Darkness & Moonlight

by Freya Bell (Editor), Ally Kelly (Editor), Odessa Silver (Editor)

Trickster fairies and deceptive lovers. Foul betrayal and brutal murders. Stolen moons and monstrous beasts. The stories within these pages take place during darkest midnight and under the ethereal light of the moon. Darkness & Moonlight is a Speculative Fiction anthology featuring the works of the members of the Worldsmyths writing community. This international group of authors has come together to explore what dangers lurk under the cover of darkness.

Genres: Short Stories

252 pages, Paperback

Published June 18, 2022

Reviews

[Mystic Forest Crafts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This truly ranks between a 3.75 and 4 but we are rounding up!

Disclaimer: I received an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I have not read short stories for years. When I did, outside of school, they were always from authors I knew with familiar worlds or characters so they didn’t require the levels of world-building in a true, stand-alone fantasy short story. It took me a minute to realize that was originally coloring my opinions and reconsider and reread with fresh eyes.

Pros:

Each of the stories had a very unique tone and voice. They didn’t blur together or allow you to forget which tale you were within.

I love that the authors included info on how to find them on social media and look into their other works. I now have a list of people to look into if my to be read pile ever gets too low.

I appreciate that this anthology really could be enjoyed by someone who reads young adult or adult meaning it could be a bridge for teens and parents to read and discuss if they have that sort of relationship. Often books either come off too young or too mature for everyone to enjoy and be comfortable talking about.

Cons:

While I liked several of the stories and felt that at least a few were prologues to the true tale I was disappointed to not find notes at the end of any of the stories saying pick this up in an upcoming novel or that the characters will return. It really was a missed opportunity but it’s also very possible inspiration for the story to continue didn’t strike the author or they have other works taking up their available time.

Some of the settings felt out of place for what I was expecting for the book. They all did deliver on the theme of darkness and moonlight. This is more about my expectations than anything wrong with the book, writing or editing but I did want to mention it to make things balanced and unbiased.

[Jennie Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Worldsmyths anthology I've read, and I loved this one just as much as the first. A variety of stories are featured, each with unique author voices, intriguing premises, and brilliant character development. The stories take the bewitching theme of darkness and moonlight (as the title suggests) and spins it into enchanting worlds with all sorts of strange creatures, human or otherwise!

The wide range of authors in this anthology ensures there is something for everyone. I particularly enjoyed Freya Bell's "Into the Brambles" for capturing the spooky, childish fascination all good fairy stories have. "Daughter of Darkness and Son of the Sun" by Kieran Lamoureaux enraptured me with heartbreakingly beautiful prose that read like poetry. "Throned by Julia Skinner was so clever and funny I found myself wishing for a full-length novel featuring the indomitable heroine. The classic comforts of family, homemade food, and fairy stories was heartwarming in Marty Keslars "Of Full Moons and Moonshine," while Emma Shouten's "The Gorgon Slayer" was a meticulously well-paced and developed adventure story that had me closing the anthology in blissful satisfaction.

If you enjoy speculative fiction and snappy short stories, I highly recommend giving this anthology a try! I look forward to the upcoming Worldsmyths anthologies for more of the same.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC copy of Darkness & Moonlight. What deliciously dark escapism it proved to be!

There were bounty hunters who got more than they bargained for, nighttime garden escapades, witches, queens with endless problems, moonlit lovers, mysterious creatures that lurk in the hills, a man desperate to complete his collection, a magical sword and a mysterious monster, demons, gorgons and more.

As with all anthologies not everything was my cup of tea, but it doesn’t mean it won’t be yours 😉

Particular favourites were:
- Daughter of Darkness and Son of the Sun by Kieran Lamaroux - a story of hope, of love against the odds, exquisitely written.
- Within These Twisted Vines by Alex Harvey - a beautifully woven story of lost loves and ancient gods.
- Moon by Nicole Soper Gorden - a truly enjoyable tale of an impossibly hard challenge to unravel a mystery set by a trickster.
- Legitimacy by Jess Monnier - the world building and storytelling is fantastic. It is a place I would happily spend longer and long to know more!

