3.5 stars. As a girl who loves Korean mythology, this was a fun light read! Even though it's a romance, I was still invested in the mystery plot of it all. I would definitely read the next book if this becomes a series.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Del Rey for approving my request for the e-arc of The God and the Gumiho! It took me a minute to really get into this book but once I was in, I was IN! The main characters are both narcissists who are continually vexed with each other, which doesn’t necessarily make them immediately likeable but does lend itself to really fun banter and hijinks! The romance was slow to build but very believable, Hani and Seokga really do belong together.

The God and the Gumiho is a contemporary fantasy based on Korean folklore. The story follows Seokga, the fallen trickster god working as a detective, and Hani, the gumiho that the world knows only as the infamous Scarlet Fox.

Hani has remained in hiding by avoiding killing for over a century. She threatens her anonymity when she kills two men who assault her, and she joins the police force as Seokga's assistant in order to throw him off of her trail.

The story that follows is part buddy comedy, part hate to love romance. Hani and Seokga are both tricksters by nature, and they constantly banter with each other. Hani is the eternal sunshine that balances Seokga's grumpy hautiness, and romance blooms between them even though Hani is deceiving Seokga and stands directly in the way of his ability to achieve his goals.

As an ADHD reader, I found the first half of the book challenging to stay engaged with. The story develops slowly, and doesn't really pick up pace until the halfway point.

The world building is well done and the writing is strong. I highlyly recommend for fans of contemporary fantasy and Korean inspired fantasy.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for providing a digital ARC for me to review.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The God and the Gumiho is a quick, fun read wherein Kim Hani is living post-retirement (from eating souls as the infamous Scarlet Fox) life as a disgruntled barista and Seokga the Fallen has been exiled from the heavenly realm of Okhwang for centuries, forced to capture unruly creatures in the name of redemption.

I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this. I started this not knowing what to expect, but I appreciated that it didn’t take itself too seriously while still hitting the expected plot beats. I don’t think this is a particularly complex book, and I generally understood where it was heading early on. Still, it has a sillier quality to it like you might find in a K-drama or fanfiction with the humor tag. There are definitely parts that read like what you’d expect from fanfiction, but I don’t really think this is a negative so much as a contribution to the overall vibe.

Kim does a good job at writing something that is extremely readable and fast paced, though I think it does end up suffering sounding truly “adult” insofar as the level of complexity of the story and the exact balance of silly and serious. I really liked the characters, too, and thought that Kim portrays them very well. They’re fun and endearing and I liked spending time with them. I liked the infusion of Korean mythology. There were times where this was maybe a little clunky or overly predictable, but that didn’t detract from my personal enjoyment. I’m pretty sure this is going to be a series, but this does work as a standalone, especially if you enjoy an open-ended ending.

Overall, I had fun with this and enjoyed the overall level of silliness and the hijinks that Kim puts her characters through, and while the plot is a little simple I was still engrossed. I don’t think this will work if you want a more serious read, but I had a blast.

What to Expect
- South Korean 1990’s atmosphere
- Unique world building
- Both main characters are morally grey. Love a morally grey FMC!
- Murder mystery
- Witty banter
- I really, really don’t like you to lovers

Sophie Kim’s The God and the Gumiho throws you into a world of gumihos, dokkaebi, and all kinds of Korean mythological creatures. Hani is the infamous Scarlet Fox who’s killed 500 bad dudes, including Jack the Ripper. She’s morally grey, sly, a bad-ass, and also in hiding as all her killing put her on the wrong side of the law. Seokga is a fallen trickster god, banished to the mortal realm for attempting a coup against his brother, and is working on redemption by banishing unruly creatures. A murder mystery brings the unlikely two together as they try to track down an unruly demon hell-bent on ending humanity.

I really enjoyed Hani’s character. She’s complex, witty, clever, as well as both fiercely self-preserving and yet can be incredibly self-sacrificing. At the start of the book, Seokga came across as entitled and calloused, however, I enjoyed watching Hani’s influence his character to soften over time. The book started out a bit slow, but it picked up, and I read the last 30ish% in one sitting. I enjoyed the twist at the end, and I will definitely be reading the sequel to see how the story continues. I am also fascinated by gumihos, and I will absolutely be looking for more books or tv shows / movies with more of them!

Thank you to Sophie Kim, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and to NetGalley for providing an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was so entertaining, I enjoyed every minute of it!

This was my first book by Sophie Kim but it won't be my last, especially after that ending I can't wait to see how she plans to expand on this world and its characters.

I absolutely loved Hani and Seokga and their romance — that first kiss still has me in a chokehold.
I adored the fact that Hani is not only old and powerful but also a little villainous, it was such a fresh take not having the MMC possess all the power, and be much older than the FMC.
Seokga was sooooo grumpy and arrogant and detached, I couldn't believe how mushy and vulnerable he was underneath that facade once he met his match in Hani.
I loved their romance and the way it progressed — they disliked each other in the beginning so much that it took time and a lot of forced proximity for them to warm up to one another (and a minor brawl in the woods lmaoo) and it felt natural. Eventually, Seokga was so obsessed with and whipped for Hani I just adored that.

The mystery was good, I was guessing who the eoduksini was till the end, SK definitely managed to throw me off though I had my suspicions.
The character development was also fantastic, loved seeing how Hani & Seokga's love changed both of them.

I'd heard that this is a K-Drama inspired fantasy mystery and I definitely agree that it reads that way.
I couldn't believe what was happening by the end and I cried my eyes out for both Hani and Seokga.

That epilogue left me wanting more, I need to know my babies are okay 🥹
I can't wait to see what SK has in store for us next!

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.

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.

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.

““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!