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The God and the Gumiho is such an AMAZING story, I loved it so much! I really hope Sophie Kim makes this a series!!

The book starts with Seokga, a fallen god who has a chance at redeeming himself and Hani, a crafty Gumiho who was once known as the Scarlet Fox and went on a killing rampage to satisfy her hunger!! Seokga is trying to regain his godly status. To achieve it, he must both stop an extremely dangerous monster that has been wreaking havoc in the territory, and the Scarlet Fox who has made a sudden reappearance after a long retirement of killing! Seokga’s new assistant and partner is Hani, the Scarlet Fox- Get ready for a crazy ride my fellow readers!!!

This was my first book I’ve read by Sophie Kim, boy does she deliver! I loved the romantic wholesome connection and banter between Hani and Seokga! Their relationship was balanced and very entertaining as they go on this journey together! The Korean Mythology in the story was also very interesting to read and to learn about- so cool!! I would definitely recommend this book, one of my faves of the year so far!!!

Big thank you to NetGalley and Random Publishing House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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A wonderful mix of urban fantasy and mystery with a beautiful touch of romance. Oh, this was a delightful read! I went into this knowing nothing about Korean mythology. However, Sophie Kim's writing made it easy to understand and grasp this new world. I was captured right from the beginning and my interest honestly never wavered. If anything, I started to slow down towards the ending simply because I didn't want it to end (and I was nervous for the outcome of these characters). This was the first novel I've read by Sophie Kim, but definitely not the last!

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Even though it is only March, I think “The God and the Gumiho” might just be one of my favorite reads. “The God and the Gumiho” follows Seokga, a fallen god who has been a chance at redemption and Hani, a Gumiho who was once known as the Scarlet Fox and went on a killing rampage. In order for Seokga to regain his godliness, he must both stop an immensely dangerous creature that has been wreaking havoc in South Korea, and the Scarlet Fox who has made a sudden reappearance after a long retirement. What happens when Seokga’s new assistant is Hani, the Scarlet Fox that he is searching for?

One of the things I loved the most about this book was the relationship between Hani and Seokga. They had banter and were a very entertaining couple to read about. I appreciated that their relationship was balanced. While Seokga is a God, Hani is a powerful Gumiho that has been alive for thousands of years. It was a breath of fresh air to not read about a really old man and a teenager. Hani is also the more morally grey one of the couple. She has killed, a lot. Seokga has his own past, but he is the trickster god, and I was not under the impression that his past was filled with murder.

Seokga and Hani’s relationship was not quick, in the terms of the page. They had to get to know one another as they went on this journey together, and they definitely did not immediately find themselves liking one another. However, in terms of the actual storyline, their relationship was quick. I found myself astounded when I found out that the majority of the events of the book took place in about a week.

There were so many little aspects of this book that I loved. All of the different incorporations of Korean mythology was well done. At first it was slightly intimidating, but I found myself quickly going along with what was happening. I would not give up early on if you find yourself struggling with this.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I think this is the first ARC I find myself NEEDING a physical copy of.

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

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💌 ARC from Netgalley

THE GOD AND THE GUMIHO
GENRE: modern fantasy/mythology
GUT REACTION:
FINAL RATING: 4.5 / 5

Oooohhhh this got me. Y'all know I love a good mythology story, and while I've read plenty of Greek-inspired books, this is only the second or third Korean novel I've read tied to mythology (shoutout to THE GIRL WHO FELL BENEATH THE SEA by Axie Oh). I don't know that much about traditional Korean folklore or mythology, but I didn't ever feel like that hindered my enjoyment or understanding of the book. Sophie Kim leaves plenty of context clues for an unfamiliar audience to pick things up, and Google is only a click away.

In THE GOD AND THE GUMIHO, a fallen god and a "reformed" fox spirit become an unlikely pair as their city is plagued by an ancient evil. For the disgraced god, killing this creature means returning home with his powers restored. For the fox, being close to the investigation means covering up her long history of killing and eating the souls of mortal men. It's Grumpy X Sunshine with a slightly violent twist.

I also cried my way through the ending of this book, but you know ... sometimes a girlie just needs to cry.

I have very few criticisms to give, and none that I really feel are worth putting in a review. If you like mythology, or k-drama, or modern fantasy (or just, you know, a fun story), I think this book is a worthwhile read, and if it doesn't become wildly popular when it officially releases, I'll be shocked.

Also, I see you with that drive-by bi rep, Sophie Kim. Would love it to be a little louder next time, but I was happy to see it there.

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I LOVED this book. I cannot wait for the next one. If you enjoy romance, fantasy, a little mystery and banter read this!

These folktales were completely new to me and it was so fun to learn about them and fall into *wink* this world.

For those wondering, there is some spice, and while it’s not fade to black, I would only give it maybe 🌶️

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for this ARC!

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I had high expectations for this book and it exceeded every one of them! This was a 5 star read for me. The main characters are so likable despite their morally grey personalities. I found the supporting characters to be full of life and they certainly didn’t feel like fillers or unimportant to the story. I absolutely loved the plot and the romance (there is even a very mild amount of spice!). I’m new to Korean entertainment and I’ve never seen a k-drama, but now I really want to! I loved reading about all the different mythical creatures and gods from Korean mythology. It made the perfect setting for this fantasy/murder mystery who dunnit and I cannot wait for the next book! Don’t worry - the mystery is revealed in this book, but it does indeed end on a bittersweet cliffhanger leaving you ready for the next installment! Thank you Net Galley for providing this ebook for an hones review.

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This is an urban fantasy romance based in Korean mythology and it’s got epic battles, a detective mystery, and dramatic confessions of love. It ends tragically, but with lots of room for hope at the end.

Hani— a Gumiho who has long since given up her life as the scarlet fox, still too full from her rampage where she gorged on far too many men’s livers. Now she works in a coffee shop, cringing as the beans are ground and serving the worlds most irritating customer, the fallen god Seokga. She trips up when two men attack her, bringing out an investigation into the scarlet fox once more.

Seokga— the trickster god has been diminished, forced to remain in the human realms as penance for his most recent failed trick. He lead an army of unrulies, but only claimed the throne for a matter of minutes. Now he works as a detective, tracking down the very unrulies he once lead into battle. He must catch and dispatch 20,000 of them before his brother will let him back into his power and the realm of the gods.

Seokga is called upon to solve a recent string of murders involving the famed scarlet fox. Hani plants herself squarely in his path as his assistant to try and misdirect him. Feelings are caught. Drama ensues.

These two fall head over heels for each other in such an endearing way. I would label them as grumpy x sunshine, except they are really more grumpy x grumpier. I had a great time reading this ARC and fell in love with these characters.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC ❤️❤️❤️

I’ve had a good time reading this one. I think that you really need to have a lot of experience with Korean media and a little experience with the language to understand the romanization of Hangul. It’s something that kind of gets touched on in the authors note: that this is a love letter to her culture, but it really is an important detail to note. I think a glossary of words, for some Korean words used would be helpful for those who may just be picking up the book because they like folklore and maybe have SOME exposure to the 9 tailed fox mythology.

As for the story itself, it’s pretty fun! A mythology/folklore story with romance and mystery is right up my alley! I think it’s hilarious how spunky the FMC is towards the MMC. There’s so much passion there. At times it felt fast paced with the romance and other times (towards the end) it was a little more slow and drawn out. But overall, very enjoyable. Also can we talk about how stunning the cover is!?! I’m going to purchase the physical for sure!

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This was such a fun and delightful read! It delivered on almost every front with an interesting plot full of twists and turns, vivid and imaginative world building, romance with loads of banter and perfectly imperfect but loveable main characters.

My only gripes were the pacing which I felt dragged a bit towards the end, and the development of the romance. I think it was a tad bit rushed, almost insta-lovey. I would've loved it more if their relationship was given more time to evolve naturally.

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this story and if you're in the mood for a humourous contemporary fantasy with romance and k-drama feels, this book is a must-read!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc.

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I can already tell that this is going to be one of my top reads of the year. I just finished and am already dying to do a re-read. Sophie Kim I am BEGGING you to write a sequel.

