Welcome to Litsy!

Next up and the first print book I have turned to this year.

Beautiful story didn‘t hold my interest beautiful cover!

Is it weird that even tho Spirited Away is my fav Miyazaki movie, those moments were the least I liked in this book? Lol! Bc yes, the parallels were glaring, just that this story was more #ya instead of mg. I think that's also why I dropped it initially, but after picking it up, I actually ended up really enjoying it. And yes, my fav moments were toward the end, which is where the story felt less Miyazaki and more #mythology. And the end? 💯💯

Here's what I'm currently reading (I'm 34% complete) and some of the books I plan to read the rest of the month :) I also have a few more on my phone's Hoopla (my brother's letting me use his card hehehe) but I don't want to spam, check them out on my IG if you want
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2RaOEEvQ49/?igsh=bHNueTJ3Y3ltMDNn

#netgalleybacklog #joyousjanuary

didn't like the romance subplot, loved the worldbuilding

⭐️⭐️⭐️¾
I really enjoyed this audiobook, especially once the story developed a bit! It is not too complex, as some fantasy can be. I would have rated it a bit higher if I hadn't been able to so well predict the ending. I loved all the characters in the spirit world beneath the sea!!

“I am the maker of my own destiny.”

This book whisked me away to a beautiful, magical world full of mythology and lore. The descriptions were vivid and entrancing. The character connections were tender and wholesome. Overall, the story left me happy and hopeful. Thanks for sharing it with me, Kate!! 4.25/5

My #10ForTheEnd and December forecast! I can‘t believe this year is already over. I‘ve already reached my reading goal, so I‘m ready to sit back with some mindless holiday books and enjoy the season! 🥰

This is such a gorgeous book! 🩵💙🩵

#Fall
#HumbleHarvest

Look how beautiful this cover and spine are!! 😍😍😍

#SummerSpecial
#Swim 🌊

Oddly... distracting? And sort of messy. Nothing coherent happens for long stretches of time, then pivotal moments are rushed, then fizzle out without an echo, and you‘re left wondering—wait? what? how???

The pacing is really uneven.

I don‘t know, I should‘ve loved this—because Asian fairytales—yet I didn‘t. A pleasant enough read, but a pick it is not.

Overhyped :(

3/5

#CoverLove
#TBR
#BookMail

No idea what this is about, but it so beautiful that I didn‘t care!! 💜💙🤍💛💚💗

Finished my final #auldlangspine book at work!! I wasn‘t sure about it at first, but by the end I was rooting so hard for Mina and Shin!
@AbigailJaneBlog your picks were great!

I throughly enjoyed and loved this book. The best book I have read this year. Love the characters. Love the storyline. Love the visualization. There were tears. There were laughters.❤️❤️❤️

Korean folklore at its finest. This was a beautiful book in so many ways: the imagery, the story, the relationships, the lessons. This is a modern retelling of the Korean fable Sim Cheong. The story read like a classic fairytale I feel that everyone could enjoy. It is also a great representation of the spirit world in the Asian tradition. If you want a fun escape into a fantasy land, but a story full of heart, this is your book.

#lmpbc
I loved this book! At first It took me a little bit to get into but when I did...I finished it quick. @KateReadsYA its on its way back to you. I mailed it yesterday.
@Readergrrl @Endowarrior21

I got my #lmpbc book today, so I guess I will do a #firstlinefridays after all. @ShyBookOwl

This is on its way to you, @persephone1408 I sent it out this morning. #LMPBC #GroupX @KateReadsYA @Readergrrl @suvata #Round15

#ManicMonday So many great choices for #LetterG @CBee

📚 The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, The Giver, Glitterland, Good Omens, The Guncle
🖊️ Sarah Gailey, Neil Gaiman
🎬 Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day
📺 Gilmore Girls
🎤 Guster
🎶 Geronimo by Sheppard, Girl by Jukebox the Ghost, Gorgeous by Taylor Swift, Girls Chase Boys by Ingrid Michaelson, Gravity by Sara Bareilles

So all I can say is WOW! This novel was a wonderful journey. I read it in three hours I truly loved the world building and character development and storyline. #LMPBC #Round15 #GroupX @KateReadsYA @Readergrrl @persephone1408

I don't think I can praise this book enough. I devoured this from the start, unwilling to put it down and go to bed (although I did have to). I loved the main character, the setting, the story, everything about this book. The writing was beautiful all throughout.

Without a doubt, this is the author's best work yet.

⭐: 5

(Photo in the background belongs to Minha Baek)

Finally starting this one. Fingers crossed that this gets me out of a reading slump, and that I end up giving this 5 stars. 🥺

@Readergrrl the book arrived today thank you. I hoping to start it tonight. #Lmpbc #GroupX @KateReadsYA @persephone1408 @suvata

What a delightful story! I enjoyed exploring the sea realm with Mina as she navigated its depths and discovered its truth as the rescuer, not just the rescued. She was a wonderful character who embodied the best characteristics of a coming-of-age novel. The writing was lyrical and sweet while still carrying a strong message of faith-in-self, honor, and family. I highly recommend for young adults middle-grade and up. 4/5⭐️ #LMPBC #GroupX #Round15

Something crafted with so much love could never sink.

an unexpected gem of a story.

