Shadows on the Moon

Jun 04, 2012 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who loves any of these things: Memoirs of a Geisha, Japanese culture, Cinderella retellings

Shelves: covers-i-love, 2012-reads, glad-i-gave-it-a-chance, want-a-sequel, thought-provoking, titles-i-love, heroines-i-love-and-or-admire, left-me-feeling-conflicted, left-me-with-mixed-feelings, reviewed

(Actual Rating: 3.5 stars)

In Shadows on the Moon by Zoë Marriott, Hoshima Suzume's life changes within moments when her father is accused of treason against the Moon Prince, and she sees her once-happy life stolen and destroyed. In the panic that follows, something strange awakens within Suzume, an ability to disappear and blend into her surroundings as she flees her devastated home. Once the situation settles, Suzume's mother returns from her trip and retrieves Suzume...although Suzume herself...more

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Dec 13, 2011 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Catie by: Jo

Shelves: fantasy, for-review, read-in-2011, ya

What if Cinderella were a mysteriously gifted and emotionally scarred young girl? What if, more than true love and happily ever after, she longed for revenge? What if the prince were merely a means to an end?

What if the fairy godmother were the elder prince’s non-traditional kabuki dancing lover?

Shadows on the Moon, a fantastic re-imagining of Cinderella, is the answer to all of these questions. Taking inspiration from feudal Japan (although there’s a disclaimer at the beginning – most of the de...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Maja rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-2012, fantasy, ya, netgalley, reviewed-in-2012

Shadows on the Moon is a remarkably well told, fascinating story about Suzume, a young girl who’s lost her home and her entire family when the soldiers came to her house to accuse her father of treason. Aside from Suzume, who miraculously survived by making herself invisible to the soldiers, the only member of the family left alive was her mother, and only because she was absent when the soldiers came. Left with nothing at all and in constant fear for their lives, Suzume and her mother have no c...more Shadows on the Moon is a remarkably well told, fascinating story about Suzume, a young girl who’s lost her home and her entire family when the soldiers came to her house to accuse her father of treason. Aside from Suzume, who miraculously survived by making herself invisible to the soldiers, the only member of the family left alive was her mother, and only because she was absent when the soldiers came. Left with nothing at all and in constant fear for their lives, Suzume and her mother have no choice but to assume new identities and go to live with Teryama-san, her father’s closest friend.

It soon becomes clear that Teryama-san has his own agenda and that he is not nearly as kindhearted as he initially seemed to be. He is determined to marry Suzume’s mother and keep her all to himself, at least until he grows tired of her and turns his attentions to Suzume. The only person Suzume can turn to is Youta, an old servant that followed her all the way from her father’s house and showed her nothing but kindness from when she first saw him. Youta tells her that she is Kage Oribito, a favorite of the Moon, and that she has the gift of concealment that manifested itself when her life was in danger. As Suzume starts learning to use her powers, her enemies become more and more clear, and she gets obsessed with seeking revenge.

Aside from Suzume, who was well developed and had strengths and weaknesses (the first person narrative helped with that), others were typical fairy tale characters. We had a dead parent who was nothing but gentle and loving; a wicked stepfather (although the mother was just as wicked); a prince without a single flaw; not one, but two fairy godmothers… I must admit that I liked being able to relax into these patterns. The story wasn’t that predictable, but the characters’ behavior was, and I found that oddly comforting.

I was a little disappointed at first because the beginning seemed more middle grade than young adult, but pretty soon it became clear that I couldn’t have been more wrong. For example, the implied sexual relationship between Suzume’s mother and Teryama-san, while her father was still alive, is not something you normally read in middle grade books. As the story progressed and Suzume faced one disaster after another, as her choices became increasingly hard, the tone of the book also changed and in some ways, the book grew up and hardened together with Suzume. At the beginning, she seemed much, much younger that she was supposed to be and often far too naïve for a 16-year-old girl, but nobody could call her naïve by the time she got her revenge.

Although Shadows on the Moon is set in Moonlit Land, which makes it a fantasy novel, the influence of Asian cultures, Japanese in particular, is so strong that I often forgot that it is not set in feudal Japan. I think I’d have preferred it that way, actually – just a touch of paranormal in a very real setting. This way I knew that it was supposed to be fantasy, but I never believed it entirely because there were far too many bits and pieces from the real world that prevented me from being pulled in completely. I also thought that Suzume’s supernatural abilities were given too little attention. But truthfully, none of that stopped me from thoroughly enjoying Shadows on the Moon. I picked it up at the best possible time and once I did, I was unable to put it down.

Here’s the short of it: no one should ever be too old, too tired or too cynical for fairy tales. Most days, I would be the first to say that I’m all those things, but most days I’d be very wrong. Read this when you get a chance, it’ll be good for you.

For this review and more, please visit The Nocturnal Library
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Mar 23, 2013 Keertana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: swoooon

Rating: 3.5 Stars

If you've been following my status updates for this book, you can probably understand why I am so conflicted over my rating. On one hand, Shadows on the Moon is an incredible story. Although it is marketed as an Asian re-telling of Cinderella where our princess must avenge the death of her beloved father, it is less of an Edmund Dantes-eque revenge story and more of a contemplative tale of self-growth.

If you read the synopsis of this story, it easily leads you to believe that Ma...more Rating: 3.5 Stars

If you've been following my status updates for this book, you can probably understand why I am so conflicted over my rating. On one hand, Shadows on the Moon is an incredible story. Although it is marketed as an Asian re-telling of Cinderella where our princess must avenge the death of her beloved father, it is less of an Edmund Dantes-eque revenge story and more of a contemplative tale of self-growth.

If you read the synopsis of this story, it easily leads you to believe that Marriott's tale follows the general outline of a well-known fairy tale. Contrary to popular belief, however, very little of this actual story is centered around any type of Cinderella-type story. It has its main players, but everything else is left up to the imagination of the author.

Now, this is both a good thing and a bad thing. On one hand, the narration never feels forced or stifled by the fairy tale it is based on, much like Marissa Meyer's Cinder did for me. Yet, at the same time, I found that this story lacked plot for much of its length. For a little over half of the story, the true emerging plot was hard to find. We journey with Suzume as she watches her father killed before her eyes, as she discovers her powers as a shadow-weaver or one who can weave illusions, as she cuts herself, dealing with her grief the only way she knows how, as she falls in love with a handsome foreigner, as she commits acts of indescribable cruelty and runs away from her life. Only then is she presented with an opportunity for revenge and she cultivates herself to become Yue, the most beautiful woman, so she can win the favor of the prince and, in turn, seek her vengeance.

Nevertheless, I cannot disregard the fact that the beginning of this story is slow and hard to get into. It is a chore to pick it up, especially without any goal seemingly in sight. Once it really gets going, though, it utterly sucks you in. Despite the near insta-love of the romance in this novel, I utterly fell for it. It is sweet, caring, and perfect without unnecessary misunderstandings or drama. Suzume's growth throughout the novel, her careful exploration of her grief, and the detail to aspects of the society in this fantasy world is all masterfully created. Each of the secondary characters serve a larger role and have their own depth and truly, I loved this story.

BUT, I must warn readers not to jump on board with the revenge scheme too much. In the end, it is all rather anticlimactic, the villains I once thought to be complex, gray figures revealed to be nothing more than stereotypical black-and-white characters to end the story quickly. Suzume easily wraps up what should have been a long ordeal and all in all, the resolution to the revenge that fueled Suzume's life for so long was massively disappointing.

I did enjoy it immensely, but I can't say if I really recommend it for a lot of other readers. You need to be patient and possibly not a fan of The Count of Monte Cristo. Or, you know, if you are, just don't expect epic revenge adventures from Asian girls that are on the sword-fighting, cunning level of what Alexandre Dumas can write. I honestly went into this book expected Suzume to turn into a shadow-weaving ninja assassin, but sadly, this doesn't happen. Shadows on the Moon is very much unexpected and while this isn't a bad thing, it wasn't always good either.

You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.(less)

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Jun 21, 2012 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-na, fairy-tales, 2012, insta-love

This is the story of an emotionally scarred girl who self harms to relieve some of the pain that comes with betrayal whilst on a journey across an AU Japan in search of revenge. Oh yeah, and she also has the power to weave shadow illusions... you know that thing you saw out of the corner of your eye, that thing that isn't there when you look properly - probably a shadow weaver at work. What more could you possibly want from a story?

Okay, what you could possibly want is about fifty pages cut out...more

This is the story of an emotionally scarred girl who self harms to relieve some of the pain that comes with betrayal whilst on a journey across an AU Japan in search of revenge. Oh yeah, and she also has the power to weave shadow illusions... you know that thing you saw out of the corner of your eye, that thing that isn't there when you look properly - probably a shadow weaver at work. What more could you possibly want from a story?

Okay, what you could possibly want is about fifty pages cut out of the second half, that bit of totally unnecessary meandering about that is done for no good reason I can see. But otherwise, this is a hardcore tale of revenge that doesn't really deserve the Cinderella comparisons. I know some people love a good Cinderella retelling but I never was the story's biggest fan. Come on, the bad people are ugly and the pretty people always win in the end? If a girl doesn't have itty bitty feet, then she can't marry the hot dude? Er, not for me. So Shadows on the Moon has a ball, a prince and a stepfather? So what? Suzume attends the ball for vengeance, has no interest in the prince and cares deeply for her stepbrothers. Suzume is way cooler than any Cinderella.

The book opens with the murder of Suzume's father and cousin (who is like a sister to her) because the family were wrongly accused of traitorous activity. Suzume and her mother are taken in by Lord Terayama and given a home - but is Terayama as kind as he seems? Or does he have more sinister intentions? Along the painful journey Suzume takes, she matures and grows a lot, having to become several different people along the way. From riches to slavery to the streets, Suzume learns the extent of her supernatural talents as she goes. And as her abilities strengthen, so does her desire for revenge against the one who took her happy existence away.

For me, this book is mainly about a girl filled with anger and sorrow and the way she deals with it. This was what I really liked. But I think some people - and I kind of agree - will find the final "revenge" somewhat anticlimactic. Perhaps don't read this after recently watching Ms Kiddo wreaking bloody havoc in Kill Bill. Also, the romance part of the story gets better as it goes along but it inarguably starts with nothing more than heated glances and unexplained feelings of being drawn towards the other. I understand this more from Suzume's point because Otieno was a foreigner and looked different, mysterious, etc. but I didn't really understand Otieno. It would be like me going to Japan and being mystified at the sight of - would you believe it - Japanese people!

Despite these few things, I really enjoyed it. I like a good revenge story and I think Asia or Asian-inspired settings are my new favourite.(less)

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Jul 18, 2011 Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: you-got-a-friend-in-me, when-can-i-move-in, ya, gorgeous-prose, good-grief, hometown-glories-uk, boy-crush, its-a-kind-of-magic, e

“People trust their eyes above all else- but most people see what they wish to see, or what they believe they should see; not what is really there.”

Initial Final Page Thoughts.
I hope I never become too cynical for fairy tales. Gorgeous.

High Points.
Eastern influences. Love. Revenge. Grief. Shadow-weaving. Breath taking prose. Fairy tales. Loyalty. Haikus (More books should have haikus). Training montages. Rags to riches. Kimonos. Magic. Doesn’t shy away from the darkness. Heart-breaking. Heart-wa...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Kara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: priority-to-acquire, arc, fantasy, favorites, for-review, heroine-i-loved, japan, magic, net-galley, retelling, romance, young-adult

I honestly don't even know where to begin. I loved this book. It was one of those reads where you want to go slow and absorb every word. It was truly an epic tale. Every scene was memorable, and the characters touched me in a way that I don't find in most books. A lot of times I have difficulty connecting to the characters in the books that I read.
When it came to Suzume though, I truly felt for her and was able to place myself in her shoes easily.

How do I describe this girl? She was flawed like...more
I honestly don't even know where to begin. I loved this book. It was one of those reads where you want to go slow and absorb every word. It was truly an epic tale. Every scene was memorable, and the characters touched me in a way that I don't find in most books. A lot of times I have difficulty connecting to the characters in the books that I read.
When it came to Suzume though, I truly felt for her and was able to place myself in her shoes easily.

How do I describe this girl? She was flawed like we all are, for one. She was beautiful, determined, and highly intelligent. She was maddening at times and I wanted to choke her for the bad decisions she was making. The thing is though, even though they were terrible decisions, I can understand her motivation and why she was making them. Her life was tragic. Some very bad things happened to her and her family, and she would not rest until she was able to get revenge on the person that did this to them--even if she had to sacrifice true love to do it.

Which brings me to my next point. The love story in this book. Holy crap. I know that is not very eloquent, but I'm not sure how else to describe it. The tension is intense. It was riveting. I just wanted those two kids together so badly. Otieno is a character that is easy to fall in love with. Every time Suzume turned him down or ran away, he would just keep coming back for more. Because he knew they belonged together. He loved her like nothing else. And you could totally feel it too. It took my breath away. When they were together in scenes, the world stopped. I could not put the book down.

Zoe Marriot's writing? Unfrickingbelievable. Not only is she really great at creating emotions in her characters, but she really knows how to make the reader feel too. There was not one character in the book that didn't make me feel something. In some cases, adoration, but in others (Suzume's mother), murderous.I haven't felt such tragedy in a work of literature since I read Romeo and Juliet. Truth. The writing itself is gorgeous too. She puts words down on a page in ways I cannot describe. Every page is filled with beautiful passages, description, imagery, and emotions. The way she describes this world she has created really makes it come to life for you. It sounds an awful lot like Japan to me but she says it isn't. But it is distinctly Asian. And it is stunning.

Before I go, I will tell you that this is a retelling of Cinderella. But it is a very dark retelling. And I did feel that it was very different from the original fairytale. Quite a few of the details are different. And I almost feel...that if you aren't looking for Cinderella in the pages, you won't even notice.

This is a story that evokes many feelings in the reader, draws you in, and doesn't let go until the last page turns. I know that sounds cliche, but honestly, it's true. (less)

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Jan 29, 2012 Ashleigh Paige rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: it-is-giving-me-ideas, the-decent-shelf-of-meh, e-arc-via-netgalley, arc

Also appears on The Screaming Nitpicker. I received my copy through NetGalley.

