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Breathings of the Moon
What happens when memories of the past aren’t true?
With a touch, Zoe Underhill can share another person's memory and become a new person. It’s an ancestral ability she’s used to stay far away from her powerful grandfather and her New England hometown of Kingstowe.
But when the body of her mother is discovered twenty years after her disappearance, her brother makes her return home to use her memory talent to piece together their mother’s last day.
It seems every family member has a motive, and every memory they have of her mother differs.
A spellbinding new novel about the loss of a mother, and hidden truths that refuse to stay buried.
Legend states that when Abraham Underhill stopped the mighty Gale of 1898 from destroying Kingstowe, the Underhills were blessed with strange powers which allowed them to control the town and its residents. But when the brightest of their generation died the Underhill talents began to fade.
As the Gale’s anniversary approaches, the foundation of the family legend is cracking under the weight of the truth.
A storm is coming and when the Elemental force returns, it could spell the end for the Underhills.
In Zoe’s quest to reveal her mother’s killer, she will discover the most powerful memory she has is her own.
A haunting, lyrical modern fairytale that explores the sweet and bitter aspects of memory, and how we use it to comfort and betray ourselves.
With a touch, Zoe Underhill can share another person's memory and become a new person. It’s an ancestral ability she’s used to stay far away from her powerful grandfather and her New England hometown of Kingstowe.
But when the body of her mother is discovered twenty years after her disappearance, her brother makes her return home to use her memory talent to piece together their mother’s last day.
It seems every family member has a motive, and every memory they have of her mother differs.
A spellbinding new novel about the loss of a mother, and hidden truths that refuse to stay buried.
Legend states that when Abraham Underhill stopped the mighty Gale of 1898 from destroying Kingstowe, the Underhills were blessed with strange powers which allowed them to control the town and its residents. But when the brightest of their generation died the Underhill talents began to fade.
As the Gale’s anniversary approaches, the foundation of the family legend is cracking under the weight of the truth.
A storm is coming and when the Elemental force returns, it could spell the end for the Underhills.
In Zoe’s quest to reveal her mother’s killer, she will discover the most powerful memory she has is her own.
A haunting, lyrical modern fairytale that explores the sweet and bitter aspects of memory, and how we use it to comfort and betray ourselves.
320 pages, ebook
Published March 4, 2025
21 people are currently reading
1715 people want to read
About the author
Byrd Nash
25 books1,496 followersDiscover fearless women, clever as cats, partnered with men who fall first even if they do have a hidden agenda. Byrd writes riveting characters who are relatable but realistically complex.
Her book series showcase alternate histories with intrigue, fantasy, and the supernatural, while Byrd’s standalone novels are thought-provoking explorations of family dysfunction using contemporary settings and magical realism.
Her book series showcase alternate histories with intrigue, fantasy, and the supernatural, while Byrd’s standalone novels are thought-provoking explorations of family dysfunction using contemporary settings and magical realism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 8, 2025
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Great premise; wanted more from it
Zoe Underhill can share other people’s memories with just a touch. She can even take on their memories to become a new person. This ancestral gift made her run far away to live a life free of chaos and dysfunctional drama. However, Zoe’s brother comes for her; their mother (who disappeared twenty years ago) has been found dead. To find the truth, her brother needs Zoe’s help to access the memories of their family members and separate emotions from facts.
Legend says Abraham Underhill, Zoe’s ancestor stopped by the Gale in 1898 to save Kingstowe. In return, he and his family were gifted strange powers. The townsfolk are wary of the Underhill family because of this.
As the 130th anniversary of the Gale approaches, Zoe realizes that she needs to tap into the past and her own memories to find the truth.
The story comes from Zoe’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
I’ve enjoyed the author’s works before, so was excited to read this one. The premise is terrific. Imagine a person with the power to see your memories with just a touch!
There’s a bit of everything, which can make it hard to highlight a single genre. It has dysfunctional family drama, a mystery about the mother’s disappearance, paranormal abilities, and a touch of romance.
The family drama gets the highest marks. The tension, toxicity, and stress of living with such people are very well done. I could feel the same itch as Zoe, to escape the house and go somewhere peaceful. The relationship dynamics are complex and the characters are just as messy, adding to the feeling of suffocation. This can be a trigger for some readers.
The mystery is okay, decent enough as the family drama often takes over. Can’t help it since both tracks are interconnected. I could guess the killer halfway through and got it right, though I didn’t know the reason until the reveal.
The FMC’s abilities are shown through various scenes. This makes it easy to understand how her abilities work as well as see the side effects. I like her enough, though something feels missing. I can’t point out what exactly, sorry!
The MMC, Duncan, is the right type of counterpart for the FMC. His stability and steadfastness are evident. It is easy to see why the FMC is attracted to his calm and assured personality. At the same time, he is competent and assertive; just not in-your-face type, and a very comforting presence to have around.
While the story definitely has some atmosphere, I was hoping for more. I need to feel the storm and salty sea breeze around me. Some scenes were quite there but some weren’t.
The side characters have definite personalities. I like that the relationship between Zoe and her brother is a bit strained but they also share a deep sibling bond. It feels realistic.
The climax is pretty cool. I like how the resolution aligns with the character’s personality and delivers justice.
However, the ending is more of HFN and a bit open-ish. An epilogue set a year or two later would have helped a lot. I want to know if the nasty old aunt got what she deserved. Maybe newsletter subscribers can get a bonus epilogue (hint, hint).
To summarize, Breathings of the Moon is an intriguing and dark story about family secrets, memories, and relationships.
Thank you, NetGalley and Rook and Castle (Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #BreathingsOfTheMoon
One Liner: Great premise; wanted more from it
Zoe Underhill can share other people’s memories with just a touch. She can even take on their memories to become a new person. This ancestral gift made her run far away to live a life free of chaos and dysfunctional drama. However, Zoe’s brother comes for her; their mother (who disappeared twenty years ago) has been found dead. To find the truth, her brother needs Zoe’s help to access the memories of their family members and separate emotions from facts.
Legend says Abraham Underhill, Zoe’s ancestor stopped by the Gale in 1898 to save Kingstowe. In return, he and his family were gifted strange powers. The townsfolk are wary of the Underhill family because of this.
As the 130th anniversary of the Gale approaches, Zoe realizes that she needs to tap into the past and her own memories to find the truth.
The story comes from Zoe’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
I’ve enjoyed the author’s works before, so was excited to read this one. The premise is terrific. Imagine a person with the power to see your memories with just a touch!
There’s a bit of everything, which can make it hard to highlight a single genre. It has dysfunctional family drama, a mystery about the mother’s disappearance, paranormal abilities, and a touch of romance.
The family drama gets the highest marks. The tension, toxicity, and stress of living with such people are very well done. I could feel the same itch as Zoe, to escape the house and go somewhere peaceful. The relationship dynamics are complex and the characters are just as messy, adding to the feeling of suffocation. This can be a trigger for some readers.
The mystery is okay, decent enough as the family drama often takes over. Can’t help it since both tracks are interconnected. I could guess the killer halfway through and got it right, though I didn’t know the reason until the reveal.
The FMC’s abilities are shown through various scenes. This makes it easy to understand how her abilities work as well as see the side effects. I like her enough, though something feels missing. I can’t point out what exactly, sorry!
The MMC, Duncan, is the right type of counterpart for the FMC. His stability and steadfastness are evident. It is easy to see why the FMC is attracted to his calm and assured personality. At the same time, he is competent and assertive; just not in-your-face type, and a very comforting presence to have around.
While the story definitely has some atmosphere, I was hoping for more. I need to feel the storm and salty sea breeze around me. Some scenes were quite there but some weren’t.
The side characters have definite personalities. I like that the relationship between Zoe and her brother is a bit strained but they also share a deep sibling bond. It feels realistic.
The climax is pretty cool. I like how the resolution aligns with the character’s personality and delivers justice.
However, the ending is more of HFN and a bit open-ish. An epilogue set a year or two later would have helped a lot. I want to know if the nasty old aunt got what she deserved. Maybe newsletter subscribers can get a bonus epilogue (hint, hint).
