2.5 ⭐️

It’s a beautifully written urban fantasy story that was heavily inspired by Korean mythology. It breathes kdrama but was written for an American/European audience that have fallen in love with Korean rom-coms. And so, if you love kdramas then it’s most likely right up your alley. It definitely reminds me of ‘Korean Odyssey’.

I loved the incorporation of Korean mythical creatures and food which gave a sense of familiarity.
But sadly ‘the God and the Gumiho’ wasn’t for me. This was pretty averaged and bordered on boring imo. The main characters were not likeable. Seokga’s basically Son Ogong (Korean Odyssey). Annoying and narcissistic. I know it’s supposed to be a charming gag but it was irritating. Idk how else to describe him but he’s so unattractive.

I guess Hani was a little better but she’s dumb. Like where’s my cunning, mischievous fox at? She got away with murder years ago but decided to use the same weapons used during the time she went on a killing spree which opened up the case against her. She’s also a hypocrite. Like cry me a river, you see mutilated bodies that were beyond recognition and feel disgusted and upset? You literally went on a rampage murdering and stealing thousands upon thousands of souls. Stick to the script and remain badass and unapologetic. I don’t need my heroine to have human morals when she’s literally not human.

There’s also the presence of this annoying trope that is prevalent in East Asian dramas, where celestial entities that have lived thousands of years have this childlike/youthful (immature) mentality. I see it a lot more in cdramas where flower spirits or nine-tails have the body of an adult but mannerism and speech pattern of a 5 year old. And these heroines act ditzy and naive which somehow attracts the attention of her love interest. It’s not as bad here but I don’t need any part of that fantasy in my English literature because why are they bickering like they’re 12.

The book is marketed for Adults but aside for the age of the characters it’s pretty YA.

Thank you Netgallery for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy.

I really enjoyed this story. I don't read a lot of urban fantasy, and I was surprised that the setting didn't bother me at all. The love story is truly where this story shined. The grumpy sunshine relationship was so natural and believable. It didn't feel super rushed which is something I really dislike with this type of trope. The natural progression from enemies, to friends, to lovers felt beautifully done.

I am not familiar with Korean mythology but I had a wonderful time with this easy to read story. The prose was good, none of the writing felt too clunky or disjointed.

It was a bit slow for me at first, but after the 45% mark it picked up and moved along very quickly. Once I hit that mark, I couldn't put the book down, but it did take me some effort to force myself to get to that point.

"There are no happy endings in your story. The god and the gumiho ends with tragedy."

This book was absolutely fantastic. I’m new to Korean myths, so I was expecting to go in overwhelmed with new wording as with anything new, but Sophie wrote in such a beautiful way that it felt seamless to read. I understood things pretty quickly and boy it didn’t disappoint. I now want to learn even more about Korean mythology and this book inspired me to read similar books. It’s a skill Sophie has that I haven’t seen in awhile!

Hani and Seokga were both funny and charming, and I really enjoyed watching Seokga fall for Hani. He’s very much - I only like her and coffee - and it’s one of the cutest grumpy/sunshine portrayals. Their insults were hilarious, but I loved watching them slowly use less heated ones as they fell for each other. But, the plot was the best part of the book. I love murder mysteries SO much, and it was so entertaining trying to figure out who the person the eoduksini possessed.

This book is by far one of my favorites for 2024 so far, and honestly is a must read!!!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! I truly adore this book so much.

I will admit it took me a bit longer than usual to finish this book, the beginning just got off to such a slow start. I ended up putting it down after a couple chapters and not picking it back up for a week or 2. So glad I did though! It really picked up after a little bit and pulled me into a really cool world and by the end, I was crying. Only thing I could ask for would be a pronunciation guide because I'm pretty sure I butchered all the names and creatures. Fun ride though, curious to see where the story heads in the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Randomhouse publishing for the ARC!

Kim Hani hides her past as the Scarlet Fox by working as a barista. Seokga the Fallen is the trickster god exiled from the heavenly kingdom of Okhwang and working on his redemption. When a powerful demon escapes from the underworld and threatens to end all of humanity, Okhwang’s emperor offers Seokga a bargain: kill the demon and the Scarlet Fox, and he can go home again. Hani teams up with Seokga as his assistant, hoping to keep her identity safe. The two bicker and are drawn to each other, but the investigation has its own potentially lethal consequences.

