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kashacapetown 's review for:
The God and the Gwisin
by Sophie Kim
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
THE GOD AND THE GWISIN - SOPHIE KIM
If you saw my review a few days ago, you'll know that The God and the Gumiho was a five-star read for me. I loved it so much, and I had very high expectations for the sequel. Thankfully, even though I feel like The God and the Gwisin is very different, I loved it just as much.
You may want to skip past this review if you haven't read the first book, but I'll try to keep it as spoiler free as possible. Seokga, our favourite grumpy caffeine-guzzling trickster god, is back with a mission to find his reincarnated soulmate. Having searched for decades, he finally finds her: on a cruise ship sailing through the Underworld.
She's not entirely what he expects, and I think the reader's expectations are also challenged if you loved the characters in the first book. There's an idea brought up again and again - the Ship of Theseus - where the question is if every single plank of the ship has been replaced, is it still the same ship at all? I loved this concept so much.
Sophie Kim's writing is excellent as always, blending the heartfelt and romantic with witty banter and funny interactions between characters. Speaking of characters, there are some familiar faces as well as some entirely new ones.
Of course, nothing is straightforward, and when a gruesome murder happens on board, Seokga and the other characters team up to find the culprit.
This book ties up Seokga's story beautifully, and it's a must-read for anyone who's read the God and the Gumiho, as well as anyone looking for a series that reinterprets Korean mythology in a way that's completely unforgettable. Thank you to Sophie Kim, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.
Release date: 3 June 2025
Review score: 5/5
TWs: d*ath, injury detail, s*xual content