i recently had the pleasure of diving into sophie kim's "the god and the gwisin," the sequel to "the god and the gumiho." this story masterfully intertwines korean mythology with a gripping murder mystery set aboard an underworld cruise ship.

the narrative follows seokga, a trickster god reinstated after saving the mortal world, as he searches for his reincarnated love, hani. his quest leads him to yoo kisa, an exhausted soul working off karmic debt in the afterlife, with no memory of their past connection. together, they must unravel the mystery behind the heavenly emperor's murder before their voyage concludes. kim's storytelling shines, blending romance, fantasy, and suspense seamlessly. the evolving dynamics between seokga and kisa kept me engaged, and the rich mythological backdrop added depth to their journey. this novel is a testament to kim's ability to craft immersive and emotionally resonant tales.

i really enjoyed the mix of korean mythology, mystery, and romance. the way sophie kim weaves these elements together seems to have really drawn me in. i liked the evolving dynamic between seokga and kisa, especially how their past connection added layers to the story. the setting—an underworld cruise ship—also seems like a unique and intriguing backdrop that makes the mystery even more compelling. plus, the emotional depth and immersive world-building kept me hooked.

"the god and the gwisin" is set to be published on june 3, 2025!

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!!

firstly i need to say this cover is GIVING. it is stunning, the colours, the soft artstyle, with Kisa and Seokga reaching for each other is absolutely perfect. (though i have to say the uk cover with them standing back to back and with the red thread of fate is also spectacular...) the artists have done it.

i requested this recently after hearing about the sequel to the God and the Gumiho later than everyone else on the internet, it seems and i was so glad i was approved.

i was apprehensive going into this purely because Hani, the fmc, was dead and there's a new starring girl in this story. i like portrayals of grief and moving on but sometimes it just pains me when it comes to the love interests moving on from their dead partners. but still, Sophie Kim does a wonderful job with this book, not just because Kisa is literally Hani reincarnated but i love how the subject matter was treated.

Kisa is distinctly different from Hani, from her softer personality to even her taste in coffee and chosen profession. there is a lack of the spicy enemies to lovers between Hani/Seokga, but i love the existing dynamic of being threaded soulmates, but she's not her, and she doesn't even know him. portraying Seokga like a lovesick teenager when he first sees Kisa again is very cute, especially when she sees all this as a science experiment with the thread. i live for the whole squashing of her feelings, and Seokga coming to love her as her own person rather than a shadow of Hani. and (spoilers!!) her tethering herself to the heavenly library at the end to be with Seokga forever is the best ending i could have hoped for.

" i love you because for my soul, loving you is like breathing ... i would plunge into hell's river for you... i would face the mad god for you. "

and of course the mystery is very interesting, and i enjoyed it a lot more than the previous book solely because Hwanung and Hwanin are so much involved in this. yes Hwanin as a baby post murder is very funny and cute, and i love Hwanung's teenage rebellion phase. but i loved the main group's antics with Hajun (best boy) and Somi whom i did not expect to make an appearance as they solve Hwanin's murder. the final antagonist was a little obvious since Jang wasn't a part of the central group, but i loved their journey getting there.

with Seokga's mom up and about now, i hope there will be more to the story!!

An incredible follow up to The God and the Gumiho! I loved the underworld river cruise setting and the murder mystery at the heart of the story, paired with the themes of fated mates and reincarnation. I thought the character arcs for Seokga and Kisa were both well done, and the romance well developed as they come to terms with being soulmates while one of them is already dead. Definitely recommend if you like k-dramas and Korean mythology (and fun romance and murder mysteries)!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly? This was just what I needed to get out of a reading slump. This is sheer entertainment mixed with the perfect amount of angst and mystery!

While it initially took me some time to stop missing Hani (her banter and mischievous side was so fun!), I was eventually won over by our scholarly Kisa. I think Sophie handled this development really well, and was able to use the reincarnation twist as a way to delve more into Seokga’s character beautifully. My heart! This trickster god really goes through it after Hani’s death, but it becomes clear how necessary that was to carve a path to his future. I so enjoyed his character development in this!

Everything I enjoyed in the first book was here, but with more impact. Sophie’s comedic timing with dialogue has come such a long way, I was in equal turns laughing and making pained “aww!’s” throughout the entire book. In conclusion, I look forward to whatever she writes next.

