A review by kaitrates
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I mostly enjoyed this gorgeous novel. As a retelling—based on what I read about the original story—it reminds me of what Rosalind is to Romeo and Juliet. It takes the known story and adds an entirely new layer to the story,  one that’s plausible enough but changes a core of the tekr—in this case, that the hero of the story isn’t actually Sim Cheong. 

The writing is ethereal and lyrical as we join our main character Mina on her  journey through the Spirit Realm. There are plot twists and battles, romance and secret identities, evil gods and shapeshifting creatures, and much more. 

I loved both the family and the found family, the gorgeous writing, and the new-to-me setting and lore.

Unfortunately, the romance felt rushed and underdeveloped to me as did some other parts of the plot, including the ending to a degree. 

Overall, this was a great fantasy to start my year off with and I’d definitely read from this author again.
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