This book was everything I was hoping it would be. Two crafty immortals working reluctantly together to fight evil. My favorite tropes of grumpy/sunshine (even if that sunshine is sarcastic) and the ever-loved only one bed. This is a fantasy/mystery combination that pulls creatures and demons from folklore into the real world.

I have always had a fascination for trickster gods and for fox women, so to have them star together as main characters in this novel set the bar high. I’m so glad it did not disappoint.

I strongly recommend reading this if you loved The Fox Wife. And if you haven’t read either, I recommend reading both. Mysterious deaths and fox spirits go hand in hand.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance read of this title. All opinions described are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange of an honest review.

Okay so, when I first started to read this, it was hard to believe that Seogka was a trickster god. He didn't felt charming or cunning, mostly just rude. which is disappointing because I was hoping that was the type of character he was.

Then Hani, who is a legendary fox spirit called The Scarlett Fox, and it's supposed to be 1,000+ years old, mostly felt juvenile to me.😭 I wanted to like her so bad. She's also supposed to be cunning but some of the choices she made to hide her identity had me questioning how she wasn't found out sooner.

If you are really into K-dramas, this book definitely have the vibes of one.

Ps. the cover alone for this book, would have me going to the store to buy it.

There here is so much I want to say.
I loved the story, Sophie Kim's writing and Hani so much, and Seokga kinda grew on me.

Hani was everything. Morally grey fmc with a dubious moral compass but a sense of honor and a bored yet witty personality.

Seokga had multiple sticks up his butt but was so much more than the cold, broody mmc stereotype we are used to. He was a little pathetic at times and Hani rilling him up was just the best.

Plus add to those two a mystery to solve, some action, a 3D small cast of characters, a side of sibling rivalry, and the ever intriguing Korean folklore. This might be read as a standalone but I definitely need more.

And the end. The end was just perfect.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book definitively delivered on reading like a K-drama in book form which I enjoyed. The story also has an interesting concept that is easy to grasp, making it a straightforward yet engaging read. It was also pretty fast-paced, and though it took me a little bit to become invested, I liked that the pacing never felt like it dragged. The Korean mythology was very interesting and also made the setting stand out.

In terms of characters, though they also took some time to grow on me, their dynamic was filled with good banter that made it easy to root for them. I will say though at times their interactions seemed overly childish for beings who have lived for thousands of years. This sentiment extends to some of their actions, which sometimes came off as unbelievably stupid given their age and experience.

Although, as I mentioned before, I really enjoyed the romance, the transition from enemies to lovers felt somewhat unrealistic and could have been a bit better. Initially, it seemed like the relationship development would follow a believable route and take its time, but then there was a sudden shift from animosity to being overcome with feelings after just one night, which seemed too abrupt a change. The first kiss scene between them though was honestly awful as it felt weird and out of place; Aeri making the bargain that she will only give them the information if they kiss seemed contrived and lacked any logical motivation, which made the scene severely underwhelming.

While we’re talking about things that were a tad underwhelming, the solution to the nightmares given to the victims by the eoduksini felt way too easy. Despite that however, I really enjoyed every other aspect of the ending, enough to be looking forward to see where the sequel will take things.

Overall despite its drawbacks, this was still an enjoyable read with an interesting concept, nice pacing and storyline that will appeal to K-drama fans and fantasy romance readers alike.

~Rating: ★ ★ ★ ✰ ✰ .25~

I am quite the sucker for fantasy and mythology, so this book is a perfect genre bend for me. Bring in the korean mythology to this novel brought a fresh take for both genres. this is a book that comes around very rarely. I loved every page!

Well this book certainly matched what it said on the tin. Great for people who like k-dramas; (The few that I've seen, the characters fall hard and fast for each other; this book takes place in less than a month). This book isn't for everyone just because of the character's personalities, but I liked it, and at least the characterization was consistent, even as the two characters developed into better people.

one note for the publisher: this isn't the first book I've read with korean mythology, but please add a short dictionary. Often in this book there was a gap between the mention of a mythological being and a description.

Seokga is a god who has been banished and stripped of his powers after trying to overthrow his brother, and is working through his punishment on Earth before he can return. Kim Hani is a gumiho nicknamed The Scarlet Fox, because she was once the most prolific killer of men. They are forced together to find and destroy a nightmare demon that is terrorizing their city.
I overall did not enjoy this book, mostly because this is beat for beat, a romance novel. So many romance tropes are in this book, and I was expecting a fantasy detective story. That is the secondary plot, but the world building is pretty sloppy and a lot of the magic systems are under explained. The author stated that this book is inspired by K-dramas, so I'm sure those fans and romance readers would enjoy this book.

i loved this book so much!!! the romance was great, the characters were so wonderfully fleshed out, and i could picture this playing out like a k-drama the entire time! SO GOOD!!!

i loved the whole premise and idea of the book and the characters but i think the authors writing style is not for me. it felt kind of choppy to me

DNF at 40%.
My dislike of The God and the Gumiho could be because I've never watched a single K-drama (which is what this story is heavily influenced by) and I'm owning that up front.

For the positives, The God and the Gumiho has excellent world building and phenomenal Korean mythology steeped throughout the story. I had to search the terminology littered amongst the pages several times to understand the various gods and creatures mentioned within the plot. That extra element of a foreign mythology really enhanced an already strong setting and consistently gave more to chew on as I read.

For the negatives, I could not connect with the characters at all. Both the main characters, a fallen god and a gumiho (nine tailed fox), are often rude and extremely unlikable. Both characters are older than 1,000 years old but often had me cringing with their juvenile behaviors and attitudes (listen, I get the grumpy god thing, but Seokga was usually just a dick. Point blank). Some of the plot points also felt rushed and ill-thought out and it didn't help me think highly of our main duo as they began hunting down a killer.

In the end, I think this is more of a case of "it's not you, it's me". I can see this being very popular with people...but I decided to stop forcing myself to pick up my kindle.

The God and the Gumiho is an enemy to lovers' tales that will be right up the alley to those who like Korean fantasy romance dramas such as My Demon or Tale of the Nine-Tailed. Or those who appreciate folklore. I thought this story started off slow plot-wise, and I felt like it continued to be slow through the book's first half. However, I liked the witty banter between the main characters and the seamless introduction of the different types of unruly creatures. The female lead was strong and smart, which was a compliment to the male lead. The secondary characters also were very well fleshed out with a history and backstory that helped them stay at the forefront of your mind as the story progressed. The story's second half picked up, and I couldn’t put the book down. There were plot twists that had me gasping and shocked. There was enough action throughout the chapters to keep me anticipating what would happen next. The romance between the main characters was steadily developed instead of being an overnight thing, which I appreciated. I also liked how the couple kept the key elements of their personality despite being in a relationship. The intimate scenes left everything up to the imagination, which I know won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I really liked it since it wasn’t supposed to be the story's main focus. I thought the ending was well done. It gave us closure while also leaving the possibility for a second book if the author wanted. Overall, I would recommend this book. The only negative thing I have to say about the story, which is completely personal, is that it was really hard for me to read the Korean words that had been romanized into the English spellings. I speak Korean and could figure out what the Hangul equivalent was supposed to be. I think though it might be difficult for those who aren’t familiar with the language to know what some of the unruly creatures were without googling them. All in all I would rate this a 4/5

This book was fantastic. It was such a delight to read. I know nothing about Korean mythology, but what a fascinating world to discover! I loved the culture, the characters, the storytelling. The author states in the beginning Author's Note that this book is a love letter to K-Drama, and it delivers on that perfectly.
There is some murder and gore, a bit of spice, and so much snark. I really wish there was a pronunciation key for those of us unfortunately underexposed to Korean language, but that is the only thing I found this book lacking for me.
Rounding up from 4.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for this ARC! And extra thanks to Sophie Kim for writing such a fun, satisfying novel!

Hani is such a hilarious bad ass 😂 she had me cracking up and rooting for her the whole time. While I loved Skeoga so much, I do wish we had seen more of his trickster side. All in all I absolutely loved this book so much and the ending was just perfection

"The God and the Gumiho" is a breathtaking journey into a supernatural South Korea that will leave you utterly spellbound. Sophie Kim's masterful storytelling weaves together the tale of Seokga, a fallen god, and Hani, the legendary Scarlet Fox, as they join forces to battle a terrifying demon. The dynamic between Seokga and Hani is electric, filled with intense chemistry and delightful banter that will have you rooting for them from the very beginning. The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, drawing you into a world that feels like a thrilling K-drama with elements of Korean mythology seamlessly integrated. Kim's writing is beautiful, capturing every moment with vivid detail that makes you feel like you're right there with the characters. The ending will leave you breathless, eager for more, and I cannot wait to see what Book 2 has in store. If you're looking for a fantasy tale that will leave you speechless in the best way possible, "The God and the Gumiho" is a must-read. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

I dont know where to start on this!!! This was book was SOO GOOD!!! I really love it! I can picture this book into a K-Drama. Can we get that? This book into a K-drama, please? haha This is my first time reading from Sophie Kim.

Anyways, the ending of the book gutted me!! I will not spoil it because you have to read and find out. I got a feel there might be a second book but who knows. The end of the book was written so perfect. I love how Hani (gumiho) and Seokga (the god) relationship went from enemies to lovers. They definitely were opposite attract relationship since Hani was more sunshine and Seokga was grumpy. I really like Hani's personality though. Her sassiness made me laugh and her annoying Seokga was funny as well. Hani's personality and Seokga's personality literally clashed. It was a great book. Would recommend this book to my friend who is really into kdramas. Definitely would recommend this if you are into kdramas or Korean mythology!

Would like to thank NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

let me just say i'm still coming into my 'fantasy girl era', still figuring out what i like and what i can digest easily and enjoy. and besties?? we have a winner!! a gem!! the angst, enemies to lovers (who are literally just hard headed soulmates in my opinion) is done so perfectly. there's an equal mix of banter and comic relief, mythology, and enough action to keep you entertained if you don't like the mush you'll feel over hani and seokga.

there's family drama and even little goddess and god gossip outtakes mixed in giving it a slight mixed media feel, with a touch of if gossip girl was a fun little action packed angsty fantasy romcom! that sounds utterly insane but trust me it's amazing.

if you like kdramas (tale of the nine tailed fox!!), korean mythology, 'i will find you in every universe' type of stories, vibes, media: you're going to eat this up, devour it!

This gave me Loki vibes
I really enjoyed the pacing of the story, didn't feel like it dragged in some parts and wasn't too fast there was too much going on. Though for some reason this just felt like a YA story. The only times I felt pulled out and remembered it wasn't YA was when the characters cursed lol
And I am not saying YA diminishes the story or anything. I just feel it should have been marketed that way.
I love folklore and stories from other countries. Probably my favorite type of Fantasy to read. So this one was really cool to me, and I did enjoy my time.

Though, I could use some clarification on the ending. ((This is SPOILERS)) How does reincarnation work in this world?? Do they remember past lives? Are they born?? So they are running towards a baby???

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy. All thoughts are my own

4.5 stars. ARC through NetGalley; set to release June 4, 2024.

I immensely enjoyed this! The synopsis mentioned that it was like a KDrama and I felt the writing captured that feeling very well. Some of the moments were silly but fit well into the world. I thought the author did a great job interweaving horror elements into an otherwise lighthearted in tone narrative.

It was cool to get a glimpse of Korean mythology and get a new take on urban fantasy.

I did think that it was a touch too long but the ending was really good which earned it that half-star.

**Features:**
-A Sherlock Holmes style mystery with a K-Drama feel with a heavy dose of Korean mythology
-Enemies to lovers and opposites attract relationship
-Satisfying character evolution and interesting twists
-Urban fantasy

A sassy gumiho with a dark past and a trickster god fallen from grace team up to stop a demon from destroying the mortal world. What can go wrong? This book has so much charm and definitely makes no secret of its K-Drama inspiration. Kim does a wonderful job executing this style of storytelling in novel form and has created an engaging world where Korea’s mythological creatures and gods of old continue their age old struggles on the mortal plane beyond the notice of humans. Though acting very much in their natures, main characters Hani and Seokga are both very flawed individuals who end up growing alongside each other as they become closer as a pair. This book is perfect for any K-Drama fan and/or readers looking for a fun mix of mythology, mystery, and romance with a distinct Korean flare.

**Selfish disgrace to selfless power**

Though they are both ancient and powerful creatures, main characters Hani and Seokga both start off as quite selfish and flawed. Seokga is the definition of a god complex with a little added anger on the side while Hani is impulsive and willing to pursue her desires without much regard for the rules or who she might drag down with her. Hani has her charms, but both characters are hard to like in the beginning and it’s hard to envision how these characters could possibly help each other grow. However, Kim manages to pull it off without making it feel forced or too contrived. Sure, there are some moments that might be a little overdone, but it fits the narrative style and does not take away from the overall development of these characters overall. This is definitely a book where you have to trust the process. It is well worth sticking around to see how these characters grow and work their way into your heart.

**That’s just my style**

This book is proudly a K-Drama in book form and is unapologetic in its style. I think it is very well done and definitely highly entertaining. However, I also think your mileage could vary depending on how much you like this style and your willingness to learn as you go if you are not already familiar with Korean mythology and the pop-culture references. As a reader who did not come in with a lot of prior knowledge, the book still provides enough information that I was able to ‘tread’ through the earlier parts of the story until I really found my footing in this world. Ultimately, while I enjoyed this book’s style, I don’t think it’s for everyone and it lacks some of the finesse that I look for in a 5* read. Still, I know there is definitely an audience for this book and if it’s you, I know you will find it delightful!

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have no words. Okay, I have a lot of words. This book. THIS book, oh my god. By far my favorite read of the year, I would give it a million stars. I’m not exaggerating. The detailed Korean mythology shocked me. It was fantastical, magical, and enlightening. The banter between Hani and Seokga was top notch. Their relationship was so easy to root for. I loved both characters separately and together. I loved that the FMC was morally grey even more so in comparison to Seokga. This book was daunting at first but as I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. I love this book. I’ll be buying the physical copy. I am obsessed.