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Numamushi: A Fairy Tale
Burned by napalm as an infant and adopted by the guardian spirit of a river, Numamushi spends the first years of his life catching frogs to eat and learning to shed his skin like his serpentine father. Then one day, a lonely man moves into the abandoned house next to the river, and curiosity for all things human awakens in Numamushi. This mysterious man shares Numamushi’s penchant for eating frogs but also carries the scars of war, a love of the written word, and knowledge of the secret history of the house and its river. When he begins teaching Numamushi to read and write, the growing friendship between them opens an unexpected path to metamorphosis–and healing–for them both.
112 pages, Paperback
Published October 17, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
October 9, 2024
I know I missing enormous amounts of contextual cultural references, but still really liked it. The concept of words as water and a cup writing--very beautiful and dangerous.
Recommended for interested readers.
Recommended for interested readers.
February 11, 2024
Readers of the first two sentences who aren't enchanted don't deserve to read the rest of this fairy tale.
Maybe I have a thing for snake imagery. I have a chain of stories called Living in Snakeland. No magic in my stories, not even a snake, but family and heartbreak and love. Here too.
There are references to Japan's history in the mid-20th century that I could not follow, but which do not interfere with the impact of the narrative. One of my earliest exposures to non-Eurocentric mythology was a collection of Japanese fairy tales. That experience didn't help here, but perhaps goes some way toward explaining my initial eagerness to read this story. It surely did not disappoint. Now I will have to go find and reread that collection from my childhood.
Numamashi had come to the great white snake from upstream, floating on robes made buoyant with flaming grease. The fire had peeled the baby's skin, burning it red, black, and raw, but when the kind old snake coiled about it, to drown it free of suffering, it put out its tiny tongue and touched it to the snake's cool nose.
Maybe I have a thing for snake imagery. I have a chain of stories called Living in Snakeland. No magic in my stories, not even a snake, but family and heartbreak and love. Here too.
There are references to Japan's history in the mid-20th century that I could not follow, but which do not interfere with the impact of the narrative. One of my earliest exposures to non-Eurocentric mythology was a collection of Japanese fairy tales. That experience didn't help here, but perhaps goes some way toward explaining my initial eagerness to read this story. It surely did not disappoint. Now I will have to go find and reread that collection from my childhood.
January 3, 2024
I finished this book and did the longest flavor flav yeah boy in history
August 7, 2025
”How you put your venom in the water of your words is up to you.”
"Numamushi" is deep water. Sparkling. Placid. Beneath the surface, unseen currents swirl. Ghosh's prose winds like a serpent, graceful and mesmerizing until it strikes. Painful. Venomous.
The boy at the center is all wide-eyed wonder, scarred but open-hearted. Raised by a river god, he sees the world with a kind of sacred innocence. His bond with Mizukiyo, a man burdened by wartime sins, is tender and dangerous.
This is a beautiful, bittersweet story about healing, transformation, and the emotions we all carry inside. If you're not into eating frogs or shedding your skin like a river god, this might not be your cup of tea, but hey, sometimes growth requires a little discomfort (and maybe a few slimy snacks).
"Numamushi" is deep water. Sparkling. Placid. Beneath the surface, unseen currents swirl. Ghosh's prose winds like a serpent, graceful and mesmerizing until it strikes. Painful. Venomous.
The boy at the center is all wide-eyed wonder, scarred but open-hearted. Raised by a river god, he sees the world with a kind of sacred innocence. His bond with Mizukiyo, a man burdened by wartime sins, is tender and dangerous.
This is a beautiful, bittersweet story about healing, transformation, and the emotions we all carry inside. If you're not into eating frogs or shedding your skin like a river god, this might not be your cup of tea, but hey, sometimes growth requires a little discomfort (and maybe a few slimy snacks).
April 6, 2024
This is such a sad, hopeful, beautiful story about family and loss and self-loathing and love, and it ended exactly how I hoped it would. I'll read anything Ghosh writes from now on.
November 19, 2025
“To be able to choose at all is precious and rare, little marshworm. For most, the land doesn’t allow any choice but to die for having no choices at all,” Father had said, letting the river take the cat away. “I wish those dear to me life—and, for life, to have choices, always.”
4 🌟
4 🌟
July 13, 2024
3.25 - while this book did definitely have a fairytale aspect to it, I also thought that it delved a bit deeper into horror than I was expecting. That’s not a bad thing by any means, but it did feel somewhat unexpected and I had to change my gauge of the genre a bit.
Besides that, I enjoyed the story and was curious to see how everything played out. The writing was quite nice—poetic without being overly so—and I thought the use of imagery was strong as well. I didn’t know this book included a few illustrations, but they were certainly welcome editions!
Unfortunately, I don’t know that the topics presented within the book personally spoke to me. I think readers with a bigger fanaticism towards fairytales would get more appreciation out of it than I did, but my sort of indifference towards the story really just stems from person preference and not really any technical problems. Overall a nice, quick read that was enjoyable for sure.
Besides that, I enjoyed the story and was curious to see how everything played out. The writing was quite nice—poetic without being overly so—and I thought the use of imagery was strong as well. I didn’t know this book included a few illustrations, but they were certainly welcome editions!
Unfortunately, I don’t know that the topics presented within the book personally spoke to me. I think readers with a bigger fanaticism towards fairytales would get more appreciation out of it than I did, but my sort of indifference towards the story really just stems from person preference and not really any technical problems. Overall a nice, quick read that was enjoyable for sure.
July 11, 2024
“All right. As you wish, Father. I’ll shoulder this curse of yours. I’ll take it. I’ll bear it. I’ll take your curse for them. And for us.”
May 3, 2025
This book broke my heart into a million pieces and then glued every single shard back into its place.
June 19, 2024
This is an extremely well written modern fairy tale about a young boy discovering family and learning about the power of thoughts, words, and the limitations and fear that we place on ourselves. All of the characters in this story are loveable and you root for their success and growth through the entire story. The writing is great and the story is wonderful. This is a quick read that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a meaningful, but light and cute story about love and family
October 31, 2025
When I’m at the minority contest and the gay veteran orphan snake boy shows up 🙄
August 5, 2024
I’m clearly missing some cultural context to do this book justice.
Numamushi tells the story of a babe taken in and raised by a a white serpent, guardian of the local river. As the boy, Numanshima of the title, grows he learns to live underwater, eat frogs and and other aquatic to sustain himself, and to shed his skin like his “father.”
Next to the bridge under which Numamushi and the serpent live is a vacant house. One day a man comes to live there, connected to the serpent by a “curse.” Numamushi and the man become close when tragedy spurs the man, Mizukiyo, to adopt the boy. The boy later saves the Mizukiyo’s life. Sounds simple but it’s not. It's all rather confusing.
My enjoyment of the book was limited by aspects I could not understand.
Bottomline: Numamushi carries the tag line "A fairy tale." Fairy tales typically attempt to teach some moral lesson. Japanese readers may understand the specific moral being taught here. It eluded me. As such, from my non-Japanese perspective, it was interesting but unfulfilling. On my buy, borrow, skip scale: a skip I think for most readers.
Numamushi tells the story of a babe taken in and raised by a a white serpent, guardian of the local river. As the boy, Numanshima of the title, grows he learns to live underwater, eat frogs and and other aquatic to sustain himself, and to shed his skin like his “father.”
Next to the bridge under which Numamushi and the serpent live is a vacant house. One day a man comes to live there, connected to the serpent by a “curse.” Numamushi and the man become close when tragedy spurs the man, Mizukiyo, to adopt the boy. The boy later saves the Mizukiyo’s life. Sounds simple but it’s not. It's all rather confusing.
My enjoyment of the book was limited by aspects I could not understand.
Bottomline: Numamushi carries the tag line "A fairy tale." Fairy tales typically attempt to teach some moral lesson. Japanese readers may understand the specific moral being taught here. It eluded me. As such, from my non-Japanese perspective, it was interesting but unfulfilling. On my buy, borrow, skip scale: a skip I think for most readers.
April 16, 2024
Wow! This is a stunning novelette! I picked it up completely by chance and can't believe my luck. Even though it's only April, I can't imagine a book being better than this one; it'll probably be my favorite read of the year!
