Description Book Highlights The Captivating Whispers of Gems That Hold Secrets There exists a shop that only gems carrying secrets may enter. From gems with warm hearts to those that sing of wicked curses, this is a resting place for gems that capture human hearts — a place called 'Maseokgwan.' The gems introduced this time — Bloodstone, Larimar, Garden Quartz, and more — may sound unfamiliar, but that only makes them more intriguing. Some find happiness through gems, while others find misfortune. While the previous volume mainly featured hopeful stories of people who gained good fortune through gems, this volume weaves together a richer variety of tales — including positive stories of people who found new lives thanks to gems, as well as cautionary tales warning of the misfortune that can befall those who rely too heavily on a gem's power or try to possess one selfishly. This is the fourth book in The Secret Gem Shop: Maseokgwan, a mysterious and fantastical gem folklore series by Reiko Hiroshima, the author of Kamome Diner, Trouble Travel Agency, and The Ten-Year Store. ■ Unpredictable Stories That Keep You Guessing At the end of each short story in The Secret Gem Shop: Maseokgwan, readers find information about the featured gem's characteristics and its traditional meaning. Part of what makes this series so captivating is that sometimes the author's gem stories follow the gem's traditional meaning faithfully — and sometimes they unfold in the exact opposite direction. Sapphire, for instance, traditionally symbolizes 'sincerity' and 'faithfulness' and is often given between lovers as a token of love. But in the story 'Sapphire — The Blue Trap,' the sapphire is a wicked gem that delights in tearing people apart. Garden Quartz is known for its purifying power to calm the mind, but in 'Garden Quartz — The Forest Where Spirits Dwell,' the young heroine's mind grows so deeply calm that she becomes forever lost within the world inside the gem. The author's clever imagination — reversing the traditional meanings of gems — will leave readers eager to see what new twist awaits in each new story. ■ A Gift for Fans of the Maseokgwan Series Longtime readers of this series will know that a certain gentleman who collects gems appears in every volume. While he has usually appeared near the end of each book, in this fourth volume he shows up unexpectedly in the middle of the story. And unlike previous covers, which were drawn from the perspective of a guest being invited into Maseokgwan by the gentleman, this cover features the small silhouette of a girl's back. Once you finish reading Volume 4, you'll realize that the girl is inside the gem — and the gentleman is looking straight through it. Antis, the heroine from Volume 1's 'Moonstone — The Twin Sisters of the Haunted Mansion,' makes brief appearances as a medium in both Volume 3's 'Sunstone — The Cursed Embroidery and the Sun Stone' and Volume 4's 'Garden Quartz — The Forest Where Spirits Dwell.' These clever variations are a gift from the author and illustrator, offering readers a fresh new way to enjoy the series. The Secret Gem Shop: Maseokgwan will return again soon with new gem stories to share.