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A review by i_ashby
The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book mixes fantasy with crime/mystery, where Hani, the gumiho FMC, and Seokga, the fallen god MMC, must (reluctantly) work together to hunt a demon wreaking havoc.
The fantasy elements were the strength of the book, with a diverse range of characters featured from South Korean mythology. The character development was strong, not only for the main characters but also amongst the side characters too. There is a constant thread of humour running throughout which makes the grumpy/sunshine trope work really well between Hani and Seokga through their banter.
The plot twist was a bit predictable, and the mystery part and general development was a bit slow for my own tastes - it only sped up and became really gripping for the last 10-20% of the book, but on the whole, this was an enjoyable read. The second half was much stronger than the first half.
I'd recommend to those who enjoy East Asian mythology within the fantasy genre, and who have an interest in mystery elements.
Thank you, Hodder and Stoughton, for the eARC via NetGalley.
The fantasy elements were the strength of the book, with a diverse range of characters featured from South Korean mythology. The character development was strong, not only for the main characters but also amongst the side characters too. There is a constant thread of humour running throughout which makes the grumpy/sunshine trope work really well between Hani and Seokga through their banter.
The plot twist was a bit predictable, and the mystery part and general development was a bit slow for my own tastes - it only sped up and became really gripping for the last 10-20% of the book, but on the whole, this was an enjoyable read. The second half was much stronger than the first half.
I'd recommend to those who enjoy East Asian mythology within the fantasy genre, and who have an interest in mystery elements.
Thank you, Hodder and Stoughton, for the eARC via NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence