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The God and the Gumiho
Kim Hani, the once-terrible gumiho known as the Scarlet Fox, spends her days working at a café and trying not to let a certain customer irk her. Seokga, a trickster god thrown from the heavens for his attempt at a coup, spends his days hunting demons and irking a particular gumiho. When a demon of darkness escapes the underworld, and the Scarlet Fox emerges from hiding before quickly vanishing, Seokga is offered a chance at redemption: kill them both, and his sins will be forgiven. But Hani is prepared to do anything to prevent Seokga from bringing her to justice, even trick her way into his investigation.
432 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2024
936 people are currently reading
54175 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Kim
6 books969 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 2,829 reviews
September 13, 2024
my main critique about the last SK book i read was that it very obviously felt like a debut book, very basic/surface-level. but now, after reading this, im wondering if it was just because it was a YA story and it put too much restraint on SKs writing.
because this book doesnt even feel like the same author. SK needs to stick with writing adult novels because it clearly gives her the freedom her writing needs to flourish. this story is edgier, sweeter, more exciting, and just all around has more depth.
i think anyone who enjoys korean folklore will love this reimagining. its a very easy book to recommend and a series i am very much looking forward to continuing!
↠ 4.5 stars
because this book doesnt even feel like the same author. SK needs to stick with writing adult novels because it clearly gives her the freedom her writing needs to flourish. this story is edgier, sweeter, more exciting, and just all around has more depth.
i think anyone who enjoys korean folklore will love this reimagining. its a very easy book to recommend and a series i am very much looking forward to continuing!
↠ 4.5 stars
May 31, 2024
i was not a fan of this book for the first half but thankfully the later part of it sort of redeemed itself. there’s a decent mix of Korean mythology, romance and mystery set in this urban fantasy realm of New Sinsi.
“We can be the new Sherlock and Watson.”
“Sherlock and Watson,” Seokga says dubiously.
Hani eyes him. “You’ve never read those books?”
“No.” Seogka wrinkles his nose. “I prefer Seogka and Hani.”
the main reason i wasn’t connecting to the story was due to the two main characters Seogka and Hani. Seogka is a trickster god and Hani is a gumiho, which means they’re 1000+ years old and yet they act worse than teenagers initially. it’s clear that the author leaned heavily into popular tropes and one of the main ones here would be enemies to lovers but the way Seokga and Hani interacted just felt annoying until i became accustomed to their personalities. i actually preferred the detective plot line more than anything else and the ending section finally started to feel reminiscent of k-dramas (which i love), so my enjoyment increased because of that— i also just liked the way it all wrapped up with the conflict and the romance.
→ thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the arc, all opinions are my own.
“We can be the new Sherlock and Watson.”
“Sherlock and Watson,” Seokga says dubiously.
Hani eyes him. “You’ve never read those books?”
“No.” Seogka wrinkles his nose. “I prefer Seogka and Hani.”
the main reason i wasn’t connecting to the story was due to the two main characters Seogka and Hani. Seogka is a trickster god and Hani is a gumiho, which means they’re 1000+ years old and yet they act worse than teenagers initially. it’s clear that the author leaned heavily into popular tropes and one of the main ones here would be enemies to lovers but the way Seokga and Hani interacted just felt annoying until i became accustomed to their personalities. i actually preferred the detective plot line more than anything else and the ending section finally started to feel reminiscent of k-dramas (which i love), so my enjoyment increased because of that— i also just liked the way it all wrapped up with the conflict and the romance.
→ thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the arc, all opinions are my own.
March 21, 2025
when he only likes two things: coffee and her>>>
a fallen god turned detective and his new assistant who is actually behind the murder of his most recent case solve a string of murders that could tear apart the city
Bookstagram | Blog
a fallen god turned detective and his new assistant who is actually behind the murder of his most recent case solve a string of murders that could tear apart the city
Bookstagram | Blog
March 23, 2025
Take this with a grain of salt. I didn't realize this was the same author of LAST OF THE TALONS, which I also severely disliked. A lot of you loved this. I hated it. More than some other Asian fantasies I probably shouldn't be naming again.
Hani is secretly the Scarlet Fox, a supposedly very scary eater of men's livers and so-called killer. She reads like an annoying teen. It took me a while to notice this, but Zana did right away, but Seokga the Fallen reads straight from a Loki/Reader fanfic. The green eyes. Must every fantasy contain a withdrawn male with green eyes?
They hate each other. Then they don't. It gets dramatic. It gets boring. I skimmed a lot of it, because I couldn't wait for it to be over. The coffee subplot is not funny. I enjoyed getting to the last page, because that meant I was done.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey
Hani is secretly the Scarlet Fox, a supposedly very scary eater of men's livers and so-called killer. She reads like an annoying teen. It took me a while to notice this, but Zana did right away, but Seokga the Fallen reads straight from a Loki/Reader fanfic. The green eyes. Must every fantasy contain a withdrawn male with green eyes?
They hate each other. Then they don't. It gets dramatic. It gets boring. I skimmed a lot of it, because I couldn't wait for it to be over. The coffee subplot is not funny. I enjoyed getting to the last page, because that meant I was done.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey
February 3, 2025
I had high expectations for this novel, but unfortunately, the outcome did not meet those expectations. My main issues revolved around the central characters, Seogka, a fallen God, and Hani, a fox spirit. Their behaviors did not align with their rich backgrounds and histories. It was rather off putting to read about these supernatural beings, supposedly hundreds of years old, acting like moody teenagers.
Hani, a gumiho, a being that sustains itself by eating the livers of men lacked the menace that her character should exude. Instead of feeling the intended danger, I found myself reading about her spitefully getting a customer’s order wrong and talking about fanfic. This was an immediate turn-off for me.
Seokga, the god of trickery and deceit, was equally disappointing. His characterization felt like empty words on a page. He remained a complete bore until the last few chapters, but by that point, I was too disengaged to care.
Despite these character issues, I did enjoy the setting and atmosphere of the story. It evoked strong vibes of popular Kdramas such as "Tale of the Nine Tailed," "My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho," and "A Korean Odyssey." Fans of these dramas will recognize and appreciate the mythological creatures and concepts presented.
Overall, while I failed to connect with the story, I appreciated the Korean folklore and the familiar elements from Kdramas that I've come to love over the years.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Hani, a gumiho, a being that sustains itself by eating the livers of men lacked the menace that her character should exude. Instead of feeling the intended danger, I found myself reading about her spitefully getting a customer’s order wrong and talking about fanfic. This was an immediate turn-off for me.
Seokga, the god of trickery and deceit, was equally disappointing. His characterization felt like empty words on a page. He remained a complete bore until the last few chapters, but by that point, I was too disengaged to care.
Despite these character issues, I did enjoy the setting and atmosphere of the story. It evoked strong vibes of popular Kdramas such as "Tale of the Nine Tailed," "My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho," and "A Korean Odyssey." Fans of these dramas will recognize and appreciate the mythological creatures and concepts presented.
Overall, while I failed to connect with the story, I appreciated the Korean folklore and the familiar elements from Kdramas that I've come to love over the years.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 3, 2025
3.5 stars.
For the most part, this was a fun read, except for that ending. But let me not get ahead of myself.
First, I want to highlight what I loved about this book, as many aspects stood out to me. The plot was engaging, and the murder mystery aspect was well-executed—despite my ability to guess the outcome before the characters did. I still enjoyed the journey, and the overarching plot was also handled effectively.
The characters were likable, and I ended up loving all of them, especially Hani. She was a breath of fresh air and perfectly embodied the traits I envision in a gumiho. Bold, brave, clever, and hilarious, she excelled in the art of seduction. I found it amusing that she became notorious for the number of men she killed, with rules established because of her—her character was truly entertaining. I could rave about her for ages.
Every moment, she made me picture a fox, and I couldn't help but laugh every time she wrinkled her nose or winked. Seokga, on the other hand, is challenging to describe due to my mixed feelings about him. I liked him for the most part, but the romance seemed to alter him significantly. While he did embody the essence of a trickster god, it felt as though it constrained his character development. Many questions about him remained unanswered—specifically, why did he want the throne, and why would he wish to return to a home where he's treated poorly? These questions were glossed over, and while it was mentioned that it's in his nature as the god of lies, it ultimately rendered him a somewhat flat character.
I adored Somi and wished her fate had been different. Her friendship with Hani was hilarious, particularly after Somi’s rather gruesome dinner. Somi's chemistry with Hyun-tae was charming, and it was a missed opportunity that the author didn’t allow that relationship to bloom fully.
Hyun-Tae was another character I liked instantly, and I was disappointed by his end. The side characters were all interesting too; I could easily read a book about any one of them without growing bored, which speaks volumes about the author’s development of each character.
Now, let’s dive into the romance. This is where my enjoyment started to wane a bit. Their relationship felt rushed, and their intense feelings came across as unrealistic given their limited time together. I appreciated how their relationship began, but the author hurried through their development to the point where I couldn’t invest in it as much as I wanted. The cute moments felt out of place and disrupted the narrative flow, pulling me out of the story each time.
I didn’t hate their romance, as I found it charming; I simply wished for more depth in its development.
And now, the aspect that seriously disappointed me was the ending. What was that? I found it frustrating. Under no circumstances are Hani or Seokga portrayed as good people; they both occupy morally grey territory, which made me appreciate them even more. So, it perplexes me that one ends up being a martyr while the other is reduced to a pathetic figure. I don’t believe Seokga’s character development justified Hani’s significant sacrifice for him. Throughout the story, she asserted her commitment to putting herself first; thus, her actions at the end felt completely out of character.
Seokga’s behavior at the end was infuriating. He accepted the terrible treatment of his brother Hwanin without any resistance; if it were me, I would have ended things decisively. The author hinting at a reconciliation between the brothers left me fuming. If the intention was to portray the complexity of their relationship, it failed miserably. Their dynamic was toxic, and it was better off left unresolved.
Also, in the epilogue, the way Seokga acts casts doubt on his love for Hani a little bit for me.
In conclusion, I’m left feeling conflicted about this book. I loved so much of it, but the ending significantly affected my overall experience. I’m torn on how to rate it.
But I do have to say that this had the vibe of K-dramas, and that made me love it more.
For the most part, this was a fun read, except for that ending. But let me not get ahead of myself.
First, I want to highlight what I loved about this book, as many aspects stood out to me. The plot was engaging, and the murder mystery aspect was well-executed—despite my ability to guess the outcome before the characters did. I still enjoyed the journey, and the overarching plot was also handled effectively.
The characters were likable, and I ended up loving all of them, especially Hani. She was a breath of fresh air and perfectly embodied the traits I envision in a gumiho. Bold, brave, clever, and hilarious, she excelled in the art of seduction. I found it amusing that she became notorious for the number of men she killed, with rules established because of her—her character was truly entertaining. I could rave about her for ages.
Every moment, she made me picture a fox, and I couldn't help but laugh every time she wrinkled her nose or winked. Seokga, on the other hand, is challenging to describe due to my mixed feelings about him. I liked him for the most part, but the romance seemed to alter him significantly. While he did embody the essence of a trickster god, it felt as though it constrained his character development. Many questions about him remained unanswered—specifically, why did he want the throne, and why would he wish to return to a home where he's treated poorly? These questions were glossed over, and while it was mentioned that it's in his nature as the god of lies, it ultimately rendered him a somewhat flat character.
I adored Somi and wished her fate had been different. Her friendship with Hani was hilarious, particularly after Somi’s rather gruesome dinner. Somi's chemistry with Hyun-tae was charming, and it was a missed opportunity that the author didn’t allow that relationship to bloom fully.
Hyun-Tae was another character I liked instantly, and I was disappointed by his end. The side characters were all interesting too; I could easily read a book about any one of them without growing bored, which speaks volumes about the author’s development of each character.
Now, let’s dive into the romance. This is where my enjoyment started to wane a bit. Their relationship felt rushed, and their intense feelings came across as unrealistic given their limited time together. I appreciated how their relationship began, but the author hurried through their development to the point where I couldn’t invest in it as much as I wanted. The cute moments felt out of place and disrupted the narrative flow, pulling me out of the story each time.
I didn’t hate their romance, as I found it charming; I simply wished for more depth in its development.
And now, the aspect that seriously disappointed me was the ending. What was that? I found it frustrating. Under no circumstances are Hani or Seokga portrayed as good people; they both occupy morally grey territory, which made me appreciate them even more. So, it perplexes me that one ends up being a martyr while the other is reduced to a pathetic figure. I don’t believe Seokga’s character development justified Hani’s significant sacrifice for him. Throughout the story, she asserted her commitment to putting herself first; thus, her actions at the end felt completely out of character.
Seokga’s behavior at the end was infuriating. He accepted the terrible treatment of his brother Hwanin without any resistance; if it were me, I would have ended things decisively. The author hinting at a reconciliation between the brothers left me fuming. If the intention was to portray the complexity of their relationship, it failed miserably. Their dynamic was toxic, and it was better off left unresolved.
Also, in the epilogue, the way Seokga acts casts doubt on his love for Hani a little bit for me.
In conclusion, I’m left feeling conflicted about this book. I loved so much of it, but the ending significantly affected my overall experience. I’m torn on how to rate it.
But I do have to say that this had the vibe of K-dramas, and that made me love it more.
July 27, 2024
Well. If this doesn’t get picked up as a film adaptation starring Lee Dong-wook, I will be very disappointed.
Real review:
Entertaining (especially for fans of K-Drama like Tale of the Nine Tailed, Goblin, etc) urban fantasy story that ties in Korean mythology, mystery, and an epic ‘doomed for tragedy’ romance.
My main hiccup here was the love story, which I thought developed a bit quickly and inorganically…but that may be because the two THOUSAND PLUS year old main characters acted like goofy goobers more often than not despite their fossil age and prolific pasts’. I’d find a bit more belief in it if the book was YA, but I'm reading that it is listed as Adult and just felt underwhelmed at times.
Overall, I found The God and the Gumiho to be a fun read that's easy to follow with more hits than misses. I’d recommend this book for people who:
Love the character Loki from the MCU
Enjoyed The Tale of the Nine Tailed and mostly because of Lee Rang
(The misunderstood and comically trickster younger brother with a heart of gold where it counts)
3.75 ⭐ would read a sequel
Real review:
Entertaining (especially for fans of K-Drama like Tale of the Nine Tailed, Goblin, etc) urban fantasy story that ties in Korean mythology, mystery, and an epic ‘doomed for tragedy’ romance.
My main hiccup here was the love story, which I thought developed a bit quickly and inorganically…but that may be because the two THOUSAND PLUS year old main characters acted like goofy goobers more often than not despite their fossil age and prolific pasts’. I’d find a bit more belief in it if the book was YA, but I'm reading that it is listed as Adult and just felt underwhelmed at times.
Overall, I found The God and the Gumiho to be a fun read that's easy to follow with more hits than misses. I’d recommend this book for people who:
Love the character Loki from the MCU
Enjoyed The Tale of the Nine Tailed and mostly because of Lee Rang
(The misunderstood and comically trickster younger brother with a heart of gold where it counts)
3.75 ⭐ would read a sequel
April 20, 2025
I feel like this is the perfect example of a book that has all the individual parts to be a great read for me but comes up short in the execution. Although I can safely say that this has a very pretty cover.
Seogka, the fallen trickers god, is forced to do penance (after a failed coup to take over his brothers heavenly kingdom) by means of being a supernatural investigator on earth and sending nasty creatures back to the spiritual dimension they came from. Then there is the FMC Hani, who is a legendary fox spirit called The Scarlett Fox, who is best known for a mass scale slaughter 100 years ago. After Hani accidentally draws attention to herself following some murders, she infiltrates the investigation to try and sabotage the efforts to find her.
This started off on an intriguing foot and gave some very Sherlock and Moriarty vibes which was fun to start with. Some initial positives- this was fascinating exposure to South Korean mythology and I hadn’t realised how much I didn’t know and I really enjoyed learning more about it. Secondly, the writing craft in this is perfectly fine. I’ve tried to research if this is marketed as a YA or adult fantasy and whilst nothing I’ve found is concrete I can tell you that it reads YA (not that there’s anything wrong with that, just an FYI for the vibe) although has a few very mild spicy scenes.
Then things start to fall off for me a bit. I missed the initial note stating that this was set in 1992 and found myself confused thinking it was modern day setting as there is common use of mobile phones, but suddenly all the security footage evidence is being provided in VHS tapes? It wasn’t till the end that I realised what I missed and it made sense, but i was so confused for a while there.
Neither of the main characters really provided me much depth or chemistry and I never really felt emotionally invested in either them or their plights. I mean the core of the enmity in their relationship came from an incorrectly made coffee…I’ll admit that while their journey from enemies to lovers didn’t really sell me and all seemed a bit too easy, I preferred their characterization at the end significantly more than the beginning.
They are both meant to be over 1500 years old and yet they came off as being immature and childish and just made poor decisions which make no sense for creatures that old. Hani is meant to be this incredibly powerful and cunning fox spirit and yet the first opportunity to pick up weapons she picks up a pair of daggers that are the same as those that are known to be the signature weapons of her hidden identity as The Scarlett Fox and triggering off Seokga’s suspicions, very much not what I expect from a cunning and ancient creature. And Seogka is meant to be this trickster god but I never really saw any evidence of cunning, charm or deviousness- he was mostly just a dick to everyone.
I definitely think that this is a case of ‘your mileage may vary’ and that some people will love this, but the personalities in this just didn’t work for me (perhaps you need to vibe with kdramas more to get it). I hadn’t planned to really bother with further books in this series but the ending in the last 10% actually turned it around enough to put me back on the fence about it.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC
Seogka, the fallen trickers god, is forced to do penance (after a failed coup to take over his brothers heavenly kingdom) by means of being a supernatural investigator on earth and sending nasty creatures back to the spiritual dimension they came from. Then there is the FMC Hani, who is a legendary fox spirit called The Scarlett Fox, who is best known for a mass scale slaughter 100 years ago. After Hani accidentally draws attention to herself following some murders, she infiltrates the investigation to try and sabotage the efforts to find her.
This started off on an intriguing foot and gave some very Sherlock and Moriarty vibes which was fun to start with. Some initial positives- this was fascinating exposure to South Korean mythology and I hadn’t realised how much I didn’t know and I really enjoyed learning more about it. Secondly, the writing craft in this is perfectly fine. I’ve tried to research if this is marketed as a YA or adult fantasy and whilst nothing I’ve found is concrete I can tell you that it reads YA (not that there’s anything wrong with that, just an FYI for the vibe) although has a few very mild spicy scenes.
Then things start to fall off for me a bit. I missed the initial note stating that this was set in 1992 and found myself confused thinking it was modern day setting as there is common use of mobile phones, but suddenly all the security footage evidence is being provided in VHS tapes? It wasn’t till the end that I realised what I missed and it made sense, but i was so confused for a while there.
Neither of the main characters really provided me much depth or chemistry and I never really felt emotionally invested in either them or their plights. I mean the core of the enmity in their relationship came from an incorrectly made coffee…I’ll admit that while their journey from enemies to lovers didn’t really sell me and all seemed a bit too easy, I preferred their characterization at the end significantly more than the beginning.
They are both meant to be over 1500 years old and yet they came off as being immature and childish and just made poor decisions which make no sense for creatures that old. Hani is meant to be this incredibly powerful and cunning fox spirit and yet the first opportunity to pick up weapons she picks up a pair of daggers that are the same as those that are known to be the signature weapons of her hidden identity as The Scarlett Fox and triggering off Seokga’s suspicions, very much not what I expect from a cunning and ancient creature. And Seogka is meant to be this trickster god but I never really saw any evidence of cunning, charm or deviousness- he was mostly just a dick to everyone.
I definitely think that this is a case of ‘your mileage may vary’ and that some people will love this, but the personalities in this just didn’t work for me (perhaps you need to vibe with kdramas more to get it). I hadn’t planned to really bother with further books in this series but the ending in the last 10% actually turned it around enough to put me back on the fence about it.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC
May 20, 2024
Even though it is only March, I think “The God and the Gumiho” might just be one of my favorite reads. “The God and the Gumiho” follows Seokga, a fallen god who has been a chance at redemption and Hani, a Gumiho who was once known as the Scarlet Fox and went on a killing rampage. In order for Seokga to regain his godliness, he must both stop an immensely dangerous creature that has been wreaking havoc in South Korea, and the Scarlet Fox who has made a sudden reappearance after a long retirement. What happens when Seokga’s new assistant is Hani, the Scarlet Fox that he is searching for?
One of the things I loved the most about this book was the relationship between Hani and Seokga. They had banter and were a very entertaining couple to read about. I appreciated that their relationship was balanced. While Seokga is a God, Hani is a powerful Gumiho that has been alive for thousands of years. It was a breath of fresh air to not read about a really old man and a teenager. Hani is also the more morally grey one of the couple. She has killed, a lot. Seokga has his own past, but he is the trickster god, and I was not under the impression that his past was filled with murder.
Seokga and Hani’s relationship was not quick, in the terms of the page. They had to get to know one another as they went on this journey together, and they definitely did not immediately find themselves liking one another. However, in terms of the actual storyline, their relationship was quick. I found myself astounded when I found out that the majority of the events of the book took place in about a week.
There were so many little aspects of this book that I loved. All of the different incorporations of Korean mythology was well done. At first it was slightly intimidating, but I found myself quickly going along with what was happening. I would not give up early on if you find yourself struggling with this.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I think this is the first ARC I find myself NEEDING a physical copy of.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One of the things I loved the most about this book was the relationship between Hani and Seokga. They had banter and were a very entertaining couple to read about. I appreciated that their relationship was balanced. While Seokga is a God, Hani is a powerful Gumiho that has been alive for thousands of years. It was a breath of fresh air to not read about a really old man and a teenager. Hani is also the more morally grey one of the couple. She has killed, a lot. Seokga has his own past, but he is the trickster god, and I was not under the impression that his past was filled with murder.
Seokga and Hani’s relationship was not quick, in the terms of the page. They had to get to know one another as they went on this journey together, and they definitely did not immediately find themselves liking one another. However, in terms of the actual storyline, their relationship was quick. I found myself astounded when I found out that the majority of the events of the book took place in about a week.
There were so many little aspects of this book that I loved. All of the different incorporations of Korean mythology was well done. At first it was slightly intimidating, but I found myself quickly going along with what was happening. I would not give up early on if you find yourself struggling with this.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I think this is the first ARC I find myself NEEDING a physical copy of.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 21, 2025
Fallen trickster god x murderous fox detective duo, I love you. I rarely read urban fantasy, but the Korean mythology made this one so very interesting. Some reviews say that it reads like a K-Drama and while I can't really comment on that, I can say that it was super entertaining from start to finish and surprisingly funny. (The ending was very mean, though.) Would recommend!
June 11, 2024
Buddy read with Mai!
We both hated this. If you liked or loved this, or if you're a huge fan of k-dramas, romcoms, trad pubbed fanfic, look away.
Wow... What can I say about this that isn't totally critical and negative?
I did like the ending boss battle. I also liked the Korean mythology, however loosely adapted it was.
But other than that, I absolutely struggled through this mediocre and extremely juvenile novel that, for some reason, is listed as an adult read. It read like fanfic written by a teen who doesn't have the life skills to understand how adults act in professional settings. Or how adults act in general. Yeah, adults can be childish, but this novel took it to another level. Was the romance between Hani and Seokga supposed to be cute? It was so damn cringe.
Take a shot every time Hani acts like a petulant child. You'd pass out.
And the worst part was, these characters were supposed to be hundreds/thousand year old gods. It was giving Shanghai Immortal, another book which was also very childish.
Maybe I would've liked this better if the actual mystery/thriller aspect didn't feel like set dressing for the romance. I've never read anything that was so blatantly an excuse to publish an author self-insert x Marvel Loki fanfic, where the author is ~The One~ who melts his cold dark heart. What in the Wattpad/AO3?
You've got everything Loki, including the emerald-colored magic, black suit, black hair. Even Seokga's personality was very similar to Loki's. Oh, and don't forgot the older brother/king/obvious stand-in for Thor. Oh, and Hani's claws went "snick" when she pulled them out. Wolverine would be offended.
So original.
I did like how their father was the evil one though, so I'll give the author props for that little twist.
Overall, I'm just absolutely disappointed in this. It was an anticipated read for me that ended up being so juvenile, I wanted to DNF multiple times, but pulled through because it was an arc and a buddy read.
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for this arc.
We both hated this. If you liked or loved this, or if you're a huge fan of k-dramas, romcoms, trad pubbed fanfic, look away.
Wow... What can I say about this that isn't totally critical and negative?
I did like the ending boss battle. I also liked the Korean mythology, however loosely adapted it was.
But other than that, I absolutely struggled through this mediocre and extremely juvenile novel that, for some reason, is listed as an adult read. It read like fanfic written by a teen who doesn't have the life skills to understand how adults act in professional settings. Or how adults act in general. Yeah, adults can be childish, but this novel took it to another level. Was the romance between Hani and Seokga supposed to be cute? It was so damn cringe.
Take a shot every time Hani acts like a petulant child. You'd pass out.
And the worst part was, these characters were supposed to be hundreds/thousand year old gods. It was giving Shanghai Immortal, another book which was also very childish.
Maybe I would've liked this better if the actual mystery/thriller aspect didn't feel like set dressing for the romance. I've never read anything that was so blatantly an excuse to publish an author self-insert x Marvel Loki fanfic, where the author is ~The One~ who melts his cold dark heart. What in the Wattpad/AO3?
You've got everything Loki, including the emerald-colored magic, black suit, black hair. Even Seokga's personality was very similar to Loki's. Oh, and don't forgot the older brother/king/obvious stand-in for Thor. Oh, and Hani's claws went "snick" when she pulled them out. Wolverine would be offended.
So original.
I did like how their father was the evil one though, so I'll give the author props for that little twist.
Overall, I'm just absolutely disappointed in this. It was an anticipated read for me that ended up being so juvenile, I wanted to DNF multiple times, but pulled through because it was an arc and a buddy read.
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for this arc.
June 5, 2024
Happy Publication Day
I am a simple creature. A girl in love with her K-dramas, no matter how many times I physically recoil from cringey scenes. I eat them up every time. So it doesn't surprise me how much I loved this book, despite the juvenile MCs and somewhat overplayed tropes.
Kim Hani has retired from the life of eating men's souls as the Scarlet Fox to work in a coffee shop. Her shenanigans now consist of annoying the fallen trickster god Seokga by ruining his coffee orders. Seokga hates the mortal world and is trying to get back to Okhwang. He has several centuries left of this miserable existence until he is offered a deal: kill the Scarlet Fox and a demon terrorizing mortals in exchange for reinstated godhood. Hani, determined not to get caught, becomes his assistant and starts messing with the investigation. But she hesitantly starts working with Seokga when the demon destroys life as she knows it.
The MCs are really what made this story work for me. The immortals have the emotional maturity of a teen and the critical thinking skills of a toddler when it comes to each other. It's PEAK sunshine and grumpy energy. Honestly, this book's greatest strength is just how ridiculous it is. Their dynamic was so bad it was good. I adore mischievous women and Hani is the embodiment of that. It played well with Seokga's aversion to anything resembling cheer. They will not be everyone's favorite couple, and it was exhausting at times, but I loved it.
The mystery was fun because of how many moving pieces there were. Hani and Seokga chased down several leads which meant they covered a lot of ground. I loved the setting (90s Korea) mixed with interesting Korean folklore and fantasy creatures. The author did a great job balancing the real world and fantasy.
I will say, this book will have a very certain audience. The writing style and character depth make it feel very YA, but the violence and brief sexual scenes put this book in NA/Adult. I recommend this for K-drama lovers and readers who love slightly exaggerated sunshine and grumpy dynamics. Otherwise, steer clear or you will be asking yourself what you just read.
Sophie Kim, please give me more of Hani and Okhwang I love them.
CW: violence, swearing, gore, brief sexual scenes.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine/Del Rey for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I am a simple creature. A girl in love with her K-dramas, no matter how many times I physically recoil from cringey scenes. I eat them up every time. So it doesn't surprise me how much I loved this book, despite the juvenile MCs and somewhat overplayed tropes.
Kim Hani has retired from the life of eating men's souls as the Scarlet Fox to work in a coffee shop. Her shenanigans now consist of annoying the fallen trickster god Seokga by ruining his coffee orders. Seokga hates the mortal world and is trying to get back to Okhwang. He has several centuries left of this miserable existence until he is offered a deal: kill the Scarlet Fox and a demon terrorizing mortals in exchange for reinstated godhood. Hani, determined not to get caught, becomes his assistant and starts messing with the investigation. But she hesitantly starts working with Seokga when the demon destroys life as she knows it.
The MCs are really what made this story work for me. The immortals have the emotional maturity of a teen and the critical thinking skills of a toddler when it comes to each other. It's PEAK sunshine and grumpy energy. Honestly, this book's greatest strength is just how ridiculous it is. Their dynamic was so bad it was good. I adore mischievous women and Hani is the embodiment of that. It played well with Seokga's aversion to anything resembling cheer. They will not be everyone's favorite couple, and it was exhausting at times, but I loved it.
The mystery was fun because of how many moving pieces there were. Hani and Seokga chased down several leads which meant they covered a lot of ground. I loved the setting (90s Korea) mixed with interesting Korean folklore and fantasy creatures. The author did a great job balancing the real world and fantasy.
I will say, this book will have a very certain audience. The writing style and character depth make it feel very YA, but the violence and brief sexual scenes put this book in NA/Adult. I recommend this for K-drama lovers and readers who love slightly exaggerated sunshine and grumpy dynamics. Otherwise, steer clear or you will be asking yourself what you just read.
Sophie Kim, please give me more of Hani and Okhwang I love them.
CW: violence, swearing, gore, brief sexual scenes.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine/Del Rey for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
August 5, 2025
edit: on second thought im looking back at this reread and very eh on it (especially the fact that i wanted to dnf...) so im dropping my rating to 2
2nd read [March 13, 2025]: 3⭐
i didnt really love this as much as i did the first time... which 3 stars isnt bad! still found it okay! though this genuinely has me kind of scared to reread some fav books now because me rating lower on reread to that much of a drop literally never happens?? im literally flabbergasted like HELLO??? idk here it just felt slow which i guess i just didnt notice my first read? but i actually got bored at some parts😭 anyways im sad but i hope the god and the gwisin is good.
1st read [May 18, 2024]: 5⭐
IM CRYING NO WORDS JUST THIS BOOK HAS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DESTROYED ME IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAYS. SOPHIE KIM YOU WILL BE PAYING FOR MY THERAPY BILLS MARK MY WORDS. the way my heart just went 📈📉📈📉📈 that was a whole emotional ride in those last chapters my god???
once again i have fallen in love!!! The God and the Gumiho absolutely SERVED i had an unbelievable amount of fun reading about this world and plot, but most of all seokga and hani were absolutely everything i love in characters!! new lomls acquired🥹
first of all, i literally love the korean lore and words and the way it was incorporated in a natural way that wasnt overwhelming at all as someone who is not really familiar with it!! i think i especially love it because on kindle if i highlight the word, it automatically tells me what the word means but i also didnt even need to do that because it would be explained without being so obviously info-dumping and truly thats a skill i love!! im also even more interested in korean mythology after this book because the creatures are truly so interesting like seriously didnt realize how tired (or maybe tired isnt the right word?? overused??) i was of the same old mythological creatures always being used until i read TGATG like genuinely i adore it.
then the plot--oh i will always eat up murder mysteries and trying to figure out who the eoduksini had possessed??? i feel bad for thinking it a specific someone because they were innocent in the end oops but also who the eoduksini was??? like about 75% i began suspecting someone and i was right but if you'd asked me this at the beginning of the book i literally never wouldve imagined😭 please they always say its the person you least suspect but even then i never get them early on LOL but damn if that eoduksini wasnt so smart actually??? despise them omg
and finally let me scream about my love for seokga and hani ohmygod?? YOUR HONOR I AM IN LOVE🥹🥹 the way they had me giggling, gasping, laughing, and grinning like a fool??? there literally couldve been absolutely no plot in this book and i still wouldve given 5 stars BECAUSE SEOKGA AND HANI >>> i adore those two so so so much, i always live for grumpyxsunshine and the way they started out hating the other (all due to coffee help i still find it so funny) to their petty and silly arguments and insults theyd throw at each other to slowly becoming insults with less heat and loathing and them begrudgingly respecting the other to still occassionally having arguments but then also caring so much about how the other perceives them and then considering each other as ...friends? and really noticing the small details about the other to then wondering if maybe theyre more than just friends and the shyness and sweet looks and ughhh my heart the hold they have on me?? im so gone for them
one bed scene?? waking up to cuddling BY THE SEOKGA??? their kisses?? the blushing??? the makeout sessions??? seokga's soft vulnerability??? hani's adorable rambling??? the way each felt so at ease with the other, like they found a part of themselves?? the little glances, the tugs at their hearts, the softening in their gazes?? yes indeed i am obsessed if you couldnt tell🥹 i felt like crying just because of how sweet these two are. and which is why it HURT even more knowing i was reaching the end because i just knew as soon as seokga eventually found out hani was really the scarlet fox, all that happiness would be gone so quick and it genuinely broke my heart thinking about that which is why i started procrastinating reaching the end😭 yes, i straight up tried to slow down my reading by starting another book, reading slower, trying to read some webcomics but no it didn't work because i have too much of an addiction for these two and you cant take them away from me i refuse (as for what ended up happening between those 2 and if there was a revelation indeed... well you'll have to read and find out👀)
but also i need to scream about it somewhere so MAJOR major spoilers here:
anyways yeah the things this book did to me, i went from laughing->grinning like a fool->fangirling and giggling->heartbreak and pain->(??????) youll only know this if you read the book xox and i seriously adore the character development in both hani and seokga, it was done so well and naturally <3
this has absolutely become one of my top favourite reads of 2024 and of all time, and i will so be doing a reread because its just that kind of book🫶 ugh thank you author for creating such a beautiful world with beautiful characters and also please tell me when book 2 is asap i need it🥹
Eternally thankful to Del Rey for providing me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
_____________
pre-read review:
OMG KURI HUANG AND HER COVERS >>>> and this sounds amazing?? i need it asap
2nd read [March 13, 2025]: 3⭐
i didnt really love this as much as i did the first time... which 3 stars isnt bad! still found it okay! though this genuinely has me kind of scared to reread some fav books now because me rating lower on reread to that much of a drop literally never happens?? im literally flabbergasted like HELLO??? idk here it just felt slow which i guess i just didnt notice my first read? but i actually got bored at some parts😭 anyways im sad but i hope the god and the gwisin is good.
1st read [May 18, 2024]: 5⭐
"There are no happy endings in your story. The god and the gumiho ends with tragedy."
IM CRYING NO WORDS JUST THIS BOOK HAS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DESTROYED ME IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAYS. SOPHIE KIM YOU WILL BE PAYING FOR MY THERAPY BILLS MARK MY WORDS. the way my heart just went 📈📉📈📉📈 that was a whole emotional ride in those last chapters my god???
once again i have fallen in love!!! The God and the Gumiho absolutely SERVED i had an unbelievable amount of fun reading about this world and plot, but most of all seokga and hani were absolutely everything i love in characters!! new lomls acquired🥹
first of all, i literally love the korean lore and words and the way it was incorporated in a natural way that wasnt overwhelming at all as someone who is not really familiar with it!! i think i especially love it because on kindle if i highlight the word, it automatically tells me what the word means but i also didnt even need to do that because it would be explained without being so obviously info-dumping and truly thats a skill i love!! im also even more interested in korean mythology after this book because the creatures are truly so interesting like seriously didnt realize how tired (or maybe tired isnt the right word?? overused??) i was of the same old mythological creatures always being used until i read TGATG like genuinely i adore it.
then the plot--oh i will always eat up murder mysteries and trying to figure out who the eoduksini had possessed??? i feel bad for thinking it a specific someone because they were innocent in the end oops but also who the eoduksini was??? like about 75% i began suspecting someone and i was right but if you'd asked me this at the beginning of the book i literally never wouldve imagined😭 please they always say its the person you least suspect but even then i never get them early on LOL but damn if that eoduksini wasnt so smart actually??? despise them omg
and finally let me scream about my love for seokga and hani ohmygod?? YOUR HONOR I AM IN LOVE🥹🥹 the way they had me giggling, gasping, laughing, and grinning like a fool??? there literally couldve been absolutely no plot in this book and i still wouldve given 5 stars BECAUSE SEOKGA AND HANI >>> i adore those two so so so much, i always live for grumpyxsunshine and the way they started out hating the other (all due to coffee help i still find it so funny) to their petty and silly arguments and insults theyd throw at each other to slowly becoming insults with less heat and loathing and them begrudgingly respecting the other to still occassionally having arguments but then also caring so much about how the other perceives them and then considering each other as ...friends? and really noticing the small details about the other to then wondering if maybe theyre more than just friends and the shyness and sweet looks and ughhh my heart the hold they have on me?? im so gone for them
one bed scene?? waking up to cuddling BY THE SEOKGA??? their kisses?? the blushing??? the makeout sessions??? seokga's soft vulnerability??? hani's adorable rambling??? the way each felt so at ease with the other, like they found a part of themselves?? the little glances, the tugs at their hearts, the softening in their gazes?? yes indeed i am obsessed if you couldnt tell🥹 i felt like crying just because of how sweet these two are. and which is why it HURT even more knowing i was reaching the end because i just knew as soon as seokga eventually found out hani was really the scarlet fox, all that happiness would be gone so quick and it genuinely broke my heart thinking about that which is why i started procrastinating reaching the end😭 yes, i straight up tried to slow down my reading by starting another book, reading slower, trying to read some webcomics but no it didn't work because i have too much of an addiction for these two and you cant take them away from me i refuse (as for what ended up happening between those 2 and if there was a revelation indeed... well you'll have to read and find out👀)
but also i need to scream about it somewhere so MAJOR major spoilers here:
anyways yeah the things this book did to me, i went from laughing->grinning like a fool->fangirling and giggling->heartbreak and pain->(??????) youll only know this if you read the book xox and i seriously adore the character development in both hani and seokga, it was done so well and naturally <3
this has absolutely become one of my top favourite reads of 2024 and of all time, and i will so be doing a reread because its just that kind of book🫶 ugh thank you author for creating such a beautiful world with beautiful characters and also please tell me when book 2 is asap i need it🥹
Eternally thankful to Del Rey for providing me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
_____________
pre-read review:
OMG KURI HUANG AND HER COVERS >>>> and this sounds amazing?? i need it asap
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January 3, 2025
the first 30-40% of the book gave me strong 5 star feelings but, around the 60% mark, i lost interest. i'm not sure what happened, but it almost put me in another (!) reading slump. instead of enjoying the book for what it had to offer, i ended up skimming the last 20% just because i wanted to get it over with. regarding the couple, i really enjoyed the banter and 'enemies' dynamic between them from the start. i liked how their relationship developed, as i'm a fan of a good fast-burn. however, it isn't the classic fast-burn since they only started showing genuine affection towards each other around the 70% mark. the only thing i didn't enjoy as much was how their banter completely changed after they 'got together.' they used to argue like teens in high school, which i found very funny, but afterwards, all they did was kiss and be overly lovey-dovey with each other. oh and i don't know how, but i was able to guess who the mystery person they are trying to find is so all the plot reveals and twists weren't that surprising to me.
actual rating: 3.75 stars
actual rating: 3.75 stars
March 3, 2024
Dear Sophie Kim,
Please make this is a series. PLEASE. It awakened my fantasy kdrama enjoyment, and the ending absolutely gutted me. I love my grumpy god and his cute, endearingly, sassy hot-chocolate drinking fox. I want to see them to continue to solve mysteries, live in his fancy palace, catch / kill more demons.
Please?
You like My Demon? Alchemy of Souls? Enjoy grumpy / sunshine trope, and actually want to read a fun fantasy detective mystery - read this. It shocked me honestly this was the same person who wrote the YA series. I think she truly has a hit with this one.
I love the world of fantasy creatures, grim reapers, gods, magic, and food. Lots, and lots of food.
I also love that while it took 7 days for him to develop feelings for her, it took a while to see it played out on paper. I also loved that as soon as he kissed he fell harder and wanted her like he never wanted any one before.
I loved the ending, and while it ended on a happy note, I don't think their work is finished and I don't think we've seen the last of them. But just in case, please read this, support it, and get me book two.
Please make this is a series. PLEASE. It awakened my fantasy kdrama enjoyment, and the ending absolutely gutted me. I love my grumpy god and his cute, endearingly, sassy hot-chocolate drinking fox. I want to see them to continue to solve mysteries, live in his fancy palace, catch / kill more demons.
Please?
You like My Demon? Alchemy of Souls? Enjoy grumpy / sunshine trope, and actually want to read a fun fantasy detective mystery - read this. It shocked me honestly this was the same person who wrote the YA series. I think she truly has a hit with this one.
I love the world of fantasy creatures, grim reapers, gods, magic, and food. Lots, and lots of food.
I also love that while it took 7 days for him to develop feelings for her, it took a while to see it played out on paper. I also loved that as soon as he kissed he fell harder and wanted her like he never wanted any one before.
I loved the ending, and while it ended on a happy note, I don't think their work is finished and I don't think we've seen the last of them. But just in case, please read this, support it, and get me book two.
October 23, 2025
J’ai beaucoup aimé cette romantasy très sympathique. Pour apprécier ce roman je pense qu’il faut connaître le monde des dramas coréens. J’ai adoré plonger dans le folklore coréen. C’est drôle c’est bon bon comme un bonbon acidulé. Hani est la renarde écarlate, elle ne supporte pas Seokgaka le dieu déchu qui vient prendre son café tous les jours dans l’établissement dans lequel travaille Hani. Ce dernier pour retrouver son statut de dieu doit attraper un démon ainsi sque la renarde écarlate…
Si vous aimez les romantasys enemies to lovers foncez!!!
Si vous aimez les romantasys enemies to lovers foncez!!!
Read
March 27, 2024
dnf @ 60%
Let me start this review by saying that this is one of my most anticipated releases of the year, especially after seeing all the raving reviews from early readers. Two cunning immortals who hate each other having to team up to solve a mystery while deceiving each other and then they fall in love? I was hooked. Sadly, I find this book highly disappointing and didn’t deliver in all the aspects that it promised well.
First of all, this book reads like a fanfiction. And while usually I have no qualms with that, especially if it’s enjoyable to read, it is not the case for this book. It was tedious and unnecessary, and it didn’t fit the tone of the story. There are plenty of dialogues that are extremely difficult to read, because there are too many unnecessary descriptions that, instead of giving the reader a good picture of the situation, make the entire thing hard to read. Not to mention how much they talk that could’ve been cut because it didn’t add up anything except for the headaches I have to suffer.
The romance aspect of this book, which I was hoping would be the savior of the book, is done so poorly. I said it to my friends before, but it developed faster than instant ramen and jumped from point A to point Z so quickly that it felt like they were teleporting into romance instead of having it developed organically. They went from annoying and hating each other to suddenly 100% tolerating in a span of one paragraph, and then from that to “oh I think I have romantic feelings for you” due to the magic of the one-bed trope (which isn’t done well too in this case). And then the next chapter, they kiss and suddenly they’re madly in love... I kept questioning myself if I missed a chapter or two, but I didn’t.
And the plot... my last thread of hope for this book. Even that wasn’t enough to make me keep reading because all I could think about was when this book would end, which was why I decided to dnf. It was somewhat interesting, but then it gets boring and I simply don’t care anymore.
All in all, I am very disappointed that this book didn’t deliver like I want it to, and I am happy if people enjoyed it, but this book isn’t for me at all and if our tastes are similar, then there’s a chance you won’t like this as much either.
Many thanks to Netgalley for sending me an arc
Let me start this review by saying that this is one of my most anticipated releases of the year, especially after seeing all the raving reviews from early readers. Two cunning immortals who hate each other having to team up to solve a mystery while deceiving each other and then they fall in love? I was hooked. Sadly, I find this book highly disappointing and didn’t deliver in all the aspects that it promised well.
First of all, this book reads like a fanfiction. And while usually I have no qualms with that, especially if it’s enjoyable to read, it is not the case for this book. It was tedious and unnecessary, and it didn’t fit the tone of the story. There are plenty of dialogues that are extremely difficult to read, because there are too many unnecessary descriptions that, instead of giving the reader a good picture of the situation, make the entire thing hard to read. Not to mention how much they talk that could’ve been cut because it didn’t add up anything except for the headaches I have to suffer.
The romance aspect of this book, which I was hoping would be the savior of the book, is done so poorly. I said it to my friends before, but it developed faster than instant ramen and jumped from point A to point Z so quickly that it felt like they were teleporting into romance instead of having it developed organically. They went from annoying and hating each other to suddenly 100% tolerating in a span of one paragraph, and then from that to “oh I think I have romantic feelings for you” due to the magic of the one-bed trope (which isn’t done well too in this case). And then the next chapter, they kiss and suddenly they’re madly in love... I kept questioning myself if I missed a chapter or two, but I didn’t.
And the plot... my last thread of hope for this book. Even that wasn’t enough to make me keep reading because all I could think about was when this book would end, which was why I decided to dnf. It was somewhat interesting, but then it gets boring and I simply don’t care anymore.
All in all, I am very disappointed that this book didn’t deliver like I want it to, and I am happy if people enjoyed it, but this book isn’t for me at all and if our tastes are similar, then there’s a chance you won’t like this as much either.
Many thanks to Netgalley for sending me an arc
January 4, 2025
an intriguing blend of korean mythology and kdrama! i wish i was more familiar with the latter bc i've seen other reviews mention a lot of references and nods to popular kdrama series, but unfortunately they'd all go over my head.
i always enjoy reading less-utilized mythology sources; i was constantly looking up different creature references. and the food 🤌🏼 any food descriptions or new foods are a plus for me in books. the early 90's setting was also quite fun and nostalgic - i almost keeled over at "expensive nokia 121" lol.
while the murder mystery could be gruesome at parts, it was nicely juxtaposed with the silliness of the kdrama-esque relationship dynamic between our fallen god seokga and the infamous gumiho hani. i do feel like it wasn't the most complex relationship i've read in a book, but it was fun. they did act a bit teenager-ish for a god and a mythological creature of hundreds/thousands of years of age, but i chalk it up to the modern inspirations.
i probably would've given this 3.5 stars, but i like the creativity of blending contemporary kdrama with ancient mythology.
not one of my fav reads this year, but i'm interested in seeing where book 2 goes with that ending 👀
i always enjoy reading less-utilized mythology sources; i was constantly looking up different creature references. and the food 🤌🏼 any food descriptions or new foods are a plus for me in books. the early 90's setting was also quite fun and nostalgic - i almost keeled over at "expensive nokia 121" lol.
while the murder mystery could be gruesome at parts, it was nicely juxtaposed with the silliness of the kdrama-esque relationship dynamic between our fallen god seokga and the infamous gumiho hani. i do feel like it wasn't the most complex relationship i've read in a book, but it was fun. they did act a bit teenager-ish for a god and a mythological creature of hundreds/thousands of years of age, but i chalk it up to the modern inspirations.
i probably would've given this 3.5 stars, but i like the creativity of blending contemporary kdrama with ancient mythology.
not one of my fav reads this year, but i'm interested in seeing where book 2 goes with that ending 👀
December 9, 2025
4.75 ★— I’ve been seriously missing out on this series, and now I’m kicking myself, because this was sooo good!
I have always liked morally ambiguous heroines with iffy pasts, and this book delivered that in such a charming way through its heroine, Kim Hani. She is a gumiho, a fox spirit who has lived for more than a century, working quietly at a café until she crosses paths with another long-lived being, the fallen trickster god Seokga.
As the saying about unstoppable forces meeting immovable objects goes, once these two start working together their dynamic becomes the best part of the book. The author’s depiction of the various supernatural beings inhabiting this version of 90s Korea is just as delightful. Watching Hani and Seokga shift from bickering, reluctant co-workers to two people who genuinely get along and share real rapport, and eventually to two ancient beings who become absolutely adorable together as they slowly fall for each other, was perfection.
The central plot and the cat-and-mouse game between them flow beautifully from chapter to chapter. The detective elements were so much fun, from the investigations to the clue-hunting to simply watching Hani and Seokga open up to each other as they worked the case.
This was incredibly refreshing, a story with two morally grey coded leads whose personalities shine through every page. It completely swept me away. All the 10s here!
I have always liked morally ambiguous heroines with iffy pasts, and this book delivered that in such a charming way through its heroine, Kim Hani. She is a gumiho, a fox spirit who has lived for more than a century, working quietly at a café until she crosses paths with another long-lived being, the fallen trickster god Seokga.
As the saying about unstoppable forces meeting immovable objects goes, once these two start working together their dynamic becomes the best part of the book. The author’s depiction of the various supernatural beings inhabiting this version of 90s Korea is just as delightful. Watching Hani and Seokga shift from bickering, reluctant co-workers to two people who genuinely get along and share real rapport, and eventually to two ancient beings who become absolutely adorable together as they slowly fall for each other, was perfection.
The central plot and the cat-and-mouse game between them flow beautifully from chapter to chapter. The detective elements were so much fun, from the investigations to the clue-hunting to simply watching Hani and Seokga open up to each other as they worked the case.
This was incredibly refreshing, a story with two morally grey coded leads whose personalities shine through every page. It completely swept me away. All the 10s here!
Read
June 5, 2024⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢୭ৎ⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢
⌗ ◌ 🍶𓂃 𓈒𓏸 pre-read
﹙started﹚ㅤ𓈒ㅤׂ 0 5 / 0 6 / 2 4 ⊹
happy release week !! reading it with this idiot (very affectionate)
⌗ ◌ 🍶𓂃 𓈒𓏸 pre-read
﹙started﹚ㅤ𓈒ㅤׂ 0 5 / 0 6 / 2 4 ⊹
happy release week !! reading it with this idiot (very affectionate)
January 25, 2025
This book annoyed me so goddamn much, mostly because it could have been SO MUCH MORE.
This started as an interesting premise, and I liked how much the characters frustrated and annoyed each other in turns. It seemed like an actual rivals/enemies/hate to lovers situation vs the typical lukewarm "I hate you because of a misunderstanding 3 years ago" version of the trope. But then it kept going and going and the WAY these two annoyed each other started to annoy ME. I hated the way they talked to each other, I hated that they both smirked and scowled and had wicked gleams in their eyes and they sneered and snickered and were mischievous 100% of the time. I hated how these millennia old creatures acted like absolute dumbass idiot teenagers. And then they were horny for each other and falling in love.
Don't get me started on the fucking coffee running joke. IT STOPPED BEING FUNNY REAL FAST.
There was so much promise here, and I'm so upset that a book that could have done so much interesting stuff with this premise only wanted to do the romantasy bit and ignore everything else. It could have been so cool to expand a lot more on the gods and demons aspect, to really dig into what the world is like with demons running around and how they have to hide from humans. This felt like a romantasy taking place on a stage with a cardboard painted backdrop of urban fantasy.
I keep thinking about how childish this was. How many times did Hani stick her tongue out at Seokga? How many times did she fuck up his coffee on purpose? How many times did Seokga speak with an icy calm or snarl at someone? How many times did Hani's claws pop out of her hands with a snick like she's fucking Wolverine? Why did this just feel like a Loki/Reader grumpy/sunshine fanfic written by someone who doesn't know how adults act? Why did they have a literal staring contest seeing who could keep their eyes open the longest like a pair of 10 year olds?? WE COULD HAVE DONE SO MUCH MORE.
The way they went from completely annoyed at each other to absolutely horny for each other in .5 seconds was WILD. The worst part was that the story WAS seeding moments where they were starting to break through the annoyance and seeing more in each other, but then it seemed like the story felt it was taking too long, so BOOM, now they're horny for each other and falling in love. IT COULD HAVE DEVELOPED THE ROMANCE SO MUCH BETTER.
There were some good red herring setups and lampshading and swerving, but then the actual reveal of who they're tracking down in the end was meant to be a big reveal but...it wasn't? It was as obvious as the first red herring. The journey that the side plot takes with Hani's gumiho friend was incredibly obvious as well. At least the very final moments were a bit of a surprise, but I didn't feel a thing by then.
Also, the story took an absolutely cowardly way out in the end to make it True Love.
ALSO, what was the point of saying this was set in 1992? NOTHING about it felt like the 90s.
Finally, the audio. All I'll say is that neither of these two narrators know how to act/emote. There are great audiobook narrators who read books and bring them to life. Then there are these two, who say a line of someone growling with the exact same cadence and tone as someone crying. Hell, I wouldn't even know what emotion a character was supposed to be feeling in a line of dialogue until the dialogue tag was read out. Go girl, give us nothing!
Anyway. What a fucking let down. We could have had a much more interesting in depth story with the mythology. The romance could have gone down a different, much more interesting path if it wasn't so interested in being a "spicy" romantasy.
My first disappointing read of 2025, woo hoo.
This started as an interesting premise, and I liked how much the characters frustrated and annoyed each other in turns. It seemed like an actual rivals/enemies/hate to lovers situation vs the typical lukewarm "I hate you because of a misunderstanding 3 years ago" version of the trope. But then it kept going and going and the WAY these two annoyed each other started to annoy ME. I hated the way they talked to each other, I hated that they both smirked and scowled and had wicked gleams in their eyes and they sneered and snickered and were mischievous 100% of the time. I hated how these millennia old creatures acted like absolute dumbass idiot teenagers. And then they were horny for each other and falling in love.
Don't get me started on the fucking coffee running joke. IT STOPPED BEING FUNNY REAL FAST.
There was so much promise here, and I'm so upset that a book that could have done so much interesting stuff with this premise only wanted to do the romantasy bit and ignore everything else. It could have been so cool to expand a lot more on the gods and demons aspect, to really dig into what the world is like with demons running around and how they have to hide from humans. This felt like a romantasy taking place on a stage with a cardboard painted backdrop of urban fantasy.
I keep thinking about how childish this was. How many times did Hani stick her tongue out at Seokga? How many times did she fuck up his coffee on purpose? How many times did Seokga speak with an icy calm or snarl at someone? How many times did Hani's claws pop out of her hands with a snick like she's fucking Wolverine? Why did this just feel like a Loki/Reader grumpy/sunshine fanfic written by someone who doesn't know how adults act? Why did they have a literal staring contest seeing who could keep their eyes open the longest like a pair of 10 year olds?? WE COULD HAVE DONE SO MUCH MORE.
The way they went from completely annoyed at each other to absolutely horny for each other in .5 seconds was WILD. The worst part was that the story WAS seeding moments where they were starting to break through the annoyance and seeing more in each other, but then it seemed like the story felt it was taking too long, so BOOM, now they're horny for each other and falling in love. IT COULD HAVE DEVELOPED THE ROMANCE SO MUCH BETTER.
There were some good red herring setups and lampshading and swerving, but then the actual reveal of who they're tracking down in the end was meant to be a big reveal but...it wasn't? It was as obvious as the first red herring. The journey that the side plot takes with Hani's gumiho friend was incredibly obvious as well. At least the very final moments were a bit of a surprise, but I didn't feel a thing by then.
Also, the story took an absolutely cowardly way out in the end to make it True Love.
ALSO, what was the point of saying this was set in 1992? NOTHING about it felt like the 90s.
Finally, the audio. All I'll say is that neither of these two narrators know how to act/emote. There are great audiobook narrators who read books and bring them to life. Then there are these two, who say a line of someone growling with the exact same cadence and tone as someone crying. Hell, I wouldn't even know what emotion a character was supposed to be feeling in a line of dialogue until the dialogue tag was read out. Go girl, give us nothing!
Anyway. What a fucking let down. We could have had a much more interesting in depth story with the mythology. The romance could have gone down a different, much more interesting path if it wasn't so interested in being a "spicy" romantasy.
My first disappointing read of 2025, woo hoo.
May 30, 2024
3.5 stars
The God and the Gumiho is a fun, campy romantic fantasy about mischievous immortals in a Korean city filled with mythical creatures. Though I really enjoyed the world and the characters, I wish the book had leaned into the fantasy elements a little bit more. This definitely feels like a romance book set in an urban fantasy world. Which is fun! But the light and fun romance bordered on cringe for me at times. (Am I just a miserable person?)
Seokga and Hani are both compelling main characters. I love that they are both powerful immortal beings with long, complicated histories. They can come across as a bit childish at times, but it also suits their natures as a gumiho and a trickster god. The banter, tension, and angst before the romance really starts was so entertaining. Their relationship was cute. I almost wish it had been a slower burn but I also understand why it wasn't. I think I just prefer what Sophie Kim does with an angsty romance (looking at Wrath of the Talon where she ripped my heart out).
I like Seokga’s character arc and I am excited to see how he develops in the next book. However, his godly nature was a bit underdeveloped and his personality felt inconsistent at times. Seokga is a disgraced trickster god known for pulling endless pranks on the rest of the pantheon. But what we’re told of his personality as a god doesn't really translate to Seokga as a character. I also don't love how drastically he changed after the romance started.
The monster-hunting, urban fantasy detective side of the story was my favorite part so I was a little disappointed when the romance really took over the story. I love the urban fantasy world that Sophie Kim creates and I just wanted to explore it a bit more.
The ending was a complete surprise and I love the direction the story is going. The bold choice really sets it apart. For most of the book, I did not plan to continue the series, but now I am absolutely hooked.
The God and the Gumiho is a fun, campy romantic fantasy about mischievous immortals in a Korean city filled with mythical creatures. Though I really enjoyed the world and the characters, I wish the book had leaned into the fantasy elements a little bit more. This definitely feels like a romance book set in an urban fantasy world. Which is fun! But the light and fun romance bordered on cringe for me at times. (Am I just a miserable person?)
Seokga and Hani are both compelling main characters. I love that they are both powerful immortal beings with long, complicated histories. They can come across as a bit childish at times, but it also suits their natures as a gumiho and a trickster god. The banter, tension, and angst before the romance really starts was so entertaining. Their relationship was cute. I almost wish it had been a slower burn but I also understand why it wasn't. I think I just prefer what Sophie Kim does with an angsty romance (looking at Wrath of the Talon where she ripped my heart out).
I like Seokga’s character arc and I am excited to see how he develops in the next book. However, his godly nature was a bit underdeveloped and his personality felt inconsistent at times. Seokga is a disgraced trickster god known for pulling endless pranks on the rest of the pantheon. But what we’re told of his personality as a god doesn't really translate to Seokga as a character. I also don't love how drastically he changed after the romance started.
The monster-hunting, urban fantasy detective side of the story was my favorite part so I was a little disappointed when the romance really took over the story. I love the urban fantasy world that Sophie Kim creates and I just wanted to explore it a bit more.
The ending was a complete surprise and I love the direction the story is going. The bold choice really sets it apart. For most of the book, I did not plan to continue the series, but now I am absolutely hooked.
December 30, 2024
3 ⭐️ and some change
The setting: Small urban center in 90s Korea
The characters: Infamous gumiho and a fallen god working as a detective
The plot: Oh no I hope they don't have to work together to solve a mystery where she is the very culprit he's searching for...
This was a fun one, heavy on romance and light on most other things. Kim's inspirations are fanfiction and Kdramas, which comes through in the frothy prose and affection for tropes, but her writing is just strong enough to keep it from feeling canned. I was frequently reminded of Em X Liu's If Found, Return To Hell, which draws on the same comfortability with AO3-style framing to mash its characters together.
At the same time, I prefer something a little meatier than what this book wants to give, so I'd recommend it more strongly for others.
The setting: Small urban center in 90s Korea
The characters: Infamous gumiho and a fallen god working as a detective
The plot: Oh no I hope they don't have to work together to solve a mystery where she is the very culprit he's searching for...
This was a fun one, heavy on romance and light on most other things. Kim's inspirations are fanfiction and Kdramas, which comes through in the frothy prose and affection for tropes, but her writing is just strong enough to keep it from feeling canned. I was frequently reminded of Em X Liu's If Found, Return To Hell, which draws on the same comfortability with AO3-style framing to mash its characters together.
At the same time, I prefer something a little meatier than what this book wants to give, so I'd recommend it more strongly for others.
August 24, 2024
Mostly I'm disappointed and a little mad. Not sure if at myself or the book honestly.
The concept was so so good and this cover? I mean come on! A fallen trickster god and a fox kind of mythic who is kind of a serial killer because her kind eats people's livers? I had such high hopes. It also promised to be funny and fun.
The romance? little to none. The very end saved it but only a little (oh and this is not YA, not sure where I got that it was but it's not, but there are like 2 smut scenes).
The bigger story? I didn't really care and it was just so long I had to go back a few times and reread sections to follow along.
The banter and jokes? almost none.
AND THEN THAT END! It's open-ended, there is (apparently) another book, though I do think I rather like this ending. But it was also really annoying because I felt like, I got this far, so where is my pay off?
I did like that both the main characters are immortal and are 1000+ years old.
The concept was cool.
Maybe if it had like 100 pages less and some more character development before the last few chapters it would have been 4+ stars but who knows.
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This is one of these cases when the cover does all the talking for the book.
The concept was so so good and this cover? I mean come on! A fallen trickster god and a fox kind of mythic who is kind of a serial killer because her kind eats people's livers? I had such high hopes. It also promised to be funny and fun.
The romance? little to none. The very end saved it but only a little (oh and this is not YA, not sure where I got that it was but it's not, but there are like 2 smut scenes).
The bigger story? I didn't really care and it was just so long I had to go back a few times and reread sections to follow along.
The banter and jokes? almost none.
AND THEN THAT END! It's open-ended, there is (apparently) another book, though I do think I rather like this ending. But it was also really annoying because I felt like, I got this far, so where is my pay off?
I did like that both the main characters are immortal and are 1000+ years old.
The concept was cool.
Maybe if it had like 100 pages less and some more character development before the last few chapters it would have been 4+ stars but who knows.
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This is one of these cases when the cover does all the talking for the book.
May 22, 2025
This took me a hot minute to get into, twice, but once I was there, and Hani was working with Seokga, things picked up for me.
The characters initially started off feeling really out of place for me. Hani read like she was 12 years old and Seokga read like he was 70-odd. Now, granted, he is thousands of years old, so maybe that's why, but I couldn't get my head around Hani being so childish, and it made shipping them really difficult. But as the story progressed, so did Hani's character arc. The moment I realised she was incredibly self aware of her childishness and selfishness, I started to like her a bit more, and by the end, I was super invest in her grown and her and Seokga as a couple significantly more.
I am excited for book 2, and I will be picking it up, hopefully sooner rather than later. So glad I gave this a chance and made it past the 100 page mark because I really was struggling up until then, and as an avid DNF'er, it was definitely on the chopping block for a period of time.
The characters initially started off feeling really out of place for me. Hani read like she was 12 years old and Seokga read like he was 70-odd. Now, granted, he is thousands of years old, so maybe that's why, but I couldn't get my head around Hani being so childish, and it made shipping them really difficult. But as the story progressed, so did Hani's character arc. The moment I realised she was incredibly self aware of her childishness and selfishness, I started to like her a bit more, and by the end, I was super invest in her grown and her and Seokga as a couple significantly more.
I am excited for book 2, and I will be picking it up, hopefully sooner rather than later. So glad I gave this a chance and made it past the 100 page mark because I really was struggling up until then, and as an avid DNF'er, it was definitely on the chopping block for a period of time.
July 4, 2024
This was such a fun time!
A fallen God turned detective gets a new assistant who is the Scarlet Fox he is hunting for, wrapped up in a murder mystery.
A fallen God turned detective gets a new assistant who is the Scarlet Fox he is hunting for, wrapped up in a murder mystery.
December 2, 2025
5⭐️
“Something blooms within the barren plains of his heart, something that is green and small and smells of spring. A seed of happiness, nurtured by Hani's kisses, just beginning to grow.”
…
NO NOTES! This was everything I wanted and more, and that ending was a real punch to the heart 😭 the epilogue gave me some hope, and I need that next book asap.
If you love kdramas, I think you’ll love this. It really reads like watching a show. The story really comes to life, and I visualized this like I could see it right in front of me.
Okay, gonna go drink some coffee now 🙂↔️
___
EDIT: re-read April 2025 JUST AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER MY HEART!!!!
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yes I read this again (december 2025) and it’s like watching a favorite tv show, I love it 😭
“Something blooms within the barren plains of his heart, something that is green and small and smells of spring. A seed of happiness, nurtured by Hani's kisses, just beginning to grow.”
…
NO NOTES! This was everything I wanted and more, and that ending was a real punch to the heart 😭 the epilogue gave me some hope, and I need that next book asap.
If you love kdramas, I think you’ll love this. It really reads like watching a show. The story really comes to life, and I visualized this like I could see it right in front of me.
Okay, gonna go drink some coffee now 🙂↔️
___
EDIT: re-read April 2025 JUST AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER MY HEART!!!!
___
yes I read this again (december 2025) and it’s like watching a favorite tv show, I love it 😭
September 24, 2025
4.5*
ate this shit up i can’t wait to read book 2
ate this shit up i can’t wait to read book 2
March 16, 2025
Unfortunately, I did not love this one. I wanted to, but...I wanted to learn more about my birth country's folklore, but...I never got the chance to learn a lot about it because my parents were too busy always working and because we followed a very strict westernized Christian doctrine that had no space for other gods and demons and spirits and whatevers. Now I'm trying to catch up on my education whenever I can. Had hoped this book would raise my awareness profile higher, but...
So actually, I probably did learn more and probably can say the learn-o-meter had risen somewhat. However, it wasn't anything that helped me feel more connected to my heritage. I have to say, the Gumiho isn't a likeable character, though Kim tried to rewrite her as a likeable though heavily flawed. Seokga, the trickster god, isn't much likeable either. He's a cranky pants god who cheats a lot. They kind of deserve each other. I guess everyone deserves to be loved?
I think this book would've been better off as a graphic novel or even a K-drama. It didn't work well enough for me as a book. Rounding up to 3.
So actually, I probably did learn more and probably can say the learn-o-meter had risen somewhat. However, it wasn't anything that helped me feel more connected to my heritage. I have to say, the Gumiho isn't a likeable character, though Kim tried to rewrite her as a likeable though heavily flawed. Seokga, the trickster god, isn't much likeable either. He's a cranky pants god who cheats a lot. They kind of deserve each other. I guess everyone deserves to be loved?
I think this book would've been better off as a graphic novel or even a K-drama. It didn't work well enough for me as a book. Rounding up to 3.
November 27, 2025
love me some banter 🤭🤭
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ooh i like the cover of this one …
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