A great Japanese fantasy novel with beautiful writing.
Water Moon hooks you in with its unique story building, starting with magical realism then delving into whimsical fantasy.
This was a great read and I loved the imaginative take on fantasy genre!

A beautiful magical fantasty that transports you from the first pages when you start this book. From the first few pages I was hooked on this cosy whimsical story. I found the pace was good and the story left me wanting more. If you’re a fan of the ghibli movies you will love this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6729374440

For a while I couldn't decide whether this was on the right side of the twee vs magical and enchanting line, but as time passed I warmed to it, and I ended up enjoying it a lot. The story is unique and imaginative (unless it's based on something Japanese that I don't know about!), and the ending is satisfying and ties up all the loose ends nicely This might be one for those who, like me, enjoy suspending their disbelief for a good K-drama - it's in a similar vein.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved the concept at the start, and the introduction of the characters. Hana's journey to explore the mystery of her Mother's death and the people and creatures she meets are beautifully drawn. This is unlike the sort of book i normally enjoy, and a little too fantastic for me. However I would encourage others to take a look, it's a wonderful escape.

Finally had chance to sit down and read this book.

Can I just say I absolutely loved it, something about the story just feels very inviting and warm. After seeing the cover I was interested to see hat the book was about exactly. I was definitely not disappointed, such a beautiful book.

Water Moon is my new favourite book, hands down. What is it about some writers that just manage to capture the life of humans so well? I fell in love Samanthas writing and I had the most horrible boookslump-week after I finished this. Please read this as soon as possible, it will give you so much comfort and joy.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy!

This is a fantasy novel and i apologise for not taking better care for reading synopsis i didnt read to end. Although the summary of this makes me think of introduction to gremlins an introduction to mogwai. Dnf not fantasy driven

Water Moon was an ethereal fantasy story with a dream-like quality. At first I thought it would be in the style of recent Japanese magical realism novels set in restaurants, cafes etc. but although it started that way it quickly transitioned into full fantasy. The world building was well handled and introduced in a natural, progressive way. The characters were interesting and their stories held my attention throughout. I felt the relationship between them also developed in a believable way. I enjoyed the blend of folklore elements into the story and the pacing was generally good throughout. I would recommend this book to fans of more whimsical fantasy which still also packs some emotional punch. I am giving it 4.5 stars.

The writing was amazing and wonderful. It's was an easy and simple book with beautiful writing which definitely enhanced my reading experience of this book. I finished it in two sittings yet i believe I can reread it again and again. I had a great time reading this gem.

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t what I got. Water moon was a bizarre and dreamy reading experience in the most positive of ways. Part love story, part fantasy with a dollop of magical realism and a good helping of science fiction, this book was unexpectedly gorgeous. Tackling hard hitting topics like death, consequence of choice, existentialism and fate can sometimes make for an extremely heavy load. Yamboa takes those topics and easily floats them on ruminative cloud of reflective light never making readers feel bogged down but somehow helping them to question the choices they themselves might have made. It’s quite the accomplishment. Additionally, Water Moon boasts one of the most unique storylines and magic systems I have encountered with well thought out characters and excellent pacing. It’s hard to give any details on the actual content of the story because I feel like the most fun part of reading this was going in completely blind. What I will say is, it was a beautiful journey that you will not regret picking up.

A really enjoyable Ghibli-esque novel. Very easy to read, with some beautiful prose.

It was very imaginative and visual story with many elements that kept you interested. I thought the plot was interesting but that the romance was rushed, and I would have liked if the 2 main characters interacted more before they fell in love instantly.

But overall enjoyable.

From the premise to the prose, the narrative to the world-building, the characters to the story - not to mention certain plot twists - I loved everything about this novel. There was a rather melancholic sense of innocence pervading throughout the entire narrative that though it didn't properly make me sad, left me with this flutter of yearning in my chest.
I loved Hana, the main character, and Kei, the young physicist who finds himself confronted with a world that denies everything he's ever learnt. I loved the quick but organic way in which their feelings develop for each other and how Kei is willing to sacrifice everything for the wonder he experiences since the moment he meets Hana - and for Hana herself. But most of all, I loved that every setting they travelled to for their 'quest' in Hana's world was like a detailed plateau of magic and significance, and made me feel as if I was staring at some beautiful old style Japanese painting. The only thing I didn't quite like were the dialogues that read too clunky, and too formal - but then again, I don't speak Japanese (the book is written in English but is set in Tokyo - and in an imaginary world - and I assumed the characters would speak to each other in Japanese) and know very little of the culture, so that kind of dialogue where there are no verbal contractions and words sound like they're being slowly and decisively enumerated may as well be part of the Japanese dialogue style, even in this day and age. For me, it read very unnatural (I am sorry instead of I'm sorry sounds iffy in a dialogue for me, for example) but did not in any way lessened my pleasure in reading this novel or how much I loved it.
Thank you NetGalley and the author for affording me an ARC. It was truly magical.

Loved this. Beautiful story, beautifully told. Samantha Sotto Yamboa has created a stunningly imaginative tale.

I received an advance e-reader copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley to review, but my views are my own.

So I may as well start with the only thing I didn't like about Water Moon as this section will be so small we can just breeze through!
I felt reluctant to pick it up, or rather not driven to... Which was odd because I really liked the book, and usually that means I want to read it whenever I can - but I was happy to leave Water Moon sitting by my bedside for days at a time sometimes. And I'm not 100% sure why, maybe I didn't quite feel connected with the plot/characters? Or maybe this was just a me issue, and I was in a bit of a slump. Either way I wouldn't put this as a massive negative so it didn't reduce my star rating in a significant way.

Now on to the positives!

The world building was AMAZING. It felt so unique and like something out of a Studio Ghibli film - I'd love to see maps of how the world in Water Moon is connected and how it flows, I bet it would be absolutely gorgeous. Talking of Studio Ghibli, this book would make a wonderful film or even Graphic Novel, I think visuals would just add that extra cherry on top of the cake that is this book/world.

I don't often read a book where I think the pacing is just right, but this was one of those books - nothing felt too rushed or too slow, and reveals happened at a nice pace, speckled throughout the plot and the danger and never felt like they brought the urgency to a halt. It was the perfect rollercoaster.

The characters themselves were unique and easy to connect to, only a few of the side characters fell a bit flat for me and were unmemorable in my opinion. Possibly it was a little hard to get to know Hana at first, she felt a bit straightforward and disconnected right away, but that fits her character really and the situation she's in.

Overall it was a really poetic and heartfelt book with some lovely moral messages sprinkled throughout that I really needed to hear. I'd recommend this book to all of my friends, and I've already started doing so even before I finished the book!

"But whatever we feel for each other has no place in this world or yours."
"It doesn't have to belong to either of our worlds, Hana. It just needs to belong to us."

A fictional world that was so well-crafted that it transported me to a completely different dimension. Descriptions so apt and beautiful with a touch of Japanese culture that it left me in awe. A plot with twists that was completely unprecedented. Samantha Sotto Yambao hasn't just written a book, she's created a whole new world.

My only qualm is that so much of the plot was built on romantic love. Haruto's dedication to helping. Kei's essentially love-at-first-sight assistance. It's a weird nitpick, but I had to voice it. Especially Kei - the reasoning for him to stay in this world just didn't sit right with me, but perhaps it's due to my love for slow burns.

I loved the concept of this book - a pawnshop where, instead of jewellery, you leave choices behind. The idea of freeing yourself from choices that have haunted you is so tempting, but of course there is a cost. We follow Hana Ishikawa on the day she has taken over the running of the pawnshop from her father. Into her shop walks Keishin, a physicist looking for answers to the biggest questions. The two embark on a mysterious and fantastical quest to find Hana's father. There are lots of wonderful ideas, like using puddles to travel between dimensions, riding rumours and folding time like paper and some of the concepts are exquisitely expressed. One of my favourites is: 'Books do not find value when they are written. They find value when they are read. Every book here is worthless and priceless at the same time.'

Ultimately though, I struggled to keep up with all the twists and turns and at times I felt the story fell over its own feet. It was like a series of captivating ideas, eloquently articulated, but the threads that knitted them together were frayed. I'd recommend reading for the charm of the language, but it's not a book I'd read again.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the author for letting me read the ARC!

Rating: 5/5


I was blown away by "Water Moon," and I couldn't be more pleased with the experience. The book has quickly risen to the top of my list of favorite reads for 2024, and we're only halfway through the year! The plot is exquisitely crafted with intricate details, and the characters are portrayed with such profound emotional depth that it's truly captivating. I am astounded by the author's ability to build such a rich and fascinating world within the confines of just 400 pages. "Water Moon" is an exhilarating read, and the plot maintains its momentum without ever feeling sluggish or repetitive. Yambo's skillful portrayal of complex world-building and mythical structures is a testament to the book's engrossing nature, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the worlds through the characters.

Speaking of the characters, Hana is a marvelously complex and compelling figure. Witnessing her utilize her life skills outside of the pawnshop was a delightful departure, and it was refreshing to encounter a male main character with motivations that extend beyond the typical romantic entanglements. The characters possess aspirations and lives beyond the central storyline, providing them with a depth and dimension that make them incredibly relatable. One of the most endearing qualities of Hana is her candidness, adding a charming and authentic element to her persona. Everything is exactly as she says, no hidden meanings here.

Though despite my enthusiasm for the book, my least favorite part of any review is mentioning the negatives or aspect(s) that didn't quite resonate with me. I found the rapid development of the main characters' relationship somewhat implausible. Hana, confined to her world within the pawnshop, and Kishein, familiar only with his own realm and devoid of knowledge about Hana’s, seemingly bridged a significant gap of understanding too swiftly to establish a believable relationship. While their connection was delightful to read, I felt it lacked the necessary build-up to justify the depth of their closeness when it materialized and I would have appreciated a more gradual evolution between the main characters. Additionally, I believe that providing a more thorough explanation or translation of the Japanese terms used in the book would greatly enhance the reader's understanding. At times, the terms were not properly explained, leading to confusion and a sense of missing important context.

Overall, I'm incredibly eager for the release of this book and for others to delve into this enchanting narrative. I would gladly relive the experience of reading this book for the first time.



"I may never get to where I want to go, but I can look back in my like and say that I did not waste a second of it being bitter that I was not someplace else. Happiness does not exist in a place. It lives in every breath we take. You need to choose to take it in, over and over again."

Magical, evocative tale of of two strangers from different worlds meeting and falling in love, while going on a unique, metaphysical adventure.
Truly beautiful and unusual scenes painted vividly but simply - I could really see some of these incredible mini-worlds brought to life in film / animation.
I dipped in and out of this book and so I found the twisting and turning narrative slightly meandering but could have just been my reading context - overall, I was fully invested in Keishin & Hana's journey, keen to unpeel the mysteries at the heart of each of their origins, and I found the ending very beautiful and satisfying. Recommended, especially for those who like Studio Ghibli, Japanese fiction, fantasy romances etc. Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for the chance to read.

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.

Simply stunning. The worldbuilding is some of the best I've ever read and I loved exploring every part of Hana's world.