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A review by heatherpageone
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I recently finished this book in one sitting, and I’m left with some mixed feelings about it.
First off, I really enjoyed the premise of the story. The setting was captivating, with a whimsical and mythical vibe that carried through the entire narrative. However, I felt that the execution fell short in some areas. The author introduced a lot of intriguing concepts and cool ideas, but they often felt underdeveloped. The story was packed with information and events, but there wasn’t enough time spent fleshing out these ideas, leaving them without proper explanation or conclusion. As a result, the world-building and magical system felt a bit confusing and lacked detail. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging out longer than necessary. As someone who appreciates well-fleshed-out worlds, I found myself a bit frustrated with the lack of depth in certain areas, but it still provided an enjoyable, if not fully satisfying, reading experience.
As for the characters, the main character was decent, and I found their romance to be sweet and cute. However, the relationship felt rushed, with not enough build-up to make it fully believable. The romance started from a rocky place, so it needed more development to really sell the connection between the characters. On the other hand, some of the secondary characters, like Kirin and Namgi, were quite interesting. I just wish we could have delved deeper into their thoughts and given them more opportunities to shine.
The plot twists towards the end were a nice touch, although some of them were predictable due to the hints dropped along the way. However, the ending itself felt rushed. I was hoping for more, especially when it came to exploring what happened to the Sea God in the spirit realm during the two-year gap after everyone returned to their respective places.
Overall, this book might be a good choice if you’re looking for a palate cleanser or an easy read, but it left me wanting more in terms of depth and development. It would likely appeal to readers who enjoy fantasy with a strong mythical element and don’t mind a bit of ambiguity in the world-building.
First off, I really enjoyed the premise of the story. The setting was captivating, with a whimsical and mythical vibe that carried through the entire narrative. However, I felt that the execution fell short in some areas. The author introduced a lot of intriguing concepts and cool ideas, but they often felt underdeveloped. The story was packed with information and events, but there wasn’t enough time spent fleshing out these ideas, leaving them without proper explanation or conclusion. As a result, the world-building and magical system felt a bit confusing and lacked detail. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging out longer than necessary. As someone who appreciates well-fleshed-out worlds, I found myself a bit frustrated with the lack of depth in certain areas, but it still provided an enjoyable, if not fully satisfying, reading experience.
As for the characters, the main character was decent, and I found their romance to be sweet and cute. However, the relationship felt rushed, with not enough build-up to make it fully believable. The romance started from a rocky place, so it needed more development to really sell the connection between the characters. On the other hand, some of the secondary characters, like Kirin and Namgi, were quite interesting. I just wish we could have delved deeper into their thoughts and given them more opportunities to shine.
The plot twists towards the end were a nice touch, although some of them were predictable due to the hints dropped along the way. However, the ending itself felt rushed. I was hoping for more, especially when it came to exploring what happened to the Sea God in the spirit realm during the two-year gap after everyone returned to their respective places.
Overall, this book might be a good choice if you’re looking for a palate cleanser or an easy read, but it left me wanting more in terms of depth and development. It would likely appeal to readers who enjoy fantasy with a strong mythical element and don’t mind a bit of ambiguity in the world-building.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and War