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The Kindom Trilogy #3
This Brutal Moon
Bethany Jacobs returns with the thrilling conclusion to The Kindom Trilogy that began with the Philip K. Dick Award–winning These Burning Stars, the debut epic space opera trilogy about revenge, power, and the price of legacy.
Violence has erupted across the Treble. The colony that Jun Ironway and Masar Hawks have fought to protect is now woefully compromised, and its people, unwilling to submit to tyranny once more, face a brutal fight for their lives and freedom.
In the midst of upheaval and rebellion, new enemies arise at every corner, including a familiar player who won't let power slip through his fingers again. Not when he has every Kindom Hand under his heel. And whether he will be as bloody-minded as his predecessors remains to be seen.
As the quiet ones launch their attack and all hope seems lost, Cleric Chono looks to unlikely allies to fight a final battle for peace. But one crucial question remains: where is Six?
Violence has erupted across the Treble. The colony that Jun Ironway and Masar Hawks have fought to protect is now woefully compromised, and its people, unwilling to submit to tyranny once more, face a brutal fight for their lives and freedom.
In the midst of upheaval and rebellion, new enemies arise at every corner, including a familiar player who won't let power slip through his fingers again. Not when he has every Kindom Hand under his heel. And whether he will be as bloody-minded as his predecessors remains to be seen.
As the quiet ones launch their attack and all hope seems lost, Cleric Chono looks to unlikely allies to fight a final battle for peace. But one crucial question remains: where is Six?
512 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2025
166 people are currently reading
2432 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
January 17, 2026
“Burn brighter than kindling. Burn brighter even than the Godfire. Burn justice and mercy into the worlds, and there will be no god greater than you.”
I honestly can’t believe my time with the Kindom trilogy has come to an end. This Brutal Moon is a satisfying ending to what has been a great series. Book 1 is still my favorite, but the trilogy as a whole is worth reading. Loved every second of my time with it.
I honestly can’t believe my time with the Kindom trilogy has come to an end. This Brutal Moon is a satisfying ending to what has been a great series. Book 1 is still my favorite, but the trilogy as a whole is worth reading. Loved every second of my time with it.
November 10, 2025
You must read the author’s note at the end.
This is a science fiction that deals with events going on in our current world, but with high tech and in space. Oh, and it’s all fictionalised.
This series makes it clear that there is no one-side to any conflict. That there is no innocent bystander. Awareness and silence are complicity.
Achieving interstellar peace will never be possible because everyone has clashing ideals and cultures. Everyone wants to be on top, even if they don’t want to suppress anyone else.
“Do not love us more than life. Love us more than death!”
This trilogy should be heavy and dark as it is ultimately about genocide. It is both of those things, but it is the characters and their relationships that make this digestible.
This has political intrigue, a unique take on gender and sexuality (think Ann Leckie), and morally grey characters. Not one character is completely good.
Chono’s struggle to accept guilt and seek justice is what drives the development of our own reflections on blame and responsibility.
I think book one remains my favourite, but the author’s note ultimately brought this book to a rounded up four stars.🌟
This is a series that has to be regarded as its whole rather than book by book.
Arc gifted by Orbit.
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This is a science fiction that deals with events going on in our current world, but with high tech and in space. Oh, and it’s all fictionalised.
This series makes it clear that there is no one-side to any conflict. That there is no innocent bystander. Awareness and silence are complicity.
Achieving interstellar peace will never be possible because everyone has clashing ideals and cultures. Everyone wants to be on top, even if they don’t want to suppress anyone else.
“Do not love us more than life. Love us more than death!”
This trilogy should be heavy and dark as it is ultimately about genocide. It is both of those things, but it is the characters and their relationships that make this digestible.
This has political intrigue, a unique take on gender and sexuality (think Ann Leckie), and morally grey characters. Not one character is completely good.
Chono’s struggle to accept guilt and seek justice is what drives the development of our own reflections on blame and responsibility.
I think book one remains my favourite, but the author’s note ultimately brought this book to a rounded up four stars.🌟
This is a series that has to be regarded as its whole rather than book by book.
Arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
November 17, 2025
3.5 Stars
This was a solid conclusion to this science fiction trilogy. I generally enjoyed the earlier books and found this one on par for that.
As a piece of science fiction, this one was quite accessible. There were some interesting details in the world building but generally this one was easy to understand and likeable.
I would recommend this one to readers who are trying to get into the genre. However you will want to start back at the beginning with These Burning Stars.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a solid conclusion to this science fiction trilogy. I generally enjoyed the earlier books and found this one on par for that.
As a piece of science fiction, this one was quite accessible. There were some interesting details in the world building but generally this one was easy to understand and likeable.
I would recommend this one to readers who are trying to get into the genre. However you will want to start back at the beginning with These Burning Stars.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
October 4, 2025
4.5⭐️
I love this series and while I’m sad that my time with these characters is it at its end, it was a satisfying conclusion to one of the best space opera and political scifi trilogies I have read.
My fave of the series is still the first book, but this book was absolutely needed to complete the storyline. And it hit the spot.
The authors note at the end of the book really got me in my feels and made me appreciate the book more. It reminded me why I love science fiction — the reality of today’s oppression and genocide can feel insurmountable like there’s nothing we can do, fighting feels futile and everything feels hopeless. But this book reminded me that we will always strive for a better world.
Thanks to @orbitbooks_us for the complimentary digital review copy 🩵🌙
I love this series and while I’m sad that my time with these characters is it at its end, it was a satisfying conclusion to one of the best space opera and political scifi trilogies I have read.
My fave of the series is still the first book, but this book was absolutely needed to complete the storyline. And it hit the spot.
The authors note at the end of the book really got me in my feels and made me appreciate the book more. It reminded me why I love science fiction — the reality of today’s oppression and genocide can feel insurmountable like there’s nothing we can do, fighting feels futile and everything feels hopeless. But this book reminded me that we will always strive for a better world.
Thanks to @orbitbooks_us for the complimentary digital review copy 🩵🌙
January 10, 2026
Unfortunately this will be my first review of the year which means I get to revisit the disappointment again in December.
Completely underwhelming, nothing actually happens (yes this is an exaggeration)! Far, far too much inner dialogue, outer dialogue and personal angst. I loved the first book but as a conclusion this missed completely.
Completely underwhelming, nothing actually happens (yes this is an exaggeration)! Far, far too much inner dialogue, outer dialogue and personal angst. I loved the first book but as a conclusion this missed completely.
November 19, 2025
This was SUCH a good fucking series.
Though the first half of this book is a lot of lead-up, the second half felt like a rollercoaster. I love feeling genuine fear about what's going to happen to my favorite characters (Liis Konye!!) and having no clue how things are going to shake out. I kind of wished for more Chono and less Drae, but that's just me. I'm not someone who feels compelled to finish a whole series if the first book doesn't grab me, so the fact that I read all three of these basically as soon as I could get my hands on each one really shows you how much they affected me. These books are seriously fantastic.
Though the first half of this book is a lot of lead-up, the second half felt like a rollercoaster. I love feeling genuine fear about what's going to happen to my favorite characters (Liis Konye!!) and having no clue how things are going to shake out. I kind of wished for more Chono and less Drae, but that's just me. I'm not someone who feels compelled to finish a whole series if the first book doesn't grab me, so the fact that I read all three of these basically as soon as I could get my hands on each one really shows you how much they affected me. These books are seriously fantastic.
January 12, 2026
In some ways this feels more like a 3 star to me, but did I really like it less than the second instalment? Or rather is that impression the result of flaws I was already seeing in book two but which seem to stand out more here because they were not improved upon which I had hope was where we were headed? Who can really say.
I did enjoy this largely, I really enjoy this world and majority of the characters, but one of the things that definitely let me down is the character of Six. Whilst in the first book the vagueness and mystery of them works for the characters and makes sense, in this and previous book it just comes across as poor character writing. Certainly there were attempts to let us in on who Six is exactly but at no point did I feel like I had a good grasp on them as a character. Their relationship with Chono as well, whilst shrouded in secrecy and mystery (to us as well) in book one, in later books becomes more explicit and we are clearly meant to get invested in it but I never did. I still don’t understand why they had such loyalty to each other, why Chono especially had such strong feelings about them. That storyline unfortunately kinda lost me.
In this book specifically, I deeply don’t understand why we had to get so many flashback chapters of Drae se Britt. The “reveals” in her POV were not really needed for the story and I can only assume the author just really wanted to include a chapter of walking us through her last moments during the attack on Jeve for emotional impact. In some ways I’d argue I didn’t see the need for that either tbh, the horror of the attack on Jeve has been impressed upon the reader well enough thus far so as not to need this additional first hand detailed account so to speak. But if it must be there, I think it would’ve been much more impactful as just one Drae chapter, perhaps at the very end of the book even. It would’ve been a quite powerful way to end the whole story in my opinion.
Over all, I really enjoyed this series though. But the first book remains by far superior.
I did enjoy this largely, I really enjoy this world and majority of the characters, but one of the things that definitely let me down is the character of Six. Whilst in the first book the vagueness and mystery of them works for the characters and makes sense, in this and previous book it just comes across as poor character writing. Certainly there were attempts to let us in on who Six is exactly but at no point did I feel like I had a good grasp on them as a character. Their relationship with Chono as well, whilst shrouded in secrecy and mystery (to us as well) in book one, in later books becomes more explicit and we are clearly meant to get invested in it but I never did. I still don’t understand why they had such loyalty to each other, why Chono especially had such strong feelings about them. That storyline unfortunately kinda lost me.
In this book specifically, I deeply don’t understand why we had to get so many flashback chapters of Drae se Britt. The “reveals” in her POV were not really needed for the story and I can only assume the author just really wanted to include a chapter of walking us through her last moments during the attack on Jeve for emotional impact. In some ways I’d argue I didn’t see the need for that either tbh, the horror of the attack on Jeve has been impressed upon the reader well enough thus far so as not to need this additional first hand detailed account so to speak. But if it must be there, I think it would’ve been much more impactful as just one Drae chapter, perhaps at the very end of the book even. It would’ve been a quite powerful way to end the whole story in my opinion.
Over all, I really enjoyed this series though. But the first book remains by far superior.
January 5, 2026
6 stars if I could, perfect endings all around. Broken but satisfied. Happy and sad tears. RTC
January 10, 2026
4.5/5
yes, you should read this series
yes, you should read this series
November 23, 2025
Bringing a long and complex science fiction trilogy down for a landing is such a highwire act, and Jacobs’ long awaited Finale to This Brutal Moon is a very satisfying ending to one of my favorite currently running trilogies, despite some occasional pacing weirdness in certain places.
I don’t want to spoil any of the stellar first two entries in this series, so I’ll keep my plot notes brief and general--we pick up right where we left off with Six and Chono, and once the hits start coming, well in the words of Smash Mouth, they don’t stop coming. If you’ve been enjoying the ride of the Kingdom trilogy so far, I think you’ll also enjoy this one. The first half is a bit of set up, but the back half rolls along quite nicely, until it runs straight into the “Return of the King” problem, where the main conflict is resolved 87% of the way through the 500+ page book and then we get six different endings as Jacobs ties up all the loose ends, which is a pretty minor complaint, all things considered. My only other note is that as a prolific reader of science fiction and a deep familiarity with the tropes involved, I did see most of the twists and plot beats coming a mile away, but if you read less or can turn that part of your brain off, your mileage may vary.
As for those of you who have been living under a rock and haven’t heard about the Kingdom Trilogy--my pitch for the first one is that it’s The Count of Monte Christo, but in space. My other pitch for it is “good, old fashioned space opera” but with the caveat that while in the stylistic mode of old fashioned epic space operas like Starwars, the themes and characters feel very modern. I look forward to seeing what other worlds Jacobs will create.
I received an ARC in exchange for this honest review.
I don’t want to spoil any of the stellar first two entries in this series, so I’ll keep my plot notes brief and general--we pick up right where we left off with Six and Chono, and once the hits start coming, well in the words of Smash Mouth, they don’t stop coming. If you’ve been enjoying the ride of the Kingdom trilogy so far, I think you’ll also enjoy this one. The first half is a bit of set up, but the back half rolls along quite nicely, until it runs straight into the “Return of the King” problem, where the main conflict is resolved 87% of the way through the 500+ page book and then we get six different endings as Jacobs ties up all the loose ends, which is a pretty minor complaint, all things considered. My only other note is that as a prolific reader of science fiction and a deep familiarity with the tropes involved, I did see most of the twists and plot beats coming a mile away, but if you read less or can turn that part of your brain off, your mileage may vary.
As for those of you who have been living under a rock and haven’t heard about the Kingdom Trilogy--my pitch for the first one is that it’s The Count of Monte Christo, but in space. My other pitch for it is “good, old fashioned space opera” but with the caveat that while in the stylistic mode of old fashioned epic space operas like Starwars, the themes and characters feel very modern. I look forward to seeing what other worlds Jacobs will create.
I received an ARC in exchange for this honest review.
January 1, 2026
Review originally on JamReads
This Brutal Moon is the third and final instalment in the science fantasy series The Kindom Trilogy, written by Bethany Jacobs, published by Orbit Books. A conclusion that feels like the cherry on top of what was already an excellent series, a political space opera not afraid to put in the focus themes such as genocide and the implicit complicity that is silence, delivering a really satisfying ending.
An instalment that could be clearly divided into two parts: a first half that is used as the set-up, slowly cobbling together the rest of the pieces that will be necessary to make the second half an unstoppable rollercoaster, tying all the loose characters and situations to deliver the conclusion the readers deserved.
While dealing with themes such as genocide, and how the peace is almost impossible to reach as long as everybody is trying to achieve their own goals, the characters and the complex relationships between help ease it a bit, especially as we have already developed a bond with characters such as Jun and Six. It's their own struggle to seek justice that makes the reader reflect on our own world and how silence is a necessary accomplice for genocide.
The Kindom Trilogy is more than the sum of its parts, and I can not recommend it enough; if you like thought-provoking reads and space operas with a heavy focus on political themes, The Kindom should be on your to-read list. This Brutal Moon rounds up it, cementing Bethany Jacobs as an author that I hope to continue reading in the future.
This Brutal Moon is the third and final instalment in the science fantasy series The Kindom Trilogy, written by Bethany Jacobs, published by Orbit Books. A conclusion that feels like the cherry on top of what was already an excellent series, a political space opera not afraid to put in the focus themes such as genocide and the implicit complicity that is silence, delivering a really satisfying ending.
An instalment that could be clearly divided into two parts: a first half that is used as the set-up, slowly cobbling together the rest of the pieces that will be necessary to make the second half an unstoppable rollercoaster, tying all the loose characters and situations to deliver the conclusion the readers deserved.
While dealing with themes such as genocide, and how the peace is almost impossible to reach as long as everybody is trying to achieve their own goals, the characters and the complex relationships between help ease it a bit, especially as we have already developed a bond with characters such as Jun and Six. It's their own struggle to seek justice that makes the reader reflect on our own world and how silence is a necessary accomplice for genocide.
The Kindom Trilogy is more than the sum of its parts, and I can not recommend it enough; if you like thought-provoking reads and space operas with a heavy focus on political themes, The Kindom should be on your to-read list. This Brutal Moon rounds up it, cementing Bethany Jacobs as an author that I hope to continue reading in the future.
November 29, 2025
Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars.
I spent the first two books utterly confused but very much enjoying this intricately woven, politically charged sci-fi. This final book in the trilogy brought everything together in a most satisfying way, and I found it to be a compelling read.
The characters in this series feel so real and flawed but ultimately like they're just trying to do their best.
The world-building is staggering, and I would need to read the whole series again to really appreciate the scope.
The book, and series as a whole, explores real-world issues including genocide, and feels incredibly relevant for the time we find ourselves in.
My favourite book in the trilogy without a doubt.
4.5 stars.
I spent the first two books utterly confused but very much enjoying this intricately woven, politically charged sci-fi. This final book in the trilogy brought everything together in a most satisfying way, and I found it to be a compelling read.
The characters in this series feel so real and flawed but ultimately like they're just trying to do their best.
The world-building is staggering, and I would need to read the whole series again to really appreciate the scope.
The book, and series as a whole, explores real-world issues including genocide, and feels incredibly relevant for the time we find ourselves in.
My favourite book in the trilogy without a doubt.
November 30, 2025
This is probably the best trilogy you're not reading. The Kindom Trilogy is more than a sum of its parts, so while I've rated books 2&3 4 stars, this trilogy is high up in my favourites list.
Effortlessly readable characters who are sometimes good, sometimes monsters, but always page-turning. A plot focussing on the horrors of war, genocide, and systemic injustices. Queer-normative sci-fi setting that reads more like a fantasy plot. The writing does edge a little quipy at points but for the majority, Jacobs deals with the actions and ramifications of her character's actions with the seriousness they deserve.
I will be recommending The Kindom Trilogy a lot moving forward and can't wait to see what comes next from the author!
Effortlessly readable characters who are sometimes good, sometimes monsters, but always page-turning. A plot focussing on the horrors of war, genocide, and systemic injustices. Queer-normative sci-fi setting that reads more like a fantasy plot. The writing does edge a little quipy at points but for the majority, Jacobs deals with the actions and ramifications of her character's actions with the seriousness they deserve.
I will be recommending The Kindom Trilogy a lot moving forward and can't wait to see what comes next from the author!
December 23, 2025
I sighed when I finished this book and not in a good way. I was looking forward to the end of this trilogy and unfortunately it was a disappointment. The pacing felt off and the chapters were muddled.
December 7, 2025
What an awesome conclusion! The fast paced, gripping narrative continues from the first two books but the stakes are even higher. I was on the edge of my seating reading this from start to finish. Final books in series I find really make or break a series for me in how the author handles the big stakes of a massive war but Jacobs managed it beautifully, keeping the focus on the characters and their motivations and not letting them get lost in a plot-heavy story.
Six and Chono have to be two of my favourite ever characters that I’ve read but even this side characters added a lot to the narrative. This is not a book of deep, contemplative character development, but of broken people finding their place and their peace. My one big character gripe is that the villain felt quite one-dimensional with little exploration into their motivations. If that piece had been fleshed out a bit more I think this would’ve been a 5 star read for me.
I also want to comment on how this book grappled with the ‘what comes after’ and the rebuilding of a society after the toppling of a regime. Too many books skip over that or resort to an idealistic solution, but this book takes a very real, hard look at difficult entrenched systems are to upend, the real possibility of how power can corrupt even those with the best of intentions.
Overall a fabulous conclusion to a fabulous trilogy!
Six and Chono have to be two of my favourite ever characters that I’ve read but even this side characters added a lot to the narrative. This is not a book of deep, contemplative character development, but of broken people finding their place and their peace. My one big character gripe is that the villain felt quite one-dimensional with little exploration into their motivations. If that piece had been fleshed out a bit more I think this would’ve been a 5 star read for me.
I also want to comment on how this book grappled with the ‘what comes after’ and the rebuilding of a society after the toppling of a regime. Too many books skip over that or resort to an idealistic solution, but this book takes a very real, hard look at difficult entrenched systems are to upend, the real possibility of how power can corrupt even those with the best of intentions.
Overall a fabulous conclusion to a fabulous trilogy!
December 23, 2025
No surprise that this entire trilogy is a five star series for me.
It’s rare for an epic sci-fi or fantasy book to have me equally compelled by the characters, relationships, and plot but this series sucks you into all of it. In This Brutal Moon specifically, there were so many moments when my stomach swooped at the romance, when my heart went into my throat during the action sequences, I laughed, I teared up. Even though I would die for Chono, Six, and Jun and never wanted to be parted from their povs, I was still moved by the other characters and their perspectives. I don’t want to say goodbye to this world!!
Bethany Jacobs if you’re listening I would absolutely eat up a prequel novel about how Jun and Liis met and fell in love.
It’s rare for an epic sci-fi or fantasy book to have me equally compelled by the characters, relationships, and plot but this series sucks you into all of it. In This Brutal Moon specifically, there were so many moments when my stomach swooped at the romance, when my heart went into my throat during the action sequences, I laughed, I teared up. Even though I would die for Chono, Six, and Jun and never wanted to be parted from their povs, I was still moved by the other characters and their perspectives. I don’t want to say goodbye to this world!!
