Rating: 4-4.5 stars

Sometimes it's okay to judge a book by its cover, and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a prime example.

I made the biggest mistake of starting this at 8:30 at night and ended up falling into Axie Oh's magical and lush retelling. I've been excited about this book which has been steadily moving its way up my list of anticipated reads since the cover reveal last March, and let me just say it did not disappoint.

The Girl. Mina is a resilient, resourceful character who manages to avoid feeling like a cookie-cutter Strong Female Character™ while still being a strong, female character. She's a brilliantly strong protagonist, and following her arc as character is almost as compelling as following her journey through the spirit world. I love the idea that there is strength in sacrifice and that family is at the heart of the story. I do wish Mina's relationship with her siblings and grandma were explored more, though. She's surrounded by a great supporting cast, including a sad sea god and a trio of spirits who give off major dysfunctional found family vibes who are fun and lovable but, again, have so much more potential for development.


The Sea. The underwater world Oh creates is so magical and lovely and reads like something straight out of a Miyazaki movie. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea has more than earns its Spirited Away comparison because it has Ghibli vibes for days. Axie Oh paints a vivid picture of a spirit world that is so painstakingly crafted we're immediately immersed in a kingdom filled with magical creatures, broody spirits and fierce goddesses. Any kind of visual adaptation of the book would be as stunning as both versions of the cover, and the aesthetics alone--flying fish, pond pagodas, the Red String of Destiny--is more than enough fodder for mood board makers everywhere. The food descriptions alone would have me jumping into the sea right next to Mina.

The story itself is such a delight, I was up well into the Cinderella hours trying to get to the end. I'm not gonna lie, there are definitely some execution things that could be better. It's a little predictable, a little undeveloped (especially in the third act,) and a little instalove-y for my tastes, but ultimately, we want stories that make us feel something and Oh manages to get the emotion of the story just right.

At the heart of it, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a story about fate, family and folktales. Storytelling plays a key role in the story, and I loved reading the other Korean folktales interspersed with the Tale of Shim Cheong. It does read a bit like something written as part of an MFA program, with recurrent themes and motifs that aren't hard to find, but Oh's prose is so pretty I don't even care. I seriously found myself highlighting chunks of text the whole time I was reading because everything was just so good 😍 Lyrical, magical, and gorgeous, Oh's writing had me fangirling and grammar nerding out at the same time.

I was a little worried The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea wouldn't live up to my overinflated expectations, but this incredible story had me falling beneath the sea right next to Mina.

I received an eARC from Fierce Reads/Macmillan Children's in exchange for an honest review.

This sealed Axie Oh's fate - she's an auto-buy for me. I absolutely loved this one. It felt like reading a fairytale, magical and real and it stayed with me long after I finished. Highly Recommend.

Glad to have finished 2021 strong with The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea as my final read of the year!

Mina did not plan on become the Sea God’s latest bride, only wishing to save her brother Joon from the storm’s wrath. But Joon followed the beautiful Shim Cheong out to sea when it was decided she would be sacrificed, and so Mina went after him. Then it all happens in a moment—Cheong hesitates, Joon steps out in front of her and Mina makes the decision to throw herself into the sea instead. But instead of being swallowed up and drowned by the thrashing waters, Mina is whisked away to the Spirit Realm, where the Sea God resides.

She follows the Red String of Fate, a tie between Mina and her newly betrothed, through the empty town until she reaches the palace gates. Upon entry Mina finds the Sea God is not the all-powerful being she was expecting, and can’t imagine a life as his bride. Then with the flash of a blade, Mina’s fate is altered once more. And if she wants to save the human world, Mina will have to work together with a mysterious god named Shin, some rogue spirits who seem to know her already and an assortment of other inhabitants of the Spirit Realm.

I’m going to start with what I’m sure is the burning question of anyone thinking of reading this book: ‘Is it actually just like Spirited Away?!??’ Yes and no, but I can definitely see where the comparison comes from. Obviously there’s the journey of a mortal girl into the Spirit Realm, as well as themes of transformation. And I think both stories carry a certain level of high-stakes whimsy where everything around the protagonist is magical and interesting, but also potentially deadly and often fairly menacing.

But apart from obvious plot differences, I think the tone of the two don’t entirely match up. The first half of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea resembles it more because Mina is in a unfamiliar place, exploring and unsure of what the rules of her new environment are. She’s meeting strange people and you’re not quite sure whether they’re harmless or malevolent. The second half is more a traditional folklore, where the heroine must solve a problem in order to save the people she cares about.

What I appreciated about The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was the blending of myth from The Tale of Shim Ch'ŏng with original characters and storylines. It’s a retelling that realigns the focus onto characters that would normally exist in the periphery, but still feels exciting for readers who are not familiar with the source material. The book starts quickly, moves at an exciting, even pace and eventually comes to a fulfilling end that pays homage to the referenced mythology. Though not exactly Spirited Away, I could see this making a compelling anime in its own right.

I loved this book! it was so magical and fairytale like and really swept me away into the story. I immediately loved the characters and felt for them as they went along the story. I felt that the Mina's actions were true to what someone would do in her situation, and I loved her devotion to her family and village. The spirit realm was done very well, and I loved how the author pulled in all the elements of the story together. I felt that it was a solid book with great characters, writing and story. Definity a must-read fantasy!

This book was exactly what I was hoping it would be! Pitched as a retelling of the Korean folktale of Shim Cheong meets Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away in particular), the story initially follows the original story, where a village annually sacrifices a bride to the Sea God in order to appease his wrath. In this deviation, the protagonist Mina takes the place of Shim Cheong in order to save her brother, who loves Shim Cheong. What follows is Mina’s quest to discover the mystery behind the Sea God and save her people and the spirit world by ending his torrential storms.

While I don’t want to dive much into the plot to avoid spoilers, there were a couple predictable developments I could see coming much earlier, but I didn’t much care: I just loved the very tender way in which author Axie Oh tells this story. The characters are all so distinct, and mostly fantastical in this spirit world beneath the sea, but they still manage to feel so human in their longings and motivations. Mina is a brave and hopeful heroine to root for– sacrificial at the cost of her own happiness and her desire to protect her family. The central romance is so soft and built up in a convincing way! There may or may not involve a red string of fate, and it was interesting to see the writer’s take on this. The world-building behind the spirit realm is sketched maybe a bit impressionistically, but I think the Spirited Away comparison is apt in this case and those who love that film will enjoy this.

I found the light, whimsical fairytale tone of the writing to be comparable to last year’s Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (also an Asian retelling strongly rooted in family) or with Margaret Rogerson’s An Enchantment of Ravens. I honestly loved that this book was a standalone fantasy; when duologies, trilogies, series are common in the genre, it was nice to read a cohesive story with a comforting atmosphere to pull you right in for a day.

Thank you to Feiwel and Friends and Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends in exchange for an honest review.

Based around the Korean folktale "The Tale of Shim Cheong," THE GIRL WHO FELL BENEATH THE SEA will have you hooked by the time that Mina has jumped into the water. I took full advantage of holiday down time to devour this book. Axie Oh's novel is a great read and I really enjoyed the writing style. This book is being marketed as a SPIRITED AWAY mixed with Korean folklore and it definitely delivers - there are strong Studio Ghibli vibes in the world building and descriptions.

I found the story engrossing, the characters interesting, and the pacing was perfect. You don't have to be familiar with the folklore to understand and follow along. I think if you have a basic understanding of Korean mythology then you will get a deeper reading, but again, this isn't something that will be a roadblock for readers that aren't familiar. While I knew the spirits helping Mina were more than just coincidence, when it was revealed WHO they were, I might have sobbed just a bit. It was a perfect touch. I enjoyed the romance and that the side characters were just as fleshed out as Mina.

stop this was so cute i’m obsessed:’)

the descriptions in this book were sooo beautiful!! and the messages were so heartwarming and ugh i just loved this so much<3

this was a book where i just wanted to be friends with every single character! it’s fast paced, beautifully written, and lots of fun. also, i love when you genuinely can’t predict how a book will end. i read most of it in one sitting because i Needed to see everyone have a happy ending LOL

this is a wonderful book that i cant wait for everyone to read! 4.5 stars!!!

I recieved this ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review so let's get into it.

