The Rainfall Market

In The Rainfall Market, Serin, the protagonist, receives a golden ticket to a mysterious market where one can trade a life for another. The market’s shops, run by dokkaebis, offer orbs containing glimpses of possible futures. To obtain each orb, Serin must complete the dokkaebis’ tasks, and through these, we see fragments of the futures that could await her.

The premise, paired with the whimsical title and dreamy cover, initially intrigued me. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to its promise. I struggled to stay engaged and found myself setting it aside often. In fact, I only managed to finish it because I brought the book along during a trip, and even then, it still took me weeks to complete.

As for the world-building, while it was solid, it didn’t stand out. I’ve read many fantasy works with richer, more imaginative settings, and this one felt familiar in a genre already crowded with inventive worlds. It was enjoyable but not memorable.

The futures Serin encountered were consistently bleak and, at times, discouraging. That said, the message that emerged by the end was worthwhile: our future is shaped not by wealth, fame, or career success, but by the relationships we nurture. True happiness isn’t found in material possessions but in contentment and the love of family and friends. Without those, even the brightest-seeming future will feel empty.

Overall, while the novel had a unique concept and moments of beauty, the pacing and execution left me underwhelmed.