Bethany Jacobs if you’re listening I would absolutely eat up a prequel novel about how Jun and Liis met and fell in love.
November 8, 2025
War has broken out across the Kindom. After a violent power grab, rebellions have cropped up all across the Treble to resist the new dictatorship, but they’re too disparate to be effective for long. They need a figurehead, and a reluctant Cleric Chono is the only one who can rally both the First Families and the rebellion faction leaders to a common cause. Meanwhile the security of the secret Jevani safe haven has been breached, and an ultimatum has been issued: Return to slave labor on the mines of the moon or be eradicated. The Jevani will likely be wiped out in one desperate last stand unless hacker Jun Ironway can pull off one last gambit.
THIS BRUTAL MOON delivers a tense finale that avoids putting too neat a bow on the problems of the galaxy. Perhaps the worst thing that can be said about the book is that it doesn’t reach the twisty heights of its predecessors, but that’s understandable for the final book in the series. It’s hard to introduce new surprises when you’re trying to wind a story down. The result is a much more straightforward clash to decide the fate of the Kindom, with a few complications along the way.
Instead, the focus is on the politics of trying to find common ground between the rich elite, the rebellious common people, and the demonized Jevani. They all need to put a stop to the new dictatorship that has arisen, but who will be holding the power when the dust settles? Can the First Families be convinced to give up some of their control? Can the rebels be convinced that completely wiping away the old political structures will cause more chaos than it will fix? And can the entire galaxy be trusted not to turn on the Jevani the first time it would make their lives easier? There’s very little trust between any of the groups, and no one wants to compromise, which causes obvious frustration amongst those trying to address a threat that is bigger than their differences.
This is also a bit of a slower book compared to others, due to the introspective nature of many of the scenes. With a final stand on the horizon, multiple characters are contending with the legacy of their actions. Did they make a difference in the world? And if they did, was it for the better or the worse?
But when they do get to that last stand, there's plenty of tension to be found. The Jevani face overwhelming odds, and even if they pull off a victory, the losses will be devastating. All they can hope for is to slow down their attacks long enough so that at least some survive. Throughout the finale, we get quick snippets as war rages literally across the galaxy. To me, it meant some of the scenes packed a powerful punch in their brevity, while others left me wishing I'd gotten to see more of the events playing out.
In short, THIS BRUTAL MOON may be racing towards an end, but it's also acknowledging that there are plenty of questions that have no perfect answers. As one character points out, there is no way to guarantee a system free of corruption. There will always be bad actors and prejudices to contend with. All we can do is try to move things forward for the better and hope it sticks.
Note: I was provided a free ARC by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
THIS BRUTAL MOON delivers a tense finale that avoids putting too neat a bow on the problems of the galaxy. Perhaps the worst thing that can be said about the book is that it doesn’t reach the twisty heights of its predecessors, but that’s understandable for the final book in the series. It’s hard to introduce new surprises when you’re trying to wind a story down. The result is a much more straightforward clash to decide the fate of the Kindom, with a few complications along the way.
Instead, the focus is on the politics of trying to find common ground between the rich elite, the rebellious common people, and the demonized Jevani. They all need to put a stop to the new dictatorship that has arisen, but who will be holding the power when the dust settles? Can the First Families be convinced to give up some of their control? Can the rebels be convinced that completely wiping away the old political structures will cause more chaos than it will fix? And can the entire galaxy be trusted not to turn on the Jevani the first time it would make their lives easier? There’s very little trust between any of the groups, and no one wants to compromise, which causes obvious frustration amongst those trying to address a threat that is bigger than their differences.
This is also a bit of a slower book compared to others, due to the introspective nature of many of the scenes. With a final stand on the horizon, multiple characters are contending with the legacy of their actions. Did they make a difference in the world? And if they did, was it for the better or the worse?
But when they do get to that last stand, there's plenty of tension to be found. The Jevani face overwhelming odds, and even if they pull off a victory, the losses will be devastating. All they can hope for is to slow down their attacks long enough so that at least some survive. Throughout the finale, we get quick snippets as war rages literally across the galaxy. To me, it meant some of the scenes packed a powerful punch in their brevity, while others left me wishing I'd gotten to see more of the events playing out.
In short, THIS BRUTAL MOON may be racing towards an end, but it's also acknowledging that there are plenty of questions that have no perfect answers. As one character points out, there is no way to guarantee a system free of corruption. There will always be bad actors and prejudices to contend with. All we can do is try to move things forward for the better and hope it sticks.
Note: I was provided a free ARC by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.
January 14, 2026
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I received a copy of the book from Orbit Books UK in exchange for an honest review**
CW: blood, violence/ gun violence, murder, death, war, genocide, injury, torture, slavery, mention of sexual assault/rape/pedophilia, confinement, xenophobia
--
This Brutal Moon dives right back into the story not too many days following the events that closed On Vicious Worlds. One thing I was super grateful for since I didn’t have the time to reread books 1 and 2 before picking up book 3 is that Bethany Jacobs has recaps for both on her website!
While a good chunk of the beginning of book 3 was set up for the final showdown I absolutely loved how Jacobs tied everything together. The twists were definitely less shocking when compared to those in the previous books but all the tension was still stressfully high.
The story here was at its most politically engrossing, drawing people from all corners of the Treble Star Systems that we have been introduced to into the fold from the First Families to the Jeveni, to the casters and the pirates. There are significantly more characters to keep track of but each protagonist is still given a really satisfying final arc.
I also really liked how the flashback chapters from Drae Sen Briit, the River of the Wheel at the time before the Jeveni Genocide, gave us the details of past events to further connect the overarching storyline brilliantly together.
The series as a whole unapologetically unpacks the themes and lasting effects of colonial and generational trauma. The way the book wraps up and the accompanying author note also are an apt reflection on the state of the real world, the repetition of history and how in the face of tyranny and revolution its not so simple as to underline the final words and write “the end”. Real change is a collective endeavour that can be reached if everyone pulls their weight, even if its through the smallest of actions.
I’m going to miss being with Chono, Six, Jun and co but I really look forward to what Jacobs writes next!
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
**I received a copy of the book from Orbit Books UK in exchange for an honest review**
CW: blood, violence/ gun violence, murder, death, war, genocide, injury, torture, slavery, mention of sexual assault/rape/pedophilia, confinement, xenophobia
--
This Brutal Moon dives right back into the story not too many days following the events that closed On Vicious Worlds. One thing I was super grateful for since I didn’t have the time to reread books 1 and 2 before picking up book 3 is that Bethany Jacobs has recaps for both on her website!
While a good chunk of the beginning of book 3 was set up for the final showdown I absolutely loved how Jacobs tied everything together. The twists were definitely less shocking when compared to those in the previous books but all the tension was still stressfully high.
