From the beginning, I was immersed in the world(s) Axie Oh created and I did not want to put this one down. I loved Ren and Sunho and the way their stories (and fates) became intertwined. Axie Oh has such a way with words - everything is lush and folklore-esque, but never overly flowery. I am so glad we don't have to wait long for book 2!

The Floating World explores identity, memory, and the relationship between destiny and choice. It follows Ren, a not-so-secretly magical acrobat on a quest to save her uncle; Sunho, a troubled mercenary searching for his lost past; and to a lesser extent Jael, a captain with questionable motivations propelling the plot. It took me a while to connect with the characters, and even though I wasn’t surprised by any of the plot points, I still had fun reading the story and learning to care about the characters as I got to know them better. Axie Oh’s writing is easy to visualize, and this tale brings a particularly interesting setting to life. I look forward to the sequel!

I really wanted to like this, but I thought the writing was dull and the plot felt directionless. The writing felt like a monotonous list of actions and nothing else, which made it difficult to get into the story.

I'm not familiar with FF7 and Shadow and Bone is bone dry to me, so I don't have any context for what the appeal of the Floating World is supposed to be.

I really enjoyed, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea...but I LOVED The Floating World!

This is a Korean reimagining of the legend of the Celestial Maidens....its a bit Final Fantasy....a bit Shadow and Bone and A WHOLE lot of fun!

If you are looking for a YA fantasy that feels unique and refreshing step right up. When a solider for hire comes into contact with a girl with mysterious powers they must team up in order to save the people they love the most! There's a city that floats in the sky powered by mines, a land that doesn't get any sunlight, and the rise of demon like monsters on the prowl.

Sunho and Ren are FANTASTIC characters, and their dynamic is so beautiful and sweet. Sunho is grappling with a darkness inside of him...has amazing fighting abilities but has a tender heart. Ren is a free spirit, and cares deeply for the people around her. She loves her simple life where she doesn't constantly have something to prove. Their slow burn relationship is wholesome and authentic and I just ate it up.

I thought the plot was fast paced, the conflict and villains were done right and felt believable...and it had the right amounts of humor and friendship along the way. It's been a while since I genuinely enjoyed a YA fantasy and I am definitely excited for the sequel!

Thank you to @fiercereads for providing me the first three chapters for DEMON OF LIGHT which releases OCT 21!

This was really fun and unique in a lot of ways, but also fell a bit flat in others. Lets get into it:

Starting with what I loved: this was a really unique world, power & political structure, and magic system. I loved getting to traverse the different parts of the world with Sunho and Ren, and found the imagery to be really captivating and attention grabbing. I really did enjoy both Sunho and Ren as characters, and found that while they were very distinct and different from one another, they also complimented each other well. I loved Ren's brightness alongside Sunho's quiet, and I loved the pace at which we learned more about both of their incredibly mysterious backstories.

What falls short a bit for me: while this work was unique and new to me, it also felt like I had a lot of questions that never got answered about how things worked and how certain events unfolded. I also have questions about the magic and demons, and am hoping all of this gets explored further in the next book. I also didn't *quite* buy the romance between Sunho & Ren, even though I enjoyed them both. I think its because the first little stretch of their journey and relationship didn't lend itself to a lot of honest connection, just like how strangely okay Sunho is with things he learns about Ren rather abruptly when they choose to separate very briefly. I just wanted more from it, but I remember feeling similarly in the Girl that Fell Beneath the Sea, so there just may be something that doesn't connect between me and this author.

Overall, this was still super fun and unique to read, and I did enjoy it. It has a great dystopian-fantasy blended feel, and really was unlike most things I've ever read in that it felt airy and beautiful in some stretched and dark and grungy in others, in a way that felt very intentional and really worked. Thank you to Macmillan Children's and NetGalley for this eArc!

This book was so beautifully written. Axie's attention to detail with her world building has made her an automatic read for me. I loved the division between the Floating World and The Underworld. It was interesting to see the way that the two were split both physically and socio economically. Ren was a really compelling character and I found her loyalty and determination well written and likeable. I also really enjoyed Sunho's character and thought that he had great development throughout the book. He was so caring and considerate to those that were in his circle and it was refreshing to see. There were a lot of side characters in this book that I really enjoyed that brought a lot of depth and multifaceted charm to parts of the story. The overall plot sucked me in and I found myself completely engrossed into the well being of both these characters and the doom that was coming for them. The ending for me was beautifully done and I cannot wait to see what Axie has in store for these characters in the next book!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!
~
I will admit this took me a while to really get into. I don’t know what it was about it, really - the vibes were immaculate, and accurately described as being similar to Final Fantasy. Once I hit around the 60% mark or so I really cruised through to the end.

My only real gripe is the pacing was weird in certain spots/scene transitions were awkward. The first time I noticed this was when Sunho wakes up in the field with Ren - wasn’t he… just on a train? I wasn’t under the impression that they were near train tracks or anything, and there didn’t seem to be any sign of it going off the rails. The second time was when they go to the underworld together - they just sort of.. show up there. I actually double checked that I hadn’t somehow skipped a chapter because it felt really unnatural.

I do have an eARC for book 2 and still plan to read it closer to the release date!

Oh I’m so thankful that we don’t have to wait very long for book two! This is another book that falls in my Asian mythology category. Based on the story of the celestial maidens, Axie Oh creates a full world of magic and power, love and family.

Main points:
-quick paced, very exciting
-emotional and moving
-pure and good MCs
-clean but such sweet romance
-lots of fighting and action
-easy to follow along with all the details

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! I recommend for 14+. Check it out and get ready for book two later in 2025!

Thanks to netgalley for my earc

Charming and engaging book following Ren and Sunho. Ren is a troupe performer who’s troupe is suddenly attacked one day by a demon and her little Uncle falls ill. She sets off on a journey to find an antidote for him.

Sunho is a young man from the Under World who scrapes by for a living. He gets a commission to find a retrieve a young girl who has the power of light. He’s an ex-soldier with mysterious powers on a search for his own brother because he can’t seem to remember any of his past from 2 years ago.

Their paths intersect and this leads them to both discover truths about themselves and the city (both the Floating World and the Under World).

Strong ff7 vibes with an engaging cast of characters. Enjoyed my read.

The Floating World is the name of a city stacked above another, leaving that other one - the Under World - always in shadow. Seeing the picture on the included map really helped me visual it. Very cool premise with beautiful world building.

I was swept up in this magical story, based on Korean folklore, about family, grief, love, missing memories, legends, princesses, demons, and plenty of fast-paced action. I recommend it for anyone who also loves Asian-inspired fantasy. There are airships!

This was so good and I should have read it earlier! I had an eARC for this book but ended up waiting til it released and picked up the audiobook to listen to it instead. I loved the characters and world in this book. The pacing was also great. The story was quick to start and I was constantly entertained. This was a quick read and the perfect book after so many heavy and long books. I really enjoyed Axie Oh’s other book, The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea, as well and enjoy her writing style a lot. I am definitely excited for the next book in the series and am excited I won’t have to wait long to read it!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

TL;DR: A surprisingly mid fantasy installment from Axie Oh that fails to capture the spark of [book:The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea|56978100]
<b><i>I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</b></i>

Vibes: <i>"Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens"</i>
^^^
This is the official blurb, from the publisher for the marketing. I'm not familiar with Final Fantasy, so can't attest to that connection, but I don't know if I see the Shadow and Bone comparison.

Genre: YA / NA Fantasy Retelling (Fairytale / Legend)
First in a Duology.

Romance Meter: 🖤 🖤 🖤 ♡ ♡
The two MCs fall for each other, but it's all very sweet and chaste.

Character MVP: ....
Honestly, none of them. 😕

Verdict: 3 stars, and I might be feeling a little generous here. Which I hate! Because I *loved* Axie Oh's other books and the worlds she created.

This one was just a bit...bland? Empty? I'm not sure of the right word here.
The world-building was sparse (IMO) compared to TGWFBTS -- I did have an ARC, so maybe a map (if there is one in the physical book) would have helped -- and I struggled to envision the worlds and the Wards and who was fighting who where. Normally world-building isn't essential to fairy tales -- after all, they're once upon a time, in a faraway land -- but there were more concrete elements here that took me out 'fairy tale land' and more into 'mystical science' territory.

Same goes for the characters -- again, in fairy tales and legends, they're more archetypes, but in a retelling, I suppose I just want more depth.
They read younger than they were supposed to be -- the content could have been NA, but the voices were younger, for sure.
The POVs I was most interested in was Jaiel's -- the character with the fewest POV chapters, but arguably the most complex.

I will definitely read the sequel -- maybe some of the spark will be present there.

This one fell short of my expectations, unfortunately. I really loved the concept and there were so many elements that reminded me of a Studio Ghibli movie which I adored, but the writing style just didn't click with me. The romance between the main characters felt incredibly forced and rushed - there wasn't enough development to make me believe in their connection, and it seemed like they were just pushed together for the sake of having a romantic subplot.

The pacing was all over the place, which made it hard to stay engaged. Some parts dragged while others felt like they were racing to hit plot points. The writing style just didn't click with me either - there was way too much telling instead of showing, which made everything feel surface-level rather than immersive.

I wanted to care about these characters and their world, but I couldn't connect with them beyond a superficial level. The plot unfolded predictably, and while there were interesting elements buried in there, they weren't explored deeply enough to make up for the other issues.

It's not a terrible book, just not one that resonated with me. If you're looking for something with more character depth and smoother pacing, this might not be the right fit.

You had me at the Final Fantasy reference. As you probably don’t know, I’m a big Final Fantasy fan. My husband loves it and really started my love of it as well.

This book gave me such FFVII vibes in the best way. I loved the different POVs because it kept the mysteries and secrets that much more intriguing and kept me guessing.

This story tugged at my heartstrings and I was SO SAD when some of my favorite side characters died but I am still so pumped to read the sequel to this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my gosh! I completely loved this whole book! Everything from the cover to the very last page kept me entertained!

I was drawn to this book because of the gorgeous cover, and I am happy to report that the content inside is just as great!

I don’t know much about Korean mythology so the celestial maiden myth was brand new to me, but I loved this interpretation! Axie Oh is a fantastic author; I was completely enraptured by the world she created. I was completely swept away by her descriptions of the Floating World and the Underworld and the mix of magic and politics that keep them apart.

I adore Both Ren and Sunho; they are both fiercely loyal to the ones they love and will go to the ends of the earth to fight for them. While initially on opposite sides of a conflict, the way their bond grew and their romance developed was *chef’s kiss*, and I can’t wait to see how their story ends!

This book had a bit of everything I loved - a beautiful fantasy landscape, magic, action, romance, friendship, and family. I think fans of Shadow and Bone and Divine Rivals would really enjoy this.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Lower your gaze. The light is not for you.

I loved this book. It felt like there was the perfect blend of action, emotion, and romance. Plus, there's absolutely phenomenal storytelling and world-building to explore through the eyes of Ren, Sunho, and a third POV, Jaeil. You get the sweeping scope of Final Fantasy-level worlds, mixed with the magic and mood of Studio Ghibli. I especially loved that the world is split between a shadowy Underworld and this luminous, skybound, semi-untouchable Floating World, too. It gave me Netflix Arcane vibes if it collided with a fantasy/sci-fi mythos involving demons, swordsmen, and light-wielders.

Our boy Sunho, bless him, is a sword for hire and has lost most of his memories. He is the deadliest of weapons, but also just the sweetest thing, and I loved how his and Ren's relationship slowly unfolds. Enter Ren: a traveling troupe performer from the Floating World who can wield celestial light magic, but keeps it hidden from those who would capture her and exploit her for it. Ren was such a great FMC. She wears her performer mask nearly as fiercely as she wears her heart to help others. And Tag and Yurhee were my favorite side characters in this!! Their humor and how they were introduced to us, along with the part they play in helping Sunho and Ren, made me so happy.

“Hey, she’s too bright,” Tag said. “Can’t you turn her off?”
“Oh, wow, that sounded … interesting.” Yurhee laughed.

There is quite a bit of action in this one, too! I was completely impressed with how quickly I tore through this book without the story ever feeling rushed. You get some epic demon battles and there’s a ring-fighting scene with Sunho that had me kicking my feet just for the simple fact that he's fighting for the best reason. Even though I ate up all of the action, it was the quieter moments Ren and Sunho shared that solidified how much I loved this book. Like, are you kidding me with this line, sir?

“If you had wings,” he said, with all the sincerity he possessed, “I’d want to see you fly.”

...Excuse me while I cry into my tea. In all seriousness though, I’m in love. With the story, with the characters, the way it made me feel, and 10/10 would follow Sunho and Ren into whatever chaos comes next in The Demon and the Light.

He felt a spark upon her lips—her magic, flowing through her, into him. He could taste her magic, like drinking starlight. He had a thought that if she couldn’t control it, she might burn him. But he didn’t care. He would burn for her.

I can't stress this enough: if you love the vibes below, get this on your TBR ASAP!

(4.75⭐s)

Reasons I'm obsessed with this book:
🎭 Studio Ghibli Heroine
⚔️ Final Fantasy Hero
⛰️ Incredible World Building
❤️‍🔥 Reluctant Allies to Lovers
🤫 Secret Identities
🎉 Celestial Maidens & Korean Legend
✨ Light Magic & Demon Powers
⚙️ Steampunk Setting

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the ARC!

The Floating World is like stepping into a dream that blends the heart of a Korean folktale with the thrill of an RPG and the aesthetic of a Studio Ghibli movie, if Ghibli had mercenary sword fights, poisonous blue fog, and demonic bounty hunts.

It kicks off with real intensity: a deadly festival attack, a girl unleashing secret magic she’s kept hidden for years, and a bounty on her head before she even knows what’s coming. There’s immediate bloodshed and mystery, but what surprised me was how emotionally rich the story becomes as it unfolds. Beneath the swords and secrets, this is a novel about trauma, how it’s inherited, inflicted, and survived, and about reclaiming the parts of yourself you thought were lost forever.

The worldbuilding is phenomenal. You can feel the weight of the sky above the floating cities and the dread of the toxic Under World below. Nothing is overexplained. The moodiness of the first half, while slow at times, reminded me of the exploratory side quests in an RPG, atmospheric and meaningful once you settle into the rhythm.

Ren took a bit for me to warm up to. She felt younger than her years at first, and the third-person narration kept me slightly removed emotionally in the early chapters. But her arc, her grief, her determination, her tenderness, sneaks up on you. By the end, I was all in. And the supporting cast, especially Yurhee and Tag, aren’t just background, they bring emotional weight and richness to Ren’s journey.

Sunho, with his fractured memory and quiet strength, makes for a compelling counterbalance to Ren’s fire. Watching their paths intersect and entangle was one of the book’s most satisfying payoffs.

f you’re a fan of lyrical fantasy, deep emotion, and worlds that feel like myth retold through a modern lens, this one’s worth the journey.

I’m not going to lie; this book had me at Final Fantasy. I may have been waiting my whole life for a book that gave Final Fantasy VII vibes so strongly, and in all the best ways. I may have hummed the Sephiroth theme out loud more than once while reading.

The story mainly alternates between Ren and Sunho’s perspectives. I loved both of them as characters. Sunho has memory gaps that add to the intrigue surrounding him. Ren remembers her past, but she actively avoids thinking about it. A third point of view appears now and then, and his scenes both raise new questions and tie things together.

The story world feels like something straight out of Final Fantasy. It has a clearly defined class system with a shadowy power structure. I loved piecing together what was happening in the mythril mines and figuring out the memories Sunho had lost.

I think this is the first part of a duology. The second part comes out in October and is called The Demon and the Light. I will definitely be reading that!

3.5/5 stars

This world-building is something special. Built on a framework of Korean mythology, a Studio Ghibli-style setting, with a soft, slow-burn romance. But it never quite grabbed me the way I hoped it would.

Oh paints vivid, dreamy landscapes that feel ripped from a celestial watercolor, filled with glittering skies, floating cities, and creatures pulled straight from folktales. It’s immersive, and it’s gorgeous. If you’re here for the vibes, you’ll be very well-fed. Ren especially shines: she’s bright, determined, and deeply kind, and her arc carries a lot of heart. Sunho is more stoic, and though I liked the contrast between them, I never fully connected to their romance. It’s gentle and wholesome, but a little too distant emotionally for me to get really invested.

Compared to The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, which felt like a timeless folktale, The Floating World is more grounded in its characters, but that also made the soft-focus world-building feel thinner. In folklore, ambiguity works. But when characters are more human, I expect more depth in the storytelling. Unfortunately, the stakes here often fizzled out too quickly. Every new conflict resolved itself so fast that I never had time to feel the danger or sit with the consequences. That quick turnaround left the pacing a bit flat, especially toward the end, which felt rushed and emotionally muted.

I didn’t dislike this. I really did enjoy a lot of it. The concept is rich, the setting is magical, and there are some standout moments of beauty. But there was something missing. I wanted to ache with these characters. I wanted to care about their connection. Instead, I just sort of… drifted through it.

Still, if you’re looking for a YA fantasy with Korean mythology, dreamy visuals, and a soft romance, this one delivers.

Thanks so much to Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.