Moody Box Fan Books, $0.99, ISBN 978-1-7334803-0-7
Fantasy Romance, 2019
Oh my, how did I let something with such a gorgeous cover languish in my absurdly huge pile of unread stuff for so long? This I have to make time to read at once, and… oh my.
I believe I have made it well known that I am a sucker for stories with moody fairy tale-like atmosphere. I was a fan of the fantasy genre before I discovered romance back in the dark ages, and it was Betina Lindsey’s fantasy romance Swan Witch that made me dip my toes into romance before I realize what I had gotten myself into.
Joshua Ian’s The Harvest Moon is similarly steeped in evocative atmosphere of magic and whimsy, and I find myself enchanted by it from start to finish.
Malcolm, a toff, is feeling the weight of marrying, begetting an heir, and other nobleman-ly concerns when he stops by a village one evening. There, he encounters Daniel, a handsome young lad, with whom he forms a connection that culminates in a night of passion.
Alas, the post-coital bliss is rudely interrupted when Daniel experiences what seems like a tad overly histrionic breakdown and forces Malcolm to leave. Oh dear, was the sex that bad?
When Malcolm tries to locate Daniel again, he fails to find that fellow. Instead, he learns that Daniel’s disappearance, perhaps his very existence, is linked to a local, rather disturbing folk tale that may be more real than anyone would expect…
Okay, this one is definitely not perfect. The two men fall way too quickly to be believable, and there isn’t much room for proper character development here.
Indeed, I have a feeling that I wouldn’t mind to keep reading had this one been longer, especially if the mystery and the myth around the Daniel had been fleshed out better, and the two men embarked on a longer quest to get things right. Instead, the denouement and the resolution for a happy ending here can feel very rushed.
However, the author also captures perfectly the fantasy of lost souls connecting on one enchanted evening. The phraseology, the set up, and the pacing all make this a gorgeous quick little vicarious escapade into a place that is foreboding yet beautiful and eerie. I suppose it’s like a bardcore interpretation of REO Speedwagon’s One Lonely Light.
I’ve had a great time reading this, and I also have to say, this is a remarkable last line for this story, or any story for the matter.
And if no one was near he might lift that same hand and bless it with a kiss.
I waver between give three and four oogies for this one, as the nitpick part of me is quick to point out that this story could be developed more and perhaps four oogies is too generous a score. Still, Christmas is just around the corner, so what the heck, this is a time to be giving, no? This one hits the feels in every best of ways, so four oogies do feel right.
