I liked the book. I liked the narrator. The plot had a very different concept. War and magic combined.
It was great to listen to the story while walking. It took me about 3 days to finish it and I would say this book was so different from what I read that I would say - it is totally good to invest in time of reading it. Memorable read.

Not only is this book historical fiction but it also discusses the folklore of the Jeju people and I wish it had given more in that respect. This book takes place in Jeju Island, Korea post-WWII. I really enjoyed the first half of the book following local diver Junja as she grows into a young woman. The writing is captures the scenery and emotions beautifully. I would’ve loved the book had it been more of Junja during that time period. I didn’t care for the dual timelines in this book. The last half left me feeling lost at times especially when it jumped to the present but then had flashbacks of the past. It felt a little disjointed at times.

The narrators did a nice job of expressing the characters, and I’m glad I listened to it on audio vs reading the book.

I received this audiobook from Netgalley and Alcove Press so many thanks for allowing me to read/listen to this book.

The was a fascinating story. I enjoyed learning about what a Haenyeo (Female abalone divers) is and the sacrifices they made for their family to survive, Junja and her trials, the history went back in forth in time and the audiobook is a bit difficult to keep track of because of the constant switching between dates; I enjoyed this one though and learned quite a bit.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was the best historical fiction book I have read in months! The writing in this book was beautifully descriptive and mesmerizing. This is a story about haenyeo women, grief, loss and love which takes place post World War II in South Korea. I was so engrossed in the two main characters, Goh Junja and Yang Suwol. and they were so memorable. The journey of Junja and Suwol was very harrowing but, on the other hand, there is a great love story being told. If you are looking for an immersive historical fiction read, I highly recommend this book!

This is an impressive and well-crafted novel. I enjoyed this story of historical fiction infused with mystical elements and imagination. The novel opens with a scene in 2001 Philadelphia and then travels back to Jeju Island in 1944. We return to 2001 at over the halfway point in the novel (when I had frankly forgotten about the beginning :)) and when we are anxious to learn about the resolution of the story.

The unforgettable characters of Junja, Suwol, grandma, General Lee and countless others are brought to life through descriptions, dialogue and action. The setting of Jeju island is inviting and it is interesting to read about the haenyeo and the history of Korea during this time period. I think the telling of the story is made even more effective by the structure of the novel. Some character outcomes and plot points are revealed toward the end with images revealed during the visit to the shaman. The novel is full of beautiful language and imagery and produces all the emotions and elements one would expect from a great piece of historical fiction - mystery, intrigue, outrage, drama and love. Sumi Hahn is a gifted author whose next work I will definitely want to read!

I listened to the audiobook which was excellent. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!

The first word that comes to mind when I reflect on The Mermaid from Jeju is “beautiful.” The Mermaid from Jeju is a charming story told that is weaved together with different viewpoints and timelines and touches on love, loss, fear, tradition, hope, faith, patriotism, and longing. It is full of loveable and complex characters but manages to capture them through such sincere and delicate emotional detail. This book was a unique treasure and I am so delighted that I had the opportunity to review it. While this was a work of fiction, it was also my first introduction to the Haeneyo diving women and the beauty of Jeju. Anyone who loves historical fiction should look into this one.

I recently had the privilege of listening to a magical story of Junja a young heneyeo, or deep sea diver from Korea in The Mermaid from Jeju. I have to admit I knew very little of the lifestyles of the women in this Korean sea village who dove for abalone shells and provided for their families, essentially as sole providers due to the absence of the men during and after war. I was absorbed into this tale and story, and thoroughly enjoyed learning about this culture and historical time period. Sumi Hahn creates very strong characters and a a dual timeline story that is colorful and imaginative, but also relatable. I received an ARC, all opinions are my own.

If only history books were written like The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi Hahn, I would have learned so much more while in school!

The Haenyeo women of Jeju island off the coast of South Korea are fascinating, strong willed, and empowering. This book balances magic and historical fiction magnificently. It’s tumultuous setting in WWII includes not only South Koreans but also the Japanese and Americans. The difficult choices and courageous decisions that were made on this small but significant island are a true reflection of the strength of a Haenyeo woman, then and now.

The reader can easily get swept into the story as Sumi Hahn’s brilliant writing style makes one feel invested. Almost from the very beginning the reader is enraptured within the country, culture, and curated storytelling. Honoring long traditions of the soil, sea and sky, this beautifully balanced book is a must read.

The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi Hahn is an interesting historical fiction novel about Korea after World War II filled with political unrest and magic.

