A review by whatthefridge
Moth by Lily Mayne

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I take back all my previous criticisms of this book. I think it's pretty much up there with doing a perfect job at what it sets out to do.

Charlie is a self-assured pansexual and also the least monsterfucker of the group. It’s fitting he ends up with the half-human, Moth. His extroversion is likely why he’s even friends with Hunter, and it’s no different with Moth, who’s also surly and quiet. Admittedly Charlie strikes me as the type to always try to deescalate conflicts instead of rising to them, so it mildly clashes with some of the descriptions that came from Hunter's book. However, I prefer this version, so I'll let it pass with just a side-glance. Charlie makes several attempts to be friendly with Moth, and eventually he has to confront Moth about why Moth is so prickly towards him. 

I feel bad for coming down hard on Moth in my initial read. He’s really interesting as a mixed species person, always on the outer fringe of both worlds. Edin is merely a casual acquaintance, and Ghost had been the first person to ever look at Moth without cringing away, causing Moth to become emotionally attached to him like, well, a moth to a flame. Moth being stuck with Charlie is the most socializing he’s probably done in his entire life. 

Moth covers up his incredible loneliness with a bravado that's surface-level to anyone who puts in any effort to push-back. He's initially jealous of Charlie for showing up at the Nebraska camp and being able to befriend everyone he meets. When it's time to go look for Cat, Moth is secretly angry at Charlie for coming with him because he feels like Charlie is doing it to be a Hero. Charlie squashes that assumption the first chance he gets.

Their journey through the Wastes is a slow build to them becoming closer. Moth has so many layers of trauma that Charlie has to be extra careful when dealing with him. Eventually, though, they admit they're attracted to one another and Charlie sets up a friends with benefits for situation for them that they’re both already too far gone for. 

Charlie's arc is about coming to terms with what he's going to do with life now that Hunter and Edin have their little paradise on the homestead. He feels like a third wheel to them, so that's what drives him to want to return to working for the military. Though he's taking every chance he can to delay that inevitability, which is how he ends up on the quest to get Cat back from prison. Charlie's plans are thrown out the window during his adventure with Moth when he personally experiences just how wretched the military really is. But he doesn't want to live at the Nebraska camp either. Meaning it's between going out alone into the Wastes.... or staying by Moth's side.

Having Moth’s POV throughout the story made it stronger, even if Charlie’s POV was used more often to keep suspense. Moth is what we in the fandom would call a woobie. He needs a hug, a blanket, and for his monster parent to be brutally murdered for the years of physical and emotional abuse. Everywhere Moth goes, people eye him with disgust and disdain. It's why he has no qualms about killing anyone who even vaguely bothers him. So although Moth eventually gaining a pet is a little too syrupy sweet for me, it's also a huge character development for him. 

I think the biggest highlight is the way Charlie is patient and understanding of Moth's many barriers to intimacy. It's like peeling an onion, and Charlie never gives up hope. He takes it slow, making sure Moth is always in control of the pace, and he always does his best to reassure Moth about any insecurities that pop up. This goes a long way to showing the growth of a relationship that's thoroughly earned. Charlie puts in the effort to care, and Moth returns the effort in kind. Their push and pull is realistic and compelling.
 
I usually have notes about things that irritated or confused me, but I have none here. It's why I decided to grace this book with 5 stars.

Edit: Ok I do have like two things bothering me, but they’re very minor. 
1) If Gloam knows many languages, he should have picked up on what Moth’s tattoos are saying, even if it’s in bits since Moth hides most of them
2) We never get Charlie confronting Wyn about where he was during the Chicago incident. 


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Review from my first-time read:

I’ve been bouncing back and forth about how I feel about this book. 

On one hand, I’m really happy to finally get to know Charlie because he was severely underdeveloped in Hunter’s story. I can finally see why they’re friends, and Charlie is very much the sort of outgoing extrovert who’d fit with an antisocial introvert like Moth. 

On the other hand, I’m kind of lukewarm on Moth. He’s like if Wyn had the emotional maturity of a teenager and also carried Daddy Issues. I don’t particularly dislike Moth, but considering the breadth of characters across this series, it’s the first time I’m like “this is a repeat.” That’s particularly true for Moth’s anatomy, which, again, is similar to Wyn’s. 

Overall the story is solid though. The emotional beats were all there. I enjoyed the sex scenes. I’ll be really sad when I run out of books to read. 
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