The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea: the New York Times bestselling magical fantasy

*possible spoilers*I'm so torn in how I feel with this book. I loved reading it and being in this world and even though it's a single POV, there are so many emotions conveyed & I had an attachment to many characters. However, there are some things that don't quite sit right with me. My mixed feelings are:- I loved Namgi with my whole heart. My fave!- Speaking of Namgi, there is heavy insinuation of a male love interest and I would 1000000% want that story. So much pining. Doubt that's happening. However it is not outright stated and it bothers me, it felt like it was being implied but avoiding confirming it. It annoyed me so much.-Shin, I loved him. I loved how we got to know him. How at times he attempted a cold-hearted front but you could see how caring he was.- However, the love is way too insta. It's a whole 4 weeks. Also yes, this is fantasy but Shin is hundreds if not thousands years old, Mina is 16 when she enters the spirit realm. When the book ends she's 18 and even that felt like some weird attempt to ok the age gap. Although nothing other than a kiss happens in the book stillllll. I can't help but feel weird about it.- Mina's decision. To give everything up?! Nah.- The writing I loved, I love when the writing in a book is so easy to sink into and allow you to get into the story so effortlessly.- You know that TikTok sound? "F--- them kids" That. Except "F--- them Gods/Godesses." Lol.- I really enjoyed the exploration of Fate, the red thread of Fate and how choice comes into it. Also love and friendship is explored here too in ways that I really enjoyed.- Power is explored here especially where the Gods and Godesses are concerned and their lack of empathy. Although there could have been more exploration/challenging in that theme, for me.I had my issues with this book but I genuinely really enjoyed it, the mythology and the different themes in the book, the different characters and relationship dynamics that appeared. My stupid heart also enjoyed the romantic quotes in here even if I'm a bit iffy on the relationship when I take a step back to look at it. But I really enjoyed the authors style of writing and how quickly I got lost in this story. And the cover is so beautiful.

As recommended by my daughter on her YouTube channel 'The Contented narrative', this is a good book. The author retells this Korean folktale with great effect. 👍👍😁😁

"The Sea God isn't angry, Mina. He's lost. He's waiting, in his palace far beyond this world, for someone brave enough to find him." Has Axie Oh fast become one of my favourite authors? That would be a resounding yes! She is what I like to call a genre-chameleon, who can skip from action-packed dystopian to fluffy romance to lush fantasy seemingly effortlessly. The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea is a beautiful story based on the Korean folktale Shim Cheong, the girl who jumped into the sea. But this novel turns it on it's head - what would happen if someone took Shim Cheong's place, and she never sacrificed herself to the the Sea God to stop the annual storms that plague her people? What would happen if instead of the beautiful Shim Cheong, raised to be the Sea God's bride, it is Mina who falls beneath the sea and ends up in the otherworldly land of the gods? "In another life, you might have found a more welcome shore than this. As it is, the sea is dark and the Sea God sleeps, and the shore is too far to reach." Not only does this book spin a wonderful new version of a cherished and beloved story, there are other familiar Korean folktales woven in as Mina's stories, which she tells throughout the book. The descriptions of the city of the gods, inhabited by hundreds of spirits, are so vivid I really felt I was there with Mina. There will no doubt be comparisons to Spirited Away - a human girl in a city of spirits and gods, the imminent danger of her fading away, beautiful dragons and curses to break. But this is in no way a copy of that beloved film - it is it's own fantastic tale with action, friendships, love and the red string of fate. "I was angry at the fate I'd been given. Because I realised that in order for you to have what you want, I'd have to lose the only thing I've ever wanted." This book had a whole host of characters you can't help but love, from stoic and serious Kirin, to flirty and witty Namgi and the trio of spirits who help Mina on her journey - Mask, Dai and Miki. And then there are Lord Shin and the Sea God himself, both handsome and mysterious, and Mina finds herself strangely drawn to the two of them. I read this book in 24 hours and I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy when it releases - both the US and UK covers are so incredibly beautiful, it's hard to decide which I love the most!

This is the most beautiful book, it is a retelling of the Korean myth of Shim Cheong who fell into the sea, this book explores what if it wasn’t Shim who fell into the sea.The Sea God slumbers whilst the human world suffers endless storms, every year a young woman is sacrificed to the sea in the hope that she will be the Bride to awaken the Sea God and end the curse. Mina was not the choice of Bride but she sacrifices herself to prevent her brother Joon from losing his love. She travels to the city of the spirit realm, a world of ghosts, gods, goddesses, dragons and mythical creatures and along with a disparate group of the above seeks to wake the Sea God and end 100yrs of storms and destruction.The writing is sublime, the world is rich and delicious in detail, it is a glorious woven fairytale that is littered with other folk stories from Korean mythology. It is a wonderfully magical story that leaves you feeling warm inside. 4.5 stars.

It tooke a minute to get all the names and people right so I didn't get confused but it's a great story that's warmed me as I read

Granddaughter loves to read

Full of twists with a gutsy heroine.