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The Everlands Trilogy #2
Moonfall
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 21:24:41
25 copies available
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The thrilling sequel to Lightfall, a fantasy epic of revolution set in a world of vampires, werewolves, and sorcerers, for fans of Jay Kristoff’s Empire of the Vampire and Cassandra Clare’s Swordcatcher.
The revolution is here… but in the Everlands, nothing comes easy.
In the last vampire city of First Light, the rebels know the truth about the Grays. But nothing has changed. Sam has a plan to bring the whole rotten city down - a plan of peace, not violence. But in this city, the best laid plans have a way of falling apart, and she’ll need the help of the city’s ex ruler and former enemy if she’s to avoid a bloodbath.
Meanwhile, in the Wolflands, Jacob, Sage, and Raven must seek help from the wolves. But when a murder is committed, the land threatens to descend into war, and unless the culprit is found, they might not escape with their lives. But with a long list of suspects and a long set of claws out for them, the odds don't look good.
And then there’s Neuras Sinassion. History’s most dangerous sorcerer has decided it’s finally time to tell his secrets and the truth about the humans. But the truth will come at a price.
When the dust has settled and the bodies are counted, only one thing is certain—the Everlands will never be the same again.
The revolution is here… but in the Everlands, nothing comes easy.
In the last vampire city of First Light, the rebels know the truth about the Grays. But nothing has changed. Sam has a plan to bring the whole rotten city down - a plan of peace, not violence. But in this city, the best laid plans have a way of falling apart, and she’ll need the help of the city’s ex ruler and former enemy if she’s to avoid a bloodbath.
Meanwhile, in the Wolflands, Jacob, Sage, and Raven must seek help from the wolves. But when a murder is committed, the land threatens to descend into war, and unless the culprit is found, they might not escape with their lives. But with a long list of suspects and a long set of claws out for them, the odds don't look good.
And then there’s Neuras Sinassion. History’s most dangerous sorcerer has decided it’s finally time to tell his secrets and the truth about the humans. But the truth will come at a price.
When the dust has settled and the bodies are counted, only one thing is certain—the Everlands will never be the same again.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
5115 people want to read
About the author
Ed Crocker
4 books271 followersEd was born in Manchester, UK and has managed to stay there ever since.
By day he edits books—his clients include Sunday Times Bestselling authors, award-winning indie authors, and acclaimed small presses.
By night, or sometimes also by day (freelancer rules), he reviews SFF and horror books and interviews authors for FanFiAddict.com, watches horror films, and plays video games. My god, what a nerd.
He is the author of the epic fantasy trilogy The Everlands - featuring vampires, werewolves and sorcerers but no humans - Book 1 Lightfall hitting shelves in January 2025.
You can find him on most socials as @edcrockerbooks and at ed-crocker.com.
By day he edits books—his clients include Sunday Times Bestselling authors, award-winning indie authors, and acclaimed small presses.
By night, or sometimes also by day (freelancer rules), he reviews SFF and horror books and interviews authors for FanFiAddict.com, watches horror films, and plays video games. My god, what a nerd.
He is the author of the epic fantasy trilogy The Everlands - featuring vampires, werewolves and sorcerers but no humans - Book 1 Lightfall hitting shelves in January 2025.
You can find him on most socials as @edcrockerbooks and at ed-crocker.com.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
my rating 4.5
I'm not going to recap book 1...Ed's done that for us at the start of Moonfall (way to go Ed!)
We do pick up relatively soonish after Lightfall and Sam has made some decisions on her future.
The entire first half of the book is Vampires, we don't see or hear from the Wolves until part 2. This gives us a very deep dive into the resistance and what they get up to. And they get up to a lot!
Sam's best quality is how clever she is and she surrounds herself with a cast of characters that look to her leadership. I love our side characters...Alanna, Hands, Daphnee, and the leeches among others.
The darker characters are so very well written, one in particular is vile and unredeemable. They all contribute to the story and push the narrative forward.
Emotion is not lacking...I cried and I sat at the edge of my seat with my hand over my mouth in angst. Punches are not pulled and not everyone will make it to the end.
Often in the chapters, there are scenes that are breathtaking in the emotional impact they bring. In particular there is a thread that runs through most of the book that is based in trauma that Sam experiences in Lightfall. Every time it's mentioned, I got tears in my eyes. I was back in that scene with her and feeling all the feels. It's so well done.
Meanwhile, Jacob, Raven and the wolves are having their own bad time. Raven is my hero, she's a total badass but one not without morals and emotions. But let's focus on the badassery! Things are dark and mysterious in the woods. A murder, some anarchy and a lot of wolves making a play for power. Raven and Jacob in the center trying to survive and save those they love.
There are a LOT of shocking events that happen which kept me enraptured in the story. I was really pleased with how everything ends up and I'm SO ready for book 3.
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press and Ed Crocker for the opportunity to read and review. These thoughts are my own.
I'm not going to recap book 1...Ed's done that for us at the start of Moonfall (way to go Ed!)
We do pick up relatively soonish after Lightfall and Sam has made some decisions on her future.
The entire first half of the book is Vampires, we don't see or hear from the Wolves until part 2. This gives us a very deep dive into the resistance and what they get up to. And they get up to a lot!
Sam's best quality is how clever she is and she surrounds herself with a cast of characters that look to her leadership. I love our side characters...Alanna, Hands, Daphnee, and the leeches among others.
The darker characters are so very well written, one in particular is vile and unredeemable. They all contribute to the story and push the narrative forward.
Emotion is not lacking...I cried and I sat at the edge of my seat with my hand over my mouth in angst. Punches are not pulled and not everyone will make it to the end.
Often in the chapters, there are scenes that are breathtaking in the emotional impact they bring. In particular there is a thread that runs through most of the book that is based in trauma that Sam experiences in Lightfall. Every time it's mentioned, I got tears in my eyes. I was back in that scene with her and feeling all the feels. It's so well done.
Meanwhile, Jacob, Raven and the wolves are having their own bad time. Raven is my hero, she's a total badass but one not without morals and emotions. But let's focus on the badassery! Things are dark and mysterious in the woods. A murder, some anarchy and a lot of wolves making a play for power. Raven and Jacob in the center trying to survive and save those they love.
There are a LOT of shocking events that happen which kept me enraptured in the story. I was really pleased with how everything ends up and I'm SO ready for book 3.
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press and Ed Crocker for the opportunity to read and review. These thoughts are my own.
February 4, 2026
(4.25 rounded up)
This was the continuation I hoped it would be, and more. We start with Sam and the vampires in the first half of the book, but the second half is all about the wolves, Raven, and Jacob, which felt easier to digest as opposed to waffling back and forth between the story lines. I actually appreciated the changes in first person perspective, as it gave us even more insight into each characters mindset. The first half is a little bit of a slower start but we are very much rewarded in the second half with a werewolf murder mystery and more of the delightful character banter that I loved so much in the first novel. I’m so excited to continue the story and follow these characters into the third act, as Ed has given them so much more depth in this continuation.
Thank you so much to Ed Crocker himself for gifting me this ARC! It was an honor to be an early reader for both of these novels, as well as your first ever video review. Cheers!
This was the continuation I hoped it would be, and more. We start with Sam and the vampires in the first half of the book, but the second half is all about the wolves, Raven, and Jacob, which felt easier to digest as opposed to waffling back and forth between the story lines. I actually appreciated the changes in first person perspective, as it gave us even more insight into each characters mindset. The first half is a little bit of a slower start but we are very much rewarded in the second half with a werewolf murder mystery and more of the delightful character banter that I loved so much in the first novel. I’m so excited to continue the story and follow these characters into the third act, as Ed has given them so much more depth in this continuation.
Thank you so much to Ed Crocker himself for gifting me this ARC! It was an honor to be an early reader for both of these novels, as well as your first ever video review. Cheers!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Determined to not let the momentum go from her actions a few weeks ago Sam has pledged herself to the revolution. Working with Lady Daphnee, Alanna, the previous first lord himself, Molly the head of the blood smuggling ring, and finally Hands Parker the not quite sane leader of a Worn gang she hatches a truly ingenious plan to take over Lightfall with little bloodshed.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to anyone Sage has returned to the city, to work on some secret plot with Sinassion. One that once Sam does discover he is back he refuses to speak of to anyone, even her.