[K.E. Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC anthology and really enjoyed it. There were so many unique voices in this collection, each one centered around the themes of darkness and moonlight. My favorite pieces were The Daughter of Darkness and Son of the Sun, Selene, and the Gorgon Slayer. There were only one or two stories that didn't hold my interest, but this collection is full of stories by a lot of talented writers.

[Cas Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, I loved the theme and the stories worked very well together. There was an excellent mix of humor, terror, warm fuzzies, and seriousness. I enjoyed exploring all the
different worlds and meeting all the characters. It was a journey through many different places that everyone should pick up and journey on as well.
This is one anthology that everyone should have on their selves to enjoy.

High Moon Justice
By D.A Gatlin

This was an awesome way to open the anthology. I enjoyed the quick progression and was able to get the scope of everything. Great opening to Darkness and Moonlight.

Into the Brambles
By Freya Bell

As always Freya knows how to spin a good yawn. I love reading her stories and so far just like the girl it has swept me off my feet.
That was great and I really enjoyed the end very nice work.

Selene
By Alex K. Masse

That was a great ride and it made me laugh a few times. I don't know if it is the writing or my imagination, but I can see these stories play out in my head like watching
a movie. I want to read more of Selene.

Daughter of Darkness & Son of the Sun
By Kieran Lamoureux

This was an awesome story that I could read over and over again. The symbolism hits you right in the feels even though it is a shorter story it still has the emotional weight
of a longer piece.

Within these Twisted Vines
By Alex Harvey

I love this story. It pulls you in so many different directions and you can connect with it through all the different issues the main character goes through. Wow this story
gave me chills and pulled me right into the action. Very nicely done.

When the Raven ate the Moon
By Nicole Soper Gorden

All I have to saw is Wow! Of course, there is more to say since this story is one of my favorites and I would read it again and again. It grips you and when you get to the end
you just want more.

Throned
By Julia Skinner

This was a very interesting story and reminded me of a choose your own adventure book. The story was good, and I enjoyed all the action.

Beneath Tsukuyomi
By Odessa Silver

That was a very interesting piece and I love the style it was set in. It was short but really hit you in the feels.

The Grove
By Erin Slegaitis-Smith

This story was awesome I loved every second of it. It reminded me of Alice in Wonderland and Where the Wild Things Are. This is another story I could read over and over again.
Very nice work. I would love to know more about the other characters in the story.

One's True Self
By Ryan Gale

This one really pulled at my emotions and the ending was great to tie everything into a nice bow. Very nice job I really enjoyed the world and the main character.

Legitimacy
By Jess Monnier

I really loved this story it felt like strong Egyptian influence was there and I was able to step into the world through the author's words. Very well done I loved it.

The Sword in the Slate Garden
By Michael A. Epanchin

This story was a real heat string puller. It showed a few things that everyone can relate to, and the message is deep. Very well done giving all the feels.

All For You
By Odessa Silver

This story was a bit heart stopping towards the end. The tense and intensity was awesome throughout which I really enjoyed.

Small Rebellions
By Freya Bell

I really love this story. Everything about it gives you hope against hard times that you can get through anything. It really hits the feels and the world is amazing.

Of The Beast
By Irene Bowie-Johnson

This story from start to finish was amazing. I loved the description and the character development. It would be something I want to learn more about the world and could read
many times.

Of Full Moons and Moonshine
By Marty Keslar

All I have to say is, "WoW!" I really loved how wholesome the story was. It reminded me of The Princess Bride when the grandfather was reading the book to his grandson.
It gives me that same feeling. Very well done and I want to try some of the moonshine.

The Raven's Crown
By Ally Kelly

Now this was an awesome story that took you into the world of magic, castles, and ballroom parties. I would love to read more about this world in the future.

The Gorgon Slayer
By Emma Shouten

This was one of my favorite stories and I believe a great choice to wrap up the anthology. Everything flowed so well and I enjoyed the fight. This is another I could read
many times, over.

[freya.nightwolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE ARC. I RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE TO TRY THIS BOOK.
It's my first anthology read and I have different emotions right now. The stories are pretty intriguing and easy to read, but I have only one problem: I NEED TO KNOW MORE OF THOSE STORIES! I enjoyed most of them and I do have a few favorites that I really wish to see transform into whole books. Every story has its unique style, I do love how the darkness, that usually everybody is afraid of, is put into another perspective, that it can be beautiful.
These short stories are well written, and being short stories, I love that was no need for too much description. Usually, there's dialog and a description of the action [this kind of description is good]. Most of the stories made me want to know even more about them, to know where would the writers go with the action, will the girl like the realm she'll go to with her prince, will the two girls like the witch realm, why would certain fathers lie to their children and cage them with lies and so on. I hope one day we will see full books with their stories and remember how it all started with a short storie.
Now, the reason behind the 4 stars. It's only one thing that I didn't like and it's a personal thing, so as a reader, don't take it as a bad thing, is just something that I don't like and it made it difficult sometimes to jump from story to story. I don't like the order of the stories. First I'm in a magical realm and then I'm in a city talking on Snapchat and then I'm back again in a magic land. This going back and forward between lands, I'm not a fan of it. And, as I said, it's something that I usually don't like, because I enjoy the magical lands more than urban ones :)) I live in a city and all I want is to escape it, so yeah, it's personal :)))

SO, I recommend this anthology to everyone, it's an easy read and if you want to try something new, you have to try this. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you don't know what to read, or you can't stop thinking of a certain book or world and you defiantly don't want to start another series because your head is simply not in the game then this book is the solution. Having short stories and making your mind go into different situations and always different characters, in a matter of minutes, might be the right cure.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this collection of short stories as ARC and I was not disappointed. Theme of darkness and moonlight carried out through all the stories and it is a collection that most readers will find at least one story that appeals to them, if not more! A few stood out to me.

The first is "When the Raven ate the Moon" by Nicole L. Soper Gorden - I would describe as a fantasy heist story. It had a good plot, nice tension that moves the reader through the story with a twist at the end! I enjoyed it was self contained and felt closure at the end of the story.

Second story I felt more from was "Selene" by Alex K. Masse. It is a fun queer story ( or at least I interpreted as such) of a ballerina witch, her possibly career ending injury, and the human fan/medical professional highly concerned for her fate. This story is definitely urban fantasy in a closed magic world which leads to tension between the witch and the human. Again another well contained story with a ending that gave me closure, but I found myself wanting to read more!

Third story is "The Sword in the Slate Garden" by Michael A. Epanchin. It has 3 very well thought out characters, one of which is non-verbal but the author was able to convey the characters intent very well. A "monster" is hunted for a transgression by a human, but is she the monster or are the humans? Story is written so as to have you question what is really going on and it has true re-readability. Each time it is read, there is something else to be found.

The final story that drew me in was the "The Gorgon Slayer" by Emma Shouten. This short story felt like the start of a fun YA or even NA romantasy. I want to read more of the adventures between Aglaia and the Barterer!

[Jaimie · Rating 4 out of 5]

** Disclaimer: close personal friends with one of the authors, and part of the online Worldsmyth’s writing community.
It’s been a year since the first Worldsmyth’s anthology was released, but it feels like just yesterday that we were being introduced to this talented group of up and coming authors and diving into their uniquely crafted fantasy realms. This second collection brings together a set of stories around the titular theme of Darkness and Moonlight, and like the first collection spans the fantasy genre to include stories that are rife with high fantasy dragons and sorcerers, western-adjacent settings with wingéd horror beings, grandfather-narrated folktales, and far more. My favourite of the stories is unsurprisingly Freya Bell’s “Into the Brambles,” since it hits all the right notes for me in terms of fairy lore and magical romantic tension, all wrapped up in her typically luscious narration. Other standout stories for me were “When the Raven ate the Moon” by Nicole L. Soper Gordon with its alt-world cityscape full of unique mythology; “Of Full Moons and Moonshine” by Marty Keslar with its simple folktale airs and rambling fun; and Emma Schouten’s “The Gorgon Slayer” with its slow burn adventure story vibes and predictably intriguing Barterer to finish the anthology in style. As with most anthologies there were a chunk of stories that just didn’t quite appeal to me, but the range of fantasy stories and voices is a great intro to a bunch of new authors – and as per usual, I can’t wait to read what the group publishes next!

