Books Water Moon: A Novel Book by Samantha Sotto

"Water Moon: A Novel" by Samantha Sotto Yambao is a magical realism story set in Tokyo centered around Hana Ishikawa, the new owner of a mysterious pawnshop. This pawnshop, hidden behind a ramen restaurant, deals not in ordinary goods but in people's deepest regrets and life choices—essentially fragments of their souls. Only those who are truly lost can find this enigmatic place.

On Hana's first day running the shop after her father's retirement, she wakes to find it ransacked, her father missing, and a precious item gone. To complicate matters, Keishin, a physicist and unusual visitor, arrives not to pawn a regret but to offer help. Together, Hana and Keishin embark on an extraordinary journey through whimsical, dreamlike realms filled with danger and wonder as they seek to uncover what happened to Toshio, Hana's father, and recover the stolen choice.

The novel explores themes of fate, family secrets, sacrifice, love, and redemption, blending elements of Japanese culture such as ikigai (a reason for being) with poetic, evocative storytelling. The relationship between Hana and Keishin deepens amid their fantastical quest, challenging their understanding of reality and the price of choices.

"Water Moon" is a tale of courage and hope, emphasizing the power of love and self-determination to break cycles of regret and pain and begin anew. It captivates readers with its unique premise, emotional depth, and lyrical prose