This was so entertaining, I enjoyed every minute of it!

This was my first book by Sophie Kim but it won't be my last, especially after that ending I can't wait to see how she plans to expand on this world and its characters.

I absolutely loved Hani and Seokga and their romance — that first kiss still has me in a chokehold.
I adored the fact that Hani is not only old and powerful but also a little villainous, it was such a fresh take not having the MMC possess all the power, and be much older than the FMC.
Seokga was sooooo grumpy and arrogant and detached, I couldn't believe how mushy and vulnerable he was underneath that facade once he met his match in Hani.
I loved their romance and the way it progressed — they disliked each other in the beginning so much that it took time and a lot of forced proximity for them to warm up to one another (and a minor brawl in the woods lmaoo) and it felt natural. Eventually, Seokga was so obsessed with and whipped for Hani I just adored that.

The mystery was good, I was guessing who the eoduksini was till the end, SK definitely managed to throw me off though I had my suspicions.
The character development was also fantastic, loved seeing how Hani & Seokga's love changed both of them.

I'd heard that this is a K-Drama inspired fantasy mystery and I definitely agree that it reads that way.
I couldn't believe what was happening by the end and I cried my eyes out for both Hani and Seokga.

That epilogue left me wanting more, I need to know my babies are okay 🥹
I can't wait to see what SK has in store for us next!

Sophie Kim's debut into adult fantasy is a must read! It's like a kdrama on paper! I love her choice that Seo uses a cane which not only adds to his enchanting character but also disability rep as well. Sophie please write more adult it was delectable.

I had a good time reading this. I wish that more of the worldbuilding had been explained, because I found myself lost on several occasions, but I still absolutely loved Hani. It’s nice to have two morally gray characters—where it’s not just the MMC with a dark past and an innocent FMC fluttering her eyelashes. Ultimately I found the ending satisfying.

This book was phenomenal. The gumiho has a big secret and the god is not a god anymore. There was a lot of myths in this book and I was unfamiliar with Korean myths. This book painted such a great world of those myths. This was a true "we don't like each other to lovers" (not real enemies per se). It was a little slow at first especially while I tried to keep up with the unfamiliar words but that just made it more interesting in the middle. And, really most fantasy is that way. I loved the character development that occurred between the two main characters.

Pick it up if you like mythology, gods and demons, enemies to lovers, and a good mystery.

This book is quite a light and fun romp through 1990s South Korea. We follow a fallen god and a mythological creature in this buddy cop to lovers story? Which may be a trope we need to see more often.

I found this book at the right time, light on world building this was such an easy and delightful read. With mentions of fanfictions, half naked men on romance covers, Jack the Ripper and K-pop, this is low stakes fantasy that could be great for anyone looking for a fun fast paced read.

Would definitely read any sequels because I love this grumpy/sunshine mystery solving duo.

I was debating between 2.5 and 3 stars. It kind of put me in a slump, but I really liked the ending and it made up for the things I didn't like, so I'm giving it a solid 3.25 ★

I think my biggest issue with this book was the fact that it lived, laughed, and breathed tropes (which honestly is probably on me for not checking what the book is about before I requested it. I see a pretty cover, I click). It's clearly written for BookTok, which not to say that BookTook books can't be good, but unfortunately it lost a lot of originality that it could have had. It just felt like everything was underdeveloped because of this. Especially the romance.

Okay, so these two characters start off with loathing each other. About 60% in, they decide they're hopelessly in love and can't live without each other. There just wasn't enough development/significant events between them for that to happen over a course of A WEEK. I also just have a hard time believing that two 1500+ year olds would fall in love so easily. (after being reminded over and over again how it's bad for them to fall in love and how will Hani ever get over stopping him from becoming a god again?)

And honestly, I liked them better when they hated each other.

Besides that, everything else was just... average?
- I wanted more from the world-building. The world was so unique but it was kind of put off on the side
- The conflict was eh. It only got interesting towards the end when they actually started to care about it
- I wanted to smack the main couple so many times. For having lived as long as they did, they're stupid <3 and not in a cute way
- The side characters for the most part were boring. Could give less of shit about them

Okay on to the things I liked, because despite all of the things that fell flat, I did enjoy it overall. The plot, although nothing special, was engaging. I still kept reading, after all. I also really liked the writing style. And of course, the ENDING. It was somewhat predictable, but I like pain and angst so... With that said, I feel like this could be perfectly fine as a standalone with how it wrapped up, although it looks like there will be a sequel. Will I read it? Who knows. (no, I won't).

