I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang Published by Penguin on January 21, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Animals, Fiction / Coming of Age, Fiction / Fantasy / General
Pages: 224
Format: eARC, Paperback
Source: Library, Publisher
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If you could swap your life for a better one, which would you choose?
On the outskirts of Rainbow Town, there is an old, abandoned house. They say that if you send a letter detailing your misfortunes there, you could receive a ticket. If you bring this ticket to the house on the first day of the rainy season, you'll be granted entrance into the mysterious Rainfall Market—where you can choose to completely change your life.
No one is more surprised than Serin when she receives a ticket. Lonely and with no real prospects for a future, Serin ventures to the market, determined to create a better life for herself.
There, she meets a magical cat companion named Issha and they search through bookstores, perfumeries, and fantastical realms while Serin tries to determine what her perfect life will look like.
The catch? Serin only has one week to find her happiness or be doomed to vanish into the market forever.
And all the while, a shadow follows quietly behind them…
If you are looking for a gentle book while the world outside is not — pick up The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang. This translated slim volume is about a market that can make your dreams come true. This is the sort of book that could easily be read in one sitting — although I did not — as it is a quick sort of read. Overall, I quite enjoyed my time with this book.
The Rainfall Market is about Serin, a schoolgirl who is living a tough life. Her father passed away when she was younger. Her sister has ran away. Serin lives in a very small apartment with her mother. She has no money. Serin is not the best at school. She is quite lonely. So, she reads about the rainfall market in the school library and learns you write a letter to this broken down house and if your story is accepted, you receive a ticket to the rainfall market. The ticket entitled the visitor to entrance to the market and the potential to buy what is called a dokkaebi orb which will make the vision she has of the future come true. So, Serin writes and against all odds she receives a golden ticket to Rainfall Market.
The Rainfall Market is run by a species called the dokkaebi. Each dokkaebi runs a business and has a sort of power trading something from humans to then transform to something cool — ie to fill a ball the humans have to think of their misfortunes and chant something and then the ball fills. So, while Serin is at the market, she has a cool cat guide named Issha who helps her navigate to find the exact orb she needs to change her life. She must make a choice before the end of the rainy season – one week – or she will never be able to leave the market.
I thought that You Yeong-Gwang’s debut was a sweet read. I liked meeting the different dokkaebi and learning about their job and the things they collect. Also, the twist was quite interesting too. And can we just talk about Issha the cat? I loved the dynamic between Issha and Serin. Serin broke my heart, because she’s had it so hard and things did seem a little hopeless for her life. I could understand why she wanted one of those orbs and a new life. And also why she felt like she had to get it perfectly right. This book was a lovely diversion – pick it up if you enjoy Studio Ghibli movies.
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