Water Moon is a fantasy novel by Samantha Sotto Yambao. It is scheduled to be published by Random House in January 2025. This review is intended to be free of spoilers, but none of us are perfect. An advance copy of the ebook was provided. There are affiliate links at the end of this review.
Blurb:
Would you rewrite your destiny if it meant losing a part of your past?
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On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it.
Most will see only a cosy ramen restaurant. And just the chosen ones – those who are lost – will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets.
Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as the pawnshop’s new owner to find it ransacked, the shop’s most precious acquisition stolen and her father missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger, quite unlike other customers. For he offers help, instead of seeking it.
Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice – through rain puddles, hitching rides on paper cranes, across the bridge between midnight and morning and through a night market in the clouds.
But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own – and risk making a choice she will never be able to take back.
Step into the captivating and romantic fantasy novel that will sweep you away on an unforgettable adventure.
Review:
In the heart of Tokyo, where cherry blossoms dance and ancient spirits linger, lies a pawnshop unlike any other. Water Moon, penned by the talented Samantha Sotto Yambao, invites readers into a world where regrets can be sold, and dreams are woven into reality. With a touch of Studio Ghibli magic, this novel takes flight on the wings of whimsy.
From the very first page, Water Moon envelops you in its ethereal embrace. The protagonist, Hana, inherits a pawnshop that transcends time and space; a place where people trade their deepest sorrows for a chance at redemption. The previous shopkeeper, her father, disappears. This sets Hana on an adventure to find him and unravel the mysteries of his disappearance and her own past.
The whimsical elements of this story (and you know we enjoy our whimsy here) are reminiscent of Studio Ghibli’s masterpieces. Picture Miyazaki’s enchanted forests, where spirits flit between ancient trees, and you’ll find echoes of Water Moon. The prose dances like falling leaves, painting scenes of moonlit gardens and paper cranes floating in the breeze. Yambao’s vivid descriptions evoke a sense of wonder, inviting readers to step beyond reality’s veil.
The heart of the novel lies in its characters. Hana’s journey is both personal and universal; a quest for healing, forgiveness, and second chances. Her father, with his cryptic wisdom, adds layers of intrigue. And then there’s Keishen, the physicist who stumbles into the pawnshop, unraveling the fabric of reason on which he had based his life. Their interactions ripple through the narrative, leaving trails of stardust.
As the plot unfolds with near-perfect pacing, we encounter love, loss, and the core theme of the novel; the delicate balance between fate and free will. Yambao deftly weaves these threads, creating a tapestry that tugs at our hearts.
Water Moon is a cup of jasmine tea on a rainy afternoon; a blend of nostalgia and hope. It whispers, “What if?” and invites us to explore the corners of our souls. Whether you’re a dreamer or a skeptic, this novel will leave you pondering the other world’s secrets long after you’ve closed its pages.
I cant recommend Water Moon highly enough. Dive in, let the ink-stained waves carry you, and discover the magic hidden within your own regrets.
Whilst I read this novel in a digital format, I intend to purchase a paper copy to which I can take a highlighter. I want to run an RPG set in this world, and I intend to re-read the fantastical descriptions of the fantastical locations to incorporate every magical detail that I can.
Rating: 5/5
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