Sophie Kim also wrote the Talons trilogy and The God and the Gumiho is another book incorporating Korean myth and folklore. Gumiho are fox spirits, and there are many gods in the traditional pantheon. Taking place in 1990's Korea, the world of legendary creatures and mortals overlap in this urban fantasy setting. Seokga must capture the twenty thousand spirits that he had used to invade Okhwang and temporarily depose his brother the Emperor of Heaven as penance. This makes him the grouchy one compared to Hani's irreverent barista persona. She's far older than she claims and coaches her fellow gumiho barista on how their kind used to live, feasting on the livers and souls of men. In the midst of this, mortals and immortals alike are being killed. Detective Seokga is overworked and irritable, leading his boss to accept anyone willing to do the job as his assistant. Overhearing that the police suspect the Scarlet Fox has resurfaced, she takes on the job to deter Seokga.

In addition to the usual urban fantasy tropes, we have fun with the grumpy/sunshine, only one bed, and enemies-to-lovers elements in this story as well as a murder mystery. Hani is playful by nature and doesn't generally harm average citizens, though men harassing and threatening her on the street are a different story. I found her enjoyable to read, and a great contrast to Seokga, who is dour and irritable at the start of the tale. It's hard to see the trickster side of him, as he's been beaten down by his sentence. Once the demon arrives, the story kicks into a higher gear and then we see him at work. He's still surly and has no bedside manner for questioning at all, so Hani is actually helpful at bringing out clues and blending into the mortal side of the city.

The live story and adventure story twine together, and the finale is very well done. There's the tension of Hani's secret, the risk of dying and our realm becoming a new home for monsters, and losing the chance to regain his power. Not all fairy tales have a happy ending, but the red thread of fate binds souls together and provides the promise of more. This is book one of the Fate's Thread series, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes from here.

Seokga, the fallen God, must do two things to get back in his brother, the emperor's good graces. Kill the eoduksini that is wreaking havoc in New Sinsi, and kill the Scarlet Fox. What happens, though, when the Kim Hani, the Scarlet Fox, has captured his heart?

This contemporary fantasy mixes the genres of mystery, fantasy, and romance to weave an intricate plot. I had trouble at first with the pacing, it felt very slow. Once it got to the meat of the plot though, I couldn't stop turning the pages. I liked the vivid imagery of the setting and the characters, and the impending dread thar the author built up throughout the story. I think this is a worthwhile read, knowing that it's slow going at first.

My thanks to Ballantine, author Sophie Kim, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

There are so many stories and renditions about Gumiho and other deities in that arena but I thought Sophie Kim gave it such a refreshing storyline. I liked the banter and witty comments from the two main characters and their growth as a whole during their journey.

- Detective Seokga is a fallen trickster god trying to regain his brother's favor by killing troublesome supernatural creatures (AKA Unrulies).

- Hani is a gumiho who is secretly the infamous Scarlet Fox who binge ate hundreds of livers in 1888. Now she's living her life on the down low as a barista at a coffee shop.

However, one night, she slips up and kills two men. These murders draw the attention of Seokga, so she applies to become his assistant in an effort to redirect his trail.

The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim introduces an entertaining new urban fantasy inspired by Korean folklore and mythology.

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year, but it unfortunately fell short in some areas for me.

I think I was hoping for more of a clever cat and mouse game, but Hani is waaay too immature and obvious with her interest in the Scarlet Fox case and I'm astounded she made it so many years without getting caught.

For better or worse, the story’s tone leans heavily into the humor department, which made it difficult for me to feel a sense of stakes and danger for most of the novel. It wasn’t until the final quarter that things started getting more serious and I finally started caring for Hani as a character.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the incorporation of Korean mythology and the juicy family melodrama between the gods. Seokga's strained relationship with his brother and his search for redemption were actually some of the more interesting parts of the book for me.

An absolute delight with some minor enemy to lovers banter but also the pining was A++! Kim Hani has lived a long life as a gumiho finally settling down from her past of killing and eating men’s livers to work in a coffee shop. She has many customers of the immortal variety but her least favorite has to be Seokga, the fallen trickster god. The two find themselves as partners trying to solve the mystery of a monster attacking the city.
This books is so fun. Yes, there are times where the story can be a bit over the top but it all feels like it is meant to be that way.
That ending had be on the edge of my seat and the action scenes were very well written. I was surprised that there was going to be a sequel because this can also work very well as a stand-alone. (Not that I am complaining because please yes give me more of these two)

This book was so much fun. I fell in love with the characters and the world so quickly. I love the idea of a secret police force for handling mythical creatures and them just living normal lives. Honestly if book two is just a buddy cop situation with the God and the Gumiho and all of their glorious banter I would read it and 37 books after it in the series. That being said I am DYING to read book 2 and see how this story continues.

Cool fantasy K-drama setup, but the tone is decidedly NOT that. It's much more cynical and that made it kind of a slog to get through.

4.5/5 Stars

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and I absolutely ate this book up! There were interesting character dynamics, playful banter, politics, mythology, and so so many romance tropes that were crafted so well.