The God and the Gumiho is the perfect mix of fantasy, mystery, and romance. Hani is the notorious Scarlet Fox who was solely responsible for many of the laws placed upon gumiho after she went on a little binge killing several hundred men and eating their livers - YUM. Her character is a breath of fresh air since she is not the typical doe-eyed, damsel who is reliant on others. She is perfectly capable of handling herself and shows readers this consistently throughout the story. She's also hilarious and so snarky. Seokga is the fallen trickster god who only wants to get back to his life as a reinstated God. He is bitter, rude, and a complete asshole to everyone. The two partner (to the despair of Seokga) to stop an eoduksini who is determined to turn the mortal realm into the new dark world, but Hani must keep her identity secret or risk death herself.

This book was SO FUN. I enjoyed each POV equally which is so rare for dual POV books. I enjoyed all the interactions between our two main characters and there never felt like a lull in the story. The side characters also had enough depth to them to keep me invested in their stories. The banter was top notch, the story was engaging and unique, and the world that Kim created was so intriguing. I don't have a single complaint.

As always thank you to NetGalley and Random Publishing House for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

I really enjoyed this one. Two characters who from a distance do not like each other, forced proximity to solve dark forces and deadly murders before they can destroy New Sinsi and the realm itself. It's a good enemies to lovers story if that's your thing.

Kim Hani is the infamous Scarlet Fox, a Gumiho who has lived for much longer than she tells everyone around her. She's consumed so many men's lives and livers that she's spiritually stuffed from a spree in 1888 when she hunted down Jack the Ripper in London.

Seokga is a fallen trickster God, who has been banished from his celestial Kingdom for staging a coup some 600 years before, tasked with tracking down 20 thousand unrulies, demons who cause problems in the mortal realm, killing mortals or wreaking havoc- he ends them and sends them back to the Dark Kingdom- the underworld. Only after he sends the 20 thousand Unrulies back will his banishment be lifted and he'll be able to have his powers of godhood returned to him and go back to his realm. He's currently moonlighting as a sort of supernatural detective, working the the otherworld police that help make the rules and keep the humans around them from realizing many beings of the other worlds live and work amongst them. He has about 10 thousand more unrulies to send back left on his sentence.

Forced to work together, and Hani to protect her infamous identity find themselves squarely in the middle of trying to save to realm. I liked their character growth and evolution with one another. And I hope there's another book to this series!

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A grumpy trisckster God who is a detective must team up with a charming gumiho to stop a demon from destroying the world....easy right?
A fast paced story that has the banter, romance and tension! Morally gray mc's whom I adore. Korean mythology which was interesting to learn about. The plot was plotting, world building was good.
Contemporary fantasy with kdrams vibes.

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Rating: 4.25

Enemies to lovers in a Korean mythology inspired urban fantasy murder mystery with Kdrama vibes?? What’s not to love?

I absolutely flew through this book! I adored Hani as a main character she is strong and confident and takes absolutely no crap from the male main character. Soekga was also a strong POV character and I really enjoyed watching his cold immortal heart melt for Hani throughout the story. My only critique of the two as characters is they didn’t feel as ancient as they actually are. Something about them felt juvenile but I didn’t mind as much as I normally would.

The setting felt very well established to me even though this is relatively short for fantasy book which is another plus. It never felt drawn out and the pace always moved quickly. I was a little confused at times with it taking place in 1992 because they are constantly using cell phones but oh well.

Overall this book was a delight. It was exactly what it says it’ll be. This book is perfect for anyone who loves the first Crescent City or if you just in general enjoy urban fantasy romance.

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*An advanced digital copy was received from Netgalley in return for an honest review*

I absolutely love reading Korean fantasy inspired books, so once I got the ARC I devoured it. The premise of the book was so intriguing - a contemporary fantasy involving Korean folktale creatures. Let me just say, it did not disappoint! What I really enjoyed was that it read like a fantasy kdrama. This was so refreshing to me, because it's also an adult book. Compared to some of the other books I've read (that read like a kdrama) they felt very surface level. Whereas The God and Gumiho feels like it's a little bit more flushed out, and shows more emotions and romance than most.

It's also really dark, as it combines fantasy with some horror/mystery. This merging of genres is new for me, but I was still wholly engaged in the plot. The whole plot kept us on the edge of our seat, and I was so nervous to read how it was going to turn out. The ending was also like a kdrama ending before a second season and I just want to read a potential next book.

