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Moonblade
318 pages, Paperback
Published June 22, 2026
About the author
Nicolas Stevens
1 book2 followersMy name is Nicolas, and I’m a thirty-six-year-old fantasy and horror writer.
I’ve been writing stories since I learned how to pick up a pen, and my ideas always revolved around the fantastical, mystical and weird. I love being whisked away into alien worlds filled with wonder and adventure.
When I’m not writing, I’m actively immersing myself in new stories via gaming, reading, drawing or creating new stories and memories with my boyfriend. I have an adorable snowy Shiba Inu named Suki.
I’ve been writing stories since I learned how to pick up a pen, and my ideas always revolved around the fantastical, mystical and weird. I love being whisked away into alien worlds filled with wonder and adventure.
When I’m not writing, I’m actively immersing myself in new stories via gaming, reading, drawing or creating new stories and memories with my boyfriend. I have an adorable snowy Shiba Inu named Suki.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 14, 2026
Stars: 2.5 out of 5
Making all your characters sentient animals was an interesting concept. Unfortunately, it was sorely underutilized. The worldbuilding is very interesting, but I just couldn't connect with the main character.
Longer review to come.
Making all your characters sentient animals was an interesting concept. Unfortunately, it was sorely underutilized. The worldbuilding is very interesting, but I just couldn't connect with the main character.
Longer review to come.
October 10, 2026
•Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this eARC•
This was giving “car crash I can’t look away from” vibes. If you’ve seen the show Beastars, that’s pretty much what I was picturing
It is a very unique premise of having a world of sentient animal characters fighting a magic battle against enemies with unknown powers. It felt fresh and different than the majority of fantasy out there, and I think there’s a lot of promise in what the series could become.
My main issue was that I did not like our main character, Leran. However relatable his struggles were, it was not fun to be in his head. He really was his own worst enemy and caused so many problems for himself and others because he was selfish and immature.
The pacing was quick and you get into the action right away. The writing did feel a bit simple at times, doing a lot of telling and not showing, and explaining things that could have been inferred.
Overall, I think this can appeal to adults or a YA audience who want mystery, hidden magical abilities, well described/immersive settings, struggling family dynamics, and a redemptive storyline
This was giving “car crash I can’t look away from” vibes. If you’ve seen the show Beastars, that’s pretty much what I was picturing
It is a very unique premise of having a world of sentient animal characters fighting a magic battle against enemies with unknown powers. It felt fresh and different than the majority of fantasy out there, and I think there’s a lot of promise in what the series could become.
My main issue was that I did not like our main character, Leran. However relatable his struggles were, it was not fun to be in his head. He really was his own worst enemy and caused so many problems for himself and others because he was selfish and immature.
The pacing was quick and you get into the action right away. The writing did feel a bit simple at times, doing a lot of telling and not showing, and explaining things that could have been inferred.
Overall, I think this can appeal to adults or a YA audience who want mystery, hidden magical abilities, well described/immersive settings, struggling family dynamics, and a redemptive storyline
September 14, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the ARC.
This one really stood out for feeling different from most fantasy I've been reading lately. A world of anthropomorphic animals with real political stakes and hidden magic is such a fun, underused premise for adult fantasy, and I loved that the story leans into it fully instead of treating it as a gimmick. Leran's arc as a struggling prince trying to earn respect while battling imposter syndrome and self doubt felt genuinely relatable, almost like watching someone go through their first real job with all the pressure that comes with it. The world building around Xundramas and the ancient forces stirring beneath it is imaginative, though I found the political and social details a bit surface level at times, and some of the magic and lore gets explained a little too directly rather than shown. The pacing was hit or miss for me, some sections dragged, but the emotional core, especially Leran's relationships with his family, kept me invested. A solid, different feeling debut that's got me curious about book two.
This one really stood out for feeling different from most fantasy I've been reading lately. A world of anthropomorphic animals with real political stakes and hidden magic is such a fun, underused premise for adult fantasy, and I loved that the story leans into it fully instead of treating it as a gimmick. Leran's arc as a struggling prince trying to earn respect while battling imposter syndrome and self doubt felt genuinely relatable, almost like watching someone go through their first real job with all the pressure that comes with it. The world building around Xundramas and the ancient forces stirring beneath it is imaginative, though I found the political and social details a bit surface level at times, and some of the magic and lore gets explained a little too directly rather than shown. The pacing was hit or miss for me, some sections dragged, but the emotional core, especially Leran's relationships with his family, kept me invested. A solid, different feeling debut that's got me curious about book two.
July 28, 2026
Stevens’s debut novel’s premise jumped out at me: a magical fantasy world inhabited by sentient, anthropomorphic animals and interesting and unique worldbuilding. This is a winning formula that’s usually regulated to middle-grade readers with excellent examples in the long running Warrior Cats and Wings of Fire series. It was a delight to read a novel for adults with animal-bodied protagonists, and it adds an additional fun factor to Stevens’s characters. While this is the first book of a series, it is Prince Leran’s self-contained hero’s journey, which opens ample opportunities for different potential protagonists and storylines in the future.
Tonally, this book reminded me of Year of the Mer as that is also a story of a fledgling adult with deep seated insecurities and hidden abilities and who is in a position of substantial influence. Leran, however, is regularly and often viciously called out on his behaviour, which have direct consequences that he reacts to for better and for worse. He has his good qualities, which those close to him see and have faith in and sadly to many of their detriment as the conflict between the overarching forces of good and evil snowballs beyond any one character’s control. It was kind of comical to me that Leran is experiencing his first “real” job and going through the characteristic trials and tribulations: imposter syndrome, fight or flight from responsibilities, and first time manager blues.
I did find the writing style didactic at points with characters verbally or Leran’s inner thoughts over-explaining magical and religious concepts, and the political and social worldbuilding is sometimes very superficial. Stevens makes up for this by focusing on Leran’s relationship with his family and the people around him, and the psychological deep dive regarding how to recognise and address extreme self-criticism and fears of failure is nuanced and relatable. Overall, I think this is a solid start to a series that offers something different and fun in a genre that often takes itself too seriously.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC.
Tonally, this book reminded me of Year of the Mer as that is also a story of a fledgling adult with deep seated insecurities and hidden abilities and who is in a position of substantial influence. Leran, however, is regularly and often viciously called out on his behaviour, which have direct consequences that he reacts to for better and for worse. He has his good qualities, which those close to him see and have faith in and sadly to many of their detriment as the conflict between the overarching forces of good and evil snowballs beyond any one character’s control. It was kind of comical to me that Leran is experiencing his first “real” job and going through the characteristic trials and tribulations: imposter syndrome, fight or flight from responsibilities, and first time manager blues.
I did find the writing style didactic at points with characters verbally or Leran’s inner thoughts over-explaining magical and religious concepts, and the political and social worldbuilding is sometimes very superficial. Stevens makes up for this by focusing on Leran’s relationship with his family and the people around him, and the psychological deep dive regarding how to recognise and address extreme self-criticism and fears of failure is nuanced and relatable. Overall, I think this is a solid start to a series that offers something different and fun in a genre that often takes itself too seriously.
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC.
August 8, 2026
This was such an interesting read and definitely felt different from a lot of the fantasy I’ve been picking up lately. Which is something I really appreciate from any author.
The world-building was probably my favourite part — it felt really unique and there were some genuinely cool ideas here.
The writing was great overall, although I did find the pacing a little hit or miss. There were definitely some parts that dragged and took me a while to get through.
That said, this is a really strong debut and I’m definitely interested to see what happens in book two.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc x
The world-building was probably my favourite part — it felt really unique and there were some genuinely cool ideas here.
The writing was great overall, although I did find the pacing a little hit or miss. There were definitely some parts that dragged and took me a while to get through.
That said, this is a really strong debut and I’m definitely interested to see what happens in book two.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc x
September 16, 2026
⭐⭐⭐✨ 3.5 STARS
Moonblade was such an interesting and refreshing read, especially because it’s quite different from the fantasy books I usually pick up. The worldbuilding was easily what stood out the most to me. A world with anthropomorphic animals, hidden magic, and its own political dynamics felt genuinely fresh.
The writing was nicely done and the pacing worked well for me overall, although the story didn’t immediately grab my attention. I actually had to put it down and come back to it twice before finally finishing it. Some parts also felt a little more explained than shown, but it didn’t take away too much from the overall experience.
The political elements were somewhat predictable, but they added another layer to the story, and I think there’s a lot of potential here.
For a debut, I’d say Moonblade is quite promising. It gave me something different, and I’m definitely curious to see what Nicolas Stevens does next. ✨
Moonblade was such an interesting and refreshing read, especially because it’s quite different from the fantasy books I usually pick up. The worldbuilding was easily what stood out the most to me. A world with anthropomorphic animals, hidden magic, and its own political dynamics felt genuinely fresh.
The writing was nicely done and the pacing worked well for me overall, although the story didn’t immediately grab my attention. I actually had to put it down and come back to it twice before finally finishing it. Some parts also felt a little more explained than shown, but it didn’t take away too much from the overall experience.
The political elements were somewhat predictable, but they added another layer to the story, and I think there’s a lot of potential here.
For a debut, I’d say Moonblade is quite promising. It gave me something different, and I’m definitely curious to see what Nicolas Stevens does next. ✨
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews