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The Alliance #1
Ocean's Godori
Ocean Yoon has never felt like much of a Korean, even if she is descended from a long line of haenyeo, Jeju Island's beloved female divers. She's also persona non grata at the Alliance, Korea's solar system-dominating space agency, since a mission went awry and she earned a reputation for being a little too quick with her gun.
When her best friend, Teo, second son of the Anand Tech empire, is framed for murdering his family, Ocean and her misfit crewmates are pushed to the forefront of a high-stakes ideological conflict. But dodging bullets and winning space chases may be the easiest part of what comes next.
A thrilling adventure across the solar that delivers hyperkinetic action sequences and irresistible will-they-won't-they romance alongside its nuanced exploration of colonialism and capitalism, Ocean's Godori ultimately asks: What do we owe our past? How do we navigate our present while honoring the complicated facets of our identity? What can our future hold?
When her best friend, Teo, second son of the Anand Tech empire, is framed for murdering his family, Ocean and her misfit crewmates are pushed to the forefront of a high-stakes ideological conflict. But dodging bullets and winning space chases may be the easiest part of what comes next.
A thrilling adventure across the solar that delivers hyperkinetic action sequences and irresistible will-they-won't-they romance alongside its nuanced exploration of colonialism and capitalism, Ocean's Godori ultimately asks: What do we owe our past? How do we navigate our present while honoring the complicated facets of our identity? What can our future hold?
368 pages, ebook
First published April 23, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 661 reviews
November 23, 2023
"Ocean's Godori" by Elaine U. Cho is an impressive debut space opera that grabbed me right from the beginning with its rich character storylines and original premise. It is the first book in a series and a good start to it. I picked up the book on a whim because I was intrigued by the premise, and I wasn't disappointed. It is one of the best space opera novels I've read in a long time.
The book follows three main protagonists (Ocean, Teo, and Haven) and takes place in a world where Korea is the main dominating power, which, together with the help of major tech corporations, exploits planets in the solar system.
Ocean Yoon is a disgraced Korean space pilot of the Alliance, Korea’s space agency, who has to fly the Ohneul, a low-class Alliance ship, and bow to Captain Dae Song's orders. The other crew members are Maggie, a mechanic and engineer; Haven, a Mortemian and the new Medic; and Von Kent - the xenobotanist. And then we have Teo, the second son of the Anand Tech empire and Ocean's best friend. Last but not least is the soft-hearted pirate Phoenix, and his team consists of Aries, Cass, Lupus, and Gemini.
The storylines start out separately and then overlap in interesting ways. The plot thickens when Teo is framed for murder and has to run for his life. Ocean steps up to help him, and what follows is a great adventure chock full of ordeals, raiders, space chases, and even romance thrown in for good measure.
I enjoyed the book very much. It was slow to start, setting the stage, but after a bit, it picked up the pace and kept me fully engaged. I loved that the author didn't give us all the information right away or spoon-feed us. Bit by bit, the author uncovers more and more pieces, filling up the dots. I liked the writing and the way the story unfolded before my very eyes. The storylines are well thought out and engaging.
The author provided enough information on the background stories of the characters, so it was easy to keep up with the story. Although there were multiple characters in the book, I didn’t find it difficult to keep track of all of them. The characters are well-rounded, and the author did a great job of establishing them as people. I loved the friendships, the sharp ripostes, and the interactions between them, as well as the references to Korean culture and the exploration of humanity, cultures, values, and relationships.
If I have any complaint, it is that the ending was rather abrupt, ending with a cliffhanger. There is a hint of the development of a love triangle (my least favorite trope), and I hope it fades away in the next book. Other than that, the novel was wonderfully unique and exceeded my expectations. Full stars from me! I would love to read the next book in the series. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy space opera novels, action, and strong female characters.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2023...
The book follows three main protagonists (Ocean, Teo, and Haven) and takes place in a world where Korea is the main dominating power, which, together with the help of major tech corporations, exploits planets in the solar system.
Ocean Yoon is a disgraced Korean space pilot of the Alliance, Korea’s space agency, who has to fly the Ohneul, a low-class Alliance ship, and bow to Captain Dae Song's orders. The other crew members are Maggie, a mechanic and engineer; Haven, a Mortemian and the new Medic; and Von Kent - the xenobotanist. And then we have Teo, the second son of the Anand Tech empire and Ocean's best friend. Last but not least is the soft-hearted pirate Phoenix, and his team consists of Aries, Cass, Lupus, and Gemini.
The storylines start out separately and then overlap in interesting ways. The plot thickens when Teo is framed for murder and has to run for his life. Ocean steps up to help him, and what follows is a great adventure chock full of ordeals, raiders, space chases, and even romance thrown in for good measure.
I enjoyed the book very much. It was slow to start, setting the stage, but after a bit, it picked up the pace and kept me fully engaged. I loved that the author didn't give us all the information right away or spoon-feed us. Bit by bit, the author uncovers more and more pieces, filling up the dots. I liked the writing and the way the story unfolded before my very eyes. The storylines are well thought out and engaging.
The author provided enough information on the background stories of the characters, so it was easy to keep up with the story. Although there were multiple characters in the book, I didn’t find it difficult to keep track of all of them. The characters are well-rounded, and the author did a great job of establishing them as people. I loved the friendships, the sharp ripostes, and the interactions between them, as well as the references to Korean culture and the exploration of humanity, cultures, values, and relationships.
If I have any complaint, it is that the ending was rather abrupt, ending with a cliffhanger. There is a hint of the development of a love triangle (my least favorite trope), and I hope it fades away in the next book. Other than that, the novel was wonderfully unique and exceeded my expectations. Full stars from me! I would love to read the next book in the series. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy space opera novels, action, and strong female characters.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2023...
May 6, 2024
This is a VERY generous rounding-up-to-3 from 2.5 book. It's getting that rounding-up for the uniqueness of a future world where somehow Korea has reunified and dominates space travel, and some promising story elements. But this book could not decide if it was a cozy found-family sci-fi, or action-adventure in space. And it has the WORST non-ending of any book I've read in a while. I seriously said aloud, "That's it?" And I received sympathetic looks from people around me (I was in public) because when said in that tone, that phrase can only mean one thing: someone, somewhere, has failed.
The good stuff first: Cho has created an undeniably unique world - Koreans dominate space travel, and the solar system is fully populated including moons. And while some of the characters were a bit cliche, I did like the shape of some of them (Teo, the underestimated rich kid, and Haven, who's something called a "Mortemian" that I still don't fully understand but seems cool). Cho also is good at writing understated attraction, which is fun to read.
Probably the most surprising thing of value I got from this book is a really thoughtful meditation on death and grieving. A lot of times the violence and murder in action stories gets brushed to the side, but Cho let it have a real impact in this story and I was very affected by it. It might just be the moment of my life I'm living in right now, but I think it might have a similar impact on others close to a grieving phase of their life.
Unfortunately this good stuff was overshadowed by this book not really knowing what the hell it wanted to be, or even being clear on its story until almost the end and then it just ENDED with nothing resolved. There's also a lot of stagey dialoguing between characters (especially when "plot" needs to be conveyed) that felt unnatural.
I really anticipated this book and put it on a library hold weeks before it was even published, but alas. Not sure I would even read a follow-up to this book unless other reviewers can verify that the plotting and characterization are stronger. But I have hope that a) a follow-up book will come along and b) Cho will improve as a writer. There's definitely some talent there. But work to be done, too.
The good stuff first: Cho has created an undeniably unique world - Koreans dominate space travel, and the solar system is fully populated including moons. And while some of the characters were a bit cliche, I did like the shape of some of them (Teo, the underestimated rich kid, and Haven, who's something called a "Mortemian" that I still don't fully understand but seems cool). Cho also is good at writing understated attraction, which is fun to read.
Probably the most surprising thing of value I got from this book is a really thoughtful meditation on death and grieving. A lot of times the violence and murder in action stories gets brushed to the side, but Cho let it have a real impact in this story and I was very affected by it. It might just be the moment of my life I'm living in right now, but I think it might have a similar impact on others close to a grieving phase of their life.
Unfortunately this good stuff was overshadowed by this book not really knowing what the hell it wanted to be, or even being clear on its story until almost the end and then it just ENDED with nothing resolved. There's also a lot of stagey dialoguing between characters (especially when "plot" needs to be conveyed) that felt unnatural.
I really anticipated this book and put it on a library hold weeks before it was even published, but alas. Not sure I would even read a follow-up to this book unless other reviewers can verify that the plotting and characterization are stronger. But I have hope that a) a follow-up book will come along and b) Cho will improve as a writer. There's definitely some talent there. But work to be done, too.
July 10, 2024
Ocean’s Godori was prominently displayed at my local Barnes & Noble and the gorgeous cover caught my eye. I had to buy it. What a wonderful debut novel! If you enjoy sci-fi, I highly recommend this one.
It has all the elements you would expect, but what makes this one special is that it is Korean based. I loved this aspect and it made Ocean’s Godori stand out from other sci-fi books I’ve read. The author just announced her publisher has given the green light to a sequel. I can’t wait!
What I loved most about Ocean’s Godori was the distinct and memorable characters. They are multidimensional with interesting and interconnecting back stories. There are alliance members and raiders. There are politicians and wealthy investors using others and their resources (specifically those living on Mercury) to their advantage. Reading Ocean’s Godori evoked similar feelings in and reminded me of watching Firefly and Cowboy Bebop (two sci-fi cult classics). I can think of no higher praise.
It has all the elements you would expect, but what makes this one special is that it is Korean based. I loved this aspect and it made Ocean’s Godori stand out from other sci-fi books I’ve read. The author just announced her publisher has given the green light to a sequel. I can’t wait!
What I loved most about Ocean’s Godori was the distinct and memorable characters. They are multidimensional with interesting and interconnecting back stories. There are alliance members and raiders. There are politicians and wealthy investors using others and their resources (specifically those living on Mercury) to their advantage. Reading Ocean’s Godori evoked similar feelings in and reminded me of watching Firefly and Cowboy Bebop (two sci-fi cult classics). I can think of no higher praise.
June 22, 2025
I like science fiction and I love reading Korean writers. Axie Oh’s Rebel Seoul books were a lot of fun, and that was my baseline for reading this one. This one missed the mark for me. I think there were too many elements. Needed a bit more editing.
didnt-finish
March 1, 2024First off, many thanks to NetGalley and Zando for giving me the opportunity to review this eARC.
I'm officially throwing in the towel at 37%. I've had to push myself to read even that far, despite this book sounding like it would be great fun. It promises high stakes conflict, thrilling action, a possible romance, and a ragtag group of crewmates thrust into something bigger than they can handle.
Usually the setting and character work elevate such a cliche sounding story into something fun and interesting, but I don't think Ocean's Godori achieved that. It was definitely a new and fresh setting fully immersed in the concept of a futuristic space-faring South Korea, but not much else was happening. Ocean felt like the most cliche of all cliche characters, as did Haven and Teo. Ocean's shipmates felt like they were supposed to be a charming motley crew you grow to love, but I wasn't connecting with anyone in this story.
It all fell flat for me, which makes me sad because I really was excited for the idea this book promises. Many other readers seem to be loving this, so I would point to other highly rated reviews to see if anything they say appeals to you more than my disappointment, because this book definitely has an audience out there for it - that audience just doesn't include me.
I'm officially throwing in the towel at 37%. I've had to push myself to read even that far, despite this book sounding like it would be great fun. It promises high stakes conflict, thrilling action, a possible romance, and a ragtag group of crewmates thrust into something bigger than they can handle.
Usually the setting and character work elevate such a cliche sounding story into something fun and interesting, but I don't think Ocean's Godori achieved that. It was definitely a new and fresh setting fully immersed in the concept of a futuristic space-faring South Korea, but not much else was happening. Ocean felt like the most cliche of all cliche characters, as did Haven and Teo. Ocean's shipmates felt like they were supposed to be a charming motley crew you grow to love, but I wasn't connecting with anyone in this story.
It all fell flat for me, which makes me sad because I really was excited for the idea this book promises. Many other readers seem to be loving this, so I would point to other highly rated reviews to see if anything they say appeals to you more than my disappointment, because this book definitely has an audience out there for it - that audience just doesn't include me.
July 18, 2025
desperate for more lore of these weirdos i love them all so much
big-fat-dnf
April 9, 2024exactly two weeks before pub date, will i will win the netgalley war? sources say NO
October 6, 2024
3.5 Stars
Video Review https://youtu.be/MpVgI5x-87A
I was very excited to read science fiction from a Korean perspective. I believe the only other one I have read is the Machineries of Empire series by Yoon Ha Lee, a personal favourite of mine.
I enjoyed the cultural elements of this one. It was probably my favourite aspect because I liked seeing how those parts are extrapolated into the future.
I originally thought this was a space opera but this doesn't really fit the description. This story is quite narrow in scope and scale, within a small group of characters. I wanted to know more about the worldbuilding but instead I found this more dialogue and character heavy, which weren't the strongest aspects.
I liked a lot about this one. I will admit that I am disappointed just because I was certain it would be a favourite. Still, it was good for a debut and I would be interested to read more by her.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Video Review https://youtu.be/MpVgI5x-87A
I was very excited to read science fiction from a Korean perspective. I believe the only other one I have read is the Machineries of Empire series by Yoon Ha Lee, a personal favourite of mine.
I enjoyed the cultural elements of this one. It was probably my favourite aspect because I liked seeing how those parts are extrapolated into the future.
I originally thought this was a space opera but this doesn't really fit the description. This story is quite narrow in scope and scale, within a small group of characters. I wanted to know more about the worldbuilding but instead I found this more dialogue and character heavy, which weren't the strongest aspects.
I liked a lot about this one. I will admit that I am disappointed just because I was certain it would be a favourite. Still, it was good for a debut and I would be interested to read more by her.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
June 25, 2024
There's a point in my life where this book would have been a favorite. The characters were great, there's plenty of drama and intrigues and I can see younger me getting utterly obsessed with the characters. Now, I think I'm just not really the audience. It's really a space opera and I would have liked a less opera exploration of the universe the author created, alas, this book was what it said it was.
3.5 rounded up.
3.5 rounded up.
April 10, 2024
I received an ARC of this from the publisher. I’m only putting this because they decided to tag my review, something I’m honestly kind of annoyed about.
As a Korean American studying astrophysics I genuinely really loved this book, from the characters, to the plot, to, of course, the world, it was astronomically well done. I loved this book, and I would love to see more from this author, especially in this universe. The romances felt sweet, and the main character was incredibly reminiscent of Han Solo in all the best ways, Han Seoul-oh if you will.
That being said, the main detraction tot his book is that it's half a book. The climax to this fairly long book is given in the final 50 or so pages and wrapped up at a lightening fast speed, and it was a genuine shame. You didn't really get to see any character arcs brought to resolution, nor do you get to see any satisfying fleshing out of the world past it's initial exploration. I would love to see this story genuinely finished, because as it is, I don't think I can really recommend it due to the genuinely unsatisfying way this book ends up reading.
As a Korean American studying astrophysics I genuinely really loved this book, from the characters, to the plot, to, of course, the world, it was astronomically well done. I loved this book, and I would love to see more from this author, especially in this universe. The romances felt sweet, and the main character was incredibly reminiscent of Han Solo in all the best ways, Han Seoul-oh if you will.
That being said, the main detraction tot his book is that it's half a book. The climax to this fairly long book is given in the final 50 or so pages and wrapped up at a lightening fast speed, and it was a genuine shame. You didn't really get to see any character arcs brought to resolution, nor do you get to see any satisfying fleshing out of the world past it's initial exploration. I would love to see this story genuinely finished, because as it is, I don't think I can really recommend it due to the genuinely unsatisfying way this book ends up reading.
did-not-finish
April 10, 2024Thank you to NetGalley and Hillman Grad Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF @ 60%
I was really excited to read this when I came across it on NetGalley. I love space operas, and I especially love those that are not in Western-focused settings, so I was really looking forward to reading a Korean-based setting.
However, I couldn't finish this. I got pretty far in, at just under 2/3, and what is described in the synopsis only just started to happen. What?! It's wild that I read 220 pages and yet it felt like there was hardly any plot, world building, or even real characterization. My main issue with this book is that there is zero intrigue. There is no overarching plot point in the first half of the novel that made me want to read on. It was just the characters going about their daily lives really, and I didn't find them very interesting.
Starting with the characters: our first introduction to Ocean, the MC, is her accusing her boyfriend of cheating on her with someone on his ship. This seemed like such an odd choice to me since 1. we don't know anything about their relationship together or these characters separately, 2. I don’t see it having any impact on anything later, and 3. it just made Ocean seem really dramatic and immature. So she got off to a bad start with me.
We slowly got introduced to other characters, and thankfully none of them were as dramatic, but I felt like the way they acted changed on a dime and made no sense. When we first meet the captain, she seemed very laissez-faire and chill, but the second the crew went on a mission, she completely flipped and went authoritarian and didn't care about anyone's feelings. When two of the narrating characters met for the first time, one was very prejudiced and straight-up mean to the other. But then a few chapters later, there was a hint of romance from both sides? What?! I know a lot of people love the enemies to lovers trope, and while that's personally not my thing, I don't think it was executed well at all. I felt blindsided by the sudden turnaround from borderline racism to tenderness, vulnerability, and attraction between the two that even other characters were noticing and pointing out!
And lastly, one of the major characters is a dude who is belongs to a family so rich that he can afford to pay for the meals of everyone at a very fancy restaurant without a single care. I'm tired of reading sci-fi with obscenely rich characters like this. It's hard to feel sympathy for someone so comfortable in their wealth at a level that can only be obtained through the exploitation of others.
As for the world building, I thought it was pretty interesting at first. I thought I knew a decent amount about Korean culture, but there are a lot of Korean words in this that I hadn't heard before. There is a handy glossary at the back, with funny commentary, though most words are understandable via context clues. I did start to wonder what language these characters are speaking in, because they use Korean words so often but are apparently speaking in another language with a non-Korean character. But one thing that really threw me is that 22% in, there is a reference to a real life Korean astronaut, which seems to imply that this book takes place in our world. In real life, Yi So-yeon went to space in 2008, and then the Korean space program ended. But in this book, Korea is the main power of the solar system (galaxy? unsure). How did that happen? How did the events after 2008 change the power balance of space travel so drastically to the point that the United States is not even worth mentioning and Russia is only brought up once in a throwaway reference? There wasn't any explanation 60% into the book, but perhaps the history is explained more later. This may not be important to many readers, but as a lover of history both real and alternate, I can't help but get distracted thinking about it.
In addition, there were some weird prose choices for a space opera. Like why does a spaceship have a clutch, gears, and pedals? It really felt more like a stick shift car than anything spaceworthy. There was also a moment where a character goes on a space walk, and the narrative says that some tools they drop start "spinning in the air" but there is no air in space...
And then for the plot... there really wasn't any until around 55% in. And at that point I cared so little about the characters and world that even that couldn't hook me. I feel like I gave this book quite a few chances, but if a book hasn't hooked me over halfway in, I really see no reason to finish.
And as someone who loves Becky Chambers, I don't think this book is in any way, shape, or form comparable to her work. You'd at least need compelling characters for that, and this world is nowhere near utopian either, so I wouldn't recommend for Chambers lovers. I'm not really sure who I would recommend this to. This author does have some interesting ideas though, so perhaps I will check out their work in the future.
DNF @ 60%
I was really excited to read this when I came across it on NetGalley. I love space operas, and I especially love those that are not in Western-focused settings, so I was really looking forward to reading a Korean-based setting.
However, I couldn't finish this. I got pretty far in, at just under 2/3, and what is described in the synopsis only just started to happen. What?! It's wild that I read 220 pages and yet it felt like there was hardly any plot, world building, or even real characterization. My main issue with this book is that there is zero intrigue. There is no overarching plot point in the first half of the novel that made me want to read on. It was just the characters going about their daily lives really, and I didn't find them very interesting.
Starting with the characters: our first introduction to Ocean, the MC, is her accusing her boyfriend of cheating on her with someone on his ship. This seemed like such an odd choice to me since 1. we don't know anything about their relationship together or these characters separately, 2. I don’t see it having any impact on anything later, and 3. it just made Ocean seem really dramatic and immature. So she got off to a bad start with me.
We slowly got introduced to other characters, and thankfully none of them were as dramatic, but I felt like the way they acted changed on a dime and made no sense. When we first meet the captain, she seemed very laissez-faire and chill, but the second the crew went on a mission, she completely flipped and went authoritarian and didn't care about anyone's feelings. When two of the narrating characters met for the first time, one was very prejudiced and straight-up mean to the other. But then a few chapters later, there was a hint of romance from both sides? What?! I know a lot of people love the enemies to lovers trope, and while that's personally not my thing, I don't think it was executed well at all. I felt blindsided by the sudden turnaround from borderline racism to tenderness, vulnerability, and attraction between the two that even other characters were noticing and pointing out!
And lastly, one of the major characters is a dude who is belongs to a family so rich that he can afford to pay for the meals of everyone at a very fancy restaurant without a single care. I'm tired of reading sci-fi with obscenely rich characters like this. It's hard to feel sympathy for someone so comfortable in their wealth at a level that can only be obtained through the exploitation of others.
As for the world building, I thought it was pretty interesting at first. I thought I knew a decent amount about Korean culture, but there are a lot of Korean words in this that I hadn't heard before. There is a handy glossary at the back, with funny commentary, though most words are understandable via context clues. I did start to wonder what language these characters are speaking in, because they use Korean words so often but are apparently speaking in another language with a non-Korean character. But one thing that really threw me is that 22% in, there is a reference to a real life Korean astronaut, which seems to imply that this book takes place in our world. In real life, Yi So-yeon went to space in 2008, and then the Korean space program ended. But in this book, Korea is the main power of the solar system (galaxy? unsure). How did that happen? How did the events after 2008 change the power balance of space travel so drastically to the point that the United States is not even worth mentioning and Russia is only brought up once in a throwaway reference? There wasn't any explanation 60% into the book, but perhaps the history is explained more later. This may not be important to many readers, but as a lover of history both real and alternate, I can't help but get distracted thinking about it.
In addition, there were some weird prose choices for a space opera. Like why does a spaceship have a clutch, gears, and pedals? It really felt more like a stick shift car than anything spaceworthy. There was also a moment where a character goes on a space walk, and the narrative says that some tools they drop start "spinning in the air" but there is no air in space...
And then for the plot... there really wasn't any until around 55% in. And at that point I cared so little about the characters and world that even that couldn't hook me. I feel like I gave this book quite a few chances, but if a book hasn't hooked me over halfway in, I really see no reason to finish.
And as someone who loves Becky Chambers, I don't think this book is in any way, shape, or form comparable to her work. You'd at least need compelling characters for that, and this world is nowhere near utopian either, so I wouldn't recommend for Chambers lovers. I'm not really sure who I would recommend this to. This author does have some interesting ideas though, so perhaps I will check out their work in the future.
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May 24, 2025
We court death as children, never understanding how close it already is.
A pulse-pumping sci-fi space opera, complete with just about everything you could imagine: murder, raiders, tight flying, found family (x2!) and a medic with a heart of gold.
This book is really 3.5 stars for me, because the plot was the lot point—in that, this feels like it was cut in half. The plot builds but there are no answers, not really, and the book ends right as a glimpse of safety is felt. I was surprised that it was the end, because I was hoping for a little more but it just...ended.
There's also something missing that I just can't put my finger on. Something that just didn't quite click, and I think it's because this is supposed to be people in their late twenties/early thirties but it has a very YA feel. Maybe too, because this embraces a show not tell format, and sometimes you gotta do just a little tell.
Anywho, it's four stars because I did enjoy it. The food descriptions are great, the interpersonal relationships are well-formed if a touch disjointed, and the world-building is intriguing, and the entire book is so gloriously Korean. More: there are some sentences that were so beautifully poignant that I sat up and just stared off into the distance for a few moments.
If you watched Firefly and loved it, you'll more than love this one.
A pulse-pumping sci-fi space opera, complete with just about everything you could imagine: murder, raiders, tight flying, found family (x2!) and a medic with a heart of gold.
This book is really 3.5 stars for me, because the plot was the lot point—in that, this feels like it was cut in half. The plot builds but there are no answers, not really, and the book ends right as a glimpse of safety is felt. I was surprised that it was the end, because I was hoping for a little more but it just...ended.
There's also something missing that I just can't put my finger on. Something that just didn't quite click, and I think it's because this is supposed to be people in their late twenties/early thirties but it has a very YA feel. Maybe too, because this embraces a show not tell format, and sometimes you gotta do just a little tell.
Anywho, it's four stars because I did enjoy it. The food descriptions are great, the interpersonal relationships are well-formed if a touch disjointed, and the world-building is intriguing, and the entire book is so gloriously Korean. More: there are some sentences that were so beautifully poignant that I sat up and just stared off into the distance for a few moments.
If you watched Firefly and loved it, you'll more than love this one.
May 12, 2024
A review copy was provided by the publisher
Too much Lifetime TV style drama and half-baked romance, not enough sci-fi. Very sad about this one, because the premise sounded amazing: "a thrilling adventure across the solar that delivers hyperkinetic action sequences and irresistible will-they-won't-they romance alongside its nuanced exploration of colonialism and capitalism". Where was all of this? Buried under drawn-out drama that's happening to extremely bland and cliché characters. I did enjoy the world-building though, which was the best part of the novel. Korea as a leader of space exploration in a future headed towards utopia? Sign me up! Give me more of that! Sadly, the story didn't live up to its beautiful setting, and if I'm being honest the first half of the novel barely has any plot at all.
Ocean's Godori is another book I had to skim through after the halfway point - the storytelling and character work just weren't there, unfortunately.
Too much Lifetime TV style drama and half-baked romance, not enough sci-fi. Very sad about this one, because the premise sounded amazing: "a thrilling adventure across the solar that delivers hyperkinetic action sequences and irresistible will-they-won't-they romance alongside its nuanced exploration of colonialism and capitalism". Where was all of this? Buried under drawn-out drama that's happening to extremely bland and cliché characters. I did enjoy the world-building though, which was the best part of the novel. Korea as a leader of space exploration in a future headed towards utopia? Sign me up! Give me more of that! Sadly, the story didn't live up to its beautiful setting, and if I'm being honest the first half of the novel barely has any plot at all.
Ocean's Godori is another book I had to skim through after the halfway point - the storytelling and character work just weren't there, unfortunately.
June 15, 2024
Listened to the audio. I feel like the plot was a little disjointed? I didn’t always understand why we were going to X place and talking to X person or how that all tied back in to the main narrative, or even what certain characters had to do with the plot even though they also seemed randomly roped in?
Which could be my poor listening skills but also, since I listened to the ending twice and still didn’t really get it, may also just be that the book can be a little confusing.
So I think ultimately I’d recommend eye reading, but again, this would be my own personal recommendation for someone that absorbs things better in a visual rather than audible format.
The audio was well done and I think the narrator did a good job, so if audio is your preferred method, that recommendation isn’t a reflection of the audio quality.
Anyway.
I liked the characters. I thought the romances were half baked. Would have liked a little more tension between some of the love interests. The build up feels incredibly slow and the ending feels incredibly abrupt. I think it would have worked better as a novella.
The main conflict in the blurb doesn’t happen until the 50% mark. I wasn’t bored with the beginning but at the end I just found myself asking what was the point?
Sorta wished I’d skipped it even though I adored the cover. I would read more from this author in the future I think? I would recommend this to people looking for a thrilling, action heavy, guns blazing scifi thriller.
Which could be my poor listening skills but also, since I listened to the ending twice and still didn’t really get it, may also just be that the book can be a little confusing.
So I think ultimately I’d recommend eye reading, but again, this would be my own personal recommendation for someone that absorbs things better in a visual rather than audible format.
The audio was well done and I think the narrator did a good job, so if audio is your preferred method, that recommendation isn’t a reflection of the audio quality.
Anyway.