Finally, Jacob and Raven are in the lands of the Ansbach Wolves preparing to tell Ashen, the leader of all of the Wolves (but not according to Raven) of the Vampire's betrayal. However, Jacob learns quickly that not everything is as straightforward with the Wolves as he has believed and some are willing to foment discord in order to the Wolves in all out war against the Vampires, Nobles and Worn alike.
Alright guys bear with me because there is a lot to unpack in this one. There is so much more going on than in the first book and it's really three separate threads that lead to one overall story. I am going to try to break it down in that manner as well. Hopefully I won't get to fangirly with it because omg I absolutely loved this!
First things first; Sam's Big Plan is absolutely genius. It's been awhile since I read book one so I am not sure how much (if any) it goes into Invisibles trading, but essentially the Invisibles is like a stock market for blood and Sam's idea, is to crash the market causing mayhem which will allow the rebels to easily come in and take over. Sounds simple right? Wrong. I mean there are just so many pieces to something like this, that even if you know very little about the stock market you can already see how this could go wrong. Inflating the market on purpose just to crash it is quite honestly the greatest con in the history of cons, but it's also a brilliant absolutely blindingly brilliant way to bring on a revolution in a city already primed for it. To be fair I think this almost defines what it means when we call someone a Con Man or it's longer version Confidence Man, the belief that you the person trying to sell this to others has it in it's effectiveness has to be unshakeable and honestly Sam, with the help of Daphnee, Alanna, and Vermillion pull it of beautifully. This brilliant plan alone is reason enough to recommend this series. However, there is more, because of course there is more.
Character growth is a big thing I push in all of my reviews because quite frankly it's freaking important. Using Sam as my first example here you can't just be a maid who sets off a revolution and witnesses the death of her best friend and have her be the same person she was in book one. You just freaking can't. So, to see her grew so much in this book not just in terms of her confidence in her own abilities as a self-taught human...err vamps taking on the elite, but as a vamp who now has allies. Not just allies though, people that love her, I would say unconditionally. The relationship between her Lady Daphnee, Alanna, and Vermillion grew to be far more than just allies but a family. Two parents although not together that have lost children who see a spark of their own children in Sam and Sam who simply hasn't had this kind of unconditional love and support. It was genuinely beautiful to see and there is a scene with Sam and Vermillion that I bawled at. Not because I was had any particular attachment to their own grief, but it was such a parental moment between them that as a parent it would have been difficult not too. The Sam of book one would have never been able to have this moment, and I am so glad she was able to in this one. And yes for those wondering as I was there is some movement on the Daphnee and the Alanna front and Sage is stupid. Beyond stupid he is an absolute idiot. I said what I said.
Moving on to Wolf Territory.
As much I loved being back with Sam and seeing her scheme with the best (and worst) of Lightfall Raven and Jacob's story was everything! Also, it contains the thing that I now know that I love about Crockers writing and I am definitely tackling first.
For me in Lightfall the thing that stood out most was how much I mourned never getting to meet Red (Vermillion's son who is murdered before book 1 and basically sets all of this in motion). Through the eyes of other characters in Lightfall and through Vermillion's grief in Moonfall the possibility of him, of what he could have become creates a feeling of loss that was completely unexpected for me. He represented just goodness in a place where there was not much good to be found. I didn't really think it was possible to do that a second time but when Ashen is murdered almost as soon as we meet him, that same feeling although not as great stood out. I think it became even worse once we found out why he had to die, as it was so utterly pointless in the grand scheme of things. He is really this huge over the top character and after his first meeting with Jacob and Raven it is extremely clear that whatever choices he made with the information they brought him would have been well thought out, even if I didn't necessarily agree with the decision he came to. While to an extent I almost think that the death makes it slightly easier for Jacob and Raven to do what they end up doing it's still sad to know that it may have been easier because of the loss.
That all being said and way off track a bit, part two ends up being a bit of a murder mystery with Jacob trying to figure out who killed Ashen and not a lot of Wolves that want to cooperate with him. The ride on this one was a ton of fun since it was a locked room mystery (one of my favs!) and I loved how he figured out the who and what. The answer was right in front of him to the whole time too and I am a sucker for that type of locked room story. There is nothing better than the simple and overlooked.
