The Floating World was a cozy fantasy read. It was interesting and epic in scope. I loved all the characters and how well they were developed. I’ve already added then next book, The Demon and the Light to my TBR. The narrator has a youthful voice that really fits the FMC.

Maybe it’s just me, but I found this to be a way too young YA for me. Unlike others, I didn’t find the world building to be all that spectacular or interesting. I didn’t feel it was set apart from other fantasy that I’ve read. While the pacing went along rather quickly, it also felt very drawn out like we barely saw traction with the plot. I just wanted them to hurry up and move on with the storyline. I got bored very quickly and don’t plan to continue the series. This was my first Axie Oh book.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC to listen to. Eden Jun did a great job bringing the characters to life.

Axie Oh does it again!

I’m generally more of a character over plot person but the plot and world building in The Floating World was top notch. The perfect balance of action and adventure, fantasy and science fiction, jocks and theater kids.

Just like Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, the imagery throughout was magic and breathtaking and was perfect throughout.

While YA, it felt like upper YA and yes the MCs made some teenage age decisions, the more intense nature of the plot helped balance that out to be very enjoyable even for a not YA reader.

Narration was excellent throughout as well.

The Floating World is not a book you rush through—it’s one you sink into. Axie Oh’s prose is lush and deliberate, which makes this feel less like a sprint and more like a slow, dreamy walk through a world that unfolds with patience. If you’re expecting a fast-paced fantasy, you’ll want to reset your expectations. But if you’re in the mood for something poetic, atmospheric, and emotionally rich, this one’s worth your time.

That said, it’s definitely slow. There were moments I had to remind myself to just be in the story rather than wait for something explosive to happen. But the depth of the worldbuilding and the care put into the emotional journey of the characters makes it feel like you’re reading something sacred.

It’s not for everyone—but if you’re in the mood for a story that lingers, this one will haunt you long after you close the cover.

The perfect balance of fantasy and character driven moments! Loved this book and would definitely read it to both teen readers and adults as it has great crossover themes!

3.75 rounded up to 4

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was an entertaining young adult fantasy read. Being a final fantasy fan, I could definitely see the influence scattered throughout it. The plot was interesting. However, the characters are supposed to be 17, and they do read a little younger than that, it seems. Also, it follows a pretty basic YA storyline with the action scenes sort of being skimmed over instead of being detailed, which helps to make it feel like you are in on the action in fantasies.

It includes a slow burn romance, which was done well and is still developing. I think the book will be a hit for its intended audience. I am interested in continuing on with the series.

The Floating World is a YA reimagining of the Korean legend Celestial Maidens. The epic, lush and and vividly enriching world will completely captivate the readers.

Ren is a sweet, cheerful acrobat ( troop performer) who loves to work with her adoptive family in the floating world. She enjoys performing at villages but one day during the celebrations, a demon attack changed everything. Her power that she kept under wraps was released as she tried to protect herself and her family but it was too late. The damage was done and her uncle was gravely injured amongst the other loss.

On the other hand, Sunho was an ex- solider living in the Under World who has no memory of his past two years. He just have a little recollection after waking up with a sword and his name. He takes up odd jobs to make a living. Until he along with other mercenaries are offered to find the girl (more like to hunt her down) with the silver light.

Ren is looking for a cure for the poisoned wound and Sunho is battling his own demons. Together they are not only band against the odds of survival but also their own cruelties of the fate. Their fates and destinies are all tied together. With perils and unexpected twists winding up their path, will they be able to survive it all?

Axie Oh's writing has always fascinated me. Her richly explored world building and character consciousness with unpredictable twists is always a delight. Usually I am a tad skeptical about the whole third- person narration but in this story it was well done. I knew this would be an enthralling reading experience and I was not disappointed. Ren and Sunho have felt sorrow and loss in a way that made them feel for each other. It's refreshing to see a male protagonist who isn't cocky and bitchy in dangerous situations. Sunho's expressions of emotions are one of my favourites scenes in the book. Ren was habouring such immense power that seems to make enemies tremble in fear. One of the most captivating storyline where magic and love merge with power of recognising who you are. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

The Floating World is a YA romantasy that skews younger and is reimagining Korean mythology. It follows Sunho, a boy from the Under World who can't remember most of his past. He takes a bounty to capture a girl capable of magic. Ren is a sweet and happy young woman who performs as an acrobat with a troupe, but she's supposed to hide her magic abilities. But when their troupe is attacked by a demon, one of them becomes deathly ill and she goes on a quest to save him wearing a mask that hides her identity. And along the way she encounters Sunho...

This had interesting world-building that I wanted to know more about. The plot is fairly simple and the characters are nice. I think this is a good pick for a younger reader of YA wanting to dip toes into romantasy. The audio narration is done pretty well! I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

2.5

Isn’t necessarily bad in my opinion but I feel like I’ve read this same book a hundred times over already. The plot is annoyingly predictable and it uses tropes and cliches like they’re a need to check off a list.

The concept was cute don’t get me wrong, and the writing wasn’t bad at all. I liked the family Ren had made for herself and I liked Sunho too as a character. But every single thing was so frustratingly annoying that I wanted to dnf too often to appreciate it fully.

FMC basically feeling threatened by a code word, mmc having the amnesia trope, every single twist and turn felt like it’s been done over and over again and I couldn’t really enjoy it.

It was too cliche and for over half the book I really really just wanted to be done with it already.

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc, and let me start by saying that if Axie Oh writes it I WILL READ IT! The narrators did a wonderful job brining the story to life. The world building is beautiful and the story will have me rereading this story over and over.