Thank you Axie Oh, Dreamscape, and Netgalley for the ALC! I didn't have many expectations jumping into this book, but it ended up being a great reminder of why the fantasy genre is my absolute favorite. While I've been drudging through my ebook and paperback, I cruised through this one, especially through the second half. I loved it so much and can't wait for Book 2!

This book had all the right vibes. I told my husband that it has the lost princess and romance of Anastasia, and the tragedy and intensity of Demon Slayer. We love both, so it was a no-brainer that I fell in love with this and told my husband it read/listen to it ASAP. The characters drew me in, and I loved the growth that Ren and Sunho experienced while on the run and trying to reach their different(and later aligned) goals. Their slow-burn romance was also perfection <3

I went into this knowing that it was a duology, but MAN. That cliff-hanger was pretty brutal. There were several twists that I never saw coming, and I thought the world-building was also exquisite. The narrator was fantastic, though it took me a little bit to get accustomed to her voice for Sunho. Once I did, however, it was smooth listening!

There's definitely more I was meaning to say, but my pregnant brain is fried lol.

I think that my favorite thing about this book has to be the world. This world felt so unique and cool. It reminded me of a cross between a Studio Ghibli world and the world of Arcane. There's a whimsy to it, but also a darkness, and I think that is part of what made it so unique and vibrant. I also think it was very well-developed and planned. You really can feel such a difference when reading a book where the world has been so carefully considered and crafted.

I do think that some of the characterization and character development throughout the story was lacking a bit. I didn't find myself getting very attached to the characters at all. I liked that there was a found family element, I do really love that in a book, but I wanted a bit more from it. It didn't feel fully backed up to me.

This was definitely a fast-paced and interesting plot (I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil anything), but it felt quite unique and I did enjoy it. Some people might consider this too fast of a pace, but I would rather a book be fast than slow, so I didn't find it distracting or jarring or anything like that. That is totally a personal preference thing.

And I think this cover is so pretty and whimsical and I want to go to there!

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

I really enjoyed this exciting new tale from Axie Oh, with her beautifully written Asain inspired storytelling! These characters were well written and Wren was a great MC! I thought the world building was fascinating and hope to see more in the sequel! The narrator was great and easy to listen to as well! I look forward to finding out what happens in the next book!

4⭐️

What a delightful start to a new Korean mythology–inspired YA fantasy duology! "The Floating World" blends the serene beauty of a Studio Ghibli film with the dark, compelling storytelling of an RPG like "Final Fantasy". The world-building was fantastic, and I enjoyed gradually unraveling the characters’ pasts as the story progressed. I’ve always loved a multi-POV narrative, and Axie Oh skillfully offers readers glimpses into multiple sides of the conflict, while still revealing key plot points at just the right moments.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the characters, especially Sunho and Jaeil, but even the cast of side characters who all brought their own unique personalities and backstories to the table. The “found family” hit hard, both in the flashbacks and in the present timeline as the characters grew closer to one another.

I was also captivated by the politics and the fantastical elements of the world, particularly the demon-like creatures and their origin. The final third of the novel was especially gripping: the action picked up, the narrative took a darker turn, and though my heart was crushed in the process, I couldn’t put it down.

Despite some of the darker themes, the story does read on the younger side, which made it hard for me to fully connect with the romance between Ren and Sunho. At times, the characters took longer than necessary to piece together certain plot developments, which made the suspense feel a bit drawn out and predictable. Even so, I believe this book will appeal to a wide audience, and I’m hopeful that the sequel will continue to deepen the romance.

The audiobook itself was fine, and while Eden Jun has a lovely voice, there wasn’t enough vocal distinction between characters to make it a seamless listening experience. There are always inherent limitations to a single narrator in a multi-POV novel, but even still, I found myself struggling to follow the dialogue and shifts in perspective. Unless you’re a seasoned audiobook-only reader, you might run into similar issues.

I can’t wait for the continuation of the duology—and how lucky are we that Axie Oh is only making us wait six months for the final installment? I suppose that makes up for the cliffhanger ending!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for access to the audiobook ARC via NetGalley!

4.5 stars! Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy! You can pick up The Floating World now.

Axie Oh's done it again. She's crafted an original, fascinating world full of incredible characters and an action-packed storyline. I absolutely breezed through this book because Ren and Sunho were compelling characters with clear motivations that somehow became intertwined. While I think the romance could have been a bit stronger, I appreciated how they opened up about their pasts and allowed themselves to be vulnerable with each other.

Also, if you're like me and looking to fill the hole in your chest from the Arcane series finale, this is your book! The dynamics of the Floating World and Under World are just like Piltover and Zaun, and there are even rabid "Demons" who are injected with a toxic serum! What fun!

I can't wait to see where The Demon and the Light goes next, and I hope you all pick this one up!!

This has such a unique and amazing story! It is definitely worth the listen. However, the narrator does leave something to be desired. I truly enjoyed listening to her for Ren's parts, but when it switched to Sunho it didn't feel like the characters were different. Other than that I really enjoyed this audiobook for what it was!
4.5/5

This was such a unique magical story!
We follow 2 main characters, Ren and Sanho. Ren is an acrobat traveling with a caravan troop, but she has a hidden power she doesn't want anyone to know about. When a demon attacks their camp and ends up injuring one of her adoptive family members, Ren needs to travel to find him a cure. Sanho cannot remember anything from his life before he woke up 2 years ago. He works small jobs and his latest one is to find the girl who has revealed her power. The power of the princess everyone thought was dead.
Ren and Sanho were both great characters. They both have a lot of mysteries surrounding them. You can tell how much Ren has come to love the family who adopted her 10 years ago after something happened to her (we don't know what). She will do anything to find the cure for Little Uncle. Sanho is even more of a mystery. He doesn't remember his life prior to 2 years ago, but we keep getting memories come back throughout the story that fill in his past. Ren and Sanho (obviously) meet up and they form a really great bond. At first it's just 2 people trying to help each other, but it turns into something more.
The plot was so interesting. It did take me a minute to get into, but after the world building formed in my head and I got to know the characters, I was all in. I love books with journeys, and this one really kept my interest. I was so interested in if Ren would find the cure for Little Uncle and if Sanho would find out who Ren was. Sanho's past when revealed, really added another level to the book and was really compelling. It lead to a great segue to the second book.
This book had both Ren and Sanho's POVs, which I loved. There was only one audiobook narrator for them both, but she did a great job. I prefer a separate narrator for multiple POV books just to keep things more clear in my head, but since the characters and storylines were so different, I didn't have a hard time remembering whose POV we were in, even if the characters were together.
I'm really excited to find out what happens in the second book!

This audiobook was harder to listen to, because the story itself is written in dual POV but there is only one narrator. The narrator, while having a lovely voice, doesn't use inflection to differentiate between characters. Instead of feeling immersed in the story, I felt myself really having to focus on which character was speaking. The story itself was simply amazing. I love that Ren, the FMC, is deeply loyal to her family and seeks to find a cure for her Uncle. While hiding her true identity and power, she meets a young sword for hire, Sunho (the MMC) who unbeknownst to him, is actually searching for Ren. As these two unlikely heros band together, their reliance and trust in one another grows. When they learn the truth will their growing friendship prevail? This story has a unique magical system with a dose of steam punk. The modern reimaging of the Korean myth is expertly imagined.

This story is set in a richly imagined world of magic and wind. It started out somewhat slowly and took its time introducing the characters but that made them and their motivations all the more real. The writing is beautiful and the characters are well rounded and relatable. Once I got past the first few chapters, I listened to it in one breath. The narration was pleasant no matter which speed I chose, which made the entire experience all the better.

This book certainly set up the world and the beginning of a new saga quite well.

