Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Australia for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases, and it makes me sad that I had to DNF it.

I just could not get into the writing style, which I think is more of an issue with me than with the book itself.

WOW. What a stunning novel. I absolutely LOVED it.

Water Moon is a gorgeous, truly magical book full of emotion, magic, and a complex and compelling love story.
Samantha's writing is beautifully descriptive. I could picture everything so vividly.
Hana and Keishin were great main characters. They were both really interesting, mysterious, and charismatic.

I honestly couldn't put it down, I read it in one sitting. I needed to know what happened, but I also really didn't want it to end.

This is the first book I've read from Samantha Sotto Yambao, but it definitely won't be the last. I'll be impatiently awaiting her next novel.

I very highly recommend.

Perfect for fans of The Bone Shard trilogy by Andrea Stewart.

5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Australia, and Samantha Sotto Yambao for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House, and Samantha Sotto Yambao for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's difficult for me to put into words how much I loved Water Moon. I'm sitting here, still attempting to process what I've read, and I'm left utterly unravelled. From the very first paragraph, I was left utterly spellbound by Yambao's visceral use of language. She has such a way with words, as if her goal is to evoke a sense of uncanny valley in the reader as the story slowly unfolds.

When Keishin was introduced, I just knew, deep down, that he was a character that was going to make me feel seen. And boy, what a journey that was. Hyperlexic, sharp, hidden from view.So full of yearning. Keishin aside, all of Water Moon's characters feel so vibrant and real, with flaws and struggles, and with a light side underpinning their responses to every struggle they face. Even the brief characters mentioned off-hand to keep the story rolling felt like fully-fledged people. I cannot praise this more highly!

This book is for dreamers who feel like choices have been stripped from them. This book is for thinkers who feel trapped in their own minds. But most of all, this book is for those of us who are overflowing with sensitivity to the world around us.

Pick it up. I promise you that it will not disappoint you. Water Moon was an absolute pleasure to read, and will remain shelved as one of my favourite books for a long, long time. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with us, Samantha. I'll be reading your entire backlog now that I've become aware of your gift for writing.

💭 "... life is about finding joy in the space between where you came from and where you are going. I may never get to where I want to go, but I can look back on my life 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."

Such a gorgeous read! Loving this one so much!

The way this world is written is so whimsical from travelling via blue slushy puddle or if you need to travel faster, by way of rumour. Of a village where in the night sky is made - where hopes and wishes are transformed into bright shining stars. Of many cranes lifting you up and carrying you off to safety. Wonderfully creative and absolutely magical world that I truly wanted to dive into.

Yet, in such a stunning world, all is not so bright and shiny as our protagonists went on a search for missing parents but only to finally find the truth about themselves. At each turn, they were presented with a choice but when the final choice is in front of them, which will they choose? One filled with regret and disappointment or one of forgiveness and love?

Water Moon is literally dreamy & magical but be wary of the darker side of this dream world. And be ready to return to the real world...

My thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for ecopy of this book

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao is a magical, whimsical journey that swept my little heart away. It’s set in a quirky pawnshop with endearing characters, and while it feels cozy and lighthearted, it’s also packed with surprising depth. The story is about choices, fate, and the cost of regret, with plenty of awww and shock moments along the way!

What I loved most is how the book blends heart and adventure. It’s a tale of self-discovery, healing, and friendship, and love, with twists that keep you hooked. Nothing is quite what it seems, and that’s part of the charm. Both enchanting and meaningful, it’s the perfect mix of whimsy and emotional depth.

I’ve never read anything quite like this book, and in this instance that is a huge compliment. If a whimsical, conceptual, original fantasy tale with a bit of romance sounds good to you you’re going to absolutely love this one.

My favourite thing about this book was just how beautifully creative it was. Every page had something new and original to explore and I’m obsessed with the way the author wrote her descriptions, as well as her beautiful characters. I did get a little

The romance in this novel, which in my opinion is not quite the central plot line, felt genuine and flowed really well with the rest of the story. The characters felt real and were incredibly loveable, and I was genuinely rooting for them.

This was the perfect book to start off the year and I’d definitely recommend it to fantasy readers. Make sure to check TWs before reading. 4/5

Oh my goodness what a read. Water Moon was both thought-provoking and whimsical — a book that completely transports you. I haven't read anything like this in quite a while. The non-linear storytelling took me a moment to fully grasp and with a magical realism book like this II eventually had to stop questioning the “why” behind the world-building and simply accept it for what it was, since there’s no explicit explanation. I loved this book more than expected and will need to get my hands on a physical copy.

