I think I have found a new book boyfriend.
I really enjoyed the banter between Seokga and Hani. Even though I hate the lying trope it worked really well for the story and they way I BAWLED my eyes out when this book finished.
Watching these 2 fall for each other while trying to save the world was everything. I need the sequel IMMEDIATLEY.

Thank you (and apologies) to NetGalley for the readers copy in exchange for a (late) review.
I was really enjoying this book until my tablet decided to die and I couldn’t access it any more. Tragic I know.
But what I did get to read was great. He only likes coffee and her and honestly I love those priorities. Although this didn’t start as strong as I was hoping (this book was really talked up) I can see kind of where it’s going and I’m excited at the prospects.
I’m also getting into my Kdrama era so this read pairs perfectly.
Bring on the rest. Full review TBA

This felt like the prequel to a certain TV show I ABSOLUTELY ADORED. Its full of warm fuzzies but also the grumpy sunshine feels makes it so much better.

Was I a tad confused to start with? Yes. But after a few chapters, I started to realise where it was going and just what may or may not be happening.

If you are unfamiliar with Korean mythology, it might be useful to do a little reading prior to jumping into this, even if its just a matter of having Google handy to check what is what and why there are inherent and automatic dislikes of some characters by others. Otherwise, go ham. Dive in. Embrace the atmosphere because its fantastic and honestly I need more

This book was such a wild ride!! That ending had me gobsmacked and NEEDING the sequel ASAP.

Full of Korean mythology, The God and the Gumiho follows Kim Hani, a gumiho with a dark secret she has managed hide for hundreds of years and Seokga, a fallen god working to earn his place back in the pantheon after a prank gone wrong. This story mixes in Korean mythology, magic, and a murder mystery to create a entertaining, magic fueled journey with such brilliant banter and enemies to lovers romance. I absolutely loved learning more about Korean mythology, it something that I am familiar with but I did have to google a few things, it didn't impact my experience though. It definitely read like a KDrama which was so much fun as well.

I truly loved the dynamics between Seokga and Hani, their backgrounds and competing motivations was so compelling and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for everything to come to a head. I really loved these two together as well, they brought out such great personalities in each other, and Seokga truly had me swooning, this emotionally constipated man opening up to Hani was so beautiful!!

The ending left me so excited for the sequel to see where it takes our characters, I will impatiently wait for it's release to absolutely devour it!!

Thank you to Hachette Australia & New Zealand | Hodderscape and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review.

I was hooked from the very first page. I love a good murder mystery and this one is particularly gruesome!
Initially, I was drawn by the interweaving of a modern world hiding gods and monsters inspired by Korean mythology.
Then, I stayed for the epic banter and high-octane adventure; I only wish that it was harder to guess the killer for a more dramatic reveal.
I'm definitely going back to read Sophie Kim's debut and excited to see what comes next!

I really enjoyed reading this book. The world which was bought to life between its pages was really vivid and enjoyable as were the main characters.
This is such a vivid and enjoyable book - the imagery is so pretty and the story delightful!
The only thing I could have wanted was one more chapter, but I can see why they left it as they did.

(disclaimer - i received an Arc of this book, but I would rate it 5 stars either way)

3.75 Stars
Steeped in Korean mythology Sophie Kim’s lastest book is a murder mystery of the supernatural kind which sees a fallen god and a Gumiho (nine tailed fox) team together.

Overall this one was fun, it’s a lot more humorous than I thought it would be. It’s funny how the god is obsessed with coffee with one sugar and cream.

There is a lot going on, and if you’re not familiar with some of the mythology it might get a bit confusing. The only thing I didn’t like was how young the two main characters came across considering they are over thousands of years old. Instead they read like moody irresponsible teenagers.

Otherwise I don’t have any particular thoughts about it but do consider it Well worth a read if you’re looking for something steeped in Korean mythology. 3.5⭐️

Thanks to @netgalley and @hachettenz for a eARC. All opinions are my own.

