Unpopular opinion alert: I did not adore this book! I have seen so many rave reviews, and I do understand why - I can see the elements people have enjoyed, and appreciate the good points of this story.

For me, it just wasn't as great as I'd hoped. I didn't have any specific expectations, but a friend and I started this as a buddy read ARC and we both encountered the same problems.

For at least the first 12 chapters, there was a strange sense of disconnect, like we were reading the words but not experiencing the story. The style of writing is more "telling" than "feeling". We also found it felt more like a middle-grade read than the YA it's described as. The pacing is not great, so there's no real sense of time and some elements feel rushed.
- the romance in particular felt clichéd and sudden.

However, it did get much better in the second half, and there are lots of positive points about it as well. Lots of interesting characters, the mythology is wonderful, and the world itself is beautifully described. It had a lot of texture, and I liked the descriptions of the characters, clothing and environment.

People who enjoy a sweet, fantasy romance with a bit of mystery are sure to love this book - it's had lots of great reviews so far so I'd still recommend checking it out for yourself if you're keen on these kinds of stories.

Thanks to @netgalley for the chance to read this ARC!

This books is just so whimsical and romantic and made my heart feel so full! The writing is truly beautiful and just made me fall completely in love with the world. I honestly can’t sing this books praises enough, it’s been a new all time favourite of mine, and I can not wait for my physical copy to arrive and to reread it straight away.

I loved Mina so much, she wasn’t afraid to be scared and just kept trying to do everything she possibly could to save her village. The romance between her and Shin was just so cute but I think my favourite relationship of this book is the one Mina has with herself.

I can not recommend this book enough and will be shooting about it for a long time. I highly recommend this book to readers who are fans of Stephanie Garber’s books, they share the same beautiful fairytale-esque vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering. Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead. Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all. But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

Mina is a brilliant character. She’s fearless, willing to sacrifice herself to ensure another’s happiness, and so determined to see her goals come to fruition that she simply refuses to give up - on anything, or anyone. Her selflessness really drew me in and I remained in awe of her character throughout the book as she seemed to only flourish in her kindness. Her interactions with other characters - namely the Sea God and Shin - really brought the story to life and had me hook, line and sinker.
All other characters were also expertly crafted to bring their essence forth into the story and liven it up further. Mask, Dai and baby Miki were an absolute treat to read and the likes of Kirin and Namgi brought a smile to my face.

Oh’s writing is genius. This is the first of Oh’s works that I’ve read and you bet your tush I need more immediately. There’s something so easy about the writing that draws me in and keeps me there. The world building is flawless in my opinion and everything flowed just as it needed to. Not once did I feel bored of what I was reading, we jump straight in from the offset and we keep going until the end. The slow-burn, almost love triangle, romance was brilliant. I’m not normally a fan of a loooong slow-burn but this had me eager to see what was going to happen and who would be chosen. Well done Axie Oh for this masterpiece!

Overall, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a brilliant story full of hope and wonderment that makes you desperate for more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on 21st February.

i previously had read XOXO by the same author which I enjoyed but didn't love as much as I thought I would, so I was hesitant on whether I'll love this one or not. I'm so glad that I did. Axie Oh's writing in this was just so magical and idyllic, and I loved the world she had created in this. This reads so so much like a fairy tale and it definitely has that Ghibli vibes I love so much in a fantasy book. If you previously have read and liked Elizabeth Lim's Six Crimson Cranes, this one has almost the same vibes.

I love Mina so much, and I think using her perspective to view the story was a great choice on Oh's part. It made me love her character even more by seeing her internal conflict and turmoil. I also love the friendship she struck with the women characters in this story and how they support each other, the friendship with Namgi (my softest boy I love him), the friendship with the spirits, and also of course the romance. I didn't think I was going to like this book for the romance as much so I was surprised by how much I root for them at the end, and I grew to love the love interest as well.

I will definitely read more of Axie Oh's writing in the future, especially if she makes more fantasy because oh this was good. If you like magical writing, Ghibli vibes in a book, softhearted yet fierce main character, dark brooding but turns out he's a softie love interest, I would definitely recommend this to you.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the arc.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea is an ethereally beautiful story of sacrifice, survival and family.

