4.5/5

A fantastic exploration of grief, obsession, and family. Thematically, this book was beautiful in its exploration of death, of what it means to "move on," and of relationships---between sisters, parents and daughters, and even strangers. I don't want to spoil much, but I was absolutely hooked throughout the text. Yes, there were a few "predictable" moments of what will happen, but I thought every moment helped to build the central story that revolved around Mirae and Soojin. Additionally, I loved the unreliable narration of Soojin. There were moments where I felt an urge to feel frustrated at some of her decisions, but they fit perfectly in line with her character (and also, her as a high schooler) that helped to ensure the story was further fully-fleshed out. I also want to note that, I used to read many young adult books a few years ago, but I now have been reading significantly less YA books due to my own inability to feel as immersed due to the lack of depth to themes that are often explored. This book, on the other hand, absolutely captured my attention due to just how thoroughly these themes are explored. Perhaps, I am biased by my own personal preoccupation with the questions of death, what comes after death, and relationships with others). While there could be a hypothetical argument for this book being more suitable for "older ages," I disagree: I imagine a younger version of myself reading this book, and loss and death can occur at such a young age in a myraid of ways---being able to read such a book that directly grapples with these issues would be such a comfort. Finally, of course, I appreciated the integration of her identity into the text. As an Asian American, I personally resonated with a few of the cultural dynamics that were explored. But, beyond whether or not I "relate," especially for a book about familial loss and death, I believe that the way that one thinks about death and loss is very much shaped by a person's heritage and identity---as a result, I found it so, so important and refreshing that I saw this incorporated into the book.

I've also read Jihyun's poetry book "Some are Always Hungry," which is absolutely stunning and one one of my favorite poetry book. I mention this because I find that, in my own opinion, there's a distinctive style I notice among fiction books that are written by poets. First and foremost, the prose is absolutely gorgeous. The descriptions of the food, of climactic moments, and of what the various characters is thinking and feeling is done in such a vivid, immersive manner. Additionally, the character work for Soojin was so thorough, and, as someone who like books with good character arcs and depth of characters, I really appreciated this. Finally, the atmosphere is built up in such a detailed manner. Not all authors, I find, pay attention to the atmosphere (which goes beyond just the setting)---the haunting, unsettled nature of much of this text really helps to carry the plot forwards.

My only gripe is that there are moments where I felt the pacing was a bit off. I'm going to keep this part vague to prevent any spoilers, but I do think that certain characters could have been introduced slightly earlier. This lend itself to moments in the text that I felt could carry more weight if they were further developed (compared to the wonderfully developed main characters Soojin and Mirae). In particular, I found that some information were introduced too fast at once, suddenly giving depth to characters that I hadn't really know much about for much of the book. I also do want to add that a disclaimer, though, that I usually feel similarly (pacing/character development-wise) for many YA books I read, and this could be more so a characteristic of the genre, compared to the type of very character/worldbuilding-heavy, lengthy fantasy books I may read.

Anyways, I loved this book, and there were moments where I literally got chills. (Also, on a completely random note, I met Jihyun at my university once, and I remember literally not knowing who she is, but she was still so nice to me regardless). This is absolutely unrelated to the review, but beyond her works---which I only read afterwards---she seems like such a kind person (from our less than five minute convo) but another reason why you should read her book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC!

Please read the trigger warnings before reading this book, the book can be emotionally tough!
The way this book was written, in 3rd person was perfect for the type of story this portrays. Dealing with grief and getting to hear everyone's emotions and thoughts is just what is needed for something like this. I did find it interesting that the resurrection didn't happen right away, it shows some strengths that Soojin has but at the same time, she's such an extremely unreliable narrator. She refuses to accept the truth sometimes ( she's stubborn ) but she was still a fun character. The story and plot was super fun and interesting as well, some places it did fall short and became predictable which was unfortunate.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is about a seventeen year old Korean American girl whos can resurrect the dead. However, she is only supposed to resurrect small creatures no bigger than her hand. Her older sister was found dead mysteriously in a river, by drowning. Instead of going by the rules of only resurrecting creatures no bigger than her hand, she goes against it, to bring her sister back. She is happy to have her sister back but there is something different about the sister she brought back to life. The setting is atmospheric and we'll written. It intertwine korean folklore, grief , and magic. I loved the bind between the sisters ,and thie dynamic. However, the pacing in this boon was slow in the middle , and it didn't keep my attention at times. A solid 3.5

This book is truly something. And the River Drags Her Down is a quiet, sorrow-soaked exploration of mourning and grief.

