In a time where there were castles, kings, lords and highwaymen, a young carriage driver is hired to take a “lady” to visit her sick grandmother. His instructions are that he is to get there as quickly as possible. The shortest way is to drive through a dark forest. This way is dangerous for several reasons. There is only one village to stop at besides wolves and highwaymen. The young carriage driver is charged with her safety. On the way, he will encounter the wolves. While resting at the village inn, he hears a fight which by the time he has arrived finds a crowd looking at the death of two villagers whose bodies have been torn apart. Who did that? He has fears that he and his lady are in danger. They decide not to spend the night but to continue their trip. Their continued trip ends up at a castle only to find no comfort there. Why?

The author has written an exquisite novel that has mystery, deaths and more. I found myself captivated by the young carriage driver’s descriptions of the events that happens in the book. It isn’t your everyday fairy tale though in some ways it reminded me of fairy tales. To survive the events the carriage driver’s story of what happened when he told his tale in different pubs didn’t help him to stop his nightmares from the drive. It is creepy, scary and unexpected twists and turns a novel that will hold your attention.

Written by Allen McGill, this novel follows a carriage driver as he escorts his charge across a dangerous forest. And here, there be monsters.

This book was very well written and did an excellent job of balancing the unknown with details, and really painting pictures for the reader. Personally, I loved the writing style that McGill employed as it kept the story in a fairytale realm while still inducting us into the coachman’s life.

As the book progresses, we see more and more of the Lady as well as those who are following her – or at least appear to be. And we get to meet some more characters (I shall say no more to avoid any spoilers).

If you enjoy fairytale retellings, mystery, some romance, and a lot of dark lore-style stories, I think this could be a great option for you. If none of those sound interesting, perhaps this isn’t the book for you.

I did receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In a time of castles, muskets, and hideous creatures of the night, a beautiful woman travels across the treacherous Dark Forest to be by the side of her dying grandmother. With only a young carriage driver to protect her, she must use her wits and all of her courage to cross the wild country—and to evade the mysterious beast who stalks her.


What follows is a tale full of horror, mystery, and romance: gruesome murders at a village hidden deep in the forest, a castle that holds dark secrets, and a black wolf leading a deadly pack. Nothing is as it seems, and this journey has only just begun. The beautiful lady in the carriage will learn that only love can defeat evil, but is it love or danger that cries out to her in the deceitful light of the moon?

The Review

I was hooked immediately with this book. The author did such an amazing job of crafting a narrative that was both emotionally investing and chilling at the same time. The story was written in a way that felt like historical fiction meets Brother’s Grimm meets folklore all at once. The nods and homages to classic fairy tale style storytelling elements and themes were felt immediately, but then did such a great job of taking readers immediately into a right turn that held gruesome mayhem and terrifying creatures, and then made a completely new turn into heartbreaking and heartfelt romance and drama.

The character growth in this narrative made the story everything it was. The horror, the scares, the heart, all of it wouldn’t have been possible without such strong characters and their bond to one another. From the young woman seeking to care for her grandmother to the loyal carriage driver hoping to protect her, and the creatures she shares a mysterious connection to, each of these characters felt dynamic and grand in their design, and yet very human and emotional in their motives and interactions with one another, making this such a superb read.

The Verdict

A brilliant, shocking, and immensely engaging read, author Alan McGill’s “A Cry in the Moon’s Light” is a must-read paranormal fantasy and romance reader. A fantastic blend of gothic horror meets iconic fairytale lore, the author crafted such heart and connectivity into the narrative that readers will be eager to want more, and the fact that the author had turned this into an audiobook-style podcast as well made this such an interactive story that holds so much promise for more stories within this universe.

You have to be careful when deciding to read a book in this genre. There has to be story, the characters need to come alive for you. You know you hit a winner, when throughout your day, you are thinking about the characters in the book you are reading. That is a rare occurrence. indeed. This book, did just that for me. Real horror entwined with a real story. Blew me away, took me to another time and place, which books are supposed to do, right? This one did so in a masterful way! Unique and not a typical werewolf/witch type tale. Something special here. Really and truly cant wait to read more of Alan's works. I know we will sell them!

Loved this book! I especially liked the way the author painstakingly described in detail each and every scene. His character portraiture forced you to feel as though you are living there and breathing with them all. The storytelling was gripping and the characters came to life! Looking forward to reading McGill’s other books. Good work!