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Fate's Thread #2
The God and the Gwisin
In this swoony sequel to
The God and the Gumiho
, a trickster god must work with his reincarnated lost love to solve his brother’s murder on board a luxury underworld cruise ship.
Seokga the No-Longer-Fallen is working on himself. Reinstated as a god after saving the mortal world from a demon of darkness, the trickster now attends some much-needed therapy. He’s also been desperately searching for his lost love Hani ever since the red thread of fate tangled around his pinky finger, signaling her reincarnation. But when the thread leads Seokga to a luxury cruise down the river of the dead, the woman he finds waiting for him isn’t Hani . . . she’s Yoo Kisa, with no memory of him, and seemingly no interest in regaining it either.
Yoo Kisa is exhausted with her afterlife. While her untimely death wasn’t ideal, she hoped the underworld would be peaceful. Unfortunately for Kisa, whoever she was in a past life racked up quite the karmic debt, and now she has to pay it, working thanklessly aboard the SRC Flatliner. Even worse, the red thread wrapped around her pinky followed her into the underworld . . . and although her fated partner has finally found her, he seemingly finds her lacking.
When the Heavenly Emperor is murdered aboard the ship, Seokga and Kisa must solve the heinous crime before the cruise ends. And as the mystery draws them closer together, the god and the gwisin will have to decide what they truly mean to each other. Because there’s something bigger at play aboard the SRC Flatliner, something that holds the key to Kisa and Seokga’s fated connection—and the very fate of the mortal and heavenly realms.
Seokga the No-Longer-Fallen is working on himself. Reinstated as a god after saving the mortal world from a demon of darkness, the trickster now attends some much-needed therapy. He’s also been desperately searching for his lost love Hani ever since the red thread of fate tangled around his pinky finger, signaling her reincarnation. But when the thread leads Seokga to a luxury cruise down the river of the dead, the woman he finds waiting for him isn’t Hani . . . she’s Yoo Kisa, with no memory of him, and seemingly no interest in regaining it either.
Yoo Kisa is exhausted with her afterlife. While her untimely death wasn’t ideal, she hoped the underworld would be peaceful. Unfortunately for Kisa, whoever she was in a past life racked up quite the karmic debt, and now she has to pay it, working thanklessly aboard the SRC Flatliner. Even worse, the red thread wrapped around her pinky followed her into the underworld . . . and although her fated partner has finally found her, he seemingly finds her lacking.
When the Heavenly Emperor is murdered aboard the ship, Seokga and Kisa must solve the heinous crime before the cruise ends. And as the mystery draws them closer together, the god and the gwisin will have to decide what they truly mean to each other. Because there’s something bigger at play aboard the SRC Flatliner, something that holds the key to Kisa and Seokga’s fated connection—and the very fate of the mortal and heavenly realms.
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First published June 3, 2025
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About the author
Sophie Kim
16 books982 followersSophie Kim is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of stories that feature mythology, monsters, mystery, and magic. Her critically acclaimed work includes young adult novels such as the Talons series, as well as books on the adult spectrum such as The God and the Gumiho.
Profile illustration by @warickaart.
Profile illustration by @warickaart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 996 reviews
September 17, 2025
ive never seen a kdrama but, based on what ive heard about them, this is basically a kdrama in book form.
this story can be characterized by its blend of traditional cultural elements and mythology, as well its use of contemporary tropes like fateful encounters, investigations, and key supporting characters. all of which make kdramas super popular and this series a fun read.
but i will say that this sequel is not as emotionally impactful as the first book. i was totally on board for the red string of fate and really looking forward to seeing soulmates reunite after reincarnation, but it fell a little flat for me as the romance tends to take a back set in this.
so not exactly what i was hoping for, but still an entertaining enough story!
↠ 3 stars
this story can be characterized by its blend of traditional cultural elements and mythology, as well its use of contemporary tropes like fateful encounters, investigations, and key supporting characters. all of which make kdramas super popular and this series a fun read.
but i will say that this sequel is not as emotionally impactful as the first book. i was totally on board for the red string of fate and really looking forward to seeing soulmates reunite after reincarnation, but it fell a little flat for me as the romance tends to take a back set in this.
so not exactly what i was hoping for, but still an entertaining enough story!
↠ 3 stars
April 19, 2025
reuniting with your soulmate on a cruise ship in the underworld except she’s reincarnated and does not remember you? good thing you’re vacationing with your brother and your psychologist!
Read my full review
this series is such a delight. sophie kim has her characters down to a T and this sequel just further proves her talent for humor, romance, and high stakes intertwined together in one novel.
i would KILL for a tv series of this it’s that good.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc to review.
Bookstagram | Blog
Read my full review
this series is such a delight. sophie kim has her characters down to a T and this sequel just further proves her talent for humor, romance, and high stakes intertwined together in one novel.
i would KILL for a tv series of this it’s that good.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc to review.
Bookstagram | Blog
May 29, 2025
“I.. I was wrong before. I love you because for my soul, loving you is like breathing.”
considering i gave the first book 3 stars, no one is more surprised than me by this rating. the characters had so much more depth and the romance was honestly just beautiful. there was a twist on the red string of fate that made this more unique as well. Seokga is known as the trickster god, but here we see him as just a man who’s broken and depressed, trying to pick up those broken pieces. Kisa is Hani’s reincarnation and while she does still have a connection to Seokga, she’s also completely her own person. this means that they have to build their relationship from the ground up organically, things aren’t rushed and it was so entertaining seeing both of them try to hide their thoughts from one another.
“Her lips are so sweet against his, and when her nose bumps against his Seokga wonders if he has found in Kisa a new religion outside his own to worship.”
there’s another mystery aspect to the plot— this time, it has to do with Seokga’s brother Hwanin. he gets murdered and they have to figure out who’s responsible. one thing i will say that i actually guessed who the culprit was early on, but that didn’t bother me. i also wasn’t expecting the mental health rep, all the characters: Seokga, Kisa, Somi and Hajun have had a rough time in their lives for different reasons and i loved seeing their friendships grow as they work through what’s been weighing them down. i even loved Somi’s side romance with Hajun, he was the sweetest. i really don’t have any complaints about this book, it completely took me by surprise and i am so happy that i continued the series. Kisa and Seokga are two characters that will 100% be sticking with me for sure.
➛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Random House— Del Rey for the arc, all opinions are my own.
considering i gave the first book 3 stars, no one is more surprised than me by this rating. the characters had so much more depth and the romance was honestly just beautiful. there was a twist on the red string of fate that made this more unique as well. Seokga is known as the trickster god, but here we see him as just a man who’s broken and depressed, trying to pick up those broken pieces. Kisa is Hani’s reincarnation and while she does still have a connection to Seokga, she’s also completely her own person. this means that they have to build their relationship from the ground up organically, things aren’t rushed and it was so entertaining seeing both of them try to hide their thoughts from one another.
“Her lips are so sweet against his, and when her nose bumps against his Seokga wonders if he has found in Kisa a new religion outside his own to worship.”
there’s another mystery aspect to the plot— this time, it has to do with Seokga’s brother Hwanin. he gets murdered and they have to figure out who’s responsible. one thing i will say that i actually guessed who the culprit was early on, but that didn’t bother me. i also wasn’t expecting the mental health rep, all the characters: Seokga, Kisa, Somi and Hajun have had a rough time in their lives for different reasons and i loved seeing their friendships grow as they work through what’s been weighing them down. i even loved Somi’s side romance with Hajun, he was the sweetest. i really don’t have any complaints about this book, it completely took me by surprise and i am so happy that i continued the series. Kisa and Seokga are two characters that will 100% be sticking with me for sure.
➛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Random House— Del Rey for the arc, all opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2025
! Spoilers ahead for The God and the Gumiho. !
I was very pleasantly surprised by The God and the Gumiho when I read it last month, so I was thrilled to get an arc of book 2 and read it relatively quickly after book 1. I basically had no other choice after that mean of an ending. But The God and the Gwisin throws much of the first book's formula overboard and introduces a new (old) main character, new character dynamics, and a new setting. It's a bold move by the author, but don't worry, it works.
