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amenalf53's review against another edition
5.0
A Book to Remember
I read a lot of fantasy books, and they don’t usually stick in my memory. But this is certainly one to remember. From the spirituality to the vivid emotion to the original storytelling... it was an amazing and enjoyable read. So good that I’ll have to buy the book so I can re-read repeatedly.
Some critiques:
— the spirituality was a bit on the nose, I thought, a little presumptuous in its description. But still uplifting and well depicted. I would only say: 1000 years of history does NOT make sense, timeline-wise.
— there is clear and heavy Lord of the Rings inspiration going on here. Moon medallion, the Nyght, Tertorem itself, the Unseen... it’s actually quite obvious and quite extensive. Yet, at the same time, the author manages to put their own spin and keep it fresh. That takes quite a bit of skill.
— Finally, it’s mentioned that Tellie helps Errance out in fighting the evil. This is a loose end that should have been addressed more.
— The character development did not feel rushed at all, and the length of the book suited the plot.
— I also really enjoyed the focus on siblinghood, love of country and king, and (best of all) fatherly love. I appreciated how Errance’s salvation came from the love of a father and the love of a sister. Three cheers for a fantasy that wasn’t a romance!
I look forward to the next book in the series!
I read a lot of fantasy books, and they don’t usually stick in my memory. But this is certainly one to remember. From the spirituality to the vivid emotion to the original storytelling... it was an amazing and enjoyable read. So good that I’ll have to buy the book so I can re-read repeatedly.
Some critiques:
— the spirituality was a bit on the nose, I thought, a little presumptuous in its description. But still uplifting and well depicted. I would only say: 1000 years of history does NOT make sense, timeline-wise.
— there is clear and heavy Lord of the Rings inspiration going on here. Moon medallion, the Nyght, Tertorem itself, the Unseen... it’s actually quite obvious and quite extensive. Yet, at the same time, the author manages to put their own spin and keep it fresh. That takes quite a bit of skill.
— Finally, it’s mentioned that Tellie helps Errance out in fighting the evil. This is a loose end that should have been addressed more.
— The character development did not feel rushed at all, and the length of the book suited the plot.
— I also really enjoyed the focus on siblinghood, love of country and king, and (best of all) fatherly love. I appreciated how Errance’s salvation came from the love of a father and the love of a sister. Three cheers for a fantasy that wasn’t a romance!
I look forward to the next book in the series!
lisamleb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
joybookish's review against another edition
4.0
I received a digital ARC from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
"Here she stood at the threshold of a future greater than she ever imagined, and now she felt afraid."
The general plot of this book was interesting and inviting. By the end of the prologue, the rich language and twists had me floored and ready to read more. Overall, this was a good book that read at a middle-grade level. Anyone looking to dip their toes into fantasy stories, specifically about elves, would do fine here.
"For where Darkness and soul meet...hell is born."
I did have a few concerns while reading: language, conflict, and characters. Being a minor concern, I felt the prologue and first chapter was written with rich language, then everything after dropped to a middle-grade level. I think either is fine for the story, but one should have been picked. Next, conflict. Throughout the story, I felt the conflict was very simple and was resolved very easily for the characters. I never felt that delicious tension you get in a conflict-ridden story. And finally, I felt the characters were a little flat. Aside from the Prince, I knew very little about what the main characters were motivated by. All their personalities also seemed to run together.
All that being said, I don't think this impeded the enjoyment of the story. If someone was reading from a middle-grade lense, I would say all of the above is perfectly fine. If you're looking for young adult like it seems to be marked, though, then we have some improvements to make.
I leave my rating as a middle-grade level, where I enjoyed the book the most.
"Here she stood at the threshold of a future greater than she ever imagined, and now she felt afraid."
The general plot of this book was interesting and inviting. By the end of the prologue, the rich language and twists had me floored and ready to read more. Overall, this was a good book that read at a middle-grade level. Anyone looking to dip their toes into fantasy stories, specifically about elves, would do fine here.
"For where Darkness and soul meet...hell is born."
I did have a few concerns while reading: language, conflict, and characters. Being a minor concern, I felt the prologue and first chapter was written with rich language, then everything after dropped to a middle-grade level. I think either is fine for the story, but one should have been picked. Next, conflict. Throughout the story, I felt the conflict was very simple and was resolved very easily for the characters. I never felt that delicious tension you get in a conflict-ridden story. And finally, I felt the characters were a little flat. Aside from the Prince, I knew very little about what the main characters were motivated by. All their personalities also seemed to run together.
All that being said, I don't think this impeded the enjoyment of the story. If someone was reading from a middle-grade lense, I would say all of the above is perfectly fine. If you're looking for young adult like it seems to be marked, though, then we have some improvements to make.
I leave my rating as a middle-grade level, where I enjoyed the book the most.
miathebooknerd's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
carina_shephard's review against another edition
5.0
6 stars // read May 2021 // it's currently on sale, guys!
*takes a deep breath*
Wow.
So... two of my favorite authors recommended this book, and I've heard people gushing about it, and have you seen that stunning cover? Yet somehow still I wasn't prepared for how truly beautiful and amazing this book was.
I laughed. I cried.
The writing itself was perfection, smooth and descriptive yet concise. Sometimes books that deal with the Darkness (even when there's some hope thrown in) make me feel dirty and depressed at the end, yet that was not the case here. The characters were alive and real and unique. The interactions and dialogue between characters was genuine. It made me laugh when Errance was caught off guard by something one of the kids would say. The worldbuilding was fascinating and original.
The best kind of books are the ones where, even though we walk in another's shoes and live in a different world, we come from that experience renewed and reminded and changed for the better. Moonscript was that kind of book to me.
Content: Mainly due to descriptions of a tortured character, this would probably be best for readers 14/15+.
If you liked Moonscript, you may also like The Ilyon Chronicles, by Jaye L. Knight.
*takes a deep breath*
Wow.
So... two of my favorite authors recommended this book, and I've heard people gushing about it, and have you seen that stunning cover? Yet somehow still I wasn't prepared for how truly beautiful and amazing this book was.
I laughed. I cried.
The writing itself was perfection, smooth and descriptive yet concise. Sometimes books that deal with the Darkness (even when there's some hope thrown in) make me feel dirty and depressed at the end, yet that was not the case here. The characters were alive and real and unique. The interactions and dialogue between characters was genuine. It made me laugh when Errance was caught off guard by something one of the kids would say. The worldbuilding was fascinating and original.
The best kind of books are the ones where, even though we walk in another's shoes and live in a different world, we come from that experience renewed and reminded and changed for the better. Moonscript was that kind of book to me.
Content: Mainly due to descriptions of a tortured character, this would probably be best for readers 14/15+.
If you liked Moonscript, you may also like The Ilyon Chronicles, by Jaye L. Knight.
the_bookish_raven's review
5.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. At first, this book was quite slow and the switching perspectives combined with the flood of information made my head spin. For the first several chapters, I had to force myself through it. However, it suddenly changed. Once I got past my initial issues with this book, I found myself completely entranced by it. It has a similar feeling to the Lord of the Rings series in some ways. The characters were such a ragtag bunch and I loved them all the more because of it. I often found myself laughing out loud at their interactions. The author has truly done a magnificent job. She created a vast and complex world, with perfectly imperfect characters, and a tale of adventure that continually left me wondering what would happen next. I wasn't expecting that I would even be shipping people as much as I was! Plus, the book was completely clean and wholesome, something that is lacking these days. While the story was a tale of adventure, love, hardship, and endurance, it also contained so many wisdoms and truths within it's pages. I was left awestruck at how this simple story turned into something so much more for me and probably several other readers as well. When I finally reached the end, I was devastated. I hope to read the rest of the series when they become available! Please do yourself a favor and read this book!
faiththompson416's review
4.0
ARGH THIS WAS JUST...QUALITY LITERATURE.
Yep, I said literature. This was something special. A high fantasy unlike many I've ever read. It was beautiful, the descriptions transcendent, the story itself gorgeous. I fell in love with this story.
The characters in particular helped make this novel beautiful. I initially thought this would be more like HSJ Williams' debut novella, Fairest Son, but NOT AT ALL, MY DUDES. That novella was excellent and powerful, but this one just...excelled it on so many levels.
-Our young heroine, Tellie, is just a pure little cinnamon roll of precious faith and courage. I loved her arc, her realization that even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
-Kelm had the smallest role, imo, but I love him too. So cute, so smol.
-Tryss's arc was also inspiring, although I feel like it has a ton of room to develop in the sequels. She was beautiful and her courage was so admirable. I loved her shapeshifting abilities and I would love to see moooooore of them!!!
-Errance. Oh my goodness, where even to start? He broke my heart, but then it got put back together by the end, and just...argh. The anger, the defiance, the strength...but then his brokenness, and his trauma, and it all just hURT ME SO MUCH. Beautiful. Just beautiful.
-Coren and Zizain! I ADORED THEM!
-The minor characters toooooo I just love them allllllllll
This book was just...beautiful and I loved it so much *sobs*
Yep, I said literature. This was something special. A high fantasy unlike many I've ever read. It was beautiful, the descriptions transcendent, the story itself gorgeous. I fell in love with this story.
The characters in particular helped make this novel beautiful. I initially thought this would be more like HSJ Williams' debut novella, Fairest Son, but NOT AT ALL, MY DUDES. That novella was excellent and powerful, but this one just...excelled it on so many levels.
-Our young heroine, Tellie, is just a pure little cinnamon roll of precious faith and courage. I loved her arc, her realization that even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
-Kelm had the smallest role, imo, but I love him too. So cute, so smol.
-Tryss's arc was also inspiring, although I feel like it has a ton of room to develop in the sequels. She was beautiful and her courage was so admirable. I loved her shapeshifting abilities and I would love to see moooooore of them!!!
-Errance. Oh my goodness, where even to start? He broke my heart, but then it got put back together by the end, and just...argh. The anger, the defiance, the strength...but then his brokenness, and his trauma, and it all just hURT ME SO MUCH. Beautiful. Just beautiful.
-Coren and Zizain! I ADORED THEM!
-The minor characters toooooo I just love them allllllllll
This book was just...beautiful and I loved it so much *sobs*
hjrey's review
3.0
"He is merely a man. A mortal vessel. And those easily die."
About: Seventy years ago a young elf prince ventured into a human town, curious, and looking for adventure. He never returned. Thought to be dead by his people, Errance has been trapped in Darkness and tormented beyond recognition. But an unlikely saviour is coming for him. Tellie might be human, she might be an orphan, and she might not fully understand the significance of the moon medallion she comes across, but she's about to be given a task even her wildest dreams couldn't make up.
The Good
There are some really beautiful descriptions and fantastical ideas in this novel. It's very reminiscent of C. S. Lewis or Michael Ende in the sense of adventure and the religious goodness that's poured into the prose. We get a lot of dream sequences that are actually interesting to read as they aren't strictly just dreams and I liked that blurring of the realities. The characters are sweet and it was all too easy to get swept away into this world of mystical beings and the quest to save a prince. A novel should transport you and this one does.
The Bad
The stakes in this novel are often brought down by the lack of consequences and character reactions to events. For example, when Tellie is captured by The Darkness and rotting away in a cell, possibly awaiting torture or death, she is incensed not by the situation but by hearing swear words. Or when asked how the journey has been so far, Kelm answers that it's been super exciting and wonderous. These things really lower the stakes as it makes it feel as though being captured or chased by murderers and servants of His Darkness, doesn't actually matter. They really don't experience any suffering, at least not what you would expect them to have to deal with given how many times they are captured or in dangerous situations. So while characters might feel fear from time to time, they are too protected for the reader to fear for them.
The Somewhat Iffy
There's a lot of head hopping so we get to experience pretty much what every character is feeling and that can take away the mystery sometimes. There was also a sense of wrapping up character emotions a little too cleanly. Everyone was being partnered up by the end of the novel and the set up leading to these couplings felt a little forced, or I suppose left no room for it to be any other way so there were no surprises.
Overall
Being Middle Grade, there is a definite wholesomeness to the characters and the adventure is more of an emotional journey than one of true peril. It's a beautiful world and a nod to the more traditional fantasy novels of the past.
About: Seventy years ago a young elf prince ventured into a human town, curious, and looking for adventure. He never returned. Thought to be dead by his people, Errance has been trapped in Darkness and tormented beyond recognition. But an unlikely saviour is coming for him. Tellie might be human, she might be an orphan, and she might not fully understand the significance of the moon medallion she comes across, but she's about to be given a task even her wildest dreams couldn't make up.
The Good
There are some really beautiful descriptions and fantastical ideas in this novel. It's very reminiscent of C. S. Lewis or Michael Ende in the sense of adventure and the religious goodness that's poured into the prose. We get a lot of dream sequences that are actually interesting to read as they aren't strictly just dreams and I liked that blurring of the realities. The characters are sweet and it was all too easy to get swept away into this world of mystical beings and the quest to save a prince. A novel should transport you and this one does.
The Bad
The stakes in this novel are often brought down by the lack of consequences and character reactions to events. For example, when Tellie is captured by The Darkness and rotting away in a cell, possibly awaiting torture or death, she is incensed not by the situation but by hearing swear words. Or when asked how the journey has been so far, Kelm answers that it's been super exciting and wonderous. These things really lower the stakes as it makes it feel as though being captured or chased by murderers and servants of His Darkness, doesn't actually matter. They really don't experience any suffering, at least not what you would expect them to have to deal with given how many times they are captured or in dangerous situations. So while characters might feel fear from time to time, they are too protected for the reader to fear for them.
The Somewhat Iffy
There's a lot of head hopping so we get to experience pretty much what every character is feeling and that can take away the mystery sometimes. There was also a sense of wrapping up character emotions a little too cleanly. Everyone was being partnered up by the end of the novel and the set up leading to these couplings felt a little forced, or I suppose left no room for it to be any other way so there were no surprises.
Overall
Being Middle Grade, there is a definite wholesomeness to the characters and the adventure is more of an emotional journey than one of true peril. It's a beautiful world and a nod to the more traditional fantasy novels of the past.
olivia_godfrey's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lovefromhannah's review
4.0
You can read my full review on my blog
Moonscript is the first book of Williams’ that I have read, and after reading this, it certainly won’t be the last! It’s magical, heart wrenching, descriptive and elves — it is everything I didn’t realise I needed.
Thank you to the author for allowing me onto their blog tour! It's been a blast!
---
Moonscript is easily comparable with your extremely hyped fae fantasy favourites! (wow that’s kind of a tongue twister to say!) Yes, I know that Moonscript focuses around elves but OH MY is it just as riveting as Sarah J. Maas’, Holly Black’s and many others’ works.
Initially concealed in mystery and seventy years of suffering, I realised that Errance is a character I would give my life for. You know those characters that hold a really special place within your heart? Yeah, he was one of them.
The magic of prose and the beauty of the descriptive is something that I aspire to have in my own projects. Right from the beginning, the prose shone true. The descriptive is unlike something that I had encountered before and it made this whole story that bit more vivid.
Moonscript is the first book of Williams’ that I have read, and after reading this, it certainly won’t be the last! It’s magical, heart wrenching, descriptive and elves — it is everything I didn’t realise I needed.
Thank you to the author for allowing me onto their blog tour! It's been a blast!
---
Moonscript is easily comparable with your extremely hyped fae fantasy favourites! (wow that’s kind of a tongue twister to say!) Yes, I know that Moonscript focuses around elves but OH MY is it just as riveting as Sarah J. Maas’, Holly Black’s and many others’ works.
Initially concealed in mystery and seventy years of suffering, I realised that Errance is a character I would give my life for. You know those characters that hold a really special place within your heart? Yeah, he was one of them.
The magic of prose and the beauty of the descriptive is something that I aspire to have in my own projects. Right from the beginning, the prose shone true. The descriptive is unlike something that I had encountered before and it made this whole story that bit more vivid.