Axie Oh is one of my favorite authors ever, ever since I first read her work with XOXO. I've made it my life mission to support every single one of her releases, my love for her stories expanding all around her characters and story ideas. Easily, The Floating World was one of, if not my most anticipated releases of the year, but I ended up feeling a little bit disappointed with this one.

This is the first book in a fantasy duology that takes the classic korean fairytale "The Woodcutter and the Celestial Maiden" as inspiration, presenting us a world divided by war, a runaway princes looking for a cure for her uncle's illness and an amnesiac soldier trying to make end meet while searching for his lost brother, and how they get together after a life changing encounter with a demon. It sounds AMAZING, and as a starting idea, it works really well for a series.

The world building, although a little bit spare in some aspects, crates a fantastical scenario infused with korean culture for our main characters, and I really enjoyed exploring it. In this story there's also something called "The Floating World", a big chunk of land that lives in the sky, where the government and the Kingdom reside, awaiting for the war that keeps brewing underneath it to explode. I have always loved how Axie Oh writes fantasy; her writing style is imaginative and whimsical at the same time, creating gorgeous images and descriptions that pull you in.

This series deals with magic, demons, experiments, a very dangerous type of metal that may or may not be the catalyst to everything, and stories left unfinished. You keep learning everything at the same pace as the characters, which leaves you interested and needy of answers until you finish the book.

But I did have some issues with this novel that I need to expand on.

It pains me a little bit to say this, but throughout the novel I couldn't shake this feeling of the story reading a little bit empty, especially compared to the author's other fantasy novel. It wasn't until the last few chapters when everything started to feel stronger and with more impact in the overall arc or construction of the novel. Maybe it was the fact that the big chunks of information were saved for the end, but the middle section felt slow and lacking in certain aspects.

Even though I really enjoyed both of the main characters, I wasn't sold on the romance, since it appeared a little bit insta-lovey, which is new for Axie Oh. I usually adore her couples, but Ren and Sunho needed more development as a pair, because on their own I absolutely loved their construction and journey.

However, that ending really sets up for an amazing sequel. I think that The Demon and The Light will redeem a lot of the issues I had with this first novel. I'm intrigued enough in the world and the current situation with the characters, so I will definitely finish this duology.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I like Asian fiction, and this one did not disappoint. It was a bit tropey - meaning, it included a lot of the popular tropes that plague today's YA releases, but this book would be perfect for anyone who falls into the trap of reading overly hyped Booktok YA Fantasy, Asian Fiction novels.
There was some originality, but I really wish that the author could have explored the world a bit more in her writing, instead of focusing so much on the book's main issue and conflict resolution. From the second chapter, I could already tell who was the missing princess, who she would 'fall in love' with, who was a demon and who was not...etc. Hence, I would say that this book was a bit predictable, but it was still good.

In summary, I would recommend giving it a try, but if you are looking for a lot of plot originality...oh well.

The Floating World is a fast-paced and tender young adult reimagining of the celestial maiden in Korean folklore set against a world divided by light and darkness. When Ren accidentally unleashes a blast of light in order to save her adoptive family when their village comes under attach by a demon, she finds herself thrown into the path of Sunho, an ex-soldier and sword-for-hire tasked with the assignment to hunt her down. Together they discover that their destinies are more intertwined than they ever thought and that there is a certain darkness in the Floating World intent on stopping them from knowing the truth.

I haven’t read anything by Axie Oh before so I was so excited when I read the premise for this one and it definitely did not disappoint! I adored Sunho and Ren’s journey but do think that their relationship together could perhaps be more fleshed out in the second book as I found there were moments that seemed also a bit too fast-paced in the context of their relationship. The world-building was intriguing and and I was enthralled with the writing all throughout.

Definitely cannot wait for the second book to release this year as well because I need to know what happens next!

This book is everything I love in a fantasy, the author Axie Oh creates a world that’s dark and dangerous but still filled with hope, adventure, and those little moments that make you fall in love with a story.

Ren, a traveling acrobat, who has spent her whole life hiding a dangerous power. But when a monstrous demon attacks during a festival, she has no choice but to unleash it, completely changing her world. Now, she’s on a mission to save her uncle, and along the way, she crosses paths with Sunho, a former soldier with no memory of his past. What she doesn’t know? He’s one of the many people looking for her.

If you love fast-paced, immersive fantasy with a perfect mix of action, adventure, and just the right amount of romance—this one’s for you!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a lot of fun. The description of this book is spot on and if you liked Shadow and Bone you will like this book as well. The main characters are well written and I love their dynamic. I am so excited for the next book to see where the story goes from here!