After the end of book 1, Kim Hani not only reincarnated into a completely new life as Yoo Kisa, but also already died again and is now a gwisin, a ghost, working in the underworld. In the meantime, the no-longer-fallen trickster god Seokga was looking everywhere for his soulmate but couldn't find her, even though they are connected through the Red Thread of Fate. After a 33-year search (I still don't understand how the first book took place in the 90s), his therapist sends him on a ship that's navigating the waters of the underworld – for a vacation. There he finally meets his soulmate, but it's not the Hani he's been looking for, but Kisa. The question if these two are the same person plays a big part in the book, and it made the relationship with Seokga very interesting. Kisa doesn't possess any memories of her previous lives and has a totally different personality. When alive, she worked as a doctor in magical medicine and led a very academic-focused life to get there. She's intelligent and approaches everything in an analytical way, but she's also a caring friend. I liked her a lot and she fit well into the little group that consisted of: a shaman (dead), a fox (dead), a K-pop idol (dead), a trickster god (immortal), a baby (immortal). They are a merry band of characters and often unserious – I cackled over their smut book club –, but the book also doesn't fail to handle heavier themes well when necessary. I would definitely put trigger warnings for suicide and death, so be aware. Seokga's character exploration was hard to read as well, because it unpacked his traumatic past with his father. His character got a lot of depth in this book, and other gods got a bigger role as well. I'm not well versed in Korean mythology, so reading about the gods, creatures and realms was super interesting, just like in book 1.
The one thing I didn't like about this book was the whole mystery / investigation part. The reveal was so painfully obvious to me, because But no character thought the same way. The investigating lacked too, especially after Seokga was an actual detective in book 1. But I think you won't mind too much if you're mostly in for the characters and the romance. Seokga and Kisa's relationship was very nice, and I especially like that their bond wasn't a secret but clear from their first meeting. I could have done without the whole hearing-each-other-thoughts-part, because I didn't really see a reason for that.
The story wrapped up nicely this time and provided way more closure than the mean ending of book 1. The very last chapter did make room for a sequel though, so maybe Sophie Kim plans to write some more in the future. I would literally read anything set in this world.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
I was very pleasantly surprised by The God and the Gumiho when I read it last month, so I was thrilled to get an arc of book 2 and read it relatively quickly after book 1. I basically had no other choice after that mean of an ending. But The God and the Gwisin throws much of the first book's formula overboard and introduces a new (old) main character, new character dynamics, and a new setting. It's a bold move by the author, but don't worry, it works.
After the end of book 1, Kim Hani not only reincarnated into a completely new life as Yoo Kisa, but also already died again and is now a gwisin, a ghost, working in the underworld. In the meantime, the no-longer-fallen trickster god Seokga was looking everywhere for his soulmate but couldn't find her, even though they are connected through the Red Thread of Fate. After a 33-year search (I still don't understand how the first book took place in the 90s), his therapist sends him on a ship that's navigating the waters of the underworld – for a vacation. There he finally meets his soulmate, but it's not the Hani he's been looking for, but Kisa. The question if these two are the same person plays a big part in the book, and it made the relationship with Seokga very interesting. Kisa doesn't possess any memories of her previous lives and has a totally different personality. When alive, she worked as a doctor in magical medicine and led a very academic-focused life to get there. She's intelligent and approaches everything in an analytical way, but she's also a caring friend. I liked her a lot and she fit well into the little group that consisted of: a shaman (dead), a fox (dead), a K-pop idol (dead), a trickster god (immortal), a baby (immortal). They are a merry band of characters and often unserious – I cackled over their smut book club –, but the book also doesn't fail to handle heavier themes well when necessary. I would definitely put trigger warnings for suicide and death, so be aware. Seokga's character exploration was hard to read as well, because it unpacked his traumatic past with his father. His character got a lot of depth in this book, and other gods got a bigger role as well. I'm not well versed in Korean mythology, so reading about the gods, creatures and realms was super interesting, just like in book 1.
The one thing I didn't like about this book was the whole mystery / investigation part. The reveal was so painfully obvious to me, because But no character thought the same way. The investigating lacked too, especially after Seokga was an actual detective in book 1. But I think you won't mind too much if you're mostly in for the characters and the romance. Seokga and Kisa's relationship was very nice, and I especially like that their bond wasn't a secret but clear from their first meeting. I could have done without the whole hearing-each-other-thoughts-part, because I didn't really see a reason for that.
The story wrapped up nicely this time and provided way more closure than the mean ending of book 1. The very last chapter did make room for a sequel though, so maybe Sophie Kim plans to write some more in the future. I would literally read anything set in this world.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2025
4.5 stars! Sophie Kim has to be one of the cleverest authors i’ve ever read stories from - this book had me kicking and giggling and laughing out loud and then also tearing up on the train in public??? Sophie’s voice is so clear in this book and Seokga’s grumpiness was easily my favorite part of this book. this was an excellent sequel to an amazing duology and i will part ways as one of my favorites - just pure fun!
December 9, 2025
4.5 ★— Another delight! This book takes place 33 years after the first one, and just like its predecessor, it shines with its humor, characters, and the way it (re-)builds the relationship between the MMC and FMC.
I think this might be one of the best reincarnation stories I’ve read, with how uniquely the world-building tackles the issue. I really liked how this book handled the forever conundrum of reincarnation: being someone in a past life but having no memory of it, and then having to deal with the consequences of what that past version of you did.
Seokga was his trickster-loving but also (now) very miserable self, and seeing him so devoted to Hani, seeing him so in love, was really heartening for the part of me that loves men who yearn(!)
Hani, who is now Kisa, was completely different, which I liked! She is highly intelligent, perceptive, and in many ways the opposite of her former Gumiho life. Seeing her entangle herself with Seokga, who she was wary and unsure of at first, was beautifully done.
I also just loved the setting! A cruise ship for the Dead is ingenious, and the author made use of it in all the ways she could, giving me all the fluffy, fun stuff while also writing a surprisingly arresting and well-developed emotional bond not only between Kisa and Seokga, but also with Seokga and his familial relationships.
We also get some detective work and a mystery plot that takes a while to be introduced and was maybe just a tad less as fun as in the first book.
I really, really enjoyed this, but I do think I ultimately loved Hani/Seokga more than Kisa/Seokga. The cat-and-mouse aspect in the previous story, along with me simply preferring them as chaos goblins together rather than the calmer connection we get here, makes me ultimately rate this one slightly lower than the first book.
Anyway, I am breathlessly waiting for the next book in the series!
I think this might be one of the best reincarnation stories I’ve read, with how uniquely the world-building tackles the issue. I really liked how this book handled the forever conundrum of reincarnation: being someone in a past life but having no memory of it, and then having to deal with the consequences of what that past version of you did.
Seokga was his trickster-loving but also (now) very miserable self, and seeing him so devoted to Hani, seeing him so in love, was really heartening for the part of me that loves men who yearn(!)
Hani, who is now Kisa, was completely different, which I liked! She is highly intelligent, perceptive, and in many ways the opposite of her former Gumiho life. Seeing her entangle herself with Seokga, who she was wary and unsure of at first, was beautifully done.
I also just loved the setting! A cruise ship for the Dead is ingenious, and the author made use of it in all the ways she could, giving me all the fluffy, fun stuff while also writing a surprisingly arresting and well-developed emotional bond not only between Kisa and Seokga, but also with Seokga and his familial relationships.
We also get some detective work and a mystery plot that takes a while to be introduced and was maybe just a tad less as fun as in the first book.
I really, really enjoyed this, but I do think I ultimately loved Hani/Seokga more than Kisa/Seokga. The cat-and-mouse aspect in the previous story, along with me simply preferring them as chaos goblins together rather than the calmer connection we get here, makes me ultimately rate this one slightly lower than the first book.
Anyway, I am breathlessly waiting for the next book in the series!
February 28, 2025
incoherent review:
HEARTBREAK AND HUMOR IN ONE BOOK!!! this is geniuninely a kdrama in book form from the most hilarious easter eggs to the classic heart wrenching cliffhangers. i ardently wish someone adapts this onto the screen, but even if they don't you all should read this book!! you might want to scream into an abyss every thirty pages but it's all worth it. TRUST ME!! this is worth every teardrop and laugh line and insane stress level. lemme go scream into the hills cause yess my babies are happy finally!!! full rtc
꩜ .ᐟ 18/02/2025: I HAVE THE ARC Y’ALL!! AKSDFJHBJJKHJHGF ⁽⁽`o(≧ᗜ≦)o´⁾⁾
꩜ .ᐟ 08/07/2024: YESSSS I KNEW IT!!! MISS SOPHIE WOULDNT LET ME DIE OF HEARTBREAK LIKE THAT. SHE MIGHT PUT US THROUGH ALL THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA, BUT SHE WILL MAKE US HAPPY (won’t you? 🥺🫶) can’t wait to have seokga and hani(?) back in 2025!! only 259 days to go 😭🤞
꩜ .ᐟ 18/02/2025: I HAVE THE ARC Y’ALL!! AKSDFJHBJJKHJHGF ⁽⁽`o(≧ᗜ≦)o´⁾⁾
꩜ .ᐟ 08/07/2024: YESSSS I KNEW IT!!! MISS SOPHIE WOULDNT LET ME DIE OF HEARTBREAK LIKE THAT. SHE MIGHT PUT US THROUGH ALL THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA, BUT SHE WILL MAKE US HAPPY (won’t you? 🥺🫶) can’t wait to have seokga and hani(?) back in 2025!! only 259 days to go 😭🤞
dnf
June 28, 2025DNF @ 20%
Unfortunately, I've just lost interest in this world and its characters. A lot of factors had a hand in this, but mostly ever since my reread of The God and the Gumiho that I gave 3 stars (which on my first read, I'd given 5), I just don't care anymore??? I've lost interest in this series (yes, I'm sad too considering my love for TGATG last year🥲). I gave this a shot at least up until 20% but I don't care for Kisa nor do I care about any of the characters or the plot.
I may still pick this up when I'm in a better reading mood but I don't think it will be any time soon.
(Del Rey please don't hate me😭)
Many thanks to Del Rey for the early copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
___________
SCREAMING THAT SYNOPSIS??? i can already feel the angst that's coming😩 seokga and hani lomls im ready for march 24, 2025 xoxo
Unfortunately, I've just lost interest in this world and its characters. A lot of factors had a hand in this, but mostly ever since my reread of The God and the Gumiho that I gave 3 stars (which on my first read, I'd given 5), I just don't care anymore??? I've lost interest in this series (yes, I'm sad too considering my love for TGATG last year🥲). I gave this a shot at least up until 20% but I don't care for Kisa nor do I care about any of the characters or the plot.
I may still pick this up when I'm in a better reading mood but I don't think it will be any time soon.
(Del Rey please don't hate me😭)
Many thanks to Del Rey for the early copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
___________
SCREAMING THAT SYNOPSIS??? i can already feel the angst that's coming😩 seokga and hani lomls im ready for march 24, 2025 xoxo
October 21, 2025
I’m not sure why it took me so long to read this duology, I devoured the first book and that ending broke me. When Hani died I was sobbing, my heart was breaking for Seogka. I was keen to dive into this book but also nervous as I wasn’t sure where the plot would take us.
Seogka has been looking for Hani for a long time, ever since the red thread of fate appeared tied to his little finger, he has been running himself ragged trying to find her. He even has a therapist, who encourages his brother the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang that Seogka needs a break so the three of them end up a river cruise literally down the river of the dead lol. While there Seogka suddenly has a lead on his lost soulmate but at the end of the thread he does not find Hani he finds Yoo Kisa, Hani’s reincarnation. When the Heavenly Emperor is murdered the two must team up to solve the mystery and will they work out what they mean to each other while doing so? For dark forces are at work.
It makes complete sense to me that Kisa would not be exactly like Hani, as when she was reborn after being reincarnated she was basically a blank slate. Our experiences help to shape us and Kisa and Hani lived completely different lives, so while they may share characteristics Kisa was never going to be a clone of Hani. I think Seogka needed Hani first to unlock his heart and teach him what love is and how to love but long term he needs Kisa’s gentleness and vulnerability. Saying that I did feel for Seogka as I think he was expecting Kisa to be like Hani but I think by the end he learned to appreciate and love Kisa for who she is. I really liked Kisa as she was such a complex character with many layers and I really loved the ending, I wondered how they would make it work as Kisa is a Gwisin - a ghost. I loved the surprise baby and how Seogka was left holding the baby, quite literally lol. Overall a brilliant end to the duology, would not hesitate with to recommend it.
Seogka has been looking for Hani for a long time, ever since the red thread of fate appeared tied to his little finger, he has been running himself ragged trying to find her. He even has a therapist, who encourages his brother the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang that Seogka needs a break so the three of them end up a river cruise literally down the river of the dead lol. While there Seogka suddenly has a lead on his lost soulmate but at the end of the thread he does not find Hani he finds Yoo Kisa, Hani’s reincarnation. When the Heavenly Emperor is murdered the two must team up to solve the mystery and will they work out what they mean to each other while doing so? For dark forces are at work.
It makes complete sense to me that Kisa would not be exactly like Hani, as when she was reborn after being reincarnated she was basically a blank slate. Our experiences help to shape us and Kisa and Hani lived completely different lives, so while they may share characteristics Kisa was never going to be a clone of Hani. I think Seogka needed Hani first to unlock his heart and teach him what love is and how to love but long term he needs Kisa’s gentleness and vulnerability. Saying that I did feel for Seogka as I think he was expecting Kisa to be like Hani but I think by the end he learned to appreciate and love Kisa for who she is. I really liked Kisa as she was such a complex character with many layers and I really loved the ending, I wondered how they would make it work as Kisa is a Gwisin - a ghost. I loved the surprise baby and how Seogka was left holding the baby, quite literally lol. Overall a brilliant end to the duology, would not hesitate with to recommend it.
August 2, 2025
I hate to rate this book so low cause I really loved the first one but I think I had a hard time with the reincarnation storyline. In this story we have Seokga desperately trying to find Hani's soul after the series of events that occurred at the end of book 1. Seokga has been searching for decades and his brother decided they need to take a vacation on a death boat and he ends up finding Hani's soul only it's a different person and the rest of the story is him struggling to learn how to deal with that (he legit has a therapist) as well as dealing with a nefarious plot.
I went into this with an open mind and admittedly high expectations but by halfway through I wanted the book to end. I understand the mythology and lore but I just couldn't get with Kisa. I really liked Hani but these two ppl were night and day despite sharing a soul and I definitely found myself irked at how Seokga essentially ends up falling in love again. Seokga and Hani were such an epic couple in book 1 and Kisa just had a lot of negativity and naivety. The addition of Somi also threw me off but I did enjoy her character growth in the story. The actual mystery plot took a back seat often and there was a random tangent that really didn't need to be added to the story. I was also able to guess how the story was going to end.
I would still recommend the first book for all the points I said in that review but I would pass on this one. It doesn't have the same momentum.
I went into this with an open mind and admittedly high expectations but by halfway through I wanted the book to end. I understand the mythology and lore but I just couldn't get with Kisa. I really liked Hani but these two ppl were night and day despite sharing a soul and I definitely found myself irked at how Seokga essentially ends up falling in love again. Seokga and Hani were such an epic couple in book 1 and Kisa just had a lot of negativity and naivety. The addition of Somi also threw me off but I did enjoy her character growth in the story. The actual mystery plot took a back seat often and there was a random tangent that really didn't need to be added to the story. I was also able to guess how the story was going to end.
I would still recommend the first book for all the points I said in that review but I would pass on this one. It doesn't have the same momentum.
July 15, 2025
Daddy issues, brought to you by a sentient thread of fate
This was surprisingly tender, and both books in the series were such a fun adventure. What stopped this from being a 5-star read for me was just an issue of pacing. It feels as though the "mystery" portion of the book really drags for about 75%, while more of the character arcs are set up, and then most happens at the end of the book. That being said, I think there are many readers who won't be bothered by this, and overall I've really enjoyed both books in this series.
This series is for those who want mythology and folklore but in a modern setting, with a heavy romantic subplot.
Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was surprisingly tender, and both books in the series were such a fun adventure. What stopped this from being a 5-star read for me was just an issue of pacing. It feels as though the "mystery" portion of the book really drags for about 75%, while more of the character arcs are set up, and then most happens at the end of the book. That being said, I think there are many readers who won't be bothered by this, and overall I've really enjoyed both books in this series.
This series is for those who want mythology and folklore but in a modern setting, with a heavy romantic subplot.
Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 9, 2025
Okay, this book was basically a fantasy K-drama and I was OBSESSED. It’s a slow burn story filled with Korean folklore, murder mystery, and a swoony, emotional romance, all set on a underworld cruise ship.
Seokga finally finds the love of his life… but there’s one tiny problem: she’s dead. And just when things start to get good, his brother gets murdered. Now they have to solve the mystery, and try not to fall apart in the process.
I loved how magical, charming, and whimsical this book felt. The reincarnation storyline had me hooked, and Seokga being a total grump but constantly soft for Kisa over and over again made me melt. The mythology was rich, the mystery kept me guessing and the romance was so intense it made me want to scream into a pillow. It was sweet, funny, heartbreaking, and such a fun read from start to finish.
I also loved seeing some familiar faces from the first book, plus the new characters were great too! Basically, this book wrecked me, but in the best way possible. If you’re into fantasy with depth, high stakes, a dash of mystery, and characters you’ll fall in love with, this book needs to be on your TBR!
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Korean Mythology
❤️🔥 Murder Mystery
❤️🔥 Reincarnation/Second Chance
❤️🔥 Underworld Setting
🚨🚨 TW: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Murder, Violence
Seokga finally finds the love of his life… but there’s one tiny problem: she’s dead. And just when things start to get good, his brother gets murdered. Now they have to solve the mystery, and try not to fall apart in the process.
I loved how magical, charming, and whimsical this book felt. The reincarnation storyline had me hooked, and Seokga being a total grump but constantly soft for Kisa over and over again made me melt. The mythology was rich, the mystery kept me guessing and the romance was so intense it made me want to scream into a pillow. It was sweet, funny, heartbreaking, and such a fun read from start to finish.
I also loved seeing some familiar faces from the first book, plus the new characters were great too! Basically, this book wrecked me, but in the best way possible. If you’re into fantasy with depth, high stakes, a dash of mystery, and characters you’ll fall in love with, this book needs to be on your TBR!
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Korean Mythology
❤️🔥 Murder Mystery
❤️🔥 Reincarnation/Second Chance
❤️🔥 Underworld Setting
🚨🚨 TW: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Murder, Violence
August 18, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!!
i’ve noticed that a lot of books pubbed back in 2023 and 2024 that could have been left as standalones have been receiving a second book, and i personally felt a lot of those books could have been left alone.
however, the god and the gwisin was an excellent addition to the world that sophie kim created in the god and the gumiho. it was so lovely to return to the world and the characters, and most importantly added another man who yearns to my shelf!!
i also listened to the audio, which had my favorite: dual narrators! they did a great job!
i’ve noticed that a lot of books pubbed back in 2023 and 2024 that could have been left as standalones have been receiving a second book, and i personally felt a lot of those books could have been left alone.
however, the god and the gwisin was an excellent addition to the world that sophie kim created in the god and the gumiho. it was so lovely to return to the world and the characters, and most importantly added another man who yearns to my shelf!!
i also listened to the audio, which had my favorite: dual narrators! they did a great job!
February 5, 2025
BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE PUBLISHER AND NETGALLEY FOR LETTING ME IN FOR ROUND 2!
So. The last book was heartbreaking. Sophie Kim was like, 'okay, lets NOT and give this book a happier tone'. A who-dun-it type mystery set aboard a river cruise for the dead. Let's also make a little Scooby-Doo team out of some new faces, old faces, and a Gwisin who is the reincarnation of God's first love.
Sophie Kim gives us a K-Drama that gives us vibes of Tale of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Our God is mourning over his lost love. Going to therapy, doing things that remind him of her, and ... still looking for her. Her reincarnation is somewhere, but where? Suddenly a red thread appears, luring him to London but Hani is no where to be found. If he was there just minutes before hand, he would have see his love as a medical assistant plummeting to her death by falling off the roof of a hospital. Which leads us into how SHE ends up on a cruise meant for those who died.
I liked Sophie's new characters - some of them silly, some of them not so silly. I liked that we got a little more insight on the Gods (our lead God's parents), family issues, and so on. The dilemma that our God and our once-gumiho are in has to do with a baby, and it was funny to see them act like parents to this infant who has godly powers.
But Hani - is she okay? Does she have memories of her past life? How does he feel about finding her but realizing that she remembers nothing and is a completely different person? That's what this story is about. Identity and does love still remain even though the form has changed? In this book, our God must recognize that Hani is not coming back, but is Kisa a valid and worthy replacement for his love?
The characters have to go through trust and finding love again. The end, while true to the characters, was a little weak for me, but the cliffhanger has me excited for book three and the family drama (I imply this heavily) in-store.
If you liked book one, you'll enjoy book two just as much. The only reason I marked it down is that I'm not a fan on books that take place on boats because I feel the action is hindered.
I need book three, Sophie! Library adventures in the future?
So. The last book was heartbreaking. Sophie Kim was like, 'okay, lets NOT and give this book a happier tone'. A who-dun-it type mystery set aboard a river cruise for the dead. Let's also make a little Scooby-Doo team out of some new faces, old faces, and a Gwisin who is the reincarnation of God's first love.
Sophie Kim gives us a K-Drama that gives us vibes of Tale of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Our God is mourning over his lost love. Going to therapy, doing things that remind him of her, and ... still looking for her. Her reincarnation is somewhere, but where? Suddenly a red thread appears, luring him to London but Hani is no where to be found. If he was there just minutes before hand, he would have see his love as a medical assistant plummeting to her death by falling off the roof of a hospital. Which leads us into how SHE ends up on a cruise meant for those who died.
I liked Sophie's new characters - some of them silly, some of them not so silly. I liked that we got a little more insight on the Gods (our lead God's parents), family issues, and so on. The dilemma that our God and our once-gumiho are in has to do with a baby, and it was funny to see them act like parents to this infant who has godly powers.
But Hani - is she okay? Does she have memories of her past life? How does he feel about finding her but realizing that she remembers nothing and is a completely different person? That's what this story is about. Identity and does love still remain even though the form has changed? In this book, our God must recognize that Hani is not coming back, but is Kisa a valid and worthy replacement for his love?
The characters have to go through trust and finding love again. The end, while true to the characters, was a little weak for me, but the cliffhanger has me excited for book three and the family drama (I imply this heavily) in-store.
If you liked book one, you'll enjoy book two just as much. The only reason I marked it down is that I'm not a fan on books that take place on boats because I feel the action is hindered.
I need book three, Sophie! Library adventures in the future?
April 14, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the eARC of this book :)
The God and the Gumiho was one of my absolute favorite books of 2024 and its sequel lived up to every one of my expectations. It has the fun elements of a murder mystery (on a cruise ship), reincarnation, k pop idols, second change romance and Korean mythology all mixed into one with a mix of new and old characters that we already love.
After the cliff hanger of the first book, it picks up 33 years later with Seokga following the red thread of fate towards Hani, except it turns out it is not Hani, but Yoo Kisa. Much to Seokga’s dismay, we learn that Yoo Kisa has no memories of her past life as Hani (and therefore him). But when his brother gets murdered, they have to band together to figure out who the murderer is all while trying to understand their connection and where they fit into each other’s lives.
I really loved Yoo Kisa’s character and how the relationship with Seokga developed over time and in a completely new way compared to his and Hani’s relationship. Although she is not Hani, I really liked the way the character arc and story line was done to tell us that she is her own person but not skipping over Hani completely since her character still plays a part in this book. I loved how her past life started blending with her new life, yet not erasing the parts of her that still made her Kisa. We also get to see deeper parts of Seokga as he delves into his relationship with his parents and brother, as well as his insecurities from his past.
All in all, I really really loved this. It has the same humor and banter as The God and the Gumiho, yet also touches on the mental health issues of the characters.
The God and the Gumiho was one of my absolute favorite books of 2024 and its sequel lived up to every one of my expectations. It has the fun elements of a murder mystery (on a cruise ship), reincarnation, k pop idols, second change romance and Korean mythology all mixed into one with a mix of new and old characters that we already love.
After the cliff hanger of the first book, it picks up 33 years later with Seokga following the red thread of fate towards Hani, except it turns out it is not Hani, but Yoo Kisa. Much to Seokga’s dismay, we learn that Yoo Kisa has no memories of her past life as Hani (and therefore him). But when his brother gets murdered, they have to band together to figure out who the murderer is all while trying to understand their connection and where they fit into each other’s lives.
I really loved Yoo Kisa’s character and how the relationship with Seokga developed over time and in a completely new way compared to his and Hani’s relationship. Although she is not Hani, I really liked the way the character arc and story line was done to tell us that she is her own person but not skipping over Hani completely since her character still plays a part in this book. I loved how her past life started blending with her new life, yet not erasing the parts of her that still made her Kisa. We also get to see deeper parts of Seokga as he delves into his relationship with his parents and brother, as well as his insecurities from his past.
All in all, I really really loved this. It has the same humor and banter as The God and the Gumiho, yet also touches on the mental health issues of the characters.
May 25, 2025
"Some stories deserve a happy ending."
While the beginning was a bit slow, The God and the Gwisin was still a really entertaining book. After getting past the first 15% of the book, I honestly flew through it trying to guess who the murderer was and needing to get my answers.
Spoilers for The God and the Gumiho ahead!!!
Seokga the No-Longer-Fallen is looking for the love of his life. Ever since he lost Hani, nothing has felt right and he’s been desperately searching for her reincarnated form. But when the red thread of fate leads Seokga to a cruise down the river of the dead, the woman he finds isn't Hani . . . she's Yoo Kisa, and she has no memory of him whatsoever - with seemingly no interest in regaining it either. Although, when the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang is murdered, Seokga and Kisa must solve the crime before the cruise ends. And as the mystery draws them closer, they will have to decide what they truly mean to each other.
I won’t lie, I feel like the synopsis of this book spoiled a lot of things and I definitely believe that it’s better to go in blind. I would have much rather not know who gets murdered aboard the cruise ship and I also think that not knowing about the red thread of fate from the beginning would have also added another pleasant element of surprise.
As I said, The beginning of the book was quite slow and this most likely happened because of Kisa. It felt a bit disorienting at first to read from her perspective and I didn’t like how Seokga and even us as readers were constantly comparing her to Hani. I really wanted to get to know Kisa as her own character, not as Hani’s reincarnation!
I did fall in love with Kisa tho. She was so smart and funny and I found her so relatable at this that I just couldn’t help loving her. She had her own struggles and I loved seeing how they impacted her and how she dealt with everything the world has thrown at her in her life. She was genuinely a really pleasant surprise since I wasn’t sure what to expect of her after what happened in The God and the Gumiho.
Seokga, the same as in the first book, had my heart. He is just my grumpy, caffeine addicted god and I love him so much!! He and his poor detective skills make this book so funny, in spite of some of the seriousness of his character.
The romance between the two was genuinely the cutest!! This is one book where the soulmates trope was done right!!! One thing I was scared about while going into this book, was that it will be an insta-love situation. And while some might argue that it was, I believe that not only did it work with the story, but it also didn’t feel like insta-love. The book takes place over the span of a week or two, but with the way their romance develops it feels like they spend so much more time together than they actually do and they form such a beautiful bond in the end.
I was also pretty scared about how the romance will develop due to Hani and the impact she had on Seokga in The God and the Gumiho, but by the end I realised I had no reason to be scared about that. There was this one moment in the book where Seokga becomes aware of the fact that it was Hani who he needed first, to help him open up to the possibility of love, but Kisa was the one he needed in the present with her gentleness.
I also really loved some of the side characters in this book like Hwanung (the way he and Seokga interacted was everything!! Seokga genuinely loves his brother so much and seeing them together healed my soul), Hajun (a new character we meet in this book! I absolutely loved his friendship with Kisa! I need a friend like him frfr) and a character that we met in a previous book that honestly I didn’t like back then but somehow miss Sophie Kim made me love her!
Now onto the mystery…. I predicted who the murderer was and the turn the plot was going to take towards the end. The plot in itself wasn’t bad but all these plot twists were hinted so heavily from the beginning of the book that they didn’t even feel like plot twists by the end. It was obvious to me that they would happen, I was there just waiting for everything to go down.
Overall, this was a solid book and I’m curious to see what Sophie Kim has in store next! (also don’t fall in the same trap I did! This book is NOT ya!)
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for a copy of this book!
While the beginning was a bit slow, The God and the Gwisin was still a really entertaining book. After getting past the first 15% of the book, I honestly flew through it trying to guess who the murderer was and needing to get my answers.
Spoilers for The God and the Gumiho ahead!!!
Seokga the No-Longer-Fallen is looking for the love of his life. Ever since he lost Hani, nothing has felt right and he’s been desperately searching for her reincarnated form. But when the red thread of fate leads Seokga to a cruise down the river of the dead, the woman he finds isn't Hani . . . she's Yoo Kisa, and she has no memory of him whatsoever - with seemingly no interest in regaining it either. Although, when the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang is murdered, Seokga and Kisa must solve the crime before the cruise ends. And as the mystery draws them closer, they will have to decide what they truly mean to each other.
I won’t lie, I feel like the synopsis of this book spoiled a lot of things and I definitely believe that it’s better to go in blind. I would have much rather not know who gets murdered aboard the cruise ship and I also think that not knowing about the red thread of fate from the beginning would have also added another pleasant element of surprise.
As I said, The beginning of the book was quite slow and this most likely happened because of Kisa. It felt a bit disorienting at first to read from her perspective and I didn’t like how Seokga and even us as readers were constantly comparing her to Hani. I really wanted to get to know Kisa as her own character, not as Hani’s reincarnation!
I did fall in love with Kisa tho. She was so smart and funny and I found her so relatable at this that I just couldn’t help loving her. She had her own struggles and I loved seeing how they impacted her and how she dealt with everything the world has thrown at her in her life. She was genuinely a really pleasant surprise since I wasn’t sure what to expect of her after what happened in The God and the Gumiho.
Seokga, the same as in the first book, had my heart. He is just my grumpy, caffeine addicted god and I love him so much!! He and his poor detective skills make this book so funny, in spite of some of the seriousness of his character.
The romance between the two was genuinely the cutest!! This is one book where the soulmates trope was done right!!! One thing I was scared about while going into this book, was that it will be an insta-love situation. And while some might argue that it was, I believe that not only did it work with the story, but it also didn’t feel like insta-love. The book takes place over the span of a week or two, but with the way their romance develops it feels like they spend so much more time together than they actually do and they form such a beautiful bond in the end.
I was also pretty scared about how the romance will develop due to Hani and the impact she had on Seokga in The God and the Gumiho, but by the end I realised I had no reason to be scared about that. There was this one moment in the book where Seokga becomes aware of the fact that it was Hani who he needed first, to help him open up to the possibility of love, but Kisa was the one he needed in the present with her gentleness.
I also really loved some of the side characters in this book like Hwanung (the way he and Seokga interacted was everything!! Seokga genuinely loves his brother so much and seeing them together healed my soul), Hajun (a new character we meet in this book! I absolutely loved his friendship with Kisa! I need a friend like him frfr) and a character that we met in a previous book that honestly I didn’t like back then but somehow miss Sophie Kim made me love her!
Now onto the mystery…. I predicted who the murderer was and the turn the plot was going to take towards the end. The plot in itself wasn’t bad but all these plot twists were hinted so heavily from the beginning of the book that they didn’t even feel like plot twists by the end. It was obvious to me that they would happen, I was there just waiting for everything to go down.
Overall, this was a solid book and I’m curious to see what Sophie Kim has in store next! (also don’t fall in the same trap I did! This book is NOT ya!)
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for a copy of this book!
February 17, 2025
.4 stars.
- (slight) spoilers ahead!
.my thoughts.
The god and the gwisin is an interesting conclusion to the series, and it was a whole rocky ride that I found myself leaning in.
Seokga has his soulmate reincarnated and tied to him with a red thread, only to realise, she's dead, and not Hani as he mostly expected, yet hoped like a delusional. But with his brother's unexpected murder and only few days to solve in, he teams up with Kisa, Somi and Hajun. And they all are the worst detectives mind you.
The writing style was absolutely interesting, one thing I can never deny is Sophie Kim's writing style always get me in ways I cannot decipher, it's like being attached to one with such an interesting handwriting which is absolutely normal. The pacing seemed quiet alright for me too. And Kim's book having red thread theory like the previous one has me with NO complains, because I absolutely enjoy the red thread as she does.
Seokga, was hopelessly needed a therapist, how depressed he was, makes us realise how much love he carried just for her, and finding her only to find his [delusional] hopes shattered, he would definitely need a karaoke session afterwards, but his brother had a better plan earlier to make him go on a vacation way before he met Kisa.
Yoo Kisa, an intelligent scholar, and amazing person, with more knowledge than her age, was a character I was found of👀 she was scared of attaching herself too close to Seokga [failed] and was immensely disappointed thinking Seokga and her have a relationship based on her past life even though she was nothing like it right now.
Hwanin, was so appreciated here, and I loved it so much🥹🤍 he was an amazing brother, and I would never stop talking he played a major role, and the way Seokga expressed his love and affection yet annoyance to him was adorable, it's like me with my sister.
Somi, i understand that she was also in grief, but I painfully admit I found her quite irritating, the way she was behaving seemed like an act, and even though I was, liking and disliking her at the same time.
Hajun, oh the best friend I profusely need in life, he had an amazing character, he was a literal idol, and the way he would blush or stutter around Somi was honestly too cute to pass on.
Somi and Hajun together were still a cute couple I adored, and saw so many moments I enjoyed of them together.
Seokga and Kisa were immensely amazing together too! I loved every interaction they had which was hilariously funny. And Kisa's obsession with Seokga's bum made me half cringe and half amused.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and loved it like always. I also predicted the most trust ones, even though one took me aback, and it was really satisfying and thrilling ride, I was gripping my seat with every moment that passed.
.preread.
yeah no I'm picking this up right after I wake up tomorrow because why not, I want to see how it goes!
. ݁₊ ⊹ reading after exams.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me this lovely arc ! gonna pursue this soon as possible omg♥️
- (slight) spoilers ahead!
"You love fully and completely, only to have it returned in less than half."
.my thoughts.
The god and the gwisin is an interesting conclusion to the series, and it was a whole rocky ride that I found myself leaning in.
Seokga has his soulmate reincarnated and tied to him with a red thread, only to realise, she's dead, and not Hani as he mostly expected, yet hoped like a delusional. But with his brother's unexpected murder and only few days to solve in, he teams up with Kisa, Somi and Hajun. And they all are the worst detectives mind you.
