Sophie Kim's debut into adult fantasy is a must read! It's like a kdrama on paper! I love her choice that Seo uses a cane which not only adds to his enchanting character but also disability rep as well. Sophie please write more adult it was delectable.

The God and the Gumiho is one of those New Adult books that hit all of the boxes for me.

5 ⭐️ - fade to black romance; slow burn. He’s a fallen trickster god, she’s a notoriously sly fox demon. They’re both mischievous and the banter is fun. And I should mention there's a 1 bed trope with forced proximity.

I loved watching both of these characters warm up to one another as the story progressed and the throw backs to the 1990's was pretty great.

Apparently - as we're all aware - coffee is in fact the solution.

Made me cry like every K-Drama I’ve ever watched and I loved every minute of it.

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IG - will be posted soon (will update with link)
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I had a good time reading this. I wish that more of the worldbuilding had been explained, because I found myself lost on several occasions, but I still absolutely loved Hani. It’s nice to have two morally gray characters—where it’s not just the MMC with a dark past and an innocent FMC fluttering her eyelashes. Ultimately I found the ending satisfying.

This book was phenomenal. The gumiho has a big secret and the god is not a god anymore. There was a lot of myths in this book and I was unfamiliar with Korean myths. This book painted such a great world of those myths. This was a true "we don't like each other to lovers" (not real enemies per se). It was a little slow at first especially while I tried to keep up with the unfamiliar words but that just made it more interesting in the middle. And, really most fantasy is that way. I loved the character development that occurred between the two main characters.

Pick it up if you like mythology, gods and demons, enemies to lovers, and a good mystery.

This book is quite a light and fun romp through 1990s South Korea. We follow a fallen god and a mythological creature in this buddy cop to lovers story? Which may be a trope we need to see more often.

I found this book at the right time, light on world building this was such an easy and delightful read. With mentions of fanfictions, half naked men on romance covers, Jack the Ripper and K-pop, this is low stakes fantasy that could be great for anyone looking for a fun fast paced read.

Would definitely read any sequels because I love this grumpy/sunshine mystery solving duo.

I was debating between 2.5 and 3 stars. It kind of put me in a slump, but I really liked the ending and it made up for the things I didn't like, so I'm giving it a solid 3.25 ★

I think my biggest issue with this book was the fact that it lived, laughed, and breathed tropes (which honestly is probably on me for not checking what the book is about before I requested it. I see a pretty cover, I click). It's clearly written for BookTok, which not to say that BookTook books can't be good, but unfortunately it lost a lot of originality that it could have had. It just felt like everything was underdeveloped because of this. Especially the romance.

Okay, so these two characters start off with loathing each other. About 60% in, they decide they're hopelessly in love and can't live without each other. There just wasn't enough development/significant events between them for that to happen over a course of A WEEK. I also just have a hard time believing that two 1500+ year olds would fall in love so easily. (after being reminded over and over again how it's bad for them to fall in love and how will Hani ever get over stopping him from becoming a god again?)

And honestly, I liked them better when they hated each other.

Besides that, everything else was just... average?
- I wanted more from the world-building. The world was so unique but it was kind of put off on the side
- The conflict was eh. It only got interesting towards the end when they actually started to care about it
- I wanted to smack the main couple so many times. For having lived as long as they did, they're stupid <3 and not in a cute way
- The side characters for the most part were boring. Could give less of shit about them

Okay on to the things I liked, because despite all of the things that fell flat, I did enjoy it overall. The plot, although nothing special, was engaging. I still kept reading, after all. I also really liked the writing style. And of course, the ENDING. It was somewhat predictable, but I like pain and angst so... With that said, I feel like this could be perfectly fine as a standalone with how it wrapped up, although it looks like there will be a sequel. Will I read it? Who knows. (no, I won't).

Finally, I'd like to thank Seogka for searing the phrase "razor-sharp smirk" into my brain.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing amazing amazing! I couldn't put this book down. Sophie Kim is an amazing writers and seeing the world she has created and the characters was so much fun to read. I love the mythology and magic is so well constructed and the writing is captivating and entertaining. This book is probably going to be in my top books of 2024 because I loved it so much

The God and the Gumiho is now one of my top 5 of the year. I truly don’t think anything can beat this. One of my most highly anticipated books and it did not disappoint one bit!

