I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did but after hearing about it multiple times I decided to give it a go.
So happy that I did as the story was gripping, the writing was amazing and the tension between the charcters was spot on.
The ending came to a great conclusion which is so rare in stand alones. Looking forward to what this author does next.

Unfortunately I have not be able to finish this book. I've found the writing difficult to read due to the terrible formating of the file. I won't be sharing this review on other platforms as the kindle file has been unreadable.

★★★★☆ — One of the most unique books I’ve read in a while

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this.

Moth Dark by Kika Hatzopoulou has some of the most original worldbuilding and plot I’ve seen in a long time. There were several points where I audibly gasped at how clever a twist was or how something early on had been set up. But at the same time, I think the worldbuilding needed more refinement for the book to really land.

Everything tied to the Dark has the word "dark" tacked onto it. Darkmoth, darktiger, darkbeast, darkprint, darknomaly, darkfirefly... just dark, dark, dark. In the first 100 pages, I counted 288 uses of a "dark" word. It became distracting and honestly kind of silly after a while. I really hope this is cleaned up before release.

Another issue was the writing. It swings between genuinely gorgeous lines and what I can only describe as millennial-coded cringe. Lines like "his frown in response was epic" really pulled me out, especially since the protagonist is supposed to be an 18-year-old in the modern day. I also really dislike pop culture references in books, but that’s more of a personal pet peeve.

I know I’m being critical, but it’s only because I’m disappointed by how close this came to being incredible. The plot, the pacing, the characters, the romance (!!), the exploration of gender, the genderqueer love interest, the structure, all of it was genuinely fresh and exciting. I would have rated this 6 stars if the writing had been more polished.

Sascia and Nugau’s romance was so lovely and refreshing, and I say that as someone who's extremely picky about romance. It was well-paced, enchanting, and honestly made me swoon. I need a Nugau STAT. Also, I love timeline messiness in fiction, and this absolutely delivered on that front.

In short, a very good book with an excellent concept and heart. It just needed another pass. I still recommend it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 .5 (4.5 stars)

Moth Dark is unlike anything I’ve ever read — gorgeously strange, deeply emotional, and bursting with imagination. Kika Hatzopoulou creates a world where darkness isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a dimension of its own, teeming with life, magic, danger, and aching beauty. The concept of the Dark is one of the most captivating fantasy elements I’ve come across — richly built, mysterious, and wholly original. I was hooked immediately.

We follow Sascia, a girl endlessly curious about the Dark and all its secrets. Her pull toward it isn’t just fascination — it’s destiny. When she pulls a being from the shadows — Nugau, a genderfluid heir from the Darkworld — everything begins to unravel. Their timelines aren’t linear, their paths aren't clear, and the threads of love, memory, and war are so deeply entwined that you’re constantly wondering what’s real, what’s to come, and what’s already been lost.

The representation in this book is powerful and seamlessly woven. Gender, identity, and queerness are explored with depth and grace — not as a subplot or afterthought, but as the very soul of the story. Sascia and Nugau’s connection isn’t just romantic; it’s cosmic. Tender. Shattering.

I absolutely loved reading this book and enjoyed every second of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC!

It was already the case with her first duology: Kiki Hatzopoulou writes compelling stories, with true originality, led by strong yet realistic characters that you can't help but root for. fascinating universe. A true writer.

I really really wanted to love this book but I DNF I could not connect with the writing it doesn’t seem very easy or even fun to read .

There’s no introduction to characters or setting it seems smashed together


Maybe not vibe but I swear 4 chapters in I couldn’t do it to myself anymore

Moth Dark has me obsessed!
I devoured this like Mooch attacking a bag of chips.

If you’re into dark academia, time travel, and a dash of glorious fantasy, then I have your next read right here. Moth Dark is so unique and beautifully woven together, you'll be obsessed in no time.

I loved the intricate world building—the ambiance is darkly whimsical, pulling you into a setting that feels both magical and slightly eerie. I can not stress enough on how well Kika creates such immersive, atmospheric worlds filled with strange and beautiful nuances. I ate it up!

The clever and wonderfully messy main character had me rooting for them from the start, especially as they navigated their journey, from school and familia guilt to dangerous trials and swoony romance. All with their cute little moth companion by their side throughout. Let's here it for Mooch!

Okay we all love a bit of enemies-to-lovers, but sprinkle it with a bit of star-crossed romance and boom you've got a delightful tension that adds to the narrative. It is perfection. And I can not miss the absolute *chefs kiss* that is the gender fluid representation, how this was handled was beautiful, refreshing and genuine.

