Literary in the City

RATING: 5/5

“Nothing extraordinary is ever done out of reason or logic, but because it’s the only way for your soul to breathe.”

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Axie Oh, I think I’m in love with you.

Listen, I’m not the biggest fantasy fiction fan. Usually, I’m trudging through the world-building or flat-out failing to understand the plot. This book was nothing like that. 

This novel is just…beautiful. Not only did it demolish all my pre-conceived notions about fantasy novels, but it also managed to become one of my favorite books ever. 

Based on the traditional Korean fairytale, “The Tale of Shim Cheong”, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea follows a young girl, Mina, who jumps into the sea in order to save her village from the storms of the Sea God. As she makes her way through a mystical underwater world, she finds out that the legendary Sea God is in a deep, deep slumber. On a mission to awake him and end the storms once and for all, Mina finds adventure, friendship, and romance along the way. 

First off, the writing in this book is stunning: I was practically frothing at the mouth reading it. Axie Oh has a real talent for intricate detail, but I was never bored with the description (and I get bored with it really easily). It’s like I was in Goldilocks and The Three Bears: there was both plot to keep me engaged and description to keep me grounded in this new, magical world. It was just right!

Second, the characters in this book absolutely stole my heart. Our main character, Mina, is strong, brave, and loyal. She would do anything for those she cares about, but she also learns to respect her own needs and emotions. We also have a host of side characters (Mask, Dai, Miki, Kirin, and Namgi) who add humor and love to this novel. My absolute number one character, however, was the MMC: Shin. Shin is gentle and sweet, but also unsure and lonely. It was so easy to empathize with and root for him because he was so well-written. Watching him grow as a character over the course of the novel was wonderful.

Each character felt so fleshed out and unique. Yet together, they created beautiful friendships and, dare I say it, a found family. The found family in this book is so heart-warming. It also made me want to sob into a pillow asking, “Is something this beautiful truly possible in real life?” That’s just one of the side-effects of the found family trope, though.

At the core, this is a beautiful story about fate, love, and life. It’s about the paths we choose to take versus the paths we choose to make. It’s a book that will resonate with those grappling with their future and for those wishing for a little bit of magic in their lives. 

So, if you haven’t read this book yet, SPRINT to your nearest library, bookstore, or e-reader. And then go shower Axie Oh with some love on her website or with a lovely review because of how happy this book made you feel.

If you’ve already read the book, comment down below! I’m always curious about your thoughts. ❤

XOXO,

H.