The Night & Its Moon

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DISCLAIMER: the ONLY reason why i am being so scathingly honest with my review is because of the author, editor, and other people bullying readers in the comments on goodreads for reviewing a book they have every right to give their honest opinion on WITHOUT getting shit on. Passing off someone else’s original work, simply with new names, as your own work, is a shitty thing to do. The reason I say this is not only because it's the weakest part of the book, but because it is very heavy-handed in its telling rather than showing. Piper has admitted that she loves sensory details, which I think can really enhance a reader's experience, but she goes overboard detailing every little thing. There's so much information that the reader doesn't need to know, and is completely irrelevant to the story. There's no subtext, nothing for the reader to infer. The narrator is holding your hand the entire time. I started just screaming at Amaris by this point because she was like, ‘UGH, IT’S NOT MY FAULT. I DID NOTHING WRONG; IT’S ALL THESE DARK FAE’S FAULT BECAUSE I AM BLAMELESS!!!!’ I want to fight her so badly. When the fae find out she’s a reever, and they’re all like, GASP, I TOO KNEW A REEVER, and she’s immediately like, ‘oh, was his hair red? Yeah, that’s Ash’s dad.’ I was about to give up on this bullshit for the third time. But I persevered. She throws a fit that Gadriel and Zaccai keep calling her a witch but then continues disrespecting them by calling them demons.

This book is romantic, features fight scenes and swords, deep subject matter that can be difficult to read about (in a good way), but it also contains small quips that allow for the right amount of tension-diffusing humor. For example, "Whoever was at the door better be dying, or else she’d be the one to kill them."

Details e-book The Night and Its Moon (The Night and Its Moon, 1)

This story is outstanding - it is creative and unique and dynamic. I completely love the characters and plot. The magic system is also really innovative and clear-cut. Also, the cover and graphics of this book are pretty enough to make this a great addition to one’s bookshelf regardless of if they liked the story inside or not! It’s like a piece of decor. And, of course, the bi and queer rep is a beautiful thing to see. To that end, I think much of this stems from the attempt at an omniscient narrator. There are times when the narration is so close to Nox and Amaris' perspectives that it feels like you're reading a third-person limited rather than omniscient, and then are jarringly reminded via scenes from other characters' perspectives. Third-person omniscient is an undertaking, and there's a reason it isn't often used anymore: it's incredibly hard to execute. Since this author is committed to self-publishing and not outsourcing anything to a publishing house; I am hoping that with the profits from this hugely successful book launch this author can hire the type of writing professionals that are needed to put a final polish on these books technically (and who won’t be an internet bully to customers, after the fact)! Because she is oozing with talent and a final polish from an industry pro is all it would take to make them truly outstanding.

NB: Bri (@hobbitslibrary) kindly let me know that there have been a lot of concerning things going on with the author’s behavior, particularly her statements about Jewish, BIPOC, and bisexual issues. I’m not going to be discussing the author’s behavior in this review because a) others have laid it out much more clearly and eloquently than I could and b) this review is already way too long. But I thought her behavior was important to mention so that readers of this review are aware.Dragons and Witches and Succubi, Ohh My! Let us also not forget to mention the fae. The Fae. The. Fae. If you like mythical creatures, immersive storytelling, and flawed characters this book is for you. There are also sentences and metaphors that just plain don’t make sense or are ridiculous. “Curiosity pulled her forward like a physical tether, the desire to know burning hotter than the chill of the night.”

I literally never do this. I never one star. If I don’t like a book or it’s not for me, I move on. As a writer, I cringe at the thought of putting up a review like this. But honestly, this book left me confused and frustrated. I don’t even know what I was reading half the time. I was extremely excited for this book after hearing about queer high-fantasy series so I was ecstatic to get an early release copy. It was very easy to get into, and managed to be an 'easy read' without being overwritten or simplistic in the plot or themes. The author somehow encompassed dozens of perspectives without it ever being confusing or messy, or making you feel deprived of one character's story - contrary to something we typically see in YA or Adult fantasy. This book is GAY! Read this for representation of both male and female bisexual characters, sapphic romance, and girls kissing girls. It's delightful.Example: “She steeled herself to try again. ‘Come on, you spineless jellyfish, she said, cursing herself as she summoned her grit” (p. 353). The position of the Moon and the Sun during Each of the Moon’s phases and the Moon as it appears from Earth during each phase. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Nox throws a hissy fit because her powers of seduction don’t work on Ash, so instead, she meets a plot device child who gives her convenient information about where ‘the demons meet’. And Nox…asks this strange child if she can hug her, which is the weirdest shit ever. Who asks to hug a completely random child they just met? Also, the narration surrounding the hug is one of the creepiest things I have ever read. First, she wants to squeeze the little girl until she disappears. She says the hug is the best hug she’s had in years and then FOLLOWS THEM HOME.The Moon does not produce its own light. There is only one source of light in our solar system, and that is the Sun. Without the Sun, our Moon would be completely dark. What you may have heard referred to as “moonlight” is actually just sunlight reflecting off of the Moon’s surface. EDIT: The author went on to apologize in two TikTok’s, seeming kind’ve sincere in saying that Goodreads is for readers, and not authors or publishers. but then… she deleted them less than a day later? ok interesting……