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A review by thelitraccoon
The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 3 stars | 🌶️ 0.5 Spice
A book that makes me cry is a rarity—but this one got me.
I don’t typically gravitate toward romance, and while The God and the Gumiho is dressed in the trappings of Korean folklore and light fantasy, make no mistake: this is, at its heart, a romance novel. And honestly? I quite enjoyed it.
The writing is beautiful—lyrical without being dense—and the story flows easily, with a plot that’s engaging yet not overly heavy. What really stood out to me was the emotional undercurrent running through the book. There’s a softness to the way grief, love, and healing are explored that genuinely moved me.
My main critique is purely personal: I’m not a fan of the grumpy x sunshine trope, and it’s a big one here. That said, if you're into that dynamic, you’ll probably love the chemistry between the leads. And even with my bias, I was still invested.
I appreciated the subtle twists and turns throughout the story—there’s an element of deception woven in that kept me guessing, even if some aspects were still a bit predictable. It strikes a nice balance between comfort and surprise.
Will I read the second book? Absolutely. I need to know where this story goes next.
A book that makes me cry is a rarity—but this one got me.
I don’t typically gravitate toward romance, and while The God and the Gumiho is dressed in the trappings of Korean folklore and light fantasy, make no mistake: this is, at its heart, a romance novel. And honestly? I quite enjoyed it.
The writing is beautiful—lyrical without being dense—and the story flows easily, with a plot that’s engaging yet not overly heavy. What really stood out to me was the emotional undercurrent running through the book. There’s a softness to the way grief, love, and healing are explored that genuinely moved me.
My main critique is purely personal: I’m not a fan of the grumpy x sunshine trope, and it’s a big one here. That said, if you're into that dynamic, you’ll probably love the chemistry between the leads. And even with my bias, I was still invested.
I appreciated the subtle twists and turns throughout the story—there’s an element of deception woven in that kept me guessing, even if some aspects were still a bit predictable. It strikes a nice balance between comfort and surprise.
Will I read the second book? Absolutely. I need to know where this story goes next.