Listen, Axie knows how to do Fantasy well. I loved her book “The girl who fell beneath the sea” and after that I have read most of her books.

This was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and it didn’t disappoint, I need book 2 asap!

I think Axie Oh and I just don't really mix as author reader. I didn't hate this but I also wasn't wowed by this. I felt the same with her other books. I wanted to like it more but it just didn't really do anything spectacular or give me any real connection to the characters. The synopsis had me hooked but I just felt a little lackluster while listening to the audiobook.

The world is very cool and I’m really loving these characters and the way their stories intertwine. It’s a retelling of the Korean folk legend of the Celestial Maidens, which wasn’t something I was familiar with but I’m always here for a good retelling. It took me a bit to get into the story but overall the characters were well crafted and I really enjoyed how the seemingly different storylines intertwined. I really enjoyed this and look forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would like more please.

This book was so atmospheric and cinematic. I usually struggle to visualize the things I read in my head, but I had no issue with this book, it literally felt like a movie and I could picture the setting so well in my head.

Ren is such an interesting main character because she does fall under the “chosen one” trope, and she KNOWS it and wants nothing to do with it. She found happiness in a simple life with a family she found (her little family is so sweet, Big Uncle *cries*). It will be interesting to see how she deals with how her life has changed in the sequel.

Which brings me to Sunho, my sweet boy, Sunho. He doesn’t deserve any of this stuff he’s been through. A scary mercenary on the outside, but the sweetest, kindest boy on the inside. I hope he can learn to forgive himself…

Our last narrator, Jaeil is actually very intriguing to me, but mostly because we get his POV and I still feel like I have no idea what his motivations are. I am guessing he will have a bigger role to play in the sequel and I love forward to seeing how that turns out.

Final note, Ren and Sunho are so cute and I better get to see them be so happy together in the sequel.

Read this book.

Thank you to MacMillan and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 was so refreshing, and it felt like a true escape! This immersive young adult Korean fantasy was such a joy to lose myself in, and I was so excited to venture into the world each time I picked the book up.

The characters were motivated and strongly driven to protect their familial bonds. In a market saturated with enemies to lovers character arcs and stabby personalities, it's refreshing to read about sweet (and still completely capable and badass) characters. I loved the execution of the found family trope, too!

The concept for the world felt so fantastical and unique, and it was presented vividly and with expert pacing.

...and I have the sequel in my NetGalley queue?! What a dream. MacMillan, you spoil me!

I recieved an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel and Friends for the opportunity.

To be honest, I had a bit of a hard time getting into this for the first few chapters, but only because I was expecting it to be written just like The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. That's completely on me and having unreasonable expectations. As I read, I realized that this was a different writing style, but I was enjoying it. I think one thing that may have helped me feel more immersed in the story was if I'd read the actual legend of the Celestial Maidens before starting the book. I love that Axie Oh is providing a way to learn about different mythology that isn't just regurgitated European stories.

I really enjoyed how Sunho and Ren started as strangers, became friends, and then realized their importance to each other. Axie Oh doesn't seem to write insta love or really your typical slow burn. Real life relationships start as friendships, and her writing really reflects that. I did figure out the little twist about Ren relatively quickly, but I did not guess Sunho's twist until we were in the thick of it. I also loved the different forms of found family: the troupe who found Ren and claimed her as theirs, and the friendships she and Sunho form with others. Axie Oh definitely leaves you on a cliffhanger and I'm really curious to see how things are wrapped up in book two.

I was lucky enough to be approved for The Demon and The Light as well. So stay tuned for that review!

This was fun, and really engaging. Great for fans of Avatar the Last Airbender, and video games like Final Fantasy. I read through it really fast, and felt it was accessible for tweens, teens, and adults alike. This was action-packed, with lots of twists and turns. I thought the world building was strong, the concept was compelling, and that it was an overall enjoyable read. I wish it had been just a bit longer, so we could have more time to develop some of the relationships and characters a bit more, but I do look forward to the sequel.

An involved Korean mythological retelling of the floating world with Ren and Sunho at the center-- these two people who will become comingled romantically on an adventure when they realize they were the person all along. Sunho was down on his luck until and opportunity to seek out a specific person might lead to riches and when Ren (this person) has to escape after a tragic incident where she releases a magic that kills an attacker forces her to have to abandon her adoptive family.

It's equal parts adventure and character-driven with a setting to match. It reads a little like Traci Chee's [book:A Thousand Steps into Night|55948826].

I really enjoyed this story!

Read if you like:
Hidden identities
Found family
Slow burn
Demons
Royal politics
Reimagining of the Korean legend Celestial Maidens

The world created by the author was truly fascinating and a delight to discover. It was easy to visualize and, to me, was a bit reminiscent of a Ghibli movie. The premise was super intriguing and even though I wasn't blown away by any revelations I still had an amazing time.

Our main characters were truly so wonderful and easy to love. I really liked the different vibes we got from these two characters. Their world was so contrasting and even though they are kind of opposite, at their chore they also are the same. They both had this selflessness side about them and truly were doing what they were doing in hopes of helping others which is something that I cannot help find appealing. The closeness between them was utterly enjoyable. In between the secrets you could tell they still had a solid connection, their trust of each other was heartwarming.

I am someone who adores a good found family trope, and this one was full of it! From Ren's street performer family to Sunho's friends, it was simply perfect. While the story was a bit of a slow burn, it still started with a bang and sure ended with one as well. There was a good amount of action, and I particularly enjoyed getting to find out about all those missing pieces in our character's memories as the story went on.

This was my first read from this author, and certainly not my last. Well crafted characters, a captivating world, a plot that keeps you enthralled from start to finish and so much heart to this story. Definitely recommend picking this one up!

I cannot wait to get my hands on book two!

Thanks to ColoredPagesBookTours, Fierce Reads and Axie Oh for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Axie Oh never disappoints with her heroines. Definitely recommend this to someone who likes world building, a capable and confident MC, some mystery, and good chemistry between characters. I'm so excited to see what the next leg of her journey will look like.

Axie Oh just doesn’t miss. Can’t wait for book two.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

A beautiful Korean inspired fantasy. Ren loves her life as a performer in her adoptive family's troupe... until a monster crashes the party. Then she is drawn back into the world she never planned to return to, The Floating World. Sunho is a soldier turned mercenary living in the Under World with no memory of his past, save that he has a brother he would do anything to find. He is quick to accept when offered a great reward to track down Ren, if one of the many hired assassins doesn't find her first.

I got a lot of enjoyment out of this fantasy romance. Both main characters had interesting and mysterious backstories, which were slowly revealed throughout the novel. They had great chemistry with each other. Gotta love a slow burn romance. The world feels large and fantastical. Nothing I didn't like, except maybe the cliffhanger ending, haha. Can't wait for the sequel.

Oh I really loved this one! Can’t wait to get my hands on the second book. I loved the world building, loved the emotion and the trauma and the yearning. It was perfection. This is my first Axie Oh read and I need to check out her other works!

°book tour°

Top 5 Reasons to Read The Floating World by Axie Oh

1. Lush Mythology – Dive into a richly imagined world inspired by Korean folklore, where floating city, underworld city, and humans coexist in breathtaking harmony and tension. The world, storytelling is gorgeous.

2. Powerful Heroine – Ren is bold, loyal, and unafraid to challenge fate—her journey is one of sacrifice, strength, and danger.

3. Romantic & Heartfelt – A slow-burning romance between Ren and Sunho will tug at your heartstrings and leave you swooning for days. It is authentic.

4. Stunning Prose – Axie Oh’s writing is lyrical and immersive, making every page feel like a dream. Both Ren and Sunho's POV makes the experience both enhanced and special. It is emotional, and one with heartbreak.

5. Themes That Stick – This is intriguing and mysterious. It explores family, identity, and the courage to rewrite your story—perfect for readers who love meaningful fantasy.

I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to the sequel.

