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The Floating World #1
The Floating World
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Sci-Fi (2025)From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.
Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.
Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.
Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn't realize she's the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined...
Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.
Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.
Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn't realize she's the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined...
360 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2025
1048 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,258 reviews
August 2, 2025
i think this book could have benefited from being a tad bit longer but, what is provided is pretty dang good.
this has all of the tried and true tropes that make YA fantasy so popular:
- a unique land and supernatural beings based on mythology
- nations at war due to betrayal
- a ragtag team of teenagers, some with magical abilities
- and, of course, romance
so i think this story, at its heart, it pretty sound. but even with some great content, the narrative itself never quite manages to get past the surface level of the story. and i think its due to the shorter length. if this had another 50-100 pages, the world-building could have been more cohesive and better explored, creating more depth to the story.
but, all in all, this is still entertaining enough to keep me interested in continuing the series!
↠ 3.5 stars
this has all of the tried and true tropes that make YA fantasy so popular:
- a unique land and supernatural beings based on mythology
- nations at war due to betrayal
- a ragtag team of teenagers, some with magical abilities
- and, of course, romance
so i think this story, at its heart, it pretty sound. but even with some great content, the narrative itself never quite manages to get past the surface level of the story. and i think its due to the shorter length. if this had another 50-100 pages, the world-building could have been more cohesive and better explored, creating more depth to the story.
but, all in all, this is still entertaining enough to keep me interested in continuing the series!
↠ 3.5 stars
May 9, 2025
The Floating World is Final Fantasy meets reimagined celestial maiden Korean folklore, with a generous dash of RPG storytelling and it starts out with a bang. A claws-out, people-dying, secret-magic-to-fight-demonic-creature kind of bang.
The Ghibliesque-adjacent worldbuilding is lush and strange with murderous mercenary train journeys, a pitch-black Under World filled with poisonous blue clouds and toxic mines, and a world quite literally floating above it all. It's all beautifully rendered, but never overindulgent. The stakes hit fast and hard and the emotional undercurrent is real. There’s blood, grief, memory loss, scientific experimentation and family, real and found, but it never felt like too much was going on.
What I didn’t expect was how tender the heart of this story would be. Beneath the sword fights and yearning is a story about trauma: inherited, inflicted, survived. What it means to be soft without being weak. And about reclamation of identity and memory.
It didn’t hit instantly for me. Probably due to me taking a while to connect with FMC, Ren, who felt too naive for her age, plus the third-person narration, which kept me emotionally distanced for a while. That’s a “me” problem, I know.
Plus, after the banging start, it was a slower burn, with the first half moving like a side quest-heavy RPG, all mood and mystery. To be fair, however, it really builds up to a gripping crescendo.
Once the character work clicked for me, The Floating World soared, with the last third steeped in love, grief and heart-wrenching reveals. It got under my skin. Made me care more than I expected. And that’s what elevated my rating in the end.
I need the sequel. Immediately. Please protect our sadboy,Cloud Strife x Wolverine Sunho at all costs.
Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
It took me a few go's to settle in, but now I'm 20% in and invested by an amnesiac sword-for-hire and a theatre troupe performer with mysterious powers who just killed a demon. Love that for them.
The Ghibliesque-adjacent worldbuilding is lush and strange with murderous mercenary train journeys, a pitch-black Under World filled with poisonous blue clouds and toxic mines, and a world quite literally floating above it all. It's all beautifully rendered, but never overindulgent. The stakes hit fast and hard and the emotional undercurrent is real. There’s blood, grief, memory loss, scientific experimentation and family, real and found, but it never felt like too much was going on.
What I didn’t expect was how tender the heart of this story would be. Beneath the sword fights and yearning is a story about trauma: inherited, inflicted, survived. What it means to be soft without being weak. And about reclamation of identity and memory.
It didn’t hit instantly for me. Probably due to me taking a while to connect with FMC, Ren, who felt too naive for her age, plus the third-person narration, which kept me emotionally distanced for a while. That’s a “me” problem, I know.
Plus, after the banging start, it was a slower burn, with the first half moving like a side quest-heavy RPG, all mood and mystery. To be fair, however, it really builds up to a gripping crescendo.
Once the character work clicked for me, The Floating World soared, with the last third steeped in love, grief and heart-wrenching reveals. It got under my skin. Made me care more than I expected. And that’s what elevated my rating in the end.
I need the sequel. Immediately. Please protect our sadboy,
Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
It took me a few go's to settle in, but now I'm 20% in and invested by an amnesiac sword-for-hire and a theatre troupe performer with mysterious powers who just killed a demon. Love that for them.
December 26, 2025
⤿🔮 26/12/25
rereading this again was the best thing ever ughhh, now I can't wait to see how the sequel ends!🥹🫶🏻
reread on 26/12-4.5 ⭐
1st read 11/05-4.25 ⭐
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷・❥・“𝓗𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓪 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓯 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓵 𝓲𝓽, 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓫𝓾𝓻𝓷 𝓱𝓲𝓶. 𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓮. 𝓗𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓾𝓻𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓻.”・❥・ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
⤿🔮 11/05/25
4.25 stars 💫 Just WOW omg. My first Axie Oh book and this one absolutely ATE?!🤩 The characters, the plot, the world building, everything was sooo perfect!!😌🙌🏻 This book kind of brought me back the nostalgia of watching Castle in the Sky movie, ifykyk. And also can we take a moment to appreciate that studio ghibli style cover?!?! literally obsessed!😍
Read this if you like 💌:
⚔ allies to lovers
⚔ hidden identities
⚔ ex-soldier x troupe performer
⚔ found family
⚔ slow burn
⚔ one bed
⚔ demons
⚔ royal politics
⚔ inspired from korean legend of Celestian Maidens
✨ Let's meet the characters ✨
Ren~ once a princess, a celestian maiden like her mother; now we meet the lively care-free her in the present, after 10 years when she left her empire behind and came to live as troupe perfomer with her adopted family. She's the heir to the Floating World, but everyone believes she has been perished along with her mother during Festival of Light, all those years ago. She's content and happy with her little family now. But as fate might have it, her happiness is only lasted for a little time until one night a demon appears and takes the life of her loved one. She soon realises she has to make a choice- it's to go back to where she came from to protect her little family that was her home. She goes on a journey back home to find a cure and save her little uncle who is in the bring of death because of the demon.
Sunho~ He works as a sword-for-hire by taking up tasks in the underworld. He was an ex-soldier, but he doesn't remember anything up until two years ago except that he has a brother, which frustrates him and that's why he is emotionally closed off and doesn't trust anyone. He soon gets a task, to find the princess and bring her alive inechange for finding his brother.
Ren & Sunho soon cross paths on their journey, saving each other from dangers, but also lying to each other about their true identies. I literally loved how they grow close to each other, the more time they spend with each other. They both let down their walls layer by layer, and let each other in. Their romance was so subtle, but still so realistic in this book. I also loved how because of Ren, Sunho changed his perspectives. He chose to protect her instead of giving her up to the monsters who wanted to kill her. His fierce protectiveness towards her was something I swooned over 😩💓 I can't wait to see how the story unfolds in the sequel, I'm already on my way to request the arc for the next one 🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
Thank you to the Author, Macmillan Publishers, and Netgalley for this beautiful ARC inexchange for an honest review 🥰💞
life update: sorry besties, I couldn't do my updates here for this one as some of you know I had some family emergency the past week to take care of, and had no mood to read. I just binge read this in a day! Anyways I'm back after a week long hiatus and I can't wait to see what you all reading atm, I will catch up soon!🤭
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷・❥・𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀・❥・ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
⤿🔮 25/04/25
my first Axie Oh book, and that too an arc??🤭 lowkey the cover is giving me studio ghibli vibes 😍 I hope it makes me float, let's gooooo 🤸🏻♀️
rereading this again was the best thing ever ughhh, now I can't wait to see how the sequel ends!🥹🫶🏻
reread on 26/12-4.5 ⭐
1st read 11/05-4.25 ⭐
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷・❥・“𝓗𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓪 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓯 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓵 𝓲𝓽, 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓫𝓾𝓻𝓷 𝓱𝓲𝓶. 𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓮. 𝓗𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓾𝓻𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓻.”・❥・ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
⤿🔮 11/05/25
4.25 stars 💫 Just WOW omg. My first Axie Oh book and this one absolutely ATE?!🤩 The characters, the plot, the world building, everything was sooo perfect!!😌🙌🏻 This book kind of brought me back the nostalgia of watching Castle in the Sky movie, ifykyk. And also can we take a moment to appreciate that studio ghibli style cover?!?! literally obsessed!😍
Read this if you like 💌:
⚔ allies to lovers
⚔ hidden identities
⚔ ex-soldier x troupe performer
⚔ found family
⚔ slow burn
⚔ one bed
⚔ demons
⚔ royal politics
⚔ inspired from korean legend of Celestian Maidens
✨ Let's meet the characters ✨
Ren~ once a princess, a celestian maiden like her mother; now we meet the lively care-free her in the present, after 10 years when she left her empire behind and came to live as troupe perfomer with her adopted family. She's the heir to the Floating World, but everyone believes she has been perished along with her mother during Festival of Light, all those years ago. She's content and happy with her little family now. But as fate might have it, her happiness is only lasted for a little time until one night a demon appears and takes the life of her loved one. She soon realises she has to make a choice- it's to go back to where she came from to protect her little family that was her home. She goes on a journey back home to find a cure and save her little uncle who is in the bring of death because of the demon.
Sunho~ He works as a sword-for-hire by taking up tasks in the underworld. He was an ex-soldier, but he doesn't remember anything up until two years ago except that he has a brother, which frustrates him and that's why he is emotionally closed off and doesn't trust anyone. He soon gets a task, to find the princess and bring her alive inechange for finding his brother.
Ren & Sunho soon cross paths on their journey, saving each other from dangers, but also lying to each other about their true identies. I literally loved how they grow close to each other, the more time they spend with each other. They both let down their walls layer by layer, and let each other in. Their romance was so subtle, but still so realistic in this book. I also loved how because of Ren, Sunho changed his perspectives. He chose to protect her instead of giving her up to the monsters who wanted to kill her. His fierce protectiveness towards her was something I swooned over 😩💓 I can't wait to see how the story unfolds in the sequel, I'm already on my way to request the arc for the next one 🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
Thank you to the Author, Macmillan Publishers, and Netgalley for this beautiful ARC inexchange for an honest review 🥰💞
life update: sorry besties, I couldn't do my updates here for this one as some of you know I had some family emergency the past week to take care of, and had no mood to read. I just binge read this in a day! Anyways I'm back after a week long hiatus and I can't wait to see what you all reading atm, I will catch up soon!🤭
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷・❥・𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀・❥・ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
⤿🔮 25/04/25
my first Axie Oh book, and that too an arc??🤭 lowkey the cover is giving me studio ghibli vibes 😍 I hope it makes me float, let's gooooo 🤸🏻♀️
May 28, 2025
4 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for the ARC & Dreamscape Media for the ALC via NetGalley! 💌
Okay, but Axie Oh, you genius, what have you done to me?! This book was a whirlwind of magic, adventure, and emotions, and I was absolutely hooked! A breathtaking blend of celestial magic, Korean mythology, and high-stakes adventure, this YA fantasy will consume your soul. 💘
✨ Let’s talk about the setup! We’ve got Ren, a cheerful acrobat with a hidden power she definitely shouldn’t have used in public (oops). And Sunho, an ex-soldier with a sword, a tragic backstory, and a memory gap big enough to fit an entire war. Their paths collide in the most chef’s kiss way, and suddenly, Ren is being hunted, Sunho is questioning everything, and we’re on a journey across a world so beautifully crafted it could be a Studio Ghibli film. 🎭
🔥 THE GOOD STUFF:
✔ The world-building?!? IMMACULATE. Axie Oh doesn’t dump info on you—she weaves it into the story so seamlessly that you’re just in the world, no confusion, no boredom, just pure ✨ magic ✨.
✔ Ren & Sunho? Absolutely precious. Their bond grows so naturally, and the slow burn romance? I felt it in my bones. Sunho calling her by her name for the first time nearly ended me. 💕
✔ The vibes? Impeccable. Dark underworlds, celestial magic, acrobat performances, sword fights—I was living for it. 🔥
💥 THE TINY NITPICKS:
❗ The last 20% felt a little rushed—I wanted the action scenes to stretch out longer, give me more tension, drama, and heartbreak! I needed that final battle to wreck me, and it almost did.
❗ Some side characters (Jaeil, I’m looking at you) needed more page time. GIVE ME MORE OF THEM IN BOOK 2, PLEASE.
Final verdict? If you love gorgeous world-building, an addicting plot, soft yet fierce romance, and a touch of mythological magic, The Floating World is your next obsession. Book 2 can’t come soon enough! 💫
Okay, but Axie Oh, you genius, what have you done to me?! This book was a whirlwind of magic, adventure, and emotions, and I was absolutely hooked! A breathtaking blend of celestial magic, Korean mythology, and high-stakes adventure, this YA fantasy will consume your soul. 💘
✨ Let’s talk about the setup! We’ve got Ren, a cheerful acrobat with a hidden power she definitely shouldn’t have used in public (oops). And Sunho, an ex-soldier with a sword, a tragic backstory, and a memory gap big enough to fit an entire war. Their paths collide in the most chef’s kiss way, and suddenly, Ren is being hunted, Sunho is questioning everything, and we’re on a journey across a world so beautifully crafted it could be a Studio Ghibli film. 🎭
🔥 THE GOOD STUFF:
✔ The world-building?!? IMMACULATE. Axie Oh doesn’t dump info on you—she weaves it into the story so seamlessly that you’re just in the world, no confusion, no boredom, just pure ✨ magic ✨.
✔ Ren & Sunho? Absolutely precious. Their bond grows so naturally, and the slow burn romance? I felt it in my bones. Sunho calling her by her name for the first time nearly ended me. 💕
✔ The vibes? Impeccable. Dark underworlds, celestial magic, acrobat performances, sword fights—I was living for it. 🔥
💥 THE TINY NITPICKS:
❗ The last 20% felt a little rushed—I wanted the action scenes to stretch out longer, give me more tension, drama, and heartbreak! I needed that final battle to wreck me, and it almost did.
❗ Some side characters (Jaeil, I’m looking at you) needed more page time. GIVE ME MORE OF THEM IN BOOK 2, PLEASE.
Final verdict? If you love gorgeous world-building, an addicting plot, soft yet fierce romance, and a touch of mythological magic, The Floating World is your next obsession. Book 2 can’t come soon enough! 💫
July 20, 2025
✩ 2.45 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Found Family
➼ Hidden Identities
➼ Final Fantasy/Ghibli Vibes
➼ Celestial Maiden Retelling
➼ Narrated by Eden Jun
➼ Third Person POV
My villain origin story is that Axie Oh wrote this entire book in first person and then REWROTE the whole thing in third person POV. 😵💫 Girl why?! This is 100% a book I think I could have loved if it were written in first person POV, but it was SO boring in third. It had an exciting start but from there the plot development was incredibly slow to the point where this read like a cozy fantasy even though it wasn’t one. I felt like all of the characters would have been really likable and impactful if I could have connected to any of them, but they all felt so distant in third person. At about 50% in, I was convinced this was about to get good because it felt like the romance was about to take off, but it really never did. I’m so sad I didn’t love this one more especially considering how beautiful my Fairyloot copy is. Oh well though, on to the next book.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Friends, I’ve had a migraine for 3 days. 😩 How am I supposed to write reviews in this condition? 😢
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
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What to Expect:
➼ Found Family
➼ Hidden Identities
➼ Final Fantasy/Ghibli Vibes
➼ Celestial Maiden Retelling
➼ Narrated by Eden Jun
➼ Third Person POV
My villain origin story is that Axie Oh wrote this entire book in first person and then REWROTE the whole thing in third person POV. 😵💫 Girl why?! This is 100% a book I think I could have loved if it were written in first person POV, but it was SO boring in third. It had an exciting start but from there the plot development was incredibly slow to the point where this read like a cozy fantasy even though it wasn’t one. I felt like all of the characters would have been really likable and impactful if I could have connected to any of them, but they all felt so distant in third person. At about 50% in, I was convinced this was about to get good because it felt like the romance was about to take off, but it really never did. I’m so sad I didn’t love this one more especially considering how beautiful my Fairyloot copy is. Oh well though, on to the next book.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Friends, I’ve had a migraine for 3 days. 😩 How am I supposed to write reviews in this condition? 😢
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
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April 3, 2025This YA romantasy reimagines the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens. A soldier who lives in perpetual darkness, waiting to find the one who brings light, crosses paths with an acrobat looking to find a cure for her dying uncle. Ren’s uncle was injured in a demon attack, in which Ren killed the monster using powers she didn’t know she had. As she brings her uncle across the mountains in search of help, she meets Sunho, the soldier, who offers to help. But neither know the other’s secret, and as their journey brings them closer together, the truth will have thunderous consequences.
—Liberty Hardy, 11 Awesome New SFF Books Out April 2025
—Liberty Hardy, 11 Awesome New SFF Books Out April 2025
April 21, 2025
“You inspire me with your strength. You inspire me with your goodness. You never give up, even when the odds are against you. I knew you’d achieved the impossible, and it made me believe that I could do the same.”
i don’t have much to say about this, i think it was good for what it was but it didn’t stand out to me. the world building was actually interesting, i just didn’t connect to the characters. Ren and Sunho felt like two people who were just thrown together, they didn’t have much to them and felt surface level. i think the plot played out predictably, especially when it came to Ren. Sunho has this inner darkness that he felt made him a monster, but Ren seen straight through his defenses. i did sympathize with Ren’s determination to save her uncle, i guess i just wanted more depth overall. it ended on a cliffhanger, so i wouldn’t be against reading a sequel.
↣ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
i don’t have much to say about this, i think it was good for what it was but it didn’t stand out to me. the world building was actually interesting, i just didn’t connect to the characters. Ren and Sunho felt like two people who were just thrown together, they didn’t have much to them and felt surface level. i think the plot played out predictably, especially when it came to Ren. Sunho has this inner darkness that he felt made him a monster, but Ren seen straight through his defenses. i did sympathize with Ren’s determination to save her uncle, i guess i just wanted more depth overall. it ended on a cliffhanger, so i wouldn’t be against reading a sequel.
↣ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
April 29, 2025
I HAVEN’T STOPPED THINKING ABOUT THIS BOOK SINCE I FINISHED IT. Truly. My soul? Shattered. My heart? Belongs to Ren and Sunho. My brain? Still screaming into the void about that ENDING.
Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family, bringing joy and wonder to the villages they perform in. But during one of their festival shows, a demon attacks and Ren, in a desperate attempt to protect everyone, unleashes a blast of silver light, a power she’s kept secret since childhood. The creature is defeated but her uncle is gravely injured. This sets Ren to journey beyond the mountains to find a cure…
Along the way she meets Sunho, a mercenary with no memories, just his name and sword. He’s been tasked with tracking down a girl who wields silver light… not knowing she’s the very one he’s traveling with.
I fell in love with both Ren and Sunho. Their interactions were soft, sweet, and so natural. Watching them slowly open up to one another? It wrecked me. And the umbrella and a red scarf??!!😭 The way they supported each other and protected each other?! UGH, my heart! Must protect them at all costs!
Sunho’s arc? I don’t even have the words. His backstory, the emotional reveals, the heartbreak. The twists and turns with the revelations to his backstory basically put me through a paper shredder.
