Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao is an atmospheric cozy fantasy exploring the consequences of our actions. And the delicate balance between free will and fate.
Synopsis
Hana Ishikawa has inherited a magical pawnshop that deals in trading regrets and bad decisions from her father. Their shop is hidden under the guise of a ramen restaurant but is only revealed to those in need of their services. Her father has trained her from an early age on how to run the shop testing her and sharpening her logic and critical thinking so she knows how to talk to potential clients and read them.
However, Hana’s not thrilled to be stepping into this role. Her reluctance stems from the inevitability of her situation and lack of freedom and free will. Little does she know fate is throwing her a twist and her world will be turned upside down. The morning of her first day taking ownership of the pawn shop she wakes to find it in disarray and her father missing. Scrambling to figure out the next steps a mysterious stranger wanders into the shop. Instead of seeking her help in navigating his regrets, he offers to help her find her father.
Together, they embark on an adventure into Hana’s mystical world of intrigue. As Hana tussles with having to reveal a secret to the stranger and make a decision that will alter their lives forever.
Content ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The premise for this magical story was beguiling. And the initial setup is compelling as the reader is taken into Hana’s world. I also appreciated the themes and the discussion surrounding fate and free will. How our decisions and regrets can’t be circumvented but instead we must face the consequences of our actions.
Writing Style ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Yambao has a whimsical almost lyrical quality to her prose. Her ability to create an ethereal atmosphere was astonishing. However, it fell off the rails when it came to the dialogue between the characters. It felt stiff and forced. It gave the appearance of looking like banter but wasn’t able to pull it off very well.
Also, I felt the world-building was off. I never got a full understanding of the world and its purpose. It didn’t feel fully fleshed out and was random giving the story a disjointed feel.
Readability ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Despite the clear flaws in this story, I was still able to enjoy my experience which was primarily due to the atmospheric vibes, and interesting premise. However, towards the middle, I did feel the story begin to drag and become redundant and I struggled to maintain interest.
Plot Development ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The plot is action-packed and adventurous as the reader gets to see various parts of Hana’s world and there is the threat of the Shikumen interfering with Hana finding her father and setting things right. I felt that it was slow and stagnant in some places.
Also, the romantic subplot wasn’t my favorite as I didn’t like the budding relationship. While I’m not averse to insta-love I felt that this romance didn’t hit for me and came out of left field.
Additionally, when it came to particular scenes in the conclusion there wasn’t enough information to support the ending. It would’ve been nice to have Hana’s viewpoint to explore what happened on her end to provide a more well-rounded conclusion.
Characters ⭐️⭐️.5
Unfortunately, this was my least favorite part. The characters weren’t well developed and lacked complexity. They came across as flat, emotionless, and one-dimensional. While in the beginning I empathized with Hana the more the story progresses the more I began to dislike her. It felt like her actions and motivations were in direct opposition to who she was introduced to be in the beginning.
I didn’t see her inner turmoil or tug-of-war of emotions regarding the secrets and decisions she was tussling with. She came across as dull and deadpan in her actions and responses. Also, Hana had no major character arc and was for the most part the same as when she started.
Would I Recommend?
Despite this book’s beautiful hardcover edition and the fascinating premise and themes, I wouldn’t recommend this book to those who have similar tastes as me. It’s too disjointed and lacks character depth leaving the reader with a flat, bland experience devoid of emotion. This could work for those who prioritize atmosphere, vibes, and an adventurous plot over complex character development and detailed world-building.
