a very interesting debut that reads like a kdrama in how it is plotted and written. I am very much looking forward to the next installment but i think this would have benefitted a lot from not revealing few things it had stated as obvious in its characters povs. If we as readers found about the twists same time as other characters, this would have been even better, but i have to appreciate the unique path the author took.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, Del Rey, and Random House Publishing Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up The God and the Gumiho on June 4, 2024.

This felt like a perfect combination of the fantasy and crime genres, combining the beauty of mythological South Korea in a high-stakes detective setting. It was an easy read mostly because it was so fast paced and humorous but also because it felt fresh and original. But also because the characters felt very whimsical and fun - particularly Kim Hani!

The romance could have used more tension but I absolutely adored their enemies-to-lovers path to great banter. It is pretty obvious from the get go what would be the obstacle in the relationship between a fallen god and the gumiho he is looking for, but the book still manage to surprise me with its twist and turns. The ending had me gasping and the only reason I didn't cry was because I was in a plane and didn't want people to wake up to my sobbing.

Very much recommend for those looking for an original fantasy plot with a dash of romance and a mystery that will keep you engaged all throughout!

I have never read anything by Sophie Kim before so this book was my introduction into her stories and writing style. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and read like a korean drama and includes korean folklore. This book follows the story of a gumiho, Kim Hani, and a fallen god, Seokga and their adventure of solving a case or two in 1992 South Korea. I read this book as if I was watching a kdrama with their banter and bickering and dialogue. The plot and the world-building was done well. I felt like we stayed on track with where the story was going with not too many detours. We are introduced to so many characters with different personalities which was great, they all stood out to me. These characters are not perfect either, they are morally grey with the actions that they take. No character felt like they were taking up space, they were all important. With how fast-paced this book was, I think it took place within a week, the romance felt a bit rushed. I mean, they were on a time crunch with the case they had, but they went from nuisances to lovers after a few specific events. There were some surprises at the end that I did not expect. I thought I knew what was going to happen in this book when the author wrote specific parts but that did not happen. The book ended on a happy, bit bittersweet, note. I'm excited to see what happens in the next book.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book so much! I'm a long-time Kdrama fan (shoutout to Full House), so this read like an adult-ish Kdrama to me.

Our two main characters hate each other and must work together due to certain circumstances that may have to do with Kim Hani and her liver-eating ways. LOL. I love it when two characters need to work together on a mission to save the world from evil. Seokga is the fallen trickster god, but I felt that Hani was the clever one throughout the story. Once Hani and Seokga started their mission, I was hooked into their relationship! My heart was in pain at the end.

It was a bit hard for me to keep up with the names of the mythical creatures at the beginning, since we were introduced to several in a short time and new ones would be introduced. I recognize this can happen with world-building, so I'll highlight the words to help me. Also, there were parts where I didn't *feel* the attraction between Hani and Seokga even though they were eyeing each other on the page. I definitely felt their attraction later, like that club scene! 🤭

I loved Hani and Seokga and the nod (I think?) to Your Name in the end. I would recommend if you enjoy romance fantasy Kdramas or fantasy romance where the characters are partners on a mission. And if you want more gumiho love stories, I recommend you watch Arang and the Magistrate as well.

✨ Book: 4 out of 5
🌶️ Spice: 2.5 (few mild spicy scenes; more than romcom kdramas)
🏷️: romance, fantasy, hater to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy mmc, evil mythical creatures, Korean myth

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the eARC! This is my first requested ARC and I'm so happy I got a chance to read this great book early. 😭

The premise of this book is a pretty classic grumpy/sunshine type story with an Asian folktale flair. I really enjoyed the dialog and the dynamic between the main characters. There are a few twists that I was definitely not expecting that made me want to keep reading until the end. I really enjoyed everything in this book, my only complaint is that I would have enjoyed a bit more spice in the spicy scenes, but that's just me. Otherwise it is a really solid and enjoyable read!

If Korean inspired fantasy involving fallen gods, some romance, detective kind plot interests you, this one is definitely going to be featured in your list by now. I only got introduced to nine tailed fox with this one but it is probably going to feature more from now. Seokga and Hani have a fun vibe with witty banter between them all the time. They are set out together on an investigation to find out who is killing the mortals but they are also with their own secrets and are working on redeeming. It was a light hearted fantasy with an element of suspense to keep us engaged.

~*ARC Reader*~

I honestly really loved this book! It was a really fun romance and detective story wrapped together. I'm not super familiar with Korean lore, but I think Sophie Kim did a very good job of incorporating descriptions of the terminology that didn't feel like they were only there to be definitions. They were naturally part of the flow of the story, not interrupting it. I also haven't personally seen very many stories focusing on a nine-tailed fox as the creature at the center of the story (outside of Naruto) so I was delighted at the novelty of it.

The only negative for me was in some of the descriptions. I thought some of the terms were confusing (wine-brown for Hani's eyes?) and others overused (the sunlight was described way too often for my liking, and with some kind of odd comparisons to the other yellow things). It did pull me out a little, but honestly it's easy to breeze over in favor of the great characters and story.

Speaking of characters, I though Hani and Seokga were both very well fleshed-out characters with great personal motivations. If you're a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers, you'll gobble this one up! I was gonna fault the book for the BBEG being too predictable but boy was I wrong! I loved the twist on the villian. (No spoilers!) I also really enjoyed Somi's character arc, without diving into deep - her struggle was emotional and really added good complexity to the story.

Overall a delightful story! Highly recommend giving this one a go once it hits shelves!

A Korean lore-inspired urban fantasy with romance, demons, fallen gods, and coffee? Say less.

Hani and Seokga make an unlikely pair - she’s an ancient being who has killed masses masquerading as a barista. He’s a fallen god, working to redeem himself back to paradise. They end up working together to solve the mystery of who is killing mortals and eating their livers… yes, that’s what I meant to say! But will Hani’s huge secret and Seokga’s tendency toward frustration (helloooooo handsome grump) impede their success or draw them closer?

I thought Sophie Kim did an incredible job with this! A believable Korean city in 1992, full of mythical creatures living every day lives alongside mortals, gruesome murders, unlikely friends, and a beautiful potential for another book!! I slogged a bit through the first third, because I could see where it was going and I just wanted it to GET THERE, but once it did, I absolutely enjoyed it. Can’t wait for the second book already!!

4.5 stars

The way I loved this book, dear God (or Seokga, y'kno whatever works).

The God and the Gumiho captures the essence of kdramas so well, I'd convinced myself that I was watching a show and almost told my partner how much I was looking forward to the next episode. Luckily I caught myself before hand, least he be convinced I stay up way too late reading.

Seokga and Hani's relationship is perfect. The banter, the teasing. Its light enemy to lovers at best so don't go in expecting knives at throat. Maybe just some overdosed coffee.

The way the story ends can easily be a standalone or a teaser for more. I would love to read more but also feel perfectly content if this is where Seokga and Hani's journey ends. I DO hope, however, that we'll be able to read more stories from this world that Sophie Kim has created.

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

So different and such a wildly creative read!

This book was such a pleasant surprise for me! I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it, but wow, was that super enjoyable! The styling of this book wasn't what I usually go for, but I'm super glad I took a leap of faith.

The overall premise of this book was super unique, and I had a lot of fun being introduced to this world and the mythology within. I had never read a Korean-based mythology/fantasy read before so I found that to be something super fun to delve into. The duel POVs worked really well for the story that was being told. Both main characters were enjoyable to read, though I will say I think I enjoyed the MMC a little more than the FMC. This book had just the right amount of cozy too. The slow-burn!!!! Ugh, I was obsessed. The hating into realizing it wasn't hate anymore was so well done and wonderfully executed. I also liked the twists towards the end because they were different than what I typically see in fantasy books.

The only thing I wish this book had was a guide that gave some definitions for some of the lore used. I found myself googling a lot of the different creatures because I was so unfamiliar with the mythology used.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and I'm interested to see how this series will proceed. Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for the perfect fantasy book with a intense slow-burn romance and a beautiful and lush world.

Big thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Kim, and Del Rey for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5/5

Ok so originally I wasn’t entirely sure if I would like this book. It’s nothing something I would typically pick up but I devoured it! I just loved Hani and Seogka. The banter and the drama was so good!

SOPHIE KIM PLEASE GIVE ME A SEQUEL??? OR EVEN JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM THAT ENDING AHHHHHHHHHHH

This was such an incredible, well fleshed out story. Kim flawlessly blended fantasy and Korean folklore to create a captivating story with compelling characters, I literally could not put this down and stayed up until 3am to finish. I already want to go back and re-read it.
The story follows a fallen god turned detective, Seokga, and the infamous Scarlet Fox, a gumiho Hani who in self-defense kills again after hundreds of years. Hani after killing two humans brings the Scarlet Fox back in everyone's radar again and so in a quest to keep the trail off her goes undercover to work as Seokga's assistant. Seokga, in a quest to regain his god-hood, is banished to the mortal realm and tasked with returning twenty thousand unruly creatures before he can get his powers back but after 600 years is given an ultimatum; if he kills the Scarlet Fox and an eoduksini, a powerful demon who escaped the underworld and is currently killing both immortals and mortals within two weeks he will be reinstated as a god immediately.
Hani and Seokga team up to bring this demon down and along the way fall in love. When they finally kissed and sparks flew I was up kicking my feet and screaming (silently). From the very beginning before we even see Hani and Seokga interact I was already invested. The mystery of the demon's true identity was also engaging to read. I initially guessed correctly but when another character started behaving suspiciously I also fell for it. And along with our two main characters I also found myself caring about the side characters as well.
BUT THE ENDING?????????????? A RED STRING OF FATE??? UMM SOPHIE I STILL HAVE TRAUMA FROM THE DRAMA MOON LOVERS (SCARLET HEART RYEO) WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO MMEEEEEEEE. Starting a petition or something idk but I need to know if they're ok and living happily in the end.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the arc. ♡ </i>

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Sophie Kim book, and first introduction to the world of Korean fantasy/K Drama. I will not hesitate on any of Kim's books!

It took a few chapters to get into; mostly because I spent a large amount of time learning pronunciations and English translations (first real introductionto Korean mythology). After finally getting a comfortable pace going, I absolutely fell in love with Seokga and Hani. I would love to have this turn into a series!

The writing is fast paced and descriptive. After reading heavy horror/thrillers, this was the most perfect amount of romance and suspense to keep me both interested and feeding the thriller junkie in me.

Learning about Korean mythology was an absolute plus. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Sophie Kim skillfully combines fantasy and Korean mythology with a murder mystery in an exciting, well-paced plot. I appreciated the world-building and character development, particularly following the romance between Seokga and Hani. Their dialogues and flirty, sharp-witted banter were fun to read, and I enjoyed getting to know two multifaceted protagonists — strong-willed and fighting together to save a city, yet deeply flawed and with morally ambiguous pasts.

Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey Books, and Sophie Kim for this e-ARC! I highly recommend you read The God and the Gumiho once it is released on June 4th!

Seogka and Hani are complex characters, and Kim is a master at getting the reader to root for these anti-heroes. Their initial spats and barbs thrown at each other are irresistibly exciting, and the growing sexual tension is both intimate and passionate. Love this book!

My rating for the book is: 3.75 stars

In The God and the Gumiho, Seokga is a god banished from the heavens due to a failed coup. His task is to kill 20,000 "unrulies" (monsters) before he is able to ascend once more. With the sudden re-emergence of the Scarlet Fox (a very powerful gumiho), his bargain is altered to killing the Scarlet Fox and another dangerous force before he can go back home. Unfortunately, Hani (the infamous Scarlet Fox) decides to get involved in the investigation and lead him on a wild goose chase to protect herself. So, the god and the gumiho become unlikely allies (kinda) in this Korean urban fantasy.

I truly enjoyed this book! The world was immersive and I immediately was invested. I liked learning about all the different creatures of folklore and how they adapted to the 20th century. I also really loved the banter between Seokga and Hani --- their conversations were like ping-pong matches and I always wanted to see who got the point this time. Their mutual dislike for one another made me giggle.

One thing I did have a hard time with was the setting of the 1990's. I kept forgetting the time period until there would be a reference to VHS tapes or a specific type of phone, and then I would have to refigure what I was imagining.

Overall, it was a great read! I did not see any of the plot twists coming and I thoroughly enjoyed the character development of the two main characters. Thank you to Del Rey Books and Sophie Kim for this e-arc! Check this book out when it releases on June 4th!

4.5 stars! I love a fantasy that is also a murder mystery, so this was right up my alley. Throw in some mythology as well and I was hooked. I enjoyed that the characters were morally gray and I liked their romance. Sometimes it was hard to distinguish between what was part of the mortal world and what was part of the immortal world because it was all so intertwined. The writing overall was engaging and fast paced. The plot was paced well, though I figured out who the enemy was before it was revealed. The ending was heartbreaking and has me ready to read the next one though!

"In this sly and dazzling contemporary fantasy, the most notorious nine-tailed fox in Korea pairs up with a trickster god-turned-detective to track down a wrathful demon...before it can destroy the mortal world.

Kim Hani has retired from a life of devouring souls. She is, simply put, too full. Once known as the infamous Scarlet Fox, she now spends her days working in a coffee shop and annoying a particularly irritating, if unfairly handsome, trickster god as often as she can.

That god is Seokga the Fallen. Exiled from the heavenly kingdom of Okhwang, he now begrudgingly resides in the mortal realm, working toward his redemption and suffering through his interactions with the particularly infuriating, if sneakily charming, gumiho barista at his favorite café.

But when a powerful demon escapes from the underworld and threatens to end all of humanity, Okhwang's emperor offers Seokga an enticing bargain: Kill this rogue creature, as well as the legendary and elusive Scarlet Fox, and he will be reinstated as a god. Hani, however, has no intention of being caught. Seokga might be a trickster god, but she has a trick of her own that he'll never see coming: teaming up. As Seokga's assistant, Hani will undermine and sabotage his investigation right under his overly pointy nose. Sure, she'll help him kill the demon, but she certainly won't allow him to uncover her secret identity while they're at it.

As the bickering partners track their case down a path of mayhem and violence, the god and the gumiho find themselves inescapably drawn to each other. But will the unlikely couple stand together to prevent the apocalypse, or will they let their secrets tear them - and the world - apart?"

I am here for any gumiho story ever. But a gumibo gumshoe? Oh hell yes!

The God & the Gumiho is a beautiful story about self-growth, sacrifice and love. The story has you on the edge of your seat rooting for the characters the entire time. I cannot wait to read a sequel one day!