Publishers Weekly Review
| 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. (Feb.) |
School Library Journal Review
| 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. |
Booklist Review
| In this gorgeous fantasy novel, Oh gives a spin to the classic Korean folktale of Shim Cheong, the devoted daughter. When Shim Cheong is to be sacrificed to the sea god in an attempt to end the woes of their land, a young girl named Mina jumps into the water instead--her brother, Joon, is Shim Cheong's beloved, and Mina, the devoted sister, cannot bear to see her brother's heart break. After descending into the sea god's spirit realm, she is relieved of her soul and, with it, her voice, as she is left to find a way to bring the world to rights. Nicely paced and beautifully written, this engrossing fantasy is packed with memorable characters, starting with the headstrong Mina and including the mysterious Shin, with whom she becomes inexplicably tied. The spirit world is vibrantly described and full of colorful, fleshed-out characters. Mina's first-person narrative gives readers deep insight into her thoughts and memories, heightening the otherworldly experience and keeping readers turning the pages. A perfect fit for readers who love Spirited Away. |
Kirkus Review
| A girl carves out her own destiny in this retelling of a classic Korean folktale. In hopes of satisfying the Sea God and averting devastating floods and storms, villages sacrifice a fair maiden every year. People believe that when the true bride of the Sea God is found, all disasters and sacrifices will forever cease. Sixteen-year-old Mina's focus is on saving her brother Joon, who breaks protocol to follow his love, this year's sacrificial bride, out to sea. Joon plans to fight the Sea God's dragon servant, but Mina stows away on the boat and throws herself into the water instead. After Mina wakes up in the Spirit Realm, she finds a ribbon--the Red String of Fate--wound around her palm and connecting her to a handsome young Sea God who seems caught in an enchantment. Suddenly nobleman Lord Shin and his cohorts appear, severing the ribbon and thereby taking Mina's soul. Shin argues this is necessary for the safety of the Sea God and peace within the realm. Soulless and now also voiceless, Mina must navigate the politics and warring gods of the Spirit Realm to retrieve her soul and break the Sea God's enchantment in order to bring peace to both human and spirit worlds. Oh weaves an intricate and engaging tale. At times, the packed plot interrupts the flow of Mina's quest, but captivated readers will long to be pulled deeper into the story. A fantastical world to get lost in. (Fantasy. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
