qxq 's review for:

The God and the Gwisin by Sophie Kim

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective 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: Yes

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I didn’t know what to expect after the heartbreaking cliffhanger from The God and the Gumiho, but let me just say the series just gets better and better. 

 

The God and the Gwisin was just fantastic. It dives deeper into the lore of the gods and goddess. It’s filled with romance, yearning, heartwarming relationships, found family, intriguing mystery, and hilarious humor. But what made this story for me, was the muti-layered characters that truly resonated 

 

Seokga, the God of mischief, continues to capture my heart. Although he’s still grumpy and arrogant, there is a sense of vulnerability to him as he longs for his reincarnated soulmate, rebuilds a relationship with his brother in most unique way (best moments in the book), and confronts his painful past and his complex feelings towards his father. He has grown in so many ways, but at the core, he is still the charming trickster we loved from the beginning. 

 

Yoo Kisa, a gwisin, is the reincarnation of Hani.  Although she may have Hani’s soul, I loved how Kisa is still her own unique person.  She is intelligent, curious, and caring.  While she may be initially quiet, her fascination with new discoveries and eagerness to share them is very endearing.  Her past struggle with mental health was relatable and I loved how when she became a gwisin, she used her experience to help others like her friend, Hajun. 

 

However, the character I was most surprised about was Somi.  I loved her redemption arc.  Through her relationship with Seokga and Kisa you can see how she wrestled with the weight of her guilt, grief, and regret. People deal with loss in many different ways, and I thought it was interesting to see Somi’s perspective after what happened in The God and the Gumiho. Honestly, I really loved her transformation and I think Hani would have been really proud of her. 

 

As for the romance, it is a slow burn filled with yearning. In the beginning I wasn’t sure how I felt about the romance, because reincarnation can be kind of tricky. Does Seokga love Kisa, because of who she is now or because she was Hani? Honestly, I don’t know why I was worried. In the story Seokga is very aware that Kisa is her own person. Although there are small similarities (i.e., her laugh, her love for smutty books), I loved how Seokga still tries to get to know Kisa for who she is now. Watching them accept one another and fall in love all over again was just beautiful, and Seokga answer to the Ship of Theseus question really melted my heart.  I also loved the author’s unique take on the red thread of fate. I didn’t expect it, but thoroughly enjoyed it.  

 

Finally, as for the mystery, similar to The God and the Gumiho, it was very predictable, but still satisfying to see how everything came together. I really felt the mystery was more of a backdrop to bring these characters together, because honestly, the characters and the relationships is what made this story so incredible. 

 

Overall, I loved this book. I loved how it explored themes of healing, rebuilding bonds, and rediscovering love. I really hope the author continues this series, especially with that epilogue. I would love to continue to join Seokga and Kisa on a new mystery adventure. Here is to hoping! 

 

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group: Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.