Fate's Thread is such a wonderfully fun and unique duology, and I loved this conclusion! Kisa was so different from Hani, and I struggled with the romance at first, but slowly grew to love Kisa's character and her dynamic with Seokga. The chemistry was written really well, and the added worldbuilding made the story really immersive.
I will say that the mystery was a little predictable, but the plot was much sillier than the first book, which made it more enjoyable. I loved the little crumbs of K-drama tropes (Kopiko, anyone?), and the addition of the sentient thread of fate made so much sense.
The ending was really sweet and I loved being able to see Seokga at peace with himself, Kisa, and Hwanin. I can't wait to see what Sophie Kim writes next!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC!

Chef's kiss, no notes.

But, to be helpful, I loved this follow up to The God and The Gumiho. Kisa is a treasure and Seokga is as loveable as ever (but maybe more because of his personal growth). The amount of pining and the eventual pay off was just perfection.

5 stars, and I will definitely buy a physical.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Arc review

I am very grateful to have been allowed to read this book in advance.

I have to say that I was completely blow away by this story. I should mention that while I liked the first book, I wasn’t the biggest fan, but my perspective has changed with this second instalment and this ended up being one of the sweetest stories I’ve read in a long time. Even the murder mystery didn’t taint it.

The beginning of the story is definitely heart wrenching and I was even worried about how things could work between Kisa and Seokga. Him missing Hani and Kisa obviously not being Hani. Little did I know that I shouldn’t have worried at all. I feel that this time was way more emotional and deep and I appreciate it. Watching them fall in love again was very interesting with their new connection. And it even allowed them to be more vulnerable with each other which created a deeper bond.

For me the highlight of the story is Seokga’s arc. It was amazing to see him go through all this new emotions and circumstances that changed him. His protectiveness is my new favorite trait of him. And it was fantastic to witness his change of heart with Huanin. Who I loved to see throughout the entire book and I think he is utterly adorable.

In a way, Seokga managed to fix his relationship and heal wounds with every single character and you can tell the peace in him by the end.

I loved the new and returning characters and I can’t believe that we even had redemption for past characters, who I didn’t expect to see or care for again.

I’m not sure how I feel about Kisa’s state at the end, I think I expected something different but at least everyone is happy so it works.

Finally, I have to say that the humor throughout the story is right up my alley. Keeps the development of the story interesting and fresh. And I do think that there was a missed opportunity with Godly Gossip big question and the dippers and I think a certain Gumiho could’ve made at least a joke about it.

I could not stop turning the pages on this book! This was an amazing follow up from The God and the Gumiho, Sophie Kim has really shown growing improvement with every release!

This book was an amazing sequel, that had an almost entirely new cast of characters, while giving off the same feeling of the first book. I love that we get more Seokga pining away for his lost love, while building that new relationship. The romance was beautifully done, the comedy was on point. Hwanin was a fantastic edition to this story (yes yes, we got him in the first book but not like this!). I can’t wait to see what’s next for Seokga and Kisa.

First and foremost, a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!

The God and the Gwisin managed to capture the charm and humour of the original with ease. It's a miracle that Sophie Kim could take what seemed like a perfect standalone and create a sequel that feels satisfying, and she manages it phenomenally.

I personally enjoyed the baby Hwuanin aspect immensely, and loved seeing Nam Somi get her own happy ending. The character work was exceptional, and the true star of the novel, as Kim unravels the inner workings of her characters and guides them towards a beautiful conclusion.

(Also that surprise in the epilogue had me screaming!! Wonderful!!)

This duology has been a complete and utter delight to read, and one I'll find myself revisiting over and over again.

I absolutely loved this book. The writing style is beautiful and the connections to mythology are enjoyable. I kept trying to figure out how the story was going to end but there were pleasant surprises around every corner and I was always guessing at what could come next! Amazing!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Sophie Kim you did it again!! I completely fell in love with Seokga and Hani in the first book and was a little nervous about her being reincarnated as Kisa and not remembering anything because I was so invested! But as soon as the book started it had such a familiarity to it while also being entirely different to the first book in such a good way! The whole story in the background around the murder and them working together again on a mystery was so so fun! While also rediscovering themselves in this new realm and who they were to each other in these new versions of themselves. All of the side characters were so fun and really added to the story while also some surprising characters from the first book that I hadn’t expected to see! That was such a treat! I was so invested the entire time not only in the murder plot and what was going on but also in Seokga and Kisa and their budding relationship. What an amazing follow up to one of my favorites from last year! Such an easy 5 stars! I hope Sophie Kim continues to write in this world because it’s always such a joy to revisit!

I literally squealed when I received the approval for this ARC so first off thank you thank you thank you because your girl was in TEARS at the end of book one. Anyways, Seogka. Seogka’s sass. That’s it. That’s the review. 10/10.

I really enjoyed The God and the Gumiho and that enjoyment absolutely extended into the sequel "The God and the Gwisin" - my only complaint is that because I also received an arc for book 1 that the wait for this one was excruciating

Book 1 was heartbreaking in the absolute best way and I absolutely loved seeing everything play out and wrap up in this book. The writing style that Kim has is so unique and vibrant that I honestly felt like I was watching an anime versus reading a book. The red thread theory is also one of my favorites and I adore that the author seems to love it as much as I do.

Being able to see Seokga's trauma and backstory along with some of the insecurities regarding expectations just made the character development and plot so so amazing. I love how well written the characters are in relation to one another and how Kim is able to take such intense moments and sprinkle in fun bits of joy and levity to keep things balanced. All of the side characters were such a delight and I'm hoping that one day we may get a few more books or novellas in this universe featuring some of them.

The "villain" may have been a little on the obvious side but honestly I don't think it really matters, I think that being able to pick up on that wasn't really a big deal and that the story in general just had so many amazing features that it was actually kind of nice to not have to stress about that part (but, I also didn't read this with the intention of having a big mystery to solve on my own, so ymmv with opinions on that)

I adore this series and I adore Sophie Kim and I truly cannot wait to read more and more from her.

Also, side note: the ART on these covers is AMAZING. Even if I didn't adore the books I would honestly buy them solely to just stare at them all day.

I adored the first book and felt this was a fantastic sequel it really expanded upon the incredible intricate world building and lore, the characterization of the characters is what makes this a stand out for me, authentic and relatable, love this duology!

I think I enjoyed the first book a tiny bit more, but still found myself thoroughly enjoying this sequel. The characterization throughout is just so well done. Very realistic, human, and relatable characters. This sequel really expanded on the world in a way that really helped immerse you in the space and draw you further into the story. Overall, really loved it.

I loved the first book and loved the second. I think this book really helped to build on their first book while also showing more of the world, plot, and characters to show both new stuff and to build on the first book. I had so much fun reading it and think it was a great sequel. I highly recommend this series

While I don't think this was as fun as the first book, this is still a very good sequel. The ending is very much satisfactory, and I'd read a third book if there ever was one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey for this eARC!

INSANE sequel. I mean, I loved the first book, so I had high hopes for this one. I was not at all disappointed. The characterization in this series is so good, it is really believable. I was literally blown away and I am so happy with this conclusion.

To say the Fate's Thread duology went platinum in my house would be an understatement. The God and the Gwisin has been on my highly anticipated releases shelf since the second I closed book one, and I was not disappointed. Charmingly spirited and thrillingly passionate, I devoured TGATG within the day I was approved for the ARC. TGATG overflows with silly antics, emotional punches, and loser gods as Kim continues to do a masterful job at breathing fresh life into mythological characters—making these ancient immortals feel authentic and relatable.

I was initially apprehensive going into this book after reading the summary—a big pet peeve of mine is memory loss trope because it's often executed carelessly. However, Kim is careful in writing the story between Kisa and Seokga. Despite it being a completely different dynamic with different characters/personalities from the ones we were introduced to in book one (which was to be expected), the heart of who Kim Hani was and who Hani and Seokga were is ever present—resulting in this book feeling like merely another chapter and a natural continuation in their love story.

My biggest critiques are with the big third act reveal. The entire book builds to this giant reveal of the whodunnit mystery and as a reader, I felt as though the emotional impact and nuances could have been mined out a little more. This book feels, to me, undoubtedly like Seokga's story—a story about a trickster immortal god finally shedding his armor and his journey of self-discovery. We are told repetitively throughout the book a giant root of Seokga's tree of issues but when face to face with this root, everything is wrapped up nicely with a red bow within two paragraphs. I would have liked to learn more about the emotional side effects of all that transpired. The ending, while perfect and beautiful and lovely, felt rushed and I believe an extra chapter or two would greatly alleviate the sense of something missing I felt when I finished.

Nevertheless, this sequel left this reader with a stupid ear-to-ear grin at 1 am. I desperately hope Kim chooses to revisit this world in her later works—these stupid gods are my family and I need them back yesterday. I also think it's important to note that this book delves into darker and more sensitive topics than the first book but Kim handles them with care and thought. I would advise trigger warnings for suicide and death for readers who may be sensitive to these topics.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey Random House for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review.

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: murder mystery, Korean mythology, multiple POVs, fated romance

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 2/4, Instagram as of 2/20, and my review blog as of 2/25.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I'm so excited to have gotten an ARC!! I got an ARC of The God and the Gumiho last spring too, so it's been ~torture~ waiting for this one. I have to say, it definitely delivered!

At the end of book 1, the Red Thread of Fate had just appeared to Seokga, indicating Hani's reincarnation. In this book we discover that shortly thereafter, the Red Thread became hopelessly entangled and Seokga has spent the last 7 years trying to reach the end of it. He's worn down, stressed, depressed, and just generally not having a good time. Hwanin, who really does want Seokga and Hani to find each other again, decides Seokga needs a vacation...and straight to the river cruise in hell they go. Literally. Funnily enough, that's exactly where Yoo Kisa, and thus the end of the Red Thread, is.

When she was alive, Kisa was a shaman of childbirth and healing. She specialized specifically in maternal and childbirth medicine and became one of, if not the, youngest doctor in Seoul's magical maternity unit. After her death, she's become the on-ship doctor for ghosts (gwisin) who need a vacation. It's not the most glamorous job, and Kisa definitely misses her magic, but for the most part she goes through her day-to-day activity with little complaint. Because Kisa is a rule follower. Basically the exact opposite of Hani. And that's an important thing to take note of. Hani was sarcastic and flirty and not afraid to break the rules, but Kisa is deeply analytical and follows her mind rather than her heart. Altogether, the two are quite different. That being said, both of them are deeply caring and protective, and I found them both to be funny. They have different kinds of humor to be sure, but both Hani and Kisa can be hilarious at different times. And neither are afraid to put Seokga in his place when the situation warrants it (and because this is Seokga, you know the situation warrants it).

While Kisa is not Hani, I still liked her character. She is very analytical and her passion for medicine and science really comes through. I appreciated seeing an analytical STEM character who genuinely carries that through to all aspects of her life. Case and point: Throughout the book she continually takes notes on the gods, the Red Thread of Fate, and anything else 'new' so that she can write a research paper on the topic(s). A research paper. As a gwisin. You can see how she became the youngest doctor, and I actually kind of wish we got a sneak peek at one of those papers, they sound fascinating, lol.

Seokga, as mentioned, is not exactly at the top of his game. He was living contently enough prior to the Red Thread showing up, he got a huge burst of hope, and then was plunged into spending the next seven years desperately trying to find Hani's reincarnation, only to discover she died mere hours after the Red Thread showed up. What an emotional rollercoaster. Luckily Seokga's been seeing a therapist, which is going about how you'd expect, but it does seem to be helping a little.

Some past characters show up as well as new ones. An obvious friendly face is Hwanin. He accompanies his brother on the cruise (RIP) and we get to see a little more of the two's relationship here. It's been 33 years since Seokga was restored and the two are on much, much better terms. I enjoyed their sibling ribbing as well as the clear care they both have for each other. There's also another friendly face from Seokga and Hani's time in New Sinsi in '92 and when I say I did a double take 👀

Hajun is a new character and is Kisa's best friend. He's a dead kpop idol who works in the ship's clinic with Kisa. I really liked his character. He was protective of Kisa but was also newer to the world of creatures and so did sometimes have minor freakouts over what was going on around them. He's sweet and brought some levity to the situation, which I liked.

The mystery in this one is, obviously, who killed Hwanin. I was pretty invested in figuring this out, particularly since the Hwanin here is not the same Hwanin as in book 1. There are misdirects and twists and honestly for a while no good suspects, which makes it hard to formulate a hypothesis. I did figure out parts of the mystery, but wasn't able to figure out the entire thing and was a little off on certain parts, so it was a nice surprise when everything was revealed at the end.

Overall I enjoyed this book and seeing what happened with Seokga's Red Thread of Fate. Kisa was definitely a different character to work with, but I liked her and she and Seokga managed to figure things out. The mystery was also good and I enjoyed trying to puzzle out where it was going. I do think I like book 1 slightly more (Hani will forever have my heart) but this is an excellent sequel.

Okay, I need everyone to jump on board with this series, because Sophie Kim’s dreamy blend of romance, fantasy, and mystery is so perfect that I wish I could read both this and the first book all over again. After loving THE GOD and the GUMIHO so much last year, I had high expectations for the next book - and they, thankfully, delivered beyond my dreams.

The God and the Gwisin by Sophie Kim is a spectacular sequel to The God and the Gumiho!
Kim creates a beautiful world you can just fall into and love the characters even with all their quirks. The romance in this book is flawless, the banter was beyond good.
This book starts where the last ends. Seokga runs to find Hani but at the end his thread gets tangled and he misses her. You find out that Hani was reincarnated as uber smart Kisa who helps deliver magical babies. Unfortunately she’s dead now. Seokga is eventually forced onto a magical underworld cruise where the dead (Gwisin) man the boat where he finds Kisa. Who is very much not Hani but is Hani. A deadly murder takes place and they must work together (along with a frenemy) to discover the culprit.

What I loved:

❤️ The Banter! Omg the banter was A+. I was over here smirking at my kindle and laughing out loud at points. Just 5 star writing.

❤️ The World Building- Kim always creates a divine world where it’s easy to see and immerse yourself into. The Asian lore is perfectly interwoven and even those without knowledge of the lore can easily understand.

❤️ The characters- Each of Kim’s characters has a very realistic flaw and it’s amazing to see, even as a god Seogka has his own flaws (actually more than the others.)

I literally cannot find anything that I did not like about this book. It had action, it had romance, it had me on the edge of my seat, it had comedy. Everything was just so good. I cannot wait for Kim’s next novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey Publishing for this ARC.
I received an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.