Want a grounded historical fantasy with real atmospheric small-town life on a Maine island but with a deep wellspring of selkie folklore? By the Dark o’ the Moon is set in Prohibition-era Maine with gothic elements, featuring a selkie who attempts to reclaim her stolen child from a ruthless rumrunner.
Free ARC copies available on BookSirens, NetGalley (until Sept. 28) and BookSprout. Get access by going to www.kstephensauthor.com (scroll to the bottom for links.)
Synopsis:
In 1927, with Prohibition luring Maine lobstermen to smuggle liquor under moonlight, a merciless rumrunner steals a selkie’s child from the storm-ravaged rocks. To reclaim her child’s sealskin and return to the sea, she must place her trust in the unlikeliest of allies: the rumrunner’s apprentice, a young man torn between loyalty and conscience.
Trigger warnings: Adult themes: some profanity, minor sexual interactions with heterosexual partners; some violence. Not high fantasy, nor romantasy. Not appropriate for under 18 years old.
Advance Praise
“The prose in this book is absolutely stunning—full of vivid, sensory-rich descriptions that make you feel like you’re standing right there in the cold, grimy setting. Every scene drips with atmosphere, and the writing pulls you deep into the world.”
-Author Joseph Palmer
“What an enchanting and atmospheric read! By the Dark o’ the Moon takes readers to 1920s Maine, where the dangers of rumrunning collide with the timeless magic of selkie lore. The contrast between harsh coastal life and the lyrical, otherworldly elements is beautifully done.”
Free ARC copies available on BookSirens, NetGalley (until Sept. 28) and BookSprout. Get access by going to www.kstephensauthor.com (scroll to the bottom for links.)
Synopsis:
In 1927, with Prohibition luring Maine lobstermen to smuggle liquor under moonlight, a merciless rumrunner steals a selkie’s child from the storm-ravaged rocks. To reclaim her child’s sealskin and return to the sea, she must place her trust in the unlikeliest of allies: the rumrunner’s apprentice, a young man torn between loyalty and conscience.
Trigger warnings:
Adult themes: some profanity, minor sexual interactions with heterosexual partners; some violence. Not high fantasy, nor romantasy. Not appropriate for under 18 years old.
Advance Praise
“The prose in this book is absolutely stunning—full of vivid, sensory-rich descriptions that make you feel like you’re standing right there in the cold, grimy setting. Every scene drips with atmosphere, and the writing pulls you deep into the world.”
-Author Joseph Palmer
“What an enchanting and atmospheric read! By the Dark o’ the Moon takes readers to 1920s Maine, where the dangers of rumrunning collide with the timeless magic of selkie lore. The contrast between harsh coastal life and the lyrical, otherworldly elements is beautifully done.”
-Book reviewers Mary Gilchrist