The novel follows the aftermath of a very sudden death, and lingers in what comes after: the silences, the miscommunications, the way grief splinters through a family and rends those left behind. I very much enjoyed the portrayal of aspects of Korean culture I didn't know much about, and the bones of what I can't really a call a magic system, more the power the Han women carry with them, as something I've never really seen before, teetering on the edge between fantasy and horror.

That said, this was a hard read—not in the sense of complexity, as the writing is dense, yes, but not hard to follow at all, but in its emotional density. It’s melancholic and slow-moving, and at times I felt almost flattened by it and I had to put the book down just to take a breather (which probably is just my fear of death and grief rearing its ugly head). I didn’t end up loving it in the capital-L way, but I deeply respected it and I’m glad I read it, some quotes, and feelings, and points of view I don't think I'll ever stop thinking about - but, especially if you're like me, you're gonna 100% need something light and fluffy to recover after this one. Overall an important, tough but beautiful read. Go in prepared: this one drags you under, but it’s worth the breathlessness.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children's for the ARC!

3.5 stars for this debut YA horror.

Ultimately this is a tale of grief, roles we take on after tragedy, and what becomes of us after. Family dynamics, secrets, and revenge.

The coastal setting is atmospheric and well written. Jade Acres feels increasingly ominous and misty as the tale of Soojin and her sister progress more sinisterly.

I think it’s a well done debut, the pace is fast in the beginning but the momentum slows toward the middle and end. I liked the details of Soojin and Mark’s family traditions, especially post death were interesting. Overall toward the end I did find myself skimming a bit but I did enjoy it.

I had to sit with this review for a few days, because I couldn't put into words how incredible this book is and how much I enjoyed reading it.

And the River Drags Her Down by Jihyun Yun is a haunting and poignant exploration of grief, loss, and family. At the center of this story is the complex and deeply emotional bond between the two sisters, with Mirae’s resurrection stirring feelings of both joy and terror for Soojin.

This is a horror story, no doubt, but it's also a story about sisterhood, parentification, and the way tragedy affects each of us differently.

Jinyun Yun's world-building and incredibly vivid imagery pulls readers into a chilling yet beautiful tale of loss, love, and vengeance. She skillfully integrates Korean folklore, grief, and slow-burn horror into a narrative that feels both intimate and unsettling. The slow to medium pace works well here, allowing the reader to really experience the emotional impact of the story.

Five stars. Everyone should read this book. A million thanks to Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

Themes:
grief/loss
death
resurrection
unreliable characters
sister love/ bonds
revenge
dark
gothic horror

This was a great read and it matched it's great cover. Think Pet Semetary 2 but with ancesteral magic and revenge.

This was a beautiful portrayal of love, family, grief, and the struggles to let go.

This book is in third person narration which helps give a deeper perspective into the characters.
The pacing of the book was ok but at times a bit slow however, the third person narration helped guide it along.

Soojin is essentially an unreliable narrator because she refuses to see anything that isn’t what she wants or imagines, which is especially the case when it comes to her sister.

Thank you very much to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and in no way are influenced by the manner in which I received it.

First of all that cover and those edges are absolutely stunning, it’s definitely the first thing that caught my eye. I really wanted to love this book. I was hoping it would be a five star read, however, I struggled with it. I found the beginning to be very slow and it was really hard for me to get invested in the story.

This was a creepy, dark but sweet story of mourning and growth.