[Mandakinz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of standalone short stories from up-and-coming writers. My favorite out of the collection was "The Sword in the Slate Garden" by Michael Epanchin. It's sophisticated, complex, has a really unusual main character, and is something of a twist on a classic fairytale structure. I also like how many elements of the world and setting are left somewhat ambiguous, even though the story itself has a satisfying conclusion.

I would describe most of the stories as dark fantasy and they run the gamut in genre from western to horror to contemporary. This collection displays a wide and vivid imagination from its crew of authors! Within are monsters and creatures of all kinds! I was also pleased to see a wide range of very strong women characters, of all ages.



Other stories in the collection that stood out to me were "Throned" by Julia Skinner for its clever story structure, "The Gorgon Slayer" by Emma Schouten for exciting action scenes and overall atmosphere, and "When the Ravens Ate the Moon" by Nicole Soper Gorden for cleverest main character. I also want to give special mention to "Of the Beast" by Irene Bowie-Johson for it's unusual setting (and main character) and also "Of Full Moon and Moonshine" by Marty Keslar for bringing a little sweetness and levity to the collection.

[Jessica Rigsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review will be a little different than my others because this is an anthology, meaning that it is a book compiled of short stories by many authors, about certain topics.

Darkness & Moonlight is the first anthology that I have ever read, outside of past school days, which was a while ago. I was very hesitant in reading and reviewing this book because I did not know how I would like to read a book full of short stories, all different but meeting certain topic types.

While some of the stories intrigued me, my favorites being High Moon Justice, Into the Brambles, Selene, Within These Twisted Vines, All for You, and Of Full Moons and Moonshine, others I didn’t find as interesting. I have a challenging time staying immersed in a novel if I cannot pronounce the characters' names, which was the case in a couple of the stories.

Overall, I would rate this anthology 4 stars and plan to look more into the authors who gained and kept my interest. Anyone who loves short stories based around fairies, dragons, murder, magical beasts, betrayal, and deceitful lovers would love this anthology.

Content/ Trigger Warnings (taken directly from the anthology itself): graphic violence, blood and other injuries, sacrifice, abuse, death, incapacitation, slavery, exploitation, religious overtones, and sexism

[A Bookworm In Chile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year I reviewed WordSmyth's "Myths, Legends, and Dreams" anthology and really enjoyed it. Consequently, when I got the chance to read this year's edition, I jumped at the chance.

To my delight, I found that I enjoyed "Darkness and Moonlight"even more than I did its predecessor. I'm wouldn't necessarily say that the writing was better this time around. It was good last year and it was good this year. That said, I think the stories this year were more aligned to my particular tastes. There has been many a morning in the past few weeks, where I cursed my late night reading habits.

It may be unwise to burn the midnight oil when you have an early-morning class, but with some of these I couldn't help it. I particularly liked how there were a few with queer representation.

Anthologies can be a bit hit and miss for me. When you have a lot of authors there's always a chance you won't care for all of them. However, it WordSmyths keep putting the same amount of heart in their publications, I will always be happy to read them.

4.5/5 stars

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkness and Moonlight consists of works from multiple authors with a range of characters and settings that keeps the reader on their toes. Some stories are a lighter while others are dark and ominous. From faeries, monsters, demons, and everything in between, this collection has something for every reader.

I would like to state that anthologies aren’t really my go to books to read, BUT I love a good short story and fantasy elements are always a bonus. Overall, this was 4 stars for me. If I was being honest, it really fell between a 3.5 and 4, but I rounded up because the stories that gripped me were REALLY good.

Favorites:

The Gorgon Slayer by Emma Shouten
When the Raven Ate the Moon by Nicole Soper Gorden
Throned by Julia Skinner

**I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[SC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the Worldsmyth's anthologies and it is delicious.

I was not entirely certain what to expect. The stories deliver. I enjoyed all of them. It think Of Full Moons and Moonshine is my favorite, but they're all really well written with vibrant characters and twists and turns that were unexpected for the most part. I would recommend this to any reader of fantasy who wants a sometimes new look at the way the tale is told.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved writing short stories, but dreaded reading them. I would become so invested in my characters, I hated saying goodbye so quickly, so I've never taken the time to go out of my way and read short story collections before.
Can I just say; What a fool I have been!

I was given a free copy of 'Darkness and Moonlight' A Worldsmyths Anthology in exchange for an honest review.

This collection, in so many ways, took me back to my childhood. Fae and dragons and gorgons, it has it all and some of the stories gave me the familiar sense of being tucked up in bed by my grandma and whispered bed time stories that both fascinated and terrified me at the same time.
However, there was a dark and tragic twist with so many of these tales, that I related to as an adult with very adult emotions.
Emotional connections with characters were easy to make throughout the collection, and even with some of those connections being brief, I felt that I had come to know many of them personally, such was the level of writing and skill the authors have curried with their audience.

My favourite stories in particular were to do with the Fae and all of their wicked mischief, notably:
'Into The Brambles' by Freya Bell & 'Of Full Moons and Moonshine' by Marty Keslar
But then, so many of these stories played out so visually in my mind as I read, I couldn't help but be completely engrossed in the world's each author had created. Many of these stories I could see adapted for screen, particularly 'When the Raven Ate The Moons' by Nicole L. Soper Gorden and 'Daughter of Darkness & Son of the Sun' by Kieran Lamoureux.

Darkness & Moonlight - A Worldsmyths Anthology is a wonderful collection, with so much magic embedded in every story that it may just help the cynical non-believer, like myself, believe again, and isn't that the real magic of it all?

These are the tales that stick in your imagination and if you have the opportunity, it is definitely worth the read, and revisiting . It's honestly been a pleasure to experience and I'd like to extend my gratitude to each author for the opportunity of being transported to their worlds, if only for a little while.

[Esme Carmichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Darkness and Moonlight' is the speculative fiction novel we've all been waiting for.

The stories were varied and unique, with "Daughter of Darkness and the Son of the Sun", "Of the Beast", and "The Gorgon Slayer" being my favourites.

By their very definition, short stories don't give a lot of time to suck the reader in, but this anthology did just that, and more. The worlds were rich and detailed, the prose often hauntingly beautiful. Gloomy tales are spun with more humorous ones, and even the most disheartened stories are thought-provoking and full of subtle symbolism ("Daughter of Darkness and the Son of Sun" did this spectacularly well). While many stories ended on an ambiguous note that left me wanting more, I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology. It's an easy read and has something for everyone.

Thank you to Worldsmyths for providing me with an ARC copy. All opinions are my own.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't typically read short story collections, but I really enjoyed this one. As a lover of the fantasy genre, I really appreciated the many different types of worlds that were showcased in this anthology. There is a short author bio before each story and I liked getting to learn about who wrote each story. I loved that there was a diverse selection of authors, and each story felt so complex and well-thought out. It felt like each story existed in a world beyond what was written on the page, which made them all the more intriguing. I definitely had some favorites among the short stories, but there were no stories I completely didn't like and I really liked the vast majority of them. Overall, this anthology was a worthwhile read and I will definitely be looking out for more works from these authors in the future!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great collage of fantasy short stories with a nice variety of tone and setting- some stories were tragic, others were sweet, some were action-packed, and some were more meditative. I enjoyed all the stories, but my favorites include "When the Raven Ate the Moon" by Nicole Soper Gordon (a heartpounding heist with a fantastic twist), "Within These Twisted Vines" by Alex Harvey (Perfect mysterious and eerie vibes with some cool references to Greek mythology) and "Of Full Moons and Moonshine" by Marty Keslar (a fun and quirky tale about fairies with interjections from grandchildren). Also, I'm impressed Freya Bell managed a believable child narrator for her stories, as that's very difficult to do! I'd definitely recommend this collection.

[BooksnClevrness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually an anthology person, but I genuinely loved this one. The stories were different enough that you don't really ever get bored of the central theme as you read. There is also great representation between cultures and gender and sexuality, among other things. There are definitely some stories that I liked more than others, but overall, I would say that there is a story in the book for everyone! There is a fair amount of TW's at the beginning of the book, so make sure to look at those before reading.

[Chey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a few anthologies and this one is one of my favorites so far. Each set of stories was unique, but still managed to relate to each other in one way or another.

The writing for each book varied when it came to detail and pacing. Some of the stories were fast paced and held my interest while others were slower and less interesting. The overall set was definitely worth the 4 star rating.