MoonCatcher

The Prime Wranglers #2

by Aaron S. Bentzel

After surviving a deadly encounter with the bandit Rattlesnake Rose, Cazo Briggs is happy to say that life is finally returning to normal – or as normal as life gets when your boyfriend is a wanted outlaw. But when a powerful creature known as the MoonCatcher contacts him for help, Cazo makes the decision to return to that land of wonder and danger – the West.

His journey takes him to the western plains, where the native Redhands wage an endless war with the Republic for control of the land. And if Cazo thinks he can stay out of the conflict and not take sides, he has another thing coming. The MoonCatcher waits in the Sombre Hills, the very heart of the Redhands’ territory, and this secretive tribe isn’t letting any outsider near it without a fight.

Fortunately, Cazo isn’t alone in his quest. With the help of allies, old and new, he hopes to set the MoonCatcher free. But in the West nothing is permanent, and allegiances can shift as easily as the wind blowing through the high prairie grasses. Cazo’s deepest assumptions – and strongest relationships – will be stressed to their breaking points, but if he can hold it all together, he may be able to wrangle one of the most powerful Primes of them all.

MOONCATCHER is a fantasy western set in a reimagined West. Here, powerful creatures known as Primes roam the frontier, and daring wranglers risk their lives to capture them. To read the Wranglers series from the beginning, check out SNOWMAKER.

Genres: Fantasy

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2021

Reviews

[PaperMoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great follow-up (2nd) book in the series ... I enjoyed revisiting this paranormal, alt-historical wild-western world; the world-building and magic elements continue to be interesting. I was a little alarmed at the start when I feared the MCs would be engaging in violent offensives against the indigenous 'red-handed' (native) peoples but thankfully, my fears did not come to fruition.

Cay and Zee's relationship arc took an unexpected surprising turn toward the end but this was believable and will keep me on tenterhooks for the next book planned for 2022. I was particularly taken by how the author developed secondary character Gomery Seward in this volume; in fact, Gomery is fast becoming my favorite character of the series! 4 solid stars.

[Leila · Rating 4 out of 5]

As utterly delightful as the first novel in the series, maybe even more so.

[coco's reading]

I read just over 50% of this before deciding there were too many things not working for me. The first book in the trilogy was a breeze and, despite having problems with the protagonist's logic and the pacing, I thought it was fun. MoonCatcher had a good enough start—the six-month time skip was believable, and I was intrigued by the way character dynamics had changed—but I couldn't get passed the Indigenous tribe being called the Redhands, having a woman of color once more set up as the villain, and Cazo's obsession with his "destiny" and being the Redhands' "savior." Perhaps Bentzel completely flips this in the second half, but I can't say for sure unless I skim it (which I likely will since I still do want to know what becomes of Mr. Gomery and Ms. Vambray).

[Jan Overstreet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

I really enjoyed this book. I didn't want it to end. Now I have to wait for the coming year for Lifebringer.

[Tenesha L. Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burgeoning hope, heinous betrayal, sinister secrets, and powerful Primes—another fun TPW series read in the bag!


Mr. Gomery is by far my favorite character and he is back in full force and top form! ^_^ 


Ready for the next one, please and thank you! 

[Chris Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent entry in this trilogy---I can't wait for the next one!

[Olive · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think you understand true love, reality and survival of the fittest kicks in