And while the novel’s snappy beginning, a brawl in a coffee shop, sets the plot in motion, it doesn’t allow for necessary worldbuilding. As a result it can feel that the characters are floating in space. The bandits bicker about cooking, money, division of labor, all as they traipse from place to place and make camp, without much description of the world itself.

However, in this limited space, there are a few elements sorely missing.Īt times Pure Moon reads like a stage play, focusing on dialogue rather than environment. The banter between characters is a highlight as well humor abounds in this novella and nicely juxtaposes the wartime setting. For a wuxia tale, the story spends little time on martial arts and more time exploring matters of spirituality and gender identity. Its characters’ quest is simple, allowing it to focus more on building relationships between the bandits and Guet Imm. Pure Moon understands these limitations to some degree. Novellas at their best understand their limitations, narrowing the scope of their time scale or plotline in favor of nuanced character portraits. To discuss Pure Moon is to discuss the highlights and shortcomings of the novella form. She grows close to one of the senior members, Tet Sang, and bit by bit we uncover more about the story’s faith systems, the identities of the bandits, and the true nature of the Order of the Pure Moon. Guet Imm is a cheerful, witty young woman, whose banter with the various bandits is one of the highlights of the novella. Their latest companion is a young nun, Guet Imm, trying to find a life for herself after the destruction of her temple. We follow a group of bandits as they smuggle contraband in and out of villages. The novella thrusts us in the midst of a long-standing war, where the oppressive Protectorate has stamped out religious devotion and sends out spies, the mata, to catch bandits and rebels. Often these stories take place in fantasy settings with ancient cultural elements, and Pure Moon is no exception. Wuxia, stories concerning martial arts heroes, has found a home in literature, film, theatre, and numerous other media. Zen Cho’s novella The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water draws upon wuxia narratives of ancient China and Malaysian cultural traditions, creating something entirely new and modern. “A bandit walks into a coffeehouse, and it all goes downhill from there.” Just an appealing cover and a catchy premise. I’ve been known to comb through recommendations from friends, bestseller lists, and review publications like this one, sometimes for hours on end. Deciding what book to read next can be an arduous task.

Order of the pure moon