I liked the characters. I thought the romances were half baked. Would have liked a little more tension between some of the love interests. The build up feels incredibly slow and the ending feels incredibly abrupt. I think it would have worked better as a novella.
The main conflict in the blurb doesn’t happen until the 50% mark. I wasn’t bored with the beginning but at the end I just found myself asking what was the point?
Sorta wished I’d skipped it even though I adored the cover. I would read more from this author in the future I think? I would recommend this to people looking for a thrilling, action heavy, guns blazing scifi thriller.
June 23, 2024
This was an indulgent, fun, found-family space opera that I loved so many things about! In particular the character dynamics and relationships really shine. Cho writes intimate, meaningful moments between characters so well.
However the pacing and extremely abrupt ending threw me off - the first three quarters of the book are slow and introspective and worldbuild-y with little plot direction and then the last part rushes through to a pretty unresolved climax. All the pieces were here for an easy five star read but it didn't quite hit the mark for me in terms of structure. But I still highly enjoyed the reading experience and I'm really looking forward to what Cho writes next.
However the pacing and extremely abrupt ending threw me off - the first three quarters of the book are slow and introspective and worldbuild-y with little plot direction and then the last part rushes through to a pretty unresolved climax. All the pieces were here for an easy five star read but it didn't quite hit the mark for me in terms of structure. But I still highly enjoyed the reading experience and I'm really looking forward to what Cho writes next.
June 4, 2024
4.5 STARS
CW: death (including of loved ones), grief, violence, blood, colonialism
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun read which I had not necessarily expected so it was a delightful surprise. I was immediately sucked into this world and one of the reasons why I absolutely loved reading this was definitely that the worldbuilding is so inspired by Korean culture. I studied Korean for four years at uni, spent one year abroad in Seoul and just have a tremendous love for this culture and language.
That being said, I absolutely loved how all the Korean expressions and words were used without providing translations in the text. The appendix with an explanation of all the vocab was very fun to go through even though I had no trouble understanding all the words that were used. This generally made me miss Korea a lot, the descriptions of food and general customs also contributed to that. I was just very nostalgic about my time in Korea while reading this.
In addition to this more sentimental aspect (for me), I think the story was very entertaining, I definitely see the Becky Chambers comparison and I really enjoyed learning more about the characters and get to know them more and more over the course of the story. They were all lovable, I think, and I loved seeing them interacting with each other in various constellations.
One thing that bothered me a little bit (but not a lot) was that what is pitched in the blurb of the book only happens at about the 50% mark. On one hand, I really liked the pace and getting introduced to the world and the characters, but on another I kind of wished that the plot would have moved along a little bit quicker.
From how the book ended I'm hoping that there will be a second installment. I desperately need more background info about how North and South Korea reunited in the canon of this story. This was another VERY interesting thing about the worldbuilding to me: thinking about what must have happened for a reunified Korea to attain dominance in space and how the Alliance came about.
If it has not become clear from my review yet, I'd definitely recommend checking this book out! It's perfect to read in between large tomes, it's a great palate cleanser in my opinion and it was just a great, entertaining read. Especially if you're interested in Korean culture, language (and history) in any way, I think this would be the perfect read. It's also not as focused on the science fiction aspect (not hard sci-fi at all) and more so about the characters and their relationships to each other which is where the Becky Chambers comparison comes from. Seriously, go buy and read this!
CW: death (including of loved ones), grief, violence, blood, colonialism
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun read which I had not necessarily expected so it was a delightful surprise. I was immediately sucked into this world and one of the reasons why I absolutely loved reading this was definitely that the worldbuilding is so inspired by Korean culture. I studied Korean for four years at uni, spent one year abroad in Seoul and just have a tremendous love for this culture and language.
That being said, I absolutely loved how all the Korean expressions and words were used without providing translations in the text. The appendix with an explanation of all the vocab was very fun to go through even though I had no trouble understanding all the words that were used. This generally made me miss Korea a lot, the descriptions of food and general customs also contributed to that. I was just very nostalgic about my time in Korea while reading this.
In addition to this more sentimental aspect (for me), I think the story was very entertaining, I definitely see the Becky Chambers comparison and I really enjoyed learning more about the characters and get to know them more and more over the course of the story. They were all lovable, I think, and I loved seeing them interacting with each other in various constellations.
One thing that bothered me a little bit (but not a lot) was that what is pitched in the blurb of the book only happens at about the 50% mark. On one hand, I really liked the pace and getting introduced to the world and the characters, but on another I kind of wished that the plot would have moved along a little bit quicker.
From how the book ended I'm hoping that there will be a second installment. I desperately need more background info about how North and South Korea reunited in the canon of this story. This was another VERY interesting thing about the worldbuilding to me: thinking about what must have happened for a reunified Korea to attain dominance in space and how the Alliance came about.
If it has not become clear from my review yet, I'd definitely recommend checking this book out! It's perfect to read in between large tomes, it's a great palate cleanser in my opinion and it was just a great, entertaining read. Especially if you're interested in Korean culture, language (and history) in any way, I think this would be the perfect read. It's also not as focused on the science fiction aspect (not hard sci-fi at all) and more so about the characters and their relationships to each other which is where the Becky Chambers comparison comes from. Seriously, go buy and read this!
April 23, 2024
This is a tough one for me to rate. There were a lot of things I liked: a far future society that imagines a solar system that's been colonized by humans, but not an interstellar civilization; making Korea the dominant spacefaring culture, including its own specific vocabulary; complete worldbuilding that feels well-thought-out (if not always transparent to the reader). But I just don't think the book was for me.
When I don't love a book, I can get hung up on little details that just bug me (check out my review of ACOTAR and how many times I talk about the plumbing if you need proof). In this book, MC Ocean is a talented space ship pilot, but only when pedals are installed. That's right, folks: she needs a clutch, brake, and accelerator to maneuver a space ship. I cannot tell you how annoying I found this. I couldn't stop thinking about why. WHY??? What purpose does installing these pedals serve? They can't actually be connected to anything on this space ship, can they? My brain still hurts trying to force it to make sense.
What else happens in this 23rd-Century-set book? Military politics, space pirates, a little bit of pining thrown in. There is some plot but it will take (at least!) one more book to resolve. Maybe someone who's never driven a manual car and just likes the visual of a clutch would like it better. I dunno.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
When I don't love a book, I can get hung up on little details that just bug me (check out my review of ACOTAR and how many times I talk about the plumbing if you need proof). In this book, MC Ocean is a talented space ship pilot, but only when pedals are installed. That's right, folks: she needs a clutch, brake, and accelerator to maneuver a space ship. I cannot tell you how annoying I found this. I couldn't stop thinking about why. WHY??? What purpose does installing these pedals serve? They can't actually be connected to anything on this space ship, can they? My brain still hurts trying to force it to make sense.
What else happens in this 23rd-Century-set book? Military politics, space pirates, a little bit of pining thrown in. There is some plot but it will take (at least!) one more book to resolve. Maybe someone who's never driven a manual car and just likes the visual of a clutch would like it better. I dunno.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
January 31, 2024
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book!*
I absolutely *LOVED* "Ocean's Godori". It gave me a Becky Chambers vibe with its found family, queer love, and character driven storylines. While I had a somewhat hard time immersing myself, I later really did not want to leave the world again. This Korean space-opera debut by Cho is one of my reading highlights of 2024 so far and I really want a sequel, please!
5 stars
I absolutely *LOVED* "Ocean's Godori". It gave me a Becky Chambers vibe with its found family, queer love, and character driven storylines. While I had a somewhat hard time immersing myself, I later really did not want to leave the world again. This Korean space-opera debut by Cho is one of my reading highlights of 2024 so far and I really want a sequel, please!
5 stars
April 16, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up.
This was a really fun space adventure!
I loved the characters (especially Ocean and Phoenix), the spaceships, and this imaginative futuristic world that the author created. I can easily visualize this story as a movie in my mind.
I think that my one huge issue with this is the odd mishmash of cozy sci-fi and classic space action-adventure story. There were moments where it felt like the story wanted to lean heavily on the cozy (fun, cool, diverse spaceship crew where everyone's cool with each other) and moments later in the novel where it veered in the opposite direction (space politics with governments, corporations, and gangs fighting each other; quintessential evil villain, etc.). So, it sort of felt like it wasn't sure what it wanted to be.
Despite that, I still had a good time with this novel.
I loved the futuristic Korean rep! The author does have a handy guide in the back for Korean terminology and cultural nuances, but I think the author did really well with explaining and using the terminology within the story in such a way where someone unfamiliar with it could understand (or at least glean) the meaning of.
I'd love to read more from this world, especially Ocean's time in Sav-Faire. This is one of those stories where it drops you in media res, so it feels like you're missing chunks of the story, such as character relationships, political implications and significances, world/galaxy history, etc. Some details are filled in, but I wanted so much more out of this story.
Despite my rating and complaints, I'm definitely excited to follow Elaine U. Cho's writing career. This is such a creative and diverse take on the space opera subgenre and I'm eager to read anything else that the author cooks up!
Elliott Bay Book Company has signed and personalized copies. I'm definitely ordering one!
Thank you to Hillman Grad and NetGalley for this arc.
This was a really fun space adventure!
I loved the characters (especially Ocean and Phoenix), the spaceships, and this imaginative futuristic world that the author created. I can easily visualize this story as a movie in my mind.
I think that my one huge issue with this is the odd mishmash of cozy sci-fi and classic space action-adventure story. There were moments where it felt like the story wanted to lean heavily on the cozy (fun, cool, diverse spaceship crew where everyone's cool with each other) and moments later in the novel where it veered in the opposite direction (space politics with governments, corporations, and gangs fighting each other; quintessential evil villain, etc.). So, it sort of felt like it wasn't sure what it wanted to be.
Despite that, I still had a good time with this novel.
I loved the futuristic Korean rep! The author does have a handy guide in the back for Korean terminology and cultural nuances, but I think the author did really well with explaining and using the terminology within the story in such a way where someone unfamiliar with it could understand (or at least glean) the meaning of.
I'd love to read more from this world, especially Ocean's time in Sav-Faire. This is one of those stories where it drops you in media res, so it feels like you're missing chunks of the story, such as character relationships, political implications and significances, world/galaxy history, etc. Some details are filled in, but I wanted so much more out of this story.
Despite my rating and complaints, I'm definitely excited to follow Elaine U. Cho's writing career. This is such a creative and diverse take on the space opera subgenre and I'm eager to read anything else that the author cooks up!
Elliott Bay Book Company has signed and personalized copies. I'm definitely ordering one!
Thank you to Hillman Grad and NetGalley for this arc.
June 4, 2024
Don't be fooled by it's drop dead gorgeous cover! Ocean's Godori is a mess.
This book simply doesn't know what it wants to be and that negatively impacted it's entirety. There's almost no plot to be found in the first half of this book, so we wind up just hanging out while the author flounders around genres, jumping from romance to political drama to action to cozy, found family space opera.
I thought this was an action murder mystery in space and we kind of got there in the second half, but by then I was over it and found myself skipping pages.
The characters were fine as a found family group, but I didn't care for the lead protagonist, Ocean. The book starts with her confronting her bf about cheating, and I should have known then that the focus of this book was all wrong.
The end of this is so abrupt and disappointing, it's weird to call it an end.
I rated Elaine U. Cho's Ocean's Godori 2 out of 5 stars. There's potential here, but this book needed a lot more focus and fine tuning.
This book simply doesn't know what it wants to be and that negatively impacted it's entirety. There's almost no plot to be found in the first half of this book, so we wind up just hanging out while the author flounders around genres, jumping from romance to political drama to action to cozy, found family space opera.
I thought this was an action murder mystery in space and we kind of got there in the second half, but by then I was over it and found myself skipping pages.
The characters were fine as a found family group, but I didn't care for the lead protagonist, Ocean. The book starts with her confronting her bf about cheating, and I should have known then that the focus of this book was all wrong.
The end of this is so abrupt and disappointing, it's weird to call it an end.
I rated Elaine U. Cho's Ocean's Godori 2 out of 5 stars. There's potential here, but this book needed a lot more focus and fine tuning.
May 7, 2024
Korean "Star Wars" is, to be sure, a pretty disingenuous description of "Ocean's Godori." But I honestly don't know how else to describe Elaine U. Cho's debut. Despite its unique cultural lens and diverse cast, this charts a very familiar path through a not-so-far-away galaxy, and Cho is not (yet) strong enough a writer to imbue its many worn-out genre tropes with anything new. Worse, the book is overstuffed and unfocused, with too many characters who often feel defined by their quirks or are mere plot devices (a seemingly major character just disappears once their purpose is served), and a story that treads space for much of its 300 pages before careening into an abrupt, unsatisfying ending that clearly sets up a series but renders this unable to stand on its own.
There's certainly potential, but the next book really needs to step up if it wants readers to see this voyage through.
There's certainly potential, but the next book really needs to step up if it wants readers to see this voyage through.
October 4, 2024
this was fun! the whole plot idea was interesting but the execution was confusing!! i did not know what the heck was going on sometimes lol but the characters were fun and i really enjoyed some of the relationships
April 23, 2024
We're in the 23rd Century, Korea is a leading power and Ocean Yoon is quite possibly the best pilot in the solar system, and yet she's piloting a tiny craft doing shitty missions, and she's barely holding on to her job as it is. Her story intersects with that of two other characters: Teophilus Anand, billionaire's son, playboy and all-around useless layabout (or is he?) and Haven Sasani, ship medic and death expert.
Together theyfight crime! deal with messy interpersonal conflict, a mysterious enemy that has access to incredibly advanced technology and also technically do fight crime. But mostly alongside the criminals.
This is a hard book to rate. When it works, it really works - well-written, sharp, action-packed and with great characters. But it takes a long time for the action to start, and then everything happens all at once and it feels rushed.
The ending is very open, so while it could work as a standalone I think it was likely written with the potential of being expanded into a series in mind, and it suffers a bit from first-book syndrome: too much is spent on set-up, and not enough on the actual story.
The one thing that was consistently great throughout is the world-building. The politics, the spaceships, the different planets and moons... I hope it does end up being expanded into a series because I really want to see more of this setting.
I received an advance copy of this books from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Together they
This is a hard book to rate. When it works, it really works - well-written, sharp, action-packed and with great characters. But it takes a long time for the action to start, and then everything happens all at once and it feels rushed.
The ending is very open, so while it could work as a standalone I think it was likely written with the potential of being expanded into a series in mind, and it suffers a bit from first-book syndrome: too much is spent on set-up, and not enough on the actual story.
The one thing that was consistently great throughout is the world-building. The politics, the spaceships, the different planets and moons... I hope it does end up being expanded into a series because I really want to see more of this setting.
I received an advance copy of this books from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 24, 2025
⭐⭐ 2.25 / 5
I can't be anything but honest. I've just finished this and I honestly don't have any thoughts. I read the words and I'm just left with massive 'was that it' feeling.
Maybe it's because it wasn't what I was expecting, it feels more like a soap opera rather than space opera. Maybe it's because it doesn't feel like a complete book. Now I know it's the start of a new series but each book in a series should have it's own ARC. A beginning, middle and end. This almost feels like I got half a book. Maybe it's because I couldn't work out what this book wanted to be.
I just don't know, but I do know I'm not compelled to pick up the next book.
I can't be anything but honest. I've just finished this and I honestly don't have any thoughts. I read the words and I'm just left with massive 'was that it' feeling.
Maybe it's because it wasn't what I was expecting, it feels more like a soap opera rather than space opera. Maybe it's because it doesn't feel like a complete book. Now I know it's the start of a new series but each book in a series should have it's own ARC. A beginning, middle and end. This almost feels like I got half a book. Maybe it's because I couldn't work out what this book wanted to be.
I just don't know, but I do know I'm not compelled to pick up the next book.
April 21, 2024
Okay so this cover might be one of my favorites of all time. It is stunning. And I think it fits the book really well, too! I will say this before we get into it, I did struggle a bit with the beginning. The world was a little unclear to me, and we're a bit thrown right into the story, so it took me some time to get my footing. That said, when I did, I really started to enjoy it! It does seem like the start of a series, though I came up empty finding anything official saying so. Do with that what you will, but it did seem to be heading for a sequel (or a very rude ending, heh).
First of all, I adored the characters! Their interactions and relationships were witty and complex, and I certainly enjoyed that aspect. The plot, once I knew what was happening, was equally engaging with a lot of unexpected twists and some very cool elements. (I can't say too much about them because they'd be spoilery, but things were bananas at some points, and I loved it!) I also really enjoyed the Korean cultural infusion! In this world and time period, Korea is on the cutting edge of everything, especially the space program, which is just all kinds of fabulous. Also of note, there is a very fun glossary in the back, so make sure you check that out (probably easier on a physical copy, but it was still an enjoyable surprise on ebook format). So yeah, action, excitement, great characters, good twists... this was a win!
Bottom Line: While it started out a little iffy, I ended up very much enjoying Ocean's Gadori, and look forward to the sequel!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
First of all, I adored the characters! Their interactions and relationships were witty and complex, and I certainly enjoyed that aspect. The plot, once I knew what was happening, was equally engaging with a lot of unexpected twists and some very cool elements. (I can't say too much about them because they'd be spoilery, but things were bananas at some points, and I loved it!) I also really enjoyed the Korean cultural infusion! In this world and time period, Korea is on the cutting edge of everything, especially the space program, which is just all kinds of fabulous. Also of note, there is a very fun glossary in the back, so make sure you check that out (probably easier on a physical copy, but it was still an enjoyable surprise on ebook format). So yeah, action, excitement, great characters, good twists... this was a win!
Bottom Line: While it started out a little iffy, I ended up very much enjoying Ocean's Gadori, and look forward to the sequel!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
April 22, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the review copy!
Ocean’s Godori takes place in a future world where South Korea is a dominating power with its Alliance (space exploration and military type of power) at the forefront. Ocean Yoon, one of the Alliances best pilots is spending her career on a low-class ship doing small jobs and mostly staying out of trouble until a longtime friend is in need of her help.
The simplified version of the plot is that Teo Anand playboy heir to the Anand Empire is framed for murder, and his good friend Ocean, steps up to the plate to help him out. The complicated version involves politics, eco-terrorists, and some crazy face-stealing tech!
On the whole, the plot sounds rather light when you write it out like that. And in some ways, it is because Ocean’s Godori seems more like of jumping off place to begin a series, than it feels like a complete story.
Which was fine (depending on your expectations) because while the main plot progresses and ends on a bit of a cliffie, it was the relationships building throughout that kept it interesting and had me quickly flipping the pages.
So, if you’re looking for sci-fi action- you’re going to get a little of that but it’s the relationships that are the driving force of this tale.
***
The cast are likeable and varied and I liked that they could be as selfish at times, as they could be generous.
Most of the events revolve around three key players (Ocean, Haven and Teo) with the rest moving in and out of focus as needed. Later we have a few new faces added, that will likely be key in the next book and add some fun dynamics.
It did take me a few chapters to settle in due to the largish cast and the setting-things-up, but it all gets a lot easier as the focus narrows to the crew of the Ohneul and we get to know everyone and the world they live in a little better.
While I was expecting this to be more sci-fi/pulpy leaning, I ended up being pleasantly surprised that there was a little more to it then just shoot ‘em up action. (That title gave me the idea this was going to be a heist story- probably word association on my part because of Ocean’s in the title, and knowing Godori is a strategic card game.)
I really enjoyed the relationships building between the characters- the bonding over family expectations, food, and even their losses and raw grief. I especially appreciate when an author can produce choke-you-up moments of grief, over characters we haven’t even had a chance to get to know outside of the people speaking about them.
Ocean’s Godorihas a strong relationship story at is core but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in action.
There were plenty of exciting action sequences, some very cool fights; especially the face-off with the baddies- I loved that moment of slow-motion focus feeling to that fight!
The end sequence goes from 0 to 60 in a heartbeat and when Ocean finally gets to show us her stuff- I was ready for her to bring it on!
Other notes-
- If you’re a Korean drama fan you’re going to enjoy this one! Ocean’s Godori is like a book version of a k-drama! It has a lot of those tropes you’ll find in dramas- the chaebol’s family conglomerates doing wrong things, strong women, strong friendships etc. it’s just a lot of fun in that regard!
-The cover is fabulous! Sci-fi pulpy but the style/colouring/cherry blossoms reminding me of a muted version of the backs of the godori cards (which I have only ever seen in drama’s so ymmv but I am assuming it was intentional considering the title.)
-There were a ton of little tidbits of South Korean culture, that my numerous years of drama/movie watching allowed me to enjoy on my own. But if you’re unfamiliar with the terms etc. there is a handy dandy (and quite funny) glossary at the back.
Ocean’s Godori takes place in a future world where South Korea is a dominating power with its Alliance (space exploration and military type of power) at the forefront. Ocean Yoon, one of the Alliances best pilots is spending her career on a low-class ship doing small jobs and mostly staying out of trouble until a longtime friend is in need of her help.
The simplified version of the plot is that Teo Anand playboy heir to the Anand Empire is framed for murder, and his good friend Ocean, steps up to the plate to help him out. The complicated version involves politics, eco-terrorists, and some crazy face-stealing tech!
On the whole, the plot sounds rather light when you write it out like that. And in some ways, it is because Ocean’s Godori seems more like of jumping off place to begin a series, than it feels like a complete story.
Which was fine (depending on your expectations) because while the main plot progresses and ends on a bit of a cliffie, it was the relationships building throughout that kept it interesting and had me quickly flipping the pages.
So, if you’re looking for sci-fi action- you’re going to get a little of that but it’s the relationships that are the driving force of this tale.
***
The cast are likeable and varied and I liked that they could be as selfish at times, as they could be generous.
Most of the events revolve around three key players (Ocean, Haven and Teo) with the rest moving in and out of focus as needed. Later we have a few new faces added, that will likely be key in the next book and add some fun dynamics.
It did take me a few chapters to settle in due to the largish cast and the setting-things-up, but it all gets a lot easier as the focus narrows to the crew of the Ohneul and we get to know everyone and the world they live in a little better.
While I was expecting this to be more sci-fi/pulpy leaning, I ended up being pleasantly surprised that there was a little more to it then just shoot ‘em up action. (That title gave me the idea this was going to be a heist story- probably word association on my part because of Ocean’s in the title, and knowing Godori is a strategic card game.)
I really enjoyed the relationships building between the characters- the bonding over family expectations, food, and even their losses and raw grief. I especially appreciate when an author can produce choke-you-up moments of grief, over characters we haven’t even had a chance to get to know outside of the people speaking about them.
Ocean’s Godorihas a strong relationship story at is core but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in action.
There were plenty of exciting action sequences, some very cool fights; especially the face-off with the baddies- I loved that moment of slow-motion focus feeling to that fight!
The end sequence goes from 0 to 60 in a heartbeat and when Ocean finally gets to show us her stuff- I was ready for her to bring it on!
Other notes-
- If you’re a Korean drama fan you’re going to enjoy this one! Ocean’s Godori is like a book version of a k-drama! It has a lot of those tropes you’ll find in dramas- the chaebol’s family conglomerates doing wrong things, strong women, strong friendships etc. it’s just a lot of fun in that regard!
-The cover is fabulous! Sci-fi pulpy but the style/colouring/cherry blossoms reminding me of a muted version of the backs of the godori cards (which I have only ever seen in drama’s so ymmv but I am assuming it was intentional considering the title.)
-There were a ton of little tidbits of South Korean culture, that my numerous years of drama/movie watching allowed me to enjoy on my own. But if you’re unfamiliar with the terms etc. there is a handy dandy (and quite funny) glossary at the back.
Read
July 4, 2024Buddy read with Cami!
OK, I have to ask: WHAT happened with that ending??? It was like the book should have had another 50 pages or so, but instead the crew land on a particular planet (which shall remain nameless because of spoilers) and the book just ENDS? There was no resolution for Tao's family, no conclusion to the budding romance, and no hint of what would happen next?? I am BAFFLED.
Because apart from the ending, this was SUCH a good book. The intricacies of the plot were exquisite and the way all the different elements were woven together was smart. The writing was fantastic and the characters were so interesting. This author clearly knows how to tell a good story, which is why I was so confused when the novel just ENDED several chapters before it should have done. There were a multitude of things left unresolved and so many questions that went unanswered.
And nobody is more disappointed than me because this was going to be a 4.5 star read right up until that final chapter. I just don't understand what happened? It's like if I knitted you a jumper and then gave it to you to wear, but it's MISSING A FULL SLEEVE. The rest of the jumper is lovely but THERE'S ONLY ONE SLEEVE. Anyway, I need the rest of this story, who do I have to beg?
OK, I have to ask: WHAT happened with that ending??? It was like the book should have had another 50 pages or so, but instead the crew land on a particular planet (which shall remain nameless because of spoilers) and the book just ENDS? There was no resolution for Tao's family, no conclusion to the budding romance, and no hint of what would happen next?? I am BAFFLED.
Because apart from the ending, this was SUCH a good book. The intricacies of the plot were exquisite and the way all the different elements were woven together was smart. The writing was fantastic and the characters were so interesting. This author clearly knows how to tell a good story, which is why I was so confused when the novel just ENDED several chapters before it should have done. There were a multitude of things left unresolved and so many questions that went unanswered.
And nobody is more disappointed than me because this was going to be a 4.5 star read right up until that final chapter. I just don't understand what happened? It's like if I knitted you a jumper and then gave it to you to wear, but it's MISSING A FULL SLEEVE. The rest of the jumper is lovely but THERE'S ONLY ONE SLEEVE. Anyway, I need the rest of this story, who do I have to beg?
December 17, 2025
Ocean is a spaceship pilot with a stain on her past record, in a future in which humans have colonized our the solar system and where Korea has reunified and become the dominate space power. Ocean's record means she is currently working on a 'class 4' (aka bad) ship under a selfish captain who has made some frankly illegal sounding choices, such as selling all but one of the ship's spacesuits for cash. This space system is also plagued by space raiders, and their attacks provide the only action of the story. I really wanted to like this book, as it has many elements I usually love (space drama, crew as found family, characters with a rough past) but unfortunately this book really never came together for me. Neither Ocean nor any of the other lead characters have strong motivations or bigger goals for their lives beyond just surviving day to day. They are constantly reacting things that happen to them, but never initiating their own plans or actions. This makes characters who are described as dynamic come off as very passive. I kept waiting for the engine of this story to kick in and it just never did- and it's the first book of a series so at the end almost nothing was resolved either. I was frustrated by what felt like the wasted potential of this story!
May 10, 2024
3.5/5
This was a lot of fun! A well balanced sci-fi romp with great characters and engaging conflict. My rating would be a lot higher if it wasn't for the last... chapter-ish? The book ends with a completely unsatisfactory lack of resolution - so abruptly I would have assumed I had a defective copy if I wasn't listening to a library audiobook. Weird. I'm trying to not let that taint my enjoyment of the whole book though because overall it was quite enjoyable.
This was a lot of fun! A well balanced sci-fi romp with great characters and engaging conflict. My rating would be a lot higher if it wasn't for the last... chapter-ish? The book ends with a completely unsatisfactory lack of resolution - so abruptly I would have assumed I had a defective copy if I wasn't listening to a library audiobook. Weird. I'm trying to not let that taint my enjoyment of the whole book though because overall it was quite enjoyable.
July 15, 2024
I did not hate this book, and overall had a fun time, but just constantly felt like I was unsure of the vibes and where we were going. The beginning was annoying tbh. For all the time it took to build the world slowly in the first half, I was still left with a lot of questions. And for all the fast-paced action toward the end, I was left with “oh ok so that happened.” It feels like it just narrowly missed the mark on some levels.
But I will say there was some interesting themes around grief and found family that will stick with me, and the characters were hard not to love (although there were so many it was hard to keep track at times and wayyy too many names!!) I love a good space mess around and it also threw in some romances to keep things a little interesting!
But I will say there was some interesting themes around grief and found family that will stick with me, and the characters were hard not to love (although there were so many it was hard to keep track at times and wayyy too many names!!) I love a good space mess around and it also threw in some romances to keep things a little interesting!
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