Original post by Radzy
http://www.vainradical.co.uk/blogs/son-of-the-moon-blog-blitz/
Thank you, Em, for a wonderful review and blog post!
Em's Review (c) Radzy
Son of the Moon is the third book in the Legends of Persia series. If you haven’t read the previous two, then I encourage you to start there. This should not be read as a standalone, but I will give you a quick review on that first book as well, and then tell you when to go grab yourself a copy:
The Legends of Persia series begins with Road to Alexander, where Ashley, one of the luckiest journalists in the 30thcentury. She’s been chosen out of many as the one that year who will travel back to her selected time to interview a great figure from time. She’s chosen Alexander the Great, a lifelong passion of hers. She only gets 24 hours, and in that time cannot say who she is, or alter history in any way, shape, or form, else she’ll be erased from time.
Upon arriving, she tells the guards in Alexander’s camp she’s been sent to analyse the king’s dreams, taking advantage of the fact he is fascinated by dreams, and she gets in with ease. Her interview, however, turns from mostly unsuccessful, to catastrophic when after she leaves to return to her own time, Alexander ‘rescues her’: under the guise she’s truly Persephone, daughter of Demeter and goddess of Spring, being captured by her husband Hades. For Ashley, this is both devastating and awakening. She’s in love with her saviour, and doesn’t belong in her time, but like the King Damocles, there’s a sword over her head. One step out of line, one mention of her in a history book, and she’s erased from existence.
From that moment, the novel takes place over the first year to two years of Ashley’s time in the ancient world and her newfound relationship with the King of Heaven and Earth. While giving the reader a vivid sense of the time, the people, the author is also meticulously careful to ensure the reader is aware of both the hardships of living in a time pre modern medicine or acceptance the earth is round, as well as the difficulties of feeling out of place. There are stunning moments where both Ashley and Alexander must learn to be around one another. He’s short tempered, loves hard, and never says anything he doesn’t mean, but through that is deeply dedicated to those he cares for. She’s a product of her time, quick to speak, but fearlessly in love with both Alexander and his cause… a recipe for a deep, passionate romance that is only hindered by her secrets. Most of the population believes wholeheartedly she’s a goddess however… which makes life interesting but allows Ashley to hide under the rouse and protect herself from her time.
The novel is written in first person, with Ashley narrating. Everything is from her perspective, without deviation. Typically, I gravitate towards third person, but it’s obvious this work wouldn’t be as captivating in anything other than first, or with a different narrator. Ashley is a scholar, and a journalist, and how she perceives the world is true to that background.
I’d also like to point out here that this is not a fantasy novel. It doesn’t claim to be, but it’d be easy to assume in a time of gods and goddesses that there might be aspects. This is a sci-fi in the most honest sense of the genre, but it’s also a well curated historical fiction. It’s a romance as well, I suppose, but I’d take that term loosely as far as the genre as a whole is concerned. There isn’t the painfully predictable plot line, and while there is a lot of sex, that is a product of the time, not to get your rocks off.
Another thing I’d like to point out is that it’s obvious a lot of work has gone into this novel. From the very minute details, to the world as a whole. An example of this is when Ashley first arrives, she greedily sucks in the fresh, unpolluted air. That spoke volumes to me.
Something I truly adored about this novel, and the series as a whole, is that while Ashley keeps her truth secret, the genuine love in all senses between the characters is honest. This is a time where modern ideologies mean nothing, and comradery and what the heart yearns for is all that matters. It’s a surprisingly more peaceful, truthful time, and the author captures this effortlessly.
This novel, and series as a whole, is for those people who grew up with a passion for the ancient world, and always wondered what it’d be like to be given the opportunity to go back. It’s for those of us with a yearning for a simpler time, but then takes that nostalgia and emphasises the comfort of our modern world has made us both soft, and indifferent to pain.
If you’re interested in reading this novel, I highly recommend you do.
Now, if you’re new to the series, head off now, as I’m going to get into my review for the third novel.
Son of the Moon takes place directly after the events of the second novel, as the army have arrived in the Valley of the Gods on the search for Paul, before they head into India for the final stretch of Alexander’s campaign. Ashley is counting down the months she has left with her king and must make some painful decisions over the course of this novel, the most heart wrenching being whether she can live in a world without Alexander. What she’ll do, only she can decide, but in the meantime, she must exist, love, and be the valiant goddess her people believe she is.
There are powerful moments within this novel, the one which comes to mind being the aftermath of the fortress Alexander and his men conquer before they leave the valley. I won’t get into exacts, but the scene, the pain, and the hopelessness left me hollow. I had to close the book to come to terms with the events before I could continue. I’m an emotional person, and the author creates vivid, all-encompassing moments, where as a reader, all you can do is experience. This series is for people who want to feel things, to learn, and to walk away with a new outlook on the world. Yes the 330BC’s are tough, but they’re also pure, and it becomes more apparent as the series continues that the author wants us to be aware of our indifference to others and our environment. That scene hurt, but there are so many other exquisite moments where one or two lines will make you stop and think, hurt, or feel true joy. And though these novels take place over great swathes of time, each scene is captivating and meaningful.
Truly, and I don’t say this often, I’m madly in love with this series, and the testaments to that are the very real tears I shed after the valley, the weight I felt knowing alongside Ashley the end was coming, and the fact I had sleepless nights reading this series. I’ve seen more dawns reading these books than I ever have with someone else’s work, and as soon as I can, I will be getting paperback copies for my collection.
But let me get into some thoughts on the style, as my love doesn’t always mean you’ll be as captivated.
The novel, exactly as the first and second, is written in first person, exclusively narrated by Ashley as if she’s telling you the story after everything’s done and said. She’s not a reliable narrator, but she’s fair, honest, and depicts everything as she experienced it. There are moments where it’s obvious we’re being told the story, such as in moments where she’s asleep but finishes the scene without being able to know that’s what happened, but as a whole, it’s easy to get sucked into the moments.
Every character is vivid, with unique personalities true to their upbringings, time, and beliefs. The author has clearly devoted time to research and development, and this especially rings true with characters such as Plexis. He’s a free spirit, but over the course of the plot, grows and changes. They all do. From the second novel, continuing in this one, there’s a comfortable eb and flow amongst the characters. Their relationships and how they interact are established but change as anything would. For the third in a series, this is satisfying, and actually more enjoyable than perhaps the third, as there is that set-in stone background we have to build from.
There are unsatisfying moments as well, as there is with anything, but I can’t get into them without spoiling the plot. I will tell you this though – everything is done with reason and explained well. There aren’t loose ends here, which is all we can ask for as readers.
If you’ve read the first two books, and are considering getting this as well, please do. This series is getting better and better as it goes on.
The Blurb
Son of the Moon
Alexander the Great journeys to India, where he and Ashley are welcomed with feasts and treachery.
With their son, Paul, being worshiped as the Son of the Moon, and Alexander’s looming death, Ashley considers the unthinkable: how to save them and whether she dares to cheat Fate?
Purchase Link:
http://getbook.at/SonOfTheMoon
https://accentpressbooks.com/collections/historical-romance/products/son-of-the-moon
