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Moon, Snow, Blossom: Wintry Folk Tales From Across Japan
Not yet published
Expected 29 Jan 27Winter in Japan. A season of sudden snow and biting wind, whispering volcanoes and sun-tipped forests, of warrior monks and restless ghosts. A season to gather and delight in the ancient tales – to wash away the old year and usher in the new.Moon, Snow, Blossom is full of wintry folklore that offers a glimpse into the shimmer and shiver of story traditions from across Japan. From wondrous creation myths to mischievous mountain spirits and eerie fox fires, from frost bitten tales of the deep north to stories of foolhardy fishermen off the southern coast, join two friends on a journey through deep drifts of Japanese heritage and culture.Moon, Snow, Blossom weaves together story, poem, legend and lore to delight and surprise. It is the perfect winter read or Christmas gift book for anyone who loves myth, folk tales or all things Japanese.
- GenresFiction
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 29, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)
As someone who loves mythology and honestly has grown weary of the Greek and (to a lesser extent) Norse mythology that has long been the bulk of what’s available in relevant reading material, Moon, Snow, Blossom immediately proved to be a major treat. Every story was a brand new experience, with not a single one among them already known to me beforehand. There was actually a delightfully surprising amount of variety to be found here, including tales from the indigenous Ainu, the Ryukyu islands, and even a story from Japan’s hidden Kakure Kirishitan community. Also, just as equally appreciated were all the historical and cultural tidbits from the authors that were served up as appetizer-sized servings of helpful context at the very start of every chapter.
For the myth and legends lovers such as myself, I wholeheartedly and unreservedly give this collection a strong recommendation. It’s definitely a joy to curl up with and get wonderfully lost in all of its stories.
As someone who loves mythology and honestly has grown weary of the Greek and (to a lesser extent) Norse mythology that has long been the bulk of what’s available in relevant reading material, Moon, Snow, Blossom immediately proved to be a major treat. Every story was a brand new experience, with not a single one among them already known to me beforehand. There was actually a delightfully surprising amount of variety to be found here, including tales from the indigenous Ainu, the Ryukyu islands, and even a story from Japan’s hidden Kakure Kirishitan community. Also, just as equally appreciated were all the historical and cultural tidbits from the authors that were served up as appetizer-sized servings of helpful context at the very start of every chapter.
For the myth and legends lovers such as myself, I wholeheartedly and unreservedly give this collection a strong recommendation. It’s definitely a joy to curl up with and get wonderfully lost in all of its stories.
October 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
I’ve read a lot of mythology in my time (shout out to the local library for always making the non-fiction section beautifully stocked when I was a kid). Japanese folklore is one of the ones that it’s harder to find collections for- there are breakdowns of Yokai and a lot of the major myths, but less of the smaller ones.
This book brings together a wonderful collection of those stories, and wraps them up neatly with little context bows at the start of each of them too. It is well written, and I enjoyed getting to see the love the authors clearly have for the source material.
I think there could have been a little more context given to some facets of the tales- the breakdown of the Ainu people and their history and culture was a really good instance of what I would have liked to see more of. Some stories felt like they could have had just a touch more preamble.
I really liked the way the stories were formatted too, but again, I would have loved to read some more little variants and other assorted pieces. As a whole though, this was lovely - and maybe my biggest thing is just that there wasn’t more of it across the board!
I’ve read a lot of mythology in my time (shout out to the local library for always making the non-fiction section beautifully stocked when I was a kid). Japanese folklore is one of the ones that it’s harder to find collections for- there are breakdowns of Yokai and a lot of the major myths, but less of the smaller ones.
This book brings together a wonderful collection of those stories, and wraps them up neatly with little context bows at the start of each of them too. It is well written, and I enjoyed getting to see the love the authors clearly have for the source material.
I think there could have been a little more context given to some facets of the tales- the breakdown of the Ainu people and their history and culture was a really good instance of what I would have liked to see more of. Some stories felt like they could have had just a touch more preamble.
I really liked the way the stories were formatted too, but again, I would have loved to read some more little variants and other assorted pieces. As a whole though, this was lovely - and maybe my biggest thing is just that there wasn’t more of it across the board!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Thoughtfully crafted and lovingly translated.
I can appreciate the thought and dedication that went into translating these folktales. I particularly enjoyed the notes from the authors before some of the stories, which provided historical context and explained why they were important at the time.
Some stories were more interesting than others, but it was fascinating to read the kinds of stories that would have circulated hundreds of years ago. I've always loved folktales, and it's amazing to be able to read stories that originated in another language and have been preserved for us to enjoy today.
A very interesting collection, and I applaud the work of the translators.
Four stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Elliot & Thompson for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thoughtfully crafted and lovingly translated.
I can appreciate the thought and dedication that went into translating these folktales. I particularly enjoyed the notes from the authors before some of the stories, which provided historical context and explained why they were important at the time.
Some stories were more interesting than others, but it was fascinating to read the kinds of stories that would have circulated hundreds of years ago. I've always loved folktales, and it's amazing to be able to read stories that originated in another language and have been preserved for us to enjoy today.
A very interesting collection, and I applaud the work of the translators.
Four stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Elliot & Thompson for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 13, 2026
Moon Snow Blossom is a collection of Japanese folklore and fairy tales that has been translated to English. It includes a wide variety of cultures, both well known as well as lesser known. The prose is enchanting and the imagery picturesque. The stories inside range from romantic, to cautionary, and all the way to scary. What happens if you invite Oni into your house? Is there really a Japanese counterpart of Baba Yaga? Read to find out! (NetGalley ARC Review)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Such a lovely read!
Featuring 36 folk tales from Japanese culture all set during or in which winter is important.
I really appreciated how the authors added context to each story before they start so they don't just exist in a void. It both helped to understand the story meaning but also cement it in the Japanese culture and traditions.
A very cosy read, highly recommand if you like Japan and/or folk tales.
A copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Featuring 36 folk tales from Japanese culture all set during or in which winter is important.
I really appreciated how the authors added context to each story before they start so they don't just exist in a void. It both helped to understand the story meaning but also cement it in the Japanese culture and traditions.
A very cosy read, highly recommand if you like Japan and/or folk tales.
A copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews