A review by pastryghost
The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely adored this fantasy novella. It feels so rich and lived-in, the worldbuilding both strong & solid, yet slowly unfolding as the story plays. I was blown away by how full the world felt, despite being a short novella.

I loved the characters - from the loud and brash and argumentative bandits, to the mysterious and brutally-candid nun. The brashness of the bandits' talk was jolting at first - this is not a found family story where our protagonists hit it off right away. There's lots of tension! And at other times, I found myself laughing aloud at the ridiculous arguments and banter.

The story was lovingly rendered, unique, and captivating by the time it unfolds and the mysteries are revealed.