The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
By Axie Oh
Blurb
For generations, deadly storms have ravaged Mina's homeland. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curse them with death and despair. To appease him, each year a maiden is thrown into the sea, in the hopes that one day the 'true bride' will be chosen and end the suffering.
Many believe Shim Cheong - Mina's brother's beloved - to be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is sacrificed, Mina's brother follows her, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong's stead.
Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina finds the Sea God, trapped in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man and a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits, Mina sets out to wake him and bring an end to the storms once and for all.
But she doesn't have much time: a human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking . . .
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is a magical feminist retelling of a classic Korean legend, perfect for fans of Uprooted and Miyazaki's Spirited Away.
Our Review
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh is a phenomenal book. It is in a league of it's own but is also an ideal read for fans of The Bear and the Nightingale and City of Brass.
For as long as anyone can remember the people of Mina's village have been plagued by deadly storms. Local legend has it that the storms are caused by the wrath of the Sea God. In order to appease him a maiden is sacrificed every year to be his bride.
When the love of her brother's life is due to be sacrificed Mina offers herself instead. Mina wants to end the curse once and for all but with Gods and Demons set against her how will she fair?
"The myths of my people say only a true bride of the Sea God can bring an end to his insatiable wrath. When the otherworldly storms rise from the East sea, lightning breaking the sky and water ripping up the shore, a bride is chosen and given to the Sea God.
Or sacrificed, depending on the measure of your faith."
Mina is a strong female protagonist but she is also vulnerable at times and this made her more three dimensional and less like part of yet another trope. She has fears and weaknesses but she is able to overcome them.
"There's a warmth in my chest that nothing and no one can take from me. This is the strength I call upon now, because even if I am afraid, I know I've chosen this.
I am the maker of my own destiny."
I love the way the author explores the different myths and legends and weaves in such intricate details to make the story come alive.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an exquisitely detaied and beautifully written book and I cannot recommend it enough.
Our Final Rating...
Read & Shared 16 Times.
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