Goodness gracious me! Do not embark on Eye of the Moon unless you have heaps of time, patience and concentration to spare.

This 17-odd-hour whopping audiobook was a bit on the long side for me, it really could have - and should have - been shorter. Having said that, it was still an enjoyable and intriguing listen. There are plenty of Gothic elements, along with supernatural and paranormal goings on. Throw in a vial or two of hallucinogenic drinks, creepy trunks that may or may not summon spirits, poison dwarves that swear and spit at people, and a rather charming little dog by the name of Robert the Bruce (by far my favourite character.)

This is an odd tale. I love Gothic anything, and there were many parts of this that I really enjoyed. Rhinebeck is amazing, I want one of my very own! But only if Stanley and Dagmaar are part of the deal. Stanley is my 2nd favourite character and a true gem. The narration was marvellous. I recognise Vanessa Richardson from one of the true crime podcasts I listen to, she is very good at what she does, and she brought Brunny to life. And Elsa, who I also rather liked.

I give it a solid 3 and a half stars, rounded up to 4 for Robert the Bruce. It was too long. Way too long. And it was slow in parts, especially in the beginning. But having said that, I will be keeping a lookout for the next one the series, which says something.

I listened to the audio version of this occult murder mystery. The narrators were excellent. The story started off a little slow and it took me a little bit to really get into it, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. I'm glad I listened to it though, instead of reading the 500 some pages. It may have been too slow of a start for me to actually get into reading. Most of the story is the characters relating what happened in the past, to bring it to where they are now. The characters are Intriguing, and you are able to get to know them well. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to listen to this audiobook.

I was so invested in the characters in this book. I thought about them when I wasn’t listening to the audiobook. This book had that old academia vibe which I love and the narrators were great. It was The Ninth House , Succession and Clue all wrapped up in one. I can’t wait to read book two!

Two childhood best friends get together at the old home of where they grew up after a few years of seeing each other. They find out that the aunt who looked after them as a child has passed away. Reliving the memories of their youth they decide to go through Aunt Alice’s old books and trinkets to learn more about her. Her Egyptian artifacts along with the book of the dead get them sleuthing to find out who really was this woman who played hide and seek with them. With the help of the butler they unfold so much more than they ever imagined including family secrets that will change their lives forever!

I really struggled with Eye of the Moon. The narrator’s delivery was so flat and unconvincing that it felt like I was listening to Garfield tell a story—no emotion or energy, which made it hard to stay engaged. From the first chapter to the last, the book dragged, and I just couldn’t get into it. Even if this were a physical book, I wouldn’t be tempted to pick it off the shelf. That being said, while it wasn’t my type of story, I can see how it might resonate with others, especially patients in a hospital setting who might appreciate its slower pace and find it non-triggering. So, I’d still consider purchasing it for others, even though it wasn’t for me.

A very entertaining and enthralling novel set at the Rheinbeck estate. Once the home of Lady Alice whose death is a mystery to be unravelled. Johnny Dodge and his friend Pe4cy will discover much that will upend the family and those at the estate.

Brilliantly written and expertly narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Varied, strong and entertaining characters. This novel is a page turner to see what happens next. Great start and look forward to the next novel.

I was immersed in a gripping narrative that masterfully blends historical intrigue with elements of fantasy. Obolensky’s writing is rich and evocative, bringing to life a vivid world that captures both the grandeur and the grit of the setting. The characters are well-developed, particularly the protagonist, whose journey of self-discovery is both compelling and relatable.
However, the pacing does stumble at times, with certain sections feeling overly detailed, which can disrupt the overall flow. While the world-building is impressive, I found some aspects of the plot a bit convoluted, leading to moments of confusion.
Despite these minor issues, the captivating storyline and intricate character dynamics kept me engaged, making it a fulfilling and thought-provoking read.

The cover art put me off and I almost didn’t listen, although on a free day I stuck this on and didn’t turn it off until I was half way through. It shows that the cover really does matter. The premise, plot and writing style were all great. I listened to this on a faster speed as I was in a slight rush but it was still super easy to follow. Narrator was a really good match, glad I did audio, have recommended to others who like this genre

From being unsure what I was even listening to at the beginning, I became hooked on listening to this saga. There are so many stories within the main story, often told in flashbacks, but they all ultimately come together to inform the final chapters. I definitely felt that this story improved as it went on, possibly as the listener becomes familiar with the family and their retainers. The acid test for me is if I am still feeling the characters or the setting days after I finish it, and I certainly am here. I really hope that the other parts of the trilogy become available on audio.

What a fantastic Victorian Style, modern day mystery! I got some cozy vibes and some Agatha Christie vibes while enjoying this on audiobook. The narrators are absolutely wonderful and the plot was engaging. I cannot recommend this one enough!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC.

I loved this book, it’s long and meandering but never once lost my attention after the rather awkward first 50 or so pages. It’s a gothic saga of sorts, but also surprisingly modern though it’s a reissue. The writing is intelligent and the plot complex, but with such lovable characters it never got bogged down or became hard to follow. The narrators were wonderful, the pacing perfect and I’ll be keen to continue the series. Thank you!

This was an excellent binge-listen audiobook! It started out a bit slow, but once I was invested in the characters I didn't want to stop listening. Obolensky does a wonderful job building the characters. You will love the loveable characters and loathe the villians. There are so many moving parts to the story that can get jumbled up at times, but rest assured it all comes together at the end. You will not be disappointed. There are so many elements to the story from old family history, Egyptian curses, and mysterious death. The twists will keep you wanting more!

I particularly enjoyed the narrators. I didn't even realize while listening that Carter Roy did both voices of Johnny and Percy. They sounded so different. I also enjoyed Vanessa Richardson. Her character was strange and very flat, but I enjoyed her reading.

The story was super interesting and the banter was really top notch but it was seriously long. It felt like there was a lot of unnecessary information that really didn't seem to add to the story.

It really wasn't needed because the story had this beautiful mix of creepy prose and well written dialogue that it didn't need to be drawn out. The author has some serious skills and the narration was on point, it was just way too long.

I will be hunting down book 2 because I have questions though!

4 stars

I loved the complexity of the story and the structure of the plot. The characters are rich and unforgettable. It was an excellent read

Eye Of The Moon was a slow paced yet captivating story. I got into the story rather quickly but faced a view moments where it became dragging. The plot overall was interesting with a bit of a gothic feel to it and definitely nothing I’ve ever read before.
With quiet a few questions remaining for me I was glad to see there is a second book in the series.

Going the audiobook route for this title was a perfect choice for me. It added a lot to the atmosphere and the characters.
The only thing I didn’t like about the audiobook was the parts where the narrators spoke german. The pronunciation was really bad and one part was not understandable at all. Other than that the presentation was captivating and entertaining.

Narrators were AMAZING! I liked having male and female narrators and appreciate that it was produced to sound like actors vs simple narration.

Johnny and Percy have been friends since they were kids. Percy lived with Johnny’s wealthy family. He was always a bit of an outsider on the inside. Now adults, Percy joins Johnny to his family’s home to celebrate Johnny’s parents’ anniversary. It’s a several day affair with all the guests staying in the family mansion. Relationships are tested in this wealthy family drama with some spiritual/paranormal aspects (mostly related to one deceased family member). Many secrets are exposed over this stay.

I’ll admit, the fact that this is a 17 hour audiobook was a major mind block initially. I started it and immediately switched to a shorter audiobook (no fault of the book). Now that I’ve finished, I can say I really enjoyed it. Percy and Johnny’s friendship was endearing. Every character was well written. I was intrigued to see how everything came together.

Thank you NetGalley and Smith-Obolensky Media for this audio ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.

"Eye of the Moon" by Ivan Obolensky is an intricately woven mystery that pulls readers into the enigmatic world of the Rhinebeck estate. The story follows two friends who set out to uncover the truth behind a relative’s suspicious death, only to find themselves entangled in a web of secrets and hidden agendas.
Obolensky's storytelling is rich and atmospheric, bringing the mysterious estate and its complex characters to life with vivid detail. The plot is masterfully crafted, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the friends delve deeper into the estate's many secrets. Each revelation adds a new layer of intrigue, making it impossible to put the book down.

After 20 years, two childhood friends (Johnny and Percy) meet up to investigate the mysterious death of Johnny's Aunt Alice who mysteriously died while reading the Egyptian Book of the Dead. This story is engaging and very Lovecraftian in a modern way. I will be reading the next two books in this series! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook which drew me into this mystery series.

I received a free audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Well this was an interesting book. It was a mix of gothic, family drama, romance, and mystery genres, culminating with dastardly deals and possibly supernatural influence. Wtf did I just read?

As others have said, the story starts off very slowly- VERY slowly. An awful lot happens in this book, but I think a merciless editor with a red pen should be brought on for the sequel.

The story, however, does eventually hook you in, and I was quite willing to slug it out through to the end. Percy did seem to be a bit of a Mary Sue, but I suppose it was needed for everything to work out as it did. The voice acting was great and thoroughly enjoyable.

Looking forward to the next volume!

This was pretty good. Had some trouble getting into it at first, because my concentration kept slipping, but that's a me thing. The person reading the story was alright at first, but I grew used to his voice by the end, and the text itself was also interesting enough to keep me listening.