First off, thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this free audio-arc!

I should open this by simply saying this book was not for me for numerous reasons. The characters were lackluster, the pacing odd (fast and short book but little progression in plot), and I personally didn’t like the narrator.

4.5 stars!
Short version: I loved this book! It was so fun and whimsical, and had serious Studio Ghibli vibes.

Now for the longer version:
The Floating World follows Sunho, a soldier with no memory of his past, surviving in the Under World by taking on mercenary work. When he’s offered a reward to find a girl with silver magic, he accepts the job. Ren, meanwhile, reveals her hidden powers while fighting off a monster and sets out to save her wounded uncle. Their paths cross, and unbeknownst to Sunho, she’s the very girl he’s been sent to find.

I absolutely adored both Sunho and Ren! Ren especially stood out to me; despite what others expected of her, she only wanted to return home and live peacefully with her family—not be this hero others wanted her to be. Her character development was a joy to watch and incredibly satisfying. Sunho’s unwavering support and respect for her choices made me love him even more. He was a fully fleshed-out character, and following his journey as he gradually regained his memories was both moving and heartbreaking (this book really didn’t want to give him a break!). There’s a third point of view, too—Jaeil’s—and while I’m usually hesitant about books with more than two POVs, I ended up loving it here! Jaeil is a fascinating, morally gray character who feels genuinely torn between his father’s expectations and his own convictions. He may even be my favorite character, despite (or because of) how conflicted and complex he is.

The romance was incredibly sweet! At one point, I worried the feelings developed a little quickly after a reveal, but ultimately it felt like a slow burn done well. I particularly enjoyed seeing Ren through Sunho’s perspective. His feelings unfolded so naturally that I barely noticed the shift until it had already happened, which I loved (he was so smitten!).

Now, the worldbuilding is unique and memorable. The Under World, with its perpetual darkness, and the literal floating land were so unique. I appreciated how the world was explained, though I did wish the descriptions had been a bit more vivid and immersive, as I sometimes struggled to picture the setting.

The novel leans toward the YA side, which I mostly enjoyed (it fits the characters, who are seventeen) but I did hope for a bit more emotional depth, stronger descriptions, and more development in relationships beyond the romance. Friendships sometimes formed too quickly, and characters were willing to risk their lives for near-strangers a little too easily. Still, I appreciated that the teenage characters actually felt like teenagers—not overly mature, but also not unbelievable (though there were moments they read a bit younger than their age).

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Eden Jun, and it was wonderful! Her bright, warm voice suited the tone of the story and the characters (especially Ren) perfectly. She brought the narrative to life in a way that completely drew me in. She did everything right; the different voices for different characters, the emotions in her voice (especially during action scenes, she really makes you feel like you're actually there). Jun’s performance pulled me deep into the heads of Ren, Sunho, and Jaeil, and I loved every second!

I’m incredibly excited for the second book (especially after that ending—what?!), and I wholeheartedly recommend The Floating World to anyone looking for a whimsical fantasy with Studio Ghibli vibes, soft romance, and a unique setting!

Overall presentation and narration completely phenomenal!!!!!!The characters were well thought out and very relatable. The plot twists I didn’t not see coming and our main character Wren is very headstrong. Her love for her family is almost all consuming and the lengths she goes to protect them is love in its purest form. The friends she makes along her journey to save her family are amazing as well. A true tale of love loyalty and friendship. Our MMC is also very determined and headstrong as well and he on his own journey that intertwined with hers in the most interesting way.

This was so good! Well being sci-fi/fantasy it definitely hit the dystopian desire. The big reveal at the end was expected, but so so good and the twist at the end omg, I'm so ready for the next book already.

First off I would not recommend this on audio - the narrator does a poor job differentiating between the character voices and there are several POVs throughout, so it was very confusing.

Secondly, I understand when I pick up a YA book to adjust my expectations for a teen led cast. But goodness, this was such poor character work in my opinion. It seems the author was counting on her audience to already feel attached to any relationships formed in the book instead of actually developing them. This led to some lackluster chemistry and overall severely weakened what could’ve been a decent book.

To conclude my experience, this was all vibes, no substance.

This was a beautiful concept with a really creative world, a world split into layers, with the Floating World high above and the Under World below. I loved the imagery of that setup and the way it reflects themes like inequality, power, and survival. You can tell there are deeper ideas running beneath the surface of the book…capitalism, military control, greed, but they’re delivered in a very accessible way.

The writing has a soft tone, and the audiobook narration by Eden Jun suited it perfectly. Her voice was clear and engaging, and I honestly think the narration helped hold my attention in parts where the pacing slowed down. The world was easy enough to follow, but I did wanted more vivid detail, sometimes it felt like scenes would pass by quickly without lingering long enough to make a real impact.

This leans younger than I expected, definitely in the younger end of YA, maybe even bordering middle grade? The plot is straightforward and fairly predictable, and while the stakes are high, the emotional weight isn’t always there(which is part of why I feel it leans more toward younger readers). The cliffhanger at the end sets things up well for a sequel.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending this ALC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I need someone else to tell me if they got some FF7 vibes from "The Floating World" by Axie Oh.

Everything was fine, until the demon attacked. Ren was thriving as an acrobat in a remote village with an adopted family, not thinking about her traumatic past. But when someone she cares for is infected with something unknown the only answers lie in the place she has been avoiding. Sunho has no knowledge of anything past the last 2 years. Doing odd jobs and using his suspicious strength as a mercenary. This gets him put onto a big score, bring a young woman to some military guy alive. Should all be pretty simple right.

Narrated by Eden Jun, who brought a lightness and a terseness (till they aren't) to the MCs.

Reasons to read:
-The vibes are great if they are what I think they are
-Love a good floating city
-Hey look, some folks who need to meet the business end of pointy things
-Train fight
-Korean legends as inspiration

Cons:
-Once again I missed that this was a series so I was getting confused that more elements were being added at the end

The Floating World is a beautifully woven together tale of chosen family, magic, and mystery. Somehow cozy and thrilling all at once while being intricately descriptive. I could feel and see everything as if I was there, it's own little Ghibli style movie.

The Floating Word has some very intriguing world building with the floating city above the underworld contrasted to the outlying lands. I love that the story is built around Korean mythology, and especially that the story chosen is one that shares similarities to stories from other parts of the world. It makes the story feel more approachable to me. The biggest drawback to this series opener is the pacing. The beginning felt slow while the last Part felt very rushed. The characters didn't click with me as much as I would have liked, but that happens with me and multiple POVs sometimes. Ren and Sunho's friendship was very sweet and I liked the mystery surrounding both of their pasts. The side characters didn't get enough space in the story, and I never did figure out Jaeil. Ren felt much younger than she should have been and to some extent so did Sunho. I think that was, in part, because the narrator had a voice that felt young to me. If this had been for younger YA or middle grade, her voice would have been perfect. I think the acting/reading part was great, but she might not have been the right choice for this novel. Overall, I enjoyed this story, and I am very interested in seeing what Oh brings us.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy of The Floating World by Axie Oh.
This is my first book by this author, though I have been meaning to check out The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea.
Lately, I have found myself moving away from YA books, as a lot of them seem to be dealing with similar topics now, especially as I mainly read romantasy YA. This book did have elements of that going on, but the writing and world building were immersive enough that I was hooked. Honestly, I listened to this book in two sessions, I struggled to stop once I had started. The reader was also fantastic!
I really enjoyed following Ren on the first part of her journey, and really looking forward to the second book, especially following that cliff hanger.

Gosh it felt so good to listen to a story I just read and loved.
The narration was so well done, it felt like my favorite characters were alive <3
I had such a great time listening to this audiobook, thank you so much for the alc.