What do you think?
Rate this book
Moonspun: A Dark Fairytale Retelling
Sleeping Beauty meets Romeo & Juliet in this dark fairytale retelling…
All Morwenna wants is to be left alone, somewhere far away from anyone she could hurt with the uncontrollable magic coursing through her veins. But as Queen of Moraveil and Head of the House of Achlys, even a secluded cottage at the heart of the Lyswood isn’t far enough away to keep news of her rival House from reaching her. The House of Achlys and the House of Mihr have been at war for millenia, but more and more skirmishes have been breaking out along their shared border, and children have been going missing from Moraveil’s border villages. And then Morwenna begins to dream of a winged, black flame-wielding commander, brought to the brink of death when their enemies invade.
When her dreams come to pass, Morwenna saves the commander’s life, but Fainrhyr is anything but grateful. He resents Morwenna for hiding away in the Lyswood while Moraveil suffers. The day when his wounds are healed and he can go back to guarding the border can’t come soon enough, and yet… when that day comes, he can’t bring himself to leave Morwenna with no one to guard her back while she searches for a way to protect her people. It’s his duty as a sentinel of Moraveil to protect the queen, after all, and he’d be squandering his duty if he let her walk into danger alone.
It’s only a matter of time before the House of Mihr invades again, and every piece of information Morwenna and Fainrhyr learn about their enemy is more disturbing than the last. Between her growing fear that Fainrhyr’s involvement will get him killed, her tenuous control over her power, and the barrage of heartbreaking secrets she must learn about her past, Morwenna’s not sure she’ll be ready to do what it takes to save everything she holds dear…
Moonspun is a dark fairytale retelling which features powerful fae characters, slow burn, dual-POV, reluctant-allies-to-lovers romance, epic fights, high-stakes plot, touch her and die moments, only one bed, and more. Perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Raven Kennedy, Katherine Arden, and Rachel Gillig.
All Morwenna wants is to be left alone, somewhere far away from anyone she could hurt with the uncontrollable magic coursing through her veins. But as Queen of Moraveil and Head of the House of Achlys, even a secluded cottage at the heart of the Lyswood isn’t far enough away to keep news of her rival House from reaching her. The House of Achlys and the House of Mihr have been at war for millenia, but more and more skirmishes have been breaking out along their shared border, and children have been going missing from Moraveil’s border villages. And then Morwenna begins to dream of a winged, black flame-wielding commander, brought to the brink of death when their enemies invade.
When her dreams come to pass, Morwenna saves the commander’s life, but Fainrhyr is anything but grateful. He resents Morwenna for hiding away in the Lyswood while Moraveil suffers. The day when his wounds are healed and he can go back to guarding the border can’t come soon enough, and yet… when that day comes, he can’t bring himself to leave Morwenna with no one to guard her back while she searches for a way to protect her people. It’s his duty as a sentinel of Moraveil to protect the queen, after all, and he’d be squandering his duty if he let her walk into danger alone.
It’s only a matter of time before the House of Mihr invades again, and every piece of information Morwenna and Fainrhyr learn about their enemy is more disturbing than the last. Between her growing fear that Fainrhyr’s involvement will get him killed, her tenuous control over her power, and the barrage of heartbreaking secrets she must learn about her past, Morwenna’s not sure she’ll be ready to do what it takes to save everything she holds dear…
Moonspun is a dark fairytale retelling which features powerful fae characters, slow burn, dual-POV, reluctant-allies-to-lovers romance, epic fights, high-stakes plot, touch her and die moments, only one bed, and more. Perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Raven Kennedy, Katherine Arden, and Rachel Gillig.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2025
14 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 16, 2025
Just finished it & completely shooked about the fact that I didn't knew about this book.
