BOOKS | Review: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

Name: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Author: Axie Oh 

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Date published: February 2022

Genre: Fiction, young adult, romance, fantasy, mythology, retellings

Pages: 325

Rating: 5/5

 

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... 

- From Goodreads. 

This was such a lovely and immersive story, it really felt like being dropped right into a myth. I can see why people have compared this to Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away, not just because of the plot, but I think it also feels reminiscent of the way Studio Ghibli movies really sweep you away into a magical world with characters full of real depth and emotion.

The storyline was very compelling and I was always wondering how it would resolve in the end, I did have an idea of the answer to the mystery, but I wasn't sure how it would be revealed, and I think the reveal was executed in a satisfying way.

I really liked how the story explored the themes it included, how important family was and what people will do for those they love, but also what destiny and fate can really mean to you, and how important it can be to make your own choices and choose your own path. 

The romance was very sweet and I loved how, as Shin came to trust Mina, he never stood in her way and always let her make her own decisions, it was lovely how devoted he was and how much he believed in her.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this if you enjoy myth retellings with loveable characters and sweet romance, and if you love stories like Spirited Away. 

BOOKS | Review: A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Name: A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping 

Author: Sangu Mandanna

Publisher: Hodderscape

Date published: July 2025

Genre: Fiction, adult, fantasy, romance, cosy, witches 

Pages: 340

Rating: 5/5

Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps her aunt run an enchanted inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep said talking fox in check, and longs for the future that seems lost to her. But then she finds out about an old spell that could hold the key to restoring her power...
Enter Luke Larsen, handsome and icy magical historian, who arrives on a dark winter evening and might just know how to unlock the spell’s secrets. Luke has absolutely no interest in getting involved in the madcap goings-on of the inn and is definitely not about to let a certain bewitching innkeeper past his walls, so no one is more surprised than he is when he agrees to help Sera with her spell. Worse, he might actually be thawing.
Running an inn, reclaiming lost magic, and staying one step ahead of the watchful Guild is a lot for anyone, but Sera Swan is about to discover that she doesn’t have to do it alone... and that the weird, wonderful family she’s made might be the best magic of all.

- From Goodreads. 

This was truly such a wonderful story, so comforting and with lovely meaning. Despite it being of course fantastical and delightfully magical, it still felt very real and relatable, and had me feeling quite emotional in some moments.

Luke and Sera were such loveable characters, the fact that they had both had such difficult pasts but both ended up finding family and a sense of belonging at the inn was so heartwarming. 

The setting of the inn was so charming and very creative and fun, all the characters that lived there and all the quirks of the place really made for some entertaining moments in the story.

I definitely recommend this if you enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, it has the same wholesome feeling, brilliant humour, characters you just have to care about, and a well-done and thoughtful message.