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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was cute! Def more cozy than the last one. Lower stakes. Wayyyy less angst. I liked Kisa! I just... didn't like her and Seoka as much as I liked him and Hani :/ But this was still a very enjoyable read. It just leaned a lil more YA imo. (It's not YA tho. Def still adult). Even separate from the romance, the themes themselves felt more catered to a younger audience. Early 20s for sure. I loved the writing style tho, and I really like the ship of theseus comparison.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn’t know what to expect after the heartbreaking cliffhanger from The God and the Gumiho, but let me just say the series just gets better and better.
The God and the Gwisin was just fantastic. It dives deeper into the lore of the gods and goddess. It’s filled with romance, yearning, heartwarming relationships, found family, intriguing mystery, and hilarious humor. But what made this story for me, was the muti-layered characters that truly resonated
Seokga, the God of mischief, continues to capture my heart. Although he’s still grumpy and arrogant, there is a sense of vulnerability to him as he longs for his reincarnated soulmate, rebuilds a relationship with his brother in most unique way (best moments in the book), and confronts his painful past and his complex feelings towards his father. He has grown in so many ways, but at the core, he is still the charming trickster we loved from the beginning.
Yoo Kisa, a gwisin, is the reincarnation of Hani. Although she may have Hani’s soul, I loved how Kisa is still her own unique person. She is intelligent, curious, and caring. While she may be initially quiet, her fascination with new discoveries and eagerness to share them is very endearing. Her past struggle with mental health was relatable and I loved how when she became a gwisin, she used her experience to help others like her friend, Hajun.
However, the character I was most surprised about was Somi. I loved her redemption arc. Through her relationship with Seokga and Kisa you can see how she wrestled with the weight of her guilt, grief, and regret. People deal with loss in many different ways, and I thought it was interesting to see Somi’s perspective after what happened in The God and the Gumiho. Honestly, I really loved her transformation and I think Hani would have been really proud of her.
As for the romance, it is a slow burn filled with yearning. In the beginning I wasn’t sure how I felt about the romance, because reincarnation can be kind of tricky. Does Seokga love Kisa, because of who she is now or because she was Hani? Honestly, I don’t know why I was worried. In the story Seokga is very aware that Kisa is her own person. Although there are small similarities (i.e., her laugh, her love for smutty books), I loved how Seokga still tries to get to know Kisa for who she is now. Watching them accept one another and fall in love all over again was just beautiful, and Seokga answer to the Ship of Theseus question really melted my heart. I also loved the author’s unique take on the red thread of fate. I didn’t expect it, but thoroughly enjoyed it.
Finally, as for the mystery, similar to The God and the Gumiho, it was very predictable, but still satisfying to see how everything came together. I really felt the mystery was more of a backdrop to bring these characters together, because honestly, the characters and the relationships is what made this story so incredible.
Overall, I loved this book. I loved how it explored themes of healing, rebuilding bonds, and rediscovering love. I really hope the author continues this series, especially with that epilogue. I would love to continue to join Seokga and Kisa on a new mystery adventure. Here is to hoping!
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group: Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
ARC via @netgalley – thank you!
This sequel was somehow both chaotic and tender in all the right ways. Seokga has been searching for his reincarnated love for decades, only to find her by accident, while on a forced vacation with his therapist and his brother. On a luxury underworld cruise. Naturally.
Except she’s not Hani anymore, she’s Yoo Kisa, a very tired gwisin working off karmic debt and completely unaware of who he is. Their red thread of fate is still there, but that doesn’t mean she trusts him. The setup could’ve gone cheesy fast, but Sophie Kim handles it with charm, mythological flair, and just enough emotional punch to keep things grounded.
Seokga is still the mischievous trickster god we met in book one, but this time he’s also in therapy and actually trying to grow. Kisa, meanwhile, brings a more quiet, worn-down kind of strength. She’s not Hani 2.0, Hani will always be my fave (morally grey and fabulous), but Kisa really holds her own. I liked that she gets space to be unsure, to set boundaries, and to make her own choice. The romance builds slowly and actually gives her that choice, no magical strings forcing insta-love, just two people deciding if they’re willing to try again.
The murder mystery on board is more emotional than twisty, and yes, it does involve Seokga lugging around his murdered brother... who has been reincarnated into a baby. (It’s somehow both absurd and genuinely touching.)