This is why I personally cannot DNF a book. The first half was very slow that I was pretty tempted to give it up but the last half was absolutely brilliant that it made the effort worth it. This book is a vibrant blend of Korean mythology, urban fantasy, murder mystery with a touch of romance and I am so sad it’s over. Great news though, because apparently it’s book 1 in a series. The characters did feel very young for being immortals who have lived for thousands of years but their annoying character traits ended up growing on me and their chemistry together was great. I know very little of Korean mythology but after reading this one I am really excited to do some research. This is the first book I have read by this author but it absolutely will not be the last. Highly recommend to anyone who loves different types of mythology retelling and is happy to work through a slowish start for an incredible conclusion.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette, for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Despite it taking me a little bit to get into, this book was an absolutely wild, thoroughly entertaining ride!! The vibes were that of a fantasy kdrama in the best way, and I loved watching Seokga and Hani grow as the story progressed!

I highly recommend checking this book out!!

I thoroughly enjoyed The God and the Gumiho. It highlighted the beauty of Korean folklore and was such an intriguing read. It was a true enemies to lovers!

I felt as though I was in a fantasy k-drama world and it was incredible! The imagery was fantastical and I sincerely hope we get more from Sophie Kim!

If you enjoyed ‘The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy’ by Megan Bannen and ‘Shanghai Immortal’ by A.Y Chao then you’ll enjoy ‘The God and the Gumiho’ too! It also gave me Buffy, Crescent City, and Spirited Away vibes, with a touch of the X-files but with sassier leading characters. There are lots of interesting creatures in the book, my favourite being the Gumiho/ nine tailed fox, Hani. I liked that Hani had both a good and bad side in her present self and the past Scarlet Fox rampaging self. This added depth to her character. Hani and Seokga have a great dynamic and their interactions throughout the book were very entertaining!

A contemporary fantasy, set in a 90s South Korea, with Korean mythology? I'm in! I love Sophie Kim's Korean mythology-inspired stories.

After Kim Hani devoured too many souls, she now spends her life in a small coffee shop, delighting in annoying a trickster god. The trickster god is Seokga, exiled from the heavenly kingdom, now residing alongside mortals. When Hani becomes Seokga's assistant to throw him off her tail after the deaths of two humans, but they also must kill a powerful demon who escaped from the underworld. Can they work together?

I really enjoyed this one! Hani and Seokga are highly entertaining together. Hani is a powerful, morally grey Gumiho, and Seokga is a god - it is nice to read about characters having similar playing fields in the world and in their relationship too. They are delightful and slightly immature at times, but at times it was so ridiculous that it made it highly entertaining.

For fans of:

❤️ K-Drama vibes
🩷 Banter
❤️ Korean mythology
🩷 Contemporary fantasies
❤️ Murder mystery
🩷 90s setting

Thank you to Hachette Australia for a review copy of The God and the Gumiho! All opinions are my own.

This book was my absolute favourite book of the year so far. This is how I’m my opinion enemies to lovers should be. This book had my laughing, crying and squealing, and I can’t wait for the release! Will be recommending to literally anybody who will listen to me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 4.5/5

This was a fun read, with wonderful worldbuilding and fantastic characters. It wasn't exactly what I expected - it reads rather YA which isn't a bad thing but it isn't advertised as such. The only real issues I had is that the characters' personalites felt rather young when they're both meant to be immortal beings that are hundreds or thousands of years old. I also didn't realise the setting was the 1990s (?) until close to the end - maybe I missed something though. Overall, this was a solid contemporary fantasy that kept me hooked.

While there are little moments that require suspension of disbelief, reading this was such fun and reminded me so much of the K-dramas I used to binge with endless snacks.

There is incredible Sherlock-and-Watson-esque banter between Hani, a sassy gumiho and Seokga, a trickster god, as they unexpectedly come together to solve a mystery. The fact that they are both inherently morally grey because of who they are, with clashing goals but are also falling for each other makes it really interesting as well. Even though I would personally have preferred more focus on the fantastical in place of the romantic, the plot is fast-paced and gripping, and the world of gods, reapers and Unrulies (monsters and trouble-making spirits) in the 21st century is still great fun.

Thank you Hachette Australia & New Zealand, the author and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I leave this review voluntarily.

With thanks to the author, Sophie Kim, Hachette Australia & New Zealand and Netgalley for a copy of this earc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the story of a fallen trickster God, Seogka and Kim Hani, a shapeshifting Gumiho, once known as the Scarlet Fox, and them not falling in love. Together they must overcome their differences to track an escaped underworld demon. While Kim Hani's secret identity is unknown to Seokga, his chance at retribution and reinstatement as a full God involves both capturing the demon at large and the Scarlet Fox. Complicating things are Hani and Seogka's feelings for each other.

This was a delightful introduction to the world of Korean-inspired fantasy storytelling. In and of itself this was a mix of beautifully evocative passages, such as the opening cherry blossom tableau and chunks where my lack of K-drama insight meant I feel I was missing out on truly appreciating the interactions of the characters.

I didn’t see a “Loki” style trickster God in Seogka. His personality is initially, tired, grumpy and depressed until he and Hani fall down a hill together (this is not a euphemism). Hani exhibits more foxy cunning and is “An Noying” at times. The story really got pace in the second half when both characters come to care not only about the outcome they are striving for but, soften towards each other becoming ‘happy around the edges’. For me, the characters were nicer characters to read in the second part of the book. Make no mistake, any romance is secondary to the mystery taking place. The penultimate fight scene was powerful and I am curious to see where the story goes next.

All in all I enjoyed ‘The God and the Gumiho’ as an introduction to contemporary Korean fantasy I am keen to read more. I look forward to more of Seokga in the future.

I had the time of my life reading this! Such a fun, humorous and riveting read, perfect for fellow fantasy K-drama fans like me. The God & the Gumiho follows a fallen trickster god and a notorious gumiho who must team together to fight a powerful demon & save the mortal realm. Sophie Kim's writing has such lush and compelling imagery alongside fun, witty dialogue which made the reading experience really entertaining and immersive. The plot moved at a intriguing pace with little dull moments, especially near the end which kept me clued to the pages. My favourite part is definitely the two main characters and their hilarious, grumpyxsunshine dynamic. The two initially get off on the wrong foot and are almost polar opposites but when forced to work together, gradually build a nice camaraderie which blossoms into a sweet romance. There were so many cute, swoon-worthy moments especially from Seokga whose prior cold demeanor melts into a lovesick, adorable character. I liked how both POVs had strong distinct voices with funny inner monologues alongside their vulnerable moments. Both of them can be considered morally grey, having committed sins in the past. However, together, they are still striving to save the world and each other. I desperately need the 2nd book now!!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely devoured this book the way that Kim Hani (used to) devours souls. As someone who is a huge Naruto fan, I had to get my hands on an early copy of The God and the Gumiho.

This book had all the tropes that had me swooning including: forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, one bed trope.

The character of Seokga the Fallen has me in a chokehold. I love his stubborn, sarcastic, moody, coffee loving self, but the real star of this book is definitely my fox Kim Hani. She is the embodiment of myself: sassy, bossy, quick whited and hilarious. I want to be her friend sooo bad.

The two start off with a mutual hatred for one another, but when an unruly demon is wreaking havoc on the city of Iseong, the two must come together to solve the mystery of who is at the hands of such destruction. At the same time, Seogka is also trying to uncover the true identity of the Scarlet fox, so that he may fulfil a bargain made to his emperor brother, in killing her. Only once he has accomplished his task, will his brother see to it that he restores Seogka's title as The God of Deceit.

However, there is more to his assistant Kim than meets the eye, as she is none other than the Scarlet fox herself.

Everything about the story was so well executed. The only thing I had a slight issue with is the ending of the book. I did feel it was a little rushed, and I was hopeful there would be at least a reveal as to who/what is tied to the end of the thread in terms of a physical body. Unless of course there will be another book in which I would absolutely love to read, as I want to know more about the reconciliation of Seogka and Hani.

This book was so much fun! If you love watching kdrama's then you will definitely love this one. The humor and the banter made me feel like I was literally watching a show in my head. Kim Hani was such a funny and lovable fmc. Her love/hate relationship with Seogka was so entertaining. Seeing their hatred for each other evolve into love was so swoon-worthy!

I did find it was dragging out a little bit before the main fight. And it was quite predictable in terms of who or what was gonna happen. That being said I did tear up a little at the end. The story of the God and the Gumiho was truly so good and I enjoyed it very much.

Side note: I do wish there was some sort of glossary either at the start or end that I could refer back to. As a non-Korean speaker I found myself googling words at times to figure out what they meant. Especially near the start when the world building begins.

Thank you so much Hachette Australia, Hodderscape and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this spectacular book, which is currently one of the few books I’ve rated five stars this year for! This is a MASSIVE review, so prepare for some reading!

If you are a lover of tropes such as;

-Forced Proximity
-Grump x Sunshine
-Only One Bed
-Coffee Shop Romance
-Murder Mystery
-Morally Grey MC’s

Please, please put this on your TBR immediately!

This story is a Dual Point of View following Kim Hani and Seokga the Fallen Trickster God, as they embark on a mission to track down a Demon responsible for a series of murder mysteries in Korea that threaten the mortal world's existence. Both characters are driven by significant motives; Seokga, exiled from the heavenly kingdom by his brother following a failed Coup, now resides in the mortal realm striving for redemption by pursuing the same demons he once conspired with to overthrow his brother. Kim Hani, formerly known as the infamous Scarlet Fox, is the primary reason why the Gumiho are disgraced and prohibited from consuming men's livers and souls. She is determined to safeguard her past secrets, even if it means assisting the trickster god and leading him off the Scarlet Fox's path.

I am obsessed with the fact that we get TWO morally grey main characters in this story. Their questionable decisions added depth to the plot, and I found myself engrossed in their interactions with one another. The witty exchanges between them had me chuckling, and the natural progression of tension between them was captivating. Despite their contrasting personalities, both characters are strong-willed, intelligent, and focused on their individual objectives. Kim Hani and Seokga were enemies before this book takes place, something that is explained and bought up throughout the story (something that is rarely done, and I GREATLY appreciate it when it is!). This is possibly my favourite Grumpy x Sunshine pairing of all time and it’s going to take a LOT to beat in the future. I also love that we get some great side-characters who all had their own stories and personalities.

I've never delved into Korean Mythology or Lore before, but I found it fascinating to explore and research while reading this book to help me better understand and picture the story in my head. The perfect balance of information kept me engaged without overwhelming me, even with no prior knowledge. The lore and mythology was the basis in the world-building, creating a magical fusion with 1990's Korea that held my attention throughout the entire storyline.

The Storyline. Honestly, I was completely taken aback by the ending. It's rare for me to go from laughing at character interactions on one page to feeling utterly shocked by an ending, as was the case with this book. The real villain caught me off guard, and the writing skilfully maintained a sense of mystery and suspicion around many secondary characters. The depth of character development with Kim Hani and Seokga the Fallen truly enriched the overall plot, especially considering the story unfolds over just two weeks.

I’ve read that this book was inspired by K-Dramas, thus, some elements (such as the writing and dialogue) might draw comparisons to Young Adult Fantasy rather than Adult Fantasy. And yes, we get some spicy scenes between our MC's.

I am restlessly praying to the bookish gods, as well as to you, Sophie Kim, to please consider turning this into a series! Ever since I finished reading it, I can't get this book out of my mind, and I crave any scrap you’re willing to give me!