The story here was at its most politically engrossing, drawing people from all corners of the Treble Star Systems that we have been introduced to into the fold from the First Families to the Jeveni, to the casters and the pirates. There are significantly more characters to keep track of but each protagonist is still given a really satisfying final arc.
I also really liked how the flashback chapters from Drae Sen Briit, the River of the Wheel at the time before the Jeveni Genocide, gave us the details of past events to further connect the overarching storyline brilliantly together.
The series as a whole unapologetically unpacks the themes and lasting effects of colonial and generational trauma. The way the book wraps up and the accompanying author note also are an apt reflection on the state of the real world, the repetition of history and how in the face of tyranny and revolution its not so simple as to underline the final words and write “the end”. Real change is a collective endeavour that can be reached if everyone pulls their weight, even if its through the smallest of actions.
I’m going to miss being with Chono, Six, Jun and co but I really look forward to what Jacobs writes next!
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars
December 9, 2025
this final installment is more straightforward but just as thoughtful and clever as its predecessors. In wrapping up this trilogy, Jacobs has to tackle difficult questions around how does a revolution end/when is a revolution over? how do you realistically replace a corrupt government? how do you (can you?) keep it from becoming corrupt again? I think people's mileage on how well these are addressed will vary, but I found this to be a very satisfying end.
Also, how lucky are we to have such a smart scifi series that also has an abundance of nuanced, complicated female and nonbinary characters? They're smart, savvy, beautiful, powerful, corrupt, childish, righteous, and morally grey. From Chono and Six, to Esek, Liis, Jun, Effegen, Ujan, and Riiniana, what a range of well developed and complex characters.
Also, how lucky are we to have such a smart scifi series that also has an abundance of nuanced, complicated female and nonbinary characters? They're smart, savvy, beautiful, powerful, corrupt, childish, righteous, and morally grey. From Chono and Six, to Esek, Liis, Jun, Effegen, Ujan, and Riiniana, what a range of well developed and complex characters.
November 29, 2025
Galley provided by publisher
Actual rating 4.5
I don't have a great deal to say about This Brutal Moon that I haven't said about the previous two books. I loved diving back into this world, with the characters again, and I could read any number of books about the Kindom if Bethany Jacobs were to write them. I think the only reason this one is a (rounded from 4.5) 4 stars is because I couldn't read it immediately after the second book. There was a little acclimatising period where I remembered everything I had forgotten, and, honestly, all of the good twists which elevated those books to 5 stars had kind of been used up. That's not to say this wasn't good - some of the best of it, for example, was Six pitted against Seti and Riiniana, though it didn't last long enough for me. It just very much feels like an extension of book two at times, so I'm sure when I inevitably reread the series, I'll come back and change my rating.
Actual rating 4.5
I don't have a great deal to say about This Brutal Moon that I haven't said about the previous two books. I loved diving back into this world, with the characters again, and I could read any number of books about the Kindom if Bethany Jacobs were to write them. I think the only reason this one is a (rounded from 4.5) 4 stars is because I couldn't read it immediately after the second book. There was a little acclimatising period where I remembered everything I had forgotten, and, honestly, all of the good twists which elevated those books to 5 stars had kind of been used up. That's not to say this wasn't good - some of the best of it, for example, was Six pitted against Seti and Riiniana, though it didn't last long enough for me. It just very much feels like an extension of book two at times, so I'm sure when I inevitably reread the series, I'll come back and change my rating.
December 3, 2025
INCREDIBLE finish to this epic series!
I wasn't sure it could be done, but Bethany Jacobs wrapped up the various plots of this space opera in a hugely satisfying way! Sometimes scenes played out like a movie in my mind, and I'm not typically a reader who can do that. The descriptions and characterizations were that good.
Chono really came into her own, and the political machination throughout was so well-done. And Six! Oh my heart. Bethany Jacobs' writing made me savor this story, and even after hundreds of pages, I didn't want to let these characters go.
Absolutely read the author's note at the end.
Thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for this eARC.
I wasn't sure it could be done, but Bethany Jacobs wrapped up the various plots of this space opera in a hugely satisfying way! Sometimes scenes played out like a movie in my mind, and I'm not typically a reader who can do that. The descriptions and characterizations were that good.
Chono really came into her own, and the political machination throughout was so well-done. And Six! Oh my heart. Bethany Jacobs' writing made me savor this story, and even after hundreds of pages, I didn't want to let these characters go.
Absolutely read the author's note at the end.
Thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for this eARC.
December 22, 2025
4.75⭐️
This series deserves sooo much more hype. This final installment picks up immediately after the end of book 2 and it genuinely feels like you are jumping right into the fast lane. The political maneuvering, the character relationships, the plot stress that doesn’t let go… I could go on and on about the excellent elements of this book. Suffice it to say, this trilogy is a standout of science fiction for me, and the conclusion was so incredibly satisfying.
This series deserves sooo much more hype. This final installment picks up immediately after the end of book 2 and it genuinely feels like you are jumping right into the fast lane. The political maneuvering, the character relationships, the plot stress that doesn’t let go… I could go on and on about the excellent elements of this book. Suffice it to say, this trilogy is a standout of science fiction for me, and the conclusion was so incredibly satisfying.
November 18, 2025
A satisfying conclusion to the Kindom Trilogy! The entire series is great :)
December 16, 2025
4.25⭐
"For her own sake, she hoped nothing, except that she could stay awake a little longer. To help, she thought of Haishik, those eyes warm and crinkled with laugh lines at the corners. She thought of Kati, and hoped he was playing somewhere and stretching his fast, fantastic mind to its limits. She thought of her twins as they were born, one after the other, wrinkled wet screaming things, their bodies placed together on her breast where she lay sweat-soaked and bloodied, laughing and sobbing. She thought of her youngest. The last one. 'Oh,' she whispered, picturing them. 'Oh...' There were voices around her, urgent. There were people leaning in and she saw the flash of panicked faces. She closed her eyes. 'By Sajeven's own mercy,' she thought, 'I bless you. May your life have joy. May your death have purpose. More than mine, more than mine.' A voice that was not a voice in the ship said, 'All death is a return.' And Drae's eyes flew open. The voice was true. The voice was answering! She filled with wonder to have heard it, at last, after all this time. She could have laughed. She could have sung. She called out to her children, and her children's children, and all the children in the dark. 'Listen,' she said. 'Listen.' And she was sure they heard it, too."
------------------------------------------------------------
Why do I want to cry, oh my god. This was a MUCH better ending to a series than some of the ones I've read recently, thank GOD. It was still a finale book, though, which, as I've said before, is just bound to always be my least favorite in a series. But this was still soooooo good.
I think my only real qualms with this were the fact that I couldn't keep track of the added characters AT ALL (there were way too many new people that I just didn't care enough about to learn fully and that definitely hurt my ability to understand some of the chapters more focused on political conversations) and the fact that, indeed, a lot of this book was politics and war based because, once again, it's a finale book. The second problem is purely a me problem with final books in fantasy/sci-fi series; of course this book needed to be more focused on the politics and war aspect of the story. However, I always find myself much more spaced out when reading these parts and find it difficult to keep myself focused, so it does hurt my general reading experience regardless.
Otherwise, though, all of the things I loved about the first two books transfer over to this one, THIS SERIES IS SO GOOD! The characters are great, the ships are great (Six and Chono make me SICK, I love them), the plot is great, the social commentary is great. I really appreciated Bethany Jacob's author's note at the end of the book as I feel like it was EXTREMELY important for her to write that considering the themes of genocide in this series. I'm also happy to say that I'm happy with where all of the characters ended up. Sure, there were no huge risks taken, but, honestly, it's a breath of fresh air to not come out of the ending of a series feeling incredibly depressed about it and like I can't fully enjoy the rest of the series anymore. Thank you Bethany Jacobs for that 🙏
As always, I'm disappointed that this series STILL hasn't blown up. EVERYONE SHOULD BE READING THIS! I'll be annoying about this series forever.
------------------------------------------------------------
Bonus quotes (spoilers throughout!) 🌟
"She's not known for tact. She's not known for anything but her mind, which dares to be intelligent and oblivious at the same time."
"'When she came to Principes, she put a curse on me. I feel that the curse extended to you... like an oil spill, spreading out. This person that you are, who kills from necessity but does not want it---I feel that it would never have happened, if not for Esek's curse. And I am sorry. I am so sorry, Chono. I have loved you since we were children, and I would give back every plot and every trophy to spare you what has happened.'"
"'I had a dream,' Chono whispers. 'I've had it more than once.' Six tilts their head a little. 'Tell me.' 'In the dream, you're standing on an edge. You say you've been chasing me your whole life. Except not I think maybe I was the one saying that to you. Then, in the dream, you jump off the edge.' Six's expression cloisters. Chono's throat aches. 'I know that from here on out, you'll want to protect me, even at the cost of yourself. I know I can't change that, but Six, please' ---she swallows--- 'please... don't jump without me.' She sees something in their face that she never saw in Esek's---a softening. A deep, yearning love. Six nods. 'All right.'"
"Six feels that rarest of emotions: shame. Only Chono could do this to them. 'Pathetic,' Esek says. 'Bewitched.' 'Yes,' Six thinks. 'I am bewitched by her. But better her than you.'"
"'Ujan's eyes burn. 'Is this your game? Appeal to our similarity? Both our mentors are dead, so now we have something in common? Your lover is dead, so you know what it's like to hate now?' ... 'We're not the same, Sa Redcore. I don't need to have something in common with a person to try to understand them.'"
"It's unbearable, to feel this much regret, to feel time move you relentlessly forward and away from the moment when you could have changed everything."
"She had looked up at the gods and felt frightened by their stone faces, their watchfulness. But even as a child, she was devoted to the Godfire, and she thought to herself, 'If the gods dislike me, the Godfire will protect me.' What a strange thought to have had, as a child."
"'You could have any face in the Treble, and I would know you.'"
"'I have loved you all my life,' they whisper. She goes to them. This time Six is the one to cradle her face in their hands. She grips the shoulders of their tunic, exhaling roughly. 'And I you. Always. My dear, dear friend...'"
"For her own sake, she hoped nothing, except that she could stay awake a little longer. To help, she thought of Haishik, those eyes warm and crinkled with laugh lines at the corners. She thought of Kati, and hoped he was playing somewhere and stretching his fast, fantastic mind to its limits. She thought of her twins as they were born, one after the other, wrinkled wet screaming things, their bodies placed together on her breast where she lay sweat-soaked and bloodied, laughing and sobbing. She thought of her youngest. The last one. 'Oh,' she whispered, picturing them. 'Oh...' There were voices around her, urgent. There were people leaning in and she saw the flash of panicked faces. She closed her eyes. 'By Sajeven's own mercy,' she thought, 'I bless you. May your life have joy. May your death have purpose. More than mine, more than mine.' A voice that was not a voice in the ship said, 'All death is a return.' And Drae's eyes flew open. The voice was true. The voice was answering! She filled with wonder to have heard it, at last, after all this time. She could have laughed. She could have sung. She called out to her children, and her children's children, and all the children in the dark. 'Listen,' she said. 'Listen.' And she was sure they heard it, too."
------------------------------------------------------------
Why do I want to cry, oh my god. This was a MUCH better ending to a series than some of the ones I've read recently, thank GOD. It was still a finale book, though, which, as I've said before, is just bound to always be my least favorite in a series. But this was still soooooo good.
I think my only real qualms with this were the fact that I couldn't keep track of the added characters AT ALL (there were way too many new people that I just didn't care enough about to learn fully and that definitely hurt my ability to understand some of the chapters more focused on political conversations) and the fact that, indeed, a lot of this book was politics and war based because, once again, it's a finale book. The second problem is purely a me problem with final books in fantasy/sci-fi series; of course this book needed to be more focused on the politics and war aspect of the story. However, I always find myself much more spaced out when reading these parts and find it difficult to keep myself focused, so it does hurt my general reading experience regardless.
Otherwise, though, all of the things I loved about the first two books transfer over to this one, THIS SERIES IS SO GOOD! The characters are great, the ships are great (Six and Chono make me SICK, I love them), the plot is great, the social commentary is great. I really appreciated Bethany Jacob's author's note at the end of the book as I feel like it was EXTREMELY important for her to write that considering the themes of genocide in this series. I'm also happy to say that I'm happy with where all of the characters ended up. Sure, there were no huge risks taken, but, honestly, it's a breath of fresh air to not come out of the ending of a series feeling incredibly depressed about it and like I can't fully enjoy the rest of the series anymore. Thank you Bethany Jacobs for that 🙏
As always, I'm disappointed that this series STILL hasn't blown up. EVERYONE SHOULD BE READING THIS! I'll be annoying about this series forever.
------------------------------------------------------------
Bonus quotes (spoilers throughout!) 🌟
"She's not known for tact. She's not known for anything but her mind, which dares to be intelligent and oblivious at the same time."
"'When she came to Principes, she put a curse on me. I feel that the curse extended to you... like an oil spill, spreading out. This person that you are, who kills from necessity but does not want it---I feel that it would never have happened, if not for Esek's curse. And I am sorry. I am so sorry, Chono. I have loved you since we were children, and I would give back every plot and every trophy to spare you what has happened.'"
"'I had a dream,' Chono whispers. 'I've had it more than once.' Six tilts their head a little. 'Tell me.' 'In the dream, you're standing on an edge. You say you've been chasing me your whole life. Except not I think maybe I was the one saying that to you. Then, in the dream, you jump off the edge.' Six's expression cloisters. Chono's throat aches. 'I know that from here on out, you'll want to protect me, even at the cost of yourself. I know I can't change that, but Six, please' ---she swallows--- 'please... don't jump without me.' She sees something in their face that she never saw in Esek's---a softening. A deep, yearning love. Six nods. 'All right.'"
"Six feels that rarest of emotions: shame. Only Chono could do this to them. 'Pathetic,' Esek says. 'Bewitched.' 'Yes,' Six thinks. 'I am bewitched by her. But better her than you.'"
"'Ujan's eyes burn. 'Is this your game? Appeal to our similarity? Both our mentors are dead, so now we have something in common? Your lover is dead, so you know what it's like to hate now?' ... 'We're not the same, Sa Redcore. I don't need to have something in common with a person to try to understand them.'"
"It's unbearable, to feel this much regret, to feel time move you relentlessly forward and away from the moment when you could have changed everything."
"She had looked up at the gods and felt frightened by their stone faces, their watchfulness. But even as a child, she was devoted to the Godfire, and she thought to herself, 'If the gods dislike me, the Godfire will protect me.' What a strange thought to have had, as a child."
"'You could have any face in the Treble, and I would know you.'"
"'I have loved you all my life,' they whisper. She goes to them. This time Six is the one to cradle her face in their hands. She grips the shoulders of their tunic, exhaling roughly. 'And I you. Always. My dear, dear friend...'"
November 26, 2025
God, where do I even start with this book?
It's been a very long time since I read a trilogy that has such a strong ending. Bethany Jacobs wields such skill in so many different areas of storytelling. Some of the best action writing I've read for sure. There were a few chapters before the beginning of the climax that were so tense I caught myself not breathing. War and violence is so realistically and brutally portrayed and the loss these characters feel comes through in such an intense way.
Which brings me to the characters. There are so many players in this story and all of them feel so realistic with their own flaws and motivations. I can imagine every single one of them living their own lives outside the plot of this book and that takes tremendous skill to pull off, in my opinion.
It was fascinating to read Drae sen Briit's POV in the flashbacks. All the players in the quorum were so distinct and the conflict between them so complex. Ujan was so unlikable and on the verge of beyond saving but her character was given enough compassion and complexity that you could see exactly why she is the way she is. Something about her teenage-like rage felt so heartbreakingly relatable. And the effect of her actions on her family actually added so much more depth to their relationships. It actually made me like Jun a lot more. That's always been the one character that annoyed me in this series but in this book she started to really grow on me. Riiniana was another fascinating new player and yeah she's evil but she's also so much more than that and once again, the complexity with which these characters are written blows my mind every time.
And then, of course, Chono and Six :,) Chono's character occasionally teetered on holier-than-though righteousness but it never actually tipped over and that's such a precarious balance to keep up. And Six, as always, giving me emotional heart attacks. Six and Chono's relationship here had such an intense emotional payoff (I have chapter 21 bookmarked for when I want to Feel Something) that I had to put down the book and sit in silence staring at the wall for like an hour.
It took me a while to finish this book because of moments like that, needing to pause reading for a day or two to Process TM. Also because I wanted to take my time with it since I was sad it was ending and I would have to say goodbye to the characters and this world.
I genuinely love the way the book ended, however. It felt less like an end and more like an open door you could look through to watch the story of these people continue on without you.
This is a very messy review unfortunately but with books that emotionally affect me this much it's often hard for me to write something comprehensible so this will have to do.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this eARC.
It's been a very long time since I read a trilogy that has such a strong ending. Bethany Jacobs wields such skill in so many different areas of storytelling. Some of the best action writing I've read for sure. There were a few chapters before the beginning of the climax that were so tense I caught myself not breathing. War and violence is so realistically and brutally portrayed and the loss these characters feel comes through in such an intense way.
Which brings me to the characters. There are so many players in this story and all of them feel so realistic with their own flaws and motivations. I can imagine every single one of them living their own lives outside the plot of this book and that takes tremendous skill to pull off, in my opinion.
It was fascinating to read Drae sen Briit's POV in the flashbacks. All the players in the quorum were so distinct and the conflict between them so complex. Ujan was so unlikable and on the verge of beyond saving but her character was given enough compassion and complexity that you could see exactly why she is the way she is. Something about her teenage-like rage felt so heartbreakingly relatable. And the effect of her actions on her family actually added so much more depth to their relationships. It actually made me like Jun a lot more. That's always been the one character that annoyed me in this series but in this book she started to really grow on me. Riiniana was another fascinating new player and yeah she's evil but she's also so much more than that and once again, the complexity with which these characters are written blows my mind every time.
And then, of course, Chono and Six :,) Chono's character occasionally teetered on holier-than-though righteousness but it never actually tipped over and that's such a precarious balance to keep up. And Six, as always, giving me emotional heart attacks. Six and Chono's relationship here had such an intense emotional payoff (I have chapter 21 bookmarked for when I want to Feel Something) that I had to put down the book and sit in silence staring at the wall for like an hour.
It took me a while to finish this book because of moments like that, needing to pause reading for a day or two to Process TM. Also because I wanted to take my time with it since I was sad it was ending and I would have to say goodbye to the characters and this world.
I genuinely love the way the book ended, however. It felt less like an end and more like an open door you could look through to watch the story of these people continue on without you.
This is a very messy review unfortunately but with books that emotionally affect me this much it's often hard for me to write something comprehensible so this will have to do.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this eARC.
January 5, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
It’s quite challenging to write a review for the third book in a series, as it’s difficult not to spoiler anything, especially since this is the third and final installment. We get some answers, and a multitude of events unfold, making it hard to discuss any of those without giving away key details.
So it will be a short review, and I will try my best to not make any spoilers!
It took me a really long time to finish this one, and most of the fault is that I was in a reading slump and I wasn’t in the right mood for it, so I put it on hold for a bit, but a small part of the fault is that in this volume, we have a dual timeline. And I am not the biggest fan of those. Sometimes they work pretty well for me, that’s true, but not always, and in this case, every time we read the chapters of a particular POV, which is set in the past, I was thrown out of the story.
Sure, they are relevant to the book, they are important to explain some things but… but to me they were boring, and they constantly break my immersion into the story. So yeah, not a fan.
But that said, this book is so full of things happening! Because now all the pieces of the game are on the board, and they need to find a way forward.
It’s a complex situation because it is politically and socially important, obviously, but also because we have a lot of people involved. And the problem is that everyone here has an agenda and is playing a game (and we have some playing the long game, a really long game!), but not everyone is playing the same game. And that gets complicated pretty fast.
The politics in this series are really amazing, and I was there for it. But what made me love this series was, well… the characters. Six, Esek, and Chono are pretty unique, and they are bigger than life, and in the first book, they are at the centre of it all, and I was soooo there for them all! Sure, we have a rich cast of characters around them, and everyone is complex and interesting, in their own way, but these three were just so good!
But gradually, the focus of the whole story shifts from them to the politics, and mind you, it’s not bad, because as I was saying before, we have intrigues, twists, and everything, and we have some really important themes treated here (mainly, genocide), but I didn’t love this shift in focus.
I still enjoyed the book, but my favourite of the series is the first one, which, for me, is on another level altogether.
I had fun with this series and I was hooked, so I am not really complaining because even if I didn’t get what I was hoping out of it, I still got a complex and articulated plot, full of twists and turns and amazing characters!
So… if you already started this series, you obviously need to read this one, and if you haven’t started this series, well… you seriously need to think about it!
It’s quite challenging to write a review for the third book in a series, as it’s difficult not to spoiler anything, especially since this is the third and final installment. We get some answers, and a multitude of events unfold, making it hard to discuss any of those without giving away key details.
So it will be a short review, and I will try my best to not make any spoilers!
It took me a really long time to finish this one, and most of the fault is that I was in a reading slump and I wasn’t in the right mood for it, so I put it on hold for a bit, but a small part of the fault is that in this volume, we have a dual timeline. And I am not the biggest fan of those. Sometimes they work pretty well for me, that’s true, but not always, and in this case, every time we read the chapters of a particular POV, which is set in the past, I was thrown out of the story.
Sure, they are relevant to the book, they are important to explain some things but… but to me they were boring, and they constantly break my immersion into the story. So yeah, not a fan.
But that said, this book is so full of things happening! Because now all the pieces of the game are on the board, and they need to find a way forward.
It’s a complex situation because it is politically and socially important, obviously, but also because we have a lot of people involved. And the problem is that everyone here has an agenda and is playing a game (and we have some playing the long game, a really long game!), but not everyone is playing the same game. And that gets complicated pretty fast.
The politics in this series are really amazing, and I was there for it. But what made me love this series was, well… the characters. Six, Esek, and Chono are pretty unique, and they are bigger than life, and in the first book, they are at the centre of it all, and I was soooo there for them all! Sure, we have a rich cast of characters around them, and everyone is complex and interesting, in their own way, but these three were just so good!
But gradually, the focus of the whole story shifts from them to the politics, and mind you, it’s not bad, because as I was saying before, we have intrigues, twists, and everything, and we have some really important themes treated here (mainly, genocide), but I didn’t love this shift in focus.
I still enjoyed the book, but my favourite of the series is the first one, which, for me, is on another level altogether.
I had fun with this series and I was hooked, so I am not really complaining because even if I didn’t get what I was hoping out of it, I still got a complex and articulated plot, full of twists and turns and amazing characters!
So… if you already started this series, you obviously need to read this one, and if you haven’t started this series, well… you seriously need to think about it!
January 11, 2026
In her afterword, Bethany Jacobs makes some interesting points about fictions that are about genocide in the modern day. This Brutal Moon isn't political in the modern sense, but then there was a time when you knew who the bad guys were because they were committing genocide, that now seems more contentious. Nevertheless, this has been a broadening of the palate of the Kindom trilogy, a space opera story that started with an insanely committed character trying to get revenge on one big intergalactic bastard by killing them, and becoming them. The problem being that all of that happened in the first book, and what followed seemed anticlimactic. This Brutal Moon does a pretty good job at getting the trilogy back on track, or at least shifting it to a different track altogether, where a big battle for supremacy, and a caste escape from slavery becomes the focus. Six and Chono are still in the mix, and are important players, but it isn't just about them anymore, and throwing an extra historical strand to show the origins of the genocide doesn't help focus the book. But as ever with her dense storytelling, you just have to hang on and it will all coalesce midway into the narrative.
I am still not sure if this should have been a trilogy, or if it should, whether or not the first book should have had a broader viewpoint on the history of this universe. We are introduced to another semi-antagonist in this book, who is useful in reminding us who Six is now pretending to be (a problem the second book has), and I think my enjoyment here was certainly enhanced because I read it back-to-back with the second book. Now readers can read them all together and I think that will help, as mentioned I think Jacobs constructs some excellent action sequences and her inagination for tactical guerrilla warfare, and micro-focussed revenge is really impressive. The problems I have are problems that are often inherent with trilogies, and ones that you have to allow a touch. Certainly she concocts a pretty perfect ending for her characters and one that acknowledges (as we have seen in the real world), that nothing is ever over and power corrupts, and a new generation will not learn any lessons from the previous. And all that is worth sticking around for.
I am still not sure if this should have been a trilogy, or if it should, whether or not the first book should have had a broader viewpoint on the history of this universe. We are introduced to another semi-antagonist in this book, who is useful in reminding us who Six is now pretending to be (a problem the second book has), and I think my enjoyment here was certainly enhanced because I read it back-to-back with the second book. Now readers can read them all together and I think that will help, as mentioned I think Jacobs constructs some excellent action sequences and her inagination for tactical guerrilla warfare, and micro-focussed revenge is really impressive. The problems I have are problems that are often inherent with trilogies, and ones that you have to allow a touch. Certainly she concocts a pretty perfect ending for her characters and one that acknowledges (as we have seen in the real world), that nothing is ever over and power corrupts, and a new generation will not learn any lessons from the previous. And all that is worth sticking around for.
December 20, 2025
4.25 Stars
This was a great ending to a fantastic sci-fi series. The politics were multilayered, the battles were intense, and the characters all had interesting arcs. There are a lot of really unique ideas that this series brings to the genre, and if you're looking for a new space opera to pick up, this might be worth your time.
That said, there is something I can't quite put my finger on that keeps it from being a five-star read. I found some characters far more compelling than others, and I don't feel like I ever truly connected with the world-building at large. I had to force myself to read at some points, since I didn't really crave picking it up, and I am unsure of how much staying power the story will have in my thoughts.
Despite these doubts, once I got reading, I absolutely flew through the chapters. I'd feel a slight sense of disappointment when we got to certain POVs, but then I'd get sucked in to their story and be perfectly fine with where it went.
This was a great ending to a fantastic sci-fi series. The politics were multilayered, the battles were intense, and the characters all had interesting arcs. There are a lot of really unique ideas that this series brings to the genre, and if you're looking for a new space opera to pick up, this might be worth your time.
That said, there is something I can't quite put my finger on that keeps it from being a five-star read. I found some characters far more compelling than others, and I don't feel like I ever truly connected with the world-building at large. I had to force myself to read at some points, since I didn't really crave picking it up, and I am unsure of how much staying power the story will have in my thoughts.
Despite these doubts, once I got reading, I absolutely flew through the chapters. I'd feel a slight sense of disappointment when we got to certain POVs, but then I'd get sucked in to their story and be perfectly fine with where it went.
December 24, 2025
A very good end to one of the best space opera trilogies of the past few years. If it lacks a little of the narrative power and focus of the previous two books, it makes up for it with a realistic but never cynical look at the politics of oppression and murder, and how they can be, at least for a while, overcome.
December 15, 2025
ah yes, another sapphic sci-fi that broke my heart. 5 stars. no notes.
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