The God and the Gumiho
by Sophie Kim
TW/CW
TW: deception, murder, mutilation and consumption of corpses by mythological figures, sequel-bait
Ed note: NOT SEQUEL BAIT!!!!
This dreamy book is so much fun! The God and the Gumiho features Korean mythology, grumpy/sunshine, secrets, and of course Only One Bed. While I did I find this book to be somewhat slow going, I also found it to be deeply imaginative and delightful. It’s the first in a series, so the HEA is more of a Happy Ever Eventually Probably. The second book, The God and the Gwisin, ( A | BN | K | AB ) came out on June 3, 2025.
This book is loosely based on Korean mythology. I’m not familiar with Korean mythology, so for me this was a real treat, full of surprises. I’ve never felt such cozy vibes from a story that involves supernatural beings consuming human livers (gumihos have specific tastes). This story is often violent and horrifying. However, it’s also full of humor and affection and a fantastic and funny romance between the very grumpy Seokga and the very sweet (other than her occasional liver, uh, procurement and consumption) Hani. All of the characters are endearing (other than the Big Bad whose identity I shall not reveal).
Even though this is a mystery with a lot of plot to it, I found it took me longer than usual to finish this book. Perhaps it was simply that I was tired. Perhaps it was that the entire book felt like a dream. I can’t say enough how much I loved the worlds in the book (1990’s Korea and the mythical world) and how much I enjoyed the interactions between the characters. It felt fully immersive and incredibly creative, but also easy to wander away from and come back to. I’m excited to read the sequel!
– Carrie S
In this sly and dazzling contemporary fantasy, the most notorious nine-tailed fox in Korea pairs up with a trickster god–turned–detective to track down a wrathful demon . . . before it can destroy the mortal world.
Kim Hani has retired from a life of devouring souls. She is, simply put, too full. Once known as the infamous Scarlet Fox, she now spends her days working in a coffee shop and annoying a particularly irritating, if unfairly handsome, trickster god as often as she can.
That god is Seokga the Fallen. Exiled from the heavenly kingdom of Okhwang, he now begrudgingly resides in the mortal realm, working toward his redemption and suffering through his interactions with the particularly infuriating, if sneakily charming, gumiho barista at his favorite café.
But when a powerful demon escapes from the underworld and threatens to end all of humanity, Okhwang’s emperor offers Seokga an enticing bargain: Kill this rogue creature, as well as the legendary and elusive Scarlet Fox, and he will be reinstated as a god. Hani, however, has no intention of being caught. Seokga might be a trickster god, but she has a trick of her own that he’ll never see coming: teaming up. As Seokga’s assistant, Hani will undermine and sabotage his investigation right under his overly pointy nose. Sure, she’ll help him kill the demon, but she certainly won’t allow him to uncover her secret identity while they’re at it.
As the bickering partners track their case down a path of mayhem and violence, the god and the gumiho find themselves inescapably drawn to each other. But will the unlikely couple stand together to prevent the apocalypse, or will they let their secrets tear them—and the world—apart?
Contemporary Romance, Fantasy/Fairy Tale Romance, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
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