First off thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was a work of ART from start to finish. The world was both whimsical and dark, the characters were lovable lil cinnamon rolls, and the story absolutely was gripping at every turn.

It’s studio ghibli meets final fantasy meets shadow and bone and I absolutely adored it. I laughed and I cried and I cannot wait to read more. Catch me running to buy the rest of Axie Oh’s books IMMEDIATELY.

The Floating World was such a fun, adventure packed YA fantasy with an enemies to lovers romance. I would definitely agree that this book is reminiscent of Shadow and Bone.

Sunho and Ren both have lost their memories, and their dreams only gives clues to their past. Sunho is surviving in the Under World as a sword for hire, pulling cons, and has a tattoo that signifies he comes from the imperial military. Ren is living her life as part of an acting troupe, trying to hide her magic despite the fact she wants to be show her skills and inner self. One day, Ren and her troupe come under attack in a village by a demon, and Ren's magic is triggered as she releases a blinding light. Afterwards, Ren realizes her loved one is poisoned by the demon and goes off to search for a cure. Little does she know, Ren has started a manhunt in search for her. And who is part of that hired group? Sunho. The two meet as Sunho tries to leave the Under World and Ren is trying to get into the Under World. Cue working together, found family, and fated lovers.

The lovely writing and quick paced plot swept me off my feet. Yes, there were corny and predictable moments, but it was nothing that made me cringe and think "this trope is over played." I cannot wait for book two by Axie Oh!!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

Will post to socials.

I really enjoyed this book! I’ve seen it on goodreads giveaways and had really high hopes for this book and I can say they held up to my hopes. I loved how the story started and the last bit was quite the turn that I wasn’t expecting. Both characters I loved and I loved that they had their own demons they had to battle in a way. I all so like the plot of the book however I did feel like the pacing could have been a bit faster as I thought it was slow. I also liked that romance wasn’t really upfront of the book and it’s a good book for a younger kid who wants to get into fantasy

**3.5 STARS**

Content Warning: violence, death

+The world building in The Floating World is really interesting! It’s fantasy but with steampunk elements – people in the Under World travel by train and an airship. This world is separated into the Under World, which is cast in darkness and The Floating World, where the Celestial Maiden once ruled and has the power of light. The story is a retelling about a myth called the Woodcutter and the Celestial Maiden and I really enjoyed that.

+ Ren is part of an acrobat troupe but one day her world changes and we find out later who she really is. Sunho, is a mercenary on a mission to find this special girl, and by finding her he could find his brother, Junho. Sunho, was probably my favorite character in this book – he’s a good guy even though he’s missing some memories and I loved how he protected and saved Ren. Ren I thought was a sweet girl throughout the book, even though she’s gone through some challenges. The both of them I thought were sweet together. There isn’t much romance, but I thought it was nice to see their friendship build first, as they are are companions on the road.

+ I think Jaeill is an interesting character also and he was Ren’s friend in the past. I hope book two sheds more light on him and what Ren means to him, if she even means anything to him anymore. His dad is hell-bent on getting rid of Ren so the political intrigue could get more intense in book two.

~ The beginning was a bit slow for me, I felt like I didn’t really get into the story until after a few chapters in. But it does pick and up and end with a great set up into the sequel.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this one from Axie Oh who has become a must-read author for me! I loved the retelling of this Korean mythology that I’m unaware of, I love learning myths from different cultures. I thought the world-building was very interesting with a mix of fantasy and steampunk elements and it’s easy to get invested in the characters, especially Sunho, who was my favorite. The romance is sweet and soft which made me feel protective of Sunho and Ren. I’m looking forward to see what happens in the sequel.

This sits firmly at a 3.5⭐️ for me but gets the round down for a few reasons. Overall this was a great young adult fantasy and I did thoroughly enjoy reading it! I’ll be looking out for book 2 and turning to Axie Oh’s other works as well!

Ren has found her place in the world, hidden from her past and lineage, but when a demon attacks she must venture beyond the mountains to seek a cure for her dying uncle. Sunho has no memories of his prior life, just a demon raging inside him and a determination to find his brother Junho. As rumors spread that the Celestial Maiden, and rightful Queen, has returned Ren and Sunho are set on a collision course that will intertwine their destinies.

