4 Stars

I got completely sucked into the follow up to The God and the Gumiho and devoured it in 48 hours! It was exciting to meet the same grumpy, witty Seokga after 30 years of therapy and the reincarnated Hani as the stressed, tired & anxious Yoo Kisa (you and me both girl!). The cast of characters were lovable, and I felt invested in each of them and was cheering for their growth throughout the book. So many times throughout the book I felt my heart breaking, but the way the characters supported and loved each other fiercely made me feel so many things.

The layers of mystery in the story were intriguing - I did feel some of it was predictable, but it felt intentional and I found myself really enjoying how the plot and clues were presented in the book. The writing was great to read, I felt myself having to slow down and absorb what was being presented as it was so gripping I kept wanting to skip ahead! The way that the relationship between Kisa and Seokga grew over the book really made me swoon.

I think the pacing could have been a little clearer as the beginning 50% of the book felt like it was all day one & two, and then suddenly the pace sped up with the ending sequence. There was also one part where I was confused about who was meant to know about the emperor’s death and who wasn’t, I had to flip back and forth to confirm. This could be a me-as-a-reader problem though. The writing style might not be for anyone, but if you're looking for a silly, light hearted but also the serious themes mentioned are treated with the sensitivity they deserve.

Overall this was a great continuation of the series, featuring both returning and new characters to the world. The world building was great, I loved learning about the wider universe and it has a satisfying ending. Always happy to be getting to spend more time with grumpy sassy Seokga!

Ever since finishing The God and the Gumiho back in November I have been gagging for book two! I was so glad it wasn’t a standalone because Sophie beautifully paints a world that I didn’t want to leave! I love how richly steeped in Korean folklore this story is, I absolutely ate it up and book two is just as enchanting as the first! The murder mystery element was so fun, I was wildly speculating and had a running list of theories and suspects as we followed the impromptu investigation. Be ready to go through the gambit of emotions, because I found myself utterly heartbroken, kicking my feet with glee, swooning, AND laughing out loud at the witty writing. I couldn’t get enough, I’m so excited to see what Sophie writes next (although I am hoping for more featuring this cast of characters) because this cruise is one I won’t soon forget!

Thank you SO MUCH NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to netGalley and Random House for the eARC.

The God and the Gwisin is the follow up novel to The God and the Gumiho. We follow up thirty three years after the first book to find out that Seokga has been on a long search for the reincarnation of his love, Hani. Turns out, Hani is now Kisa, a perfect perfectionist who had become a maternity ward ob-gyn shaman. She also just fell off a building and died and now is stuck on a cruise ship as a gwisin.

Pros:
- It's nice to see more development from characters and deal with the kdrama issues of amnesia/lost memories and how much would unconditional love can be.
- Showing flaws in all characters that aren't just making convenient plot points and have their own wants and needs has shown some writing development from the first novel.
- I don't think it meant to, but having therapy speak/therapy usage as a form of weaponization against Seokga was interesting and also a bit of a commentary on gen z's usage of therapy speak being used against everyone else and each other.

Cons:
- The author has no idea what S. Korea is like. At all. Which is baffling to me, someone of Korean descent, to write this about the author, someone of Korean descent who has also been imbued with the knowledge of these myths their whole life. According to the pretext before the novel and the acknowledgements after the novel.
- I absolutely loathe that the novel spent more time talking about coffee/coffee types than it did describing the Korean mythology it was trying (and I emphasize the word 'trying') to highlight. There was more descriptions of a flat white than there was of what a dokkaebi was. And if anyone couldn't remember what an eoduksini or a jangsan beom was, she wasn't ever going to remind you. Even if there was a dictionary to help the reader, I was reading a digital copy, and I sure as anything wasn't going to go back to check.
- The editing. There were some glaring issues with the writing, which I do chalk up to the author being young, and that is why I will probably not read another one of her books. She should know that her writing has a decent amount of potential, but between her either ignoring edits she needs to make or some extreme oversight, I should not be reading the following passage;
"He's quite certain that if given half the chance, Hwanung would hurl him back down to Iseung.
Seokga formed this theory after Hwanung explicitly told him that if given the chance, he would hurl him back to Iseung."
- Other writing discrepencies I couldn't work past;
- Seokga "bonked" his head falling out of bed because his brother and nephew had a screaming match in another palace.
- "Shan't"
- so and so "used the informal"- What is the point if there is no actual written difference denoting the language change? Who cares if Kisa talks in banmal if it isn't written any differently????
- The author made a whole segment of Kisa writing/thinking/saying "arse" and "bum" to remind the audience she is half British. That actually meant nothing to the plot, but could've been interesting as a point of her not fitting in. But nobody cares and she's also dead.
- Gonna follow up with that Hajun says "posterior" after Kisa says posterior but he's an idol. He didn't go to med school or indicated on having a large vocabulary beforehand. Why is he saying this now?
- The smut was cringe, also starting up at the tail end of one chapter and kept going into the next with an eventual fade to black was actually strange and not needed because it cut into the pacing.
- I did not like the gossip rag, even gossip columns would not call some of the highest ranking gods "Hottie Hwanin" and "Sexy Seokga".

All in all, this book was not for me, and this isn't something I would denote being an novel for adults. Just because you want to write explicit sex and say the word "fuck" isn't great if you can't actually utilize better prose.

I read The God and The Gumiho last year and it was one of my favourite reads! So I couldn't wait to read this sequel!

It's a hard sequel to review because I loved it overall, but I also really couldn't let go of a previous character (I don't want to spoil). The author did deal with this really well, but I just loved that character far too much and felt more chemistry between them and the love interest, Seokga. This is just personal opinion though and didn't take away my enjoyment of the book. I did warm up to the new character, Kisa, so it shows how great the author's writing is.

What I really loved was the mystery weaved through the book. I was suspicious of two characters from early on, but the book kept me guessing until 70% of the way through, when some last clues made me certain and I was right about them from the beginning. I like that it kept things interesting!

And I also loved the relationship between Seokga and Hwanin. This was a good twist by the author, to give them a new way to move forward and I really hope to see more about them!

Seokga has really done a lot of growing as a character. Hani made him open his heart and Kisa has helped him start to heal. He plays up and expects reactions that Hani would have gave, but Kisa has different morals and he notices this, so he starts to become a better person.

I also really adored the interview at the end of the book! I won't say too much but it had me laughing.

Please also note, there are focuses on grief and mentions of suicide and depressive states in this book. The author handles these sensitively, but it also is light and funny in other parts.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

I think it’s okay. I like how the story kept going. It was fun and k-poppy. I wasn’t as intrigued as the first book. Plot line was pretty predictable

i was expecting a different story. and probably that's why I didn’t enjoy this book like the previous one. the writer did a wonderful job, but the direction of the story wasn’t for me.

4.5 Stars
The God and the Gwisin delivers another captivating installment, though for me it lulled a bit in the middle. Despite that, it’s an overall thrilling continuation of the story. The dynamic between Seokga and Kisa is wonderfully built, with both characters adamantly insisting they’re just friends, even as the reader (and everyone around them) can see them falling for each other. This slow-burn romance is one of the book's strongest points.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the sequel is its exploration of soulmates and reincarnation, themes that add an emotional depth to the romance as its not just overlooked just to get the two mains together. I absolutely loved Kisa’s analytical nature and how relatable she was to me. Even the side characters were given their own page time and space to grow within the story. While Somi’s character initially grated on me in the first quarter, her role quickly becomes more understandable, particularly as Seokga, like me, harbors some lingering frustration over Hani’s death. Speaking of Hani, I missed her presence in this book, but I headcanon that she’s still guiding Seokga and Kisa through the red string.
The twist in the story became apparent to me fairly early on, especially around the 57% mark. However, this didn’t detract from the book’s overall appeal, as I was still eagerly invested in seeing how the story would resolve. And then, of course, that cliffhanger! It’s left me on the edge of my seat, counting down the days until the next book.
I'm really hoping that it’s a library adventure with a bit of family shenanigans thrown in!

ᨳ᭬ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ࿐ྂ

“Whenever she kisses him, simply because she can and she wants to, he wonders how his wicked soul ever came to deserve this.”

Oh my god i can't describe how much i love the characters and how happy i am to be revisiting the Universe even though it hasn't been long since i read the first Book.

The Story was so good and don't even get me started on the writing style but i still like the first Book more.

I have the biggest soft spot for Seokga, I just love him so much and Hwanin, get behind me, i will protect you from the everything. I’m still not sure what i think of Somi, she was kinda irrelevant here (i’m sorry for saying this).

“This is home, Seokga.” Her fingers brush over his lips. “With you.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the e-ARC!

Going into this book, I was a bit skeptical because I felt like book 1 could have been a standalone. I also liked the ambiguous ending and how we didn’t know when or how Seokga would find Hani again. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the angle this book took. It focused a lot on the mystery, but there was also a lot of angst and pining. Because of the reincarnation, past lives, and red thread of fate, Seokga and Kisa’s relatioship was fraught with tension. They both feared the other’s expectations of them. We also got to see a lot more of Seokga’s lore and trauma. While this book was sad at times, there were moments of levity that literally made me laugh out loud. I loved how Seokga and Kisa’s relationship developed and how gentle they were with each other. It was also fun to see a familiar character once again. This definitely felt like watching a K-drama, but one focused more on mythology. Overall, this was so entertaining and romantic. I’m really eager to check out Sophie Kim’s YA series now because I love her character work.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for the ARC!

*potential spoilers below*

This book does have references to grief, depression, self-harm, and suicide. Sophie Kim handles these themes with sensitivity and care, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re affected by these triggers.

The God and the Gumiho is one of my favorite books, so I was thrilled to get to read The God and the Gwisin before its release. There are times where the sequel of a beloved book doesn’t live up to my expectations, but that was not the case here. I absolutely adored this book and I devoured it in two days - I’m sure I could have done so in one day if I didn’t have other responsibilities to tend to.

Sophie Kim does a wonderful job crafting this world and making you care about everyone in it. I loved seeing Seokga in therapy, trying to cope with his inability to find Hani for over thirty years. He’s still the grumpy god we all loved in the first book, but his character growth hasn’t reverted despite his misery. Kisa is not the Hani we know, but she’s interesting and lovable in her own right. I was invested in learning more about her as she and Seokga navigated their complicated feelings towards each other.

I appreciated the focus on Hwanin and Seokga’s relationship, and the insight into their past. This story gives them a creative way to heal move forward together. I loved Hajun and I just wanted to see him be happy! Somi was a surprise for me. Like Seokga, I was initially mad at her because of her actions in the first book, but I enjoyed her redemption arc in this one. The murder mystery was also entertaining and kept me guessing!

The main story is wrapped up nicely and I really love the ending. The Godly Gossip interview was also very amusing. There seems to be potential for another book and I will gladly read it if happens!

Some of my favorite quotes:

“For her, it is an experiment. Research.
For him, it's love.”

"You love fully and completely, only to have it returned in less than half."

"Try again. Perhaps use some threats.
You're historically very good at that."

“Hi. When has he ever, in his immortal life, said hi? It's disgraceful. Humiliating. Absurd.
And yet he will be all of those things for her.”

Book Review: The God and the Gwisin by Sophia Kim

What do you get when you mix a trickster god in therapy, a reincarnated lost love with no memory of him, and a murder mystery on a luxury underworld cruise? A book that completely stole my heart.

I already loved The God and the Gumiho, but this sequel? Even better. Seokga’s journey—from exiled trickster to a god trying to put the pieces of his life back together—was so well done. He’s searching for Hani, his fated love, but instead, he finds Yoo Kisa, who has no idea who he is. Kisa is exhausted with her afterlife and doesn’t have time for a lovesick god—especially not one who seems disappointed she’s not the woman he was expecting. But when the heavenly emperor is murdered aboard their ship, these two have no choice but to work together. What follows is a story full of mystery, slow-burn romance, and some seriously top-tier character development.

I’ve always loved Sophia Kim’s writing—it’s fast-paced, cinematic, and gives me major K-drama vibes in the best way. But what really stood out in this book was the depth of Seokga and Kisa’s relationship. In The God and the Gumiho, Seokga and Hani’s dynamic was fun and full of banter, but it also felt a little immature at times (not in a bad way, just in a chaotic way). With Kisa, though? It’s different. Their connection is softer, more intentional, and watching Seokga grow into someone worthy of that kind of love was so satisfying. Kisa challenges him in all the right ways, and their dynamic had me absolutely hooked.

And it’s not just the romance that shines—Seokga’s relationship with his brother was one of my favorite parts. Watching him heal from childhood wounds and finally face* the things he’s been running from? So, so good. Plus, we get to see some familiar faces from book one (no spoilers, but trust me, you’ll love it), and the side characters have their own arcs that make the story feel even richer.

The murder mystery itself was a blast, and the pacing kept me engaged the whole way through. And that ending?? I need more books in this universe. If you love mythology, romance, and a story that balances humor, heart, and adventure perfectly—this one’s for you. Highly recommend!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC!
*Will post the review for it on my Bookstagram closer to release! I do have the review for the first coming out this week! Instagram: @chaoticmomreads and @thetbrsociety

I loved The God and the Gumiho and I adored The God and the Gwisin!!
Seokga’s character development is one of my absolute favourites that I’ve ever read. I love how Kim keeps who he is at his core while also showing his softer changes. My heart absolutely breaks for him as he discovers the betrayal of someone close to him yet again.
I really like Kisa, although I will admit it did take me awhile to get to that point. I enjoyed all the side chat. They all felt so important to the story in their own way
The world building was as well done as it was in the first book and I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the Underworld as the library.
I’m now hoping after that ending that there is another book because I could definitely use more of these characters in my life

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This will be a brief review, as I went into this book somewhat blind, having not read the first one. What initially drew me in was the stunning cover and the promise of Korean folklore—I'm a huge fan of mythology, and this story delivered beautifully.

Kim expertly weaves Korean folklore with a compelling murder mystery. The romance was well-balanced, never overpowering the plot, allowing other aspects of the story to flourish. Despite not having prior attachments to the characters, I quickly grew to love them, making it all the more bittersweet when I reached the final page.
Overall, The God and the Gwisin is an enchanting read that will delight fans of mythology-based narratives and deeply woven love stories.

ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ net galley review
Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for providing me with the ARC of this book.

I'm forever going to think about how I sobbed when this book ended because I was genuinely upset that the book had ended. This year is an absolute banger for arcs and this book was no different. Sophie Kim's writing in this book was just as good as the previous one. I was originally scared that this book would suffer from middle-book syndrome but it ATE UP. I felt connected to the characters even the new ones which is amazing considering that I hate change. The growth the characters go through in the book is one I need the cheat code for ASAP. I long to be a character written by Sophie Kim.

Not having read the first book, I didn't come into this with a pre-established connection to the characters. I don't think that was the main issue though. For large chunks of the book this just felt like lots of talking on a ship with very little progress in terms of both the romance and mystery. Existing fans of the characters might like it - seeing characters they already love chatting and having fun - but as a new reader it was difficult to feel engaged.

SHE CAME. SHE CONQUERED. AND SHE DELIVERED.

set on the SRC Flatliner, a luxury cruise sailing down the river of the dead, this story hooks you from the start with its blend of heart-wrenching emotion and breathtaking adventure.

Seokga, once a fallen trickster god, is on a mission—not just to reclaim his status but to find his lost love, Hani. but fate throws him a curveball when his red thread leads him to Yoo Kisa instead. she’s exhausted, stuck in an afterlife of endless work, and has no memory of their supposed connection. Seokga, still mourning the love he lost, doesn’t know what to make of her. But as they’re forced to work together to solve the murder of the heavenly emperor, sparks start to fly in the best possible way. your honor, the dynamic between Seokga and Kisa. their chemistry is chef’s kiss—a perfect mix of tension, longing, and slow-burn goodness. their love story isn’t a simple one, and that’s what makes it feel so real. it’s tangled in grief, fate.

and the big question: is love something you’re destined for, or something you choose?

and also let’s talk about the setting—this underworld cruise ship is next level. it’s eerie, extravagant, and full of secrets. the murder mystery keeps the tension high, and the side characters (ghosts, gods, and lost souls alike) add so much depth to the world. this book is everything—romantic, thrilling, and deeply emotional. it’ll stay with you long after you turn the last page.

if you love mythology, murder mysteries, and swoon-worthy romance, you need this book in your life. 5 stars because this was an unforgettable journey through love, fate, and the afterlife, this book proves that even gods aren’t immune to the power of the heart.

RAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH MORE PLEASE

Magical. Just as good as and maybe even a smidge better than the first book The God and the Gumiho. Seokga is ever the moody, trickster who has searched for Hani's reincarnate. When he finds her she not only doesn't remember him but she is almost the opposite of Hani. Watching Seokga fall in love with Yoo Kisa for who she is was such a treat. Sophie Kim is quickly becoming a must read author for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this e galley. I was under no obligation to leave a review, all opinions are my own.

In this swoony sequel to The God and the Gumiho, a trickster god must work with his reincarnated lost love to solve his brother’s murder on board a luxury underworld cruise ship.

Seokga the No-Longer-Fallen is working on himself. Reinstated as a god, the trickster now attends much-needed therapy, even as he desperately searches for his lost love, Hani. But when the red thread of fate tangled around his finger—signaling Hani’s reincarnation—leads Seokga to a luxury cruise down the river of the dead, the woman he finds waiting for him isn’t Hani . . . she’s Yoo Kisa, and she has no memory of him.

Yoo Kisa is exhausted with her afterlife. While she’d hoped the underworld would be peaceful, whoever she was in a past life racked up quite the karmic debt, and now she must pay it, working thanklessly aboard the SRC Flatliner. Even worse, the red thread wrapped around her pinky followed her into the underworld . . . and although her fated partner has found her, he seems to find her lacking.

When the heavenly emperor is murdered aboard the ship, Seokga and Kisa must solve the crime before the cruise ends. As the mystery draws them closer, the god and the gwisin will have to decide what they truly mean to each other. But there’s something bigger at play aboard the SRC Flatliner, something that holds the key to Kisa and Seokga’s fated connection—and the fate of the mortal and heavenly realms.

2,25*

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.

I loved the first book, The God and the Gumiho so much but this book didn’t life up to it. I had so much trouble to get through this book because of the turn the story and characters took.
Therefore, I decided to see The God and the Gumiho as a standalone and enjoy rereading only the first book.

The God and the Gwisin is the sequel we all deserved. The first book was unforgettable, and I’ll always love the trickster god and the shapeshifting fox <3. This sequel is a blend of Korean mythology, romance, and murder mystery, making for an absolutely compelling read.

The book is set aboard a cruise navigating the river of the dead, folowing Seokga as he searches for his reincarnated love. Instead, he finds Yoo Kisa, a gwisin with no memory of the past. But when a murder takes place on the ship, Seokga and Kisa must work together to solve the crime before the journey end.

I did not expect this book to be the way it is. It was not just about finding his lover and falling in love again—it was about so much more. The story dives deep into the pain and grief of the trickster god and how much he would do to bring his love back. But it also explores the battle in his head when he learns that maybe Hani won’t return at all. This emotional depth adds a layer of complexity that makes the book even more gripping. Add a murder mystery and this book is so good you can’t put it down.

Sophie Kim excels in character development, particularly in portraying Seokga's and Kisa’s internal struggles. I also loved how the Red Thread was explored throughout the book, with Kisa slowly helping us understand its true meaning. One of the things I really enjoyed in this book were the side characters. Both the returning and newly introduced ones brought so much life to the story, each adding their own unique presence. I especially loved learning more about the gods and, in particular, Seokga’s family, which added even more depth to his character.

And speaking of Seokga – I love him even more after this book
"You love fully and completely, only to have it returned in less than half."

The only reason I gave it a 4 star, is because it did not have as much a wow factor like book one. I missed the funny and witty fox.

A beautifull written, emotional, and captivating sequel to The God and the Gumiho. I could read so much more about them!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, Del Rey

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

All the stars!The God and the Gwisin took everything I loved about the first book and made it even better! The mix of Korean mythology, romance, and mystery was absolutely captivating. Seokga’s journey to find Hani’s reincarnation was both emotional and intense, and Kisa’s logical nature made their dynamic even more compelling.

The luxury cruise ship setting in the underworld was such a unique and eerie backdrop, making the murder mystery even more gripping. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and the twists kept me guessing! The humor, suspense, and deep emotions were perfectly balanced, and the side characters—especially Baby Hwanin—added so much charm.

Sophie Kim’s writing is stunning, and this sequel completely exceeded my expectations. I’m still thinking about it and can’t wait for whatever comes next!can't wait for my special edition of it!!