First Impression: Based on past experiences with Zoë Marriott's work, I knew early on that this was going to be one of those I HAVE to read this type books.While Reading: Despite having that feeling that I HAD to read Shadows On The Moon, I was not really sure what to expect from the book itself. And even though, the blurb does not do the book justice, I had heard rumors flying around that Shadows On The Moon was to be a Japanese Cinderella-type tale with a very strong female lead.After reading the book, I must admit the rumors were definitely true. But it takes almost too much to get there. If you have ever read a book by Marriott before, then you will know that she has a certain writing style. And for Shadows On The Moon, my issue did not lie with the writing style as much as it did the pacing. There were times that I seriously contemplated having Shadows On The Moon as a DNF just because it was taking so long for the plot to get moving. Suzume was a very interesting main character. Initially, I was not completely sure about her. Born to the life of a noble woman, Suzume was not what I expected her to be. Even early on in the book, Suzume was portrayed as an independent girl, which to me culturally, seemed a little off. But hey, it is a book, I will roll with it. Once Suzume makes the transformation into a servant, it was game on.Final Verdict:Marriott has a very interesting tale on her hands with Shadows On The Moon. Is it a full blown retelling of Cinderella? No. Is it something completely original? Almost. Shadows On The Moon is a hybrid of sorts. Part original. Part retelling. And once the story gets going, completely engaging. I am so glad that I didn't give up on Shadows On The Moon.
