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The Moonlight Market
From New York Times bestselling author Joanne Harris comes a richly imagined and captivating novel of two colliding worlds.
Deep in the heart of London, a photographer walks the streets and captures whatever catches his an old man drinking coffee; a beautiful woman sipping champagne in St. Pancras station; a cloud of moths, disturbed, taking flight across the sky.
But with each photo, he captures something unseen by the eye, and as each negative develops—revealing a person he hadn’t met, a danger he hadn’t noticed, and a world he hadn’t seen—he is drawn further into a hidden war. One which he has been drawn into many times before . . . and every time, had his memories of the truth, and of the woman he loves, stolen from him.
As Tom pieces fragments of the truth together, he realizes he must weave through the war and fight his own both for the woman he loves, and for himself.
Deep in the heart of London, a photographer walks the streets and captures whatever catches his an old man drinking coffee; a beautiful woman sipping champagne in St. Pancras station; a cloud of moths, disturbed, taking flight across the sky.
But with each photo, he captures something unseen by the eye, and as each negative develops—revealing a person he hadn’t met, a danger he hadn’t noticed, and a world he hadn’t seen—he is drawn further into a hidden war. One which he has been drawn into many times before . . . and every time, had his memories of the truth, and of the woman he loves, stolen from him.
As Tom pieces fragments of the truth together, he realizes he must weave through the war and fight his own both for the woman he loves, and for himself.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2024
About the author
Joanne Harris
117 books5,972 followersJoanne Harris is also known as Joanne M. Harris
Joanne Harris is an Anglo-French author, whose books include fourteen novels, two cookbooks and many short stories. Her work is extremely diverse, covering aspects of magic realism, suspense, historical fiction, mythology and fantasy. She has also written a DR WHO novella for the BBC, has scripted guest episodes for the game ZOMBIES, RUN!, and is currently engaged in a number of musical theatre projects as well as developing an original drama for television.
In 2000, her 1999 novel CHOCOLAT was adapted to the screen, starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. She is an honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, and in 2022 was awarded an OBE by the Queen.
Her hobbies are listed in Who's Who as 'mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion'. She also spends too much time on Twitter; plays flute and bass guitar in a band first formed when she was 16; and works from a shed in her garden at her home in Yorkshire.
Joanne Harris is an Anglo-French author, whose books include fourteen novels, two cookbooks and many short stories. Her work is extremely diverse, covering aspects of magic realism, suspense, historical fiction, mythology and fantasy. She has also written a DR WHO novella for the BBC, has scripted guest episodes for the game ZOMBIES, RUN!, and is currently engaged in a number of musical theatre projects as well as developing an original drama for television.
In 2000, her 1999 novel CHOCOLAT was adapted to the screen, starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. She is an honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, and in 2022 was awarded an OBE by the Queen.
Her hobbies are listed in Who's Who as 'mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion'. She also spends too much time on Twitter; plays flute and bass guitar in a band first formed when she was 16; and works from a shed in her garden at her home in Yorkshire.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 9, 2024
The Moonlight Market was a delightful fantasy read. I was captivated with the story and characters right from the first chapter and devoured the book in just two nights. Essentially a modern fairytale, the story moved at just the right pace and the world building was nicely handled throughout. Perhaps the ending felt a tad rushed, but that is my only minor gripe. Otherwise, I enjoyed this book immensely. It perhaps helped that I'd read a few less stellar books ahead of this one, but it felt great to be truly caught up in a story again. I am giving it 4.5 stars. Recommended to fans of fairytale-based fantasy standalone novels.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2024
The Moonlight Market was a breath of fresh air, providing a much-needed escape into a dreamy fairytale world. We follow Tom, whose mundane life working in a quiet London photography shop takes an unexpected turn when the mysterious Vanessa, a captivating woman, enters his life. From there, shadowy figures start appearing in his photographic negatives, leading him to discover a hidden Moonlight Market where memories are traded for goods. Tom becomes entangled in an ancient war between daylight and midnight folk between the seen and unseen.
The novel addresses significant themes, such as the nature of love (and the corrupting nature of sustained hatred), the plight of those we do not see, the power of names, and language the nature of belief. Tom's obliviousness and obtuseness to the unseen world was a bit frustrating, a consequence of his enchanting love presumably. The seamless blend of fairytale backstories with scenes of London, including relevant social commentary, was captivating. My overall experience was a delightful and enchanting reading experience.
The novel addresses significant themes, such as the nature of love (and the corrupting nature of sustained hatred), the plight of those we do not see, the power of names, and language the nature of belief. Tom's obliviousness and obtuseness to the unseen world was a bit frustrating, a consequence of his enchanting love presumably. The seamless blend of fairytale backstories with scenes of London, including relevant social commentary, was captivating. My overall experience was a delightful and enchanting reading experience.
June 19, 2024
The Moonlight Market is not a long book, just short of 300 pages I was able to read this in two sittings. I really enjoyed the modern take on a fairy-tale story, the take on the Butterfly's and Moths was really fascinating and I enjoyed reading the contrast between the two.
I found Tom to be a little flaky and chaotic he seemed to be a little all over the place with his attention solely focused on Vanessa and not on anyone who was advising him. There's a lot of characters who know what's going on but refuse to tell the MC Tom, this went on for sometime and frustrated me a little because I was just waiting for someone to finally explain why everyone was constantly warning Tom away, it did eventually happen but then it felt like the ending was a little too rushed.
Overall I enjoyed as a quick read and would recommend to the right person.
I found Tom to be a little flaky and chaotic he seemed to be a little all over the place with his attention solely focused on Vanessa and not on anyone who was advising him. There's a lot of characters who know what's going on but refuse to tell the MC Tom, this went on for sometime and frustrated me a little because I was just waiting for someone to finally explain why everyone was constantly warning Tom away, it did eventually happen but then it felt like the ending was a little too rushed.
Overall I enjoyed as a quick read and would recommend to the right person.
July 12, 2024
This was a delight to read. I read it in just over two days. It was really a modern fairy tale, not urban fantasy. As the fairies felt more old fashioned and less fantastical. But I really liked that. The weaving of the story felt like reading something older transported to the modern world. The language was so rich, which still being readable. It just created such a lovely vision of London, and moving the reality of magic into the every day.
The characters were a nice mixture of mundane and magical. The loss of memory of the main character was done so well. It was a story full of mystery. At the same time it wasn't life changing but it didn't need to be it was just a nice sweet, light story. Well written and very enjoyable. One I would definitely recommend.
The characters were a nice mixture of mundane and magical. The loss of memory of the main character was done so well. It was a story full of mystery. At the same time it wasn't life changing but it didn't need to be it was just a nice sweet, light story. Well written and very enjoyable. One I would definitely recommend.
July 4, 2024
Loved this. Cute standalone story.
June 26, 2024
I’m. A huge Joanne Harris fan and have read all her books and eagerly awaited this one . I was super excited to be given a proof copy by the publisher to read . Joanne didn’t disappoint. As like her other books it’s full of magic and mystery. Utterly enchanting and enthralling. I could not put this book down I found myself going to bed early so i could read more chapters . Exquisitely written and beautifully believable, makes your imagination run wild and you can almost see the unseen world out of the corner of your eye .
July 4, 2024
5 Yet another one that I expected to love but didn’t. It’s read by the author so Strike 1. Not much happens in the first couple of pages Strike 2. Very lyrical but blowy Strike 3. Oh dear.
July 5, 2024
For me, this was a much-needed slice of dreamy, escapist fantasy. Tom's life drifts along in a rather dull and isolated bubble, working in a quiet London photography shop. Until Vanessa walks in and buys one of his photographs, completely stealing Tom's heart. Mystery figures start to appear in his photographic negatives that are not there. It leads to a visit to the hidden Moonlight Market, where things are bought in exchange for memories, and Tom is plunged into an ages-old battle alongside his quest for love.
This brings the flavour of Joanne Harris's lovely Honeycomb fairy tales to modern-day London, while a London seen and unseen is reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. I particularly liked the segments of fairytale back-story slipped in between scenes of London (with some topical social commentary!). I did want to shout at Tom when he repeatedly failed to see the bleeding obvious, but I guess that's what being enchanted by fairy love does to you. But overall, this is a lovely, light and enjoyable read.
This brings the flavour of Joanne Harris's lovely Honeycomb fairy tales to modern-day London, while a London seen and unseen is reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. I particularly liked the segments of fairytale back-story slipped in between scenes of London (with some topical social commentary!). I did want to shout at Tom when he repeatedly failed to see the bleeding obvious, but I guess that's what being enchanted by fairy love does to you. But overall, this is a lovely, light and enjoyable read.
July 10, 2024
I know that Joanne Harris has written quite some books already. I think I even have one of her books on my shelves (and I think it has been there, unread, for several years already). However, when I saw this book on Amazon or Goodreads (I don't know where I encountered it first), I got instantly curious. I love fairytales, I love London, of London mixed with fairytales and magic. The book came in this week and I had to start reading right away.
I really wanted to love this book. I really wanted to give it a perfect review. When I started the book I was convinced I was gonna love it. The prologue promised an interesting tale and I was very curious to see where it all would go. And yet, the moment the book turned out to be brilliant or heartbreakingly beautiful never really came. I was waiting for that one moment giving the entire story a new meaning and even after finishing I'm still waiting.
I'm not entirely sure why the book didn't work for me. There were certainly a lot of elements I did enjoy. I loved the magic and how it entwined with the world of London we know. I loved the magical places we visited while reading this book. I also loved the mystery, the missing memories. I think my main issue is that the characters also stay a little vague. Because of their missing memories or hidden agenda we never really get to know them and therefore it's hard to feel for them.
I also think that by spending so much time in Tom's head, we missed out on a lot of crucial information concerning the history of these characters and what they've been true. The twist in the finale therefore came a little out of nowhere. I saw it coming, I just didn't feel it coming. The chemistry needed for that twist wasn't really there. Maybe this story was, in a way, too much of a fairytale for me.
I really wanted to love this book. I really wanted to give it a perfect review. When I started the book I was convinced I was gonna love it. The prologue promised an interesting tale and I was very curious to see where it all would go. And yet, the moment the book turned out to be brilliant or heartbreakingly beautiful never really came. I was waiting for that one moment giving the entire story a new meaning and even after finishing I'm still waiting.
I'm not entirely sure why the book didn't work for me. There were certainly a lot of elements I did enjoy. I loved the magic and how it entwined with the world of London we know. I loved the magical places we visited while reading this book. I also loved the mystery, the missing memories. I think my main issue is that the characters also stay a little vague. Because of their missing memories or hidden agenda we never really get to know them and therefore it's hard to feel for them.
I also think that by spending so much time in Tom's head, we missed out on a lot of crucial information concerning the history of these characters and what they've been true. The twist in the finale therefore came a little out of nowhere. I saw it coming, I just didn't feel it coming. The chemistry needed for that twist wasn't really there. Maybe this story was, in a way, too much of a fairytale for me.
May 28, 2024
“The Moonlight Market,” by Joanne Harris, Pegasus Books, 336 pages, July 2, 2024.
Tom Argent lives in the neighborhood of King’s Cross in London. He works in a second-hand camera shop. Photography is his passion.
He walks the streets and captures whatever catches his eye. Tom says he is a collector of interesting people. When he photographs a homeless man, then buys him a sandwich and two teas, the man says the second tea is for Charissa. He is Spider.
Then one day, a woman comes in to the shop to buy a photograph and Tom immediately falls in love. Her name is Vanessa. He meets her and her three friends in a bar, but when outside, she is confronted by a group who say they are Midnight Folk. They disappear. Another person tells him to stay away from Daylight Folk. Tom doesn’t know what they are talking about.
That night, as Tom develops his film, he sees a double image, like angelic brightness. There is a woman in the negatives, standing near Spider. But she isn’t in the printed photographs. Tom starts to piece fragments of the truth together as he becomes obsessed with Vanessa. He doesn’t realize that the butterfly and moth kingdoms are in a war.
