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The Moth Saga #1-3
The Moth Saga: Books 1 - 3
"They say the world used to turn. They say that night would follow day in an endless dance. They say that dawn rose, dusk fell, and we worshiped both sun and stars. That was a long time ago . . ." The Moth Saga, a bestselling fantasy series, tells the story of Moth, a world torn in two--its one half always in sunlight, the other cloaked in endless night. This bundle includes the first three novels in the Moth, Empires of Moth, and Secrets of Moth. Many eras ago, the world of Moth fell still, leaving one side in perpetual daylight, the other in darkness. Torin and Bailey have spent their lives in the light, but now they're about to venture into the dark . . . and discover a world of danger, secrets, and wonder.
737 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2014
340 people are currently reading
547 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Arenson
148 books877 followersDaniel Arenson is a bookworm, proud geek, and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. His novels have sold over a million copies. The Huffington Post has called his writing "full of soul." He's written over forty novels, most of them in five series:
EARTHRISE — They came from deep space. They came to destroy us. Against the alien onslaught, Earth stands alone. But we will fight. We will rise. We will win. Start reading with Earth Alone, the first novel in this military science fiction series.
REQUIEM — Welcome to Requiem, an ancient kingdom whose people can grow wings and scales, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. Requiem is explored in six trilogies, which can be read in any order. If you're new to Requiem, you can start reading with Requiem's Song (you can download it for free). For fans of dark, gritty fantasy like A Game of Thrones.
MOTH — Discover Moth, a world torn between day and night—its one half drenched in eternal daylight, the other cloaked in endless darkness. For fans of classic fantasy worlds such as Middle Earth and Narnia. Start reading with Moth, the first novel in this epic fantasy saga.
ALIEN HUNTERS — Got trouble with aliens? Call the Alien Hunters. A group of scruffy mercenaries, they'll remove the pest for you. Low rates. No questions asked. Start reading with Alien Hunters, the first book in this space opera series. For fans of Star Wars, Firefly, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
KINGDOMS OF SAND — Enter a world of sand and splendor, a world where gladiators battle in the arena, where legionaries and barbarians fight for glory, and where empires rise and fall.
EARTHRISE — They came from deep space. They came to destroy us. Against the alien onslaught, Earth stands alone. But we will fight. We will rise. We will win. Start reading with Earth Alone, the first novel in this military science fiction series.
REQUIEM — Welcome to Requiem, an ancient kingdom whose people can grow wings and scales, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. Requiem is explored in six trilogies, which can be read in any order. If you're new to Requiem, you can start reading with Requiem's Song (you can download it for free). For fans of dark, gritty fantasy like A Game of Thrones.
MOTH — Discover Moth, a world torn between day and night—its one half drenched in eternal daylight, the other cloaked in endless darkness. For fans of classic fantasy worlds such as Middle Earth and Narnia. Start reading with Moth, the first novel in this epic fantasy saga.
ALIEN HUNTERS — Got trouble with aliens? Call the Alien Hunters. A group of scruffy mercenaries, they'll remove the pest for you. Low rates. No questions asked. Start reading with Alien Hunters, the first book in this space opera series. For fans of Star Wars, Firefly, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
KINGDOMS OF SAND — Enter a world of sand and splendor, a world where gladiators battle in the arena, where legionaries and barbarians fight for glory, and where empires rise and fall.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 22, 2015
I am on about page 200 of this book series out of over 700. I was trying hard to like it as I often like fantasy type books. I just cannot find myself getting into the book and have decided to stop reading it. It is not "edge of your seat" or a page turner. When I find myself deciding to watch something on tv instead of wanting to get back to my book I know it's time to put that book aside. It seems as if it will take too long to get to any story worth being invested in.
July 16, 2014
The Moth Saga is a series about a world (Moth) that stopped spinning, with one side permanently in the sun and one in the darkness. Upon the sun-lit side resides Timandrans, and on the moon-lit side resides Elorians.
In the first book, the kingdoms on Timandra are facing internal strife and rebellion. In an effort to deflect attention away from theirselves, the leaders decide to start a war with the moon-lit side of Elorian. The characters we follow from either side attempt to stop the war and heal the world.
In the second book, things are getting worse. Eloria is losing and being slaughtered in genocide. Koyee, Torin, and the others must set out on quests to unite all of Eloria to fight against their common enemy.
In the third book, Koyee learns of a way to make the world spin again. Everyone sets on a quest to accomplish this in hopes of turning the war back against the daylight. The third book throws any scientific plausibility out the door, but its a fantasy anyway and fun to read.
The world is really, really imaginative and its a premise I haven't read before. Rather plausible or not, it was interesting to learn about the two sides and how they had evolved over thousands of years. I found the development and growth of Torin and Koyee to be very well done. Both Koyee and Torin were somewhat weak and immature in the beginning, but grew quite well and were always heroic and noble. The villain in the story actually has a well-done backstory and it was fun to see him constantly riding off the rails and over-topping himself. Some of the supporting characters were a bit stunted and never showed as much growth as I would have liked (Bailey, Linee). In fact, I wasn't quite sure of their purpose other than a little comedic relief. A few of the deaths in the series just didn't impact me as much as they might have because I just didn't relate to or know the characters well enough.
I found the plot to be well-paced and a good page-turner. The book was fairly quick for me, and I felt the writing style was easy to get through. There was a bit of filler (especially in the beginning dealing with Koyee) but as the series progressed this mostly went away.
So overall, a great series to read and a fun one. I look forward to reading future books about Moth.
In the first book, the kingdoms on Timandra are facing internal strife and rebellion. In an effort to deflect attention away from theirselves, the leaders decide to start a war with the moon-lit side of Elorian. The characters we follow from either side attempt to stop the war and heal the world.
In the second book, things are getting worse. Eloria is losing and being slaughtered in genocide. Koyee, Torin, and the others must set out on quests to unite all of Eloria to fight against their common enemy.
In the third book, Koyee learns of a way to make the world spin again. Everyone sets on a quest to accomplish this in hopes of turning the war back against the daylight. The third book throws any scientific plausibility out the door, but its a fantasy anyway and fun to read.
The world is really, really imaginative and its a premise I haven't read before. Rather plausible or not, it was interesting to learn about the two sides and how they had evolved over thousands of years. I found the development and growth of Torin and Koyee to be very well done. Both Koyee and Torin were somewhat weak and immature in the beginning, but grew quite well and were always heroic and noble. The villain in the story actually has a well-done backstory and it was fun to see him constantly riding off the rails and over-topping himself. Some of the supporting characters were a bit stunted and never showed as much growth as I would have liked (Bailey, Linee). In fact, I wasn't quite sure of their purpose other than a little comedic relief. A few of the deaths in the series just didn't impact me as much as they might have because I just didn't relate to or know the characters well enough.
I found the plot to be well-paced and a good page-turner. The book was fairly quick for me, and I felt the writing style was easy to get through. There was a bit of filler (especially in the beginning dealing with Koyee) but as the series progressed this mostly went away.
So overall, a great series to read and a fun one. I look forward to reading future books about Moth.
December 18, 2021
The Moth Saga: Books 1-3 is, as the name implies, a box set of the first three books of the Moth Saga. This is a classic story of the bad things that happen when “us” vs. “them” thinking takes over a world.
The planet Mythimna, commonly known as Moth from the shape of its main landmass, stopped rotating years in the past. So now half of it is always facing the sun, and the other half is always facing away. The people, who were formerly of a single race, have evolved differently to adapt to the different living conditions. The side always in the light is known as Timandra, and there are about five major countries there, plus some minor ones. The dark side is called Eloria and contains three major empires.
The people of each side believe that the people on the other side are demons or monsters. They also don’t believe such people exist at all. Though the countries on the light side are always fighting each other, and the countries on the dark side frequently fight each other as well, the two halves of the world haven’t gotten mixed up with each other – until the monk Ferius decides to stir up trouble for his private purposes. He shortly manages to involve the entire planet in a devastating war.
There is a romance here as well. Torin, a boy from the town of Fairwool-by-Night, the closest Timandrian village to the border between the light and the dark, and a member of the part-time town guard, is involved in the incidents leading up to the war. He meets Koyee Mai, a girl from Oshy, the Elorian village just across the border into night, and falls in love with her – but not before she has suffered extensively trying to get the officials of Pahmey, the nearest large Elorian city, to pay attention to the Timandrian attack on Oshy.
The war spreads and spreads and spreads. And people are killed and killed and killed. It seems nothing will satisfy Ferius other than the complete elimination of everybody in Eloria. He is especially anxious to get rid of Koyee Mai and her brother, Okado, leader of a pack of wolf riders. He also bears a deep grudge against Torin, because Torin kept trying to stop the war from beginning.
In Pahmey, after seeing the wholesale slaughter of the city, Torin and his friends from the village watch join the Elorian side. Fleeing the wreck of Pahmey, they go on a series of quests – first to find allies for the Qaelin Empire, and then to find the missing parts of the clockwork that will set the planet turning again to prove to everybody that the half-light half dark situation wasn’t the way the world was meant to be.
And even after the end of the adventures of these three books, there are still enough more unsolved problems to fill another set of three books.
The planet Mythimna, commonly known as Moth from the shape of its main landmass, stopped rotating years in the past. So now half of it is always facing the sun, and the other half is always facing away. The people, who were formerly of a single race, have evolved differently to adapt to the different living conditions. The side always in the light is known as Timandra, and there are about five major countries there, plus some minor ones. The dark side is called Eloria and contains three major empires.
The people of each side believe that the people on the other side are demons or monsters. They also don’t believe such people exist at all. Though the countries on the light side are always fighting each other, and the countries on the dark side frequently fight each other as well, the two halves of the world haven’t gotten mixed up with each other – until the monk Ferius decides to stir up trouble for his private purposes. He shortly manages to involve the entire planet in a devastating war.
There is a romance here as well. Torin, a boy from the town of Fairwool-by-Night, the closest Timandrian village to the border between the light and the dark, and a member of the part-time town guard, is involved in the incidents leading up to the war. He meets Koyee Mai, a girl from Oshy, the Elorian village just across the border into night, and falls in love with her – but not before she has suffered extensively trying to get the officials of Pahmey, the nearest large Elorian city, to pay attention to the Timandrian attack on Oshy.
The war spreads and spreads and spreads. And people are killed and killed and killed. It seems nothing will satisfy Ferius other than the complete elimination of everybody in Eloria. He is especially anxious to get rid of Koyee Mai and her brother, Okado, leader of a pack of wolf riders. He also bears a deep grudge against Torin, because Torin kept trying to stop the war from beginning.
In Pahmey, after seeing the wholesale slaughter of the city, Torin and his friends from the village watch join the Elorian side. Fleeing the wreck of Pahmey, they go on a series of quests – first to find allies for the Qaelin Empire, and then to find the missing parts of the clockwork that will set the planet turning again to prove to everybody that the half-light half dark situation wasn’t the way the world was meant to be.
And even after the end of the adventures of these three books, there are still enough more unsolved problems to fill another set of three books.
May 12, 2020
The book had overall good writing. Excellent use of metaphors and analogies, Daniel created a place that makes light and dark struggle vs one another.
A very neat world created.
Oddly enough though, even with the good battle scenes, and sword play, the dialogue was the biggest struggle for me. It was a bit too kiddie for my typical liking. I prefer more grit and realism, this seemed to have a more PG rating, when I prefer a hard R. I was expecting more adult style conversations, it was much more YA. The humor in the book, seemed to be directed for the young. Which I found odd, because there is no "kiddie" in the fights and other action.
I would say check it out, it's a fun read. It had a cool path that reminded me of old table top rpg gaming.
So, to me, if you like a fun read, with lots of action, then you will enjoy.
If you are stickler for dialogue, and prefer a more mature feeling and tone, you may struggle, as I did at times.
A very neat world created.
Oddly enough though, even with the good battle scenes, and sword play, the dialogue was the biggest struggle for me. It was a bit too kiddie for my typical liking. I prefer more grit and realism, this seemed to have a more PG rating, when I prefer a hard R. I was expecting more adult style conversations, it was much more YA. The humor in the book, seemed to be directed for the young. Which I found odd, because there is no "kiddie" in the fights and other action.
I would say check it out, it's a fun read. It had a cool path that reminded me of old table top rpg gaming.
So, to me, if you like a fun read, with lots of action, then you will enjoy.
If you are stickler for dialogue, and prefer a more mature feeling and tone, you may struggle, as I did at times.
August 6, 2024
Everything boils down to which side of the divide do you live on; Dark or Light . No matter the answer, someone has to lose in this battle. Even though the battle should be to put Earth back to night following day following night etc, instead Feris decides that he should rule over all, and that anyone on the opposite side, doesn’t deserve to live. Talk about a character you love to hate !!! Thoroughly enjoyed all 3 books ! Each had their own strengths and weaknesses, and that’s why it’s a 4⭐️ review, you’ll have to read them yourself ( in order ), to understand my point, but you will want to read all 3 of them back to back, so get comfortable and be prepared for an Earth that could be in our future if Global Warming isn’t addressed. 4✨’s ( I’ll get off my soap box ).
November 13, 2017
I received the first book free for review. got so caught in the story, I borrowed this from the library, and now am on the wait list for book 4-6.
This series is a welcome escape from reality!
This series is a welcome escape from reality!
April 6, 2018
Great book, but the author uses the word slay way to much.
June 7, 2020
To much unnecessary violence. The play was good.
October 19, 2018
Bravo! A good fast read! now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
January 9, 2015
The Moth Saga started off promising; an intriguing world that no longer rotates around a sun, leaving some of its people always in sunlight, the others always in darkness. Eventually each develop their own cultures, and the first book, Moth, brings them together. Unsurprisingly, there is conflict, and it could very well represent North and South American colonization by Europe, which would make for a great story. Some of the characters are interesting; Koylee, a native of the night side of Moth, is interesting, and you're left wondering whether her invisible companion is real or a product of her imagination. Bailey is a physical bully, which is unusual for a female character to be.
However, the story is brought down by the dialogue. It is clunky and unnatural, as if Arenson was aiming to make every line quotable, but instead makes most of it feel like he tried to fit a verbal square peg in a round hole. The main protagonist, Torin, and the main antagonist, Ferius, are especially bad with this issue. I am not suggesting fantasy novels need to all sound like Game of Thrones, but reading The Wheel of Time or any of Sanderson's work can give better ideas of how dialogue can flow naturally.
I might give the Moth Saga another try, but at this point it is unlikely.
However, the story is brought down by the dialogue. It is clunky and unnatural, as if Arenson was aiming to make every line quotable, but instead makes most of it feel like he tried to fit a verbal square peg in a round hole. The main protagonist, Torin, and the main antagonist, Ferius, are especially bad with this issue. I am not suggesting fantasy novels need to all sound like Game of Thrones, but reading The Wheel of Time or any of Sanderson's work can give better ideas of how dialogue can flow naturally.
I might give the Moth Saga another try, but at this point it is unlikely.
January 10, 2016
Good action. Dialogue lacked.
The book had overall good writing. Excellent use of metaphors and analogies, Daniel created a place that makes light and dark struggle vs one another.
A very neat world created.
Oddly enough though, even with the good battle scenes, and sword play, the dialogue was the biggest struggle for me. It was a bit too kiddie for my typical liking. I prefer more grit and realism, this seemed to have a more PG rating, when I prefer a hard R. I was expecting more adult style conversations, it was much more YA. The humor in the book, seemed to be directed for the young. Which I found odd, because there is no "kiddie" in the fights and other action.
I would say check it out, it's a fun read. It had a cool path that reminded me of old table top rpg gaming.
So, to me, if you like a fun read, with lots of action, then you will enjoy.
If you are stickler for dialogue, and prefer a more mature feeling and tone, you may struggle, as I did at times.
The book had overall good writing. Excellent use of metaphors and analogies, Daniel created a place that makes light and dark struggle vs one another.
A very neat world created.
Oddly enough though, even with the good battle scenes, and sword play, the dialogue was the biggest struggle for me. It was a bit too kiddie for my typical liking. I prefer more grit and realism, this seemed to have a more PG rating, when I prefer a hard R. I was expecting more adult style conversations, it was much more YA. The humor in the book, seemed to be directed for the young. Which I found odd, because there is no "kiddie" in the fights and other action.
I would say check it out, it's a fun read. It had a cool path that reminded me of old table top rpg gaming.
So, to me, if you like a fun read, with lots of action, then you will enjoy.
