A fascinating world that runs adjacent but entirely separate to our own, which interfaces only in the confines of a pawn shop (which can only be found by a certain few), which isn't all it seems... the magical world building was incredible, and I loved the inclusion of origami! I'd really love to see an illustrated version of this, as I'd love to see some of the scenes brought to life.

The romance was a little schmaltzy for me, and while not unexpected felt almost unnecessary; a friendship would have been better but each to their own on that kind of thing!

An incredibly creative, richly drawn fantasy novel that wears its heart on its sleeve. Yambao's world that parallels our own is bursting with life from every page, and she weaves into this fabric a fascinating story about the loss of a choice, and the road two people must take to retrieve it. While there were some very romantic moments between Hana and Keishin, I did find myself less compelled by their relationship than I was by some of the scene setting at play here. But all in all, this is a brilliant debut from a highly talented author.

I’ve not read a book like this before. The world building is amazing, the author’s imagination is incredible. I was hooked from the first couple of pages. The romance was unnecessary and the book would have worked as well without it bug it was a very interesting and engaging read. Looking forward to more books by this author published in UK.

3.5 stars

I was intrigued by this book from the cover and the plot. Well, I can say the strong points were the writing style and the fantastical worldbuilding, with Japanes culture and Studio Ghibli vibes. It was really a whimsical journey. But the weak points were the characters, they lacked depth and characterization, and the romance, which happened very quickly and was also very bland. I didn't feel the emotions between Hana and Keishin.

All in all, Water Moon was an enjoyable story that had the potential to be even better with some improvements.

Firstly I’d like to thank Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, for allowing me a e-arc of this wonderful book.
Goodness what can I say about this book, I was hooked from page 1!
The story is just beautiful following a father and daughter, in a pawnshop collecting “choices”.
The father retires leaving the pawnshop to his daughter.
The love flowing through the book, for all the characters is cute.
I will admit I did get confused on the last few chapters with where characters were, and were going.
I will most definitely we recommending this book.
Happy reading!

The world building throughout Water Moon is lush and intriguing, with each new tidbit of information we receive about the parallel world occupied by the pawn shop beckoning readers to immerse themselves into this tale. An adventure across the universe and the senses, with a secondary romance plot, this novel offers something for every kind of fantasy reader.

Loved this! So imaginative, fabulous world building, and what an original story. It had shades of Laini Taylor's 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone' with it's overlapping worlds and the way they affected each other, Every page contained another marvel, what an amazing imagination that author has. This isn't usually something I would pick up but it was highly recommend by a friend and I'm really glad I did. Brilliant!

An enchanting and magical novel. Difficult to out down and easy to get yourself lost within. I absolutely recommend that.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy. I really loved the book and its characters. I can see that the author spent a long time on worldbuilding and forming 3 dimensional characters. This was already on my wish-list for the year, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. I loved the read and can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!

From the beginning, Water Moon has a very mystical and dreamy atmosphere. Despite being set in a different, magical world, this world is very much still based on Japan and Japanese culture. The structure of this other world is very whimsical and creative as it doesn’t seem to follow the same rules of logic as our own world. This lack of normal logic is highlighted by Keishin, who is a physicist that wants to find the logical answer to everything around him. This contrast with Hana’s magical world and Keishin’s world of rules and formulas was fun to read as it not only helps the world building but it also gives us an insight into the characters’ personality.

Hana’s quest to find her father was enjoyable to follow. Although there isn’t an opportunity for the readers to solve the clues themselves, since a lot of the riddles and clues in this book only work because of the magical nature of Hana’s world, we get to follow Hana as she figures out these clues and explains them to Keishin. This is fun to follow as the riddles and mysteries that Hana has to solve have very unique answers to them and they lead them to progressively more unique and odd settings and situations.

For me, the least enjoyable part of the novel was the relationship between Hana and Keishin. Keishin is introduced early on in the book and he and Hana seem to catch feelings for each other instantly. This book is primarily a romance as well as an adventure book, although I personally thought the adventure part of the story could have worked very well on its own, at lease in the first half of the novel. If you enjoy romance being the central point of magical novels, then you may enjoy this, but I found that the romance was not convincing enough to justify it taking over the story.

Furthermore, I found Keishin’s character to be badly written in comparison to the other characters in the book, who were all unique and whimsical. Keishin does have a very well developed backstory and we read multiple flashbacks to his youth, but despite learning more about his character, to me he didn’t feel very real. The way he acted and spoke felt unnatural and he feels like nothing more than Hana’s love interest for the majority of the story.

Finally, sometimes, the mood of the book did not flow very well. In general, the mood of Water Moon is quite mystical and cosy, but at times it dipped into horror and quite dark ideas. Even though these dark ideas were interesting, they felt out of place. Perhaps if from the beginning the book took on a more sombre rather than whimsical tone, the darker parts of the book would have flowed into the story better.

Overall, Water Moon was an easy, magical, dreamy read. Despite the romance feeling rushed at times, it will likely still please those who like a magical, romantic adventure, especially if you have a soft spot for Japanese culture.

I honestly don't know how to write a proper review of this. I'm all feels now and my head is not head-ing.

I've never read anything like this. From the very first chapter I was entranced, and when I realized that I zoned out for a passage or two I just had to get back because I didn't want to lose one word of this story.

I'm unable to describe it, you'll just have to read it. There's a ramen shop that's also a pawn shop on another plane of existence. There's memories and tea, paper cranes and ponds, night markets and soulless kids. And at the heart of it a romance that does not take away from the plot at all and is very sweet and also heart breaking.

It's just 5/5 stars but please don't make me explain. Just. Read. It.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for the eARC!

#WaterMoon #Netgalley #Bookstagram

Rated using the CAWPILE system from BookRoast.

Characters - 7/10
Found the characters to have the right amount of flaws, making them seem relatable but still having that fantasy element that brought the world together nicely.

Atmosphere - 6/10
I felt the atmosphere was stronger at the end than the beginning. I didn't feel much atmosphere in the pawnshop, more so in the fantasy elements which was a shame. The atmosphere when travelling between worlds, and building each of these elements I really enjoyed.

Writing - 8/10
Really enjoyed the descriptiveness and language used throughout the book. The version I read was not at all well-formatted for the Kindle which ruined the reading experience for me, but I assume this is something that will be fixed in production.

Plot - 7/10
I enjoyed the many twists and turns the book took and I didn't find the ending at all predictable which was really nice! It was also a very refreshing and unique concept, and I especially enjoyed hoe Keishin questioned how the elements of the other world would work in the real world, because as a reader this is exactly what I was doing. The ending however did feel quite rushed.

Intrigue - 6/10
I'd say I was less intrigued at the start and actually expected this book to be a bit of a slog but once we moved on from the pawnshop I felt myself more interested in what was happening next.

Logic - 7/10
It can be hard to rate this in a fantasy book but I felt it all flowed well and I could understand the thought processes of the characters.

Enjoyment - 7/10
Overall a nice read. The slow beginning I think resulted in a lower rating but the second half of the book was much more enjoyable for me. Looking forward to reading more by this author!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, and Random House UK for the ARC.

This dreamy story revolves around the adventures of the young owner of a magical pawnshop in Tokyo where clients can pawn their past choices and regrets.

The premise is inventive, and although it’s pitched as a romantasy it would also appeal to readers who enjoy cosy mysteries and immersive landscapes.

The writing is beautiful, it felt lyrical and so descriptive I could almost smell the bowls of ramen in the backstreets of Tokyo! The first few chapters felt a bit bumpy in places, it jolts between past and present tense and I had to wade through some of the narrative which felt slower or repetitive. But it quickly gathers pace and I soon found myself invested in Hana’s adventure.

All in all, I found Water Moon an inventive, standalone novel which I have no doubt will stay with me long after I’ve finished reading 🌙.

Water Moon is a complicated one to read and has left me conflicted.

Water Moon follows the take of regret. In a pawnshop where selected customers can trade in their regret, Hama wakes up on her first morning as the new owner with her shop ransacked and her father missing. She a box on a journey to find an item that went missing and figure out what happened to her father And of course she’s joined by a handsome, mysterious stranger.

This was a beautiful world to explore. It was magical and whimsical and it had a very nostalgic quality to it. It was equal parts captivating and slow. Which ultimately sums up the book.

The pacing was so off, but just as you lose interest in the plot, another piece of world building pulls you back in. You unravel this world in pieces and it was equal parts boring and fascinating.

The ending also missed the mark for me but I would recommend reading this book for the experience.

I would equate it to my experience with The invisible life of Addie la rue. In that it was beautiful but someone ultimately boring.

Thank you to the author, publisher and of course NetGalley for providing me with an etc for review.

I did not want this book to end, it is a beautiful magical world that really draws you in. In addition to this the story graps you. I would highly recommend this book.

Magical! Just magical!

This is such a beautiful book, creating a vibrant and fantastical world that has an almost filmic quality to it, reminiscent of Studio Ghibli. What makes this book so very special is Samatha Sotto Yambao's rich, confident world-building throughout. You really feel that the author is in complete control of every tiny detail of how this parallel world works, the history and culture which shapes it and the way in which is connects to our own world.

The plot is essentially that of an epic quest - Hana must find her father and discover the years-old mystery behind her mother's disappearance when she was just a child. There are fascinating characters along the way and with beautiful prose and story-telling, every scene, every change of location as the quest progresses, flows seamlessly into the next one and before you know it, one quick chapter turns into an all-night reading session!

Although I very much enjoyed following Hana's journey throughout the book, the romance side of it felt a little shoe-horned into the storyline and just unnecessary (that's the only reason I've not given 5 stars). Personally, I'd have much rather the focus remained on Hana's character development and her desire to find independence in a world where her life-path has essentially been pre-determined since birth.

That's just a personal preference though and I'd still thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys epic world-building, beautiful prose and magical story-telling.

Beautiful, magical world but found that the emphasis on the romantic plot made the book fall a bit flat for me.

Thanks: Received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I was captivated by the story, the well thought out plot twists and a fantastical world that could be the backdrop of a Studio Ghibli film. It was a lot of fun getting to know the world and all its revelations. For everyone who likes worldbuilding that's a little stranger.

ARC review of 📚Water Moon💙🌙 by @samanthasottoyambao coming in 14th January 2025
5 ⭐️
"Knowing your future would have stripped you of every choice, every chance you could have turned left instead of right. You would lose the ability to dream and hope, to wish for an outcome other than what is written"😭💙✨️

Brief: A woman inherits a pawnshop where you can sell your regrets, and then embarks on a magical journey when a charming young physicist wanders into the shop, in this dreamlike and enchanting fantasy novel.

Review:
Amazing, enchanting , magical, dreamy ahhhh a dazzling journey ✨️. Loved it, devoured it, I am drunk on this book right now 🫠😚 a adventurous read with magic and high stakes. The pace of this book was perfect 👌. And the quotes just wow every line in this book was worth annotating 💕 the romance was soo sweet🤭🫠 Hana and kei are star-crossed lovers⭐️, also I love how kei wanted to be sure they're not walking into any traps and Hana just no we'll be swimming into it🤣🤭

What's funny and amazing is that after finishing this book I slept and dreamt of the world I read, in my dream I traveled through rain water puddle and went to midnight bridge which connects night and morning and the night market, the library of the lost, the museum of education, the station and every other places I read😭🫠we never remember the beginning or ending of a dream we just remember being inside one ,the feeling that's it.

As Dumbledore said (of course it's happening inside your head why should that mean that it's not REAL)

I felt soo happy and full of giddiness 😚❤️.
Thank you soo much @samanthasottoyambao for writing this amazing fantasy adventure book✨️📚🙃💖and letting me review it:)

Mark your calendar everyone January 14th 2025 Water Moon is coming to give you all a fantastical adventurous ride🫠✨️ A must read for everyone who loves sweet romance with magic and mystery✨️

Ishikawa Hana (21) takes over her dad Toshio’s pawnshop. The pawnshop trades in choices for the “normal” world and takes them to her world.
Keishin (scientist) accidentally comes into the pawnshop and decides to selflessly help Hana in looking for her parents. In a fantasy world where the reflection of the moon can transport you to other places and you can walk through a book, making you made of paper as well.
The pacing is really good, mostly narrated by Hana and Keishin.
The worldbuilding is really interesting and unique in ways I haven’t read before so that was delightful. While there is a current running through the book of tension, it covers a lot of moral quandaries and philosophical ideas.
The writing is beautiful and a very speedy read. This review honestly isn't covering how magical and beautiful I found this book, but I hope readers give it a chance. For readers who enjoy East Asisan magical realism, this is the book for you. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.