This is a delightful fantasy novel that captivates readers. It is a lighthearted modern fairytale.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a review.
Tom Argent lives in the neighborhood of King’s Cross in London. He works in a second-hand camera shop. Photography is his passion.
He walks the streets and captures whatever catches his eye. Tom says he is a collector of interesting people. When he photographs a homeless man, then buys him a sandwich and two teas, the man says the second tea is for Charissa. He is Spider.
Then one day, a woman comes in to the shop to buy a photograph and Tom immediately falls in love. Her name is Vanessa. He meets her and her three friends in a bar, but when outside, she is confronted by a group who say they are Midnight Folk. They disappear. Another person tells him to stay away from Daylight Folk. Tom doesn’t know what they are talking about.
That night, as Tom develops his film, he sees a double image, like angelic brightness. There is a woman in the negatives, standing near Spider. But she isn’t in the printed photographs. Tom starts to piece fragments of the truth together as he becomes obsessed with Vanessa. He doesn’t realize that the butterfly and moth kingdoms are in a war.
This is a delightful fantasy novel that captivates readers. It is a lighthearted modern fairytale.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a review.
July 4, 2024
THE MOONLIGHT MARKET by @Joannechocolat
‘Some say that’s only a fairytale.’
With ‘The Moonlight Market’, Joanne Harris yet again demonstrates the power of fairytales to lay bear the human condition.
Tom Sargent, lonely orphan and photographer, is drawn into an alternate world of beauty and danger, as he becomes key to a war between beings of daylight and night.
This is a novel that addresses the most significant themes, of the nature of love (and the corrupting nature of sustained hatred), of the plight of those we do not see, of the power of names and language.
This is a beautifully written novel, with a vision that soars and shines. Allegory has always been powerful; in ‘The Moonlight Market’ Joanne Harris uses the fairytale form to shine a light on our supposed real world and to ask profound questions about love and hatred, conflict and peace, and the importance of stories and narrative.
There is nothing ‘only’ about fairytales.
‘Some say that’s only a fairytale.’
With ‘The Moonlight Market’, Joanne Harris yet again demonstrates the power of fairytales to lay bear the human condition.
Tom Sargent, lonely orphan and photographer, is drawn into an alternate world of beauty and danger, as he becomes key to a war between beings of daylight and night.
This is a novel that addresses the most significant themes, of the nature of love (and the corrupting nature of sustained hatred), of the plight of those we do not see, of the power of names and language.
This is a beautifully written novel, with a vision that soars and shines. Allegory has always been powerful; in ‘The Moonlight Market’ Joanne Harris uses the fairytale form to shine a light on our supposed real world and to ask profound questions about love and hatred, conflict and peace, and the importance of stories and narrative.
There is nothing ‘only’ about fairytales.
July 7, 2024
I'm a sucker for anything with a magical market. Ever since I read The Night Circus, I have loved mysterious events and markets that only appear on full moons. Balls hosted by mysterious hosts? I'm in. So this seemed right up my alley. Like Tom, I felt like I was missing something for a lot of this book. And then when the book ended, I still felt that way. It was just like..okay...and?? That's it? Now don't take me too seriously as I hardly ever give more than three stars to a book. But this was not the magical journey that was promised. It was quite confusing at times and felt like a spin-off of a series that I didn't read so I was missing key points, but it's not. You might like it and I'm glad if you do. But I didn't.
July 10, 2024
I loved it. A delightful read that drew me quickly into the world of Tom Argent. It has to be said that Tom is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He's sort of like a dog; dumb, loyal and blind to a fault. But that's the animal in question that Tom has to choose.
In an unseen world at war Tom has to remember all the things that he chose to forget. In amongst strangers who know him, know who he is, though he doesn't know them or how there can be a market on Old London Bridge when there is no Old London Bridge any more.
The colours and the characters are so vivid, and I nearly cried!
Highly recommend.
