by: Nabila Rhapsodios
PRODUCT INFO
Title: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sun
Author(s): Axie Oh
Publisher: Elex Media Komputindo
Language: Indonesian
Year Published: 2023
Page(s) Number: 296
The Product Info readers see is the Indonesian version, as I bought and read this version rather than the English or other-language versions.
PROLOGUE
Axie Oh, The Author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
I saw this book in one of my subscription newsletters in 2023 and immediately fell in love with the cover art. I hurried to the nearest bookstore to buy it. I finished reading the book in the same year I bought it; I didn’t have time to review it immediately. Three years later, I knew I couldn’t do the story justice, so I decided to write a review and flip through the pages again to refresh my memory.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea tells the story of Mina, a sixteen-year-old girl who throws herself into the sea during an annual sacred ritual to appease the Sea God. Mina is not the original bride to the Sea God; it’s the beautiful Shim Cheong, lover to Mina’s older brother Joon, who is the original bride, unequivocally chosen by the whole village because of her peerless beauty, who knows no opponent and is a perfect candidate for the Sea God. The ritual must come to pass so the whole village will have a moment of respite when the deadly storm vanishes, even just for a count of days. Shim Cheong knows this year is her turn, but fear engulfs her, and a part of her wishes she could be whisked away from her village by Joon or someone else. Shim Cheong’s wish does not come true, so the preparation of the ritual continues, and the day has come for her to be sacrificed. Shim Cheong steels herself before she is pushed to the sea. Then, a minor skirmish breaks out between Joon, Shim Cheong, and the entire escort group. Joon’s interference with the ritual is sacrilegious, which can be penalized with a death sentence right at the moment or at a later date. To save Joon and give the two lovers happiness they so need in the deplorable lives they are in, Mina throws herself into the sea, much to the surprise of the onlookers.
Mina is swept away by a raging tide and lands in the Spirit Realm, a home to the Sea God and His subjects, as well as many mythical beings. Mina seeks out the Sea God. To her shock, the Sea God is caught in spellbound sleep on His throne. Mina now knows the reason for the eternal, deadly storm that thrashes her village: the sleep has made the Sea God unable to fulfill His duties, namely protecting humans from sea storms. With aid from a mysterious and taciturn young man named Shin as well as many Spirit Realm residents, Mina goes on a quest to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the letiferous storms once and for all.
MY IMPRESSION
Below is a breakdown of a little stuff that hooked me from the very first page:
1. Axie Oh creates a world of imagination in a book full of tenderness, loyalty, love, and a smidge of mischief, and imbues it with Korean folklore, so fascinating that it invites me to immerse myself in its vibrant spirit realm.
2. Mina’s companions, from Shin to Kirin to Namgi, add layers of depth to the narrative. They keep me eagerly flipping pages to figure out their ultimate fates. The plot is unpredictable, with many twists that sneak up on you.
3. Mina is a beautiful protagonist of the book. She definitely is not a damsel in distress. She braves her fate with resolute affirmation. Her story teaches me about taking rein of your fate and forges a path for you to thrive. Mina’s journey becomes a captivating exploration of courage, friendship, and the power of belief.
4. This book is well-written. The tenderly emotional and action sequences in particular are powerful and bewitching. This book offers a good tension and dreamlike worldbuilding.
One thing that puts me off is the pairing of a sixteen-year-old girl and an ancient deity. Mina is eighteen at the end, so she is no longer a child. This tries to justify the romance. Still, the age gap feels odd. Nothing serious happens between them while she’s underage, but it still strikes me as strange. The broad age difference would pop into my mind and linger. Despite this, I like Mina and Shin as characters. They are loyal, selfless, and deeply insightful.
In conclusion, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an immersive book that will appeal to fans of fantasy, romance, and mythology alike. With its richly imagined realm, dynamic characters, and gripping plot, it’s a book that stays with me and you long after we’ve turned the last page. Axie Oh has made an unforgettable story that will leave us spellbound. 8.5/10.
-FIN-
*Disclaimer: Courtesy of Google Images. The material published on this website is intended solely for general information and reference purposes and is not legal advice or other professional advice.
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