Book Review

Moon Reads – Ladycastle

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Ladycastle by Delilah S. Dawson with Rebecca Farrow and Ashley A. Woods

Rating: MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px

Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.

This felt like the perfect follow-up review since we have women fighting for their castle!

When the King and his men go on a crusade and somehow get eaten by a dragon, the women aren’t that bothered because at least there’s a lot less having to deal with them and they can do whatever they want. But when it turns out there is a curse that attracts monsters to the castle (thanks to the heads up from the least capable and only survivor knight, Sir Riddick), the women decide that it is their turn to claim what is theirs.

So we have Merinor who is the blacksmith’s wife and now the newly proclaimed King, Princess Aeve becomes the Captian rather than a trapped bird in a cage until she decided to marry, and well, Sir Riddick is meant to help them train up and learn how to fight, defend, build and do all things men do to defend a castle.

But maybe, just maybe, they don’t need to do it the way men do and maybe just maybe they may be quite good at keeping their castle safe and fighting the curse.

This was a fun read, even if at times a little bit frustrating. It challenges tropes and stereotypes, but it also overdoes some parts and just gets stuck in monologues that aren’t necessary and just a little bit boring. I think if it worked better at the plot and less at the woe is me, this would’ve been a higher score on my rating. but the art was fun, and I had a good quick read of this and a lot of fun.

Book Review

Moon Reads – Blood of the Old Kings

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Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim. Translated by Anton Hur

Rating: MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px Grey

Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.

Disclaimer: Receiving a review copy from the publisher does not affect my opinion of the book. If you think I review it highly it is due to me knowing my taste well and therefore not requesting books I won’t enjoy. And I am not obligated to review the book if I do not like it, so you may not see bad reviews due to me preferring not to hype down a particular book. I only do reviews of books I disagreed with if I think it is worth bringing a topic or warning to light.

When I first requested this book I wasn’t sure how much I would like it since I am picky with my translated fiction (the translator can make or break a book, trust me on this). But I shouldn’t have worried, this book sunk its teeth into me and didn’t let go, and though for some reason I didn’t review it at the time that I read it, it’s one of those that lives rent free in my head.

We follow Loran, a swordswoman who is desperate to avenge her family after it was killed by the Empire, so she does what anyone would do and climbs into a volcano to find an ancient dragon from legend and try to negotiate with it so she can get her revenge. She gets an interesting deal on this and comes out with a fancy shiny sword and a greater purpose to her life. But having this purpose still doesn’t solve everything and so Loran keeps trying to make her way towards making a difference and in turn finds a lot of interesting adventures and situations that kept me rooting for her and also engrossed into her side of the story.

The other side is from “inside” the Empire, given that Loran more or less is an outsider to the Empire. Arienne in contrast has magic and is pretty much resigned to having a life where she will become the battery of the Empire upon her death. She lives a relatively good life but she still has dreams and ponder son them. So when she starts hearing a voice inside her head from a powerful necromancer, she starts questioning things, particularly if she is truly meant to just be a battery and what living a life means.

You get a nice contrast between both of the points of view, first in the environment (inside and outside of the Empire), but also in personality and approaches. Loran can use strength more than brain (not that she doesn’t use her brain), whereas Arienne has to use her brain first before her strength. And yet, both of them have to learn how to wield their own power and what a life lived means, and what that implies for the Empire, because if they use what they have, they are enemies of the Empire and all they can truly do is find a way to make having a future a reality.

I enjoyed this so much, it was so interesting seeing both of them slowly become heroines and also work through their own preconceptions and ideals, try to fight not just the Empire but their own internal battles.

If you like epic fantasy with high stakes, magic, swordswomen, dragons, and necromancy, this is the book for you.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls – Ride or Die Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Ride or Die, December 2024

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box that usually features fantasy and sci-fi, and curates a wide range of books, including both young adult and adult fiction. It usually contains a new release and several bookish goodies.

Somehow this turned to be a very blue box and we’re like a year behind in box content, but let’s check how Illumicrate ended 2024, starting with the top left:

  • The featured book was Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto, and I admit this didn’t really catch my eye or has made me want to read it, so not read and not really on the TBR but the book design here looks stunning.
  • The Raven Cycle bookmarks, again, I am generally not a fan of character art bookmarks so this is a pass for me.
  • Jade City inspired mug, and I love their mugs so this is a win for me.
  • A really cute embroidered pouch inspired by The Last Hours Between Worlds which still lives rent free in my head a year later.
  • A 2025 calendar that was stand alone rather than requiring hanging, which was a huge win becasue this calendar lived on my bookcase and made me very happy all of last year.
  • Finally the leaflet for the month.

Overall it was a bit of a mix of a box, the book and bookmarks were a miss for me completely, but the mug and calendar where big wins and the pouch is very nice (not in use currently, but kept) so I would say it was an interesting end to the year. I do love particularly having a calendar that doesn’t require hanging and for me this was probably the biggest win. I am still subscribed to their boxes and only skipped February from 2025, so I’d say even despite some of the misses we’re still winning.

Book Review

Moon Reads: The Firelight Apprentice

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The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulsen

Rating: MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px Grey

Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.

The Firelight Apprentice follows sisters Ada and Safi in a city that is powered by magic and recovering from a devastating war. Ada is the responsible sister making sure things work out and they are alive, but she can see Safi is developing powers of magic and knows that her sister could benefit from becoming an apprentice to a magician, but she also wants to keep her sister safe and near.

Still she decides to let her sister join a group a travelling magicians who offer to take her on as an apprentice as they see hSafi’s powers and what could be. Safi of course id delighted to be learning and developing her magic, but there are still forces of darkness lurking, particularly a lich that is power hungry and ready to steal it from those that have magic.

I’ve loved Bree’s other books and so had preordered this one, not sure why it took me forever to actually upload the review, but it was a good read. It wasn’t the same as the Garlic series, but it still had these interesting conflict of growth and what happens as you grow and who becomes your friends and allies, and how to make that work for you being yourself.

The magical world was super interesting as was the magic that exists, I feel a little like it is the same world where Garlic and the Vampire happen but maybe a different much civilised area since this is a city. Still, it was a nice addition to the collection and a good read.

Book Review

Moon Reads: A Grave Inheritance

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A Grave Inheritance by Falicty Epps

Rating: MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px

Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.

I can’t remember what made me choose this book, probably that it was about death, seances and it was purple.

It was a pretty funky and fun read where Dolores, our main character is convinced she’s dying since she doesn’t really know how to grieve the death of her older sister or the death of her father before that. Instead, she is now the sole inheritor of the family fortune and she mostly spends it indoors in mourning attire.

But she is suddenly seeing her sister’s ghost and her best friend has come back to stay, and there is a lotions and potions shop that has an interesting array of services. And suddenly Dolores finds herself investigating her sister’s death which appears to not have been due to illness and her wasting away, but a murder.

So Dolores and her best friend try to find someone who can talk to spirits so they can communicate with her sister’s ghost, and as they get closer and closer to finding the culprit of her sister’s (and maybe her father’s too), things start getting also deathly for Dolores and her life is in danger.

The drama and chaos was funny, with a lot of thought about how we handle grief, what love or lack of it is, and what we do to isolate ourselves and can miss because we’re wrapped in our thoughts and sadness. It was nice to see Dolores “come to life” as she interacts with more people and has a “purpose” to live for.

Overall, it was a fun spooky read with a nice cast of chaos and a very Victorian setting that makes for a good place to try mysteries with ghosts.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Time is Running Out Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Time is Running Out, November 2024

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box that usually features fantasy and sci-fi, and curates a wide range of books, including both young adult and adult fiction. It usually contains a new release and several bookish goodies.

Time is running out is a hell of a theme, makes me think of Catch me if you can or inception, or similar films, so let’s see how we did with the theme and items, startingwith the featured book and going clockwise:

  • The featured book was The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso. And I have actually read (and reviewed) this book, before I even got the book box, and really enjoyed it, it was a really good choice.
  • The Vagabond Quick tumbler, which I like these but I already have one I keep so this went as a gift since I only really keep one or two of them, but they are quite hardy and long lasting.
  • Socks, divine rights socks. I love getting nice socks in book boxes, so this was a win and they are still in rotation and have been used a lot.
  • The monthly leaflet.
  • A Jump into Alternate Realities book pot. I love these pots and I think I kept this one because it is very fun!
  • One More Chapter coin. Basically to help you stop reading when you say “one more chapter”, toss and it will tell if you go ahead or not. Love the idea of it and I rarely ever actually follow it but I still find it very fun.

This was a very good and nice bok, and I have fond memories of reading the book, which was super enjoyable, and the socks are as always awesome to get, so I was pretty pleased with Novemeber and what it brought even if there was no running around to try to make time last longer (though if you get philosophical, then time goes back to normal around this time of year and the darkness wraps around making time seem shorter).

Book Review

Moon Reads: Narwhal’s Sweet Tooth

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Narwhal’s Sweet Tooth by Ben Clanton

Rating: MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px

Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.

Every time I see there’s a new Narhwal and Jelly book I am very happy for it.

The series is very funny and cute and perfect for little ones. The artwork feels a bit like drawn with a crayon and it is so fun. Narwhal is always so peppy even when bad things happen.

In this one, Narwhal’s “horn” which is actually a tooth starts seeing the effects of having too many sweet things and ahs a crack, which hurts Narwhal, and so JElly and Narwhal go around trying to figure out how to fix it and cheer Narwhal up.

As always, sheaningans, waffles and lots of fun happen and this was very cute, with some interesting facts about Narwhal horns/tooth.

I just want to know what happens next, because Jelly seems to have softened a lot now that they’re good friends with Narwhal.

Book Review

Moon Reads: An Unlikely Coven

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An Unlikely Coven by Am Kvita

Rating: MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px Grey

Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.

Disclaimer: Receiving a review copy from the publisher does not affect my opinion of the book. If you think I review it highly it is due to me knowing my taste well and therefore not requesting books I won’t enjoy. And I am not obligated to review the book if I do not like it, so you may not see bad reviews due to me preferring not to hype down a particular book. I only do reviews of books I disagreed with if I think it is worth bringing a topic or warning to light.

I got this book from the publishers and actually finished it reading in time for Halloween but the review didn’t get done until now.

I will start by saying that the story of someone who can’t cast magic and is a “useless” member of a magical family trying to help someone who has suddenly been granted powers and solve also a who did this and race against time was right up my street.

The book suffers a little with pacing and characters being introduced quite abruptly in the first third of the book, where at first we get a bit more exposition, more tell than show, and some weird incongruence with everyone highlighting how Joan is basically unemployed and still has so much money so she can just live like that, which felt a bit unnecessary and also condescending. Particularly since she technically leaves her job and all her life to come move back to be with her family, so making her aware she is dependent on her family feels pretty frustrating (and you would hope she has her own savings and her own life carved up).

Anyway, that was the parts I struggled with but then we get to meet her family and her friends, or what will become her “coven”. The book is really focused on acceptance of yourself, and seeing yourself from the eyes of others and the good that can be. We also have a big focus on found family over biological family which can sometimes take you for granted or make assumptions simply because you are part of the family.

The dynamics of the different magical groups were interesting though I would’ve liked to see more points of view or more about other beings other than CZ who is a vampire, and to get a better picture of why exactly witches dominate other than the little explanation we get on the dynamics, seeing them in action more would’ve helped.

But still, the overall story was interesting, and somehow it does wrap up most of the plot so you could have it be a stand alone and not need more, to you can take off from where it ends and create other stand alone books that still follow Joan and her little “coven” around, which I think would be very cute, particularly getting to know more of Astoria and Wren.

Overall, it was one of those books you can read in one sitting (or two in my case), easy fun read, leaves you feeling grateful for your community and found family, and wanting to spend time with them.

Subscription Boxes

Moon Hauls: Colours of Magic Illumicrate

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Subscription box: Illumicrate

Theme/Month: Colours of Magic, October 2024

Ownership: Subscribed on their 6 boxes option. If you are interested in purchasing an Illumicrate subscription, you can do it on their website.

Illumicrate is a book subscription box that usually features fantasy and sci-fi, and curates a wide range of books, including both young adult and adult fiction. It usually contains a new release and several bookish goodies.

Colours of Magic makes me think of Terry Pratchett, and so let’s see how the box did starting at the top left corner and going clockwise:

  • A Moth to Flame chain enamel pin set which I think is very cute and pretty.
  • I used to be obsessed with book covers, and I admit I prefer these that wrap around than the ones that are more like a sleeve, and this cute dragon one is gorgeous.
  • A bottle travel set, which I ended up gifting to someone who travels since I already have one, but this was utterly pretty and got lots of admiration.
  • Leftlet of the month
  • Washi tape, though I don’t remember the theme. I kinda like washi tape but forget to use it enough.
  • The featured book was Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan which is on my reading list but haven’t got to it yet.

Overall, definitely a magical box with lots of colours and different fandoms, which was pleasing. Nothing really unusable or gone to waste, so also a win there. I’d say it was pretty good for October even if I haven’t read the book yet.

Book Review

Moon Reads: The Moth Keeper

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The Moth Keeper by K. O’Neill

Rating: MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px MoonKestrel Logo2 20px Grey

Nothing is perfect, and as such, the reviews in this blog are chaotic. My main aim is to share my thoughts, joy and opinions on a book, not make a publication perfect review. This blog endorses authenticity, showing up and joy over perfection.

From the same author as The Tea Dragon Society, we have The Moth Keeper, so I know I like the art style and it was partly one of the reasons I chose this book. But the story itself was worth the read too.

In this book we follow Anya, who is training to be a Moth Keeper, a slightly lonely but crucial responsibility and a great honour. It is lonely because they are the protectors of lunar moths that allow a special flower to bloom once a year, which is needed for the village to thrive. This does mean you end up basically living at night and seeing mostly nights and very little sunshine and very few of your people.

Anya wants to prove her worth and take over the post, but it feels like a heavy cost to have to do less with friends. Then of course, Anya notices something that could cause harm to the moths and somehow breaks tradition to try to move forward.

The story is very sweet and gentle, it has an intricate nightly world initially, based around the moths and our little village, it is full of a fantastical and yet simple way of life. It is also about growing up, about making choices and pondering what thebeaten path brings, or if the choices you make, once you actually go through are exactly what you wanted. What if you want it, but also want to be able to do more, to engage in with your community?

Very sweet, lush and hopeful, worth a read for the lovely dreamy art, and for a sweet story.