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House of Earth and Blood: Crescent City, Book 1
Sarah J. Maas
4.7
Water Moon: A Novel
by Samantha Sotto Yambao
About this book
Hidden on a quiet Tokyo backstreet lies a pawnshop accessible only to those truly lost. While the world sees a humble ramen restaurant, the chosen few discover a sanctuary where they can trade their deepest regrets and life choices for a clean slate. Hana Ishikawa inherits this mystical establishment, but her tenure begins in chaos: the shop is ransacked, its most precious treasure is stolen, and her father vanishes without a trace.
Her search takes a sudden turn when a charming, enigmatic physicist arrives, offering his assistance rather than seeking his own redemption. Together, they venture into a surreal landscape of wonder, navigating a bridge between midnight and morning, riding paper cranes, and exploring a night market suspended in the clouds. As they chase the truth across these dreamlike realms, the friction between Hana’s guarded heart and her companion’s persistent curiosity sparks an undeniable connection.
Yet, the journey demands more than just endurance. To save her father and restore the shop, Hana must confront a devastating secret of her own. She faces a final, irreversible choice: hold onto the comfort of her past or risk everything for a future that defies the laws of reality.
Available Formats
Hardcover: $23.99 Audiobook: $0.00
What readers are saying
TayA Whimsical and Dreamlike journey
"Reading this book felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a rainy day, with lo-fi music drifting through the air. The writing has such a poetic dreamlike atmosphere. The world building reminded me of Spirited Away at times, and I was completely swept up in the unique and whimsical world. “If you’re telling the truth, then I’ll be whisked away on the greatest adventure of my life”. It is indescribable how much joy this book brought me. Each realm feels like you’ve stepped into a waking dream. Yambao has masterfully weaved a rich, immersive, world that intertwines with our own. The book itself covers some heavy tropes - regret, sacrifice, loss of hope. But it also explores moments of resilience, redemption, and self discovery. Overall, I felt that this book erred on the cozy side. “Keishin shuffled through his mistakes, trying to find one that he wouldn’t miss. Though each had caused him varying degrees of embarrassment, disappointment, and pain, it was difficult to select one that he could live without. What he once thought he would have easily and gratefully forgotten felt like hard-fought treasure, each mistake a precious, priceless scar. The kitsune had asked for only one grain of his life, but Keishin found himself wondering if it was that one grain upon which everything else was built.” “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 want to waste a second of it being bitter that I was not someplace else”. Two of my favorite passages that stayed with me throughout the book. It felt like a gentle reminder that life is shaped by the small moments. Even those filled with mistakes and regrets. It’s about finding peace with where we are and the choices we’ve made, even if they’ve caused us grief. Each misstep becomes part of the whole journey, encouraging us to move forward without resentment or regret for what could have been. I will forever look into puddles, hoping they’ll whisk me way to an enchanted world - one of endless pampas grass and a sea of clouds, of magical knight markets and libraries filled with lost memories. ["
March 8, 2025 Verified Purchase
Dan RoopWell written portal fantasy romance
"I first picked up this book because the description felt like it was inspired by Haruki Murakami's writing. I don't know if that is the case, but it was certainly an intriguing, well-written story. The author has included some wonderful surprises and has a creative imagination. The idea of the pawn shop in an alternate world is quite a fascinating premise but there were times during this story when the quest got a little boring for me. I don't generally like romance, but this one was very well done and not very cringy at all! I recommend this to anyone who enjoys new-found, unexpected romance/love, to anyone who enjoys portal fantasy, and to anyone who appreciates a quest story. The author's writing is exquisite and the physical book has a neat concept with the dust jacket being a foldable! ["
September 2, 2025 Verified Purchase
LeilaniLoved it!
"As a fan of spirited away this book was perfect for me! It was so good I’m going to read it a few times! ["
May 18, 2026 Verified Purchase
FharenFell Short
"I read Water Moon for one of my book clubs. I went in with high hopes, but unfortunately, it fell a little short. The world-building was excellent, and I really enjoyed the FMC, MMC, and even the side characters. The plot was intriguing, with a unique magic system and a fascinating parallel world to ours. However, where the book faltered was in its execution, especially in the last 30-40% of the book. The fast-burn chemistry between the FMC and MMC didn’t bother me like it did for some readers, I actually thought it was well-explained. What threw me off was the lack of detail in crucial moments. There were times when the story seemed to jump from point C to G without any real explanation, leaving me rereading passages to check if I missed something. Later, scenes that felt barely fleshed out would be referenced again with new details, making the pacing feel disjointed. Honestly, I almost wish this had been a duology. It could have given the story more room to breathe. Overall, Water Moon was enjoyable, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations. If your TBR is already stacked, this one can probably wait. ["
May 14, 2025 Verified Purchase
