The first 25% of this book absolutely slapped. I was intrigued by the mystery, I was laughing at the shenanigans, I was feeling for poor Seokga after everything he went through.

But then everything sort of felt meh in the middle. This carried over to the ending too, unfortunately. There was a lot of build-up only for it to be solved relatively quickly and with barely an inconvenience.

But I think my main issue was that the author spent the majority of the book trying to convince us that Kisa and Seokga had chemistry when really everything paled in comparison to his relationship with Hani. The banter Hani shared with Seokga, the similarities in their experiences, the mischievousness. It's not that I didn't like Kisa, she's sweet. I just don't believe those two fell in love and all the time spent on it and away from the plot didn't really help. (You'd think having a bigger page count dedicated to it would help, but no...)

In book 1, the plot and romantic development were intertwined, we knew going in that something would have to give, etc. The stakes weren't just theory. Plus, let's just say Seokga had a personality. Here he is just whipped 24/7, and while I understand where this comes from, the execution didn't do it for me.

Then there is the mystery itself... Also needed work. It's not that the first book's mystery wasn't predictable, but at least there was more momentum and crumbs to follow. The foreshadowing and build-up were a lot more satisfying. Let's just say that if you go into this book for the mystery, you'll be disappointed.

Still, the setting is fun, the cast is also fun (the baby especially), and it can be a good time. Plus, it could end here if you wanted it to. Same for book 1, actually. Plus, I'm clearly in the minority, so go ahead and read this book if you liked the first.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Sophie Kim and Del Rey for the chance to read and review this book.

Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my review!

This book was one of my highly anticipated reads of 2025 since the first book, The God and the Gumiho was one of my absolute favorite reads of 2024! With the way the first book ended up, I have been desperately waiting to read the sequel to see what awaits for our beloved gumiho and mischief God.

First I just want to say that I love Sophie’s writing style so much; there’s just something so beautiful and whimsical about the way she weaves Korean mythology into the setting of her books. Both the characters and the settings really pull you in and leave you wanting for more.

The sequel picks up around 30 years after the events of the first book. During this time Seokga has been looking for the reincarnated soul of Hani until finally the Red Thread of Fate shows up. However, who he finds at the end of it is not who he expected.


This book was both emotional and exciting. I absolutely loved the murder mystery plot weaved into it. The cruise ship was the perfect setup to create a tense and exhilarating setting for our main characters. On top of that, there was also the perfect found family trope and the additional accidental baby acquisition trope! I also really liked how the book focused more on Seokga and allowed him to go through a great deal of character development.

The romance in this book hit so hard with the longing and angst; it definitely gave a different vibe to his initial relationship with Hani but doesn’t erase the chemistry in any way. If anything, it only strengthened it. I think his relationship with Kisa was just as beautiful as his relationship with Hani and in a way, had a slightly stronger buildup. Seokga had to fall in love with someone who was Hani but not Hani at the same time and Sophie did an amazing job with writing about their relationship.

As for the side characters, I really enjoyed Hajun’s and Somi’s relationship too. I really liked how Somi was given a redemption arc and despite being a side character, she played an instrumental role in the story. Hajun’s character was amazing as well and I liked how Sophie was able to write in a character that opened readers’ eyes to the darker side of K-pop


The ending was wrapped up beautifully and I am so happy that Seokga and Kisa finally found peace and happiness with one another.

I thought this was such a fun read! I loved the first book, and while this one didn't fully capture the same magic (Hani 4 Life), it was still a really good time. Some of the twists were predictable, but that didn't ruin the read at all.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

The second installment in the Fate's Thread series, The God and the Gwisin follows newly reinstated god Seokga as he searches for the reincarnated form of his deceased true love.

I absolutely adored The God and the Gumiho, and I really didn't know whether this book would outdo it, but I have to say, The God and the Gwisin really knocked it out of the park. The ghost cruise, the red thread of fate, the murder mystery, every bit was absolutely pitch-perfect. While I missed Hani, Kisa absolutely won me over, and the differences and similarities between the two characters were remarkably intriguing and a joy to discover. This book was funny and sad and sweet and bittersweet, and while I don't want my two babies to ever go through anything bad ever again, I also selfishly hope this isn't the last book set in this world.

I want this whole book tattooed onto my body.

After reading The God and the Gumiho last year and having my heart ripped out I was so excited for The God and The Gwisin and felt so lucky to be given an ARC copy! This book tore my heart out and proceeded to stitch it up and then put it back in my chest before repeating the process at least three more times. I am so attached to the characters in this duology that I cried through the last three chapters not wanting to say goodbye. To avoid spoiling anything I won't mention much about the plot but please do yourself a favour and pick up this duology!

Onto characters, which I feel were truly the heart of this is story! I was already so attached to Seokga and Hani in the first book, and can proudly say they still had me in a chokehold in this book as well. Kisa really tugged on my heartstrings, I could see a lot of myself in her with her propensity for overthinking and her journey throughout the book was beautiful. There was such a push and pull between the two, and if you know me, you know that is favourite of mine!

I also loved Somi and was glad to see her again in this book, as well as our new comer Hajun who had me on board (hehehe.. they are on a ship in this book, get it?) immediately with his caring yet clueless personality and traumatising past. Hwanin was also definitely a fave in this book, iykyk. Sophie really has a way with writing characters and sucking you in to the world within the book and I will be reading everything she ever writes from now on, even if it is a shopping list.

I would absolutely love more books in this universe, I feel there is so much more to see and am praying for an announcement in the future. Especially with how this one ended!!

Thank you to NetGalley and DelRay for providing me with an eARC of this book.

4⭐️

The God and the Gumiho was one of the most surprising top reads of the year for me last year (shoutout to my Fairyloot subscription) so I was so incredibly excited once I got the e-ARC for its sequel, The God and the Gwisin. These books are emotional, funny, adventurous, and just such great reads! When this starts, we meet Seokga again seven years later. I loved that this one was more centered around his story because I immediately gravitated towards him in book 1. He is still chasing after his reincarnated love which leads him to being abroad a cruise ship in the middle of a murder mystery. I love a good murder mystery, my Agatha christie roots shining through, so the set up for the book already told me I was gonna love it! While on the cruise ship, Seokga meets Kisa, a ghost gwisin. I really enjoyed the relationship between them in this. The romance had banter, tension, longing, and so many lovely moments throughout. I loved that while these two were figuring out their relationship, they were also trying to solve all the mysteries happening on the ship. As with The God and the Gumiho, Sophie Kim perfectly weaves in Korean mythology into this. The mental health representation was also really well done. I love this world and characters that Sophie Kim has created. I will truly miss this world but am so happy this duology ended on a high note!

Thank you so so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my review!

The God and The Gwisin is a light and easy read that’s perfect for when you're feeling tired, as it doesn't require too much focus. I really enjoyed it!

The pacing for this book was better than the first book, though there are still some abrupt scene transitions. However, it’s not as bad as the first one.

This book focuses more on character development, which I appreciated of course, although it did make some of the other plotlines feel a bit rushed. And while I understand that the main characters are meant to be soulmates, their relationship still felt like it progressed too fast.

That said, I still enjoyed the book overall—it was the perfect read during my hectic week.

Absolutely loved this book. One of my friends highly recommended the first one. Read it so fast and patiently waited for God and the Gwisin. Loki coded please give these books a try.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I devoured the God and the Gumiho last year and so was thrilled to get approved to read the arc of the sequel. The God and the Gwisin, was somehow even funnier than the first book and I had a riot from start to finish.

I find the Korean mythology behind it fascinating and love that Sophie Kim takes the traditional pantheon and refreshes them as contemporary characters with very modern day problems. This book focused more on Seokga than the first, which I loved, as this grumpy trickster god has my whole heart.

Murder mysteries on a boat are also apparently a big win for me, so this fitted into this specific niche wonderfully. We had an excellent blend of old and new characters, which I was worried would be a downfall but somehow I loved the new (especially the key new character) far, far more than I anticipated which is a testament to Kim’s superb writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! All opinions in this review are my own.

6 Godly Gossip stars! (Is it briefs or boxers? Found out below!)

”I love you because for my soul, loving you is like breathing.”

This novel was utterly perfect from the characters, to the mystery plot aboard a dead cruise ship, to the Ship of Theseus question wrapped in what it means to love and discovering who you are now and then, and beyond. I laughed, I cried, I laughed harder, and then sobbed buckets throughout this novel. It all came full circle in the most satisfying and glorious way. This is a series that I will scream at everyone to read and I need this adapted into every format possible like I need air to breath, it is begging for a k-drama adaptation. I will gladly take more written about this world and these characters whether that is just short stories or novellas, graphic novels, literally anything just inject it all into my veins immediately. Cherry blossom perfection!

(Also the answer is boxers.)

This book really caught me in the feels. I loved The God and the Gumiho (adored Hani and Seokga’s relationship) and the ending left me somewhat devastated.

The God and the Gwisin picks up after The God and the Gumiho and Seokga has been searching for Hani’s reincarnated soul for 30 years, he’s exhausted, sad, and miserable without Hani. Then the red string of fate appears and he knows he can finally find her and chaos kinda ensues (riverboat cruise in the underworld with Kisa, his brother, and his psychologist).

This book is so beautiful and also painful at the same time. There’s a lot of healing, yearning, and forgiveness. I was like so anxious reading this wanting to know (needing to know) that Kisa (formerly Hani) and Seokga finally got their happy ending.

Can’t recommend this book and this duology enough.

Seokga’s still the sad, grumpy trickster god chasing after his reincarnated soulmate, now a badass ghost named Kisa who wants nothing to do with fate or romance. The setup? A chaotic murder mystery on a cruise ship in the literal underworld, with a cursed found family squad (dead K-pop idol included). The romance hits so hard — all that angst, longing, and “are we really soulmates?” tension — plus Kisa’s refusal to just be some guy’s reincarnated dream girl? Iconic. The mythology, mental health rep, and humor made this so much more layered than I expected. Lowkey can’t stop thinking about it.

Seven years after the Red Thread of Fate appeared, Seokga is tired. After traveling to ever continent in search of Hani, the lonely god has finally reached a breaking point. At the request of his therapist, Seokga, his therapist, and his brother the Heavenly Emperor, board a cruiseship in the underworld in hopes of a relaxing week away.

Once on board, Seokga finds the Thread of Fate is alerting him of his lost love. Desperate to find her, he searchers the cruise until he meet Yoo Kisa, Hani's reincarnated. Although Seokga knew not to expect Hani, or even for her to have retained her memories, he is more shocked to find Kisa is a gwisin (ghost) who lost her life in a tragic incident years prior.

While Seokga and Kisa try to figure out their threaded Fate, tragedy strikes the cruise liner, leading Seokga and Kisa to unravel the mysteries around them.


I loved coming back to Seokga and Kisa's(Hani) world. I missed the grumpy god and the smart and witty woman who knows who to steal his heart. The banter was bantering, and the love was sweet and kind. The duology wraps up beautifully, and I love knowing Kisa and Seokga are finally at peace and happy.

Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Sophie’s done it again. What a beautiful book! I didn’t think I was in the mood for a whodunnit but she knocked it out of the park.
Imagine your soulmate was reincarnated and she doesn’t remember you? AH! The drama of it all. The pine and the yearn! Seokga is a definitely the morally gray we love. Thank you so much to Del Rey and Netgalley for this ARC!

Sophie Kim’s *The God and the Gwisin* is a hauntingly beautiful triumph—a cosmic romance steeped in Korean mythology that swept me from the first page to the last. Aboard a ghostly cruise down the river of the dead, Seokga (a heartbroken god hunting his lost love’s reincarnation) collides with Yoo Kisa (a sharp-witted *gwisin* with no memory of him), sparking electric tension as they’re forced to solve the Heavenly Emperor’s murder before the voyage ends. Kim masterfully balances wry humor (Kisa’s modern ghostly sarcasm vs. Seokga’s divine dramatics) with profound themes: the weight of reincarnation, the scars of past lives, and subtle, resonant parallels to mental health struggles—particularly the crushing pressures echoing Korea’s K-pop industry. While the murder mystery serves more as a catalyst than a complex puzzle, it perfectly drives Seokga and Kisa’s achingly tender evolution from reluctant allies to soul-deep partners, exploring how trust can heal even celestial wounds. Kim’s prose dazzles—lyrical yet punchy, eerie yet warm—and though the climax resolves a touch neatly, the emotional payoff lingers like a dream. **4.5 stars** for its rare blend of whimsy and wisdom; a gem for lovers of mythic love stories where healing feels as vital as the HEA. 🤍✨*“Seokga’s yearning, Kisa’s wit, and that river of stars—perfection.”*

This whole series is just infinite stars. The limit does not exist here. I don't think I can fully put into words how much I loved this book, but I'll do my best without any spoilers 👀

First of all, be prepared to carry the pain and heartbreak from the end of book 1 because poor Seokga just doesn't catch a break. There is so much pining, and yes, I was secretly enjoying it, but my heart was also breaking with him. I know he's a 'villain', but he's a good villain and he deserves all the happiness in the world. I just wanted him to get his happy ending.

I wasn't sure how I would feel without Hani. The wound was still fresh, but as we got to know Kisa, she quickly grew on me, and I actually enjoyed the difference between Hani and Kisa. It was refreshing seeing how Kisa's personality fit with Seokga, as his character had developed and changed since The God and the Gumiho. There was some tension between them once they finally found each other, which is understandable, but their journey back to each other was just so beautiful to read and it was giving me all the warm gooey feels.

I know we're all here for the romance and cheering Seokga on as he finds his fated love, but the rest of the plot was just as entertaining. Another murder mystery with Seokga and Hani(ish)? Sign me up! The location and the rewards at the end made the stakes feel even higher, and I was so focused on this, hoping I could suss out the murderer before Seokga and Kisa did. I am happy to announce that I did figure it out (eventually), but I won't be pursuing a new career anytime soon.

There were more side characters in this book, and they had a bigger role in comparison to TGATG. I loved the extra drama and humour they brought to the table. One will be a familiar face, and one is completely brand new. They just helped break up the tension between Seokga and Kisa as they worked out the kinks in their new relationship, and I became just as invested in their story.

I have loved Sophie Kim's writing, and I've felt every heartbreak, embarrassment, excitement, rage, and moment of happiness alongside our MCs. I was consumed by this book in the best possible way, and I now envy every single one of you who is getting to read this series for the first time. It's been a while since I was fully engrossed in a story, and I am hoping that this isn't the end as I am not ready to let go of these characters.

A huge thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for this ARC. This has been one hell of a journey, pun intended, and I have loved every second of it.

BIG THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS ARC! I didn’t think Sophie Kim could top the emotional rollercoaster of The God and the Gumiho, but she said, “Let's go for haunted river cruise, identity crises, and cosmic heartbreak,” and honestly? She delivered.

The God and the Gwisin picks up with our heartbroken God still reeling from loss—but instead of wallowing, he ends up tangled in a mysterious afterlife cruise (yes, an actual boat for the recently deceased) where secrets float just beneath the surface. Think Hotel del Luna meets Knives Out, with just the right amount of angst, ghostly drama, and slow-burn romance.

This time, we’re introduced to a fresh cast of souls (some literally), including a baby with divine powers, a not-so-dead girl named Kisa who looks a lot like someone our God used to know, and a Gwisin who might just be tied to an ancient love story that hasn’t finished playing out yet. There’s humor, awkward parenting moments, lots of existential dread, and glimpses into the divine family drama that shaped our lead.

What I loved most? The exploration of identity. Kisa is not Hani, but does that make her love less valid? Can love survive rebirth and forgotten memories? And when you meet someone all over again, is it still the same story—or the beginning of a new one?

Sophie Kim balances myth, mystery, and emotion so well. While the ending didn’t hit quite as hard as I wanted, that final chapter has me side-eyeing my calendar, waiting for book three. Because oh boy, if the teaser is anything to go by, we’re in for some major divine drama.

🖤💙 The God and the Gwisin ARC Review 💙🖤

Thank you so much to Sophie Kim and Del Rey Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!

The God and the Gwisin is a fantasy romance and book 2 in the Fate’s Thread series. As always, this will be as spoiler free as possible, so if parts of this review feel vague - that’s why. After the events at the end of The God and the Gumiho, Seokga has been attempting to follow the red string of fate for years. After being forced to take a vacation, he unexpectedly finds the end of his tether…but can they overcome their differences and become true soulmates?

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book! I adored the first book in the series and this one was just as good! Seokga is such a lovable grump and I adore his continued adventures in this book. Kisa was a wonderful character and I adored their chemistry in this book. This world is so much fun and the world building is so creative - I could happily read a dozen more books in this world

Overall this was a fantastic 5 star read! I adored these characters and their story! This book definitely has some potential triggers, so please check if you’re sensitive. This book was a bit of a slow burn with some spice later in the book, so overall two flames for spice

If you’re a fan of fantasy romance with grumpy gods, beautiful world building and fantastic banter, then absolutely pick this series up. As this is a continuation of the story started in the first book, if absolutely recommend reading The God and the Gumiho first.

Sophie Kim’s The God and the Gwisin is a captivating blend of Korean mythology, romance, and mystery that keeps you emotionally invested from start to finish. I loved how the story explores Seokga’s journey—not just his search for his lost love, Hani, but also his deeper struggle with his own psychological wounds and growth, including his attempts at therapy.

Kisa and Hani are so completely opposite, but Kisa’s character really grew on me. While Hani is spontaneous, confident, sassy, easygoing, and well… morally grey, Kisa is an overachiever, rule abiding, super intelligent, insecure shaman.

The mystery aboard the underworld cruise ship was engaging, but I have to admit, I figured out the culprit a bit over halfway through, which slightly lessened the suspense for me. Still, the journey and character interactions more than made up for it, and the mythological world-building is beautifully done. This is the only reason I didn’t rate it 5 stars.

Overall, it’s a swoony, emotionally charged sequel that blends romance and mystery with Korean folklore in a unique way. I’m looking forward to what Sophie Kim writes next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️(maybe just a half)

This was such a fun read. Great balance of mystery, emotions, plot, banter, and YEARNING. Oh the yearning. Compared to book one, this had yearning in SPADES.

Of course Seokga couldn’t just FIND Hani’s reincarnation right away. The journey he goes on is the absolute definition of dedication. He’s a goner right from the beginning and I loved seeing him slowly heal some deep set wounds throughout the book.

Kisa was so alike yet so different from Hani. It was refreshing all over again watching her go from resistance to like to love ❤️

If you liked book one, you need to keep going! This was the ending those two deserved 🥰