I applied for this arc not really knowing what I was getting into, but damn am I happy I was approved, because I don’t know if I would have thought to pick it up out in the wild, and I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before.

It’s hard for me to put into words what reading this book felt like but it took me on a journey through whimsical visuals and a range of emotions. It was beautiful and humorous and dark and sorrowful, and hopeful. I’m genuinely sad it’s over. I don't know what Samantha puts in her books, but it's addicting.

This is the first of Samantha’s stories that I have read, but it won’t be the last.

𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍.
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Water Moon begins with Hana inheriting a pawn shop - one where you pawn off your past regrets in life. One day Keishin wanders in on the same day that Hana’s father goes missing.

I am in awe of the truly magical, whimsical and mystifying world that Samantha Sotto Yambao has created in Water Moon. This world where the stars are hopes flown by kites into the night sky. Where you travel through ponds, on rumors and folded into a piece of paper.

She does such a wonderful job of describing the world and its magic. It’s giving Studio Ghibli with higher magical/fanstasy realism. It truly feels like you’re in a dreamlike state while reading. Not once could I have guessed what whacky journey they were about to go on.

The book itself was fast paced and there was always something happening that it doesn’t even give you a chance to be bored. You’re just so excited to see the next part of their journey as Hana and Keishin look for clues to finding Hana’s father.

I think I was expecting more romance in this but it didn’t feel lacking in the least despite that.

I really enjoyed this! It begins with an intriguing premise and continues with a setting that is so unique and immersive. The writing is beautiful and the overall impression is very dreamlike. The author strikes a good balance in the world building. Because Kei is an outsider to Hana's world when she tells him some outlandish thing is about to happen and then we experience it for the first time with him we are pulled along for the ride. Because it does feel like a dream it is ok that the "rules" seem very illogical when compared to the real world outside the pawnshop. Overall, it is an enjoyable, propulsive fantasy adventure with a very satisfying conclusion.

“Every hope deserves to sparkle in the sky.”

What a whimsical adventure this story takes you on! It feels like a fever dream, in the best way. Water Moon follows Hana; she’s taking over running her family’s magical pawn shop, as her father is retiring. The pawn shop only appears to those who need it and people can only pawn their regrets. On her first day taking over, she awakens to find the shop ransacked and her father missing, along with one of the pawned regrets. Hana embarks on a dangerous and magical journey to locate her father before it’s too late.

The writing style is very poetic and beautiful and I love the imagery in here. Nothing is quite what it seems. I really enjoyed all the different “worlds” that they traveled between. For a cozy-ish fantasy, there’s actually a lot at stake here! The story jumps around timelines a bit, which takes time to orient to but it’s very rewarding when it all comes together in the end. I really admire the author’s creativity and originality.

Thank you to Netgalley, Samantha Sotto Yambao, and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Content warnings: abandonment, grief, death, death of a parent, pregnancy

“𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳.”

Thank you so much Del Rey Books and Netgalley for and advanced readers copy - the cover is just stunning!

Let me start by saying this is unlike anything I have ever read before. I rarely reach for books labeled fantasy and the few that I have read that are are light on it. This one is heavy with the fantasy and magical realism elements, and often you might think “this is out there” but ultimately it makes sense with the story. It’s ethereal and dreamlike at times, though being fantasy there is also suspense, big twists, and a few, brief darker moments. Maybe it’s my own unawareness, but perhaps the things and places it mentions is part of Asian folklore? Or purely all from the author’s expansive imagination.

Regardless, it was such a unique experience that has a lot of wisdom and truth in it. The way the story is woven and the clues, the reflections and metaphors, that fill it makes for a story worth reading and pondering. It isn’t one to rush through though at times I found myself so enamored I lost track of time. It’s been a while since a book has engaged me deeply like that. And though I don’t share the same outlooks that influence the majority of this story, as I said, there’s wisdom to learn from it. It is beautiful, the depth it addresses choices, regret, purpose, belonging, forgiveness, sacrifice, and love. Plus the dynamics between Hana and Keishin are so enjoyable; two people from two very different worlds with different worldviews and motivations, and yet you can relate to both.

It won’t be for everyone, especially if fantasy isn’t your thing, but I do suggest giving this one a fair chance. Content includes fantasy violence, mentions of deaths of parents, and a few sort of creepy moments. Honestly though, I found it surprisingly stunning and impressionable in many ways. With the writing style, the plot development, everything… it is my first 5/5 read of the year!


Other noteworthy quotes:

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”

“𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦.”

“𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.”

“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴.”

“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭.”

“𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴…”

“𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦.”

“𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴.”

“𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.”

Aggressively, exhaustingly whimsical. This is the weakest of 3 stars - I did not really enjoy the experience of reading this at all, but the concepts and ending were solid enough that I can't quite justify rating it lower.