Also, if we could PLEASE get a k-drama adaptation of these books, that would be EVERYTHING! This was definitely written for the k-drama lovers (aka: me).

never imagined kopiko would follow me from kdrama to books but here we are…
the god and the gwisin takes place years after the events from the previous book and we follow seokga, who is still searching for hani and learning how to navigate his grief, and kisa(who we learn is actually hani reincarnated), a gwisin working on an underworld vacation cruise ship, on their journey full of mystery, korean mythology and romance.
as much as i loved hani, i found myself relating more to kisa and i loved her dynamic with seokga. i really enjoyed delving into reincarnation and watching seokga and kisa both battle with it in their own ways. seokga's struggle with accepting that kisa doesn't remember him or her past life, and kisa's struggle with finding out who she used to be and trying to resist her feelings.
i loved how delicate their relationship was at first, how seokga respected kisa's boundaries and how he was ready to let her go if that was what she wanted. the red thread of fate being sentient was so creative and funny, i laughed every time it decided to chime in or do something. at first i felt indifferent about somi because of her actions in the first book but i enjoyed her redemption arc.
i could tell what direction the plot was going in and the mystery was predictable but definitely not in a bad way! i had a lot of fun reading this and i loved being back in this world and seeing how seokga and hani’s story plays out after the heartbreaking finale of the first book.
the story wrapped up nicely but the epilogue leaves us with a cliffhanger which may be hinting at book 3! i would also like to note that this book has references to grief, depression and suicide for anyone who may be sensitive to these topics.
～thank you to del rey and netgalley for the arc!

screaming crying throwing up

IT IS JUST GOOD AS ITS 1st BOOK! light reading that you necessary need in your busy time.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!!!!!!

I don’t how Sophie Kim has done it but this genuinely felt like I was watching a kdrama and I was absolutely hooked. This book felt so easy to read. I was devouring the pages of my arc copy and every time I glanced down at the percentage at the corner of my screen I was shocked at how much I’d read through in each sitting.
It was really great to spend time with familiar characters – Seokga, of course, but also Hwanin and Somi – and also see new sides of them. My heart broke for Seokga. We get an insight into his emotional journey as he searches for Hani, as well as a further look into how he became the person that he is. My heart properly ached learning more about him and now, I’d really just love to wrap a blanket around this poor god.
I also really loved how the mystery in the story didn’t feel as if it was focused on the murder (I still gasped when it happened) but rather the mystery of the characters and how they’ve all ended up in this space, on the flatliner (love that name) at the same time. This was really beautifully coupled with their present emotional journeys and the reveals of each character. I loved seeing this as the forefront of the story and it was really clear that the plot was a vehicle for the characters rather than the other way round.
In a lot of ways, I preferred this second book, The God and the Gwisin to the first! I thought the first was really tightly plotted and the voices were practically springing off the page. The banter was so funny and I loved the characters, but BECAUSE I loved the characters, especially Hani, I felt incredibly stressed about the impending fallout with Seokga finding out that Hani was the Scarlet Fox. My heart couldn’t handle the pain. This book didn’t quite feel like it was leading to the same kind of fallout and whilst I really loved Kisa, I also really missed Hani.
This book felt a lot cozier than the first whilst still retaining some of the much loved aspects, such as the humour and the character dynamics. The stakes were a lot more focused on the personal rather than world-ending stakes like book 1 too. It was a fun read that I absolutely devoured.
Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of The God and The Gwisin to review.

Dear NetGalley and Del Rey, thank you soooooo much for a copy of the arc of The God and the Gwisin 🥹

I was left heartbroken at the end of The God and the Gumiho but this book gave me hope for our two mcs 💞

I just love the tension and angst and pinning proper to K drama and I just savored this book as long as I could.


I loved it so much I feel like I could read anything from this author 🥰

I am hooked on this series. I really enjoyed reading the first book, so when I saw a chance to get this book on NetGalley, I requested it so fast. The plot in this book *chefs kiss*. I didn't want to put it down, but I also didn't want it to end and tried to take my time with it, to savor the story and the characters. This is such a fun series to read with all the lore and development of the characters individually and together. I can't wait to see what comes next from this author!

I loved the first book but this one was had to go through, i couldn't enjoy the character and story but i think its a "its not you its me" moment and that i've outgrown this genre sadly

✨️The God and the Gwisin by Sophie Kim ✨️

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨️ Review ✨️

The God and the Gwisin is the anticipated sequel to Sophie Kim's The God and the Gumiho, continuing the enthralling blend of Korean mythology, romance, and mystery that captivated readers in the first book of this series.

The narrative follows Seokga, a trickster god who, after a 33-year search, reunites with his reincarnated love, Kisa, aboard a luxury underworld cruise ship.

Together, they must unravel the mystery behind the heavenly emperor's murder, all while navigating the intricate threads of their fated connection. Kim masterfully weaves themes of soulmates and reincarnation, adding emotional depth to the romance and keeping readers invested in the characters' journeys.

The novel's exploration of the red thread of fate and its impact on Seokga and Kisa's relationship has been a particular highlight for me as a reader.

The ending of The God and the Gumiho broke my heart with its impact, and I have been eagerly waiting to see how Sophie Kim would fix it or further break it. One of the highlights in this book just like the first one is Seokga’s character. He’s navigating life with all these new emotions as he misses Hani and is trying to find where the red thread of fate will lead him. This book does still have humor throughout which I loved. Seokga and Kisa’s interactions with each other were sweet, though I don’t think I can ever forget about Hani because she was just THAT girl. Which I think is the point because Kisa and Hani are such opposites, and yet despite that, Seokga is willing to love her for whoever she is nonetheless which is what makes this romance so sweet. The side characters were also amazing and lovable, with past characters making a redeeming come back.

Thank you Del Rey and Netgalley for the eARC!

I really had to take my time with this book and savour it because it was just that good! Coming back to this world was such a treat, and the characters? They’re everything. The tone is a bit different from the first book, but I honestly loved it. Kisa, who’s Hani’s reincarnation, was an amazing main character. She felt unique and really stood out on her own— not just a repeat of Hani. Then there’s Seogka, the softest trickster god you’ll ever meet, and he's absolutely down bad for his soulmate. Their dynamic is adorable.

This series is so underrated, and I honestly wish the author would write more, maybe exploring different characters in this world. There's definitely room to expand, but this book wraps things up nicely too, so I’m satisfied. Would highly recommend it to anyone who loves great characters and a well-built world!

First of all, many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Literally screeched when I was accepted for this one. I LOVED the god and the guhimo (despite bawling my eyes out at the end), so I couldn’t wait to dive back into this amazing world

And fear not the author did it again!! Despite working long days at my job I managed to fly through this one during all the free hours I could find. This entire series just reads like a k-drama on crack, which I’m personally a big fan of. Quick warning note though, there are mentions of suicide & eating disorders, which are handled really well, but make sure to go into it with a healthy mindset <3 the themes did fit the story fairly well though and I found it very refreshing how Sophie Kim managed to use those heavy subjects to shine light onto the cruel treatment k-pop idols often receive from their own companies.

Though I have a bit of a silly reason why i am giving this 4.5 stars instead of the 5 I gave the first book. Don’t get me wrong I loved this one just as much, but I just physically can’t. Warning!! Spoilers for the first book ahead

I really loved Kisa but… she just isn’t Hina 😔 Just like Seokga in the beginning I often found myself comparing the two to each other and just wishing Hina could sort of just magically reappear. My favorite (female) characters will always be the feral girlies, so just like my man Seokga I had to hold back tears whenever she was mentioned.

The ending does hint at another book though (yay) so i’m praying my girlie will make a reappearance <33

Once again, the author has done a brilliant job at bringing the fun and yearning heart of K-dramas to life. This book actually takes place in our current time following a depressed and desperate Seokga, endlessly searching to find Hani's reincarnation at the end of his thread and Hani's reincarnation, Kisa. The only problem is, once Seokga finally finds her general location, she dies. His brother, tired of Seokga's moping and snappiness, brings Seokga and his therapist on a cruise in the, essentially, underworld, which is where the story kicks off.

I wasn't sure to expect from Hani's reincarnation, but I adored Kisa. She's such a relatable and sympathetic character. Suffering from huge burnout and also struggling to make connections with other people, Kisa is Hani's almost polar opposite. Which makes her and Seokga's relationship so interesting. There's a lot of exploration of whether Hani and Kisa are two sides of the same coin or two fundamentally different people. I loved watching Seokga try and reconcile this. He's wounded in a much different way from the first book and the tenderness with which he treats Kisa caused some truly heart-fluttering moments.