Finally, I'd like to thank Seogka for searing the phrase "razor-sharp smirk" into my brain.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing amazing amazing! I couldn't put this book down. Sophie Kim is an amazing writers and seeing the world she has created and the characters was so much fun to read. I love the mythology and magic is so well constructed and the writing is captivating and entertaining. This book is probably going to be in my top books of 2024 because I loved it so much

The God and the Gumiho is now one of my top 5 of the year. I truly don’t think anything can beat this. One of my most highly anticipated books and it did not disappoint one bit!

The writing style was beautiful yet simple. It was easy to read and understand. The plot of this story was so intriguing and had me unable to put this book down. The twists were so unexpected, which I really loved. This book left me in tears.

These characters are so wonderfully written and complex. Hani’s and Somi’s friendship was great! I enjoyed their interactions so much. Seokga’s and Hani’s bickering was hilarious and I loved every second of it.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was fantastic. The characters were well-developed and the storyline kept me hooked until the end. I could tell that the author wanted it to have a similar feel to a Korean drama, and they succeeded. I especially loved the romantic aspect of the story!

✰✰✰✰
This was a good book that definitely satisfied my craving for a new kdrama (bc it take me forever to start watching a new series). I enjoyed how sassy and fun Hani was, and it was interesting to see how the grumpy (fallen) trickster god Seokga grew at the end of the book. Loved the mystery and mythology aspects of the book, and that ending made me excited to see what the future will look like for Hani and Seokga!
The only issue I had in the book was that the story takes place in 1992, but it felt pretty modern to me, so I did forget that fact until the ending. Other than that, I was entertained!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

““the god and the gumiho” feels like a k-drama in book format. i have no idea what kind of drug sophie kim put into this novel, but it’s addictive. i felt like one of those ipad kids while reading it because, for the two days it took me to read the book, i brought my tablet everywhere so i can squeeze in some pages. it’s got a great, engaging plot, with a good amount of action and an amazing cast of characters - and i can’t really pinpoint how i went from thinking the mmc is annoying to actually rooting for him. the romance was well-developed, and it didn’t feel rushed at all. the banter between them was delicious. i think i can say this will be one of my favourite reads of 2024, for sure.

the writing fit the vibe of the book perfectly, but i have to say it reads like a young adult novel, not an adult one. the book features some mild smut scenes, so it’s definitely adult, but it doesn’t read like one. it didn’t bother me, but it’s worth mentioning. i think the banter is where the book shines, because you can see each character’s personality shine through.

hani and seokga were so fun to follow, both as standalone characters and as a couple - they start out as two individuals that absolutely despise each other, which makes for a lot of funny interactions. they’re both pranksters, but hani was my absolute favourite, as she’s a menace. she’s witty and clever and i loved loved loved how her character evolved throughout the story. seokga also went through a massive chance - he grew a heart and a consciousness and i have to say i ended up really hoping he will successfully go back to being a god. i would’ve liked if the villains got a bit more time, so their motives were fully fleshed out, but it didn’t bother me that much.

i think the mythology and the fact that sophie didn’t hold back from using it properly added so much to the story. i was completely fascinated by the array of creatures that were mentioned in the book and i loved reading about the gods and their relationships. the book is perfect for fans of those fantasy k-dramas, because it features all the tropes that make said k-dramas so enjoyable. i also loved the fact that the fallen god ended up being a detective & how well hani fit into the picture, but i truly love anything that has a “sherlock” vibe.

overall, i can see why this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, as it isn’t without fault, but i had so much fun reading it that i cannot rate it lower. it’s a 5-star read purely based on my enjoyment. i cannot wait for the next book in the series because i will miss these characters terribly. in the meantime, i will be reading sophie kim’s other works, because i’m a bit obsessed.

Really enjoyed the story, the speed it progressed, the characters and the trope (grumpy enemy to lovers). Was a easy, fast read!

So this was cute in the typical kdrama way. I did think that Hani came in a little hot and that Seokga was a bit tame for a trickster god but overall it was cute. I actually wish we saw Seokga interact more with his brother especially towards the end of the book thy seemed like they had a lot of potentially for an amazing bromance. However this is a cute fun little pg fantasy romance and while the romance feels a little sudden and random, it was cute and all works out. I was really looking forward to reading this and it was cute but I’m still not as obsessed as I thought i would be. I do think it would have been fun to see Somi and Hani interact more as well and see her. Still i do find the idea and mythology of Gumihos to be fun and interesting so any book that mentions them will be an automatic read for me,

The book started off a bit hard to digest. It seemed like a lot of telling versus showing. Then it finally took off and I was invested. I thought the banter was cute and funny and that the relationship evolved naturally instead of instant and unrealistic. I did feel like there was one scene that just seemed abrupt and didn’t quite hit the mark. All in all I enjoyed the book and now have to see what happens in the next one!

This was such a fun book to read! The perfect combination of romance, humor, suspense all befitting an urban fantasy but with the most enthralling central theme around Korean mythology. Pacing was great while giving explanations for the mythology/magical elements which were so clear, engaging and easy to follow! The grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity elements were so so good and if you’re a fan of K-dramas like me, I can confidently say you will devour this! I’ve already fan casted Rowoon and Kim Se-jeong as Seokga and Hani ;)

For readers familiar with certain culture norms and humor typically found within K-dramas, I definitely think this book will hit its mark but readers who maybe aren’t as familiar with K-drama structure might risk losing out on some of the charm. As a pre-requisite to reading to better follow along, I highly recommend watching one or two dramas like Goblin, My Roommate is a Gumiho or Black to familiarize (some personal favs of mine…good luck not getting addicted)!

While the story is definitely on the adult spectrum, it reads very strongly like a YA so certain mature or “spicy” moments could feel a bit jarring. This also could be an intentional choice due to the aforementioned nature of K-drama trends but I found myself having to take the whole “immortal god and gumiho” aspects with a grain of salt since these characters who are meant to be hundreds of years old have some inner reflection & decision-making moments equating those of a teenager.

Overall, really loved this and would so enjoy reading a second installment!

Thanks so much to Random House for the advanced copy!

4.25 stars

What a fun book! The God and the Gumiho is a fun Korean mythology and K-Drama inspired fantasy mystery packed with lots of fun characters, witty banter, and action.

I really enjoyed this world. It took me a minute to get into things since there is a bit of a learning curve at the beginning, but the world building only lasts a couple chapters and then you get into the main story. There’s so much that could be done in this world due to the number of different character types that you’re introduced to.

Our main characters are lovely, and without spoiling too much… I loved the twist on the Grumpy x Sunshine trope, because yes Hani is a ray of sunshine… but is she? I also loved that Seokga is actually grumpy. A lot of times this trope is done where the grumpy one is misunderstood. Not here! He’s actually a jerk! And I loved watching his heart melt over the course of the book.

I gave this book 4.25 stars out of five because I loved this world, and these characters but I did guess some of the main plot points along the way! I love mysteries that catch you off guard but I knew where we were going to go in this book.

Having said that, I did enjoy the story and had a lot of fun in this world. After that ending, I’m curious to know if we’re going to see our main couple again in a sequel… I’ll settle for a quick short story to finish round out the epilogue because dang Seokga needs a hug.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the e-ARC.

Going into the story, I wasn’t fully sold on the lore translating well to a novel form due to fighting scenes (although I have seen many gumiho related dramas over the years and I watched 80% of Goblin) but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While it did feel like a kdrama with many of the tropes that we love, it also felt a bit more refined than recent ones. Third person being used throughout the story didn’t bother me; it actually made me feel more immersed in the story.

Right off the bat we’re introduced to our MC and neither are truly likable, which I enjoyed. I’m always annoyed when just the male MMC sucks and the FMC gets stuck with him, but here they’re both annoying old farts with their own pasts. They have a misunderstanding that fuels hate on both ends, and get “thrown” together to work on a case as detective and assistant. I enjoyed watching them fall in love and seeing Hani and Seokga become less annoying due to being with one another. Another thing I really enjoyed was that Hani remained badass when it came to fights, and it wasn’t another damsel in distress type of storyline. Aspects of the story I wish we got more closure with is Somi and Seokga’s brother. Somi got such a crap deal and I just need closure that she’s alright. As for Seokga’s brother, I just wanted closure on if they were able to mend their relationship.

Overall, this story was a solid 3.75 for me. Some aspects of the plot line dragged on for too long and the ending was too quick for my liking. I’d love to read more adult works from Sophie Kim.

I adored this book. The God and the Gumiho follows fallen god Seokga and Gumiho Hani as they work together towards a (somewhat) collective goal.

I loved the world building, the character development (I felt like Seokga and Hani really grew throughout the book), the ROMANCE (grumpy sunshine, enemies to lovers), and the found family.

Can’t recommend this book enough for all fantasy and fantasy/romance lovers.

This honestly may be one of my favorite books of all time, and I could not put it down for the life of me ♡

The God and the Gumiho follows Seokga, the fallen god of mischief and trickery and now detective who is tasked with killing twenty thousand monsters as punishment, and Kim Hani, the infamous Scarlet Fox who is both a legend and the most wanted nine-tailed fox in the world for her killing spree over a century ago. All is well until one night, the Scarlet Fox is rumored to be back and Seokga is tasked with hunting her, but when Hani hears that the fallen god is in need of an assistant, she leaps at the opportunity with the full intent of steering the investigation away from her. But when dead bodies are found with darkness in their veins and a vengeful monster with the ability to kill a god threatens the whole of the mortal world, Hani and Seokga have to do whatever it takes to save everything they've known, or lose everything they've learned to care about.

TROPES:
» grumpy x sunshine
» hate to love
» unlikely allies
» forced proximity
» one bed
» tending to wounds

THE WORLD BUILDING perfectly sets the scene and the atmosphere for the entire book without being overwhelming with the involved Korean mythology. And the fantastical aspects of the novel aren't all dumped into the first few chapters but are explained throughout the novel and are explained when necessary, which is really nice. The major monster kinds had their own unique characteristics specific to their kind as well as a stereotype as to their role in modern society that I found very entertaining and fun. This book as a whole felt very reminiscent of a kdrama to me and I ate it up.

THE PLOT is fast paced (in my opinion) with the perfect mix of entertaining banter and action. The story is told from 2 narratives, Seokga’s and Hani’s, and the chapters are relevantly short. The amount of action and more serious scenes are perfectly balanced with the soft banter-filled scenes which is what made this book fly by for me. The mystery of this whole plot kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat! And when I thought I knew what was going on, I was proven completely wrong a few chapters later. The romance is an exquisite slow burn and is such a rollercoaster of emotions, but the banter and their grumpy x sunshine dynamic are utter perfection. And the last 100 or so pages had me holding on for dear life and I couldn’t read it fast enough, but at the same time I didn’t want to leave this world yet (if you couldn’t tell, this book had me experiencing a whole spectrum of emotions that I am still recovering from to this day).

THE CHARACTERS are very well flushed out and developed and I loved how complicated Hani’s and Seokga’s characters are—they are both clearly morally gray and both of them accept it—and they balance each other out so well. Hani is a fire cracker of a character who is clever and quick witted but whose self-preservation is her biggest challenge. And for Seokga, who is cold and uncaring for the mortal world, it is his amount of unconcern for anyone but himself and his pride are what get in his way. And that is what makes Hani and Seokga’s journey together all the more enthralling (also the banter they have but that’s beside the point). I absolutely adored every moment these two spent on the page and how different they are but seem to understand each other better than anyone else could.

Again, I cannot emphasize enough on how much I adored this book and I highly suggest reading it if you love watching kdramas and if you enjoyed reading Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of The God and the Gumiho in exchange for an honest review ♡

This grumpy/sunshine, hate to love, urban fantasy world set in South Korea had me from kicking me feet giggling at the FMC and MMC to tearing up at the end. I adored how fun this book was and how lovable the characters became for me. I loved Hani from the start, how she lived to annoy the grumpy god. I will highly recommend it to others but do wish to read more! I am unsure if there will be more… I’ll be happy when I can get a copy on my shelves of this book either way.