Oh wastes no time with an incredible opening. Within a few lines, you have a clear sense of character dynamics, the wider society and Mina herself. This is a dramatic, magical opening, but it is also full of pathos. Oh’s writing has this brilliant ability to create so much emotion within the reader in a very short space. This crosses over to the characters and how quickly they steal your heart. In particular, Mina’s bravery and determination to set things right captured my mind instantly. Here was a girl torn between worlds and family, just trying to survive in this new environment. I loved her growth in confidence and ability throughout the book, with a special shoutout to her storytelling ability. This allowed for even more little titbits of other stories to be threaded in. From then on, Oh gets more space to play around with this creative, inspired world and character. There is a underlying darkness in the discussion of female sacrifice, a woman’s place in the world and familial duty that was fascinating to follow along.

I particularly loved how Oh captures the essence of The Tale of Shim Ch’ŏng and pays homage to the myth in such a respectful and gorgeous way. However, it also shifts the focus to characters who did not have the spotlight originally, ensuring that it is both open to those who love the myth and those unfamiliar with the source material. This gives it a fresh focus but also widens the story to include a new audience. Of course, this is helped by the balance of dramatic and whimsy Oh infuses into the story. Her writing style is effortlessly transportive and evocative, easily whipping up these rich fantastical worlds that you just sit and revel in.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea is a beautiful, romantic and gorgeous retelling.

"There is no place you can go so far away from forgiveness. Not from someone who loves you."

Thank you to Netgalley and the published for providing me with an EARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This title has made it onto many peoples anticipated releases of 2022, and I am glad to say that I don't think people will be dissapointed. The comparisons to Spirited Away stand true, most importantly in the lush, somewhat whimsical nature of this world and its atmosphere. I could totally see it as a Ghibli film. That being said it stands apart from comparison just as well and the themes of love, forgiveness, family and overwhelming loyalty really shine.

The atmosphere and worldbuilding really sucks you in from the first page and doesn't let you go until the end. The setting is vivid and beautifully described whilst the writing remains clear and not overly embellished. As a standalone it completely achieves what it set out to do, but i sincerely hope we get more fantasy books from this author.

The characters were distinguishable and there were plenty of moments where I got a bit emotional. I was definitely rooting for our main character in whatever path she decided to take.

Whilst the pacing was very engaging and addictively fast the first half is definitely slower in plot compared to the last half so do be aware of that.

Definitely recommend you check this one out.

Storms have ruined mina’s homeland for generations. Her people believe that once the Sea God has found his true bride, he will end his people’s suffering. Shim Cheong is fated to be the true bride, but doing so means leaving Mina’s brother forever. So on the night, Cheong must be sacrificed, Mina and her brother break the rules and follow her to her fate. Desperate to save her brother and her friend, she throws herself into the water instead. Stranded in the Spirit Realm, Mina finds the Sea God trapped in an endless sleep and to wake him; she must face every lesser god and beast who wishes to keep him asleep.

I’ll be honest; the story starts in not the strongest footing for my taste. Mina is already boarding the ship destined for Shim Cheong’s demise, and her sacrifice is made so quickly it feels like we almost miss the moment. Her descent into the spirit realm is fast, and in moments, we’ve already made it halfway through the book’s own synopsis. I have been highly anticipating this book, so I was apprehensive it would go downhill from there.

I can gladly say I was very wrong. Once in the Spirit Realm, Mina really takes off. With time ticking, she must figure out how to wake the Sea God and return her homeland to prosperity only a month before she is stuck forever. And the only person who can give her any information is the mysterious god named Shin and his rogue men, Kirin and Namgi. She is also momentarily accompanied by other spirits who you will love and mourn all the same.

The crumbs Axie Oh drops in the story slowly come together most heartbreakingly. The world-building is in the same vein as Ghibli movies, whimsical and childlike. Mina is strong and compassionate who continues to grow in each chapter. It’s kind of a shame this is standalone because the potential to delve into other folklore through the Spirit Realm is vast. If anything, the only remotely disappointing aspect was that the romance could’ve been developed a lot more in the beginning. Still, towards the end, I was rooting for Mina’s happiness like my life depended on it.

Spirited Away meets Korean folklore in this standout retelling from Axie Oh. A world of gods and beasts can’t compare to softspoken Mina, who steals the show in her honourable journey to save her homeland.

I feel so lucky to have received an ARC of this book and can’t wait until everyone else is able to enjoy it too. I thought the description sounded so interesting, and it didn’t disappoint at all.

There is so much to love about this book. The characterisation is strong, the world building is detailed without feeling out of control, and the writing is beautiful yet very accessible.

The story was whimsical and lovely, with a whole host of interesting characters. It’s hard to pick out my favourite characters as they were all filled with such life and had unique personalities, but I particularly loved the spirits, Mask, Dai and Miki, who Mina meets after arriving in the Sea God’s city. These three seem to know Mina, and go out of their way to help her, even when it means they must risk their own safety. That is a thread that runs throughout the story, people doing things not because they have to, but because they want to help someone else, whether that person is a family member or a friend.

In the realm of the gods Mina meets Shin, who may or may not be an ally. He is however undoubtedly connected with her, and they must work together if they’re to help the sea God, though they have different motivations for doing so. They have a complicated relationship which develops over the weeks Mina is in the city and ultimately forces Mina to make further difficult choices.

Mina must go on a journey. Partly because she is somewhere new and she has to discover the mysteries of this place, but also to understand why the Sea God sleeps and what she can do to help him which seems to be the only way she will be able to help all of the people she loves. Through Mina we discover a world where spirits walk and gods fight to hold power. In many ways, it’s a reflection of our own world.

I loved the blending of folklore and myth with new characters. I didn’t know the myth this book is based on, but it really doesn’t matter. Readers who are unfamiliar with it can still enjoy it very much and the original story is woven throughout, often appearing in clever ways.

I was a bit unsure if this book would involve a Mina, sea God, and Shin love triangle. But considering the Sea God spends much of the book asleep this wasn’t really possible and I’m very happy about that. Even though there was an opportunity for it to head that way, it was very clear that rather than being about love for two men or Gods or whoever, this was a choice Mina had to make about what she was willing to sacrifice for the love of her family. The way this potential plot was resolved really brought me to tears and I don’t think there was a better way the author could have handled it.

Perhaps I don’t have the words to express the beauty in this book. I hope that others will read it and love it as I have.

This is a story about love, family, sacrifice, self-discovery, and making the hard choices. I highly recommend.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea is an absolutely beautiful fantasy novel and I loved the elements of Korean mythology that were woven in. There’s spirits, dragons, gods and magic. At the core it’s a tale of love for family and friendships with a sprinkling of romance.

The main character, Mina, was a great heroine and very likeable. There’s also a number of interesting supporting characters, many of them were given their own backgrounds and identities and I would have liked to explore them further! The slow burn romance was very sweet although I do wish there had been more ground work established in the lead up to it, at times it felt like they’re relationship developed a little too quick.

The story is fast paced in general, which worked really well for the most part. I did figure out the main twists by about half way through but there were still moments when I was genuinely unsure what would happen and the story kept me engaged throughout.

For me, the highlight of this book is the setting. Early on, Mina travels to the spirit realm and most of the story is set there. It’s so vividly described and entirely absorbing, I really wanted to explore it all for myself! This book just absolutely swept me away.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, wow, wow! This book made me want to go and jump into the sea to float down to the spirit realm so I can experience it with my own eyes as my imagination painted some amazing pictures whilst reading Oh’s incredible words.
The girl who fell beneath the sea is a retelling of a classic Korean folktale ‘The Tale of Shim Cheong,’. Storms have wreaked havoc on Mina’s homelands and the people believe that the Seagod (who was once their protector) is angry at them and to appease him a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to become his bride in the hope that he will left the curse he has set upon the lands. Only a true bride can lift the curse and this year Shim Cheong has been chosen to be sacrificed who happens to be Mina’s older brothers girlfriend. To protect her brother, Mina jumps into the sea instead of Cheong. In the spirit realm she enters palaces, meets new people, flights against giant snakes, meets her ancestors and much more. Can she save her world?
This book blew me away. The writing is outstanding and I instantly liked all the characters. My imagination ran wild with every description of an outfit or a forest. It sounded so beautiful even when storms raged beneath the surface.
I’m not gonna say much more other than add this to your wishlist when it’s released next month.

Thank you netgalley and hodder & stoughton for this wonderful whimsical read !! The book follows Mina a girl with so much heart and care with those around her !! She’s selfless and brazen and such an understanding character!! I loved reading the characters Mina, Shin and Namgi were such a joy to read. However I do wish the characters had more interactions where their chemistry is shown and builds up. Most of their interactions have to do with what was happening around them with little time to themselves, with that shin and mina’s relationship was still so sweet!!
Aaah I can’t believe axie oh fit this beautiful story into a stand-alone book !! The writing is lyrical and honestly makes me want to pick up her other book ; xoxo ! I’m looking forward to the debut and more of Axie oh’s books !!