Soojin has always been a bit of a loner, with only her sister truly by her side. But when tragedy strikes her family twice she is left adrift. I wasn't really a Soojin fan, but as the book plods along, I really started to understand her and became more sympathetic.

I really liked the development of the characters, not just Soojin but her father and sister, as well as a couple of the other secondary characters.

The pacing is a bit slow, but the ending is a train wreck you just can't stop watching. There's lots of information packed in there that ties the whole story together, which I appreciated. I found the book ended on a very uplifting, positive tone that left me feeling hopeful.

Thank you Random House Children's for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I wasn’t familiar with the author beforehand, but she is amazing. There’s something so special about novelists like her. Jihyun Yun explores grief and reincarnation through the lens of horror in a way that’s both haunting and profound. The setting—a rain-soaked tourist town steeped in the scent of the ocean and earth—sets the perfect tone for the story. The relationship between Mirae and Soojin was incredibly well crafted; I couldn’t read fast enough to see where it would all lead. This is easily a standout read for me—unforgettable and beautifully written.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc!!

This fictional book made me feel sad and heartbroken. This is in the young adult horror genre. It is about resurrection and the depths of sisterhood. This story has a very good premise and I found it to be well executed. This book is a very dark and emotional medium paced read. It felt more like an adult mystery to me. I found it to be sad and heartbreaking because of the animals in this story. The cover of this book is extremely beautiful! It comes with magic, revenge, gothic vibes and family myths. This is a slow burn horror book.

“And The River Drags Her Down” is about a seventeen year old Korean American girl that has magic! She can resurrect the dead. However, she is only supposed to resurrect small creatures no bigger than her hand. Her older sister was found dead mysteriously in a river, by drowning. Instead of going by the rules of only resurrecting creatures no bigger than her hand, she goes against it, to bring her Sister back. As this story unravels, we see happiness between these two sisters. However, there is something different about the sister she brought back to life. Overall, I give this a 3 out of 5 stars rating.

Content warnings include death, violence against humans, violence against animals and parentification. I think people who like to read resurrection books would enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Jihyun Yun and Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers for this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The first thing that I noticed about this book was its incredible cover, but as in most books, the cover may get your attention but its what lies underneath that must keep it. And the River Drags Her Down definitely kept my attention. From the beginning the book drew me into this tale of grief, family, loss, and eerie magic. Soojin's story came alive off the pages with all of the depths of emotion that were imbued into the character and I was absorbed. I, and perhaps others who have lost someone very close to them, could appreciate the lengths that she went through to get back her sister. Then, there is Mirae, brought back from death, but that does not mean the same as alive. Her story carries its own very loaded human emotions, and turns quite dark. The narrative is compelling and though I am not one to enjoy horror for horror's sake, the macabre elements in the book enhance the tale. This was a gripping tale through to the end.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Children's, Knopf Books for Young Readers) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Jihyun Yun knocks it out of the park balancing very complex and heavy topics such as grief, death, and parentification with YA things you've come to recognize such as struggling in school, friendships and potential romances, and being forced to know your future when you're only in high school.

Soojin as the main character and one of the "perspectives" in the story helped keep the emotional plot moving when it could've stagnated. While I kept getting frustrated with her actions, I also understood exactly where she was coming from. Her loneliness and despair were palpable throughout the novel. The decision to jump between character's perspectives was also a good choice. I think if we only followed Soojin we would've lost a lot of the nuance needed for this story. One of these perspectives is Mark, Soojin's childhood friend. It could've fallen into some boring storylines but his determination to help Soojin didn't feel contrived or that it was only there because we needed her to have some romantic tension.

Speaking of other characters, we have to talk about Mirae her older sister. There was a direction this story could've gone which would've made it fall flat. It could've been dull and simplistic, but it felt as if Yun knew that and said, no let me show you something else. Mirae was honestly my favorite of the two (I know, you're not supposed to have a favorite sibling) but when she comes back from the dead and we get to see the events unfold from her eyes, it wasn't just tragic but emotionally charged in a way that you want to hug her forever.

