The Floating World

By Axie Oh

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this lighthearted romantic fantasy reimagining of a Korean legend.

Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime--a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.

Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light--a power she has kept hidden since childhood--and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.

Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from--and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn't realize she's the girl that he--and a hundred other swords-for-hire--is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts--and destinies--are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined...

Praise for The Floating World:

"The Floating World has everything I love in a fantasy story: A grand adventure that perfectly balances romance and humor, set in a uniquely magical world. ... An enthralling read to the very last page." --Judy I. Lin, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of A Magic Steeped in Poison

"Axie Oh has crafted an exquisite tale filled with mythology, heart, romance and magic, set in a remarkable and intricate world that enthralled me. ... Am already excited for the sequel " --Sue Lynn Tan, New York Times-bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Also by Axie Oh
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
The Demon and the Light

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250853087
• ISBN13: 9781250853080
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.7" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 13 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

A magical story!

This story low key reminded me of Castle in the Sky and I loved it! Ren is a wonderful character with strength and will go to any lengths to heal Little Uncle and does not just sit around and wait to be rescued. Mix that in with Sunho, a swordsman for hire who lost most of his memories, carries around a demon, and is looking for his brother and it makes quite the tale both in the Under World and up in the Floating World. Fantastic worldbuilding that weaves in among the story vivid and magical like the veins of mithril that keep the Floating World afloat now that the celestial maidens have been killed off, or so everyone thought. The relationship between Ren and Sunho is so sweet! It is a slow burn romance that occurs naturally and both the light in Ren and the darkness in Sunho are needed to bring about the changes needed for this world now that so many things have gone wrong as people scrabble for control over the Floating World. It is fast pace for the whole book but it ramps up near the end with so many things revealed and although there is hope, things will still need to be fixed. Though I am sure that Ren and Sunho can do it and bring the Under World and the Floating World together for the struggling good people just trying to survive. I cannot wait to find out! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to get lost in this book and all its adventures!