Ren has spent the last 10 years living as an acrobat with her adoptive family after the death of her mother, but she's also been hiding a shocking power that could bring danger upon them. After she accidentally uses it to kill a demon that is attaching the village, she realizes she must be the one to travel to where the monster came from in order to save her poisoned uncle.

Sunho used to be a soldier in the underworld, until he woke up with a sword and no memory. He hears that a large bounty is being offered for a girl who yields a silver light, so he boards the train with the other mercenaries. After an attack drives him from the train, he and Ren, who is masked, cross paths and agree to help each other on their journeys.

This story is based on the Korean folktale of the Celestial Maidens. Books based on folktales and legends don't often work for me, but this one did. The folktale is incorporated with a light touch, and it didn't make me feel dumb for not being familiar with it. The romance is also very light, and YA appropriate.

I've only read Axie Oh's k-pop books, so this felt like a departure for me, but a well done departure. I enjoyed the story, and found it easier to follow than I expected. The ending is a bit open, so don't be surprised that there is a sequel coming later this year.

The Floating World is the first of a YA romantic fantasy series. The novel follows Ren, an acrobat in a traveling dance troupe with secret magical abilities, and Sunho, an ex-soldier who does not remember his past. After Ren’s uncle is severely wounded by a demon, she journeys away from her family to find a cure. Meanwhile, Sunho has been paid to find and capture Ren. When their paths collide, the two find themselves struggling to be honest with one another, while growing closer.

I was looking forward to reading this one. Unfortunately, almost the whole story fell flat. The relationship between Ren and Sunho felt like insta-love, and there was a lack of depth for each character. I also struggled with the world building and found I was never pulled in enough to try to understand the world and magic.

The writing itself was still entertaining enough to finish, although I will not be continuing this series. I knew this was a YA going in, but was a younger YA than expected.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

Axie Oh has done it again. This book is another Studio Ghibli-esque novel. The vibes of this book are immaculate with the world building being so phenomenal. This book did not grab me as much as "The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea" or have as much pull at needing to know the "secret" but it still left me wanting to read and know what was going on. The pace of this book was pretty fast but the timeline felt a little ✨off✨. Even with those criticisms, this was a lovely book off vibes alone.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for this eARC.

Thank you Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC of The Floating World. We follow Ren, a fiercely determined acrobat searching for a cure to save uncle after he was attacked in a village by demon like creatures and Sunho, a former soldier with no memory from the past two years who is on a mission to track down Ren for a reward. When their paths collide, it’s anything but simple. Caught between half-truths, hidden motives, and growing trust, the two reluctantly team up and slowly begin to unravel not just the mystery around them, but each other. Ren and Sunho’s dynamic kept me intrigued, especially as layers of truth began to peel back. Their growth, individually and together, felt natural and earned. The world building was immersive and vivid! I could see the floating worlds, the bustling markets, and the undercurrents of rebellion and danger. The pacing was steady, with story building that felt purposeful and necessary, laying the foundation for emotional depth and adventure alike.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Axie Oh has created something unforgettable with The Floating World. This book is a slow descent into dreamlike dystopia—a world full of ghosts, memory, and resistance. The writing is lush, cinematic, and full of soul. The story unfolds with intention, wrapping themes of grief, rebellion, and ancestral connection into every chapter.

The protagonist’s journey is deeply personal, laced with yearning and disillusionment. There’s magic, but it’s rooted in emotion and consequence. This isn’t a fantasy that tries to dazzle—it burrows under your skin. Thoughtful, haunting, and deeply affecting, it’s a novel that lingers long after the final page.

What an immersive tale!

I think the pacing was a little off because it felt like these two main characters came to trust each other very quickly, but I loved everything else about this book.

The uniqueness of the Under World, the Floating World and everything in between was so refreshing. It's a cool concept and I read this book not really able to compare it to anything else—which is a good thing. Especially for me who reads tons of books and many end up feeling the same.

I'm really excited to see where this story goes from here. Definitely looking forward to The Demon and The Light!