The Floating World by Axie Oh

A girl with the legendary ability to wield silver light sets off on a journey to save her family — and collides with the boy hunting her down. A gripping story of fate and fantasy, this is perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim and Hafsah Faizal.


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 the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.

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