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The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
OverDrive Inc.  Eaudiobook
2022
OverDrive
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
Rating:4 stars
Publication date:2022

About the author:

Axie Oh is the author of multiple books for teens, including The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. She studied Korean history and creative writing at the University of California San Diego and holds an MFA in Writing for Young People from Lesley University. Her passions include K-pop, anime, stationery supplies, and milk tea. A first-generation Korean American, she was born in New York City, was raised in New Jersey, and currently resides in Las Vegas with her dog, Toro (named after Totoro).

Description:

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina's homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God's bride, in the hopes that one day the "true bride" will be chosen and end the suffering. Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village?and the beloved of Mina's older brother Joon?may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, 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 seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin?as well as a motley crew of demons, gods, and spirits?Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer 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...
Reviews:

Publisher's Weekly

February 7, 2022
In Axie Oh’s (XOXO) transporting historical fantasy based off the Korean folktale “The Tale of Shim Cheong,” a village throws a maiden into the sea each year in hopes of appeasing a violent sea god who wreaks devastating natural disasters. Mina, 16 years old and furious at the gods for abandoning her village, sacrifices herself as this year’s Bride of the Sea God; in doing so, she takes the place of her brother’s love in a bid to save her sibling. After the sacrifice, Mina arrives in the spirit realm, where she finds herself tied to the sleeping, seemingly cursed Sea God by the Red String of Fate. As she seeks to wake the Sea God, she’s initially antagonized and eventually supported by the Sea God’s protectors—including Lord Shin of the Lotus House, a cold teenage nobleman whose developing relationship with Mina complicates her quest. Though exposition-heavy dialogue slows the novel’s pace early on, Mina’s determination to save her village and restore the order between humans and gods pushes the pace to an enjoyable clip, enabling an atmospheric folklore interpretation that’s sure to satisfy fans of historical K-dramas such as Moon Lovers. Ages 13–up. Agent: Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon Literary.

AudioFile Magazine
Rosa Escoda's dreamy narration sweeps listeners into a captivating retelling of a Korean folktale. Deadly storms rage along the coast every year, only calming after a sacrifice to the Sea God. When Mina realizes her brother is desperately in love with the woman intended as this year's "bride," she plunges into the sea to save her brother's heart. Mina's strength is apparent in Escoda's voice as Mina dives down to the mysterious spirit realm--and finds a red string of fate leading her to adventure. Escoda narrates with a British accent, smoothly shifting into Korean and differentiating between characters with a light touch. Listeners will love getting lost in this lush, romantic story with Mina, who seeks out a way to save her homeland and forge her own destiny. E.E.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
School Library Journal

August 1, 2022

Gr 7 Up-Oh adapts the traditional Korean "Tale of Shim Cheong" as the basis of her latest novel, her first foray into exploring folklore. Her unique version features 16-year-old Mina who, unwilling to watch her adored older brother lose his beloved Shim Cheong, replaces herself as the sacrificial bride of the Sea God. Waking in the Spirit Realm, Mina must reunite with her lost soul while figuring out how to save her earthly people. In combining historical folklore, magical elements, and fantastic creatures, Oh invents her own affecting myths. Spanish Korean actor Rosa Escoda makes her YA debut with energetic aplomb. Persuasively dynamic characterizations aside, however, Escoda has a noticeable speech impediment that could alienate impatient listeners. VERDICT The choosiest audiences might turn to the page to enjoy Oh's girl-power adventure.

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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