I was straight up having flashbacks to Cloud and Zack’s parallels "you’ll be.. my living legacy" moment and absolutely sobbing. My Shaylaaaaaassss 💔 (FF7 crisis core ☹️)
I’m a bit feral about that ending. I needed book two like yesterday. But thank the stars I don’t have to wait a full year because The Demon and the Light drops in just a few months. But I need answers like NOW. (catch me banging at the gates like a feral beast lol for any crumbs on book two).
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group (Feiwel & Friends) and @fiercereads for this ARC!
Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family, bringing joy and wonder to the villages they perform in. But during one of their festival shows, a demon attacks and Ren, in a desperate attempt to protect everyone, unleashes a blast of silver light, a power she’s kept secret since childhood. The creature is defeated but her uncle is gravely injured. This sets Ren to journey beyond the mountains to find a cure…
Along the way she meets Sunho, a mercenary with no memories, just his name and sword. He’s been tasked with tracking down a girl who wields silver light… not knowing she’s the very one he’s traveling with.
I fell in love with both Ren and Sunho. Their interactions were soft, sweet, and so natural. Watching them slowly open up to one another? It wrecked me. And the umbrella and a red scarf??!!😭 The way they supported each other and protected each other?! UGH, my heart! Must protect them at all costs!
Sunho’s arc? I don’t even have the words. His backstory, the emotional reveals, the heartbreak. The twists and turns with the revelations to his backstory basically put me through a paper shredder.
I was straight up having flashbacks to Cloud and Zack’s parallels "you’ll be.. my living legacy" moment and absolutely sobbing. My Shaylaaaaaassss 💔 (FF7 crisis core ☹️)
I’m a bit feral about that ending. I needed book two like yesterday. But thank the stars I don’t have to wait a full year because The Demon and the Light drops in just a few months. But I need answers like NOW. (catch me banging at the gates like a feral beast lol for any crumbs on book two).
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group (Feiwel & Friends) and @fiercereads for this ARC!
November 27, 2025
"In the story, the maiden had wings." Her mother's voice carried across the wind and the rain, and Ren felt it, like a thorn piercing her heart. "Where have my wings gone?"
The Floating World was one of the most anticipating reads of this year. I have been waiting for very long to read this book. I was all excited and giddy to meet the characters and explore the wonderful world, genuinely convinced that I will fall in love with everything.
If I said that I ended up being disappointed it would have been an understatement.
Look. I didn't know that this book is YA. I found the premise of it incredibly interesting, and c'mon, the artwork of the cover is stunning, so I didn't think twice before picking it up. I thought that I would have a great time, laughing and crying as the story progressed, but that's not what had happened. At first, I didn't catch anything wrong with it, feeling interested in both Sunho's and stories, anticipating their meeting and their journey to help their beloved ones. But it turned out, the moment I had been waiting for was the moment the story got ruined for me, and everything got worse and worse from there.
The Floating World is a typical YA book where the main characters have their own goals, at first, but then they meet each other, are instantly mesmerized with one another, the male character let's go of his goal for the sake of the female character's goal, bad guy tries to interfere, something goes wrong, the characters realize how much they mean to one another in the most helpless moment, but are suddenly separated and then boom, book one ends (jeez, I wonder what happens in the second one...).
Sunho is the typical 'don't come close to me, because I'm a monster' type of guy who is incredibly handsome and is an excellent swordsman. Ren is the typical beautiful, but troubled sunshine character who everybody either tries to protect or tries to kill (there is no in between). Both have extraordinary powers that they are hiding from the world, and, somehow, only two of them have those powers (because everybody else who ever had similar powers died). As I said, they are mesmerized with each other instantly (despite the fact that Ren wears a mask) and, despite having every reason to not trust one another, they are opening to each other basically on the first day. Sunho is a closed off character, mind you, while Ren is a character who's hunted for her powers - he NEVER had any close relationship with anybody (until he remembers that he had, but that's not the point I'm trying to make here) and she KNOWS that he was sent to capture her, but they both just throw away all their worries and are like 'hey, I know that you're a great person, let's help one another!'.
I hate when something like this happens, because 1) it's completely unnatural and 2) it's not earned in any way. It looked like none of them had any survival instincts, really (which is quite inhuman), because c'mon, how can anybody trust someone after knowing them for 2-3 days? Call me old fashioned if you want, but I like when such important things like trust, loyalty, friendship and love between the characters are built gradually through the story. It needs to be earned, otherwise it has no value and I'm not gonna be emotionally invested in such a relationship.
I'm incredibly upset, because in the beginning, I felt interested in these characters. Sunho had been battling with the fact that he didn't remember anything from two years prior. He had no idea what had happened with his only relative, his older brother named Junho, and it seemed like Sunho had been desperate to find him, which I liked a lot, because I love sibling relationships. And before Sunho met her, Ren and her family had been attacked and she left her safe place to find a poison cure for her beloved uncle. But then those goals stopped being as important as they should be for the sake of the so-called romance. Instead of racing against time to find the cure and the missing brother, we had all the time in the world for romantic scenes and side quests that brought nothing to the story (they were there to irritate me, I swear).
Also, I'm still trying to understand the author's choice to name Ren's adopted family members as Auntie, Big Uncle and Little Uncle. All three weren't much older than Ren so technically they all should be more like siblings to her than an aunt and uncles (Little Uncle is only a year older than Ren and they grew up together, c'mon). What is also very strange to me is the fact that it's not only Ren who's calling them Auntie, Big Uncle and Little Uncle, they also call each other this way. Don't they have real names or did they forget them somehow? It's not explained in any way and that bothered me a lot.
What also upset me was the fact that none of the characters had trauma, despite going through so much in their past. Sunho should have had PTSD, at least, but there is no scene that would show this. I understand that he had been struggling with a memory gap, but that's not an excuse, because he remembered enough of his past to experience trauma. He also killed people for the first time through his journey, but proceeded forward like nothing happened. If you introduce things like this in a story, it should be impactful on the character, but here it isn't. Ren's character depth isn't any better, really. All we saw from her was that she had the tendency to freeze in fear in the moments she certainly shouldn't do so, and that's it. No nightmares, nothing. How was I supposed to feel invested in their characters then? They felt more like puppets being carried by the story than actual people moving the story forward.
Now when it comes to Ren, it baffles me that she never tried to find her mother's body. Like, EVER. She had been saying that she died, but how could she be so sure if she never saw the body?! Also, she had chosen a safe life with her adopted family and didn't care about her mother and her heritage, while all the people she left behind had been struggling under the ruling of General Iljin. I was supposed to feel sorry for her and relate to her need to have a happy and safe life, but I couldn't bring myself to do so, because I knew what awful things her people (like Sunho and Junho) went through because of the absence of the rightful heir.
By the way, her journey was such a baffling thing. Why you might ask? You see:
~ she had NO IDEA where to go and if the cure even exists,
~ she had NO IDEA what the cure looks like and how it's made,
~ she KNEW she had the tendency to freeze in fear, but went on her journey alone regardless,
~ she didn't even try to collect blood from the defeated demons and experiment with it or you try to find some books about demons and demon poison,
~ the meeting with Sunho, the perfect protector material, was like a painfully convenient miracle for her,
~ there was no urgency to find the cure, no worries, no panic attacks of 'what if Little Uncle is already dead?', absolutely nothing.
The villain of this book, General Iljin, is the typical power hungry individual that you can meet basically everywhere else. He rules by a strict hand, picking fights with other countries wherever he wanted to just because he could do so. He hadn't just abused his power as a ruler, he was also abusive in his role as a father. He had been so obsessed with finding the rightful heir of the Floating World, that he completely ignored the issue that he should be really focusing on - the demons that came out of nowhere and started to attack people. He CONSCIOUSLY decided to chase after an innocent teenage girl (and having other teenage girls killed through that chase) who he believed had been a threat to his power, instead of trying to hunt demons and find out what was the deal with them. His son had been more mature than him in this matter. What a shame, really.
The son's character is the only interesting one that came out of this book. Jaeil is the only one who has the right priorities. The moment he found out about the case of multiple mysterious deaths, he jumped right into it, trying to find out what's the cause of them and illiminate the danger. He's also after Ren (who isn't in this book? *sigh*), but not for the same reasons other people are. He could be torn between his past and his duty, but it looked like his duty came first, which I liked a lot. He knew what obligations he had, and acted accordingly. And I liked his relationship with his right-hand woman (his lieutenant? I think?), Sana. They seemed distanced, at first, but you could tell how much they cared for one another. I wish they had been the main characters of the story, but oh well.
The demon case (except for Jaeil and Sana, I guess) is the only interesting thing that has been introduced in this story. I liked the mystery of it. They came literally out of nowhere and started attacking people, and nobody had any idea where they came from and what to do with it. This mystery was carried very well. Everything else, from the start to finish (especially the events that happened near the end) was painfully predictable.
I hope that I will forget that I ever read this book. It's too big of a disappointment to remember it 😔
The Floating World was one of the most anticipating reads of this year. I have been waiting for very long to read this book. I was all excited and giddy to meet the characters and explore the wonderful world, genuinely convinced that I will fall in love with everything.
If I said that I ended up being disappointed it would have been an understatement.
Look. I didn't know that this book is YA. I found the premise of it incredibly interesting, and c'mon, the artwork of the cover is stunning, so I didn't think twice before picking it up. I thought that I would have a great time, laughing and crying as the story progressed, but that's not what had happened. At first, I didn't catch anything wrong with it, feeling interested in both Sunho's and stories, anticipating their meeting and their journey to help their beloved ones. But it turned out, the moment I had been waiting for was the moment the story got ruined for me, and everything got worse and worse from there.
The Floating World is a typical YA book where the main characters have their own goals, at first, but then they meet each other, are instantly mesmerized with one another, the male character let's go of his goal for the sake of the female character's goal, bad guy tries to interfere, something goes wrong, the characters realize how much they mean to one another in the most helpless moment, but are suddenly separated and then boom, book one ends (jeez, I wonder what happens in the second one...).
Sunho is the typical 'don't come close to me, because I'm a monster' type of guy who is incredibly handsome and is an excellent swordsman. Ren is the typical beautiful, but troubled sunshine character who everybody either tries to protect or tries to kill (there is no in between). Both have extraordinary powers that they are hiding from the world, and, somehow, only two of them have those powers (because everybody else who ever had similar powers died). As I said, they are mesmerized with each other instantly (despite the fact that Ren wears a mask) and, despite having every reason to not trust one another, they are opening to each other basically on the first day. Sunho is a closed off character, mind you, while Ren is a character who's hunted for her powers - he NEVER had any close relationship with anybody (until he remembers that he had, but that's not the point I'm trying to make here) and she KNOWS that he was sent to capture her, but they both just throw away all their worries and are like 'hey, I know that you're a great person, let's help one another!'.
I hate when something like this happens, because 1) it's completely unnatural and 2) it's not earned in any way. It looked like none of them had any survival instincts, really (which is quite inhuman), because c'mon, how can anybody trust someone after knowing them for 2-3 days? Call me old fashioned if you want, but I like when such important things like trust, loyalty, friendship and love between the characters are built gradually through the story. It needs to be earned, otherwise it has no value and I'm not gonna be emotionally invested in such a relationship.
I'm incredibly upset, because in the beginning, I felt interested in these characters. Sunho had been battling with the fact that he didn't remember anything from two years prior. He had no idea what had happened with his only relative, his older brother named Junho, and it seemed like Sunho had been desperate to find him, which I liked a lot, because I love sibling relationships. And before Sunho met her, Ren and her family had been attacked and she left her safe place to find a poison cure for her beloved uncle. But then those goals stopped being as important as they should be for the sake of the so-called romance. Instead of racing against time to find the cure and the missing brother, we had all the time in the world for romantic scenes and side quests that brought nothing to the story (they were there to irritate me, I swear).
Also, I'm still trying to understand the author's choice to name Ren's adopted family members as Auntie, Big Uncle and Little Uncle. All three weren't much older than Ren so technically they all should be more like siblings to her than an aunt and uncles (Little Uncle is only a year older than Ren and they grew up together, c'mon). What is also very strange to me is the fact that it's not only Ren who's calling them Auntie, Big Uncle and Little Uncle, they also call each other this way. Don't they have real names or did they forget them somehow? It's not explained in any way and that bothered me a lot.
What also upset me was the fact that none of the characters had trauma, despite going through so much in their past. Sunho should have had PTSD, at least, but there is no scene that would show this. I understand that he had been struggling with a memory gap, but that's not an excuse, because he remembered enough of his past to experience trauma. He also killed people for the first time through his journey, but proceeded forward like nothing happened. If you introduce things like this in a story, it should be impactful on the character, but here it isn't. Ren's character depth isn't any better, really. All we saw from her was that she had the tendency to freeze in fear in the moments she certainly shouldn't do so, and that's it. No nightmares, nothing. How was I supposed to feel invested in their characters then? They felt more like puppets being carried by the story than actual people moving the story forward.
Now when it comes to Ren, it baffles me that she never tried to find her mother's body. Like, EVER. She had been saying that she died, but how could she be so sure if she never saw the body?! Also, she had chosen a safe life with her adopted family and didn't care about her mother and her heritage, while all the people she left behind had been struggling under the ruling of General Iljin. I was supposed to feel sorry for her and relate to her need to have a happy and safe life, but I couldn't bring myself to do so, because I knew what awful things her people (like Sunho and Junho) went through because of the absence of the rightful heir.
By the way, her journey was such a baffling thing. Why you might ask? You see:
~ she had NO IDEA where to go and if the cure even exists,
~ she had NO IDEA what the cure looks like and how it's made,
~ she KNEW she had the tendency to freeze in fear, but went on her journey alone regardless,
~ she didn't even try to collect blood from the defeated demons and experiment with it or you try to find some books about demons and demon poison,
~ the meeting with Sunho, the perfect protector material, was like a painfully convenient miracle for her,
~ there was no urgency to find the cure, no worries, no panic attacks of 'what if Little Uncle is already dead?', absolutely nothing.
The villain of this book, General Iljin, is the typical power hungry individual that you can meet basically everywhere else. He rules by a strict hand, picking fights with other countries wherever he wanted to just because he could do so. He hadn't just abused his power as a ruler, he was also abusive in his role as a father. He had been so obsessed with finding the rightful heir of the Floating World, that he completely ignored the issue that he should be really focusing on - the demons that came out of nowhere and started to attack people. He CONSCIOUSLY decided to chase after an innocent teenage girl (and having other teenage girls killed through that chase) who he believed had been a threat to his power, instead of trying to hunt demons and find out what was the deal with them. His son had been more mature than him in this matter. What a shame, really.
The son's character is the only interesting one that came out of this book. Jaeil is the only one who has the right priorities. The moment he found out about the case of multiple mysterious deaths, he jumped right into it, trying to find out what's the cause of them and illiminate the danger. He's also after Ren (who isn't in this book? *sigh*), but not for the same reasons other people are. He could be torn between his past and his duty, but it looked like his duty came first, which I liked a lot. He knew what obligations he had, and acted accordingly. And I liked his relationship with his right-hand woman (his lieutenant? I think?), Sana. They seemed distanced, at first, but you could tell how much they cared for one another. I wish they had been the main characters of the story, but oh well.
The demon case (except for Jaeil and Sana, I guess) is the only interesting thing that has been introduced in this story. I liked the mystery of it. They came literally out of nowhere and started attacking people, and nobody had any idea where they came from and what to do with it. This mystery was carried very well. Everything else, from the start to finish (especially the events that happened near the end) was painfully predictable.
I hope that I will forget that I ever read this book. It's too big of a disappointment to remember it 😔
April 29, 2025
This was 5 stars for me from page one if I’m being honest lol
April 21, 2025
The Floating World was a sweet, charming read that, unfortunately, felt a little bit hollow and incomplete.
Axie Oh's writing style is whimsical and imaginative breathing life into this unique fantasy world. The different regions that the characters explored were beautifully realized. However, I did struggle at first to understand how these different settings fit together and I still feel like the broader picture of the world and it's politics has some plot holes.
The book really struggles to maintain any sense of suspense or tension. While I am glad that some of the more obvious plot twists weren't dragged on, the quick reveals eliminated the only real sense of suspense to the story. Confrontations or secrets are quickly revealed and resolved. Everything just works out for them. Ren's motivation for the journey felt like it came in and out of relevance. Despite the rapid decline of her uncle's condition, I never felt a sense of urgency from her.
The pacing was also very odd and sometimes it felt like paragraphs had been deleted from the middle of action scenes or traveling moments. The logic and flow of some of these scenes felt messy and inconsistent.
There is a lot of range in the tone and maturity of books published in the YA genre and The Floating World definitely falls into the younger side of this range. While I am really hesitant to critique a YA book for being too young, I feel like it kept the story from taking advantage of the setting, conflict, and high stakes. The immaturity and naivety of the characters make the scope of the conflict this book is trying to pull off difficult to believe.
The politics and deeper societal injustices of this world are incredibly relevant to the plot, however, the book never felt prepared to properly explore these elements. And I feel like that is because the main characters are not good view points for these topics. They read so much younger than they are meant to be and their motivations are too narrow to properly contribute to the plot. The insta-love romance further takes away from more interesting elements of the plot.
This whimsical, insta-love journey with naive children was not the story that should have been used to explore this world.
Thank you Feiwel & Friends for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
Axie Oh's writing style is whimsical and imaginative breathing life into this unique fantasy world. The different regions that the characters explored were beautifully realized. However, I did struggle at first to understand how these different settings fit together and I still feel like the broader picture of the world and it's politics has some plot holes.
The book really struggles to maintain any sense of suspense or tension. While I am glad that some of the more obvious plot twists weren't dragged on, the quick reveals eliminated the only real sense of suspense to the story. Confrontations or secrets are quickly revealed and resolved. Everything just works out for them. Ren's motivation for the journey felt like it came in and out of relevance. Despite the rapid decline of her uncle's condition, I never felt a sense of urgency from her.
The pacing was also very odd and sometimes it felt like paragraphs had been deleted from the middle of action scenes or traveling moments. The logic and flow of some of these scenes felt messy and inconsistent.
There is a lot of range in the tone and maturity of books published in the YA genre and The Floating World definitely falls into the younger side of this range. While I am really hesitant to critique a YA book for being too young, I feel like it kept the story from taking advantage of the setting, conflict, and high stakes. The immaturity and naivety of the characters make the scope of the conflict this book is trying to pull off difficult to believe.
The politics and deeper societal injustices of this world are incredibly relevant to the plot, however, the book never felt prepared to properly explore these elements. And I feel like that is because the main characters are not good view points for these topics. They read so much younger than they are meant to be and their motivations are too narrow to properly contribute to the plot. The insta-love romance further takes away from more interesting elements of the plot.
This whimsical, insta-love journey with naive children was not the story that should have been used to explore this world.
Thank you Feiwel & Friends for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
April 22, 2025
Another sweet, cinematic Studio Ghibli book adjacent contender for Young Adult Fantasy fans!
Ren is a is part of a performing troupe with her adoptive family who sets out to find a cure following a demon attack.
Sunho lives in the Under World, an ex-soldier, who has no memories before two years ago except his name and that of his missing brother. He is hired as a sword-for-hire to track down, protect and bring back a girl.
What I like about Axie Oh’s books (apart from the creative world-building, culture, and imagery) is how her protagonists have no wish to get caught up in some grand destiny. They want to go back to boring simple lives.
This is full of heart with a very slow burn, flowery sweet blooming and careful romance.
I liked the comments on capitalism and greed and military coups and power represented by the mining and the idea of conscription and the Floating World.
I wish there was more description and imagery as I couldn’t quite picture the world.
This is definitely on the younger side of YA which meant the plot was fairly simple and predicable, and the characters caricatures.
Ren and Sunho are supposed to be seventeen years, yet read as 12 year olds. This almost made it feel condescending - 17 year olds are not that naive or innocent.
Arc gifted by Hodder and Stoughton.
Bookstagram
Ren is a is part of a performing troupe with her adoptive family who sets out to find a cure following a demon attack.
Sunho lives in the Under World, an ex-soldier, who has no memories before two years ago except his name and that of his missing brother. He is hired as a sword-for-hire to track down, protect and bring back a girl.
What I like about Axie Oh’s books (apart from the creative world-building, culture, and imagery) is how her protagonists have no wish to get caught up in some grand destiny. They want to go back to boring simple lives.
This is full of heart with a very slow burn, flowery sweet blooming and careful romance.
I liked the comments on capitalism and greed and military coups and power represented by the mining and the idea of conscription and the Floating World.
I wish there was more description and imagery as I couldn’t quite picture the world.
This is definitely on the younger side of YA which meant the plot was fairly simple and predicable, and the characters caricatures.
Ren and Sunho are supposed to be seventeen years, yet read as 12 year olds. This almost made it feel condescending - 17 year olds are not that naive or innocent.
Arc gifted by Hodder and Stoughton.
Bookstagram
March 29, 2025
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the arc!
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
My heartfelt thanks to Miss Axie Oh for breaking the vicious cycle of mediocre YA fantasy novels. 'The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea' instantly made me an AO fan because of its gorgeous prose, vivid worldbuilding, fascinating mythology and most importantly, top tier Ghibli vibes! Her second fantasy novel features higher stakes but doesn't let go of all the factors that I just mentioned.
To begin with, Ren and Sunho have my entire heart. I often end up hating romantasy novels because of their over-reliance on tropes and lack of chemistry. It's been ages since I've rooted for a romantic relationship. AO doesn't shove insta-love down her readers' throats only for the protagonists to become bitter enemies by the end of book 1. Ren and Sunho's relationship is heartfelt, authentic, and adorable. It took its sweet time in being developed and the result is stellar. Do I wish it had been an even slower burn? Yes. Did it still win my heart? Definitely. The Floating World has enough romance to satiate the romance fans but also an actual fantasy plot that propels the story forward
The worldbuilding-inspired by the Korean legend of the Woodcutter and the Celestial Maiden-is unlike anything I've seen before. THIS is a perfect example of how authors can show and not tell. Instead of infodumping for pages upon pages, AO lets her readers explore the world for themselves, which in turn lends a lived-in feel to it. It's less Ghibli-esque than TGWFBTS but the vibes are incredible. The secondary characters served an actual purpose. I loved Yurhee and Tag, and Ren's relationship with her adopted family.
My only (minor) critique is that the pacing could've been worked on a bit. It's a lot slower for majority of the book and accelerates a lot after approximately the 70% mark. The pros heavily outweighed the cons with this one and I can easily overlook the minor flaws.
AO rekindled my love for YA fantasy. I've been waiting for this moment since 2024. I'd highly recommend this to fans of fantasy and mythology. I'm so glad the second book is coming out this year itself in October (hopefully I'll get to read it earlier via NetGalley). I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel and see how Ren and Sunho's tale ends!
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
My heartfelt thanks to Miss Axie Oh for breaking the vicious cycle of mediocre YA fantasy novels. 'The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea' instantly made me an AO fan because of its gorgeous prose, vivid worldbuilding, fascinating mythology and most importantly, top tier Ghibli vibes! Her second fantasy novel features higher stakes but doesn't let go of all the factors that I just mentioned.
To begin with, Ren and Sunho have my entire heart. I often end up hating romantasy novels because of their over-reliance on tropes and lack of chemistry. It's been ages since I've rooted for a romantic relationship. AO doesn't shove insta-love down her readers' throats only for the protagonists to become bitter enemies by the end of book 1. Ren and Sunho's relationship is heartfelt, authentic, and adorable. It took its sweet time in being developed and the result is stellar. Do I wish it had been an even slower burn? Yes. Did it still win my heart? Definitely. The Floating World has enough romance to satiate the romance fans but also an actual fantasy plot that propels the story forward
The worldbuilding-inspired by the Korean legend of the Woodcutter and the Celestial Maiden-is unlike anything I've seen before. THIS is a perfect example of how authors can show and not tell. Instead of infodumping for pages upon pages, AO lets her readers explore the world for themselves, which in turn lends a lived-in feel to it. It's less Ghibli-esque than TGWFBTS but the vibes are incredible. The secondary characters served an actual purpose. I loved Yurhee and Tag, and Ren's relationship with her adopted family.
My only (minor) critique is that the pacing could've been worked on a bit. It's a lot slower for majority of the book and accelerates a lot after approximately the 70% mark. The pros heavily outweighed the cons with this one and I can easily overlook the minor flaws.
AO rekindled my love for YA fantasy. I've been waiting for this moment since 2024. I'd highly recommend this to fans of fantasy and mythology. I'm so glad the second book is coming out this year itself in October (hopefully I'll get to read it earlier via NetGalley). I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel and see how Ren and Sunho's tale ends!
June 13, 2025
« I don’t feel very brave.
- But that’s why you are, don’t you see? Because you still fight when you’re afraid. You choose the path that is darkest, with the most brambles and thorns, because it is the right one. »
My expectations were SKY HIGH for this one (I absolutely ADORED The girl who fell beneath the sea) and I would say that this book really checked a lot of boxes for me!
There’s one thing that hindered my reading experience and it’s the lack of character depth. I feel like we didn’t actually know any character in the end or what their motives were. Some decisions were taken sometimes that actually gave me whiplash because we didn’t have enough intel on the characters.
The writing was very whimsical and just very enchanting. I *absolutely* loved the plot line and how this story unfolded. I had never heard of the Korean legend of Celestial maidens so I was HOOKED. Really devoured this. I cried a few times actually. There’s a child (Haru)… I hope we see him again because he had like, 2 pages and he had all my love lol.
I cannot wait for book 2! I have both editions of Fairyloot & Fae Crate and I’m very happy about that lol.
« Do you think we shine as brightly?
- Yes. I do. Though, I think, we shine a little brighter. How could we not? All this darkness surrounds us, and yet we still carry on. I think the stars, when they look down on us, see that spark in our hearts. It’s our will to live. Even in darkness, there is always light. »
- But that’s why you are, don’t you see? Because you still fight when you’re afraid. You choose the path that is darkest, with the most brambles and thorns, because it is the right one. »
My expectations were SKY HIGH for this one (I absolutely ADORED The girl who fell beneath the sea) and I would say that this book really checked a lot of boxes for me!
There’s one thing that hindered my reading experience and it’s the lack of character depth. I feel like we didn’t actually know any character in the end or what their motives were. Some decisions were taken sometimes that actually gave me whiplash because we didn’t have enough intel on the characters.
The writing was very whimsical and just very enchanting. I *absolutely* loved the plot line and how this story unfolded. I had never heard of the Korean legend of Celestial maidens so I was HOOKED. Really devoured this. I cried a few times actually. There’s a child (Haru)… I hope we see him again because he had like, 2 pages and he had all my love lol.
I cannot wait for book 2! I have both editions of Fairyloot & Fae Crate and I’m very happy about that lol.
« Do you think we shine as brightly?
- Yes. I do. Though, I think, we shine a little brighter. How could we not? All this darkness surrounds us, and yet we still carry on. I think the stars, when they look down on us, see that spark in our hearts. It’s our will to live. Even in darkness, there is always light. »
will-read-later
January 13, 2026FINAL FANTASY MEETS THE CASTLE IN THE SKY???????
does this mean i’m going to cry?
does this mean i’m going to cry?
September 19, 2025
This was bland and tedious.
Advertising it as "Final Fantasy meets xxx" is quite ballsy considering that it is pretty much a FFVII ripoff -- fanfic if we want to be extremely generous.
The world, the characters, the general ambiance... it's pretty bold in its appropriation, to put it mildly.
But here is the thing: where FFVII was a good game, this doesn't end up being a good read because a cut scene montage does not a book make.
And yet this is what we get.
But you are not a player here, you don't get the same level of immersion or to participate in the storytelling: it's just not the same media, and what works with one doesn't with the other. Hell, there are even side quests derailing the plot!
Another major failing of this storytelling is that the characters get to know each other for 2 hot minutes before becoming loyal ride-or-die members of the crew... as you can imagine, it falls majorly flat. Not helped by the fact everyone is so absolutely bland there's really nothing to justify insta-friendships, or whatever this is.
And it's not just the characters that lack originality. Whatever is left that is not a direct re-skin of FFVII is an exact average of all JRPG and/or Asian and Asian-style comics you can call up to memory.
So. Absolutely. Generic.
This is capital D-Derivative to an extent that is, in its absolute commitment to not come up with ANYTHING new, actually pretty impressive. This is so devoid of anything that I can't even feel enough about it to be annoyed.
Even the writing is extremely bland and tedious.
It has the merit to be clear, at least, seeing how it is but a factual list of what happens. The succession of short and statement-like sentences give it a halted quality, and, in turn, this monotonous rhythm makes it extremely hard to stay focused. I was listening to this on my bike commute, with literally nothing to distract me for large segments of it, and yet this failed to retain my attention - I kept zoning out.
Here is an example, to try and illustrate what I mean:
"Sunho reached for his sword. Grabbing it by the hilt, he unsheathed the blade from its scabbard."
-> what else would he do with it? You might think that this is not much, in itself, and you'd be right, but please consider what it does to the writing when it is omnipresent. I cannot stress this enough: absolutely EVERYTHING is detailed in this step by step, prosaic kind of way.
I started this review saying this was bland and tedious, but this, in fact, is not doing it justice: there is here such a burning, relentless dedication to be (capitals) Bland and Tedious, and to be so to such a meticulous extent, that it commands a certain level of awe. Quite the (boring) feat.
Advertising it as "Final Fantasy meets xxx" is quite ballsy considering that it is pretty much a FFVII ripoff -- fanfic if we want to be extremely generous.
The world, the characters, the general ambiance... it's pretty bold in its appropriation, to put it mildly.
But here is the thing: where FFVII was a good game, this doesn't end up being a good read because a cut scene montage does not a book make.
And yet this is what we get.
But you are not a player here, you don't get the same level of immersion or to participate in the storytelling: it's just not the same media, and what works with one doesn't with the other. Hell, there are even side quests derailing the plot!
Another major failing of this storytelling is that the characters get to know each other for 2 hot minutes before becoming loyal ride-or-die members of the crew... as you can imagine, it falls majorly flat. Not helped by the fact everyone is so absolutely bland there's really nothing to justify insta-friendships, or whatever this is.
And it's not just the characters that lack originality. Whatever is left that is not a direct re-skin of FFVII is an exact average of all JRPG and/or Asian and Asian-style comics you can call up to memory.
So. Absolutely. Generic.
This is capital D-Derivative to an extent that is, in its absolute commitment to not come up with ANYTHING new, actually pretty impressive. This is so devoid of anything that I can't even feel enough about it to be annoyed.
Even the writing is extremely bland and tedious.
It has the merit to be clear, at least, seeing how it is but a factual list of what happens. The succession of short and statement-like sentences give it a halted quality, and, in turn, this monotonous rhythm makes it extremely hard to stay focused. I was listening to this on my bike commute, with literally nothing to distract me for large segments of it, and yet this failed to retain my attention - I kept zoning out.
Here is an example, to try and illustrate what I mean:
"Sunho reached for his sword. Grabbing it by the hilt, he unsheathed the blade from its scabbard."
-> what else would he do with it? You might think that this is not much, in itself, and you'd be right, but please consider what it does to the writing when it is omnipresent. I cannot stress this enough: absolutely EVERYTHING is detailed in this step by step, prosaic kind of way.
I started this review saying this was bland and tedious, but this, in fact, is not doing it justice: there is here such a burning, relentless dedication to be (capitals) Bland and Tedious, and to be so to such a meticulous extent, that it commands a certain level of awe. Quite the (boring) feat.
August 27, 2025
This was so cute! The romance was so pure ❤️ and so were the characters.
I’ve been debating making this 3.5 stars vs 4. Right now, it’s closer to a 4 because I did find it very enjoyable, but I might end up changing my mind. We'll see!
No matter what rating I settle on, I will be reading the sequel! I’m excited to continue the story!
Pre-read
I need something GOOD and I’m hoping this will deliver
I’ve been debating making this 3.5 stars vs 4. Right now, it’s closer to a 4 because I did find it very enjoyable, but I might end up changing my mind. We'll see!
No matter what rating I settle on, I will be reading the sequel! I’m excited to continue the story!
Pre-read
I need something GOOD and I’m hoping this will deliver
![Profile Image for vxmpslibrary [hiatus exams].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1765812676i%2F123295506._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 30, 2025
31.05.25.
I'm falling behind on reviews but I will try I guess.
21.04.25.
omg just few more days to go!! I'm so excited! Also little update on life besties, so sorry for being inactive here! i miss interacting with y'all😭🙏 but I have my tests currently and I haven't even read any books so far! but I would be back again after 10 or 14 May![because summer holidays!] and I can't wait to interact again and read books more♥️
21.10.24.
axie oh x fantasy is the best istg >>
I'm falling behind on reviews but I will try I guess.
21.04.25.
omg just few more days to go!! I'm so excited! Also little update on life besties, so sorry for being inactive here! i miss interacting with y'all😭🙏 but I have my tests currently and I haven't even read any books so far! but I would be back again after 10 or 14 May![because summer holidays!] and I can't wait to interact again and read books more♥️
21.10.24.
axie oh x fantasy is the best istg >>
Currently reading
March 23, 2025got accepted for this arc!!! i really really wanted this one, i'm so excited. going to start it asap 🤭🤭 i'm reading way too many books rn but i can't help it, i want to read everything 😫
June 16, 2025
Just like this author's fantasy debut (The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea), The Floating World is an absolutely enchanting tale of fantasy. From the very first page, I was intrigued by the world-building of this story. And as I kept reading, I grew to love the characters and the romance. The ending took a twist that I didn't expect, but overall I really enjoyed this story. The exposition was a little heavy at the start of the novel, but that was really my only big complaint. If you like this author's other books, or are a fan of Shadow and Bone, I'd definitely recommend The Floating World.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 2, 2025
3,75⭐️
Un univers riche, des personnages attachants au passé mystérieux, un rapprochement imprévu et des dilemmes moraux… ? JE DIS OUI !
Un univers riche, des personnages attachants au passé mystérieux, un rapprochement imprévu et des dilemmes moraux… ? JE DIS OUI !
March 21, 2025
ESP
*3.25*
Tengo que procesar esta calificación porque me duele más de lo que me gustaría admitir.
Hijole amistades, no se que está pasando con mis lecturas este año porque NINGUNA TERMINA DE ENACNTARME.
En este caso, The Floating World era facilmente top 3 en mis más anticipados del año, porque saben que adoro con mi alma a esta autora, y cuando me enteré que venia con otra fantasía me emocioné bastante porque, si recuerda, THE GIRL WHO FELL BENEATH THE SEA ES DE MIS FAVORITOS EVER DE TODA LA VIDA.
Well, este libro se quedó corto.
No es que no me haya gustado. Ya hacia el final logré conectar con la historia, y de hecho quedé muy emocionado por la secuela. Creo que pecó de ser un poco lento y dejar absolutamente todo para el final, pero llegando a esos últimos capítulos ya me encontraba mucho más sumergido en el mundo y con los personajes, que de hecho ambos me gustaron bastante desde el inicio... por separado. Es bastante insta-love su romance, lo cual no me gustó nada, pero como personajes individuales los disfruté harto.
La cosa es, no pude evitar sentir este libro vacío, especialmente si lo comparo con Girl. No se muy bien porqué, pero como que le falta algo. Corazón, tal vez. No sentí la misma magia que con el otro libro de la autora, y no es que esté comparando, pero a este le faltó mucho de lo que me enamoran los libros de esta mujer. Romance, química, construcción, todo. Simplemente se siente vació.
Como dije, aunque el trayecto no me haya encantado, esto emocionado por leer la secuela, ya que tiene todo para mejorar enormemente este. Si ya pasamos toda la parte lenta y seca, solo queda esperar que The Demon and The Light explote y lleve a esta historia a alturas inalcanzables.
No pasa nada Axie yo aun así te sigo amando!!!!!
——
ENG
Thank you netgalley for providing me with and advance copy of the book for review!
*3.25*
Axie Oh is one of my favorite authors ever, ever since I first read her work with XOXO. I've made it my life mission to support every single one of her releases, my love for her stories expanding all around her characters and story ideas. Easily, The Floating World was one of, if not my most anticipated releases of the year, but I ended up feeling a little bit disappointed with this one.
This is the first book in a fantasy duology that takes the classic korean fairytale "The Woodcutter and the Celestial Maiden" as inspiration, presenting us a world divided by war, a runaway princes looking for a cure for her uncle's illness and an amnesiac soldier trying to make end meet while searching for his lost brother, and how they get together after a life changing encounter with a demon. It sounds AMAZING, and as a starting idea, it works really well for a series.
The world building, although a little bit spare in some aspects, crates a fantastical scenario infused with korean culture for our main characters, and I really enjoyed exploring it. In this story there's also something called "The Floating World", a big chunk of land that lives in the sky, where the government and the Kingdom reside, awaiting for the war that keeps brewing underneath it to explode. I have always loved how Axie Oh writes fantasy; her writing style is imaginative and whimsical at the same time, creating gorgeous images and descriptions that pull you in.
This series deals with magic, demons, experiments, a very dangerous type of metal that may or may not be the catalyst to everything, and stories left unfinished. You keep learning everything at the same pace as the characters, which leaves you interested and needy of answers until you finish the book.
But I did have some issues with this novel that I need to expand on.
It pains me a little bit to say this, but throughout the novel I couldn't shake this feeling of the story reading a little bit empty , especially compared to the author's other fantasy novel. It wasn't until the last few chapters when everything started to feel stronger and with more impact in the overall arc or construction of the novel. Maybe it was the fact that the big chunks of information were saved for the end, but the middle section felt slow and lacking in certain aspects.
Even though I really enjoyed both of the main characters, I wasn't sold on the romance, since it appeared a little bit insta-lovey, which is new for Axie Oh. I usually adore her couples, but Ren and Sunho needed more development as a pair, because on their own I absolutely loved their construction and journey.
However, that ending really sets up for an amazing sequel. I think that The Demon and The Light will redeem a lot of the issues I had with this first novel. I'm intrigued enough in the world and the current situation with the characters, so I will definitely finish this duology.
*3.25*
Tengo que procesar esta calificación porque me duele más de lo que me gustaría admitir.
Hijole amistades, no se que está pasando con mis lecturas este año porque NINGUNA TERMINA DE ENACNTARME.
En este caso, The Floating World era facilmente top 3 en mis más anticipados del año, porque saben que adoro con mi alma a esta autora, y cuando me enteré que venia con otra fantasía me emocioné bastante porque, si recuerda, THE GIRL WHO FELL BENEATH THE SEA ES DE MIS FAVORITOS EVER DE TODA LA VIDA.
Well, este libro se quedó corto.
No es que no me haya gustado. Ya hacia el final logré conectar con la historia, y de hecho quedé muy emocionado por la secuela. Creo que pecó de ser un poco lento y dejar absolutamente todo para el final, pero llegando a esos últimos capítulos ya me encontraba mucho más sumergido en el mundo y con los personajes, que de hecho ambos me gustaron bastante desde el inicio... por separado. Es bastante insta-love su romance, lo cual no me gustó nada, pero como personajes individuales los disfruté harto.
La cosa es, no pude evitar sentir este libro vacío, especialmente si lo comparo con Girl. No se muy bien porqué, pero como que le falta algo. Corazón, tal vez. No sentí la misma magia que con el otro libro de la autora, y no es que esté comparando, pero a este le faltó mucho de lo que me enamoran los libros de esta mujer. Romance, química, construcción, todo. Simplemente se siente vació.
Como dije, aunque el trayecto no me haya encantado, esto emocionado por leer la secuela, ya que tiene todo para mejorar enormemente este. Si ya pasamos toda la parte lenta y seca, solo queda esperar que The Demon and The Light explote y lleve a esta historia a alturas inalcanzables.
No pasa nada Axie yo aun así te sigo amando!!!!!
——
ENG
Thank you netgalley for providing me with and advance copy of the book for review!
*3.25*
Axie Oh is one of my favorite authors ever, ever since I first read her work with XOXO. I've made it my life mission to support every single one of her releases, my love for her stories expanding all around her characters and story ideas. Easily, The Floating World was one of, if not my most anticipated releases of the year, but I ended up feeling a little bit disappointed with this one.
This is the first book in a fantasy duology that takes the classic korean fairytale "The Woodcutter and the Celestial Maiden" as inspiration, presenting us a world divided by war, a runaway princes looking for a cure for her uncle's illness and an amnesiac soldier trying to make end meet while searching for his lost brother, and how they get together after a life changing encounter with a demon. It sounds AMAZING, and as a starting idea, it works really well for a series.
The world building, although a little bit spare in some aspects, crates a fantastical scenario infused with korean culture for our main characters, and I really enjoyed exploring it. In this story there's also something called "The Floating World", a big chunk of land that lives in the sky, where the government and the Kingdom reside, awaiting for the war that keeps brewing underneath it to explode. I have always loved how Axie Oh writes fantasy; her writing style is imaginative and whimsical at the same time, creating gorgeous images and descriptions that pull you in.
This series deals with magic, demons, experiments, a very dangerous type of metal that may or may not be the catalyst to everything, and stories left unfinished. You keep learning everything at the same pace as the characters, which leaves you interested and needy of answers until you finish the book.
But I did have some issues with this novel that I need to expand on.
It pains me a little bit to say this, but throughout the novel I couldn't shake this feeling of the story reading a little bit empty , especially compared to the author's other fantasy novel. It wasn't until the last few chapters when everything started to feel stronger and with more impact in the overall arc or construction of the novel. Maybe it was the fact that the big chunks of information were saved for the end, but the middle section felt slow and lacking in certain aspects.
Even though I really enjoyed both of the main characters, I wasn't sold on the romance, since it appeared a little bit insta-lovey, which is new for Axie Oh. I usually adore her couples, but Ren and Sunho needed more development as a pair, because on their own I absolutely loved their construction and journey.
However, that ending really sets up for an amazing sequel. I think that The Demon and The Light will redeem a lot of the issues I had with this first novel. I'm intrigued enough in the world and the current situation with the characters, so I will definitely finish this duology.
June 1, 2025
That's all she ever wanted. To find happiness in small, shared moments with the people she loved most.
Another light romance woven with Korean myth and family orientation by Axie Oh!
Demons with feathers and celestial maidens with wings — but no, it's not as strange and odd at all... from 3 different POVs
Ren, a young acrobat traveling with her aunt, little uncle, Little Uncle, and Big Uncle
Sunho, a soldier who lost his memory two years ago, is looking to find his almost forgotten brother
Jaeil, the son of… well, spoilers, but let's just say his family tree comes with thorns
Hardly can say anything because it's very easy to spoil everything.... If you’re in the mood for a soft and myth-touched fantasy with characters who need a hug, The Floating World is a lovely escape.
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for DRC. I have given my honest review.
Another light romance woven with Korean myth and family orientation by Axie Oh!
Demons with feathers and celestial maidens with wings — but no, it's not as strange and odd at all... from 3 different POVs
Ren, a young acrobat traveling with her aunt, little uncle, Little Uncle, and Big Uncle
Sunho, a soldier who lost his memory two years ago, is looking to find his almost forgotten brother
Jaeil, the son of… well, spoilers, but let's just say his family tree comes with thorns
Hardly can say anything because it's very easy to spoil everything.... If you’re in the mood for a soft and myth-touched fantasy with characters who need a hug, The Floating World is a lovely escape.
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for DRC. I have given my honest review.
Read
May 12, 2025The Floating World is a YA romantasy that skews younger and is reimagining Korean mythology. It follows Sunho, a boy from the Under World who can't remember most of his past. He takes a bounty to capture a girl capable of magic. Ren is a sweet and happy young woman who performs as an acrobat with a troupe, but she's supposed to hide her magic abilities. But when their troupe is attacked by a demon, one of them becomes deathly ill and she goes on a quest to save him wearing a mask that hides her identity. And along the way she encounters Sunho...
This had interesting world-building that I wanted to know more about. The plot is fairly simple and the characters are nice. I think this is a good pick for a younger reader of YA wanting to dip toes into romantasy. The audio narration is done pretty well! I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
This had interesting world-building that I wanted to know more about. The plot is fairly simple and the characters are nice. I think this is a good pick for a younger reader of YA wanting to dip toes into romantasy. The audio narration is done pretty well! I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
June 10, 2025
I really enjoyed, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea...but I LOVED The Floating World!
This is a Korean reimagining of the legend of the Celestial Maidens....its a bit Final Fantasy....a bit Shadow and Bone and A WHOLE lot of fun!
If you are looking for a YA fantasy that feels unique and refreshing step right up. When a solider for hire comes into contact with a girl with mysterious powers they must team up in order to save the people they love the most! There's a city that floats in the sky powered by mines, a land that doesn't get any sunlight, and the rise of demon like monsters on the prowl.
Sunho and Ren are FANTASTIC characters, and their dynamic is so beautiful and sweet. Sunho is grappling with a darkness inside of him...has amazing fighting abilities but has a tender heart. Ren is a free spirit, and cares deeply for the people around her. She loves her simple life where she doesn't constantly have something to prove. Their slow burn relationship is wholesome and authentic and I just ate it up.
I thought the plot was fast paced, the conflict and villains were done right and felt believable...and it had the right amounts of humor and friendship along the way. It's been a while since I genuinely enjoyed a YA fantasy and I am definitely excited for the sequel!
Thank you to @fiercereads for providing me the first three chapters for DEMON OF LIGHT which releases OCT 21!
This is a Korean reimagining of the legend of the Celestial Maidens....its a bit Final Fantasy....a bit Shadow and Bone and A WHOLE lot of fun!
If you are looking for a YA fantasy that feels unique and refreshing step right up. When a solider for hire comes into contact with a girl with mysterious powers they must team up in order to save the people they love the most! There's a city that floats in the sky powered by mines, a land that doesn't get any sunlight, and the rise of demon like monsters on the prowl.
Sunho and Ren are FANTASTIC characters, and their dynamic is so beautiful and sweet. Sunho is grappling with a darkness inside of him...has amazing fighting abilities but has a tender heart. Ren is a free spirit, and cares deeply for the people around her. She loves her simple life where she doesn't constantly have something to prove. Their slow burn relationship is wholesome and authentic and I just ate it up.
I thought the plot was fast paced, the conflict and villains were done right and felt believable...and it had the right amounts of humor and friendship along the way. It's been a while since I genuinely enjoyed a YA fantasy and I am definitely excited for the sequel!
Thank you to @fiercereads for providing me the first three chapters for DEMON OF LIGHT which releases OCT 21!
June 7, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Axie Oh is another author I had been meaning to read for years and with this first dip into her works, I can say she's met and exceeded all expectations. I've seen people compare her works to Ghibli, and I can kind of see that. I wouldn't liken it the studio in broader terms, but this definitely felt like Castle in the Sky paired with the darkness and gore of The Twelve Kingdoms but wrapped in a Korean inspired setting and it just worked to incredibly well.
From the beginning, this tale scores already by featuring my favourite narration of multiple point of view. We largely follow Ren, a travelling performer in search of a cure for her uncle who has fallen ill after a demon-like creature attacks them, and Sunho, a sword for hire with memory loss who is in search of his brother. I loved how both point of views started far from eachother and gradually merged. This gave us the chance to get to know both Ren and Sunho on their own terms and I think it truly added to caring about these characters.
Beyond similarities of the basic plot, the worldbuilding and character relationships is what felt remincent to Castle in the Sky. Both Sunho and Ren form bonds with characters along the way which does give a bit of a found family feeling. The relationship between them is built so nicely over the narrative and has such a strong foundation through their shared adventures and trust. Then the worldbuilding felt a bit like steampunk with its mechanics and especially the aircrafs (nothing screams Ghibli like aircrafts in a fantasy setting). Despite the high stakes and mysteries to unravel, I do think this was a rather light hearted read - largely due to the immensly likeable characters and the positivy they have towards eachother - with picturesque scenery which once gives a feeling of whimsy such as seen in several works of Ghibli.
Nevertheless, there are some darker elements which, while not overly graphic, defintely also lean into a bit of gore. Demon-like creatures appear throughout the plot and we don't even come close to unraveling the mysteries around it by the end of this instalment which leaves room for anticipation for the sequel. I almost want to say I found myself more invested in this plotline than the center one revolving around Ren's heritage and the different powers both she and Sunho possess. The different plotlines seamlessly next to eachother though and make this a really well balanced story.
I adored the cast from the main characters down to ones we only spend a chapter or two with. I admit, I think this book would have greatly benifitted of a map as during the first chapters it was a little hard to picture how exactly the Floating World and the Underworld function and in which location they sit. That aside, it was a really interesting world to read about and I look forward to seeing more of it in the sequel. This was also my first novel inspired by Korean culture which I also really enjoyed. My comparrisons to Ghibli and for the darker parts The Twelve Kingdoms is not to indicate that this isn't a wonderful and unique tale in its own right - I meann the comparrison in the best way possible and if Axie Oh's earlier works are anything like The Floating World, I have no doubt I will love them too.
June 3, 2025
If this isn’t copyright infringement, then it is very close to it. I thought it would be inspired by Final Fantasy 7 when I picked it up, but it’s basically a retelling with celestial maidens in place of the cetra. This made the story very boring because I pretty much knew everything already, there were some tweaks made to it, but it was as if the outline for this was made on top of a FF7 timeline.
Now, I might not have minded it as much if it had given me some good Clerith vibes, or if the characters had been even ¼ as lovable as the ones in FF7, but this was stripped of anything resembling character, charm, likeability, depth, or interesting interactions.
The romance between Ren and Sunho was instantaneous and shallow, it took them 30% to meet and interact, but by 50% they were ready to leave everything for each other despite having at most three scenes together. Things got a bit weird with Jaeil at times, it was as if the author was trying to force a love triangle, but none of the characters involved had any desire for it. Just an odd sentence here and there that only made sense if it were to be a love triangle.
The characters would sometimes be referred to as ‘the silver-haired one’ or ‘the older boy’ and ‘the older girl’, and it could get confusing. At an early scene between Jaeil and Sunho it got so bad in a single paragraph that I thought there were three people there and not two.
Ren and Sunho only seemed to care about each other to the point that it made them come off as awful people. It was odd because it felt like the narrative was trying to convince me they were at least decent, but they were really not. They were both just so incredibly selfish. Jaeil’s chapters were less bad, but when he appeared in their chapters he was a whole different character.
Ren’s motivation is supposed to be the uncle, but there is no urgency despite there being a countdown on his life. She’s just on a chill adventure and things happen when it’s convenient. There is no tension.
The book is divided into 4 arcs, and the first one drags so much. A lot of it felt like filler that could have been removed, I don’t think there would be much difference if Ren’s earlier chapters weren’t there.
At times the author would deviate from FF7 and sometimes it was fine, but more often than not things got real clunky. I had such a miserable time reading this but I wanted to see if things would get original at some point, and if not, if the author would dare to drop an entire floating city on top of some people, but they didn’t. Somehow neither of those two things happened.
Now, I might not have minded it as much if it had given me some good Clerith vibes, or if the characters had been even ¼ as lovable as the ones in FF7, but this was stripped of anything resembling character, charm, likeability, depth, or interesting interactions.
The romance between Ren and Sunho was instantaneous and shallow, it took them 30% to meet and interact, but by 50% they were ready to leave everything for each other despite having at most three scenes together. Things got a bit weird with Jaeil at times, it was as if the author was trying to force a love triangle, but none of the characters involved had any desire for it. Just an odd sentence here and there that only made sense if it were to be a love triangle.
The characters would sometimes be referred to as ‘the silver-haired one’ or ‘the older boy’ and ‘the older girl’, and it could get confusing. At an early scene between Jaeil and Sunho it got so bad in a single paragraph that I thought there were three people there and not two.
Ren and Sunho only seemed to care about each other to the point that it made them come off as awful people. It was odd because it felt like the narrative was trying to convince me they were at least decent, but they were really not. They were both just so incredibly selfish. Jaeil’s chapters were less bad, but when he appeared in their chapters he was a whole different character.
Ren’s motivation is supposed to be the uncle, but there is no urgency despite there being a countdown on his life. She’s just on a chill adventure and things happen when it’s convenient. There is no tension.
The book is divided into 4 arcs, and the first one drags so much. A lot of it felt like filler that could have been removed, I don’t think there would be much difference if Ren’s earlier chapters weren’t there.
At times the author would deviate from FF7 and sometimes it was fine, but more often than not things got real clunky. I had such a miserable time reading this but I wanted to see if things would get original at some point, and if not, if the author would dare to drop an entire floating city on top of some people, but they didn’t. Somehow neither of those two things happened.
Want to read
July 11, 2022gimmie gimmie gimme gimmie gimmie
i'd read axie oh's to do list if she published it.
i'd read axie oh's to do list if she published it.
January 26, 2025
AXIE OH WHEN I GET YOU!!
My first 5 star read of the year!! Going into this blind was the best thing ever. I went into this with no expectations but came out a different person. A billion things happened in this book, it was so fast paced I was FLYING through the pages. Yes to everything about this book. I genuinely was captivated from start to finish from the non stop action, characters who were all so likable and the crazy twists and turns.
Without going into spoilers, the Floating World is a very immersive experience. Both Ren and Sunho have mysteries they need to uncover about their past and I really enjoyed following their journey and uncovering these mysteries with these characters, who were both great, really likable people. I just kept gasping as each reveal was dropped and the last 10%?? What a BOMB. I have never been more glad the sequel to this is dropping in the same year. Can I PLEASE get the ARC to that too??
Sunho and Ren’s paths don’t collide until later on in the story, but I was already so invested in both their stories and how it entwined together as the novel progressed. I think it was a great decision giving Sunho and Ren their own POVs as it enhanced the experience and allowed deeper insight into the way they think and also to learn more about their past. I was surprised there was a third POV as well – who I won’t say – but I thought it was very integral to the story and added more intrigue and complexity and I am interested in seeing it all come together in the sequel.
There is a lot of mystery and intrigue that sustained my interest throughout the novel, I just wanted to keep reading and reading. I was never bored and thought the novel kept getting better as it went on. The stakes are high from the beginning and never once slowed down. Sometimes I wish the pacing slowed down a little to develop certain relationships between characters, but I think it can be overlooked because of how great the storytelling and characters were. There’s a lot of familiar themes seen in other novels that are incorporated here, but also a lot of fresh and unique ones that give Floating World its own originality and bring to the table something special. For instance, Ren! Making her an acrobat was a cool, creative decision and I loved that it came in handy when it came down to it! I’ve also never heard about the tale of the Celestial Maiden, so this was really interesting and how it linked to the story.
I LOVED Ren. What a breath of fresh air and ray of sunshine. Axie shows that just because a FMC goes through so much trauma doesn’t mean they need to become battle hardened and cynical! They can still be compassionate and kind and I loved that aspect of Ren the most – how she can still laugh and be funny and adorable makes her stand out. I, too, would fall for her like Sunho did. She admits to being vulnerable and I think that is her greatest strength. Ren made absolutely all the right decisions in this book and I was so proud of her. Without saying too much, the ending was so amazing! And Sunho! He’s so cool. Sunho brings a lot of intrigue into the story with his missing memories and secret powers and I absolutely loved it. Ren and Sunho are a force of nature together. The romance between them was so wholesome. I eat up the outgoing x shy trope all day everyday.
I feel like so much happened in this book, but it’s only just begun. I will definitely have my eyes on Sunho in the second book because that ending is criminal.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review, this was so fun!
My first 5 star read of the year!! Going into this blind was the best thing ever. I went into this with no expectations but came out a different person. A billion things happened in this book, it was so fast paced I was FLYING through the pages. Yes to everything about this book. I genuinely was captivated from start to finish from the non stop action, characters who were all so likable and the crazy twists and turns.
Without going into spoilers, the Floating World is a very immersive experience. Both Ren and Sunho have mysteries they need to uncover about their past and I really enjoyed following their journey and uncovering these mysteries with these characters, who were both great, really likable people. I just kept gasping as each reveal was dropped and the last 10%?? What a BOMB. I have never been more glad the sequel to this is dropping in the same year. Can I PLEASE get the ARC to that too??
Sunho and Ren’s paths don’t collide until later on in the story, but I was already so invested in both their stories and how it entwined together as the novel progressed. I think it was a great decision giving Sunho and Ren their own POVs as it enhanced the experience and allowed deeper insight into the way they think and also to learn more about their past. I was surprised there was a third POV as well – who I won’t say – but I thought it was very integral to the story and added more intrigue and complexity and I am interested in seeing it all come together in the sequel.
There is a lot of mystery and intrigue that sustained my interest throughout the novel, I just wanted to keep reading and reading. I was never bored and thought the novel kept getting better as it went on. The stakes are high from the beginning and never once slowed down. Sometimes I wish the pacing slowed down a little to develop certain relationships between characters, but I think it can be overlooked because of how great the storytelling and characters were. There’s a lot of familiar themes seen in other novels that are incorporated here, but also a lot of fresh and unique ones that give Floating World its own originality and bring to the table something special. For instance, Ren! Making her an acrobat was a cool, creative decision and I loved that it came in handy when it came down to it! I’ve also never heard about the tale of the Celestial Maiden, so this was really interesting and how it linked to the story.
I LOVED Ren. What a breath of fresh air and ray of sunshine. Axie shows that just because a FMC goes through so much trauma doesn’t mean they need to become battle hardened and cynical! They can still be compassionate and kind and I loved that aspect of Ren the most – how she can still laugh and be funny and adorable makes her stand out. I, too, would fall for her like Sunho did. She admits to being vulnerable and I think that is her greatest strength. Ren made absolutely all the right decisions in this book and I was so proud of her. Without saying too much, the ending was so amazing! And Sunho! He’s so cool. Sunho brings a lot of intrigue into the story with his missing memories and secret powers and I absolutely loved it. Ren and Sunho are a force of nature together. The romance between them was so wholesome. I eat up the outgoing x shy trope all day everyday.
I feel like so much happened in this book, but it’s only just begun. I will definitely have my eyes on Sunho in the second book because that ending is criminal.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review, this was so fun!
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