By Belana Beeck
Emily X.R. Pan, the New York Times bestselling author of The Astonishing Color of After, released An Arrow to the Moon in April 2022. This magical novel combines Chinese mythology with the classic story of Romeo and Juliet to create a contemporary wonder.
If you’re a fan of old legends and classic romance, this is the book for you. In fact, this novel also has riveting touches of mystery. Readers are introduced to Hunter Yee and Luna Chang, our star crossed lovers. Hunter, haunted by his family’s past, has lived a long and hard life filled with illness and restlessness. The only things that keep him grounded are his little brother, Cody, who hopes to never be as angry as their parents; a supernatural wind; and Luna, the girl at his high school. Luna, the perfect daughter and student, is getting ready for college, specifically Stanford, her father’s dream. But when Luna meets Hunter and begins to break the rules, her life goals begin to change. Between the enchanting fireflies that seem to be everywhere and the crack that grows in the ground of their town, Fairbridge, both Luna and Hunter realize that things are not what they seem.
If you want a different take on your classic love story, then be sure to pick this book up. With the short chapters and alternating points of views, this novel goes by fast and you don’t realize it’s come to an end until you’re flipping through the last chapters, completely in awe of its conclusion. I loved its simplicity, the ability to tell a love story between two teenagers who seem to fit perfectly together. This book is also filled with relatable life obstacles such as family obligations, educational and financial struggles, and cultural/identity concepts and awareness. It was really interesting to learn more about Chinese and Taiwanese culture as well as the Chinese mythology that inspired this story such as Hou Yi, who appears in the tale of an infamous archer who protects and falls in love with the moon.
I do wish that Pan would have included more characters other than just Luna, Hunter, and their families. There is mention of one of Luna’s friends, who is in college, but Luna doesn’t seem to have any other friends. While this may seem unrealistic, maybe the point of the novel is also to make the reader feel like they are hidden away in a bubble with these two characters and their love for each other.
All in all, this story truly felt like a fable. It was a fun and easy read, perfect for the coming summer months when we have more free time to pick up a new book. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a different take on a contemporary romance trope. The ending will leave you in utter disbelief—both sad and happy, and hopeful that you’ll see just a touch of magic on the next full moon.
An Arrow to the Moon is available at Alexander Book Company, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-million, IndieBound, The Last Bookstore, Powell’s City of Books, and Vroman’s Bookstore
Belana Beeck is a prose and poetry writer, interested in fantasy, historical, and contemporary fiction. She is also eager to showcase her Latinx culture through her work. She is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in creative writing from Chapman University.