Axie Oh

Axie Oh's The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enthralling feminist retelling of the classic Korean folktale "The Tale of Shim Cheong," perfect for fans of Wintersong, Uprooted, and Miyazaki’s SpiritedAway.

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village―and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon―may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin―as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits―Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Axie Oh's The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enthralling feminist retelling of the classic Korean folktale "The Tale of Shim Cheong," perfect for fans of Wintersong, Uprooted, and Miyazaki's Spirited Away.

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina's homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God's bride, in the hopes that one day the 'true bride' will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village and the beloved of Mina's older brother Joon, may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong's stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn't have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking

Laura Scanlan

It is true that a wish is a piece of your soul. Because a true wish is something that if it never came true, it might break your heart. 

"In all my lifetime, I've never seen more wonderful creatures than ducks."

Elena M.

The memories of spirits and gods might be hazy, but not the memories of books. Stories are eternal.

Why must everything we love be taken from us? Why can’t we hold what we love forever in our hands, safe and warm and whole?

You claim the gods should love and care for humans. I disagree. I don’t think love can be bought or earned or even prayed for. It must be freely given.

Humans are fickle, violent creatures. Because they fear their own deaths, they are driven to war, scouring from the earth in seconds that which takes years to grow.

Tears are fine every now and then, but it’s never a good thing to waste water.

I was twelve years old, and I could feel the hours of our childhood slipping through my fingers like sand in the sea.

Who are you to say what my fate is— if I am to fail, or if I am to succeed? My fate is not yours to decide. My fate belongs to me.

Your people suffer not because of any great will of the gods, but because of their own violent acts. They wage the wars that burn the forests and fields. They spill the blood that pollutes the rivers and streams. To blame the gods is to blame the land itself. Look upon your reflection to find your enemy.

Humans tell myths to explain what they cannot understand.

After all, not all storytellers are grandmothers, but all grandmothers are storytellers.

This is the strength I call upon now, because even if I am afraid, I know I’ve chosen this. I am the maker of my own destiny.

I wonder if it happens in a day, for your fate to change. Or if it takes longer for your life to be stolen from you.

Suze

That's just like a human to think the world revolves around you, to think the rivers are for you, the sky, the sea is for you. You are just one of many parts of the world, and in my opinion, the one that blights them all.

Stories are both an escape from the truths of the world and the only way to see them clearly.

clover

I blame you, Mina. You've turned me into a kindhearted goddess.

"But when I arrived at the river, I realized none of it mattered. It was raining, and you were dying…” Slowly, he reaches out and takes my limp wrist in his hand, lowering his head until his forehead rests against it. “The fox goddess said the Red String of Fate would break if one of us should die. Like a fool, I took her words plainly.” He sucks in a harsh breath. “I should rejoice that it’s gone and I’m still alive. But strange, Mina,  why do I feel like this? I don’t need a Red String of Fate to tell me that if you should die, so will I.”

The red string of fate shifted of course of courseseeee oh yes also she keeps blushing . I thought he was going to get the seryu treatment

Spread between my hand and Shin's is a bright red ribbon. 

sol 

“I’m saying, Mina, that Joon has loved you your entire life. Since the day you were born. He will always love you. It is his forever gift to you.”

Chloe Heisserer

His eyes find mine. "I was angry, but not at you. I was angry at the fate I'd been given. Because I realized that in order for you to have what you want, I’d have to lose the only thing I've ever wanted.”

Moonie

"Do you know how much I love you, Miki?" [ ... ] "Even I don't know. My love for you is endless. Deep and endless, like the sea."

Look upon your reflection to find your enemy.

Krys C.

Strong Spirited Away vibes from this one. Literally felt like watching a Ghibli movie in my head while reading. Honestly speaking, the plot was a bit predictable and the worldbuilding was a bit vague for me, but the writing and vibes were simply immaculate and whimsical.

Christine

3* - Gorgeous but insubstantial, which is mainly my own fault for theorizing so much that I actually figured out pretty much the entire story. Still a very worthy read.

Axie Oh has created a beautiful tale in The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea, her world building is magical and the characters she has designed all make her story more engaging. Whilst the plot isn’t the most complex, her storytelling skills are magnetic and charming. I loved it.

