Born in a drought-ravaged village in the Riverlands, Shin-young survives through endurance and silence. When sudden violence drives her from home, she discards her name and finds herself in the imperial palace, where beauty masks cruelty and the powerless are quietly erased.
Assigned to the Whispering Lake as an apprentice, Shin enters the world of the punters where she is bound by an unbreakable code: what is seen and heard on the water must never be spoken. Shin soon discovers the palace is thick with secrets: prophetic visions whispered by an outlawed seer, rival princes on the brink of disgrace and nobles whose indulgences mask political rot. But Shin has a secret of her own, as she hears the call of the lake itself where an ancient power stirs . . .
When a brutal injustice turns lethal, Shin is pulled into a chain of events she cannot escape. Faced with lies, sacrifice and a fate that threatens to change her forever, Shin must decide whether to keep surviving unseen - or to claim the dangerous power that has marked her since birth.
Rooted in Korean myth and history, When the Blue Moon Wakes is a lyrical epic fantasy of resistance, survival and courage.
416 pages
9781806170401
Details
25 March 2027
416 pages
9781806170401
Imprint: Zaffre
Reviews
“I was so caught up by the propulsive narrative I read the whole second half in one sitting ... I love the descriptions of the world but also how the story keeps moving along briskly. I totally screamed at the end, wanting more! ”Shelley Parker Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun, Shelley Parker Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun
“Vivid, immersive and gripping, When the Blue Moon Wakes enthralls with a lushly drawn Ancient Korea and loveable characters full of wit and charm. An utterly captivating read”Vanessa Len, bestselling author of the ‘Only a Monster’ series, Vanessa Len, bestselling author of the ‘Only a Monster’ series
“When the Blue Moon Wakes was like stepping into the Korea of the past. The rich descriptions and flowing narrative takes us on Shin-Young's journey from fisherman to runaway, prisoner to punter. The magical elements and titbits of historical references make for a rich, exciting story with all the ingredients for a fantastic saga. I can't wait for book two! ”Poppy Kuroki, author of Gate to Kagoshima and Passage to Tokyo, Poppy Kuroki, author of Gate to Kagoshima and Passage to Tokyo
