What a beautiful (debut!) story. I'm always in search of historical fiction set outside of Europe and this hit the spot. An interesting premise and setting - the only downside to this book was that it ended.

This would not be the book for me but it completely took me by surprise when I ended up getting invested in the story which took me about 10-15%.
I loved the premise and the writing style the most! I have not read anything like it and I actually enjoyed going into this knowing so little so I will keep this review short. You need to lay your eyes on it! YOu won't regret it!

Beautiful read. Poetic story telling about a time in history I didn’t know much about. The cover art was stunning.

3.5 stars
3.5 stars

"The half moon disappeared behind a cloud, casting the scene into darkness. The silence between the boy and girl expanded. It filled with memories of promises made, words that the world had broken".

Look at this gorgeous cover! And Sumi Hahn twisted a tale and setting as beautiful as it. Her writing was lyric and smooth and I really enjoyed it. I will certainly be reading more of her works in the future.

The setting is post world war II in Jeju, Korea. The island is half ocean and half mountain and it sounds like the most beautiful place in the world. The story focused on Junja, a haenyeo aka mermaid (the talented group of women divers on the island) and the stirring political climate on the island at the time.

I have to say while I've read Asian authored books before, I think this is my first touch of genuine Korean culture and I was entranced! I loved reading about the island, the gods, their food and just their culture all around, it was very magical and I know I will be reading more in the future. Also, while I've read WWII era books before, I have to say I didn't know anything about this slice of politics in Korea, and certainly not about what was happening on Jeju. I loved this book for opening my eyes to this slice of history and culture and making me want to learn more.

Minor complaints:
- Setting up the characters / plot felt a little forced in the first part
- Didn't love the flash forward/flash backs from 2001 - I think a linear timeline would've had more of an impact
- I felt like we got a taste of characters and plot-lines that were never fully explored (but I would've loved for them to be)
- The ending fell a little short for me, I expected more of an impact.

But overall, I absolutely loved learning about Jeju, their culture and this slice of history. This was a beautifully spun story that was very atmospheric, eye-opening and heart wrenching. Sumi Hahn is a wonderful and lyric wordsmith and I'm excited to see what else she has to share!

"Tendrils of vine and fern fell from both sides of the gully, like green waterfalls spilling from rocks. Sunlight beamed through the trees, illuminating every tiny insect and mote in the air..."

In Jeju Island, the haenyeo are strong women who dive to get sea products. After Goh Junja is initiated as one of them, she convinces her mother to let her take her place in her annual trip to Hallasan to pay her respects to a noble family and exchange some delicacies for a pig. This journey is an amazing discovery for her, as she had never left her village before. When she is experiencing some troubles, she meets Suwol, a smart young man who helps her and falls in love with her. However, the social and political problems that Korea was facing in 1948 change their lives, causing losses and grief. The presence of US soldiers and Korean nationalist forces seems even worse to people in Jeju than the Japanese occupation, as most locals are thought to be Communists and the climate is more dangerous with every passing day. Junja finds herself alone with her grandmother, who is acting in mysterious ways that confuse and worry her. This story is completed by Dr. Moon, an older man who loses his wife in the US in 2001. After the funeral, he feels that ghosts are following him, so he has to face his past in order to embrace his struggles and let go...

What I liked: This book is amazing. I loved the way it is written, how the characters are constructed (especially Junja's grandmother), and the emotional development of each of them. The plot is very interesting and I think it was great that Hahn wrote some chapters set in 1948 and others in 2001. The author explains very well the political climate of Korea in 1948, but she also draws a vivid picture of the traditions and believes that helped people to overcome those difficulties and kept their identity strong even after several periods of occupation. I learned a lot and I enjoyed every part of the book, especially the ending. This is a wonderful story of resilience and redemption that I strongly recommend.

(I want to thank NetGalley, Alcove Press, and the author for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alcove Press for my copy of The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi Hahn in exchange for an honest review. It published December 8, 2020.
Wow! I did not want to stop reading this book! It has serious Lisa See vibes, and I was so enthralled by the story. I couldn't stop thinking about it when I wasn't reading. Now that it's over, I'm missing Jeju and the divers!
I learned a lot about the history of Jeju island and the culture as well. I think that Hahn did a great job telling this story with great care and humanity. I never stopped to think about the PTSD that the survivors of these atrocities experience. I also didn't think about how they would experience it. Stories like this are so important to teach us about history, and to help us not to repeat history. It also helps to grow empathy and understanding.

A very detailed, descriptive, and lyrical book. I have to admit that I was quite confused by the story on multiple occasions, but perhaps that's on me for not keeping up with my audiobook.

A very beautiful tribute to Jeju and the haenyeo.

The book was very interesting and magical.
And it was a really plus that the cover was beautiful and stunning.

At first, it was quite boring, but after reading more, i discovered i actually like it. its interesting and also thrilling. i kept wondering what would happen next, who will do this and that. the plot is carefully laid out, the characters interesting to read. the descriptions are the best.

Good read about what went on in Jeju Island with the haenyeos, mixed in with a childhood love (I love Suwol!) and the struggle to survive.

My starred review for Booklist is here: https://www.booklistonline.com/The-Mermaid-from-Jeju-/pid=9740006

The review was also cross-posted to Smithsonian BookDragon: http://smithsonianapa.org/bookdragon/the-mermaid-from-jeju-by-sumi-hahn-in-booklist/

Rating edit: 3.5 stars

Finished reading The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi Hahn. Set in Korea, it's a historical, post WW2 story.

It mainly tells the story of Junja, a Haenyeo (female divers in the Korean province of Jeju, considered to be stronger than two men). It's about family, love and survival.

I really liked the characters: Junja, her grandmother, her soulmate Suwol. And I loved the Junja-Suwol story and their interactions and conversations. Even though it's not really a proper love story, their relationship seems deep and poignant.

There is something about the writing style. It's beautiful and soothing and very engaging, even though it meanders a bit in the second half. The last few chapters, mainly set in 2001, didn't really interest me (didn't make sense, to be very honest) but I really enjoyed the story that's set in 1948.

Overall, it was such a unique, intriguing read.

I received a copy of this book to review from Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.
An amazing book with beautiful poestry like prose. This book embodied the sea it described, at times calm and at times full of actions. This time was little known about so it was fascinating to read and learn more about.
A pleasure to read.

This book is why I love historical fiction! I learned about an area/culture of the world that I didn’t know much about while becoming attached to the characters and always wondering what was going to happen next. The plot was perfectly paced for me - not too fast, not too slow. Would definitely read more by this author.

I have mixed feelings about The Mermaid of Jeju.
The storyline was compelling, but I didn’t connect to the characters at all. There were so many would-be heartbreaking moments, but I didn’t feel anything. I’m usually not a fan of first-person narration, but I think that would have been a better fit for the story.
I added it to our library’s eBook collection because it was an enjoyable read. It just wasn’t memorable, which is disappointing because it had the potential to be.

It is 1944 and World War II is coming to an end, leaving the Korean island of Jeju in the wake of post-Japanese colonial rule replaced with US occupation. Goh Junja, like her mother and grandmother, is a haenyo, a female diver, who is strong and “worth two men”. Her strength is tested as she experiences loss only known to survivors of war — not only the loss of family and neighbors, but of your beliefs and culture, and your humanity.

Focused on the history and folklore of the island rather than the hanyeo, the author does a wonderful job of providing vivid descriptions of the island and life on Jeju. The evocative writing transported me back in time and it was both magical and heartbreaking. However, I felt the writing to be a bit jarring at times — from beautifully detailed descriptions of the landscape to the sudden change in scenes and dialogue, it left me feeling like I was watching only the highlights of a cinematic movie. Just as I was fully immersing myself into a scene, I felt yanked out and thrown into another. Which is why I wished this book was longer. I really wanted to spend more time with the characters and see them grow. And I wanted more time on the magical island of Jeju.

Heartbreaking as this story was, I didn’t feel that the trauma was exaggerated and put on display. The trauma is there, maybe not always front and center, but definitely surrounding, circling and encroaching. And like the other Korean historical fiction books, this one reminded me of my grandmothers. It left an ache in my heart because I know their stories are lost to me forever. And maybe that’s why I will always pick up a book set in Korea’s past. Even if for a moment, I can imagine what my grandmothers would’ve been like during this time and then, if I’m willing, I can imagine myself with them too. This is both my escape and home.

Although this book wasn’t perfect, I did enjoy the rich history and culture of Jeju. If you’re curious about Korean history and culture, I’d recommend starting here.

Thank you @alcovepress & @crookedlanebooks for this #gifted ARC!

The Mermaid from Jeju was wonderful!
Prior to reading I was unfamiliar with Jeju island and was excited to learn more about the island and the people who reside on the island.

The story alternates between a 1940s Korea and modern day U.S. Dual timeline stories are my favorite, so I loved that aspect.

The end threw me off a bit, but not enough to change my overall opinion of the book.


Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you liked The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See, you'll most likely enjoy this novel too as the content and topics are quite similar.
The only thing I personally didn't enjoy was the switch at about 60% to telling the story from the future perspective of Dr Moon, Junja's husband.
I much preferred the story from her perspective until that point.
3.5 stars for a quick enjoyable immersion into Korean history and culture

Thanks Netgalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction novel, taking place on Jeju Island post World War II. There’s another storyline running through, taking place in modern day. I thought the historical timeline was stronger, but I thought the modern storyline helped to tie the story together.

I enjoyed reading The Mermaid from Jeju. Prior to reading I was unfamiliar with Jeju island and how people lived compared to the mainland. This story originally interested me based on the haenyeo and how they dive to harvest from the ocean not just to feed their families but provide a livelihood.

The story alternates between a 1940s Korea and modern day in the U.S. circling around the protagonist Junja. We see her as a young girl fall in love with the first time and innocently get entangled in the political upheaval of her time. Her grandmother was quite the schemer and did more to protect her family than Junja realizes. As the story progresses, we see her connect with Suwol and their story is enthralling and heartbreaking.

Hahn incorporated just enough cliffhangers throughout the story to keep me on my toes. The book is sweeping, tragic, heartbreaking, and yet full of hope. This is an impressive debut novel from Hahn!

The only part I struggled with was the ending, it seemed to get cluttered and felt sped up when I think a couple more pages to flesh out the scene would have been helpful.

Fans of Pachinko will like this book, and anyone who enjoys split time narratives, family sagas, and stories about living with grief.

Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.