Above all, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a story about family. Mina starts her story by jumping into the sea, taking the place of the girl her brother loves so that they can be together. Her arrival in the spirit realm as the sea god's bride is not what she expected: the sea god sleeps, cursed or worse, causing the turmoil felt in the human's world above. Her soul is severed in an attempt to keep the sleeping god safe, but things get jumbled when she tries to steal it back. Instead, the red string of fate connecting her to the sea god is transferred to Shin, the one that stole her soul in the first place. The two form an uneasy truce to seek answers on how to undo fate, wake the sea god, and save both worlds. Mina is a interesting character, she's driven by a love of her family and a love of the gods, though the reality of the spirit realm and the apathy of the gods is something she grapples with throughout the story. She and Shin make an interesting pair, with the obvious romance blooming between the two in a fairly nice way. The mystery of what is wrong with the sea god and how things fit together was a bit hard to follow, it felt like a lot of the revelations took place very quickly, though the story itself made sense and was fun to read. I also felt the repetition of Mina going off and getting in trouble only for Shin or one of his friends to come save her got a bit old after a while, and there could have been a better way to move the plot forward. The mythology elements were well done and very interesting, and how they fit into the world and the plot was probably my favorite part.

Wow!!! This book was so incredible. The best way I can describe it is a Ghibli movie in book form (the blurb says Spirited Away and it was not kidding!!). The story hooked me from the first few pages and I couldn’t stop reading Mina’s story. The romance and the mystery and the mythology and the characters and the Spirit Realm was all so wonderful. There were pieces that took me by surprise and I definitely got teary eyed quite a few times because it was just so honest and true. This story will stay with me for a quite while. ❤️

“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."

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea opens on the worst day of our heroine's life. Each year, her village sends a girl out to sea to appease the anger of the Sea God. It is forbidden for the sacrificial bride to be accompanied by anyone, yet Mina's brother Joon is standing at Shim Cheong's side. Knowing Joon may have signed his own death warrant, Mina races after them and demands to be taken in Shim Cheong's place--therefore saving her brother, the woman he loves, and her village from another year of terrible storms. But the Spirit Realm is not as Mina had imagined it; instead of the grisly fate Mina imagines had befallen the brides that came before her, Mina learns the Sea God has been in a cursed slumber for hundreds of years, and that for every bride sent to him, a group of fearsome guardians await her with every intention of severing their connection. Determined to learn the truth of the cruse and, if she can, break it, Mina encounters gods, beasts, and the nightmares of the Sea God himself---but if Mina can't break the curse by the thirtieth day of her stay in the Spirit Realm, she will become a spirit forever.

I really adored The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. It read like a grand adventure from start to finish, and though I can't completely discount some of the similarities others have drawn between Spirited Away, I think it's a disservice to not let this novel stand on its own. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is inspired by a classic Korean novel/pansori performance, The Tale of Shim Ch'ŏng (the spelling of which seems to be greatly varied, if Google is to be believed), which is utilized later on in the story. In fact, one of the things I enjoyed most about this novel was the way legends were utilized by Mina; they were given importance, and in return had world-altering power of their own. Axie Oh goes further than revitalizing an old tale; she reinvents it.

Other than that, though, I have very little to nitpick in The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, and those that know me know that's almost unheard of! I have no other choice but to happily shuffle this into my list of "YA that doesn't feel like YA" favorites, and it can cozy up between Six of Crows and And I Darken.

**STAR BREAKDOWN**

Cover: ★★★★★ [f*%#ing gorgeous]
Story: ★★★★☆
Characters: ★★★★☆
Would I Reread?: Yes
Would I Buy?: Yes [Published Feb 22, 2022]
Overall Star Rating: ★★★★☆

**PLAYLIST**

-Specters in the Fog by Hans Zimmer
-King & Lionheart by Of Monsters and Men
-Love Poem by IU

I've kept this review relatively spoiler-free, but my GR review is not. If it wasn't for the noticeable pacing shift toward the end of the novel, I probably would have made this my first 5 star review of 2022.

OH MY GOSH!!! I love this story so SO much!! The world that Axie Oh has created is so rich in magic and political intrigue. She had me hooked and on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The bit of romance was perfection and the connection to Korean mythology was astounding! If you're looking for an amazing, fresh take on a retelling, this is the book for you.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a retelling of the Korean folktale of Shim Cheong, through intended bride Cheong is not our protagonist. Every year, one girl is chosen as a sacrifice to the Sea God in hopes of appeasing the storms. Instead, we follow Mina who throws herself overboard to save her brother's love and enters the underwater realm as the new bride. There, she discovers the truth of the gods her people worship, unravels a century-old mystery, and rediscovers the love of her family.

Our story starts with a sacrifice. Immediately we are introduced to a valiant heroine who takes the place of her brother's lover in order to give them a chance to have a life together. Although her motivation is driven by her love for her brother, Mina is determined to end the storms in order to prevent more sacrifices of girls.

Axie’s writing is enthralling: although the majority of the story takes place in the spirit realm, it’s incredibly immersive. It was easy to fall in love with all of the characters, especially the mysterious Shin whose own destiny is entwined with the gods.

This was a stunning read, and I had to give it 5 stars as I personally couldn't find anything wrong with this book. I hope Axie does more retellings of folktales and it's been a delight to see her progress as a writer.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea follows Mina after she steps in as the Sea God’s bride to save her brother from losing the love of his life. After she falls through the sea and ends up in the Sea God’s kingdom, she finds that he has been asleep for as long as her world has been sending brides to him. Mina must now team up with the very reluctant Lord Shin to wake up the Sea God. I absolutely loved this book. It feels so much like watching a Ghibli film. Do you know those warm fuzzies you get from watching Spirited Away? That’s what reading this book felt like. If I had to choose a word to describe this book it would be whimsical. I cried, I laughed, I cried again. There aren't words to describe how it felt reading this book. You will just have to experience it yourself. It’s also beautifully written. (If that even needs to be said!) Please read this book.

First of all, the cover art for this novel is absolutely beautiful. Most of the time when I pick a book by it’s cover, I’m disappointed. This time, however, the beautiful story matches the beautiful cover.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had a book make my eyes water with happy tears, but this one managed to do the trick. I read it in a day. The protagonist, Mina, had me hooked from the very first lines—the action-packed scene in which she throws herself into the sea to save another girl. Her continuous drive to force her own fate was inspiring, and I can’t wait to share this story with others.

I teach 9th grade world literature, and I honestly think this would be the perfect text to add to my curriculum. It’s so rare that American schools teach Korean literature, that I find this myth to be quite necessary to my class.

If you need a good hero’s story with an ending that will give you all the feels, this is the book for you!

Wow, this will be on the list of my 2022 favorites. This book is beautiful. The writing is beautiful, the world is beautiful, the story is beautiful, the people in this story are beautiful. The writing and world were so easy to fall into, the descriptions and the language flowed and I could see everything as if I was there. I knew I was going to enjoy this book from the start, since the adventure starts off right away when Mina jumps into the ocean to be the Sea Gods bride instead of another girl. From there we are taken around the spirit realm by its inhabitants while Mina finds out how to get back home and also how to break the curse put on the Sea God. I was so sad that it ended and though I loved the ending I wish we could get more time with the characters!

I extended my bedtime by 2 hours to finish The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, which is honestly the highest praise I can give a book in the dark dead-of-winter. Oh has crafted a story that pairs the breakneck pace of YA novels with the comprehensive world building of adult fantasy, and the result is a book that I can't wait to give to my high school students.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea begins just as the title suggests: Mina, a sixteen year old raised on her grandmother's songs and stories, jumps into the sea in an effort to appease the Sea God whose anger wreaks yearly havoc on her village. She is swept down to the Spirit Realm, where ghosts mix with mythical beasts and gods in a world full of secrets, political intrigue, and fish that swim in the air. Oh hits all the high points of YA fantasy: there's a mystery to unravel, a ragtag band of allies, and a slow burn romance you can't help but root for.

My favorite part of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is the way it honors stories and story-telling. I'm unfamiliar with the Korean myth the novel is based on, but the story feels familiar in the way that legends often do, and the result is a narrative both fantastical and believable. I've been looking for a novel to use with my Mythology class and am excited to use this one next year!

Thank you to Macmillan Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

Mina has only known storms and raging seas and once a year a girl is sent to the Sea God to be his bride and try to heal his broken heart and stop the storms. When her brother’s betrothed is chosen for the bride, Mina throws herself into the ocean instead and in that choice she starts a domino effect. Will she be able to help the Sea God and her family in the world above before time runs out? Only a month before she becomes could lose her soul.

This book was magical. Rich storytelling and character development. Mina is fierce and outspoken. The humor is top notch and the twists and turns are heart warming and surprising!

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a stunning new fantasy standalone from Axie Oh.

With Mina's world devastated by storms from the spirit realm, she can't bear to see the love of her brother's life sacrificed to the Sea God and jumps into the sea herself. Finding herself surprisingly not dead, Mina wakes up to an unwelcoming Spirit World that she initially struggles to navigate. This is where I really see the comparison to Spirited Away, but Axie Oh really takes the 'mortal in the spirit world' concept and makes it her own! This new world and the spirits, gods, and demons that live there are both obstacles and friends to help her find her voice, her path, and her resolution. While the magical and dangerous surrounds her on all sides, her supposedly powerful Sea God appears to be a peaceful sleeping boy. Can she wake him out of his curse to stop the storms threatening her family?

What makes this novel so special is Mina as a character. She's so compassionate and empathetic, and cares so much for her family and her mortal world. The way she handles not only her friends but also her enemies really speaks to her nature and made me love her and her story all the more.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea will be a gem of an addition of every bookshelf in 2022. Join Mina as she navigates her red string of fate, powerful spirits, a lost god, and her heart.

This is an incredible fantasy book. Review will be up closer to the release date. I loved reading about the realms of gods, spirits, and memories tarnished by cursed wishes. It is SO good !!

Axie Oh has cemented herself as one of my favorite authors. I loved her book XOXO, it was one of my favorites of 2021, and I would not be surprised if this book ends up being a favorite of mine for 2022. I loved the atmosphere so much and hope to eventually read more books with this atmosphere. Will definitely be reading more of Oh’s works in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends for allowing me to review this arc copy.

Omg! Have you ever had a book that grabs you and never let's you go until you reach the end? That's what happened to me. I started it, and I was sucked into Mina and Shin's world.

Mina chooses to give herself to the Sea God to save her brother's lover. She ends up in the Spirit Realm where all is not what it seems and the gods are not the benevolent beings that she was told they were.

Shin is a hard character to crack. He's enigmatic and abrupt and secretive.

I did guess what the plot twist was, but that did not stop me from enjoying this book to the fullest. I give it a glowing and glittering 5 stars.

It is a retelling of the Korean folktale The Tale of Shim Cheong.

I loved this book. I read it in 4 hours. It would not let me go until I finished it. I will definitely buy this book for myself.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me the digital ARC of this novel!

This is one of the most breathtakingly gorgeous stories I have ever had the please of reading. From the very first page I was instantly sucked in and invested into the world Axie Oh has created in The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. What originally interested in this novel was the stunning cover and description, and once I was granted the ARC I was overjoyed to learn that the writing and story itself was equally, if not more, gorgeous. From the moment I picked this I was not able to put it down and ended up reading it in just two sittings over the course of less than 24 hours. Despite many of the, beings gods and beasts of myths all of the characters felt so real and unique in their own ways and instantly won my heart. I found myself several times throughout this grinning and even squealing from excitement at some moments and shedding tears over others. This book was a wonderful show of just how wonderful and strong the power of love really is and is something that is sure to stick with me for quite some time after reading it.

Wow! I’m not really shocked to know that I absolutely loved this book. Reading this was like watching a serene scene in your favourite fantasy anime movie, because not only the plot line is intriguing and characters and are fairly interesting and engaging but also the writing is exceptionally beautiful. Henceforth, it’s a 5 stars read for me!

This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2022, and it's now one of my new favorites. Absolutely stunning. I feel like I just read a Studio Ghibli film in the best way possible. This book had every single element I adore in an atmospheric story: lush writing, beautiful maidens, sea gods, Korean mythology, spirits and demons. Just WOW. I will read Axie Oh's grocery shopping list if she lets me.

This was a beautiful story about love, hope and forgiveness! Once I started I couldn't put it down! The character development is amazing. I really enjoyed every single one of them! The writing here is vivid and stunning! Truly just an all around beautiful story about a girl truly believing and willing to put her brother first! With a mix of folklore and fairy tales the author does a great job blending and adding them together and adding her own little twists!

This was INCREDIBLE. It was so lush and magical and I loved learning about the Chinese folklore of the Red String and the spirit realm, and all the gods and goddesses. I could definitely see the comparisons to Spirited Away, and thought that the colors and the way the plot moved was very similar. I loved the romance and the folklore and if you don't read this, you're missing out!

Cheong is cursed with heart-stopping beauty that destines her to be the next in a century-long line of girls thrown into the ocean in hopes of appeasing the Sea God as his true bride. This is not her story. Instead, her boyfriend's little sister Mina sacrifices herself to save the young lovers. Mina finds herself in the Spirit Realm, a land of ghosts and gods, wonders and perils. Nothing is as she expects: not her fiance, nor his loyal defender Shin, nor any of the other gods. It will take all her courage, wit, and heart to break an ancient curse and save her kingdom in this exquisite mythological reimagining. Thanks, Netgalley.