Just FYI: if you have not read book 1, I’m not sure how to comment without at least implying some information about what happens. I’ve tried to be suitably vague for people who know the setup for book 2.

“The God and the Gumiho” was one of my favorite books of 2024 and I have recommended it pretty much nonstop. I was thrilled to be offered an ARC of the second book, but I really wrestled with my discomfort around the power dynamics involved in this story. Hani and Seokga were well-matched and felt like equals (if anything, Hani had an edge). This installment, with the sheltered 20-something-year-old Kisa, felt WAY too much like grooming to me. I don’t believe that was the author’s intent, and any romance with a human and an immortal is gonna have those weird vibes. I’m not sure if I would have had such an intense visceral reaction to their budding relationship if Kisa had been a bit less sheltered, but this put me off.

Also, in the year of our lord 2025, can we please drop the storyline of “Your antidepressants are actually DRAINING your magical powers”? Please and thank you.

There were parts of this that I enjoyed, so it wasn’t a total wash for me, but I’m not sure how to feel when the concept itself was my issue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I can see that other people didn’t have this hangup, and since I’m someone who gets deeply icked out by power dynamic imbalances in romance in general, take this with a grain of salt.

God and the Gumiho was one of my most memorable books of 2024. I loved the plot, the setting and the characters but most importantly to me the romance was fantastic. Two deep characters meeting and presenting a masked version of themselves to one another only to chip away at the mask throughout and develop a fantastic relationship where, by the end, left you gutted and desperate for answers.
The God and the Gwisin was one of my more anticipated reads for 2025. Most of the time I forget what happened in first books but this time I confidently jumped back into Sophie Kim’s world anticipating what would come next.
Spoilers incoming for the sequel!

Seokga is a broken man. It’s been 32 years since his love, Hani died and ever since he has been searching for her incarnation across the globe. With stress and other mental challenges effecting his powers and a deep depression overwhelming him, it is difficult to imagine his character emerging from this darkness. His therapist is working tirelessly with him on his recovery and his brother Hwisin is also very supportive but at the end of it all, his Hani is still gone.
Kisa appears to be a new character. An overworked maternity shaman ends up on a roof and as a reader, we witness her death.
In an attempt to overcome this dark depression, Seokga’s therapist recommends a vacation, which seems totally comical. Himself, his brother and the Doctor proceed on an underworld cruise ship called the Flatliner, a place for souls before reincarnation. Some work for this opportunity, others get the chance to use it as a journey to their next life. After Kisa’s death, she has been aboard and working on the Flatliner

The side characters were once again perfect. We’re reintroduced to Somi, a character from the First book but also Hajun, a former pop idol who was used and abused within the music industry and he eventually couldn’t cope with it any longer. There is brief mentions of what happened to Hajun and it is not overtly graphic.
As previously mentioned Hwanin is an important character as well but his form... shifted in this book.
Similar to the first novel, Kisa and Seokga bond over solving a murder on the Flatliner and the supporting characters are critical within the plot.
As Seokga fights the knowledge that Kisa and Hani are opposites but also have similarities and how this relates to their soulmate bond as well as Kisa struggling to merge her current life with her previous life, the pair attempt to solve the mystery aboard the Flatliner.
This was a fantastic sequel. I very rarely love sequels but this was fantastic. The ending was a great conclusion but it was open ended enough for a third book, which wouldn’t feel excessive. I look forward to seeing what Sophie Kim writes next and I will definitely be looking into her backlist for more work from her. Thank you so much for the eARC! I was so excited when I was approved.

4⭐️

the god and the gwisin really reminded me of a k-drama, much like book one did. it was charming, magical and whimsy, and very fun to read! i was so invested in the reincarnation part of the story as well as the story behind kisa. my favorite grump, seokga just absolutely folding for her time and time again was so sweet. i also thought it was fun with another addition of the mini murder mystery storyline. was i gutted a lot of the time reading this? absolutely. but it was SO worth the pain. not only was i tearing up from the heartfelt moments, i was also laughing and just excited to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. seeing some old familiar characters was nice, and i was a big fan of the newer characters too! 🤭 kisa and seokga really had such an interesting story.

thank you del ray for the e-ARC.

