Caught between her mysterious heritage and the peaceful life she’s built for herself as a traveling performer, Ren roams a beautiful Korean-inspired fantasy world with her adoptive family until a tragic event sends her in search of a solution. She crosses paths with Sunho, a sword-for-hire with missing memories who is out on a bounty for Ren herself. As their impossible bond grows, the pair help each other with their individual goals while running from the powers seeking Ren for the secrets in her past. This epic fantasy journey explores two broken people running from their pasts and futures who find family, connection, and healing in one another. Full of rich Korean mythology, complex political structures, and a sweet slowburn romance, The Floating World is perfect for fans of Roshani Chokshi or Sabaa Tahir.

When I finally received this book in the mail (my original shipment got lost and I had to get it replaced :/ ) I had really high expectations – partially based on the beautiful cover, but also because of how much I loved Axie Oh’s The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea. Unfortunately, while The Floating World had an exciting ending and a believable romance, it just didn’t live up to my hopes. I struggled to get into the story or relate with the characters, and even the setting fell flat. I think the main issue was how surface level everything felt. Despite the deep internal struggles both characters face, I couldn’t connect with them. It had some redeeming qualities still – read on for my thoughts! This will be my first review with my new, more specific rating system. Check out my post on Instagram that explains it better: my book rating system (and I hope to put a post out on her explaining it as well). Anyways, on to the review!

This kind of plot usually hooks me – main characters with cool abilities running from their pasts, cool assassin-types who fall for their marks… unfortunately, this one just didn’t pull it off all the way for me. The plot and style felt almost formulaic and surface-level. Maybe it’s just that I’ve been studying story structure in my editing class right now, but The Floating World had every plot element in perfect order – the inciting event, rising action, false victory, low moment, finale… it felt too perfectly outlined. I might be being too picky here but it didn’t give me the sweeping, atmospheric vibes that most fantasy novels do. I saw someone else on Goodreads mention that if the book had been longer, it would have been better, and I agree. The story felt too focused on moving the plot forward for me to get close to the characters.

As for the style, I was hoping for a descriptive and almost poetic vibe like we got in The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea. Especially when it comes to cultures and mythologies I’m not as familiar with, I like being able to visualize and understand the setting really well. This time, I was missing that “lush fantasy setting” element. I mean, a floating world, demons, an underworld? Sign me up! But somehow I just couldn’t visualize it right. Could be my fault, but again I have a suspicion that Oh was trying too hard to fit a lot of material in a shorter book and left out some description.

After mulling it over for about a day, I’ve decided I really liked the theme here. To me, it seemed like the theme was about loving someone who brings out the best in you. It might have been the strongest part of the book. The people Ren loves all have one thing in common: they make her feel more comfortable with her true self, inspire and bring out her powers, and – at one point – literally make her glow. It’s one thing to be in a relationship with someone, and it’s another to see how much two people can make each other better people. It reminds me of that verse – “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). For Sunho, Ren heals and calms the angry and violent part of him – “the Demon” – and gives him something to protect. They make each other stronger. A recurring idea is that your “wings” can be “stolen” by a lover (gosh I don’t know how much to say without spoiling!) and it was truly beautiful the way Sunho clearly wanted to watch Ren fly, never to steal her joy and freedom as the wings represented. It was just a really beautiful thing to see and very well developed theme in the story. It got me thinking about the people in my life who make me better – my boyfriend, who keeps me calm and steady, my friends, who make me laugh and draw me closer to Christ, my parents, ever encouraging… it’s a good book if it gets you thinking like that 🙂 .

Listen, they weren’t bad characters… just not super interesting or consistent. Ren was naive and annoying for someone her age, and Sunho seemed meek, shy, and gentle for someone who’s supposedly a tough mercenary. Plus, I felt I was missing part of their backstories. I get we’re supposed to be missing bits as readers that get answered later, but I never found out how Sunho got into mercenary work after the events that took his memories, or how Ren found her adopted family. Again, they were so surface-level. I can’t tell you exactly why, but I couldn’t relate with them. Maybe it was the third person POV. Maybe it was – once again – the length of the book. Sunho and Ren just weren’t unique. Still, they made for a sweet romance and I was rooting for them throughout.

This sweet, innocent fantasy adventure romance set in a creative Korean-inspired world is full of lovely themes and inspiring sacrifice. If you love Eastern folklore, high fantasy, and star-crossed lovers, you’ll enjoy The Floating World. It wasn’t my favorite – the surface-level plot and lack of descriptive worldbuilding leave this one at a three-star rating – but definitely a fun way to spend the afternoon.

By the way, happy Good Friday! I hope today brings joyful and solemn reflection on the death of our Savior. I have recently been really resting in the truths of my sin nailing Jesus to the cross, and finding joy in his resurrection. I am forgiven because of his righteousness! Let me know if there’s anyway I can pray for you this Easter 🙂 .