This was such a magical read.

We follow two characters that despite living in worlds that run parallel to each other it seems that they are destined to meet.

I did find that the characters, although fascinating, were hard to particularly like. However in saying that I do think that if these characters were anything but who they were, the progression and ending of the story possibly wouldn’t have as fulfilling as it does.

The movement of the story felt a little step stoney. But with the locations being those of a wild imagination and the transportation being just as fantastical, it does make sense that the progress from one place to another would be a little jarring.

Regardless, every nook and cranny of this book was filled with moments of awe and of retrospection. The former I expected, but the latter was a very welcomed surprise that helps pull you back into the read when the world started to feel just a little too far away.

Overall, it’s a read very different from anything else I’ve ever read (in a refreshing way).

Water Moon is the first of Samantha Sotto Yambao’s titles that I have read but it certainly will not be my last. Like all the very best literature, this novel is the combination of many genre – mystery, family drama, romance, magical realism, adventure, fantasy and thriller – and explores numerous, typically heavy themes, in deeply intelligent and refreshing artful ways.

From the opening lines, Sotto Yambao invites readers to think about even the simplest of things differently; more deeply perhaps, and as adults, to unbridle our curiosity.

Notice I said ‘invites’ rather than ‘forces’ readers to think about things differently? Proverbs are woven throughout this dreamlike narrative, but they never feel didactic.

Sotto Yambao’s fantasy alternate world-building is intricate yet ephemeral. Water Moon’s mystery suspense and swiftly paced adventure plot presents evolving fantastical paradigms to occupy and entertain the mind — a bit like Alice in Wonderland minus its absurdist satire and farce. Meanwhile in the background your brain chews over the more gristly topics such as parenthood, love, grief, personal agency and consequence, life meaning and legacy. Only in the very final denouement did I feel this narrative’s execution was anything less than taut.
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Yes, this story begins with a stereotypical light-speed star-crossed romance interaction, but greater depths of loyalty, care and devotion develop organically as they face perilous challenges together.

The scene depiction in Water Moon is just beautiful — vivid without being jarring, as though a hyper-realistic Japanese style watercolour. But, what I most admired about this narrative is that it is innately clever and artistic without being pretentious. There are lots of subtle tie-backs as the story progresses and ultimately, one comes to realise that clues to the mystery had largely been hidden in plain sight.

Sotto Yambao has an enviable skill for employing simple, accessible language in beguiling ways. I found myself constantly stopping to admire and highlight passages throughout. If, like me, you read as much for ‘the admiration of writing’ as being entertained by the storylines, then this is a must-read for you.

Water Moon is a hauntingly beautiful cerebral mystery adventure novel and memorably romantic hug that I unreservedly recommend. I think it would make a fantastic book club pick given its combination of popular genres and it raises countless relatable themes to unpack. Author Samantha Sotto Yambao’s back catalog (see below) is now on my TBR pile. 4.75 Stars.

*Spoiler free review*
I. AM. FLOORED.

The writing style of Water Moon was RIGHT up my alley and I NEVER knew what was going to happen next. The whimsical feeling competing with the sense of mystery was just so encapsulating I just absolutely devoured this book. You can bet I have already made plans of what special editions will be coming out of this novel and where I can buy them, one already ON THE WAY.

It isn't even out yet but I've read it a few times and each time it just gets better and better.
Safe to say I loved it, please read it - I beg.

For fans of mystical and whimsical fantasy, marvel and wonder.

“The mind is a thousand times more fertile than any kind of soil.”

This was a very different genre to what I usually read, it was a fantasy magical realism novel, which I have not read much of but enjoyed the journey it took me on.

From the first line and the tenderness in the words, I knew this was going to be a beautiful story.

This book is about choices and regrets, and a pawnshop where you sell your regrets. There’s even some romance on the side!

It’s full of magic and secrets. What looks like a Raman restaurant is actually a pawn shop… there’s a teashop that only exists at midnight… and you teleport via a puddle! This was all very different for me, but I still enjoyed it.

I really loved all the quotes and words of wisdom throughout the story, this is what made the book great for me.

This book is written so beautifully with incredible descriptions, and it takes you on quite the adventure!

Thank you so much @penguinbooksaus and @netgalley for sending me this early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! I actually read it much slower than usual because I wanted to savour the imagery for a little longer. The magic system was completely unique to anything else I have read before and it was written just so beautifully. The opening chapters felt similar to Before the Coffee Gets Cold (which I love) and then I was swept away on an epic adventure unlike anything else I have experienced. Cozy, vibrant and just so beautiful is the best way I can describe this one.

4.5 stars

Water Moon is a whimsical fantasy adventure following Hana, whose family has owned a mystical pawnshop trading in choices for generations. On her first day as the new owner, Hana wakes to find the shop trashed and her father missing. An unexpected client entering the shop at just the wrong time is the start of an out-of-this-world quest to find her father and uncover family secrets.

This book is incredibly immersive and different! I was constantly surprised by the inventive settings and unique features of the world. There were several times I was taken aback by the rich descriptions. It absolutely delivers what it promises, and I would compare it to Before the Coffee Gets Cold but more plot-heavy and the magic has a much larger scope. Another really cool thing about this book is the non-linear story progression. The author jumps back several times throughout the story to give the reader new information as the characters are getting closer to uncovering truths themselves. I wish there was a bigger emphasis on character development in response to the things they experienced, and I didn’t care much for the romance (shocker).

What I will say is the ending was BEAUTIFUL. Fantasy standalones can be tricky to wrap up in a satisfying way but this end on such a high, I wouldn’t change anything about it. I highly recommend for those who need to escape for a few hours.

On the day Hana is to take over her family's pawn shop, she awakes to find the store ransacked, her newly retired father missing, and their latest acquisition stolen. When a young doctor (the 'useless' kind) walks into the store looking for a bowl of noodles, the two must embark on a journey across a magical hidden realm to find clues pointing towards her father's disappearance.

I enjoyed this book a lot! It was a cozy, charming fantasy novel reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, Frieren, and Lord of the Rings. I recommend reading if you're looking for a fast-paced read and a Japanese folklore-inspired world.

Things I liked:
- Pacing: Initially, when I set out to read this book, I found the pacing incredibly slow and struggled to continue reading. This all changed at the 10% margin when we were introduced to a new character (who very much may be my favourite character), the pacing cranks up the speed similar to an F1 car. It went 0 to 100 real quick. The pacing increased so much that I struggled to put the book down. Most of the chapters ended in cliffhangers, so even when my sleepy eyes struggled to stay open, my brain would not let me stop reading as I *had* to find out what happened next.

- Setting: I loved the idea of a mystical, Japanese folklore-inspired, dream-esque world. We visited many places in Water Moon, each with such unique sceneries. The stars were kites that had found their place in the night sky, regrets were caged birds that sang sorrowful songs, and puddles facilitated inter-worldly travel. I especially love that the pawn shop was hidden behind a well-known ramen restaurant and that when you went to enter the store for a comforting bowl of noodles you'd end up in a completely different location where you could finally be at peace with regrets that swirled inside of you. I love love loved that the store would find its customers, rather than the customers searching for the store. The setting was such a delight to read! However, we visited so many places in such little time, that I felt we couldn't appreciate every new gorgeous scenic destination without being rushed to the next magnificent place. I wish we had a little more time spent in each place so I could imagine the world more vividly.

- Writing: I adored Sotto Yambao's writing. It was beautiful and felt incredibly easy to follow. She crafted so many incredible places that it was such a joy to read.

- Antagonists: I loooooved the bad guys. The Shiikuin kept the world accountable for their actions. If you disobeyed the directions of the Shiikuin, they would relentlessly hunt you down until they could discipline you for your crimes. They had long talons, spoke with a hundred voices at once, and had the most sinister of smiles. They were so cool (pls hunt me down). They felt so scary and felt reminiscent of the Nazgul in FotR whenever Hana would attempt to evade the Shiikuin.

- Plot twists: I genuinely did not see some of these plot twists coming. Especially near the conclusion of the book, we had so many plot twists straight after one another that I felt like I was being buried by an avalanche.

Things I disliked:
- Characters: I felt like we didn't get to experience much character growth between our two main characters. A majority of the book was spent running away from the antagonists, trying to find Hana's father, and introducing new places to Keishin, I felt there wasn't much time to focus on the characters. I wanted to see the characters grow and learn, and was disappointed when I didn't find the growth I desired. This could also be due to the incredibly fast plot, so there was a greater need to focus on the plot more so than the characters. As a result, I found the characters quite shallow and found it difficult to emphasise with any of them.