Things I loved:
1. Retelling of the Celestial Maiden - this was a great change of pace from a lot of current fantasy reads these days, it was a story I wasn’t super familiar with and I enjoyed learning about it!
2. As a big Studio Ghibli and Final Fantasy fan this brought a lot of those vibes and I loved it!
3. The commentary and themes on capitalism, military might, religion, etc. were integrated well
4. Found family is always a favorite for me and I enjoyed how Ren wanted nothing more than to return to her chosen home and family despite the power and destiny laid out for her

Things I disliked:
1. Ren and Sunho are 17 in the book but it feels like they are much younger, even pre-teens almost
2. I wanted more description of the world, environment, buildings, etc. as I had a hard time picturing some moments and places
3. At times the book felt like it was a more modern setting and then more historical - it was hard to pin down the vibe
4. It felt disjointed at times 🤷‍♀️

A great and easy fantasy read for lovers of YA and a unique tale!

3.5

such a cute book. interesting world building, likable characters (side characters especially). i do hope we get a bit more character development in the next book, as well as a bit more plot. felt a bit slow, but am looking forward to the next installment

The Floating World was a fantasy like I haven't read before - it jumps pretty immediately into the world without a lot of info-dumping but I never felt like I had a great grasp on it. I'd like to see more of it explained in book two, especially with the mines. This book had a lot going in: Ren using powers she's not supposed to have, Sunho joining her while also hunting (what he doesn't realize is) her, the mines, the monsters, and then some politics. I almost wish the book had been a little longer to better explore some of those elements because I'm not super invested in the plot since so much was happening, ya know? I will be interested to see how it comes together in the sequel, though! I loved The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and while this didn't quite hit the mark like that one, it was still a solid read.

3.5! Amazing concept and world building. The characters could have been more developed and fleshed out but I’m eager to see what happens in book 2.

This book is described as being Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in a story based on a Korean legend of the Celestial Maidens. It is a story full of mystery and legend, but also where very real demons lurk, and the past must be faced head on.

I overall enjoyed this book. It’s a bit more simple than I usually prefer in the sense that the characters aren’t terribly complex and they tend to fall from one mishap into another very quickly. But I also haven’t read a ton of YA. I found the “magic system” to be fascinating and I’m curious to learn more about it. I liked both of our main characters significantly more than Alina and Mal in Shadow and Bone. Occasionally some aspects of the story and some of the action didn’t seem to be fleshed out as well as they could have been, but it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the story. Overall I really liked this book and I’d recommend it for anyone who likes YA or lighter fantasy. I look forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

3.75 stars. This is a fairly good start to a series, but I did feel like the world-building was a bit murky, which was a bit of a surprise given how much I loved The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and its beautiful world-building. It took me quite awhile to understand what the Under World and Floating World actually were, and where to place characters within these in my brain map. Lol. It would have benefitted from a more clear setup or history of the world. The plot is intriguing, the characters lovable and a bit mysterious, and I love Sunho's character arc/torment The last 20% really grabbed my attention and I am looking forward to the next installment.

I’m familiar with Axie Oh as a YA romance writer, and have seen (but haven’t read) her YA fantasy book The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea; but what immediately pulled me into picking up The Floating World were the clear comparisons to video game Final Fantasy. In that regard it majorly delivers! Here we have a taciturn sword-for-hire named Sunho who has lost all his memories before the last two years; Ren, a girl who has been hiding magical powers while living with a circus troupe; and Jaeil, the son of a power-hungry General who has wrested control of The Floating World and its surrounding territories. The Floating world is as it sounds: a city in the sky that covers the Under World in shadow. It runs on the power of mithril, a magical blue substance mined beneath the city.

There is a lot to love here and ignite the imagination; all in all I really enjoyed my reading experience. I will say on a writing level, it felt somewhat simplistic (but it is YA); and I never felt as deeply drawn into the story or invested as I wanted to be—I felt a bit at arms length throughout. Still, some of the action and magic scenes were truly riveting. This is clearly set up to continue into a second book (already coming out fall 2025); not sure if I’ll continue but it was fun to pick up! Books like this feel like they would translate more strongly on screen or via video game where you can really see and experience the world and magic details.

I would say that this was a mix of Castle in the Sky and Shadow and Bone. There were some interesting political themes and I thought the character of Jaeil was super intriguing and wish he has more of a focus.

What didn’t work so well in this book were the two main characters. They were 17 and yet were quite naive throughout the book, which I think does a disservice to how intelligent 17 year olds actually are. They were both just “nice” characters and lacked depth to me. I think that the action scenes as well needed more description and time to breathe. They seemed quite fast, so much so that it was hard to feel a sense of worry.

I think that this is a decent start of a YA series with a great and promising premise, but I think it needed some further editing to reach its full potential.

Axie Oh has such a talent for creating stunning words that feel like you've been transported into a Ghibli movie. I really enjoyed her worldbuilding in this book! Castle in the Sky is one of my favorite movies of all time, and Axie Oh did an amazing job weaving in some of the vibes while creating a completely new story inspired by Korean mythology.
The characters were fun to read, and though the romance developed a little quickly, I did love the dynamic between Ren and Sunho. The pacing was also a struggle and the ending was rushed, but I am really excited to see what happens in the sequel.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Children's for the eARC!

The Floating World is a wholesome fantasy story centered around a girl named Ren who discovers she holds a magical secret. After a mysterious monster attacks her village and injures her uncle, Ren sets out on a quest to find a cure for him. Along the way, she learns more about her powers, the underworld and the floating world.

Ren’s journey isn’t an easy one. She’s being hunted by several people, including a boy named Sunho.🗡️ When their paths finally cross, the two quickly form a bond, drawn to each other by more than just circumstance. As their friendship deepens into something more, they team up to help Ren find a cure for her uncle and search for Sunho's missing brother.

I find the story to be a charming fantasy/adventure. It has cutesy romantic elements and an easy plot that was still interesting to learn about. The book is perfect for a younger YA audience interested in fantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Beyond the Haebaek Mountains there's the Floating World and the Under World. On one side, there's Ren, a troupe performer who sets out on an urgent journey to the world she left behind to find a cure for her family member after they're attacked by a demon. On the other, there's Sunho, a sword-for-hire whose memories don't go past two years ago, other than the knowledge that he has a brother he's desperate to find. After a silver light is spotted, pieces start moving and various factions vye for power over both worlds. Both Ren and Sunho are central to the shift, whether they like it or not.

I am SUCH a big fan of Axie Oh's rewrites of Korean mythologies. First with "A Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea" and now the "The Floating World," she takes gorgeous stories and spins them into beautiful epics that are rich in detail for the world and characters. There's something about taking grand legends and stories and making them more personal and Axie delivers. As always, her heroine is complex, layered and lovable and her hero brooding, handsome and self-sacrificing. My only wish is that there was a map of locations to help keep track of how the world is laid out. Oherwise, highly recommend! This story was fantastical, engrossing and all-absorbing. I cannot wait to get my hands on "The Demon and the Light"!

Having read Oh's previous book, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, I was really excited to read The Floating World. The concept, a re-imagination of the Korean myth of the Celestial Maidens, was very intriguing to me as I've been exploring more non-western-centric fantasy.

I thoroughly enjoyed stepping into the world - there are few things I love better than a well-developed and thought out fantasy world. Earlier on, when we are first introduced to the setting, I found myself a little confused by the seemingly remote world that Ren lived in as a troupe performer compared to the dark city of the under world where we first meet Sunho. As the story progressed, I found myself understanding the sharp contrast and how they existed within the same realm much better.

I loved both Ren and Sunho, and was intrigued by Jaeil's POV too when we got it. I've often found myself annoyed with at least one POV in multi-POV books, but I'm happy to say that wasn't the case for The Floating World.

There were a few points that, to me, felt a little rushed. However, I felt that the overall pacing of the novel was excellent and I am looking forward to catching the next book when it releases!

I absolutely adored this book! I love the mythology behind the celestial maidens so this books was knocking on my door. I love everything about Axie Oh’s writing she pulls me into a different world every time . I highly recommend this to fantasy readers as it what’s beautiful world building and a wonderful story at its heart. I can’t wait to read the sequel to this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the early ARC on this title it was one of my favorite reads of the year!

When I initially requested this arc I was pretty excited, since it sounded like it would be right up my alley, but unfortunately this book ended up being too messy for my tastes. This will be a great pick for anyone who loves a classic anime storyline, about a heroine living her peaceful life only to be forced into a quest to save her adopted family; this then broadens dramatically in scope over the course of the story. I did end up feeling like most of the important things happened off-screen, with the most plot-relevant things being mentioned in Jaeil's scattered POV chapters before we went back to the journey of our main characters. At around the 70% mark things finally felt like they were starting to happen on-screen, with revelations and action popping up left and right, and it was a quick ride to the end.

If you're someone who's here for a good time, not a critical one, I think you'll love this one! Once I noticed a few of the flaws here, I couldn't put the cat back in the bag - for example, the way Ren seems almost totally unbothered by the death of Big Uncle and the urgent timer hanging above Little Uncle's head, especially after she meets Sunho. The fate of the red umbrella, Big Uncle's last gift to Ren, perfectly encapsulates the emotional tone of the story overall; if it seemed important, it's not, and it will be discarded at speed and without a second thought.

This is the newest YA fantasy novel from Axie Oh, author of one of my all time favorites, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. I went into this book with very high expectations. Some of them delivered. Some of them did not.

What worked - The characters

This is a retelling of the Korean folktale of the Celestial Maidens. In this story, our main character is Ren, a traveling performer. She and her aunt and uncles (Big Uncle and Little Uncle) travel the land, putting on comedy and acrobatics shows for coin. Ren is a likeable character from the start. She's lighthearted and kind and loyal to her friends and family. She also suffers from some anxiety and wears her performer's mask more often than not. She feels safer behind it. When she's forced to use her light magic to defend her family from a demon is when her story begins. Little Uncle is nearly killed by the demon and Ren sets off for a cure.

Our second character, Sunho, is a former soldier with no memory and a demon inside of him. He's in search of his brother and his memories, and when light magic is spotted across the land, he's sent to find the missing Celestial Maiden. When he and Ren meet, she's wearing her mask, and he's respectful of her privacy and grateful for her saving his life.

Our third character is Jaeil. He is the General's abused son, and yet he has a kind side to him. He is honestly the most interesting character in the book and I wish he had more page time. As it was, his chapters were mostly used to full in the world-building of the politics and at times felt a little overwhelming and confusing.

What didn't work - The World
This did AND didn't work. This seemed like a very cool place and the descriptors of the different locales were incredibly visceral and real, but I was confused how it all tied together. At first I thought all the places were part of the Floating World, as if the mines were on the underside of it. But I think they are two separate places? I'm still kind of confused. I'm hoping there's a map or the illustration in the final version to show it more clearly.

The Plot
This book could have benefited from 60-100 more pages at least. I honestly think it could be 2 books. I don't even know if this is getting a second book. Some fight scenes were glossed over. As I mentioned, the world building needed more, and the ending was rushed, left with some loose ends.

It's hard to rate this because I really LOVED the characters, even the side characters. I loved their relationships with each other and the dialogue, but overall I kept getting confused and lost and missed things that had been covered too quickly, I couldn't really sit back and enjoy this one. I'm hoping it gets a second book so I can get all the answers I want.

thank you so much to axie oh & macmillan children’s publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

rating: 4.75 starts out of 5

i won’t lie, it took me a little bit to get into this book just because i think the beginning had a slow start. i’m a big fan of axie oh’s writing from her modern fics to her mythology, so i really overall enjoyed the book!

the world building was fun, though it took me a moment to understand what was going on but once i caught on, it was enjoyable!! i love the difference between the worlds, and how they had a “door” in the sky, and the mines being above the world and instead of below’! just really fascinating.

SUNHOOOOO. oh wow, i really enjoyed him!! like yurhee, i too enjoy an emotionally unavailable guy. i loved seeing him rediscover emotions and feelings that he forgotten about, especially the more time he spent with ren! i think he was very sweet, and i feel so terrible for him that he remembered what happened in the lab.

ren!!! omg, my princess. i loved her, and she was sooo fun! i liked seeing her discover feelings as well, especially jealousy when she interacted with yurhee, but quickly got over it! she is definitely is a very ambitious girl, and she truly thinks with her heart, which tends to get her into some trouble, but i love to see her make it through! her remembering her backstory, who she is, and her
powers was fun! i hope we see her gain more control over her powers and use them in the next book!

jaeil… i’m not gonna lie, multi-pov books just aren’t my thing, but i did like this one! it was nice to see an outside perspective of our main two, and im not gonna lie, i really thought there would be some sort of love triangle. maybe in the third book? 👀 that would be interesting, but i don’t think that will be happening.

i enjoyed the supporting characters as well, and i loved seeing everyone interact. it was interesting to see the inter workings of the characters and all of their dynamics.

overall, i really enjoyed the book. i’ll tell you this… i did NOT see that ending coming. IM MAD ASF. i can’t wait for book two.

thank you again for the ARC!! 🩷