Stopping around 50 or 60%, though honestly I wanted to DNF from about a quarter through. unfortunately this book just wasn't doing anything for me - the characters were bland, the world setting mildly confusing, the plot boring. I appreciate that part of the story was based on the Korean celestial maiden folktale, but I also felt that it didn't add much of cultural significance to the story.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads, but I think I was drawn in by a pretty cover and interesting synopsis. This story follows three (yes, three) characters as the world learns that the Celestial Maidens didn't die out, and one still lives. The Celestial Maidens are the royalty of the Floating World, and when the Queen and her heir went missing years ago, everyone thought they had died out. Ren is a troupe performer with light magic, hiding herself among her adopted family. Sunho is a mercenary with no memory from everything before 2 years prior and a dark presence within him that he calls the Demon. And Jaeil is the captain of the guard and son of the general, attempting to save the last celestial maiden from his father.

Yes, there is a third character, and I think he was absolutely robbed by not being included in the synopsis. Jaeil was my favorite by far.

I had such high hopes for this book, and instead I was left wanting. It was just so fast paced, from the get-go. We were given no time to truly sit in scenes, no time was left to develop the plot and I really felt like the author was pulling me through the story. The romance between Sunho and Ren was very much insta-love, which was incredibly disappointing. There was just a lack of depth to this story and it really disappointed me. There were multiple scenes that felt like it could have been the end of the book (if the whole book had more depth), and then this could have been an expansive series instead of a duology.

I love the world, which is also why I enjoyed Jaeil's perspective the most. We got the most world building from him, and I am so curious about what role he will play in the rest of the series. The only time I didn't enjoy his perspective was near the end, when his character stagnated a bit.

I never felt like I earned any of the reveals of the book, it just felt like they were thrown at me and then the characters moved on. It was just too fast-paced. If I wasn't reading this to review it (thanks NetGalley), I would have DNF'd.

The final scene, <spoiler>where Ren gets her wings</spoiler>, was probably the best part of the entire book (besides Jaeil). Overall, this book wasn't horrible, but it definitely wasn't for me.

What a wonderful treat! 3.5 stars rounded up.

This was my first taste of Axie Oh’s writing and it definitely won’t be the last. Drawing inspiration from Korean mythology, Ren and Sunho’s story was exceptionally creative and so well written. The plot was engaging and the action never lets up. The author does a wonderful job of showing not telling, resulting in the reader being thrust into the action, learning and experiencing the world for themself.

Ren and Sunho are pretty adorable. I loved Sunho’s determination - he never gives up and is always willing to throw himself into harms way to help those he cares for. The romance was a little too insta-lovey for my taste but loved the characters together nonetheless.

I do feel the characters read a bit younger than they actually are and therefore I would classify this as on the younger side of YA. This didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story in any way though.

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much! We have a fast and engaging plot, beautiful world building, with a touch of mystery and intrigue. I’m excited to see how things end in book 2!

The Floating World is a YA fantasy based on the Korean myth of the Celestial Maidens, with a secret magic wielder on a quest to save a sick family member, a mercenary with missing memories, humans turned monsters, and an aristocracy that lives on a floating land mass above the rest of the world. There's a lot going on and sadly the story falls short of its premise. Threads needed to connect the moving parts are missing, which leaves a disconnect the author is unable to overcome.

I've read three other books by Axie Oh, so I headed into this one with much anticipation. It seems much more common for high expectations to go unmet than to be exceeded, but I was so enthralled with this story, from the world-building to the character-building to the relationship-building. I was torn between wanting to speed through this pages and wanting to savor them. I mostly ended up speeding (including some bleary-eyed middle-of-the-night reading), so I may actually give this a re-read just to experience it again. An enthusiastic five stars!

A fascinating world, intriguing characters, and emotional conflicts. This book is perfect for fans of sweet romance and layered fantasy worldbuilding.

[NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, my NetGalley feedback is not a blurb or endorsement. If a publisher wishes to use any part of my comments for promotional purposes, please contact me or my agent via email. I would prefer not to include star ratings but NetGalley won't let me post without one, so all will be 5 stars.]

[4.5/5 stars ]

Ren is a troupe performer who lives with her adoptive family. Sunho is an ex-soldier who barely has memories of his life. When Ren is determined to find the cure for her poisoned uncle and Sunho is hired as a sword-for-hire to bring back a girl who wields silver light, their destinies are far more intertwined than they could have imagined.

Final-fantasy-meets-reimagining-of-the-Korean-legend-of-Celestial-Maidens vibes, the lush world-building loaded with demon and unbalanced worlds is crafted in a mesmerizing way that gives some kind of nostalgia and fascination. Ren and Sunho are bound to find their own answers, about their mysterious (forgotten) past while their inner essence dictate their paths - I adore their dynamic that makes them perfect soulmates, the friendships they build amidst the darkness and the found family.

In the path of perhaps losing themselves, the characters might be reckless in a way that feels very YA yet their development adds texture to the addictive story that echoes politics, corruption, power, capitalism and mainly a game between betrayal x freedom. Even in what initially feels like a formulaic plot, there's not a dull moment and the gratifying revelations in the last one hundred pages turn this into an explosive bridge before the conclusion book.

With fluid prose, THE FLOATING WORLD is an enticing YA romantic fantasy brimming with vibes and brokenness, in which our characters must find their identities. I am yearning for more of the side characters and I am looking forward to conclude this journey in the last book of duology (out October 2025!).

I really struggled with what to ultimately rate this book. Although I really loved the world and characters there were quite a few things that bothered me.

The pacing in this book was so bad. I felt almost everything was rushed through to the point nothing felt remotely significant or tense. It was just a constant stream of something would happen and be over with in one to two paragraphs. Then they would immediately move on. It actually became hard to follow at a few points with how quickly things just moved on.

The story however was really fun and I really felt like it could have been a Final Fantasy game. There is a lot of potential to build out the world more and flush out characters better. The chapters with Jaeil were easily the best written throughout the book. Although the pacing issues still persisted I felt they were significantly less noticeable with his.

Overall I would give this book an actual rating of ⭐️3.5 stars. I think there is potential for this series to grow.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and @macmillanusa for the ARC of The Floating World! @axieoh did such a beautiful job in creating a unique and magical world - I loved visualizing the landscape and fantasy elements to the story.

The story itself I also thought was paced amazingly - from the beginning I was drawn in and couldn’t put the book down! I’m excited for a special edition of this book to release 🥰 Also so excited that book 2 is already coming out this year 🔥

Axie Oh never fails to write exquisite YA fantasies that seamlessly blend Korean mythology, adventure, and heart. If you love The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Elizabeth Lim or Stephanie Garber books, add this to your TBR immediately!

Ren, a traveling troupe performer, embarks on a cure for her uncle when her adoptive family is viciously attacked. Along the way, Ren meets Sunho, who unknowingly has been hired to find her though he doesn’t know it. In their time together, they slowly fall for another despite the secrets each is hiding.

The relationship between Ren and Sunho is so pure and beautiful. They perfectly encapsulate first love. Both POVs are so well done and balanced that I found myself loving both of them equally. And that third POV?! There seems to be much more to explore!

I did feel that the end was a little rushed and would’ve liked more time with some characters. I honestly can’t wait for book 2! It’ll be one I read as soon as it’s released!

A huge thank you to Macmillan Children’s Group and Netgalley for the arc.

I absolutely originally wanted to read this book because of the Final Fantasy comparison, and because I've loved Axie Oh's other works.

The writing/prose was excellent, as I would expect from this author. The world building in this story is well done, and was worked into the plot in ways that felt very natural. I appreciate that the lore was given throughout the story, rather than all in the beginning as some fantasy books tend to do.

I was super into Sunho's backstory and loved his POV chapters the most. I liked Ren, but unfortunately she felt a little more flat and just didn't seem to have as much personality shine through. I understand why Jaeil didn't get as many chapters as Ren and Sunho, but I'd really like to know more about him and hope he has a greater role in the sequel. Yurhee and Tag were a lot of fun and I definitely want them to have more page time in the next book as well!

Sunho and Ren developed a relationship a little more quickly than I would've thought. I almost felt like they trusted each other a little too fast, and Sunho started prioritizing Ren above some of his long-term goals in what felt like just a few pages. I wasn't expecting this to be a slow burn or anything like that - I just think I would've enjoyed a little more build up. They had some very cute moments and I look forward to seeing more development in the next book!

My biggest nitpick, and what kept this from getting a higher rating from me, is that some pages felt like a Final Fantasy 7 cutscene. I was expecting a certain level of inspiration or parallel to the FF7 story but this felt a little jarring at times. Like a character would show up and all I could think was "oh this is XYZ from the game." It didn't happen often but it took me out of the story a bit when it did occur.

Overall I quite enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone! I'm looking forward to continuing this series.

This was such a good, interesting read!! I loved the world-building and the writing. Sunho and ren were also so likable. And I love how everything Axie writes feels so similar to Studio Ghibli. Anything that reminds me of studio ghibli is an automatic plus for me!

I do wish that we got more from the third POV Character because my goodness, he was so interesting! Hoping we have more character and plot development there.

Looking forward to the continuation of this series and anything else Axie writes in the future!

Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

🌙To start, I'd like to send out a big thank you to the author, Axie Oh, MacMillan Children's Group (Feiwel & Friends), and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Floating World as a digital copy. I will share my review to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble upon release. This YA fantasy combines elements of magic, folklore, cozy charm, and a quest that brings our characters together to confront both their own vulnerabilities and change the world.

🌙The main characters are Ren and Sunho, an acrobat and mercenary with hidden secrets, respectively. The classic story of light v. darkness is explored with layers of worldbuilding that feel fresh and inspired - the floating cities are really just so cool, and the warring kingdoms and political strife made it all feel real, despite the fantastical setting. I felt the chemistry between the two right away, and their individual power as well as how they support and push each other was so great. Their romantic slow burn tension is drawn out wonderfully, considering their opposites-attract energy and misfit dynamic. The banter between the two made the book so fun to read, the side characters have my heart, and the worldbuilding made the story just plain fun to imagine. This book brought all of this together in a really satisfying way. All of the separate character arcs are unique, but come together, although it does feel slightly rushed. Axie Oh's prose and writing style kept me turning the pages at lighting speed. If you're a fan of Final Fantasy, Studio Ghibli, the Shadow & Bone series by Leigh Bardugo, or Howl's Moving Castle, this one will be up your alley. Perfect for ages 14+ (mild violence, swoony-but-chaste romance). If you love fantasy that balances spectacle with soul, get your hands on this ASAP! That cliffhanger?💘I’ll be counting down to the sequel!

🌙The cover is AMAZING! It gave me a foundation to imagine the beautiful worldbuilding that is scaffolded out by Oh throughout the tale, and the characters standout there in the middle, and every detail whispers the soul of the story: Ren’s hip-mounted mask, Sunho’s windswept scarlet scarf, and the Floating World itself looming like a dream behind. The haunting glow gives the perfect vibes. It’s the kind of cover that makes you need to know the story inside. I love the font and color palette, and it would definitely catch my eye and make me stop to check it out further if I saw it in a bookstore.

🌙Major tropes & themes:

🏙️floating city atmosphere
🤝found family
🎭hidden identity/mystery
🔥slow burn romance
💞 identity & belonging
⚔️class structure & power
📖set up for sequel!
🖤 morally gray characters
🚂action adventure, but with heart

✨4/5 stars! thanks again!✨

I liked this book but I felt like I was missing important information about the world, that the overall world building was just a bit lacking. That being said I like Sunho and Ren and am invested enough in their story to keep reading the series as it comes out.
There were a few places where the fight descriptions were off and should be looked at.

I’ve been a huge fan of Axie Oh for years and I’m so excited to read her new fantasy duology! I’m not super familiar with Final Fantasy, but this combined with Korean mythology sounded so interesting and I knew Axie would give us something good. The Floating World was a wonderful read, full of intense worldbuilding and soft romance.

We follow two characters: Sunho, an ex-soldier who woke up one day ago with no memories except that he needs to find his older brother; and Ren, a cheerful girl traveling in an acrobatic troupe with her adoptive family. The troupe is in the last village of their route when they’re attacked by a mysterious demon; Ren manages to fight it with her light powers, exposing her magical abilities, but not before her uncle is deathly poisoned. She decides to set over the mountains to find a cure, putting her in the path of Sunho, who accepts a mercenary job to find the girl with the silver light.

As is typical with this author’s books, The Floating World is full of gorgeous writing and the softest characters. I liked following Sunho, who is haunted by his mysterious new powers and the fact that his only memories are of his older brother who he can’t find, as well as Ren, a girl who’s been on the run for her entire life but still manages to be full of joy and life. When they meet, they can’t help but be drawn to each other. Their scenes together were so soft; I’ve always loved how Axie writes her romances!

The plot was so thrilling, and I can’t believe that ending! The sequel is also releasing this year so thankfully I don’t have to wait long. If you’re a fan of Axie Oh’s other books and/or Shadow and Bone, you should definitely pick up The Floating World!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Floating World by Axie Oh is a third person multi-POV YA romantic fantasy reiminaging Celestial Maidens. Ren has been raised by a theater troupe for most of her life. When her uncle is attacked by a demon and she releases a great light, a power that she has had to keep hidden for years. The palace is determined to find her and bring her back to the Floating World.