The writing style was beautiful yet simple. It was easy to read and understand. The plot of this story was so intriguing and had me unable to put this book down. The twists were so unexpected, which I really loved. This book left me in tears.

These characters are so wonderfully written and complex. Hani’s and Somi’s friendship was great! I enjoyed their interactions so much. Seokga’s and Hani’s bickering was hilarious and I loved every second of it.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Note to publisher: more review links to come closer to publication date
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Ugh, I am such a glutton for Sophie Kim books! Seriously, anything she writes I will read at this point. She has my undying loyalty cover, blurb, and title unseen.

The God and the Gumiho is book 1 in her adult series Fate’s Thread and it was everything I wanted it to be!!!

What I loved about the book:
1. Sophie Kim has an extraordinary gift for reinterpretations and retellings of Korean mythology! From her reimagining of Gods and their familial ties to the various creatures we were introduced to, I was hooked from the very beginning.

After reading the existing books in her Talon series, I was giddy to see dokkaebi and imoogi mentioned in this new series. I was even more excited that they were merely mentioned in passing rather than being integral to the overall story so I could learn about other creatures in more detail.

My selfish hope for future Sophie Kim books is they further explore more and more mythological creature types until I have a passing knowledge of many kinds, because you know I’m going to read anything this woman writes!

2. I absolutely adored the detective storyline running throughout the book. With Seokga having to hunt down unruly creatures in order to have his godhood reinstated and Hani finding her way to be his (annoying to him) assistant, not only did we get tons of action and hunting down of creatures, but we got a great mystery and fantastic banter!

If the series continues to focus on Seokga and Hani, my hope is we get to see them hunting down more baddies and solving more mysteries!

3. Along with the fantastic banter, we had two very strong and stubborn individuals to lust after in this enemies-to-lovers story full of "I hate you"'s that slowly lost their malice.

Hani not only had a good bark, but she had the ultimate bite to back it all up. She was incredibly strong and talented with her gumiho abilities, she was quick and wickedly clever working to solve the demon case while hiding her identity and facts on the Scarlet Fox case, and she didn’t take crap from Seokga unlike everyone else. One of the things I loved most about her was how complex she was; in one hand she was willing to selfishly throw anyone and everyone under the bus if needed to in order to continue hiding her identity, but in the other hand she was kind and always looking out for and supporting victims and her friend, Somi. This complexity is what really made her shine as an FMC.

Seokga’s evolution from being a grumpy fallen god who hated everyone to a…well, still grumpy fallen god but cuddly and completely wrapped up in Hani, was so fun to watch. He started out so jaded and pissed off with only one goal in mind, but grew to be a bit more optimistic about his future and its potential outcomes. I loved what a grumpasaurus he was and that he didn’t lose that as time went on, he just became less serious about it with Hani ❤️

I don’t want to spoil anything, but I am literally drooling in wait for where book 2 will take these beloved characters!

4. Similar to her Talon series, feminist thoughts and actions were high in this book through our FMC Hani.

5. Finally, I loved the usage of the cherry blossoms blooming early and annoying Seokga as bookends in the story. Despite being 26 years apart, these were the only two instances where they bloomed earlier than he would like; the first time was right before the incredible journey, what will this second time bring?!?!?!

Final Thoughts:
I cannot express enough how much I love Sophie Kim's books! Trust me and pick up this book when it comes out June 4!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey, and Sophie Kim for the opportunity to read a copy of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

This book was fantastic. The characters were well-developed and the storyline kept me hooked until the end. I could tell that the author wanted it to have a similar feel to a Korean drama, and they succeeded. I especially loved the romantic aspect of the story!

✰✰✰✰
This was a good book that definitely satisfied my craving for a new kdrama (bc it take me forever to start watching a new series). I enjoyed how sassy and fun Hani was, and it was interesting to see how the grumpy (fallen) trickster god Seokga grew at the end of the book. Loved the mystery and mythology aspects of the book, and that ending made me excited to see what the future will look like for Hani and Seokga!
The only issue I had in the book was that the story takes place in 1992, but it felt pretty modern to me, so I did forget that fact until the ending. Other than that, I was entertained!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an eARC of The God and The Gumiho in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so fun. A disgruntled fallen god, demon, and a sneaky fox make for quite the enjoyable combination. I felt like I was watching a tv show in my mind while I was reading it. This book is a bit out of my normal repertoire but I’m so glad I picked it up! Highly recommend picking this up if you like fun fantasies with a mystery element and a good balance of a bit of romance sprinkled in. I think this will be a hit when it hits shelves this June!

““the god and the gumiho” feels like a k-drama in book format. i have no idea what kind of drug sophie kim put into this novel, but it’s addictive. i felt like one of those ipad kids while reading it because, for the two days it took me to read the book, i brought my tablet everywhere so i can squeeze in some pages. it’s got a great, engaging plot, with a good amount of action and an amazing cast of characters - and i can’t really pinpoint how i went from thinking the mmc is annoying to actually rooting for him. the romance was well-developed, and it didn’t feel rushed at all. the banter between them was delicious. i think i can say this will be one of my favourite reads of 2024, for sure.

the writing fit the vibe of the book perfectly, but i have to say it reads like a young adult novel, not an adult one. the book features some mild smut scenes, so it’s definitely adult, but it doesn’t read like one. it didn’t bother me, but it’s worth mentioning. i think the banter is where the book shines, because you can see each character’s personality shine through.

hani and seokga were so fun to follow, both as standalone characters and as a couple - they start out as two individuals that absolutely despise each other, which makes for a lot of funny interactions. they’re both pranksters, but hani was my absolute favourite, as she’s a menace. she’s witty and clever and i loved loved loved how her character evolved throughout the story. seokga also went through a massive chance - he grew a heart and a consciousness and i have to say i ended up really hoping he will successfully go back to being a god. i would’ve liked if the villains got a bit more time, so their motives were fully fleshed out, but it didn’t bother me that much.

i think the mythology and the fact that sophie didn’t hold back from using it properly added so much to the story. i was completely fascinated by the array of creatures that were mentioned in the book and i loved reading about the gods and their relationships. the book is perfect for fans of those fantasy k-dramas, because it features all the tropes that make said k-dramas so enjoyable. i also loved the fact that the fallen god ended up being a detective & how well hani fit into the picture, but i truly love anything that has a “sherlock” vibe.

overall, i can see why this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, as it isn’t without fault, but i had so much fun reading it that i cannot rate it lower. it’s a 5-star read purely based on my enjoyment. i cannot wait for the next book in the series because i will miss these characters terribly. in the meantime, i will be reading sophie kim’s other works, because i’m a bit obsessed.

Really enjoyed the story, the speed it progressed, the characters and the trope (grumpy enemy to lovers). Was a easy, fast read!

So this was cute in the typical kdrama way. I did think that Hani came in a little hot and that Seokga was a bit tame for a trickster god but overall it was cute. I actually wish we saw Seokga interact more with his brother especially towards the end of the book thy seemed like they had a lot of potentially for an amazing bromance. However this is a cute fun little pg fantasy romance and while the romance feels a little sudden and random, it was cute and all works out. I was really looking forward to reading this and it was cute but I’m still not as obsessed as I thought i would be. I do think it would have been fun to see Somi and Hani interact more as well and see her. Still i do find the idea and mythology of Gumihos to be fun and interesting so any book that mentions them will be an automatic read for me,

The book started off a bit hard to digest. It seemed like a lot of telling versus showing. Then it finally took off and I was invested. I thought the banter was cute and funny and that the relationship evolved naturally instead of instant and unrealistic. I did feel like there was one scene that just seemed abrupt and didn’t quite hit the mark. All in all I enjoyed the book and now have to see what happens in the next one!

This was such a fun book to read! The perfect combination of romance, humor, suspense all befitting an urban fantasy but with the most enthralling central theme around Korean mythology. Pacing was great while giving explanations for the mythology/magical elements which were so clear, engaging and easy to follow! The grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity elements were so so good and if you’re a fan of K-dramas like me, I can confidently say you will devour this! I’ve already fan casted Rowoon and Kim Se-jeong as Seokga and Hani ;)

For readers familiar with certain culture norms and humor typically found within K-dramas, I definitely think this book will hit its mark but readers who maybe aren’t as familiar with K-drama structure might risk losing out on some of the charm. As a pre-requisite to reading to better follow along, I highly recommend watching one or two dramas like Goblin, My Roommate is a Gumiho or Black to familiarize (some personal favs of mine…good luck not getting addicted)!

While the story is definitely on the adult spectrum, it reads very strongly like a YA so certain mature or “spicy” moments could feel a bit jarring. This also could be an intentional choice due to the aforementioned nature of K-drama trends but I found myself having to take the whole “immortal god and gumiho” aspects with a grain of salt since these characters who are meant to be hundreds of years old have some inner reflection & decision-making moments equating those of a teenager.

Overall, really loved this and would so enjoy reading a second installment!

Thanks so much to Random House for the advanced copy!

4.25 stars

What a fun book! The God and the Gumiho is a fun Korean mythology and K-Drama inspired fantasy mystery packed with lots of fun characters, witty banter, and action.

I really enjoyed this world. It took me a minute to get into things since there is a bit of a learning curve at the beginning, but the world building only lasts a couple chapters and then you get into the main story. There’s so much that could be done in this world due to the number of different character types that you’re introduced to.

Our main characters are lovely, and without spoiling too much… I loved the twist on the Grumpy x Sunshine trope, because yes Hani is a ray of sunshine… but is she? I also loved that Seokga is actually grumpy. A lot of times this trope is done where the grumpy one is misunderstood. Not here! He’s actually a jerk! And I loved watching his heart melt over the course of the book.

I gave this book 4.25 stars out of five because I loved this world, and these characters but I did guess some of the main plot points along the way! I love mysteries that catch you off guard but I knew where we were going to go in this book.

Having said that, I did enjoy the story and had a lot of fun in this world. After that ending, I’m curious to know if we’re going to see our main couple again in a sequel… I’ll settle for a quick short story to finish round out the epilogue because dang Seokga needs a hug.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the e-ARC.

Going into the story, I wasn’t fully sold on the lore translating well to a novel form due to fighting scenes (although I have seen many gumiho related dramas over the years and I watched 80% of Goblin) but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While it did feel like a kdrama with many of the tropes that we love, it also felt a bit more refined than recent ones. Third person being used throughout the story didn’t bother me; it actually made me feel more immersed in the story.

Right off the bat we’re introduced to our MC and neither are truly likable, which I enjoyed. I’m always annoyed when just the male MMC sucks and the FMC gets stuck with him, but here they’re both annoying old farts with their own pasts. They have a misunderstanding that fuels hate on both ends, and get “thrown” together to work on a case as detective and assistant. I enjoyed watching them fall in love and seeing Hani and Seokga become less annoying due to being with one another. Another thing I really enjoyed was that Hani remained badass when it came to fights, and it wasn’t another damsel in distress type of storyline. Aspects of the story I wish we got more closure with is Somi and Seokga’s brother. Somi got such a crap deal and I just need closure that she’s alright. As for Seokga’s brother, I just wanted closure on if they were able to mend their relationship.

Overall, this story was a solid 3.75 for me. Some aspects of the plot line dragged on for too long and the ending was too quick for my liking. I’d love to read more adult works from Sophie Kim.

4.5 stars, rounded to 5 stars

This was such a fun read! As a fan of kdramas, I had requested an arc of this book a while ago, just because Sophie Kim has been on my radar for a while now, and I'm so thankful that I was approved, because this book was so much fun and so easy to binge. It reminded me of some of my favorite kdramas and I really loved the back and forth between Hani and Seokja. The world was easy to picture and the characters meshed so well together that this was an easy 1 day binge and I'm looking forward to reading book 2 when it releases!!!!

More detailed review to come once this is released.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced in any way by the publisher.