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The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Axie Oh (Goodreads Author)

4.67 · Rating details · 21 ratings · 34 reviews

Axie Oh's The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enthralling feminist retelling of the classic Korean folktale “The Tale of Shim Cheong,” perfect for fans of Wintersong, Uprooted, and Miyazaki’s Spirited Away.

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her peop ...more

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Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: February 22nd 2022 by Feiwel Friends

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YA Novels of 2022

272 books — 299 voters

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

Korean Fantasy Books

23 books — 15 voters

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Average rating 4.67 ·

Rating details

· 21 ratings · 34 reviews

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Mar 26, 2021 Althea | themoonwholistens ☾ marked it as to-read

Shelves: rep-bipoc, sub-genre-retelling, rep-asian, author-bipoc, 2022-releases

excuse me... did you say Spirited Away??

me about to drag everyone to read this book with me:

sign me up for this gorgeous cover ...more

flag 97 likes · Like · see review

Apr 09, 2021 daph pink ♡ marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2022-release

i don't read fantasy books~

but did somebody mention

MIYAZAKI'S SPIRITED AWAY??

here take all of my money and give it to me now! ...more

flag 73 likes · Like · see review

Apr 13, 2021 may ➹ marked it as to-read

yet another pretty book cover with pretty Asian girl I am gay for to add to the collection!

flag 69 likes · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2021 katie ☾ marked it as to-read

Shelves: bipoc-ownvoices, releases-highly-anticipated, gorgeous-covers, rep-asian, genre-fantasy, releases-2022

this is a book inspired by spirited away and korean mythology, AND has a gorgeous cover?! everything i could possibly need!

flag 55 likes · Like · see review

Apr 11, 2021 Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell marked it as fantasy-wishlist

*BURSTS INTO THE FEIWEL AND FRIENDS OFFICE*

Me: Did someone say SPIRITED AWAY?!

flag 30 likes · Like · see review

Mar 25, 2020 ʙᴇʟᴀ.: ☾**:.☆*.:｡. marked it as to-read

I'm having The Bride of the Water God major vibes:D I'm in!

description

...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Mar 27, 2021 Chaity marked it as to-read

I just read 'SPIRITED AWAY' somewhere in the blurb, and I smashed that to-read button.

Rules are rules,bro. ...more

flag 13 likes · Like · see review

Oct 25, 2020 L marked it as to-read

~~not me adding this book because of that cover~~

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Apr 14, 2021 Rafa marked it as to-read

Shelves: fairy-tale, cover_love

2022??!!
Well, that's gonna ~~hurt~~ take a while..... ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2021 ♠ Tabi⁷ ♠ marked it as to-read

Shelves: edelweiss

COVER COVER COVER COVER COVER COVER COVER

description

...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2021 Kal ★ Reader Voracious marked it as to-read

Shelves: bipoc, 2022-anticipated, retellings

this is the most beautiful cover i've ever seen ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2021 gauri marked it as to-read

Shelves: fantasy, asian-rep, ya

yes i came here after seeing the cover. the vibes are immaculate ✨

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Mar 27, 2021 Cindy ✩☽♔ marked it as to-read

This sounds like 1000% my cup of tea 🍵

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2020 Amanda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-fantasy, 2022-releases, writer-cult

Everything I hoped for! This is the lush, atmospheric, slow-burn romance, myth retelling of your dreams! I am sad for everyone waiting til 2021 but I did beg to read this many times for the last 5 years before I finally got to, so I can absolutely assure anyone that it is worth the wait.

This story explores the depths of love, grief, forgiveness and hope while exploring a spirit world as vivid as our own. I can't wait to have a copy on my shelf!

...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2021 The Smol Moth marked it as to-read

Shelves: cover-makes-me-feral

THIS SOUNDS SO COOL AND THE COVER IS SO PRETTY??? More fairy tale retellings yes please and thank you ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 28, 2021 persephone :) marked it as to-read

Shelves: asian-characters-or-setting, anticipated-releases, mythology-folklore, cover-art, ya-scifi-fantasy

this literally sounds like my dream book. i need it nowwww

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2021 liz˳✧༚ marked it as to-read

Shelves: pretty-cover-pretty-cover

THE TITLE ALONE.

Also “feminist fairytale retelling”
GIMMIE

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

May 04, 2021 Chloe rated it really liked it

*Spoiler free*

I was pulled into this book because of the cover. I know, I know, that's bad, but it's absolutely stunning. And it sounded absolutely incredible as well. A girl who sacrifices herself save her brother, who is swept into the sea and into the Spirit Realm. A story of a Sea God and deadly storms and enchantments. It sounded so, so good.

Axie Oh's writing, and this book, are stunningly gorgeous. Seriously, I want to infuse the beauty of this book into everything because it shines so bri *Spoiler free*

I was pulled into this book because of the cover. I know, I know, that's bad, but it's absolutely stunning. And it sounded absolutely incredible as well. A girl who sacrifices herself save her brother, who is swept into the sea and into the Spirit Realm. A story of a Sea God and deadly storms and enchantments. It sounded so, so good.

Axie Oh's writing, and this book, are stunningly gorgeous. Seriously, I want to infuse the beauty of this book into everything because it shines so brightly. It feels like sea foam, a fresh mint leaf, like water cupped between the palms. Just, so, so gorgeous.

Reading this book was a bit complicated for me. I don't know if it was mood or something else, but I found myself not completely loving it towards the middle. I was still ingrained by the story, the characters were solid, the relationships were top notch, but I just did not find myself completely connected into it. And that's fine! I just thought it wasn't a book for me. Some books are like that. I knew it was going to be a favorite for a lot of people. But, the ending completely turned that on it's head. I ended up falling completely in love. Aspects slotted into place and the story completely bloomed open. The twist, I feel weird even calling it a twist because it doesn't feel that dramatic. It fits so incredibly well. Yes, I was shocked by the turn of events, but it also feels incredibly natural. Like yes, this is where the story is supposed to be. This is exactly what is supposed to be happening now. Everything in this book came together so, so well.

Really, I think this book is fantastic storytelling all around. Even in the parts where I wasn't completely in love, I could realize that. It just flows together and creates something special.

The relationships between the characters, and the characters themselves, were so, so sweet. They are more than sweet of course, but they just have this sweetness about them that makes me adore them. The friendships, the romantic relationships, the familial ties, all of them were incredibly well done. Actions were done because of love, because of dedication to certain people, to commitment. The bond between humans was showcased here very clearly, and very plainly, and I thought it was done incredibly well.

Overall, I ended up loving this book. While I didn't fully love the plot at certain points, the ending made me fall completely in love with the whole thing. The entire thing is completely stunning, from writing to characters to the world to the relationships to how the plot unfolds. It's truly an amazing book. ...more

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May 04, 2021 Linaria rated it it was amazing

+ Retelling of "The Tale of Shim Cheong"
+ lush and atmospheric
+ Spirited Away vibes

cw: (view spoiler)

I really enjoyed this retelling. I don't know much about the source material, but I have seen/read other adaptations over the years. There's a bit of an ethereal quality to the writing and pacing that adds to the atmosphere. The book description compares it to Spirited Away, and I feel like it's accurate to say this book has pretty strong Studio Ghibli vibes. The re ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 27, 2021 Solace_In_Reading marked it as to-read

3.27.21
I really need to read all of Axie Oh's books - all of the covers are exceptional. ...more

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Apr 14, 2021 human [on hiatus] marked it as to-read

Shelves: not-released, will-sell-soul-or-kidney-for

I HEARD SPIRITED AWAY AND CAME RUNNING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT, THE WANT-TO-READ BUTTON PROBABLY HATES ME NOW BUT IT'S WORTH IT ...more

flag 31 likes · Like · see review

Apr 14, 2021 Michaela (Journey into Books) marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2022-tbr

This had me sold the minute I read the words Spirited Away. And that cover is absolutely gorgeous 😍😍😍

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 20, 2021 ada marked it as maybe-later

this synopsis makes me so happy :)

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May 05, 2021 Millennium Night marked it as to-read

Guys, I see Korean retelling. I see SPIRITED AWAY!! I see the GORGEOUS COVER!!!

Instant smashing of the To Read Button.

Need I say more?

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May 07, 2021 Lauren marked it as to-read

Shelves: young-adult-tbr

tbr note: "Feminist retelling of a classic Korean folktale meets Miyazaki's Spirited Away."

I cannot even begin to explain how much I am losing my mind right now I'm— ...more

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