Oh my goodness! What a fun k-drama story. I liked book 1 but loved book 2. The banter! The second change at love. Idiots falling in love are always my favorite. This needs to be a movie/tv series asap.

Oh how I loved this book! In a rare instance, I thought it was better than the first. There were so many moments that were just adorable - the banter between the two main characters are the best part of the book.

Kisa is so different from Hani but I loved her so much. The trickster god couldn’t stand a chance! I thought it was insanely cute that Somi was still a part of the story, and that Kisa and Hani still had a moment together. I loved how Hani allowed Seokga to open up to love and Kisa really softened him into a little puddle. As well as a particular baby family member.

The red thread having a personality was also hysterical. Sophie Kim is such a fun writer.

I said this in my review of the first book but it’s basically reading a K-drama! It’s a very cute, not all that serious book despite there being a murder mystery. The ending of both books with the Godly Gossip articles are wildly entertaining as well.

BTS came back, I started re-watching K-dramas and I finished this book all at the same time. It has been a fun journey, especially with my work picking up and me crawling through reading right now. If you need a stress relief or want to try something new, I’d love Korean culture as much as I do, you’ll love this book!

Thank you NetGallet for an ARC of this book!

The sequel to the God and the Gumiho did not disappoint. Another 5 star read for me- i was nervous because the first one was one of my favorite reads of 2024, but wow, this one delivered.
A very lighthearted fantasy duology to sink your teeth into.

Nothing compares to the feeling of second book in a series being just as good as the first! The God and the Gwisin was delightful and solidified Seokga as one of my favorite broody characters ever.

Seokga the No-Longer-Fallen is looking for his love.
Since he lost Hani and was reinstated as a god, nothing has felt right - and he's been desperately searching for her reincarnated form ever since. But when the red thread of fate leads Seokga to a cruise down the river of the dead, the woman he finds isn't Hani ... she's Yoo Kisa, and she has no memory of him whatsoever - with seemingly no interest in regaining it either. But when the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang is murdered, Seokga and Kisa must solve the crime before the cruise ends. And as the mystery draws them closer, they will have to decide what they truly mean to each other.

I love the way the reincarnation is used in these books. The world building and magic weaved with Korean mythology is so vivid and fun. Seokga makes my millennial emo heart flutter. He may have some daddy issues but he is just yearning for love and I was tearing up for him. I loved his character arc so much. His journey and relationship journey with Kisa were my favorite parts of this book. I enjoyed the murder mystery element but it felt like an afterthought. It was pretty obvious who the bad guy was going to be I didn’t really take that part too seriously.

These books are so funny and so sweet they definitely deserve all the hype!

One of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!

Yoo Kisa dies on the same night the red thread of fate appears on her finger. At the other end is Seokga, who has been waiting years for his beloved Hani, his fearsome gumiho, to reincarnate so they can be reunited after their tragic separation in the first book. After failing to find his match for years, a depressed Seokga is caught off guard when a trip on the underworld's cruise ship brings him face-to-face with Kisa, who has been working in the crew while awaiting her turn to be born once more.

I really didn't know if Sophie Kim would be able to write a satisfying sequel after setting the bar so high in the God and the Gumiho but BY GOLLY did she rise to the occasion! Kim writes great Kdrama romantic suspense: the tension between Kisa and Seokga is balanced by the murder mystery aboard the cruise ship. I once again feel like knowing less is better for the reading experience, but I'll drop one more juicy tidbit: you've never seen the Red Thread trope done like this 👏

~*ARC Reader*~

First off thanks so much to The Del Rey Team for selecting me to recieve an early copy of The God and the Gwisin! I was so excited to hear the sequel was coming out and your offer to let me into the group of ARC readers sent me over the moon! Also thanks to NetGalley for the ability to access these ARCs!

Now to the good stuff - we're back with Seokga as he searches for Hani's reincarnation that his brother promised him. And he has sure been searching...for 30 years. 😭 When his brother Hwanin insists they go on an underworld cruise to relax Seokga's frayed nerves, Seokga is resistant. Upon arriving however, the red thread around his finger pulls taut and he finally finds his threaded soulmate, Yoo Kisa - Hani's reincarnation - working aboard the ship. Which means that not only does she not have memories of him (why would she have memories from her past life?) but also that she's already dead. And that's just the beginning...

This was another amazing whodunnit from Sophie Kim that I greatly enjoyed. Exploring the concept of reincarnation and how much of a person really remains through changes was a fascinating journey, especially with Sophie's use of the Ship of Thesus as a parallel. And there was so much humor sprinkled in without distracting from a very serious murder plot, and a deeply troubled Seokga who is clearly struggling through his own internal (and external) battles. Sophie Kim tackled mental health in a genre that often either makes light of it or demonizes it - and she did it with respect and a deft hand that she should be proud of. We got the classic murder-mystery vibes, some cheeky "sudden family" hilarity, and a sweet slow-burn romance all together without any of the themes feeling like they were in direct competition with eachother or that they didn't belong. I really see Sophie Kim's evolution as a writer here, and I'm super curious to see what she does next.

Firstly, I love Seokga. I love all the side characters. I love this world. Overall, it felt like a second season of my favorite TV show that was only supposed to be one season. However, I didn’t really enjoy the mystery in this as much as the first book. This one felt more predictable and lower stakes to me. I really enjoyed Seokga’s arch though. Being able to explore more of his family dynamics and their struggles was a major highlight. However, it took me a long time to come around on the romance between him and Yoo Kisa. I’m pretty sure this is the first reincarnation romance I’ve read where only one of the characters was reincarnated. So, I had no idea what to expect and I struggled with a lot of the same feelings as the characters. I think if things could’ve developed a little more slowly and over a longer timeline that would’ve helped a lot. I’m happy with how things ended up though and I’m very excited to read more stories with these characters and from this world!

The God and the Gwisin gave me old god in current time vibes. The god Seokga finds himself on an underworld cruise with his brother. Chaos ensues, while Seokga is in the midst of chasing an invisible thread connect to his finger.
This story was a whirlwind of mystery and adventure. Funny at times, and very enjoyable. The characters were very likable and I was curious to see how the story would unravel. This book was a delight to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group Del-Rey, Random House Worlds & Inklore for the opportunity to read this advance reader copy.

I was disappointed in this book if I'm being honest. I absolutely ADORED book 1, and sorely missed our dynamic duo. Unfortunately this new character, Kisa, is NOT Hani and we as readers have to accept that as much as our cutie pie grumpy boy does too. Here is my review from GR

"Thank you for this arc for my honest review!



While I knew that things would be different for our dynamic
duo, I was pretty let down as I read this one. Hani isn't coming back, and we all need to accept that.
The other thing that really hurt was that Therapy was such an important topic, as was Antidepressants, however they both turned out to be for evil. The therapist being the baddy, and the meds being magic blockers, hurt me personally.
This wasn't a good message I felt, and while the story was a fun read, and seeing Somi, and new friends (baby Hwanin! Aww) I was really disappointed by those themes, and that Hani is truly gone. She's inside Kisa, and even makes a small appearance, but Kisa doesn't regain Hani's memories. I don't like the theory that Seogka needed Hani first, to be ready for
Kisa..
This book just didn't feel as thought out as book 1. Personally, l'm going to pretend book 1 is a standalone, and he finds Hani reincarnated with her memories in the epilogue."

I thought this was a lovely step up from the first book, which i thought was decent but not great. I'm not sure if it was a mix of writing, story, characters + being invested since its a sequel or what, but the book felt BETTER than the first and I didnt even love the first one lol

The premise of them being soul mates, made a good excuse for "insta-love" between Seokga and Kisa, which I didnt mind as again, they are fated. Kisa's character was such a drastic change from Hani, that it felt really nice. I really liked that honestly. The mystery/story in this one was also 10x more interesting to me and just more fun to try and figure out. It does get quite obvious very early on, but i don't mind, as it was just a fun good time.

I would love to read Sophie's future books, I'm not sure if I'd check out any of her previous title(s) but I'd be interested in anything new for sure! :)

Thank you for the eARC and I apologize for the severely delayed review xD

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! I loved book one, The God and the Gumiho, it was one of my top reads of 2024. The God and the Gwisin was overall a great conclusion to the series. I personally preferred book one but book two still packs plenty of humour and charm. The characters are still compelling and interesting and the new setting is interesting and switches it up from book one. My only complaint was that the pacing in certain sections wasn’t great, certain sections dragged which meant the ending felt a bit rushed.

If you enjoyed book one then you’ll likely enjoy The God and the Gwisin

The God and the Gwisin is Kim's sequel in her adult romantasy series, Fate's Thread. The series is set in a modern day world where humans, demons, and the Korean pantheon all co-habitate. The God and the Gwisin is set predominantly in the underworld on a cruise ship that sails along the river of the dead.

The setting felt very different from the first book where the setting was the heart of a bustling city. I really enjoyed the cruise ship setting and the book reminded me a lot of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express.

Since this is the second book in the series, I'm going to avoid spoilers for the first book. However, if you're interested in reading the series, I'd recommend that you don't read this review in case you figure out some plot points from the first book through conjecture.

I thought The God and the Gwisin was much better than the first book in the series (which I gave originally 4 out of 5 stars). I'd felt like The God and the Gumiho was a little slow at the beginning and the romance pacing felt a bit off. The God and the Gwisin jumps right into the story and is well-paced throughout. The God of the Gumiho felt like it was a police procedural first and a romance second. While the inverse is true to The God and the Gwisin. I felt invested in the characters and their journey. I especially liked the risks Kim took by creating the set-up for this novel regarding the reincarnation. It was a truly unique story and I had so much fun along the way.

I give The God and the Gwisin a strong 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend the book series to anyone who likes mythological retellings or fantasy world murder mysteries.

It's just as good, if not better, than the first. The mystery and twists are so good, but the depth of Seokga and Kisa's characters is the best part. I loved the exploration of what makes a person. The romance is there, and I really felt for Seokga more than I did in the first book. It can be a bit slow if you are used to action-packed reads, but it was just so heartfelt.

I didn’t know what to expect after the heartbreaking cliffhanger from "The God and the Gumiho," but let me just say the series just gets better and better.

"The God and the Gwisin" was just fantastic. It dives deeper into the lore of the gods and goddess. It’s filled with romance, yearning, heartwarming relationships, found family, intriguing mystery, and hilarious humor. But what made this story for me, was the muti-layered characters that truly resonated

Seokga, the God of mischief, continues to capture my heart. Although he’s still grumpy and arrogant, there is a sense of vulnerability to him as he longs for his reincarnated soulmate, rebuilds a relationship with his brother in most unique way (best moments in the book), and confronts his painful past and his complex feelings towards his father. He has grown in so many ways, but at the core, he is still the charming trickster we loved from the beginning.

Yoo Kisa, a gwisin, is the reincarnation of Hani. Although she may have Hani’s soul, I loved how Kisa is still her own unique person. She is intelligent, curious, and caring. While she may be initially quiet, her fascination with new discoveries and eagerness to share them is very endearing. Her past struggle with mental health was relatable and I loved how when she became a gwisin, she used her experience to help others like her friend, Hajun.

However, the character I was most surprised about was Somi. I loved her redemption arc. Through her relationship with Seokga and Kisa you can see how she wrestled with the weight of her guilt, grief, and regret. People deal with loss in many different ways, and I thought it was interesting to see Somi’s perspective after what happened in "The God and the Gumiho." Honestly, I really loved her transformation and I think Hani would have been really proud of her.

As for the romance, it is a slow burn filled with yearning. In the beginning I wasn’t sure how I felt about the romance, because reincarnation can be kind of tricky. Does Seokga love Kisa, because of who she is now or because she was Hani? Honestly, I don’t know why I was worried. In the story Seokga is very aware that Kisa is her own person. Although there are small similarities (i.e., her laugh, her love for smutty books), I loved how Seokga still tries to get to know Kisa for who she is now. Watching them accept one another and fall in love all over again was just beautiful, and Seokga answer to the Ship of Theseus question really melted my heart. I also loved the author’s unique take on the red thread of fate. I didn’t expect it, but thoroughly enjoyed it.

Finally, as for the mystery, similar to "The God and the Gumiho," it was very predictable, but still satisfying to see how everything came together. I really felt the mystery was more of a backdrop to bring these characters together, because honestly, the characters and the relationships is what made this story so incredible.

Overall, I loved this book. I loved how it explored themes of healing, rebuilding bonds, and rediscovering love. I really hope the author continues this series, especially with that epilogue. I would love to continue to join Seokga and Kisa on a new mystery adventure. Here is to hoping!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group: Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book!! It was such a precious story, and the whole time I was rooting for the two main characters to fall in love, I was so invested. The feelings were so vibrant and raw, I felt as if I was experiencing them with the characters. The magic system was so unique, as was the setting. A cruise ship in the underworld is such a cool idea.
I made the mistake of reading this before reading the first book, but I plan on reading that soon!

Seokga, the Trickster God, has spent the last 33 years looking for his lost soulmate, Hani, and working on fixing himself so he can be worthy of the happiness that was promised. When the red thread of fate leads him to a dead end and some lashing out, his brother, the Heavenly Emperor, decides it's time to take a break and books them and Seokga's therapist a trip on a luxury cruise down the river of the dead. It's there that the red thread reveals Yoo Kisa, the reincarnated form of Hani, is a gwisin working the karmic debt Hina accrued. Seokga has to come to terms that Kisa isn't Hani and Kisa has to wrap her mind around the fact that she was destined to be with the god, even if she doesn't remember it. Add the fact that someone has murdered the Heavenly Emperor and they have to find out who before the rest of the pantheon finds out and blames Seokga, and this will not be a relaxing cruise for anyone.

I loved Hani and her relationship with Seokga, so I was really interested in seeing how Kim translated that into a relationship with someone new. I loved what she did with all the exploration and introspection that led to Kisa and Seokga realizing how perfect they are for each other. It is delightful icing on the cake that is the murder mystery driving the plot. I'm amazed at how we got a full-on murder mystery on a ship and a romance in the same story without it ever feeling like one lost importance to the other. It's expertly woven together in a character exploration that keeps giving you delightful little hits of happiness, romance, and discovery.

Extra points for the fact that I think it would be entirely possible to love this book just as much if you just jumped right in without reading book 1 first. I wouldn't recommend it because The God and the Gumiho is a delightful read, but I appreciate it when an author takes the time to make a sequel able to stand on its own.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Inklore | Del Rey for the chance to read this wonderful conclusion!

This sequel was so satisfying, but not in the way I originally thought.

The God and The Gwisin is the follow-up to The God and The Gumiho, and takes place several years after. Seokga, the trickster god from Korean mythology, is searching desperately for his dead love Hani’s reincarnation, to whom he’s connected to by a red string of fate, and it finds him on a cruise down the river of the dead. He finds Yoo Kisa, Hani’s reincarnation, and finds that she remembers nothing. Seokga has no time to be heartbroken, because when his brother is murdered on the ship, its up to him and Kisa to solve the crime, and along the way, they’ll have to determine if they will do everything needed to ensure their future.

This series has everything I want out of a romantasy. The worldbuilding is fantastic - it melds Korean mythos into the modern world seamlessly and creates something unique and interesting that enhances the storytelling. I really am a sucker for learning about new mythos (even though the author clarifies it is an inspired vision rather than a historically accurate one) and it made this read even more fun.

The characters are so wonderful. We have some repeat characters that have grown and developed (which was fun for me to see as a reader) as well as new ones that are dynamic and sympathetic. Kisa is wildly different than Hani but I still loved her all the same. She was her own person and had her own identity and I loved that for her. I also have a soft spot for a brainy FMC <3

The dynamic between Seokga and Kisa was beautifully written - usually I absolutely cringe at the trope of a lost love in a new form (and I won’t lie, I did indeed cringe a little bit reading) but the story addresses it well and you see Seokga and Kisa develop their own relationship beyond the obstacles that come in between them. You end up rooting for them: they are simply too cute together!

I couldn’t put this down - definitely a worthy follow up to the first book!

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for this review.