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing this eARC.
Ohhh how should I describe my feelings? I'm completely in love with this book.
It's the story of Mina, who sacrifices herself and becomes the Sea Gods bride in order to save him from his curse. Because of her sacrifice, she lands in a world full of gods, mystical beings and the dead. With the help of Lord Shin, she wants to free the Sea God from his curse and save her homeland. But not everybody in the realm of gods wants the Sea God to return and they try to get rid of Mina.
This is a beautiful tale about family (found and bound by blood), fate, loss and friendship. I loved the slow pacing. You get time to get to know the characters.
I also loved the stories Mina retold in the book and the resurfaced memories of her family. Another thing I adored was the bond she started to form with the unlikely characters, especially with Shin. I really love his character (and Mina's).
And maybe you'll even shed a tear or two. Because this tale is just breathtaking.

“For generations, deadly storms have ravaged Mina's homeland. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curse them with death and despair. To appease him, each year a maiden is thrown into the sea, in the hopes that one day the 'true bride' will be chosen and end the suffering.”

Such a beautiful book, not only the covers but the story as well. Mina is so good and full of love for those around her no matter what life or the Spirit Realm throws at her.

When I started reading “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” i was thrown into the deep end from the very beginning. Sacrificing myself alongside Mina for her brothers happiness. This sudden thrust into the story made me feel a little disjointed, like i was missing that connection with the characters, having been introduced to them and the world so fast. It wasn’t a feeling that lasted long and with the Introduction of Mask, Dai and Miki i fell in love with the characters and their stories.

The story is fast paced and engaging, i felt like every time i considered putting the book down for a minute something new happened and I had to keep reading. With so many components to the story, not all I’m sure were necessary or at-least they didn’t flow as easily as they could have, I found on occasion I had to go back a few pages to make sure I hadn’t missed a step. For a dyslexic this can sometimes be a little off putting in a book but the positives with this read easily made up for it.

The story is addictive and the moments between the main characters gave me butterflies. Mina is so full of love, strength, courage and hope that even when faced with those who could destroy her she never falters. and makes those around her strong.

The thing I loved most about the book is the idea what no matter our beauty, our fears, the power others may try to hold over us, we choose our own fate, we write our own stories.

Headlines
Beautiful characters
Lyrical, fantastical and misty mystery
Spirited Away vibes

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea had my imagination on overdrive, creating visuals akin to Studio Ghibli. The vibe of the whole piece was stunning, the villages above the sea but even more, beneath the sea, was fascinating.

Mina was a sweet, selfless and often foolish 16 year old. She loved fiercely and stepped in to save those she loved from their difficulties...and found herself attached quite literally to the Sea God. I was not enamoured by the Sea God at all and for a hot moment I thought I was going to lose my interest until that plot point developed and I gave my full investment.

The book was rounded with some amazing character aside from Mina. Shin had all my attention, I couldn't work him out, who he was, what he wanted but I believed in his connection to Mina. I adored Dai, Miki and Mask quite quickly, but I couldn't work out their purpose in the story but when I did, oh my word, the emotions were rolling through me.

If I were to describe this book, I'd say it was a beautiful read, a special standalone and one I'd recommend to all YA fantasy lovers.

Thank you to Hodder Books for the beautiful review copy.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is one of my most anticipated releases of 2022 but I was left dissatisfied after reading it. The main concept of the story and the lyrical writing were the only plus points of the book. It has strong fairytale vibes, with a main character who is your generic self-sacrificing YA heroine. My main gripe was about the poorly written characters. I felt like I was watching the story through a lens. I found it beautiful but couldn't connect to it emotionally. The beginning starts by abruptly jumping onto the core of the story. We don't see the motivations and strong beliefs but are rather told that they are the reasons for the Mina's actions. Added to that, the romance appears out of nowhere. There was no indication when it began but confessions of love are thrown in, which I found unreal. I found great potential in the bonds formed between the side characters and Mina but they were weakly written. The plot was interesting but the weak characterization led to a poor execution of the story.
If you are looking to read a book just for the vibes and is inspired by Korean mythology, this might be for you.

The beautiful cover made me want to read this book and I’m so glad I did. Reading this felt like reading an amazing fairytale. It was incredible! I feel like I’ve never read a book like this before. The setting was incredible, and following Mina as she went on her journey was amazing. I enjoyed all of the characters and the relationships as well. I can't wait to own a physical copy of this!

Oh, what a beautiful book this was. I was captivated from the very beginning. I'd never read any of Axie Oh's work before but this one intrigued me as I love books that are steeped in mythology and this did not disappoint with all it's nods to Korean folklore.

The characters were all wonderful and I particularly liked Mina, our main protagonist. However, what really set this book apart was the wonderful setting, vivid descriptions and the beautiful spirit world that was created.

Also, I cannot wait to own a physical copy of this book as the artwork is simply stunning.

Thank you netgalley and hodder for the eArc.

I want to start by thanking Hodder & Soughton, Netgalley and Axie Oh for giving me an ARC of this title to review. I was incredibly excited as soon as I heard about this book, loving anything to do with oriental folklore and myth and being a big fan of Miyazaki’s work, especially Spirited Away which this book has been likened to. A few reviews I have seen have said the characters seem lacking but personally I didn’t feel that way at all. I admit a few secondary characters I would have liked to know more about, have them take centre stage but the book would have been too long and after all this is a retelling of a Korean myth so it couldn’t deviate too far besides I can live in hope that Oh maybe brings back a few characters in another book! A girl can dream!

So we know this is retelling of a Korean legend with a feminist twist but what exactly can you expect? Well for a start off you can expect action, intrigue, rich folklore and a touch of romance. I have to say the latter I was not sure I would enjoy but I actually became a little too invested!

We follow Mina whose homeland has been ravaged by deadly storms for generations. The people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them to despair and death. Believing nothing else could work they try to appease him by sending a maiden into the sea in hopes that his ‘true bride’ will be found and chosen, and the cycle of destruction will end. So far it never has.

This year the fate falls to Shim Cheong – the most beautiful girl in the village and Mina’s brother’s beloved. Surely, she must be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is due to be sacrificed, Mina’s brother follows her, despite knowing only death will await for daring to interfere. Only her brother wasn’t the only one breaking the rules and to save her brother Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Finding herself in the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina finds the Sea God, but he is trapped in an enchanted sleep. Determined to finally end the cycle and with a growing group of rag-tag demons, gods and spirits as well as a mysterious young man Mina sets out to wake the Sea God. But a human cannot live long in the land of the spirits and some will do anything to keep the Sea God from awakening.

Obviously since this is an ARC I won’t spoil the plot much further but I will say that for a short while I was worried for a somewhat bittersweet ending, thankfully it wasn’t fully the case and that the last chapter did really get to me. It was so beautiful and yet so simple. The perfect closure to this wonderful retelling that didn’t lose any of the strength or will of the protagonist as can sometimes be the case in tales that end somewhat happily ever after.

The characters are all memorable and as I said above while I would like a bit more flesh added to some of the secondary ones but this is only one book and you can’t expect that. The world building itself was quick but well thought out and beautifully brought to life. We are quite literally thrown into the Spirit Realm with Mina and we learn about the world along with her which was refreshing and something I really enjoyed within the book.

Mina herself was a bit of a dream protagonist particularly for a YA book. I do love YA but sometimes the protagonists can be a bit too perfect or seem to be. Mina was different. She is scared, she cries, she feels confused and concerned but through it all she remains determined. For the first time in a long time I actually ended up liking Mina within the first few pages.

All in all this book is a wonderful Fantasy, one that I will definitely re-read and recommend to my fellow YA and Fantasy lovers and those who love re-tellings of legends and myths. I can definitely see why some would liken this in it’s enchanting style to Miyazaki’s Spirited Away and I think it does actually deserve that comment but it also deserves to be seen as its own wonderful and magical tale of a girl who fell beneath the sea.

A captivating plot set in a richly detailed fantasy world with a brilliantly determined protagonist- what’s not to love!

I loved this book so much!!! From the very first page it jumps right into this magical story. The world Axie Oh created was beautiful and lush, and I couldn’t stop reading! Mina was such a great main character, even from the very beginning she shows her true colors! She was brave, selfless, loyal, smart and caring. She did everything she could to save her family and her people, even at the risk of her own life and happiness. The other characters were great as well…Shin, Namgi, Kirin, Nari, Mask, sweet Dai & Mikki will all have a special place in my heart! This story was so well written, I honestly was sad when it ended! When you come across a magical, beautiful world like this..it is often hard to leave! I would love more books to take place in this incredible world..If Axie Oh should decide to write more, I will 100% read them!