4⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Kim, and the publishers for this ARC!

In short, this was a cute and memorable sequel to the original novel The God and the Gumiho. Sophie Kim does a fantastic job of incorporating intrigue and mystery with silliness and lovable characters. While this didn’t quite hit the full five stars (I missed Hani too much, and the book did follow much of the same formula as the first, so it didn’t seem to have any extra *oomph* to me), I thought this was a great read that had so much to offer. As a Seokga fan, I loved his character arc and the emphasis on his relationship with his brother, and the healing journey for him and Kisa was well written. There was a lot to enjoy from this and I think Sophie wrote a wonderful book!

Maaaaaaan do I love these cultural style books. I loved the first book, and I loved this one just as much. The fate of thread that bound the God and Kisa was such a fascinating part of this story, and Sophie Kim's writing is so interesting to read and follow.

4.25 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC.

Part two of Sophie Kim’s Fates Thread duology takes place 33 years after the end of The God and the Gumiho. If you’ve not read book 1 yet, head off to read that before you do anything else; it’s a fantastic Korean-inspired contemporary fantasy.

Like part one, this is a murder mystery that follows Yoo Kisa (Hani’s reincarnated soul) and Seokga as they race against the clock to solve another world-changing murder. Like last time, we have a cast of fun side characters and get a wonderful glimpse into Korean mythology.

Seokga is the standout star of this book, we get to see his development as a person and how much love, Hani, and his family mean to him. Yoo Kisa is smart and strong, with a beautiful, caring side for those who are suffering around her.

While the romance made my heart flutter and the plot and world were great fun, I did miss Hani. We were missing the mischievous spark of the Gumiho, the banter and the female rage she depicted. I did love the way Sophie approached the topic of rebirth, but don’t go in expecting a replica of Hani, Yoo Kisa is very much her own person.

thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for this arc!

i loved the god and the gumiho and this book fell into that same line.
sophie kim is so clever with her stories, and they are never what i expect them to be. she exceeds my expectations every time.
she has the ability to make me laugh, and then cry, in the span of a couple pages and i love that!
i will definitely be reading more by her.

Last year, I got the ARC of the first book of this series, the God and the Gumiho, and loved it. I was lucky enough to receive the ARC for this book, so many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for offering me the opportunity to read this book!

I was so scared going into this book, given the ending of the God and the Gumiho. I was worried about how this book would tackle the idea of rebirth. I shouldn't have worried -- Sophie Kim did a wonderful job of approaching the topic. While I loved Kim Hani's vibrancy, I really enjoyed the perspective of Yoo Kisa in this novel. She is just as interesting of a character as Hani, and I loved how smart and quick-minded she is. Seokga was wonderful in this book as well, but the spotlight really fell on Kisa. I loved seeing her interact with the characters from the previous novel, as well as see how all the characters have grown in the time since.

The plot was fun, and I loved that they had to watch over Seokga's brother in baby-form the entire time. It made for such an enjoyable and goofy time, but also I loved how so much character depth was included as well. I think I know why I like the dynamic of the brothers so much -- it reminds me of Loki and Thor from the MCU, which I was obsessed with in my teens.

However much I liked this book, I think reading it shortly after I had reread the God and the Gumiho wasn't the best idea. I just love Hani and Seokga as a couple, it took awhile for me to warm to the idea of Seokga being in love with someone else (even though they're technically the same?). It really did put a damper on the story for me, and the entire time I was mourning Hani. If you are opening this sequel to get more Hani, then this isn't the book for you.

I can’t explain how much I love this series so far! The author just makes the story come to life from the plot, characters, and romance. It is written perfectly from keeping me hooked from page one all the way to the very end. Each character grows in their own way and it makes me love them all. This story presents a trickster god (Seokga) and Kisa as they navigate through their new dynamic. They also have to solve a crime that was committed while they were aboard a ship or Seokga will be punished. The story is beautiful and the character’s connections feel like more then just a story but something written in the fated universe! My favorite part of the book is how the author can show the emotion in the character even though their dynamic changed but it was still the same vibes as the first book. I think it was written in an interesting way to see a person being reincarnated. I was worried I would not like her having a different personality but I fell in love with the character all over again. It is the perfect fantasy book! I highly recommend you give this series a try!! Also look at the FAN ART!✨📖

I honestly can't express how much I love Sophie Kim's voice when she writes. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with these characters all over again. It was exactly the kind of ending I wanted for this duology. I've got my eyes peeled for her next project for sure!