Content warnings:
- body horror
Representation:
- the characters are Japanese
- the MC and LI are gay/bi
Numamushi is an orphan raised by the serpentine guardian spirit of a river and happily grows up learning how to eat frogs and shed his skin like a snake. But when a man moves in the dark house next door, a man who also has a taste for frogs and the same shiny eyes as the river spirit, Numamushi becomes curious about both him and human culture. But that dark house holds a poisonous secret, and Numamushi's curiosity and growing friendship with the man will cause their entire lives to be upended.
The writing in this is gorgeous and perfectly conveys its fairytale-like style. I wrote in my notes that I needed to buy the novelette so I could study its style and try to improve my own writing. It's just so good! The illustrations drawn by the author also work well and add great evocative effect to the story. The whole novelette is such a well-contained story in which not a single word is wasted. I can't remember loving something so much since I first read The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo (a great compliment!).
I don't even know what else to say here. Except that usually whatever endorsement that's on the covers of books always comes across to me as being a little bit generous, but in this case I absolutely agree: this is a work of utter genius. Please try to find this book somewhere to give it a read!
Content warnings:
- body horror
Representation:
- the characters are Japanese
- the MC and LI are gay/bi
Numamushi is an orphan raised by the serpentine guardian spirit of a river and happily grows up learning how to eat frogs and shed his skin like a snake. But when a man moves in the dark house next door, a man who also has a taste for frogs and the same shiny eyes as the river spirit, Numamushi becomes curious about both him and human culture. But that dark house holds a poisonous secret, and Numamushi's curiosity and growing friendship with the man will cause their entire lives to be upended.
The writing in this is gorgeous and perfectly conveys its fairytale-like style. I wrote in my notes that I needed to buy the novelette so I could study its style and try to improve my own writing. It's just so good! The illustrations drawn by the author also work well and add great evocative effect to the story. The whole novelette is such a well-contained story in which not a single word is wasted. I can't remember loving something so much since I first read The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo (a great compliment!).
I don't even know what else to say here. Except that usually whatever endorsement that's on the covers of books always comes across to me as being a little bit generous, but in this case I absolutely agree: this is a work of utter genius. Please try to find this book somewhere to give it a read!
October 22, 2023
This is one of the most remarkable books that I’ve read in a long time and I’m adding it to the extremely short list of books I like to read over and over again. Ikemoto hit it out of the park with this. The story, the characters, the message, the writing itself are all impeccable. I could have spent hours marveling over many of the sentences and as I read, I could picture everything described. Ikemoto is adept at painting a picture both in words and in ink. As the book drew to a conclusion I was so drawn in that if someone had pulled a fire alarm, I would have just kept reading. I literally could not break away and by the end of the book I had tears running down my cheek. I’m not even sure why, but it moved me greatly. This is a masterful work.
So, who do I think would like this book?
First of all, it’s a no-brainer that anyone who has a fascination with snakes and/or Japan should grab a copy of this book. But it is way more than just that. If you love a book that describes a scene so perfectly that you feel you are there, then this is your book. If you love a book that gently challenges you and expands your mind, this is also your book. And finally, if you want to be the first on your block to support a young author with a glorious future ahead of her, go get this book ASAP. You will not regret it.
So, who do I think would like this book?
First of all, it’s a no-brainer that anyone who has a fascination with snakes and/or Japan should grab a copy of this book. But it is way more than just that. If you love a book that describes a scene so perfectly that you feel you are there, then this is your book. If you love a book that gently challenges you and expands your mind, this is also your book. And finally, if you want to be the first on your block to support a young author with a glorious future ahead of her, go get this book ASAP. You will not regret it.
December 11, 2025
“If snakes had venom to fill and protect the stomachs that made them snakes, then humans had tears to protect and clean the hearts that made them humans.”
Ghosh has written a tale that beautifully bridges the worlds of human and not-human in a post-WWII Japan countryside, haunted both literally and figuratively by the past. The cultural power and symbolism of the snake is indeed sinuously woven throughout the events of the story, revealing themselves as surely as seasonal sheds. Relationships defined by blood and love are explored and redrawn as the characters face their ghosts, some expected and some not. Detailed, carefully chosen phrases make the entire work a compelling and moving experience. Beautifully done, 4.5⭐️
Synopsis: A human baby is taken in by a river-dwelling snake spirit to raise and protect until the day a new neighbor arrives in a nearby house. Our protagonist is drawn to the new person and what he might learn from him on land. A mysterious connection is found and links forged, forever changing them both.
Ghosh has written a tale that beautifully bridges the worlds of human and not-human in a post-WWII Japan countryside, haunted both literally and figuratively by the past. The cultural power and symbolism of the snake is indeed sinuously woven throughout the events of the story, revealing themselves as surely as seasonal sheds. Relationships defined by blood and love are explored and redrawn as the characters face their ghosts, some expected and some not. Detailed, carefully chosen phrases make the entire work a compelling and moving experience. Beautifully done, 4.5⭐️
Synopsis: A human baby is taken in by a river-dwelling snake spirit to raise and protect until the day a new neighbor arrives in a nearby house. Our protagonist is drawn to the new person and what he might learn from him on land. A mysterious connection is found and links forged, forever changing them both.
March 3, 2024
This is one of the best books I have ever read.
I came across it at Landa Library and it caught my eye. It was on display and the snake on the cover instantly charmed me like I was one of the frogs in the story.
The way that Ghosh described things was so beautifully simplistic; she described everything the way Numamushi would. The imagery she used is what the main character understood, and she described the world the way that he saw it.
I am pretty sure that Mizukiyo and Tora’s relationship is queer, and it is written beautifully, as are all of the relationships in the book. I especially love the Great White Snake (Numamushi’s “Father”) and the way that he speaks to Numamushi. You can feel the love in the story for yourself, and its purity is rare. I adore the way that Ghosh approached familial and friend relationships, people’s chosen families, and love.
I will be reading this book again, and will likely get the snake on the cover tattooed. It is an instant classic. Thank you Mina for sharing this with the world!!
I came across it at Landa Library and it caught my eye. It was on display and the snake on the cover instantly charmed me like I was one of the frogs in the story.
The way that Ghosh described things was so beautifully simplistic; she described everything the way Numamushi would. The imagery she used is what the main character understood, and she described the world the way that he saw it.
I am pretty sure that Mizukiyo and Tora’s relationship is queer, and it is written beautifully, as are all of the relationships in the book. I especially love the Great White Snake (Numamushi’s “Father”) and the way that he speaks to Numamushi. You can feel the love in the story for yourself, and its purity is rare. I adore the way that Ghosh approached familial and friend relationships, people’s chosen families, and love.
I will be reading this book again, and will likely get the snake on the cover tattooed. It is an instant classic. Thank you Mina for sharing this with the world!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2024
📚✍️
Numamushi by Mina Ikemoto Ghosh
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This post contains no spoilers.
I knew this was going to be a 5 star read for me when I was about four pages in. The story starts off with an injured baby who is rescued by a white snake. From there, a beautiful, heart-warming story about love came to life through the eyes of a small, curious child.
"Words are like water..."
My interpretation of this story is this: words mean what you make them mean. Words can be healing just as easily as words can be poison. How you fill your cup determines the outcome.
A gorgeous, fast read (less than 100 pages!) that I did not put down from start to finish. Fantasy elements mixed with the very human aftermath of a war and what our secondary character has decided to do with his 'new life'... I highly recommend this book.
Numamushi by Mina Ikemoto Ghosh
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This post contains no spoilers.
I knew this was going to be a 5 star read for me when I was about four pages in. The story starts off with an injured baby who is rescued by a white snake. From there, a beautiful, heart-warming story about love came to life through the eyes of a small, curious child.
"Words are like water..."
My interpretation of this story is this: words mean what you make them mean. Words can be healing just as easily as words can be poison. How you fill your cup determines the outcome.
A gorgeous, fast read (less than 100 pages!) that I did not put down from start to finish. Fantasy elements mixed with the very human aftermath of a war and what our secondary character has decided to do with his 'new life'... I highly recommend this book.
May 31, 2025
What a neat find! This novella draws deeply from Japanese snake folklore, a subject I am not very familiar with, though I love learning about folklore in general. This read like a dark fairy tale, a baby with skin burned off is floating down a river, a snake finds the boy and is going to put him out of his misery, but the boy touches the snake's heart and the snake raises him like a father, teaching him how to shed his skin, hunt, etc.. Then a person moves into a nearby house when the boy is 6, one the snake father considers poisoned land, and the story becomes increasingly interesting from there.
I consumed this in one sitting, relaxing in the backyard with my feet in the pool, occasionally shifting gaze to watch the birds. Perfect setting - this is a great one to read out in nature. 4.75/5
I consumed this in one sitting, relaxing in the backyard with my feet in the pool, occasionally shifting gaze to watch the birds. Perfect setting - this is a great one to read out in nature. 4.75/5
May 5, 2025
"Numamushi: A Fairy Tale" is a captivating exploration of identity and friendship that unfolds in the most unexpected ways. With Numamushi, a child scarred by war yet nurtured by a river spirit, we witness a journey that intertwines the innocence of childhood with the complexity of human emotions. The intricate bond he forms with a lonely, war-torn man is a poignant reflection on the healing power of friendship and understanding. The father serpent adds a unique layer, embodying the duality of good and evil. This book invites readers to dive deep into the profound truths of humanity, making it a remarkable and thought-provoking read.
February 19, 2024
This was a lovely little story. The only criticism I can really bring against it is the use of kanji in the book: they are too hard to read, using a very calligraphic style of font that obscures the shapes of the characters. This makes sense given the focus on calligraphy in the story, but since they are sized to match the English language font they are hard to make out. They either should have been made larger, or a simpler style should have been used.
July 24, 2024
This fablesque approach to collective trauma, disability, and navigating identities as perpetrators and victims of harm is utterly original and very beautifully written. I’m not familiar with a great deal of the lore referenced here, but as others have said, this in no way diminishes the impact of the story. Each sensation here is not only universal among the human species, but all who have ever hurt or made hurt.
October 13, 2025
I truly loved how this book played with the concept of liminality. Numamushi and Mizukuyo are in-between beings, but the book pushes the idea that, in a way, we are all in-between beings, with watery flows in and out of us (through our words) that make both human and non. This book ignited my imagination about what it means to be both-and, and what it might mean to conceptualize utterance as watery, as connecting fluid with power to hold or harm.
December 1, 2025
An evocative and captivating little read. Ghosh jumps straight into the story and hooks the reader with her vivid descriptions of a snake’s life. The river, mud, frogs and the feel of scales are completely fascinating when described by her. Her outside-in view of human life is not any less captivating, making for a smooth transition from one to the other and retaining the attention of the reader. The themes of family, identity and belonging are treated with no less care and attention.
December 4, 2024
I picked this up on a whim and was blown away. It's a beautifully written modern fairy tale about family, love, and loss. I found it deeply moving.
If you like snakes, you're in for a treat, and if like me you're not particularly a snake fan, you'll still love the snakes in this story. Will definitely be looking out for Ghosh's work.
If you like snakes, you're in for a treat, and if like me you're not particularly a snake fan, you'll still love the snakes in this story. Will definitely be looking out for Ghosh's work.
October 13, 2025
Extremely well written and honestly probably one of the best books (it’s more of a short story but whatever) I’ve read this year. It does something (can’t spoil) really well. It’s set in a unique time period and whilst I think it could have hit upon the war and their place in it more. Just a surprise hit I found in a used bookstore in PA
January 5, 2024
A beautiful, transportive work. Mina takes the reader to an era that feels long ago but is within living memory and paints a lush and gothic setting. This is a story about healing, and deeply moving. Highly recommend.
July 21, 2024
Lanternfish Press is one of my favorite presses because they publish such beautiful, memorable books. Numamushi lives up to all my expectations. The story feels mythical and timeless. And I admire the way Ghosh has written such a lovely story where every detail has multiple meanings. This is one of my favorite reads this year.
April 8, 2025
Numamushi is strange. It picked up quite fast and I was expecting the entire book to be this way, but it isn’t the book does get rather slow towards the middle but the last few pages really pick it back up and it ends quite resoundingly.
June 3, 2025
I wasn't expecting to cry while listening to this, but this story was an emotional one. A tale of grief and healing, and the steps that had to be taken to find that healing. I really liked the tale that was woven.
October 4, 2025
Beautiful artwork for a well told tale. Sidles up to issues of place, acceptance, and fate, but lacks enough depth to leave a strong impression. Lovely writing and powerful imagery, so there is talent here that needs loosening.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews