Review: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
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*Thank you to Netgalley and to Hodder and Stoughton for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Blurb:
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 people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.
Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.
Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.
But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…
My Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, but when I say I LOVED this book...
I had high expectations for THE GIRL WHO FELL BENEATH THE SEA because I had heard some pretty good things. But it absolutely lived up to my expectations!
Mina was such a loveable character (as was Shin) and the world was spectacular and beautifully written, but I think what I loved most about this book were all the little anecdotes and stories that were told along the way. We learnt a lot about Mina's past and childhood in such an intriguing and unique way, and I adored the way she kept inventing other stories to tell others, as the plot went along. I just thought it was adorable.
I also loved each and every one of the side characters, which I have to say is unusual for me. I actually did cry when this book was finished, because I missed the characters. I loved her grandmother, but I also loved Mask and Dai and I genuinely do miss them all. I need more from Axie Oh because I think she has become one of my favourite authors!
If you love:
the arranged marriage trope
the enemies to lovers trope
dragons
magic/magical creatures
mythology
You will love this book!!