Where do I even start? This book isn’t just a gothic horror: it’s a gut-punching tale of grief that’ll have you sobbing into your floral throw pillow at 3 a.m.

Soojin Han is a 17-year-old Korean American girl with a secret gift: she can resurrect the dead, but only critters smaller than her palm. More like pet rats, not people. But when her older sister Mirae drowns in the Black Pine River under shady circumstances, Soojin says, “Rules? What rules?” and brings her back.

The sisterhood in this book is everything. Soojin and Mirae’s bond is so raw and real, it reminded me of those late-night giggle fests with my own sister, sneaking snacks and whispering secrets under the covers. Yun captures that messy, beautiful love where you’d do anything for each other... even, you know, defy the laws of nature with some light necromancy. But here’s the thing: resurrected Mirae isn’t quite the same. She’s restless, hungry, and maybe a smidge vengeful. When the town starts drowning in freakish rains and bizarre deaths, I was clutching my pearls (okay, my thrifted choker). The slow-burn horror had me checking my windows for creepy river spirits. But let’s get real: this isn’t just spooky vibes. It’s a story about grief, and just like Mirae drowned for real, Soojin is drowning in her sorrow. Every page aches with her loss, like she’s carrying a boulder in her chest. Her desperation to hold onto her sister felt so raw, it reminded me of the time I clung to my grandma’s old scarf after she passed, hoping to keep her close. Yun makes Soojin’s pain palpable, and it’s both heartbreaking and beautiful.

Yun’s world-building is perfection. The small coastal town feels like it could be your sleepy hometown, but with this eerie undercurrent that makes you side-eye every puddle. The Korean folklore woven in—ghost stories and ancestral magic—gave me chills and made my inner history nerd squeal. It’s like Yun took my love for The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea and cranked the spooky dial to eleven. And can we talk about the imagery? The silt-soaked atmosphere, the crimson ringlets of blood in water, the way Soojin’s grief feels like a physical ache that she's drowning in—I was living for it. I swear I could smell the damp earth and hear the river’s whisper.

Now, let’s get a tad snarky. If you’re expecting a neat little bow on this story, keep dreaming. Yun doesn’t spoon-feed you answers, and I respect the audacity. Some might whine about the ambiguity, but I’m over here clapping for a book that trusts me to think. The pacing? Divine. It’s a slow simmer that builds to a boil, and by the end, I was a wreck—in the best way.

Soojin as a protagonist is my new bestie. She’s flawed, grieving, and stubborn as hell, but so relatable. I saw myself in her impulsive choices (like trying to cut my own bangs the midnight before picture day). Her journey through loss and love is so poignant, it’s like Yun reached into my chest and squeezed.

And Mirae? Oh, she’s a force. I won’t spoil the twists, but let’s just say she’s the chaotic sister I’d both hug and hide from.

In And the River Drags Her Down is a masterpiece that’ll make you laugh, cry, and sleep with the lights on. Jihyun Yun, you’ve stolen my heart and probably a piece of my sanity. If you love dark, atmospheric YA with sisterly love and a side of revenge, pre-order this book. It’s a five-star stunner that’ll drag you under and leave you gasping for more. I’m already planning my reread later this year with a cozy sweater and a caramel frappe.

Rounded up from 4.5 stars

I absolutely loved this book!! Since my mom first introduced me to Pet Semetary, I’ve obsessed over the idea of it. And now I get a modernized version with revenge in mind? Absolutely amazing.

I loved how this book was written in third person so we could get the thoughts of absolutely anyone at any given moment. This helped to keep the story going at some times that it lagged.

Soojin is essentially an unreliable narrator because she refuses to see anything that isn’t what she wants or imagines, which is especially the case when it comes to her sister.

This was an absolutely fabulous book that should be read by everyone. The vibes, the plot, the characters: amazing.

The only reason my review is a 4.5/5 stars is because I felt like the plot lagged a bit starting near the 40% mark. Things were happening, but they were a little slow, so my focus momentarily wavered.

Thank you very much to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and in no way are influenced by the manner in which I received it.

5/5 stars
Recommended if you like: fantasy horror, resurrection, sisterly bonds, came back Wrong

This review has been posted to Goodreads as of 4/25 and will be posted to my review blog 6/5 and to Instagram 6/11.

I'm going to be honest, I think Soojin shows a lot of restraint regarding her sister. The blurb makes it sound like she does ahead and resurrects Mirae right away, but in reality it takes her almost a year before she finally hits the point where she can't imagine continuing the rest of her life without her sister. She knows her dad wouldn't like the resurrection, and she figures she knows her sister's thoughts on it, but at the end of the day, grief is grief, and sometimes it can be too much. If you could bring back the dead...would you?

It's clear from the get-go that Soojin is prickly. But she's prickly because she feels deeply, and life has not been kind to her family. Her mother died when she was 10, resulting in her father retreating into himself for a while, and then seven years later her sister dies and due to her father's work, he yet again can't be around. She also doesn't particularly have a social life, leading to her being very lonely and often just left with her grief. Soojin loves her family, and her sister, dearly and it's clear in the way she's willing to risk everything just to have her sister with her again.

Over the course of the book, we see Soojin start to unfurl a little and open herself up to the other people around her. Part of that is borne from a desire for connection, and part of it is the joy of having Mirae around again. But clinging to the past just makes it that much harder to let go, and when you have a dead girl living in your house, things inevitably start going wrong. A lot of Soojin's journey in this book is about letting go, but it's also about seeing the family dynamics beyond herself and understanding that life has been unfair to her sister as well.

We don't get too much insight into Mirae, but we know that drowning has given her a special connection with water. She enjoys being alive again, getting to experience the delights of food and sunshine, but at the same time, vengeance calls to her. The Han family has been wronged more than once, by people still living happy lives in their town, and newly risen Mirae can't resist the call of revenge.

While this book is, in some ways, about vengeance, it's also about sisterly bonds and family responsibility. Soojin wants her sister back, but Mirae? Mirae wants life. She has since before she died. When Soojin brings her back, the whole family has to contend with their past and the actions they took that lead to where they are today. It was kind of cathartic to see Soojin and her dad finally talk about something of substance. They definitely needed that chat, but it was also a good reminder to Soojin that everyone makes small mistakes, but that doesn't mean they're at fault for the terrible things that happen.

The other character who's featured a lot in this is Mark, a childhood friend of Soojin and Mirae's whom Soojin drifted away from after their mother died. He provides somewhat of a stabilizing and soothing influence for Soojin as she grapples first with her sister's return and then later with the fact that the Mirae who came back isn't quite the same as the one who died. I liked Mark, he's very understanding and is pretty much a go-with-the-flow kind of person. He also is the one who finally puts his foot down regarding Mirae's behaviors, and though Soojin fights him on it, she knows he's right, and I think it was helpful to hear from someone outside the family.

Overall this is an excellent slow-burn horror with sisterly bonds, ancestral magic, and vengeance.

I DEVOURED this book within 24 hours, oh my gosh. I'm not familiar with the author's work, but I could immediately tell she's a poet. I LOVE when poets write novels, because their poetry comes through with their word choices, sentence rhythm, and narrative. I love how Jihyun Yun tackled grief and the idea of reincarnation through the vehicle of a horror novel. The setting—ocean and mulch and a tourist town drowning in rain—is the perfect atmosphere for Yun's story. Mirae and Soojin's dynamic was so so well done, and I practically inhaled this book, reading each page faster just so I could unravel the story's threads. I think this book is going to be one of my favorites of the year. Truly unmatched and beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

A deliciously creepy YA novel about a family with a gift…or is it a curse? The women in Soojin’s family can resurrect the dead, but can only do it safely with small animals. When Soojin brings her sister back, she is overjoyed…until it turns out her resurrected sister may be very different from the one who passed.