The Mermaid from Jeju takes place on an island off Korea after World War II. Junja is a deep sea diver. She convinces her family to let her go to the mountains. There she falls in love with Suwol. When Junja returns home her mother is on her deathbed after getting injured on a dive she was doing for Junja. Junja is struggling with grief. Her siblings are sent to live with their father. There is political unrest. US troops are present on Jeju Island. There are also parts in present day from the perspective of Jeju’s husband.

I loved how unique The Mermaid from Jeju is. Junja is a very interesting and complex character. Hahn did a great job expressing Junja’s emotions. The past and present storylines were interesting. The reader learns more about Jeju from the present day through her husband’s perspective when he visits Jeju Island. Junja’s grandmother is a very important character. She is strict and has strong ideals. She also believes in magic and the power of dreams. This was my first book reading about Korea post World War II which was an interesting time period. The Mermaid from Jeju was original and beautifully written.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Cindy Kay and Raymond Lee and thought they did a good job.

Thank you Alcove Press, Crooked Lane Books, Dreamscape Media, Libro.fm and NetGalley for The Mermaid from Jeju.

The Mermaid of Jeju follows a family on Jeju island during the Korean War. I knew a lot of this time period from recently reading The Island of Sea Women and was eager to read a new story during the same time period. I would note that the majority of this book takes place on land and does not focus much on the haenyeo culture as would be expected from the title and cover.

I listened to the audiobook which I found hard to follow at times (especially the last 3/4 of the book when it jumped back and forth often). The dual timeline (only in the later half of the book, which felt odd) felt disjointed and did not really come together at the end as I would have hoped. I think reading may have been easier to follow in the case of this book. I appreciated that there was a male and female narrator but wish it was an own voices narrator for this Korean story. Ultimately, I enjoyed the first half of the book and could have done without the second half, it felt half baked.

I listened to this story as a Netgalley audiobook!
I enjoyed this historical fiction story of
one girl from Haenyeoo family! The story has 2 perspectives and timelines and I thoroughly enjoyed one perspective and timeline over the other. I would have liked more from the past but overall liked the book!
I recommend for historical fiction lovers.

The Mermaid from Jeju is a beautiful and mystical historical novel about what happened on the Korean island of Jeju after World War II. I first recognized the main character, Junja as a haeneyo deep sea diver from reading Lisa See's The Island of Sea Women, but this is a very different story. It follows a family's progress from 1945 on Jeju to the United States in 2001. Author Sumi Hahn weaves together multiple points of view, timelines and mythical tales into a story that is both beautiful and horrifying. In the audio book, Cindy Kay and Raymond Lee's beautiful voices soften the impact of harsh lives in war-torn Korea and they truly capture the emotion of the characters as their lives are ripped apart. I am torn in reviewing it, I loved the stories of community, resilience, love, history and mythology but could barely tolerate reading about the atrocities of war. My favourite part was the author's note at the end, which put the whole story into perspective with the author's own life experience.

The Mermaid from Jeju is a beautiful and mystical historical novel about what happened on the Korean island of Jeju after World War II. I first recognized the main character, Junja as a haeneyo deep sea diver from reading Lisa See's The Island of Sea Women, but this is a very different story. It follows a family's progress from 1945 on Jeju to the United States in 2001. Author Sumi Hahn weaves together multiple points of view, timelines and mythical tales into a story that is both beautiful and horrifying. In the audio book, Cindy Kay and Raymond Lee's beautiful voices soften the impact of harsh lives in war-torn Korea and they truly capture the emotion of the characters as their lives are ripped apart. I am torn in reviewing it, I loved the stories of community, resilience, love, history and mythology but could barely tolerate reading about the atrocities of war. My favourite part was the author's note at the end, which put the whole story into perspective with the author's own life experience.

The beginning reminded me a bit of Lisa See’s Island of Sea Women. But the book quickly diverges into it’s own book. The Island of Sea Women went into much more detail (particularly in regards to the life of Haenyeo women) and provided me with the background to better enjoy The Mermaid from Jeju.

An interesting story which weaves together the life of a Haenyeo young woman with the story of her husband who survives her; intermixed with spirits and ghosts and tales of Korea, as well as the Korean April 3 incident.

The ending of the book seemed to merge spirit world with reality and was a little confusing; but I think it was intentional.

Thank you NetGalley and the author/Sumi Hahn for the opportunity to listen to this audio in exchange for an honest review.

The first time I saw this beautiful cover on Goodreads, I was instantly curious about this book and when I saw the audiobook on Netgalley, I knew it was the perfect chance to find out what this book was about. In it, you'll follow a girl named Junja after World War II. It's set in the Jeju island off the coast of South Korea. However, this book is set in the past but also in the present.

I wish I could say I fell in love with this story but unfortunately, I feel like I wasn't smart enough for it and that my mind didn't always understood what was going on. I was lost most of the time but it's a me problem and not a book problem... I really wanted to love this one but ultimately, my enjoyment wasn't there.


(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

Seattle food writer has authored an interesting account of life on Jeju Island Korea. After World War II, life does not return to normal because the Americans have arrived to fight the communists. In 1944, Junja, 18 years old, offers to do an annual job for her mother, that of taking a basket of abalone to trade for a piglet. It’s a daunting task, climbing a mountain with a heavy basket. In meeting the scholarly son, a new world is opened to Junja. She’s a haenyeo, a female diver, similar to the pearl divers in Japan. She’s learned her craft from her grandmother and mother. After returning from her climb to the pig farmer’s, she discovers her mother has been beaten to death by the nationalists in their hunt for communists. Junja’s life is hard. Her grandmother is a strong woman and in secret a leader in the Korean independence cause. After the tumult of the Korean conflict is over, she marries a soldier with whom she has shared many dangerous days. And the past is the past, at least until her death when her husband, Dr. Moon, returns to Korea to consult a shaman because he is haunted by ghosts. The story is complex but the underlying theme of the magical creation of Korea, the importance of dreams, and Korean superstition make this much more than historical fiction. It weaves the importance of the past and beliefs of people. The narrators and the ability to portray a variety of voices was an important part of the enjoyment of the audiobook.

This audiobook was a beautiful sweeping tale of a Korean family’s physical, emotional, and spiritual journeys. Set in Korea after WWII, this piece of historical fiction was beautifully rendered. The elements of mysticism were fascinating, and I was not surprised to learn that this book had its beginnings in the author’s real-life otherworldly experience. Shamans, gods, rich symbolism, and dreams helped this family make sense of their lives and their destinies. This audiobook was beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, publisher, and narrators for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

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The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi Hahn
Narrated by:Cindy Kay; Raymond Lee
Publication Date: December 8, 2020
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Description from NetGalley...
“In the aftermath of World War II, Goh Junja is a girl just coming into her own. She is the latest successful deep sea diver in a family of strong haenyeo. Confident she is a woman now, Junja urges her mother to allow her to make the Goh family's annual trip to Mt. Halla, where they trade abalone and other sea delicacies for pork. Junja, a sea village girl, has never been to the mountains, where it smells like mushrooms and earth. While there, she falls in love with a mountain boy Yang Suwol, who rescues her after a particularly harrowing journey. But when Junja returns one day later, it is just in time to see her mother take her last breath, beaten by the waves during a dive she was taking in Junja's place.

Spiraling in grief, Junja sees her younger siblings sent to live with their estranged father. Everywhere she turns, Junja is haunted by the loss of her mother, from the meticulously tended herb garden that has now begun to sprout weeds, to the field where their bed sheets are beaten. She has only her grandmother and herself. But the world moves on without Junja.

The political climate is perilous. Still reeling from Japan's forced withdrawal from the peninsula, Korea is forced to accommodate the rapid establishment of US troops. Junja's canny grandmother, who lived through the Japanese invasion that led to Korea's occupation understands the signs of danger all too well. When Suwol is arrested for working with and harboring communists, and the perils of post-WWII overtake her homelands, Junja must learn to navigate a tumultuous world unlike anything she's ever known.”
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Thank you to @dreamscape_media @alcovepress for the ALC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
Beautiful. This book was inspired by true events on Korea's Jeju Island. But there was also the theme of fantasy, magic and myth intertwined. I appreciated the narrators’ interpretation of the story as they gave it a more lyrical and poetic rhythm. However, it was still intense and haunting. The story was told in two POVs, but it really was more about Junja, her coming of age and her family. I’ve been enjoying these types of historical fiction told on the perspectives of those caught in the wars. Because we should be reminded of those who were innocent, or those who were fighting because they believe in their country. This was a story of resilience, courage and survival. It transported me to Jeju island, wanting to be one of these women defined and known by their strengths.

This was a beautiful and intense historical fiction read that takes place during WWII. This story is told in 2 POVs, Junja and her husband. This is a story made me cry (quite a bit) but I still loved it. The author did a fantastic job making these characters feel real that you can’t help but have emotions for them. I just felt like the ending was wrapped up too quickly. Otherwise fantastic story by a debut author. I can’t wait to see what else she will create.

As a former English teacher in South Korea, I was eager to read this book. As I listened to it, I found myself pulled back into the Republic of Korea with every Korean word and each historical mention. The author writes in a beautiful descriptive way, from the way she describes the characters to the words she chose to detail the outside nature in Korea. This historical fiction book is a must read for lovers or inquisitors of the continent of Asia or the country of South Korea, as well as those who love a magical tale.