Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
Water Moon
by Samantha Sotta Yambao
Fantasy | Magical Realism | Cozy
384 Pages
Released January 2025
Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads
Content Warnings
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this ARC! I loved every second of it.
Atmospheric and magical, this book was such a treat to jump into and I didn’t want it to end.
This book follows Hana, who has just inherited a Pawn Shop from her retiring father. This is not your ordinary Pawn Shop. It appears only to a select few, those who really seem to need it. And instead of trinkets, the clients of this particular Pawn Shop can trade in a moment where they made a choice - a choice that irrevocably changed their lives. However, on the morning Hana has become the Pawn Shop’s new owner, she discovers it ransacked, her father gone and a choice missing. Moments later, a young man enters the Pawn Shop and with his help, Hana begins a desperate search for her father and the missing choice.
I was completely blown away by this story. I knew I would enjoy this book the second I read the synopsis but I was entirely unprepared for how this book would sweep me away. The whole thing was deliciously atmospheric and the story, from start to finish, felt utterly dream-like and magical. It was like the kind of dream that feels like you lived a lifetime in the few short hours you were asleep, the kind you don’t want to wake up from because it’s just that amazing.
The world building and pacing of the book was fantastic. Despite the multitude of places we see in Hana’s world, everything seemed to fit perfectly together. The story flowed smooth as water as we follow Hana and Kei on their quest to find her missing father and there were just enough revelations to keep things interesting and surprising. Every moment felt intentional and well thought-out and tied the story beautifully together. It felt like a book version of a Studio Ghibli movie.
The characters were also wonderful. I loved the slow burn romance between the two characters. I could feel their connection grow as the story went on. I love every one of the side characters we got to meet as well, each unique and adding to the story in a way that kept things moving naturally forward. Nothing felt out of place, which I feel is really rare to find in a book.
My only (very minor) complaint, is that I wish the ending had been a bit longer. It felt almost rushed compared to the steady flow of the rest of the novel but I was ultimately satisfied by how this book concluded.
Overall, if you adore unique fantasy wolds, cozy reads, Studio Ghibli films and/or a hint of romance, you need to pick this one up. This was one of my favorites reads of the year.