Moons and Shadows: A Slow Burn Military Fantasy of Forbidden Love, Forgotten Memory, and Rising Truth

by M.D. Petrocco

His faith. His sacrifice.

Bound by Shadow

Her freedom. Her life.

She was never destined to awaken…like this.

He was never fated to leave…like this.

But blood remembers what time tried to erase.

Bound by shadows. Marked by magic. Chosen by blood.

Runa lives in darkness—shadow bound, her memories fractured and submerged, the echoes of another life pulsing beneath her skin. She was never meant to awaken—yet when strange markings blaze across her forearm and shards of a forgotten past erupt to the surface, a long-dormant power begins to stir.

To reclaim her freedom, she must survive what was buried.

To survive, she must remember who she once was.

And to love, she must face what still blinds her.

On the other side of the veil, an elite soldier walks through hell. Izayah—eternally her twin flame, now her tether to a truth too raw to remain hidden—moves with quiet fury into a war few dare name. He gave his life for hers once. Now he fights in the shadows for something far more a second chance.

A resistance brews beneath collapsing kingdoms, sparked by blood-written truths unearthed by a Elite warrior and a seer who dared to speak them aloud. Secrets rise. A silent war churns. And the unbinding has already begun.

A spellbinding romantasy of buried memories, impossible love, and the power that lives in truth.

Her past was obscured.

His sacrifice made sure of it.

Now the truth is rising—and the fate of kingdoms will answer to it, because everything built on silence must face the fire.

This story is for readers who

Found family that feels like homeSlow burn romance with emotional weightHealing from trauma and reclaiming truthLovers torn apart by war and memoryFantasy with elemental power and unspoken loveSoul-deep scars and love that rises anyway Truth. Memory. Love that fights to survive the dark.

Step into the shadows—and rise.

Genres: Military Fiction, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Coming Of Age

738 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2025

About the author

M.D. Petrocco is a Southern California native, lifelong educator, and passionate storyteller. A first-grade teacher by day and author by heart, she writes emotionally rich, cinematic fiction rooted in transformation, quiet power, and threads of faith. Her stories explore the raw beauty of healing, identity, and what it means to walk through the shadows in order to find the light.

Moons and Shadows is her debut novel—and the first in a larger series of interconnected tales for readers who want their fantasy with depth, grit, and soul.

When she’s not writing, she’s probably working out (where most of her best plot twists seem to find her), diving into cozy games, or going mildly broke with ongoing house renovations. She lives with her husband, a U.S. Air Force Reservist, and their wildly opinionated co-author pup, Jaxie—who swears he helped write the book.

Connect with M.D. Petrocco online!
http://www.theshadowboundseries.com

Reviews

[Shawna Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an ABSOLUTE RIDE! Fantasy readers, this one’s for you.

This book will have your heart breaking while simultaneously making you feel much more brave than you imagined you could be as you follow along with the characters on their journeys of different life paths that intertwined in the most unexpected and fantastic way. It’s an incredibly immersive read.

I don’t really like to do spoilers. I think just the basics will be all that’s needed.

Fantasy ✅
Love ✅
Plot twists ✅
Emotional rollercoaster ✅

(⭐️ enjoy Missy and the antics)

[Than Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a journey through the thoughts, emotions, and frustrations of a group of close comrades and family as they realize their current reality is not quite what they thought it was and begins to evolve into a new and forgotten reality. This story provides an immersive experience of the sensations the characters experience. Readers will benefit from taking their time in moving through the chronicle of the characters' experience so that they can absorb all of the elements worked into the writing by the author. While this is the beginning of a series, the book stands on its own as a venture into a land of fantasy and empathy between the characters in this community.

[Sunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me from the start! The. Character development is elegant. It is a slow burn and it is meant to be a slow book. A book that you sit down and fully immense yourself into the storyline! As Runa develops and and her memories come back, she has to process through them as one would process their own healing journey. This book is not meant to be a fast paced book! I felt everything Runa was feeling. I felt every ounce of love, loss, confusion and hope!! I cannot wait to see what comes next!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Moons and Shadows” had me completely captivated. The writing is lush without being heavy, and the story unfolds like a dream tinged with darkness. I adored the blend of atmosphere, emotion, and slow-burn tension that built with every chapter. The characters feel so real — flawed, brave, and utterly unforgettable.
There’s something beautifully haunting about the way this author writes; it’s the kind of book you can’t stop thinking about once it ends. I’m already itching for more stories from this world.
If you love fantasy that makes you feel something — this one’s for you. ✨

[SHARI D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written tale full of magic, love, sacrifice, and humor. Part of the backstory is told in such a clever way, and by one of my favorite characters. Everything is described perfectly, so you know how things feel and smell and you can really visualize what M. D. Petrocco intended. As a formalist reader, I appreciate this. The only thing keeping me from giving five stars is that sometimes the movement of the story gets lost in the description of the scenes and I had to reread some parts to make sure I was following what was happening. This could easily just be a “me” problem, and it makes me want to make sure I am describing scenes well enough in my own book!

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first chapter pulled me under.
And I’m glad I let it.
I took my time with Bound by Shadow, and every word was worth it.
A story of memory, sacrifice, and love that survives even the dark.
Lyrical. Haunting. Unforgettable. 💫

[Lisa Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moons and Shadows was absolutely stunning. From the very beginning it pulls you into its magic, family and love. The characters and the dynamic story will have you wanting to binge this book from start to finish.

[Jessica Corley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not a palette cleanser—it’s one you have to take your time with and really soak in. There’s a lot of unbinding, reflection, and learning from the past, both for the characters and the reader. It’s beautifully written. By the end, I still had more questions than answers. Even so, there’s something intriguing about the atmosphere and depth that kept me turning the pages. The way the book ends guarantees there will be a second book at least. I’ll end with a quote from the book.
“ Your past isn’t meant to consume you; it’s meant to guide you.”

[Teresa Schweitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start this, I need to say that I did receive this as an arc. But the opinion is solely mine. I enjoyed the heck out of this book. I have been in a slump just waiting for the second book to come out and it’s going to probably be a bit. I highly recommend that you give this one a chance pick it up and enjoy the world building along with me. It was so good. I just I can’t say that enough.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful book. 10/10

[Brianne Dove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moons and Shadows blends emotional depth, magic, and family bonds into a fantasy story that grows richer with every chapter. Izayah’s inner conflict and long held love for Runa set the tone early on, while the wider cast adds humor, warmth, and heart. As the story unfolds, the world expands into sentient magic, shifting spaces, and powerful revelations, like Rayanna’s awakening near the end. Petrocco builds a world that feels lived in and full of destiny, with characters who carry real weight and tenderness. It’s a strong start to a series with plenty still to unravel.

[Tayler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming off of a very high smut bender of reading quite a few smutty books I needed something a little more light and full of fantasy and didn’t know what to read and would read the first page of a book and say I wasn’t ready to start that books journey. I read the not for the reader and felt very drawn in and the dedication felt very personal for me personally. The map is very beautiful and I did go back to look at it a few times for reference. But on to the actual story, the juicy bits as you will.
Each character is well thought out and has enough about them that you know who they are and how they affect each step of the journey. The world building is not what I expected, but in a good way and I truly felt like I was a part of the world. The magic wasn’t hard to understand for me and I understood the layout very easily. The only thing that wasn’t my favorite is I’m more of a first person type of view reader but I still really enjoyed this book and I am craving for book 2 already!

[Danielle Nesbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book promises an utterly enthralling journey into a world steeped in shadow, magic, and forgotten truths. From the very first lines you're hooked, drawn into a narrative brimming with tantalizing mystery and deep emotional stakes.

Runa's story of fragmented memories and a stirring, long-dormant power is incredibly compelling, hinting at a powerful heroine on a quest for self-discovery and freedom. Her struggle to "reclaim her freedom" and "remember who she once was" sets up a thrilling arc of awakening and revelation. Then there's Izayah, the "eternally her twin flame," whose quiet fury and fight for a second chance add a layer of intense romance and sacrifice. The idea of a love so profound it transcends veils and past lives is truly spellbinding. The backdrop of "collapsing kingdoms" and a "silent war" brewing beneath the surface provides an epic scale, promising high-stakes conflict and intricate world-building. This book is a promise of a deeply emotional, action-packed, and magically charged adventure where secrets rise, love defies the odds, and truth has the power to reshape kingdoms.

[Tanya Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a slow journey into a group of family trying to right the world. It's full of details and emotions that bring you into the story. There are multiple people who have to unbinde from their shadows to find their true self and fast.