3.5/5 ⭐️

The Floating World has a lot of charm, painting a Final Fantasy like portrait to tell a story in. I wanted this beautiful world with vibrant characters to enthrall and take me on a wild ride. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t written for me at all; it is unapologetically YA, doing very little outside pushing the plot forward at a break neck pace. That said I think this could be a very good book for its target audience.

As I listened to the audiobook I would like to say that the narrator has a great narration voice but could use some more diversity in their character voices.

I’ve been a fan of Axie Oh’s books for years so needless to say this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. In this book we follow street performer Ren and amnesiac Sunho. Ren lives a peaceful life as a traveling performer with her aunt and two uncles, until everything is up ended by a demon attack. Desperate to save her younger uncle Ren sets out to find a cure for an illness he contacted in the wake of the attack. Sunho lives in the underworld in the shadow of the floating world, he woke up 2 years before with tattoos denoting he was a solider and one that reads demon. Unable to remember he works odd jobs in hopes of finding answers, when a high ranking military official offers to help him find his brother if he locates a girl and brings her back he leaves the city to hopefully find her.

This one was a pretty fun a compelling reads, the book took a bit to start moving but when it did I keep moving. There’s several twists, some predictable others less so but finding those twists predictable didn’t lessen my enjoyment. The book ends on a cliffhanger and I’m very excited for the sequel.

The audio for this one was excellent Eden Jun is a new to me narrator and I’m really excited to hear more from her.

I have really enjoyed her books, especially her last. I was excited to her latest. Plus, her covers never disappoint!

Although there were great aspects to the world, like the floating world and underworld, I felt like the depth of the worldbuilding wasn't there. I also struggled to find a connection to the characters once I began reading. I just couldn't seem to find myself interested and I am honestly not sure why. It could be because I am still trying to get back into reading after a long break and I just wasn't in the mood. Who knows!

There were great topics mentioned like capitalism and greed. It's something that is talked about in our own world and very relevant. The romance is a slow burn which was nice because I tend to like that a bit more.

Overall, this was a good book but I just wanted a bit more from it.

I loved this book so much. Fell so much In love with all the characters. Always enjoy this authors books and had high hopes for this one as well. This story did not disappoint. Can't wait for the second book to come out.

Axie Oh has given so many amazing titles recently and I love her easy narration in the bokks, thus I was super excited to read her new creation which is labelled as Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in a romantic fantasy reimagination of the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.

Everytime I hear a reimagination of any mythological tale or creation or person, I get super excited as through these the author not only ignites the excitement to read and know about the original story but also gives a refreshing version for the readers to read and connect with it. So, I digged in as soon as the publisher gave me an opportunity to hear this audiobook.

The story follows Sunho, an ex-soldier and Ren, a spirited acrobat with hidden powers. The characters are brilliantly drafted as the focus wasn't only on the bond between them but also on their individual growth throughout the book which is filled with magic, danger, and more mysteries unfolding.
The narration is easy breezy making it interesting and kept me hooked till the end. Also, I would like to point out that the book didn't only had amazing protagonists and background but also the set of characters included in this story were brilliant.
I am definitely looking for to its sequel now...

As someone who loves all things fantasy, playing video games, and is interested in Korean folklore, this book checked all of the boxes for me. Axie Oh has a way of writing memorable characters that you care deeply for within the first few chapters.

I really liked learning in reverse when it came to Sunho and his memories. It reminded me a bit of the movie “Memento”. He’s fiercely loyal and has a great sense of humanity. Ren comes from a bloodline that could grant her the power to rule an entire kingdom, yet instead, all she wants is to return to her found family and live a simple life. She’s very refreshing.

Thank you to Axie Oh, Macmillan Publishing, and NetGalley for my copy of this book. I cannot WAIT for book 2.

DNF @ 40%.

I just couldn't get into this one unfortunately. The world is interesting, with a floating city and the underworld beneath, but the plot was a bit lackluster and the characters a bit bland.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I genuinely enjoyed reading The Floating World by Axie Oh. The narrator did an amazing job with the audiobook too!

This was my first read by Oh, and I think the author does a great job of maintaining the readers attention. So many characters stood out to me. Definitely recommend.

The Floating World was a fast paced, if a bit predictable adventure, that I fell into wholeheartedly. To be honest, it was almost too fast paced and too easy to lose myself in. I constantly found myself revisiting prior chapters simply to solidify the world in my mind. I loved the way that Axie Oh utilized the multi POVs to encompass the whole story and really explore the entirety of the world she created. I especially loved the found family aspect of the plot and found it really satisfying how all of the characters journeys intertwined. The steady rise in tension as the plot unfolded was brilliantly done, heightening my anticipation right through the ending.

The cover was what initially drew me in to The Floating World, and I assure you; this is one of those times the cover definitely lives up to the contents. The worldbuilding was incredibly vivid and woven so seamlessly into the dialogue that it immersed me completely. The setting reminded me of a cross between a Studio Ghibli film and the Grishaverse, while the character development definitely brought the latter to mind. The intricate details and the imagery made it so easy to visualize myself alongside the characters and brought the world to life in such a wonderful way. The development of each of the characters also really heightened the story and I greatly appreciated the undertones of love and loyalty as comrades solidified into family. I wish there had been more from Jaeil because I believe he will play a pivotal role in the future and I really wanted more from his perspective.

Rens story was beautiful in its own right, a thoughtful journey of healing and growth as she came into her true potential. Her character was always strong in my eyes, but her growth as she overcame her perceived vulnerability and discovered her true strength was entrancing to read. The connection that she had with Sunho felt so pure and the progression of their relationship so natural that I couldn't help but swoon. I was so grateful that Sunho had Ren to lean on as he faced his demons and began the process of healing from his own trauma. I am desperate for the rest of their journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of The Floating World by Axie Oh.

This is a fast-paced, myth-inspired fantasy with a sweet, soft heart. I loved the blend of Korean folklore, steampunk, and the magic meets rebellion setting. Ren is a kind, determined protagonist, and her slow friendship-turned-romance with Sunho is charming, even if a little quick. The world-building is intriguing and the plot moves quickly, though I wish there had been more time spent fleshing out the antagonists and deeper emotional stakes.

I never wanted to stop reading. The ending left me curious (and a little stunned), and I’m looking forward to the sequel. A great fit for younger YA readers or anyone looking for an adventurous story with a hopeful tone.

I have many thoughts. First and foremost of which is that just because this book wasn't necessarily my cup of tea doesn't mean it's a bad book. This is a book written for a young audience and, in my opinon, might not have as broad an appeal demographic-wise as The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea did. The protagonists may be 17, but the book feels written for the younger side of YA. I am an old lady at the decrepit age of 29 and am very far removed from that target audience. 14 year old me, though, would have thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can see this series being popular amongst teenagers.

That being said, I did have issues beyond just "too young for me." While the world-building and the magic are interesting and grab the reader right away, the characters that populate that world can fall flat sometimes. Ren, Sunho, Yurhee, and Tag are the strongest characters and have some good personality to them. Other side characters and the antagonists, on the other hand, feel very flat. Our bad guys are bad guys for the sake of being bad guys. Their motivation is heavy-handed and lacks depth.

Partly, I think, due to the pacing of the book.The whole book is fast-paced but the final third is particularly rushed. And yes, this is the beginning of a series so I'm sure some things will be fleshed out more in later installments, but even then this could have been more satisfying. Particularly around Jaeyul, who felt a bit like an after thought for quite a bit of the book despite being a POV character and especially around the conclusion of Ren's character arc for this book. It's disorienting even when the plot itself is fairly simple to follow and involves quite a bit of spoon-feeding.

Overall, though, I liked it. At no point did I want to DNF the book or find myself getting bored. The budding romance between Ren and Sunho was sweet and felt pretty realistically like two teenagers bumbling their way through having a crush. It was very cute. I'm interested in knowing what happens next and am looking forward to the next book. The vibes are very different from The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea but if you've enjoyed Axie Oh's previous book you'll likely have a good time with this one, too.

I went into this completely blind, only knowing that is was loosely based on the legend of the celestial maiden.

We have two characters, one with a hidden past trying to save a family member, and one with a forgotten past trying to find a family member. Despite the fact that one was originally paid to hunt down the other, they decide to work together and things unravel and snowball as they're known to do.

The world was interesting and felt very steampunkish, it was a bit hard to follow at first but that was probably because i was listening to the audio book, because halfway through I had no issues and was fully immersed. I am definitely planning to read book 2 when it comes out.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing an ALC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Axie Oh did it again, folks! Amazing world building from the get-go, not as whimsical as The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea but still magical.

I immediately got attached to Ren, she is such a sweet main character. I loved seeing her become more sure of herself throughout this book. Sunho is also a great character, with an incredibly tragic background, I am intrigued to know what his overarching plot will be in the next book. I wasn't the biggest fan of their romance, it was established to quickly for my taste.

The side characters were also super wholesome and decently developed.

I am expecting more political intrigue for the next installment, which makes me so excited for it.

Amazing audiobook as well would totally recommend it

2.5☆

This story primarily follows Ren and Sunho as they attempt to save themselves and their loved ones from demons all while dealing with a corrupt government, betrayal, forgotten memories, and mysterious pasts.

RELATIONSHIPS & CHARACTERS -
Ren is a girl who was adopted into an acrobatic family, and she is a travelling performer. After one of these performances, she witnesses a horrific and deadly attack on her family and the village by a demon. In her panic, she releases a bright light that kills the monster. This light is the power she was told to keep hidden all of her life, though she is still unsure what it is and why. She is protective of others and is determined to find a cure for her now wounded uncle no matter what. She is a very caring character whose only goal is to be with the ones she loves and live a simple life away from the one she previously left.

Sunho is an ex-soldier who has no memory of his life before two years ago and is just trying to survive. When he is randomly offered a job to hunt down the girl who gave off the silver light in exchange for a reward - and answers - he agrees. He goes out on this journey with hundreds of other mercenaries all trying to find this girl until there is a demon attack and he is hurt and separated from the group. However, he does not die when he should have, because he was found and healed or because of something else. Like Ren, he is caring, recklessly brave, and wants an uncomplicated life.

The relationship developed very quickly, and I struggled to find its depth. There is nothing complicated about it and I personally do not feel like the characters truly know and understand each other even though they are immediately willing to risk their lives several times over and make poor choices to be with each other. They are kind and supportive to each other, but this is a very juvenile relationship despite their circumstances.

ENGAGEMENT & ENJOYMENT -
While this book was not to my liking, if you like simple, predictable, straightforward books, this could be a great read. The story moved very quickly and there wasn’t anything necessarily wrong, but I was not interested. I prefer convoluted twists and lengthy descriptions, but this was much more minimal and almost too cute in comparison to what the description and cover promises (and this is a beautiful cover). I did really enjoy the few moments with the demons and wanted to learn more about them and what they were created for, but the darker side of the story was not explored. The concept of the Floating World and celestial magic was also a very interesting concept that I think could have had more detail because it is another wonderful idea, but we did not get that time, at least in this first book. For the audiobook, I also struggled because the narrator used the same voice throughout the entire book and I could not differentiate the characters, events, or intensity of anything, and this could also be another personal preference.

ATMOSPHERE & SETTING -
There were so many intriguing places, like the Under World and the Floating World, and as already mentioned the inclusion of demons and celestial magic, but everything was just too underdeveloped. I did not feel there was a real threat in the world, and not much is explained as we bluntly move from one thing to another.

DEVELOPMENT & PLOT -
The pacing might be one of the parts of this book that I struggled the most with. Due to the writing style being very matter-of-fact and the development of the plot being sudden and abrupt, everything was done and over within a very short amount of time. Fights, travels, relationships - everything was so immediate and systematic that it was hard to be gripped by the story and invested in what was happening because it was over so fast. This was, again, a much simpler story than I thought it was going to be, and if you are interested in a very short, quick, younger read, this could be what you are looking for.

Thank you Axie Oh, Fable & Friends, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my genuine review!

I loved this book in so many ways. I enjoyed the plot and the execution of the storyline was so well done. This book somehow felt like playing a video while also being beautifully written.

It is YA and has a small amount of romantic relationship building but it didn’t take away from the story at all. I like the relationship between the three main characters Sunho, Ren and even Jaeil and I hope we get more of his complex character.

I’m ready for book two because that ending was intense and left me spiraling!

ARC review:
4-stars!

I had such a great time reading The Floating World by Axie Oh. It was whimsical and mysterious and the setting felt very unique. The multiple levels of found family and friendship building were so sweet and I really enjoyed watching our main character, Ren, start to confront her past with the support of Sunho and the other characters!

The audiobook narrator did a fabulous job and was easy to listen to and engaging. She was able to portray a wide variety of characters without letting her narration become too cheesy or confusing.

With the sequel coming out later this year, I am anxious to see how the story progresses and how cliffhangers of the first book get resolved.

I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for an easy-to-read adventure! It's definitely appropriate for late-teenaged kids and adults alike.

Objectively, this wasn’t a bad book. At all. It’s a reimagining of Korean legend “Celestial Maidens”, about a girl with secret identity hiding in plain sight, and a boy with unexplainable dark power that has no memory of his past. It’s fresh and interesting enough to keep me from DNF-ing it. I can’t really put my fingers on anything but it’s missing something for me… I was not captivated enough, I wasn’t attached to the characters at all even though—again—nothing’s wrong with them! I only started to care a bit after 50% mark but still I didn’t feel much overall. It was just okay.

Also the narrator was quite good, even though I wished there were different narrators for Sunho & Jaeil’s POVs. Would make the listening experience significantly different in a very good way, I think.

Definitely one of the “It’s not the book, it’s me” cases. Will probably read the sequel tho if have the right mood.

The story was really cool but i think the story felt a bit drawn out. I liked the narrator, i think she did a really good job portraying the character. The ending was satisfying and Im interested in seeing if there is a second one.

Anything and everything Axie Oh writes is amazing, and this doesn’t disappoint. This world is beautiful, the characters strong and hopeful, and I am so freaking excited for the sequel.

This checked all of my boxes!
-Interesting world building without being overwhelming
-Found family that feels natural
-Light romance
-A dash of whimsey
I absolutely love Axie Oh's writing style. It feels so dreamy and immersive.
I was surprised it worked so well with the demon characters as well.
I am so excited for the next book and that the wait isn't too long!
The audiobook was also so well done, fit the book well.