I definitely had high expectations on this, having read and loved both Wicked Fox and Daughter of the Moon Goddess, which both seemed like reasonable comps for this title. And it definitely improved as it went on. But it was a slow starter.

Kim Hani is not just a gumiho. She is the gumiho in the mythology of this world. Having killed more than any other gumiho alive, she basically single-handedly caused a rule where gumiho are now no longer allowed to kill boys, steal their souls OR eat their livers.

For anyone who comes into this book knowing anything about Korean mythology... this basically stops a gumiho from being, well, a gumiho. And that's where the first part of this novel falls down for me. Hani spends so much of this novel hiding who she is that we don't really get a story of a gumiho within these pages. It's more about the god of deceit and... at other deceitful character.

So, of course they end up falling in love.

I actually didn't have as much problem with Seokga's characterisation, though that could be in part because I didn't come into this novel knowing as much about his mythology and just kinda placed trait's for Loki on top of him. Seokga is a trickster god, brother to the king of the gods. One time, over 600 years ago, he staged a coup that got him stripped of his powers and banished from the land of the gods. Now he has to live out a purgatory because of it in punishment.

I mean, the Loki analog kinda stands up.

These two unlikely characters end up teaming up together to essentially solve crimes in that buddy cop way that turns romantic as it does. There isn't anything wholly innovative about the premise of the story and, given Hani is playing at not being what she is, and Seokga has none of his godlike powers, it's easy to mistake the two of them as little more than paranormal investigators like many others in this particular genre.

And that's sorta why it was so important for the pacing and the characters and the writing itself to really stand out. For me... it didn't. This wasn't better than other stories in the genre to which it falls. It fell steadily short of my personal expectations. It was a solid middle of the range read and I'm glad the Korean mythology rep is being published more frequently, but it wasn't anything stand out.

This was super fun! A great little romantasy in a world blending Korean mythology with modern day mortal life. The writing style is fun and easy to read; the storyline is delightful even if you can guess where it's going. In the preface the author mentions wanting to write something with the vibe of a K-Drama and she has definitely succeeded!
I did find the leads surprisingly immature at times, more so than I expected given their long, long lives. Hani in particular felt kind of young in characterisation, and not as intense as I would have expected given her backstory. It wasn't a huge deal, though, just something that felt a little off.
Regardless, this was a super cute read that I very much enjoyed. I'll definitely be picking up the next one when it comes around!

Straight up this book was hard to read. I wanted to love it but it was tough. I think a lot of my challenge came from not having any grounding in Japanese mythology so there were a few time were creatures were mentioned and it was just expected the reader knew what they were/what their deal was. It was still a fun read but not as fun as it could’ve been.

I think I have found a new book boyfriend.
I really enjoyed the banter between Seokga and Hani. Even though I hate the lying trope it worked really well for the story and they way I BAWLED my eyes out when this book finished.
Watching these 2 fall for each other while trying to save the world was everything. I need the sequel IMMEDIATLEY.

Thank you (and apologies) to NetGalley for the readers copy in exchange for a (late) review.
I was really enjoying this book until my tablet decided to die and I couldn’t access it any more. Tragic I know.
But what I did get to read was great. He only likes coffee and her and honestly I love those priorities. Although this didn’t start as strong as I was hoping (this book was really talked up) I can see kind of where it’s going and I’m excited at the prospects.
I’m also getting into my Kdrama era so this read pairs perfectly.
Bring on the rest. Full review TBA

This felt like the prequel to a certain TV show I ABSOLUTELY ADORED. Its full of warm fuzzies but also the grumpy sunshine feels makes it so much better.

Was I a tad confused to start with? Yes. But after a few chapters, I started to realise where it was going and just what may or may not be happening.

If you are unfamiliar with Korean mythology, it might be useful to do a little reading prior to jumping into this, even if its just a matter of having Google handy to check what is what and why there are inherent and automatic dislikes of some characters by others. Otherwise, go ham. Dive in. Embrace the atmosphere because its fantastic and honestly I need more

This book was such a wild ride!! That ending had me gobsmacked and NEEDING the sequel ASAP.

Full of Korean mythology, The God and the Gumiho follows Kim Hani, a gumiho with a dark secret she has managed hide for hundreds of years and Seokga, a fallen god working to earn his place back in the pantheon after a prank gone wrong. This story mixes in Korean mythology, magic, and a murder mystery to create a entertaining, magic fueled journey with such brilliant banter and enemies to lovers romance. I absolutely loved learning more about Korean mythology, it something that I am familiar with but I did have to google a few things, it didn't impact my experience though. It definitely read like a KDrama which was so much fun as well.

I truly loved the dynamics between Seokga and Hani, their backgrounds and competing motivations was so compelling and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for everything to come to a head. I really loved these two together as well, they brought out such great personalities in each other, and Seokga truly had me swooning, this emotionally constipated man opening up to Hani was so beautiful!!

The ending left me so excited for the sequel to see where it takes our characters, I will impatiently wait for it's release to absolutely devour it!!

Thank you to Hachette Australia & New Zealand | Hodderscape and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review.

I was hooked from the very first page. I love a good murder mystery and this one is particularly gruesome!
Initially, I was drawn by the interweaving of a modern world hiding gods and monsters inspired by Korean mythology.
Then, I stayed for the epic banter and high-octane adventure; I only wish that it was harder to guess the killer for a more dramatic reveal.
I'm definitely going back to read Sophie Kim's debut and excited to see what comes next!

I really enjoyed reading this book. The world which was bought to life between its pages was really vivid and enjoyable as were the main characters.
This is such a vivid and enjoyable book - the imagery is so pretty and the story delightful!
The only thing I could have wanted was one more chapter, but I can see why they left it as they did.

(disclaimer - i received an Arc of this book, but I would rate it 5 stars either way)

3.75 Stars
Steeped in Korean mythology Sophie Kim’s lastest book is a murder mystery of the supernatural kind which sees a fallen god and a Gumiho (nine tailed fox) team together.

Overall this one was fun, it’s a lot more humorous than I thought it would be. It’s funny how the god is obsessed with coffee with one sugar and cream.

There is a lot going on, and if you’re not familiar with some of the mythology it might get a bit confusing. The only thing I didn’t like was how young the two main characters came across considering they are over thousands of years old. Instead they read like moody irresponsible teenagers.

Otherwise I don’t have any particular thoughts about it but do consider it Well worth a read if you’re looking for something steeped in Korean mythology. 3.5⭐️

Thanks to @netgalley and @hachettenz for a eARC. All opinions are my own.

This is why I personally cannot DNF a book. The first half was very slow that I was pretty tempted to give it up but the last half was absolutely brilliant that it made the effort worth it. This book is a vibrant blend of Korean mythology, urban fantasy, murder mystery with a touch of romance and I am so sad it’s over. Great news though, because apparently it’s book 1 in a series. The characters did feel very young for being immortals who have lived for thousands of years but their annoying character traits ended up growing on me and their chemistry together was great. I know very little of Korean mythology but after reading this one I am really excited to do some research. This is the first book I have read by this author but it absolutely will not be the last. Highly recommend to anyone who loves different types of mythology retelling and is happy to work through a slowish start for an incredible conclusion.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette, for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Despite it taking me a little bit to get into, this book was an absolutely wild, thoroughly entertaining ride!! The vibes were that of a fantasy kdrama in the best way, and I loved watching Seokga and Hani grow as the story progressed!

I highly recommend checking this book out!!

I thoroughly enjoyed The God and the Gumiho. It highlighted the beauty of Korean folklore and was such an intriguing read. It was a true enemies to lovers!

I felt as though I was in a fantasy k-drama world and it was incredible! The imagery was fantastical and I sincerely hope we get more from Sophie Kim!

If you enjoyed ‘The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy’ by Megan Bannen and ‘Shanghai Immortal’ by A.Y Chao then you’ll enjoy ‘The God and the Gumiho’ too! It also gave me Buffy, Crescent City, and Spirited Away vibes, with a touch of the X-files but with sassier leading characters. There are lots of interesting creatures in the book, my favourite being the Gumiho/ nine tailed fox, Hani. I liked that Hani had both a good and bad side in her present self and the past Scarlet Fox rampaging self. This added depth to her character. Hani and Seokga have a great dynamic and their interactions throughout the book were very entertaining!

A contemporary fantasy, set in a 90s South Korea, with Korean mythology? I'm in! I love Sophie Kim's Korean mythology-inspired stories.

After Kim Hani devoured too many souls, she now spends her life in a small coffee shop, delighting in annoying a trickster god. The trickster god is Seokga, exiled from the heavenly kingdom, now residing alongside mortals. When Hani becomes Seokga's assistant to throw him off her tail after the deaths of two humans, but they also must kill a powerful demon who escaped from the underworld. Can they work together?

I really enjoyed this one! Hani and Seokga are highly entertaining together. Hani is a powerful, morally grey Gumiho, and Seokga is a god - it is nice to read about characters having similar playing fields in the world and in their relationship too. They are delightful and slightly immature at times, but at times it was so ridiculous that it made it highly entertaining.

For fans of:

❤️ K-Drama vibes
🩷 Banter
❤️ Korean mythology
🩷 Contemporary fantasies
❤️ Murder mystery
🩷 90s setting

Thank you to Hachette Australia for a review copy of The God and the Gumiho! All opinions are my own.

This book was my absolute favourite book of the year so far. This is how I’m my opinion enemies to lovers should be. This book had my laughing, crying and squealing, and I can’t wait for the release! Will be recommending to literally anybody who will listen to me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 4.5/5

This was a fun read, with wonderful worldbuilding and fantastic characters. It wasn't exactly what I expected - it reads rather YA which isn't a bad thing but it isn't advertised as such. The only real issues I had is that the characters' personalites felt rather young when they're both meant to be immortal beings that are hundreds or thousands of years old. I also didn't realise the setting was the 1990s (?) until close to the end - maybe I missed something though. Overall, this was a solid contemporary fantasy that kept me hooked.

While there are little moments that require suspension of disbelief, reading this was such fun and reminded me so much of the K-dramas I used to binge with endless snacks.

There is incredible Sherlock-and-Watson-esque banter between Hani, a sassy gumiho and Seokga, a trickster god, as they unexpectedly come together to solve a mystery. The fact that they are both inherently morally grey because of who they are, with clashing goals but are also falling for each other makes it really interesting as well. Even though I would personally have preferred more focus on the fantastical in place of the romantic, the plot is fast-paced and gripping, and the world of gods, reapers and Unrulies (monsters and trouble-making spirits) in the 21st century is still great fun.

Thank you Hachette Australia & New Zealand, the author and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I leave this review voluntarily.

With thanks to the author, Sophie Kim, Hachette Australia & New Zealand and Netgalley for a copy of this earc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the story of a fallen trickster God, Seogka and Kim Hani, a shapeshifting Gumiho, once known as the Scarlet Fox, and them not falling in love. Together they must overcome their differences to track an escaped underworld demon. While Kim Hani's secret identity is unknown to Seokga, his chance at retribution and reinstatement as a full God involves both capturing the demon at large and the Scarlet Fox. Complicating things are Hani and Seogka's feelings for each other.

This was a delightful introduction to the world of Korean-inspired fantasy storytelling. In and of itself this was a mix of beautifully evocative passages, such as the opening cherry blossom tableau and chunks where my lack of K-drama insight meant I feel I was missing out on truly appreciating the interactions of the characters.

I didn’t see a “Loki” style trickster God in Seogka. His personality is initially, tired, grumpy and depressed until he and Hani fall down a hill together (this is not a euphemism). Hani exhibits more foxy cunning and is “An Noying” at times. The story really got pace in the second half when both characters come to care not only about the outcome they are striving for but, soften towards each other becoming ‘happy around the edges’. For me, the characters were nicer characters to read in the second part of the book. Make no mistake, any romance is secondary to the mystery taking place. The penultimate fight scene was powerful and I am curious to see where the story goes next.

All in all I enjoyed ‘The God and the Gumiho’ as an introduction to contemporary Korean fantasy I am keen to read more. I look forward to more of Seokga in the future.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely devoured this book the way that Kim Hani (used to) devours souls. As someone who is a huge Naruto fan, I had to get my hands on an early copy of The God and the Gumiho.

This book had all the tropes that had me swooning including: forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, one bed trope.

The character of Seokga the Fallen has me in a chokehold. I love his stubborn, sarcastic, moody, coffee loving self, but the real star of this book is definitely my fox Kim Hani. She is the embodiment of myself: sassy, bossy, quick whited and hilarious. I want to be her friend sooo bad.

The two start off with a mutual hatred for one another, but when an unruly demon is wreaking havoc on the city of Iseong, the two must come together to solve the mystery of who is at the hands of such destruction. At the same time, Seogka is also trying to uncover the true identity of the Scarlet fox, so that he may fulfil a bargain made to his emperor brother, in killing her. Only once he has accomplished his task, will his brother see to it that he restores Seogka's title as The God of Deceit.

However, there is more to his assistant Kim than meets the eye, as she is none other than the Scarlet fox herself.

Everything about the story was so well executed. The only thing I had a slight issue with is the ending of the book. I did feel it was a little rushed, and I was hopeful there would be at least a reveal as to who/what is tied to the end of the thread in terms of a physical body. Unless of course there will be another book in which I would absolutely love to read, as I want to know more about the reconciliation of Seogka and Hani.