The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Axie Oh

Feb 2022 · Sold by Feiwel & Friends

About this ebook

A New York Times Bestseller!

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 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...

Praise for The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea:

An ABA Indie Bestseller

"On every page I found something marvelous and new, and I was eager to keep reading because I wanted to further explore this wondrous new world." —The New York Times

"A beautiful, mesmerizing retelling I wish I’d had when I was growing up. ... A heartfelt tale that I will be recommending for years to come." —Elizabeth Lim, New York Times-bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes

"A clever, creative, and exquisitely written tale of sacrifice, love, and fate." —Stephanie Garber, New York Times-bestselling author of Caraval

Ratings and reviews

Dit boek heeft ervoor gezorgd dat ik veel zakdoekjes nodig had tijdens het lezen. De schrijfstijl is gemakkelijk om te lezen en erg vermakelijk. Ik heb ook erg gelachen om de karakters en voelde me soms erg gefrustreerd met sommige karakters. Maar ik voelde met name veel empathie. Ik heb erg genoten om dit boek te lezen en had het dan ook binnen twee dagen uit. Ook vond ik het echt leuk om alle hints aan elkaar plakken om zo dichter bij de conclusie te komen. Zeker een aanrader als je van een mix van fantasy houdt met mythologie en folklore verhalen.

I highly recommend this book to YA romantic fantasy fanatics and myth and legends buffs. Its colorfully depicted world-building and dynamic characters will surely entice and charm readers. The plot is simple, yet the characters and their added conflicts and personalities make the story glow and shine. The twists and turns left hidden until the very end are what will get readers hooked. Though it may feel short, the epic ending was executed perfectly, given all of Mina's risks and sacrifices.

I really loved this book! Great heroine who knows what she wants and who is able to get back up after setbacks with help from her family and friends. Didn't expect the twist in the end but it all made sense. Excited for more books from the author.

About the author

Axie Oh is a first-generation Korean American, born in New York City and raised in New Jersey. She studied Korean history and creative writing as an undergrad at the University of California San Diego and holds an MFA in Writing for Young People from Lesley University. Her passions include K-pop, anime, stationery supplies, and milk tea, and she currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her dog, Toro (named after Totoro). She is the author of multiple books for teens, including XOXO and the New York Times bestseller The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea.