Beneath a Desert Moon

by S.R. Hawkins, Jessie McKenna (editor), Sunni Rae Art (illustrator)

Beneath a Desert Moon, the first book in the Soulbound Saga, is a romantic fantasy set in a vast desert world where justice is harsh, their love is forbidden, and the line between enemies and allies blurs in the sands of fate.

Rumi, daughter of the great Aba and heir to the throne, from the lush rainforests of Arryvia, is kidnapped by Callum, a hardened desert soldier, and brought to stand trial in the merciless heart of Yetoben. Accused of crimes she didn’t commit, Rumi faces certain death unless she can clear her name. But Callum, a man as unforgiving as the desert itself, is determined to see her punished for the deaths and destruction he believes she’s caused—even if it means being labeled a traitor himself.

As they journey through the unforgiving desert to reach the capitol, Rumi’s desperate attempts to escape and Callum’s relentless pursuit create a storm of animosity. Yet, as they uncover dark secrets that threaten both their worlds, they are forced into an uneasy alliance. With each revelation, Rumi’s hatred for Callum begins to shift, complicated by a growing attraction that neither can ignore. As the truth about the real enemy behind the unrest emerges, they must decide whether to trust each other—or be destroyed by the past that binds them.

Enemies to lovers meets fantasy adventure in this tale of betrayal, redemption, and love forged in the heart of a dangerous desert.

For readers who enjoyed books like When the Moon Hatched, Divine Rivals, Songbird of the Sorrows, or who's childhood was impacted by movies like The Mummy, Atlantis, and the Mask of Zorro.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance

470 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2025

Reviews

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen, I know we love our shadow daddies, but it was refreshing to have some popular tropes broken in this new western romantasy (a genre I didn’t even know I needed) with a lawful good blonde MMC x wouldn’t want to hurt a fly FMC, while still keeping in the micro tropes that make me kick-my-feet-giddy🤩! Fans of The Mummy will love this.

When triple threat (author, artist and all around amazing human) S.R. Hawkins came out with an illustrated book, I knew I had to get my hands on an ARC if at all possible!! Thank you so much Sunni for allowing me to read this one early. I’m having a major book hangover! I NEED book 2, like, yesterday.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Release Day!!! 🤗🤗

This was an amazing debut novel & I’m so happy I received an arc! I went into this mostly blind to what it was going to be about (my favorite way to read a book), and I have to say it was the best way to dive into Rumi and Cal’s world.

If you love magic and slow burns and action and world building, then I would recommend this for your next read! Not only is the author a really good writer, but bonus: you get all the lovely artwork in the physical copies!

Definitely excited for everyone to read it so I can have even more people to talk to about it with!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[KMart Vet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books hook you slowly, building momentum until you're in too deep to stop. This didn’t bother with any of that. This story grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go until I hit the final page. And even then, I just kind of sat there blinking, wondering where the time went.

Yes, this is romantasy, but let me be clear: this is no fluff piece with some fantasy vibes sprinkled in. This world hurts. Rumi is tough, fierce, and stronger than so many main characters. Certainly more than me. This lady goes THROUGH it and still stands tall. I love that she chooses pacifism whenever she can. And Cal? Ugh. A stone wall of a man with quiet depth and a sketchbook full of creatures and drawings of Rumi. He’s stern, idealistic, and stubborn, but there’s a gentleness to him.

I really enjoyed watching these two change over the course of the story and fall into one another. Cal and Rumi feel like real people. They are messy, complicated, layered. And I absolutely adore them. Their romance burns slowly and painfully, layered with distrust, forced proximity, and about a thousand emotional landmines. It’s messy, it’s reluctant, and it’s earned. And the side characters? Equally complex and compelling. I felt like I could read entire spin-offs about any one of them.

On top of all that, this book is gorgeous. Seriously, the illustrations? Stunning. The desert creatures, the cultural details, and the entire vibe elevate the reading experience and make the world feel even more alive. This is one of those books that moved in, unpacked its things, and now refuses to leave my brain. I want more. Now. I don’t usually feel this impatient for sequels, but this one? I need it like water.

Thanks SO so much to MTMC Tours and the author for the complimentary copy! What an incredible story!

[Danielle Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to S.R. Hawkins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is everything you could love about old timey westerns, but make it fantasy. The unique creatures and world building in this is just lovely.

Callum had me audibly cackling from the start with his commentary. And it only grew to more feet kicking fun as the story progressed. He’s a by the rule book, uptight, and stoic man when we first meet him. But he eventually softens to a certified lover boy willing to throw it all away for love.

Rumi is also a beautifully complex character that is stubborn beyond belief and unyielding. But still surprisingly feminine and soft (which is nice to see in fantasy). It’s hard to mix those two personality traits together without them being conflicting - but this was the perfect balance.

There is still a lot we don’t know but I can’t wait to find out. The ending is criminal but the epilogue makes up for it just slightly.

I don’t love that I now share my last name with a bad guy, but we at least get some retribution.

🌙 Forced Proximity
🏜️ One Horse
🌙 Enemies to Lovers
🏜️ Slow Burn
🌙 Multiple POV
🏜️ Fae Meets Wild West
🌙 Forbidden Love

[Emma ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

WOW. What can I say? This book absolutely ruined me in the best possible way. It cannot believe more people are not reading/talking about this.

It was such a different take on what I would loosely describe as Romantasy (there’s a bit of magic but it’s not a huge part of the story) and a little of a cowboy romance. The settings were so vivid in my head - so diverse, colourful and interesting. The romance was in my opinion true enemies to lovers - starting out as they did and then becoming what they were by the end? Incredible.

The ending has me gagged and I need the next immediately.
Do not skip the epilogue!!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great debut novel!
Two words: Fae Western

I never knew I needed fantasy in the Wild West until I read this book and now I need more! There’s everything you want in a good romantasy - magic, endearing characters, heartbreak, spice, fantastical creatures, and wonderful world-building, PLUS a cowboy-style, grumpy MMC with the brains and abs to back up his sweet heart.

The journey these characters go on will give you alllll the emotions, right up through the very last line of the book. Get ready for a strong, persevering FMC and a world you’ll just have to stay up all night reading about!

[Hannah Goulding · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This was such a fun read, it took a few chapters to get my bearings but after that I was IN as the characters and unique genre, world and magic system made for a refreshing read! I’m so ready to see where this world takes me next!

I received this stunning debut as an eARC and I can’t wait to be able to get my trophy copy when this releases 🤩

[Tamsin · Rating 4 out of 5]

**SPOILERS CONTAINED**

What can I say about this book ❤️

It’s fantasy meets western and I’m here for it, the genre I didn’t know I needed but I want more.

I really enjoyed how quickly you got into the story, there was no messing around and the world building happened as you went along. The stories of the gods and the magic system are wonderful, although I wish more had been explained but again I think it’s coming. There are such unique creatures in this and the magic system really is something I haven’t read before.

This really is an enemies to lovers. I really wish we had got to spend more time in Rumis world, where she lives but I haven’t a feeling that it’s coming in book two.

Rumi is brilliant. I love how feisty she is, her passion and how protective she is. She is resilient and uncompromising and I love that she is a little feral, but not in a bad way.
Cal is brilliant, how he’s a gentleman and does the right thing, or at least always tries to.
Their relationship is brilliant, how it develops and the nicknames he has for her made me smile so much. There is banter which always makes my heart sing. They are endearing and the whole way through I just wanted them to be endgame.

I hate Sullivan with the fire of a thousand suns and there is no part of me that is sad about his ending!

Speaking of endings, I didn’t see that one coming! I really thought Sullivan would be the end game but I love how it ended and how it leads on to the sequel.

I would absolutely recommend this book, not only for the world but the characters development and just reading something totally new! A stunning debut novel.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, can we give a round of applause for the blonde boy MMC representation and “good boy gone bad” trope that very few books are giving out these days? I feel like this is something that we have been sorely missing out on and definitely appreciate this book giving that and so much more. Without giving anything away, there will be a point where Cal turns into the “bad boy” and your imaginative confetti, excitement, and firework celebration erupts from the comfort of your designated reading space. I do not highlight things in my Kindle often, but there is a paragraph in particular that I want etched in my brain forever. Cal, you can be my monster ANYTIME!

Second of all, OH. MY. GOD.
When I say I ATE this book up, I literally DEVOURED it.
Yearning and slow burn never felt SO GOOD with a book and was a breath of fresh air to truly see a book provide this in such a way that you are finding yourself kicking, screaming, and tossing/turning on the bed in frustration at the moments that kept being missed or interrupted.

The author brings such intricate and precise details on page that you find yourself not just reading a story but diving straight into the world. You want to talk about scenery? This isn’t just a paragraph explaining about minor details to get you a feel of where a character is at, it’s a full blown two pages each time, allowing the reader to immerse themselves into the storyline and completely connect with more than just your MCs. This was a wild ride of true character development and world building that I never knew how much I was being denied with other books until I read this one. I’m hoping to hear more about the life that Rumi comes from in the sequel which is only going to bring so much more to the world building with this story.