Fate versus free will. Guess this is a retelling of Shin and the Sea God, a Korean folktale. Which itself intrigues me. I love retellings. Especially with Mina, a strong headed outspoken girl with the love desire to save her people. Loved watching her self doubt on her choice give way to her fighting her fate for what she wanted. The twist of Mask, Dai and Mike almost broke my heart. Beautiful short story, soulmate au. Young love

A Gorgeous Fantasy With an Underwhelming Young Romance

Rating: 4 Stars

Full Review & Content Breakdown: https://laurenmichelelifestyle.com/2022/05/19/the-girl-who-fell-beneath-the-sea-...

If you‘re looking for a fairytale retelling, with a strong and smart and brave FMC then pick this one up. Although geared for the YA market this will entertain regardless of the age of the reader. This is truly a story about strength, love and family ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this tale of a young girl who jumps into the sea to discover a spirit world beneath. It definitely gave me Spirited Away vibes and I was all for it. Reads a little more like MG than YA, but still enjoyable.

Enchanting. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ stars. So much to say about this one - nature‘s connection to the spirit realm, the red thread of fate, making your own destiny, and lovable characters. The romance was just okay. I wanted to feel more between the two characters. Only reason it‘s not a full 5 stars for me. Otherwise it‘s such a beautiful story.

@Readergrrl I finished this one and I'll be sending it off to you by end of next week! When I tell you this cover tells a whole story, it is soooo beautifully written and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! ❤

Really gonna miss this cabin in the California Mountains. The peacefulness I've experienced has been so good for my mental health and I got over a week long virus just before we got here so I felt super grateful for that! Also this book is very beautiful and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it! I can't wait to mail it off to my #lmpbc group when I get back :)

I truthfully didn‘t know anything about the original story, so this didn‘t read to me like a feminist retelling because I had no original references. However I LOVE this story and these characters. Romance, myth, dragons, ancestral legacy. The pacing is nice, the characters are lovely, and the cover is beautiful. Would recommend. I think this is my first Korean author as well!

Heading on Vacation tomorrow and I'll be bringing this one along. I've already started reading it and it is soooo good! 🌊⛱️☀️📖

⭐️4.3
An amazing romance, plot, morally Forrest characters. As well as how beautiful not only the cover but the world building gave me an insight on how it would look like if I was a character in this story. Mina‘s journey was ups-and downs and the ending gave her an interesting conclusion to her character arc,which I enjoyed.

Enjoying this read so far, an old retelling of an Korean fable. Liking the plot and world building 🌊
#thegirlwhofellbeneaththesea #axieoh #juneread #thursdayreading

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This book was so full of love: for myth, for culture, for the power of stories, & for language. I loved this take on what you would do if you found yourself trapped in a myth, and the way the author told the story felt like listening to someone you love tell you a well-known tale. This is my first of Oh‘s work, but it won‘t be my last. Highly recommend!

The myths of my people say only a true bride of the Sea God can bring an end to his insatiable wrath.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

This book was magical and I loved the world that was created. Axie Oh books always make me happy. The only thing I found lacking was the romance, I wish that had been more developed. And the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

This was fab - a Korean-inspired fairytale fantasy with elements of the Little Mermaid & Cinderella, but with a heroine that‘s smart & brave. 🌸 🐉 🧜‍♂️ 👑 🎟

Happy Beltane and thank you so much to @mklong for my amazing #BeltaneBox ! This is so perfect, you did an amazing job 💜 I already feel relaxed and I love that the crystals are vibing with Taurus season ♉️

Thank you to @Chrissyreadit and @sprainedbrain for hosting this fun swap! Beltane blessings! 🌸🌼

Lovely story, a retelling of a Korean folktale, imaginative and beautiful. Really enjoyed it. Will pass it to daughter, she‘ll like it for sure.

@CBee OMG seriously you are so generous. Not 1 book but 2 and some super cute bookmarks as well as a card! You outdid yourself and I am so grateful for the kindness! Thank you thank you thank you! :)

My book recommendation videos are up for the week! 📚 The YA features the tagged book and the adult one features the new Alex Finlay book I am obsessed with! 😆 Please give them a view and a like! I appreciate it so so much!

YA video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ovjqwZnCAk

Adult video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNAaOFlPEbs&t=1s

Got through my working week and now it‘s Easter hols ! I‘ve got 6 days off! I didn‘t have the Monday or Tuesday - I was anticipating (but if I did I wouldn‘t have worked a shift at the library near the good bookshop - so there was a silver lining). I‘m loving the cooler weather, immediately in the mood for hot chocolate 🥰

Next #thingsincommon is here! There's a lot for this one like both being asian authors, fantasy, and mythology (to name a few). But I'm going to go with: Winnie mentions Spirited Away and "pulling a Chihiro" towards the end of the book, and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is ? Spirited Away vibes!! So the connection is anime ?

Okay firstly, how beautiful is this fairyloot edition?

But more importantly, this book is beautiful - a beautiful story beautifully written. I wasn't a huuge fan of the ending (it was beautiful, I just would have made different choices to Mina lol) but it kept me up thinking about this world so for that alone it gets 5⭐

#Pantone2022 Color Challenge
Glacier Lake @Clwojick

This was a gorgeous and magical story, based on a Korean folktale. I loved the vibrant storytelling and world-building. Mina was a wonderful, brave, tenacious girl and I enjoyed following her adventure.
I would definitely read more about the spirits, gods, and creatures that live in the fantastic world beneath the sea 🌊