The Key and the Crescent

by M.J. Newman

Everything you have ever experienced has been just one reality. The prime reality. However, there exist many more realities within the infinite realms of the Drift, throughout which the dreams of every living creature in the universe are interwoven.

For Poppy, a lonely young girl with severe narcolepsy, these myriad realities are a cherished escape from her own. But that all changes when she meets a mysterious black cat and discovers the nightmares that dwell within the Drift, infecting dreamers in the prime reality. Only those like Poppy who can travel from one dream to the next can hunt the nightmare down and slay it once and for all. These Drifters live by a simple mantra:

Protect the Drift.
Slay the Nightmare.
Free the Mara.
Do not go Dark.

Genres: Fantasy

330 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2020

About the author

I am a writer and game designer with over 11 years of experience in the tabletop game industry. After graduating with a J.D. from Albany Law School, I moved to Minneapolis to pursue my dream of game design.

I am a storyteller at heart. I enjoy dreaming of new worlds, creating interesting characters, and weaving dynamic tales. My specialty is creating games and scenarios that establish an emotional resonance with players. Pangs of fear, shock and awe, the thrill of victory: these are games that will make you think, feel, and remember the experience for years to come.

Reviews

[John Low · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Key and the Crescent marks the first novel of a promising series establishing DarkDrifters, a dazzling dream fantasy world. The work is clearly a labor of love, authored by esteemed game designer MJ Newman, world renown for lead designing the unrivaled tabletop narrative card game, Arkham Horror: The Living Card Game. Readers fond of unique fantasy settings will find plenty to like as they explore the quirky but dangerous alternate reality that lurks within the Drift.

You peer into the world through the lens of different characters, unfurling the various aspects of the Drift and its implications on the prime reality. There's surprisingly very minimal dry exposition. The narrative is constantly engaging, which is a nice pace for a novel establishing an abstract setting.

Each medium of storytelling presents different challenges and opportunities. The Key and the Crescent cleverly plays to the strengths of the printed expression. It varies its use of page spacial composition, adding tasteful insights of lore at each chapter, while slowing time in providing empty space at key moments. It views the dreamworld through the lens of a growing chaotic mental instability, presenting the simultaneous abrupt responses distinguished by clever formatting. And it pronounces the horror by runic highlights and eldritch speech. Many of these may be risky in concept, yet has been executed beautifully befitting the theme and setting.

A warning for readers uncomfortable with horror themes, The Key and the Crescent ranges from the vivid and ethereal, down to nightmares and fears. However, like the best tasteful horror films, description and visual cues are kept to a sufficient minimum while the terror garners its impact from within the character's emotions. Nonetheless to this end, the horror scenes are unapologetic that fans of the horror genre will appreciate.

And finally, readers familiar with H.P. Lovecraft's work may find references not just to cosmic horror, but a creative spin to the dream quest that takes the best aspects to produce a unique concept. There are also plenty of 90's nerd culture cameos to lap up.

Overall, The Key and the Crescent is an engaging fantasy, not to be overlooked by anyone interested in abstract dream settings. MJ Newman draws on his culminating story writing experience, tantamount to establishing wondrous scenarios, building depth to characters, all within clear engaging plot and action sequences. His creativity drives him to explore the extents of the medium's potential, producing a highly unique work. I highly anticipate reading the next volume in the series and wish him well in his future writings.

[Nick F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the book. It is very well written and a fun and interesting adventure/page turner. It is also great to see characters who have mental health struggles and other disorders written so richly and representing believable struggles of people with these kinds of problems. As someone who majored in psychology, has personally struggled with these kinds of problems in my past, and have loved ones who deal with these kinds of problems it is awesome to see these kinds of characters represented in a positive light in a fictional format.

[Sam Fuhrman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If you’ve already drunk the poison, destroying the mug it came in won’t cure it.”
The Key and the Crescent (Darkdrifters, #1) by MJ Newman is an exhilarating dark fantasy novel following the adventures of Poppy, an eleven-year-old narcoleptic gamer who unexpectedly becomes a hero. It follows her escapades as she learns to dive into the Drift and the consequence of nightmares, both in the waking world and in the dreamworld. With the help of her teacher and her friends, Poppy fights the nightmares that infect the people around her, and faces just how far the darkness can spread.

The Key and the Crescent is also unapologetically an allegory for the struggles of invisible illnesses. Newman tackles real-world symptoms of anxiety, depression, and abuse, showing characters who explore their real world consequences as well as portraying said consequences as literal monsters for them to face.

However, the constant objective of the story is not to dwell on the suffering but to work through it and overcome it; a necessary lesson for everyone but especially the critical young adult market, where such issues run rampant and are often overlooked. Newman’s handling of invisible illnesses is very respectful and compassionate; the suffering of the characters are treated as very real and very dangerous, and healthy coping tactics (such as grounding and emotional support) are promoted extensively. Most importantly, they aren’t treated as a one-and-done mission, showing that recovery is a process rather than an event.

While The Key and the Crescent does certainly explore dark themes, the story is not inherently dank and dreary; there are many vibrant locations and the story is as much about beauty and love as it is about sadness and fear. The world and the people thereof are beautiful and worthy of protection, peace and joy, and even when the darkness seems overpowering, you can always fight back.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful beginning to a fascinating new fantasy world, filled with beautiful descriptions and visions, interesting and compelling characters, a few unexpected twists and turns, and a whole new way to look at the world of dreams and nightmares. It has definitely left me looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Caitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare to get lost in a world artfully crafted by M.J. Newman, and then another world, and then another. Each new setting of The Key and the Crescent invites immersion into a universe filled with vivid imagery, painted with beautiful broad strokes united by a plethora of purposeful details.

Those who grew up around the time we first meet Poppy will be met with a host of nostalgic references that you’ll find hard to keep from smiling at. However, the author ensures the way they are meant to flesh out characterization will not be lost to a reader unfamiliar with them. Each of the characters feels believable in the way they are portrayed as a sum of their parts, driven by the infusion of these small elements into their stories. It will quickly become hard to resist spending more time with the alluring inhabitants of this tale, which is utterly enchanting even in its grimmest moments.

The Key and the Crescent uses its vibrant backdrop to address a host of meaningful topics. The subject of mental health and growth is tackled in a way that is raw, yet respectful, written with a distinctively thoughtful hand. M.J. explores the strong and complicated dynamics that fuel our relationships with ourselves and others, and how both can evolve over time. Even in the darkest of issues explored in this work, there is a deep undercurrent of love, hope, and strength. The overall result is a journey that evokes true empathy and draws the reader into every instant.

The clever array of formatting tools used to enhance the narrative are both exquisite and engaging. From act breaks, to choice of typeface, to the guiding quotes that begin each chapter, these tools collectively set the novel apart. They help to infuse context, tone, emotion, and meaning beyond the printed word. Backdrops and perspectives are changed in a flash, unspoken washes of feeling imbued into the page.

Get ready, settle in, and enjoy the ride- but don’t blink. As the author has written of the piece herself - the devil is in the details.

[Uriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Key and The Crescent, the debut novel by M.J. Newman, took me by surprise. I was just expecting a good and entertaining novel, what I got was one of those rare gems, a book that can be read and interpreted on multiple levels. I believe that Steinbeck's quote from The Grapes of Wrath is appropriate: “There are five layers to this book, a reader will find as many as he can and he won’t find more than he has in himself". How many layers does The Key and The Crescent have? That is for the reader to find out. For me, what started as a light fantasy novel slowly evolved into an introspection journey. Bottom line: The Key and The Crescent is on my list of books to re-read. And I will surely devour the next chapter of this fascinating new saga.

