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Ash, Moon, & Brine
Ash.
January 1, 2023, finds Kyrian Asherton hiding in his Denver office after emotions had escalated at his New Year’s Eve party. Trying to not think about how his girlfriend nearly resorted to physical violence, Ky is resolved to investigate the occult cases on his desk. A year on his own as an Interpol Occult Agent has given him a decent workload, the determination to protect the world, and fuel for that side of him that seeks justice for the innocent. His intentions are sidelined when an unexpected knock comes at his door from a man with one desire: he wants Ky to investigate the double homicide that occurred that morning and prove his girlfriend is innocent.
Moon. Nothing good happens after midnight. Had Briara Moon adhered to that old adage, perhaps she wouldn’t have found herself locked up as the prime suspect for the double homicide that occurred as soon as 2023 started. An undergraduate student destined for medical school, all she had wanted was to spend a carefree night with her best friend, dancing. Briara swears she’s innocent. But there’s a problem: at twenty-three years old, she remembers only the last three years of her life.
Brine. Sulfur. Quicksilver. Salt. All three alchemical tria prima substances are used in the double homicide in what appears to be an alchemical ritual. The murders are tied to forbidden and ancient magic, and to a conspiracy far larger than one crime scene. To uncover the truth, Kyrian must convince Briara to reveal what really happened that night. From their first meeting on, Briara and Kyrian clash. Carrying the trauma of her irreversable amnesia and now the prime suspect, Briara doesn’t trust anyone as she fights for her liberty. She refuses to tell him anything, and Kyrian knows she’s hiding something important. But the deeper he digs into the case, the clearer it becomes that Briara is not the killer and the more desperate Ky becomes to proving her innocence despite the mounting evidence against Briara. Forced into an uneasy alliance, Briara and Kyrian must unravel a conspiracy tied to dangerous magic, hidden secrets, and a ritual that could reshape the world.
Because if the ceremony was completed… the murders were only the beginning.
The Crescent and Shadow series is perfect for readers who are yearning for a character-driven contemporary fantasy blending the hidden magic of A Discovery of Witches, the psychological depth of Ninth House, and the long-arc romantic tension of the Cormoran Strike series. The series will be eight books plus two prequels, which can be read as a duology standalone.
Series
Complex Characters • Unexpected Twists • Ultra Slow Burn Enemies to Friends to Lovers • Secret Identity • Found Family • Earned Romance • Competent MCs • Heaven vs Hell • Forced Proximity • Hidden Magic • Fated Mates • Investigative Urban Fantasy • Celestial War Mythology • Elemental Magic Systems • Fantastical Parallel Worlds • Who am I? • Romantic Yearning
Trigger Warnings Throughout Series
Amnesia • Physical Domestic Abuse - Male Victim • Emotional Manipulation • Sexual Assault • PTSD • Suicidal Ideation • Self-Harm • Depression
Moon. Nothing good happens after midnight. Had Briara Moon adhered to that old adage, perhaps she wouldn’t have found herself locked up as the prime suspect for the double homicide that occurred as soon as 2023 started. An undergraduate student destined for medical school, all she had wanted was to spend a carefree night with her best friend, dancing. Briara swears she’s innocent. But there’s a problem: at twenty-three years old, she remembers only the last three years of her life.
Brine. Sulfur. Quicksilver. Salt. All three alchemical tria prima substances are used in the double homicide in what appears to be an alchemical ritual. The murders are tied to forbidden and ancient magic, and to a conspiracy far larger than one crime scene. To uncover the truth, Kyrian must convince Briara to reveal what really happened that night. From their first meeting on, Briara and Kyrian clash. Carrying the trauma of her irreversable amnesia and now the prime suspect, Briara doesn’t trust anyone as she fights for her liberty. She refuses to tell him anything, and Kyrian knows she’s hiding something important. But the deeper he digs into the case, the clearer it becomes that Briara is not the killer and the more desperate Ky becomes to proving her innocence despite the mounting evidence against Briara. Forced into an uneasy alliance, Briara and Kyrian must unravel a conspiracy tied to dangerous magic, hidden secrets, and a ritual that could reshape the world.
Because if the ceremony was completed… the murders were only the beginning.
The Crescent and Shadow series is perfect for readers who are yearning for a character-driven contemporary fantasy blending the hidden magic of A Discovery of Witches, the psychological depth of Ninth House, and the long-arc romantic tension of the Cormoran Strike series. The series will be eight books plus two prequels, which can be read as a duology standalone.
Series
Complex Characters • Unexpected Twists • Ultra Slow Burn Enemies to Friends to Lovers • Secret Identity • Found Family • Earned Romance • Competent MCs • Heaven vs Hell • Forced Proximity • Hidden Magic • Fated Mates • Investigative Urban Fantasy • Celestial War Mythology • Elemental Magic Systems • Fantastical Parallel Worlds • Who am I? • Romantic Yearning
Trigger Warnings Throughout Series
Amnesia • Physical Domestic Abuse - Male Victim • Emotional Manipulation • Sexual Assault • PTSD • Suicidal Ideation • Self-Harm • Depression
- GenresMystery
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2026
About the author
Faeryn Leigh
2 books7 followersFaeryn Leigh grew up during the height of young adult fantasy fiction. Her grandparents fostered her love of reading through weekly Barnes and Nobles trips, where all three of them would walk out of the store with stacks of new stories to explore. Faeryn has been straddling reality and her imaginative worlds ever since she was a child and writing since she was twelve.
The first two books of the urban mystery romantasy Crescent & Shadow series will be released this year (2026). Ash, Moon, & Brine (Book 1) will be released on 6/9/26, while Ember, Breath, & Crystal (Book 2) will be released on 8/18/26.
While her world revolves around storytelling, Faeryn is also passionate about pastel landscape photography, international travel, astrology, and neurodivergence. She lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two dogs, and a cat.
For Crescent & Shadow updates and photography portfolio, please visit her Instagram @faerynleigh. Running a website or newsletter doesn’t appeal to her focused, neurodivergent mind, so all updates will be on Instagram. She will be more than happy to engage with you there. She also runs @breathetheadventure Instagram, which is more geared towards travel.
For your listening pleasure, she has a single playlist devoted to the entire Crescent & Shadow series on Spotify. (Searchable under “Faeryn Leigh — Crescent & Shadow”.) Some of the songs may (or may not) spoil future events in the book, so listen at your own risk.
The first two books of the urban mystery romantasy Crescent & Shadow series will be released this year (2026). Ash, Moon, & Brine (Book 1) will be released on 6/9/26, while Ember, Breath, & Crystal (Book 2) will be released on 8/18/26.
While her world revolves around storytelling, Faeryn is also passionate about pastel landscape photography, international travel, astrology, and neurodivergence. She lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two dogs, and a cat.
For Crescent & Shadow updates and photography portfolio, please visit her Instagram @faerynleigh. Running a website or newsletter doesn’t appeal to her focused, neurodivergent mind, so all updates will be on Instagram. She will be more than happy to engage with you there. She also runs @breathetheadventure Instagram, which is more geared towards travel.
For your listening pleasure, she has a single playlist devoted to the entire Crescent & Shadow series on Spotify. (Searchable under “Faeryn Leigh — Crescent & Shadow”.) Some of the songs may (or may not) spoil future events in the book, so listen at your own risk.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 6, 2026
Received this as a eARC, but didn’t get to it before the book was released. If I could give half stars (come on Goodreads, get with it) it would only be a 2.5 ⭐️ for me, but my math mind requires I round up due to proper rounding rules and nothing more.
There were several issues I had with the book, though it did have some redeeming qualities as well.
Irritating thing number 1) maybe this is just a me thing, but when an author uses poor grammar (ex. there were multiple times where improper writing like “more edgier” was used and it grated on my nerves…that is not proper English) it irks me. Someone should be catching stuff like that.
Irritating thing number 2) the relationship between Ky and his girlfriend was aggravating to say the least. He doesn’t really even seem to like her, refuses to propose to her, but stays with her? It makes zero sense.
Irritating thing number 3) Ky spends all that time, almost a year of his life, fighting for Briara’s innocence, then doesn’t even show up for her hearing? Again, makes zero sense.
Redeeming thing 1) Briara is definitely written as a strong FMC. She is out to prove her innocence, no matter what, and she does it in a pretty bad ass way. She relies on herself alone (and a little on Ky), has fake identities from a previous life, and doggedly pursues the information she needs.
Redeeming thing 2) you’re left wondering who she was before the amnesia. The author doesn’t give anything away on that front, and it leaves the reader wanting to know who she was and what happened to her.
Redeeming thing 3) the murder mystery is intriguing. I’m not into occult stuff, but the author wrote it in a way for it to not be off putting.
Overall, the book was okay. Not the best I’ve ever read, but not the worst either. There were enough positives that I’ll probably give the second one a chance before deciding whether to continue with the series or not.
There were several issues I had with the book, though it did have some redeeming qualities as well.
Irritating thing number 1) maybe this is just a me thing, but when an author uses poor grammar (ex. there were multiple times where improper writing like “more edgier” was used and it grated on my nerves…that is not proper English) it irks me. Someone should be catching stuff like that.
Irritating thing number 2) the relationship between Ky and his girlfriend was aggravating to say the least. He doesn’t really even seem to like her, refuses to propose to her, but stays with her? It makes zero sense.
Irritating thing number 3) Ky spends all that time, almost a year of his life, fighting for Briara’s innocence, then doesn’t even show up for her hearing? Again, makes zero sense.
Redeeming thing 1) Briara is definitely written as a strong FMC. She is out to prove her innocence, no matter what, and she does it in a pretty bad ass way. She relies on herself alone (and a little on Ky), has fake identities from a previous life, and doggedly pursues the information she needs.
Redeeming thing 2) you’re left wondering who she was before the amnesia. The author doesn’t give anything away on that front, and it leaves the reader wanting to know who she was and what happened to her.
Redeeming thing 3) the murder mystery is intriguing. I’m not into occult stuff, but the author wrote it in a way for it to not be off putting.
Overall, the book was okay. Not the best I’ve ever read, but not the worst either. There were enough positives that I’ll probably give the second one a chance before deciding whether to continue with the series or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2026
ARC READ FROM NETGALLEY
It was okay. I actually expected this to be more of a paranormal fantasy, but it felt more like a magic conspiracy story. I thought there would be a hidden magical world to investigate since the book literally has a special detective agency for it, but the existence of a magical world is only implied. I'm not sure how the author will navigate this aspect in the next books, but there's still a long way to go.
Normally, I wouldn't read genres like murder mystery or mystery/thriller because I don't usually enjoy them. I found myself surprised while reading this book because I kept looking for the fantastical elements but couldn't really find them. As a result, I felt somewhat in the middle about this ARC. The investigation frustrated me at times, but that was understandable since it's the main focus of the story. On the other hand, I liked how competent the main characters were, which toned down some of my frustration. I also enjoyed their chemistry, so I think there could be a bright future for them together.
I'm still confused about Briara's amnesia, though, because it wasn't really explained in the book. I was also hoping to learn more about her identity since she remained very mysterious throughout the story.
Overall, this book didn't quite hit the mark for me because the genre and plot simply weren't my preference. However, I think it would be a great fit for readers who enjoy mystery/thrillers or murder mysteries.
It was okay. I actually expected this to be more of a paranormal fantasy, but it felt more like a magic conspiracy story. I thought there would be a hidden magical world to investigate since the book literally has a special detective agency for it, but the existence of a magical world is only implied. I'm not sure how the author will navigate this aspect in the next books, but there's still a long way to go.
