DNF at 38%. At about 20% I went back and reread the description because I couldn't tell where the story was going. It still felt very much like setup and introduction without a forward moving plot. By the time I DNFed, the inciting incident that was described in the plot summary still hadn't happened. And I realized that I wasn't connecting to the story or the characters, so I decided this book just isn't for me.

(3.5/5 stars)

I binge read this book! It was character-driven, yet fast paced. Dramatic without getting bogged down by the details. Personally, although I was enamored with the characters, I thought the story needed more resolution at the end (although I would also prefer a sequel instead). I also enjoyed how much this felt like a 90’s sci-fi stylistic revival reminiscent of Firelfy as well as other popular authors at the time like Bujold.

Personally, I’m a huge fan of the history of haeyeno culture, and that wasn’t actually a large part of the story or plot, so I would have enjoyed more on that front as well.

Overall, I had a fantastic time; however, I also wanted more depth. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

"Ocean's Godori" is a thrilling space adventure with a unique twist. As a skilled pilot with a dubious reputation, Ocean leads a diverse crew aboard a poorly managed government ship. When her best friend is framed for a heinous crime, we're thrust into a mix of political intrigue and conflict. As much as I love a ragtag group, deeper themes are explored, from critiques of capitalism to the intricacies of privilege and individual struggles with identity. While the fast-paced action and engaging characters kept me hooked, I can see how some might find the slow start and lack of detailed world-building a drawback. Nevertheless, character development and found family dynamics shine through in this book. If you're a fan of action-packed space adventures focused on diverse representation and found families, "Ocean's Godori" is worth checking out.

Ocean’s Godori is the first in a new space opera series from debut author Elaine U. Cho, featuring a near-future world in which Korea is the dominant power behind a solar system-spanning space alliance and where wealth and class divides span planets. Ocean is the disgraced former Alliance pilot whose efforts to keep her head down are disrupted when her best friend – tabloid darling and tech scion Teo is framed for the horrific murder of his parents. Along the way, Ocean is recruited by a band of swashbuckling raiders led by the mysterious Phoenix, and feels the forbidden pull toward Haven, a medic who belongs to the Mortemian death priesthood.

I had a little trouble getting into the story at first – Cho throws so much at the reader from the jump that it’s hard to grasp who the characters and what they mean to one another. But about halfway through, the plot clarifies and really takes off, and the story (which leaves almost every major thread unresolved) really picks up. I really hope she does something more with Ocean’s identity as the descendent of the Haenyeo (famous Korean female divers) and her relationship with her mother.

Fans of beloved space westerns like Firefly will enjoy this, with the caveat that if (like me) you struggle with unfinished series, there’s probably going to be a while before you’re satisfied. There are the beginnings of at least two exciting romantic pairings, for those who want a little love in all their books.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars rounded up - It’s hard to judge a story so obviously unfinished, but I’m eager to see where it goes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Zando/Hillman Grad for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I picked this book up because the cover was beautiful and the premise sounded great. I love a space opera with a ragtag crew fighting against the odds! I enjoyed getting to know the different characters and their stories. However, the book felt like a few different stories stuck together - perhaps just because it took so long to get the "real" crew together, it felt like the first half and second half of the book were meant to be different books. I don't know that the book quite lives up to the blurb - the romance is barely there (and not especially interesting); the exploration of colonialism and capitalism is anything but nuanced. Overall it was a decent book but did not quite fulfil its promise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the ARC.

Unfortunately, I was really looking forward to this but had to put it down. Immediately, I was uninterested in our main 3 characters. I think this would have been a 3-star read by the end, because the world building and writing were good. In the end, as someone who prefers stories that are character driven, I just couldn't find myself caring to continue. I also saw some early reviews that say this takes towards the end to get into the main action and that it is not a standalone, as I assumed it was (which could be my own fault). In the end, it's just not for me, but I think many will enjoy it!

As a fan of sci-fi tales brimming with adventure and camaraderie, diving into "Ocean's Godori" by Elaine U. Cho was a delightful journey through the cosmos. Cho's debut novel introduces readers to a ragtag group of space misfits who band together to support a loyal yet insubordinate crew mate when her best friend is accused of murder.

What sets "Ocean's Godori" apart is its emphasis on character development over plot or technical accuracy. Cho weaves a rich tapestry of personalities, each member of the eclectic crew bringing their own quirks and complexities to the table. As the story unfolds, we witness the bonds of friendship and loyalty that form between these unlikely allies, transforming them into an intergalactic found family.

Drawing inspiration from beloved sci-fi works such as Becky Chambers' "Wayfarers" series and the cult classic TV show "Firefly," "Ocean's Godori" captures the essence of what makes these stories so beloved. The narrative is filled with moments of humor, heart, and intrigue, keeping readers engaged from start to finish.

While the plot may take a backseat to character development, the story remains compelling and immersive, offering a captivating glimpse into a vibrant and diverse universe. Cho's world-building is both imaginative and evocative, transporting readers to far-off planets and space stations with ease.

I'm certain that "Ocean's Godori" will appeal to fans of character-driven sci-fi. With its charming cast of characters, engaging storyline, and nods to beloved classics of the genre, this debut novel is sure to leave readers eagerly anticipating Elaine U. Cho's future works.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

In a far future where humankind has mastered space travel, Koreans rule our solar system via a military Alliance. Ocean Yoon, the scrappy and talented pilot finds herself on a low-class ship, the Ohneul, after having been disgraced in her military command for breaking protocol in order to successfully save a hostage’s life. Ocean, despite having descended from a long line of female divers, does not feel connected the Korean culture and is constantly and curiously learning more about it.

The novel opens with the evening of the Alliances annual gala. Ocean’s a long-time friend of Teo Anand, the wayward younger son of a wealthy family who creates the Alliance’s technology, has been commanded by his father to join a space mission to the moon accompanying a diplomatic mission as part of a political play his father has underway.

Ocean departs with the Ohneul’s crew, including Haven, a new medic whose comes from a Alliance shunned Death Culture (helping people with dying rituals) and whose father has bought his place on the ship to expand his horizons. But as time progresses, Ocean and Haven find themselves romantically drawn together.

Teo’s mission goes horribly wrong, he’s framed as having murdered his family, and Ocean springs into action to rescue Teo from a catastrophic situation. Teo and Ocean find themselves at the center of a complex entanglement in intergalactic politics, as well as the greedy instincts of Ohneul’s shady captain. Their harrowing adventure includes encounters with a group of highly successful and elusive bandits, who ultimately may be more than they seem.

What emerges in between the plot twists is a heart-warming tale of a found family that transcends the politics and divisions of their world.

It may help to read the Korean phrase glossary at the back of the book before beginning as it’s a struggle to keep up with all the colloquial Korean thrown into the characters’ dialog!

Thanks to Zando and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

What a wild ride! I flew through this so quickly and every moment was vivid and thrilling. I found the characters so compelling; their backgrounds and histories are shrouded in mystery, but as the book progresses we slowly learn more about them. I loved the bonds between the crew as well as how the characters learn more about each other and grow closer.

I loved the culture in this; the Asianness was Asianing baby! (I'm Asian so I can say this) All the references and nods to Asian culture were so true which resonated with me. I'm not Korean, so I didn't get everything, but there's a useful glossary of Korean terms at the back that you can refer to!

This is just me, but I loved all the food mentioned! I didn't expect it, but for the first quarter of the book the characters are constantly having meals, preparing meals or bonding over meals and I just loved this so much. Food truly is the uniting factor that brings all people together. The food descriptions were also mouth-watering, I was constantly craving tteokbokki and cheesy ramen while reading this.

One critique I have, which is lowkey spoilery, is that the event mentioned in the synopsis only happens about halfway through the book? The way this book ends off makes it feel like the entire story was supposed to be completed in one book but got split into two. Like, most of this book is spent introducing the reader to this world and the characters, so much so that the main plot feels like an afterthought.

Overall, a fun action-packed space adventure! Come for the gunfights, stay for the friendship <3

PS I cannot believe the implication that North and South Korea joined together back into one country. Just how far into the future is this??😭

Book review time! This month, I decided to go with something sci-fi. I just wanted something a little outside my comfort zone. Comfort zone adjacent, if you will. So, I went for Ocean’s Godori by Elaine U. Cho. It was released yesterday (the 23rd) from Hillman Grad Books (a brand new imprint of Zando). As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s do the thing!

Ocean’s Godori follows a number of characters including Ocean, Haven, and Teo as they try to figure out where and how they fit into the Solar. Ocean, a disgraced pilot, does what needs to be done only to be constantly punished for it. Teo is the second son of a rich family, a screw up, and ends up being framed for murder. Haven, a Mortemian far away from home, is out to see what the rest of the Solar has to offer. They all get dragged into the murder mystery which leads them on a chase they aren’t exactly prepared for.

Pacing. There’s a prologue that drops us right into the action and let’s us see a trial run for the climax. Cool. It means this story’s going to be action packed and fun, right? Wrong. Nothing else happens for about two thirds of the book. Sure, we see how some characters come together and we get some background, but nothing important or exciting happens that couldn’t happen in a much more condensed section. And then, the adventure stuff happens way too fast and the ending basically cuts off right in the middle of the climax and leaves all the plot threads just dangling there. I don’t know if there’s supposed to be a book two, but if not, the ending is beyond unsatisfying. It’s like the writer didn’t know how to end it, so they’re foisting that responsibility onto the reader. No thank you. I will not do your job for you. Hopefully, there will be a book two. So yeah… the pacing is bad.

Plot. The story is interesting. It can’t seem to decide if it wants to be a romance with a thriller subplot or a thriller with a romance subplot, but I think that’s more of a pacing problem than anything. I’d be fine either way. If you’re into hard sci-fi, this is not the book for you. Even I know the science part of this is iffy at best, but it’s for fun, so even though I frequently asked myself “whaaaat?,” I ignored it and moved on. Anyway, there’s corruption and drama and insurmountable odds. And space pirates. It has everything a space novel needs.

Characters. I actually really liked most of the characters. Haven is my favorite, but I really don’t understand why Mortemians are so reviled. They’re funeral directors who train in various rites from childhood basically. I don’t get why that disgusts everyone and it’s not explained well in the book. Ocean and Teo are great. Love Phoenix and his crew. The only character I didn’t like was the captain. She’s all fun and games until someone points out that she’s putting everyone at risk and suddenly she becomes a whiny little bitch and demands everyone do the stupid stuff anyway. She’s annoying, then she just disappears after Phoenix shows up. It’s weird. She’s a throwaway character, I guess. Other than her, the characters are really the main reason I finished this book.

Setting and writing. I really enjoyed a futuristic South Korean dominated space program. It’s a fun setting that allowed the author to blend Korean language with English. I learned stuff. The writing itself flowed well too.

Ultimately, I kind of enjoyed Ocean’s Godori. Despite everything I didn’t like, if a second book comes out, I’ll probably pick it up.

Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Actually, two and a half is probably closer. If there’s no sequel, I don’t recommend it. If the sequel appears and is good, then I’ll recommend it.

We're in the 23rd Century, Korea is a leading power and Ocean Yoon is quite possibly the best pilot in the solar system, and yet she's piloting a tiny craft doing shitty missions, and she's barely holding on to her job as it is. Her story intersects with that of two other characters: Teophilus Anand, billionaire's son, playboy and all-around useless layabout (or is he?) and Haven Sasani, ship medic and death expert.

Together they <s>fight crime!</s> deal with messy interpersonal conflict, a mysterious enemy that has access to incredibly advanced technology and also technically do fight crime. But mostly alongside the criminals.

This is a hard book to rate. When it works, it really works - well-written, sharp, action-packed and with great characters. But it takes a long time for the action to start, and then everything happens all at once and it feels rushed.

The ending is very open, so while it could work as a standalone I think it was likely written with the potential of being expanded into a series in mind, and it suffers a bit from first-book syndrome: too much is spent on set-up, and not enough on the actual story.

The one thing that was consistently great throughout is the world-building. The politics, the spaceships, the different planets and moons... I hope it does end up being expanded into a series because I really want to see more of this setting.

This is a unique scifi! This follows mainly three main characters:

Ocean has a past that makes it difficult for her to have a job within the alliance. And is trying to just keep her head down and do what she can for work.
Haven is known as a Vulture and Mortemian, and finds some information about Ocean Yoon and decides to join her ship to meet her and is now the new healer on the ship Ohneul.
Teo is the son of a millionaire and playboy. He never seems to take anything seriously, until his family is murdered and he’s the highest suspect due to someone impersonating his brother claiming he saw Teo murder his family and attempt to murder his own brother.

This story was very different. What I enjoyed is it’s a sci-fi, and I’ve been really into reading scifi and from what I understood, we’re on earth, but you can travel to all the other planets, which I found really cool! And not to mention a lot of people are from these planets.

There are a lot of characters. They’re very diverse and eclectic. And were a lot of fun to learn about. Teo was a fun character who you’re trying to understand him more deeply since he never seemed to take anything seriously. Haven is a strict medic, very stoic, but definitely a cinnamon roll and seems to see something more in Ocean than others. Ocean is this fierce and awesome female character who never misses and is an amazing pilot!

I would say my favorite character is Phoenix! He was a nice addition to the cast and he brought humor and sassiness and I loved it!

There’s also a couple romances in here and one I adored and the other I’m worried will turn into a love triangle, which I’m not a fan of, but I guess we’ll see how it goes 😅

Now, this book had a lot of potential! I will say that the pacing was off for me and scenes changed very suddenly, and some of the dialogue seemed random and I got lost sometimes 😅. I wanted to understand the world more because I was lost a lot of the time. I was being told things, rather than shown or explained to.

I also had a huge issue with the ending 😅 I usually like open endings, but I thought this was a standalone and I guess it’s not, which I didn’t realize that until the end of the book when it quite literally just ends 😅 and I think this could have just been a standalone, but since this ended, definitely need another book to answer a lot of things!

Overall, I really enjoyed the story! I mean I was thoroughly entertained and I enjoyed the characters and romances hinted throughout!

I received a free digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was great! I'm usually more of a fantasy reader, but this may have opened my eyes towards sci-fi!
I loved how fast-paced this felt and definitely will be looking out for any other books by this author!

Trust me, you'll want to read this too.

This is a tough one for me to rate. There were a lot of things I liked: a far future society that imagines a solar system that's been colonized by humans, but not an interstellar civilization; making Korea the dominant spacefaring culture, including its own specific vocabulary; complete worldbuilding that feels well-thought-out (if not always transparent to the reader). But I just don't think the book was for me.

When I don't love a book, I can get hung up on little details that just bug me (check out my review of ACOTAR and how many times I talk about the plumbing if you need proof). In this book, MC Ocean is a talented space ship pilot, but only when pedals are installed. That's right, folks: she needs a clutch, brake, and accelerator to maneuver a space ship. I cannot tell you how annoying I found this. I couldn't stop thinking about why. WHY??? What purpose does installing these pedals serve? They can't actually be connected to anything on this space ship, can they? My brain still hurts trying to force it to make sense.

What else happens in this 23rd-Century-set book? Military politics, space pirates, a little bit of pining thrown in. There is some plot but it will take (at least!) one more book to resolve. Maybe someone who's never driven a manual car and just likes the visual of a clutch would like it better. I dunno.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

This is a fun space opera set in a future Korea that rules the solar. Ocean is a pilot in the alliance with a lot of backstory history that influences her demeaner, her friends, her job. Teo is her friend, the younger son of Anand Technologies which runs the solar, but he is rich spoiled and useless to most people. Ocean departs on a mission to a planet to retrieve robot parts but they are attacked by raiders. They manage to leave the planet. Teo is on another ship with the Senobi diplomats but the ship is attacked and destroyed but he escapes in an escape pod. Ocean insist that they travel to the wreck to search for survivors. Teo has programmed his pod to connect to her ship. Then all the real trouble begins. This is a thrill ride of a story most enjoyable. The misfit crews, raiders and ragtag ships will remind the reader of some of Becky Chambers work.

Those of us that like adventure mixed into their science fiction are used to a pilot being a great side character. However, the debut novel Ocean’s Godori has that pilot at the center of the story. Ocean is a rebel, a flawed character with a tough background and is very good at her job. Her eclectic limited list of friends are her strength and also a family of sorts. With a similar vibe to a Becky Chambers novel, author Elaine Cho creates a spaceship crew that are mostly misfits traveling the galaxy to make a living and are specialists helping each other. Of course, adventures happen. This little novel extends the ship to other planets, is attacked and investigates a murder. Asian culture is introduced throughout and is mixed in the story and characters smoothly. (Note that there is a glossary in the back, which gives even more definition to terms used.) I thoroughly enjoyed most aspects of this short space opera. My only criticism is the abrupt ending. I am hoping that it means there will be an additional book creating a series. This novel would be a match for those that liked A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers or Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. Thank you to Netgalley for a chance to read this earc for my honest opinion.

I love a good space opera, and Ocean’s Godori didn’t disappoint, with a large cast and a sprawling narrative that, though a little slow to start, will draw you in without fail. Political intrigue, assassination attempts, and potentially overreaching tech corporations paired with very grounded, personal struggles within the confines of a single ship shape Ocean’s Godori into a compelling story.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the depth of culture portrayed within this book. Though I’m by no means an expert on Korean tradition, Cho creates a future Korean society which dominates much of the solar system, creating a refreshing change from the usual “homogenous” societies of science fiction that are usually based on American or European cultural norms.

With a particularly fascinating main character, Ocean, and spectacular worldbuilding, Ocean’s Godori should be on your list for new science fiction reads. Cho breathes new life into a subgenre which can feel pretty stale. Again, it’s got a rather slow start, and some strange pacing changes as conflict builds in the later parts of the book, but once you get past that initial jump, it’s an absolutely amazing read. I’d recommend for any science fiction fan, especially those of space operas, or anyone looking to diversify their sci-fi shelves a little bit.

I remember when I saw the book cover for the first time, it automatically caught my attention, fascinated me, and it seems futuristic (and hell yeah it fits the story enough). I read the blurb and it sounds fun. So I bravely request the ARC and take a risk to read sci-fi adventures book LOL (just bcs sci-fi isn't my main comfort genre).
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So the book follow Ocean, a talented space pilot in Korean's solar system-dominating space agency, Alliance. She gained a bad reputation after her last mission goes wrong. Then, she was transferred to a poorly managed government Alliance ship and meet her new crewmates, make friends with them but at the same time the captain hate her. When her bestfriend (Theo)'s spaceship is shot down by unknown enemy and falsely accused of killing his own family, she and her crewmates find themselves thrust into a political and physical conflict for which they may not be fully prepared.
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The pace was okay to me. Although there is nothing "big" happened at the first half of the book, yet it still enjoyable bcs of the characters in Ohneul spaceship are loveable and witty. Every character brings along their unique backstory deeply rooted in diverse cultures. Personally, Ocean is my fave character. She maybe gives an intimidating first impression, but it turns out she really care so much about her crewmates.

This book is "the more you read the book, the more you enjoyed it" kind of book so when you hit on ±50% of the book, I promise the whole story becoming more and more interesting bcs the conflict is getting more tenser and the real adventure in the spaceship begin with a fair amount of actions. Imagine, traveling interplanetary, exciting fight scenes with enemy in the space, and hunted down by another spaceship.

I love how the story fused with some of Korean culture bcs in this and there are some Korean terms/words/slangs that gladly I know all of it without reading the glossarium (damn, I didn't even know there's a glossarium LOL). So, for y'all who wants to read the book, but worried bcs didn't know any Korean words, easyyyy, just check the glossarium at the back of the book. It's a good, a fun, and pretty comprehensive glossarium.

The world building maybe is on the weak side, I think it's not fully described bcs the author focused on the characters journey and the plot which is I guess will lead to a more bigger political plot and more complex conflicts in the sequel book.

The thing that I didn't expected to happen is *whisper* there is a romaaaance~. A slow-burn, slightly silted, yet a pretty good romance. And I think I should say this for your consideration to read the book or not, the romances that given to the readers here are both heterosexual and gay romances.

Another thing that I didn't expected iiiis the fact that this book, probably, gonna be a series. Well, HELL YEAH it SHOULD!!!! Bcs the ending??! It end with cliffhang- NO! It did end rather abruptly, HONESTLY WHYYY??! @elaineucho why you did this to me?! Please give me the sequel of the book ASAP. I'll definitely read the sequel bcs hella yeah I'm dying to know what happened to them.
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Thank you NetGalley, Zando, and @elaineucho for the e-ARC in exchange of my honest review!

Okay so this cover might be one of my favorites of all time. It is stunning. And I think it fits the book really well, too! I will say this before we get into it, I did struggle a bit with the beginning. The world was a little unclear to me, and we're a bit thrown right into the story, so it took me some time to get my footing. That said, when I did, I really started to enjoy it! It does seem like the start of a series, though I came up empty finding anything official saying so. Do with that what you will, but it did seem to be heading for a sequel (or a very rude ending, heh).

First of all, I adored the characters! Their interactions and relationships were witty and complex, and I certainly enjoyed that aspect. The plot, once I knew what was happening, was equally engaging with a lot of unexpected twists and some very cool elements. (I can't say too much about them because they'd be spoilery, but things were bananas at some points, and I loved it!) I also really enjoyed the Korean cultural infusion! In this world and time period, Korea is on the cutting edge of everything, especially the space program, which is just all kinds of fabulous. Also of note, there is a very fun glossary in the back, so make sure you check that out (probably easier on a physical copy, but it was still an enjoyable surprise on ebook format). So yeah, action, excitement, great characters, good twists... this was a win!

Bottom Line: While it started out a little iffy, I ended up very much enjoying Ocean's Gadori, and look forward to the sequel!

7 / 10 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2024/04/23/oceans-godori-by-elaine-u-cho-review/

I… I don’t know what to say about this one. How do you rate something like that? The story was amazing, up til it… didn’t resolve anything, ended so abruptly that I genuinely missed it the first time around and read into the afterword before becoming so confused that I skipped back and reread the entire chapter. And yes, I know that was a run-on sentence. The point is, I’m annoyed to the point of feeling betrayed, and I don’t see how anything in the second book can make everything better. For all I know it’s going to just pick up where Book #1 left off before going and pulling the same shit and making you pick up the next entry to (MAYBE) find out what happens at the end.

If it ever ends.

So, would I recommend this one? Ye gods… no. No, I can’t. The ebook is $12 and doesn’t even tell a story. Despite 90% of it being an amazing read, that end bit soured everything for me. Or maybe you’ll be one of those people that seemed to love the “cliffhanger” and overlook the whole zero resolution thing. I’m annoyed that this crashed so abruptly. I’m annoyed that I STILL want to know what happens and kinda want to read the next one. I’m annoyed that I feel like I have to justify this.