GODS & COMICS, by Kat Cho, Nancy Paulsen Books, April 21, 2026, Hardcover, $20.99 (young adult)
A girl’s life gets turned upside down when her webcomic comes to life in Gods & Comics, a YA novel by Kat Cho.
Seventeen-year-old junior class vice president Grace Bak has her entire future all mapped out with plans to become a doctor like her parents. But the weight of Grace’s own daunting expectations leads to debilitating panic attacks that have made her a virtual outcast at school, even to her longtime friend and crush. To make matters worse, her grandmother and only real support system has just died. Halmeoni was the glue that kept Grace’s little family together, especially after she and her dad lost her mother to cancer when Grace was too little to have many memories of her. To cope with the grief of another loss, Grace starts a webcomic inspired by the Korean myths her halmeoni used to tell her as a child.
In Sun God, Grace spins the tale of Korean god Haemosu and his love Yuhwa, but with a twist—the two gods are trapped in the bodies of teenagers and, worst of all, cursed to attend high school. Grace never expected her comic to go viral, but it has, and the new fandom has somehow conjured the real Haemosu. Now it’s up to Grace to get him back home. But when she starts to fall for Hae, sending him home is the last thing she wants to do. More troubling, Hae isn’t the only god to suddenly reappear. Hae’s sworn enemy—also brought back to the mortal realm by Grace’s comic—is set on destroying Hae, all while infecting humanity with a deadly disease.
As an epic battle between gods looms, Hae is without his powers, so it may fall to Grace to fight back against a vengeful god hell-bent on punishing anyone who gets in his way. —Synopsis provided by Nancy Paulsen Books
Gods & Comics is a fast-moving fantasy romance with elements of adventure and drama laced throughout.
At the center of the story is Grace, a girl weighted by high expectations, panic attacks and grief. The only time she finds peace is when she she’s drawing. Grace is a sympathetic character that’s relatable. She’s smart and driven and learning how to cope. She’s as human as they come.
Haemosu, on the other hand, is a god. His lack of understanding of how things work in the human world adds a brightness and smile-worthy moments.
Author Kat Cho’s introduction of Korean mythology is clear and compelling. And her world-building is strong.
Gods & Comics is an enjoyable standalone read perfect for a weekend read.
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