I’ve been a huge fan of Celestial Maidens ever since I heard the story of Princess Kaguya years ago. I don’t know if there are major differences between Celestial Maidens in Korean folklore compared to Chinese and Japanese folklore (which Princess Kaguya belongs to), but the basic premise of celestial beings who have to remain on Earth remains the same. In this case, the original Celestial Maiden’s wings were taken from her and she had children with a human. Her magic passes down a few generations but then stops presenting in her descendants.

For the worldbuilding, I haven’t played Final Fantasy so I’m not sure what aspects are related to the video game, but I did find aspects akin to Gyeongseong Creature in terms of human experimentation that involves turning humans into monsters. The Under World and the Floating World are very cool and feel fairly fleshed out with direct correlation to the Celestial Maidens and poverty vs wealth. I’m ready for more and to see if the Floating World is actually sinking and what that’s gonna mean for the cast.

I rarely comment on covers, but I really loved this cover. I love Ren’s mask on her hip and Sunho’s bright red scarf. I love the detailed Floating World in the background that is slightly hazy. I love how bright the background is, with the sun shining and birds flying but Sunho and Ren are in the shade. I love that Ren and Sunho are back-to-back but are holding hands, showing that they are keeping each other in the dark about a few things but will choose each other in the end. There’s just so many interesting choices and tiny details that convey so much in one cover and that is exactly what I want out of a cover.

I would recommend this to fans of romantic fantasy that reimagines folklore and readers of YA looking for a quieter romance

Where to even start?

Ren and Sunho’s journey is so full of nuance: each is going through an internal journey while sharing a physical journey. Ren has to confront her past and potentially sacrifice the future she dreamed of in order to save her uncle and best friend. And Sunho needs to figure out what his past is, if he is to be able to move on and have a future at all.

The story is so well paced, speeding things up when they need to be, and slowing them down where necessary. The build-up is well done and the main cast well established for the series to continue. And the multiple POV actually works really well and didn’t throw me off at all—each character’s voice is very unique and distinct from the other.

If I were to give one critique, it would be the way Haru is treated as a character. The way he was set up felt as though he would play a bigger role in Sunho’s journey. However, the way he was written felt like he was just a plot device, with the update on him feeling like an afterthought attempt at wrapping up a loose end. I didn’t even think he was all that necessary for the story to work, but since he was added, there could’ve been more thought as to how he would tie into the main characters’ journey.

All in all, I can’t wait for the next one in the series!

*Special thanks to Feiwel and Friends for the advance reader copy through NetGalley.

I was invited to read a copy of the E-book through NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. I love Ren and Sunho with all my heart. Their adventure in this book made me smile at parts and sad in other parts. The backstory of Sunho was so sad and made me feel so many emotions. These two have been through so much and both set out for family. The world building did take a little bit to click for me but even before it did the story playing out was very well written. And then once I got about 20% it really took off once I understood the world and setting of the story. Also I freaking love the side characters (as I usually do) and with the way the book ended very excited to read the next one in this duology.

Actual Rating: 4.5

4.75 rounded up! The Floating World is pitched as Final Fantasy and Shadow and Bone and it does 👏 not 👏 disappoint! This addictive story based on the Korean folklore of the Woodcutter and the Celestial Maiden is loaded with world-building and plot. Axie Oh’s writing leaves much to the imagination in terms of imagery but does not lack in story. Much like a Final Fantasy game there is constant fast-paced action.

I adore all of the characters. This story is YA and the characters act like teenagers - doing dumb things, grappling with emotions, and trusting easily. The shyness of the characters in the romance sub-plot is precious, if not a tiny bit insta-lovey (but in an acceptable way). The triple POV is well done.

I am excited for book 2! I hope there is way more character building - give me some yearning, more tension, and please oh please tell more of Jaeil’s story.

Thank you Feiwel and Friends and NetGalley for the eARC! I can’t wait to devour The Demon and the Light.

I loved "The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea," and had high expectations for "The Floating World." My expectations were exceeded. I am not one to see characters when I read, to have scenes play out like a movie in my head, but something about Axie Oh's writing just makes her stories come to life in my mind. I cannot overstate how much I appreciate her talent for writing scenes in a way that I can visualize them without me having to take time to think about it. I hate when stories get bogged down with tedious descriptions, but her writing makes me almost feel the scenes into existence.

I loved the main characters, I loved their stories and background and the whole plot. I like how earnest and dogged Sunho is, I love how bright and vivid Ren is. I appreciate how they find their strength in how the other inspires them, not in each other's sacrifice. I love how Axie Oh takes tired tropes and breathes new life into them. What an utter delight to read-I can't wait to see what she does with this world next! I also can't wait to add it to our library's teen collection and will be recommending it to anyone who dares stay still long enough to listen to me gush.