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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
N/A
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm always worried that the second book in a series will suffer from second book syndrome. Thankfully, this book does not suffer from that. I'd say that the author actually improved on some of the more cheesy aspects of the first book, making the story a bit more serious than the first. Seokga is believable in his desperation to find Hani's reincarnated form as well as him dealing with his trauma from his past. Kisa (Hani) meanwhile, is having to contend with meeting someone who she doesn't know or share in the same feelings for. Watching as Seokga and Kisa dance around what they mean to each other was enjoyable. If I had any criticism perhaps the mystery could've been a little stronger. As someone who reads a lot of mysteries, I did guess who the actual villain was much earlier than I did in the first book. I just could spot much more quickly who was pulling the strings than in the first book. That said, this is a worthy sequel and I suggest you get a copy asap!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Medical content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Blood
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF-ing at 63%
People attracted to men are a little delusionally deranged I fear. Because what do you mean the female main character EAVESDROPPED on the male main characters THERAPY SESSION and fixated on the part where he called her beautiful…and then she let it slipped she eavesdropped and his reaction was to just shrug it off and smile demurely “hehe you ATE beautiful, beautiful”
WHERE IS THE CONFLICT
Also that’s a fucking INSANE thing to do!!! Why is he not more upset that she eavesdropped on his THERAPY.
People attracted to men are a little delusionally deranged I fear. Because what do you mean the female main character EAVESDROPPED on the male main characters THERAPY SESSION and fixated on the part where he called her beautiful…and then she let it slipped she eavesdropped and his reaction was to just shrug it off and smile demurely “hehe you ATE beautiful, beautiful”
WHERE IS THE CONFLICT
Also that’s a fucking INSANE thing to do!!! Why is he not more upset that she eavesdropped on his THERAPY.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
4.5/5 rounded up; 2/5 spice. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was giggling and kicking my feet for this entire book! Sophie Kim writes such endearing and charming characters that feel really genuine. I loved the rag tag group of cruise guests and workers (both dead and alive) that work together to solve a murder. Great character development, lovely friendships, and a sweet slow burn romance, we love to see it! We also get to see Seokga work through a lot of personal stuff (hello daddy issues!) alongside developing a realtionship with Kisa, who most definitely is not Hani (or is she?), and most definitely doesn't remember him. Watching them learn and grow together was so sweet! My only complaint about this book was that it got pretty slow in the middle. The murder mystery seemed to stall for a bit and I figured out the murderer (the who and why) by about 50% so I was chomping at the bit to get to the reveal! It was a really satisfying ending and the final 20% I zoomed through!
PLEASE.READ.THIS.DUOLOGY!
TW: suicide, self harm, murder and violence, cursing, explicit sexual content.
I was giggling and kicking my feet for this entire book! Sophie Kim writes such endearing and charming characters that feel really genuine. I loved the rag tag group of cruise guests and workers (both dead and alive) that work together to solve a murder. Great character development, lovely friendships, and a sweet slow burn romance, we love to see it! We also get to see Seokga work through a lot of personal stuff (hello daddy issues!) alongside developing a realtionship with Kisa, who most definitely is not Hani (or is she?), and most definitely doesn't remember him. Watching them learn and grow together was so sweet! My only complaint about this book was that it got pretty slow in the middle. The murder mystery seemed to stall for a bit and I figured out the murderer (the who and why) by about 50% so I was chomping at the bit to get to the reveal! It was a really satisfying ending and the final 20% I zoomed through!
PLEASE.READ.THIS.DUOLOGY!
TW: suicide, self harm, murder and violence, cursing, explicit sexual content.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Murder
Minor: Self harm
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
No
Thank you Netgalley, Del Rey and Sophie Kim for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I also read the first instalment as an eARC so this was particularly exciting for me!
As someone who was blown away by the ending of THE GOD AND THE GUMIHO, I was absolutely ecstatic to hear the author had plans to write a continuation. I spent about a year trying to come up with ways Kim could go about this because it wasn't as clear cut an answer as it typically is with fantasy romances. I am happy to say that the author's creativity far exceeded my expectations!
Just like in the first book, we accompany grumpy trickster god, Seokga, as he descends into the river of the Dead for a cruise after being convinced a vacation is exactly what he needs. He's spent 30 years searching for his soulmate (Hani) after all, so burnout is a completely normal consequence (especially after a frigid trip to Antartica). With only a thread of fate to connect him to her and after years of not getting closer to finding her, it comes as a surprise to Seokga when said thread suddenly connects him to a cruise employee, Kisa, who is very much unlike Hani and has no memories of their time together.
This would be all fine and well, but this is Seokga, who always attracts bad luck, so obviously *someone* ends up murdered on the ship and they have only five days to figure out whom before he is accused of said murder since said person was no other than Seokga's own brother, the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang with whom he has a sort of difficult relationship. I personally hate detective stories (yes, including Sherlock Holmes, sue me), so when I tell you I still loved this book (and the one before), I mean it in the most surprising way! Even though the mystery was a little predictable, that is never the point.... The point is obviously the K-dramaesque build up to the relationship between Seokga and Kisa, as well as their lovely companions, a K-Pop idol and a gumiho.
No one will ever beat Hani for me, but Kisa came so close! I love how different she is but also how similar in a lot of ways, and how Seokga learns to accept that this reincarnation of Hani is right for him, just as Hani had been at that point in time. They were so cute together, and the writing never wandered far from humourous while still maintaining a grip on the emotional side to the plot, which made this an enjoyable, lighthearted read that had been reacting in embarassing ways in the public transit system. Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!
As someone who was blown away by the ending of THE GOD AND THE GUMIHO, I was absolutely ecstatic to hear the author had plans to write a continuation. I spent about a year trying to come up with ways Kim could go about this because it wasn't as clear cut an answer as it typically is with fantasy romances. I am happy to say that the author's creativity far exceeded my expectations!
Just like in the first book, we accompany grumpy trickster god, Seokga, as he descends into the river of the Dead for a cruise after being convinced a vacation is exactly what he needs. He's spent 30 years searching for his soulmate (Hani) after all, so burnout is a completely normal consequence (especially after a frigid trip to Antartica). With only a thread of fate to connect him to her and after years of not getting closer to finding her, it comes as a surprise to Seokga when said thread suddenly connects him to a cruise employee, Kisa, who is very much unlike Hani and has no memories of their time together.
This would be all fine and well, but this is Seokga, who always attracts bad luck, so obviously *someone* ends up murdered on the ship and they have only five days to figure out whom before he is accused of said murder since said person was no other than Seokga's own brother, the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang with whom he has a sort of difficult relationship. I personally hate detective stories (yes, including Sherlock Holmes, sue me), so when I tell you I still loved this book (and the one before), I mean it in the most surprising way! Even though the mystery was a little predictable, that is never the point.... The point is obviously the K-dramaesque build up to the relationship between Seokga and Kisa, as well as their lovely companions, a K-Pop idol and a gumiho.
No one will ever beat Hani for me, but Kisa came so close! I love how different she is but also how similar in a lot of ways, and how Seokga learns to accept that this reincarnation of Hani is right for him, just as Hani had been at that point in time. They were so cute together, and the writing never wandered far from humourous while still maintaining a grip on the emotional side to the plot, which made this an enjoyable, lighthearted read that had been reacting in embarassing ways in the public transit system. Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!