Where do I begin?? This was a fantastic departure from The Girl who fell beneath the Sea. This first part of a duology, weaves in mines of mithril with Celestial maidens to create an elysian floating world. Axie Oolh's supporting cast once again bring such vivid hues to the storytelling, with Yurhee and Jaeil, being my top favorites.
The story marries powerful yet powerless themes for both main characters who have each suffered loss and are broken in their own way.. Ren, a troupe performer, is on the hunt of a cure for her demon-attacked uncle.. and Sunho, is a mercenary seeking his brother.. with slow burn tension simmering throughout and a crescendo of an ending, this book is exciting and unputdownable!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Feiwel and Friends for sharing the ARC!!

4.5 stars. This YA novel was compelling, easy to read, and had a strong storyline that felt equally rooted in both mythology and fantasy. It very much felt like an anime, in all the best ways. It had so much heart and strong character development. All the characters were multi-faceted and complex, with deep motivations. The author handled the love story with a featherlight touch that felt unforced and authentic to the youth of the main characters. The setting / world building was a bit vague (and thus confusing), although it slowly unfurled by the end. This was obviously intentionally done, and I feel the risk of not over explaining in the first half of the novel was rewarded by the way the end came together. It ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger, and I was happy to find out that book 2 is landing later this year. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Axie Oh has a very special ability to write the most meaningful friendships and I love her for it. Every book should have friendships this important.

I really appreciate that Ren’s quest wasn’t focused on an instalove romance, it was focused on found family and being there for the people who need you. I loved how important Ren’s family were to her, even though they weren’t her biological family. I loved the way Ren and Sunho became friends, I loved the way they slowly opened up to each other and came to trust each other. For a YA book this had a surprising amount of depth to the relationships.

Another thing I really enjoyed with this book is the theme of Ren wearing her mask, and how the people important to her supported her in it, even though they wanted to see her face. When she let Big Uncle see her face for the first time it made me so emotional. It felt so true to her story of fear and desperation and how she felt such a need to hide herself away, and the way that the people who loved her gave her the space to do felt was so kind.

I’m emotional. I better get approved for the arc of book 2 because I need to read it immediately.

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!