This was such a good story! I enjoyed the dynamic between the characters and the worldbuilding was interesting. Looking forward to the next book!

Sunho doesn't remember much. He knows he was a soldier, and he knows he had a brother. He lives in the Underworld now, dark from the shadow of the Floating World above them - but he doesn't know how he got there. His whole life now shifts on the axis of his brother - where is he? What happened to them? And what is the demon that hides in his veins? Does his brother know?
Ren, meanwhile, is content in her life. She works with her family as an acrobat, putting on traveling shows for anyone they can find, in the sun far past the edges of the Floating World. When a strange monster attacks and badly wounds her cousin, she embarks on a journey to find a cure and save his life.
Sunho and Ren find their paths intertwine. Suddenly Sunho's whole world becomes much wider, and Ren's narrows to a past she hoped to leave behind. There are things being asked of them that impact the whole world, including the one hovering above.

3.5 stars rounded up, because this left a really good taste in my mouth (no, I'm not eating the books, don't worry guys).
The romance was actually quite beautiful, and the plot was interesting, but something was missing for me. I think it was in the pacing; at times it was quite slow, and then something would suddenly feel really rushed. I wanted more on the world building side as well - I want to know more about the Underworld, and about the land outside of the Floating World's shadow. The human experimentation stuff felt a bit thrown in last minute (although tbf we were getting teased with it the whole time). I wanted to know more about the dynamics between Jaeil and Ren - Jaeil was actually really interesting, but his entire character felt a bit of an afterthought at times, partly because he was competing for page time with Ren and Sunho, and we weren't sure what his actual significance was for half of the book.
Overall, I wanted more from this, but I felt the author has real talent. Her writing is lovely, and as I said before, the romance was genuinely beautiful. Looking forward to the rest of the series, and would love to check her backlist as well. I would recommend this book for fans of SHADOW AND BONE and SIX CRIMSON CRANES.

i was immediately drawn by the premise and i was fully immersed in the worldbuilding for this book!!

I found this book to be interesting. I really enjoyed the world-building and how detailed the setting was; it really made it feel magical and vast. I enjoyed the found family aspect and the characters in the story as they were very intriguing, even though I didn't really connect much with them. Overall, the story was pretty interesting and I had a good time with it, although it was not my favorite. Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for our honest review.

Oh, this book was a very pleasant surprise. I’ve been having a rough time picking books that actually leave me satisfied.
Axie Oh for sure as quickly becoming one of my favorite authors in terms of her storytelling and her characters. I loved being able to follow Ren and Sunho on our journeys of self discovery and their romance blossom.
This book leaving off on a cliffhanger for sure was a bummer because I really wanna know what happens so I’m for sure. Excited for Book two.
Great characters, great storyline, and just an all-around great book that will hook you from the opening sentence till the last page is turned .
I like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan and publishing giving me the amazing opportunity to read this book. My review is an honest reflection of my feelings, and I am forever grateful.

The studio ghibli vibes were strong with this one. I definitely think the pacing was unique in that way. It felt slow and deliberate. It didn’t have the fast pace, constant motion of a typical fantasy novel. This felt more like how howl’s moving castle has moments of everyone simply existing. Things are always happening but they happen slower sometimes.

Anything by Axie Oh, I will immediately read. I was really interested based on the cover alone, but the description also called out to me. The different identities for the two main characters was interesting to me, that they were both so very different and coming from different parts of the world we are set in. And the way they come together is very natural, and I enjoyed that I could not exactly predict how it was going to play out. I imagined it would be different, but I feel like Axie Oh always surprises me. Regardless, this book was written beautifully. It was lovely being able to read something where it wasn't exactly the same as others of similar genre, but it wasn't so otherworldly that it didn't make sense or flow. I loved that every part of the story flowed naturally. Love love love this one.

Sorry this review is way late! But I liked this book wasn’t my absolute favorite ever but it was fun.

“Sometimes there’s a feeling inside you that’s too big to contain”…”you need to let it out, there’s no harm in that.”

This book is all of the best parts of YA fantasy, all the tropes and a nod to those who have gone before (*Ahem* Mithril references to Tolkien, anyone? It made me smile the first time I saw it.)
Ren is your typical protagonist and can come off a little naive, but it lends to the overall feeling of innocence in a dark beautiful world (Ghibli fans will feel the ties.) There is lots of emotional development, I also really enjoyed the lush worldbuilding and the writing style.

Overall, really enjoyed this one and am excited for the sequel!

Content: some language, violence and some darker themes but well executed

The Floating World was incredible! From the first page to the last, this is the most unique and engrossing story I have read in as long as I can remember. Axis Oh’s world-building is worthy of every writing award that exists. I have read Tolkien, Martin, Adams, Rowling (etc) and I wholeheartedly believe this is the best and most unique world-building I have ever read. I love the multiple POV structure and how the connections between characters is slowly revealed piece by piece like pulling back the layers of an onion. Book 2 comes out right after my birthday and I truly cannot get it into my hands fast enough!

I really wanted to like this book more than I did, but the pacing really kept me from being fully immersed in the story. It was very slow for a long time, and then sped up towards the end. I think an additional 50 to 100 pages towards the end of the book would have helped maintain the pacing that was established from the beginning. Alternatively, if the pacing from the beginning was not as slow, I think that the gradual buildup towards the fast paced, ending with not as jarring as it was for me.

While the world building was very intriguing, I, at times, struggled to connect with Ren and Sunho. I think part of it has to do with how long it took for our main characters to meet within the book and how naïve they both were at times. There was some tension and some suspense for our characters, but nothing that took them to the next level for the high-stakes that the book was trying to set up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read and review this fantastic story!

If you want a new take on YA fantasy with endearing characters and a unique world, give this book a serious try! I have never had the pleasure of reading works by Axie Oh before, but I would love to track down more works by this author after reading The Floating World. I would love to have had just a little more build up with the characters and world, but overall this was a very wonderful read that ended too quickly! I can’t wait for the second one.

For it's flaws, which don't number that many, this is a book we need more of. The plot is enthralling and fun. The romance was a lighter, fresher take than what we're currently getting in YA fantasy-romance. The atmosphere is very reminiscent of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, which made me all the more eager to continue. I wish I could give it a 3.5

It could have benefitted from more world-building and connection with the characters. There was distance throughout the story that made it harder to cheer with the characters' wins and cry with their losses. I also thought pacing was a little back-and-forth, with some scenes I thought were important flying by, while simultaneously wondering how Ren's travels only culminated to 3 weeks' worth.

I would heartily recommend this for teens and other YA-readers looking for something refreshing. Having also read The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, I believe Axie Oh is a talented writer with a lot of heart and a unique voice. I look forward to reading the next installment as well as her other works.

A soldier with no memories of his past must hunt down a lost princess; a traveling performer must save her uncle from a terrible illness. Ren used to be important, but after the murder of her mother, she was saved by a traveling performing troupe and was raised by Auntie, her husband, and her younger brother, living her best life as a nobody and an acrobat. When what seems like a demon attacks the town where they're performing, Ren uses the magic she isn't supposed to use to save herself and Little Uncle, but such a display draws attention from the man who killed her mother and wants her dead. Sunho is from the Underworld, the city under the Floating World; he was a child soldier, as many are, but he has very few memories of his life before two years ago, just that he has a brother he needs to find. When he is recruited as one of only a handful of people to bring back the missing princess alive, with the reward being information on his older brother, he knows his work is cut out for him. When their paths cross, things only get more dangerous, and the relationship the two form seems doomed.
This is a fast-paced, thrilling fantasy with an adorable romance in it. I don't know the original story of the Celestial Maiden, but this is a great story. It's a really interesting world that Oh has put together, and the cast of characters is stellar. It also has just a touch of a heist story to it, and I love a good heist.

Axie Oh is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. I adore this book. I'm obsessed with the characters. I love the main characters Ren and Sunho SO much. I also love the side characters like Jaeil, Sana, Yurhee, and Tag. I'm so excited for the next book which I read will complete this duology.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Floating World
Author: Axie Oh

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Publishing for my copy of this read. I’ve read a few other books by Axie Oh, but this was my first fantasy by her and I really enjoyed it. Ren’s village is attacked by a demon, and during the chaos she discovers she can wield a magical force called silver light. When her uncle is poisoned by the demon, she sets off on a journey to find a cure. Meanwhile, Sun-ho, a former soldier, accepts a job to track down a girl with rare magic in exchange for a large reward. Their paths eventually cross, and instead of being enemies, they form an unexpected alliance and begin working together. I loved the demon slaying element and thought the world building was well done without being too complex. Axie Oh sets the foundation for what promises to be an exciting series.

An intensely unique world filled with intriguing characters that will endear themselves to you in just a few pages. The author's world-building and detailed settings make me feel as though I am in the story and not just a casual observer from the outside, chasing mysteries through paper and ink.

This was a very enjoyable quick read. I enjoyed the world building and, I would definitely pick up the sequel.

Thank you Netgalley, Axie Oh for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Floating World is a YA fantasy inspired by Korean heavenly maiden mythology. It follows Ren, a girl with a hidden divine lineage, who sets out on a quest to find a cure after a demon attack threatens a loved one. Meanwhile, Sunho, a mercenary from the Under World, takes on a mission to capture a rumored heavenly maiden—unaware that it will lead him to Ren and deeper into a personal mystery involving his missing brother. As their paths intertwine, romance blossoms and the stakes rise. With a rich setting, magical elements, and themes of identity and belonging, this novel is a great fit for fans of fantasy romance and myth-based adventures.

3.25 ⭐️ When I heard this book was marketed as Final Fantasy meets Korean folklore?!
I SAID. SIGN. ME. UP.

This is a lighthearted read with surprisingly dark elements for a YA title.

👫 I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I’d hoped. The two leads are more fleshed out, while the supporting cast felt a bit one-dimensional, almost NPC-like, which is ironically fitting given the worldbuilding. That said, I was drawn to the dynamic between the main duo. The romance felt believable. I gushed over a moment.. or two.

🗺️ Axie Oh has such an imaginative mind. She crafts lush, vivid fantasy settings with descriptive prose. There's so much potential here, and I’d love to see her dive deeper into the lore of each region and what makes them distinct.

🔚 The ending. Straight to Juviee.
Excited to see what unfolds in the next installment.