The Book of the Month:
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea,
April of 2026 was the month that consist a retelling of a traditional folklore story. Usually YA books are not my usual pickings. But in the month of April I found myself wanting whimsical and playful. April by far is one of the most intense months which every college student understand. I wanted some easy and playful. A little magical world I could escape too.
“The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea” by Axie OH was on my TBR forevvvver. It wasn’t til one of my best friends, Lindsey, had picked up the book and told me “yeah you would love this book”. As soon as she said that I placed my hold and skipped my way to the library. Okay maybe not skip, but there was pep to my step. In the journey of something finding the whimsical this definitely matched that.
A little about the author before we get in the review. Axie Oh is a New York Times bestselling author. Her books are as followed The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, XOXO, The Floating World duology, and the Rebel Soul Series. She has gotten her MFA (Masters in the Fine Arts) at the Lesley University. If you would like to learn more about her, or see any upcoming events/books, you can check out her website below.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is the retelling of a traditional Korean folklore story about the Sea God’s Bride. Don’t worry no spoilers here, this is a summary of preface without giving anything away. The village had been suffering for generations as deadly storms keep plaguing the land. This is the Sea God’s wrath. Every year they select and sacrifice a new bride to appease this Sea God, so their village may survive. On the 100th year a new bride is to be sacrificed, this was the most beautiful girl in the village, Shim-Cheong. One the night she’s supposed to be offer to the Sea God, her beloved Joon goes with her. This is not allowed and disobeys rules that are never mean to be broken, and that could possibly cost his life. This story follows a girl name Mina, and Joon is her brother. With the love for her brother and for her village she instead offers herself as Sea God’s Bride to spare Shim-Cheong and Joon lives. Her sacrifice is accepted and she’s thrown into the Spirit Realm, borrow on limited time, she finds the Sea God in a deep slumber. In a race against the clock and forces who will do anything to see her fail. She has to figure out to wake the Sea God and end the devastating storms, for balance to be restored, and to save her people.
When I tell you I was pulled in this story, I was more sucked in it right away. I couldn’t get enough of it! The way she painted such a whimsical Spirit Realm I found myself not wanting to leave it. Between the crushing school semester any free time I had my nose was in this book. I thought it was such a great YA! It was the first book of 2026 to be added on my favorites list. I love the historical cultural details in this book. The visuals of characters in hanboks, “carts stacked high with rice cakes and others with salted fish strung by their tails” (The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, pg.55) and of the mouth watering whiff of dumplings in the air. Trust this also made me so hungry because I absolutely love Korean food! I would have to travel at least an hour to go to where the good Korean restaurants are at. There were times it made me hungry and sad while reading this book (in a good way).
When I tell you I was pulled in this story, I was more sucked in it right away. I couldn’t get enough of it! The way she painted such a whimsical Spirit Realm I found myself not wanting to leave it. Between the crushing school semester any free time I had my nose was in this book. I thought it was such a great YA! It was the first book of 2026 to be added on my favorites list. I love the historical cultural details in this book. The visuals of characters in hanboks, “carts stacked high with rice cakes and others with salted fish strung by their tails” (The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, pg.55) and of the mouth watering whiff of dumplings in the air. Trust this also made me so hungry because I absolutely love Korean food! I would have to travel at least an hour to go to where the good Korean restaurants are at. There were times it made me hungry and sad while reading this book (in a good way).
Here is my official review that I did on Bookworms
“This book was so sweet and wholesome in the time I needed it the most. I love how this retelling of this Korean folktale honors so much the strength of the storytellers. And honoring the matriarch side of the family through generations of said storytellers. In this world, being in the Spirit Realm, was so dreamy and lifelike that I could lost in it forever. This story was truly captivating and Mina is such an inspiration for always doing what was right. By the guide of her love for herself and for her family.”
And I stand by what I said. The honoring of the matriarch side of the family and the strength of storytelling was incredibly heartwarming and powerful. Mina was equipped with the power of storytelling and she showed such strength in emotional vulnerability, I was in awe of her character. This was a personal lesson I taught myself awhile ago. Where I felt my sensitivity or being “emotional” was a sign of weakness, when it’s actually a strength. It takes bravery and courage to be emotionally vulnerable, open, and honest. This is where I felt like Mina is a character that represents that. She’s strong, brave, honest, and always wants to do the right thing. Even if that means that it might be at a disadvantage of herself.
All that to say, I highly recommend this book! And I will be reading more from Axie Oh.
Thank you for stopping by
~Galilea
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