This hits a lot of great tropes for me. Girl on a time-sensitive quest to find a cure, strange shifting of people into demons, rampage attacks, two distinct societies, a missing princess, a hunter, and a bodyguard, a forbidden love that is stronger than anything, journeying through world-building, intrigue, and unveiling a creepy plot, can't wait for book 2. I loved this cover. (P.s- I felt the same as I felt when I read the manga Fruit Basket. Loved it. Just the feeling is the same because the story is completely different. Mood.) Sad and emotional.

This was a wonderful story I enjoyed every bit of it. It was fast paced. The growth between the two main characters is beautifully done. I love that there is still so much to know about this world, and I am eager to hear it. I thought this was going to be a standalone. It is not and I so look forward to the next book.

“The Floating World” by Axie Oh was an exhilarating read. After discovering “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” for my graduate class I quickly picked up her K-pop drama series for my own personal reading. Oh quickly became one of my favorite authors of 2024. While her books are firmly rooted in YA, and suited for younger YA audiences as well, they are written with enough depth for adult readers to enjoy as well. Her world-building is consistently impressive, and this novel is no exception. The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep you engaged from beginning to end. With its fast-paced plot, there’s never a dull moment—I flew through it. Axie Oh is now an auto-buy author for me, and I can’t wait to add a physical copy to my bookshelf.
Thanks to NetGallery and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did and it really just boils down to two things: it was a little too immature for my liking and I didn't buy the romance.

First the things I did like. I really enjoyed the story, the world-building, and the characters. The storyline was so interesting and I truly wanted to know where the story was going. It had a good mystery that didn't seem to be solved out of no where, and even though there were aspects that were resolved, it left enough for the reader to want to continue the series. The magic system and world was also really interesting. Of course this was the first book in the series, so it all definitely wasn't completely explored, but I really want to learn more. It was a little confusing at times, and I feel like we could have gotten a better base, specifically for things like who has powers and why and a little bit more about the political structure. And then individually I enjoyed the characters. Ren was fun and hopeful even when faced with absolute horrors and tragedy in her life. She was strong and capable, but believably so. She wasn't one of those FMCs that for some reason can completely control their powers even though they've had little to know training. She struggles but learns and it's refreshing. Sunho was the stoic and pessimistic MMC for very understandable reasons, but also often shows kindness and vulnerability to those who deserve it.

Individually, I loved the characters, but together is where I had a problem. I did not buy the relationship. I think there was a good base building and they could've had a very great and realistic relationship, but I think it was all too rushed. With how much tragedy they've experienced in their lives, especially with how much they've been betrayed by others, it seemed unrealistic how much they trusted each other so quickly. There should have been more development, more instances of earning each others trust, of fighting for each other when they shouldn't have been, before they're all of a sudden have lovey dovey scenes. They were supposed to be on opposite sides and there could have been great tension between the two until they overcame their problems because they were just so in love with each other. There was very little development and it left me wanting so much more.

Because of the seriousness of the story and some of the slightly violent scenes, I don't know if I would say this is fully middle-grade, but that's how the writing and characters came across to me
I don't know how to articulate this well, but they're were just some moments that felt so childish and not in line with the tone of the story. And I understand allowing characters to have moments of joy in their very tragic storylines, but I don't know, there was just something immature about the writing style as well that I didn't love. It could be that I'm just not the right age range for this book, but it just made it a little unenjoyable at times.

Overall, this book was very interesting and I understand why people loved this book, and while I did enjoy it, it's just not a favorite for me.

Take my review with a grain of salt because I only read about 20% before I threw in the towel. I think that this book was leaning towards being an average young adult fantasy that unfortunately wasn’t doing enough for me to care enough to want to continue. I don’t think this is a bad book. In fact, if I had read it just a couple years ago I’d probably enjoy it a lot. So I think teens who like fantasy, who like the Korean mythology inspiration, will enjoy this a lot. It was just fine for me though.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the preview. All opinions are my own.

Ah, I absolutely loved this! It's got magic, hidden/forgotten identities, a quest, and just so much heart. The world is so unique with three "layers." And the characters have my whole heart.

I loved Ren and Sunho so much. They're our main focus, but I also loved Little Uncle, Tag and Yurhee too. The relationship that developed between Ren and Sunho was just so incredibly sweet. A lesser author would have milked the hidden identities and reveals for unnecessary drama and angst. and I'm so thankful Axie Oh didn't take that path.

Jaeil is still a mystery to me. I thought we'd go one way with his arc, but we went a completely different way, and now I'm just confused about his motivations. But the ending left me screaming, and I'm so glad we don't have to wait a year for the next book! I absolutely teared up at several points, especially towards the end. My heart needs some healing!

Highly recommend this one, especially if you loved The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea!

4 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the ARC via NetGalley! 💌

Okay, but Axie Oh, you genius, what have you done to me?! This book was a whirlwind of magic, adventure, and emotions, and I was absolutely hooked! A breathtaking blend of celestial magic, Korean mythology, and high-stakes adventure, this YA fantasy will consume your soul. 💘

✨ Let’s talk about the setup! We’ve got Ren, a cheerful acrobat with a hidden power she definitely shouldn’t have used in public (oops). And Sunho, an ex-soldier with a sword, a tragic backstory, and a memory gap big enough to fit an entire war. Their paths collide in the most chef’s kiss way, and suddenly, Ren is being hunted, Sunho is questioning everything, and we’re on a journey across a world so beautifully crafted it could be a Studio Ghibli film. 🎭

🔥 THE GOOD STUFF:
✔ The world-building?!? IMMACULATE. Axie Oh doesn’t dump info on you—she weaves it into the story so seamlessly that you’re just in the world, no confusion, no boredom, just pure ✨ magic ✨.
✔ Ren & Sunho? Absolutely precious. Their bond grows so naturally, and the slow burn romance? I felt it in my bones. Sunho calling her by her name for the first time nearly ended me. 💕
✔ The vibes? Impeccable. Dark underworlds, celestial magic, acrobat performances, sword fights—I was living for it. 🔥

💥 THE TINY NITPICKS:
❗ The last 20% felt a little rushed—I wanted the action scenes to stretch out longer, give me more tension, drama, and heartbreak! I needed that final battle to wreck me, and it almost did.
❗ Some side characters (Jaeil, I’m looking at you) needed more page time. GIVE ME MORE OF THEM IN BOOK 2, PLEASE.

Final verdict? If you love gorgeous world-building, an addicting plot, soft yet fierce romance, and a touch of mythological magic, The Floating World is your next obsession. Book 2 can’t come soon enough! 💫

Pitched as Final Fantasy meets Studio Ghibli's Castle in the Sky, The Floating World follows Ren, a troupe performer with a hidden past, and Sunho, a mercenary for hire living deep in the squalor of the Under World. When Sunho is hired to find a young girl with magic, his and Ren's destinies collide in ways that will upend the very foundation of their society.

I so wish that I liked this more than I ended up liking it because in theory and concept this was so cool. I can definitely see the influences of Final Fantasy VII and Studio Ghibli, but there were too many things that needed work for me to fully immerse myself in the story. The world building had great bones, with the Under World and the Floating City, and the toxic mithril resources needed to sustain the worlds, but it was just bones. There was very little substance to the world, very little explained about the connection between the Under World and the Floating World, and the author did not spend enough time fleshing out the environments for me to be able to see where our characters were.

The characters were interesting, and I thought to be one of the better executed aspects of the story. Ren is sweet and cheerful, without being saccharine or naive. Sunho is haunted but hopeful, and wiling to do what is right even if that means sacrificing himself. They played well together, and I genuinely think they compliment each other well, but I do think the romance between them began to quickly. I would have loved to see the gradual realization of feelings, especially since this is book one in a duology, instead of almost instantly crushing on each other from the get.

The ending was definitely rushed and could have used the fact that, again, this is slated as a duology, to better pace itself out.

Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Axie Oh is an author I love in a very specific genre. I do not usually enjoy any contemporary romances she releases, but she is now 2 for 2 in fantasy for me. I adored The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, so I was really looking forward to this book.

I really enjoyed this for the most part. I quickly grew attached to side characters, which is always a mark of a great book for me. I appreciated how quickly certain things took place so that it didn’t feel like some things were dragging on unnecessarily. Something I really liked is that we were given answers more readily than when authors try to drag out certain big reveals to the point it gets annoying and that a lot of things weren’t kept from other characters. For me, I also really appreciated that it wasn’t overly angsty, and while it wouldn’t be considered cozy, it is much softer.

I’m excited to see what the sequel brings!

This was about a 4.5⭐️ for me!

First off MAJOR Final Fantasy 7 vibes! I know the author had mentioned it when talking about the book but seriously so spot on.

Story is about a girl named Ren whom travels with her family as a troupe performer. On their last stop a ‘demon’ comes from the mountains and attacks, she uses her ‘powers’ (‘the light’) to kill it. With a family member ailed she sets out to look for a cure.

Then we meet Sunho, a sword for hire who has lost all memories before 2 years ago, gets tasked with finding the girl (ren) who was a source of a mysterious light seen from below in the underworld for help finding his brother.

The two get mixed up in a grand adventure so ren can find a cure for her uncle and sunho can get the answers he needs while keeping her safe. But as he unlocks his memories things are not as they seem. There is plenty of action and beautiful descriptions by the authors. The main and side characters are easily lovable and I felt immersed in the story almost immediately due to the comparisons I found to FF7 which has such beautiful world building. And there were twists in this story I was not expecting, with reveals done well.

I adore all of Axie Oh’s books but this one along with the ‘the girl who fell beneath the sea’ is beautiful and her writing is just getting better. So I see anyone who enjoys sci-fi/fantasy-esq plots (ie final fantasy) will really enjoy this. It also holds a place in my heart along with sue lynn tan’s ’daughter of the moon goddess’ duo!

Excited to read it again when it’s published!

The writing style in this book is simply divine. Axie Oh has built a beautiful world that is easy to get lost in. Ren is a character I absolutely love, same with Sunho. The dynamic is wonderfully done, and feels as familiar as it does new. The whole vibe of the story is Studio Ghibli meets steam punk and I'm obsessed. I'm eager to have the second book and see where the story goes next!!! In the mean time I'm itching to make some fanart

I used to devour young adult and middle grade books. As a junior high and high school teacher, it was fun to read the same things as my students. But as the years wore on, I tired of some of the same-ness. After The Hunger Games, the trends got out of control and I had to step away from reading most YA for a long time.

So I was delighted when I started Axie Oh’s The Floating World and practically devoured it, picking it up and putting it down less than 24 hours after starting. There’s just enough depth to the characters to propel the story along and Oh makes the story very readable and accessible to readers of all ages.

Our lead protagonists are Ren and Sunho, both 17 years-old. Ren has been traveling with a performing troupe, but right away we learn she has to restrain her magical powers or else she’d be found out, and killed just like her mother before her 10 years previously. Sunho has some dark power inside of himself, but can’t remember his life before two years ago. They are on a collision course with each other, for better or for worse.

Now, years ago I wrote a novel of my own where both the young love interests have special powers, but Axie Oh did so much better than I could, relying on Korean mythology and folkstories to serve as the backbone of this fun and satisfying book.

From what I can tell, this is the first book in a duology, with the sequel, titled The Demon and the Light releasing this October, which will be VERY good news for anyone who reads The Floating World. I really enjoyed the interplay between Ren and Sunho throughout and figured we’d be getting a sequel, but it seemed like there was going to be enough of a wrap that the book could stand on its own. THEN…Axie Oh yanks the comfortable rug out from under the reader and leaves the characters in a bit of limbo between the two books.

I was thrilled to be able to read The Floating World thanks to an ARC provided by NetGalley and am ready to bite into The Demon and the Light before the end of the year.

Sunho, an ex-soldier from the Under World, bears almost no memory of his life from before two years ago. He takes odd jobs as a mercenary to get by, until a new job comes in--to retrieve a girl with mysterious powers. Ren is a bright and cheerful acrobat traveling with her adopted family of performers, until they are attacked by a strange demon. After a terrible loss and the grievous injury of one of her family members, Ren unleashes a mysterious power. Propelled by her desire to save her uncle, she sets off beyond the mountains, where the monster came from, in the hopes of finding a cure, thus putting her fate and Sunho's on a collision course that will change both their lives.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved Axie Oh's writing and world-building since I first picked up The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. Described as Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone, it reminded me of Castle in the Sky--not unlike how The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was reminiscent of Spirited Away. But it also had a sprinkle of elements that also reminded me of Ghibli's adaption of Howl's Moving Castle. I loved Ren's character and how the initial awkwardness between her and Sunho grows into something sweeter. Admittedly in my head, I think I kept picturing her as Ty Lee. I also liked that Sunho wasn't a stereotypical brooding love interest. He has baggage and he's a little awkward, but he's earnest and kindhearted.

4.5 stars!

This was such a captivating read! I loved everything about this book: the worldbuilding (obsessed with the Studio Ghibli + steampunk vibes), the action scenes, and the characters! Ren and Sunho are so cute and felt like such refreshing characters in the YA fantasy genre. The different POVs we get for the chapters were also great. This is one of those books where I liked all three POVs equally, which furthered my enjoyment of the book. That ending was soo!!! and I can't wait for book 2!

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

Ren is a troupe performer who is forced to go on a quest alone to find a cure for her uncle after a brutal attack during one of their performances. Sunho is searching for his brother, with only a single memory to go off of. Both collide and decide to continue their quests together in hopes of helping each find what they are looking for.

Once again Axie Oh delivers on an exciting and lush world! I absolutely adored The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea, and knew I had to read this one! I really loved the characters in The Floating World, but main and supporting. I thought the motivations for both the main characters were clear and well-thought out. There was never a moment where I was like huh, why are you making these choices? I particularly enjoyed how both main characters faced their pasts and how they worked towards their futures. I thought the pacing was well done and the action sequences were great.

I was happy where the book left off and the direction that the sequel appears to be going in. My only complaint is I wanted more!

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!