- Romance scenes: I'll preface this by mentioning that I dislike 'spice' or forced romance scenes in general, so this may just be me lol. There was one scene in this book that completely took me by surprise by how quickly it happened. It felt very forced and I still feel like it wasn't needed. It wasn't beneficial to the character's growth and it didn't move the plot forward. This scene took away some enjoyment from the romance of the book, which was a bit disappointing. Apart from that I felt like the romance felt very instantaneous and could've been more drawn out. Again, just my preference as I love to suffer reading slow-burn.

Overall I enjoyed this book, and I wish I could spend more time in this whimsical Japanese-inspired world with its incredible worldbuilding!

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and review. :)

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
Release Date: January 16th
5 Stars.
Water Moon is one of those novels that I think will stay with me in my soul. It is a masterpiece. Some of my favourite fantasies are the ones which take you for a journey, but leave you questioning what you thought you knew about the world and life, and this is what Water Moon did for me.
The story line is whimsical and dreamlike, and the mystery that brings our two main characters together is unlike anything I had read in a book before. The writing is vivid and well executed, and builds a world for the reader that almost feels tangible.
Overall, I am in awe of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was such a whimsical and fantastical book! The world Samantha weaved was truly magical, it was the type of magic you find in dreams. I loved all the fantastical magical elements. They were all so otherworldly yet all made perfect sense.
This book was one big adventure. It was fast paced with things constantly happening and I enjoyed the journey immensely. The twists were fantastic, and I really enjoyed the ending. I found that it was a book that made no sense while simultaneously making perfect sense, which I loved. It was unlike anything I've ever really read.
This was a story about choices & regret interwoven with finding oneself and a very wholesome love story.

Thank you netgalley & penguin for the ebook arc.

Felt like a lot of inspiration was taken from Studio Ghibli but without a strong sense of character development or heart that drives the animated films. Had a fantastic sense of whimsy and Japanese folklore world building but the characters felt flat. An enjoyable read

ARC REVIEW

Water Moon is an absolute delight! The world-building is whimsical and completely unique, making you feel like you’re stepping into a dream. The mix of adventure, mystery, and raw emotion kept me hooked from start to finish.

I loved how the story blends tender, heartfelt moments with high-stakes action, all while exploring themes like family and self-discovery.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC.

Romance, Whimsical setting, adventure, mystery, betrayal, dark elements, this story captured all of this beautifully.

Water moon is such a perfect title for this story, referencing the thing we are after but cannot hold. The poetic writing keeps emotions invested and honestly I feel smarter for having read this.

The author has nailed the studio Ghibli feel and I would put the story up there with the greats like Spirited Away and Howls Moving Castle.

It took me a little to get in to the story but once Kei entered the picture I was hooked. I did not see the betrayal coming and I think that things were resolved well. Recommend this story to all fantasy readers!!

WATER MOON - SAMANTHA SOTTO YAMBAO

If you adore Studio Ghibli and books with strong vibes, like The Night Circus, I'm pleased to tell you about your favourite book of 2025. Here's the synopsis:

On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see a cosy ramen restaurant. And only 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 its other customers, for he offers help instead of seeking it.

Water Moon takes place in a world that's connected to ours, but is very different and abides by its own set of rules. But this world is full of magic, memorable characters and its own mythology. And unlike many other fantasy books that only let you take a peek at their worlds, we get to explore it widely with Hana and Keishin as our guides. 

For me, this story is balanced beautifully. It's fast paced, there are some disappearances to solve and the stakes are high, but it's also filled with whimsy and an ethereal quality that had me completely hooked. Hana and Keishin race through and encounter the most inventive and cinematic settings I've read in any fantasy book, with each setting more memorable and impactful than the last.

Yes, the comparison to Studio Ghibli is completely justified in this case thanks to the above, but I also loved the sweet, convincing romance that develops. But keep in mind that this is a story that'll keep you guessing right until the last page - and in the case of Water Moon, this completely works in its favour as you savour each and every twist and turn. 

I have never read a book quite like it and I doubt I ever will again. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Release date: 16 January 2025

Review score: 5/5

TWs: grief, ab*rtion