The writing style was absolutely interesting, one thing I can never deny is Sophie Kim's writing style always get me in ways I cannot decipher, it's like being attached to one with such an interesting handwriting which is absolutely normal. The pacing seemed quiet alright for me too. And Kim's book having red thread theory like the previous one has me with NO complains, because I absolutely enjoy the red thread as she does.
Seokga, was hopelessly needed a therapist, how depressed he was, makes us realise how much love he carried just for her, and finding her only to find his [delusional] hopes shattered, he would definitely need a karaoke session afterwards, but his brother had a better plan earlier to make him go on a vacation way before he met Kisa.
Yoo Kisa, an intelligent scholar, and amazing person, with more knowledge than her age, was a character I was found of👀 she was scared of attaching herself too close to Seokga [failed] and was immensely disappointed thinking Seokga and her have a relationship based on her past life even though she was nothing like it right now.
Hwanin, was so appreciated here, and I loved it so much🥹🤍 he was an amazing brother, and I would never stop talking he played a major role, and the way Seokga expressed his love and affection yet annoyance to him was adorable, it's like me with my sister.
Somi, i understand that she was also in grief, but I painfully admit I found her quite irritating, the way she was behaving seemed like an act, and even though I was, liking and disliking her at the same time.
Hajun, oh the best friend I profusely need in life, he had an amazing character, he was a literal idol, and the way he would blush or stutter around Somi was honestly too cute to pass on.
Somi and Hajun together were still a cute couple I adored, and saw so many moments I enjoyed of them together.
Seokga and Kisa were immensely amazing together too! I loved every interaction they had which was hilariously funny. And Kisa's obsession with Seokga's bum made me half cringe and half amused.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and loved it like always. I also predicted the most trust ones, even though one took me aback, and it was really satisfying and thrilling ride, I was gripping my seat with every moment that passed.
"Stop gaping Yeomra. You look like a dying fish."
.preread.
yeah no I'm picking this up right after I wake up tomorrow because why not, I want to see how it goes!
. ݁₊ ⊹ reading after exams.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me this lovely arc ! gonna pursue this soon as possible omg♥️
July 14, 2025
5⭐️
"Her lips are so sweet against his, and when her nose bumps against his, Seokga wonders if he has found Kisa a religion outside of his own to worship."
...
The God and the Gumiho is one of my all-time favorite books. I own it in multiple editions and have read it many times. So, as you can imagine, this was a very anticipated read for me! I went in with some trepidation, knowing that I may not get quite what I was expecting in terms of Kim Hani's character (whom I love). I think if you do the same, you will enjoy this as much as I did!
Kisa was her own wonderfully unique and loveable character, just in ways that were not the same as Hani's. She was gentler, softer around the edges. However, at the same time, she was strong and protected those she loved.
Her dynamic with Seokga may have been different, but it was also so lovely to simply watch them fall in love all over again. Good old Sexy Seokga will always remain in my heart as one of my favorite book characters in existence. He is so grumpy, complex, and to his dismay, soft at heart.
I loved the underlying mystery that weaves its way through the story (much like our red thread of fate), and the way we were able to unpeel more layers of Seokga's past. Especially with his family dynamics.
Sophie Kim is such an excellent writer. She makes me laugh, she makes me cry, she makes me swoon, and she keeps me turning the page and re-reading her stories over and over again. Thank you for another lovely story :)
"Her lips are so sweet against his, and when her nose bumps against his, Seokga wonders if he has found Kisa a religion outside of his own to worship."
...
The God and the Gumiho is one of my all-time favorite books. I own it in multiple editions and have read it many times. So, as you can imagine, this was a very anticipated read for me! I went in with some trepidation, knowing that I may not get quite what I was expecting in terms of Kim Hani's character (whom I love). I think if you do the same, you will enjoy this as much as I did!
Kisa was her own wonderfully unique and loveable character, just in ways that were not the same as Hani's. She was gentler, softer around the edges. However, at the same time, she was strong and protected those she loved.
Her dynamic with Seokga may have been different, but it was also so lovely to simply watch them fall in love all over again. Good old Sexy Seokga will always remain in my heart as one of my favorite book characters in existence. He is so grumpy, complex, and to his dismay, soft at heart.
I loved the underlying mystery that weaves its way through the story (much like our red thread of fate), and the way we were able to unpeel more layers of Seokga's past. Especially with his family dynamics.
Sophie Kim is such an excellent writer. She makes me laugh, she makes me cry, she makes me swoon, and she keeps me turning the page and re-reading her stories over and over again. Thank you for another lovely story :)
June 17, 2025
3.75⭐️ I enjoyed the first book, but the sequel didn’t hit the same for me—maybe it was the focus on new characters, which was okay, but I might just be biased toward Hani. The way the romance played out didn’t really pull me in either, but I still enjoyed the mystery—even if it was predictable and it was nice seeing some growth from Seokgo.
June 7, 2025
4.5 stars
Thank you Netgalley, Del Rey and Sophie Kim for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I also read the first instalment as an eARC so this was particularly exciting for me!
As someone who was blown away by the ending of THE GOD AND THE GUMIHO, I was absolutely ecstatic to hear the author had plans to write a continuation. I spent about a year trying to come up with ways Kim could go about this because it wasn't as clear cut an answer as it typically is with fantasy romances. I am happy to say that the author's creativity far exceeded my expectations!
Just like in the first book, we accompany grumpy trickster god, Seokga, as he descends into the river of the Dead for a cruise after being convinced a vacation is exactly what he needs. He's spent 30 years searching for his soulmate (Hani) after all, so burnout is a completely normal consequence (especially after a frigid trip to Antartica). With only a thread of fate to connect him to her and after years of not getting closer to finding her, it comes as a surprise to Seokga when said thread suddenly connects him to a cruise employee, Kisa, who is very much unlike Hani and has no memories of their time together.
This would be all fine and well, but this is Seokga, who always attracts bad luck, so obviously *someone* ends up murdered on the ship and they have only five days to figure out whom before he is accused of said murder since said person was no other than Seokga's own brother, the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang with whom he has a sort of difficult relationship. I personally hate detective stories (yes, including Sherlock Holmes, sue me), so when I tell you I still loved this book (and the one before), I mean it in the most surprising way! Even though the mystery was a little predictable, that is never the point.... The point is obviously the K-dramaesque build up to the relationship between Seokga and Kisa, as well as their lovely companions, a K-Pop idol and a gumiho.
No one will ever beat Hani for me, but Kisa came so close! I love how different she is but also how similar in a lot of ways, and how Seokga learns to accept that this reincarnation of Hani is right for him, just as Hani had been at that point in time. They were so cute together, and the writing never wandered far from humourous while still maintaining a grip on the emotional side to the plot, which made this an enjoyable, lighthearted read that had been reacting in embarassing ways in the public transit system. Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Netgalley, Del Rey and Sophie Kim for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I also read the first instalment as an eARC so this was particularly exciting for me!
As someone who was blown away by the ending of THE GOD AND THE GUMIHO, I was absolutely ecstatic to hear the author had plans to write a continuation. I spent about a year trying to come up with ways Kim could go about this because it wasn't as clear cut an answer as it typically is with fantasy romances. I am happy to say that the author's creativity far exceeded my expectations!
Just like in the first book, we accompany grumpy trickster god, Seokga, as he descends into the river of the Dead for a cruise after being convinced a vacation is exactly what he needs. He's spent 30 years searching for his soulmate (Hani) after all, so burnout is a completely normal consequence (especially after a frigid trip to Antartica). With only a thread of fate to connect him to her and after years of not getting closer to finding her, it comes as a surprise to Seokga when said thread suddenly connects him to a cruise employee, Kisa, who is very much unlike Hani and has no memories of their time together.
This would be all fine and well, but this is Seokga, who always attracts bad luck, so obviously *someone* ends up murdered on the ship and they have only five days to figure out whom before he is accused of said murder since said person was no other than Seokga's own brother, the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang with whom he has a sort of difficult relationship. I personally hate detective stories (yes, including Sherlock Holmes, sue me), so when I tell you I still loved this book (and the one before), I mean it in the most surprising way! Even though the mystery was a little predictable, that is never the point.... The point is obviously the K-dramaesque build up to the relationship between Seokga and Kisa, as well as their lovely companions, a K-Pop idol and a gumiho.
No one will ever beat Hani for me, but Kisa came so close! I love how different she is but also how similar in a lot of ways, and how Seokga learns to accept that this reincarnation of Hani is right for him, just as Hani had been at that point in time. They were so cute together, and the writing never wandered far from humourous while still maintaining a grip on the emotional side to the plot, which made this an enjoyable, lighthearted read that had been reacting in embarassing ways in the public transit system. Highly recommend!!!!!!!!!!
May 14, 2025
When you've been looking for the reincarnation of your soulmate for so many years your therapist begs you to take a vacation... on an underworld cruise ship... and you finally find her there, but she doesn't remember you. Oh, and there's also a murder mystery. And a surprise baby, but not in the way you think (have fun figuring that one out).
I can promise you, you haven't read a series quite like this before. The closest comp would be adult romantasy Percy Jackson, with Korean mythology. This sequel is pretty different from the previous book - characters old and new, in a completely new setting and situation. It's again an incredibly funny read, and even though I missed Hani just as much as Seokga at first, Kisa grew on me very quickly, and I ended up absolutely adoring her. But aside from being fun, there's also so much yearning. I empathized so deeply with Seokga, who desperately wanted to (re)connect with his soulmate after losing her and having searched for all these years. There's truly nothing like the reincarnation/soulmates trope done right.
I can promise you, you haven't read a series quite like this before. The closest comp would be adult romantasy Percy Jackson, with Korean mythology. This sequel is pretty different from the previous book - characters old and new, in a completely new setting and situation. It's again an incredibly funny read, and even though I missed Hani just as much as Seokga at first, Kisa grew on me very quickly, and I ended up absolutely adoring her. But aside from being fun, there's also so much yearning. I empathized so deeply with Seokga, who desperately wanted to (re)connect with his soulmate after losing her and having searched for all these years. There's truly nothing like the reincarnation/soulmates trope done right.
October 22, 2025
4🌟 This book somehow manages to be both hilarious and heartbreakingly sad at the same time. It handles depression with surprising tenderness, balancing it with those warm, introspective inner monologues that hit a little too close to home. I connected more with Hani’s personality than Kisa’s, which probably explains the missing star.
The plot was a bit messier than the first book, but honestly, I still adore this series. It’s heartfelt, funny, and quietly profound. I can’t recommend it enough.
The plot was a bit messier than the first book, but honestly, I still adore this series. It’s heartfelt, funny, and quietly profound. I can’t recommend it enough.
June 26, 2025
Unfortunately, for me the 2nd part of the duology could not match the quality of the 1st book. I really liked The God & Gumiho and eagerly awaited the continuation.
It's not a bad story and I still recommend reading it, but be aware that it has suffered from the current Romantasy issues of tropification & convenience editing to appeal to a mass of younger female readers, who have read and enjoyed many similar books before.
Whilst I acknowledge that we have some character development in our trickster god Seokga and the overall idea with the ship cruise and drama was interesting, the execution lacked and some of the new characters introduced were totally inconsistent.
Mainly I am speaking about the female lead Kisa, who cannot by any means compete with the charismatic and experienced Hani from the first book, whose reincarnation she presents. I appreciate that the 2 women needed to have major differences, but Kisa's character made no sense in many ways. Telling us she was working as a doctor in the maternity wards of a magical hospital for years delivering babies, but lacking the maturity that a job like that brings automatically, also in regards to sexuality. She was 22 years when she died but worked 7 years in the underworld, which makes her close to 30 years but she reads extremely young - a move to keep the character as close to the targeted reader as possible. Even if not everyone has to have sexual experiences at all, there is no must in human lives, her way to work in her profession stands in total contrast to how she acts around Seogka, and her inexperience is questioned once she starts getting naked and having a pool thing with the god.
Also the sudden appearance of the god emperor Hwanin as a baby - even if it is explained contextually and acts a funny detail of brotherly annoyance for Seokga - adds a weird mature moment, where all of sudden everyone becomes an adult, protective, snuggly and focussed on reproduction. In regard to the storyline the baby is a liability and sucks the fun out of the murder mystery it is a product of. In regard to romance, please choose between either sexy and naughty or family vibes and responsibility.
The side-kick Hajun, a former k-pop idol who took his own life and who was a brilliant idea on paper, never became real because here the fact, that the author and all editors of this story were female, showed the most. The way he spoke in general, thought and also acted around his love interest Somi, never even remotely sounded like a guy. Without simplifying men and reinforcing gender cliches, there are differences in what men would speak about, to whom and when - how they look at a situation and internally evaluate, where they would hold things back, even if they feel them etc. It's a typical problem within many genres when women write men, but especially when romance or any kinds of emotional responses are involved.
I enjoyed the mythical creatures and legends, the mystery part, the actions taking place on the ship - which could have been more detailed but the romance was the focus - and Seokga in general, who was himself but with a certain amount of growth. Yet his infatuation with Kisa is not plausible, especially in comparison to her former self Hani, who excelled as a main lead in the 1st book because she was multi-facetted and not a little, innocent, frightened damsel in distress.
I hope the author will get back to her old form in the next book she publishes, which I very much will want to read, but I would highly suggest to stop writing for a market and a typical target group, instead prioritise a good story and its unique nuances. The new adults of GenZ all will get older and even now deserve to be challenged with good and diverse stories that make them think.
It's not a bad story and I still recommend reading it, but be aware that it has suffered from the current Romantasy issues of tropification & convenience editing to appeal to a mass of younger female readers, who have read and enjoyed many similar books before.
Whilst I acknowledge that we have some character development in our trickster god Seokga and the overall idea with the ship cruise and drama was interesting, the execution lacked and some of the new characters introduced were totally inconsistent.
Mainly I am speaking about the female lead Kisa, who cannot by any means compete with the charismatic and experienced Hani from the first book, whose reincarnation she presents. I appreciate that the 2 women needed to have major differences, but Kisa's character made no sense in many ways. Telling us she was working as a doctor in the maternity wards of a magical hospital for years delivering babies, but lacking the maturity that a job like that brings automatically, also in regards to sexuality. She was 22 years when she died but worked 7 years in the underworld, which makes her close to 30 years but she reads extremely young - a move to keep the character as close to the targeted reader as possible. Even if not everyone has to have sexual experiences at all, there is no must in human lives, her way to work in her profession stands in total contrast to how she acts around Seogka, and her inexperience is questioned once she starts getting naked and having a pool thing with the god.
Also the sudden appearance of the god emperor Hwanin as a baby - even if it is explained contextually and acts a funny detail of brotherly annoyance for Seokga - adds a weird mature moment, where all of sudden everyone becomes an adult, protective, snuggly and focussed on reproduction. In regard to the storyline the baby is a liability and sucks the fun out of the murder mystery it is a product of. In regard to romance, please choose between either sexy and naughty or family vibes and responsibility.
The side-kick Hajun, a former k-pop idol who took his own life and who was a brilliant idea on paper, never became real because here the fact, that the author and all editors of this story were female, showed the most. The way he spoke in general, thought and also acted around his love interest Somi, never even remotely sounded like a guy. Without simplifying men and reinforcing gender cliches, there are differences in what men would speak about, to whom and when - how they look at a situation and internally evaluate, where they would hold things back, even if they feel them etc. It's a typical problem within many genres when women write men, but especially when romance or any kinds of emotional responses are involved.
I enjoyed the mythical creatures and legends, the mystery part, the actions taking place on the ship - which could have been more detailed but the romance was the focus - and Seokga in general, who was himself but with a certain amount of growth. Yet his infatuation with Kisa is not plausible, especially in comparison to her former self Hani, who excelled as a main lead in the 1st book because she was multi-facetted and not a little, innocent, frightened damsel in distress.
I hope the author will get back to her old form in the next book she publishes, which I very much will want to read, but I would highly suggest to stop writing for a market and a typical target group, instead prioritise a good story and its unique nuances. The new adults of GenZ all will get older and even now deserve to be challenged with good and diverse stories that make them think.
July 10, 2025
For a book I wasn’t really sure I wanted, I ended up enjoying this far more than I feared that I wouldn’t.
I’m a dues-paying member of the “not everything needs a sequel or franchise” club. (Company execs hate to see me coming.)
So, all that is to say, I didn’t really think the first book needed a sequel?
The first book was beautiful and compelling enough on its own. Kim tells a very meaningful story using Korean folklore and mythology—and I was totally fine with that being a one-off.
But.
I did have a LOT of fun reading this book.
Kim is really good at telling a story that has a good balance of entertaining and engaging elements.
Using the “Ship of Theseus” tale as a question to center the story around really worked for me. It’s a provocative question—especially when applied to people or the idea of reincarnation. How much of someone must change before they are no longer who you loved? Devastating to consider. How dare this author make me do so.
Anyway.
Her characters also have real problems and issues they’re working through all along the way—but they still keep their charm or their whimsy. It makes an endearing cast of little sh*ts.
Which, as a reader, I always love.
Beyond that, this was a pretty good story. I thought the mystery unfolded well enough. I guessed who the culprit was in the first hundred pages—but, it didn’t detract from my experience of watching the characters solve the mystery. If you aren’t completely jaded by life though, you may not guess the game right away.
Anyway., anyway.
Overall, I’m not mad at this sequel.
It could definitely have been worse—and far stupider or insincere or shallow or an obviously shameless money grab . Like most sequels are these days.
(Please learn to be more content. Readers, I’m begging you.)
If you enjoyed the first book, you’d probably like this one. Especially if you are a reader who really enjoys fantasy stories that incorporate Korean folklore and mythology, this is for you~
I’m a dues-paying member of the “not everything needs a sequel or franchise” club. (Company execs hate to see me coming.)
So, all that is to say, I didn’t really think the first book needed a sequel?
The first book was beautiful and compelling enough on its own. Kim tells a very meaningful story using Korean folklore and mythology—and I was totally fine with that being a one-off.
But.
I did have a LOT of fun reading this book.
Kim is really good at telling a story that has a good balance of entertaining and engaging elements.
Using the “Ship of Theseus” tale as a question to center the story around really worked for me. It’s a provocative question—especially when applied to people or the idea of reincarnation. How much of someone must change before they are no longer who you loved? Devastating to consider. How dare this author make me do so.
Anyway.
Her characters also have real problems and issues they’re working through all along the way—but they still keep their charm or their whimsy. It makes an endearing cast of little sh*ts.
Which, as a reader, I always love.
Beyond that, this was a pretty good story. I thought the mystery unfolded well enough. I guessed who the culprit was in the first hundred pages—but, it didn’t detract from my experience of watching the characters solve the mystery. If you aren’t completely jaded by life though, you may not guess the game right away.
Anyway., anyway.
Overall, I’m not mad at this sequel.
It could definitely have been worse—and far stupider or insincere or shallow or an obviously shameless money grab . Like most sequels are these days.
(Please learn to be more content. Readers, I’m begging you.)
If you enjoyed the first book, you’d probably like this one. Especially if you are a reader who really enjoys fantasy stories that incorporate Korean folklore and mythology, this is for you~
November 3, 2025
3,75⭐️ not as good as the first one, but still nice. Mystery was way too predictable
December 2, 2025
we love a smart fmc
3.5 stars -> rtc
3.5 stars -> rtc
July 16, 2025
I really liked this! I enjoyed the first one too, but I liked this one more. It read really quickly and was a lot of fun. The characters are goofy and silly. Like The God and the Gumiho, there was romance and a mystery as well. I listened to the audiobook, and it was great. Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for an e-arc of this book.
June 26, 2025
3.5⭐️. 2 🌶️
One of my most anticipated books of the year.
After the ending of the God and the Gumiho it was a long wait ( a year) to know what was going to happen with Seokga and Hani relationship. I love both characters in book one and was devastated by the ending and I was really looking forward to their reunion in this book.
I love Seokga in this book he was a total different guy from book 1 he was in love and waiting to be reunited with his love one who he had been searching for 33 years. I love to see his vulnerability and how much he love Hani. But like him I was so sad to see that Hani was not the same person he remembered. I was questioning the point of she having the same eyes if really she was not the same she didn’t remember anything from her past life so when she met Seokga again for the first time he was a stranger to her.
It just felt like a completely different love story but with Seokga in it. I was really wishing for her to regain her memories or at least some. But it didn’t happen 😕 I was not happy that she stayed a ghost. I don’t know I feel that Seokga and Hani deserve a better ending.
I love the lil mystery added to the story and I love to see Seogka taking care of a baby.
-Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for the gifted eARC.
One of my most anticipated books of the year.
After the ending of the God and the Gumiho it was a long wait ( a year) to know what was going to happen with Seokga and Hani relationship. I love both characters in book one and was devastated by the ending and I was really looking forward to their reunion in this book.
I love Seokga in this book he was a total different guy from book 1 he was in love and waiting to be reunited with his love one who he had been searching for 33 years. I love to see his vulnerability and how much he love Hani. But like him I was so sad to see that Hani was not the same person he remembered. I was questioning the point of she having the same eyes if really she was not the same she didn’t remember anything from her past life so when she met Seokga again for the first time he was a stranger to her.
It just felt like a completely different love story but with Seokga in it. I was really wishing for her to regain her memories or at least some. But it didn’t happen 😕 I was not happy that she stayed a ghost. I don’t know I feel that Seokga and Hani deserve a better ending.
I love the lil mystery added to the story and I love to see Seogka taking care of a baby.
-Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey for the gifted eARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2025
[3.5/5 stars]
many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an eArc in advance! this book was one of my most anticipated sequels of the year and it made me so happy that i got to read it early.
i ate this whole book up in just a few hours and it was actually so serious that i physically couldn't do anything else until i was done. so i think this says a lot about how much i love these characters but I'm sad to say i still prefer the first book to the sequel.
i think sophie kim is a talented writer because she manages to make her characters feel so much so acutely, and in turn this makes the reader feel as if these characters were alive and real. she nails the yearning in this book and it made me so emotional countless times. her take on reincarnation, the red string of fate theory and the ship of theseus question was interesting to follow and i enjoyed the ride overall, because I'll read anything she writes at this point and because this world is so much fun. she's also just hilarious. genuinely.
what made the first book so much fun for me was ultimately hani's personality. her character was so refreshing and the mischievous back and forth she had with seokga was just the best. so that might be why the sequel didn't do it for me as much. just because i felt like that wasn't really there in the same way anymore, for obvious reasons. However, i still had fun reading about these characters again and will definitely be seated for anything miss sophie writes in the future.
many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an eArc in advance! this book was one of my most anticipated sequels of the year and it made me so happy that i got to read it early.
i ate this whole book up in just a few hours and it was actually so serious that i physically couldn't do anything else until i was done. so i think this says a lot about how much i love these characters but I'm sad to say i still prefer the first book to the sequel.
i think sophie kim is a talented writer because she manages to make her characters feel so much so acutely, and in turn this makes the reader feel as if these characters were alive and real. she nails the yearning in this book and it made me so emotional countless times. her take on reincarnation, the red string of fate theory and the ship of theseus question was interesting to follow and i enjoyed the ride overall, because I'll read anything she writes at this point and because this world is so much fun. she's also just hilarious. genuinely.
what made the first book so much fun for me was ultimately hani's personality. her character was so refreshing and the mischievous back and forth she had with seokga was just the best. so that might be why the sequel didn't do it for me as much. just because i felt like that wasn't really there in the same way anymore, for obvious reasons. However, i still had fun reading about these characters again and will definitely be seated for anything miss sophie writes in the future.
August 22, 2025
Spoilers ahead for The God and the Gumiho.
Seokga the No-Longer-Fallen is back, searching desperately for the reincarnated soul of his lost love, Hani. When the red thread of fate pulls him onto a cruise down the river of the dead, he finds not Hani, but Yoo Kisa, a woman with no memory of him, and no interest in recovering it. But when the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang is murdered, Seokga and Kisa are thrown into a high-stakes mystery where solving the crime before the cruise ends might be the only way to uncover the truth about their bond and perhaps the fate of the world itself.
This book is like Hotel Transylvania 3 in book form: a supernatural cruise, danger lurking in the shadows, and a love story tangled up in chaos. I really enjoyed book one of this duology, and I was so excited to see how the story would wrap up. What I loved most about the first book was the sharp detective mystery, and while that’s present here, this sequel shifts focus toward the characters, their romance, and their fated connection.
It wasn’t quite what I expected, but I still had a good time with the story. If book one leaned into the mystery, this one leans into the mythology and emotional stakes. If you're looking for more Seokga and Hani/Kisa you will definitely find that here, even if the mystery takes a backseat.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seokga the No-Longer-Fallen is back, searching desperately for the reincarnated soul of his lost love, Hani. When the red thread of fate pulls him onto a cruise down the river of the dead, he finds not Hani, but Yoo Kisa, a woman with no memory of him, and no interest in recovering it. But when the Heavenly Emperor of Okhwang is murdered, Seokga and Kisa are thrown into a high-stakes mystery where solving the crime before the cruise ends might be the only way to uncover the truth about their bond and perhaps the fate of the world itself.
This book is like Hotel Transylvania 3 in book form: a supernatural cruise, danger lurking in the shadows, and a love story tangled up in chaos. I really enjoyed book one of this duology, and I was so excited to see how the story would wrap up. What I loved most about the first book was the sharp detective mystery, and while that’s present here, this sequel shifts focus toward the characters, their romance, and their fated connection.
It wasn’t quite what I expected, but I still had a good time with the story. If book one leaned into the mystery, this one leans into the mythology and emotional stakes. If you're looking for more Seokga and Hani/Kisa you will definitely find that here, even if the mystery takes a backseat.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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