At just fourteen years old, Suzume witnessed the slaughter of her father and cousin by the hands of soldiers and was saved only because of the shadow-weaving man that hid her and later taught her how to use her own shadow-weaving power. Upon discovering the conspiracy around her family's deaths and how it involves her mother and stepfather, Suzume flees and adopts a life of deceptions. Her ultimate goal: become the Sha...more Also appears on The Screaming Nitpicker. I received my copy through NetGalley.

At just fourteen years old, Suzume witnessed the slaughter of her father and cousin by the hands of soldiers and was saved only because of the shadow-weaving man that hid her and later taught her how to use her own shadow-weaving power. Upon discovering the conspiracy around her family's deaths and how it involves her mother and stepfather, Suzume flees and adopts a life of deceptions. Her ultimate goal: become the Shadow Bride of the young Moon Prince and use that power to avenge her family. All that stands in the way is her heart--specifically, her love for another man.

Seeing the deaths of two family members and then being betrayed and abandoned by the only person she has left has taken its toll on Suzume. She's an angry girl on a self-destructive path for vengeance who still feels the pain of her loss every single day. Her complexities are spot-on and her all-consuming grief feels real no matter how deeply in fantasy her story is entrenched. Shadows on the Moon evoked genuine emotional reactions and mental reactions from me. Poor Suzume! I thought at points. How could her mother treat her like that? Run, Suzume, run! No wait, stop running and face it! (I have a rich inner life, especially while reading.)

The book is set in the fictional Moonlit Land, but the incredible amount of research on Japanese and Chinese culture, clothing, and values that went into the novel did not go unnoticed. The hours and hours of research that went into it are difficult to imagine, but it was not for nothing. It warms my heart to see such effort put into a novel.

The way shadow-weavers could find one another when they need reeked a little too strongly of deus ex machina, just a good excuse for someone to come along and help/save Suzume when she needed it. Her love for Otieno is incredibly important to the story because of how it affects Suzume and makes her question her goals. As such, it is vital to make the love between them believable, but I could not feel the connection or understand what she saw in him. I largely enjoyed the story, but these small flaws in this jewel of a novel were too conspicuous to ignore.

Fairy tale retellings are popular enough on their own, but Cinderella retellings in particular seem to be a dime a dozen. Shadows on the Moon, a darker Asian-inspired twist on the tale, stands out among the competition and likely touches more deeply on the grief of losing one's family and being betrayed by the only person left, the one who should be taking care of you and instead mistreats you. Fans of the recent release Cinder by Marissa Meyer will likely enjoy this novel too.(less)

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Mar 18, 2013 TheBookSmugglers rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Original review posted on The Book Smugglers HERE

The day of Suzume’s fourteenth birthday was also the day that changed her life forever when the men came to kill her family after her father’s name was dishonoured in the Court of the Moonlit Lands. They killed her father and her cousin, who was the sister of her heart, right before her eyes. It was on that day that Suzume, prompted by survival instinct, learnt that she was a shadow-weaver, capable of creating the illusion that saved her life as s...more Original review posted on The Book Smugglers HERE

The day of Suzume’s fourteenth birthday was also the day that changed her life forever when the men came to kill her family after her father’s name was dishonoured in the Court of the Moonlit Lands. They killed her father and her cousin, who was the sister of her heart, right before her eyes. It was on that day that Suzume, prompted by survival instinct, learnt that she was a shadow-weaver, capable of creating the illusion that saved her life as she hid from the attackers.

Thankfully, her mother had been away and upon her return makes the decision that allows them a chance of a future: they change their surnames to avoid the dishonour of being connected to that fallen-from-grace name and move in with a close family friend, Lord Terayama , who eventually – and perhaps too soon – becomes Suzume’s stepfather. Suzume is forbidden by her mother to ever speak of what had happened and they are supposed to move on. But Suzume cannot forget her beloved, innocent relatives and the wrong they suffered and the strain is too much for her – cutting her own skin becomes a way of seeking relief and shadow-weaving, the only way to hide in plain sight.

Time passes and Suzume comes to discover the true face of Lord Terayama and after that her life spirals out of control as she needs to take on other identities in order to survive and avenge her family. She will do anything to exact vengeance on Lord Terayama, even turn her back to the possibility of a new life away with the man she loves.

Shadows on the Moon is a retelling of Cinderella and it follows the original just closely enough to be identified as such but with sufficient, wholly unique differences to make it entirely this author’s own story. And it is a great story too, with an epic feel to it, spreading over many months and with the main character taking over different personalities.

Speaking of personalities, it is perhaps not surprising that the theme of identity is a central aspect of this story: it starts with Suzume’s being told by her mother to simply forget and not talk about her father or her cousin/sister. To someone who is clearly suffering of PTSD (how could she not after witnessing the gruesome deaths of the people she loved?) and survivor’s guilt, this is quite possibly, the worst thing that could be asked of her. Following that order, Suzume has to hide her thoughts, her memory, her lack of a smile which she replaces via shadow-weaving with a smile that belonged to her own cousin. Right there, she wears the face of another and the worst thing is – no one notices. Suzume disappears little by little under the weight of her own feelings. The only respite she gets is by cutting he own skin, which has to be another thing to hide under the illusions she creates. Taking a quick detour to talk about this side of the story, I appreciated the way in which the author incorporated self-harming in the story with respect and believability, at least to the best of my, admittedly non-extensive, knowledge.

Going back to the problem of identity, this is definitely my favourite aspect of the story: because eventually, after going through so much, and donning so many masks, Suzume will have to decide WHO she wants to be and how she wants to live her life and within the constraints of this novel, this is certainly not an easy decision to make. It means growing up and I loved that making that decision involved understanding what it means not to forgive someone, and to never forget wrong-doing. This understanding also comes from identifying the villains of this piece: is it Lord Terayama, his ambition, his determination to have everything and everyone he wants? Is it Suzume’s mother, who is equally ambitious and determined but in a more subtle yet extremely hurtful, self-centred way? Or is it Suzume herself, for reasons she doesn’t dare say out-loud?

The setting is quite interesting too, as the Moonlit Lands are clearly based on feudal Japan but adding the fantasy aspects of the shadow-weaving makes it something else and apart. Although I might add, the fantastic elements were not clearly defined and at points felt a bit frustratingly underdeveloped and even contrived in the way that they were incorporated into the story. This latter point for example, came with how the gift of shadow-weaving explained so easily the connection between Suzume and two of the other main characters: her friend Akira and the romantic interest Otieno. Because these other characters were also shadow-weavers and in this world shadow-weavers just “know” others with the same gift, this provided a simple explanation for how Suzume connected to other people in a short-cut way, at least to start with. Although I did feel this to be true especially with regards to Otieno (the “they just knew” explanation always exasperates me), one needs to be fair and to say that there is enough development as the story progresses to reconcile first impressions with actual knowledge of the other person, and I felt myself reluctantly won over by the relationship between Suzume and Otieno. I say reluctantly because not only it starts with insta-connection but because he could be too insistent and pushy at times and that never goes down well with me. However, it needs to be taken into consideration the fact that Suzume stands up for herself and makes her own decisions. Which brings me to my final point: Suzume as a protagonist. She is not extremely assertive or extremely kick-ass, hers is a quiet strength and I loved her for it.She starts out as a child and grows up so much, unaided by loving relatives but helped by friends. She suffers terrible things, has to make choices in order to survive and to deal with the consequences of those choices.