Hani and Seokga are both powerful immortal beings with complicated histories, yet it was easy to be compelled by their individual stories. Their childish nature as a gumiho and a trickster god was entertaining throughout the book. I really loved how we saw Seokga's character developed and changed throughout the book after meeting Hani.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did not finish this book. I liked the concept of fantasy and crime investigation, but I really realized here that "grumpy/sunshine" is not my trope. I found it challenging to connect with the MCs because I thought they were rude, and their attitudes felt juvenile even though they're very old.

Absolutely amazing. I was so intrigued from start to finish. I instantly fell in love with the characters. If you listen to audiobooks, this one is phenomenal. I felt like the narrators did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life. I don't read many urban fantasies but this one was so unique to me and I truly couldn't get enough. I loved where it ended and I cannot wait for the sequel!!

I would love to see this adapted for film/tv. If it was done right, this could be so good!!

Thank you @netgalley and @delreybooks for the arc.

Hani works at a coffee shop in Iseung, where she delights in messing with the disgraced god Seokga the Fallen. It’s part of her nature as a gumiho (Korean fox spirit) to cause mischief. Seokga hates everything about the mortal realm except for his coffee (one cream one sugar) and works tirelessly to regain his true divinity. But when Hani is assaulted one night and kills her attackers in self-defense, stealing their livers, she sets things in motion that will change life for both of them.

‘The God and the Gumiho’ is set in a modern alternate universe, particularly in Korea, where the gods are real forces to be reckoned with and supernatural creatures (like gumiho’s) live in a society parallel to mortal world. Sophie Kim does a wonderful job of providing enough information to make even those unfamiliar with Korean mythology comfortable while refraining from diverting from the story. There’s also a wonderful balance between the suspense of the story and the romance element which keeps you engaged chapter after chapter.

The book contains some disturbing elements such as cannibalism, violence, sexual assault, and graphic imagery, along with mature themes in general. But everything is truly necessary for the story and does not feel out of place.

I highly recommend Kim’s ‘The God and the Gumiho’ for lovers of urban fantasy, the supernatural, and people wanting to take a step beyond western fantasy standards and stories.

I fell in love with the cover first (such as one does). I will admit that I struggled getting into the book to begin with. It wasn't the beautiful description or a disconnect with the characters; the story just didn't quite click for me until I got about 50 pages in. Once the action begins and the two main characters have to figure out how to work together despite having differing goals, the book became so much better to me.

To be fair, I did see the twist coming rather quickly (I was shaking my head with each interaction with a particular character, knowing what was coming in the near future), but I did like the writing for the most part. The other thing that disgruntled me was the excessive language. I get that it is an adult book (which could be read by a teenager), but Hani's and Seokga's language seemed very limited to (uncreative) swears at times. Overall, I found the plot to be interesting and definitely causes me to start doing some more research into some of the mythology/culture that it is based in.

Note to readers: better to not start a working (and eventual romantic) relationship with someone if you are hiding a pretty important secret. More critically, know that this book can get gory in parts (discusses a lot of death in not-so pretty manners) and the aforementioned language.

If you love k-dramas, you'll definitely enjoy this book. It's got an enemies to lovers trope and classic Korean folklore set in a modern timeline. It did read slow for me, but I appreciated the overall storyline.

The writing was very immersive and felt like i was watching a kdrama and not reading unfortunately I did lose interest fast. I wished there was more time of them being in the yearning stage since they got together so quickly in the story. Would def recommend

DNF

I was interesting and very intriguing but out of nowhere all that disappeared and I got bored.

The first installment of the Fate’s Thread Duology from the author of Last of the Talons is officially out!

Kim’s new book is a contemporary fantasy book deeply rooted in South Korean folklore. In this reluctant allies-to-lovers story perfect for fans of My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, See You In My 19th Life, and Devil No. 4, a fallen god and a gumiho will have to team up to save the mortal realm of Iseung from a powerful demon set on wreaking havoc and darkness. Read at your own risk! (I am so serious)

I truly loved this. It reads like the classic, cliché k-dramas of the late 2000s. It doesn’t have one of the strongest writing styles, but there’s room for improvement in the storytelling. I stayed purely for the vibes. The writer managed to send a sentimental sort of style to Hani and Seokga’s story. I adore romantasy manhwas, so this was perfect, especially when it’s cold and raining. The angst and the yearning were chef’s kiss! I’ve binged lots of k-dramas and if you also like Goblin, then just read this. It’s worth your time, I promise. It’s so nostalgic to read a book with a story alike to the ones I used to binge from a hard drive plugged into my laptop till 3 am. For some reason, I didn’t exactly expect the ending, but it was full of hope enough that I know we’ll get that sequel soon. I highly recommend it!