Rina Olsen

Blending Korean folk religion with the 1871 American expedition to Korea, Third Moon Passing is a fantasy-infused historical novel about family and friendship, mythology, and the clash of cultures.

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Teen author

About Rina

Rina Olsen was born in 2007 in Tokyo, Japan to an ethnically-Korean mother and an American father. When she was four, her family moved to Guam, where the variety of cultures and people greatly shaped her writing. A 2024 YoungArts alum, she has been recognized for her writing by the John Locke Institute, the Sejong Cultural Society, the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association, and Guam History Day. Her work has been published in places such as Jellyfish Review, Okay Donkey, Mobius: A Journal of Social Change, Unfortunately, Literary Magazine,The Hopper, Emerge Literary Journal, The Round, and elsewhere. She is an editor for the teen literary magazines Polyphony Lit, Blue Flame Review, and Cathartic Youth Literary Magazine, and she was invited to serve as an instructor for Polyphony Lit’s Summer 2023 writing workshop Around the World of Poetry in 80 Days. When she isn’t writing, Rina can be found playing the piano, looking up obscure history, or with her nose buried in a good book. Third Moon Passing is her debut novel.

fiction, History, fantasy, mythology

Third Moon Passing

“Men cannot live without gods, Chansol,” he said quietly, “but gods cannot live without men, either.”

The year is 1871. Five years ago, the mountain god’s daughter and the dragon of the Han River caused a terrible accident. Now, they decide to set things straight—by calling on two human girls that are somehow at the heart of it all. As a result, the shaman’s rebellious daughter Daseul, along with the scholar’s tomboy Wolhwa, are both thrust from their lives in Haedong Village and into the realm of the gods. But with an ominous curse, hidden enemies, and the rapid approach of aggressive Western forces, will the girls—and the gods—be able to discover the secrets of their entangled past before it’s too late?

In Third Moon Passing, Rina Olsen presents a world where ancient folk tales become a reality, where gods and humans alike walk the earth, and where history can change its course with the flick of a dragon’s tail.

Reviews

“This book is an exceptional example of storytelling and I recommend it to everyone. There is simply no way to read Third Moon Passing and come away not a fan of the plot, the characters, or the mind-blowing teenager who wrote it. I sincerely hope to see more from this author in the future.”

— Kathy Stickles, Feathered Quill

“Third Moon Passing is a strong debut that marries fantasy with historical fiction with a precise and skilled hand, and it is sure to captivate.”

— Genevieve Hartman, Independent Book Review

“Olsen displays genuine skill in her writing and is able to weave together prose that merges combinations of description and tension, often in the same breath. ‘…his brow was furrowed, weighted down with worry. In the gray mist of the day he could see, in the distance, the tall masts of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron spiking the clouds.’ Very highly recommended.”

— Asher Syed, Readers’ Favorite

“Third Moon Passing is a mesmerizing and enchanting read that will captivate fans of fantasy, mythology, and historical fiction.”

— Literary Titan