Charlotte Squire

Julie Rubens

Wow. I loved this book. If I'm completely honest, the only reason I bought the book was because of the gorgeous cover, it's so so so pretty. But I'm so glad I did. The storyline was great and made me want to keep reading the entire time and the characters were amazing. I could go on for days about this book, but all I'll say for now is: go read it!

revina

i have no words to describe how much i loveee this book.. and this is the BEST book i've ever read in my entire life. the characters, the plot, the ending are just perfect. i am really really enjoyed reading this and there’s no plot hole and part yang bikin bosen gila this such a page-turner book t____t also mina and shin's love story is sooooo invisible string and daylight coded !!! <3333 now I NEED namgi and kirin side story cuz there must be something going on between them *begs*

fran

this was… wow. this story was so full of love i think i experienced actual chest pains while reading this. i loved mina as an mc, she loved so fiercely. each character was an entire person, i felt so strongly each and every one of them. the yearning, the sacrifice, all written so clearly and beautifully. finished it in one go. 

this might be my favorite read of the year.

This is just another Kim Eun Sook’s Goblin. Writing wise, it’s not close at all to a well developed story, and the  connection between the characters are absent. It feels like the author wanted to put too much of almost everything? Quite plain and flat plot too. 

shuf

nina 

** spoiler alert **
           2.75 stars 

so mina who is fiercely loyal to her family, throws herself into the sea and sacrificed herself for her brother’s happiness chose the dude she knew for less than a month. the love story is the happy ending but i can only focus on the fact that she isn’t going to see her family ever again.

Sophie Wang

despite the potential of the cultural stories it draws upon, the truly touching moments of this story were few and far between. the most interesting part of the book for me was the exploration of the idea that a god's love could be as conditional and fickle as that of humans, and the idea of power being a manifestation of how much others had faith/belief in you, and it was a woefully underdeveloped concept. overall, the book was too tropey--the concepts of my fate being my own and i should get to love who i do despite status and destiny recur too often in east asian myth-based fantasies and it wasn't done evocatively enough here.

nuélle

Luna

Laurianne

Every year, a girl is thrown out into the sea in hope that the floods, storms, and wars would stop. Mina wasn't supposed to be the one to be sacrificed, but she jumped, so the lover of her brother wouldn't need to. Deep inside the sea, she learned the truth about the myths while doing her best to save her people.

Not only does this book have gorgeous cover, the story didn't disappoint at all. I have to admit that there are times Mina frustrated me a little, but it didn't irk me, so no points deducted. I knew I was going to love this, so it is so relieving to know that I did, in fact, enjoyed every bit of the book. The background of Mask, Dai, and Miki was heartwarming and saddening at the same time. Most of the characters are so lovable, (especially Shin). I recommend everyone to pick this book up if you haven't already!

miu ⭐️

probably because of the writing and sudden setting changes that i wasn't able to enjoy it in depth, it was still a nice read nonetheless

edit: so apparently i wronged myself and i actually do like it i think ill just reread it

studio ghibli vibes this was a balm for 10 y/o me in love with haku

abi a

Obsessed. Loved this book from start to finish! When other reviewers said it gave Spirited Away vibes I had to pick this book up and it did not disappoint!

OMG THIS BOOK WAS SO CUTE, i cried of happiness fr 

> IM SORRY BUT DAI AND MIKI THE MOST SADDEST AND CUTEST ATHING EVER 
> SHIN SHIN SHIN
> i don’t know if i’m slow or something i literally did not know what mina was gonna choose
> I TOTTALLY CALLED WHO SHIN WAS (i’m so smart)

Kelsey Munson

This reminded me a lot of Spirited Away with a dash of YA romance. Fun, magical read with a cast of lovable characters.

Kendi Dockum

Oh... What an amazing story! I enjoyed every bit of this story. It deserves ALL the stars!!! 

An enhancing tale of love, friendship, loyalty, sacrifice, and so, so much more, with a bit of mythology thrown in and a walk through a spirit world, with characters as lovable as the story itself. I couldn't get enough of it. It's definitely something I could see myself rereading again and again until the end of time.

Joy Bush

aleeya 

5/5
- incredibly i can finished it in just one evening?!! good job aleeya 😭🫶🏻
Korean myths always soooo good but i more entertained w the romance behind it.. from enemies - unrequited love - forgotten love- sea god’s bride?!! AAAAAAAA i love it ❤️

Jeremy Wang

Axie Oh's The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enthralling feminist retelling of the classic Korean folktale "The Tale of Shim Cheong," perfect for fans of Wintersong, Uprooted, and Miyazaki's Spirited Away. Deadly storms have ravaged Mina's homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God's bride, in the hopes that one day the "true bride" will be chosen and end the suffering. Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village-and the beloved of Mina's older brother Joon-may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong's stead. Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin-as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits-Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all. But she doesn't have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking . . . 'Shim Cheong is Korea's most famous legend and one I've heard all my life, but as a feminist it has always been my least favorite. Axie's book retells the fairy tale and empowers the girl protagonist while still preserving the beloved classic tale, set in a fantastical world so unique and fascinating. I absolutely loved every word!' Ellen Oh, author of Prophecy and co-founder of We Need Diverse Books

Beatrice

I love Uprooted and recently discovered the wonder that is Spirited Away, so when I first saw this book it felt as though it had basically been written for me! And I am really glad my NetGalley request for this was approved because The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was exactly the kind of book I needed, with a story that is just as great as its breathtaking cover.

I absolutely loved being immersed in the world of this book and following Mina in the Spirit Realm. Some of the initial descriptions of the Realm definitely reminded me of Spirited Away, so much so that I could almost picture it in exactly the same way. The story soon continued on its own independent path, and it was so engaging and fast-paced that I may possibly have forsaken other duties just to continue reading as I was so engrossed in the action.

The characters were delightful, and I was especially taken with the protagonist, Mina. She is everything I want in a main character: smart, generous, kind and brave. Plus, she is an excellent storyteller, and that never hurts! The rest of the cast was varied and just as compelling, even though there were a few characters I would have liked to see developed a little further. I wasn't wholly sold on the romance at the beginning, but it completely won me over in the second half of the book! And I absolutely adored the focus on family relationships and friendship: they were so wholesome and heartwarming and gave me all the feels. There may have also been some tears... mostly happy tears, though!

I loved the setting and I found the descriptions to be beautifully delivered, lush and very evocative, but at the same time the worldbuilding is the aspect I had the most issues with. In a sense, it felt as though the book's fast pace worked against it in this respect, as it often seemed rushed and I couldn't help feeling as though large parts of context were missing. I won't go into any more detail to avoid potential spoilers, but I'll just say that I'm still wondering about the motives behind certain characters' actions and decisions.

Still, I had a great time with this book and I loved getting lost in it. Magic, action, love, grief, honour, family, gods and goddesses and even a dragon: this book has it all! Plus, I loved discovering more about the original Korean legend that inspired this retelling. Definitely recommended to anyone looking for a magical easy read.

For more reviews, visit Book for Thought.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Axie Oh's The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enthralling feminist retelling of the classic Korean folktale "The Tale of Shim Cheong," perfect for fans of Wintersong, Uprooted, and Miyazaki's Spirited Away.Deadly storms have ravaged Mina's homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God's bride, in the hopes that one day the "true bride" will be chosen and end the suffering.Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village-and the beloved of Mina's older brother Joon-may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong's stead.Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin-as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits-Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.But she doesn't have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking . . .'Shim Cheong is Korea's most famous legend and one I've heard all my life, but as a feminist it has always been my least favorite. Axie's book retells the fairy tale and empowers the girl protagonist while still preserving the beloved classic tale, set in a fantastical world so unique and fascinating. I absolutely loved every word!' Ellen Oh, author of Prophecy and co-founder of We Need Diverse Books

the writing was so beautiful, easily a 6⭐️ book for me… now one of my favourite books of all time. the world building was incredible, i felt like i was there. 

the writing was so beautiful, easily a 6⭐️ book for me… now one of my favourite books of all time. the world building was incredible, i felt like i was there. 

the sea god & the sea gods bride <3

Although I liked the way the story wrapped up. There’s something about the way the story has been narrated that make the whole execution pretty average. 

Despite liking the folk tale behind this retelling. I feel like it lacked some elements to make it more immersive, atmospheric and just more engaging and memorable.

Amira BEN

Between 3.25 and 3.5 ⭐️ 

Although I liked the way the story wrapped up. There’s something about the way the story has been narrated that make the whole execution pretty average. 

Despite liking the folk tale behind this retelling. I feel like it lacked some elements to make it more immersive, atmospheric and just more engaging and memorable.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

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