To summarize, Breathings of the Moon is an intriguing and dark story about family secrets, memories, and relationships.
Thank you, NetGalley and Rook and Castle (Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #BreathingsOfTheMoon
April 22, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Rook and Castle Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
A prodigal daughter returns home to her dysfunctional family as her brother pleads for her help in solving the unanswered questions surrounding their mother's disappearance and their family legacy.
Now, before you think I have just summarized the plot of a straight-up mystery thriller, I must confess that I have held back one piece of vital information. Our main female protagonist, Zoe, like other members of her family, has a special gift. Through touch, Zoe can conjure up a person's memories and with that their darkest secrets.
Doesn't that sound like an interesting premise?
I thought so too, so I requested this title.
In the end, I did like the family revelations and the mystery solved with all my questions answered. The writing of the Grandfather made for some good page-turning family drama. What a villain! Zoe is given a romance, and the insta-love had me skimming those scenes. Sorry, I am just one of those readers who, when I am promised uniqueness in my characters, don't have time for romance!! More of Aunt Belle's weirdness, please!
So I am giving this a 3-star because the good stuff outweighs my nitpicking.
Publication Date 04/03/24
Goodreads Review 21/04/25
#BreathingsoftheMoon #NetGalley.
A prodigal daughter returns home to her dysfunctional family as her brother pleads for her help in solving the unanswered questions surrounding their mother's disappearance and their family legacy.
Now, before you think I have just summarized the plot of a straight-up mystery thriller, I must confess that I have held back one piece of vital information. Our main female protagonist, Zoe, like other members of her family, has a special gift. Through touch, Zoe can conjure up a person's memories and with that their darkest secrets.
Doesn't that sound like an interesting premise?
I thought so too, so I requested this title.
In the end, I did like the family revelations and the mystery solved with all my questions answered. The writing of the Grandfather made for some good page-turning family drama. What a villain! Zoe is given a romance, and the insta-love had me skimming those scenes. Sorry, I am just one of those readers who, when I am promised uniqueness in my characters, don't have time for romance!! More of Aunt Belle's weirdness, please!
So I am giving this a 3-star because the good stuff outweighs my nitpicking.
Publication Date 04/03/24
Goodreads Review 21/04/25
#BreathingsoftheMoon #NetGalley.
Read
March 20, 2025Breathings of the Moon hit the Amazon bestseller list today. This was all due to a Bookbub New Release ad and being on sale for $1.99. This sale will be ending Saturday.
The book is now live - so if you were an ARC reader you can leave your review at your favorite bookseller: Amazon, Kobo Plus, Apple, Barnes and Noble.
• • •
Zoe is a memory keeper, with a gift passed down through the generations. It’s allowed her to shift into other personalities, and form a new life far from her controlling family.
But when her mother’s body is discovered twenty years after her disappearance, she must return to unravel her mother’s mystery and learn the truth about the family legend which gifted their enigmatic powers.
There is a reckoning long overdue, and blood must pay to redress it. Perhaps her own.
• • •
“𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍, 𝒂 𝒅𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚, 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆.” Clarion
“—𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒙 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒁𝒐𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔—𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔.” Publishers Weekly BookLife
• • •
Complex family dynamics, with a cold case murder, and a family legend that brings with it unearthly creatures and terrifying obligations. There are a few Open Door scenes between consenting adults.
𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
· Magical Realism in a New England contemporary setting;
· Neurodivergent FMC with dissociative identity disorder symptoms;
· Family Saga / Dysfunctional patriarchy;
· Childhood trauma / Healing from the past;
· Loss of a mother while young;
· Shy girl / He takes care of her;
· Love at first sight / He falls first;
(there is a romance, but this is NOT a romance book)
· Hero in all at the beginning;
· Returning to your hometown (small town).
𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 is at 𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐘
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
A standalone, complete-in-one book-sized story offered in ebook. print and hardback.
The book is now live - so if you were an ARC reader you can leave your review at your favorite bookseller: Amazon, Kobo Plus, Apple, Barnes and Noble.
• • •
Zoe is a memory keeper, with a gift passed down through the generations. It’s allowed her to shift into other personalities, and form a new life far from her controlling family.
But when her mother’s body is discovered twenty years after her disappearance, she must return to unravel her mother’s mystery and learn the truth about the family legend which gifted their enigmatic powers.
There is a reckoning long overdue, and blood must pay to redress it. Perhaps her own.
• • •
“𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍, 𝒂 𝒅𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚, 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆.” Clarion
“—𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒙 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒁𝒐𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔—𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔.” Publishers Weekly BookLife
• • •
Complex family dynamics, with a cold case murder, and a family legend that brings with it unearthly creatures and terrifying obligations. There are a few Open Door scenes between consenting adults.
𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
· Magical Realism in a New England contemporary setting;
· Neurodivergent FMC with dissociative identity disorder symptoms;
· Family Saga / Dysfunctional patriarchy;
· Childhood trauma / Healing from the past;
· Loss of a mother while young;
· Shy girl / He takes care of her;
· Love at first sight / He falls first;
(there is a romance, but this is NOT a romance book)
· Hero in all at the beginning;
· Returning to your hometown (small town).
𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 is at 𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐘
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
A standalone, complete-in-one book-sized story offered in ebook. print and hardback.
March 7, 2025
When I tell you I loved the magical aspects of this book 🙌🏻
The use of magic, mystery, memory and historical significance was blended perfectly!
Also, totally did not expect the murderer 🥺
An enthralling, fast paced read! 🥳
The use of magic, mystery, memory and historical significance was blended perfectly!
Also, totally did not expect the murderer 🥺
An enthralling, fast paced read! 🥳
March 5, 2025
I was hesitant to read this even though I love the author and her other books because I’ve only ever enjoyed 2 books with the use of memory. This book officially makes it 3. I should have never doubted her. That was my mistake.
This book is so soft but unyielding in its tragedy and heartache. However, it is also full of hope and love. My favorite aspect aside from the setting and characters was actually how memory was used in this book to be magical, but also tied to the reality that many face. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but Nash does such a good job at making you love and hate characters, and man, did I hate a few of them.
This book is so soft but unyielding in its tragedy and heartache. However, it is also full of hope and love. My favorite aspect aside from the setting and characters was actually how memory was used in this book to be magical, but also tied to the reality that many face. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but Nash does such a good job at making you love and hate characters, and man, did I hate a few of them.
January 10, 2025
Zoe was lost. Happily lost in the memories that she had stolen of anothers life, and living the life that that person was no longer able to live. She was content, happy even in that uncomplicated existence. Until her brother broke through that happiness with three words: 'They've found her'. Now Zoe has to go back. Back where her name means something and not always something good. And instead of using her gift to be lost in good memories, she has to use it to try to pull memories to discover what happened to her mum 20 years ago, especially now that her body has just been found.
I am completely hooked on the talent and worlds portrayed in Byrd Nash's novels. So I know in advance that as soon as another book becomes available, sleep will be a thing of the past until I have finished reading the last sentence and Breathings of the Moon is no different. The concept of their family legacy was so different to anything I have read before. I really felt for Zoe (and to a lesser extent Ryan). All of Nash's characters have reasons for their actions, which I love, so love them or hate them, they are human and have relatable aspects of their personalities which just sucks you in more. The writing flows seamlessly at the perfect pace as you follow this family drama that is Zoe's life. Duncan feels like the lone metaphorical tree that is still when everything around Zoe is a blur of action and manipulation and I really enjoyed reading about how this sometimes had the ability to shift certain relationship dynamics. I was so involved in the family dynamic that at times I forgot that looming in the background of all their thoughts was the mystery of what happened to her mother. This book really had it all; mystery, a dysfunctional family, loyalty, love, hate, trauma, hero, villian, growth, magic and I twist I never saw coming and I loved every second it took to read it!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
I am completely hooked on the talent and worlds portrayed in Byrd Nash's novels. So I know in advance that as soon as another book becomes available, sleep will be a thing of the past until I have finished reading the last sentence and Breathings of the Moon is no different. The concept of their family legacy was so different to anything I have read before. I really felt for Zoe (and to a lesser extent Ryan). All of Nash's characters have reasons for their actions, which I love, so love them or hate them, they are human and have relatable aspects of their personalities which just sucks you in more. The writing flows seamlessly at the perfect pace as you follow this family drama that is Zoe's life. Duncan feels like the lone metaphorical tree that is still when everything around Zoe is a blur of action and manipulation and I really enjoyed reading about how this sometimes had the ability to shift certain relationship dynamics. I was so involved in the family dynamic that at times I forgot that looming in the background of all their thoughts was the mystery of what happened to her mother. This book really had it all; mystery, a dysfunctional family, loyalty, love, hate, trauma, hero, villian, growth, magic and I twist I never saw coming and I loved every second it took to read it!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
February 17, 2025
I swallow hard before asking Duncan, "Has anyone said this building is haunted?"
"No one has mentioned it."
Zoe
Seeing ghosts is not my gift.
Byrd Nash and her writing with mysterious/paranormal undertones is just fabulous. Breathings of the Moon was no exception.
Zoe has zero interest in being with or apart of her family, she wants nothing to do with the Gifts that have been passed down from generation to generation, but she also knows she can't get away from it or the family. When her mother is found dead after being missing for twenty years Zoe is being brought back to the family estate. She wants to find out what happened on the last night of her Mother's life, but no one "seems to know what happened". The family is more interested in celebrating the Legend of the Gale and the rise of the Underhills.
Zoe knows that history is missing, people are lying and using their Gifts to cover up everything. The story goes through how she unravels her own family past. It is gripping, mysterious, so good!
"The Gale takes back what was gifted. The Underhills take back their heritage. You are cast out. Exiled. Alone, without name or power."
"No one has mentioned it."
Zoe
Seeing ghosts is not my gift.
Byrd Nash and her writing with mysterious/paranormal undertones is just fabulous. Breathings of the Moon was no exception.
Zoe has zero interest in being with or apart of her family, she wants nothing to do with the Gifts that have been passed down from generation to generation, but she also knows she can't get away from it or the family. When her mother is found dead after being missing for twenty years Zoe is being brought back to the family estate. She wants to find out what happened on the last night of her Mother's life, but no one "seems to know what happened". The family is more interested in celebrating the Legend of the Gale and the rise of the Underhills.
Zoe knows that history is missing, people are lying and using their Gifts to cover up everything. The story goes through how she unravels her own family past. It is gripping, mysterious, so good!
"The Gale takes back what was gifted. The Underhills take back their heritage. You are cast out. Exiled. Alone, without name or power."
February 23, 2025
Breathings of the Moon is magic realism with a murder mystery, dysfunctional family dynamics, and some ghostly elements. The book was well written, fast paced, and engaging. Character backgrounds explained the motivations and actions of all the main players in a believable way. This is magic realism at its best, when the magic is seamlessly integrated into stories and lives of the characters. Solid 4 stars.
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC for an honest review. All opinions are my own*
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC for an honest review. All opinions are my own*
February 1, 2025
After the discovery of her missing mother’s body, Zoe Underhill is drawn back into the suffocating embrace of the Big House and her family’s legacy. Utilizing her Gift, Zoe attempts to discover the truth behind her mother’s murder and the secrets her family would rather keep hidden.
“Breathings of the Moon” was a combination of all my favorite things: magic, crime, and family secrets. Nash crafts an atmospheric tale where the weather is its own character and the narrator is unreliable, in the best way. Through her Gift, Zoe has built a collection of identities through memories she has absorbed from others, separating herself from her family in as many ways as possible. This makes Zoe the perfect instrument for discovery as an ‘outsider’ in her family but tied to it enough to have an understanding. I appreciated the overall narrative of fighting for the truth and the pruning of spoiled fruit, poisoning the entire tree.
While the mystery of who killed her mother is what brought Zoe back to Kingstowe, other discoveries pull focus for a good part of the middle of the book. Even though discovery is a theme of the book, I would have liked to see a stronger through line of finding her mother’s murderer. Through the middle, the focus is shifted to other topics so that it almost seems as if Zoe must be reminded about her goal.
I really enjoyed the relationship fostered between Duncan and Zoe throughout the book, as well as the threading of the family’s Gifts through the storyline. The magical realism brought an extra depth to the book that I appreciated. I believe this book would be a great read for those who might not be sold on fantasy as a genre, as the magical realism and the mystery aspects are enough to pull in even the most averse readers.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.
“Breathings of the Moon” was a combination of all my favorite things: magic, crime, and family secrets. Nash crafts an atmospheric tale where the weather is its own character and the narrator is unreliable, in the best way. Through her Gift, Zoe has built a collection of identities through memories she has absorbed from others, separating herself from her family in as many ways as possible. This makes Zoe the perfect instrument for discovery as an ‘outsider’ in her family but tied to it enough to have an understanding. I appreciated the overall narrative of fighting for the truth and the pruning of spoiled fruit, poisoning the entire tree.
While the mystery of who killed her mother is what brought Zoe back to Kingstowe, other discoveries pull focus for a good part of the middle of the book. Even though discovery is a theme of the book, I would have liked to see a stronger through line of finding her mother’s murderer. Through the middle, the focus is shifted to other topics so that it almost seems as if Zoe must be reminded about her goal.
I really enjoyed the relationship fostered between Duncan and Zoe throughout the book, as well as the threading of the family’s Gifts through the storyline. The magical realism brought an extra depth to the book that I appreciated. I believe this book would be a great read for those who might not be sold on fantasy as a genre, as the magical realism and the mystery aspects are enough to pull in even the most averse readers.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.
April 19, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Rook and Castle Press for the ARC copy. This has not affected my review at all, which are my own thoughts.
Zoe Underhill is the Memory Keeper of her family, a gift passed down through the generations. It has allowed her to shift into other personalities, and form a new life as different people, far from her controlling and poisonous family. But when her mother’s body is discovered twenty years after her disappearance, Zoe must return to unravel her mother’s mystery and learn the truth about the family legend which gifted their enigmatic powers to the Underhills. There is a reckoning long overdue, and blood must pay to redress it. Perhaps her own.
Before starting with the actual review, I'd like to introduce the players properly: we have Zoe, our protagonist; Ryan, her older brother, who is accompanied by Jessica, his wife; Nolan, the grandfather and patriarch of the family; Owen, Nolan's brother who is working with Duncan, a historian paid to investigate the Underhill family history; Brynn, Zoe's mother; Robert, Ryan's father; and last, but not least, Aunt Belle, Nolan's wife's sister and nightmare inducing for Zoe.
So, we start with Zoe not being Zoe, AKA, having used her abilities to forge herself a new personality, a teacher, and thus having run away from her family. Ryan have found her, too, and is trying to convince her to come back, because the family wants her help: they want Zoe to use her memory powers to find out what happened to her and if there's any culprit to whatever that might have been. Complaining, reluctant and not happy about it, Zoe does come back to the family house. And that's when everything starts spiraling.
Let's start with what I didn't enjoy, shall we? So, as usual, one of my issues with this book was the romance😂 But, really, this time, it felt too insta-lovey for me to appreciate it. Like, Zoe and her love interest (LI, whose name I won't say to avoid spoilers) had two counted interactions before she started thinking about his lips and wondering how it would feel. Also, do y'all know those romance plots where the girl/woman is nothing like other women and that's why the man falls in love with her? Well, the romance between Zoe and her LI came across exactly like that. He was different to the men in her family and to any other men she had met before, because he was nice with her, and listened to her and wanted to help her find out what happened to her mother in an organic way instead of imposing himself and his opinions.
Not saying this is bad, on the contrary, wished more LI (no matter gender) where more like this and complemented the MC so well. But, the way the romance was developed and treated by the narration make it felt unnecessary for me. Zoe and her LI should have stayed friends; I would have rooted more for them as such. By the end of the book, the chemistry and relationship developed between them felt more like a rushed and lusty one than romantic. I didn't believed that these two were in actual love.
Now, onto what I *did* like, which is everything else! The family drama was on point, with the push and pull with the members with each other, trying to impose their opinions and power over the others while trying (and kind of failing) to collaborate to find out what happened to Bryn (Zoe's mother). Aunt Belle was as hated as she deserved with how she favored Ryan over Zoe or how she treated her and her mother over the years, and I liked that she is to faced some justice in the future as promised by other character. I think Owen's character, who is portrayed as the ostracized member of the family (in a very different way to Zoe), was done very well, showing his hobbies, his opinion and some things about him that let me shocked when discovered. The same aspect with Robert or Nolan's characters, in fact, because everybody likes to keep secrets, and they can be mortal some times.
Zoe, as the protagonist, is the one we follow. I loved her. They way she is, always thinking ahead of the others to make sure she is safe and capable of running away when needed, or how smart she is even if the family doesn't credit her for it. The exploration of her childhood trauma and her ability to be different people, which also had a great impact on her psyche, were done in an incredible way, without overdoing it and showing both the good and the bad. Giving the situation the seriousness it needed while also tying it up with the magical realism aspect of the story: how the Memory Keeper abilities that Zoe has have shaped her and make her who she is, along with the personalities she's adopted through her life.
Finally, that magical realism I mentioned, the magic system, is one of the best constructed and explained throughout the novel I've seen lately. It wasn't overdone or super complicated, but it was developed along the action, when needed, giving the necessary details without overwhelming the reader. I haven't read much magic rooted on memory, much less like the one described in Breathings of the Moon, but I'll definitely call this one my favorite until a better one comes to dethrone it.
Overall, I enjoyed this read! The book kept me glue to its pages, probably loving Zoe as a narrator so much and the intrigue of the mystery of her mother, Bryn. The family drama was enough to fill the times between investigations Zoe carried out. I'm still a bit disappointed about the romance, but I'm sure other people can enjoy it, I'm just too picky with these relationships in books😂 It's true that the romantic love helped Zoe grow a bit as a person, but I still think that her LI could have stayed as her friend and still provoke that growth in her
Totally recommended for fans of magic memory, messy families and mysteries that develop quite slow
Zoe Underhill is the Memory Keeper of her family, a gift passed down through the generations. It has allowed her to shift into other personalities, and form a new life as different people, far from her controlling and poisonous family. But when her mother’s body is discovered twenty years after her disappearance, Zoe must return to unravel her mother’s mystery and learn the truth about the family legend which gifted their enigmatic powers to the Underhills. There is a reckoning long overdue, and blood must pay to redress it. Perhaps her own.
Before starting with the actual review, I'd like to introduce the players properly: we have Zoe, our protagonist; Ryan, her older brother, who is accompanied by Jessica, his wife; Nolan, the grandfather and patriarch of the family; Owen, Nolan's brother who is working with Duncan, a historian paid to investigate the Underhill family history; Brynn, Zoe's mother; Robert, Ryan's father; and last, but not least, Aunt Belle, Nolan's wife's sister and nightmare inducing for Zoe.
So, we start with Zoe not being Zoe, AKA, having used her abilities to forge herself a new personality, a teacher, and thus having run away from her family. Ryan have found her, too, and is trying to convince her to come back, because the family wants her help: they want Zoe to use her memory powers to find out what happened to her and if there's any culprit to whatever that might have been. Complaining, reluctant and not happy about it, Zoe does come back to the family house. And that's when everything starts spiraling.
Let's start with what I didn't enjoy, shall we? So, as usual, one of my issues with this book was the romance😂 But, really, this time, it felt too insta-lovey for me to appreciate it. Like, Zoe and her love interest (LI, whose name I won't say to avoid spoilers) had two counted interactions before she started thinking about his lips and wondering how it would feel. Also, do y'all know those romance plots where the girl/woman is nothing like other women and that's why the man falls in love with her? Well, the romance between Zoe and her LI came across exactly like that. He was different to the men in her family and to any other men she had met before, because he was nice with her, and listened to her and wanted to help her find out what happened to her mother in an organic way instead of imposing himself and his opinions.
Not saying this is bad, on the contrary, wished more LI (no matter gender) where more like this and complemented the MC so well. But, the way the romance was developed and treated by the narration make it felt unnecessary for me. Zoe and her LI should have stayed friends; I would have rooted more for them as such. By the end of the book, the chemistry and relationship developed between them felt more like a rushed and lusty one than romantic. I didn't believed that these two were in actual love.
Now, onto what I *did* like, which is everything else! The family drama was on point, with the push and pull with the members with each other, trying to impose their opinions and power over the others while trying (and kind of failing) to collaborate to find out what happened to Bryn (Zoe's mother). Aunt Belle was as hated as she deserved with how she favored Ryan over Zoe or how she treated her and her mother over the years, and I liked that she is to faced some justice in the future as promised by other character. I think Owen's character, who is portrayed as the ostracized member of the family (in a very different way to Zoe), was done very well, showing his hobbies, his opinion and some things about him that let me shocked when discovered. The same aspect with Robert or Nolan's characters, in fact, because everybody likes to keep secrets, and they can be mortal some times.
Zoe, as the protagonist, is the one we follow. I loved her. They way she is, always thinking ahead of the others to make sure she is safe and capable of running away when needed, or how smart she is even if the family doesn't credit her for it. The exploration of her childhood trauma and her ability to be different people, which also had a great impact on her psyche, were done in an incredible way, without overdoing it and showing both the good and the bad. Giving the situation the seriousness it needed while also tying it up with the magical realism aspect of the story: how the Memory Keeper abilities that Zoe has have shaped her and make her who she is, along with the personalities she's adopted through her life.
Finally, that magical realism I mentioned, the magic system, is one of the best constructed and explained throughout the novel I've seen lately. It wasn't overdone or super complicated, but it was developed along the action, when needed, giving the necessary details without overwhelming the reader. I haven't read much magic rooted on memory, much less like the one described in Breathings of the Moon, but I'll definitely call this one my favorite until a better one comes to dethrone it.
Overall, I enjoyed this read! The book kept me glue to its pages, probably loving Zoe as a narrator so much and the intrigue of the mystery of her mother, Bryn. The family drama was enough to fill the times between investigations Zoe carried out. I'm still a bit disappointed about the romance, but I'm sure other people can enjoy it, I'm just too picky with these relationships in books😂 It's true that the romantic love helped Zoe grow a bit as a person, but I still think that her LI could have stayed as her friend and still provoke that growth in her
Totally recommended for fans of magic memory, messy families and mysteries that develop quite slow
February 7, 2025
I was so very kindly sent an ARC of this book; my opinions are entirely my own.
And I take back everything I may have said during the initial work on the opening chapters, because: W.O.W.
I remember saying Zoe needed more backbone and GOODNESS but she grows one!
Let's backtrack just a little and review, shall we?
Zoe is taken back to her childhood home to help solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance and death, which turns out to be murder. Along the way, she unravels her relationships with other family members, finds a partner, and restores her family's gifts and position in their small corner of the world.
And yes. She solves her mother's murder.
Main character: Zoe may start off as timid and quiet, but the more the story grows, the stronger SHE grows. By the end of the book she's making decisions and taking names, and I am here for it.
Side characters: the fam is one of those proper "we must always be united" front old families with the Chosen One streak because of their abilities. Each character is nuanced and multifaceted and I love it, they breathe so much life into the story.
Setting: reminds me of the Hamptons in the Revenge television show, but is perfect for this plot. The world is just big enough to warrant attention, and the central plot focused enough in one space to make it feel cohesive.
Abilities: Charm and Memory. I love that it's the women who are responsible for this - Sarah, the ancestor, originally gave her unborn son to the Gale (here an entity rather than just wind) to save their town, and in turn the Gale gifted them with these abilities to keep the town and land protected. It's only when a Memory Keeper strays that things go haywire.
Minor quips: I don't know how Owen managed to keep his ability so under wraps. Doesn't it make sense that one sibling has Charm, the other Memory? Also, on the note of abilities, it's never discussed how and what Duncan Crane knows. It's implied that Ryan probably told him some, but he and Zoe never discuss it, he never asks any questions and is never bewildered by anything. I think at least a BIT of that should have been talked about on page, somewhere.
There also still seems to be a bit of back and forth between present and past tense in thr writing, which it's to be hoped will all be unified by the time the book officially releases, because it IS jarring to go from "I stand on the deck, looking out to sea" to "The waves washed towards me, and the birds sang".
Overall however, this is a masterful thesis on inter familial relationships, memory, how our brain protects itself, and the weave of supernatural against the backdrop of reality. Byrd Nash strikes again, hitting it right out of the park. 1000000/10 recommend, and I need a physical copy, stat!
And I take back everything I may have said during the initial work on the opening chapters, because: W.O.W.
I remember saying Zoe needed more backbone and GOODNESS but she grows one!
Let's backtrack just a little and review, shall we?
Zoe is taken back to her childhood home to help solve the mystery of her mother's disappearance and death, which turns out to be murder. Along the way, she unravels her relationships with other family members, finds a partner, and restores her family's gifts and position in their small corner of the world.
And yes. She solves her mother's murder.
Main character: Zoe may start off as timid and quiet, but the more the story grows, the stronger SHE grows. By the end of the book she's making decisions and taking names, and I am here for it.
Side characters: the fam is one of those proper "we must always be united" front old families with the Chosen One streak because of their abilities. Each character is nuanced and multifaceted and I love it, they breathe so much life into the story.
Setting: reminds me of the Hamptons in the Revenge television show, but is perfect for this plot. The world is just big enough to warrant attention, and the central plot focused enough in one space to make it feel cohesive.
Abilities: Charm and Memory. I love that it's the women who are responsible for this - Sarah, the ancestor, originally gave her unborn son to the Gale (here an entity rather than just wind) to save their town, and in turn the Gale gifted them with these abilities to keep the town and land protected. It's only when a Memory Keeper strays that things go haywire.
Minor quips: I don't know how Owen managed to keep his ability so under wraps. Doesn't it make sense that one sibling has Charm, the other Memory? Also, on the note of abilities, it's never discussed how and what Duncan Crane knows. It's implied that Ryan probably told him some, but he and Zoe never discuss it, he never asks any questions and is never bewildered by anything. I think at least a BIT of that should have been talked about on page, somewhere.
There also still seems to be a bit of back and forth between present and past tense in thr writing, which it's to be hoped will all be unified by the time the book officially releases, because it IS jarring to go from "I stand on the deck, looking out to sea" to "The waves washed towards me, and the birds sang".
Overall however, this is a masterful thesis on inter familial relationships, memory, how our brain protects itself, and the weave of supernatural against the backdrop of reality. Byrd Nash strikes again, hitting it right out of the park. 1000000/10 recommend, and I need a physical copy, stat!
February 8, 2025
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author but not
required to leave a review. This is my voluntarily given honest opinion of this book.
Are you looking for a suspenseful, intriguing mystery that will grab you and keep you reading the pages to its conclusion to the extent that you forget the world around you and can only concentrate on the characters and the story that you are reading? Well look no further because this book delivers all that and more!
We all depend on our memories to remind us of what happened previously but what if those memories are false! This book will make you second guess your memories or what you’ve been told after reading it!
Zoe and her brother have been given a gift passed down from four generations but is the truthfulness of who and how those gifts were bestowed accurate?
Zoe has the ability to assume a life of someone who is deceased by touching people and feeling the memories of that person who has died. In this way she has been hiding from a terrible secret that happened when she was young and her mother died.
When her mother’s body is discovered, her brother finds her and brings her back. After twenty years they need to know what happened to her. This is that story!
You are about to be swept up in a novel that will keep you mesmerized and spellbound as Byrd weaves her magic in its pages and you are caught in the web she weaves! The story will literally keep you spellbound as it unfolds and you read about deceit and betrayal within a founding family of a small northeastern coastal town which hides the truth of what really happened and the echos and reverberations that carried on even four generations later as a result!
If you haven’t read A Spell of Rowans yet I would suggest you read it after finishing this book! They aren’t related in their stories but the eeriness of both is the same!
I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend this book for everyone looking for a great suspenseful page turning experience you won’t soon forget! Sometimes what may go bump in the night isn’t what you may think!
I would give this more than five stars if I could because it is a book you won’t want to put down!
When you read it you’ll agree with me as you spread the word to your friends that they HAVE to read this book as well! You won’t regret choosing to read this thrilling, exciting, suspenseful and eye opening book believe me!
required to leave a review. This is my voluntarily given honest opinion of this book.
Are you looking for a suspenseful, intriguing mystery that will grab you and keep you reading the pages to its conclusion to the extent that you forget the world around you and can only concentrate on the characters and the story that you are reading? Well look no further because this book delivers all that and more!
We all depend on our memories to remind us of what happened previously but what if those memories are false! This book will make you second guess your memories or what you’ve been told after reading it!
Zoe and her brother have been given a gift passed down from four generations but is the truthfulness of who and how those gifts were bestowed accurate?
Zoe has the ability to assume a life of someone who is deceased by touching people and feeling the memories of that person who has died. In this way she has been hiding from a terrible secret that happened when she was young and her mother died.
When her mother’s body is discovered, her brother finds her and brings her back. After twenty years they need to know what happened to her. This is that story!
You are about to be swept up in a novel that will keep you mesmerized and spellbound as Byrd weaves her magic in its pages and you are caught in the web she weaves! The story will literally keep you spellbound as it unfolds and you read about deceit and betrayal within a founding family of a small northeastern coastal town which hides the truth of what really happened and the echos and reverberations that carried on even four generations later as a result!
If you haven’t read A Spell of Rowans yet I would suggest you read it after finishing this book! They aren’t related in their stories but the eeriness of both is the same!
I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend this book for everyone looking for a great suspenseful page turning experience you won’t soon forget! Sometimes what may go bump in the night isn’t what you may think!
I would give this more than five stars if I could because it is a book you won’t want to put down!
When you read it you’ll agree with me as you spread the word to your friends that they HAVE to read this book as well! You won’t regret choosing to read this thrilling, exciting, suspenseful and eye opening book believe me!
March 2, 2025
“The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.”Marcus Tullius Cicero
This is my first book by Byrd Nash and I enjoyed it a lot! I couldn’t stop reading and that says a lot.
I was immersed in the mystery, family drama, and magical realism.
What captivated me was the exploration of fragility of memory, questioning how much can we trust our own recollections and how narratives shift depending on who tells them.
The story follows Zoe’s journey to uncover her mother’s killer when she returns home and every family member holds a different version of the past. This family has different gifts (or curses) and Zoe’s is memory keeper, it’s an ability to access other people's memories with possibility to become someone from the inside out.
Also how stunning is the cover of the book right?
Looking forward to more books by the author!
Some favorite quotes:
The older the memory, the harder it is for people to even think about what happened. Anything I learn will be colored by time, by nostalgia.
The man prefers center-stage, with all eyes on him. Jealous or admiring ones, but eyes there must be. He often forgets to leave the stage so the other actors can say their lines.
Dinner is ready, which means we can now use knives to cut each other instead of words.
I feel the urgency of the season, of letting go of the old.
I am drunk on him and ignore worrying about what the hangover will feel like later when I wake from this dream.
A big thank you to Rook and Castle Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first book by Byrd Nash and I enjoyed it a lot! I couldn’t stop reading and that says a lot.
I was immersed in the mystery, family drama, and magical realism.
What captivated me was the exploration of fragility of memory, questioning how much can we trust our own recollections and how narratives shift depending on who tells them.
The story follows Zoe’s journey to uncover her mother’s killer when she returns home and every family member holds a different version of the past. This family has different gifts (or curses) and Zoe’s is memory keeper, it’s an ability to access other people's memories with possibility to become someone from the inside out.
Also how stunning is the cover of the book right?
Looking forward to more books by the author!
Some favorite quotes:
The older the memory, the harder it is for people to even think about what happened. Anything I learn will be colored by time, by nostalgia.
The man prefers center-stage, with all eyes on him. Jealous or admiring ones, but eyes there must be. He often forgets to leave the stage so the other actors can say their lines.
Dinner is ready, which means we can now use knives to cut each other instead of words.
I feel the urgency of the season, of letting go of the old.
I am drunk on him and ignore worrying about what the hangover will feel like later when I wake from this dream.
A big thank you to Rook and Castle Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2025
Zoe Underhill comes from a wealthy and prestigious family who are the self-proclaimed caretakers of their town called Kingstowe. In 1898 their ancestor Abraham allegedly saved the whole town from a mighty Gale. Ever since then, the Underhills have had special powers; the powers of Charm and Memory. Zoe left the town but is pulled back in when the body of her long lost mother is recovered. Presumed to be dead when Zoe was only 6, Zoe will use her Memory abilities to try to uncover her mother’s murderer.
I love the premise of the this! The whole idea of this subtle family magic, the deep rooted history the Underhills have with their town, the mystery of her mother’s murder, and there is even a small romance. It is an excellent idea and has the trappings of a phenomenal book. My 3 star rating comes from the execution, which fell short for me. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, and clunky linear writing “then this then this then.” It just seemed very amateur to me. Easy for me to say, I’ve never written a book! I am sure it is harder than I can imagine. I do read a ton of them though. I am not trying to be mean, I really did love the story and for me that is most important. I’m just trying to be honest. Great story! Lackluster execution!
Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Book releases March 4, 2025.
I love the premise of the this! The whole idea of this subtle family magic, the deep rooted history the Underhills have with their town, the mystery of her mother’s murder, and there is even a small romance. It is an excellent idea and has the trappings of a phenomenal book. My 3 star rating comes from the execution, which fell short for me. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, and clunky linear writing “then this then this then.” It just seemed very amateur to me. Easy for me to say, I’ve never written a book! I am sure it is harder than I can imagine. I do read a ton of them though. I am not trying to be mean, I really did love the story and for me that is most important. I’m just trying to be honest. Great story! Lackluster execution!
Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Book releases March 4, 2025.
April 17, 2025
See more reviews at Spellbound Reviews
3.5 stars
This is another one of those books that I went back and forth on ratings for. I liked that it was a change of pace. It's a magical realism story with the main plot being a murder mystery. I really enjoyed that aspect of the plot. I liked the magical gifts mixed with family drama and secrets, murder, and the FMC coping with trauma. The New England setting was beautiful, and I had no real trouble picturing some of the scenes depicted.
The book was a little underwhelming in its execution. I felt the FMC was younger than her stated age (which can be caused by the trauma she's experienced), and I felt that the romance was too close to insta-love. I would have liked the love interest to be a platonic friendship instead. Zoe really just needed someone on her side who didn't want to control her, and a friendship felt right for the two of them.
I will say that the ending was satisfying, as we did get a lot of the answers to the questions that popped up from the beginning. We get the mystery solved nicely and more explanation of why the family received the gifts they have. I liked the fact that the family matriarch was finally the recognition she deserved, despite the men trying to erase her; it's feminist without being too forceful about it. Despite its faults, it was nice to read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
3.5 stars
This is another one of those books that I went back and forth on ratings for. I liked that it was a change of pace. It's a magical realism story with the main plot being a murder mystery. I really enjoyed that aspect of the plot. I liked the magical gifts mixed with family drama and secrets, murder, and the FMC coping with trauma. The New England setting was beautiful, and I had no real trouble picturing some of the scenes depicted.
The book was a little underwhelming in its execution. I felt the FMC was younger than her stated age (which can be caused by the trauma she's experienced), and I felt that the romance was too close to insta-love. I would have liked the love interest to be a platonic friendship instead. Zoe really just needed someone on her side who didn't want to control her, and a friendship felt right for the two of them.
I will say that the ending was satisfying, as we did get a lot of the answers to the questions that popped up from the beginning. We get the mystery solved nicely and more explanation of why the family received the gifts they have. I liked the fact that the family matriarch was finally the recognition she deserved, despite the men trying to erase her; it's feminist without being too forceful about it. Despite its faults, it was nice to read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
January 14, 2025
This is the first time I'm writing a review for an *ARC* and what an experience it has been <3
I enjoyed the book a lot, it was very captivating.
I loved how the author highlighted that history is told by men, from their perspective, leaving the women's stories out completely.
The portrayal of the Aunt and her different dynamics with both Ryan and Zoe was really good. The author showed us that most remained oblivious to her 'true' nature and the ones who did see the differential treatment did not do anything about it - this is such an apt reflection of family dynamics that play out in daily life.
The magical realism parts of the book woven in with nature were my most underlined quotes, I really enjoyed them!
However, in all this, the storyline I engaged with the most had to do with Zoe. The way she slipped in and out of 'personalities' kept me wondering—would this connect to trauma, or was it magical realism? And the answer did not disappoint!
I enjoyed the book a lot, it was very captivating.
I loved how the author highlighted that history is told by men, from their perspective, leaving the women's stories out completely.
The portrayal of the Aunt and her different dynamics with both Ryan and Zoe was really good. The author showed us that most remained oblivious to her 'true' nature and the ones who did see the differential treatment did not do anything about it - this is such an apt reflection of family dynamics that play out in daily life.
The magical realism parts of the book woven in with nature were my most underlined quotes, I really enjoyed them!
However, in all this, the storyline I engaged with the most had to do with Zoe. The way she slipped in and out of 'personalities' kept me wondering—would this connect to trauma, or was it magical realism? And the answer did not disappoint!
January 12, 2025
I have read this author before so I thought I knew what to expect when I read this newest by her. Boy was I wrong in a very good way. This book is an enthralling tale of family, tragedy, magic, and truths that shouldn’t buried…and so much more. I’m not even sure what genre to put it in because it’s a little of everything: gothic, horror (just a very teeny, tiny bit, almost only one scene), women’s fiction, urban fantasy…well, I could go on. One thing I will definitely say is that I was immediately drawn into the story, and it really didn’t let me go until the end when everything came crashing down. I didn’t know who the “villain” was, and even guessed wrong at a couple of points, but as the end neared, I figured it out. Well-written, enthralling, and atmospheric, this story is a not-to-be-missed tome. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
March 11, 2025
Rating: 4.5⭐️/5
So many challenging and taboo genres were approached in this magical realism novel and I thought it was done REALLY well for how short the novel was. A FMC with borderline personality disorder from stealing memories and using them as her own, navigating childhood trauma, patriarchal roles and ruthless family, Breathings of the Moon was so unique and a great read. Don’t forget about the murder mystery!
I do think there could have been a bit more character development, but I appreciated how chaotic her “splits” into new personalities were.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So many challenging and taboo genres were approached in this magical realism novel and I thought it was done REALLY well for how short the novel was. A FMC with borderline personality disorder from stealing memories and using them as her own, navigating childhood trauma, patriarchal roles and ruthless family, Breathings of the Moon was so unique and a great read. Don’t forget about the murder mystery!
I do think there could have been a bit more character development, but I appreciated how chaotic her “splits” into new personalities were.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2025
While reading this book I just wanted to CONSUME it!! I was just so invested in this read, committed to the entertaining spell I LOVE IT!! Every book I have read from this author is a wild ride, a total page turner. The imagery, everything so well written, I can feel the youth and unpredictableness of their mother, come to life right off the page, young and vibrant and full of rebellion. The wrath of their grandfather. It comes alive so fast. I have never read anything from this author that didn't deserve five stars. This author deserves to be at the top of every list
January 28, 2025
Omg it kept me guessing until the end. Lots of twists and turns. I was given an ARC for my honest opinion, and I loved it. I hope that there is a second book. I have not read a Byrd Nash book that I haven't loved. If you haven't read her then I highly recommend you read them all!!!!
May 2, 2025
Very interesting family mystery. I liked the magic the family possessed but the story was a little slow. It took a bit for me to get into it. I did really enjoy the sweet love story for Zoe and Duncan. The twist at the end was pretty well done.
April 15, 2025
Another breathtaking novel by Byrd Nash.
She has the ability to drag you directly into the book and feel the characters as if they are old friends.
Breathings of the Moon had me spell-bound throughout and I love the strong female characters.
If you enjoy Magical Realism, I highly recommend giving it a try. You won't be disappointed.
She has the ability to drag you directly into the book and feel the characters as if they are old friends.
Breathings of the Moon had me spell-bound throughout and I love the strong female characters.
If you enjoy Magical Realism, I highly recommend giving it a try. You won't be disappointed.
April 15, 2025
Really intricate story full of conniving money hungry relatives and everyone with their own curse/ gift in one form or another. Great conclusion.
March 6, 2025
Breathings of the Moon is an amazing blend of reality and fantasy. The characters (love them or hate them) are amazingly detailed with backgrounds that tug at your heart. The storyline grabbed my attention from page one and I loved it all the way to the end. I highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: I received this ARC from the author and this is my honest and voluntary opinion.
Disclaimer: I received this ARC from the author and this is my honest and voluntary opinion.
March 18, 2025
Loved it!
May 19, 2025
📖 Breathings of the Moon by Byrd Nash
A haunting dance of memory and illusion, where truth flickers like moonlight on water.
✨ Literary Analysis
**🌙 Memory as Myth: Explores the fragility of recollection through Zoe Underhill’s tactile gift, blurring lines between shared pasts and personal fiction.
**🌀 Ethereal Prose: Nash’s writing floats between lyrical and precise, crafting a dreamlike atmosphere that lingers like half-remembered whispers.
**🔍 Psychological Depth: Zoe’s journey interrogates how identity fractures when memories are borrowed, stolen, or rewritten.
**📜 Mythic Undertones: Weaves folklore-esque motifs into a contemporary narrative, echoing the moon’s cyclical duality—light and shadow, revelation and concealment.
**⚖️ Narrative Structure: Fragmented timelines mirror the protagonist’s disjointed psyche, demanding (and rewarding) attentive reading.
🎯 Ideal Readers vs. Potential Mismatches
**❤️ Who Will Love This Book?
Devotees of magical realism with psychological heft (cf. The Night Circus, Exit West)
Readers who savor prose that prioritizes mood over momentum
Fans of unreliable narrators and memory-driven plots
Those drawn to quiet, introspective fantastika with literary polish
Library patrons (per Nash’s marketing focus)—ideal for book clubs dissecting ambiguity
**🚫 Who Might Not Love This Book?
Seekers of fast-paced, action-driven fantasy
Readers who prefer clear-cut resolutions—this thrives in liminal spaces
Those averse to nonlinear storytelling
Critics of deliberately opaque character motivations
⭐ Star Breakdown (0-5)
Concept Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (A memory-touch premise both tender and terrifying.)
Prose Craft: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (Every sentence shimmers with intention.)
Emotional Resonance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (More haunting than heartrending.)
Structural Boldness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (Fragmentation serves the theme, though may disorient some.)
Thematic Cohesion: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) (Moonlit motifs bind the chaos with silver threads.)
Overall: 4.5/5 - A lunar tide of a novel—its pull stays with you long after the last page wanes.
🙏 Thank you to NetGalley and Byrd Nash for the advance review copy. Breathings of the Moon is a testament to Nash’s ability to transmute the ephemeral into something indelible—a book for those who treasure questions more than answers.
(Note: Best read by windowlight, preferably during a gibbous moon.)
A haunting dance of memory and illusion, where truth flickers like moonlight on water.
✨ Literary Analysis
**🌙 Memory as Myth: Explores the fragility of recollection through Zoe Underhill’s tactile gift, blurring lines between shared pasts and personal fiction.
**🌀 Ethereal Prose: Nash’s writing floats between lyrical and precise, crafting a dreamlike atmosphere that lingers like half-remembered whispers.
**🔍 Psychological Depth: Zoe’s journey interrogates how identity fractures when memories are borrowed, stolen, or rewritten.
**📜 Mythic Undertones: Weaves folklore-esque motifs into a contemporary narrative, echoing the moon’s cyclical duality—light and shadow, revelation and concealment.
**⚖️ Narrative Structure: Fragmented timelines mirror the protagonist’s disjointed psyche, demanding (and rewarding) attentive reading.
🎯 Ideal Readers vs. Potential Mismatches
**❤️ Who Will Love This Book?
Devotees of magical realism with psychological heft (cf. The Night Circus, Exit West)
Readers who savor prose that prioritizes mood over momentum
Fans of unreliable narrators and memory-driven plots
Those drawn to quiet, introspective fantastika with literary polish
Library patrons (per Nash’s marketing focus)—ideal for book clubs dissecting ambiguity
**🚫 Who Might Not Love This Book?
Seekers of fast-paced, action-driven fantasy
Readers who prefer clear-cut resolutions—this thrives in liminal spaces
Those averse to nonlinear storytelling
Critics of deliberately opaque character motivations
⭐ Star Breakdown (0-5)
Concept Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (A memory-touch premise both tender and terrifying.)
Prose Craft: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) (Every sentence shimmers with intention.)
Emotional Resonance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (More haunting than heartrending.)
Structural Boldness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) (Fragmentation serves the theme, though may disorient some.)
Thematic Cohesion: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) (Moonlit motifs bind the chaos with silver threads.)
Overall: 4.5/5 - A lunar tide of a novel—its pull stays with you long after the last page wanes.
🙏 Thank you to NetGalley and Byrd Nash for the advance review copy. Breathings of the Moon is a testament to Nash’s ability to transmute the ephemeral into something indelible—a book for those who treasure questions more than answers.
(Note: Best read by windowlight, preferably during a gibbous moon.)
April 25, 2025
In Breathings of The Moon we follow our main protagonist, Zoe Underhill as she gets dragged back to her hometown by her brother, Ryan to help solve the murder of their mother who went missing over twenty years ago. Now, the Underhills just aren’t any family; they’re magical. The Gale - as it’s labeled in this story - the power of mother natures elements - were bestowed upon their family 130 years ago during a great storm.
Ryan, like their domineering grandfather, has the gift of Charm, while Zoe is what the author labeled a ‘Memory Keeper.’ She is able to dredge up memories and knowledge of people through physical touch.
The beginning of this book felt disjointed. We are introduced to Zoe as one of the personalities she’s taken over from a deceased woman (it’s how she chooses to run away from her problems due to a traumatic event that happened in childhood). It took me the first 2-3 chapters to really flush out exactly what was going on and about their abilities to understand what was happening. The storyline itself had a lot of promise to it. I did fully enjoy the thought Byrd Nash put into this storyline and the complexity of family, especially families dealing with a gift and having it feel more like a burden than one to be thankful for.
During her return home, Zoe is introduced to her romantic lead, Duncan Crane. The son of a professor who had tried to help Zoe’s mother escape to college to pursue her writing dreams. Their relationship, at first, felt believable and buildable, until we got to page 94 and she’s making comments about who he is as a person and she’s only known him for about maybe 3 days tops? So, that threw me off from the story and, while we knew as the reader right away Duncan was the romantic lead, the buildup felt less believable and more inevitable and not in the best way.
Nash does have some solid lines throughout the story that are incredibly thought-provoking and ring true. One of my favorites being on page 151 speaking on how society doesn’t allow men the same show of courtesy to be in their grief the way that they do for women.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and the way Nash was able to bring everything back around to a satisfying conclusion for this family and its story.
Big thank you to Netgalley and Rook & Castle Press for this ARC!
Ryan, like their domineering grandfather, has the gift of Charm, while Zoe is what the author labeled a ‘Memory Keeper.’ She is able to dredge up memories and knowledge of people through physical touch.
The beginning of this book felt disjointed. We are introduced to Zoe as one of the personalities she’s taken over from a deceased woman (it’s how she chooses to run away from her problems due to a traumatic event that happened in childhood). It took me the first 2-3 chapters to really flush out exactly what was going on and about their abilities to understand what was happening. The storyline itself had a lot of promise to it. I did fully enjoy the thought Byrd Nash put into this storyline and the complexity of family, especially families dealing with a gift and having it feel more like a burden than one to be thankful for.
During her return home, Zoe is introduced to her romantic lead, Duncan Crane. The son of a professor who had tried to help Zoe’s mother escape to college to pursue her writing dreams. Their relationship, at first, felt believable and buildable, until we got to page 94 and she’s making comments about who he is as a person and she’s only known him for about maybe 3 days tops? So, that threw me off from the story and, while we knew as the reader right away Duncan was the romantic lead, the buildup felt less believable and more inevitable and not in the best way.
Nash does have some solid lines throughout the story that are incredibly thought-provoking and ring true. One of my favorites being on page 151 speaking on how society doesn’t allow men the same show of courtesy to be in their grief the way that they do for women.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and the way Nash was able to bring everything back around to a satisfying conclusion for this family and its story.
Big thank you to Netgalley and Rook & Castle Press for this ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2025
I very much like the way Nash drops us into the middle of this tense tale, charting the fortunes of a rich family who are no longer as influential as they once were. Zoe has spent the last six years endeavouring to escape the rest of the Underhills by adopting the life and identity of someone who died. When attending her funeral, by touching or hugging the mourners, Zoe can access their memories of the dead person – and at the same time imbue their recollection of their deceased relative with a vivid clarity that will stay with them.
However her strong-willed brother, Ryan, has once again tracked her down. This time with the devastating news that their mother – who everyone had thought had run off, leaving her two young children behind – has been dead these past twenty-six years. And by the look of her corpse and where it was found, she was murdered. Question is – who killed her? Ryan is demanding that Zoe return once more to the family fold, this time with the task of going through the memories of their relations to find out who murdered their mother.
It was difficult to put this one down. Zoe’s gifts come at a very steep price, so she’s regarded as peculiar by most family members. She cannot abide being near the sea – she gets terrible headaches and is overwhelmed by feelings of fear, for starters. Not great when the family mansion has sea views. But despite these problems and others besides, she doesn’t come across as a helpless victim, or someone without agency. And the story has sufficient pace and twists that kept me turning the pages long after I should have gone to sleep.
All in all, this is a thumping good paranormal murder mystery with plenty of plausible suspects, a nice amount of tension and snark amongst the family and a thoroughly satisfying denouement. Highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of Breathings of the Moon from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
However her strong-willed brother, Ryan, has once again tracked her down. This time with the devastating news that their mother – who everyone had thought had run off, leaving her two young children behind – has been dead these past twenty-six years. And by the look of her corpse and where it was found, she was murdered. Question is – who killed her? Ryan is demanding that Zoe return once more to the family fold, this time with the task of going through the memories of their relations to find out who murdered their mother.
It was difficult to put this one down. Zoe’s gifts come at a very steep price, so she’s regarded as peculiar by most family members. She cannot abide being near the sea – she gets terrible headaches and is overwhelmed by feelings of fear, for starters. Not great when the family mansion has sea views. But despite these problems and others besides, she doesn’t come across as a helpless victim, or someone without agency. And the story has sufficient pace and twists that kept me turning the pages long after I should have gone to sleep.
All in all, this is a thumping good paranormal murder mystery with plenty of plausible suspects, a nice amount of tension and snark amongst the family and a thoroughly satisfying denouement. Highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of Breathings of the Moon from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
March 13, 2025
I have read one other book by the author: A Spell of Rowans. There too, like here, we have a people with a hint of magic. The magic is not exactly earth-shattering but it exists in such a way that it alters the way everyone in the story sees their lives and manages to survive emotional issues.
Zoe is someone else when the book begins. This is not something that makes sense immediately and the author does not waste time explaining it. We have to get it based on how the story unfolds. Zoe is almost coerced by her brother to go back to their family’s home to figure out what happened to their mother all those years ago, since her body has just been found. Zoe is reluctant for more reasons than one.
This is the second book that I read so close to another where there is a missing mother and the replacement is terrible. Zoe’s skill is not the charm the men in her family (and her mother) have. She can see the memories of others and she draws it in like a cocoon around herself. Memories are biased as we are soon to learn, and this does not help the nascent investigation.
There is a romance in the narrative, to help alleviate some of the dysfunction we see amongst everyone else. The end result is reached through a process of elimination, but it is not the true goal of the plot. The family wants to find a semblance of peace in one form or another to move ahead, not realising that they have been stuck in limbo because of this one secret.
I like the author’s writing. The magic part of it is written into the narrative so seamlessly that I did not think it odd at any time. I would not recommend it to people who do not like magical realism in their tales, but for others, it would be an enjoyable (if sad) read.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
Zoe is someone else when the book begins. This is not something that makes sense immediately and the author does not waste time explaining it. We have to get it based on how the story unfolds. Zoe is almost coerced by her brother to go back to their family’s home to figure out what happened to their mother all those years ago, since her body has just been found. Zoe is reluctant for more reasons than one.
This is the second book that I read so close to another where there is a missing mother and the replacement is terrible. Zoe’s skill is not the charm the men in her family (and her mother) have. She can see the memories of others and she draws it in like a cocoon around herself. Memories are biased as we are soon to learn, and this does not help the nascent investigation.
There is a romance in the narrative, to help alleviate some of the dysfunction we see amongst everyone else. The end result is reached through a process of elimination, but it is not the true goal of the plot. The family wants to find a semblance of peace in one form or another to move ahead, not realising that they have been stuck in limbo because of this one secret.
I like the author’s writing. The magic part of it is written into the narrative so seamlessly that I did not think it odd at any time. I would not recommend it to people who do not like magical realism in their tales, but for others, it would be an enjoyable (if sad) read.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
January 18, 2025
Breathings of the Moon is a very atmospheric read that blends a mystery story and a romance seamlessly and beautifully together. Who exactly is Zoe Underhill and why does she feel the need to always be someone else? What secrets are the Underhill men keeping and what lies are they telling?
It took me a while to feel as though I really knew Zoe, but that felt a deliberate ploy by the author to demonstrate both how her mind and talents work and that she isn't always the most reliable of narrators. I did love her spunk and determination, her quiet inner strength and resolve to not be controlled by the powerful men surrounding her.
There are so many strands to this story, the main focus is Zoe's hunt to find her mother's killer and whilst there are elements of that woven throughout the story, I loved that we also spent time learning about the Underhills, their mysterious "talents", Kingstowe (which feels like a living breathing entity of it's own) and how the Underhills are viewed by the rest of the residents. Added into this is a smattering of romance, woven in more as a side dish than the main meal but adding depth and intensity to an already spellbinding story.
Byrd Nash's voice is very different depending on the genre she is writing in. Her Madame Chalamet books are lighter in tone and faster paced, this was more reminiscent of A Spell of Rowans with its haunting prose, air of foreboding and sense of impending disaster. I found myself quickly immersed in this story and didn't want to put it down, not even for food or sleep!
I can't wait to see what story the author treats us to next.
It took me a while to feel as though I really knew Zoe, but that felt a deliberate ploy by the author to demonstrate both how her mind and talents work and that she isn't always the most reliable of narrators. I did love her spunk and determination, her quiet inner strength and resolve to not be controlled by the powerful men surrounding her.
There are so many strands to this story, the main focus is Zoe's hunt to find her mother's killer and whilst there are elements of that woven throughout the story, I loved that we also spent time learning about the Underhills, their mysterious "talents", Kingstowe (which feels like a living breathing entity of it's own) and how the Underhills are viewed by the rest of the residents. Added into this is a smattering of romance, woven in more as a side dish than the main meal but adding depth and intensity to an already spellbinding story.
Byrd Nash's voice is very different depending on the genre she is writing in. Her Madame Chalamet books are lighter in tone and faster paced, this was more reminiscent of A Spell of Rowans with its haunting prose, air of foreboding and sense of impending disaster. I found myself quickly immersed in this story and didn't want to put it down, not even for food or sleep!
I can't wait to see what story the author treats us to next.
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