All things considered, I loved reading Shadows on the Moon. It is a cool retelling of Cinderella, with a great protagonist – Suzume and the choices she made, right or wrong, were what made this book such a great ride. (less)

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May 30, 2011 Clover (Fluttering Butterflies) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fairy-tale-retelling, ya, own, books-read-in-2011, british-reading-challenge, sent-for-review, favorites

Here's a book that I really loved. I flew through Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott, desperate to find out how it would end. It was really addictive reading for me, especially as it gave such a new and strong outlook on the Cinderella story. I loved the setting (a fantasy world similar to feudal Japan), Suzume's character, from her magical abilities to her vulnerability and especially her relationship with the beautiful and honourable Otieno (who is utterly swoon-worthy!).

Shadows on the Moon i...more Here's a book that I really loved. I flew through Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott, desperate to find out how it would end. It was really addictive reading for me, especially as it gave such a new and strong outlook on the Cinderella story. I loved the setting (a fantasy world similar to feudal Japan), Suzume's character, from her magical abilities to her vulnerability and especially her relationship with the beautiful and honourable Otieno (who is utterly swoon-worthy!).

Shadows on the Moon is a retelling of the fairy tale of Cinderella. I felt there were enough of the original story for it to be recognisable as such but also that there are enough differences to make this uniquely Zoe Marriott's own creation. The added elements to the story really blew me away. I really thought that the story really lends itself to be told in a magical Japan. I really loved every detail, from the way in which people dressed to life at court. And we see a great deal of the different area of life as Suzume transitions from happy farm girl to that of a noble daughter, followed by life as a kitchen drudge and to finally a beautiful courtesan.

It begins with Suzume as a young girl. She's playing happily with her cousin when officers storm her home, killing both her father and her cousin. Desperate to flee and save herself, Suzume ends up hiding in the kitchen amongst the ash. There, a servant, Youta, helps her to hide until Suzume's mother returns and it is safe. The trauma of witnessing the deaths of the people closest to Suzume has a really profound effect on her. It doesn't help that Suzume's mother refuses to speak of them and Suzume must hide her feelings and she must mourn privately and without the support of her only living relative. Suzume becomes quite depressed and begins to self-harm in an attempt at expressing some of her overwhelming emotions - of the grief of her loved ones, of her confusion and anger towards her mother, who quickly remarries.

But Suzume is strong, and is able to adapt, even when she learns a terrible secret and must abandon the life she knows to become a servant. And then again later, she must adjust again when she must flee her home for fear of her life. I thought the relationship between Suzume and her mother was wonderfully done, the complexity of that relationship was heart-breaking and very realistic to me. There's a selfishness to Suzume's mother that made me incredibly angry, especially when she stands by the cruelty of her husband and becomes complacent to his terrible deeds in order to protect her position and standing. I love it when an author writes so well that it makes me loathe a character so utterly as I did with Suzume's mother and of her new husband.

I also loved how Suzume's magical ability is shown gradually and how Suzume uses this gift in order to hide the emotions from her face while surrounded by her cold and distant mother and her vile and ruthless step-father. But once this terrible secret is uncovered however, Suzume makes it her life's purpose to avenge her father and cousin's death, using her shadow-weaving ability to make other changes in her life besides a neutral expression. She hatches a bigger and more elaborate plan involving the prince and the Shadow Ball.

And amidst Suzume's grief, and her obsession with revenge, the character of Otieno brings such hope and light to this story. I absolutely adore Otieno. There's just something very open and good about Otieno. I was completely won over by him from the first mention of him and description of his good lucks and his tattoos. Suzume and Otieno have one of these really powerful emotional connections and despite Suzume's changing position in society, they continue to cross paths and be drawn to each other. But even this love will not stand in the way of Suzume's mission. She is determined to sacrifice everything in order to attend the Shadow Ball and attract the eye of the Prince, even if that means giving up on love and her freedom.

I really and truly loved Shadows on the Moon. I love that even though Suzume has been rather unlucky with her mother and her step-father, she has gathered to her close friends, such as Youta and Akira who go above and beyond in their affection and their love for Suzume. I loved reading such a wonderful character as Suzume as she deals with her grief and her depression the only way she knows how. I think books that handle such topics of self-harm in such an open way are a much needed addition to the YA market. I love the subtle though quite kick-ass magical skills that Suzume possesses and that though there is wonderful and endearing romantic relationship, it isn't with the prince and that Suzume really doesn't make romance her number one priority.

This book is such a joy to read. It comes highly, highly recommended by me for lovers of Japanese culture, of fairy tale retellings, of strong female characters and of wonderful storytelling. (less)

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Aug 03, 2011 Isabel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, arc-copy, signed-bookplates, signed-copy, reviewed, cover-love

I first found out about Shadows on the Moon more than a year ago, and the minute I did I fell in love. For twelve months I frantically counted down the days to its release, expecting what I knew was probably FAR too much from even the author of one book I adored, and another that I thoroughly enjoyed. When I finally got my hands on Shadows I was incredibly excited to read it -- and also very nervous. For the first time I was scared that I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I had anticipated. But the m...more

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May 03, 2013 Kat (Le Pauvre Cœur) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Japanese worlds who are patient enough to sit through a sometimes slow book

Shelves: cheesy-romance, cool-heroine, i-dont-really-know-what-to-think, fairytale-retellings, turtle-pacing

I'm so conflicted on the rating. 3 stars? 4? At some points, it was more like a 3, and others, it was more of a 4.

3.5 Stars

Suzume is the daughter of a quiet but respected family in Japan. Her father is a renowned poet and her mother is famous for her beauty. So when officers of the court invade their home while Suzume's mother is away, no one is expecting it.
Her father is declared a traitor and is killed right before Suzume's eyes, along with her beloved young cousin, Aime. Overwhelmed with gri...more

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Jan 10, 2013 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, tales-of-fae-and-faery-tales, young-adult-fiction, netgalley-arc, arc, hf-japan, best-of-2012, 2012-reviews, 2012-reads, excessive-fangirl-alert, emotional-whiplash, tears-aplenty, owned-copy, 2013-reads, i-love-you-for-your-words, you-clever-girl, five-stars-for-you-glen-coco

Wow, wow, wow. This is one of the best Cinderella retellings I've come across. The story is rich, the writing lovely and the romance heart-breaking. This book just got so so many things exactly right. Zoe Marriott, I am impressed and saddened that I have no other books of yours to read at this very moment.

Just as amazing the second time around.

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Aug 09, 2011 Sophia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

SPOILER ALERT!

Through a beautiful portrayal of Japan, with the foundation of Cinderella, and with fragrances from Memoirs of a Geisha, Shadows on the Moon is a stunning and unique novel.
The fairy-tale setting of the novel gave it plenty of charm, and the writing style was sophisticated and poetic. The main character, Suzume, was incredibly complex. I was amazed by how—through a web of traditional characters and settings—Zoe Marriott also incorporated Suzume’s cutting. For whatever reason, it...more SPOILER ALERT!

Through a beautiful portrayal of Japan, with the foundation of Cinderella, and with fragrances from Memoirs of a Geisha, Shadows on the Moon is a stunning and unique novel.
The fairy-tale setting of the novel gave it plenty of charm, and the writing style was sophisticated and poetic. The main character, Suzume, was incredibly complex. I was amazed by how—through a web of traditional characters and settings—Zoe Marriott also incorporated Suzume’s cutting. For whatever reason, it made the book much more vivid, and I was finally able to begin to understand why people in the present world do it. Even though it is a fairy-tale retelling, Shadows on the Moon is a tribute to the modern world.
In this way, the book reminded me a little of Ash, by Malinda Lo. It was in part due to the Cinderella story similarity, yes, but the real resemblance was in both author’s ability to make something modern and often controversial into something accepted. In Ash , the author makes the concept of lesbianism something ancient and beautiful. In Shadows on the Moon, though I did not even realize this at first, Otieno and Suzume probably would be considered a strange couple: one black and one Asian. But the power of this book came from the fact that I did not even notice. There is nothing wrong with being someone like Akira, a man in woman’s clothes, and there is nothing wrong with a couple with people from different races. I think most people have thankfully accepted this about our world already. Shadows on the Moon has brought it a step further. Not only is it acceptable, it is beautiful.
The book still manages to stay solidly on the category of fantasy, with Suzume’s power to Shadow Weave, or transform the way things appear. Her power fit in like a perfect puzzle piece to the overall moral of the story, as well as the dozens of scattered morals. Suzume is brought alive by a modern touch. She is easy to pity, of course, because so many things have happened to her, but she is also easy to relate to, because the book hides no truths.

My favorite quote, close to the end of the book, is this:

“It was easier to hate myself, hurt myself, slice open my own flesh and bleed, than to face the fact that I had been powerless.”

This quote is not just about Suzume’s feelings. I think that nearly everyone can relate to the feeling of self-hatred because everyone experiences it at some point in there lives. If we fast-forward a century from the setting of Shadows on the Moon, we realize that it is a feeling we are still recovering from. As singer P!nk pleads in her song Perfect, as Lady Gaga belts in Born this Way, and as countless books have expressed—including Shadows on the Moon—the message is always clear: you must accept and love yourself, even if you don't believe you deserve it.
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May 04, 2012 the golden witch. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, arc-galley, fairy-tales-retold, gods-and-monsters, magical-reality, teenage-shennanigans, net-galley, dnf, reviewed

This one sadly just didn't work for me, and didn't quite hold my attention. I wish I could say otherwise as the blurb sounded really awesome, and the idea of a retelling of Cinderella combined with shadow weaving really intrigued me. While the premise was wonderful, "Shadows on the Moon" ultimately failed to deliver for me.

I was a good chunk into the book and I still wasn't feeling the hook landing where it should have been. Ideally, a hook should land into the reader within the first chapter,...more This one sadly just didn't work for me, and didn't quite hold my attention. I wish I could say otherwise as the blurb sounded really awesome, and the idea of a retelling of Cinderella combined with shadow weaving really intrigued me. While the premise was wonderful, "Shadows on the Moon" ultimately failed to deliver for me.

I was a good chunk into the book and I still wasn't feeling the hook landing where it should have been. Ideally, a hook should land into the reader within the first chapter, if not the first sentence of a book. But almost 100 pages in, I just wasn't feeling it. That was really dismaying as the writing was decent, but the story just didn't really move along at a good pace.

The worldbuilding was okay. I wanted to know about where we were in Japanese history, fairy retelling or not. An estimation would have been fine. Then the constant use of Japanese when the English translation was given within the next sentence...well, not only did I find that highly annoying, but I couldn't quite find the point of the author doing so. As a translator, I understand that some ideas don't quite translate over, but I didn't find any in Japanese that the author used that couldn't very easily be translated into English. Had it been the case of using a Japanese term or idea that really has no straight, easy English translation, it would have been different and I would have understood. But it just felt like the author was flinging around language for the sake of doing so, and not for any other real purpose. For those who don't speak the language, I can see where that might get not only confusing, but frustrating.

The characters felt flat - I should have been feeling Suzume more than I did, especially since she's the MC, but I just didn't. She didn't quite feel entirely real, and I think that might have to do with the worldbuilding since characters feed back into their world. Without the world fleshed out enough, the characters can be heavily affected - which is what I saw happening here.

While Marriott has a great touch with sensory language and imagery, I felt that there were chunks that were more telling than showing, but I will give it to her - when she wants to, she can really give some visceral imagery (Suzume hiding in the ashes? I loved that part) that will stick with you. I'm not entirely closed to reading other works of hers, but this one just didn't work out for me.

"Shadows on the Moon" is out now from Candlewick Press, so be sure to check it out and see how things work out for you. Hopefully you'll have better luck than I did.

(posted to goodreads, shelfari, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)(less)

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May 04, 2011 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review-books, uk-author

Shadows on the moon is a beautifully woven tale which I thought was a wonderfully written with a real "fairy tale" like feel to it. I enjoyed every page and didn't want it to end.

Shadows on the moon has been described as Cinderella meet memiors of a Geisha and I really think that is a brilliant comparison to start with. I loved the orientalness (not sure that is a word but hey!) of the book and loved pretty much everything thing that came along with that orientalness like the setting, the cultur...more Shadows on the moon is a beautifully woven tale which I thought was a wonderfully written with a real "fairy tale" like feel to it. I enjoyed every page and didn't want it to end.

Shadows on the moon has been described as Cinderella meet memiors of a Geisha and I really think that is a brilliant comparison to start with. I loved the orientalness (not sure that is a word but hey!) of the book and loved pretty much everything thing that came along with that orientalness like the setting, the culture, the outfits and the whole world built up around the characters

I loved the main character Suzume and her outlook on her world. As a character I found her brilliantly easy to relate to and was desperately keen to champion her cause (not that she needs championing as she does very well on her own two feet thank you very much). I liked the added dimension that her abilities added to her and enjoyed seeing how she grew into them as the story progressed.

Another thing I really enjoyed about the book was the whole fairytale-esque feel to it. It had the same qualities of all those fairy tales you loved as a child but with the added bonus that the main girly character had an edge to her and wasn't about to lay down and wait for her prince to rescue her.

I actually also liked that the book was historical fiction and gave you a real feel of the time and place it was set in but didn't over burden you with tiny details which can make some historical fiction hard going to read. I really think (which my history teacher head on) this is the way to engross your audience and get them interested in any given historical period rather than over doing it and making them switch off.

The story itself I really enjoyed. I won't begin to go into detail for fear of spoiling parts or not being able to do it justice but I will say that it continually kept me guessing throughout and I loved all the twists and turns it continued to throw at me all the way up until the very last page. Certainly a book that kept me wanting to read more and more to the point where I struggled to put it down.

All in all I can honestly say that Shadows on the moon is a fantastic offering from Zoe Marriot, with an awesome main character, a captivating plotline and a wonderful fairytale like feel to it. Definitely a book a will be recommending whole heartedly to others.(less)

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Sep 19, 2011 Cass - Words on Paper rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-release, bought, read-2011, author-love, favourites, minority-groups, music, this-book-has-my-heart, desperate-for-reread

4.5/5 [So annoyed, I actually wrote this review but I didn't get to save before I had a black-out :'(]

First, I should mention that my knowing about SHADOWS ON THE MOON's experience starts with (hehe you can still read my comments). This was RIGHT up there on my list, along with Anna and Matched and Across the Universe, etc. I really pushed my expectations to the limit, and although I should have been setting myself up for disappointed, I was STILL terribly pleased.

SHADOWS ON THE MOON is just su ...more

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May 02, 2011 Karina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This inventive reworking of the Cinderella tale has an Oriental twist, which breathes new life into an old story. All the usual tropes are there - the ill-treated daughter, the neglectful parent, the cruel parent, the time spent in a lowly station before the heroines true worth is recognised...but all seen as if through a pane of old, wavy glass; the usual characters and storylines are flipped around, upside down or back to front. This compelling adventure which has a deep emotional core is a ve...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Danica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of Tamora Pierce

Shelves: first-reads

Wow.

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and I'm extremely grateful for the chance to read it. It weaves a painfully beautiful story that made me believe in the talents of the main character--she placed a spell over me from beginning to end.

This book was especially moving for me personally because I identified so strongly with the main character. Her pain and struggles resonated with me, as did her attempts to ease the ache of despair and anger in her heart. Her emotions and struggles were v...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Lisa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, retelling, fantasy

Shadows on the Moon was a disappointing read. I had every expectation of liking it. I love Japanese culture, history, and food. I watch anime. I even took three years of Japanese in high school. I'm also a sucker for Cinderella stories so the idea of a Japanese-inspired Cinderella intrigued me. There were many good ideas in Shadows on the Moon but unfortunately they were poorly executed.

Hoshima Suzume leads a tragic life. Shortly after the death of her father and cousin, her beautiful but cold m...more Shadows on the Moon was a disappointing read. I had every expectation of liking it. I love Japanese culture, history, and food. I watch anime. I even took three years of Japanese in high school. I'm also a sucker for Cinderella stories so the idea of a Japanese-inspired Cinderella intrigued me. There were many good ideas in Shadows on the Moon but unfortunately they were poorly executed.

Hoshima Suzume leads a tragic life. Shortly after the death of her father and cousin, her beautiful but cold mother marries her father's wealthy friend, Terayama Ryoichi in order to avoid poverty and ruin. It quickly becomes apparent that Terayama-san is a cruel and selfish man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Forced to flee from her stepfather, Suzume assumes the identity of Rin, the kitchen servant, and later Yue, the courtesan, in order to take revenge on Terayama-san for the injuries he's inflicted on her. Along the way Suzume falls in love with Otieno, a handsome foreigner, and is mentored by Youta, a servant, and Akira, an ex-courtesan, who help her develop her power of illusion called shadow-weaving.

I hate to give points to a book simply because of ethnic diversity—I shouldn't have to because it shouldn't be a rare occurrence—but unfortunately in the current YA market I must praise Shadows on the Moon for not only having a Japanese-inspired setting (the Moonlit Land), but also for having a love interest from an African-inspired culture. It's nice to see an author attempt to write a story from a non-western perspective even if in many ways the author's own culture comes through in the text.

My main problem with Shadows on the Moon is that, although the Moonlit Land borrows heavily from historic Japan including language, customs, food, and clothing, the characters were very modern and western in their thoughts and actions. For example, there seemed to be a distinct lack of respect for authority, and the importance of honor is absent. Most of the characters, including Suzume, are very individualist rather than collectivist. In contrast, their customs are based on a non-western collectivist belief system, which begs the question of how these cultural practices came to be.

Further, the main character idealizes Otieno's culture, which is open and expressive, two very western concepts. This was problematic in two ways. One, because it assumes that expressiveness and openness are better than the alternative, and two, because there was no explanation of where Suzume had learned her appreciation for foreign culture. It's also interesting to note that I thought the characters, including those from the Moonlit Land, were shown to be fairly expressive, though we're told that they aren't.

The second biggest issue I had with this book was the writing. It was overly simplistic for the targeted age group. Although it improves towards the end, the first two-thirds were filled with short choppy sentences and lacked sentence variability. Additionally, the author chose to throw in random Japanese words throughout the text, which were distracting. The words were not used consistently and there were some instances where the words weren't defined, which could be problematic for those not familiar with the Japanese language. On top of this, using Japanese words simply didn't make sense because the story didn't take place in Japan. Presumably the characters were speaking in their own made-up language which was then translated into English because a) no one would be able to understand it, and b) because most authors are not as brilliant as Tolkein and lack the skills needed to develop their own language. Given this assumption, it makes no sense to include Japanese words when English words would have sufficed.

In addition to the cultural issues and simplistic writing, I found that the pacing and characters to be problematic. Several times over the course of the novel, I was very bored because of how slowly the plot moves. Too much time is spent on mundane tasks, such as the kitchen tasks during the Rin portion of the book, and courtesan training in the Yue portion. There is surprisingly little action in this story for how long it is.

Additionally, I didn't find the characters to be very compelling. Many of them were unlikable, others were underdeveloped, and Suzume is inconsistent. She also frustrated me quite a bit because a lot of her unhappiness was due to her own actions—or inaction—which made it hard to sympathize with her. Suzume's love interest was far too underdeveloped for me to feel anything for him, and their love was unbelievable since there was no basis for it. It was another case of instalove as acknowledged by the love interest himself. Neither their personalities nor their backgrounds seemed to be very compatible. The only thing they had in common was magic.

In short, this book at its heart wasn't very Japanese, the writing was weak, and the plot and characters weren't very compelling. I would recommend that readers looking for a good Asian-inspired fantasy story check out Eon: Dragoneye Reborn and its sequel Eona by Alison Goodman, which are better written and have a much more developed plot, romance, and mythology.(less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Elevetha Houre rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: No one

Shelves: fairytale-retelling, gorgeous-covers, insta-love, magic-and-other-magical-substances, meh-worthy, once-is-enough, life-is-too-short, please-edit-this-book, political-fantasy-adventure, why-was-this-written, what-on-earth-is-this-junk, images-involved-in-review, characterize-please, head-meet-your-new-friend-the-desk, 2012

1.5 stars. Blah. I did not like this book. The overall idea of Cinderella being a brave strong girl who decides to take matters of revenge in her own hands and has the magical ability of shadow-weaving was decent but the execution of it in this book was junky. Not only were the characters just inane and boring; the story turned into mindless stupidity.

(view spoiler)...more 1.5 stars. Blah. I did not like this book. The overall idea of Cinderella being a brave strong girl who decides to take matters of revenge in her own hands and has the magical ability of shadow-weaving was decent but the execution of it in this book was junky. Not only were the characters just inane and boring; the story turned into mindless stupidity.

(view spoiler)

I. Disliked. This. Book.

The writing\prose was fine.
The idea for shadow-weaving was awesome but we didn't know enough about the art to truly appreciate it.
Characters were unbelievable, boring, underdeveloped, and I just didn't connect nor did I care. Except for Youta! But he was not in it very much. *frowny face*
Book was way too long and could have been edited a lot. Or, you know, had something actually happen in the book. Action please? Anything? No? Okay.
Content wasn't a whole lot but terribly unnecessary.
Plot was barely there and then ended up not mattering in the least.
I found it to be a waste of my time.
Not recommended.

Content: Birth control, homosexuality, a fairly low-level "fade to black", a attempted rape scene, a lying cheating mother, etc...
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Jan 31, 2012 Victoria Griffith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shadows on the Moon is a superbly-paced fantasy, refreshingly set in Japan.

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Jul 11, 2011 Alex rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The best piece of fantasy I've read for a while :) Couldn't put it down.

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Sep 03, 2012 Shoujo & YA Banter rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction

Very mediocre book. For fans of Shadow and Bone.

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Nov 28, 2012 Krispy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: would-buy, retelling, fairytale, recommended, ya, poc-mc

4.5 stars.

THIS is how you write a fairy tale retelling that is truly fresh and original & not just the fairy tale dressed up in better/newer clothing. Cinderella is one of the most popular fairy tales to retell, and this one really pulled it off by being its own story first and referencing the Cinderella inspiration second.

THIS is also how you write a fantasy set in a different culture that respects the source material and also makes it distinctly a fairy tale world. You can tell this book w...more 4.5 stars.

THIS is how you write a fairy tale retelling that is truly fresh and original & not just the fairy tale dressed up in better/newer clothing. Cinderella is one of the most popular fairy tales to retell, and this one really pulled it off by being its own story first and referencing the Cinderella inspiration second.

THIS is also how you write a fantasy set in a different culture that respects the source material and also makes it distinctly a fairy tale world. You can tell this book was meticulously researched with proper cultural details and characters that act in ways mostly consistent with that of the base-culture. The magic too is interesting and subtle; I liked that it wasn't the typical in-your-face magic that makes the heroine suddenly all powerful. It was also a nice physical incarnation of the variously explored themes of illusion, image, and identity. (Loved the themes!)

The characters are varied and complex with their own motivations and desires. Particularly interesting was Suzume's relationship with her mother, who was frustrating and flawed but also very human. She's not the "wicked stepmother" we've come to expect from fairy tales. Suzume is a great heroine because she is multi-layered and the things that happen to her weigh on her. She reacts and adapts to the traumas and triumphs of her life realistically; the repercussions of her actions and of actions against her are not swept aside. She also doesn't fall into the trap of losing sight of her goals (the plot) once the love interest comes along, and no one relationship rules her life (a trap that so many YAs fall into, especially when it comes to romantic relationships).

Suzume is also a "strong female character" based not on her physical toughness but on her mental and emotional toughness, which is a nice divergence from the crop of fighter-tough heroines we've seen of late. Nothing wrong with fighter-tough girls, of course, but I'm all for portrayals of different kinds of strength. Suzume's strength is in her determination, devotion, and cleverness. It is a quiet strength that both works within the bounds of the gender roles of her society and pushes against it. In this book, you truly see how beauty can become power without beauty necessarily being glorified.

CONS: The ending came up a little fast. There's not enough falling action for my satisfaction and the events of the climax happen quite quickly. The romance felt a little underdeveloped because of its speed. It's not insta-love, but there's a lot of devotion developed over a short period of time wherein the lovers see relatively little of each other. But the romance is sweet and respectful, and it doesn't overstep into the realms of saccharine sappiness.

In short, if you like complex characters, well-researched and developed worlds, and fairy tale retellings, pick this one up. I think you'll find this book fits the bill.

Original longer review on the blog: Double Mini Review: Shadows on the Moon (less)

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Jul 08, 2012 Natalie (Mindful Musings) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: strong-female-mc, historical-fantasy, young-adult, retelling

In a Sentence: Compelling and creative, Zoe Marriott's Shadows on the Moon is one of the best Cinderella retellings I've ever encountered.

My Thoughts

Shadows on the Moon was another book that I picked up for the 2012 YA Bloggers Book Battle. I'd had several of Marriott's books on my to-read list for some time, so when two of her titles made the longlist for the battle (Shadows on the Moon and The Swan Kingdom), I was determined to read at least one before my part in the battle was over! Since Sh...more In a Sentence: Compelling and creative, Zoe Marriott's Shadows on the Moon is one of the best Cinderella retellings I've ever encountered.

My Thoughts

Shadows on the Moon was another book that I picked up for the 2012 YA Bloggers Book Battle. I'd had several of Marriott's books on my to-read list for some time, so when two of her titles made the longlist for the battle (Shadows on the Moon and The Swan Kingdom), I was determined to read at least one before my part in the battle was over! Since Shadows on the Moon was the first one to come through my library's e-book reserve system, it was the book I ended up reading.

First of all, I have to say that Marriott did a FANTASTIC job of grabbing my attention right off the bat. I mean, did you SEE that first line? Who wouldn't want to read a book with that kind of opener? But the first line wasn't the only thing that drew me into the story. In the first few chapters, Suzume goes through such an intense, horrible, emotional experience, that I immediately connected with her. After seeing what happens to her, I think it would have been difficult for me NOT to sympathize with Suzume's situation. I wanted to reach into the book and hug the crap out of this poor little girl who'd just had her entire world ripped away from her. Obviously, I couldn't do that, but I was definitely going to stick around to see what else happened!

After the loss of her family, Suzume becomes a damaged young woman with an identity crisis who has lost all forms of hope. She can barely keep herself from falling apart. The one thing she clings to is seeking revenge on Terayama-san, the man who destroyed her life. However, on her quest for revenge, Suzume meets several people who can see the burden she suffers from, and slowly but surely, these characters begin to chip away at her stony facade. One of these characters, Akira, absolutely fascinated me because she was unconventional and (for me) completely unexpected. I won't say much more than that though, because I think that a large part of her likability was a result of her character being revealed piece by piece...with a substance and complexity that is often missing in secondary characters.

For a Cinderella retelling, I was not expecting the dark, serious atmosphere that I got with Shadows on the Moon. This book deals with a LOT of topics, including everything from the loss of a family member to self-mutilation to gender issues to identity formation. I mean, those are some HEAVY HITTERS, guys! But still, in spite of the many serious issues that Shadows on the Moon addresses, there are lighter, happier moments to break it all up, and in the end...it was the serious parts that made this book for me.

I have to be honest with you guys...though I watched the Disney version of Cinderella quite a few times as a kid, I was never the biggest fan of her. I always felt that she should have fought back against her wicked stepmother and stepsisters, and that Prince Charming only valued her for her beauty. Though he gets props for not caring about Cinderella's servant background, I always felt like he really knew nothing about her. Plus, the whole idea of wishing desperately for a man to come save you kind of irritates my feminist side. For those of you who feel similarly, then Shadows on the Moon is a book you should try. Suzume is anything but a weak, simpering female, and even though she's incredibly damaged, she also shows amazing inner strength.
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Aug 03, 2011 Lyrical rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I’m always worried when I start reading a serious book, you know, one that deals with the more hardcore issues of human psychology. I worry because I might invest my emotions in the book only to find that the story is flimsy and the characters half baked. This was definitely NOT the case with Shadows on the Moon. The plot is based on the age-old and very strong Cinderella storyline but Zoe Marriott has spun it out with great originality and intense emotion.

Shadows on the Moon is one of those st...more I’m always worried when I start reading a serious book, you know, one that deals with the more hardcore issues of human psychology. I worry because I might invest my emotions in the book only to find that the story is flimsy and the characters half baked. This was definitely NOT the case with Shadows on the Moon. The plot is based on the age-old and very strong Cinderella storyline but Zoe Marriott has spun it out with great originality and intense emotion.

Shadows on the Moon is one of those stories that is ironically beautiful for the way it deals with some of the ugliest human emotions. I think the most interesting thread is the vindictive jealousy and resentment of Suzume’s mother. The true extent of her fraught relationship with her daughter is gradually revealed to the reader, who at first is led to believe she cares for Suzume, so that when the cruel reality comes to light you’re hit with the same psychological sting that this innocent child reels under. Suzume is forbidden to mourn for her brutally slaughtered father and cousin, is neglected by her heartless mother and is terrorised by a malicious step father. The story creates such tragedy for poor Suzume and nurtures a realism to this heroine who turns to self-harming to ease her internal pain. There’s a real sense of the emptiness of material possessions in comparison to the real love that everyone needs. Suzume may live in luxury with her step father but the trade off is human affection.

I was reminded a lot of Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden as I read: the story creates the same frustration and sense of unfairness at the lack of control the heroine has over their own life. At times it just makes you want to scream and you keep reading in the hopes that justice will come in the end, and it’s only because it’s fiction that you entertain the notion that there will be a happy ending. It gets to the point where you start to panic in moments of kindness that they will be snatched away from Suzume and replaced by a horrible loss. For me Suzume is a real ambassador for heroism as even with all the horrendous treatment she suffers she keeps going and keeps striving to succeed and do the right thing to avenge her father’s death no matter how hard it gets. She may be physically powerless but she’s a real tough cookie mentally. Zoe Marriott is such a clever writer, luring the reader into believing that self-destruction is the only natural ending for Suzume but at the last minute gives Suzume the power to obtain self-salvation.

Endings are often satisfactory in books but rarely are they perfect (for good reason, a story should be realistic!) but in Shadows on the Moon, Suzume has been through so much cruelty that you really feel that she deserves a perfect ending and I’m glad she gets one – but I’m not going to tell you what it is! I’ve been on a real journey with Suzume and I just hope that I might have a little bit of her inside me now.

Lyrical Reviews
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Dec 22, 2011 Megha rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: favorites, signed-bookplates, deserves-six-stars, to-review, own, awesome-cover

Right, this is a long overdue book review. Even though I don't 'owe' a review to Zoe, I just need to make sure everyone knows about this book.

Why, you ask?

Oh, only because it's FREAKING AWESOME.

First of all, let me just say that my parents never buy books for me. I mean, we have two libraries very, very close to our house, there's a school library, and because I have a kindle which I can download books onto. So we never need to buy books.

But I begged. Yes, Zoe, that's how low you made me stoop (...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Jesse Owen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Thanks to a certain someone *ahem* Raimy *ahem* I was unbelievably excited to read Shadows On The Moon, after reading her review I went out and bought a copy the very next day and read it above almost everything else. And I have to be honest – I’m so unbelievably glad I did.

For a start Zoe’s writing is just a pleasure to read, creating vivid scenes which stayed with me long after putting the book down and characters whose actions were are utterly believable.

At the centre of the story is Suzume,...more Thanks to a certain someone *ahem* Raimy *ahem* I was unbelievably excited to read Shadows On The Moon, after reading her review I went out and bought a copy the very next day and read it above almost everything else. And I have to be honest – I’m so unbelievably glad I did.

For a start Zoe’s writing is just a pleasure to read, creating vivid scenes which stayed with me long after putting the book down and characters whose actions were are utterly believable.

At the centre of the story is Suzume, a highly trained shadow weaver who can make people see what she wants them to see – a genuine smile even though she might be feeling utter resentment to hiding things about herself that might give people a clue to who she is and even more besides as this power grows throughout the story.

Right from the very first chapter Suzame’s life is anything but stable and the completely unexpected plot twists scattered throughout shake up her life so much it’s easy to understand why she takes the actions she takes. Each one making her stronger and more determined to do what she knows she has to do. In short I loved her.

Of course this wouldn’t be a YA story without a love interest, would it? And in Shadows this comes from Otieno. He sees Suzame as she really is and passionately believes in her – I loved watching their relationship grow and could feel the chemistry between them sizzling off the pages.

At 454 pages it’s no short story but it’s expertly paced and I cared so much about the characters that it completely whiz by. It was one of those stories where the saying I couldn’t put it down really does apply.

It had me constantly smiling, laughing, gasping, in shock and most definitely cheering (and booing in some cases) the characters along all the way through. It’s a book that I think everyone young or old will enjoy – go on pick it up!

I’ll finish up with the only way I can think of describing Shadows – wow – just – wow! I will without doubt be picking up more books by Zoe in the future and I think she may just have become my new favourite author. (less)

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Jun 19, 2011 Susanna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

While not the most well-written retelling of Cinderella that I've read, Shadows on the Moon is by far the most interesting take on the traditional story. It's set in some previous time in Japan, but this Japan comes with shadow weavers and strange foreigners from the land of Athazie. There is no traditional fairy godmother, and Suzume is no traditional Cinderella. Out for revenge, she is strong-willed and determined to do anything necessary to seek vengeance on those who killed her family. Yet S...more While not the most well-written retelling of Cinderella that I've read, Shadows on the Moon is by far the most interesting take on the traditional story. It's set in some previous time in Japan, but this Japan comes with shadow weavers and strange foreigners from the land of Athazie. There is no traditional fairy godmother, and Suzume is no traditional Cinderella. Out for revenge, she is strong-willed and determined to do anything necessary to seek vengeance on those who killed her family. Yet Suzume has her own flaws unique for fairytale retellings: she resorts to cutting and burning herself to release anger and other emotions, and her actions are not always above moral scrutiny.

Suzume's story in Shadows on the Moon will hold readers attention for its not inconsiderable 450+ pages. The action is fairly constant, and between the author's writing style and the formatting of the book, the novel is actually a quick read for its page count. Better yet, the novel is so different from "Cinderella" that you eventually forget it's a retelling and stop looking for and expecting the events of the traditional tale; Shadows on the Moon is good enough to hold its own as an epic story without the added bonus of being a retelling. While I found that I could foresee some of the consequences of Suzume's actions and the ultimate conclusion to the novel, this did not mean that I knew how the end of the novel would be reached, and that, coupled with the unique characterizations of the Cinderella, prince, and godmother characters, made this a totally worthwhile read. My one complaint with the book is, as I hinted in the first sentence of my review, that Marriott's writing is almost, but not quite, equal to the story she tells. I'm not really sure what the problem is - was it that the plot moves too fast, or that there's not enough explanations for some things? - but the writing and the story never completely clicked together. Still, they come close enough to make Shadows on the Moon a great read for just about every variety of reader.

Review originally posted on my blog: http://susie-bookworm.blogspot.com/20...(less)

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