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.
No comments:
Post a Comment