The book introduces a nine-tale fox, Hani, who is also the notorious Scarlet Fox (a famed figure known for devouring a lifetime of souls). She hates, and I do mean HATES Seokga. Seokga, a fallen trickster god, is just trying to get back to his godhood. They must work together to fight the demon, without Seokga finding out that Hani is the Scarlet Fox. The animosity they feel toward each other at the beginning was very entertaining to read (again reads much like a kdrama), and I enjoyed how blunt the characters were in the beginning.

Hani as a character was also so fun to read, and had a lot of sass! She constantly was challenging Seokga with her attitude, but she also showed her softer side when she was interacting with people she cared out. I was glad to see a bit more of her personal reasoning and overall character arc throughout the whole story. She had great growth at the end, and along the way really made the reader start liking her more and more. Seokga's motivations felt a little rushed to me. In general his character didn't feel as flushed out to me as Hani's. He had a very base level goal throughout the book that he focused on, but maybe 65% of the way through it felt like it switched very rapidly. He just fell too quickly that it felt a little rushed. As a reader you feel torn at the beginning because of the split POV chapters, who do we like more / who are we rooting for? Good vs. Evil.

The pacing of the book did feel a bit fast at times, especially when it seemed that they 'fast traveled' frequently. While they were 'fast-traveling' a lot was happening behind the scenes. Honestly might be interesting to read a chapter in the POV of the demon, I would be so curious to see that story as well. The plot itself was so interesting, and had a lot of twists and turns that I didn't really expect. I was kept on the edge of my seat, because the world really did seem to be ending very quickly for them.

All in all, this book was really enjoyable to read, and made it on the list of my favorites. It's perfect for people who are fans of Asian mythology inspired fantasy stories, and mystery books. We felt like we were solving the mystery along with Hani and Seokga. Also it goes without saying that this book is perfect for any kdrama fans!


Thank you again to Netgalley for the ARC!

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Rating: 4.8 stars

I absolutely loved this story! It was a perfect mix of fantasy, mystery, humor, and romance.

The world building was fantastic. I loved the creative incorporation of traditional Korean mythology into modern time. It was so much fun to read. I enjoyed seeing how these mythical creatures used their magic to live among the humans and adapt to modern society.

The characters were also well-developed. I loved Seokga and Hani’s growth throughout the story. Seokga, is a God of mischief and chaos who was banished to the mortal realm due to a failed attempt at overtaking the throne. As penance, he must hunt down unruly creatures and send them back to Jeoseung. He is snobby, arrogant and apathetic. Hani on the other hand, is a notorious gumiho known as the Scarlet Fox. Her reputation is legendary due to the mass murder that happened 100 years ago. She has escaped captive due to her cunningness and self-preservation. As you can see, these characters are flawed, but that is what makes them so enduring. As the story progresses, there is a vulnerability to these characters as they start to struggle with their past mistakes and learn to care for others. It is also what makes their relationship and the romance so wonderful.

I adored the romance. It was filled with humorous banter, wittiness, and tenderness. Seokga and Hani has a very interesting dynamic. They start off despising each other and driving each other insane. However, it doesn’t stop them from being drawn to each other. As they continue to work together, they develop a fondness, respect, and trust for each other. The ending was heartbreaking. I hope the author does continue with the series, but if this was just a standalone, I think it ended in a way that stayed true to the story and the characters.

As for the mystery, there was a lot of twist and turns. Although it was predictable, I did have a lot of fun trying to figure out who the killer was. What kind of took me by surprise was I didn’t think I would feel sympathetic toward the demon. It just shows that people really need to think about the consequences of their actions. I was also a little disappointed with how the characters handle the mystery. Hani and Seokga are supposed to be cunning and clever, but there were times that they lack inductive reasoning, which I felt was kind of out of character for them.

Despite all that, I still enjoyed the story immensely. If you love urban fantasy, mysteries, and romance, I definitely recommend reading this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Kim Hani is the infamous and legendary nine-tailed fox, Scarlet Fox. It is 1992 in New Sinsi, South Korea and Hani has been in hiding since 1888, gorged on the souls and livers of human men and living a very mundane life. Working in the Creature Café she is forced to serve creatures their coffee and one particular creature, Seokga the Fallen. Seokga is the god of deceit and trickery, he takes being grumpy and irritable to a whole new level. Hani despises him and will do anything to ruin his day even if it could get her fired. Hani takes a job being Seokga's assistant after she kills two men trying to assault her to lead him away from her as a suspect. Whilst trying to distract Seokga from finding the Scarlet fox, a demon from the underworld attacks Iseung as it wants revenge against Seokga. This task to save their city and world takes them on a journey that causes them to see each other as more than assistant and detective and changes Seokga's heart of stone and maybe the heartless god isn't so heartless.

This book is 10000000 stars out of 5. It blew all my expectations out of this universe and I would reread this book so many times because it was perfection. I have never watched a k-drama but I most definitely will be now. It has many of the book worlds favorite tropes like:
-enemies to lovers
-forced proximity
-one bed
-Grump sunshine
-sacrifice for love

This book had me laughing, angry, irritated for Hani, and sobbing!!!! Kim Hani is one of the best characters I have ever had the pleasure to read and this book is filled to the brim with sarcastic humor. I found myself constantly laughing at her little quips and her personality in general made this book so much more fun. Hani and Seokga's love story was so effortless and heartwarming, they were each other's mirror in so many ways but especially in being deceitful and selfish but so desperate for a place for feel safe. Kim has the innate ability to write extremely lovable characters and a story that is impossible to put down. The story had an impeccable flow and if the action was slow the banter was top notch. I cannot wait for the second book as this definitely is top three best books I have read this year. I cannot wait to pick up her other books as Kim's writing style was perfect for me and there is nothing better than an amazing Asian fantasy.

As always thank you to NetGalley and Random Publishing House for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The God and the Gumiho follows Kim Hani, a gumiho , and Seokga a fallen god as they try to find a and defeat demon terrorizing the city they and other creatures from Korean mythology and folklore reside in.

If you are a fan of K-dramas then you will immediately fall in love with the upbeat and bold female lead, Kim Hani a gumiho that works at a café with a secret past. And the grumpy, chaebol like male lead Seokga, a fallen god desperate to make up for his past. All set in a magical and immersive world. A world that is so well done and thought out that even if you are not familiar with Korean mythology and folklore you can follow and enjoy the story easily.

The pacing of this story is also well done hitting every character arch and plot point at just the right time to keep me hooked. Splash in a few beloved romance/k-drama trope that are well done, and you have this very fun and romantic story.

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I'm back again for another ARC review! This time I read the lovely "The God and the Gumiho" by Sophie Kim. Thank you net galley and the author for allowing me to read and review this book.

📖416 pages
📅 Publication Date: June 4th (can pre-order now!)
📗 Contemporary Fantasy
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

Oh gosh where to even start with this book! This book gets an immediate 5 starts. There's more steam and tension than spice and the emotional are wild.

Kim Hani was a unique main character and a breath of fresh air. I loved her intensity, wittiness, and her grow. I usually don't get a lot of morally grey FMC but she was perfect. Independent and self assured, she is one powerful fox.

Seokga is the usual male main character that I will eat up every time. Dark hair, brooding attitude, hates almost everything (well, except coffee). He's perfect and the witty banter and tension between the two characters is just perfect.

The character growth in this book was amazing. Each character had some sort of development and I just loved it. The was angst, comfort and so many twists and turns. The author wrote a lot of humor in this book and if that wasn't the intention, it didn't appear that way. It was written so naturally and it gave well needed breaks in the feels. This book was a full emotional journey with laughs, love and tears. This book can be read as a standalone if you aren't interested in reading the rest of the series (release dates TBD). Overall this book was absolutely fabulous and I can't wait to read more.

Tropes you may like:
🌸 Forced Proximity
🌸 One Bed
🌸 Rivals/Enemies to Lovers
🌸 Grumpy x Sunshine
🌸 Korean Mythology
🌸 She falls first, he falls harder

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I enjoyed diving into this fresh and new world filled with Korean Mythological creatures and a very well done plot. I think Hani and Seokga were great MCs and their banter and relationship kept the story fun and interesting. While I didn’t love the writing style (it read a little to YA at times for my liking). I think the world building and characters are fantastic!

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This was such a crisp read I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to more books by Sophie Kim! I am giving it four stars only for the reason that there were often time the dialogue got too descriptive for my taste.

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