I am just utterly obsessed with Seokga and Kisa/Hani. I am so happy that their story was able to continue. The way I was skeptical about how the reincarnation of Hani would go. I was immediately under the impression that Kisa would be exactly like Hani and the relationship with Seokga would be exactly the same. The way Sophie Kim weaved a new persona in Kisa that still worked in the story was an impressive feat. Kisa is not Hani and Hani is not Kisa yet they are. Immediately I thought of the ship of Theseus and I am glad that was a feature in this tale. Seokga having to come to terms with his soulmate having evolved into something new. I loved the slow burn and that they got to meet each other where they were at. Seokga was still his mischievous god self. His journey and the person that he turned into in the decades since Hani's death is a great character arc. Reading about him with the baby was hilarious. This story also exposed more of Seokga's family anf other gods that made the world feel more well rounded and complete. I love that this story has elements of humor, crime solving, romance, mythology and so much more. You would think that they would not blend and that the story would be over loaded but it's not. I cannot wait until the next instalment of this series (please let it be soon).

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

A little bit of mystery, romance, and fantasy all rolled into an imagined world filled with gods and creatures inspired by Korean mythology.
I would love to take a trip down the creative threads of Sophie Kim's imagination.
This book had all the elements of a favorite KDrama, but so much more.
There were many laugh out loud moments, a shy passion that builds into an unbreakable connection, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, and reading on.
I reserve my 5⭐ reviews for books I plan on reading again,and I will definitely be reading this one again.

Just like the first book this one didn't disappoint. I don't remember the last time that I read a series back to back. I am so thankfully I had a ARC of this one after the ending of book one.

The whole time reading I couldn't stop thinking how is Sophie Kim going to pull this off. Meaning getting the two main characters together, solve the mystery and get off that damn ship lol

Loved watching Seokga with his brother, with Kisa and a returning character. The story makes you think what we would do for our soul mate.

After that ending I now need book 3 lol

This is one of my favorite series. The audiobooks are so good. The humor in here is top tier. The beginning of this was literally heartbreaking. These are so,e of my favorite characters and I cannot wait until the next book in the series!


Links to come

This series feels like drinking a giant mug of hot chocolate under a very soft blanket to me. I was so excited for this book as I loved the first one and I may have screamed when I got the arc for it.

I usually hate memory loss trope and I was so scared that this might feel too much like it. But my worry was not necessary at all, it felt like a fresh story and a very fun one at that. Well... maybe fun is not the ideal descriptor as I started crying at 12%. This was, somehow, even more heartbreaking than the first book. (But I promise you, still a lot of fun.)

I love Sophie Kim's character writing, I get attached to all of her characters pretty easily. I loved seeing Seokga's acceptance of not finding the Hani he remembers and him being slowly growing fonder and fonder of Hwanin.

Mentions of formal and informal language were still often but it felt less weird, either because it felt more relevant to the story or I've gotten used to it since I've read the two books back to back.

I predicted the ending before I was even halfway through but waiting for it to happen was so exciting still, I loved seeing everything play out. I loved the murder mystery on a cruise vibe as well.

Thanks a lot to Netgalley and Del Rey for this arc!

The sequel takes place 33 years after the ending of the first book. 33 years Seokga spends looking for Hani's reincarnation. I was so excited to read this especially after how book 1 ends and it delivers for the most part. 🙊

I feel like this was Seokga's story through and through and Kisa while being a whole new character (other than Hani's eyes) was somewhat lacking. Maybe it's unfair but at the same it's obvious to compare him with Hani and for me Hani was the better fmc.

Looking at the overarching plot that spans the two books I think it was meant to be mmc's story. He falls from grace, falls in love, lose her, begs his brother and finds her reincarnated form. Hani and Kisa were part of the story but Hani had the presence to make the story her. Kisa was different. I don't hate her, I actually did like her in the book. Although when it comes to the love story, I think Seokga only falls in love with Kisa because of the reincarnation factor.

This book was through and through Seokga' story, be it the love story, his issues and trauma because of his father or his broken relationship with his brother, who was an adorable baby in this book. The way he seek out his brother at all times and seeing Seokga so protective about him was heartwarming.

All things considered it was still a perfect ending. I think the author might right more books in this universe especially after that epilogue but I think Seokga and Hani/Kisa's story ends here. Either ways I'll wait for whatever next we get about the gods and the creatures.

That was a sweet book. It’s a very good duology! Seokga has spent decades looking for the reincarnation of his lover and finally finds her but too late as she’s died again. Yoo Kisa Is working on a cruise ship for the dead in the afterlife and is pulled back into Soekga’s orbit when he’s traveling on the ship and a good is murdered, Good mystery, likable characters and a good resolution. Only the two books I think so if you want a fantasy mystery with a side of romance this is a great choice.

3.5⭐️. 2 🌶️

One of my most anticipated books of the year.

After the ending of the God and the Gumiho it was a long wait ( a year) to know what was going to happen with Seokga and Hani relationship. I love both characters in book one and was devastated by the ending and I was really looking forward to their reunion in this book.

I love Seokga in this book he was a total different guy from book 1 he was in love and waiting to be reunited with his love one who he had been searching for 33 years. I love to see his vulnerability and how much he love Hani. But like him I was so sad to see that Hani was not the same person he remembered. I was questioning the point of she having the same eyes if really she was not the same she didn’t remember anything from her past life so when she met Seokga again for the first time he was a stranger to her.

It just felt like a completely different love story but with Seokga in it. I was really wishing for her to regain her memories or at least some. But it didn’t happen 😕 I was not happy that she stayed a ghost. I don’t know I feel that Seokga and Hani deserve a better ending.

I love the lil mystery added to the story and I love to see Seogka taking care of a baby.

More more more, give me more. I adored The God and the Gumiho, and this was the perfect sequel. Still very Goblin-inspired (an all-time favorite.) But with a cast of characters (mostly) from the first book.

Reinstated god Seokga gets dragged on a cruise for his mental health with his brother and therapist, and he realizes his red thread of fate leads someone working on the cruise ship. Unfortunately, Yoo Kisa is not Hani. And she's also definitely dead. Tension, tempers, drama, and then Hawnin winds up murdered and immediately reverted to baby god form.

Seokga, Kisa and a couple others (no spoilers) have to team up to track down a murder before word gets back to the pantheon that Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang is a baby.

Once again, Sophie Kim writes a book that reads like a k-drama, but better paced.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey Books (thanks, Kay!) for providing me with an e-ARC of The God and The Gwisin for review.

I loved it!!! The banter, the drama, all of it. I can’t wait to have the physical copy and place it on my shelf. Looking forward to more of Sophie Kim’s works.

I got an ARC of book one and I was so grateful to get an ARC of this sequel.

This picks up around 30 years later from book 1. I was unsure what to expect going into this one because of the way the first book ended but I enjoyed this just as much as the first book, if not more so.

The Fate's Thread series by Sophie Kim is my new favourite 5⭐ series! The God & the Gwisin was everything I wanted & more for the sequel to one of my fave 2024 reads.
I highly recommend to anyone looking for an urban romantic fantasy series with impeccable banter, witty humour, riveting quests and adventures. I love the supernatural elements and creatures of Korean mythology steeped into the story.

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REVIEW | 5 ⭐
⚠️ The God & the Gwisin is a sequel so this review will have some minor SPOILERS for book 1!

After the heartwrenching way book 1 ended, I was so ready to dive into this sequel and devoured it in a couple of days. The underworld river cruiseship was such a fun and unique setting and the murder mystery kept things interesting. The wit and humour from the God & the Gumiho definitely came through as I found myself laughing and giggling so much.

A reincarnated main character can be tricky to navigate with new character dynamics and relationships but it was so impeccably done. I loved seeing Kisa and Seokga gradually connect and fall in love again whilst also mediating their past life history. I appreciated the discussions surrounding the Ship of Theseus and whether Kisa and Hani are the same. Seokga's long yearning and heartbreak for Hani alongside his new, confusing and blossoming connection with Kisa was executed so well. Soulmates fr ❤️‍🩹.

Our favourite grumpy, trickster god, Seokga is back and even better! His character development was especially rewarding, especially as we delve deeper into his relationship with his father and upbringing. I loved seeing his gentle, vulnerable side and how much he's grown since the start of Book 1. Kisa was such a well-written, intelligent and lovable character who I related to so much. I adored the new friendships and characters introduced like Hajun and reuniting with some old ones like Somi and Hwanin. One of my favourite parts is Seokga's and Hwanin's brotherly relationship in this one. The inclusion of the sentient red thread was also hilarious.

Everything was paced and wrapped up really well. I felt the murder mystery reveal was quite obvious but i still found myself thoroughly entertained by it. I loved reuniting with these characters, this world and falling in love with this beautiful love story once more. What an epic conclusion to an actionpacked, hilarious, heartfelt and romantic adventure (though I feel like there could potentially be another installment hopefully?!🙏).

°°°
Thank you so much to the publisher & Netgalley for the e-Arc 🩷.

Seokga and Hank’s story picks up roughly 30 years from the events of ‘The God and the Gumiho’. Hani is been reincarnated as Yoo Kisa and the Trickster God has been searching the world for his fated one, guided by the ephemeral but unbreakable Red Thread of Fate looked around his finger.

Everything about this books is perfection. Characters are complex with multidimensional motivations and back stories. The plot is complex while remaining focused on our fated hero and heroine. Ms. Kim writes beautifully descriptive scenes and characters inspired by Korean mythology and folklore that are authentic but also accessible to readers unfamiliar with the Korean pantheon and its myriad immortal creatures.

Highly recommended for fantasy and romantasy readers.