This was so good. Even though for most of the book I was tabbing so much of the Korean mythology, looking up its rough translations and history, I was also really enjoying the book. I really love mythology no matter what kind so it made me enjoy it even more. Aside from the mythology, how could I not love it? The banter was actually bantering! Like a lot of my other tabs are the banter and it made me squeal so much. Plus knowing it was going to turn into a romance. And the cherry on top is Hani is a girls girl. Iykyk. Like a true girl’s girl. Whatever Sophie Kim releases I will eat it up after this. 10/10

Realmente disfruto leer o ver series con esta mitología de los Gumihos
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of the book

First I want to thank Netgalley for the ARC.

I liked the story OK, It was entertaining, but I did not love it. It was just an OK book.
I was confused about the time or world this was set, there was so many supernatural things goin on , fantasy creatures named at the start that I thought that this was set only on a fantasy world, but then I started seeing humans. It is also set in 1992, but you wont know that until the end of the book.
Hani was not a good character for me, for being over 1400 years old she was so immature and annoying, I wanted to quit when she threw the coffee on Seokga, ridiculous.
Seokga was an OK character thou, he was not that great, but I could stand him.
In my opinion, this book could pass as YA without the spicy scene ( was not to spicy ), because both characters acted like teens. You have two characters, that are super duper old and all they do while investigating murders ( by the way they sucked at it) is bickering at each other.
I really don't want to keep going with this series but I still want to know what happens with Hani.

5✰ // The God and the Gumiho is another engaging story rich with Korean folklore from author Sophie Kim. this story features an irresistible dynamic between Hani and Seokga, a vivid fantasy setting that seems to blend just right with the plot in a way I thoroughly enjoyed. it did take me a second for the story to fully grip me, yet once it had me in its clutch i found myself eager to keep reading page after page, well into the night. the fantasy elements were enchanting and really elevated these already complex and lovable characters in a way that made me want more of their witty banter and constantly opposing personalities. i believe that Kim struck just the right balance in The God and the Gumiho of fantastical and realistic. the mystery elements just kept the storyline propelling forward and kept me consistently wanting more. I fell in love with these characters and this story and i think if you like fantasy, romance, and stories steeped in Korean folklore, you too will fall in love with The God and the Gumiho.

thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

While I thought the beginning was a bit difficult to settle into, the immersion grows once the plot gets moving. I enjoyed the slow burn romance the most, especially with the added danger of Hani secretly being the target Seokga must kill in order to regain his godliness. Their banter was fantastic and as realistic as it can be for a fantasy. Additionally, the plot reveal at the end was a delight to experience and definitely made me want to read the upcoming sequel.

As mentioned, the beginning took me a bit to get through but I don't recognize that as a writing issue but rather an attention issue on my part. I don't have any particular critiques as I enjoyed the author's voice and storytelling and characterization.

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this book. This was a fun read, a fantasy about two bickering supernatural beings. It does read like a k-drama but that is ok. I would recommend this.

4/5

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Del Rey, and NetGalley for providing me with the eARC. All opinions are honest and my own.

A romantic urban fantasy that draws inspiration from Korean mythology. This is a mix of k-drama, grumpy-sunshine romance, detective story, fanfiction, and comedic potpourri. And honestly it kind of works.

The worldbuilding using Korean mythology really drew me in, and it felt like a breath of fresh air to the Euro-centric medieval fantasy novels that have lined bookstore shelves lately. Kim Hani and Seokga imbued the story with life, their interactions cute, charming, and infuriating. Honestly, what an entertaining dynamic. The plot maintained itself as a detective story with various threads yet managed to not lose sight of any of them. There was so much to enjoy here.

The only component that felt lukewarm to me was the individual characterizations. For immortal beings, Kim Hani and Seokga sure read juvenile. Don’t get me wrong – their bickering and stupidity worked well together as a sort of *dynamic*, but separately these characters were ridiculous. In an eye-roll sort of way. But I guess that’s why they’re meant for each other.

I would highly recommend this to fantasy romance readers who like to dabble in the k-drama world, or vice-versa. This is kind of the perfect crossover. Think “Goblin” (Lee Eung-bok), but in book form and more age appropriate.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. Hani truly stood out as a highlight. Her character was complex and layered in a way that enhanced the plot. Seokga felt a bit inconsistent to me, being that he was a trickster god, but his personality didn't seem to convey the trickster aspect very well. I'm hoping that we see more of his personality in the subsequent books.

I'm looking forward to reading more from Sophie Kim.

bThank you, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Kim Hani stopped eating souls. Once the Scarlet Fox, now she's too full and she's now working as a gumiho barista in a coffee shop, irritating Seonkga the Fallen, exiled the kingdom of Okhwang, and forced to live in the mortal realm Now working as a detective. When a demon escapes the underworld and threatens the mortal one, they are forced to work together, to track it down and stop it, before it's too late.

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. Okhwang’s emperor offers Seokga an bargain: Kill the demon and the mysterious Scarlet Fox and being reinstated as a god. Hani has no intention of being captured and as his assistant, she will undermine the investigation and hid her own traces. As they track down the demon and its violence, god and gumiho find themvelves drawn to one other and this could change everything they hold dear.

The relationship between god and gumiho shine in this book. They are brilliant, funny, bickering, grumpy and "sunshine", both mischevious and intriguing and I absolutely loved this story! It's filled with epic moments and it's so evocative it's like you're actually watching a drama. Action, lies, mysteries and powers, this book has everything and it's sto originally. There everything for everyone, Action? Check. Romance? Check. Angst? Check.
You can't not love this book! It's skillfully written, evocative and very creative!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this eARC!!

4 ⭐
Ugh I enjoyed this so much. Forget grumpy x sunshine, give me more grumpy LI and the person that won't stop annoying them on purpose. Seokga and Hani had so much chemistry and their banter was hilarious. My only criticism is that I wish the romance was more of a slow burn so the angst at the end could be even more impactful. I need to read Sophie Kim's other books while I wait for book 2 of this series.

The way this book pulled all my heartstrings and made me feel like a high schooler again lol.
I fell in love with k-dramas when I was in high school and that started my love for the rest of the Asian dramas (which is a whole another conversation lol) and this book has everything you want in a k-drama. I have never watch one with both MC being ancient so that was extremely enjoyable.
This book has it all y’all. A sassy ancient badass FMC who is also a gumiho, a grumpy fallen god, a really really good banter, mystery, murder, Korean mythology and an amazing ending.
All that said, I need book 2 already!
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a pleasant surprise that I happily gulped down. The story follows Hani Kim, a gumiho that has consumed thousands of livers and souls, and Seokga, the fallen trickster god in exile, living in 이승 (the world of the living). Seokga despises everything about the world of the living, especially Hani Kim, the barista at Creature Cafe, which he frequents for the one thing he loves about 이승, .. coffee.🇰🇷☕️

Seokga desperately wishes to return to 옥황 the heavens among the other gods. When a powerful demon, 어둑시니, escapes to 이승 and goes on a killing spree, Seokga has the chance to be a god again if he captures the demon and the Scarlet Fox. Despite his dislike for Hani Kim, Seokga believes they have a better chance together. Little does he know, Hani is the Scarlet Fox.

🌟WHY I LOVED IT:

• Korean history and gods are complex, blending folklore, Confucianism, Buddhism, and history. I loved the inclusion of various gods from these realms.

• The chemistry between the two leads! As a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, I enjoyed their petty banter. Their inner monologues were distinct and funny. Usually, when authors present multiple POVs, one can feel lacking, but this was not the case for Hani or Seokga.

• The story is fast-paced, with plenty of action and never a dull moment. It reminded me of the Korean drama Goblin, with gods and creatures living among humans in a contemporary setting. I do wish there were more descriptions of the setting of the 90s.

• I loved the untranslated Korean words spelled out phonetically in English. It added authenticity and familiarity, especially with terms like 옥황, 염라대왕, 구미호, 해태, 환웅, 환인, 삼신할미, which I had encountered in books and TV shows, evoking nostalgia.


-
With strong K-drama vibes, lots of Korean mythology, grumpy/tsundere character, and lots of coffee, this book was unputdownable Due to watching an insane amount of k-dramas, I did find some plot pines predictable.
.
While I didn't know all the gods and supernatural creatures mentioned, I appreciated the challenge, prompting me to look things up. If you like mythology, folklore, k-dramas, this book is for you! Grab a cup of coffee and pick it up today!

A fallen god and a retired ravenous gumiho team, in the middle of a supernatural murder case? Yes please!

The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim is the first in the Of Fate’s Thread Series and is so much more than I expected, in the best way! I’ve been waiting for a fantasy like this and it’s finally arrived. I already enjoyed Sophie’s previous series and I just knew this would take things to a whole new level. Trust me, she did not disappoint! There’s a beautifully elaborate style of worldbuilding, story setup and tons of imagery. There’s no room for guessing here and even with the small “leave it to your imagination” moments, there’s still more than enough detail to guide it.

I’ve read a lot of enemies to lovers stories, but this one is different in a good way. Rather than the typical “I hate you/I love you” story, it builds up in a more interesting and different way. Since the story is not based in romance, it allows the fantasy, mystery, adventure aspects to push the story forward while they build a crazy relationship, good or bad.

Also, even though this is the first book and an introduction to the series, it sets things up for more books beautifully. Additionally, and most importantly, I love love love the use of Korean mythology used to tell this story. It’s already fun having a gumiho in the story, but mixing in other creatures and gods makes it even more fun and an intense adventure.

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to get to know other cultures’ mythology and lore in a fun way. If you love shows like Tale of the Nine Tailed, you’ll probably enjoy this as well. It’s filled with Korean lore, some romance, lots of fantasy, and even more Korean mythological creatures! Plus, you’ll get to learn a little Korean along the way. Enjoy!

I can’t wait until book 2 comes out. Patiently, impatiently waiting! In the meantime, other books to check out by the author are: Book 1- Last of the Talons, Book 2- Wrath of the Talon, Book 3- Reign of the Talon

I have no words honestly for how good this book was. I absolutely loved this. It definitely has the feel of a KDrama and will tug at your heartstrings. I can only hope to find a love like this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me this E ARC to review.

This book was absolutely delightful. If you like Assistant to the Villain and Asian inspired fantasy, you must read this.

The banter was glorious and I loved the early 90s setting. The romance was slow burn enemies to lovers and I loved every second of it.

The ending DESTROYED me and I need the next book ASAP! I already knew I loved Sophie Kim’s YA writing but this was next level! I can’t wait to read more.

P.S. the dual narration audiobook only added to the delightfulness of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

Loved this book so much! Cute Korean fantasy mystery. Pacing was a bit slow to start, but picked up. Loved the world building and the character development.

The God and the Gumiho was an easy and engaging book with the best vibes. This was different from most of my usual reads, which are literary fiction with darker moods, but this felt like a light nice break from the usual drama. I was most intrigued by the title, which caught my Korean eyes. I love cultural myth based retellings and fantasy, so I immediately added this book to my TBR.

Reading it, the main characters were what interested me the best. I usually dislike main characters, but these two were so loveably built and I loved reading about them. Each had a unique personality with the perfect dose of grumpiness and quirky cuteness and I just internally screeched every time. And the chemistry? Not only between the main characters but also with their friends was so good.

The plot was what kept me engaged. It was so hard to put the book down because something always kept happening! All the events flowed so flawlessly and at the perfect pacing. However I would say that a lot of plot 'twists' were very predictable and the overall plot wasn't that unique despite the characters making it feel interesting. The ending was a little unexpected, and I didn't entirely dislike it, but I felt like it would have been a better resolution if it had carried on the lighter mood of the general genre or if it had ended with a sad ending all together instead of tying the two together at an ending I can't decide as 'happy' or 'sad'. I wonder if it was supposed to feel hopeful, because it didn't quite reach that either.

The setting was probably where I got the light hearted vibe of the book. I liked the way various Korean folk lore creatures were incorporated, but the way the immortal world existed within the mortal realm felt a bit chaotic and I couldn't completely take the story very seriously. This is probably my personal taste as I rarely read YA and can't get used to YA fantasy. This mood did help this book becoming an easy and fun read for me though!

The writing style was okay, felt clean with no unnecessary details, though not much of the poetic extravagance I die for. I enjoyed trying this book, as I try YA every once in a while, and it was a pretty good and fast read. It was well written and it was very engaging. I would recommend if you like the retelling/YA fantasy/slice of life genre or if you wan't to try it!!

This book was great and I cannot wait for the next installment in this series
The paranormal/mythology setting during the 90’s was such a good combination
It’s enjoyable to read and its characters are well written and interesting
Seokga and Hani are the main characters in this story and both of them have complex personalities and backgrounds, they can be childish sometimes but at the same time it simultaneously fits their nature perfectly
The ending surprised me and made me wanting more
You should totally give it a chance!

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Due to my work schedule, I couldn't read it until now, but I couldn't put it down once I started. I wanted to read this because I'm a fan of Sophie Kim's Talon series. The God and the Gumiho is a wonderful, compulsive adult read, and I found myself wanting to read it anytime I had a free moment. I loved the two main characters, Seokja and Hani. This book combined mystery, action, and romance with a rich reinterpreted world of Korean mythology. The ending surprised me and was also beautifully poignant. The pacing was perfect, and no part of the story dragged. At the beginning I found it a little hard to keep track of all the different Korean words for the Unrulies so a dictionary/glossary might have helped, but then I quickly got absorbed in the book and was able to track everything. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Asian mythological worlds.