This book was so good, so good. Right from the beginning it literally dives into action, with Mina jumping into the Sea. from there it progresses quickly and does not stop. I was enthralled, I devoured this audiobook in two days. I loved the world building, the magic, the mythology, and every single character. Mina was especially well written. She is loyal, loving, and willing to question everything. She is forthright, honest. And she is angry, so angry at the Gods and their disinterest and abandonment of the humans who continue to pray to them even when their world is being destroyed. Mina is also a storyteller, so her soul becomes a bird (a magpie) and her voice is stolen. When she retrieves it, her stories help her connect to the Sea God. They also are meant to open the eyes of the Sea God and Lord Shin to the world of humanity (and the stories link very closely to what is happening to Mina). I just love her so much, she is exactly how a character should be written. She is easy to empathize with, she is confused, but she works to figure things out, she falls into despair, but she still does everything she can for those she loves. All the elements of this book so perfectly align. There are spirits, Gods, demons, magic, the red string of fate, enemies to lovers, found family. This book had all those and more. Lord Shin seems evil, but as the story unfolds you begin to better understand the tenuous political environment of the spirit realm. He keeps the Sea God safe, but in doing so allows the human world to be ravaged. He is strong, but there is something about him that is fragile and loveable (as Mina finds out). Also, his two closest friends/soldiers/advisers were highlights in this book (Namgi and Kirin), one so bright and vibrant, the other so dark and sullen, continuously bothering each other, but loyal to the end. The book is fast paced, action packed, and full of emotion. There are no true villains, just those looking for power, angry from being left behind, those who have lost their memories of who they are and who they mean to protect. Humans and Gods alike can make mistakes, can be awful, but can also be kind, can try their hardest to change. I like that this book shows depth and courage. That Mina is afraid, but she is also strong, she is willing to risk it all to show the Gods that sometimes things are worth fighting for, worth changing for. That fate can be something you can fight against or determine for yourself. I especially love her interactions with the Goddess of the Moon (a fierce warrior out for complete control of the spirit realm). Lord Shin and Mina's interactions had me laughing, gasping, and eager for their next interaction. Immediately she intrigues him, this plain girl with lots of words. He wonders how she came to be the Sea God's bride and is begrudgingly impressed by her. He is so keen on protecting the Sea God, that he cannot see what this means for the human world, the one which has been abandoned. He also finds humanity fickle, untrustworthy, greedy, and unworthy of the Gods attention. It is only through the eyes of Mina that he begins to doubt himself and to see humanities worth. Their back and forth, their chemistry and connection propel the story of this book forward and make the reader ache for each new chapter. Just, really, read this amazing book. I give it all the stars and it might already have stolen the Best Book of 2022! Thank you to Macmillan Children's Books for giving me an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
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