I'm giving this book a 4.25 out of 5.
The reason that it's not getting a perfect review is mainly because of the end and the relationship between Mina and the main love interest. I just felt that it was sort of rushed. Not in terms of how much time it took for them to fall in love because for YA books it's totally on par. But, I felt like there wasn't enough development. It wasn't insta-love but there wasn't enough buildup I feel. I also feel like the ending is wrapped a bit too quickly.

Now that that's out of the way. I did love this book. Once I reached the 15% mark, I was hooked and I stayed up until three am reading it, finally finishing it in the early morning cause I did need to get some sleep :)

It's marketed as Spirited Away meets Korean folklore and Axie definitely delivered on that. As somebody who hasn't had much experience with Korean folklore I loved loved loved this book and I feel like I learned a lot too which is always great.
The characters were all so intriguing and interesting. Mina was amazing. She was smart but she wasn't unrealistic and I feel like she didn't feed into stereotypes. Mina wasn't quirky and she wasn't this overly ugly girl that nobody cares about who then goes through a transformation to make her super hot. I really appreciated that.
When it came to side characters, I loved all of them. They're well developed and even at the beginning when it seems like Miki, Dai, and Mask have no relevance to the plot aside from plot armor, it's wrapped up and it makes sense. Axie did a really good job of not having loose ends.
I also loved Namgi and Kirin. They both played into different tropes and I loved them both equally.

This book is a must-read.

This was a truly spectacular novel. I loved reading about the spirit realm infused with Korean myths and legends. Mina was an amazing protagonist and I instantly fell in love with her. She was compassionate, cared a lot about her family and her people. Being plunged into the spirit realm caused Mina to face some harsh truths and secrets, but she handled them as best she could with the help of some friends she made on the way. Shin was also a great character! His arc was fleshed out well and I absolutely loved him! Speaking on Mina and Shin- their relationship was so magnificent, I just couldn't get enough! I also really loved other side characters like Namgi, Kirin, Mask, Dai and Miki. They were all funny, interesting, and very well written! I was definitely sold on the Spirited Away comparisons.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is another stunning book that has beautiful prose to match the gorgeous cover. I love the way Axie Oh reimagined the story of Shim Cheong. I found myself so eager to find out what happened and I was so invested in Mina's story that I read it way too quickly and had to go back to really see how all the pieces fit so perfectly together in the end. This story truly comes together in the end in way more ways than I anticipated and it made the story come alive so much more. I can't wait for more people to read The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea because this story is full of adventure, love, family, sacrifice and strength, and it is wonderful.

Mina lives in a village that has been ravaged by deadly storms for generations leading the people to believe that the Sea God, their once protector, has cursed them. Every year to appease him, Mina's village picks a beautiful maiden to throw into the sea to serve as the Sea God's Bride in hopes that he will select a "true bride" and it will end the suffering. Everyone believes Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village and Mina's brother's beloved, will break the curse. On the day of Shim Cheong's sacrifice, in desperate attempt to save her brother, Mina takes Shim Cheong's place and falls beneath the sea to become the bride of the Sea God.

Axie Oh creates a beautifully strong character in Mina. I loved every minute of her journey in this beautiful story. I adored the way that Mina chooses her own fate to save the ones that she loves. This story is so heartwarming to me in the way that Axie Oh turned a classic tale about sacrificing girls to a god into a story of a strong female character that, by choice, sacrifices herself to save the ones she loves and constantly chooses her fate over and over along the way. Readers will delight in the way that Mina stands strong in her decision to do everything she can to save the people of her village even when it would be so easy to choose the other path, even when others try to convince her to save herself. Mina stands strong in her convictions and turns the story of Shim Cheong into a beautiful and worthy feminist reimagining.

One last thing that really brought this book to life for me were the beautiful aesthetics. I adored how much this felt like a Studio Ghibli film. The magic in the tiny details are nothing short of art. You can feel the magic of holding someone's hand, the comfort of receiving help from people that you trust, the delight of seeing fish fly because the entire story takes place underwater. It all comes together in a luscious experience. The way that missing pieces all come together to be a part of something as big as the ocean itself is beautiful and will leave you walking away feeling satisfied and complete.

I liked the feminist twist in Korean mythology done here. The plot starting right away is also a plus for this, and the studio ghibli vibes this gave off added to my enjoyment. However, the events overall felt convenient at times and the characters underdeveloped, the writing can also be improved upon.

Full review to come and rating may change!

I really enjoyed this book, and I like that it is a retelling of a classic Korean tale. It opens the doors for readers to dive into knew cultures and stories that they might not have be exposed to before. After reading this book, which I was fully immersed within, I wanted to know more about the origins of the story and other Korean myths and folklore. I highly recommend this book!

The writing of this book was overall not for me, I found I had a harder time connecting with the characters and getting invested in the plot. The plot was still fun and the way the book ended as so sweet! The ending was truly satisfying. However, this just isn’t a favorite for me. I’m glad I read it and I would still recommend it for someone else to try! I think if you enjoy the writing style then this is a great read!

Q u i c k S t a t s
Overall Rating: ★★★★★
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 5/5

I can go on and on about this novel. I won’t lie, I have a copy of XOXO on my shelf from FL but haven’t read it yet, but this book is making me want to run and read it too. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was a novel that I have to say was executed so well the writing and the plot was fantabulous! It was an easy fast read. I enjoyed the world-building, the characters, and the female lead was chef’s kiss. I knew when I saw the synopsis I would love it but woah I’m blown away! Ms. Oh, you had me from line one! I was so smitten with this is a book. I was inspired by spirited away and Korean mythology and I’m obsessed with that. Though chapter one was a little predictable It was still completely interesting and had me enamored. I hope Fairyloot, Bookish box, or even Illumicrate put out a special edition of this book! I need it on my shelf! (I'll be doing a more in-depth review on my blog soon!)

A modern take on a classic Korean Folktale, Axie Oh creates a beautiful story you can't help but to get lost in. Captivating characters and detailed descriptions make this one of my favorite stories of the year.

Thank you to Macmillan Publishing, and NetGalley for an ebook arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was definitely my favorite read of the summer! Though it took me a second to start the book the minute I got past chapter one I couldn’t put it down. I loved the story and the author’s writing. I could feel myself getting immersed in the beautifully described settings. The main character was a strong female lead who I really enjoyed. The author does a great job of describing and introducing characters. I will definitely be gifting this book to many people after it comes out.

So so excited to receive this eARC as it's one of my most anticipated reads! Amazing storyline and plot, true to Axie Oh's work. Very whimsical in a sense? If words can describe that setting well. True fantasy elements with Asian mythology retelling. Adored this one!!

If anyone has ever read my reviews of books, then it is well known I love a myth retelling. This one was AWESOME! Such descriptions and such a well woven storyline. I had the feeling I was reading a script from Studio Ghibli! I loved this novel and I hope it will have plenty of fans when it's released.

I think greater familiarity with the source text might have helped me enjoy this book more. I spent a lot of time confused, it seems clear that the author assumes her readers already know the base story. The formatting was also horrible and led to increased confusion, but this is likely a problem limited to the digital ARC

My Thoughts:

This story by first-generation Korean American author Axie Oh is a modern take on a classic Korean folktale, "The Tale of Shim Cheong." Although it is touted as a YA grades 7-9, I think this girl power tale can be read by middle grades too, so I would say 5-9 for mild romance and violence.

It is not necessary to know the original folktale, but I am sure this new rendition, with the spunky, headstrong 16-year old Mina actually doing all the heroine-ing is a feminist spin on the original Tale of Shim Cheong.

The action is fast paced and since Mina is just a girl who loves her family and her community, but has no outward strengths like beauty or fighting skill, she must rely on her wit, her loyalty and her ability to choose the right stories her grandmother taught her. Her grandmother's stories also help her to deal with the very fickle deities and mythological beasts. Lucky for Mina, down deep, most of them share her community values of loyalty to family and community.

Besides being a feminist book, though, I think it is an ecological warning that dissonance in the human world creates dissonance in the oceans and vice versa. Problem solving, then, happens with that understanding that sometimes the solution is not actually to react to what is happening right in front of our eyes, but to trace an issue to the source.

From the Publisher:
Axie Oh's The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enthralling feminist retelling of the classic Korean folktale “The Tale of Shim Cheong,” perfect for fans of Wintersong, Uprooted, and Miyazaki’s Spirited Away.

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village―and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon―may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin―as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits―Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…