Yes, Jacob is still favorite character. He is extremely relatable and hilarious. I am completely devastated that there was no movement between him and Raven. Okay not as much as I would have liked. They are adorably perfect for each other.
Finally, we have Sage's part in all of this and some reveals (okay just one big reveal) about the Mortals, that confirmed much of where I thought this was going on but on a grander scale than I could have imagined. I also think that after we get to the specific reveal that I am referring to the theory that Jacob discusses with Ashen when they first meet makes a ton of sense and I don't care if Sage doesn't agree because as I said Sage is an idiot. Okay he's not an idiot obviously but he sure does like to annoy me with all of his horrible decisions and sneaking around and what not.
Now, the big thing. When I read this first book it was good, it pretty much immediately threw Crocker on my list of auto buy authors, especially since I almost didn't finish Lightfall. But this was on a purely, okay this is fun scale. Not anything to do with him writing some story about class wars and what not. Sure yeah it was there, but let's be honest class wars are a dime a dozen. This book definitely changed that to being one that is up there as a damn good one on class wars, and oddly enough reading The New Story of the Stone helped change that opinion immensely. One of the things that I loved about The New Story of the Stone is that Wu had clearly written it to be accessible to all people, not just a select few, whether on purpose or not I feel that Crocker has done the same thing here. This becomes vital in this book. The whole revolution is started, by a self-taught made who has had it up to her eyeballs, to make this a more complicated tale or to throw out a bunch of big words would be almost a betrayal to his own character. Yes, Sam is intelligent, ridiculously intelligent but she is first and foremost a Worn who has seen her entire world destroyed by those who feel that they are above her. That she never leaves that portion of her personality, never sees herself as smarter or better than anyone else was important for me. That the story is written in such a manner that conveys that is as well. So in terms of a book series that reflects what is going on right now between the haves and the haves not I would recommend this series probably before many others, because I know that I can recommend it to virtually anyone I know and the ideals in it will be understandable.
And on that note I obviously recommend this series, its been such a fun ride that has somehow mixed in a little of virtually every genre I love but never losing sight of what it is.
As always thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eArc!
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to anyone Sage has returned to the city, to work on some secret plot with Sinassion. One that once Sam does discover he is back he refuses to speak of to anyone, even her.
Finally, Jacob and Raven are in the lands of the Ansbach Wolves preparing to tell Ashen, the leader of all of the Wolves (but not according to Raven) of the Vampire's betrayal. However, Jacob learns quickly that not everything is as straightforward with the Wolves as he has believed and some are willing to foment discord in order to the Wolves in all out war against the Vampires, Nobles and Worn alike.
Alright guys bear with me because there is a lot to unpack in this one. There is so much more going on than in the first book and it's really three separate threads that lead to one overall story. I am going to try to break it down in that manner as well. Hopefully I won't get to fangirly with it because omg I absolutely loved this!
First things first; Sam's Big Plan is absolutely genius. It's been awhile since I read book one so I am not sure how much (if any) it goes into Invisibles trading, but essentially the Invisibles is like a stock market for blood and Sam's idea, is to crash the market causing mayhem which will allow the rebels to easily come in and take over. Sounds simple right? Wrong. I mean there are just so many pieces to something like this, that even if you know very little about the stock market you can already see how this could go wrong. Inflating the market on purpose just to crash it is quite honestly the greatest con in the history of cons, but it's also a brilliant absolutely blindingly brilliant way to bring on a revolution in a city already primed for it. To be fair I think this almost defines what it means when we call someone a Con Man or it's longer version Confidence Man, the belief that you the person trying to sell this to others has it in it's effectiveness has to be unshakeable and honestly Sam, with the help of Daphnee, Alanna, and Vermillion pull it of beautifully. This brilliant plan alone is reason enough to recommend this series. However, there is more, because of course there is more.
Character growth is a big thing I push in all of my reviews because quite frankly it's freaking important. Using Sam as my first example here you can't just be a maid who sets off a revolution and witnesses the death of her best friend and have her be the same person she was in book one. You just freaking can't. So, to see her grew so much in this book not just in terms of her confidence in her own abilities as a self-taught human...err vamps taking on the elite, but as a vamp who now has allies. Not just allies though, people that love her, I would say unconditionally. The relationship between her Lady Daphnee, Alanna, and Vermillion grew to be far more than just allies but a family. Two parents although not together that have lost children who see a spark of their own children in Sam and Sam who simply hasn't had this kind of unconditional love and support. It was genuinely beautiful to see and there is a scene with Sam and Vermillion that I bawled at. Not because I was had any particular attachment to their own grief, but it was such a parental moment between them that as a parent it would have been difficult not too. The Sam of book one would have never been able to have this moment, and I am so glad she was able to in this one. And yes for those wondering as I was there is some movement on the Daphnee and the Alanna front and Sage is stupid. Beyond stupid he is an absolute idiot. I said what I said.
Moving on to Wolf Territory.
As much I loved being back with Sam and seeing her scheme with the best (and worst) of Lightfall Raven and Jacob's story was everything! Also, it contains the thing that I now know that I love about Crockers writing and I am definitely tackling first.
For me in Lightfall the thing that stood out most was how much I mourned never getting to meet Red (Vermillion's son who is murdered before book 1 and basically sets all of this in motion). Through the eyes of other characters in Lightfall and through Vermillion's grief in Moonfall the possibility of him, of what he could have become creates a feeling of loss that was completely unexpected for me. He represented just goodness in a place where there was not much good to be found. I didn't really think it was possible to do that a second time but when Ashen is murdered almost as soon as we meet him, that same feeling although not as great stood out. I think it became even worse once we found out why he had to die, as it was so utterly pointless in the grand scheme of things. He is really this huge over the top character and after his first meeting with Jacob and Raven it is extremely clear that whatever choices he made with the information they brought him would have been well thought out, even if I didn't necessarily agree with the decision he came to. While to an extent I almost think that the death makes it slightly easier for Jacob and Raven to do what they end up doing it's still sad to know that it may have been easier because of the loss.
That all being said and way off track a bit, part two ends up being a bit of a murder mystery with Jacob trying to figure out who killed Ashen and not a lot of Wolves that want to cooperate with him. The ride on this one was a ton of fun since it was a locked room mystery (one of my favs!) and I loved how he figured out the who and what. The answer was right in front of him to the whole time too and I am a sucker for that type of locked room story. There is nothing better than the simple and overlooked.
Yes, Jacob is still favorite character. He is extremely relatable and hilarious. I am completely devastated that there was no movement between him and Raven. Okay not as much as I would have liked. They are adorably perfect for each other.
Finally, we have Sage's part in all of this and some reveals (okay just one big reveal) about the Mortals, that confirmed much of where I thought this was going on but on a grander scale than I could have imagined. I also think that after we get to the specific reveal that I am referring to the theory that Jacob discusses with Ashen when they first meet makes a ton of sense and I don't care if Sage doesn't agree because as I said Sage is an idiot. Okay he's not an idiot obviously but he sure does like to annoy me with all of his horrible decisions and sneaking around and what not.
Now, the big thing. When I read this first book it was good, it pretty much immediately threw Crocker on my list of auto buy authors, especially since I almost didn't finish Lightfall. But this was on a purely, okay this is fun scale. Not anything to do with him writing some story about class wars and what not. Sure yeah it was there, but let's be honest class wars are a dime a dozen. This book definitely changed that to being one that is up there as a damn good one on class wars, and oddly enough reading The New Story of the Stone helped change that opinion immensely. One of the things that I loved about The New Story of the Stone is that Wu had clearly written it to be accessible to all people, not just a select few, whether on purpose or not I feel that Crocker has done the same thing here. This becomes vital in this book. The whole revolution is started, by a self-taught made who has had it up to her eyeballs, to make this a more complicated tale or to throw out a bunch of big words would be almost a betrayal to his own character. Yes, Sam is intelligent, ridiculously intelligent but she is first and foremost a Worn who has seen her entire world destroyed by those who feel that they are above her. That she never leaves that portion of her personality, never sees herself as smarter or better than anyone else was important for me. That the story is written in such a manner that conveys that is as well. So in terms of a book series that reflects what is going on right now between the haves and the haves not I would recommend this series probably before many others, because I know that I can recommend it to virtually anyone I know and the ideals in it will be understandable.
And on that note I obviously recommend this series, its been such a fun ride that has somehow mixed in a little of virtually every genre I love but never losing sight of what it is.
As always thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eArc!
December 22, 2025
I went into this with a relatively neutral sort of mindset, as the first book was really "just ok" for me when I first read it.
And in some form, Moonfall is also "just ok" for me. I was hoping that to some degree it would be better or would somehow boost Lightfall up a little bit more in my eyes... but sadly this wasn't the case. There is still plenty of potential in these pages, and the story is well-written for the most part... however a lot of the issues that were presented in book one are still quite prevalent ... the characters still feel rather flat, there is still the issue of major (and unnecessary) infodumps and the POV is still somewhat of an oddball and could be better off told in a different POV.
I have a bit of a personal issue as well to the way that this book is formatted... the lack of chapters and the fact that there are no distinct page breaks between point of views... not to mention some of this does go on for REALLY long paragraphs... made it a tiny bit hard for me to actually focus while having to decipher that much info all at once.
However, while there are quite a few issues that made me still not enjoy this book as much I normally would for something of this genre... allow me to brag again about the world that Ed Crocker has set up. THIS is perhaps the strongest bragging point about this series as a whole, because the lore... and the history of this world from the hints that are giving just make me want to know more about the universe and how things came to be... I want to know what led up to how this world is right now, and why humans have just seemed to completely vanish....and I also want to know just how the government works and runs.
Was this the story for me? Perhaps not in the state that it stands. I'm sure that it has a crowd that is ready to shower it in adoration and undying love. Would I read the next one? Probably, if anything to just know more about the fascinating world that lies within these pages... but this is nothing impressive to me. This was 3 stars but gets a bump to 4 stars purely because of how much I adored the world and the amazing amount of detail that has been poured into it.
Special thanks go to Sara La Cotti at St. Martin's Press for sending me an invitation to read this in advanced.
Thank you as well to St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for this copy in advanced. I am voluntarily leaving a review. The rest of my reviews may be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
And in some form, Moonfall is also "just ok" for me. I was hoping that to some degree it would be better or would somehow boost Lightfall up a little bit more in my eyes... but sadly this wasn't the case. There is still plenty of potential in these pages, and the story is well-written for the most part... however a lot of the issues that were presented in book one are still quite prevalent ... the characters still feel rather flat, there is still the issue of major (and unnecessary) infodumps and the POV is still somewhat of an oddball and could be better off told in a different POV.
I have a bit of a personal issue as well to the way that this book is formatted... the lack of chapters and the fact that there are no distinct page breaks between point of views... not to mention some of this does go on for REALLY long paragraphs... made it a tiny bit hard for me to actually focus while having to decipher that much info all at once.
However, while there are quite a few issues that made me still not enjoy this book as much I normally would for something of this genre... allow me to brag again about the world that Ed Crocker has set up. THIS is perhaps the strongest bragging point about this series as a whole, because the lore... and the history of this world from the hints that are giving just make me want to know more about the universe and how things came to be... I want to know what led up to how this world is right now, and why humans have just seemed to completely vanish....and I also want to know just how the government works and runs.
Was this the story for me? Perhaps not in the state that it stands. I'm sure that it has a crowd that is ready to shower it in adoration and undying love. Would I read the next one? Probably, if anything to just know more about the fascinating world that lies within these pages... but this is nothing impressive to me. This was 3 stars but gets a bump to 4 stars purely because of how much I adored the world and the amazing amount of detail that has been poured into it.
Special thanks go to Sara La Cotti at St. Martin's Press for sending me an invitation to read this in advanced.
Thank you as well to St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for this copy in advanced. I am voluntarily leaving a review. The rest of my reviews may be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
March 4, 2026
** This book was provided to me by St. Martin’s Press in exchange for a fair and honest review **
When I got the opportunity to read Lightfall after reading the very intriguing synopsis, I was pretty happy. What I didn’t know was what a whirlwind adventure Mr. Crocker was going to be taking me on. It was one of my top reads of 2024, and it didn’t even release until January 2025.
Well, here we are, one year later, and I, once again got to revel in the shenanigans of Sam, Sage, Raven, Jacob, Daphnée, Alanna, and, now, a whole lot more.
The thing I loved most about Moonfall is that it is not formulaic. While being the second book of a trilogy, it stands alone on it’s merits of political intrigue, mystery, and sheer chaos. The madcap scheming and sleuthing really put me in a mind of the Six of Crows duology from Leigh Bardugo. There is a lot of plot work going on, but that is used to sacrifice true character development and a fair amount of world building. Mr. Crocker’s style of writing sections of chapters from various character perspectives, and clearly labeling that, makes this novel a dream to sweep through without the slightest bit of confusion. Having extra lore and literature to start each chapter acts as a gilded accessory that really was a fun bonus to read.
OK, now to get into the story. If you haven’t read Lightfall stop right here if you don’t want spoilers.
Sam and her rebels have figured out the secret of the Grays, and now Sam wants to burn it all down. In the meantime, Sage, Jacob, and Raven have set out into the Wolflands to find help, but there are more than a few sinister things going on all around.
Let’s just say there is a lot going on, and a lot of questions that need to be answered.
I was so excited to get this novel, that I knew I had to find the right time to fully invest myself in it. Once I did, I devoured it: to the detriment of my productivity. The triumphs and surprises were absolutely amazing, and the heartache devastating. Moonfall is already in my Top Ten of 2026, and, as previously, I am waiting in anticipation for book three.
This review originally appears at 23rdlegion.com.
When I got the opportunity to read Lightfall after reading the very intriguing synopsis, I was pretty happy. What I didn’t know was what a whirlwind adventure Mr. Crocker was going to be taking me on. It was one of my top reads of 2024, and it didn’t even release until January 2025.
Well, here we are, one year later, and I, once again got to revel in the shenanigans of Sam, Sage, Raven, Jacob, Daphnée, Alanna, and, now, a whole lot more.
The thing I loved most about Moonfall is that it is not formulaic. While being the second book of a trilogy, it stands alone on it’s merits of political intrigue, mystery, and sheer chaos. The madcap scheming and sleuthing really put me in a mind of the Six of Crows duology from Leigh Bardugo. There is a lot of plot work going on, but that is used to sacrifice true character development and a fair amount of world building. Mr. Crocker’s style of writing sections of chapters from various character perspectives, and clearly labeling that, makes this novel a dream to sweep through without the slightest bit of confusion. Having extra lore and literature to start each chapter acts as a gilded accessory that really was a fun bonus to read.
OK, now to get into the story. If you haven’t read Lightfall stop right here if you don’t want spoilers.
Sam and her rebels have figured out the secret of the Grays, and now Sam wants to burn it all down. In the meantime, Sage, Jacob, and Raven have set out into the Wolflands to find help, but there are more than a few sinister things going on all around.
Let’s just say there is a lot going on, and a lot of questions that need to be answered.
I was so excited to get this novel, that I knew I had to find the right time to fully invest myself in it. Once I did, I devoured it: to the detriment of my productivity. The triumphs and surprises were absolutely amazing, and the heartache devastating. Moonfall is already in my Top Ten of 2026, and, as previously, I am waiting in anticipation for book three.
This review originally appears at 23rdlegion.com.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating 3.50 rounded up
Revolution has begun! This is very much a middle book! Its thoughtful, heavy, and more concerned with setup than resolution. Readers looking for clear victories or clean answers may find it frustrating, but those who enjoy morally grey fantasy and political tension will find a lot to admire. Lightfall thrived on mystery and revelation but Moonfall is about aftermath. The thematic commitment is one of the novel’s greatest strengths, giving the story real weight and emotional credibility.
The scope widens considerably, moving beyond First Light and into the Wolflands, and the political complexity is compelling. Conflicts now exist on multiple fronts, political, cultural, and military. Crocker does a great job at making the shifting alliances feel volatile and believable. While the broadened cast and layered plotlines add scope, they occasionally slow the momentum and create uneven pacing.
Overall, Moonfall stands as a strong, thoughtful middle entry in The Everlands Trilogy. It shines in its moral complexity, immersive worldbuilding, and intense political tension, portraying the fallout of revolution in a gritty, believable manner. Its broader scope and deeply developed themes give the novel both ambition and emotional weight.
Revolution has begun! This is very much a middle book! Its thoughtful, heavy, and more concerned with setup than resolution. Readers looking for clear victories or clean answers may find it frustrating, but those who enjoy morally grey fantasy and political tension will find a lot to admire. Lightfall thrived on mystery and revelation but Moonfall is about aftermath. The thematic commitment is one of the novel’s greatest strengths, giving the story real weight and emotional credibility.
The scope widens considerably, moving beyond First Light and into the Wolflands, and the political complexity is compelling. Conflicts now exist on multiple fronts, political, cultural, and military. Crocker does a great job at making the shifting alliances feel volatile and believable. While the broadened cast and layered plotlines add scope, they occasionally slow the momentum and create uneven pacing.
Overall, Moonfall stands as a strong, thoughtful middle entry in The Everlands Trilogy. It shines in its moral complexity, immersive worldbuilding, and intense political tension, portraying the fallout of revolution in a gritty, believable manner. Its broader scope and deeply developed themes give the novel both ambition and emotional weight.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Moonfall builds on the story that started in Lightfall with vampires, werewolves, and sorcerers sharing their immortal world. Power struggles and revolution are at the forefront of the Everlands and we delve deeper into plots and conspiracies. There is a mystery subplot and a few romances but at the forefront this remains a tale of political intrigues and very much a character driven story. This series continues to be an interesting urban fantasy. As in the first book of this trilogy, the story is told in first person with several narrators at the center of the tale, each adding their perspective to the complex dynamic. In line with most middle books of a trilogy, some issues are resolved while other doors are left open and after that epilogue, I'm ready for Last Light...
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was provided for review by Netgalley and the publisher. Thank you!
Trigger Warning: fantasy type violence, blood, character death, use of alcohol
The Revolution has begun!
Though the truth about the Grays is now known, little has changed in the last vampire city of First Light. While Samantha has a plan, it will mean teaming up with some she once called enemy. Even then she will have to fight to make sure things go peacefully and as always there is no guarantee of success.
Meanwhile, many miles away, Raven has come to seek help from her fellow wolves. Like Sam, she has a plan but things do not go smoothly. When an important member is murdered, the various packs descend into near chaos. The culprit must be found and quickly before there are more deaths.
Picking up shortly after where Lightfall leaves off, Moonfall takes us on yet another roller coaster ride of emotion. Thankfully the events of the first book are summarized at the beginning of book two, so if it’s been a while since you’ve read the first book, it’s easy to catch up.
Much like the first book, Moonfall is told from a variety of viewpoints. We have Samantha the vampire, Raven the werewolf, and Jacob the sorcerer, among others. Each character is unique and their differences are shown not just in their mannerisms and speech but in how they interact with those around them. How one character handles a situation isn’t usually how another would. The fact that at times they do not see eye to eye makes the characters more believable and they become more than just words on a page.
Emotions run high through the majority of the book. One emotion that is threaded throughout the book is that of loss. Loss of friends, of family, of what used to be. This particular emotion is sometimes twined with fear and it permeates a goodly number of scenes. It is also handled incredibly well with characters acknowledging their losses and giving them appropriate grief. I admit I found myself tearing up several times alongside certain characters.
More information is given about the mysterious mortals, and one particular revelation made me gasp out loud. It was surprising and I am quite curious to see where it could lead.
Much like the first book, Lightfall, I quite enjoyed reading Moonfall. It is definitely the middle book of a trilogy – giving information and moving the story along without giving any real resolution. It might be irritating to some, but I found it informative and entertaining and leaving me wanting more. I can easily recommend this to my readers and I cannot wait to see how the series is resolved.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25 stars. I adore all the creatures we get in this series- vampires, sorcerers, and werewolves. The nuances of each groups struggles are so well fleshed out. The characters are extremely relatable. There was even a little mystery in this novel that I was not expecting. I absolutely cannot wait for book three.
March 28, 2026
Somewhat slow to start as I got back into the world but once I did, I couldn’t stop. If you’re looking for deep world building, characters that you can’t stop falling in love with, intriguing storylines, and lots of action - this is the book for you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I feel like this series is what “the originals” the tv show should have been(and yes i still love that show). Basically immortal creatures and in a fantasy world and all the politics of living well coexisting without killing each other. Great read.
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