeine work on them but not alcohol?

Would you call this a murder on the dance floor 🎶

I know it’s not the coroner, but like I hope it’s not the grim reaper dude possessed or something because I like his silly little romance subplot. (SIGH)

The dialogue is really not doing it for me in this book. Like I know there’s a bit of a cultural difference here with the way they’re handling relationships and sex, but I’m also like this is not it.

It’s so cartoony. That aspect of this really works.

On the one hand, woo, I guessed correctly. On the other, boo, because I wanted that over the top romance subplot.

This fight dialogue is really anime and really bad.

Camaraderie, I mean🎶

Post-reading:
Dumb bunny, sly fox.

Except I’m the dumb bunny still waiting for this book to get better. On paper, it’s a banger. Tropey, a few horror beats, buddy cops, a decent subplot. In actuality…she’s kind of a miss. The dialogue is not there. This story needed snappy, witty banter. It needed those whiffs of camp to carry the anime style exaggeration without becoming cringe.

And it just doesn’t have that, so the romance ends up feeling rushed. The characters aren’t that endearing. The writing becomes repetitive.

And yet I still kinda like it because it reminds me so much of Zootopia. I love a mystery. I love a romantic cliche. I’ll pick up the sequel because I want closure, but I’m not going to be banging down anyone’s door demanding that they read this.

I think the book’s biggest strength was its cinematic organization. It read very storyboardy. Like I could picture comic panels, or how something should be shot for film. It had a style to it. I just wish the characters had the charisma to capitalize on those scenes.

Good, but not great. I think with a better edit, this could’ve been a smash hit, and that’s so disappointing.

Who should read this:
Zootopia fans
Crescent City fans
Anime fans
Myth retelling fans

Ideal reading time:
March

Do I want to reread this:
No, but I’d continue the series.

Would I buy this:
Tentatively yes? It helps that the special edition’s character art is so gorgeous.

Similar books:
* House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas-same book, different font. Urban fantasy romance, basically Zootopia.
* Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan-urban fantasy romance, political, family drama, fairytale retelling, basically Zootopia
* Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou-YA urban fantasy, family drama, myth retelling
* Monstress by Marjorie M. Liu-steampunk fairytales at war, graphic novel
* Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente-Russian folktale retelling, urban fantasy
* Heartless Hunter by Kristin Ciccarelli-urban fantasy romance, enemies to lovers
* The Night Hunt by Alexandra Christo-fantasy romance, monsters vs gods
* Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool-YA urban fantasy romance, mystery, political
* Nightbreaker by Coco Ma-YA urban fantasy, dystopian, demon hunting
* Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton-YA fantasy romance with a whodunnit
* Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker-YA urban fantasy, politicking
* The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott-Twilight X Crescent City, urban fantasy romance
* A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizel-YA urban fantasy, heist

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

This author's writing never disappoints! The story is entertaining, full of intrigue, lore, and romance. It's the perfect read for fans of fantasy and Korean lore.

I went into this novel highly anticipating to enjoy it but I did not enjoy the writing style unfortunately.

DNF @ 70%

The DNF is reflective of me and not this book.

The God and the Gumiho is a fun story set in the magical underbelly of Seoul. It really feels like a k-drama or webtoon, mixing the mythological with modern, everyday drama. I loved the setting, and enjoyed Hani as a protagonist.

My only criticism is I would have liked more description about the creatures of the world. I had to consistently look up Korean folklore, because I kept forgetting what the creatures were. Otherwise, I loved the creative blend of folklore and modernity!

Absolutely loved this! This was such a unique story. I’m not familiar with Korean mythology so any mention of the story or the names of gods is all new to me. But I really loved the way the author mixed in the mythology with an urban fantasy feel. One of my favorite tropes is grumpy/sunshine and this was perfect with grumpy Seokga and snarky Hani! The book was fast paced, I felt like I read it super fast and yet I wished I had more of it to read! I loved the plot, the characters, and the banter! This book was very cute and heartwarming, highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley for my eARC! I really loved this and I have no idea why it took me so long to finally read! I wish I’d read it sooner!

I absolutely loved this!!!

This is true hate to love. I mean they reaalllly do not like each other and are very very reluctant allies. But through banter and sweet moments they start to truly see other and the friendship and romance that follows is so freaking cute 😭. Seokga is the ultimate grump who dislikes everything. Except for his coffee and his gumiho. I’m a sucker for the “soft only for her.” And Hani is one sly, badass gumiho who really doesn’t like coffee but falls for Seokga anyway. And you know it’s good when the story both makes you giddy and breaks your heart.

The world building was steeped in Korean mythology and I wish I could grab a coffee at Creature Cafe. The murder mystery plot was thrilling and at times eerie. It felt exactly like I was transported into an urban fantasy K-drama.

Counting down the days to the sequel!!!

This was a fun and fast read but nothing groundbreaking. I thoroughly enjoyed the mythology of the book a lot.

This was such a fresh, propulsive, page-turning new fantasy. I would die for these characters, and felt like I was totally immersed in their world and lives. Can't wait for more from Sophie Kim!

⭐️: 2
DNF. I tried to get into it, but it didn’t hold my interest Maybe I’ll give it another chance at a later time.

I will make this short. I love the plot devices. I love the characters. I love the easy writing. And it is an easy read for me too.

… but the fun stops at 50% marks.

The rest is a mess. Mostly those bed scenes in between all the “the end of this area is coming closer” narration. It just … my brain cant comprehend.

The pace is brutally fast
The plot is not plotting
The good characters being all dumb
The villain is cringy af
The backstory of the villain is meh

The book is set to be a trilogy, but I need to stop at book 1. It is clear how the two leads will end anyway.

Fully immersive fantasy with some of the coolest mythology I've read. This is honestly one of my favorite fantasies of the year and I can't believe more people aren't completely obsessed with it. It has a lot of the characteristics of a romantic fantasy, but it also is so much more. It was dramatic and had a GORGEOUS romance that was just perfectly paced. All this with the backdrop of gods and ancient lore. I really couldn't ask for more from this book. I loved it so much and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read it. I will definitely be rereading!

The God and the Gumiho, by Sophie Kim, is a captivating mixture of mythology, romance, and fantasy that throws readers into a modern reimagining of Korean folklore. Beliefs and desires are challenged throughout the story, while keeping the plot progressing in a nice manner. This book was very entertaining and I enjoyed reading it. Thank you for the opportunity!

This is so magical and fun, a cotton candy fluff of a book. The worldbuilding is perfect and immersive, and the romance at the center is so well developed and sweet. The characters are all fully realized and the thriller is a page turner. Amazing blend of fun tropes (one bed!) and elements unique to the main couple.

I really enjoyed this take on Korean folklore! It did take me a little bit to get into it, but once I was hooked, I was hooked.