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Phoebe Harkness #2
Crescent Moon
What do you do when your world is turned upside down?
When you discover your father had a direct hand in the genocide of much of the world’s human population?
Phoebe Harkness’ life has changed forever. Thirty years after a cataclysmic world war that eviscerated one third of the human population, a new sub-species of vampire-like drones has set its teeth to the survivors of humanity.
They’re not the only ones: ‘Genetic Others’ such as vampires, werewolves and more roam the streets of New Oxford, trying – and sometimes failing – to live peacefully amongst humankind.
But that is all about to change.
A spate of serial killings have occurred, rocking the already fragile ecosystem of New Oxford.
Brutal murders and mutilation are now commonplace.
Phoebe must get to work. She is named as liaison between the Genetic Others and the Cabal, the ruling order of the walled city.
She must negotiate with the Tribals, a subset of werewolves cast aside by the cultural hegemony of the Cabal.
But before she can make any progress with the Tribal leader, Kane, she learns of more murders – and three missing students. And Kane’s daughter is among the missing…
One of the victims leaves a message in blood: ‘Crescent Moon’.
Now Phoebe must act urgently with the help of Kane and her former paramour, vampire Allesandro to track down the culprit of these horrific killings.
But who is conducting all of these strange happenings behind the scenes?
And what does it have to do with the Crescent Moon…?
Crescent Moon is the gripping second instalment of the urban gothic Phoebe Harkness series. It follows the young doctor as she stalks through the corrupt dystopia of New Oxford.
When you discover your father had a direct hand in the genocide of much of the world’s human population?
Phoebe Harkness’ life has changed forever. Thirty years after a cataclysmic world war that eviscerated one third of the human population, a new sub-species of vampire-like drones has set its teeth to the survivors of humanity.
They’re not the only ones: ‘Genetic Others’ such as vampires, werewolves and more roam the streets of New Oxford, trying – and sometimes failing – to live peacefully amongst humankind.
But that is all about to change.
A spate of serial killings have occurred, rocking the already fragile ecosystem of New Oxford.
Brutal murders and mutilation are now commonplace.
Phoebe must get to work. She is named as liaison between the Genetic Others and the Cabal, the ruling order of the walled city.
She must negotiate with the Tribals, a subset of werewolves cast aside by the cultural hegemony of the Cabal.
But before she can make any progress with the Tribal leader, Kane, she learns of more murders – and three missing students. And Kane’s daughter is among the missing…
One of the victims leaves a message in blood: ‘Crescent Moon’.
Now Phoebe must act urgently with the help of Kane and her former paramour, vampire Allesandro to track down the culprit of these horrific killings.
But who is conducting all of these strange happenings behind the scenes?
And what does it have to do with the Crescent Moon…?
Crescent Moon is the gripping second instalment of the urban gothic Phoebe Harkness series. It follows the young doctor as she stalks through the corrupt dystopia of New Oxford.
386 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2016
16 people are currently reading
669 people want to read
About the author
James Fahy
14 books331 followersJames Fahy is the childrens author of the Changeling fantasy series, a Middle-Grade age series following the adventures of Robin, a seemingly unremarkable boy who is swept up into a war between our world, and the Netherworlde, a shadowy realm which lies beyond our own.
In addition to fantasy for younger people, James also writes adult Urban Gothic
James is represented by the Ampersand Literary Agency, Oxford, Publisher Venture Press, London
In addition to fantasy for younger people, James also writes adult Urban Gothic
James is represented by the Ampersand Literary Agency, Oxford, Publisher Venture Press, London
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
June 11, 2023
Horrorrrrrr (severed body parts and scooped up victims, yay!) + HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA + a female UF MC who is neither a Mary Sue nor a Special Snowflake (or is it a Special Sue and a Mary Snowflake? I forget), has a sense of humor and doesn't take herself seriously ((shock! Dismay! Discombobulation!) and is a history buff - an eye-roll worthy comic book-type villain (a shame, that) + dancing pigs in blankets (don't ask) + the most hilarious evil bitch in the history of most hilarious evil bitches (Poof! Gone! Harem!) + toasters with murderous intent (I told you not to ask) - stupid vamp crap antics + watching Dallas as anthropological research + Bran, reincarnated (if you don't know who Bran is you should be kicked out of Goodreads. FYI and stuff) + roller skating vamps in little candy-striped uniforms (I wish) + banana-holding robocrabs - 🫤 final chapters 🫤 + “Everything leads back to bacon” (obviously) =
· Book 1: Hell's Teeth ★★★★
· Book3: Paper Children ★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
Wow, this one is even better than the first book in the series. A UF series with vamps and a female MC. Well, I'm afraid this can only mean one thing: doom and oblivion await.
➽ Review to come and stuff.
· Book 1: Hell's Teeth ★★★★
· Book3: Paper Children ★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
Wow, this one is even better than the first book in the series. A UF series with vamps and a female MC. Well, I'm afraid this can only mean one thing: doom and oblivion await.
➽ Review to come and stuff.
February 7, 2017
Let's get one thing straight, first: I'm a Helsing. James has created a world in which I want to be a part of (in real life) but I'll settle for being able to read about it in Hell's Teeth and the sequel, Crescent Moon. It's such a treat that this book is longer than the first book! Crescent Moon felt like we had more time to develop a love for our new characters (Chase!) and get to enjoy our returning characters, the enigmatic Phoebe--who has even more quotable lines this time around!
I love Veronica almost as much, which is a new development from the last book.
I enjoyed the pacing of the plot, the adventure, the *steamy scenes*, the intensity, the gore, all of it! A wonderful return to Oxford and a worthy sequel.
If you're a Vampire Lit junkie like I am, you're going to want Phoebe Harkness Book 1 and 2!
I love Veronica almost as much, which is a new development from the last book.
I enjoyed the pacing of the plot, the adventure, the *steamy scenes*, the intensity, the gore, all of it! A wonderful return to Oxford and a worthy sequel.
If you're a Vampire Lit junkie like I am, you're going to want Phoebe Harkness Book 1 and 2!
October 24, 2022
Veronica Cloves is my spirit animal
November 22, 2016
Crescent Moon by James Fahy was amazing. It was an exciting suspenseful adventure with touches of horror and little bits of sexiness here and there. It introduced some great new characters and answered some questions left by the previous the book but also expanded the mysteries of this wonderful world he's built. I cannot wait for the next installment!
January 9, 2021
Crescent Moon is book 2 of the Phoebe Harkness series by James Fahy.
After a spate of gruesome murders, Phoebe Harkness finds herself acting as liasion between Cabal and the Genetic Others. But someone or something is out to remove her from this position - permanently.
This book will take all of your preconceived ideas about genres and blow them clean out of the water! We have dystopia, the walled city of New Oxford, protecting the inhabitants and GOs (Genetic Others) inside from the threat of the rabid and monstrous Pale, a species created by man. Until man lost control. We have horror, not the wall to wall kind that can desensitise, but the drip feed of tiny detail guaranteed to unnerve. And we have humour and attitude in abundance from Phoebe herself, and the fabulous Ms Veronica Cloves.
I loved all the new characters involved too, all of them crafted to be part of the whole. Nothing is superfluous in this. That's a great skill.
There's also a rather nice side of flirtation and beautiful sprinklings of history which I devoured hungrily. In short, this book dabbles in so many things, and James Fahy manages them all without missing a beat. A fast paced and expertly woven read, go buy it now!
After a spate of gruesome murders, Phoebe Harkness finds herself acting as liasion between Cabal and the Genetic Others. But someone or something is out to remove her from this position - permanently.
This book will take all of your preconceived ideas about genres and blow them clean out of the water! We have dystopia, the walled city of New Oxford, protecting the inhabitants and GOs (Genetic Others) inside from the threat of the rabid and monstrous Pale, a species created by man. Until man lost control. We have horror, not the wall to wall kind that can desensitise, but the drip feed of tiny detail guaranteed to unnerve. And we have humour and attitude in abundance from Phoebe herself, and the fabulous Ms Veronica Cloves.
I loved all the new characters involved too, all of them crafted to be part of the whole. Nothing is superfluous in this. That's a great skill.
There's also a rather nice side of flirtation and beautiful sprinklings of history which I devoured hungrily. In short, this book dabbles in so many things, and James Fahy manages them all without missing a beat. A fast paced and expertly woven read, go buy it now!
December 31, 2017
I’m always a little wary of sequels, the eternal question if “does it stand up to the first?” is always in the back in my mind, maybe that’s why I actually sometimes prefer standalone books. However, in the case of Crescent Moon that thought soon evaporated.
James Fahy again delivers a slick, action-packed follow up to Hell's Teeth. With a fabulous cast of characters, old and new, good, bad, ugly and gorgeous, to get your teeth into, it speeds us back into the dark underworld of Dr Phoebe Harkness. If we thought our poor Phoebs had taken about as much as any one person should withstand, think again. As a new wave of gruesome murders unfolds, Phoebe gains the unenviable job of liaison between species, a dangerous task!
Crescent Moon is full of deliciously dark gruesome horror cleverly played with wonderfully humorous lines, not to mention my favourite scene with two of our fav characters locked in a dark cramped metal box - steamy! Enough said *blushes*
Crescent Moon is a damn fine read and a must for all Helsings.
James Fahy again delivers a slick, action-packed follow up to Hell's Teeth. With a fabulous cast of characters, old and new, good, bad, ugly and gorgeous, to get your teeth into, it speeds us back into the dark underworld of Dr Phoebe Harkness. If we thought our poor Phoebs had taken about as much as any one person should withstand, think again. As a new wave of gruesome murders unfolds, Phoebe gains the unenviable job of liaison between species, a dangerous task!
Crescent Moon is full of deliciously dark gruesome horror cleverly played with wonderfully humorous lines, not to mention my favourite scene with two of our fav characters locked in a dark cramped metal box - steamy! Enough said *blushes*
Crescent Moon is a damn fine read and a must for all Helsings.
June 12, 2017
without fail James Fahy has left me wanting more of Phoebe Harkness and her dark world. Another fabulous instalment in the series that opened doors as well as posed new and very intriguing questions A fast paced page turner that had my heart racing for all different reasons A cemented favourite author of mine Highly recommend all of his books
November 29, 2016
"Everything leads back to bacon, Dr. Harkness." BACON!
Phoebe is back and has now been "promoted" to be the liaison between the Genetic Others and the Cabal. A recent slew of violent murders have occurred and all clues seem to be pointing toward the Tribals (were-animals / shapeshifters). As the newly appointed liaison, she is tasked with speaking to the Tribal leader, Kane, to try and get to the bottom of the investigation. There are things afoot within, and outside of, the walls of New Oxford. The sexy Allesandro is back along with Griff, Lucy and the force that is Veronica Cloves. We get introduced to my new favorite character, Chase Pargate. Who is he exactly and what purpose does he serve? Is he friend or foe? Are Kane and the Tribals really responsible for the murders around New Oxford or is someone setting them up for their own personal gain? When the groups you're working with don't trust each other, how do you know which way to go?
James Fahy once again brings attitude, snarkiness, humor and adventure into what I call the second season (because quite frankly, I imagine it as a show when reading). I found myself giggling quite a bit and grinning when seeing references to the Scooby gang, Robert Frost, the Winchesters, Kids in the Hall and more! Whaaaaaaaaaat?
Highly recommend Hell's Teeth and this book for your next reads! Can't wait for season three to come out :D
Phoebe is back and has now been "promoted" to be the liaison between the Genetic Others and the Cabal. A recent slew of violent murders have occurred and all clues seem to be pointing toward the Tribals (were-animals / shapeshifters). As the newly appointed liaison, she is tasked with speaking to the Tribal leader, Kane, to try and get to the bottom of the investigation. There are things afoot within, and outside of, the walls of New Oxford. The sexy Allesandro is back along with Griff, Lucy and the force that is Veronica Cloves. We get introduced to my new favorite character, Chase Pargate. Who is he exactly and what purpose does he serve? Is he friend or foe? Are Kane and the Tribals really responsible for the murders around New Oxford or is someone setting them up for their own personal gain? When the groups you're working with don't trust each other, how do you know which way to go?
James Fahy once again brings attitude, snarkiness, humor and adventure into what I call the second season (because quite frankly, I imagine it as a show when reading). I found myself giggling quite a bit and grinning when seeing references to the Scooby gang, Robert Frost, the Winchesters, Kids in the Hall and more! Whaaaaaaaaaat?
Highly recommend Hell's Teeth and this book for your next reads! Can't wait for season three to come out :D
November 23, 2017
I couldn't wait to dive back into Book Two after reading the debut Hell's Teeth, and I was not disappointed. all the same humour and non-stop action are here, with a plot that is wider and deeper than the first book.
Can't wait for book three!
Can't wait for book three!
December 27, 2017
equally as fun and filled with twists and turns and double bluffs and double crosses as the previous book, the story rolls along at a great pace, and you never have time to get bored or bogged down. thoroughly enjoyable fare
October 30, 2017
Ooooooooh! Book two in the Phoebe Harkness series was so good!! Fantastic world-building, and I love all the characters. The plot continued to surprise me, gradually opening up to a bigger picture. I can't wait for book three. Tell me it's coming soon?!
October 14, 2016
"We're gonna need a bigger boat."
Phoebe why'd you have to go be so approachable to the Genetic Others? Okay, you're really not. Why did you have to, you know, not die and kick some butt? Oh right, survival is a good thing. Well, doll, it's all your fault then.
Poor Dr. Harkness now Cabal thinks you need absolutely no time off, a datascreen in your house, and to come running whenever they call. Weekends? Yeah, those are gone.
I suppose it's a perk being considered an expert on the GO's and being sent as an...wait! You didn't want to be an ambassador! You just want to hang in your lab doing weird stuff and things. Sending out your assistants for coffee. Working hard and then going home to wrap up cosey and watch old TV shows.
Too bad, enjoy the promotion...
In the world of New Oxford power is failing, monsters are waiting, and something is killing. Viciously. Humans want what Others have. This newest installation of Phoebe's story had me reading straight to morning. It was fast paced and fun. Suspenseful and gory. The flirting, near misses, and a new...thing just waiting to pounce. The author included fascinating historical facts about the area that were so clear it was as if you were there. I promised not to spoil anything -it's SO hard not to- but I can say that if you've read the first book: GET CRESCENT MOON NOW! You won't regret it! If you haven't read book one, well, what are you waiting for? Chilling post apocalyptic dystopian societies aren't just popping up everyday with Vampires, Werewolves, and other things that go BUMP in the night!
Phoebe why'd you have to go be so approachable to the Genetic Others? Okay, you're really not. Why did you have to, you know, not die and kick some butt? Oh right, survival is a good thing. Well, doll, it's all your fault then.
Poor Dr. Harkness now Cabal thinks you need absolutely no time off, a datascreen in your house, and to come running whenever they call. Weekends? Yeah, those are gone.
I suppose it's a perk being considered an expert on the GO's and being sent as an...wait! You didn't want to be an ambassador! You just want to hang in your lab doing weird stuff and things. Sending out your assistants for coffee. Working hard and then going home to wrap up cosey and watch old TV shows.
Too bad, enjoy the promotion...
In the world of New Oxford power is failing, monsters are waiting, and something is killing. Viciously. Humans want what Others have. This newest installation of Phoebe's story had me reading straight to morning. It was fast paced and fun. Suspenseful and gory. The flirting, near misses, and a new...thing just waiting to pounce. The author included fascinating historical facts about the area that were so clear it was as if you were there. I promised not to spoil anything -it's SO hard not to- but I can say that if you've read the first book: GET CRESCENT MOON NOW! You won't regret it! If you haven't read book one, well, what are you waiting for? Chilling post apocalyptic dystopian societies aren't just popping up everyday with Vampires, Werewolves, and other things that go BUMP in the night!
December 14, 2016
The best thing about reading fiction wrote by a British author is proper sarcasm. You just don't get that in American authored novels. They try, but it's not quite... right.
Anyway James Fahy definitely delivers sarcasm, excitement and intrigue to boot. I really like Phoebe. She's a more relatable character than most written by women. I know this is something the author was concerned about but he need not worry. Phoebe is awesome. The rest of the cast of characters are varied and interesting too.
The story has you wondering what the hell is going on behind it all. It's like Hells Teeth was the skin, Crescent Moon peeled another layer off and there's yet more to discover underneath. James your book is an onion. When's book 3 out again??
Anyway James Fahy definitely delivers sarcasm, excitement and intrigue to boot. I really like Phoebe. She's a more relatable character than most written by women. I know this is something the author was concerned about but he need not worry. Phoebe is awesome. The rest of the cast of characters are varied and interesting too.
The story has you wondering what the hell is going on behind it all. It's like Hells Teeth was the skin, Crescent Moon peeled another layer off and there's yet more to discover underneath. James your book is an onion. When's book 3 out again??
February 7, 2017
Oh my what a read, Crescent Moon book two of the phoebe Harkness Series... I love these, everything about them and Fahy has just got it when it comes to story telling.
From the first page I was right back in New Oxford following on from the first instalment. if you loved Hells Teeth then this follow up will not disappoint, like hells teeth I was hooked I could not put it down, it is a faced paced page turner full of twist and turns . With new characters, and I'm totes team Kane he is my new book crush.
From the first page I was right back in New Oxford following on from the first instalment. if you loved Hells Teeth then this follow up will not disappoint, like hells teeth I was hooked I could not put it down, it is a faced paced page turner full of twist and turns . With new characters, and I'm totes team Kane he is my new book crush.
January 30, 2018
A fantastic sequel that drops us right back into the thick of things in dark and dangerous New Oxford. New mysteries to solve, new murders to avenge, and a simmering background plot with extremely high stakes for the Genetic Others of Fahy’s dark universe to face. The writing is excellent and it’s always a joy to ride alongside Dr Harkness on her adventures.
August 16, 2022
Action packed urban gothic. Fasten your seatbelts!
April 4, 2017
I won't lie, Phoebe's sarcasm was the number one thing I looked forward to :D
I'd never considered, before trying this ambassador lark, what a delicate and dangerous balance we struck between the different GO factions and the humans of the city. And behind it all, patient and hungry outside our walls, just waiting for our brave new civilisation to fail and collapse, were the countless multitudes of the Pale.
In the first book of this series Fahy introduced the vampires of New Oxford, but the focus in Crescent Moon is on the Tribals - a race similar to werewolves but not restricted to wolves. Tribals come in all shapes - wolves, bears, panthers - and they are large. Large as in easily-towering-over-anyone-normal-human-height large. So Phoebe's in for a treat! I was especially curious about the Tribals after Book 1, so this was interesting for both of us. Although I, at least, was in no danger of being torn to shreds unlike Phoebe.
Throughout the book, tensions between the human movement and the Genetic Others supporters grow as both seem to head towards civil war. It's a bit like watching water heat in a sauce pan until it eventually boils over (just, you know, you could totally stop the water by taking it off the heat). Neither side is willing to step down or compromise, and so tensions grow. While the situation doesn't truly escalate, I worry about where it's headed in the next book.
After months of non-contact, erotic and surreal dreams and waking hallucinations of the man notwithstanding, I was apparently off to meet with Allesandro again, Clan Master of St Giles, at the behest of the tribal Leader. This was bound to end well.
I fervently wished I was back in the lab with the diseased corpse.
One of my favourite parts were the scenes were Phoebe got to leaf through the bloody Voynich manuscript . I admit tomild strong jealousy.
Now, as much as I enjoyed the plot, I have to admit that the heavy use of adverbs was grinding on me. I don't mind an adverb here and there as long as it adds something, but unfortunately this book was littered with them and it affected my enjoyment more than a little. If they bug you as much as they bugged me, do what I did and ignore them. It took a bit of practice but it helped.
If you're looking for a gothic urban fantasy then I recommend this series! The first book is Hell's Teeth, so you'll want to start there ;)
I'd never considered, before trying this ambassador lark, what a delicate and dangerous balance we struck between the different GO factions and the humans of the city. And behind it all, patient and hungry outside our walls, just waiting for our brave new civilisation to fail and collapse, were the countless multitudes of the Pale.
In the first book of this series Fahy introduced the vampires of New Oxford, but the focus in Crescent Moon is on the Tribals - a race similar to werewolves but not restricted to wolves. Tribals come in all shapes - wolves, bears, panthers - and they are large. Large as in easily-towering-over-anyone-normal-human-height large. So Phoebe's in for a treat! I was especially curious about the Tribals after Book 1, so this was interesting for both of us. Although I, at least, was in no danger of being torn to shreds unlike Phoebe.
Throughout the book, tensions between the human movement and the Genetic Others supporters grow as both seem to head towards civil war. It's a bit like watching water heat in a sauce pan until it eventually boils over (just, you know, you could totally stop the water by taking it off the heat). Neither side is willing to step down or compromise, and so tensions grow. While the situation doesn't truly escalate, I worry about where it's headed in the next book.
After months of non-contact, erotic and surreal dreams and waking hallucinations of the man notwithstanding, I was apparently off to meet with Allesandro again, Clan Master of St Giles, at the behest of the tribal Leader. This was bound to end well.
I fervently wished I was back in the lab with the diseased corpse.
One of my favourite parts were the scenes were Phoebe got to leaf through the bloody Voynich manuscript . I admit to
Now, as much as I enjoyed the plot, I have to admit that the heavy use of adverbs was grinding on me. I don't mind an adverb here and there as long as it adds something, but unfortunately this book was littered with them and it affected my enjoyment more than a little. If they bug you as much as they bugged me, do what I did and ignore them. It took a bit of practice but it helped.
If you're looking for a gothic urban fantasy then I recommend this series! The first book is Hell's Teeth, so you'll want to start there ;)
November 27, 2016
Crescent Moon, Book 2 of The Phoebe Harkness Series, is an absolute delight.
In Hell's Teeth, the first book of the series, we were introduced to Dr Phoebe Harkness, the venerable Veronica Cloves and sexy vampire Allesandro. In Crescent Moon, 30 years after a cataclysmic world war, Phoebe lives in relative calm within the walled city of New Oxford. Suddenly, a spate of vicious killings rocks Phoebe's world and she is thrust into the limelight as an ambassador between species.
Author James Fahy, has a clear and strong author voice in Crescent Moon. Readers are given titbits of fascinating history woven into Phoebe's dystopian world. The pace is fast, the imagery strong and the story keeps readers guessing and entertained from start to finish. Highly recommended for lovers of paranormal and dystopian fiction.
In Hell's Teeth, the first book of the series, we were introduced to Dr Phoebe Harkness, the venerable Veronica Cloves and sexy vampire Allesandro. In Crescent Moon, 30 years after a cataclysmic world war, Phoebe lives in relative calm within the walled city of New Oxford. Suddenly, a spate of vicious killings rocks Phoebe's world and she is thrust into the limelight as an ambassador between species.
Author James Fahy, has a clear and strong author voice in Crescent Moon. Readers are given titbits of fascinating history woven into Phoebe's dystopian world. The pace is fast, the imagery strong and the story keeps readers guessing and entertained from start to finish. Highly recommended for lovers of paranormal and dystopian fiction.
November 23, 2017
a little longer than book one, but that just gives the characters more room to interact and develop, and Fahy builds on all that has come before in book one to give us a richer, more fully realised world to play in here. toying with some clichés and throwing them back at us in unexpected ways leads to some great themes and worldbuilding, with were-creatures joining the ranks of the undead and the vampires that beleaguered doctor Harkness has to fend off on a daily basis.
Great second outing in Oxford
Great second outing in Oxford
December 2, 2016
easily as good as book one, if not better. great new characters, each with their own voice, add to the building world of Dr Harkness. really enjoyed it
June 22, 2017
Fun read!
December 11, 2017
Five Stars: bigger, Bolder and funnier than the first
June 16, 2017
And that says something since I'm very picky about books.
Well, bitchy, mercenary book blogger and all that. It comes with the title.
The second book in the series does not disappoint. It has a smart, tough and gutsy female lead, a handsome dare-devil vampire/romantic interest and an awesome genocide plot with a dash of shapeshifters thrown in the mix for some spice and of course, an overall action packed bundle of delight.
If i were to have a complaint, then it would be a very personal one and that is the absolute tease Phoebe was with poor Allesandro.
OK, maybe just a little.
Yes, yes, i know. Urban fantasy is not as sex infused as PNR and focuses more on awesome world building and character development, but my inner kinky bookaholic really, really wanted... ahem.
You get it.
All i can say without spoiling you massively and receiving a few well deserved curses is that a very obnoxious character dies. Not in atrocious, satisfying pain unfortunately, but hey, we can't all get what we want. And now, if you don't mind, i really want to listen to Serge Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.
While bemoaning that i no doubt have to wait a year for the next book. Fortunately, i had the brilliance to add the next one in the series on Goodreads so i can stalk it properly on my to-read shelf and update it as soon as the awesome author fives us more info related to its publishing date.
As an ending note related to the epilogue... poor Phoebe
Well, she's smart and inventive enough to make the most of purgatory.
February 8, 2017
You guys know how much I love vampires. And you know I love postapocalyptic worlds. And if we add dystopia, what do we get? Heaven for our eyeballs and minds? Yup!
This is a second book in Phoebe Harkness series and I must say that the author has outdone himself. The book number one was very good but oh my goodness the places we go in the second one!
The wallflower-ish doctor from a paratoxilogy lab, who wants nothing more than to be left alone with her research, gets tangled up in some GO politics and instead of doing her regular job, she kinda has to work as a bridge between the species of New Oxford. Ever heard of not shooting the messenger? Well, you are probably among the rare few ;-)=
Phoebe is a very realistic character and is very easy to like immediately but what I found surprising, however, was the positive feelings I developed towards Cloves - she's one tough cookie with a sailor mouth who does everything for her personal gain only yet I grew fond of her. She works for the story really well.
Furthermore, the humour of the book is amazing and the allusions to our pop culture as well as to classic pieces of art are woven into the text seamlessly so that you start cracking up in the least likely situations and you even start googling stuff because you're sure you've already heard of the Voynich Manuscript before but was it in the supernatural context? *headscratch* (see, it will effortlessly make you smarter).
But don't get the idea that this is a funny book. Or a romantic one (as in, ohhh, the vampire is having a shower right behind this wall, those suds sliding down.... *headshake* hello reality!) Far from it - it's actually as scary as hell. As I mentioned in the review of the first book, the bonewalkers are terrifying and I'm not going to change my opinion. Give me an angry shape-shifter or a creepy faceless girl any day but those robed masked weirdos supposedly doing everyone's bidding are the most suspicious crowd.
The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger so you can choose if you continue reading the books or not but I sure want to because something far bigger is coming and I can't wait to see it!
This is a second book in Phoebe Harkness series and I must say that the author has outdone himself. The book number one was very good but oh my goodness the places we go in the second one!
The wallflower-ish doctor from a paratoxilogy lab, who wants nothing more than to be left alone with her research, gets tangled up in some GO politics and instead of doing her regular job, she kinda has to work as a bridge between the species of New Oxford. Ever heard of not shooting the messenger? Well, you are probably among the rare few ;-)=
Phoebe is a very realistic character and is very easy to like immediately but what I found surprising, however, was the positive feelings I developed towards Cloves - she's one tough cookie with a sailor mouth who does everything for her personal gain only yet I grew fond of her. She works for the story really well.
Furthermore, the humour of the book is amazing and the allusions to our pop culture as well as to classic pieces of art are woven into the text seamlessly so that you start cracking up in the least likely situations and you even start googling stuff because you're sure you've already heard of the Voynich Manuscript before but was it in the supernatural context? *headscratch* (see, it will effortlessly make you smarter).
But don't get the idea that this is a funny book. Or a romantic one (as in, ohhh, the vampire is having a shower right behind this wall, those suds sliding down.... *headshake* hello reality!) Far from it - it's actually as scary as hell. As I mentioned in the review of the first book, the bonewalkers are terrifying and I'm not going to change my opinion. Give me an angry shape-shifter or a creepy faceless girl any day but those robed masked weirdos supposedly doing everyone's bidding are the most suspicious crowd.
The book doesn't end on a cliffhanger so you can choose if you continue reading the books or not but I sure want to because something far bigger is coming and I can't wait to see it!
January 24, 2018
Phoebe Harkness is back…and back in trouble. Seems like New Oxford’s top scientist just can’t catch a break. As well as dealing with a triple homicide with very few leads, dead girls turning up floating in river missing their faces and fingerprints, and juggling two jobs at once, there’s also the small matter that since her infection with the pale virus in book one, Phoebe is having some serious anger-management issues.
Trying to develop a cure that doesn’t rely on the blood of the one vampire in the city who seems intent on making her his gothic bride is problematic enough, without being tasked by the caustic Veronica Cloves to make everyone in the city stop fighting one another and get along.
I really enjoyed this, even more than book one. It was funny and action packed, with more of lovely New Oxford and plenty of genuinely puzzling puzzles. I can’t wait for more Harkness in book three.
Trying to develop a cure that doesn’t rely on the blood of the one vampire in the city who seems intent on making her his gothic bride is problematic enough, without being tasked by the caustic Veronica Cloves to make everyone in the city stop fighting one another and get along.
I really enjoyed this, even more than book one. It was funny and action packed, with more of lovely New Oxford and plenty of genuinely puzzling puzzles. I can’t wait for more Harkness in book three.
January 30, 2018
“I can’t believe you got an invite from Oscar Scott. I hear his balls are legendary!”
This kind of tongue-in-cheek humour is delivered dryly and with perfect timing throughout Crescent Moon, and the humour is wonderfully cheeky, British and sarcastic in that way only the English seem to be able to carry off with a flourish. For a horror/vampire novel, this had me laughing out loud more times than I can count, and I think that’s the Charm of Phoebe Harkness. The books are full of death, murder, danger, violence, and at times quite chilling, but just as with life, they’re balanced by laughter, silliness and more than a few socially awkward moments that have you curling your toes and cringing, while loving every minute of it.
This kind of tongue-in-cheek humour is delivered dryly and with perfect timing throughout Crescent Moon, and the humour is wonderfully cheeky, British and sarcastic in that way only the English seem to be able to carry off with a flourish. For a horror/vampire novel, this had me laughing out loud more times than I can count, and I think that’s the Charm of Phoebe Harkness. The books are full of death, murder, danger, violence, and at times quite chilling, but just as with life, they’re balanced by laughter, silliness and more than a few socially awkward moments that have you curling your toes and cringing, while loving every minute of it.
January 8, 2017
Being a big fan of James's Changeling series and having read the first book in the Phoebe Harkness series I was not really looking forward to reading Cresent Moon. For the life of me I don't know why I felt like that because once I started reading I couldn't stop. Painting and being with the family got in the way otherwise I would have finished this book the same day that I started reading it.
I love the writing style as well as the characters, James has the ability to make you experience the story. I look forward to reading the next installment in the Phoebe Harkness series.
Thank you to Jack Butler at Venture Press for thinking of me when he sent out the book.
I love the writing style as well as the characters, James has the ability to make you experience the story. I look forward to reading the next installment in the Phoebe Harkness series.
Thank you to Jack Butler at Venture Press for thinking of me when he sent out the book.
October 30, 2018
Full five stars for this confident, explosive sequel to the first book.
white-knuckle action from start to finish, Phoebe Harkness barely has time to sit down in this second journey into New Oxford, contending not only with Vampires, but werewolves too, and some very creepy biological experiments.
Didnt want this to finish, left me hungry for more.
white-knuckle action from start to finish, Phoebe Harkness barely has time to sit down in this second journey into New Oxford, contending not only with Vampires, but werewolves too, and some very creepy biological experiments.
Didnt want this to finish, left me hungry for more.
December 2, 2016
great sequel. funny as all hell and creepy as hell too.
i dont like the slimy girls without faces. had trouble sleeping after that! but phoebe is a serious baddass, and hilarious too. i love her so much !
i dont like the slimy girls without faces. had trouble sleeping after that! but phoebe is a serious baddass, and hilarious too. i love her so much !
June 21, 2017
Just when I thought Mr James Fahy couldn't get any better... this is one of my favourite books this year and I kind of need book three right now. Except... it isn't out yet! How am I going to survive?
As with his middle grade fantasy, James proves his mastery in the craft of a page-turning plot, engrossing world building and memorable characters.
This story picks up a few months after the last one, dealing with the aftermath of it and plunging Phoebe Harkness, our protagonist, into a whole new mess of murders. In her dual role of narrator, Phoebe's voice is engaging, at once quirky, snarky and oh-so very entertaining.
The secondary cast expanded here, bringing in new favourites to join the old: Cloves and Allesandro remain highlights, but the introduction of the Tribals and a certain Chase Pargate allow for some rather surprising scene stealing moments.
The world is solidly constructed and even after this book, there seems like a whole lot left to be discovered about the Genetic Others and New Oxford. This story teases only some of what remains to be discovered about Phoebe's past and (hopefully) her future.
Lastly, the plot was ever gripping, one of those stories you hate to put down and feel connected to even when you're not reading. The corruption that Phoebe glimpsed in the first book grows more evident and more dangerous.
Wait, one final thing. I loved all the little references from classic literature to pop culture. Those are always such fun to stumble upon!
If you haven't realized it yet, I loved this book! And I can't recommend this series enough. If you're a fan of dark vampire lit with just enough flirtation, just enough horror, and lots of wit, you'll want to make it a priority.
As with his middle grade fantasy, James proves his mastery in the craft of a page-turning plot, engrossing world building and memorable characters.
This story picks up a few months after the last one, dealing with the aftermath of it and plunging Phoebe Harkness, our protagonist, into a whole new mess of murders. In her dual role of narrator, Phoebe's voice is engaging, at once quirky, snarky and oh-so very entertaining.
The secondary cast expanded here, bringing in new favourites to join the old: Cloves and Allesandro remain highlights, but the introduction of the Tribals and a certain Chase Pargate allow for some rather surprising scene stealing moments.
The world is solidly constructed and even after this book, there seems like a whole lot left to be discovered about the Genetic Others and New Oxford. This story teases only some of what remains to be discovered about Phoebe's past and (hopefully) her future.
Lastly, the plot was ever gripping, one of those stories you hate to put down and feel connected to even when you're not reading. The corruption that Phoebe glimpsed in the first book grows more evident and more dangerous.
Wait, one final thing. I loved all the little references from classic literature to pop culture. Those are always such fun to stumble upon!
If you haven't realized it yet, I loved this book! And I can't recommend this series enough. If you're a fan of dark vampire lit with just enough flirtation, just enough horror, and lots of wit, you'll want to make it a priority.
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