A woman inherits a pawnshop where you can sell your regrets, and then embarks on a magical quest when a charming young physicist wanders into the shop, in this dreamlike and enchanting fantasy novel.
“Endlessly inventive . . . A spellbinding journey into a magical Ghibli-esque world.”—A. Y. Chao, author of Shanghai Immortal
On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see a cozy 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.
Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice—by way of rain puddles, rides on paper cranes, the bridge between midnight and morning, and a night market in the clouds.
But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own—and risk making a choice that she will never be able to take back.
“What a bright, fresh voice Samantha Sotto Yambao has brought to the literary world. Water Moon is a novel for all the senses, but its true magic lies in being breathtakingly visual. You will be spirited away.”—Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of Other Birds
“Water Moon is unlike anything I’ve ever read, full of wonders and terrors . . . a haunting, half-remembered dream of a book.”—Gareth Brown, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book of Doors
“Full of adventure and marvelous creativity, Water Moon surprises and delights with every turn of the page. I didn’t want to leave this fascinating world. Samantha Sotto Yambao has written an inventive, refreshing fantasy.”—Megan Bannen, bestselling author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
“A spellbinding journey into a magical Ghibliesque world where regrets and memories can be bartered, where appearances are not what they seem, and where dreams, free will, and destiny are pitted against fate . . . Endlessly inventive, this haunting and enchanting tale is not to be missed.”—A. Y. Chao, author of Shanghai Immortal
“Water Moon is one of those rare, unique reads that stay with you long after you turn the final page. With its lyrical writing and philosophically poignant themes, Water Moon clings to your soul and renders it transformed.”—Rania Hanna, author of The Jinn Daughter
“Water Moon is a dreamy, ethereal fantasy, set in a fascinating fairy-tale world with appropriately dark corners. Fans of Hayao Miyazaki will love this one.”—Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul
“Whimsical, poignant, thought-provoking, and wildly adventurous, Samantha Sotto Yambao’s Water Moon will bend your imagination in the very best of ways.”—Mikki Brammer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover
Samantha Sotto Yambao is a professional daydreamer, aspiring time traveler, and speculative fiction writer based in Manila. She is the author of Before Ever After, Love and Gravity, A Dream of Trees, The Beginning of Always, and Water Moon.View titles by Samantha Sotto Yambao
A woman inherits a pawnshop where you can sell your regrets, and then embarks on a magical quest when a charming young physicist wanders into the shop, in this dreamlike and enchanting fantasy novel.
“Endlessly inventive . . . A spellbinding journey into a magical Ghibli-esque world.”—A. Y. Chao, author of Shanghai Immortal
On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see a cozy 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.
Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice—by way of rain puddles, rides on paper cranes, the bridge between midnight and morning, and a night market in the clouds.
But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own—and risk making a choice that she will never be able to take back.
Praise
“What a bright, fresh voice Samantha Sotto Yambao has brought to the literary world. Water Moon is a novel for all the senses, but its true magic lies in being breathtakingly visual. You will be spirited away.”—Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of Other Birds
“Water Moon is unlike anything I’ve ever read, full of wonders and terrors . . . a haunting, half-remembered dream of a book.”—Gareth Brown, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book of Doors
“Full of adventure and marvelous creativity, Water Moon surprises and delights with every turn of the page. I didn’t want to leave this fascinating world. Samantha Sotto Yambao has written an inventive, refreshing fantasy.”—Megan Bannen, bestselling author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
“A spellbinding journey into a magical Ghibliesque world where regrets and memories can be bartered, where appearances are not what they seem, and where dreams, free will, and destiny are pitted against fate . . . Endlessly inventive, this haunting and enchanting tale is not to be missed.”—A. Y. Chao, author of Shanghai Immortal
“Water Moon is one of those rare, unique reads that stay with you long after you turn the final page. With its lyrical writing and philosophically poignant themes, Water Moon clings to your soul and renders it transformed.”—Rania Hanna, author of The Jinn Daughter
“Water Moon is a dreamy, ethereal fantasy, set in a fascinating fairy-tale world with appropriately dark corners. Fans of Hayao Miyazaki will love this one.”—Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul
“Whimsical, poignant, thought-provoking, and wildly adventurous, Samantha Sotto Yambao’s Water Moon will bend your imagination in the very best of ways.”—Mikki Brammer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover
Samantha Sotto Yambao is a professional daydreamer, aspiring time traveler, and speculative fiction writer based in Manila. She is the author of Before Ever After, Love and Gravity, A Dream of Trees, The Beginning of Always, and Water Moon.View titles by Samantha Sotto Yambao
