I read this book as an ARC via Net Galley

There is a lot that is going on during the first couple chapters as we switch between POVs and set the stage for this story. It's a bit overwhelming but still interesting. The worldbuilding feels a bit muddy, like I see some Asian influence and there's a mix of other stuff based on character names but it feels disjointed.

What caught my attention most was the magic system that involves the bonding between a mage and another person so that the mage can feed off the other for power. This magic bond affects the main couple Audra and Lua differently than most, and seeing their relationship grow & change was nice. It reminds me a bit of soulmate tropes, but not quite because in this book a magic bond doesn't automatically mean attraction.

When it comes to the opposing forces against Lua & Audra, I found Xiang to be the most interesting. He may have been the 3rd character with most POV chapters after our main leads, and I think it was well used because his story is compelling.

This is book 1 and I'm definitely curious enough to continue reading past this book.

I did not enjoy this. I will say the plot was interesting and had potential. That's about the only positive I can say about it.

The writing was so clunky I actually had to reread some passages and they still didn't make sense. The relationship between Lua and Audra had zero chemistry. It started as enemies to lovers and the thing that started softening her to him was him kicking rocks out of the road (???). They had little dialogue and by the end were in love somehow.

For the first few chapters I had next to no idea what was going on. So many names, titles, places, etc were rattled off with practically no explanation. For instance, the terms Oji and Oja are used liberally throughout and aren't actually explained until the 70% mark.

There was an attempt at world building toward the beginning, which just looked like word vomit that I decided to accept I wouldn't understand in the hopes that it would be expanded upon later.

The magic system was barely explained. One tribe ranks by stars and takes power from the moons, another has no ranking and takes power from the sun. The third I have no idea. They just have magic. And there are dragons.

The only character I liked was Audra's aunt. Most everyone else lacked a personality, and those that had one were evil, just cause.

💚The Malice of Moons and Mages💚
4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️ (rounded up to 5)


Get ready to be thrown into the deep end in the best possible way! The Malice of Moons and Mages starts with a flurry of questions, forcing you to unravel its intricate world as you go. As a seasoned fantasy reader, I can tell you, finding something truly original is a breath of fresh air, and this debut absolutely delivered!

The heart of this story for me was the relationship between Lua and Audra. Their journey from enemies to lovers is masterfully executed, feeling utterly authentic and paced for a true slow burn. You genuinely believe in every shifting emotion and growing connection.
Beyond the captivating romance, the world-building shines, weaving together diverse countries, religions, and unique magic systems into a rich tapestry. And can we talk about the dragons?! So many questions, so much intrigue!

This is an incredible debut novel, and I'm already buzzing with anticipation for whatever this author cooks up next. If you crave fantasy that challenges you from page one and delivers on a truly satisfying slow-burn romance, pick this up!

Thank you to the author and NwtGalley for my ebook copy!

The Malice of Moons and Mages is a moody, imaginative fantasy that showcases N.V. Haskell’s knack for crafting complex magic systems and morally gray characters. The world-building is immersive, with magic tied to lunar phases in a way that feels both mythic and grounded. I especially enjoyed the layered dynamics between the mage factions and the way celestial forces played into the plot.

Kaelen’s journey from reluctant apprentice to something far more dangerous was one of the highlights for me. Maera, too, was fascinating—her internal conflict added real emotional weight. Haskell’s prose is sharp and occasionally poetic, never overstaying its welcome.

I’m docking a star mainly because the pacing dipped a bit in the middle. Some of the political maneuvering dragged, and a few secondary characters didn’t quite come alive the way the leads did. Still, those are small flaws in what’s otherwise a standout entry in the dark fantasy genre.

If you like your magic with a side of menace and mystery, this one's worth your time. Looking forward to what comes next in the series.

The Malice of Moons and Mages was a fun read that won me over with its interesting magic system, characters that are morally complex, and a plot that is high stakes. The world building started off dense, but it was worth it for the depth and tension that came with it. I liked to see how Audra and Lua's alliance developed over time, along with their slow burn connection. This book had a great balance of action and emotion, so I will certainly be reading the next book when it comes out.

Firstly, I got given this book as an arc in exchange for an honest review (albeit being a little late!)
I went in not having heard of this author and not particularly in the mood for an arc, but can honestly say I really enjoyed this book!
The writing was great, and the pacing was also great.
There is minimal romance, hard world building and dragons!
Not gunna lie - it took me a few chapters to get my head around the world building because there’s so much going on - but once I did it was better to follow.
The magic system is really intricate and unique, and one I’ve not seen before.
You’ve also got the “touch her and die” trope which is 🤌🏻 is classed as enemies to lovers, but I would have liked to see the enemies part for a little longer as it seemed to fizzle out very quickly - however I’m guessing that the way the bond was created is going to play a part in the next book so in a way I’m guessing this was intended?

Either way this was a great book and I’m looking forward to book 2!

4.5 stars - I really enjoyed this. I loved how morally gray almost all the characters were - they were so rich, complex, and incredibly interesting. It was nuanced too - their motivations were slowly unspooled, paired in a rich, interconnected manner with other main characters. The world building was a bit hard to grasp at first, as a result of this unspooling. But ultimately it made for a richer experience that I think paid off. And I truly enjoyed that magic system. I loved the fluidity of the characters and how normalized it was in their society. This was super well-balanced, fresh romantasy book with a cliffhanger that made me want to scream. Those tend to be the best ones, though. When is book 2?!

The Malice of Moons and Mages was a very interesting read with a magic system I have never seen before anywhere else. The world was rich and interesting with a base in ancient Asian influence. The characters were all complex and driven by all different needs, which we got to see with the changes of point of view.
Overall, while it was a cool system, the world was not fully explained. I found myself checking to see if this was a sequel, as it felt like I was expected to know what was going on without any explanation. I felt like only halfway through the book did I have a kind of understanding on the different types of mages, and even then I was struggling.
The changes in POV gave more insight into each character and did make the pacing move quite well. It took a minute to get used to it but, by the end, I thought it was absolutely necessary.
The Romantic aspect did feel a little unearned, as the characters knew each other an extremely short time and didn’t like each other for most of it. The change from dislike and mistrust to absolute love was a little jarring. I couldn’t quite root for their romance.
Overall, I’d pick up the sequel as I’m interested to learn what happens.

The Malice of Moons and Mages is a fast paced read with an interesting magic system. The multiple POV's are a big confusing. I believe this story has potential. I will most likely pick up book 2.

The Malice of Moons and Mages was an interesting read. It started off strong with our FMC Audra engaging in shenanigans and thievery. I was very interested to see what she needed to accomplish and how her journey would pan out.
The MC Lua was determined and brutal in accomplishing his goals. Unfortunately for our FMC, when they eventually met, that meant she had to come along with him first before she could finish what she started. I found their romance a bit lacking, often overlooked by the world building. The author gave us a unique magic system, but it felt a bit complicated and when coupled with the political machinations and history of the world I found myself needing to reread certain parts and then eventually having to move on, still not fully sure I remembered everything that was just explained.

The story felt like it went super-fast yet at the same time it read very dry when discussing the history and politics. I liked the LGBTQ+ representation and enjoyed the secondary characters and their motivations for their actions. The sister was actually not even remotely redeemable which was different.

Overall, the book was good, with a decent plot and moderately interesting characters. I felt like the confusion from the lore and politics made the story take way longer to read. I probably would have rated it 3.5 if I did half stars but I did finish it and it’s certainly memorable, so I bumped it up to a solid 4 stars. Would I pick up the next one? It would depend on my mood and how long my TBR is.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this Arc.

Grade
4/5 ⭐ overall
3/5 💗 romance
2/5 🌶️ spice

Thank you to NetGalley and to Cursed Dragon Ship publishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book had me in a chokehold from the very beginning and all of the twists & turns had me completely engaged and utterly immersed until I reached the last page and let out SUCH a big sigh because it was over. The magic system was VERY unique and the DRAGONS! Did I mention the DRAGONS? I squealed and kicked my feet like a bit of a dork when I realized that there were dragons!

The LGBTQIA+ representation was AMAZING and I just loved all of the couples so much.

The multiple POV's were the downfall for me as there were SO many characters and I really, really struggled with that element. I also was immensely confused about the politics and I still find myself being a bit confused now that I am done with the book. Hopefully that will be cleared up in the next book!?

The Malice of Moons and Mages has an intriguing premise, and what I read definitely caught my interest. The worldbuilding and storytelling showed promise, and I enjoyed the parts I did read. However, despite its potential, the book just didn’t manage to hold my attention all the way through. It’s not that it wasn’t good; it simply wasn’t the right fit for me at this time.

That said, I haven’t ruled out picking it up again in the future. Sometimes it's all about timing, and maybe later it’ll click differently.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing, LLC, for the opportunity to read this title.

If this is any indication of my review let me start it with this, when is book 2 coming out???

This story had a great story line that had a beautiful romance, detailed history showing the war and the division of peoples, wonderful character development, and honestly so much more.
The world building that felt so complex, yet was accomplished so seamlessly not weighing down the storyline at anytime. It is honestly one of the most flawless in my opinion. I can't wait to continue to learn more, as I see us learning more locals.
I also felt that the magic system was well done, it was easy to understand, but felt appropriate in the cost of the magic itself. I can't wait to explore further the interaction of the different types of magic in further books.

My one complaint about this book, the tears I shed at the end that will never truly dry until book 2 is in my hands. How dare you leave me in limbo like that! (Okay I love it, keep it up!)

Thank you to Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing for the early release copy of this book.

This fantasy book was intriguing — it gave me vibes of Trials of the Sun Queen meets Avatar the Last Airbender (with the strained sibling relationship but without elemental magic). The beginning’s world-building kinda threw me for a loop (with the several moons and magic systems), but it was a nice change from the usual fae magic in a lot of romantasies. I liked all the different perspectives and how well-woven the plot and character relationships are. I wasn’t completely sold on the enemies-to-lovers (the enemies made sense, but the lovers dynamic felt a little odd). Overall, a solid 3.5 🌟 read.

Great book that had me hooked by the first chapter. Twists in it that I didn't see coming. I don't normally read books like this one but I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it. Can't wait for the next book, because it cannot end like it did.

Thank you to the publisher, which provided me an ARC copy. The thoughts in this review are unbiased.

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A strongly engaging story with fast pacing, interesting characters, and an intriguing world. This book had me hooked from the start thanks to both the romance or the exciting plot that was unfolding. It’s a great read for a fast-paced light fantasy that borders just a bit more on the adult side of young adult.

Told in multiple perspectives, we are able to get a sense of many characters and perspectives while also keeping the plot moving across the board. While this is engaging and fun, it also is a bit jarring when nearing the end, where chapters get short and many perspectives must be shown as the story climaxes.

Overall, the book leaves you wanting more—and not just in the “this is the first book in the series” kind of way. The world is intriguing and fun, but we breeze through the setting in favor of plot advancement and other things, leaving the notion of a slightly shallow environment.

The characters also feel slightly flat, again in favor of plot advancement, and it feels like we could get a stronger hold on who they are.

I give this a 4/5 because I enjoyed reading it, but I would say it’s a solid 3/5 due to trying to do too much in too few words.

The Malice of Moons and Mages follows Audra, a young thief on the hunt for a cure for her ailing brother, and Lua, an on the run mage and heir to his father's throne. Finding themselves unexpectedly bound together, they're racing against the clock to the dual lunar eclipse while being hunted by Lua's own people.

This book definitely has a more unique magic system than in other fantasy books that I have read. In the beginning, the world building was a bit confusing and I found myself re-reading. It didn't take long for things to clear up and understand who's who and who's worships who. Initially, I also wasn't a fan of the multiple POVs. I was a bit bias in the beginning, only wanting Lua or Audra's POV but that quickly changed. I think having the multiple POVs made the story have more depth. I appreciated the complexity of each character and their motivations in the story, specifically Xiang. I hope going into the second book the multiple POVs remain.

I loved the tension between Audra and Lua and was happy to find that the romance was a slow burn and didn't consume the entire story. The politics making up the story was also really interesting and kept me hooked. I liked that the villain in this is a sibling. It just adds an extra layer of angst and interest for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC, all thoughts & reviews are honest and my own.
From the beginning I was enraptured by this story. The pacing draws you in and the magic system traps you. While the magic system started off confusing, it works itself out as the story progresses.

What I enjoyed: the plot, the character growth, the twists and turns, the magic system, the world building, that ending?!

What I didn't like: The amount of POV's, I felt that there was just too much going on.

I am excited for book two and where this story can go.

The Malice of Moons and Mages is the first book in a new fantasy series following the journey of Audra, a young female thief and Lua, a mage who is the heir to his father’s throne. Thrust together, their fates become bound as they rush to reach a monastery before the forthcoming dual lunar eclipses.

“It only takes a word to make you sleep, a thought to move your limbs. Make no mistake, if you test me, you will live as I see fit.”

This story has an interesting magic system where mages become bonded to another person (known as their ‘anchor’) and this enables them to siphon energy for spellcasting and they also feel each other’s pain. Mages are split into different factions who worship the two moons and the sun.

Audra and Lua are engaging main characters with their own motivations. Their unintentional bond – an unusual occurrence in this world – generates a lot of great tension as they find the forced proximity frustrating at first but then grow to value it. Each chapter switches the perspective to show events from alternative points of view until all of the characters arrive at the same destination. The ending left me curious about what lies ahead for the main duo, and I would be interested to read more about the future of this world.

Enjoyment: 4.5
Start: 3.5
Characters: 3.5
Setting: 4
Plot: 4.5
Ending: 5
Style: 4.5
Rating: 4.21

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and ad a slight rage moment when I remembered I couldn't read the second novel yet! This book has very short chapters (which I wasn't a particular fan of), but I never wanted to put the book down when I started in on it. It has a very unique magic system for each culture that I enjoyed learning more about tat, to me, gave hints to the culture for each of them. I'm excited to learn more about past of each tribe as the story progresses. As a first novel it gives us a solid foundation for the rest of the series to stand on later. Watching Audra go from being in a cell to realizing her potential was a joy for me. I can't wait to see how her and Lua's story continues to flourish in later books.