In an unseen world at war Tom has to remember all the things that he chose to forget. In amongst strangers who know him, know who he is, though he doesn't know them or how there can be a market on Old London Bridge when there is no Old London Bridge any more.
The colours and the characters are so vivid, and I nearly cried!
Highly recommend.
July 10, 2024
There was some Oedipus nonsense happening here and I didn’t care for it.
This modern fairy tale was a bit bland for me. It had a lot of potential but didn’t deliver.
Tom (mc) was annoying and whiney, made worse by the the fact that all the other characters refused to tell him what was going on, which meant we as readers didn’t know why things were happening the way they were.
It’s a quick read, just under 300 pages, but it took me 5 days to read it because I just didn’t have the inclination to pick it up.
Despite me not liking it, I can see how others would love it. The writing was technically good (no spelling mistakes, plot holes etc), but I struggled with the wiring style.
This modern fairy tale was a bit bland for me. It had a lot of potential but didn’t deliver.
Tom (mc) was annoying and whiney, made worse by the the fact that all the other characters refused to tell him what was going on, which meant we as readers didn’t know why things were happening the way they were.
It’s a quick read, just under 300 pages, but it took me 5 days to read it because I just didn’t have the inclination to pick it up.
Despite me not liking it, I can see how others would love it. The writing was technically good (no spelling mistakes, plot holes etc), but I struggled with the wiring style.
July 6, 2024
Another captivating story from Joanne Harris, this time set in London across shifting time periods. It's a love story with magical fantasy elements and it's a fairy story telling of a centuries' old battle between moths and butterflies and a spider man searching for a long-lost prince. I loved how the reader is as much at sea throughout the story as is the hero, Tom Argent. We are left wondering all the time abut what exactly is going on, who to trust and who not and that is very effective.
July 9, 2024
This is a beautiful story about love and transformation. It’s a fairy tale, a love story and much more. It most certainly won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it was exactly the sort of book I needed at this time. Joanne Harris is a writer who consistently does things differently, and I love that.
I highly recommend this book, I would buy it for people that I care about and will read it again myself..very soon.
I highly recommend this book, I would buy it for people that I care about and will read it again myself..very soon.
July 5, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I love Joanne Harris’s take on the fae, with the butterfly and moth people and their endless war.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the two different groups a lot, the bright, vibrant butterflies who could bewitch you with their shine and the less showy moths who could blend in more easily with their surroundings. I especially enjoyed when Harris used a butterfly or moth metaphor or simile that was unconnected with the actual butterflies or moths in the book.
I loved the way stories ran through the book. The story of the Moth King and the Butterfly Queen and their missing son, the story of Tom and the market and the spider mage. I loved reading the little stories every so often, learning the history of the butterflies and moths.
The only thing that disappointed me was how little the market was actually shown. I expected more of it as it was the title of the book and though it was important, we didn’t really get to explore it in the way I’d have liked.
I received this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk
I enjoyed the descriptions of the two different groups a lot, the bright, vibrant butterflies who could bewitch you with their shine and the less showy moths who could blend in more easily with their surroundings. I especially enjoyed when Harris used a butterfly or moth metaphor or simile that was unconnected with the actual butterflies or moths in the book.
I loved the way stories ran through the book. The story of the Moth King and the Butterfly Queen and their missing son, the story of Tom and the market and the spider mage. I loved reading the little stories every so often, learning the history of the butterflies and moths.
The only thing that disappointed me was how little the market was actually shown. I expected more of it as it was the title of the book and though it was important, we didn’t really get to explore it in the way I’d have liked.
I received this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk
July 7, 2024
Utterly brilliant. Read it in a day. Perfect escapism.
July 7, 2024
Quite simply, it was like reading a dream.
Read
July 7, 2024DNF Sample Chapters
July 10, 2024
The story itself was good but the main character was annoying. He asks question after question but still is a bit of an idiot.
July 11, 2024
A brilliant fantasy! Loved it!
March 26, 2024
This wasn't my favorite book but I think fans of the author might enjoy it. Thank you to Edelweiss+ for the ARC.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews