This story was so beautiful!!! It read like a folk tale that was expanded into entire novel, which is basically what is was. It’s a twist on the Tale of Shim Cheong, in which the protagonist is not Shim Cheong, but a girl who took her place. The world was so well described and atmospheric that it felt like I was watching a movie, and I would die to see it brought to life in animation. It took me a bit to get into it though, mostly because the action starts right away before we even get to know the main character Mina. But as the story progresses we learn more about her past and her motivations through flashbacks and memories. The side characters were by far my favorite parts of the story, and without giving too much away, they are revealed to be more important and tied together than you think. It’s a very emotional reveal and one of the most heart-wrenching (in a good way) moments I’ve had while reading in a long time. I liked the narrator voice but I’m not sure that it fit the story very well. It was a very British sounding voice, which took me by surprise. But other than that, I have no complaints about the story itself. It is utterly magical.

Wow! If you are into anime this book gives off major anime vibes. This book is a retelling of Korean mythology. Mythology is not really an area I get super pumped about but, this book was fabulous. The story follows Mina, who sacrifices herself to be the sea god's bride to save her brother, his girlfriend, hwr family, and her entire village. She travels to the spirit realm, which is filled with all sorts of creatures, gods, and spirits. Instead of finding herself preparing to be the sea god's bride she finds herself tethered to another god. Mina must figure out how to get back to the sea god to save her family. The only problem is she only has 30 days to do it. Mina must also navigate the many dangers for a human in the spirit realm and figure out who she can trust. The story is about love, not just romantic love but love for family, past and present, and love and compassion for all people. The cover is stunning. Axie Oh weaves a magical story with vivid details and descriptions that will have you thinking about them long after you have read it. There were so many amazing and beautiful quotes in the book. I found myself happy while reading it and deeply drawn into the story. I have found nothing that I didn't like about this book therefore I gave it 5 stars. Thank you netgalley for the ARC. A review will be posted in a few days on my social media accounts.

Did not finish. I could not get into this audiobook and was not a fan of the narration. I’ll be checking out the physical edition of this one in the future.

I have never read a book by Axie Oh, but the cover of this novel was so beautiful that I wanted to hear the story inside. I enjoyed this novel for many reasons. First, the characters were interesting with a mix of humans, spirits, gods, goddesses, and a slew of mythical creatures. Next, the setting sounded beautiful and intriguing. Also, the plot contained a combination of mystery and magic as Mina attempts to solve the curse of the sleeping sea god. Finally, even though it is in many ways a love story, the overarching lesson from the book is the importance of family.

I enjoyed the narrator however, having someone with a British accent made me feel somewhat of a disconnect from the story. I had a difficult time keeping track of who some of the characters were at times. Her voice was easy to listen to, I just feel a printed version of the book would have helped me to capture the story better.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC audiobook version of #TheGirlWhoFellBeneaththeSea by #AxieOh in exchange for an honest review.

This story felt a little... Quiet. My favorite parts were when Mina was exploring the city or the palace or the forest or the grounds of Lotus House - that's where we got such lush descriptions and Oh really got to flex narrative skill and imagery. I also enjoyed the stories that Mina told, though I feel like there should have been more of them - especially because her soul was that of a storyteller: linked to her throat and voice.

I liked the side characters more than Mina or her love interest, though. I think that's where most of the depth of character came in. They also served very often to nudge Mina in the direction of the next plot point.

As I'm writing this, I realize that there's not much that really hooked in my mind. The things I did like weren't as prominent as the things I was indifferent to. It is a solid entry into Oh's body of work, but I think I'll be looking forward to the next rather than revisiting this one again.

The Girl who Fell Beneath the Sea is a whimsical fantasy inspired by Korean mythology. It's about a girl who sacrifices herself to the sea god.
I was interested in this book because it reminded me of the Manhwa Bride of the Water God by Yun Mi-kyung and the similarities to Spirited away.
I enjoyed this book alot, there are themes of family, fate and love. The characters are very likable and I enjoyed the slow burn romance. Where this book stood out the most was the world building, the world felt alive and steeped in myth. While the pot twists were a little predictable in some places I enjoyed the overall story and how everything is woven together.
I highly recomend this book! Many thanks to netgalley for the reveiw copy.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh is romance against fate. With Marin, it shows readers the beauty and joy that comes with coming to love with the conscientious choice against all odds and persevering with the power of one's decision.

I received the audiobook for “The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” by Axie Oh from the publisher as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions in this post are my own.

Note: This book was written in present tense.

An unforgetable fantasy you won't want to put down. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The cover of this book is stunning, and was the main reason I was drawn to it. It is probably one of the most beautiful covers that I’ve seen, and I loved the Asian aesthetic. I didn’t jump to grab the book because I tend not to read present tense as it takes me longer to get through – I have no idea why, but present tense in an audiobook? Perfect. The synopsis sealed the deal and I requested the audiobook immediately.

I have no regrets.

“The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” is a retelling of the Korean legend “Take of Shim Cheong” and is filled with unique and fun character, a beautifully well-developed world, and it even had strong relationships and unforgettable characters. It follows Mina, a sixteen-year-old, who sacrifices herself to the Sea God in order to stop the onslaught of severely damaging storms threatening to destroy her home. But, nothing is as it seems and things don’t go to plan. Finding herself in the Spirit Realm, she must solve the mystery of who has put the Sea God under a spell, and more importantly, how to awaken him before her time runs out. If she can’t awaken him, she will be trapped in the Spirit Realm, and worse, her home and lives of her family will be extinguished. But even if she wakes him, what then?

This is perfect for the fans of Miyazaki’s Spirited Away because it honestly felt pretty darn similar for the first half of the book (even a friend thought I was listening to a book version of Miyazaki’s movie!), but this has the right amount of romance weaved throughout the book and great imagery. And twists. The second half made it even better! Overall, it’s engaging from page one all the way to the end, and – as this was the audiobook… can I just say that the narrator is AMAZING? It made the story that much better and more magical.

There were two problems with the book that I found while listening. Some of it felt a little too repetitive in nature which was kind of annoying, but it was pretty minor. The other was that I kind of wanted MORE from certain story/plotlines. The plot twists? Beautifully set up. However, knowing this was a standalone, a few of the smaller story lines could’ve been amped up to really tie things together in a more fantastical way.

Would I recommend? YES. I highly recommend this book. It isn’t too long of a book/listen, it’s fun, and it’s just a beautiful story that is like getting back into the world of Spirited Away without it being Spirited Away. If you really disliked the movie Spirited Away then I'd skip this book.

Side Note: I’ve also pre-ordered a physical copy of the book! Partly because I still love and think about the cover, and the other reason is because I really did love the story from the audiobook.

Actual rating of 3.5 - rounded to 4.

I feel like I don’t need to give a summary of this one since everyone seems to have already read it but I really enjoyed this one! Mina is a very likable character and super compassionate towards not only the ones she loves, but towards strangers. Most characters are likable in fact, including the love interest. The writing is beautiful with vivid imagery.

The romance wasn’t cringy and I actually found it quite sweet, for once. I totally thought this was a series and a little sad it’s over. I think when this comes out I will have to re-read with my eyes rather than with the audiobook and possibly buy it. Definitely reminded me of Spirited Away which I feel the need to rewatch as well as a little bit of Six Crimson Cranes vibes.

Thank you Dreamscape media for an advanced audiobook!

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a fantastical story based off a myth that I had never heard of. The main character is so sweet and honorable, I loved following her journey throughout the book. I definitely picked this up because of the description which likened it to Spirited Away, one of my favorite movies, and this book definitely had Spirited Away vibes. I love reading these more unique mythological stories in YA that have crossover appeal for all audiences. I think I'd compare the tone of this novel to Raybearer.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced listening copy which I loved. Being able to listen to the story added a layer of depth supported by a very strong voice actress. The voice acting was clear and powerful, and I had such a good time listening to it.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a charming story based on the classic Korean tale of Shim Cheong. Going into this book, I was unfamiliar with the classic story, but was excited to discover it. Especially since this book was compared to Spirited Away!

It doesn’t take long to start picking up on the Spirited Away vibes, but this is certainly its own story. We follow a strong willed girl who is willing to sacrifice it all for her family. There’s a fairytale feeling when reading this and I really enjoyed the storytelling elements that’s within this plot driven book. I do wish we would have had more world building and time with the characters because those bits felt more surface level.

I really enjoyed the audiobook for The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. The singular first person point of view + the storytelling components lends itself to the audiobook narration. The narrator has a really nice voice and was pleasant to listen to.

Mina wants to help her family and village. She finds herself in the Sea as the intended Sea King Bride. Entering a world of the spirits, Gods and Godesses. The story is a retelling of a Korean Myth. The story telling creates a visual for the reader.

I never thought I would love audiobooks as much as I do since listening to The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. The story itself is amazingly heartfelt and meaningful, with themes of sacrifice and overcoming incredible odds. The characters are engaging and I loved hearing the entirety of the story from the heroine's perspective. Mina loves her family, and her willingness to leap into the Sea to ensure their survival. I thoroughly enjoyed her ability to see beyond her own thoughts and desires to see that others are given a better life. Even when a God does not deserve love, Mina offers a second chance.
The world where this story is set is brought to life with clarity and brings the senses to life with sights, smells, and feelings that hooked from the beginning and didn't let go. I adored the secondary characters and the twists within the plot kept the story fresh.
Great narration, with graceful inflection and tone that sets the mood for the tale. The ending provides purpose and wraps up the story without making it feel trite.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I don't think I have ever described a book as enchanting before, but it is the perfect word for The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. There is a dreamlike quality to the writing that made it so special.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea has pique my interest in Korean Mythology. I think anyone who has a deeper understanding of the original myths will appreciate this book on another level.

I could not believe how quickly I got through the audiobook. I could not stop listening! There is something so immersive about this book. I can't put it into words!

This book was so good that I had to binge it! The story was fast paced and I never lost interest. Highly recommend it. Different from any other story I've read.

4.5 stars - this book is so gorgeous (I mean the cover is stunning), but I really mean the writing and imagery is beautiful! The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is described as a feminist retelling of the Korean Folktale "The Tale of Shim Cheong" and although I'm not familiar with this folktale, the basis in mythology felt threaded through the story. This book focuses on Mina, who sacrifices herself and jumps in to the sea, for her family to see if she is the Sea God's true bride - the one who can break the curse and stop the storms that have been wrecking havoc on her homeland for 100 years. Mina is swept away to the Spirit Realm and has 30 days to solve the curse as humans cannot survive in the Spirit Realm longer than that.

The setting is so well described and it is so vivid, that it's easy to picture! Mina encounters an array of companions, from demons to gods to spirits, and you end up loving them all! The characters were amazing, and this definitely had me a little teared up at one time with the characters. Mina was faced with tough choices of choosing what she wants or helping her people and the lengths were would go for our family. This resonated with me.

I thought the writing style was amazing, with chapters just the right length and ending with just enough tension to keep you wanting to find out more. The narrator for the audiobook did a fantastic job, her voice is beautiful and I couldn't put this one down!

Review coming to my blog on March 4!
https://www.seetheworldinpink.ca/search/label/books?max-results=5

This is a beautifully written Korean tale. Young Mina is a passionate young woman that finds herself in the Spirit Realm after she commits a selfless act. Humans cannot live long in the spirit world so Mina must hurry to seek out the Sea God and plea with him to end the dreadful storms that plague her people. Throughout her quest she meets some extraordinary lesser gods and beasts. Mina is forced to make difficult decisions as she discovers what her true fate is.

This was an absolute joy to read. The story was fast paced, loaded with action, mystery and romance. It has so much to offer and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review

This book has an amazing atmosphere. It felt like it was a dream. It feels like a combination of Spirited Away, Uprooted, and The Daughter of the Forest.

Wow, I utterly loved reading this book! I was entranced by the concept of the story, and I had to know what was going to happen next! This world was so interesting, and I had such a great time reading about Mina and dealing with the Sea God so he'd stop sending these storms!

Mina isn't supposed to be the bride. But the bride of that year was the beloved of her brother, so Mina takes her place. Which is really good, because Mina has learned at her grandmother's knee to be a storyteller, and this is her in a story, so that was a pretty useful skill!

I really enjoyed the gang of spirits that helped her, Mask and the others. I loved how their stories were woven in, that we didn't know why they were so important until it was needed, and that groundwork was already laid. That was really great!

Her relationship with Shin, because he's trying to protect the Sea God, but it means taking her soul. And of course she wants it back. I really enjoyed how things developed, and how she put together the pieces to bring things to rights! Loved how it turned out, and how it ended! Such a wonderful read!

Loved reading this book so much, and I can't wait to read more by Axie Oh!

Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this title in exchange for an honest review.
3.75/5
This book was fun and beautifully written. I found the worldbuilding to be super interesting, and it certainly felt like a fairytale. I loved Mina as a character, as well as the various side characters she met along the way. That being said, I wish it was a bit longer, and the characters were more developed. I wanted to know more about them!. I can't speak much on the story that this was based on, however it was a beautiful tale of magic and adventure. I was left wanting more when it was over!

The audiobook narration was good, but sometimes sounded a bit off to me. I am not sure if that was because I listened on NetGalley, or something, or maybe it was just me.
Again, I thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley!