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Secret Histories #11
Moonbreaker
Ride shotgun with a "James Bond-of-the-supernatural"* as the Secret Histories Novels take you careening through an alternate London where around every corner a new kind of danger awaits....
My name is Eddie Drood, aka Shaman Bond, the very secret agent. And I am a dead man walking.
I've been poisoned by Dr. DOA. There is no cure, no treatment, no chance of a last-minute miracle. So all that is left to me and my love, Molly Metcalf, is to track down my killer and stop him before he can murder anyone else.
So whether that means fighting a secret army on another world; or searching for a forgotten weapon in the Museum of Unattached Oddities; or facing off against Grendel Rex, the Unforgiven God, in the hidden heart of the Moon, for the terrible secret that is Moonbreaker...I will do whatever it takes, while I still can. Because the game isn't over till I say it's over--and I still have one last card to play.
*SFRevu
My name is Eddie Drood, aka Shaman Bond, the very secret agent. And I am a dead man walking.
I've been poisoned by Dr. DOA. There is no cure, no treatment, no chance of a last-minute miracle. So all that is left to me and my love, Molly Metcalf, is to track down my killer and stop him before he can murder anyone else.
So whether that means fighting a secret army on another world; or searching for a forgotten weapon in the Museum of Unattached Oddities; or facing off against Grendel Rex, the Unforgiven God, in the hidden heart of the Moon, for the terrible secret that is Moonbreaker...I will do whatever it takes, while I still can. Because the game isn't over till I say it's over--and I still have one last card to play.
*SFRevu
336 pages, Paperback
Published February 4, 2020
71 people are currently reading
644 people want to read
About the author
Simon R. Green
313 books3,211 followersSimon Richard Green is a British science fiction and fantasy-author. He holds a degree in Modern English and American Literature from the University of Leicester. His first publication was in 1979.
His Deathstalker series is partly a parody of the usual space-opera of the 1950s, told with sovereign disregard of the rules of probability, while being at the same time extremely bloodthirsty.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
His Deathstalker series is partly a parody of the usual space-opera of the 1950s, told with sovereign disregard of the rules of probability, while being at the same time extremely bloodthirsty.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 6, 2017
Moonbreaker may be confusion in the beginning for someone that has never read any books in this series before. Like me. However, then I started to get the hang of it, the concept of the story, learning more about Eddie Drood and the rest of the Drood family. And, I totally, utterly loved the book. It's non-stop action, and a completely over the top story, with a crazy powerful family with a lot of secrets, there is demons and angels, a sleeping God and then there are Eddie and Molly in the middle of everything trying to stop Dr. DOA, (Eddie's doppelganger from another dimension who has poisoned him), from destroying the world.
Eddie and Molly did remind me of Ishmael Jones and Penny from Simon R. Green Ishmael Jones series. But, that's not a bad thing since I love that couple. Eddie and Molly have the same fun banter and close bond that Ishmael and Penny have and that made me really love this series.
Moonbreaker is a fun book to read, and I enjoyed every second of the story. I mean I just ordered the first book in the series, that's how much I liked this book!
It's not easy to start with book 11 eleven in a series, but this one was not hard to get into. And, if you like me, like books with a lot of action, banter, artifacts, magic, and creatures, etc, then you will love this book!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
Eddie and Molly did remind me of Ishmael Jones and Penny from Simon R. Green Ishmael Jones series. But, that's not a bad thing since I love that couple. Eddie and Molly have the same fun banter and close bond that Ishmael and Penny have and that made me really love this series.
Moonbreaker is a fun book to read, and I enjoyed every second of the story. I mean I just ordered the first book in the series, that's how much I liked this book!
It's not easy to start with book 11 eleven in a series, but this one was not hard to get into. And, if you like me, like books with a lot of action, banter, artifacts, magic, and creatures, etc, then you will love this book!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
June 8, 2017
I'm reading my first book by author Simon R. Green. Knowing I was jumping into a series this far in, book #11!, without knowing anything about it was risky. But still, I liked the cover of Moonbreaker. It reminded me of the covers of ScyFy stories back in the 80s. The blurb wasn't bad either so I took a leap of faith and jumped into reading. So glad that I did!
This was one of those books that caught me by surprise. Honestly, at first, I felt a bit disoriented. Quite a bit was going on and I'm assuming I would have had to read the previous books to know what was going on. There wasn't a whole lot of recapping done outside of Eddie was dying and had been poisoned by Edmund aka Dr. DOA. I wasn't sure what the importance of who the Droods were or what Molly's place in the whole story was aside from a sidekick to Eddie. The little bit finally kicked in place that she was his girlfriend, and reflecting back on the blurb, DOH! It said it right there.
Yes, lot's going on, confused, thinking of giving it up and suddenly it clicked! I started to enjoy the story. The energy of the chase really started drawing me in. As Eddie and Molly pursue Edmund across worlds/universes/the moon, I found myself not carrying about all that I missed from the previous books. This here and now timeline was so exciting with all its crazy twists, the bantering and interesting characters, I was just soaking it in and enjoying myself. The pacing is fast as Eddie tackles each situation each thrown at him. The combination of humor, surprises, and craziness lured me in, kept me from putting down the book. It all ends on a high note with just enough of a dunt-dunt-da cliffy that isn't frustrating yet has me wanting to know what happens next. I might have to go back and start the series from the beginning while I wait for the next book to come out. Either way, Moonbreaker was high action fun and well worth the time reading.
I received this book from The JeepDiva prior to release with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine
Stars - 4
This was one of those books that caught me by surprise. Honestly, at first, I felt a bit disoriented. Quite a bit was going on and I'm assuming I would have had to read the previous books to know what was going on. There wasn't a whole lot of recapping done outside of Eddie was dying and had been poisoned by Edmund aka Dr. DOA. I wasn't sure what the importance of who the Droods were or what Molly's place in the whole story was aside from a sidekick to Eddie. The little bit finally kicked in place that she was his girlfriend, and reflecting back on the blurb, DOH! It said it right there.
Yes, lot's going on, confused, thinking of giving it up and suddenly it clicked! I started to enjoy the story. The energy of the chase really started drawing me in. As Eddie and Molly pursue Edmund across worlds/universes/the moon, I found myself not carrying about all that I missed from the previous books. This here and now timeline was so exciting with all its crazy twists, the bantering and interesting characters, I was just soaking it in and enjoying myself. The pacing is fast as Eddie tackles each situation each thrown at him. The combination of humor, surprises, and craziness lured me in, kept me from putting down the book. It all ends on a high note with just enough of a dunt-dunt-da cliffy that isn't frustrating yet has me wanting to know what happens next. I might have to go back and start the series from the beginning while I wait for the next book to come out. Either way, Moonbreaker was high action fun and well worth the time reading.
I received this book from The JeepDiva prior to release with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine
Stars - 4
June 21, 2025
The story takes over where the previous book left off. Eddie Drood has been poisoned by Dr DOA and there's no cure.
All of the typical spectacular nonsense l have come to expect in a Secret Histories novel. Eddie and his girlfriend Molly will do whatever needs to be done, go wherever they need to to get their revenge before his inevitable death.
All of the typical spectacular nonsense l have come to expect in a Secret Histories novel. Eddie and his girlfriend Molly will do whatever needs to be done, go wherever they need to to get their revenge before his inevitable death.
August 21, 2017
Eleventh in the Secret Histories urban fantasy-science fiction spy series revolving around Eddie Drood, a rebellious boy with a conscience in the Drood Family.
My Take
Green does have fun poking away at secret agent stories, especially James Bond…Bond wishes he had any of these toys! The villains are more über than the Bond ones. The monsters are worse. The destructive capabilities are more outlandish. And Eddie and Molly are more self-assured — if that’s possible — than Bond.
It’s that combination of magic and sci-fi that keeps me entranced and laughing even as I hold my breath, wondering how events will fall out.
I dunno, but it seems kind of hypocritical to repress your own history but keep hold of every little thing/person in case you’ll need ‘em again. What if you don’t know what you’ve got because you’ve suppressed it? Of course, they do have Green — he did have fun with creating lots more aliens, alien worlds, and secret-secret histories of past battles — to “remember" it all for them.
It’s the good guys against the bad guys with a multitude of layers of virtues and evils in each side.
The Demon and Angelic Droods battle in Moonbreaker does raise an interesting question. One that I suspect Green is holding for Night Fall, which is intended to be the last in the series.
The Story
Eddie’s dying, and he’s determined to take his killer down with him.
With Molly Metcalfe at his side, they’ll battle a secret army, search for a forgotten weapon, and face off against two terrible Drood secrets, as they bounce from one dimension and planet to another.
The Characters
Edwin “Eddie" Drood, a.k.a., Shaman Bond, is a secret agent and part of the Drood family. Charles and Emily are Eddie’s parents. Molly Metcalf, the witch of the wild woods and a former supernatural terrorist, is his girlfriend and former enemy, untrusted by the family. Isabella and Louisa are Molly’s even more terrifying sisters.
The Droods are…
…a centuries-old family whose business it is to stand between Humanity and all unnatural forces that threaten it. Capability Maggie is the current Matriarch. Cedric is the Serjeant-at-Arms. Peter is the very absolute last of the very-secret agents. Uncle Jack had been the Armourer, now it’s in the hands of Maxwell and Victoria. William is the Librarian; Ammonia Vom Acht is the world's most incredible telepath and William’s wife. Yorith is the Assistant Librarian who takes care of William. Dr. Indira Drood is one of their medics. Mark is a messenger for the Matriarch.
The Drood family Armoury has a huge collection of toys, including Alpha Red Alpha, a dimensional engine; the Lion’s Jaws, which are a last-resort storage facility; and, the Immaculate Key that opens a prison. The Diary Room contains personal diaries written since the beginning of the Droods.
The Heart had been the original source of the Drood armor, now Ethel, a different alien entity, provides something better. The Pook loves the Library. The dragon head Eddie brought back to Drood Hall in From Hell with Love , 4, has regenerated. The Rainbow is alive and comes if it wants. The Museum of Unattached Oddities is more of a storehouse for excess Drood finds and includes the Dead Drood, a mummified one who refuses to admit to being dead.
And we meet the Angelic Droods and Demon Droods. Mmm-hmm. They’re part of the deal the first Droods, actual Druids, made with Heaven and Hell and the alien entity. The Grim Gulf is a prison that was forced outside our reality. Uriel Drood is the leader of the Angelic Droods who believes the only good Drood is a dead Drood. The Drood oracle has been caged for years.
Grendel Rex is the Unforgiven God, an 11th century Drood who became a megalomaniac, a.k.a., Gerard Drood, who had helped to design and install Moonbreaker as part of a team with his wife, Elspeth.
The underground city that…
…belonged to the Selenites, aliens who lived inside the moon. After a few hundred years, they got nervous about Moonbreaker.
Black Heir is the organization in charge of clearing up after alien incursions and salvaging their tech with the Droods getting first pick (more on Black Heir in the Ishmael Jones series). I’m thinking the Droods need to research Wulfshead Club Management that supplies all their food and Wulfshead Management Museum Trust which oversees special-interest museums. The London Knights had been in a vicious war with the Droods back in the 16th century; the Sequestered Square commemorates the, ahem, quarrel. Shadows Fall is the place where legends and fairy tales go when the world stops believing in them.
Some of the bad guys include the Springheel Jacks, the Accelerated Men, the Dancing Dead, and the Grey, a crafty alien type you can’t trust. Morgana La Fae was the greatest witch of all time and had been killed by Merlin. Merlin Satanspawn is a descendant of Merlin’s (Nightside series).
On an alternate earth
The other Droods are…
…from an alternate earth, a different Drood family utterly unlike this earth's Droods. Dr. DOA, a.k.a., Edmund Drood, has always had control over the Merlin Glass, and he has poisoned Eddie. Penelope was their Matriarch. Uncle James was their Armourer while Uncle Jack had been the super-excellent secret agent. Grandmother Martha had been the previous Matriarch; Arthur had been her husband. The Blue Fairy had allied with his Drood half.
Major Benson is the man in charge of the attacking army.
The transmorphing battle droid from the 23rd century is a prisoner of the alternate Droods, forced to follow their orders. The Swarm is an earth enemy the droid had been fighting.
The Cover and Title
The cover is bright in the night with the yellow-orange explosions from the attacking soldiers with their tanks, grenade launchers, and more. It’s Eddie Drood closest to us, partially armored-up and facing the oncoming army with Molly Metcalf slightly ahead of him and also facing them, her pistol pointed to the ground. It’s a bit odd that the soldiers are between Eddie and Molly and the darkened Drood Hall in the back, but I suppose it’s artistic license. The light from the explosions and from Eddie’s armored hand show off the green grass and Eddie’s navy jacket. The green is continued in a splotch at the top of the cover with the series information inside it in white. The title is in white and orange against a transparent green band, angled upward from left to right. The author’s name is at the bottom in white.
The title is the last resort chance that the Drood Family planted inside the moon, Moonbreaker, and a play-off on the James Bond title, Moonraker.
My Take
Green does have fun poking away at secret agent stories, especially James Bond…Bond wishes he had any of these toys! The villains are more über than the Bond ones. The monsters are worse. The destructive capabilities are more outlandish. And Eddie and Molly are more self-assured — if that’s possible — than Bond.
Turns out that “anything for the family" is only really true for the super-secret agents, lol.Using that first-person protagonist point-of-view for those peeks in at Eddie’s thoughts are both a crack-up and a downer as his life’s energies drain away.
It’s that combination of magic and sci-fi that keeps me entranced and laughing even as I hold my breath, wondering how events will fall out.
I dunno, but it seems kind of hypocritical to repress your own history but keep hold of every little thing/person in case you’ll need ‘em again. What if you don’t know what you’ve got because you’ve suppressed it? Of course, they do have Green — he did have fun with creating lots more aliens, alien worlds, and secret-secret histories of past battles — to “remember" it all for them.
It’s the good guys against the bad guys with a multitude of layers of virtues and evils in each side.
The Demon and Angelic Droods battle in Moonbreaker does raise an interesting question. One that I suspect Green is holding for Night Fall, which is intended to be the last in the series.
The Story
Eddie’s dying, and he’s determined to take his killer down with him.
With Molly Metcalfe at his side, they’ll battle a secret army, search for a forgotten weapon, and face off against two terrible Drood secrets, as they bounce from one dimension and planet to another.
The Characters
Edwin “Eddie" Drood, a.k.a., Shaman Bond, is a secret agent and part of the Drood family. Charles and Emily are Eddie’s parents. Molly Metcalf, the witch of the wild woods and a former supernatural terrorist, is his girlfriend and former enemy, untrusted by the family. Isabella and Louisa are Molly’s even more terrifying sisters.
The Droods are…
…a centuries-old family whose business it is to stand between Humanity and all unnatural forces that threaten it. Capability Maggie is the current Matriarch. Cedric is the Serjeant-at-Arms. Peter is the very absolute last of the very-secret agents. Uncle Jack had been the Armourer, now it’s in the hands of Maxwell and Victoria. William is the Librarian; Ammonia Vom Acht is the world's most incredible telepath and William’s wife. Yorith is the Assistant Librarian who takes care of William. Dr. Indira Drood is one of their medics. Mark is a messenger for the Matriarch.
The Drood family Armoury has a huge collection of toys, including Alpha Red Alpha, a dimensional engine; the Lion’s Jaws, which are a last-resort storage facility; and, the Immaculate Key that opens a prison. The Diary Room contains personal diaries written since the beginning of the Droods.
The Heart had been the original source of the Drood armor, now Ethel, a different alien entity, provides something better. The Pook loves the Library. The dragon head Eddie brought back to Drood Hall in From Hell with Love , 4, has regenerated. The Rainbow is alive and comes if it wants. The Museum of Unattached Oddities is more of a storehouse for excess Drood finds and includes the Dead Drood, a mummified one who refuses to admit to being dead.
And we meet the Angelic Droods and Demon Droods. Mmm-hmm. They’re part of the deal the first Droods, actual Druids, made with Heaven and Hell and the alien entity. The Grim Gulf is a prison that was forced outside our reality. Uriel Drood is the leader of the Angelic Droods who believes the only good Drood is a dead Drood. The Drood oracle has been caged for years.
Grendel Rex is the Unforgiven God, an 11th century Drood who became a megalomaniac, a.k.a., Gerard Drood, who had helped to design and install Moonbreaker as part of a team with his wife, Elspeth.
The underground city that…
…belonged to the Selenites, aliens who lived inside the moon. After a few hundred years, they got nervous about Moonbreaker.
Black Heir is the organization in charge of clearing up after alien incursions and salvaging their tech with the Droods getting first pick (more on Black Heir in the Ishmael Jones series). I’m thinking the Droods need to research Wulfshead Club Management that supplies all their food and Wulfshead Management Museum Trust which oversees special-interest museums. The London Knights had been in a vicious war with the Droods back in the 16th century; the Sequestered Square commemorates the, ahem, quarrel. Shadows Fall is the place where legends and fairy tales go when the world stops believing in them.
Some of the bad guys include the Springheel Jacks, the Accelerated Men, the Dancing Dead, and the Grey, a crafty alien type you can’t trust. Morgana La Fae was the greatest witch of all time and had been killed by Merlin. Merlin Satanspawn is a descendant of Merlin’s (Nightside series).
On an alternate earth
The other Droods are…
…from an alternate earth, a different Drood family utterly unlike this earth's Droods. Dr. DOA, a.k.a., Edmund Drood, has always had control over the Merlin Glass, and he has poisoned Eddie. Penelope was their Matriarch. Uncle James was their Armourer while Uncle Jack had been the super-excellent secret agent. Grandmother Martha had been the previous Matriarch; Arthur had been her husband. The Blue Fairy had allied with his Drood half.
Major Benson is the man in charge of the attacking army.
The transmorphing battle droid from the 23rd century is a prisoner of the alternate Droods, forced to follow their orders. The Swarm is an earth enemy the droid had been fighting.
The Cover and Title
The cover is bright in the night with the yellow-orange explosions from the attacking soldiers with their tanks, grenade launchers, and more. It’s Eddie Drood closest to us, partially armored-up and facing the oncoming army with Molly Metcalf slightly ahead of him and also facing them, her pistol pointed to the ground. It’s a bit odd that the soldiers are between Eddie and Molly and the darkened Drood Hall in the back, but I suppose it’s artistic license. The light from the explosions and from Eddie’s armored hand show off the green grass and Eddie’s navy jacket. The green is continued in a splotch at the top of the cover with the series information inside it in white. The title is in white and orange against a transparent green band, angled upward from left to right. The author’s name is at the bottom in white.
The title is the last resort chance that the Drood Family planted inside the moon, Moonbreaker, and a play-off on the James Bond title, Moonraker.
October 19, 2017
Another fun entry in the series, although not the best. The characters are, as usual, a hoot, and there are some interesting setpieces and world-building bits. The story, on the other hand, is a bit slapdash and set a bit apart from most of the action. As a whole, this is entertaining fun for fans of the series, but the uninitiated need not apply.
November 4, 2020
Dragon is my new favourite character.
Once again we see how strong the Droods are and how much stronger Eddie is than everyone.
Also Eddie is dying, totally losing his life, can't go on for how weak he is feeling. (Proceeds to not suffer as he beats down everything in his way)
Thought this would be the time we see Eddie winning from a different angle but that wouldn't be the Drood way.
Once again we see how strong the Droods are and how much stronger Eddie is than everyone.
Also Eddie is dying, totally losing his life, can't go on for how weak he is feeling. (Proceeds to not suffer as he beats down everything in his way)
Thought this would be the time we see Eddie winning from a different angle but that wouldn't be the Drood way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2017
The cliffhanger of the previous book is resolved, though everything falls into place perhaps a little too neatly. But I'm still looking forward to the next book--crossover time!
April 22, 2018
Eddie Drood, former head of the Drood family and very secret agent, is a dead man. He was attacked and poisoned by Dr. DOA and cannot last much longer. To prevent anyone else getting hurt Eddie and Molly Metcalf, former magical terrorist turned ally and love interest, are going to do whatever it takes to stop Dr. DOA. If that means dealing with the Unforgiven God, fighting the Drood family’s past mistakes, or even going to the moon to prevent a world ending weapon from being used, well that’s just business as usual.
Moonbreaker is another book that is far into its series, leading to me having a number of issues with both the characters and story. That makes me worry a little about being fair to the story, especially given that I can’t help comparing it to books from Simon R. Green’s Nightside series which is set in the same world.
The characters, particularly Eddie himself, were a fair part of my issue here. Imagine that James Bond knew that he was kind of awful and was perfectly happy to explain that to his companion and, by extension, the reader. Also MI6 has not only hunted Bond in the past, but also has a habit of hording all the dangerous things and people they’ve managed to capture. Just in case. That’s Eddie and the rest of the Drood family. For a first time series reader this makes Molly the reader’s view into the Drood family’s whole deal, and her horror with some of the things the family does just sort of gets brushed aside. It’s what and how they do things and it’s always been that way. That annoys me. I’m good with protagonists that aren’t golden heroes who do no wrong and help everyone, those guys get boring, this isn’t that. The Droods feel so married to the grey area that I just couldn’t get invested in them or Eddie.
My other problems is that the plot feels almost fractured. There are several conflicts that crop up that have little to do with stopping Dr. DOA or could have done better as the main conflict of another story. There are enough of those that by the time we get to the climax of the story there just isn’t any tension. Eddie’s presented as pretty boringly unstoppable for most of the book’s run due to his Drood armor, only being weakened by the poison in any meaningful way in the last quarter or so of the book, which doesn’t help with all the little conflicts feeling unimportant. Then the book was over and I could only be disappointed.
Molly was pretty awesome though. I kind of want to read a series about her. What didn’t work with Eddie being so, so over powered because of his armor, sort of worked in Molly’s favor. She’s also supposed to be super powerful but, because all the Droods have this ridiculous armor, she stands out more for holding her own despite being so much weaker by comparison. She’s also the one who wants to look for an antidote or something instead of just letting Eddie have his death. Trying to find a cure would have actually worked better for me as the B conflict that a lot of the other stuff and it could have hit a lot of the same beats the book did anyway.
Where does that leave Moonbreaker? Despite my best efforts, I know that my enjoyment of the older Nightside books leaves me more disappointed in this one than I would otherwise be. That’s not really fair to this book as a standalone and, again, it being later in the series doesn’t help things. I feel like there were a lot of good ideas here that wound up being used as padding instead of explored as well as they could have been. But it is rushed and disjointed, so it gets a two out of five. I would read Simon R. Green again, just not this series.
I received a review copy of this book through netGalley for honest review.
Moonbreaker is another book that is far into its series, leading to me having a number of issues with both the characters and story. That makes me worry a little about being fair to the story, especially given that I can’t help comparing it to books from Simon R. Green’s Nightside series which is set in the same world.
The characters, particularly Eddie himself, were a fair part of my issue here. Imagine that James Bond knew that he was kind of awful and was perfectly happy to explain that to his companion and, by extension, the reader. Also MI6 has not only hunted Bond in the past, but also has a habit of hording all the dangerous things and people they’ve managed to capture. Just in case. That’s Eddie and the rest of the Drood family. For a first time series reader this makes Molly the reader’s view into the Drood family’s whole deal, and her horror with some of the things the family does just sort of gets brushed aside. It’s what and how they do things and it’s always been that way. That annoys me. I’m good with protagonists that aren’t golden heroes who do no wrong and help everyone, those guys get boring, this isn’t that. The Droods feel so married to the grey area that I just couldn’t get invested in them or Eddie.
My other problems is that the plot feels almost fractured. There are several conflicts that crop up that have little to do with stopping Dr. DOA or could have done better as the main conflict of another story. There are enough of those that by the time we get to the climax of the story there just isn’t any tension. Eddie’s presented as pretty boringly unstoppable for most of the book’s run due to his Drood armor, only being weakened by the poison in any meaningful way in the last quarter or so of the book, which doesn’t help with all the little conflicts feeling unimportant. Then the book was over and I could only be disappointed.
Molly was pretty awesome though. I kind of want to read a series about her. What didn’t work with Eddie being so, so over powered because of his armor, sort of worked in Molly’s favor. She’s also supposed to be super powerful but, because all the Droods have this ridiculous armor, she stands out more for holding her own despite being so much weaker by comparison. She’s also the one who wants to look for an antidote or something instead of just letting Eddie have his death. Trying to find a cure would have actually worked better for me as the B conflict that a lot of the other stuff and it could have hit a lot of the same beats the book did anyway.
Where does that leave Moonbreaker? Despite my best efforts, I know that my enjoyment of the older Nightside books leaves me more disappointed in this one than I would otherwise be. That’s not really fair to this book as a standalone and, again, it being later in the series doesn’t help things. I feel like there were a lot of good ideas here that wound up being used as padding instead of explored as well as they could have been. But it is rushed and disjointed, so it gets a two out of five. I would read Simon R. Green again, just not this series.
I received a review copy of this book through netGalley for honest review.
June 11, 2017
Read the full review at my blog https://wp.me/p89tYT-cz
Trust a Drood to find a measure of revenge in justice and duty.
“Moonbreaker” is the eleventh book in “Secret Histories” series, by Simon R. Green. It continues the story of Eddie Drood who was poisoned in his last outing. Eddie and Molly are searching for Edmund Drood when this story begins.
Read the full review at my blog https://wp.me/p89tYT-cz
Trust a Drood to find a measure of revenge in justice and duty.
“Moonbreaker” is the eleventh book in “Secret Histories” series, by Simon R. Green. It continues the story of Eddie Drood who was poisoned in his last outing. Eddie and Molly are searching for Edmund Drood when this story begins.
Read the full review at my blog https://wp.me/p89tYT-cz
September 20, 2017
Simon R. Green seems to have run out of words. Eddie Drood has morphed into the deathstalker with all of his death head grins - which he now does a lot, and John Taylor of the Nightside, with his sight, and now "it was the easiest thing to..." I was a fan of this series until late. I really liked the Nightside series, and the next Secret history book, which takes place in the Nightside will probably be my last Secret Histories book.
October 26, 2017
High-Spirited, Imaginative Fun
This is the eleventh volume in the Secret Histories series and the second book in a two-book story arc. Because our hero offers a running narrative and monologues constantly it's nearly effortless to get up to speed on the action even if you haven't read or have forgotten the previous book. Anyway, apart from needing a general sense of who's who and who's chasing who, (and things like "what is Red Alpha Red for?"), you don't really need a precise understanding of what went before.
To me the beauty of this series is that it almost seems designed and intended to make a mockery of plot. Sure, lots of things happen to set the action in motion and then lots of things happen at the end to tie it all up, but in between it's pretty much anything goes. There's always a cool new tool or weapon or ability or character or revelation that pops up just in time to save our hero, and the fun isn't in such developments' plausibility, (there rarely is any), but rather in the developments' wild unpredictability and exuberant over-the-topness.
What holds these together, for me, is Eddie Drood's, (and Molly's), amiable deadpan approach to these adventures and his absolute unwillingness to be impressed or intimidated by any of the goings on. On top of that, and what makes this one of my favorite books in the series, is that - 1) a huge part of the book consists of what is basically a dungeon crawl through two Drood Halls, (the current one and the abandoned one on an alternate Earth), and 2) two new favorite supporting characters - a hilariously deadpan Grey-ish alien and an equally engaging, exquisitely snarky Dragon. Everything else, of course, is bonus time.
