Let me open with this, wow. It’s not often I have absolutely nothing negative to say about a book, or anything really let’s be real, but it happened with this book. It’s an eerie, dark tale of grief, growth despite generational trauma and sisterly love inspired by a story from Korean Folklore. (I’d suggest you check trigger warnings before reading it btw).

I need to gush over the writing first because it was my favourite part, it wasn’t only beautiful but did such an amazing job at dragging you into the girl’s little town and its dreary atmosphere. The flowery language was perfect and matched the story so well.

We mostly follow Soojin and her attempts at dealing with all her grief and fears. She’s a 17 year-old korean girl in a practically all white town trying to piece herself back together after losing her sister who kept the family afloat after their mom’s passing. She is broken, scared, alone and yet so strong. Mirae deals with her fair share of issues too, ones that we uncover with her that are mostly unrelated to the whole zombie thing. I also need to mention Mark who helps Soojin as much as he can with the whole haunting, I love him he’s so cute. And Milkis the rat who keeps them company through everything. They all felt so real, they are broken and imperfect and just trying their best.

Overall, as you can tell, I loved this book, it handled all those heavy themes so well and with just enough hopefulness. I would (obviously) highly recommend picking it up when it comes out. And for those who hesitate because they aren’t big on horror this might be the perfect gateway, even me, the greatest weenie, had a pretty good time!

And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun is a haunting, lyrical masterpiece that flows with grief, memory, and ancestral weight. Yun’s prose is both poetic and razor-sharp, pulling readers into a world where myth and trauma intertwine. Every sentence feels intentional—beautiful and devastating in equal measure.

The novel explores generational pain and identity with unflinching honesty, told through a voice that is as vulnerable as it is powerful. The characters feel deeply lived-in, their emotions and choices echoing long after the final page. Yun balances quiet moments with waves of emotional intensity, creating a rhythm that feels immersive and natural.

The conclusion is both tender and brutal, tying together themes of loss and resilience in a way that lingers. And the River Drags Her Down is a stunning, unforgettable debut—an easy 5-star read for those who appreciate literary fiction that isn’t afraid to cut deep.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.25 stars.

I loved this story, it was eerie and haunting with an atmosphere that carried over into every chapter. I liked the family history woven into every aspect of our characters lives, it seemed like a burden and a blessing. This book explores death, grief and magic in a unique and dark way, but the conclusion truly touched me, it was just so satisfying.

I will be recommending everyone reads this!

What a beautiful, albeit heartbreaking, story of love and grief. Soojin’s grief was palpable throughout, leaving an aching feeling in my chest. At times I struggled to read this because grief was so well brought to life, but it was able to bring some temporary comfort and relief. Perfect handling of such a difficult topic, managing to show the importance of grief and acceptance after loss.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! I’ve had this on my radar since it was announced and I’m extremely pleased to say that it absolutely lived up to hype for me

The prose is beautiful and exceptionally well written, the author is skilled enough to juggle heavy topics with tact but succeeds in conveying the grief and horror depicted at times. The characters all feel realistic and relatable. The horror elements were done well and walked the very delicate line of being creepy without becoming too heavy handed.

I loved my time with this and devoured it in a couple of days. I’d potentially check trigger warnings before diving in as it deals with some difficult subject matter. Easy 5 stars from me and I’ve already pre-ordered my copy!

And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun is a masterpiece! I loved every detail about this book. So well written, the characters were perfectly put together. I totally recommend it.

This was really unique, I loved the story and the characters both were really unique and exciting. I did find it to be really slow in parts which I really had to push through, but the story itself was still worth that.

"And the River Drags Her Down" is a hauntingly beautiful tale about sisterhood, selfishness and grief.
It moves slowly, but deliberately, building a quiet tension that never fully lets go and will likely leave you heartbroken.

"What the funeral director didn’t understand was that Soojin didn’t want to heal. If she didn’t wake each morning ransacked by her sister’s absence, it would mean her memory was growing farther away. She would rather hurt than heal."

Soojin comes from a long line of women with a secret, inherited power. The ability to bring the dead back to life. There's just one rule: Never resurrect anything larger than the palm of your hand.
But that was before her sister Mirae died.

Overwhelmed by grief and desperate not to be alone, Soojin breaks the rule. At First, having Mirae back feels like a miracle. But Mirae isn't content to stay in the shadows. As old wounds resurface and secrets unravel, Mirae sets her sights on the injustice that tore her family apart and she won't rest until it's paid for.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and One World's Rock The Boat Imprint for the opportunity to read this ARC early in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s classified as YA horror, but it leans more toward mystery with a slow-burn and minor horror elements. (Trigger warning: animal deaths)

I loved the characters. Soojin’s grief felt raw and real, her stubbornness and flaws made her feel all the more relatable. If your sister died and you could bring her back, wouldn’t you?
And Mirae, she’s a force to be reckoned with, but still incredibly easy to love.

I also liked the inclusion of family myths and "seeing" Mirae's gift in action.
The pacing does slow down a bit around the halfway point (I couldn’t quite put my finger on why) but even so, it was a beautiful and tragic story that I’m really glad I got to read.