The Rainfall Market, by You Yeong-Gwang

You Yeong-Gwang presents a wonderful novella in this captivating short read that brings legends of South Korea to life in an etrancing story of self-discovery, love and realisation.

From the blurb;

'On the first day of the monsoon an old ramshakle building appears. This is the Rainfall Market. Inside you will find magical bookstores, hairdressers, perfumes and anything your heart desires.

'But you cannot enter without an invitation.

'Serin, who lives in a small flat with her mother and dreams of a bigger, better life, can't belive her luck when she receives a ticket inviting her to step inside the Rainfall Market.

'Once inside she will have the opportunity to swap her life for a new one. A better one.

'Accompanied by Issha the cat and followed by a mysterious shadow, Serin tentatively steps inside. There she is told she has just one week to choose the perfect life and find true happiness. 'However, there is a catch.

'If she dosn't find her dream life, she'll be trapped inside the market forever...'

Serin is betting on a myth and when she learns that that hope is not in vain she wastes no time seeing the adventure through. You crafts the story with delicate skill, brining in elements of magic, myth and adventure that drive the tale forwards as Serin faces new and intriguing challanges on her journey to reach her dream life. While she seeks out her perfect story she helps and befirends the creatures she meets on her way, unaware of her impact on them and herself.

You uses this adventure to give us insight into the life of a varied cast of characters, highlighting the way people focus on the negatives and hardships of thier lives, and how what they long to get rid of could be the dream for another.

As Serin continues to seek out the thing she desires another plot is under foot and it isn't long before the danger catches up with her, forcing Serin and the readers to make a choice on what truely matters, and what happiness really means.

We give The Rainfall Market Four Stars

Hardback Cover Price - £14.99 ISBN - 978-0-241-68798-7 First published in Korea as The Rainbow Goblin Store by Clayhouse 2023