TEASER TREAT: At the end we get a brief tease about the twelfth, (and supposedly final), Secret Histories book. Apparently, Eddie and Molly will be called to some final conflict in The Nightside. I am totally psyched for a Drood/Nightside crossover and very earnestly hope that will happen. In the meantime, we'll always have Moonbreaker.
(Please note that I found this book while wandering in our local library. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This is the eleventh volume in the Secret Histories series and the second book in a two-book story arc. Because our hero offers a running narrative and monologues constantly it's nearly effortless to get up to speed on the action even if you haven't read or have forgotten the previous book. Anyway, apart from needing a general sense of who's who and who's chasing who, (and things like "what is Red Alpha Red for?"), you don't really need a precise understanding of what went before.
To me the beauty of this series is that it almost seems designed and intended to make a mockery of plot. Sure, lots of things happen to set the action in motion and then lots of things happen at the end to tie it all up, but in between it's pretty much anything goes. There's always a cool new tool or weapon or ability or character or revelation that pops up just in time to save our hero, and the fun isn't in such developments' plausibility, (there rarely is any), but rather in the developments' wild unpredictability and exuberant over-the-topness.
What holds these together, for me, is Eddie Drood's, (and Molly's), amiable deadpan approach to these adventures and his absolute unwillingness to be impressed or intimidated by any of the goings on. On top of that, and what makes this one of my favorite books in the series, is that - 1) a huge part of the book consists of what is basically a dungeon crawl through two Drood Halls, (the current one and the abandoned one on an alternate Earth), and 2) two new favorite supporting characters - a hilariously deadpan Grey-ish alien and an equally engaging, exquisitely snarky Dragon. Everything else, of course, is bonus time.
TEASER TREAT: At the end we get a brief tease about the twelfth, (and supposedly final), Secret Histories book. Apparently, Eddie and Molly will be called to some final conflict in The Nightside. I am totally psyched for a Drood/Nightside crossover and very earnestly hope that will happen. In the meantime, we'll always have Moonbreaker.
(Please note that I found this book while wandering in our local library. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
November 21, 2019
Moonbreaker is the eleventh and penultimate book in the Secret Histories series written by Simon R. Green. It stars Edwin Drood, code named Shaman Bond and he is a part of the Droods, an ancient family that purportedly watches over the world and protects it from various threats, including supernatural and magical ones.
Eddie Drood is running out of time. He's been poisoned by himself from an alternative dimension, Edmond Drood as Dr. DOA, and worse yet, his torc is barely keeping him alive. With Molly Metcalf by his side, Eddie hopes to escape the alternate world he's been stranded on and find his evil counterpart before he kills any others. Eddie is determined to kill Dr. DOA, if it is the last thing he does before the poison completely consumes his body.
Moonbreaker is written rather well. The action was completely gripping and the emotions were poignant, particularly with the idea of Eddie's own mortality and the choices he makes, knowing they may well be his last. The connection and support between Molly Metcalf and Eddie is as heartwarming as it is witty. The humor and steadfastness of their relationship is an anchor during the chaotic nature of their lives.
All in all, Moonbreaker is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
Eddie Drood is running out of time. He's been poisoned by himself from an alternative dimension, Edmond Drood as Dr. DOA, and worse yet, his torc is barely keeping him alive. With Molly Metcalf by his side, Eddie hopes to escape the alternate world he's been stranded on and find his evil counterpart before he kills any others. Eddie is determined to kill Dr. DOA, if it is the last thing he does before the poison completely consumes his body.
Moonbreaker is written rather well. The action was completely gripping and the emotions were poignant, particularly with the idea of Eddie's own mortality and the choices he makes, knowing they may well be his last. The connection and support between Molly Metcalf and Eddie is as heartwarming as it is witty. The humor and steadfastness of their relationship is an anchor during the chaotic nature of their lives.
All in all, Moonbreaker is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
September 30, 2025
The whole concept of a supernatural James Bond is interesting. Eddie Drood is part of an organization who fights the supernatural, or even super-scientific. This is book eleven so there’s a lot of backstory I don’t have but that doesn’t really detract from it. It’s like making a new friend. They have a history, and you’ll hear bits of it at time, but mostly what’s going on from now forward is more important.
That said, we got Eddie vs Edmund (aka Alternate Eddie). Edmund wants to do something or other but we have no idea about what throughout most of the story. It’s fine that the villain doesn’t do the cackling exposition to explain the dastardly plot early on.
My problem is that there was a ton of exposition in places where it really didn’t belong. “We’re on a deadline where Edmund might win or I might die, whichever comes first! But, first, let’s have a ten minute conversation.” That happened multiple times. One time Eddie and Molly (a powerful witch and his girlfriend) do some bickering in front of a being that might just be about to kill them.
Points for the story but I can’t help but think of Eddie and Molly as children who blunder their way to success.
That said, we got Eddie vs Edmund (aka Alternate Eddie). Edmund wants to do something or other but we have no idea about what throughout most of the story. It’s fine that the villain doesn’t do the cackling exposition to explain the dastardly plot early on.
My problem is that there was a ton of exposition in places where it really didn’t belong. “We’re on a deadline where Edmund might win or I might die, whichever comes first! But, first, let’s have a ten minute conversation.” That happened multiple times. One time Eddie and Molly (a powerful witch and his girlfriend) do some bickering in front of a being that might just be about to kill them.
Points for the story but I can’t help but think of Eddie and Molly as children who blunder their way to success.
June 4, 2017
Here we are at the 11th book in the Secret Histories series. By now, every time you read one of these books, you know exactly what you are getting. This book was not an exception. Mr. Green’s signature fast-paced, outrageous scenarios and just plain fun were present in this book. The previous book was a cliffhanger and the book immediately started up where the one before left off. I have to admit that I was worried that this one would end in a cliffhanger, too, but that was not the case. And, I have to admit, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen to Eddie, and I didn’t even suspect until the very last second. I won’t spoil it, but it was an interesting way to wrap it up. Anyway, if you are fan of this series, this book is exactly what you are looking for. If you haven’t read the series yet, I would recommend you start at the beginning. Recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed. This exact review will be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.
June 24, 2017
So, after finishing this book, I did a little research and came to the pleasant conclusion that I've read every book by Simon R. Green. This fact made me inordinately happy for some reason.
"Moonbreaker" is the latest Drood family novel and does not stray far from the path set by all the other books in the series.
- snarky characters with terminal cases of over-competence
- over the top action scenes
- allusions and references to his other series
- hilarious dialogue and asides
- PROFOUNDLY satisfying conclusion
After some thought, I firmly believe the reason I love this author's writing is simply the magnitude of his imagination and world-building. Green casually tosses out incredible, richly designed world-building nuggets as throwaway comments. Seriously. One could grab at the table scraps of his work and create a multitude of other series. And he manages to capture a Roger Moore / James Bond feeling throughout the entire series. Just great, great fun.
"Moonbreaker" is the latest Drood family novel and does not stray far from the path set by all the other books in the series.
- snarky characters with terminal cases of over-competence
- over the top action scenes
- allusions and references to his other series
- hilarious dialogue and asides
- PROFOUNDLY satisfying conclusion
After some thought, I firmly believe the reason I love this author's writing is simply the magnitude of his imagination and world-building. Green casually tosses out incredible, richly designed world-building nuggets as throwaway comments. Seriously. One could grab at the table scraps of his work and create a multitude of other series. And he manages to capture a Roger Moore / James Bond feeling throughout the entire series. Just great, great fun.
October 23, 2017
Drood books are always fast,fun reads that don't require a lot of attention. I enjoyed getting lost in that world again, although I start to get a little jaded at the sheer number of "This is the deadliest, most dangerous thing ever in the Universe and is undoubtedly going to kill everyone and everything" creatures and people Green fills up his world with and then proceeds to have the stuffing knocked out of them in short order. I get the tongue-in-cheek nod to spy novels, it just takes a bit away from the adventure when there's no clear reason why the adversary is so dangerous. Still, was a pleasant diversion, and the ending promises a big sequel that brings the Droods into the world of another of Green's popular series- the Nightside. Looking forward to it.
August 22, 2018
Eddie Drood is dying. He has been poisoned by Dr. DOA, who is actually Edmund Drood from an alternate universe. Even Ethel and his strange material torc cannot save Eddie, so he is determined to kill Edmund before he dies. Eddie and Molly Metcalf, the wild witch of the woods, are there to protect humanity and the Drood family when Edmund attacked Drood Hall, bringing into this reality both the Demon Droods and the Angelic Droods from their banishment to another dimension. Eddie and Molly follow Edmund's path to the Museum of Unattached Oddities where he retrieves the Immaculate Key that will unlock Grendel Rex, the Unforgiven God. Another madcap adventure as this series and the Nighside series wind down.
February 20, 2022
Moonbreaker picks up from the cliffhanger ending of Dr. DOA, Eddie Drood is still dying and he and Molly Metcalf are trapped on an alternate Earth in a ruined version of Drood Hall and even after they make it back home to their Earth and Drood Hall things don't calm down. Dr. DOA(aka Edmund Drood, Eddie's evil twin) is still up to no good and unleashes all manner of chaos at Drood Hall to distract the Drood family from his real plan.
What follows is an "Indiana Jones" style adventure as Eddie and Molly chase Edmund all the way to the moon and the titular super weapon Moonbreaker. It's a wild ride with twists and turns and a satisfying ending as Eddie turns the tables on his evil twin and pulls off another last-minute save.
What follows is an "Indiana Jones" style adventure as Eddie and Molly chase Edmund all the way to the moon and the titular super weapon Moonbreaker. It's a wild ride with twists and turns and a satisfying ending as Eddie turns the tables on his evil twin and pulls off another last-minute save.
January 16, 2018
I had a bad feeling about this book and kept putting off reading it because Eddie was dying from an untreatable poison at the end of his last adventure. The author had seemingly wrapped up the Nightside series, and ended the Ghost Finders with heartbreak, so I wasn't ready to let Eddie go.
I'm glad I gave in. The ride was torturous & heartbreaking, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Spoiler- Eddie lives! I won't say how, but I was very happy. And there was, as usual, a teaser for the next book...with the return of another favorite from another series! So I'm a happy camper! Thank you, Simon R. Green!
I'm glad I gave in. The ride was torturous & heartbreaking, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Spoiler- Eddie lives! I won't say how, but I was very happy. And there was, as usual, a teaser for the next book...with the return of another favorite from another series! So I'm a happy camper! Thank you, Simon R. Green!
June 3, 2017
Simon R. Green’s tales of Eddie Drood, aka Shaman Bond are always fun and silly. Eddie is still dying from poison from Dr. DOA (paper) who is Edward Drood from another reality Eddie and Molly Metcalf have to track down his killer from the world he lived in to the Drood mansion under attack, to Siberia on dragon back, and finally to the moon where centuries before the Droods had created a Moonbreaker (hard from ACE) device. I always enjoy these and I’m glad there’s another sequel planned.Review printed by Philadelphia Weekly Press
June 14, 2017
After the shocking cliffhanger in the previous book, I was nervous starting this one. I should have never feared...Mr. Green has delivered an outstanding sequel! This novel was gripping, witty, exciting and heartfelt (in the dignified Drood way - of course). I really loved the poetic justice at the end and especially the fact that the next novel will include not only the Nightside but John Taylor as well. I continue to truly enjoy this series and eagerly look forward to the next novel. Please click on the link to my full review by myself and my review partner, Gikany, posted at That's What I'm Talking About blog: http://twimom227.com/2017/06/review-m...
June 23, 2017
Simon R Green's 'Secret Histories' rarely disappoint. Fast paced sort of urban fantasy, although not really sitting squarely in that niche. Adventure with a fantasy and sci-fi background, with a bit of secret agent stuff thrown in.
This feels like a step up from the last few in the series, following on directly from the cliff hanger in the previous book, Dr DOA, the action flies around the world and eventually, as you'd expect from the title, to the moon. The final page sets up what I appears to be a series crossing novel of the Secret Histories and the Nightside. I can't wait!
This feels like a step up from the last few in the series, following on directly from the cliff hanger in the previous book, Dr DOA, the action flies around the world and eventually, as you'd expect from the title, to the moon. The final page sets up what I appears to be a series crossing novel of the Secret Histories and the Nightside. I can't wait!
July 6, 2017
Book 11, but to be honest, this really should have gone with book 10 as one big book. This follows on from where Dr DOA finished off, Eddie and Mollie are trapped in another world, Eddie is dying from Dr DOAs poison. .
I don't think its a spoiler to say they get home, and continue to chase Edmund across the globe. There's a few old faces pop back up, and one quite surprising old face re-appears. The action is virtually non stop. There's the normal little clips of humour that he always seems to manage to slip in. If I have one complaint, it's the way that the ending comes around. I'll not spoil it, but to me it just didn't feel logical, or in keeping with the way the books have been going.
Despite that, if this is the last of the series, it is a great way to finish it off
I don't think its a spoiler to say they get home, and continue to chase Edmund across the globe. There's a few old faces pop back up, and one quite surprising old face re-appears. The action is virtually non stop. There's the normal little clips of humour that he always seems to manage to slip in. If I have one complaint, it's the way that the ending comes around. I'll not spoil it, but to me it just didn't feel logical, or in keeping with the way the books have been going.
Despite that, if this is the last of the series, it is a great way to finish it off
July 10, 2017
If you have not read any of these by Simon Green with the characters of Eddie Drood and Molly Metcalf; you have to get started. While you can read them individually; it is best to read them in order as there is a flow of events that occur with many of them. That being said, Simon Green has brought forth all the action and adventure one would expect of Eddie and his dear companion (Molly of course). I am looking forward to the next adventure of Night Fall; which presumably will take us into Nightside.
July 20, 2017
This book is about a large secret organization called the Droods. They are the ones that keep the world safe. Unfortunately, because of an error, Edmund Drood from another earth, is loose on this earth. He has poisoned his alternate on this earth named Eddie Drood. It will be up to Eddie and his witch friend Molly to stop Edmund as he tries to destroy the Droods on this earth. There are many twist and turns to this novel but it's well written and easy to follow the story. But like any mystery, there's a lot going on that will take the reader time to understand.
February 4, 2020
Nothing too exciting here. Some posing and preening by Eddie and Molly. Eddie remains stoic and in good humor despite being on the edge of dying. New dark secrets of the Droods are revealed. There's this thing called the Moonbreaker you see, which is exactly what it sounds like.
The family acts unreasonably....again...and then comes around. At least the Dragon was kinda cool.
Just one more book to go...and it's a crossover between the Secret Histories and the Nightside. I don't know whether to be happy or afraid.
June 29, 2017
Green is by far one of my favorite writers but I have to admit several glaring inconsistencies in this book sorta drove me crazy. Over the last few years there have been more and more creeping into his books. But that is the picky ass side of me. The other side, the reader loved this book and would and have recommended his books to many people. In one last comment all I can say is BRING BACK THE NIGHTSIDE.. I miss it.
July 8, 2017
Eddie vs Edmund Drood, a battle long in the making. While I love the characters, I think it is the world they live in that I love the most. It is our world, but with an underbelly of magic and darkness. Molly and Eddie have to track down and kill Edmund before he gets to Moonbreaker...oh, and before Eddie dies. And no Angelic, Demonic, or Ancient Droods are going to stop them.
Next on the Agenda? The Nightside...
Next on the Agenda? The Nightside...
January 16, 2018
Уникално е, че в нашето смотано време някой е успял да напише толкова яка книга. Грийн създава с лекота богове, чудовища и цели алтернативни реалности, а 11-тата книга от поредицата "The Secret Histories", която сигурно се пада 40-та или 50-та в кариерата му, звучи точно толкова свежа, колкото и класиката "Deathstalker", с която се запалих по творчеството му преди години.
Четете ревюто ми на линка:
http://citadelata.com/moonbreaker-sec...
Четете ревюто ми на линка:
http://citadelata.com/moonbreaker-sec...
June 17, 2018
Don't get me wrong, I love the Nightside. I also love the Droods.
Buuut this feels like a rehash of the last couple of books as told by Ishmael Jones. Just sort of a rambling narrative with far less wit and intrigue than that which I usually find in the series.
I'm reading Night Fall, the next in the series but the general quality of the series is going downhill fast. Its no longer fresh and fabulous, more like yesterdays breakfast with a little pepper on a new plate.
Buuut this feels like a rehash of the last couple of books as told by Ishmael Jones. Just sort of a rambling narrative with far less wit and intrigue than that which I usually find in the series.
I'm reading Night Fall, the next in the series but the general quality of the series is going downhill fast. Its no longer fresh and fabulous, more like yesterdays breakfast with a little pepper on a new plate.
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