Speaking of sequels, can we also talk about that last line of the book? I’m aching in all the best ways possible and DYING to read what is coming next with this!

There are times when authors create FMCs that are labeled as “strong and independent”, but find that they lack that “grit” that makes you feel powerful and proud as you read through the storyline. Rumi is EXACTLY what a strong FMC should be - not just from a magical sense, but from a physical, personal, and emotional aspect riled with passion and protectiveness. You want to talk about rooting for someone during the darkest times, Rumi is that main FMC who has your toes curling in your Book Lovers Slippers, while holding your breath, reading her escaping adventures and survival tactics, showing just how “what a man can do, a woman can do better”.

If you are looking for a new take on the fantasy genre, with awe inspiring world building, true enemies to lovers yearning, and fantastic action & romance balance, I’d recommend you get your hands on a copy of this debut novel as soon as it comes out this May!

NOTE: I received this as an ARC but all opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Mishay Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to S.R. Hawkins and Jazmine Heath for the advanced copy of this book!

Rating: 3.5
Spice:🌶️

Forced Proximity
Captive FMC
Cowboy/soldier MMC
Fae with nature magic

I really liked the plot of this book and the world that was made to go along with it. I think the idea was really good, and there was obviously a lot of work put into this. I loved the setting, that made it very interesting.

Rumi is very likable, shy and bold at the same time and very aware. I liked being in her mind and I was invested in experiencing her learning how to trust.

Cal was an ass for the first half of the book and I ate it up. He is really just a golden retriever when he learns the truth and I love his ethical personality. I also loved watching all of that come to a halt for Rumi.

Jameson is a great side character and I want to see him happy seeing as he left his whole career and family behind in order to make amends and do what was right.

With all that said, I think the pacing was pretty off and in parts where we spent a large amount of the book hanging out with a group of rebels and pretty much just cooking and playing with chickens(which I loved) and then the ending just happened so fast. I also did not like the extreme cowboy slang that was used for some of the characters, one in particular was just too much. That is coming from someone who was born and raised in Texas and has an accent myself. I just felt it was a bit overdone and I ended skipping pretty much all the dialogue from that character.

In the end I am glad that I got this book, I will be ordering a physical copy as well as reading the second one when it comes out!

[Nancy Van Der Velden · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ The first 10%, I was sucked into the story and was really excited for what was to come. However, it slowly lost traction for me; and by 70% I felt like I was losing interest in the story. I was unfortunately bored by the end of the book and even the drama at the end didn’t entice my interest in the novel. I feel like I wanted more from the world development, and the ending felt very tropey for me.

What I liked initially was how feisty Rumi was. She was fierce and powerful, and I was excited for the tension that seemed to be developing between her and Cal. I understand that she goes through some traumatic events; however, she almost seemed like a completely different character by the second half of the book. She had a naivety and innocence that didn’t really portray in the first half; and it almost made their dynamics seem a bit uncomfortable. I felt like I was being told throughout the second half of the book that there was a growing connection between Rumi and Cal versus actually feeling it as I was reading.

Cal also seemed like a different character by the end. It was like as soon as he acknowledged his growing feelings for Rumi, that was his only personality trait. And I also don’t understand why his brother dying even occurred because it really didn’t seem important for the plot. He didn’t grieve, he didn’t go to his mother’s to mourn with her. It just seemed like an unnecessary and incomplete plot point. And the romantic dialogue seemed somewhat cringey by the end.

I will say that I was excited for the premise of the story. It was a different take on the fey romantasy genre out there and I do think there is potential. I just don’t think I will be sticking around to read more about it.

[Megan Fryman · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC. I didn't know much about this book going into it but I have to say cowboy fantasy was a very unique genre. this one took me a little while to get into, but once the plot started to move I was more interested. rumi is a very powerful and interesting main character to read about. I love her resilience and her loyalty to her culture throughout the story. there were some scenes I was so invested in (escaping the cave during the flood + the hut scenes that followed? iconic) but there were other times i felt like I was reading a bunch of over-done tropes. there were some plot points that felt kind of unnecessary (his brothers death pretty much only served the purpose of getting him to westons house and hardly affected him otherwise, also why would he not go visit his mother after that??) (also her culture being so modest and her being so uncomfortable but only until she decides that he's hot and then she doesn't care anymore). the ending felt very rushed and some parts were predictable. there was definitely some plot points that I'm unsure if they were forgotten about or will be addressed in future books. overall, I enjoyed it, but most of the time I felt like I was reading a book and I couldn't fully lose myself in it. undecided if I will read future books, but I may try a reread in the future with a paper copy since I tend to enjoy books more that way

[Chloe Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic debut! An absolutely enchanting novel and I cannot wait for more of their story.

Rumi and Callum are endearing and have your heart from day one. Rumi is strong and fierce and unwavering, while Callum is strong and loyal and brave. These two characters together are a recipe for a tension filled, feet kicking, squealing read and every page had me ready for more! Absolutely swoon worthy.

Not to mention the unique twist on the genre with a gas lamp/western vibe that really sets the world apart and really immerses you in the pages.

An easy 5⭐️ read and I’m going to need the next one ASAP.

[Rumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars 🌟

This was such a unique fantasy book with refreshing characters who were such a joy to read about!

Rumi is such a strong, resilient character who also has gentle and caring traits which was really nice to see. Callum was an unyielding, play by the book kind of guy but we slowly see him open up when it came to Rumi.

This had all the tropes I love (enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn), and would definitely recommend to those who appreciate strong character development!

Thank you to the author for gifting me an arc

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

***ARC Review***

From the beginning I truly had no idea where this story was going to go. It was full of new and interesting worlds and magic systems. From the lush and beautiful lands of Arryvia, to the barren, desert lands of Yetoben. You have the peaceful and calm people of Arryvia and then the corrupt, violent people of Yetoben. With an enemies to lovers romance, full of banter, pining, tension and soft and sweet moments. An MMC that has lived all his life as the rule follower and bound to his duty, but ends up becoming the complete opposite in order to protect her. An FMC that carries such strength and passion for her culture. She is fiery and witty and never lets her pain show and yet she also has such a softness for the things and people she loves. You are definitely taken on a journey through this book.

The romance in this book developed over the span of the entire book and you never truly got to enjoy it until the end. There was so much hate between Cal & Rumi in the beginning. He was basing everything off what he was told and she was angry for his part in it all. But as they found themselves in close proximity and needing to rely on each other for survival, their bond slowly grew and flourished. It was full of so much pining and soft touches to start with and then finally it bloomed into something big and beautiful.

This man was besotted and completely enamoured by her from the beginning. He truly embodied the "I would burn the world down for you" the harder he fell too. She was his everything. He would fight and claw his way to her, always. Its hard not to be obsessed with that energy.

Overall I've rated this one 4 ⭐️. It kept me engaged and interested, but I am also left with so many questions too. I still feel like there is still so much more to uncover in terms of what the leadership are up to in Yetoben and what will happen from here for Cal & Rumi.

Thank you to S.R. Hawkins for sending me an arc copy of this book to read and review.

[Isabel Herdlicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come but don’t miss this one! Happy pub day

💕FULL REVIEW💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I was absolutely delighted to receive this one as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you want a book with lush rich culture and world building without having to slog through info dump after info dump...this is for you. I loved getting to know these characters and the way the plot wove them all together. The juxtapositions of their characters is so different than what we usually receive as readers. This is so much more than an odd GrumpyxSunshine opposites attract type thing. They don't even seem like they belong on the same planet let alone story...and yet it works. You're rooting for them, you need them to need each other. Its the wild west stories you loved as a little girl mixed with the kick ass fae women you love now. AND FINALLY A BLONDE GENTLEMAN LOVE INTEREST - him calling her Miss Rumi...love. This book has given me a bigger book hangover than I've had in a long time. I was flying so HIGH then we reached the last conflict of the book. If that wasn’t enough then the last PAGE ruined my life.

Things to note: I usually take off a star for romance books where a character shares a name with a family member of mine but I couldn't even lol it was too good

I wish we knew more about the shipment at the beginning, I felt like I KNEW what happened but would have liked to be better informed and forgot details. The book starting with a third person account of the crates being opened and seeing the damage Callum describes would have been a game changer for me.

This is a high yearning low smut book (think no confessions or steam til 80%) which usually isn't my speed but I did't feel like anything was missing.

Now if you need me, I'll be looking in my couch cushions for spare change cause I NEED the art in the physical print.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked that this book was a kind of cowboy fantasy setting that I have never read before. I wasn’t entirely sure I’d like it since this doesn’t tend to be what I usually read, but I ended up really enjoying it! The romance did feel pretty rushed, and there are few things I hate more than when books end the way this one did. I know it’s meant to leave room for the next one but it was not my favorite. The pacing felt a little off throughout the story with the last few chapters feeling like a million things got squished into them. Not sure if I’ll read the next book, but I did like this one!

[kip_reads_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, fast, uhhhh another f adjective… First things first, chapter titles 🙌 A blond MMC??? Bold choice, love that. The tropes are all there but not in the cookie cutter way we’ve all gotten stuck on. It’s a really refreshing read! It screams intentionality and I really appreciate that from an author. (Also I’m told the physical copies have art in them 👀) A good amount of mystery for me to solve too, which is always my favorite part. I try not to let syntax stuff affect my rating too much but this was great in that department as well. Well done 👏

[Mai White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is giving The Mummy but make it Fae
If you loved Evie and Rick then you'll love Rumi and Cal & if you love cheeky but clever & cunning side characters you're gonna absolutely adore Jameson.
This is true enemies to lovers with banter and has one of my personal favourite tropes: he gives her a nickname she hates 🤭 this is a slow burn romance but when thay romance started to get going let me tell you it had me SWOONING they're literally the cutest and I'm fully in favour of the blonde MMC moment 💁‍♀️

I need to see more of Rumi's world 🥹 book two? Yes?

[kay ❀*₊ · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW 𖤝 Firstly, I love Rumi. My fearless queen. Nothing shook her down, even though everything conspiring against her. Now Callum. I loved his evolution from enemy to friend and to more. THAT ENDING THOUGH?!

[Hazel Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, let's talk about this beauty! First of all, thank god i looked up guilty pleasure before calling this literary treat a guilty pleasure - it's not.
It's just pure kicking-squealing-book-tossing-screaming-crying-throwing-up treasure.

You know those first fantasy book highs you got as a kid, and then adulthood happened and your ability to escape just never lasted? Have you been chasing that high ever since and never been able to scratch the itch?

Meet Callum and Rumi. Your new fix in a romantasy, high adventure sci-fi, trope loving, blush inducing, toe curling debut.

Rumi isn't a wilting flower damsel in distress. She's Megara from Hercules. "I'm a damsel, I'm in distress, have a nice day!"

But she's also not a: *hair toss* "I'm not like other girls" big baddie either. She's you. She's me. She's flawed. She's sassy, bad-assy, silly, smart and genuinely good. She's hurt and afraid, but strong and courageous. She embraces all of the human spectrum of emotions which makes her so endearing and deeply moving.

Cal's a dickhead. 🖤
My favorite dickhead. The same stubborn, ornery, hilarious, flirtatious, wild, protective good guy all of us actually want in real life.

In the F, Marry, Kill categories Cal will do them all 🔥🔥🔥
No more do we need the shadow daddies of the 2010's+. No, madam/sir, we're going back to the early 2000's (or 1954 if you prefer the book) where Aragorn is. Good, steady, strong, gentile, and of course "I'll be whatever she needs me to be". Aragorn's going blonde and getting a 🔫 in this beauty and he will stop at nothing to make sure Rumi is safe and nobody EVER hurts her again.

I love them together so much. A strong, iconic, timeless pair! With SO MUCH WANTING LINGERING HEAT 🥵🥵 S.R. Hawkins makes you EARN their affection.

perfectly safe for an intro to romances. The spice level hits all those passionate notes. Where is may be low in raunchy sweaty sex, it fills all of that space with genuine caring, love, "pride and prejudice"-esque adorableness.

The scenery and descriptions are VIBRANT, full of poetry and beauty, you can feel the sand in your palms, and the breeze in your hair.

I went to bed bothered SICK over what was going to happen next. Each chapter moved and twisted like a roller coaster leaving me elated and sad at the end of the ride because WHY DID IT HAVE TO END??? 😭💔

Very much looking to the rest of these books. But I'm Impatient AS FOOK about it!
It feels like my childhood magic is finally twinkling in my heart again! And my teenage girl is just SCREECHING about their love. Adult me is overjoyed with proper escapism and the real human aspect to these characters. Were it not for the magic, i would have assumed they were real.

S.R. you better not catch me IRL, I'm going to kiss you square on the mouth!

ARC review made with love!

[Shaesicles · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASY WESTERN, POETIC BEAUTY, AND A BOOK THAT IS LITERALLY ART

Y’all. This book is art—and not in the overused “this book is a masterpiece” kind of way. I mean literally and figuratively art. The author? Also the artist. And this story? A stunning debut that blends fantasy and Western in a way I haven’t seen done this beautifully before.

We’ve got:
🔥 Enemies to lovers
🌵 Fantasy Western setting
🏹 Indigenous heroine with deep spiritual magic
🐢 Slow burn, forced proximity tension for days
🎨 Over 20 original illustrations drawn by the author herself
Like??? This book does not come to play.

Our FMC is from a lush, green, life-filled island. Her people live in harmony with the land and the Ti’la, a life force that connects them to the earth itself. She’s peace, balance, and fierce quiet strength. Enter: the MMC, a sharp-edged officer from a desert continent—a land that’s been stripped dry and is ruled by scarcity and suspicion. He thinks she’s a rebel responsible for violence. She thinks he’s a colonizer with a gun and a god complex. They’re both wrong—and both right—and now they’re stuck together, trying to unravel the truth and clear their names.

This is forced proximity, slow burn, enemies to lovers done RIGHT. The writing is gorgeous—evocative and poetic without being purple—and the tension? Delicious. This book also doesn’t shy away from themes of colonization, greed, resource exploitation, and cultural erasure, but it handles them with so much care and nuance.

And can we talk about the illustrations?! Because this is the kind of book you want in hard copy. The interior is stunning. Each illustration adds depth, emotion, and worldbuilding in a way that just elevates the whole experience. It’s not just a story—it’s an immersive piece of art.

If you love:
🪶 Indigenous representation with spiritual depth
🌾 Fantasy landscapes that breathe with magic
👀 Stolen glances and slow-burn ache
🧭 Enemies forced to become allies (and then something more...)
🎨 Books that are visually AND emotionally stunning
This one belongs on your shelf. Immediately.

Poetic Prose That Doesn’t Drag: ✅
Beautifully Done Themes of Colonization & Culture: ✅
Illustrated Interior by the Author Herself: ✅✅✅
Tension, Longing, and Mutual Survival: Oh YES
Star Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Caiti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl is kidnapped and shipped across the sea to a foreign land under the guise of contaminating some ore.

✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧✧

Plot
The plot of this story in itself is not unique. There's plenty of misunderstandings bringing folks together, but with this books its how the author writes this that I really liked.
This is an entirely new world, with dynamic magic and social structures that I felt were well fleshed out and incredibly interesting. The extra part that I particularly enjoyed was how lots of this was explained; there was some exposition, which is hard to avoid with a world like this, but much of it was done through the eyes of the MMC as he learnt about his new partner.
I really loved that we learnt her appearance through his sketches, sketches that were taken as part of his occupational report. Fantastic. The magic is seen from his perspective as its both wielded against and for him and the nature of the land is unveiled as they struggle through it. I just really enjoyed all of this and thought it was downright clever.
Even the parts of the story that I initially found a bit slow - I'm looking at you swimming lessons - came full circle and added perfectly to the plot.

Characters
FMC
She's such a sweetie. She's also a bit feral. And I love both sides.
She's remained entirely true to herself no matter the circumstances, showing significant strength when required and also displaying a childish nature that was really endearing later in the story.

MMC
I really like Callum. He is an incredibly honest person who believed in doing what was right, whether this was part of doing his job to bring in a suspected criminal or when it came to freeing said criminal when things weren't quite what they seemed. I found his attempts to keep things by the book very in keeping with his personality and I liked that he still persisted as things got stickier, in the hope that others would be as by the book as he was.

The Rest
The Gang: They're fantastic, even the chickens.

The Bad Guys: are perfect. They are exactly as evil as they needed to be and I hated them so much.

The Chemistry
There was some fantastic chemistry between these two, building slowly as they got to know each other.

The Good
Some excellent world building and some lovable characters.
That cover. Eek! It's so good.

The Bad & Ugly
Nada.

The Wrap Up
Kidnap? Betrayal? A desert adventure? Rain dancing?

Thanks so much to the author for allowing me to get my paws on this ARC ahead of release.

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[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe this book just blew me away. Everything about this book was perfect from the plot, romance and ending. Let me explain.

Plot: I've never seen a western romantasy and I think it's my favourite now. It's so original and unique! We have a FMC who is sweet and would fight for her own rights and a MMC who is lowkey respectful and hot asf. It starts off with Callum kidnapping Rumi and investigating her for a crime she did not do. She could face death if found guilty and Callum really was unforgiving and really want her punished for the crimes he thought she did. But obviously both of them will uncover secrets and you guys of course know where this is heading so you have to read this book to find out! It made me feel so much emotions at once. This book was totally a rollercoaster!

Romance: This book is a enemies to lovers book and you guys know me that I'm not a huge fan of it but it was bearable in this one. It was ACTUALLY enemies to lovers unlike any other books I've read. The tension between Rumi and Callum was so good and there was enough scenes of them to justify. Did I mention this was slow burn? Mhm I'm a huge fan of slow burn and I obviously ate it up. I totally did not cheer when they finally kissed (≧ᗜ≦)


Ending: I did not expect that ending at all. It was a great way to end the book and make readers want to read the next book. My jaw totally did not drop when I reached the end and it found out there wasn't any pages left. I WANT MOREE!

Do you guys know that the author made this cover? When I found out, I was shook because how much talented can this author be? I really love the art in this book and I absolutely can't wait for the next book.

[Mireille (readingwithmrleo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a one of a kind world and I really loved discovering it. The mix of fantasy with this desert setup reminiscent of the wild west was truly like nothing else. Our characters start as true enemies with a lot of animosity between them, and it’s nice to see them progress through that.

I will say that the first part of the story took a little while to really pull me in. Our main characters got separated quite early on, and I struggled to get attached to them on their own journeys. They did get back together though and that's when I fully got immersed. I absolutely devoured their forced proximity and the way they very slowly started to open up and trust one another. I loved seeing Cal start to open up his eyes to what was truly going on and fall for Rumi. The side characters were also pretty nice and rapidly grew on me.

Rumi is the kind of badass FMC I like seeing in books. She refuses to be broken, and she fights for herself. I quite enjoyed the fact that she had this duality where she was so strong but also quite shy about things. Cal on the other hand certainly did some questionable stuff and while I usually love a bit of a red flag MMC he was too soft and nice to have red flags in my head, so it felt weird. But in the end I grew fond of him and I loved seeing our two characters together.

As if the story isn’t enough to keep you enthralled, you also get the most pretty illustrations throughout your reading experience. It was so enjoyable and a nice touch to really make this world come to life. Very impressive debut, that is for sure!

Thanks to the author and MTMC Tours for sending me a copy. All opinions are my own.

[Alice Desprairies · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Rating this one was a bit difficult for me. I feel like I read it at the wrong time because I’m currently in a big reading slump. In the end, I settled on 4 stars because I loved: the very poetic writing, the unique and well contructed worldbuilding, mixing western and fantasy, and Callum’s development arc.
That being said, there were some inconsistencies. One in the magic system with the perils of the rain, and another in the construction of the FMC, Rumi. Her arc moves too slowly at the beginning and too quickly at the end for me to feel truly invested in her development. This also impacted the romance, which felt a bit rushed toward the end. I think I would have liked it better as a longer slow burn, with a particular ending event happening only in book two. I also felt that Jameson’s POV, while quite entertaining, wasn’t really necessary in this first book.
The character driven plot perfectly fit this story, where the romance is the heart of the story, while the fantasy plot remains low-stakes and anchored in reality. I definitly think readers who loved Divine Rivals will love this one.
The most unique and enjoyable part of this book for me was the writing. It’s very poetic, and I definitely felt the author's artistic background. In fact, I often had a vivid, painted picture of the landscapes while reading.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you like strong FMCs, character-driven stories, strong romance plots, and poetic writing, and I will definitly read the sequel.

Thank you to the author for trusting me with this ARC, it means the world to me ♥️

[hopefulsoulreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I hate your stupid smile. It makes my knees wobble.” 🤭

Did someone say old west meets fantasy?? I was so intrigued when I saw that, I had to get an ARC. Honestly I didn’t know it was a genre I needed, but this did not disappoint!!

First off, let’s chat about the world building. It was wonderfully crafted and written, and I couldn’t get enough! The stark contrast between the two lands was a nice touch. I also enjoyed that even though Rumi had magic, there were forces in Cal’s world that hindered her abilities from overpowering everything - although it truly did suck for her.

Next, characters! I felt that Rumi was a well-balanced blend of fierceness and vulnerability. When her life depended on it she held her ground and fought, however when she was experiencing Cal’s world for the first time she wasn’t afraid to show her wonder. The dancing in the rain scene had me grinning & kicking my feet!!! I LOVED Cal all around but what I prob enjoyed most, was his strong sense of personal morals. Even when everything he’d known was flipped upside down and questioned, he held onto them. Plus he’s kinda badass and 🥵 - even if he’s blonde... I’m telling yah, these authors are stepping up their game when it comes to blonde MMCs!

Honestly, I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. It releases 05/01/2025 and is available on KU!! It’s something new and interesting with a swoon worthy romance, action, a sprinkle of trauma, & the final line of the book…
I really wanted to put that line as my opening quote, but I don’t like to post spoilers 🤫

- Western Meets Fantasy🌵✨
- Forced Proximity While They’re Enemies
- “Good Boy” Turned Bad😈
- HEAVY Themes (please check CWs)
- One Horse Trope🦄

[Amy | romantasy.myromanempire · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
1.5🌶️

I can’t deny that I wanted to read this book after seeing this gorgeous cover art (the author is the artist btw, check out her ig for some amazing art of these characters 😮‍💨). The concept of a fantasy western is super unique and had me very intrigued. Let’s just say this book did not disappoint!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, the world building was descriptive and I felt fully immersed in their world. In fact, my favorite parts were when the characters were traveling through the desert. I loved that the author created unique plant life and creatures to really make this western truly fantasy. The magic from the FMC’s culture was super cool and her entire culture was giving me Avatar vibes.

I adored Cal and Rumi’s relationship. The character development was so good, I loved being on their journey from true enemies to lovers. Rumi really goes through some trials and my heart was breaking for her. Callum has always been a rule follower until something happens that makes him start questioning everything he’s ever known. There’s such good angst and tension in this book, but also so many swoony moments where I was kicking my feet. This book is truly the slowest of slow burns in the best way.

The ending was wild, as most romantasy endings like to be 🫠 I was in tears 😭 I cannot wait for book two to see where the story goes. I know there is still something fishy going on with a certain benefactor and I’m looking forward to answers!

Thank you S.R. Hawkins and MTMC Tours for the gifted copy! This review is my own.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is EVERYTHING I love in a fantasy romance. It delivers a vividly unique world, a gripping sense of adventure, layered characters, and just the right amount of magic and mayhem. And the romance? It’s that kind of slow burn that leaves you kicking your feet and clutching the pages (RIP my sleep schedule).

Cal and Rumi completely stole my heart—not just as a couple, but as individuals. Rumi is soft but strong, and her quiet resilience shines. She doesn’t hesitate to stand her ground, even when everything is working against her. And Cal… oh, Cal. A by-the-book military colonel whose carefully ordered world begins to unravel when he meets her? I was a goner. Watching him soften, question everything he thought he knew, and fall was just so satisfying.

Their chemistry is off the charts, full of tension, tenderness, and those small, intimate moments that make your chest ache. I laughed out loud more than once (“Another F**king Knife” — if you know, you know), and I felt every moment they shared. This story lingers. 🥹🫶🏻

Tropes *probably the longest list I've ever made*
🧚‍♀️ Fae Western
🛡️ Protective MMC
⛓️ Captor x Captive
🏞️ Adventure
🕳️ One Cave
🌱 Earth Magic
🔗 Magical Bonds
🔥 Slow Burnnnn
🫠 Yearning
👨‍👩‍👧 Found Family setup
🌀 Mysterious motivations
🦄 Mythical creatures
🩹 Wound tending
💖 Loveable side characters
🏳️‍🌈 Queer rep
💃 “Dance with me”
🐎 One Desert Unicorn

Spice Level: 🌶️ 1.5 peppers — low on steam, high on tension and longing.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beneath a Desert Moon is a spellbinding entry into the Romantasy genre that blends slow-burn romance, enemies-to-lovers tension, and rich worldbuilding with a unique desert setting that pulses with life and mystery. S. R. Hawkins delivers a story that feels both fresh and timeless, layering emotional depth with sweeping imagery and a strong magical undercurrent.

At the heart of this novel is a powerful female protagonist—an Indigenous magic user—whose strength and vulnerability make her instantly compelling. Her dynamic with the male lead evolves with aching tension, making the enemies-to-lovers trope feel fresh, complex, and incredibly satisfying. The slow burn is masterfully handled, building not just romance, but trust, growth, and undeniable chemistry.

What truly sets *Beneath a Desert Moon* apart is the setting. The desert isn't just a backdrop—it breathes, it shapes the characters, and it fuels the story. Hawkins uses vivid, lyrical imagery to paint every dune, storm, and sacred site, immersing the reader in a world that feels ancient, dangerous, and beautiful.

For fans of Romantasy who crave longing looks, magical lore, and fierce heroines, this book is a must-read. And the best part? It’s only the beginning of a series—so there’s more yearning, more magic, and more desert nights to come.

Highly recommended for readers who love atmospheric storytelling, magical tension, and slow-burn romance that simmers long after the final page.