I have been struggling with audio lately, not sure why it has just been hard to focus and some narrators have not been great but this one is the opposite. I thought it was really well done and this book has so many layers. At its chore it is highly character driven and family drama focused. All the tea! It took me a bit to really get into it, a ton to keep track of so you really have to focus but it was well done. I purchased a physical copy of this and book 2!

Thank you for the audio in exchange of a review!

Thank you for this review copy for eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky.

This audio book was actually very well done it’s the story. I was under the impression it was going to be a ghost story and scary. Don’t get me wrong there is a part with demons but it was a very small part. The rest of the book was about family drama. In my opinion. But over all good audio book to listen to! The narrator’s did a fantastic job. This is also a first book in a series.

This was the first audiobook I ever listened to, I'm typically a book in hand type of person! However, I spend a lot of time alone at work and thought an audiobook would be a good way to pass the time and change things up from my usual music and podcast routine. I was very satisfied with this book, I absolutely loved the story and the narrators were fantastic! They really brought this story to life and I was easily lost in it. I appreciated that each chapter began with the narrator announcing the chapter number and the flow of the story was perfect for me. It was also easy to differentiate between when different characters were speaking. I've enjoyed historical fiction and mystery/thrillers for forever, and this story was very much my cup of tea. I could go on and on gushing about this book. If you like this genre, I would very much recommend it!

This audiobook took a bit to get into, but once it got going, what a wild ride! Mysterious deaths, family secrets, betrayals, inheritances at stake, supernatural goings on, treasures for auction, shady business intrigue, ultimatums - this book has it ALL.

At first, our narrator Percy seems on the periphery of the drama going on within Rhinebeck, the familial home of the wealthy Dodge family. But as family mysteries start to unravel over the course of a long weekend, it becomes clear that Percy is more central to the Dodge family’s history and future than he and his best friend, Johnny Dodge, could have imagined. While not a member of the family, Percy lived with the Dodges and was raised as a brother with Johnny. Their friendship is one of the highlights of the novel, and I loved how Percy and Johnny shared information and strategized their next moves as long-held secrets were revealed. Johnny had his friend’s back at all times and never wavered, even though doing so may have put him at odds with his family.

The book boasted a host of interesting guests, all with motives and interests of their own, which took many surprising twists and turns. Diaries, letters, and other documents are weaved intricately into the story, as well as multiple levels of storytelling. At one point, Percy is recounting a story being told by the butler, Stanley, who is recounting a story told to him by Johnny’s aunt Alice. It’s Inception-level layers of narration.

My least favorite part of the book was probably the “insta” romance between Percy and one of the Dodge family guests, Brunhilde. I liked Brunhilde as a character in her own right, but they got together way too quickly. It wasn’t clear what either of them saw in each other, and by the end of the weekend the two were engaged. Seriously, what’s the rush?

Otherwise, I found the plot absorbing and loved how the characters surprised me at every turn. Despite all the secrets and ulterior motives, these characters were neither cliche nor written in an over the top fashion. I was loathe to leave their company and look forward to reading the next two installments in this trilogy. My only disappointment is that the latter two don’t have an audiobook version yet, which is a shame because I greatly enjoyed the narrators of this one.

Eye of the Moon was a slow burn of a story, with a creepy atmosphere that occasionally caught me off guard—and, weirdly enough, even made me chuckle at times. At its core, it’s about a man investigating a mysterious death, though it weaves in elements of magic, horror, and dry humor along the way.

It contains all the standard objects of a classic mystery: a tincture, a figurine, a diary, wealthy characters, ghostly encounters, family secrets, long-lost letters, and even secret trusts. On paper, it has all the ingredients for a great gothic mystery. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the audiobook rendering. The narration style—with sudden shifts in voice and tone—pulled me out of the story and made it harder to stay immersed.

At first, I thought the audio production was the issue, but the more I listened, the more I realized it was also the dialogue itself that didn’t quite land. The conversations felt stilted, and that made it hard to connect.

There’s a white-collar, financial forensics angle to the mystery that could’ve been really engaging, but I struggled to stay invested—partly because I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters. Even the central mystery of the woman’s death failed to really hook me. I just didn’t care much about what had happened to her, and that made it tough to power through at times.

The audiobook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5

Eye Of The Moon is the first in a gothic trilogy set in America so there's quite a bit of scene setting in this first part.

We are introduced to Percy and his friend, Johnny Dodge, who have buried the hatchet on old troubles to renew their lifelong friendship at Rhinebeck (Johnny's family's estate). Unfortunately the two are about to be thrown into a new set of strange circumstances that will test their friendship and commitment to each other as they delve into the mystery of what happened to Aunt Alice, Rhinebeck's original owner.

Alice was a well known collector of Egyptian artefacts and, on the day of her death, had been reading from a Book of the Dead. As the two young men discover, with the help of Stanley, Alice's manservant, the roots of the mystery lie deeper within the house and within Alice's own relationships. There is shock piled on shock for them and the other members of the Dodge family to deal with as they gather for a family summit.

Old hatreds surface and Percy will have to reevaluate everything he thought about his life while trying to hang on to his friendship with Percy and attraction to Brunnhilde, another guest. Will the revelations buried for decades be his ruin or his triumph?

This first part is just that. It sets the scene, gives you a few answers as to who people really are but leaves you with enough questions to want to read the next part. There's just enough gothic "horror" in it to satisfy but it doesn't go overboard.

There's a tad too much overt female sexuality for my taste; Percy certainly seems to be everyone's cup of tea. There's also quite a lot of monologues that I could have done without.

However, on the whole, it's entertaining and worth a read. I listened to the audiobook, which was ably narrated by Carter Roy and Vanessa Richardson. My only bugbear was the caricature nature of Stanley's wandering English accent and the generic nature of the German characters, who sounded a little like something from Hogan's Heroes or Allo Allo. But it's a minor niggle.

Recommended if you like something more on the gothic family saga lines.

thank you netgalley for the advanced audiobook copy of this novel! i was not prepared for the initial length of the book but glad i stuck it out! now ive got another series to finish!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

A gothic mystery that kept me wanting more! and it delivered, but I still have questions! The atmosphere, the intrigue, it all pulled me in. Now I’m just hoping for a second book to bring the clarity I’m craving. I need answers!

I absolutely enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The narrator's expressions really brought out the color in the story. Despite being stretched beyond imagination, the plot itself was centered around the Rhinebeck Estate and its mysteries.

I wish the book was split into two or three parts. Besides, my ears ached listening to this 17-hour long recording, and could not pay rapt attention beyond two to three hours at a time, and ended up spending longer to finish it than I would have if I was reading the Kindle version. I can imagine the paperback or hardbound volumes would be heavy like gym equipment, like Tolstoy's War and Peace, and Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov.

What I loved about the book is that the author really knows how to make a scene humorous. There are many scenes in the book that left me in splits. Reminiscent of P.G. Wodehouse's best stories, the comic timing and the talented narrator's perfect rendition made for a great aside to the slow mystery build-up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a dark and creepy novel. This was very atmospheric and a great listen.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky, generously provided as an ARC by NetGalley and The HIVE. While I was immediately drawn to the story's premise—a Victorian-style mystery set in 1977, replete with ghosts, occult intrigue, and buried family secrets—I regret to say that I was unable to finish the audiobook due to the narration.​ As a voice-over actor and director, I have a high tolerance for various narration styles, but Carter Roy's performance was particularly challenging. His delivery felt erratic, with lines delivered in a manner that disrupted the flow of the story. It was as if he threw words out like waves on a stormy ocean, making the listening experience exhausting and, frankly, annoying. This inconsistency made it difficult to stay engaged with the narrative.​

It's unfortunate because the story itself is intriguing. Set in 1977, Eye of the Moon follows two childhood friends, Percy and Johnny, who reunite at the opulent Rhinebeck estate in upstate New York. They're drawn into a web of family secrets, occult mysteries, and supernatural occurrences, including the suspicious death of Johnny's aunt, Alice, who died while reading an Egyptian Book of the Dead. The novel weaves themes of romance, deceit, and high finance, all set against a backdrop of lavish dinners and hidden motives. ​

Given the rich narrative and gothic elements, I believe the story has great potential. I plan to read the print version in the future to fully appreciate Obolensky's intricate plot and character development without the distraction of the audiobook's narration.​

In summary, while the audiobook's narration hindered my experience, the story itself is compelling, and I look forward to exploring it further in print.

I highly enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The mystery held my interest. The narrator did a good job. Looking forward to more.

Eye of the Moon is a richly detailed story with an intriguing gothic atmosphere. The audiobook narration was well-done, adding to the immersive experience. While the plot had moments of brilliance, the pacing felt uneven at times and some sections were overly descriptive. Still, a worthwhile listen for fans of classic mystery and family drama. #EyeoftheMoonAudiobook #NetGalley

This captivating read features compelling characters and an intriguing story set primarily in a grand mansion, where secrets unfold and tensions rise. The vivid descriptions and dynamic interactions bring the setting to life, making it easy to get lost in its pages. While it's an excellent book, I believe its rich dialogue and dramatic moments would translate beautifully to the stage, making for an even more immersive and engaging theatrical experience!

Unfortunately could not finish this audiobook as the narrator’s voice was too mono toned and annoying for me! Would definitely like to pick this book up and read it myself as it does sound really interesting!

This book was much lighter and cozier than I imagined from the cover, but the puzzle/mystery was solid. It has a timeless quality to it, and I had to keep reminding myself it is set in modern times. I enjoyed this story and appreciate the unusual family and found family aspects. "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb," certainly applied here. Percy and Johnny were a compelling team, and even when they were up to trouble, I was still unwaveringly on their side. There are many tricky people and the author does a good job of making everyone seem suspicious. Alice's storyline was fascinating and I would've loved an entire book on her. There were many facets of this book that I really enjoyed, but I don't want to spoil anything. It does take a bit to get into it, but once I got to the Alice parts I never wanted to stop. I'll definitely read more in this series.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Narrators were excellent which i find is half the problem usually. The story kept going at a good pace with some interesting twist in the plot. Can't wait for the second book.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was good. This was an enjoyable read! Steeped in Egyptian folklore, this mystery/thriller kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the story. The writing style was good and made it easy to get immersed. I did find the pace to be a little slow at times, but all in all I still really enjoyed it. Can definitely recommend! It was a little long and I hope that students would stick with it. I think my fantasy readers would really enjoy it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the audioARC to preview.

The story got me almost immediately! Suspenseful, mysterious and with interesting twists.
What I didn't like from the audiobook was the male narrator. I had a hard time getting accustomed to his voice and how he read. If the story hadn't caught me that quickly, I would've stopped listening.
I'm still excited about the second book, though!