Eleanor is chosen for a rite she wants no part in.
Following the tragedy that unfolds, she finds herself trapped in a world of heartbreak, lies, and betrayal, with vengeance her only ally.
Cold Moon is the prequel to Cursed Heir, which is a new dark fantasy romance series based on moon mythology and pagan folklore.
Please note this book ends in a cliffhanger, as it sets up the world you'll discover in the first book of the series. Readers are also encouraged to read the list of triggers inside the opening pages.
Corina Douglas lives in New Zealand with her husband and four kids. If she's not running her indie editing business, Burning Legacies Publishing, she can be found exploring the forest, doing that stretchy yoga thing, or with her nose in a good book.
She writes dark fantasy romance stories based on Celtic mythology, with a special focus on Scottish, Irish, and Welsh folklore. Her stories are full of emotional punch, fast-paced action, and morally grey heroes.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is my first book by Corina Douglas, though I have more in my TBR list. Going to try to keep this review spoiler free
First off, read the trigger warnings. If you can get past the trigger warnings, I found this to be an excellent novella. And it has me excited to read the series that follows this prequel. It could use a little more editing, as I found an added word here and there, and the use of “self-hated” when it probably should have been “self-hatred”.
The story follows Eleanor and the atrocities committed against her. You can feel her pain and suffering, and I was with her 100% in her need for vengeance. I hope to see all those who abused her get their comeuppance. I can’t wait to see how the story continues in the first book of the series.
Eleanor is acolyte of the Celtic Welsh goddess Arianrhod. She has one purpose and one purpose only, to be chosen worthy enough to breed. Something tells me she won’t go down that easy!
All I have to say is…YES, I could not put it down. I wanted this ARC so badly and I am so happy that I was chosen to be one of the first to read it. Being Pagan myself, I was PUMPED. The story and the set up for the first book is executed to perfection. It’s a short read but it packs a punch. I’m incredibly excited for the first book in the series to come out and I will be pre ordering it FAST when the time comes. I can’t wait to see what’s in store next in Eleanor’s journey!!! I will definitely be checking out more books by Corina Douglas in the future and I encourage you to do the same!
“Eleanor could only hope the goddess understood her anger and watched over her tonight.”
Wow! An excellent preface to Corina Douglas’ new series.
Cold Moon is the prequel novel to an upcoming dark romantasy series involving folklore, divinity, and what are sure to be some badass main characters. Instantly captivated by the story of Eleanor, an acolyte who is forced into a nightmarish fate, I found myself both heartbroken and inspired by the end of this introductory story to a new fantasy world.
Although this is the first book I have read by Corina Douglas, it will not be the last! Highly recommend adding the Cursed Heir series to your TBR list for the new year.
Just wow! Corina did it again. To bring characters to life the way she does is absolutely incredible. The character development, storytelling, and make you absolutely fall in love with them (and hate a few) is beyond comprehension.
Eleanor, an acolyte for goddess Arianrhod, was chosen for a ritual which she was not given a choice. While the ritual was to be performed, circumstances changed and her choices were taken away from her again.
Dawn Palace was her home and prison, however Eleanor did not let her anger go, which she seizes the opportunity to cast her curse.
To know more about the story and what happens, definitely read this amazing book. Strong FMC, curse, rituals, children, acolytes, warewolves, vampires, and many more magical creatures.
Thank you to Corina Douglas and her team for choosing me to be an ARC reader for this prequel!
I think the writing and world building in this book was phenomenal but what really kept me hooked was the characters and how relatable Eleanor was and how she didn’t let people step all over her and wanted her vengeance.
I will say there are a couple grammar and punctuation mistakes along with sentences that just don’t sound right but all of those things can be fixed with a little editing and don’t effect the story much at all.
I definitely intend on reading more of Corina’s books and I can’t wait for the first book in the series to come out. I hope I’m one of the first to read it!
One last little thing, if you plan on reading this novella please check the trigger warnings as there are some very graphic things that happen in this book and most of it start right from the beginning.
Cold Moon is the prequel to this new series, Cursed Heir, and introduces us to the chosen Eleanor, the Kingdom of Solis, and a goddess linked to the moon. Through following Eleanor in the present, with glimpses into her past, we learn of this new world and, with a cliffhanger, put this book down eager for Book 1. I thought I would be disappointed with a cliff hanger ending (as I was asking myself, why are you doing this to yourself again?!?), but it was a great intro and just left me happily waiting for the next part in this story.
As a reader of the Daughter of Winter series, I loved entering this new world which is based in moon mythology and pagan folklore. The story built rather effortlessly, while always having me question "what is she going to do next?". No really, give me Book 1 so I can find out!
Exciting prequel to Corina Douglas’ new series! It gave me Handmaids Tales vibes which I absolutely loved. The cliffhanger at the end left me wanting more! If you love stories with vampires, werewolves, fae, morally grey heroes, strong female heroines, and enemies-to-lovers tropes, this will be the series for you.
*Definitely look at the trigger warnings before reading.*
I’m excited to read more of this series!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
"Cold Moon: A Mesmerizing Prequel to an Enchanting World"
Cold Moon unveils a world brimming with enchantment, folklore, where magic thrives, and destinies unfold in mesmerizing detail.
As the story unfolds we find Eleanor torn between her mate and her future - The Cold Moon ritual.
As she watches the fate of her mate unfold before her eyes, her life no longer matters to her … or so she thinks. She finds herself trapped in a world she doesn’t understand.
Eleanor, whose compelling backstory intricately weaves through the narrative. Her journey captivates, offering a poignant glimpse into her past, illuminating her present, and hinting at an intriguing future.
Will this help her in her quest
Looking forward to starting the next book in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was given the chance to arc read this book. I walked in not knowing what I was about to read.
I don't do spoilers
This was such a good prequel written very well and yet not too much detail. It leaves you hanging and wanting more. I love where this series is going to go and cannot wait to read the rest.
Very good story showing the strength of a woman taking her own destiny in to her hands.
There are some triggers of SA and grape so please be aware before reading.
A short prequel that is captivating as it is tragic. It really sucked me into the world and set up a series beautifully. I’m very interested to see how the series and characters develop. I do wish it had been a bit longer since I read the entire piece in an hour. Also, since it is my first time reading a book based on Scottish/Irish/Welsh folklore I would’ve liked to have a pronunciation guide from the author on the names of the Gods and locations but not necessarily a significant deterrent.
I was gifted the chance to receive an ARC of this book, and I am so thankful I did! For the first two pages I was completely hooked. The first few chapters were great, but then the book took an unexpected turn at the end that had me going “Say what?!” I cannot wait to continue this series!
I have not read other texts by this author (yet - adding to TBR now!) but I love her style and the elements contained in this story. Of course, check trigger warnings, but if you are a fan of moon lore, crystals, spells, magic, ritual, etc., this is right up your alley!!
“…Power. Eleanor did not want, along with the position she’d been chosen for.”
Cold Moon is the prequel to a Dark Fantasy Romance series following Eleanor, an acolyte chosen by the High Priestesses/Oracle to complete the rite of the Cold Moon for the Welsh Moon Goddess Arianrhod to ensure healthy crops and child births in their kingdom. Eleanor already has a mate and now has been chosen to live with the Crown Prince for a year to produce an heir after completing the Rite of the Cold Moon.
This prequel was a great read, what little we have learned of Eleanor’s story is already full of tragedy and strength. I couldn’t help by tear up a bit at how hard her life has been but UGH am I excited to see what she does or where she goes from here.
If you’re looking for a FMC that will SPEAK HER MIND, Eleanor may be the character for you.
I mean look at this:
“I have a name! I came from a home! I had a family- I had a mate! I am not a slave! I am not your concubine and I DO NOT CHOOSE THIS!”
Girly’s got some FIGHT, and I’m here for it. I was yelling right along with her.
I’m excited to see where Eleanor’s story goes and if you’re looking for a great introduction into a new Dark Fantasy Romance, I recommend Cold Moon!
Spice Level: 3/5 for the prequel, be sure to check trigger warnings!
I really enjoyed this book. It was a super fast read, about 90 pages, and is jam packed with all the goodies you could want in a dark fantasy romance novel. This is a prequel to The Cursed Heir series which has its first book coming out in 2024. This is also my first book I have read with “trigger warnings”! I will say that there is one character in this book that I wholeheartedly disliked, because she is absolutely evil, but that is par for the course. She plays a huge part in Elenor’s backstory and therefore is kind of needed. I am impressed at how much depth Corina was able to write into Elenor’s character with so little pages to do so. This is a very short book that packs a huge punch! I cannot wait dig into the rest of this series. I loved Corina’s writing style and I will definitely be reading her other works.
I didn’t know what to expect going into this novella. I heard it was a fantasy book including the moon and witchy feeling topics so I decided to apply.
Given the ending I am so excited to read the rest of the series when it comes out. I thought it was written very well and each character seems so interesting. The first two books are about the second and first son respectively. I hope we also learn about Eleanor and what happened to Cheryl. It’ll also be fun to see the differences in how the two sons grow up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Okay, this dark little fantasy with pagan mythology, moon lore, witch lore and mystical creatures, has me NEEDING the next book!!
She’s chosen for a rite that she wants no part in and her people literally force her in it and into the next year of her life and she has absolutely no say whatsoever.
She only has to make it a year & then she can choose to survive in a different way.. but everything changes right at the last minute! 😱😱
It’s dark, it’s brutal and it’s so good you have to know what happens next!
It's a fast read, but it goes from zero to omg my eyebrows are shooting up, in no time! And I'm not talking about just spice, it's a little spicy, but this was more about feeling the emotional roller coaster Eleanor, the main character, goes through. You can't help but be in it with her. It's tragic and beautiful, and I especially recommend it for my witchy babes out there. There's a nice cliffhanger/twist at the end that sets up the series nicely. 👌
This book is a quick read but draws you into the story quickly. As a prequel it does the job of world building without being overwhelming or a long winded info dump. The story definitely leaves you anticipating the next book and guarantees that your interest is peaked. I can’t wait for the next book to release! I received this ebook in exchange for a review but would have read it anyway because I enjoy Corina Douglas’ writing style and Scottish folk lore re-tellings. All opinions are my own.
I received this book as an ARC. I really enjoyed it. It is a prequel and a quick read. It’s hard to put down.
We follow Eleanor who must complete her duty as an acolyte for a moon goddess. She is forced to leave her life as she knew it and fight for her freedom.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series. I was warned about the cliffhanger (thank you Corina 🤣), but it’s still going to be a hard wait! Come on 2024!
Receiving an ARC of "Cold Moon" from Corina Douglas was an incredible privilege that made my day. Corina's tips on applying for ARCs were invaluable, and her personal touch made me feel genuinely special and welcomed.
As someone new to Corina Douglas's work, "Cold Moon" served as a captivating introduction. It effortlessly immersed me in the world of the upcoming series, "Cursed Heir." Now, my TBR list is expanding to include more of her books.
The prequel, set in the kingdom of Solis and linked to Moon mythology and pagan folklore, held my attention with its unique world-building. The chosen Eleanor and the goddess tied to the moon add layers of intrigue, leaving me eagerly anticipating the first book in the series.
For those seeking a fresh fantasy series for the new year, I highly recommend adding "Cursed Heir" to your TBR list. Happy reading!
I went into this novella blind and holy hell… I was sucked right in! Great short story, and a great start to this series. And that cliffhanger?? I knew there was going to be one and I still wasn’t prepared lol I’M DYING to know what happened to Eleanor, Eleanor’s sister, Prince Tarik, and the second born son.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was lucky to be accepted to be able to read the ARC early. It was amazing, just make sure to read the triggers. It was everything I thought it would be. I've read this, and all I want is more of this world. I'm pagan myself, and I love Welsh and Scottish myth, so I'll definitely be reading the next books that she comes out with.
I got this book as an ARC and I was pleasantly surprised! It was a very well written book that really sets the stage for the rest of the series. Even with this being a very short prequel, it didn’t feel as rushed as I expected it to. The tragic past of the main character is well highlighted and leads to an understanding of where she ended up. I am very excited about the next two books to see how the story continues.
I. Am. Hooked!!! ARC READ... This prequel to the story had me bitting for the rest of the story. I can not wait for it. Completely captivating from the start
I really enjoyed this prequel, and definitely excited for the series. The book left me with several questions and many points to expand on in the coming series, and I am sure it will deliver!
Cold Moon has left me wanting more! If you are a lover of Moon magic, divination, betrayal, heartbreak, and a strong female lead, Cold Moon is the prequel to Corina's new book, Cursed Heir that you require. I can not wait for the rest of this series to be released, for questions to be answered and more legends to be explored. Corina's writing always has me in a choke hold, and this book did not disappoint, and no doubt the rest of the series will only get better from here as the story and characters develop. I'm so very grateful to the author for allowing me to be an ARC reader. I was so excited to read this short and anything but sweet story when I heard it was to be released.
An easy 90 pages that get you hooked in preparation for the next book. And in those 90 pages you’ll be put in a roller coaster of emotions: disgust, frustration, spice, and agony.
I wasn't completely invested in this book until I got to the last chapter. I was caught completely off guard with how it ended! I can't wait til the others come out!!
ARC reader I‘ve read this book during my tattoo session and I have to say it really distracted me from the pain. The world building is really nice and inside my head I could see everything what was happening. The strength and pain from the main character really came through. I’m happy that I was able to read this prequel and I’m hyped for the continuation.
I was lucky to get the ARC from the author, and I have to say, it made my day 😍 and this novella made my evening... Don't be fooled by only 4 stars.. They are here only because it was too short and I need more...much more! Since this is not first book by Corina Douglas i read, I'm expecting to be woowed, and by this sweet morsel I am sure I will not be disappointed. Don't judge me too hard, this is my very first review, and I'm trying very hard not to write any spoilers, but if you are looking for a book that will give you a human look to a deity, a woman's understanding of suffering and the lenghts to which we will go for the world to feel our love and pain.. Search no more! I know I will be not so patiently waiting for more 🥰😍🤩🥰😍🤩