What really grabbed me were the shifting timelines and how they intertwined with the cosmic aspects of the story. It was like a beautiful tapestry of tangled love entwined with fate and friendship. The found family element is heartwarming, balancing out the darker moments perfectly.

If you enjoy immersive storytelling that leaves you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page, I'd highly recommend diving into this enchanting tale!
Go on, join me in my obsession, join me in The Dark, We have moth companions and munchies!

This was a purely cover request - look how beautiful it is!
I wasn't expecting an urban setting. But I loved how the worlds being the dark and the real worlds were brought together in this book.
Intrigued me right from the start, and I loved every minute of it!

Screaming If I could give this book 6 stars I would

- Moths
- Wiggly time
- Moths (yes it needed to be twice)
- Romance
- Queer rep
- Academia
- Magic
- Other world

If you ever read cruel prince and went what if it was more queer with more academia and moths look no further.

The Atmosphere

Remember the scenes in Avatar (blue people one) where they are walking through a forest of plants that light up that is the vibes I felt with this book. It feels like walk through a damp spring night, while moths and fairy lights trail around you. It is very atmospheric and makes me want to draw parts of this book.

The plot

I really enjoyed that I couldn't work out all the plot points of this book and that everything that happened by the end came back round and made so much sense. I really enjoyed the research, the adventure the trials and battles. There was friendship and romance and family dynamics. The dreams of the main characters and their failures bringing new dynamics and depth to the world is so refreshing.

"Like a Beetle you keep throwing yourself against the glass, again and again, instead of flying out the open window an inch to your right"

"Color Blooms as a Moth Feverishly flaps its wings"


Romance

There is both a main romance and side romances in this book I really enjoyed the queer reps in these and how the romance is a slow burn from hate to love by the end. Their romance although inevitable the twists and the ways it comes about and how they fall for each other had me on the edge of my seat.

Overall this book was perfect I have no notes and will be screaming at everyone I talk to to read this book. The only reason I didn't read this all in one day is I wanted to savour the experience of living in this magical world. Where the dark may hold secrets and dangers but also holds magic and survival.

Thank you so much to Penguin to allowing me to read this amazing book early in exchange for an honest review.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Absolutely loved this! Moth Dark was such a unique, atmospheric read — dark, magical, and totally immersive. The writing is stunning and moody in the best way, and I was completely drawn into the world from the very first page. The main character really stuck with me, and I loved how layered and mysterious everything felt without being confusing. It’s one of those books that makes you want to reread just to soak in all the details again. If you're into lush writing, shadows and secrets, and a story that pulls you under, this is for you. I’m still thinking about it!

The writing is so lush and moody,The romance? Yes, please. Nugau is such a fascinating figure: mysterious, dangerous, genderfluid elf royalty with timelines as twisted as our heroine’s. Reading their instant connection, meeting across time, I felt every heartbeat, every stolen glance, every shadowy secret. It’s the kind of book where your heart races, then aches, then soars.Sascia is such a compelling lead—curious, brave, and utterly human—even when the timelines are all tangled.

Definitely recommend this one!

When a blurb claims a book is for fans of Holly Black and Laini Taylor, I'm instantly hooked. As a huge fan of both, I immediately imagine colourful, magical worlds brimming with fae creatures and fantastic powers. Much to my joy, all of this is present in Moth Dark. But there's so much more to this story than that, explored in new and unique ways that had me gripped from the very first handful of chapters.

Full disclosure: I'm a massive kaiju girly. I adore monster movies; Godzilla is my spirit animal! So, imagine my absolute pleasure when I picked up a novel that not only scratched that itch but also indulged my love for faeries and magic!

Our lead, Sascia, has a passion for the Dark, something the majority of humans in this real-world setting are, quite rightly, terrified of. After all, giant, building-crushing monsters do tend to emerge from the rips in time and space it makes! But Sascia longs to explore the Dark. And oh, there is so much longing in this book for that.

And on that subject of longing; the slow burn of the romance is absolutely stunning. I'd personally describe Moth Dark as a fantasy-sci-fi crossover with a beautifully explored romantic subplot, rather than a straightforward romantasy. The exploration of this romance is particularly captivating. Without giving too many spoilers (it's on the book cover) Sascia's counterpart in this story is fae, where gender is fluid, and the author explores this wider theme incredibly well.

Unique, beautiful, powerful; Moth Dark was a difficult one to put down and return to real life. It had me longing to delve back into the Dark.