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The Last Moon Witch
How far would you go to learn the truth?
Witches have been all but wiped out. The remnants of the once great covens are hidden, clinging to the last dregs of magic in a poisoned world.
In the sanctuary of Umeå, a fledgling witch named Kanruo searches for the truth behind his family.
But as secrets unveil themselves, will he be strong enough to change his fate?
Witches have been all but wiped out. The remnants of the once great covens are hidden, clinging to the last dregs of magic in a poisoned world.
In the sanctuary of Umeå, a fledgling witch named Kanruo searches for the truth behind his family.
But as secrets unveil themselves, will he be strong enough to change his fate?
- GenresMagicDarkM M Romance
203 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2020
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 20, 2021
The Last Moon Witch (Ruined World Book 1) by Feyra Silverlock
I loved the character of Notia. I remember this particular scene where Notia rose from the ground, her feet levitating above the earth. The power of the dark moon coursed through her abused body, snapping her hair free from its braid. It flowed out in tendrils like the mythical Medusa. Tucked against her breast was the baby, tears staining its tiny face.
.
I honestly got scared when Notia collapsed in the snow just outside the barrier that protected Umeå, her entire body shaking in the cold. It was a sharp contrast to the heat that radiated off her burnt skin.
.
Since the witches were being dealt with, only the last of them remained but that too was in hiding. Kanruo being a witch himself is in the search of the truth about his family. These secrets are in the depths and intriguing.
.
To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering. My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style. Thank you for reminding me!
I loved the character of Notia. I remember this particular scene where Notia rose from the ground, her feet levitating above the earth. The power of the dark moon coursed through her abused body, snapping her hair free from its braid. It flowed out in tendrils like the mythical Medusa. Tucked against her breast was the baby, tears staining its tiny face.
.
I honestly got scared when Notia collapsed in the snow just outside the barrier that protected Umeå, her entire body shaking in the cold. It was a sharp contrast to the heat that radiated off her burnt skin.
.
Since the witches were being dealt with, only the last of them remained but that too was in hiding. Kanruo being a witch himself is in the search of the truth about his family. These secrets are in the depths and intriguing.
.
To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering. My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style. Thank you for reminding me!
June 9, 2020
Cyberpunk meets magic in this YA science-fantasy mash-up. It's the coming of age tale of a boy found to have the potential for great magical abilities in a futuristic dystopian world where witches and their ilk are being hunted to extinction. Kanruo only survives because of the witch Notia who spirits him away from his distraught father, training him in secret. But at 15 years of age, he's still trying to find his way with magic... and with matters of the heart. Cut off from all but his mentor and her friend's son Alrik, Kanruo struggles to find out who he is, what he wants, and what lengths he'll go to to get it while there's the ever-present dangers of the magic-hating Union and other, darker powers lurking.
Usually I find science-fantasy a tricky thing to balance, so while the world building setup is kept quite light, the two elements of witchcraft (it's obvious the author put a lot of love and attention into that aspect) and a high-tech, android-filled future gels really well. It reminded me a little of the game Dreamfall. The details of the witches' society and powers was really cool, sometimes making me think of half-known things about paganism, other times a little bit Charmed. I really loved the imagination that put these things together.
The writing's pretty good; that first chapter really drew me in. Everything is fairly simple in a YA sort of way, from the details of the world to the innocently obvious attraction Kanruo has towards his friend. I did get a little freaked out by a section near the end though, where the tone shifted more towards horror and there's an off-screen trigger warning type situation. I think there's also quite a time-skip at some point when the POV shifts into the depraved mind of the villain - the formatting didn't indicate the change so I got a bit confused when it moved between Kanruo and this ultra-evil someone else then back again. The psychological torture theme left me pretty shaken, so I think I got confused more by those "dark" events in the shadow world.
We end on a cliffhanger, this being the first in a series, and it's a pretty sad one. There's a lot left in the balance, and many unanswered question. I felt so terrible for the characters.
(Side note: the author makes absolutely gorgeous jewellery over on Etsy)
Usually I find science-fantasy a tricky thing to balance, so while the world building setup is kept quite light, the two elements of witchcraft (it's obvious the author put a lot of love and attention into that aspect) and a high-tech, android-filled future gels really well. It reminded me a little of the game Dreamfall. The details of the witches' society and powers was really cool, sometimes making me think of half-known things about paganism, other times a little bit Charmed. I really loved the imagination that put these things together.
The writing's pretty good; that first chapter really drew me in. Everything is fairly simple in a YA sort of way, from the details of the world to the innocently obvious attraction Kanruo has towards his friend. I did get a little freaked out by a section near the end though, where the tone shifted more towards horror and there's an off-screen trigger warning type situation. I think there's also quite a time-skip at some point when the POV shifts into the depraved mind of the villain - the formatting didn't indicate the change so I got a bit confused when it moved between Kanruo and this ultra-evil someone else then back again. The psychological torture theme left me pretty shaken, so I think I got confused more by those "dark" events in the shadow world.
We end on a cliffhanger, this being the first in a series, and it's a pretty sad one. There's a lot left in the balance, and many unanswered question. I felt so terrible for the characters.
(Side note: the author makes absolutely gorgeous jewellery over on Etsy)
October 7, 2020
Notia is raising Kanruo in hiding because The Union is trying to get rid of all the witches. If The Union finds them, it will mean certain death. Kanruo has taken to this world wholly and completely. But he feels incomplete. Notia won’t tell him anything about his birth parents, about how he came to be in her custody, and she’s keeping a major secret. But he’s a good kid. He studies hard, and he puts in the work. He loves Notia unconditionally, but he’s feeling pretty isolated because his world is so small. It only includes his best friend, Alrik, and his parents. He knows there’s something more, but he’s unsure what that is.
I don’t normally say things like: this book had me hooked from the very start, but it is so incredibly accurate for this one. We start in a tense situation. We’re in the dystopian future where the world has gone high tech, and witches exist, but they must hide who they are, and Silverlock draws you in. I loved learning about their connection to the earth. The only thing that kept me from giving this 5-stars was that things got a bit brutal 3/4s of the way in, and it was too much for my taste. We leave the book with some resolution, but it’s a cliffhanger, so you will need the next book to continue the story. Overall, this was an addicting read, nicely done.
I don’t normally say things like: this book had me hooked from the very start, but it is so incredibly accurate for this one. We start in a tense situation. We’re in the dystopian future where the world has gone high tech, and witches exist, but they must hide who they are, and Silverlock draws you in. I loved learning about their connection to the earth. The only thing that kept me from giving this 5-stars was that things got a bit brutal 3/4s of the way in, and it was too much for my taste. We leave the book with some resolution, but it’s a cliffhanger, so you will need the next book to continue the story. Overall, this was an addicting read, nicely done.
October 1, 2021
Kanruo is the Chosen One, or maybe he isn't. He might be the Destroyer, or he might be dead. His fate has fascinated those on both sides of the war between technocrat and witch. The Union wants to meld him with the Void and bring about the end of the world. The Moon witches think his destiny is far greater. From the moment he was given to the witches as a babe, Kanruo has been taught and trained by Notia, the only Moon witch left in existence. Raised in the woods of Sweden, crushing on his best friend Alrik, being on the run from Union assassins doesn't seem like such a bad life. Until a magic spell draws the attention of the Void, and everything falls apart. The book is fascinatingly put together, hitting on magical references from European Witchcraft, to Japanese Shinto, to the Irish Druids. The book has a dark side to it, and, as per the trigger warning, there is a "fade to black" rape. The following years of torture, not so much fade to black. Low level romance, steam level confined to kissing. Over all an engaging beginning to the series. Highly interested in the next book out at the end of the year.
May 13, 2024
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A YA Fantasy book to its core, The Last Moon Witch was a quick and fun read. Silverlock pulls from the myth and spiritual practices of real cultures, from Norse runes to Japanese kuomai, and interweaves them in a magical story about a 15-year-old boy trying to find himself and understand his past. Silverlock even includes some LGBTQ+ content, which is always a plus for me!
Silverlock’s writing style is easy to follow and allows the reader to breeze through chapters on pace with the quickness of the plot. And although the main character Kanruo can be annoying and is sometimes obstinate or combative simply to move the plot along, he still gives the feeling of a troubled and confused teen. Part of the reason the book gained a lower rating in my eyes was because of this inconsistency within Kanruo’s character, where he can be very discerning at one point, and then completely irrational or angry over the slightest thing. But then again, what 15-year-old boy isn’t like that sometimes? Personally, I found him annoying. However, with this being the first book in the series, I have high hopes that as Kanruo grows throughout the next books in the series, I will find him much more palatable!
Overall, a great book for teens interested in magic, a sketchy omniscient government, and risking it all to get to the truth. Just might not be as interesting to those of us in the “older” generations…
A YA Fantasy book to its core, The Last Moon Witch was a quick and fun read. Silverlock pulls from the myth and spiritual practices of real cultures, from Norse runes to Japanese kuomai, and interweaves them in a magical story about a 15-year-old boy trying to find himself and understand his past. Silverlock even includes some LGBTQ+ content, which is always a plus for me!
Silverlock’s writing style is easy to follow and allows the reader to breeze through chapters on pace with the quickness of the plot. And although the main character Kanruo can be annoying and is sometimes obstinate or combative simply to move the plot along, he still gives the feeling of a troubled and confused teen. Part of the reason the book gained a lower rating in my eyes was because of this inconsistency within Kanruo’s character, where he can be very discerning at one point, and then completely irrational or angry over the slightest thing. But then again, what 15-year-old boy isn’t like that sometimes? Personally, I found him annoying. However, with this being the first book in the series, I have high hopes that as Kanruo grows throughout the next books in the series, I will find him much more palatable!
Overall, a great book for teens interested in magic, a sketchy omniscient government, and risking it all to get to the truth. Just might not be as interesting to those of us in the “older” generations…
July 11, 2021
There’s magic and technology and beautifully paced action scenes. There are believable characters with strengths and flaws. There is breathtaking world building. I loved this yarn from start to finish.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews