The stories of Mothman are true. But you have never heard this version before.
Ezra has very little left to live for. His parents are gone, his graduate program mentor hates him, and he has no chance of escaping the rural Ohio college town. Until one evening, while passing the haunted local cemetery, he encounters Gray, a winged creature enchanted by Ezra’s songs. After one steamy evening, Ezra’s life is turned upside-down. Magic is real, and evil is creeping up on the small Appalachian town. Gray needs his help, and Ezra needs Gray, more than he ever realized.
This Queer Dark Romance can be read as a standalone. Song contains adult themes and situations not suitable for audiences under 18 years of age. The Appalachian Cryptids Series focuses on MM relationships, both romantic and sexual, with a variety of characters representing the spectrum of gender identity and expression.
Please refer to content description found in the beginning of the book or on the publisher website for full details of novel themes and reader considerations.
This was a unique read, full of lore and myths. It wasn't quite as dark as I imagined it, though it definitely held dark elements. There were sweet moments sprinkled in as well. Gray was really a cinnamon roll monster. Great non-binary representation. It held my attention which is hard to do lately.
There were some instances of telling, not showing, in moments I wish had been fleshed out a bit more. The ending seemed a little bit rushed. It left me wanting more and questioning. Maybe the next one will explain further??
There were a few grammatical errors, sentence structure, and wrong words/spelling sprinkled about, but they never took me totally out of the story, only left me scratching my head a few times.
I'm riding the fence on Ingrid's book. I'm not sure it's the same type of 'mate' story, but I really love it when a morally 'gray' character is brought to their knees, and I'm hoping that happens to him. We shall see.
The characters were well written, and I am very excited for the release of the second book on October 10! I also really enjoyed that interesting ending! Edit: Where did the second book go??
Jae Dixon's debut novel featuring a burnt-out grad student and the cryptid mothperson who rescues him was a delightful read. My first book featuring this particular cryptid and it really didn't disappoint.
One of this book's biggest strengths is in its evocation of place. Set in Appalachia, the story and the characters bring to life the specifics of the region from the natural landscape to the folklore to the practices and rhythms of small-town life. I was really able to imagine where the characters were and almost see, hear and smell their surroundings, even though I have no personal familiarity with the area. The attention to detail and the way the landscape was portrayed really allowed the characters and the story to feel real, even within the magical and fantastical contexts of the overall story.
I also appreciate the author's more or less perfect depiction of academia and the PhD process. Ezra's anxieties, bone-deep exhaustion and borderline depression when it came to his research and his work were all t00 familiar and his terrible and toxic advisor was a figure that was instantly recognizable, magical aspects notwithstanding. Add Ezra's grief over his father's recent death and it was really easy to root for this character from the beginning especially as we recognize his passion for his work and his urge to do something meaningful despite all the obstacles in his way.
Gray was also a fascinating character. I really liked the way we slowly learn more about them as the story progresses and it emphasized how ancient of a being they were and by extension, the magic to which they have access. Their past, their complicated history with Indrid and how they've been watching over the land and the people for so very long come to us in bits and pieces and I enjoyed the simultaneous mystery and ethereal feeling it gave the character. Gray was also the most charming (who doesn't want to be called Beloved???) and is so achingly precious about Ezra and their feelings for him.
I also really loved the way the story seemed to stretch into both something very ancient, almost folkloric, and the present, not just through the sheer length of time Gray and their people were around but also with the nature of the larger mystery at hand. The prologue, in particular, was poetic and really grounded the story in something that felt much larger than time and space. My one quibble with the entire story, was in fact, that we never circled back to Ezra's role as a person of songs despite that being emphasized at the beginning. I really loved the imagery and the significance of that and would have loved that particular element to have been more present in Ezra's arc throughout the story, and played some kind of part in the larger arc of the story.
*Spoilers for the last few chapters of the book below*
*End of spoiler*
Besides these, I thought this was a thoroughly imaginative and well-crafted novel that was certainly unlike any I had read before. I am eager to see the world expand (and perhaps that will answer some of the questions I had that are addressed above) and to see what happens to these characters and this land in subsequent books.
CWs: chronic illness; depression and anxiety; toxic and abusive academic environment and advisor; sexual harassment of a secondary character; grief and loss; discussions of cancer and parent death; violence; murder; captivity and physical assault/harm
*CWs that are potential spoilers*:
*End of spoilers*
CNs: This is a dark fantasy novel and as such contains some themes of violence and morally grey behaviours (not among the MCs). One of the characters is a moth person who does not conform to traditional human gender roles and uses they/them pronouns. Many human characters also use they/them pronouns particularly when their gender is unspecified (please see author notes for more information). This is a novel containing monsters and a sexual relationship between a human and a monster involving non-human genitalia. The story is high-heat. Thank you to the author for the ARC and this is my voluntary review.
Read it in a day. Fast-paced story with likable characters, even one of "the bad guys." Highly recommend to readers of m/m, non-binary, monster fucking. Very spicy scenes. Some graphic violence. Overall, it was a great read. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
I joke that I write book reviews because I have to do something with these multiple degrees in literary criticism, but sometimes that means I want to come at book reviews from two completely different angles. This interesting debut novel is one of those instances. On one hand, this is a fun, sexy queer monster romance featuring a less frequently portrayed cryptid that has as much potential as the typical shifter or vampire hero. On the other, I appreciated that Dixon included “colonization” as one of the content warnings at the front of this novel. Though I can’t be sure I’m interpreting that warning in the way it was intended, I have definite opinions on how it influenced the scope of this story and its characters.
Before anyone thinks I’m trashing this book, there is certainly plenty I enjoyed. (After all, the reason I give so few low ratings is that I simply don’t finish books that I don’t enjoy, and I binge-read this one in a day.) True rural fantasy is a different beast from urban fantasy tropes that just happen to be set elsewhere than in a big city, and Dixon absolutely hits the mark here. I especially loved the “Gothic horror but make it Ohio” vibe, taking a location that is all too familiar to me and evoking a drastically different mood and quality to the setting. Dixon translates the relatively modern myth of the “Mothman” into an ancient being who imprints on a typical grad student. Ezra imprints on Gray right back, and while none of their relationship follows the traditional arc of a romance story, the interactions between them make for a compelling and exciting fantasy story. Though there is an unpredictable journey between Ezra and Gray getting their happily ever after, it is solidly entwined with a darker fantasy mystery that is steeped with the Appalachian mythology of the setting.
Alas, the “Appalachia” bit is where the book got the most concern from me. I do understand that the nominal culture referred to as such is very Euro-centric in how certain aspects and traditions were imported (colonized). However, the author missed an opportunity when every indication was that all the magic of the area was originally from Europe. No reference is made to either an intentional blending or antagonistic relationship with indigenous power. As much as I loved Gray’s particular mix of modern and old-fashioned, they are still very much a representation of the Anglo-Saxon aspects of “traditional” Appalachia. And for a cryptid that is so functionally American, and not even a century old, as the Mothman, it was much harder to accept this colonization of the legend when so much possibility exists for a mix of sources.
With all of those caveats and criticism, I still finished the book. I still enjoyed the characters and story of this solid debut publication. I even look forward to reading the promised next installment thanks to the excellent use of secondary characters and teases of future potential. But I also encourage potential readers to go into this series with the understanding that sometimes a content warning isn’t about what is included in a story, but instead an indication of a complete and jarring absence.
Jae Dixon’s debut novel Song provided me with big expectations that weren’t exactly met. There were some aspects that I really enjoyed but there were also others that just weren’t working for me. The story started off really interesting and reminded me of Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series (which I’m obsessed with but have yet been able to find anything along the same lines/quality) so I was very excited to delve into the world of Appalachian Cryptids.
But the pacing was really off which derailed my enjoyment… There was a heap of focus on some events whereas others were just breezed through and don't get me started on the unexpected time jumps. It would've been nice for Dixon to slowly develop the relationship between Gray and Ezra. Sure there's the proceeding 'ghost touches' but their initial meeting felt too rushed… it would’ve been nice for them to talk a bit more and get to know one another before jumping right into the smut. I know they’re 'mates' and the pull was strong of whatever but it just felt like they barely knew one another before all the drama began. To make matters worse once they'd met there was a significant time jump. But the drama... It just came out of nowhere. We’re introduced to the villain Dr Allen from the beginning but then all this extra info is revealed out of nowhere and left me with whiplash.
Song was interesting but it reads like an unrefined work. I know it’s quite short but perhaps too much was packed into it... There's a lot of info that was introduced about characters that seems unimportant for future books. I look forward to reading Dixon’s next book though, there’s so much potential with the characters, world and lore that they've built.
Recommended to me on Instagram as queer and witchy, I thought I'd give Song a try. Based in a fictional Appalachian town, Ezra is despondent following a poor meeting with his academic advisor near the anniversary of his father's death. Gray of the Winged Folk has been following and falling for Ezra and after a fateful meeting in a graveyard, their lives become irrevocably entangled.
- The story itself was fast-paced, almost rushed. I enjoy it and the developments but wish there was more depth to some of the elements. As someone only vaguely aware of Appalachian folklore, I wish there were more in prose explanations of things. There is a glossary at the back describing characters and elements but it contains spoilers so I did not read it until the end.
- The characters were really cool. Obviously Gray and other Winged Folk characters were fascinating and I enjoyed the Mothman elements a lot. I loved that there were several gender diverse characters and they/them pronouns were considered default and the norm unless otherwise stated.
- So now I have to go and research lots of folklore and regional knowledge for Appalachia. The setting was well crafted and the flavour and essence of the area was incredibly vivid. The darker elements of the book were super creepy and I would love more explanation of those in later books (if there are any).
For those who enjoy folklore-based fantasy, queer characters and cryptid romance. Creepy, vivid and enticing.
"I lost myself to your smell of rain and fresh earth. When you speak, I hear the whispers of the wind and the tumbling of cold-water creaks. I could not deny you (...)"
A debut novel that was very enjoyable, full of action, dark academia mystery, evil plot twists, and of course the incredibly well crafted romance and spicy scenes between the main characters.
I loved how even chapter names reflected the character from whose point of view they were being told.
One of my favourite parts were in the very first chapters of the book, where we get to feel the intoxicating mix of fear and uncertainty that draws the human Ezra to the mothman whom he can't even see yet, but he can already sense something irresistible in the shadows.
The physical pull that develops between them, especially the scenes in the graveyard and in the coffee shop, where Ezra still can't see the physical form of Gray but his body responds involuntarily to the proximity of his fated mate, are so incredibly well written I kept reading them again and again.
Really looking forward to the sequel and getting to know more about my favourite side characters, especially the feral Indrid whose PoV chapter is probably my favourite moment in the entire book 🙂
* Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½ * Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ * Is this considered a stand-alone? Yes. * Is this part of a series? Per the author, it is the start of one.
My thoughts:
A unique story with specific local cultural beliefs and cryptid folklore woven throughout. The world-building is slightly confusing, as more seems to be added as the story progresses rather than having the rules outlined from the get go, but I honestly read this story for the awesome cover and mothman d*ck. 🤣🤣
All in all, a good read. I enjoyed the reveals about the side characters and where the series may go in the future. As far as the main characters, I enjoyed Indrid much more than Gray (who felt stiff to me and hard to like as a character since he was sort of dissociative, for lack of a better way of describing him, when it came to the humans around him) so I didn’t care too much for the romance. The spice scenes made up for it, though.
I absolutely loved the uno reverse ending. (IYKYK)
Anyone who reads my reviews knows I love a good queer horror smut book. Song brings a reader into a familiar world (oh how I miss the laissez-faire days of grad school... but I do not miss the way my brain died a little each June...) but introduces what lies just beyond it. Though at times rushed, the characters are lovely and queer (in all senses of the word) and are all the type to be found wandering around your average university campus.
(Was there mothmen, necromancers, liches, changelings, and pooka poking about either of the campuses I've studied on? I mean probably. I've seen weirder stuff on the subway.)
While the two LIs had copious amounts of sexy times, I wouldn't say this book is all that spicy. It's Romantic and Gothic and could have ranked higher with a solid HEA. Like 2 peppers.
I DFN'd this book at 62%...and I feel a little badly about it.
This book started out really strong for me. I was engaged, excited, and honestly intrigued by the world being described...but then the 2 MCs met each other and it just kind of went off the rails.
After they meet face to face it felt like the author hit fast forward because all of a sudden a few weeks had gone by and Gray had gone MIA. It just felt so disjointed to me after that. I pushed through that bit of whiplash, but the next time I got hit by a plot twist that came out of nowhere I just could not make myself keep going.
As soon as I saw this was about the mothman I grabbed it! Song is a wonderful story about a non-binary Moth”man” named Gray and a sweet TA, Ezra, who are fated to be together. While they face many challenges including, near fatal antics by the Moths older brother, a professor intent on failing certain main characters(among other things), and a revelation that ends in a bitter sweet ending. I loved this story and fully intend to get cold once it comes out!
I don't feel like there is enough of a relationship between the two MCs In total they spend like less than a week together, just some sex 🤷♀️ I don't know the book felt lacking