Science Fiction & Fantasy
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The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
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
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
Editorial Reviews
Praise for The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea:
A New York Times Bestseller
An ABA Indie Bestseller
"An empowering fantasy story about defining your own fate. ... Upon seeing the Sea God's city, Mina thinks, 'I've never seen anything more beautiful. I've never seen anything more terrifying.' I had the same thought while reading. 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 true jewel of a story that shines in the world of fantasy. Axie Oh effortlessly brings legends to life in the pages of this lush, powerful retelling of the Korean folktale of Shim Cheong that will sweep readers off their feet and transport them to an unforgettable, whimsical world filled with characters they'll be yearning to revisit for years to come. This beautifully woven tale brimming with heart, spirit, and love is a dream you'll never want to end." ―Janella Angeles, bestselling author of Where Dreams Descend
"Lyrical prose, incredible world building, and a heroine worth rooting for―this story is everything and then some. A stunning feat of storytelling and an un-put-downable read. ... Absolutely exquisite!" ―Kalynn Bayron, bestselling author of Cinderella Is Dead and This Poison Heart
"Get ready to be swept into a world of gods, spirits, surprising twists, and mingled destinies. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a breathtaking cinematic fairy tale with a courageous heroine at its heart." ―Traci Chee, New York Times-bestselling author of The Reader and We Are Not Free
"A clever, creative, and exquisitely written tale of sacrifice, love, and fate. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is one part breathless adventure, one part fantasy romance, and entirely enchanting." ―Stephanie Garber, New York Times-bestselling author of Caraval
"A tale brimming with love. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea will whisk you away on an entrancing journey through the most magical realm. Axie Oh's characters own my whole heart." ―Chloe Gong, New York Times-bestselling author of These Violent Delights
"A beautiful, mesmerizing retelling I wish I'd had when I was growing up. Axie Oh seamlessly weaves Korean mythology with her own voice, and gifts the reader with a heartfelt tale that I will be recommending for years to come." ―Elizabeth Lim, New York Times-bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes
"Based on a classic Korean folktale, this enchanting novel brings a realm of gods, spirits, demons and dragons to rich lif...
A New York Times Bestseller
An ABA Indie Bestseller
"An empowering fantasy story about defining your own fate. ... Upon seeing the Sea God's city, Mina thinks, 'I've never seen anything more beautiful. I've never seen anything more terrifying.' I had the same thought while reading. 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 true jewel of a story that shines in the world of fantasy. Axie Oh effortlessly brings legends to life in the pages of this lush, powerful retelling of the Korean folktale of Shim Cheong that will sweep readers off their feet and transport them to an unforgettable, whimsical world filled with characters they'll be yearning to revisit for years to come. This beautifully woven tale brimming with heart, spirit, and love is a dream you'll never want to end." ―Janella Angeles, bestselling author of Where Dreams Descend
"Lyrical prose, incredible world building, and a heroine worth rooting for―this story is everything and then some. A stunning feat of storytelling and an un-put-downable read. ... Absolutely exquisite!" ―Kalynn Bayron, bestselling author of Cinderella Is Dead and This Poison Heart
"Get ready to be swept into a world of gods, spirits, surprising twists, and mingled destinies. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a breathtaking cinematic fairy tale with a courageous heroine at its heart." ―Traci Chee, New York Times-bestselling author of The Reader and We Are Not Free
"A clever, creative, and exquisitely written tale of sacrifice, love, and fate. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is one part breathless adventure, one part fantasy romance, and entirely enchanting." ―Stephanie Garber, New York Times-bestselling author of Caraval
"A tale brimming with love. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea will whisk you away on an entrancing journey through the most magical realm. Axie Oh's characters own my whole heart." ―Chloe Gong, New York Times-bestselling author of These Violent Delights
"A beautiful, mesmerizing retelling I wish I'd had when I was growing up. Axie Oh seamlessly weaves Korean mythology with her own voice, and gifts the reader with a heartfelt tale that I will be recommending for years to come." ―Elizabeth Lim, New York Times-bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes
"Based on a classic Korean folktale, this enchanting novel brings a realm of gods, spirits, demons and dragons to rich lif...
Readers Top Reviews
Samantha KnappMar
Such a rich and vivid tale! I enjoyed every character in the story from start to finish. A story about stories and being brave of heart. Loved it!!
H. TranSamantha K
This book took me on a magical journey and absolutely stole my heart. Definitely going to be one of my all time favorites and a story I'll long to revisit time and time again! Looking forward to more wonderful work from Ms. Oh!
Hazel Demasu-ayH.
Remarkable story! Truly beautiful and wonderful! This story is the second book I’ve read that I love this year. Awesome!
RainHazel Demasu-
This is such a gorgeous story that I couldn't put it down. I was drawn in by strong characters and a luscious, beautifully described world, fantastic and otherworldly. If you like myths, you will love this book. If you like stories like Gaiman's Neverwhere or The Graveyard Book, then you will love this book. If you like Miyazaki films, like Spirited Away, you will love this book. Highly recommended!
Alison F BirdRain
I picked up this book because I follow the cover artist on Instagram and thus had no idea what it was about. I was completely delighted with the story. I agree with the other reviews: if you like Studio Ghibli's 'Spirited Away', you'll probably enjoy this book. There are definitely strong parallels between the two main characters and the challenges they face in both stories, but enough differences to make it worth the read. I did particularly enjoy the stories within the story that Mina recounts from her family. Those lyrical passages were especially soothing. In addition to being exactly the type of story I was looking for, the book itself was perfect for reading with one hand so I could read while I cooked/walked around the house. Lightweight, easy to flip pages, and not too big or too small to fit in the palm of my hand. If you like Studio Ghibli heroines or fantasy shojo stories, I recommend checking out this book.