On paper, this should be a perfect book for me. I love surreal, dreamlike fantasy. I love Ghibli inspired books and books that feel like fairytales. Unfortunately, Water Moon just completely lost me. It's less of a story and more of a loosely connected string of very twee settings and modes of transportation, like the author did a whimsical brainstorming session and refused to cut even a single idea that crossed her mind. Travel by puddle! Travel by rumor! Travel by dream! Travel by song! Travel by origami crane! Honestly, looking back, I'm not entirely convinced the characters needed to go to half of the places they traveled whimsically to. They spend the entire book chasing somewhat aimlessly after another character (with actual goals and motivations) who exists almost entirely off-page, chased by monsters that do nothing whatsoever to give the meandering pacing any sense of urgency.

The characters were one-dimension and fundamentally unrealistic and unbelievable to me. And the intense insta-love... didn't love it.

This book's desperation to prove itself as being profound and philosophical also works severely to its detriment. The dialogue is stilted and unnatural and uncomfortable, in the service of making A Point (tm) at every single opportunity. Example:

"You should go back home before it's too late."
"Home... it's a mapmaker's ultimate challenge, don't you think? A cartographer can craft the most detailed map, include every landmark, and draw the clearest roads. His map can help you get to almost anywhere you wish. But not home. You wont find it labeled on a single map in the entire world. You can live in the same place for years and memorize every bus, bike, and walking route back to it and never really know your way home. Maybe that's why you can't find it on any map. Because it doesn't exist."

Didn't that make you feel exhausted? They all talk like that. Every character is constantly talking like that. That's a DIRECT QUOTE.

It's been a minute since I've written a review so harsh I actually feel bad for writing it, but I'm genuinely struggling to produce something positive to wrap this up with. Once again, the concepts here are very interesting, and the sensory language describing all of these twee settings was strong. I enjoyed the way several elements connected nicely in the end, as well as some of the more bittersweet elements. I also didn't hate the overall themes and messages this book was trying to explore, I just found them to be clunkily delivered and insistently overstated.

... 2.5?

As my first dip into Japanese fiction, I am pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it!
I was immediately intrigued with the idea within the first two chapters and I loved that Water Moon sparked the debate of fate vs free will right off the bat.
Throughout the entirety of the book with Hana and Keishin’s journey, the level of pure imagination in this dreamlike world is mesmerizing.
While I do prefer a tad bit more romance in my fantasy and at times the dialogue seemed a little lackluster, overall Water Moon has a story that resonated well with me and is beautifully written and unlike any other book I’ve read.
Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC and the opportunity to share my thoughts! Publication day is tomorrow, January 14th!

I've spent the last hour crying! It's so good! Gorgeous proes, hunting, beautiful, whimsical, & thought provoking. Water Moon just might be my new favorite book. Everyone needs to read this book so we can talk about it! Full review to come on SFFInsiders

First five-star of the year!!! This was an absolutely beautiful book. Not only was the plot unique, but it was also funny, romantic, and thoughtful throughout! I loved every minute of this and couldn't put it down. If you want to reflect on life while following a quirky adventure, this is the book for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House—Ballentine/Del Rey for a copy of this book, which is out January 14th.

P.S. I will be purchasing it and tabbing it once I can get it physically (yes it is that good)

A luscious and whimsical fantasy with adventure and mystery rolled into one beautiful story, Water Moon was a pure delight from beginning to end.
Set in a mythical world adjacent to modern-day Tokyo, our story begins with Hana Ishikawa on her first day taking over a mythical pawnshop inherited from her father. The pawnshop, only accessible to those who need it via a ramen shop in Tokyo, barters for choices with people looking for peace from past regrets. When Hana wakes up to find the pawnshop in disarray, her father missing, and a previous customer’s choice stolen, she enlists the help of a very curious stranger who wanders into the pawnshop among the wreckage. The two embark on a magical journey to find her father traveling through puddles, being folded into time and space through paper, or making deals at the Night Market in the clouds. As their quest for answers leads to more questions, and their developing relationship leads them to want the impossible, both Hana and our stranger must decide how far they’ll go as the stakes get higher and higher.

❤️ What I loved: This book was such an emotional journey, with captivating twists and turns in the storyline that keep you guessing until the end. The writing matched the tone of the book perfectly and added a sort of ethereal and dreamlike quality to the whole story. The development of both characters was gratifying to see, and I loved the relationship that bloomed between them as the story progressed.
💔 What I didn’t love: With the book billing itself as a romance, I did find myself wanting more from the relationship between the two characters to make the connection feel believable.

I have a feeling I’ll be recommending this book to a lot of people I know, and I think it’s a must-read for those looking for a unique fantasy with elements of romance and a great setting.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (4-4.5)

Acknowledgments & Disclaimers ✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Samantha Sotto Yambao, and Random House - Ballentine/Del Rey, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book. ✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. ✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

A whimsical and creatively fantastical journey beyond the real world into a pawn shop where regrets can be sold. When our main character takes over the pawn shop from her retiring father, she finds her father is missing. Together with a stranger from the pawn shop, she embarks on a journey through water, memories, and rumors to find her father and figure out what happened to her mother.

This was a cozy fantasy mystery with romance. I agree with the comparisons to Studio Ghibli - the whimsy, the journey, the fantastical magical realism, and the darker undercurrent. On paper, this book works, and even as an actual movie I think it would work, but unfortunately this fell a bit flat for me because of the romance. I'm not a huge romance reader and I don't mind light romance, but this felt like insta-love and I constantly questioned the main character's motivations.

I'd still recommend this for fans of cozy fantasies with the warning/knowledge that there is a romance that heavily impacts the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautifully written book. Whimsical, with wonderful world building. Both the title and the cover pulled me in and I loved the way this book started. Yambao writes beautiful imagery and a fantastical world.

I marked so many amazing passages and the ideas in this were so well done. Following Hana through her world was so much fun and I loved moving through the next surprise.

My only gripe was I felt just bit disconnected from these characters. While I enjoyed following the story, there was something that kept me from really loving these characters. I did wish for a bit more from them and the relationships that were shown and being built.

Overall, this was very well done and I would love to read more from this author in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher of the arc.

3.5 stars!!

Water moon. The desire for something you cannot have. That is how I felt as I completed this story. Once I finished, I found myself aching for a story that could have happened.

Water moon is a whimsical, magical story that provides the same coziness of a Studio Ghibli production. I found myself completely captivated. A land filled with paper cranes, star villages, memories in pearls, and the mysterious Shiikuin made me want to keep reading to see what magic would occur next! I was HOOKED!

However…despite the beautiful descriptions and fun concept…the writing was incredibly rushed and somewhat cluttered. Nothing was fleshed out. I would be reading about one location and the magic inside and then BOOM we would be at another….

Because of this rushed writing style…I couldn’t connect to the main characters, Hana and Kei. I wanted to love them. I wanted to root for them! But I felt like I hardly knew them…

I’m so bummed because the story had so much potential to be a beautiful display of Japanese mythology!! It just lacked so much depth!

A beautifully written and addictive story that had me appreciating the ability to make life choices. The expansive world building especially stands out and reminded me of Alice in Wonderland mixed with Spirited Away. Romance was sweet but I didn’t completely buy into the attraction and needed more to understand the characters’ motivations.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I did not mesh with the writing style of this book. Wish I could’ve liked it more, but the appeal was just not there for me.

Water Moon was a poetic fairy tale of a book. I was so intrigued at the start and this book kept me hooked with every new setting and reveal of the world around Hana and Kei. The magical setting reminded me of a Studio Ghibli film or the movie Everything Everywhere All At Once. So much beautiful prose in this book and it really makes you think about choice, free will, living in the past, and what it is to love. Gorgeous tale, I would love to see it as a film, particularly an animated film.

Reads YA for most of the book, however there is a romance/romantic scene and discussions around death, fate, and choice. This was beautiful and sad and unlike anything I've read before.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A whimsical magical realism story about a woman who works in a pawnshop that deals choices and regrets and her path as she hunts down the person who stole from the shop while being helped by a charming stranger who is unlike anyone she's ever met. Hana Ishikawa is the heir to a pawnshop... but it's not like any other pawnshop it deals in choices and regrets... and supernatural beings. When the shop's most precious thing is stolen and her father goes missing, Hana is determined to find them both back. What she doesn't expect is that a handsome and charming stranger walks into the shop and offers to help her and won't take no for an answer. Hana is determined to find her father and uncover why he left and when she discovers another family secret her life begins to spiral. From magical creatures to whimsical places... the story moves like a Studio Ghibli movie. The story kind of feels like a fever dream with the constant moving of both past and present, povs, locations, and things. It really does just feel like it would translate better as a movie rather than a book because the book is hard to follows and kind of throws you back and forth constantly. The writing itself was whimsical and the storyline is interesting, I just wish it could feel easier to follows and have a more coherent flow. The overall story has a unique storyline and I liked the mystery and the world that the author has built and would recommend this for anyone who enjoys Studio Ghibli movies.

Release Date: January 14,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A recipe for Water Moon:
1. Combine the beautiful writing of Erin Morgenstern with a Studio Ghibli for adults magical fantasy setting.
2. Throw in a 21-year-old mystery that needs solving, a chase from evil magical beings, and a sweeping love story.
3. Sprinkle in Japanese culture, fantastical modes of transportation through a plethora of whimsical and wonderful worlds, and resonating themes of decisions, mistakes and regret, reality vs. belief, love, freedom, and standing firm in who you are.
4. Bake at 350, pick your jaw up off the floor from all the plot twists and wise words of wisdom.
5. Stare at a wall when it's over and think to yourself "what did I just read?".
6. Rave to all of your friends and family to read this incredible book.

Thanks Net Galley and Del Ray for this arc! Water Moon was the perfect blend of magical realism, star crossed lovers, and a mystery tied up in family secrets. As a lover of fantasy novels, this was one of the best I have read in a long time!

The more the story traveled through Hanna’s world, the more I feel in love with this book. The world building was magnificent and the plot kept me gripped until the very end. Hana and Keishin’s journey to find Hana’s missing father shatters everything they thought they knew about themselves and each other.