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A review by lauren_miller
The Floating World by Axie Oh
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I may have squealed LOUDLY when I got approved for this ARC because I've said it aloud and I'll say it now in written form—Axie Oh is one of my go-to authors; everything she writes, I have loved and this was NO exception.
The Floating World gives me Studio Ghibli vibes in the best way. It mixes the technological dystopia of Howl's Moving Castle and the environmental and warlike chaos of Princess Mononoke with the royal magic of Castle in the Sky, coming together to form a well-paced, engaging, and almost cozy(?) narrative about two protagonists that give me intense Sheeta and Ashitaka vibes!!
I loved how pure Sunho and Ren were. They're not perfect, by any means—Sunho is a mercenary and Ren is literally running away from her "responsibilities" as a princess in favor of a simple life—but their motivations are so genuine and realistic. You can't help but root for them and the cast of secondary characters, whether they be friend or foe. And while some plot points were either convenient or easy to infer, they never took me out of the story and away from the characters. The emotional arcs that both Sunho and Ren go on are well worth a little bit of cliché.
I could go on and on... My overall reading experience for this was SO positive, and I truly cannot wait for the next installment. If you are a fan of YA dystopias, then sir/mam, this is for YOU. Do yourself a favor and pick it up!!
I may have squealed LOUDLY when I got approved for this ARC because I've said it aloud and I'll say it now in written form—Axie Oh is one of my go-to authors; everything she writes, I have loved and this was NO exception.
The Floating World gives me Studio Ghibli vibes in the best way. It mixes the technological dystopia of Howl's Moving Castle and the environmental and warlike chaos of Princess Mononoke with the royal magic of Castle in the Sky, coming together to form a well-paced, engaging, and almost cozy(?) narrative about two protagonists that give me intense Sheeta and Ashitaka vibes!!
I loved how pure Sunho and Ren were. They're not perfect, by any means—Sunho is a mercenary and Ren is literally running away from her "responsibilities" as a princess in favor of a simple life—but their motivations are so genuine and realistic. You can't help but root for them and the cast of secondary characters, whether they be friend or foe. And while some plot points were either convenient or easy to infer, they never took me out of the story and away from the characters. The emotional arcs that both Sunho and Ren go on are well worth a little bit of cliché.
I could go on and on... My overall reading experience for this was SO positive, and I truly cannot wait for the next installment. If you are a fan of YA dystopias, then sir/mam, this is for YOU. Do yourself a favor and pick it up!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Trafficking, Abandonment, War