The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

I read this book on the recommendation of a 10-year-old bookblogger! It's a retelling of a Korean myth, and I know very little, if anything, about Korean mythology. I found it to be very entertaining, and I think the YA audience will devour it.

I give it 4 stars to encourage the potential audience. This was an escape read for me, but I did feel some things were unclear or rushed or something, which means I would give it 3 stars on my own. It felt like some parts or characters developed a bit quickly without clear explanations. As I was reading, I might have felt this as a hiccup, but I could move on with no problem. The whole thing is in a fantasy world, so does everything need an explanation? Not necessarily. I just have to mention that some characters felt like they needed a little more polishing. On the other hand, I had the impression that the whole situation was going to be wrapped up quickly as the story first unrolled. It looked like Mina could deal with this and that on her first day beneath the sea. But then different elements are introduced and the path to ... something ... is not as clear as I thought it would be. That was good because being too predictable reduces the enjoyment of a story unfolding.

I like the family and friendship themes. Mina is loyal to family and friends, and for good reasons. She also think about the difference between following her heart or her own feelings, and doing what others expect of her.

I did enjoy what I assume are elements of Korean mythology: what are gods like, what is the afterlife like, and so on. I enjoyed being in a new-to-me kind of world. Yes, of course the world is new to everyone because it is fantasy. I mean that the world-building is done by someone who is able to draw on different cultures from my own, and that adds interesting and refreshing details. These details fleshed out an interesting and engaging environment for Mina, which I quite enjoyed: A small child carried on the back, a block of honey on a stick as a sweet, the clothing details, the market details, details of a room in a house. An entertaining book to escape from one's workday becomes even more of an escape when you are in a completely different world. I like that. :)

I still have more fantasy to read to keep up with the 10-year-old. I should never have ordered all those books at one go! :D

I liked how the story is written. The flow an how it makes vivid images of the spirit world. I likes the characters and how the interact in this over the top anime way. (The whole story was in a realy cool anime style with beautiful backround in my head)



The reason why I don't give this book five stars is, because it is only fun if you ignore what the story means. It is over the top romantic. It is so romantic that it only can exist in fiction in this way an would be utterly toxic if real.

And aparrently the best woman can become in this world is bride/wife of a powerfull man. Even if they are clever and find their way in the spirit world, they don't get powers on their own, they just can get the love of a man. And the more powerfull the man, the better (it is said out loud "why would she be the bride of an emperor if she is the bride of a god.) And if they don't get the love of a man the least they can do is take care of children...

And I really hate it, that in this story it ist romantic and not a little bit problematic, that a 18 year old girl (16 when they fell in love) is marrying the fucking ever living sea god, which seems to be the most powerfull beeing in this world! She has no magic powers on her own, apparrently never traveled past her village or had any romatic relationsship with someone else! She can't even leave the spirit world without his help, where she has nothing to do for eons beside beeing his wife an visit her friends. This will be a hundred procent an abusive relationship in the future!