I loved everything about it. Moonspun is really a magical fairytale & deserve so much more love.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I loved everything about it. Moonspun is really a magical fairytale & deserve so much more love.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
July 4, 2025
Queen Morwella of Moraveil and Head of the House of Achlys wants to be somewhere where she can't endanger anyone with her uncontrollable magic. The rival house, House Mihr, has been causing skirmishes at their shared border, increasing tensions between the two nations. As House Mihr invades a border town, Morwenna begins to have a dream of a winged male brought to the brink of death. When her dreams become reality, she manages to save the male's life, and instead of being met with gratitude, she is met with resentment. He resents his queen for hiding away and not protecting her country. As time passes and his wounds heal, it is eventually time to get some answers. How to stop Mihr from invading, and an answer as to why they are invading. Between Morwenna's fear for Fainrhyr's safety and her lack of control over her power, she must navigate how to prevent this war.
This book CHANGED ME. I am head over heels for the story Katherine has given us. First, let me start with the plot. For me, I tend to lean into foreshadowing very heavily and can see the twists before they come, but honestly, Morwenna was a bit unpredictable at the end, and I loved that. It felt fluid, a perfect balance of world-building and character intrigue. The pace felt right. The balance between intense scenes and casual scenes was very nice. The character building for a standalone left me with NO questions. I felt like the withholding of certain information made you more anxious to get further into the story.
Both Morwenna and Fainrhyr had some very good character development, and their backstories kept me so intrigued. The banter between characters felt right as well. Conversations made sense and flowed very naturally. A character I still don't quite understand is Taldric. I think he is the only one who left me with questions, yet I still saw the necessity of his character and actions. When I say the spice was placed perfectly, it was a dream. From the first move, I could not put the book down; again, the banter made it all that much better. This story seriously has an unmatched balance. I will say at the level that which Fainrhyr believed in, Morwenna gave me new expectations for my real love-life (like that will ever happen, why can't Fainrhyr be real????)
Katherine, the writer, you are. This story was amazing. From the tension, world building, banter, and characters, you truly outdid yourself. Thank you for writing this beautiful story; it is one I plan to re-read over and over again.
This book CHANGED ME. I am head over heels for the story Katherine has given us. First, let me start with the plot. For me, I tend to lean into foreshadowing very heavily and can see the twists before they come, but honestly, Morwenna was a bit unpredictable at the end, and I loved that. It felt fluid, a perfect balance of world-building and character intrigue. The pace felt right. The balance between intense scenes and casual scenes was very nice. The character building for a standalone left me with NO questions. I felt like the withholding of certain information made you more anxious to get further into the story.
Both Morwenna and Fainrhyr had some very good character development, and their backstories kept me so intrigued. The banter between characters felt right as well. Conversations made sense and flowed very naturally. A character I still don't quite understand is Taldric. I think he is the only one who left me with questions, yet I still saw the necessity of his character and actions. When I say the spice was placed perfectly, it was a dream. From the first move, I could not put the book down; again, the banter made it all that much better. This story seriously has an unmatched balance. I will say at the level that which Fainrhyr believed in, Morwenna gave me new expectations for my real love-life (like that will ever happen, why can't Fainrhyr be real????)
Katherine, the writer, you are. This story was amazing. From the tension, world building, banter, and characters, you truly outdid yourself. Thank you for writing this beautiful story; it is one I plan to re-read over and over again.
March 4, 2025
Okay first and foremost I am both so satisfied and deeply heartbroken. This is the story that I needed, such adorable relationship development with witty banter, all the good angst and so much phenomenal chemistry! The story was so well written that I found myself absolutely absorbed and taking any and every moment I could to even just read a paragraph. Typically not my thing, I'm the type of person that needs to absolutely just sit and immerse into a story to really get into it but not this one. Any amount of reading it was just so satisfying I had such a hard time putting this down.
I am heartbroken cuz it's over and I need mooooreere. It was a beautiful escape though, the world was so warm and cozy. But with enough intensity that everything felt just enough on edge I could feel the stress and anxiety an equal amounts to pleasure and excitement!
I stopped reading multiple other books to get lost in this one and I'm so grateful I did. It was a delightful slice of everything I was looking for without the exhaustion of having to meet 30 characters and an a magic system that I felt like I needed to take notes on just to understand. I think this author really understands that there's so much that can be shared without having to be explained and lets the story explain things in a way that helps it to not only feel so realistic but appropriate at the same time.
I will read anything from this author, her writing style is so luxurious and emotional but interesting and with great such great character development! I am going to need her next book series to be at least three book minimum! 🤞⚔️🙏
Please read this book and then come and talk to me about it ❤️🙏
I am heartbroken cuz it's over and I need mooooreere. It was a beautiful escape though, the world was so warm and cozy. But with enough intensity that everything felt just enough on edge I could feel the stress and anxiety an equal amounts to pleasure and excitement!
I stopped reading multiple other books to get lost in this one and I'm so grateful I did. It was a delightful slice of everything I was looking for without the exhaustion of having to meet 30 characters and an a magic system that I felt like I needed to take notes on just to understand. I think this author really understands that there's so much that can be shared without having to be explained and lets the story explain things in a way that helps it to not only feel so realistic but appropriate at the same time.
I will read anything from this author, her writing style is so luxurious and emotional but interesting and with great such great character development! I am going to need her next book series to be at least three book minimum! 🤞⚔️🙏
Please read this book and then come and talk to me about it ❤️🙏
July 22, 2025
I really enjoyed Moonspun! It’s a dark, dreamy fairytale retelling that hooked me with its atmosphere and emotional depth. The story follows Morwenna, queen of the House of Achlys, who’s burdened with dangerous magic and a tragic past. She ends up saving Fainrhyr, a sentinel from a rival house, and from there, things get very interesting. Their dynamic was easily my favorite part(slow-burn, full of tension, banter, and genuine chemistry). It’s the kind of romance where you can feel the weight of every glance and unspoken word.
The writing is lyrical but not too dense, which I appreciated. The world-building was clear and immersive without pages of info-dumping, just enough to ground me in Moraveil without slowing the plot. I also liked that the cast was fairly tight; it made the story feel focused. There’s definitely an emotional weight to this book, especially around grief and identity, but it’s handled really well. It felt like a story that respected its characters’ pain without wallowing in it.
If you like emotionally charged romantasy, court politics, and a good enemies-to-lovers arc with real stakes, I definitely recommend Moonspun. I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever Katherine O’Malley writes next.
The writing is lyrical but not too dense, which I appreciated. The world-building was clear and immersive without pages of info-dumping, just enough to ground me in Moraveil without slowing the plot. I also liked that the cast was fairly tight; it made the story feel focused. There’s definitely an emotional weight to this book, especially around grief and identity, but it’s handled really well. It felt like a story that respected its characters’ pain without wallowing in it.
If you like emotionally charged romantasy, court politics, and a good enemies-to-lovers arc with real stakes, I definitely recommend Moonspun. I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever Katherine O’Malley writes next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2025
4.25⭐️
1.5/5🌶️
Dual/third person POV
Standalone
Format: e-book
Check the triggers
Spoiler free
What a lovely standalone option.
I had the opportunity to arc read for this author’s second book so, since I’m in the mood for a standalone, why not go back & read her debut. This is such a great first publication from an author.
It’s got it all packed into a single book. There’s some decent action, a great romance, deep/meaningful character development, Intriguing side characters.
But above all else, to me, this fantasy romance is made because of both MC’s being so endearing & lovable. Their romance is so sweet. It’s definitely a slow burn pseudo enemies to reluctant allies to lovers. They start with such great banter & dialogue. Them finally getting together towards the end was oh so satisfying.
Throughout, there will be questions but they will all be answered by the end. Everything unfolds at a fairly well pace; there were just some occasional pacing hiccups & slight lagging throughout or some scenes were drawn out for too long. So due to such issues, I feel like this could have been slightly edited down a bit.
Also, (& I’m pretty sure this is just a me thing) I always notice slight lapses such as: when he’s recuperating in her bed, he never even finds that considerate how she’s on her couch. Or during his bed rest, it’s never mentioned how he goes to the bathroom🤣or when he first wakes up, providing him with water stat isn’t a thing. I know, I’m weird like that.
1.5/5🌶️
Dual/third person POV
Standalone
Format: e-book
Check the triggers
Spoiler free
What a lovely standalone option.
I had the opportunity to arc read for this author’s second book so, since I’m in the mood for a standalone, why not go back & read her debut. This is such a great first publication from an author.
It’s got it all packed into a single book. There’s some decent action, a great romance, deep/meaningful character development, Intriguing side characters.
But above all else, to me, this fantasy romance is made because of both MC’s being so endearing & lovable. Their romance is so sweet. It’s definitely a slow burn pseudo enemies to reluctant allies to lovers. They start with such great banter & dialogue. Them finally getting together towards the end was oh so satisfying.
Throughout, there will be questions but they will all be answered by the end. Everything unfolds at a fairly well pace; there were just some occasional pacing hiccups & slight lagging throughout or some scenes were drawn out for too long. So due to such issues, I feel like this could have been slightly edited down a bit.
Also, (& I’m pretty sure this is just a me thing) I always notice slight lapses such as: when he’s recuperating in her bed, he never even finds that considerate how she’s on her couch. Or during his bed rest, it’s never mentioned how he goes to the bathroom🤣or when he first wakes up, providing him with water stat isn’t a thing. I know, I’m weird like that.
September 20, 2025
A beautiful reimagining of Sleeping Beauty the likes of which I've never read. Katherine O'Malley has a way with words, to weave so much emotion and depth into the characters and the story. To compel you to keep reading.
When we first meet Morwenna, she is terrified of of herself, of her magic and her power. Watching Morwenna come into her own, discovering herself, is a wondrous thing. And to watch her relationship with Fainrhyr grow from disdain to deep, soul-wrenching love is so precious.
They gift each other the strength and resolve to overcome towering odds. They lift and heal each other, both body and soul, as they fight their own battles. And become stronger with each other for it.
I'm not sure if there's going to be a sequel, but Katherine O'Malley has become an auto-buy for me. She is truly a gifted storyteller.
When we first meet Morwenna, she is terrified of of herself, of her magic and her power. Watching Morwenna come into her own, discovering herself, is a wondrous thing. And to watch her relationship with Fainrhyr grow from disdain to deep, soul-wrenching love is so precious.
They gift each other the strength and resolve to overcome towering odds. They lift and heal each other, both body and soul, as they fight their own battles. And become stronger with each other for it.
I'm not sure if there's going to be a sequel, but Katherine O'Malley has become an auto-buy for me. She is truly a gifted storyteller.
August 13, 2025
4.5 stars. Really really enjoyed this. I loved the two main characters, and their forged connection as well as their backgrounds of misunderstood or feared magic. I did think their "I love you" was a little fast, but not drastic enough for me to even *consider* putting this down and not finding out what happened to them.
I was absolutely sold, and the way everything gets tied up in the end was neat. I smell sequel! LOL
I really liked the world-building and the rules of magic and how the prophecy tied into it all. I also really loved the two MCs backstories and what they'd gone through before finding each other and finding peace with each other. There's spice and drama, and self-sacrifice and a HEA. Looking forward to more from this author!
I was absolutely sold, and the way everything gets tied up in the end was neat. I smell sequel! LOL
I really liked the world-building and the rules of magic and how the prophecy tied into it all. I also really loved the two MCs backstories and what they'd gone through before finding each other and finding peace with each other. There's spice and drama, and self-sacrifice and a HEA. Looking forward to more from this author!
October 15, 2025
One of the best books I’ve read in a while, with the perfect amount of romance, action, and witty banter between the main characters. The writing is really well done and it is the perfect, unique romantasy without overdone tropes. I loved Moonspun! ❤️
October 6, 2025
A sweet retelling, with many concerns for political plot holes. But we’re here for an enemies to lovers romance, so ignoring them works well.
March 28, 2025
This book was reminiscent of all the fantasy stories I loved as a child, but with a grown up twist. It had Romeo and Juliet, sleeping beauty vibes. Forced proximity, reluctant allies to lovers. The world building and story were gorgeous. I absolutely loved it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews