Moon's Knight

by Lilith Saintcrow

Drunk and disoriented after her best friend's funeral, Ginevra Bennet stumbles through a door in an ivy-covered wall...and finds herself in a dry wasteland under a dying crimson sun, the only possible shelter a giant stone castle.

If it's a hallucination, it's a deadly one; the Keep is full of beauty, luxury, courtly manners--and monsters. The inhabitants rejoice in her arrival, dress her in white, and call her a queen. Greenery returns to their gardens, and the prince of the realm, with his silver-ringed eyes, seems very interested in Gin indeed. It should be the answer to every lonely young woman's dreams.

But nothing in Gin's life has ever been what it's seemed. Not her best friend, not her upbringing, and most especially not her nightmares. Drowning, violent death, a stone roof, and the hallucinatory prince have filled her nights, and Gin hopes she's going mad--because the alternative is just too scary to contemplate.

Caught in a web of manners, intrigue, and betrayal, Gin has to depend on her sorely tested wits and uncertain sanity. There are Gates at the edge of the wasteland, and if she can escape the castle and its beautiful, terrifying inhabitants, she might just find a few answers and be able to get home.

Assuming, of course, home is where she really wants to be...

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2021

About the author

Lilith Saintcrow was born in New Mexico, bounced around the world as a child, and fell in love with writing stories when she was ten years old. She and her library co-habitate in Vancouver, Washington.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb faery tale.

I loved this story. I especially like the evocative lyrical language, particularly the descriptions. I’m always fascinated by different versions of Underhill and this was poignant. And I do so love a happy ever after ending.

[CherylB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part Horror and part Fantasy!

I love the characters in this book. Gin has no clue about the powers she holds. And the Prince is too stubborn to help her. But he will watch over her and protect her from their enemies. But who killed The Moon? Was it the Prince? Or one of her companions? Maybe she did it herself? Oh the twists and turns in this tale will keep you guessing. And just when you have it figured out…..Bam another plot twist. Like any good tale one answer leads to more questions. Lilith Saintcrow is a master at world building. I will want to read this again to see what I’ve missed. I highly recommend this book.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heroine that grabbed me from the very first chapter. Gin has a not-so-great-life on Earth so when she goes through a portal she's not sure she wants to go back. However, the people she meets in the new realm think she's the reincarnation of Moon and have heavy expectations of her...

I ripped through this one pretty fast. Satisfying.

[Joann Halpern · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times the pacing was almost too slow, but it truly was necessary for the storyline development. After reminding myself of mortal versus Darkworld time passage, it all settled in. Beautiful writing as always from LS - her words are so evocative & the mental imagery is rich.

[Wetdryvac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Positively fabulous structuring on this one.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This whole book has a very hazy surreal almost soft focus type feel that is probably intentional as the content is all gothic dream in maybe fairyland type of setup. If you all you want is light entertainment and the feel of a gothic fever dream this is great.

for me the weakest bits were where modern sensibilities ran into that gothic dreamlike atmosphere, but it wasn't bad enough to shake me all the way out. I also came away from it with the thought that because of certain overtones in the backstory particularly, I had the phrase, "The straights are NOT ok" keep coming to mind and sitting in the corner to look at this book with judgy eyes.

I did like it but maybe that was in spite of all the classic romance elements rather than because of them.

[Keli · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a solid 4.5, but I rounded down because Gin got on my nerves a wee but with her constant dead friend refrains. I know the repetitive internal monologue is something Ms Saintcrow does often, if not in every novel of hers I’ve read, it just annoys me something awful sometimes. I think the only characters I didn’t mind it with here Dante Valentine and the one with the sort of carnival bit, the covers were blue and white. I’ll look it up. Anyway, I might re-read that series, but for those two the repetitive refrains were bearable. Although, I haven’t just finished those . I might feel differently tomorrow after a little time had passed and bump it up to 5. As you can see, I still really enjoyed the book. It was a superb faerie tale. It was the right side of ethereal, creepy, romantic, magical and mysterious.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world building in this story was particularly detailed and wonderfully written. I enjoyed every bit of it. Lilith Saintcrow encapsulated a thrilling mixture of horror, fantasy, with a spice of romance from the beginning down to the last chapter.

5 out of 5 stars

[Rex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, not her best

A bit predictable and discombobulated, the heroine was flawed but never felt link she was in any real danger ever.

[Gordon · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Lays it on way too thick with the irritating american teens. Yikes. Took a gamble on this, so i guess i only have myself to blame.

[Arla Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable

Ms. Saintcrow never disappoints. The shear imagination is stunning and the atmosphere devine. Always a treat and cannot wait for more.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for the shoe to drop , and when it did, I was not surprised. I thought the premise was brilliant but it played out as of a deadline loomed.

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Shauntae · Rating 3 out of 5]

very eerie, very spooky, but no romance until literally the last chapter? still a really interesting Halloween read that left me with more questions than answers

[Taldragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drunk and disoriented after her best friend's funeral, Ginevra Bennet stumbles through a door in an ivy-covered wall...and finds herself in a dry wasteland under a dying crimson son, the only possible shelter a giant stone castle.

If it's a hallucination, it's a deadly one; the Keep is full of beauty, luxury, courtly manners - and monsters. The inhabitants rejoice in her arrival, dress her in white, and call her a queen. Greenery returns to their gardens, and the prince of the realm, with his silver-ringed eyes, seems very interested in Gin indeed. It should be the answer to every lonely young woman's dreams.

Caught in a web of manners, intrigue, and betrayal. Gin has to depend on her sorely tested wits and uncertain sanity. There are Gates at the edge of the wasteland, and if she can escape the castle and its beautiful, terrifying inhabitants, she might just find a few answers and be able to get home.