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.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book.

This book is told from multiple points of view but the main characters are Audra a western mage whose powers are yet to bloom and Lua a disgraced mage . Audra is desperately trying to get a jade amulet home to her brother to his life, Lua is fighting for his life and trying to become the Rajav ruler of his people. The Western has been mostly wiped out and so have the western dragons, while the moon and starling tribes continue fighting. Lua has thirteen stars and is the most powerful mage in the moon tribe, after severing his anchor to survive he is unexpectedly anchored to Audra while he plucks him of the sea on the request of the sailors boat she has snuck on. Lua and Audra are on a race against time to get to the Silent monastery to break their bond, while trying to fight their growing attraction and feelings for each other.

I liked this book it was an enjoyable read, it was a lovers to enemies romantasy and I was sucked in from the first page. To unpick this book there is a lot going on plot wise but is not so convoluted that you can’t follow what is going on. At first I couldn’t stand Lua but I gradually warmed up to him as the book went on, he gave off touch her and die vibes when anyone tried to hurt Audra. Audra was plucky and was fighting to survive in a world that was hostile towards her people, would I recommend this book? Yes I would it had everything I was looking for enemies to lovers, touch her and die and two strong lead characters.

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.

The Malice of Moons and Mages was an engaging and thrilling book. It captured my attention and drew me in, albeit with a start that was slightly confusing due to alternate points of views, jumping around a new world. However, this was in fact vital to the overall story, and thus I recommend readers continue, as the book was incredibly well written and highly enjoyable.
The writing was engaging, accessible for younger adults, whilst maintaining a level of interest for those older. Additionally, the political side was highly interesting, and whilst I don't typically find this, it was not too complex that I understood it, whilst providing another layer of intrigue with enough body to prevent plot holes. The final few chapters were read in a single sitting, the climax intense and exciting.
Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read, which I would highly recommend!

The cover and description drew me in and it wasn't long before I was obsessed. The Malice of Moons and Mages brings together action, romance and political themes (Game of Thrones ish) in a world with a unique magic system that draws on celestial forces.
The characters and their relationships are well built, weaving stories of the past into the present to give us a full picture to their motivations. I adore Audra, her snarky attitude and swearing. She is authetically herself and met l never apologizes for it. Her growth arc is significant.
There was not much I didn't like about this story. I do feel like we've yet to fully understand Lua's involvement in the war with the westerners. The one thing that had me scratching my head was that in chapter 1 Audra cuts her hair so short that she knicks her scalp and can pass for a boy. The entire book takes place over about a months time. Yet towards the end, Audras hair has grown enough that it can be cut at an angle and styled.
Overall, this was a phenomenal read. The ending left me desperate for book 2.

This is a bit of a mixed review.

I enjoyed the overall story and romance in this. I especially liked the usual enemies to lovers back to enemies wasn't the same in this at all. A nice changing of the trope.

I liked both of the main characters and the different politics between the tribes. It helped to progress the plot significantly.

However, it was often hard to understand who was who as there were a lot of characters in the book that were introduced in a relatively short space of time. Additionally, the first few chapters are really hard to understand what is going on. There are a lot of terms that are used for the book that didn't make sense and aren't explained until much, much later in the book. I didn't understand that Song, Silence, and Starling were all named of the moons and sun for way too many chapters, for example.

The pacing was also all of over the place. At times, it was very quick, but at others, it was very slow and seemed to really drag, making it take longer to read than it would usually take. I almost lost interest a few times and thought about giving up.

However, I am glad I stuck it out. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the overall plot. I really enjoyed the ending. I think this shows a lot of promise and look forward to the next.

3.5 stars