5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

That story was perfection.

Omg I lived the parallels with dark and light and the demons and how cosy it was but gory?!!

It felt whimsical at times and heartbreaking in others???

Axie has done a beautiful job with this story and I am OBSESSED.

Please consider me for book 2 arc when it is available. This has been my TOP READ IN 2025 and I am in awe that I got to read it early.

I've heard of Axie Oh before now, but I never read anything before this
I might have to go back and read her other books now

This was so so good!!

Very atmospheric
Very tense
Very cosy

To me, The Floating World felt very Ghibli-esque:

The found family was incredible, I love it when people decide they're friends because they've all been through the shit.

The subtle romance of "hey, what's this new feeling I'm feeling?" and them just fumbling around trying to save each other was perfection!

The ending is so exciting and I absolutely can't wait for book 2: The Demon and the Light!!

The Floating World was amazing!! I had a teaser sample from YALC which completely captivated me so was so happy when I was approved on here. There was SO much that happened in this book I don't know where to begin but despite that it was still easy to keep track and follow the plot line. It was packed full of action, so many twists and turns, Ren and Sunho were fantastic characters that were so likeable and I was truly so invested in their journeys (individually and as a team later on in the book). I enjoyed it being from 3 different POVs (Sunho, Ren and Jaeil) which really added so many levels to the story and kept you reading faster to find out what happens to each one. Ren is fab, despite everything shes been through she is still positive and happy and hasn't lost her gentler side, even though it would have been easy to just create a hard exterior to protect herself. Sunho is such an intriguing character and so perfect for Ren that they really balance each other out and I loved seeing how they feelings for each other developed throughout. I enjoyed learning about different folklore and culture and how it was interweaved throughout the story with the added fantasy elements. I felt so much for Jaeil as he was so conflicted with what to do. THAT ENDING though!! Please I need book two!!

First of all, thank you so much NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This was my first Axie Oh book and now I know it's not going to be the last. This book was so immersive and beautifully written, I simply could not put it down.

Without giving any spoilers, I can say that the dynamic between the main characters is what I liked the most. The mysteries about themselves they need to uncover will make you fall in love with them little by little. The setting reminded me a lot of a Ghibli film (Castle in the Sky maybe?) and I loved it. The way all the landscapes and worlds are described was just delightful to read and really easy to imagine without the descriptions becoming boring or too much.

What I will say is that even though I know this book is not out yet, I really need book 2 - that ending?! We need more!

After falling in love with Axie Oh’s The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, I was eager to dive into The Floating World—and it did not disappoint. This mesmerizing fantasy blends adventure, romance, and mythology into a beautifully crafted tale that feels both intimate and epic.

Set in a world of perpetual darkness, the story follows Sunho, a mysterious ex-soldier with no memory beyond his name and sword, and Ren, a daring acrobat who harbors a powerful secret. Their paths intertwine in a journey filled with secrets, peril, and fate-defying choices. Oh’s storytelling is both lyrical and immersive, making it easy to lose yourself in the richly detailed setting inspired by Korean mythology.

Much like The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, this novel delivers a breathtaking sense of wonder, with themes of destiny, sacrifice, and the search for identity woven throughout. The dynamic between Sunho and Ren is compelling, filled with tension and slow-burning chemistry that keeps the pages turning.

With stunning world-building, heart-pounding action, and an emotional core that lingers long after the final chapter, The Floating World is a must-read for fans of sweeping fantasy adventures. If you loved The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, this book will sweep you away once again!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc.

I really wanted to love this book but sadly did not. I’ve read from Axie Oh before and I know I like her writing style which is very whimsical and flows on page.

An interesting world filled with mysteries and plot twists that had me guessing.
The e-arc was not the best edited but still the story felt muddled and confusing at times. I really wish I enjoyed this more.

Oh my!!! There better be a book 2 with that ending!!! I need more!

I'm so invested in Ren and Sunho's story now. This book gripped me from the first chapter and it was hard to put down every night! The first few chapters help you connect to Ren and Sunho and then the action starts! In fact, The action never stops!

I recommend this book who wants action, romance and mythology.

AXIE OH WHEN I GET YOU!!

My first 5 star read of the year!! Going into this blind was the best thing ever. I went into this with no expectations but came out a different person. A billion things happened in this book, it was so fast paced I was FLYING through the pages. Yes to everything about this book. I genuinely was captivated from start to finish from the non stop action, characters who were all so likable and the crazy twists and turns.

Without going into spoilers, the Floating World is a very immersive experience. Both Ren and Sunho have mysteries they need to uncover about their past and I really enjoyed following their journey and uncovering these mysteries with these characters, who were both great, really likable people. I just kept gasping as each reveal was dropped and the last 10%?? What a BOMB. I have never been more glad the sequel to this is dropping in the same year. Can I PLEASE get the ARC to that too??

Sunho and Ren’s paths don’t collide until later on in the story, but I was already so invested in both their stories and how it entwined together as the novel progressed. I think it was a great decision giving Sunho and Ren their own POVs as it enhanced the experience and allowed deeper insight into the way they think and also to learn more about their past. I was surprised there was a third POV as well – who I won’t say – but I thought it was very integral to the story and added more intrigue and complexity and I am interested in seeing it all come together in the sequel.

There is a lot of mystery and intrigue that sustained my interest throughout the novel, I just wanted to keep reading and reading. I was never bored and thought the novel kept getting better as it went on. The stakes are high from the beginning and never once slowed down. Sometimes I wish the pacing slowed down a little to develop certain relationships between characters, but I think it can be overlooked because of how great the storytelling and characters were. There’s a lot of familiar themes seen in other novels that are incorporated here, but also a lot of fresh and unique ones that give Floating World its own originality and bring to the table something special. For instance, Ren! Making her an acrobat was a cool, creative decision and I loved that it came in handy when it came down to it! I’ve also never heard about the tale of the Celestial Maiden, so this was really interesting and how it linked to the story.

I LOVED Ren. What a breath of fresh air and ray of sunshine. Axie shows that just because a FMC goes through so much trauma doesn’t mean they need to become battle hardened and cynical! They can still be compassionate and kind and I loved that aspect of Ren the most – how she can still laugh and be funny and adorable makes her stand out. I, too, would fall for her like Sunho did. She admits to being vulnerable and I think that is her greatest strength. Ren made absolutely all the right decisions in this book and I was so proud of her. Without saying too much, the ending was so amazing! And Sunho! He’s so cool. Sunho brings a lot of intrigue into the story with his missing memories and secret powers and I absolutely loved it. Ren and Sunho are a force of nature together. The romance between them was so wholesome. I eat up the outgoing x shy trope all day everyday.

I feel like so much happened in this book, but it’s only just begun. I will definitely have my eyes on Sunho in the second book because that ending is criminal.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review, this was so fun!