Water Moon - by Samantha Sotto Yambao (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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 fantasy novel.

FEATURES A UNIQUE ORIGAMI JACKET that folds into a boat, joining the characters in an enchanting way. The jacket artwork is also printed directly onto the hardcover case underneath.

"Race through a lush world of pure wonder and romance--kites made of wishes that become stars, origami that holds time in its folds, and a night market in the clouds--in this lovely, cozy fantasy reminiscent of Erin Morgenstern's The Starless Sea."--Booklist (starred review)

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.

"Highly recommended . . . Readers who have been swept up in the cozy charm of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee will fall hard for the mix of magical realism, fantasy mystery, and star-crossed romance."--Library Journal (starred review)

Review Quotes

"This new, soft fantasy is the perfect companion to a fuzzy blanket and a comfortable chair: enter a delightful (but still dangerous) world of paper-lantern wishes and origami secrets."--Book Riot

"A heartwarming, low-suspense read that reminds us to take hold of our lives and our choices."--BookPage, starred review

"Sotto Yambao's inventive setting pushes the limits of common fantasy tropes, and her thought-provoking exploration of regret, choice, and free will resonates. This whimsical tale will have readers riveted."--Publishers Weekly

"Race through a lush world of pure wonder and romance--kites made of wishes that become stars, origami that holds time in its folds, and a night market in the clouds--in this lovely, cozy fantasy reminiscent of Erin Morgenstern's The Starless Sea."--Booklist, starred review

"Highly recommended . . . Readers who have been swept up in the cozy charm of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee will fall hard for the mix of magical realism, fantasy mystery, and star-crossed romance."--Library Journal, starred review

"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

"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

"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

About the Author

Samantha Sotto Yambao is a professional daydreamer, aspiring time traveler, and speculative fiction writer based in Manila, the Philippines. She is the author of Before Ever After, Love and Gravity, A Dream of Trees, and The Beginning of Always. Water Moon is her fifth novel.