If you are stickler for dialogue, and prefer a more mature feeling and tone, you may struggle, as I did at times.
October 18, 2016
An enjoyable tale
If you can over look the bad science of a world that stops turning without cataclysmic side effects, which I admit that I had a hard time with, then the story has an interesting premise, a common theme of US vs THEM, bright to stark focus in LIGHT vs DARK in which the Light is the bad it evil side.
Book 3 was the hardest to swallow. Having already accepted a world that does not turn yet is uninhabitable on both sides, I took the pure fantasy reason for why it doesn't turn as virtually needed because of the bad science. But I could not accept that the head 'baddy' Farius KNEW of this clock, KNEW of this ancient dragons secret and somehow KNEW his enemy had learned the secret as well it would set out to undo the very basis of his 'religion'. I could not believe that something so profoundly detrimental to the very fabric off this cult would be left in tact and unguarded.
If you can over look the bad science of a world that stops turning without cataclysmic side effects, which I admit that I had a hard time with, then the story has an interesting premise, a common theme of US vs THEM, bright to stark focus in LIGHT vs DARK in which the Light is the bad it evil side.
Book 3 was the hardest to swallow. Having already accepted a world that does not turn yet is uninhabitable on both sides, I took the pure fantasy reason for why it doesn't turn as virtually needed because of the bad science. But I could not accept that the head 'baddy' Farius KNEW of this clock, KNEW of this ancient dragons secret and somehow KNEW his enemy had learned the secret as well it would set out to undo the very basis of his 'religion'. I could not believe that something so profoundly detrimental to the very fabric off this cult would be left in tact and unguarded.
May 16, 2015
I have decided to read up on fantasy as my recent bookshelf included mostly SF and horror - and yet I am writing a fantasy novel myself! I chose Moth because I am fascinated by strange ontologies. Here is a world permanently divided between day and night: time frozen into space. The premise was good, the characters engaging...but I found myself yawning an skipping ahead. The problem was that the author barely explored his world, focusing instead on endless sword fights. It had the potential to be a good YA urban fantasy, with some memorable depictions of cities of the night, but it got diverted into clashing swords and marching armies. Read it if you have free time - or play a video game instead!
January 15, 2016
GREAT - I had read the first Moth book some time ago and bought this Omni a while back as well. I knew this series was going to be great read. The whole concept of a world not turning on its axis with half always in sunlight and half always in the dark is unique. The reason for this freak of nature is relayed at the start of Secrets of Moth and is thought provoking with a lesson that needs to be relayed to the rest of this world that we live on.
June 8, 2015
Read though all three books. Did not devour it as I do most books but was an enjoyable read.
Overall the books were enjoyable. Not sure at this time if I am going to go out and buy the next three or just wait for them to go on sale...
Overall the books were enjoyable. Not sure at this time if I am going to go out and buy the next three or just wait for them to go on sale...
January 9, 2016
Fantasy series, taking medieval lore and the clash of Asia versus Eurasia in the context of a world without night and day cycles. Story is entertaining and although predictable at different points, it keeps you interested. There is second series (4-6) which goes into the next generation of characters, which I think stretches the premise a little too much. I will skip it.
December 2, 2022
It was so hard making it to the last book. By the third book. I was forcing myself to read it. I was like will this boring story ever end. I couldn’t finish the series. It was so bad I just couldn’t do it. Don’t waste your time. Watch paint dry instead
March 21, 2015
Good
I must admit that the book did have some slow parts. It seemed to drag sometimes, but mostly it was well paced. I greatly enjoyed the characters and plot. I will for sure read more from this author.
I must admit that the book did have some slow parts. It seemed to drag sometimes, but mostly it was well paced. I greatly enjoyed the characters and plot. I will for sure read more from this author.
Read
January 4, 2015Good
April 8, 2015
I liked it. the inherent conflict of Dark and Light was turned about and it made for a nice read.
March 17, 2015
Really interesting and inventive premise. Some of the characters' actions and dialogue were a little juvenile at times. May or may not read more. This is on Book 1 of the series.
March 25, 2015
It was amazing
these books were some of the best billabong read in a long time and I think that other people would like it too
these books were some of the best billabong read in a long time and I think that other people would like it too
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews