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.

3.5*

A promising start.

I was initially pulled in by the rich worldbuilding, compelling characters, and the author’s beautiful writing style. The first quarter of the book set high expectations, it felt immersive and full of potential.

Unfortunately, that momentum didn’t last.

As the story unfolded, I found it increasingly difficult to stay engaged. The pacing became uneven, and I started to feel disconnected from the characters I was originally invested in. Important moments in the narrative were often summarized rather than fully developed, which made key relationship dynamics feel abrupt or unearned. It was as if we were being told what to feel, without being given the emotional beats to get there naturally.

While the plot had an intriguing premise, it ultimately didn’t feel strong or cohesive enough to carry the rest of the book. What started as a compelling read turned into something I had to push myself to finish.

This one, sadly, just wasn’t for me, but I would say to give it a go if you like a beautiful writing style with an engaging enough world.

(Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.)

2.5*

I'll start with what I liked about this story. I think that there was a good foundation in the plot, and there were times that I found both characters and circumstances compelling.

What I struggled with the most was the writing. The first 10% or so was very hard to get through especially. There is one scene in particular within the first few chapters where Audra the FMC is in jail and there is a dead couple in the cell next to her. She is describing this deceased couple and in the next paragraph goes on to talk about her long thick hair with no segue. It was extremely jarring. Similarly, there is a scene where Lua, the MMC, is interacting with a side character, and twice in this interaction is the word thick used to describe the side characters body. This includes the sentence: "An abdomen so thick it hid his genitals." This side character is only present for a couple of pages, so why was this relevant to mention TWICE? No one else's body type was described like this, so it was extremely odd.

Another problem with the writing was how tribes and characters were discussed. Having finished this book, I still don't think I can tell you who was in what tribe and which moon did what. I think maybe a glossary or something would have helped because I think there were four moon(?) tribes plus the "western" people who could also do magic. This situation was surprisingly not helped by the multiple POVs and only served to make the story more disjointed and confusing. Ultimately there were just too many characters to keep track of.

The next thing that took me out of the story were the plot conveniences. The main example I can think of is that Audra is in need of a disguise and she just happens to come across a pair of scissors and an outfit sitting unused in someone's yard.

Onto the character relationships and development. I liked Audra at first, she was very scrappy and had to do things for herself. As soon as her and Lua got together I was dismayed to see her agency decrease until she was completely dependent on him within a matter of weeks (or months? The timing is unclear). In the beginning she is independent and by the end ".... she couldn't imagine an existence without him." This is after several instances of Lua being incredibly manipulative and using magic to pester her into doing his bidding. There is even one point where Lua says "no one has access to her (Audra) without his (Lua's) permission." That just felt gross and on top of the writing being all telling and no showing for their relationship, his attentions just felt fake and obsessive and their relationship felt rushed and false.

I think this author has potential and I could see them writing a really good epic fantasy someday. This story was just a miss for me, unfortunately.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC!

🌘 3.5 stars (rounded up)
The Malice of Moons and Mages by N.V. Haskell was an enchanting concept with moments of real magic, even if the execution didn’t always hit the mark for me. The celestial magic system had serious potential, and I loved the moody, moon-drenched vibe threaded through the world-building. It definitely scratched that fantasy-romance itch, with plenty of intrigue and slow-burn tension between characters.

Audra and Lua had some compelling chemistry, and the forced proximity/enemies-to-lovers setup was juicy in theory—but at times, their dynamic felt a little underdeveloped. The pacing dragged in places, and while the multiple POVs added breadth, it sometimes left the emotional core a bit scattered. I wanted just a little more bite, a little more heat, and a little more heart.

Still, I’d say this is a solid start to a series with a lot of potential. It had me invested enough to keep reading, and I’ll be watching closely to see how the author builds from here. Worth a read if you love magical power struggles, complicated love, and moonlit secrets.

#TheMaliceofMoonsandMages #NetGalley #FantasyRomance #CelestialMagic #EnemiesToLovers #DarkFantasy #MagicalIntrigue #WitchyReads #ARCReview #BookReview

The magic system was amazing and completely new like nothing I’d seen before (which is hard to find when you read A LOT of fantasy. It set itself apart within the genre. The only issues I had with it is that everything was insanely fast paced. Found myself putting it down because the world building felt so overwhelmed. The first few chapters are pure unlimited chaos that only is ramped up but 3 POV's. Eventually it gets into a good stride and all comes together neatly. It is a ruthless and mystical high fantasy world. Fans of gripping vivid fast paced high fantasy with a touch of romance will devour this.

