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 🥰

I am so in love with this duology.

Starting right where we left off at the end of The God and the Gumiho, this beautiful, emotional and simply hilarious novel brings us straight to Seokga and the reincarnation of his lost love Hani, Kisa. And then, as quickly as we meet her, Kisa dies. But Seokga doesn't know this--and spends the next seven years desperately trying to find her, somewhere fate's thread attempts to lead him. At the insistence of his therapist and joined by his brother, the Emperor Hwanin, Seokga is reluctantly dragged to the Death God's realm for a vacation cruise. And it is here, of all places, that he finally reunites with the new woman who is both so different and yet alarmingly reminiscent of his gumiho. But she doesn't remember the god who loved her, and she is decidedly not Hani.

This book is yet another wild ride, similar to the first, taking the reader through both a beautiful second chance love story with a twist, and a murder mystery with divine consequences. Seokga and Kisa's love story is beautiful and new despite its undercurrent of lost love, and plagued by the question of whether Kisa and Hani are truly the same person--and if that distinction matters.

We're introduced to delightful characters, new and old alike, and insight into what has passed during the years between Hani's death and Kisa's reunion with Seokga. Tensions have risen, technology has changed, old grievances haven't. The story is a hilarious coming-to-terms with the passage of time and whether fate can be wrong, and I am so happy to have had the honor to get lost in its pages.

SO many thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: 5 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph: May 31, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/c82549ce-c30d-488a-954e-6ce048fd69f5?redirect=true)
Review posted to Instagram: PENDING

3.5 stars rounded up

I enjoyed The God and the Gumiho so I was excited to read the sequel. I was curious how Kim was going to pull off a second chance romance with a huge reincarnation twist especially since Hani and Kisa’s personalities are so different. However, I do think Kim pulled it off especially with how she added Hani into the book. Other things I enjoyed were the red thread and how it wove itself into the story in some cute ways as well as the side characters were also great additions to the book. Also, those that know me know that I love to go on cruises, so I loved all of the cruise ship references.

I did enjoy their romance and I very much love to see a MMC yearn, however I felt the spice didn’t really work for me. They went from 0 to 100 in essentially one scene, which, in my opinion, also didn’t really make sense given Kisa’s inexperience. I felt the romance itself was more of a slow burn so the spice to me felt rushed and didn’t really fit the characters. With that being said, I could see the argument that because they are fated souls it makes sense.

Overall, I would say if you enjoyed the first book, you’ll likely enjoy this one too!

What to Expect
- Reincarnation
- Underworld cruise ship 🛳️
- Korean Mythology
- Fated souls
- Yearning

TWs: mentions of self-harm and suicide

Thank you to Sophie Kim and Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for providing an ebook. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

This was a solid sequel that was just as unique and interesting as the first book. To me, it dragged for the first 20% of the book but then picked up some speed as the plot progressed. It was interesting to watch Kisa's story unfold in such a different and yet similar manner to Hani's. This was a beautiful take on reincarnation with a supernatural twist and I hope to read more from this universe in the future!

blurb ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹
seokga, has spent lifetimes searching for the reincarnation of his lost love, hani. his search leads him to yoo kisa—except… she has no clue who he is, and now they’re both stuck on a river cruise through the afterlife. with the heavenly emperor of okhwang dead, seokga and kisa must solve the mystery before the journey ends—and in doing so, confront the truth about fate and the possibility of choosing love a second time.

what i loved ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹
setting: this book takes place on a cruise ship… in the underworld. that setting alone had me sold. it’s eerie, the kind of world you can really picture as you read, with flickers of light and shadow, sea in the background, and a strange sort of calm over everything.

characters: kisa and seokga were already strong leads, but i liked that we also got a good amount of focus on hajun and somi. i also appreciated how sophie kim gave closure to characters from the first book.

sophie kim’s writing??? i don’t even know how to explain it — it’s simple in structure but so rich emotionally. the trope that wrecks me every time: one person remembers everything, and the other remembers nothing. and sophie kim doesn’t gloss over it. the tension, the unsaid things, the painful silences — they’re all allowed space. it’s confusing, frustrating, and full of longing. i loved that it gave space for the pain to breathe.

what didn’t work as well for me was the mystery/investigation plot — it dragged a little. i was way more invested in the emotional side of the story than the “whodunnit,” since the reveal ended up being pretty obvious. but overall this is a great sequel. i loved returning to this world and watching these characters get the closure they deserved.

can’t wait to see what sophie kim writes next!

I ADORED this book!! I absolutely loved The God and the Gumiho and I was so excited to be back in this world. Some sequels have second-book syndrome, but The God and the Gwisin absolutely did not. It had me hooked from start to finish, and there were multiple days where I just wanted to get home so I could keep reading!

The romance between Sekoga and Kisa? TOP TIER. The found family? Incredible. The mystery? Had me hooked! This book really had everything, and I can’t wait for book 3!

4.5 stars!
The God and the Gwisin is the second book in the Fate’s Thread duology, and after the ending of the first book, I just had to dive into this one immediately (on that note, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!).

This book follows Seokga, who is searching for his lost love, Hani. Instead, the red thread of fate leads him to Kisa—on a cruise ship on the river of the dead, without any memories of their past life together. Throw in his therapist, his brother (the Heavenly Emperor) who gets murdered, and then there’s also a baby. What could go wrong? A lot, apparently.

My favorite part of the novel was the angsty romance that made my heart ache, break, and mend again. Seokga is YEARNING so hard in this book, it’s unreal. He made me giggle so often, but I also genuinely felt for him. Kisa is very different from Hani, and while I was unsure at first (I love Hani), I truly believe Seokga needs Kisa at this point in his life, and vice versa. I ended up loving Kisa just as much as Hani. Seokga and we, the readers, have to get to know her all over again, and we watch them fall in love again, too! It’s sweet and fun, but also realistic and very angsty. Also, Seokga is just perfect. He’s a little different from the first book (as is natural), a bit depressed but still the brooding god I fell for. I wish we saw more of his "darker" side, but I adored his ridiculous internal monologue and the way he kept trying to impress Kisa. It was charming and sweet!

I have to admit, the mystery element was stronger in the first book. A lot of this sequel focuses on developing Seokga and Kisa’s relationship. There is one big plot point (the death of the Heavenly Emperor) and a long stretch of investigating, gathering clues, and hunting suspects (though the ending was honestly pretty unexpected). I wish a bit more happened on the mystery front, but the relationships made up for it. I also wish the book had taken a few things a bit more seriously. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the humor, but sometimes it felt like even the heavier moments had this light, joking undertone. I think if a few scenes had leaned more into the emotional weight without undercutting it with humor, they would’ve hit even harder.

All in all, I’m really happy with the conclusion to this duology! The ending was everything I hoped it would be, and everything tied together seamlessly. I'm actually so sad to leave this world and the characters.

👻 book 2/? ongoing fantasy romance
🍑 open door spice
👻 dual POVs
🍑 Red string of fate (soulmates)
👻 based off Korean folklore
🍑 reincarnation
👻 murder mystery
🍑 TWs: mentions of death and suicide

Firstly thank you so much to @delreybooks for this sequel of one of my favourite books 😍

~My Thoughts~
I am such a sucker for Red string of fate romances so combine this with angst, brilliant banter, amazing characters, a murder mystery and Korean folklore and fantasy? Lads I was SAT 😍

Seokga and Hani are a favourite couple of mine, so to see them having to restart with only Seokga remembering her and Hani (now Kisa) finding her own footing and trying to be herself and not Hani was just so amazing and so perfect and so well done.

The plot with all the side characters (new and returning!) really kept the pace up which made the downtime for Seokga and Kisa’s relationship to blossom just that much more perfect.

There were so many emotions in this, so many tears. But I really really just had the best time. The book has all the flavours that made book 1 so fantastic and with a change of FMC (her personality being so different from Hani) it was so amazing to see this world in a new light from her perspective.

TWs note: I really want to emphasise that whilst they aren’t a sole focus in the book, this book is set in the afterlife so there are discussions around death and suicide. I didn’t see any mention of these warnings in my eARC copy so I just want to really highlight this. Remember to always put yourself and your wellbeing first 💖

This was such a brilliant sequel and I really hope that there is another book after this as I’m just not ready to say goodbye to these two yet🥹