The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

 

Pages: 336 

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton

Released: 22nd of February 2022 

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… 

What I Have to Say 

A book absolutely steeped in Korean mythology, this book read like the best of fairy tales. There are people who compare it to a Gibli film and they are absolutely right, from the main character being transported to another word, to the strange spirits helping her along, it reads just like a Gibli movie brought to the page. 

I haven't read the original mythology, but I'd really like to. I've always been interested in Asian mythology, though I haven't read much about the Korean ones, but this awoke a desire in me to learn more. I'd like to see the original tale and see how it has been changed and adapted to create this book. 

I absolutely adored the main character, Mina. She was strong, stubborn and wilful with ideas about sacrifice and not looking the other way which anyone should admire. She was definitely the just and true heroine of this beautiful fairy tale. 

This is definitely a book for the fairy tale or mythology fans, the Gibli fans and just about anyone who enjoys a good story. 

My thanks go to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review.