This checked all of my boxes!
-Interesting world building without being overwhelming
-Found family that feels natural
-Light romance
-A dash of whimsey
I absolutely love Axie Oh's writing style. It feels so dreamy and immersive.
I was surprised it worked so well with the demon characters as well.
I am so excited for the next book and that the wait isn't too long!

I was really excited to start reading this book but sadly it did not live up to my expectations. I really wanted to like it but I really had to force myself to finish it. I tried to figure out why I wasn't interested because it didn't lack action. The only thing that I could come up with was that I felt disconnected, emotionally, from any of the characters. They read very juvenile and one note to me. Additionally, there didn't seem to be any chemistry between the FMC and MMC.

First, thank you to Axie Oh and the publishers for letting me read an advanced copy of this book, The Floating World!

I requested this book because a lot of reviewers said it had Studio Ghibli and final fantasy vibes… and they were not wrong! This was such a refreshing read!! Unlike any story I’ve read in recent memory.

It reads sort of like an RPG you could say. You meet the characters, learn them, discover the world as they embark on their separate quests. Then their individual quests intertwine and they build friendships. Hardships. Discoveries. Relationships change. Secrets unveiled. Tragedies. Triumph.

What really made this book different though, was the characters and the setting. The characters were all so full of feelings. I absolutely loved it. I’ve been bored of the main character/lost Queen/hero type lately. But this story did it so right. Ren is incredible. She was so believable, never did I think any of her actions didn’t fit.
And Sunho. I adore him. Such a noble, yet tragic character. The world did hm pretty dirty. I cannot wait for book two to see what happens.
And the setting. From the Mithril mines to the Floating World. Everything was so vivid, I could picture it clearly in my head. This would make an amazing animated series.

I would give it more than five stars if I could.

This was one of my most anticipated releases for the year and it, thankfully, lived up to my expectations! I thought the world and story were super interesting and engaging. I can’t wait to learn more and get more of the lore. I also really loved the characters, Ren in particular! Her relationship with Sunho was so sweet I really enjoyed their dynamic. I love found family and this really gave me pieces of that! I’m eager to see what happens in the next book

I definitely see the vision, but unfortunately, this wasn't for me - I never really felt 'hooked' into the story, though I did pick up on the Final Fantasy vibes. I also really struggled to connect with the FMC.

Did not finish at 5% not for me. This story did not grab me. I found the writing hard to follow only after a few minutes.

I am now obsessed with Axie Oh’s work. This book is so unique and magical. I quickly because obsessed with the world she created. The world building was so good. I was never left with questions or wondering how things worked, she explained everything perfectly. The relationship between Ren and Sunho was so so so good. I loved watching their relationship grow and evolve into something more. This book was just so good and I am excited for book 2!

This review is based on an ARC.

What a wild ride. I was hooked from the start. I could not put this down. The world-building was so well done and left me in awe. It was immersive and well fleshed out. A book where diversity was not an afterthought but a deliberate thought. I could imagine everything going on, and I was on the edge of my seat in anticipation of what was to come. I need the sequel like I need air. Well done. A must-read for adventure fantasy lovers.

I need someone else to tell me if they got some FF7 vibes from "The Floating World" by Axie Oh.

Everything was fine, until the demon attacked. Ren was thriving as an acrobat in a remote village with an adopted family, not thinking about her traumatic past. But when someone she cares for is infected with something unknown the only answers lie in the place she has been avoiding. Sunho has no knowledge of anything past the last 2 years. Doing odd jobs and using his suspicious strength as a mercenary. This gets him put onto a big score, bring a young woman to some military guy alive. Should all be pretty simple right.

Reasons to read:
-The vibes are great if they are what I think they are
-Love a good floating city
-Hey look, some folks who need to meet the business end of pointy things
-Train fight
-Korean legends as inspiration

Cons:
-Once again I missed that this was a series so I was getting confused that more elements were being added at the end

4⭐️ Thank you Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Netgalley, and especially the author, Axie Oh for the arc!


This book had everything, romance, adventure, magic, action, drama, found family. The world building was beautifully done, it’s not just told to you one and done, it’s part of the story.

Ren is a troupe performer that has magic no one is supposed to know about. And is on a mission to save her uncle. Sunho is a former soldier with no memory. Now a sword for hire he is sent on a mission to secure the girl and bring her back to the underworld. Along the way they fight monsters, actual and human, and figure out who they really are.


Little things I didn’t love, the book took me a little while to get into (but once I got into it I couldn’t put it down) And the ending felt really rushed. We (and the characters) had just gone through a major event and they were finally getting to the point of telling eachother how they felt. And then the book was over.

Axie Oh has done it again, completely immersing me in a vivid, enchanting world that I didn’t want to leave. Her storytelling is magnetic, and the way she brings her settings to life is nothing short of magical. From fascinating mythical beings to heartfelt romance, everything feels intentional and beautifully woven together. Ren and Sunho’s journey stood out with its quiet strength, unraveling mysteries, and growing affection that felt so genuine.
What I love most is how Axie Oh blends rich, imaginative fantasy with elements of Korean culture and mythology in a way that feels both refreshing and meaningful. The lore is intricate without being overwhelming, and every detail adds depth to the experience. This book was an absolute joy to read, I was hooked from the first page and completely enchanted until the very end.

Axie has a way with cozy fantasy that you just can’t find anywhere else. This story was nostalgic in a way, and just so fun to read.

5 stars!!
Thank you to Axie Oh and Feiwel and Friends for this ARC!!!
Oh my god, this was incredible!!!!
The amount of things I didn’t see coming and the sadness I felt at so many points in this book has me blown away
The world that Axie brought in this book, and its many characters and places within the story was so fantastic and surreal
I loved how we got to see a few different perspectives, and while the two main characters Ren and Sunho may have been closer to becoming enemies than friends, empathy shown through
not to mention how their goals were so different but they felt so drawn to one another, and worked together to help one another on their journey
I also liked the side characters and how everything just fit together so flawlessly, like this books was exceptionally written and the story flowed nicely
Overall I genuinely loved this so much!

The Floating World is a rich fantasy world based on Korean mythology. Ren is a member of a traveling troupe, a performer adopted by the troupe as a foundling at a young age; when her adopted uncle is attacked by a demon, she leaves the troupe in search of a distant and possibly mythical cure. Sunho is a mercenary, alone in the world, with no memory of anything before the most recent two years, hired, with many others, to find a girl based on a vague description and a general location. The two meet on the road and journey together - Sunho suspecting, but not quite sure, that Ren is the girl he has been sent to find.

This is a detailed world, one which the author allows the reader to discover, rather than be led through. The two become companions, and then friends; when Sunho admits he knows who Ren is, they become allies against those seeking Ren. Theirs is a gentle romance, slow to build, and described without physical contact beyond that of friends. This novel is appropriate for readers ages middle school to adult, although younger readers may experience difficulty with the complexity of the writing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Floating World was a cozy fantasy read. It was interesting and epic in scope. I loved all the characters and how well they were developed. I’ve already added then next book, The Demon and the Light to my TBR.

One of the best YA romantasy books published recently! Beautiful Studio Ghibli style world building, with fascinating mythology inspired by the Korean legend of the Woodcutter and the Celestial Maiden, this story is action filled and gorgeously soft and tender. Need the next book asap with that ending!

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the ARC!

Thank you for the arc

This was an anticipated read for me. I loved the cover and the description sounded like a Kdrama come to life, but I found myself wanting more when I finished reading. I did enjoy a lot of its elements. I think the character's backstories were rich and their overall set-up was very interesting, but beyond that their personalities didn't click for me. I didn't connect with any of them or really feel any strong emotion to them. In regards to the plot, I am a sucker for a good retelling and think that the author took the Celestial Maiden tale and spun it into a unique story with intriguing fantasy elements and political intrigue. At the same time though, these concepts still felt lacking to me. I found the pacing slightly off overall, from the random time jumps between chapters and the romance that was a bit too insta-love for even me (someone who isn't often bothered by this trope). I still believe this book was a nice read but I was a bit bummed I didn't love it.

This was just ok for me. I loved The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, so I was highly anticipating this one, but it just didn't quite work as well for me. The writing felt very detached, so sometimes I had to read paragraphs more than once to understand what had just happened. I also felt that the main characters lacked depth. However, I do think this is a solid lower-YA fantasy with interesting politics and world-building and I think it will find its audience. I probably would have loved this when I was 13.

It took me a while to connect with the main charecter because she was immature and naive for her age. The third person narrating isn’t my favorite so that’s probably all on me. But it did build into a great story.

Once the main character and I connected the book transformed into a masterpiece. The last third of the book had so much love and heart wrenching revelations.

Please I need the second book like yesterday!

[Thank you to Feiwel and Friends for the eARC. All opinions are my own.]

This was a really solid YA fantasy inspired by Korean mythology and with a dash of romance. I really enjoyed how believable the characters felt and the overall plot was action-packed - definitely an addicting read with a satisfying (although cliffhanger) conclusion.

I thought the world was so interesting and there was some missed potential for more immersive and beautiful world-building; I also felt the romance was a bit flimsy and too focused on “Oh, he’s so handsome!” Otherwise, I had a great time and loved the mythological influence, powers, and monsters!