Normally, I wouldn't read genres like murder mystery or mystery/thriller because I don't usually enjoy them. I found myself surprised while reading this book because I kept looking for the fantastical elements but couldn't really find them. As a result, I felt somewhat in the middle about this ARC. The investigation frustrated me at times, but that was understandable since it's the main focus of the story. On the other hand, I liked how competent the main characters were, which toned down some of my frustration. I also enjoyed their chemistry, so I think there could be a bright future for them together.
I'm still confused about Briara's amnesia, though, because it wasn't really explained in the book. I was also hoping to learn more about her identity since she remained very mysterious throughout the story.
Overall, this book didn't quite hit the mark for me because the genre and plot simply weren't my preference. However, I think it would be a great fit for readers who enjoy mystery/thrillers or murder mysteries.
May 29, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
This story has significant writing and storytelling issues that would benefit from professional editing, both mechanical and developmental. It does not appear ready for publishing.
This story has significant writing and storytelling issues that would benefit from professional editing, both mechanical and developmental. It does not appear ready for publishing.
June 18, 2026
Briara Moon has an interesting past. Three years ago, she awoke in a desolate environment with no memory of her past prior to that day (including her name). Fortunately, through news releases she was able to connect with a friend who knew her previously. It’s New Year’s Eve and her friend has bailed on their extravagant night out planned of dancing and drinking - but Briara decides to go anyway.
Briara has a night that is extremely out of character for her. She meets a man, has sex with him on the dance floor, re-finds him in a dark alley after the night has ended, and goes home to his apartment with him. The next morning as she’s preparing to leave, she sees extravagant bank statements and is reminded of his name - Ethan.
Briara is picked up by the police as her DNA has been found at a crime scene (in the alley) from the previous night. The scene has a twist of occult to it, as the two bodies have odd script on them and are organized in a very specific fashion.
An Inerpol agent tasked with “Occult”-like cases, Kyrian Asherton, feels deep in his soul that Briara is not the murderer. She is soon released from jail and simply vanishes.
The book continues as Ky’s investigation intensifies and his path keeps crossing with Briara’s. Who is the murderer and why are the killings continuing?
Briara has a night that is extremely out of character for her. She meets a man, has sex with him on the dance floor, re-finds him in a dark alley after the night has ended, and goes home to his apartment with him. The next morning as she’s preparing to leave, she sees extravagant bank statements and is reminded of his name - Ethan.
Briara is picked up by the police as her DNA has been found at a crime scene (in the alley) from the previous night. The scene has a twist of occult to it, as the two bodies have odd script on them and are organized in a very specific fashion.
An Inerpol agent tasked with “Occult”-like cases, Kyrian Asherton, feels deep in his soul that Briara is not the murderer. She is soon released from jail and simply vanishes.
The book continues as Ky’s investigation intensifies and his path keeps crossing with Briara’s. Who is the murderer and why are the killings continuing?
June 17, 2026
*Ash, Brine, and Moon* by Faeryn Leigh is a fun read with a well-crafted mystery and a cast of characters that feel layered and authentic. From the opening chapters, the story pulls you into an investigation filled with secrets, unexpected twists, and just the right amount of suspense to keep the pages turning. Also enjoyed the potential underlying romance and a very curious to see where it goes in the next book.
This book had good character development and i enjoyed both the MMC and FMC. The protagonists are flawed, intelligent, and believable, and their interactions feel natural as they work through the mysteries of the Quasar Conspiracy.
The pacing is steady, allowing the mystery to unfold
while revealing new pieces of the puzzle at just the right moments. This definitely made the book hard to put down.
Overall, *Ash, Brine, and Moon* is an engaging, thoughtfully written novel that delivers an intriguing mystery, memorable characters, and a satisfying story. It's a book that kept me invested from beginning to end, and I'm looking forward to reading more from Faeryn Leigh.
August 5, 2026
Ash, Moon & Brine is a fantasy mystery centered around the race to solve a series of occult murders.
The murder investigation immediately pulled me in, and I enjoyed following Briara and Ky as they uncovered new clues and slowly pieced together the larger conspiracy. The supernatural elements served as an intriguing backdrop rather than the main focus of the story, but the unanswered questions leave the door open for an even richer fantasy world to unfold in future books.
The pacing kept me invested, and the twists revealed just enough information to keep me turning the pages without giving everything away. While I figured out the killer fairly early on, the lingering questions surrounding the conspiracy made the story difficult to put down. I loved Briara’s resilience and tenacity to prove her innocence, and her missing memories added another layer of intrigue.
Overall, Ash, Moon & Brine is an engaging debut with a satisfying ending that still leaves enough unanswered questions to have me eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Crescent and Shadow series.
The murder investigation immediately pulled me in, and I enjoyed following Briara and Ky as they uncovered new clues and slowly pieced together the larger conspiracy. The supernatural elements served as an intriguing backdrop rather than the main focus of the story, but the unanswered questions leave the door open for an even richer fantasy world to unfold in future books.
The pacing kept me invested, and the twists revealed just enough information to keep me turning the pages without giving everything away. While I figured out the killer fairly early on, the lingering questions surrounding the conspiracy made the story difficult to put down. I loved Briara’s resilience and tenacity to prove her innocence, and her missing memories added another layer of intrigue.
Overall, Ash, Moon & Brine is an engaging debut with a satisfying ending that still leaves enough unanswered questions to have me eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Crescent and Shadow series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ash, Moon and Brine is a mystery, who-done-it sprinkled with murder and tension and a lil bit of longing as a cherry on top.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It follows Briana Moon as she attends her NYE belated birthday party and accidentally gets accused of a double homicide. Kyriqn Asherton - specialist Occult investigator- gets roped into investigating the case and it follows their journey to uncovering the killer and details from the past relating to the murders. I thought this a fun read and I was engaged with the characters, and I also enjoyed the trips around the world! There are a few trigger warnings so please be aware.
There’s magic/witchy vibes, amnesia, human sacrifice and alchemy and the action had me reading this book so fast! I thought it was the perfect introduction to the series and I am very interested to know where the story goes next!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It follows Briana Moon as she attends her NYE belated birthday party and accidentally gets accused of a double homicide. Kyriqn Asherton - specialist Occult investigator- gets roped into investigating the case and it follows their journey to uncovering the killer and details from the past relating to the murders. I thought this a fun read and I was engaged with the characters, and I also enjoyed the trips around the world! There are a few trigger warnings so please be aware.
There’s magic/witchy vibes, amnesia, human sacrifice and alchemy and the action had me reading this book so fast! I thought it was the perfect introduction to the series and I am very interested to know where the story goes next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC Review
Murder, mystery, and memory loss.
This story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, which continually finds ways to bring Briara and Ky together. The story explores intriguing theories and mysteries tied to history, and I appreciated how everything ultimately connected. It gave me slight Discovery of Witches vibes with the heavy theme of Alchemy.
For the most part, I enjoyed the writing style and found the story easy to stay invested in. However, I did notice several grammatical errors throughout the book. I also would have liked to see more distinction in the characters' voices. At times, it felt as though everyone spoke in a very similar way.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and am looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Faeryn Leigh for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Murder, mystery, and memory loss.
This story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, which continually finds ways to bring Briara and Ky together. The story explores intriguing theories and mysteries tied to history, and I appreciated how everything ultimately connected. It gave me slight Discovery of Witches vibes with the heavy theme of Alchemy.
For the most part, I enjoyed the writing style and found the story easy to stay invested in. However, I did notice several grammatical errors throughout the book. I also would have liked to see more distinction in the characters' voices. At times, it felt as though everyone spoke in a very similar way.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and am looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Faeryn Leigh for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for the opportunity to review this ARC.
I really enjoyed this! But it wasn’t what I was expecting. I went into Ash, Moon & Brine thinking it would be heavier on the romance/fantasy, but it was definitely more of an occult-police investigation story. And this is definitely an ultra-slow burn romance, emphasis on ultra-slow.
The story was interesting, and once it got going I was really into it and wanted to see how it played out. The pacing was good, I liked the characters, although I think FMC felt slightly less fleshed out, but that also might be because she has no memories.
I think knowing it’s going to be part of a larger series also helps, because there is a lot that this book sets up that I want answers to! Like what happened to her memory!!!
If you’re a fan of Ninth House I would recommend reading this!
I really enjoyed this! But it wasn’t what I was expecting. I went into Ash, Moon & Brine thinking it would be heavier on the romance/fantasy, but it was definitely more of an occult-police investigation story. And this is definitely an ultra-slow burn romance, emphasis on ultra-slow.
The story was interesting, and once it got going I was really into it and wanted to see how it played out. The pacing was good, I liked the characters, although I think FMC felt slightly less fleshed out, but that also might be because she has no memories.
I think knowing it’s going to be part of a larger series also helps, because there is a lot that this book sets up that I want answers to! Like what happened to her memory!!!
If you’re a fan of Ninth House I would recommend reading this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
Fair warning, it starts out a little spicy. Briara becomes to top suspect in a double murder case and the poor girl is blind sided by it. Goddamn, the twists and turns this entire story takes! It really keeps you on your toes about what will happen next. This book is more mystery than romance but it's not lacking from substance in the slightest.
The resolution to one aspect of the investigation seemed to come out of nowhere. I did not expect it to happen like that.
There are still so many questions floating around in my mind; and I can't wait for book 2 to come out in just a few months.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Fair warning, it starts out a little spicy. Briara becomes to top suspect in a double murder case and the poor girl is blind sided by it. Goddamn, the twists and turns this entire story takes! It really keeps you on your toes about what will happen next. This book is more mystery than romance but it's not lacking from substance in the slightest.
The resolution to one aspect of the investigation seemed to come out of nowhere. I did not expect it to happen like that.
There are still so many questions floating around in my mind; and I can't wait for book 2 to come out in just a few months.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 26, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
I think this is a very fast-paced book that will appeal to people who enjoy a lot of action in their urban fantasy. I think there is a lot of potential here - the characters are interesting and the story is compelling. However, I think there are a lot of different competing threads here. It’s clearly set up as a series, but I think there could be a little more character establishment of the two main characters. Depending on the plot, I may read the next one in the series. I haven’t quite decided yet.
I think this is a very fast-paced book that will appeal to people who enjoy a lot of action in their urban fantasy. I think there is a lot of potential here - the characters are interesting and the story is compelling. However, I think there are a lot of different competing threads here. It’s clearly set up as a series, but I think there could be a little more character establishment of the two main characters. Depending on the plot, I may read the next one in the series. I haven’t quite decided yet.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This novel contains a combination between a murder and a high-tension character dynamic. The tension between the characters is compelling with Kyrian looking for the truth, whereas Briara with holds the truth, creating a conflict between these two characters.
This book is engaging with a strong mystery.
This book is engaging with a strong mystery.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The author masterfully balances a complex murder investigation with intense interpersonal conflict. The tension between the leads is a standout feature: Kyrian’s drive to uncover the truth and Briara’s commitment to keeping it secret creates a layered, high-stakes atmosphere. If you enjoy mysteries where the character dynamics are just as high-stakes as the plot, this is a must-read.
June 20, 2026
This went a lot more towards the mystery/thriller side than the fantasy/paranormal side, which was somewhat unexpected for me as an early reader. I enjoyed the MMC and FMC - they felt realistic and relatable. The mystery was intriguing and I couldn't put it down at times. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Engaging occult mystery reminiscent of The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo! Story was easy to read as the main characters travel the world for their investigation. Ending was slightly abrupt and I wish the author added more clues to the mystery of the fmc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was okay. Some of it kinda was drawn out more than it needed to be and lagged. But overall an enjoyable read!
August 10, 2026
I would have given this a 2.5 if we had the option. I’m new to books with an occult theme. But this one dragged with a lot of unnecessary details and the internal dialogue did not match how they spoke to each other out loud. Normally your internal speak is very similar to the dialogue interacting. I found the storyline hard to get through at times but the ending picked up, left some unanswered questions to keep you moving into the next book if you read it.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews