Blog Tour: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

Hello hello! I am soooooo excited to be back and writing to you! My job is going pretty well so far, and if you’re interested in hearing more about it, go ahead and leave me a comment, and perhaps I’ll write a blog post about it.

ANYHOO! Today I’ll be chatting about The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh, which is set to come out THIS TUESDAY!! Here’re the nuts and bolts of it.

About the book

Title: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Author: Axie Oh

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publication Date: February 22nd, 2022

Genres: Young Adult, fantasy

Synopsis:

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…

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About the author

Axie Oh is a first-generation Korean American, born in New York City and raised in New Jersey. She studied Korean history and creative writing as an undergrad 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, and she currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her dog, Toro (named after Totoro). She is the author of multiple books for teens, including The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea.

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Mini review + favorite quotes

Okay needless to say, I inhaled this book. I’ve become a reader who balances 2-3 books at a time, minimum so when I can’t put a book down it’s really, really good, and this was one of them! I live tweeted finishing this book, and you can find my screaming here.

I wonder if it happens in a day, for your fate to change. Or if it takes longer for your life to be stolen from you.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Axie Oh

Fate is a big part of this book. Who has agency. Who doesn’t have agency. Are we just beings left to our own devices? I love how the characters explore this. Mina is so strong-willed and carves her own path. She is true to herself and makes room for other characters to do the same.

It might not be as large as a mountain or as bright as the moon, but it’s just as beautiful because it’s your soul.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Axie Oh

BRB SOBBING because this book is filled with the most heartfelt things. It’s full of love. Whether it’s Mina’s love for her brother Joon or for her Grandmother or feelings she’s developing for the other characters, it is steeped in warmth. The strength of love is tested and questioned time and again throughout this book, and it was beautiful.