The mystery aspect of the book was slightly interesting, but I felt like the actual culmination of everything--the reveal of the culprit and the final confrontation with them--felt rather rushed in comparison to a mostly slow build. Hence why I gave this four stars instead of five. I felt like the book should've been a little longer or introduced some of the reveals slightly earlier to have everything end on a more even and satisfactory note.

The ending stinger definitely has me hoping there's more to this series because Kisa is a delight and I really love watching her and Seokga navigate their new relationship (and unexpected edition lol).

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
# Pages: 416
Publication Date: 06.03.25

"You love fully and completely, only to have it returned in less
than half."

🚢 Romantasy
🚢 Korean Mythology
🚢 Mind flirting
🚢 Banter
🚢 Star-crossed Lovers
🚢 Murder mystery
🚢 Death Cruise Ship
🚢 K-pop Drama

Book Overview:
“In this swoony sequel to The God and the Gumiho, a trickster god must work with his reincarnated lost love to solve his brother’s murder on board a luxury underworld cruise ship.”

Sophie Kim did an amazing job with “The God And The Gwisin”. Just like the first book, the pacing was on par. For some reason she has a great way of having it be humorous and heartbreaking all at the same time. I love the way she does her worked building the vivid details all the way to the character development that’s enriched. I felt there was enough depth.

I loved her red string theory and her retellings of mythology. The romance was swoon worthy but yet a slow burn. Seeing some of the old characters was a bonus. Loved the concept of the mystery and the death cruise ship.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read. If you read and enjoyed the first book, definitely don’t hesitate to pick this one up.

Thank you netgalley and Random publishing house for this ARC.

I absolutely adored Hani and Seokga in the first book, but man I loved Kisa and Seokga in this one. Kim’s take on the red string of fate and reincarnation in this follow up book was done so well. Everything about their “new” relationship and those of the side characters, especially after how the first book ended and coping with that, was beautifully fleshed out. Including a surprise reincarnation of another character to add in some razzle dazzle with character relationships. The only thing that took a star away for me was the investigation itself. It was an interesting plot line, but I feel like it was a bit too obvious as there was no point really for this character to even be on this cruise. With Seokga being an investigator in the first book, this one lacked a bit in that department compared to this installment. However, the characters absolutely shined and it was easy to overlook that. With the epilogue in this book, I hope there’s a third book coming because I’m not done with these characters yet!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was incredible. Just incredible. I wish I could provide an eloquent and in-depth review of this story, but I had so much fun reading it, I completely forgot I should be trying to critique it. And sure, I could mention that I wish this book took itself a little more seriously at times, that some of the humor and character dalogue was childish, and that sometimes the romance relied too heavily on the the simple and external fact that Kisa and Seokga are soulmates joined by fate, but you know what? I don't care.

This book reads like a fanfiction - the good kind. The kind that feels like going home, that makes you completely forget what the canon was supposed to be, the kind that you read while grinning from ear to ear. And I would like it to be so much longer, to see more of this world, of this characters. The writing is addictive, and in the current publishing clima where every book feels the same, this book is a diamond in the rough.

I thank Netgalley and the author for providing me an arc in exchange for honest review.

Oh this was an absolute delight. Just as witty as the first book. I ADORED this book. I cannot wait to see was masterpieces Sophie
Kim graces us with in the future!

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

Oh my goodness, this was the sweetest, squishy romance.
I absolutely adored this, it was even better than the first book in the series.

Seokga has spent several decades searching for Hani's reincarnated soul.
Restored to his God hood once more, he oscillates between annoying the other gods, searching, and going to therapy. He's miserable without Hani, constantly waiting for the signal, for the red thread of fate to appear again once more. Looking for someone with wine brown eyes.

Kisa is a Shaman, exhausted from woking her shifts in Seoul's Shamanic Hospital in the Magical Maternity Unit. Incredibly bright and very talented she can channel power of her patron goddess Samsin Halmoni - as an obstetrician able to guide babies into the world and heal the mother at the same time as a leading expert on fetal congenital heart disease. While she cannot heal humans, only creatures who believe in the power of Korean Gods. Everything changes when she suddenly dies.

The red thread of fate reappears in a strange place, the underworld.
Murder, mystery, a case to be solved, a god transformed, old characters make a reappearance, K Pop start that's as sweet as a boba drink, Seokga's neuroses, a major plot, budding romance, and the red thread of fate being a side character I did not have on my bingo card.

I liked this one even more than the first, it's honestly the cutest thing I've read in a long while. I absolutely LOVED it.