The Floating World is the beginning of a duology by Axie Oh. This fantasy reimagining of the Korean tale of the Celestial Maiden is a fast paced mystery romance. You slowly learn the story through the perspectives of three characters, Ren, Sundho, and Jaeil. I felt that the characters were well written, did things that made sense according to their values and beliefs, and made you care about them. Jaeil was the least fleshed out “main” character but perhaps his time to shine is coming in the sequel.

Overall, a good read for young adults and adults!

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for allowing me access to the ARC through NetGalley. I loved The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea so I was very excited to read The Floating World. Axie Oh’s fantasy world building is always phenomenal and whimsical. The book reminds me of a blend of science fantasy/steam punk (e.g. airships, trains, and human experimentation) and mythology/fairytale (e.g. celestial maidens, magic, and demons). Ren and Sunho were adorable and I can’t wait for more of their slow burn romance in book 2. I loved the side characters and enjoyed that no one felt one dimensional. The book was easy to read and I finished the last half of the book in one sitting.

The Floating World by Axie Oh
★ ★ ★ ★.5
Release Date: April 29, 2025

Well, I ended up really loving this story! The atmosphere was so much fun and engaging! While I feel like it got off to a slowish start, it quickly gained speed and I had a hard time putting this one down.

➜ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴠɪɴᴇꜱꜱ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴄʜᴇꜱᴛ ʟɪɢʜᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜰɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴊᴏʏ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴏᴘᴇ. ʜᴇ’ᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ.

I loved all the characters. It kind of leans towards a love triangle but we all know who we want. Jaeil intrigued me and I need to know more. Sunho stole my heart for every action he took and it broke so hard for him at the end. I NEED to know what happens. And Ren, who did our name RIGHT. Sweet and compassionate but also brave and courageous.

➜ ʜᴇ’ᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʀᴇꜱɪɢɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪꜱ ꜰᴀᴛᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ’ᴅ ꜰɪɢʜᴛ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ.

The romance was sweet and slow burn. My heart hurt at the end but I trust those two bbs so I can’t wait to see what happens next. SO good y’all. I’m not giving anything away because it’s a fun ride that will leave you craving what happens next.

♡ ya romantasy
♥ Korean legends
♡ slow burn
♥ amnesia
♡ cliffhanger

{I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own. Any quote used is subject to change.}

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for giving me an e-arc of this book for an honest review!

The Floating World follows Ren, a acrobat with secret powers and Sunho, a mercenary with a dark past with no memories. We see as their paths align in a world with floating worlds, perpetual darkness, and celestial maidens.

I was really excited for this read as a palate cleanser. I do think Axie Oh creates imaginative worlds with the right amount of whimsy, the myths and lores are well-crafted and are properly integrated into the story. However, I feel like I was missing some depth to the characters, their relationship with each other, and their motivations. Couldn't understand why some choices were made. This honestly could've been the pacing. It's both slow and too fast. Moments with emotional weight happen to quickly, reveals don't hit, but other points it was a slog to read. through. It's unfortunate because I do think it has a lot of potential. I love the soft awkwardness of Ren and Sunho, but couldn't believe why they trusted each other so fast. Jaeil's pov was more political which is usually my speed, but he felt awkwardly placed into this story with the other POVs.

The worldbuilding made me more confused only because I think the beginning could've set up the underworld vs floating world separation a lot better.

I would recommend this to someone who wants more of a beginner fantasy that focuses on the atmosphere and vibes of a studio ghibli with more action.

“If you had wings,” he said, with all the sincerity he possessed, “I’d want to see you fly.” Axie Oh has done it again. I loved reading this and following Ren and Sunho on their journey. Those two are so sweet and adorable, I love how protective they become of each other. Oh's writing is so whimsical and beautifully descriptive, it really enhanced the reading experience. If you enjoyed The Girl who fell Beneath the Sea I definitely recommend picking this one up. I can’t wait until the sequel comes out!

This is a romantic fantasy reimagining of the Korean legend of celestial maidens.

Ren has been hiding her magic for a decade, and she goes on a quest to find a cure for her Uncle, who was attacked by a demon. Because of her magical powers, a light, the evil general of the Sareniyan army puts a bounty on her and wants to prove that she's an imposter. Ren, heals Sunho, a swordsman; Ren does not know he is one of the men looking for her. Sunho wants to find his brother, since he woke up without any of his memories two years ago.

The celestial maidens have always ruled the Floating World, until the general took over. Sunho chooses to protect Ren instead of turning her in. Her magic has helped with some of his memories returning. Jaeil, the general's son, is a childhood friend of Ren's. He is tasked with bringing Ren alive to his father.

I did like the dynamics and the slow trust that was slowly formed between Ren and Sunho. She saved him not once but twice. It took me a week to finish the ARC. Most of the pacing was a bit slow, and there was a lot of worldbuilding. The ending was somewhat expected but was still a cliffhanger regardless. It would've been nice to see more chapters from Jaeil's POV.

This was a quick, sweet read steeped in adoration for family forged and born. Axie Oh is ambitious in this novel, more so than in her previous novel with this reimagining of the Celestial Maidens. The settings are lush and well lived in through out the story. Each layer of the universe feels organic and true. The dual journeys through the worlds to find and save family members offers so much space to understand our narrators of Ren and Sunho. Ren is desperate not to be linked to her childhood while Sunho would do anything to remember his and this contrast blends beautifully between the two. But the ambition of Oh's project does come at a cost. Plot points feel rushed or forgotten for sections of the novel. Characters who could haunt the narrative instead slide in with little chance to be more than a passing glance at personality. Potentially unsuccessful in a stand alone, but equal potential for more in a series.

I've heard amazing things about this book and author, but this is my first go at her books and writing.

To start, 10/10 cover and synopsis. It really reeled me in and made me WANT to dive into the story. When starting to read, I was immediately drawn into the world building and atmosphere the author creates. Vivid, far from one dimensional, and a great speed that was neither too fast or slow.

It was a little easy to foresee some of the things that were going to occur, but the author leaves enough in the air to make you want more. Will absolutely continue reading what's to come and this author!

Wow did this book blow me away. Exquisite world building and character development. Ren is secretly the heir to the Floating World, but fled when she was a child who saw her mother murdered. She has lived a happy life with a troupe of traveling actors until a Demon comes to her people and injures someone she loves. In search of a cure for her loved one, Ren runs into and injured Sunho. Neither of them know at first that Sunho is on a mission to find and capture Ren. I love the way these two care for each other. Sunho, although he struggles with his demon instincts, has a lot of integrity. He's an excellent swordsman, and shows so much care for Ren. This book is action-packed, and impossible to put down. It's clearly going to be the first in a series, and I can't wait for the next book to find out what happens to these characters.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

✨ 5 Stars — Axie Oh has done it again! ✨

I don’t even know what else to say except: Axie Oh NEVER misses. She’s crafted yet another breathtaking fantasy. I’m begging, make this your main genre forever. It’s just THAT good.

From the very first page, I was hooked. We follow two unforgettable heroes: Ren, a spirited acrobat with a hidden power, and Sunho, a mercenary living in a land of perpetual night with no memory of his past. Their stories unfold separately—until fate, destiny, and a little bit of silver light bring them crashing together.

The opening, especially Sunho’s mysterious past and the Under World setting, gave me major Final Fantasy VII vibes. The world-building was absolutely phenomenal. I could picture everything so clearly—from the vibrant festival towns Ren and her adoptive family perform in, to the haunting, mithril-glow of the Under World, to the lush, opulent grandeur of the Floating World. I’m seriously debating recreating this world in Cities: Skylines just to live in it a little longer.

Every single character felt fully fleshed out—from the main cast to the side characters (even the villains!). There's betrayal, twists, humor, and swoony romance all wrapped in a beautifully reimagined Korean legend. .

And that CLIFFHANGER?! I need book two, "The Demon and the Light", ASAP.

If you’re looking for a lush, emotional, action-packed fantasy with some heart and high stakes, The Floating World is your next book.

Absolutely stunning. The Floating World swept me away from the very first page. Axie Oh weaves together Korean mythology, fantasy, and soft sci-fi elements—airships, floating cities, and mysterious silver light—into a breathtaking, romantic, and emotionally rich story.

Sunho and Ren are instantly compelling. Sunho’s quiet strength and haunted past perfectly balance Ren’s fire and resilience. Their chemistry crackles with tension and sweetness, and watching their relationship unfold against the backdrop of secrets, betrayal, and fate was deeply satisfying.

The lore is lush and layered, with Celestial Maidens, cursed lands, and shadowy creatures, while the worldbuilding is cinematic—filled with vivid imagery and a tangible sense of wonder. I adored the mix of mythology with futuristic touches, and the story kept me hooked with every twist and revelation.

If you loved The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy, or Shadow and Bone, this book is an absolute must-read. I’m already counting the days until the sequel—I need more of this world, this magic, and these characters!

The Floating World was a sweet, charming read that, unfortunately, felt a little bit hollow and incomplete.

Axie Oh's writing style is whimsical and imaginative breathing life into this unique fantasy world. The different regions that the characters explored were beautifully realized. However, I did struggle at first to understand how these different settings fit together and I still feel like the broader picture of the world and it's politics has some plot holes.

The book really struggles to maintain any sense of suspense or tension. While I am glad that some of the more obvious plot twists weren't dragged on, the quick reveals eliminated the only real sense of suspense to the story. Confrontations or secrets are quickly revealed and resolved. Ren's motivation for the journey felt like it came in and out of relevance. Despite the rapid decline of her uncle's condition, I never felt a sense of urgency from her.

The pacing was also very odd and sometimes it felt like paragraphs had been deleted from the middle of action scenes or traveling moments. The logic and flow of some of these scenes felt messy and inconsistent.

There is a lot of range in the tone and maturity of books published in the YA genre and The Floating World definitely falls into the younger side of this range. While I am really hesitant to critique a YA book for being too young, I feel like it kept the story from taking advantage of the setting, conflict, and high stakes. The immaturity and naivety of the characters make the scope of the conflict this book is trying to pull off difficult to believe.

The politics and deeper societal injustices of this world are incredibly relevant to the plot, however, the book never felt prepared to properly explore these elements. And I feel like that is because the main characters are not good view points for these topics. They read so much younger than they are meant to be and their motivations are too narrow to properly contribute to the plot.

This whimsical, insta-love journey with naive children was not the story that should have been used to explore this world.

Thank you Feiwel and Friends for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

What I liked about this book:
- I liked the characters quite a bit. I thought that they were well-written and well-realized.
- In particular, I really appreciated that the heroine was not your generic badass, knife-to-throat main girl. She was kind and optimistic and a bit naive. She was scared at times, and she relied on others for help, and it didn’t detract from her bravery in any way. She was absolutely a breath of fresh air.
- The WORLD-BUILDING. Honestly, world-building in this story is on another level. The ideas and concepts reminded me a lot of Final Fantasy VII, which is always a good thing in my opinion. Learning about the world Axie Oh created, here, was one of the most enjoyable parts of reading the book, for me.

Things that didn’t work for me:
- The romance. Separately, I liked the two main characters, and I think that if they were given more time they would work really well together. As it stands, their feelings about each other get too intense, too fast, for my taste. They also seem to just trust each other with almost no good reason. After all the bad stuff they’ve been through, I couldn’t totally get behind it.
- This isn’t the worst problem to have, but I actually wish there had been MORE world-building. I left the book with more questions about the universe than answers, but I may very well get those answers when the sequel releases!

Who I think would enjoy this book:
I think The Floating World is a book for people who are tired of the standard fantasy formula. It’s for people who want a fresh idea of who gets to be a main character, and it’s for people who have been reading the same story rehashed and need a change in scenery. (Also Final Fantasy fans)

Just when I had a craving for some fantasy to take me away from the present, I had the good fortune to read the ARC of The Floating World. I really enjoyed The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, so was excited to get my hands on TFW, and it did not disappoint.

Sunho is a sword for hire with a memory problem and a magical secret. Ren is a magically adept acrobat who must hide her power to keep her family safe. When the two finally meet, they don't realize that Ren is the one Sunho has been hunting, and Sunho quickly becomes Ren's bodyguard and protector. When Ren understands who Sunho is, she knows they must part ways, but their attraction forges a bond too strong to break -- watch out, whoever tries!

I love the worlds that Axie Oh builds. The Under World and Floating World are beautifully imagined, bringing to mind the nine realms of Norse mythology and JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, especially the borrowing of mithril as dangerous ore. I know this is an adaptation of the Korean myth of the Celestial Maidens, but I'm also reminded of The Secret of Roan Inish (or folktales of selkies). Oh excels at adventure - I finished this book in record time because it was so engaging! I can't wait to share it with students at my high school library.

Many thanks to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own, and I don't receive compensation for my reviews.

Another amazing tale of self discovery and strength of love from Axie Oh.

Ren starts a journey to save her uncle and does so much more along the way. Sunho battles with his inner demon and begins his search for his brother after having no memories of his earlier life.

A sci-fi-esque fantasy world filled with mithril monsters, a rogue general, and a journey to uncover the mysteries of the past.

Overall I really enjoyed the book, and I love the qualities of each character and how it plays into the story. Each character stays true to themselves while also experiencing growth while their worlds expand and harsh realities settle in.

When they say this book is Final Fantasy-esque they weren't kidding. The introduction to the male lead reads like a Final Fantasy 7 fanfiction (in a good way). The fight scenes are a little confusing to follow at times, but other all an enjoyable read.

Absolutely enchanting and addictive!! This book just draws you in from the start and transports you to a whole new world. Absolutely loved it!

i don’t have much to say about this, i think it was good for what it was but it didn’t stand out to me. the world building was actually interesting, i just didn’t connect to the characters. Ren and Sunho felt like two people who were just thrown together, they didn’t have much to them and felt surface level. i think the plot played out predictably, especially when it came to Ren. Sunho has this inner darkness that he felt made him a monster, but Ren seen straight through his defenses. i did sympathize with Ren’s determination to save her uncle, i guess i just wanted more depth overall. it ended on a cliffhanger, so i wouldn’t be against reading a sequel.

Axie Oh has done it again for me. I loved every second of this YA Sci Fi Fantasy Romance. I can not wait to get my hands on a physical copy to add to my shelves. I highly recommend this book to everyone. No I am off to go reads the rest of Axie Oh's books that I haven't read yet.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. The Floating World was a book filled with GORGEOUS world building and expansive character and magic. There's a lot thrown at the reader at first, but it's done in an enjoyable and fun way. I loved all of the characters, I didn't feel like they were filler or "extras", but they honestly propelled the story. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads for release. I'm curious to see where the series goes!