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The Belamour Archives #1
Under the Dragon Moon
To break the thread of weaver’s fate, those who witness must weave anew…
Mael Nguyen doesn’t believe in fate, but he does believe in magic. His entire life revolves around the study of the arcane—spells and rituals, potions and illusions. As far as Mael is concerned, all he needs is a book in one hand and magic in the other. Anything outside of his bookshop, hidden away in the streets of New Orleans, isn’t worth his attention. But when a strange human stumbles into his life and hires him for a job, bringing along his blinding smile and curious magic, Mael finds that Fate is just as dangerous as Magic.
Leo Greyson refuses to believe in fate, but he desperately wishes to believe in magic. As a small time rockstar, full time radio host, Leo has never been one to shy away from experience and adventure. He’s always lived his life on the edge—always moving, never standing still. But when his twin sister is murdered, and he gains custody of her strangely magical daughter, that constant motion comes to a screeching halt. Instead, he is launched into an entirely new world hidden right beneath his nose, and Leo finds himself wondering if Fate really does exist, and if she’s led him right where he needs to be.
A queer take on magic, murder, and romance, fans of The Dresden Files, Howls Moving Castle, and A Marvelous Light will find family, acceptance, and a fantastical new world to get lost in within the pages of Under the Dragon Moon, the first book in the Belamour Archives Saga.
Mael Nguyen doesn’t believe in fate, but he does believe in magic. His entire life revolves around the study of the arcane—spells and rituals, potions and illusions. As far as Mael is concerned, all he needs is a book in one hand and magic in the other. Anything outside of his bookshop, hidden away in the streets of New Orleans, isn’t worth his attention. But when a strange human stumbles into his life and hires him for a job, bringing along his blinding smile and curious magic, Mael finds that Fate is just as dangerous as Magic.
Leo Greyson refuses to believe in fate, but he desperately wishes to believe in magic. As a small time rockstar, full time radio host, Leo has never been one to shy away from experience and adventure. He’s always lived his life on the edge—always moving, never standing still. But when his twin sister is murdered, and he gains custody of her strangely magical daughter, that constant motion comes to a screeching halt. Instead, he is launched into an entirely new world hidden right beneath his nose, and Leo finds himself wondering if Fate really does exist, and if she’s led him right where he needs to be.
A queer take on magic, murder, and romance, fans of The Dresden Files, Howls Moving Castle, and A Marvelous Light will find family, acceptance, and a fantastical new world to get lost in within the pages of Under the Dragon Moon, the first book in the Belamour Archives Saga.
407 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2024
116 people are currently reading
1648 people want to read
About the author
Mawce Hanlin
3 books52 followers(They/Them)
Mawce Hanlin is a queer, neurodivergent author and editor with a Master’s of Arts in English and Creative Writing through Southern New Hampshire University.
When they aren’t writing, they’re playing D&D or hunched over some sort of creative project—whether that be digital art, cosplay creation, or whatever recent hyperfixation has sunk its claws into their brain.
Currently living in Oklahoma with their partner and fur babies, Mawce writes fantastical stories that focus on queer and disabled characters learning to love themselves, finding their people, and finding their home.
Mawce Hanlin is a queer, neurodivergent author and editor with a Master’s of Arts in English and Creative Writing through Southern New Hampshire University.
When they aren’t writing, they’re playing D&D or hunched over some sort of creative project—whether that be digital art, cosplay creation, or whatever recent hyperfixation has sunk its claws into their brain.
Currently living in Oklahoma with their partner and fur babies, Mawce writes fantastical stories that focus on queer and disabled characters learning to love themselves, finding their people, and finding their home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
June 25, 2024
*I received an arc, all thoughts are mine*
This is some solid 4.5 stars. It's also an amazing start for a series, and I'm so excited for future installments! Those characters are just so fun to be around and well fleshed out. Love them.
If you enjoy Howls cluttering habits, paranormal stuff mixing with our society, loving parental figures, and swooning relationships: well, I have some very good news for you.
I have so many highlights, I laughed so many times, and I can't express how much I loved Leo being a meme expert.
Mael was so grumpy. I LOVE HIM. I just love grumpy meet sunshine, and i have STRONG SUSPICION about Leo lineage.
Also special mention for the Kid. They don’t have fixated name, and I love them so dearly. I could read an entire book about them tbh.
Oh and A SENTIENT HOUSE WHO CAN ADD ROOMS TO ACCOMMODATE THE PEOPLE.
I can't say much. Just add this to your tbr. You won't regret it, and THERE are DRAGONS. WE LOVE DRAGONS.
This is some solid 4.5 stars. It's also an amazing start for a series, and I'm so excited for future installments! Those characters are just so fun to be around and well fleshed out. Love them.
If you enjoy Howls cluttering habits, paranormal stuff mixing with our society, loving parental figures, and swooning relationships: well, I have some very good news for you.
I have so many highlights, I laughed so many times, and I can't express how much I loved Leo being a meme expert.
Mael was so grumpy. I LOVE HIM. I just love grumpy meet sunshine, and i have STRONG SUSPICION about Leo lineage.
Also special mention for the Kid. They don’t have fixated name, and I love them so dearly. I could read an entire book about them tbh.
Oh and A SENTIENT HOUSE WHO CAN ADD ROOMS TO ACCOMMODATE THE PEOPLE.
I can't say much. Just add this to your tbr. You won't regret it, and THERE are DRAGONS. WE LOVE DRAGONS.
December 8, 2024
***THIS BOOK WAS PROVIDED AS AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
Under the Dragon Moon follows Mael Nguyen, a warlock living in New Orleans. He does odd jobs here and there, mostly in the pursuit of his own interests. He has one rule: No humans. But, when pretty boy golden retriever punk Leo Greyson stumbles into his shop looking for help, he breaks the rule just once. Looking for a dragon egg before time runs out, Mael and Leo stumble their way through magical black markets, auctions, and shoot outs while navigating through the magical underbelly of New Orleans.
Trust me when I say, my summary doesn't do the book justice. There is so much jam packed in this book and unless I ramble for days and weeks and months, I just can't cover it all. What I can say, is that this debut is nothing short of magical.
I'll do my best to avoid spoilers!
Hanlin's ability to craft a believable urban fantasy is admirable and I have to admit, I'm a tad bit jealous. But, my enjoyment and giddiness in my reading experience is wholly unique with this book. The characters and plot were highly developed and left no cracks for anything to slip through. The world building was magnificent, and having grown up in New Orleans, I loved the lore around locations I was familiar with and the magical take Hanlin put on an already magical city.
The characters were the shining stars of this book.
Mael Nguyen, a half-fae(sidhe in the book), half-Vietnamese transman is our main character. I curse Hanlin's name for creating a character that's so rich and deep, but it alas, a fictional character. A grumpy, selfish old man, Mael is only interested in researching magic and learning everything there is to know about it. He is fine living in his bookshop with his assistant while taking only the jobs he's interested in. Mael's character is highly relatable as a transman myself. His mental illness is also portrayed incredibly well. Suffering with PTSD and forms of OCD, I found Hanlin's descriptions of the disorders to be both parts sensitive and accurate to my own experiences. Mael is also autistic, and the depictions of how his autism manifests is just as sensitive and intricate. Down to the magical world building, Hanlin takes these aspects of Mael to deepen the lore of magic. One of my favorite examples is Mael's earrings, which are enchanted to muffle sound to prevent overstimulation. It's thoughtful and done incredibly well.
Leo Greyson is in a world: Adorable. The lead singer of a punk-grunge band called Jeff and the Goldblums and radio show host, Leo is the golden retriever, high-energy counterpart to Mael's curmudgeonly wet-cat energy. Needing help to find the dragon egg that was stolen during a break in, he goes to the one person that can find it: Mael Nguyen. Leo is new to magic, so watching him learn about magical creatures and societies was enchanting to say the least. Ever curious and excitable, the energy Leo brings to the story was much needed and compliments the MC seamlessly. Not only that, but Leo's 1st person narrative brings a lot of humor to the book that had me laughing out loud several times throughout.
The minor characters are just as rich and complex as our two main characters. Altogether they create a diverse cast of various genders, gender identities, ages, sexualities, mental illnesses, and so so much more.
Sensitive topics are handled beautifully by Hanlin(a list of content warnings are also provided at the very beginning of the book). While there were some portions that were uncomfortable to read for me specifically(for example, Mael's OCD attack that was shockingly close to my own), they were written with care and were clearly researched. There is no hint of negative stigma attached to these moments.
Hanlin's prose lends itself well to a story like this. The descriptions are so vivid, sometimes you can feel the muggy humidity of New Orleans in summer, or smell the beignets freshly topped with powdered sugar, or feel the way the threads of magic slip through your fingers as you read.
The romance was easily my favorite part, but I am a SUCKER for romance. Mael and Leo, or MaeLeo as I will refer to them moving forward, have a beautiful chemistry. Side by side, one might not assume they would fall head over heels, but by the gods they do and it is so much fun to watch. While the romance it fast and a whirlwind, it's no less believable. Besides, in a world with vampires, djinn, swamp monsters and werewolves, what's wrong with a whirlwind romance??? Nothing I say!
Overall, Hanlin's debut novel is stunningly beautiful. I cannot say enough about it.
I'm so incredibly thankful to have been given the opportunity to read this book and I cannot wait to read more from Hanlin in the future.
Under the Dragon Moon follows Mael Nguyen, a warlock living in New Orleans. He does odd jobs here and there, mostly in the pursuit of his own interests. He has one rule: No humans. But, when pretty boy golden retriever punk Leo Greyson stumbles into his shop looking for help, he breaks the rule just once. Looking for a dragon egg before time runs out, Mael and Leo stumble their way through magical black markets, auctions, and shoot outs while navigating through the magical underbelly of New Orleans.
Trust me when I say, my summary doesn't do the book justice. There is so much jam packed in this book and unless I ramble for days and weeks and months, I just can't cover it all. What I can say, is that this debut is nothing short of magical.
I'll do my best to avoid spoilers!
Hanlin's ability to craft a believable urban fantasy is admirable and I have to admit, I'm a tad bit jealous. But, my enjoyment and giddiness in my reading experience is wholly unique with this book. The characters and plot were highly developed and left no cracks for anything to slip through. The world building was magnificent, and having grown up in New Orleans, I loved the lore around locations I was familiar with and the magical take Hanlin put on an already magical city.
The characters were the shining stars of this book.
Mael Nguyen, a half-fae(sidhe in the book), half-Vietnamese transman is our main character. I curse Hanlin's name for creating a character that's so rich and deep, but it alas, a fictional character. A grumpy, selfish old man, Mael is only interested in researching magic and learning everything there is to know about it. He is fine living in his bookshop with his assistant while taking only the jobs he's interested in. Mael's character is highly relatable as a transman myself. His mental illness is also portrayed incredibly well. Suffering with PTSD and forms of OCD, I found Hanlin's descriptions of the disorders to be both parts sensitive and accurate to my own experiences. Mael is also autistic, and the depictions of how his autism manifests is just as sensitive and intricate. Down to the magical world building, Hanlin takes these aspects of Mael to deepen the lore of magic. One of my favorite examples is Mael's earrings, which are enchanted to muffle sound to prevent overstimulation. It's thoughtful and done incredibly well.
Leo Greyson is in a world: Adorable. The lead singer of a punk-grunge band called Jeff and the Goldblums and radio show host, Leo is the golden retriever, high-energy counterpart to Mael's curmudgeonly wet-cat energy. Needing help to find the dragon egg that was stolen during a break in, he goes to the one person that can find it: Mael Nguyen. Leo is new to magic, so watching him learn about magical creatures and societies was enchanting to say the least. Ever curious and excitable, the energy Leo brings to the story was much needed and compliments the MC seamlessly. Not only that, but Leo's 1st person narrative brings a lot of humor to the book that had me laughing out loud several times throughout.
The minor characters are just as rich and complex as our two main characters. Altogether they create a diverse cast of various genders, gender identities, ages, sexualities, mental illnesses, and so so much more.
Sensitive topics are handled beautifully by Hanlin(a list of content warnings are also provided at the very beginning of the book). While there were some portions that were uncomfortable to read for me specifically(for example, Mael's OCD attack that was shockingly close to my own), they were written with care and were clearly researched. There is no hint of negative stigma attached to these moments.
Hanlin's prose lends itself well to a story like this. The descriptions are so vivid, sometimes you can feel the muggy humidity of New Orleans in summer, or smell the beignets freshly topped with powdered sugar, or feel the way the threads of magic slip through your fingers as you read.
The romance was easily my favorite part, but I am a SUCKER for romance. Mael and Leo, or MaeLeo as I will refer to them moving forward, have a beautiful chemistry. Side by side, one might not assume they would fall head over heels, but by the gods they do and it is so much fun to watch. While the romance it fast and a whirlwind, it's no less believable. Besides, in a world with vampires, djinn, swamp monsters and werewolves, what's wrong with a whirlwind romance??? Nothing I say!
Overall, Hanlin's debut novel is stunningly beautiful. I cannot say enough about it.
I'm so incredibly thankful to have been given the opportunity to read this book and I cannot wait to read more from Hanlin in the future.
April 26, 2024
UNDER THE DRAGON MOON is an engaging fantasy with endearing and lovable characters. Mael, our autistic hero, is a wonderful representation of neurodiversity and I could easily relate to him as an autistic myself. The magical world is so immersive, Hanlin really does make you feel like you’re right there, feeling each sensation. If you’re a fan of warlocks, tattoo magic, spells, and mystery, pick this book up!
March 4, 2025
The plot is both the least interesting part of the book but also my major problem. I couldn't feel the urgency of the stakes, nobody seemed to be suffering any consequences for their actions except Mael and he still decided to repeat the same action to help the dude that's tortured him since he did it the first time. I was so confused...
I loved the other parts of it though. Getting to experience the world through Mael was quite entertaining actually and the way the author wrote about his autism and autistic traits especially his emotional dysregulation and hypersensitivity. The casualness with which his transness was brought up, sparsely, was such a breath of fresh air too.
I'm not sure I'm interested enough to await the sequel but I definitely liked this one
I loved the other parts of it though. Getting to experience the world through Mael was quite entertaining actually and the way the author wrote about his autism and autistic traits especially his emotional dysregulation and hypersensitivity. The casualness with which his transness was brought up, sparsely, was such a breath of fresh air too.
I'm not sure I'm interested enough to await the sequel but I definitely liked this one
February 10, 2024
*ARC REVIEW*
God, I love my gay dads.
UNDER THE DRAGON MOON is incredibly well-paced, full of loveable and unique characters (like, hello, the Belamour and the Kid), and banter that honestly had me giggling. I'm a sucker for New Orleans-based fantasy books and absolutely love when authors do it well.
God, I love my gay dads.
UNDER THE DRAGON MOON is incredibly well-paced, full of loveable and unique characters (like, hello, the Belamour and the Kid), and banter that honestly had me giggling. I'm a sucker for New Orleans-based fantasy books and absolutely love when authors do it well.
June 2, 2025
Bless Mawce Hanlin for trying to make Nickleback cool.
Bless them twice for making a Shadow Daddy™ that isn't a copy/paste Rhysand 2.0 (also his magical patron is a sentient bookstore which I am definitely stealing for my next D&D character.)
Bless them thrice for making a grumpy/sunshine romance (almost literally) where the sunshine in question is powered by a medium-scale thermonuclear bomb due to unresolved trauma that causes such massive rage spikes that they try to bite a creature made entirely of fire.
Also, I'm pretty sure everyone is queer. Like, everyone. (Happy Pride Month!)
Why isn't this book more popular? I know self publishing is a struggle, but with a cover like this it really should be catching more eyes.
Though, if I'm being honest, my expectations for this book were very “middle of the road” for that exact reason. It actually only caught my interest in the first place because the illustration of Mael on the cover reminded me of Gale from Baldur's Gate 3. (And thinking about it now, their names also rhyme, so that's funny. Good thing there wasn't a vampire with a name that rhymes with Astarion.)
Anyway, despite its lack of sexy elf vampires (there are regular vampires though) this book is a gem. Urban fantasy is a massively underutilized genre, and many titles in this genre are, frankly, crap. Mawce has almost redefined it with this book, and I think part of it is because we are treated to some pretty solid worldbuilding. It's not perfect, and at times we are subject to some frustrating info dumps, but the story carries itself on enough momentum that I was able to overlook this flaw.
Having an autistic trans-masc warlock Shadow Daddy™ with magical synesthesia and enough trauma to sink the Titanic was pretty fun for the first half of the book. However, eventually I realized that a trans masc character named Mael (pronounced male) felt really weird. There also comes a point where his trauma more or less becomes its own character, stealing the limelight from everything else; which was a real shame because there was a very strong and colorful supporting cast in this book that deserved more time on the page. By the end, Mael went from damaged to “what isn't wrong with him?” And I was left mildly annoyed as it's implied he has an even darker past in the epilogue.
I know he’s the main character, but does he have to get ALL the air in the room?
Leo, by contrast, is the darling ray of sunshine everyone needs in their life. He radiates Chaotic Bisexual Himbo™ energy (literally, sometimes) and as a very protective uncle and Magical Guardian (but is just a human) to his newly orphaned draconic warlock niece, he is the glue that holds much of this together. Even if he is a little dumb. He's our introduction to this world and is as excited as any of us would be to find ourselves in it, I think.
The spice was pretty solid, but that's never a draw for me in these books. It was honestly a bit over the top for me, especially considering how much of it was oral sex. The purple-y prose also left me cringing at times, which didn't help matters. (I don't need to know what spells your boyfriend's spunk tastes like. In fact, it should be illegal to write that lol.)
Most surprising was how the plot didn't lose itself to things like romance/sex. Even if we got a little too deep into the trauma and neurodivergence weeds (imo), Hanlin still gives us a solid story with plenty of room to grow and promise for more.
I will definitely be getting the second book in this series.
Bless them twice for making a Shadow Daddy™ that isn't a copy/paste Rhysand 2.0 (also his magical patron is a sentient bookstore which I am definitely stealing for my next D&D character.)
Bless them thrice for making a grumpy/sunshine romance (almost literally) where the sunshine in question is powered by a medium-scale thermonuclear bomb due to unresolved trauma that causes such massive rage spikes that they try to bite a creature made entirely of fire.
Also, I'm pretty sure everyone is queer. Like, everyone. (Happy Pride Month!)
Why isn't this book more popular? I know self publishing is a struggle, but with a cover like this it really should be catching more eyes.
Though, if I'm being honest, my expectations for this book were very “middle of the road” for that exact reason. It actually only caught my interest in the first place because the illustration of Mael on the cover reminded me of Gale from Baldur's Gate 3. (And thinking about it now, their names also rhyme, so that's funny. Good thing there wasn't a vampire with a name that rhymes with Astarion.)
Anyway, despite its lack of sexy elf vampires (there are regular vampires though) this book is a gem. Urban fantasy is a massively underutilized genre, and many titles in this genre are, frankly, crap. Mawce has almost redefined it with this book, and I think part of it is because we are treated to some pretty solid worldbuilding. It's not perfect, and at times we are subject to some frustrating info dumps, but the story carries itself on enough momentum that I was able to overlook this flaw.
Having an autistic trans-masc warlock Shadow Daddy™ with magical synesthesia and enough trauma to sink the Titanic was pretty fun for the first half of the book. However, eventually I realized that a trans masc character named Mael (pronounced male) felt really weird. There also comes a point where his trauma more or less becomes its own character, stealing the limelight from everything else; which was a real shame because there was a very strong and colorful supporting cast in this book that deserved more time on the page. By the end, Mael went from damaged to “what isn't wrong with him?” And I was left mildly annoyed as it's implied he has an even darker past in the epilogue.
I know he’s the main character, but does he have to get ALL the air in the room?
Leo, by contrast, is the darling ray of sunshine everyone needs in their life. He radiates Chaotic Bisexual Himbo™ energy (literally, sometimes) and as a very protective uncle and Magical Guardian (but is just a human) to his newly orphaned draconic warlock niece, he is the glue that holds much of this together. Even if he is a little dumb. He's our introduction to this world and is as excited as any of us would be to find ourselves in it, I think.
The spice was pretty solid, but that's never a draw for me in these books. It was honestly a bit over the top for me, especially considering how much of it was oral sex. The purple-y prose also left me cringing at times, which didn't help matters. (I don't need to know what spells your boyfriend's spunk tastes like. In fact, it should be illegal to write that lol.)
Most surprising was how the plot didn't lose itself to things like romance/sex. Even if we got a little too deep into the trauma and neurodivergence weeds (imo), Hanlin still gives us a solid story with plenty of room to grow and promise for more.
I will definitely be getting the second book in this series.
July 12, 2025
4.5 stars
Mael was such the grumpy cat and I thought the autism rep was done well. I enjoyed the added complexity of a magic sensory processing sensitivity. The OCD and PTSD were portrayed well also. As someone who has all of the above (minus the magic aspect ofc) it’s always nice to be seen. Leo was a ray of sunshine who talked a mile a minute and needed someone like Mael to ground him while he figured out the world of magic. They were well matched. The magic system was interesting and complex.
Spice: 2.5/5
Triggers: homophobia/transphobja (past), murder (off page), violence, death of loved one, grief, burns, suicidal ideation (past), panic attacks, mentions of child abuse and neglect, past substance abuse, past self harm, mentions of racism (past)
Mael was such the grumpy cat and I thought the autism rep was done well. I enjoyed the added complexity of a magic sensory processing sensitivity. The OCD and PTSD were portrayed well also. As someone who has all of the above (minus the magic aspect ofc) it’s always nice to be seen. Leo was a ray of sunshine who talked a mile a minute and needed someone like Mael to ground him while he figured out the world of magic. They were well matched. The magic system was interesting and complex.
Spice: 2.5/5
Triggers: homophobia/transphobja (past), murder (off page), violence, death of loved one, grief, burns, suicidal ideation (past), panic attacks, mentions of child abuse and neglect, past substance abuse, past self harm, mentions of racism (past)
June 20, 2024
This is a review based on an advanced reader copy I received.
Under the Dragon Moon by Mawce Hanlin is a magical fantasy adventure that combines mystery, romance, danger, humor, a quest, heist, and plenty of queer and neurodiverse rep! It's also such a fun read.
Warlock Mael returns from shady dealings in the magical underground of New Orleans to find human Leo waiting for his help and his sentient bookshop refusing to let Leo go until Mael hears him out. Yes, his shop is alive! And so begins a dangerous quest to find Leo's niece's missing dragon egg and Leo's sister's killer.
This quest will take the pair on a fast paced Indiana Jones style adventure through the city and to a nonstop array of unique places, where they will meet memorable characters and share one-liners. And, despite it all being so heavily magic, it feels real. How the magic works is well thought out and very clearly explained without ever feeling even close to info dumping.
Most fantasy this deep with such rich worldbuilding, clear magic system, and so many fantasy races, is high fantasy in far off worlds, but this is urban fantasy that ties the two worlds together perfectly. It helped pull me in and relate to the fish out of water feelings that Leo has when he's pulled into this new world.
Another way UtDM blends the two worlds is tackling real life concepts, such as PTSD, OCD, synesthesia, etc with magic, making for an ever deeper and real-feeling magic system. For example, the sensory issues that come with Mael being autistic include "Acute Arcane Synesthesia," which means he senses magic and it can overwhelm him. Even his OCD coping methods are tied to his magical world. Heck, even their sex uses magic! This made me relate to him and drew me in deeper to his world.
As for romance, not only do we get both trans and bi rep, but Mael and Leo are the picture of the grumpy-sunshine dynamic. Or, you could say dark and light. This isn't only reflected in the usual happy puppy and sourpuss cat interactions but also in the artful way metaphors are used to describe them together.
Which leads into a discussion on the prologue. I know that it's common for people to skip prologues and epilogues for some reason that I don't fully understand, but the prologue made all the abundant symbolism and metaphors stand out to me and made those bits more significant and enjoyable to spot as I went along through the main story. The epilogue also teased the sequel.
That said, it's not necessary to read the prologue and epilogue to follow and enjoy the story. It begins and wraps up just fine on its own and, as with most prologues, it's unknown characters and written in a different style, so it doesn't give you a feel for the humor or fun. But, since UtDM has such a strong re-readability factor, I'd recommend you at least give the prologue a read to influence how you read through the rest of the story the second time. It will make the experience different.
Mael and Leo's relationship, even if you miss the symbolism, evolves quickly but naturally as they exchange banter and embark on quests and get in sometimes ridiculous situations that'll have you laughing. And, yes, some graphic sex scenes that weren't my cup of tea but will appeal to plenty of readers. There's also a strong sense of found family throughout, with Leo's niece and Mael's assistant The Kid, and of course the Belamour, the sentient building.
There's so much I'd love to say about this story, but it's hard not to give any spoilers at all. Just know that it's a wild ride, filled with such a deep sense of love that it shines through the danger like the sun through shadows. If you love queer urban fantasies, this is a must read!
Under the Dragon Moon by Mawce Hanlin is a magical fantasy adventure that combines mystery, romance, danger, humor, a quest, heist, and plenty of queer and neurodiverse rep! It's also such a fun read.
Warlock Mael returns from shady dealings in the magical underground of New Orleans to find human Leo waiting for his help and his sentient bookshop refusing to let Leo go until Mael hears him out. Yes, his shop is alive! And so begins a dangerous quest to find Leo's niece's missing dragon egg and Leo's sister's killer.
This quest will take the pair on a fast paced Indiana Jones style adventure through the city and to a nonstop array of unique places, where they will meet memorable characters and share one-liners. And, despite it all being so heavily magic, it feels real. How the magic works is well thought out and very clearly explained without ever feeling even close to info dumping.
Most fantasy this deep with such rich worldbuilding, clear magic system, and so many fantasy races, is high fantasy in far off worlds, but this is urban fantasy that ties the two worlds together perfectly. It helped pull me in and relate to the fish out of water feelings that Leo has when he's pulled into this new world.
Another way UtDM blends the two worlds is tackling real life concepts, such as PTSD, OCD, synesthesia, etc with magic, making for an ever deeper and real-feeling magic system. For example, the sensory issues that come with Mael being autistic include "Acute Arcane Synesthesia," which means he senses magic and it can overwhelm him. Even his OCD coping methods are tied to his magical world. Heck, even their sex uses magic! This made me relate to him and drew me in deeper to his world.
As for romance, not only do we get both trans and bi rep, but Mael and Leo are the picture of the grumpy-sunshine dynamic. Or, you could say dark and light. This isn't only reflected in the usual happy puppy and sourpuss cat interactions but also in the artful way metaphors are used to describe them together.
Which leads into a discussion on the prologue. I know that it's common for people to skip prologues and epilogues for some reason that I don't fully understand, but the prologue made all the abundant symbolism and metaphors stand out to me and made those bits more significant and enjoyable to spot as I went along through the main story. The epilogue also teased the sequel.
That said, it's not necessary to read the prologue and epilogue to follow and enjoy the story. It begins and wraps up just fine on its own and, as with most prologues, it's unknown characters and written in a different style, so it doesn't give you a feel for the humor or fun. But, since UtDM has such a strong re-readability factor, I'd recommend you at least give the prologue a read to influence how you read through the rest of the story the second time. It will make the experience different.
Mael and Leo's relationship, even if you miss the symbolism, evolves quickly but naturally as they exchange banter and embark on quests and get in sometimes ridiculous situations that'll have you laughing. And, yes, some graphic sex scenes that weren't my cup of tea but will appeal to plenty of readers. There's also a strong sense of found family throughout, with Leo's niece and Mael's assistant The Kid, and of course the Belamour, the sentient building.
There's so much I'd love to say about this story, but it's hard not to give any spoilers at all. Just know that it's a wild ride, filled with such a deep sense of love that it shines through the danger like the sun through shadows. If you love queer urban fantasies, this is a must read!
January 18, 2024
THIS IS MY FRIEND’S BOOK AND I HAVE BETA READ THIS AND ITS A GLORIOUS BEAUTIFUL SENSORY ADVENTURE THAT’S SO SPECIFIC AND INTENSE AND HAD ME AWAKE AT 5AM AND IM SO PROUD OF MAWCE AND LOVE THIS WORLD AND WANT TO LIVE IN IT FOREVER, thank u
June 27, 2024
Before I say anything else about this book, if you are a Gale of Waterdeep lover, get this book. Trust me, if you love Gale you don't need to know anything else.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author
I was super excited for this book for the above reason and I was not disappointed. Mael Nguyen is the epitome of hot autistic wizard that is so good at what he does and knows it. Add in Leo, a newly-made guardian of his niece after the murder of her parents who is both in awe of the magical world he is being exposed to and supremely frustrated by how the politics work. Smash them together, add in some family drama, supportive (the threatening kind) friends, a lost dragon egg, and a high stakes heist, and you get a recipe for an incredibly fun fantasy with found family and very hot sex. I am very excited for the sequels!
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author
I was super excited for this book for the above reason and I was not disappointed. Mael Nguyen is the epitome of hot autistic wizard that is so good at what he does and knows it. Add in Leo, a newly-made guardian of his niece after the murder of her parents who is both in awe of the magical world he is being exposed to and supremely frustrated by how the politics work. Smash them together, add in some family drama, supportive (the threatening kind) friends, a lost dragon egg, and a high stakes heist, and you get a recipe for an incredibly fun fantasy with found family and very hot sex. I am very excited for the sequels!
May 31, 2024
Mawce Hanlin’s UNDER THE DRAGON MOON is a vivid, tender, and entertaining ride. If you want an intriguing fantasy romance set in New Orleans with a grumpy warlock and a sunshine rockstar, this book is the perfect combination of drama, magic, found family, and mystery.
April 27, 2025
You got me fucked up if you think I’m ever recovering from this book. Once I acclimated to the writer’s style, there was literally never any going back for me. You’re telling me I’ll have to read other books that don’t bring all of your senses into every line? Ones that I can’t feel this viscerally?
Rude. Heinous. Nasty behaviour. I refuse and rebuke the very notion.
Were there some little issues here and there? Yeah, but I don’t fucking care. This just fit me, this hyper-detailed, specifically crafted and expounded, tangible storytelling. Everything has a scent, a taste, a feeling, an emotion tied into it, and it’s so alive, so vibrant, you’re left breathless and searching for the source of something you swore you had in your hand just a moment before, something that was right there in front of your face.
Or, ya know, it makes my autism go brrrr. Smooth brain is happy.
Everything is so real, because the depth of every word written is etched in flesh and blood. It’s somehow still in a style that will suit more casual surface readers, though. It fits well in the currently popular format/market. That’s a delicate balance. It’s too much and not enough, but somehow just exactly right—all dressed up while being dumbed down. It’s a comforting embrace for any level of literary enjoyment.
It’s what Bethesda tried to do with Skyrim and whiffed, failing to achieve the balance between casual gamers and dedicated RPG nerds. It respects the origin of the fucking grind.
That’s where the actual magic happens. It’s the most succulent treat for some, a light snack for others; The perfectly broken-in pair of jeans you’ve always wanted. Another book that the blurb undersold to an almost criminally-depraved degree. I’m high-key pissed at the blurb for sucking as much as it does, tbh.
It’s also perfectly set up and paced. There’s still so much you don’t know on top of everything you’ve learned, but it’s not presented as a frustrating mess that you’re angry with at the end. Instead, it’s a palette full of paint to finish the canvas that’s just been sketched out. It’s the devils in every detail, filling in the framework chapter by chapter, book by book; Every line a riddle, the answers waiting for you to find them if you only look close enough.
And it’s a Masterpiece. Heh. Get it? Because it stemmed from a Master’s Thesis?
5/5. With that terrible dad joke, I’ll see myself out. Seriously though, aside from the wonky bits editing/proofing missed here and there and my learning curve with a new author’s style, this book blew me the fuck away. The art and artistry of both the book and the actual artwork? Absolutely Stunning. I’ve already recommended it to every person I know who reads, and have my husband whining impatiently to read it next. He never wants to read anything. I think this is THE sign that we’re for real-for real in the throes of the godsdamned apocalypse, people. Proof we’re not all nuts. It’s happening🥲🫠
Rude. Heinous. Nasty behaviour. I refuse and rebuke the very notion.
Were there some little issues here and there? Yeah, but I don’t fucking care. This just fit me, this hyper-detailed, specifically crafted and expounded, tangible storytelling. Everything has a scent, a taste, a feeling, an emotion tied into it, and it’s so alive, so vibrant, you’re left breathless and searching for the source of something you swore you had in your hand just a moment before, something that was right there in front of your face.
Or, ya know, it makes my autism go brrrr. Smooth brain is happy.
Everything is so real, because the depth of every word written is etched in flesh and blood. It’s somehow still in a style that will suit more casual surface readers, though. It fits well in the currently popular format/market. That’s a delicate balance. It’s too much and not enough, but somehow just exactly right—all dressed up while being dumbed down. It’s a comforting embrace for any level of literary enjoyment.
It’s what Bethesda tried to do with Skyrim and whiffed, failing to achieve the balance between casual gamers and dedicated RPG nerds. It respects the origin of the fucking grind.
That’s where the actual magic happens. It’s the most succulent treat for some, a light snack for others; The perfectly broken-in pair of jeans you’ve always wanted. Another book that the blurb undersold to an almost criminally-depraved degree. I’m high-key pissed at the blurb for sucking as much as it does, tbh.
It’s also perfectly set up and paced. There’s still so much you don’t know on top of everything you’ve learned, but it’s not presented as a frustrating mess that you’re angry with at the end. Instead, it’s a palette full of paint to finish the canvas that’s just been sketched out. It’s the devils in every detail, filling in the framework chapter by chapter, book by book; Every line a riddle, the answers waiting for you to find them if you only look close enough.
And it’s a Masterpiece. Heh. Get it? Because it stemmed from a Master’s Thesis?
5/5. With that terrible dad joke, I’ll see myself out. Seriously though, aside from the wonky bits editing/proofing missed here and there and my learning curve with a new author’s style, this book blew me the fuck away. The art and artistry of both the book and the actual artwork? Absolutely Stunning. I’ve already recommended it to every person I know who reads, and have my husband whining impatiently to read it next. He never wants to read anything. I think this is THE sign that we’re for real-for real in the throes of the godsdamned apocalypse, people. Proof we’re not all nuts. It’s happening🥲🫠
April 13, 2025
Wow. I have rarely been this excited to see that a book will be part of a series. Hanlin treats their characters with such love I can't help but fall for them, too.
I read the audiobook edition and really enjoyed Pendragon's distinct character voices. They never felt distracting. On the contrary, they complimented both the tense and tender moments and helped me keep track of each speaker.
While I thoroughly appreciated the lovely illustration descriptions, I highly recommend also taking a peek at those beautiful pieces if you're able to. Guaranteed warm fuzzies.
I also really liked the neurodivergent rep, especially from Mael's perspective. I'm not autistic but I am on that spectrum and I found myself grinning when his different sensory processing and communication styles hit home for myself.
I absolutely loved how the ending wrapped the story up nicely while maintaining the suspense for the next book. I know some folks are wary of not-yet-finished series, as I am one of them. I'd like to offer a bit of reassurance: even if, (crosses self), I were only able to read this book, I feel satisfied with where it left off.
As a final note, while I do see where people see connections with Gale of BG3, this is an entirely unique story. If you aren't a Gale fan I can promise that won't stop you from proudly joining the Mael fan club.
Thanks so much to the Indie Ink Awards for the chance to judge this lovely book. I'm leaving this review of my own accord
I read the audiobook edition and really enjoyed Pendragon's distinct character voices. They never felt distracting. On the contrary, they complimented both the tense and tender moments and helped me keep track of each speaker.
While I thoroughly appreciated the lovely illustration descriptions, I highly recommend also taking a peek at those beautiful pieces if you're able to. Guaranteed warm fuzzies.
I also really liked the neurodivergent rep, especially from Mael's perspective. I'm not autistic but I am on that spectrum and I found myself grinning when his different sensory processing and communication styles hit home for myself.
I absolutely loved how the ending wrapped the story up nicely while maintaining the suspense for the next book. I know some folks are wary of not-yet-finished series, as I am one of them. I'd like to offer a bit of reassurance: even if, (crosses self), I were only able to read this book, I feel satisfied with where it left off.
As a final note, while I do see where people see connections with Gale of BG3, this is an entirely unique story. If you aren't a Gale fan I can promise that won't stop you from proudly joining the Mael fan club.
Thanks so much to the Indie Ink Awards for the chance to judge this lovely book. I'm leaving this review of my own accord
February 11, 2025
I'm a sucker for a good urban fantasy so I loved the world building - especially the sentient bookshop. I liked the autism representation. There's a strong moment where the protagonist describes in his inner dialogue how he struggles with social situations and how his succubus friend can't understand that, even though she tries. I thought Leo and Mael were very sweet together but I found the spice a bit boring to read. Points for trans rep and the way it’s normalised - it's mentioned during a sex scene because it's relevant, otherwise it’s no big deal. I realise I haven't really commented on the plot but somehow that wasn't the takeaway for me. Maybe that's a problem for a murder mystery.
December 28, 2024
Modern-with-magic books are super hit or miss for me, and this was one of the few that actually hit. I thought it had an excellent balance of everyday life with important plot information at the beginning, which was nice. I am always really interested in how mundane activities would work when magic is involved. All the scenes in the Belamour with Mael and the Kid were super fun and cozy. I was slightly confused by the magic system at points, but I think that's more of a result of me reading this book super quickly, and it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the plot. I think I’ll re-read this at some point, so I’m interested to see what I think of it on a second read. I absolutely love the concept of a semi-sentient bookstore and I am so incredibly jealous of Mael. Running a bookstore and researching magic and magical artifacts sounds like the ideal job. Finding books with autistic MC's that are actually well written and realistic is a real challenge. I didn't realize going into this Mael was autistic, but it was a nice surprise. The plot and romance were well balanced, and Mael and Leo got to know each other through actually working together, which I enjoyed. I felt like they were actually interested in getting to know each other instead of just falling in love because the plot needed them to. I hope the next book is good as well.
October 1, 2024
“How about I show you what else my mouth is good at other than poetry and songwriting?”
Move over "Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll", this book is Sex, Magic, Memes, and Punk Rock!
This book gave me a serious book high, and I don’t think I’ll come down anytime soon.
It has an intricate and dazzling magical world, and yes, dragons (because honestly, who could resist dragons?). Throw in some mysteries, high-stakes heists, and steamy, poetic magical sex which pulls you in like a spell you can’t escape and then you’ve got a world so immersive, you feel like you’re living it.
Mael Nguyen, a hot warlock with magical tattoos, might look like he's in his late 40s, but he’s actually pushing 90. He’s got a grumpy exterior, but beneath that, he’s vibrant, sweet and compassionate, especially to his loved ones. Then there’s Leo Greyson, a late-20s punk rocker, radio host, and lyrical genius with a knack for creating memes and entire podcast episodes in his head, rating and reviewing his life’s wildest moments. Somehow, these two ended up as dads by default, and they’ve become the ultimate parental figures. Their personalities shine, and they fall into a beautiful, genuine love. Their banter is sweet, sparking with humor, and their chemistry is electric. The passion between them swept me right off my feet.
And let’s not forget Remy, the Kid, and of course, Potato! Oh, and Belamour, Mael’s sentient shop! She’s cozy, caring, and the ultimate guardian, always watching over Mael and the ones he loves. Their connection is so heartwarming, I couldn’t help but adore her. Every character adds something unique and magical to the story and together they are the found family they all need.
Every chapter had me giggling, swooning, and sometimes holding my breath. The whole story feels like stepping into an alternate universe where Howl’s Moving Castle meets Sherlock Holmes in the most magical of ways.
Move over "Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll", this book is Sex, Magic, Memes, and Punk Rock!
This book gave me a serious book high, and I don’t think I’ll come down anytime soon.
It has an intricate and dazzling magical world, and yes, dragons (because honestly, who could resist dragons?). Throw in some mysteries, high-stakes heists, and steamy, poetic magical sex which pulls you in like a spell you can’t escape and then you’ve got a world so immersive, you feel like you’re living it.
Mael Nguyen, a hot warlock with magical tattoos, might look like he's in his late 40s, but he’s actually pushing 90. He’s got a grumpy exterior, but beneath that, he’s vibrant, sweet and compassionate, especially to his loved ones. Then there’s Leo Greyson, a late-20s punk rocker, radio host, and lyrical genius with a knack for creating memes and entire podcast episodes in his head, rating and reviewing his life’s wildest moments. Somehow, these two ended up as dads by default, and they’ve become the ultimate parental figures. Their personalities shine, and they fall into a beautiful, genuine love. Their banter is sweet, sparking with humor, and their chemistry is electric. The passion between them swept me right off my feet.
And let’s not forget Remy, the Kid, and of course, Potato! Oh, and Belamour, Mael’s sentient shop! She’s cozy, caring, and the ultimate guardian, always watching over Mael and the ones he loves. Their connection is so heartwarming, I couldn’t help but adore her. Every character adds something unique and magical to the story and together they are the found family they all need.
Every chapter had me giggling, swooning, and sometimes holding my breath. The whole story feels like stepping into an alternate universe where Howl’s Moving Castle meets Sherlock Holmes in the most magical of ways.
June 7, 2025
I am obsessed! This was a great fantasy romance. There's warlocks, a search for a dragon's egg, the kid, a magical store, nickelback. What more could you want?
August 3, 2024
Were we lovers? Partners? Neither label sounded wrong, but they didn’t sound right either. Like neither word was quite big enough for the place Leo made for himself in my chest. I didn’t know what to call him other than “right”.
4.25⭐️
2 ABSOLUTE MAGICAL DISASTERS BEING ABSOF*CKINGLUTELY RIGHT!!!
Magical autistic Indiana Jones, Mael Nguyen, who just wants to sleep and be left alone with his books and trinkets because he suffers of a sort of a magical sensory overstimulation (Acute Arcane Synesthesia) accepts a job (more like gets persuaded by his very coquette ancient Eldritch sentient house and his hyperactive adopted fae kid) to find a stolen dragon egg for the sunniest sunshine-y human, Leo Greyson, who might or might not be stuck in his 80s rocker era, might or might not be the biggest Nicklelback fan to ever exist (taste🫰) and definitely has a tendency to fall head over heels for “grumpy cat disaster gay” type of guys (again, TASTE🫰)
Rich worldbuilding, EVERYONE IS QUEER💃💃, fabulous pacing and with one of the best mental health reps I've read in a while. The vibes are simply ✨immaculate✨. One of the things I enjoyed the most was that even for people who might not be habitual readers of fantasy and fae books (like me lol), and despite how awe-striking and extraordinary everything is, it didn’t feel like you needed to write down stuff because you were gonna be tested about it at the end lol, it just felt like you were accompanying the characters while they were traversing all of the known and unknown by them. It felt right.
I adored the relationship between Mael and Leo, the time it took to grow, and how everything about them just felt right. Personally, I have to admit I might have a slight (HUGE) crush on Mael and can completely relate to Leo drooling for Mael’s tattoos, because SAME BESTIE, SAME. Leo made me laugh so much; he also broke my heart at times, because it takes one to know one and how sometimes humor is the go-to mechanism when you are suddenly in a situation way over your head and all you can do is keep rolling with the punches. Or play Nickleback. Or both.
I think I lost count how many times I highlighted a paragraph and annotated the phrase OMFG, THEY ARE SO F*CKING RIGHT FOR EACH OTHER.
My only teeny tiny niggle is that despite absolutely loving the writing, personally I found sometimes that there were one too many similes used in a single paragraph, affecting the impact a certain line could’ve had because it was immediately followed by something quite similar.
That being said this is without a doubt the type of book I WILL RE-READ in the future, and not only I am already insanely vibrating for the next installment, but recommend everyone to READ IT and FOLLOW the author’s twitter @MawceHanlin and enjoy the breathtaking arts they post, because I am hopelessly obsessed and feel some sort of personal responsibility for everyone to meet who will be our 3rd MC in this series, Silver. And drool with Mael's tat sheet. Or both😍😍😍
[I received an advance review copy from the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
May 28, 2025
Mael is a warlock who prefers to keep his own company but he does odd jobs here and there - mostly in the pursuit of his own interests but it also earns an additional income. He has a very strict rule though: no humans. He only accepts jobs from the magical community. Well, until Leo stumbles into his shop for help. Finding a dragon egg (that belongs to one of the big warlock families) already catches Mael's interest, Leo's golden aura/magic just intrigues him to no end, and his patron makes it very clear that he has to help Leo. So, they set out to hunt down the dragon egg before it hatches.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
Look, I really wanted to love Under the Dragon Moon because the premise of it sounded extremely good. Unfortunately, the plot (which is part murder mystery, part scavenger hunt for the dragon egg) gets utterly lost in the romance. And while the romance is cute: I wanted more plot.
Aside from this: the world-building was at times confusing and could have been expanded to give the reader a better understanding of the magical world. At times, it is written in a way where it is expected that the reader knows what is happening when the reader never got a good explanation of the background.
Otherwise: the characters never seem to care about the consequences of their actions. Well, aside from Mael but he still continues with his actions even if he knows that the outcome won't be great. I can partly accept that. But everyone else? No. Just no. Every action has a consequence and not every consequence is great.
What I wish for would be less inner monologue though. At times, it just drags on and on and on. There are endless paragraphs of inner monologue and they feel repetitive. I get it that authors do it to give the reader an insight into their characters' minds but please: be reasonable with it! Due to the countless inner monologue, the book has massive pacing issues. It drags so much for 3/4 of the book before everything gets shoved into the last chapters to resolve the plot.
As I said: the romance overshadows the plot. The romance itself is cute but very much instant attraction/instant love (as they fall for each other within a few days) but maybe I'm just too asexual for it. There were enough points where I wished that both men would take it slower. The book has sex scenes in it and I have to say: they are realistic (in comparison to other romantasy sex scenes) but also kind of boring? They didn't add anything to the romance aside from showing how horny Mael and Leo are for each other. (As I said: I might be too ace for it.)
Overall, refreshingly queer and neurodivergent, which I liked a lot.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
TWs & CWs: panic attacks, fantasy racism, trading of animal (parts), fantasy creatures & beings (vampires, were-creatures, warlocks, witches, golem, rusalka, ...)
Trope(s): age gap romance, grumpy & sunshine
Genre: Romantasy, Urban Fantasy
Representation: autism, emotional dysregulation, hypersensitivity, the magical version of "numbers have flavours for me" (I'm sorry, I forgot the word for it), transsexual male main character, bisexual male main character, sapphic female side characters (in a relationship)
Heat/Spice: 2 🌶️
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
Look, I really wanted to love Under the Dragon Moon because the premise of it sounded extremely good. Unfortunately, the plot (which is part murder mystery, part scavenger hunt for the dragon egg) gets utterly lost in the romance. And while the romance is cute: I wanted more plot.
Aside from this: the world-building was at times confusing and could have been expanded to give the reader a better understanding of the magical world. At times, it is written in a way where it is expected that the reader knows what is happening when the reader never got a good explanation of the background.
Otherwise: the characters never seem to care about the consequences of their actions. Well, aside from Mael but he still continues with his actions even if he knows that the outcome won't be great. I can partly accept that. But everyone else? No. Just no. Every action has a consequence and not every consequence is great.
What I wish for would be less inner monologue though. At times, it just drags on and on and on. There are endless paragraphs of inner monologue and they feel repetitive. I get it that authors do it to give the reader an insight into their characters' minds but please: be reasonable with it! Due to the countless inner monologue, the book has massive pacing issues. It drags so much for 3/4 of the book before everything gets shoved into the last chapters to resolve the plot.
As I said: the romance overshadows the plot. The romance itself is cute but very much instant attraction/instant love (as they fall for each other within a few days) but maybe I'm just too asexual for it. There were enough points where I wished that both men would take it slower. The book has sex scenes in it and I have to say: they are realistic (in comparison to other romantasy sex scenes) but also kind of boring? They didn't add anything to the romance aside from showing how horny Mael and Leo are for each other. (As I said: I might be too ace for it.)
Overall, refreshingly queer and neurodivergent, which I liked a lot.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
TWs & CWs: panic attacks, fantasy racism, trading of animal (parts), fantasy creatures & beings (vampires, were-creatures, warlocks, witches, golem, rusalka, ...)
Trope(s): age gap romance, grumpy & sunshine
Genre: Romantasy, Urban Fantasy
Representation: autism, emotional dysregulation, hypersensitivity, the magical version of "numbers have flavours for me" (I'm sorry, I forgot the word for it), transsexual male main character, bisexual male main character, sapphic female side characters (in a relationship)
Heat/Spice: 2 🌶️
December 7, 2024
I don’t think I’ve stopped thinking about this book since I finished it! I’m not typically an urban fantasy reader but I seriously couldn’t put this one down. The author so seamlessly integrates the magic system with the threads of a murder mystery, all while crafting a swoon worthy romance. Not only did Mael (my all time favorite warlock) and Leo steal my whole heart but this book has such phenomenal found family you’ll fall in love with the whole cast.
December 15, 2024
4 stars
This magical world is super intriguing. The writing is definitely good. It is very descriptive, and the world building is very well done. I really loved the trans rep in this one, and it's especially interesting how it was presented here and relates to the magic system we have in this story. I especially loved the autism rep. Mael's autism was very much a part of the story, and I found the magical ways he used to cope, stim, etc., to be super interesting to see while also being very relatable. The romance that grows between Mael and Leo was actually rather sweet, and it felt like their journey was so natural. I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. My one issue was the pacing. There were times it felt like the story moved along perfectly, then there were times it felt like it was dragging, and it was a struggle to keep with it. I'm so glad I did, though. I really look forward to more stories from this universe.
This magical world is super intriguing. The writing is definitely good. It is very descriptive, and the world building is very well done. I really loved the trans rep in this one, and it's especially interesting how it was presented here and relates to the magic system we have in this story. I especially loved the autism rep. Mael's autism was very much a part of the story, and I found the magical ways he used to cope, stim, etc., to be super interesting to see while also being very relatable. The romance that grows between Mael and Leo was actually rather sweet, and it felt like their journey was so natural. I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. My one issue was the pacing. There were times it felt like the story moved along perfectly, then there were times it felt like it was dragging, and it was a struggle to keep with it. I'm so glad I did, though. I really look forward to more stories from this universe.
August 20, 2025
I had the opportunity to listen to this one through the Indie Ink Awards and I’m super glad I did. The narration by Richard Pendragon was stellar—great voice work and depth of character.
This is an urban fantasy with spice, both things that usually aren’t for me, but this was done very well. I know it’s a rough comparison to make at this point as many people want nothing to do with them (myself included) but for me this was one of the most successfully integrated urban fantasy’s featuring an almost entirely secondary world since reading Harry Potter. In the same way The Soul’s Aspect by Mark Holloway captures the school essence from HP, Mawce has done so on our own city streets. Glamours or magically enhanced items do little tricks on human minds that keep them seeing “normal” things, but behind closed doors, the entire world is magic. And this is of course enhanced by the main character’s shop and home, the Belamour, being a magic entity itself!
It’s incredibly representative, with gay, bi, trans characters throughout—all in prominent roles that are NOT ruled by the inclusion of their orientation. And while sex scenes just are not my cup of tea in books, there was definitely a well built tension in the book leading up to the moment. For me though, maybe just a few less moments…as there are several.
There is also some disability and neurodivergent rep as well, with Mael suffering from autism and magical synesthesia. While the first made me think like wow, magical people from magical lands still deal with the same stuff as humans, the second felt like an even cooler blend. He can sense, picture, even see people’s magical aura through his synesthesia and I thought that was just one of the cleverest little twists ever. The rep in general is handled well by someone showcasing it (at least IMO) as it seemed to inform the character more than control them.
The plot itself involves a human, Leo, hiring Mael to help track down a stolen dragon egg. The dragon egg belongs to his niece, and it is a bond that is meant to secure her place in the magical world. This leads to some interesting investigating, although as Mael’s best friend, a vampire, is an actual magical cop, I almost found myself wishing for a little urban fantasy/crime fiction blend. As you can imagine, the amount of power and effort needed to steal an actual dragon egg means that whoever took it won’t give it up easily.
Regardless, there’s tension, there’s suspense, there’s action, and there is a hell of a lot of tenderness bled throughout this one. Absolutely worth checking out.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-under-...
This is an urban fantasy with spice, both things that usually aren’t for me, but this was done very well. I know it’s a rough comparison to make at this point as many people want nothing to do with them (myself included) but for me this was one of the most successfully integrated urban fantasy’s featuring an almost entirely secondary world since reading Harry Potter. In the same way The Soul’s Aspect by Mark Holloway captures the school essence from HP, Mawce has done so on our own city streets. Glamours or magically enhanced items do little tricks on human minds that keep them seeing “normal” things, but behind closed doors, the entire world is magic. And this is of course enhanced by the main character’s shop and home, the Belamour, being a magic entity itself!
It’s incredibly representative, with gay, bi, trans characters throughout—all in prominent roles that are NOT ruled by the inclusion of their orientation. And while sex scenes just are not my cup of tea in books, there was definitely a well built tension in the book leading up to the moment. For me though, maybe just a few less moments…as there are several.
There is also some disability and neurodivergent rep as well, with Mael suffering from autism and magical synesthesia. While the first made me think like wow, magical people from magical lands still deal with the same stuff as humans, the second felt like an even cooler blend. He can sense, picture, even see people’s magical aura through his synesthesia and I thought that was just one of the cleverest little twists ever. The rep in general is handled well by someone showcasing it (at least IMO) as it seemed to inform the character more than control them.
The plot itself involves a human, Leo, hiring Mael to help track down a stolen dragon egg. The dragon egg belongs to his niece, and it is a bond that is meant to secure her place in the magical world. This leads to some interesting investigating, although as Mael’s best friend, a vampire, is an actual magical cop, I almost found myself wishing for a little urban fantasy/crime fiction blend. As you can imagine, the amount of power and effort needed to steal an actual dragon egg means that whoever took it won’t give it up easily.
Regardless, there’s tension, there’s suspense, there’s action, and there is a hell of a lot of tenderness bled throughout this one. Absolutely worth checking out.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-under-...
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April 16, 2025out of all the bands in the world you chose NICKELBACK
May 26, 2024
**This is an ARC review.**
The story follows Mael, a trans and autistic warlock living in New Orleans who is hired by the fiery and adorable Leo to help him find his niece's stolen dragon egg. This story is rife with magic, spice, and mental illness rep and some of the most beautiful prose I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
This book is nothing short of a literary masterpiece. There is no box that I could leave unchecked while reading; world-building? Brilliantly done. Characters? Good God, I don't know that I've ever been so in love with a cast before. Incorporating magic and fantasy into a real setting? Masterfully done. I think that urban fantasy is one of the most difficult things to write well, but Hanlin has absolutely knocked it out of the park. Story/plot? Intriguing and captivating. I am not normally a big fan of heists/mysteries, but to say that I was glued to this story would be an understatement. It was impossible to put down and I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
WRITING STYLE
I could go on about Hanlin's prose for days. It's beautiful without being pretentious or complicated. What I liked most about it, I think, is that it's a *sensory experience*. The story was written in a way that takes your breath away while simultaneously putting you right into the story. It was impossible to not fully picture myself standing in Mael's cluttered shop, or walking the streets of New Orleans, or seeing Mael's magic in action.
THE CHARACTERS
Name one character in this book that isn't well-written. That is a challenge that I am giving to all readers, because I seriously cannot find a single one. Or, find me a character in this story that doesn't feel real. They're all written so well that even the most magical of creatures felt like they could be real people. Mael is the autistic and OCD and trans representation that we need more of in literature. He's a fictional warlock, but he is so well fleshed-out that he felt *real*. And Leo? This is the punk-rock golden retriever boyfriend that we all need. But he's so multifaceted that he feels just as real as Mael does. He's goofy and sweet and has this childlike sense of wonder that is just adorable but fiercely protective and brave. But one of the characters that stuck out to me the most was probably actually Leo's niece, Remy. I feel like kids are generally not written realistically in books. I think it's really difficult to write kids accurately, but Hanlin wrote Remy's character brilliantly. Remy felt and sounded very much like a real child.
And if you're a fan of the found family trope, this is the book for you. This is the found family trope book, in my opinion.
THE MAGIC SYSTEM
The magic within the story on it's own was fantastic, but I really think giving one of the main characters, Mael, magical synesthesia brought everything up another notch because like the overall writing system, it was such a sensory experience. I could viscerally feel and see all of the magic as it happened. But, also, it was just damn cool. I love intricate magic systems in stories, but Hanlin took a basic warlock-magic system and made it interesting. As an example, Mael has magical tattoos. This itself is not revolutionary (though, still cool!) but it's the way that these tattoos were done that captured my attention. They're useful in ways that I would have never had the creativity to think of. A magic tattoo that translates languages for him? Absolutely brilliant.
THE REPRESENTATION
The cast is so wonderfully diverse and written so carefully and also authentically. Mael's struggles with autism, OCD, and anxiety felt so genuine and were done with so much care. It's always so refreshing to read books with any of these types of representation, but to see it done so masterfully? Hanlin handled all of it delicately and genuinely and it makes me emotional.
Overall, this is an easy five stars for me. If you're interested in a book that includes the mystical clutter of Howl's Moving Castle, found family, detective work, and romance, this is absolutely the book for you. I cannot wait to see where Hanlin takes us on this journey.
The story follows Mael, a trans and autistic warlock living in New Orleans who is hired by the fiery and adorable Leo to help him find his niece's stolen dragon egg. This story is rife with magic, spice, and mental illness rep and some of the most beautiful prose I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
This book is nothing short of a literary masterpiece. There is no box that I could leave unchecked while reading; world-building? Brilliantly done. Characters? Good God, I don't know that I've ever been so in love with a cast before. Incorporating magic and fantasy into a real setting? Masterfully done. I think that urban fantasy is one of the most difficult things to write well, but Hanlin has absolutely knocked it out of the park. Story/plot? Intriguing and captivating. I am not normally a big fan of heists/mysteries, but to say that I was glued to this story would be an understatement. It was impossible to put down and I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
WRITING STYLE
I could go on about Hanlin's prose for days. It's beautiful without being pretentious or complicated. What I liked most about it, I think, is that it's a *sensory experience*. The story was written in a way that takes your breath away while simultaneously putting you right into the story. It was impossible to not fully picture myself standing in Mael's cluttered shop, or walking the streets of New Orleans, or seeing Mael's magic in action.
THE CHARACTERS
Name one character in this book that isn't well-written. That is a challenge that I am giving to all readers, because I seriously cannot find a single one. Or, find me a character in this story that doesn't feel real. They're all written so well that even the most magical of creatures felt like they could be real people. Mael is the autistic and OCD and trans representation that we need more of in literature. He's a fictional warlock, but he is so well fleshed-out that he felt *real*. And Leo? This is the punk-rock golden retriever boyfriend that we all need. But he's so multifaceted that he feels just as real as Mael does. He's goofy and sweet and has this childlike sense of wonder that is just adorable but fiercely protective and brave. But one of the characters that stuck out to me the most was probably actually Leo's niece, Remy. I feel like kids are generally not written realistically in books. I think it's really difficult to write kids accurately, but Hanlin wrote Remy's character brilliantly. Remy felt and sounded very much like a real child.
And if you're a fan of the found family trope, this is the book for you. This is the found family trope book, in my opinion.
THE MAGIC SYSTEM
The magic within the story on it's own was fantastic, but I really think giving one of the main characters, Mael, magical synesthesia brought everything up another notch because like the overall writing system, it was such a sensory experience. I could viscerally feel and see all of the magic as it happened. But, also, it was just damn cool. I love intricate magic systems in stories, but Hanlin took a basic warlock-magic system and made it interesting. As an example, Mael has magical tattoos. This itself is not revolutionary (though, still cool!) but it's the way that these tattoos were done that captured my attention. They're useful in ways that I would have never had the creativity to think of. A magic tattoo that translates languages for him? Absolutely brilliant.
THE REPRESENTATION
The cast is so wonderfully diverse and written so carefully and also authentically. Mael's struggles with autism, OCD, and anxiety felt so genuine and were done with so much care. It's always so refreshing to read books with any of these types of representation, but to see it done so masterfully? Hanlin handled all of it delicately and genuinely and it makes me emotional.
Overall, this is an easy five stars for me. If you're interested in a book that includes the mystical clutter of Howl's Moving Castle, found family, detective work, and romance, this is absolutely the book for you. I cannot wait to see where Hanlin takes us on this journey.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2025
This is an amazing read in paperback AND audiobook format 🩷 the neurodiverse rep is so genuine in the way it affects the characters’ decisions. The story made me laugh, cry, stress, and happy cry—I didn’t even realize there’d be a book 2 but I’m SO excited for it! Leo is so godtdamn cute and pure 😭🩷
This can easily be read as a standalone though, so no pressure!
This can easily be read as a standalone though, so no pressure!
April 1, 2024
Under the Dragon Moon is an amazing urban fantasy novel. The worldbuilding and magic system is well thought-out and so are the characters. Mael stole my heart the moment I read the first chapter. The portrayal of his neurodivergence and trauma, but also willingness to help Leo despite his previous experiences, are all harmonious and come natural (and that in a magic-infused world).
Leo's a little punk, and I love him for that. Both characters' relationship with their respective kids were adorable to read, and so were their interactions.
It's easy to imagine the world and Mael's shop, the worldbuilding and description perfectly fitting to show off the other side of New Orleans. Packed with many well-placed references to pop culture (of which I lost count), the world feels alive and as real as breathing.
I'm extremely curious for the 2nd book already -
Leo's a little punk, and I love him for that. Both characters' relationship with their respective kids were adorable to read, and so were their interactions.
It's easy to imagine the world and Mael's shop, the worldbuilding and description perfectly fitting to show off the other side of New Orleans. Packed with many well-placed references to pop culture (of which I lost count), the world feels alive and as real as breathing.
I'm extremely curious for the 2nd book already -
October 7, 2025
I'm picky when choosing the books I want to read, but also not a really hard person to please depending on the content, haha! I definitely enjoyed this story. Hanlin is actually a GENIUS at giving characters their individual voices. You can easily pick out who was talking right from the beginning and that honestly stuck out to me!!
The magic and the world is intriguing, and wow, I can't even begin to express how great the twists were in the story! I had a few inklings here and there, but one of the bigger reveals (at least to me) was pretty surprising, but no spoilers!
Also 1000/10 for representation. It all was fluid and existed as it should and, it just feels amazing to see it so naturally a part of a story ;v;
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC! Definitely interested in the next one!
The magic and the world is intriguing, and wow, I can't even begin to express how great the twists were in the story! I had a few inklings here and there, but one of the bigger reveals (at least to me) was pretty surprising, but no spoilers!
Also 1000/10 for representation. It all was fluid and existed as it should and, it just feels amazing to see it so naturally a part of a story ;v;
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC! Definitely interested in the next one!
May 1, 2024
I recieved an ARC of this book in exchange for a freely given and honest review!
I'm in love, make it a 20+ book series and I'll proudly have them all.
I love that the main character is openly autistic instead of being ambiguously so. Too many books just do the, "maybe they're just quirky" route with autism and with Mael being an autistic trans man I feel seen and heard 1000%.
Please read this book. Read everything the author puts out if its going to be this quality. If its going to be this good. Cannot wait for more.
I'm in love, make it a 20+ book series and I'll proudly have them all.
I love that the main character is openly autistic instead of being ambiguously so. Too many books just do the, "maybe they're just quirky" route with autism and with Mael being an autistic trans man I feel seen and heard 1000%.
Please read this book. Read everything the author puts out if its going to be this quality. If its going to be this good. Cannot wait for more.
July 21, 2024
This book was provided as an ARC for an honest review.
Do you like found family? A good mystery? Grumpy/sunshine dynamics? Unpredictable, sentient houses? Boy, has Mawce got something for you! Stories with mysteries at their core have always been my jam, and Mawce writes this one beautifully. I love the world they've built; it unfolds beautifully throughout the story alongside the plot. The characters are well written, well-represented, and relatable. I love how grumpy Mael is. Leo's whole demeanor just delightful, and the Kid is just refreshing with their ever-evolving persona.
As far as the plot goes, I had no complaints about the pacing or its twists. There are characters I would have liked to know a little more about, but I feel like getting that would have spoiled a bit of the reveal as far as the detective work went--and who knows, maybe some of them will pop up in the future!
I feel like the Kid could have their own book, I'm just saying, and the introduction in the epilogue has me making eyes at volume 2.
If you like a good detective/mystery fantasy, dive into this one! It's well worth it. Oh, and the book itself is gorgeous, so it's definitely one that is worthy of physical shelf space if you're into that.
I can't wait to see more from Mawce!
Do you like found family? A good mystery? Grumpy/sunshine dynamics? Unpredictable, sentient houses? Boy, has Mawce got something for you! Stories with mysteries at their core have always been my jam, and Mawce writes this one beautifully. I love the world they've built; it unfolds beautifully throughout the story alongside the plot. The characters are well written, well-represented, and relatable. I love how grumpy Mael is. Leo's whole demeanor just delightful, and the Kid is just refreshing with their ever-evolving persona.
As far as the plot goes, I had no complaints about the pacing or its twists. There are characters I would have liked to know a little more about, but I feel like getting that would have spoiled a bit of the reveal as far as the detective work went--and who knows, maybe some of them will pop up in the future!
I feel like the Kid could have their own book, I'm just saying, and the introduction in the epilogue has me making eyes at volume 2.
If you like a good detective/mystery fantasy, dive into this one! It's well worth it. Oh, and the book itself is gorgeous, so it's definitely one that is worthy of physical shelf space if you're into that.
I can't wait to see more from Mawce!
January 25, 2025
I WOULD LIKE TO PREFACE THIS WITH THE FACT THAT NONE OF THIS IS AGAINST THE AUTHOR; they did a very good job writing mael and the plot itself was fun!! i just had some gripes. ANYWAY:
overall, i really enjoyed this book!!! mael means the world to me as somebody who is also autistic + trans + etc and i loved reading through his thoughts and whatnot. i did, however, have quite a few gripes with this book. i had a lot of times where i had to stop due to syntax + grammar + spelling + formatting errors, and while this didn't necessarily take away from the meat of the book, it did leave me wondering about editing and stuff. a lot of that was easily looked over for the characters and the plot for the most part, though!
also, while i loved leo to pieces, had some major issues with his writing in particular. it confused me endlessly that this was a man who was punk-rock but listened to nickelback enough to the point that i questioned if he were a poser. (this is a personal issue, though, as i'm sure it doesn't bother most people. i'm just really into alternative scenes with other queer people around my age and it baffled me that somebody who, while is the same age as me, would claim to be big into punk dive bars but say his favorite band is nickelback). i also had some issues where it felt like leo was being written to be TOO perfect, as his only flaw, to me, was that he, as previously mentioned, likes nickelback a little too much. it felt like he was constantly making a point to say how much he hates authority ("ACAB for cuties" is a line that made me actually cringe a bit) and how he's extremely active in queer spaces, but it was to the point that it felt like he was being performative. it felt less like an authentic character building and more like the author was creating a guy they view as extremely perfect, which made me crave for this man to have actual flaws and inspirations.
)there was another issue i had, particularly the use of the word "popo" regarding police. i live in the south, and nobody even says that here. but thats not important; i was just shocked by the use of the word multiple times in the book)
i don't want to decrease my rating on this book, because i genuinely DID enjoy it AND the characters, but a lot of it felt performative and under-researched, as well as the previous issues i had with the editing. despite this, i can't say i would pick up any future books in this series, as the only thing that kept me reading was the relationship development between mael and leo. the plot felt somewhat lackluster and there were more questions for me than answers, but i still did enjoy reading about mael and leo's adventure.
overall, i really enjoyed this book!!! mael means the world to me as somebody who is also autistic + trans + etc and i loved reading through his thoughts and whatnot. i did, however, have quite a few gripes with this book. i had a lot of times where i had to stop due to syntax + grammar + spelling + formatting errors, and while this didn't necessarily take away from the meat of the book, it did leave me wondering about editing and stuff. a lot of that was easily looked over for the characters and the plot for the most part, though!
also, while i loved leo to pieces, had some major issues with his writing in particular. it confused me endlessly that this was a man who was punk-rock but listened to nickelback enough to the point that i questioned if he were a poser. (this is a personal issue, though, as i'm sure it doesn't bother most people. i'm just really into alternative scenes with other queer people around my age and it baffled me that somebody who, while is the same age as me, would claim to be big into punk dive bars but say his favorite band is nickelback). i also had some issues where it felt like leo was being written to be TOO perfect, as his only flaw, to me, was that he, as previously mentioned, likes nickelback a little too much. it felt like he was constantly making a point to say how much he hates authority ("ACAB for cuties" is a line that made me actually cringe a bit) and how he's extremely active in queer spaces, but it was to the point that it felt like he was being performative. it felt less like an authentic character building and more like the author was creating a guy they view as extremely perfect, which made me crave for this man to have actual flaws and inspirations.
)there was another issue i had, particularly the use of the word "popo" regarding police. i live in the south, and nobody even says that here. but thats not important; i was just shocked by the use of the word multiple times in the book)
i don't want to decrease my rating on this book, because i genuinely DID enjoy it AND the characters, but a lot of it felt performative and under-researched, as well as the previous issues i had with the editing. despite this, i can't say i would pick up any future books in this series, as the only thing that kept me reading was the relationship development between mael and leo. the plot felt somewhat lackluster and there were more questions for me than answers, but i still did enjoy reading about mael and leo's adventure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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