🖤 Final thoughts:
Smart, funny, and a little unhinged. Fans of myth-based romantasy, emotional arcs, and reluctant babysitting gods—this one’s for you.
This sequel was somehow both chaotic and tender in all the right ways. Seokga has been searching for his reincarnated love for decades, only to find her by accident, while on a forced vacation with his therapist and his brother. On a luxury underworld cruise. Naturally.
Except she’s not Hani anymore, she’s Yoo Kisa, a very tired gwisin working off karmic debt and completely unaware of who he is. Their red thread of fate is still there, but that doesn’t mean she trusts him. The setup could’ve gone cheesy fast, but Sophie Kim handles it with charm, mythological flair, and just enough emotional punch to keep things grounded.
Seokga is still the mischievous trickster god we met in book one, but this time he’s also in therapy and actually trying to grow. Kisa, meanwhile, brings a more quiet, worn-down kind of strength. She’s not Hani 2.0, Hani will always be my fave (morally grey and fabulous), but Kisa really holds her own. I liked that she gets space to be unsure, to set boundaries, and to make her own choice. The romance builds slowly and actually gives her that choice, no magical strings forcing insta-love, just two people deciding if they’re willing to try again.
The murder mystery on board is more emotional than twisty, and yes, it does involve Seokga lugging around his murdered brother... who has been reincarnated into a baby. (It’s somehow both absurd and genuinely touching.)
🖤 Final thoughts:
Smart, funny, and a little unhinged. Fans of myth-based romantasy, emotional arcs, and reluctant babysitting gods—this one’s for you.
Last year, I got the ARC of the first book of this series, the God and the Gumiho, and loved it. I was lucky enough to receive the ARC for this book, so many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for offering me the opportunity to read this book!
I was so scared going into this book, given the ending of the God and the Gumiho. I was worried about how this book would tackle the idea of rebirth. I shouldn't have worried -- Sophie Kim did a wonderful job of approaching the topic. While I loved Kim Hani's vibrancy, I really enjoyed the perspective of Yoo Kisa in this novel. She is just as interesting of a character as Hani, and I loved how smart and quick-minded she is. Seokga was wonderful in this book as well, but the spotlight really fell on Kisa. I loved seeing her interact with the characters from the previous novel, as well as see how all the characters have grown in the time since.
The plot was fun, and I loved that they had to watch over Seokga's brother in baby-form the entire time. It made for such an enjoyable and goofy time, but also I loved how so much character depth was included as well. I think I know why I like the dynamic of the brothers so much -- it reminds me of Loki and Thor from the MCU, which I was obsessed with in my teens.
However much I liked this book, I think reading it shortly after I had reread the God and the Gumiho wasn't the best idea. I just love Hani and Seokga as a couple, it took awhile for me to warm to the idea of Seokga being in love with someone else (even though they're technically the same?). It really did put a damper on the story for me, and the entire time I was mourning Hani. If you are opening this sequel to get more Hani, then this isn't the book for you.
I was so scared going into this book, given the ending of the God and the Gumiho. I was worried about how this book would tackle the idea of rebirth. I shouldn't have worried -- Sophie Kim did a wonderful job of approaching the topic. While I loved Kim Hani's vibrancy, I really enjoyed the perspective of Yoo Kisa in this novel. She is just as interesting of a character as Hani, and I loved how smart and quick-minded she is. Seokga was wonderful in this book as well, but the spotlight really fell on Kisa. I loved seeing her interact with the characters from the previous novel, as well as see how all the characters have grown in the time since.
The plot was fun, and I loved that they had to watch over Seokga's brother in baby-form the entire time. It made for such an enjoyable and goofy time, but also I loved how so much character depth was included as well. I think I know why I like the dynamic of the brothers so much -- it reminds me of Loki and Thor from the MCU, which I was obsessed with in my teens.
However much I liked this book, I think reading it shortly after I had reread the God and the Gumiho wasn't the best idea. I just love Hani and Seokga as a couple, it took awhile for me to warm to the idea of Seokga being in love with someone else (even though they're technically the same?). It really did put a damper on the story for me, and the entire time I was mourning Hani. If you are opening this sequel to get more Hani, then this isn't the book for you.