[Thomas Janu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simply great book, one of the few to actually keep me awake at night because the story is so engaging. Other reviews here already summed up the story very well, the only things I think are worth reiterating are that a) it's a really interesting world and story, I'm looking forward to more and b) the description/narration of mental health issues is quite explicit and may not be adequate for people sensitive to this rather delicate topic.

[Werner Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because I was familiar with M.J. Newman's writing from the Arkham Horror Card Game, and it did not disappoint. It has colorful descriptions that invite your inspiration and draw you into the story, only to turn your stomach with dread as the story progresses and darkness encroaches.

I would be more clear in my descriptions but I don't want to spoil the book. It is not a book I would recommend to very young people (for hopefully obvious horror-related reasons) but any late teen or older should be fine. It has very nice queer representation (to the point that it almost feels wrong to call out, because the book is so subtle about it and yet at the same time it is undeniably there) and generally a good cast of characters.

Protect the Drift. Slay the Nightmare. Free the Mara. Do not go Dark.

[Samantha Leopold-Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes the reader along on an expedition into the gaps between sleep and waking, reality and dream. Gorgeous, visceral imagery intertwines hard emotions with sweet moments. This book feels like it is for those of us who are on our underworld journeys, and serves as a good reminder that we are not alone in them.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rather enjoyed Darkdrifters! It was something I always looked forward to reading more of. The visual descriptions painted some vivid images in my head, and the plot kept some good surprises from me even after I thought I figured it out.

As others have noted, this book does dive into issues of mental health. It's a refreshing take that I have reflected upon even after finishing the book.

[Pery · Rating 5 out of 5]

What. A. Book. I first learned about The Key and the Crescent because I follow the author as a designer of a pretty popular card game. I will admit that at the get-go I was afraid that I would be biased in favor of the book but I did my best to stay neutral so I could fully analyze this book from an open stance. And, boy howdy, I'm sure glad I did.

To start, this book is dark. It touches on some pretty heavy subjects throughout the plot and they are present enough that there is a trigger warning before the first chapter. But, the way that these challenges are presented is in such a way that they become relatable, more clear, and more realistic. M.J. did a fantastic job at describing the mental states of each of these issues, even if the words and descriptors made you uncomfortable. It is heavy, yes, but it didn't feel like too much.

I think the best thing about the entire story was that the tone felt casual. The plot is a very fantastical one that covers a variety of landscapes and settings but they never felt foreign to me as a reader. With each chapter, I felt like the characters were talking specifically to me and without hesitation. It was straightforward, it felt real, it felt alive. With that in mind, the tone never felt juvenile. I felt as though a perfectly mature human was telling me a story without superfluous embellishment and at the same time without being too simple. It wasn't a lengthy book but I sped through each part because of how compelling the storytelling was.

Normally in books, as I've mentioned in other reviews, I don't like the use of multiple perspectives to tell a story. But M.J. has this narrative device nailed perfectly. We only see behind the eyes of a few characters but each of their tones is so specific that I didn't even need to read the title of the chapters to tell which character we were following. Each narrator, even if it was told from a third person perspective, had a unique voice to their experiences and I loved seeing how every event was told differently. And, thankfully, nothing ever became too repetitive. As an example, one character often used video game analogies to describe her situations. It always felt correct and not ever out of place or too present.

Now. The only thing that kind of took me out of the story a tiny bit was a lack of connection to some of our main characters. Something that I appreciated about M.J.'s writing style in this story was that we held very little space for expository plot that had anything to do with the action prior to the book. We uncovered details as the story continued instead of having them laid out for us like a character bio during the first couple of chapters. Because of this, a couple characters with poor mental health were less likely to share about themselves to us. But you know what? I absolutely loved it. It wouldn't have made any sense for the character struggling with depression or the character struggling with anxiety to tell the other characters everything about themselves. Even if I needed to give myself some breaks in order to stay attached to our main characters every now and then, I loved how they were created. It was perfect. And honestly, this was made up for in the end. After a major plot point was revealed, we understood everything about how the story was told and everything I was missing slid into place.

I gave this story a 9.5/10, and it's only shy of that perfect score because of the tiny bit of preference that I held. It's a fantastic feat of horror storytelling and highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys reading books with a darker tone.

I'll leave you with a quote, my favorite quote of anything I've read this year:

"No matter what happens in the future, you existed, once. You shaped the lives of others with your presence. Regardless of how you feel in this moment, you exist, in the here and now. There are those who care about you, who love you, for whom your existence matters greatly. And [...] even long after you have faded from existence, you will continue to live on in the memories of those whom you have touched."

[Dreary_dugong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Singular in its multiplicity, MJ Newman's The Key and The Crescent manages to present both the most accurate literary depiction of clinical depression this reader has experienced as well as the closest thing to its antidote - unrelenting hope, wonder, and love. Newman borrows just enough from the horror genre to present her themes with the sobering sense of reality they deserve while borrowing just enough from the fantasy genre to dress them in a package that's palletable and accessible for the reader. The world of Darkdrifters does not shy away from presenting its characters with true to life depictions of harassment, abuse, and anguish and it is only for these awful seeds that said characters can reap attitudes of total bravery, self-sacrifice, and all-consuming love for the universe and for each other. Newman has a special talent for communicating heavy emotional moments with uniquely stylistic typography, the likes of which is rarely found outside of unapproachably arrogant literature-as-art pieces, dragging these techniques down to Earth such that they can benefit the common reader. Similarly, Newman has a penchant for setting up plots and details with far-off equivalently rewarding conclusions that place a deep level of trust in the reader to interpret the work charitably and be paid off for their patience. All in all, Newman commands the medium of print to deliver a message of beautifully absurdist love in the face of a crushingly hopeless nihlism that should ring home for any contemporary reader. Even as the world collapses and all things held dear fall to darkness, one must persist. You were. You are. You shall be.

Tldr; read this book.

[Dav Flamerock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired in equal parts by Arkham Horror, Sailor Moon, and the Matrix, this horrific fantasy novel about battling inner demons is as relatable as it is cinematic. From the very first page the mental agony of depression is on display, forming a bridge from real lived experience to the beauty of the dream-world and the horror of the Nightmares that infest it.

Most of the novel follows the 11-year-old novice Drifter (dream-warrior) Poppy as she struggles to master her unexpected new powers while trying to make and maintain friendships with other schoolchildren (who have their own baggage). Her adventures while drifting are imaginative and exciting, but what really makes the Drift compelling is M.J.'s expert descriptive writing. The bizarre and supernatural are easily-imagined and play out very cinematically. When the dream begins to turn to nightmare, the horrors are on full display, with monsters that are equal parts unique, horrific, and beyond understanding. It is hard to present cosmic-dream-monsters in a satisfying way (given their inherent weirdness) but M.J. makes it look easy—and makes me excited every time I think a new nightmare is about to appear!

For all of the novel's imagination and adventure, its painful real-world heart is very apparent. For those who suffer from depression or those who are close to someone who has, this will likely be a source of validation that the pain is real and not easily-overcome...but also that we are not defined by our darkest thoughts and feelings, and that no one has to struggle alone.

I would highly recommend this novel.

[Daniel Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful book that pulls absolutely no punches in regards to its depiction of depression and dark thoughts, as well as the nightmare forms those thoughts take in the story. It starts with a content warning that is entirely warranted.

But if a horrifying story in which the dark thoughts in the back of your head can be cut down by love, magic, and a little judicious swordplay sounds like it might suit you, then this is the book for you.

MJ's background in horror as well as deep grounding in Millennial nerd culture are on display here. Gribbly monsters, pervasive dread, drama and terror everywhere. But also magical girl transformations, the sheer joy of triumph in a video game, friendship, true love, and the secret majesty of cats, aloof little monsters that they are.

[Addison Stumpf · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times a hard read, there's some very raw, difficult material in here. But it really earns that difficulty, the story is engaging, the references are loving without being excessive, and the ending is powerful. Looking forward to the next book.