This story sucked me in with all the characters stories and motivations. That ending had me tearing up at the progress that Lua underwent for Audra because of how much he cared at the end. I am looking forward to news of the continuation of this story.

*The Malice of Moons and Mages* is a captivating dark fantasy that pulls you in with its unique magic system, gripping plot, and morally complex characters. From the very first chapter, the tension is palpable, and the stakes quickly rise as the protagonist navigates a world filled with dangerous magic, hidden secrets, and treacherous alliances.

What I truly loved about this book is how the author creates such a rich and immersive world. The intricacies of the magic and the deep lore behind the moons and mages are fascinating, and they really elevate the story. The pacing is tight, especially in the first half, and the twists and turns kept me hooked throughout.

The characters, particularly the lead, are complex and relatable, even in a world so filled with danger and intrigue. The relationships—both allies and adversaries—are nuanced and unpredictable, making for some incredibly tense and satisfying moments.

If there’s one thing that kept me from giving this a full five stars, it would be a slight drag in the middle, where the plot slows down a bit. However, the stunning finale more than makes up for any pacing issues, with an ending that left me eager for more.

Overall, *The Malice of Moons and Mages* is a fantastic read for fans of dark, atmospheric fantasy with deep world-building and morally gray characters. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the next installment!

Am I reeling? Yes.
Do I need the next book? Immediately.

The Malice of Moons and Mages is phenomenally written in multiple POVs that seem to all be telling a different story but as they slowly converge they add to the building suspension of the plot.

As the first novel, it is a pretty solid foundation for the lore, history, and magic system. In all honesty, the story is quite slow in the beginning and takes time for it to build momentum within the plot but also for fully understanding the interconnection between the characters and their history… but when it’s built…damn, brace yourself 🌜✨🪐🌛

Audra is a gem💚; she is fierce and uncompromisingly herself. She is tender-hearted but vicious if need be. Her development throughout the story is a pleasure to witness, as she goes from (literally) down-in-the-dumps to coming into a wonderful, yet small part of her full potential. I cannot wait to see where her story goes 🐉

Now Lua, do I forgive him for his past misdeeds? yes. Why, you may ask? because he blossoms into a loving, self-less, and considerately protective man. Who is learning that vulnerability is not a weakness and brutality is not always a strength. Looking past his hard, impenetrable exterior made from his lifetime of tough-love, he is actually a softy by nature and is in desperate need of affection. Between you and me, he was the character I was rooting for throughout the story; he may not have been the most moral or the kindest, but he proved himself to be the true Rajav.

Let me just say that, when N.V. Haskell has the next instalment ready, I will be waiting 🌸

I loved this story- the only reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the beginning was a little slow from SO much world-building. There are just so many names- but once you get your bearings with the characters, tribes, and moons, the story hooks you.

I read a ton of fantasy and this world has SUCH a cool magic system with the anchors- I love how it affects the relationships between the characters to add another layer of complexity. The connection the different tribes have to the celestial bodies in this story is so fun and unique, and makes for an exciting “us vs. them” political storyline as well.

I also loved the inclusion of LGBTQ relationships without making it a huge focus- many of the characters seem to be pansexual or bisexual with mention of more than one gender of lovers, without making a huge deal about it. Overall I enjoyed the twists and revelations throughout the story, loved the writing style and multiple POV’s, and I am genuinely looking forward to more from this author!

Wow! This book was extremely well written and thought out from beginning to end. From the descriptive writing to the plot progression, I could not put this book down. I am extremely happy that I requested and received this eARC. I highly recommend this to all of my Fantasy lovers.

I am a sucker for a good fantasy book.
I eat them up lol
This book had me flipping pages for hours!
Throw a subplot of romance into the fantasy book and i am SAT.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

This was unfortunately a miss for me.

I really enjoyed the first 25% of this which made me think that I was going to live this book. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

I really liked the rich worldbuilding, complex characters as well as the writing style but I struggled a lot with the rest of the book.

For me, the biggest issue were the multiple POVs.
I did really liked that we git to see the thoughts of both main characters, but I just couldn’t bring myself to care about the others enough to read about them so often. Every time one of these chapters came up (which was o f t e n) I had to force myself to not just close the book and never pick it up again.

And while I enjoyed reading about Lua and Audra at the beginning, I also started to struggle with their chapters toward the end. Not only did it feel like we were just being told about important moments instead of actually seeing them, which made the development of their relationship feel very jerky because it felt like we’d just get random developments without seeing what actually caused them, but I also didn’t like the direction in which the developments went.

The plot was intriguing but, unfortunately, not interesting enough to salvage this book.

Overall, I had a really hard time getting through this, which is really sad considering the strong beginning this had. Unfortunately, this was not for me.

3.5 Stars

If you're looking for high fantasy with great world building, complicated characters, and unique magic, this is it!

The first 10% or so throws you into action with Audra, a thief, getting herself out of captivity by literally going through some sh!t. She is independent and strong-willed, and you can't help but like her. Lua, a high-ranking Moon mage, is having his own problems, as he tries to be free of his own people who have turned against him. The two meet and instantly dislike one another, but find they are bonded.

There is a lot to take in with this, as is often true of high fantasy. We get 4 or 5 perspectives throughout, and this is a world of multiple factions that do not get along. Some are tied to "Starling" (the sun), others to moons. By about a third in, it all started to make sense.

This is more fantasy with some romance, and has a very, very slow burn between our main characters. They go from enemies to friends to more very gradually.

Every character in this world seems to be pansexual, as each one, including our main characters, reference having lovers that are both opposite and same sex. Fair to say it's not lacking in diversity!

I'm excited to see what comes next in this series!

3.5
Thank you to the author & Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

**Trigger warning : animal death**

I typically love a multi-pov but this one threw too many names at me too quickly and I was lost. I went back and took notes on the characters which helped but I will still confused by some names that popped up and the political system seemed to go over my head.

With that said, the story itself was attention grabbing and fast paced right from the get go. I was in a reading slump but still found my self picking this book up everyday to read as much as I could.

The magic system is super interesting & I loved how all the characters seemed to be fluid (a world where you just love who you live without explanation!!). I was drawn towards the FMC & I feel like we still have so much to learn about her backstory and the MMC.

The twists and turns were great & what an ending! If there’s a book 2, I think I’d give it a try :)

This was a really interesting, if complicated at the beginning book. I enjoyed the writing and the characters and I am interested in what might come next from this author. Thanks to the publishing and author for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I really loved this one.

Woah! What a rush. I was hooked on this book. I sped through it but I also didn’t want it to end. This book was absolutely amazing, while I was so confused when reading all the different characters perspectives, eventually my brain clicked and went “ah, yes, this person is related to this person via this type of relationship”.

The magic system was honestly amazing. I’ve read similar in fanfiction but that’s a different universe and honestly not something to review. I had fun reading this and guessing what was happening and what kind of relationship was going to develop between the main pairings.

The worldbuilding was incredible, the map at the front of the ARC certainly helped because I, like so many hikers, was lost without one. I was transported with the characters as they pillaged and murdered. I did get a little bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender, but that may be just me trying to put things into familiar little boxes. The idea of two moons in a universe makes my physics knowledge have a big, fat question mark at how the world works, especially regarding tides but it’s a fictional world so really that can be ignored.

Lua was such a little bitch. I love him. He straight-up just made things so annoying for Adura and honestly, I don’t blame him. Adura is one of those FMC who sacrifices everything for family and I don’t hate it. She has strong morals and sticks to them, she loves her family, and she’s a fighter/thief. I know she stole Lua’s heart (Please stop booing me).

Very excited to see book 2 of this series and see where they go from here!

(Cross-posted to Fable and Goodreads and StoryGraph)

Five stars!

This was an excellent read! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC; I had such a great time with this story.

This had everything I love in a great fantasy novel: a cool magic system, politics, plotting, deep lore, action-packed battles, and dragons! What else could you need?

For the characters (or, at least those who are Starling and Moon), magic is the foundational basis upon which all other facets of life exists, and everything else is secondary. However, Audra didn't grow up with either tribe, and she has a few (well, more than a few) thoughts on things. Lua is seemingly set in his ways, but also has never had the opportunity to do things differently. The forced proximity in this had me screaming, and the sheer anxiety of the last few chapters had me staying up late to finish this book.

I also really appreciated that in the world the author built, queer relationships are normal and accepted.

I am really interested in learning more about the Western mages, the underlying lore of the three tribes, and of course, the dragons! "After all, how hard can it be to steal a mage?" I don't know, but I absolutely need to find out. Book 2 can't come soon enough.