Thank you so much for this ALC opportunity, I had just listened to this first book so this was amazing timing. I really enjoyed both books. This one I think I liked a little better. Second books can be iffy and have a lot of filler but this was a great balance! Very enjoyable read

This is the second book in the Middlemist series, a fact that I somehow overlooked before becoming invested in the audio. This is not uncommon for me, and I actually think it is actually a good sign when you don't need to read book one to become absorbed in the story.

Farryn (spelling?) is not the most trusting main character and spends a good deal of energy fighting against those close to her because she can't imagine that they would really have good intentions. Ryder (spelling?), is an unlikely pairing for her in many ways since he is from the Bask family. There is bad blood between the two, but what unfolds in this installment is proof that the past isn't everything.

I felt the romance aspect of this book worked really well, but I do feel that I needed just a little more history about Evain (spelling) the middlemist, and the forces at play. But if you read the first book, I think you'll really like this one too.

Thanks to netgalley for the advanced listening copy.

#netgalley
#songofashandmoonlight

This is a really good addition to the Middlemist series. The switch in POV from Gemma to Farrin was a good choice, Farrin went through a lot of growth and challenges and came through beautifully.
The characters were interesting because we see a family dealing with a lot of trauma from a feud that caused a lot of personal hurt. Seeing different characters handle their anger and resentment was enlightening and important for readers to see. The romance was spicy and not overdone.
The worldbuilding was a bit of a challenge for me. We have a world that is changing, and I didn't see the significance of some of the changes, it may be more prevalent in the next book, but this one had a lot of things going on that felt a little overwhelming and confusing.

For all the girls who feel inadequate and unworthy in everything they do Farren was written for you.

3.5/5

I found myself struggling to connect with the main character for a while until we started to learn more about her. It took me till about the 35% of the way through to feel more into the story. It's slow at points and seems like it could be shorter but where it picks up it's great! I love Ryder!! He's the perfect MMC for our FMC.

Also I have to say
This must be what it's like to have a bard for a main character 😂 I wish we would have gotten more words for the songs she sings rather than just the type of song. But it May have gotten tiresome.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)

*Song of Ash and Moonlight* by Claire Legrand is a captivating blend of magic, tension, and deep emotion. The characters of Farrin and Ryder are brilliantly crafted, each carrying their own burdens and struggles, making their dynamic both intense and satisfying. Evelyn Rose delivers a compelling performance, bringing Farrin’s inner turmoil and strength to life beautifully.

While I loved the story, I couldn’t help but feel that a dual narration would have elevated it even further. Ryder’s character, with all his mystery and complexity, deserved his own voice to match Farrin’s. Despite this, the tale kept me hooked with its rich world-building and the ever-present tension of waking gods and dangerous magic. Highly recommend!

This follows Farrin, Imogen’s oldest sister, who has always watched out for the family before herself. Always. And now, she has to ally herself with her family’s enemy, Ryder, to find out who is hunting the waking gods.

I love that we get to learn more about another sister. I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first one! I think it’s because I relate more to Farrin than I did to Imogen. Farrin’s insecurities are similar to mine and so I totally got her and understood how she felt about herself, especially around Ryder.

I think the romance in this one is so much more emotionally charged and more of a slow burn with that underlying angst between these two enemies. It was wonderful to read and 🔥 when they came together.

This again had darker vibes like the first one, which makes for an interesting take on a Bridgerton style world, but filled with dark magic and monsters. I love the unique take on that world.

Again I would definitely recommend this series! I look forward to the next one!

Audience: Adult
Plot: 4.75 out of 5
Characters: 4.5 out of 5
Spice: 🌶️ out of 5
Keywords: Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Other Worlds, Music, Slow burn, Enemies to lovers
Tea Pairing: Highlands Breakfast Black Tea by Plum Deluxe – this tea would be perfect for Ryder, as the audiobook narrator gave Ryder a slight Scottish accent. 🙂

I received a copy of this audiobook through NetGalley from Dreamscape Media. Thank you! All opinions are my own.

A Song of Ash and Moonlight is the second book in the Middlemist trilogy, and it picks up shortly after the events of the first. Kilraith was defeated at Talan’s house, but not destroyed — the battle continues. This story is narrated by Farrin, who is the eldest Ashborne sister, and she, her sisters, and the Basks are asked by Queen Yvaine to find out what’s been happening to the Middlemist.

I have to admit that I enjoyed this story more than the first – the first was good, don’t get me wrong – but this one was wow! From page 1 to 592 (hardcover edition), this was a slow-burn, enemies to lovers, he falls first love story. What I enjoyed most was that Farrin was so vulnerable, despite her hard, angry exterior. In reality, she had to harden her heart due to a lot of childhood trauma. It was such a powerful process to watch her transform from that “angry girl” to a strong woman, capable of phenomenal things. In a lot of ways, she reminded me of Nesta from ACOTAR.

There were a lot of revelations in this book – especially some surprising ones. Readers learn a lot about Kilraith’s backstory which was very interesting, and gives some depth to his character arc. There are some additional revelations, but those are some major plot points, so I won’t be sharing those here. But suffice it to say, I was blown away! And I can’t wait for the third book.

I had listened to the audiobook narration of this book – it’s a long one – close to 23 hours. The chapter / tracks average around 45-60 minutes each. The narrator Evelyn Rose is a very good narrator (she also narrated the first book, and I hope she will narrate the third). I’ve always said that audiobook narrators can make or break a book – and she definitely makes the book. She reads with expression, alters her voice for different characters, and even gives Ryder a slightly Scottish accent (which I personally loved). Very well done!

The Middlemist trilogy is a fantasy series, with Regency vibes and social customs, but it has a very unique magic system. I would recommend this book, and the series, to anyone who may enjoy the Romantasy genre.

I was so excited for Farrin and Ryder’s story, and this did not disappoint!
Book 2 of The Middlemist Trilogy, The Song of Ash and Moonlight takes you on a journey with Farrin. With more insight into their past and what happened when their mother went away, Farrin and her sisters are discovering more about their demigod blood and gifts.
And the unfolding relationship with Ryder is beautiful.
Gorgeous storybuilding, I can’t wait until book 3!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for this arc in return for my honest review.

Pub date: 17 September 2024

Always an absolute fave author of mine writing just another phenomenal story that I just couldn't put down! I just ate this one up and instantly wanted to re-read the second I was finished. Everything I need and want from start to finish. I love this series and the second normally doesn't out do the first but it did with this one. Claire is just always an auto read author for me.

I honestly think I liked this sequel just a liiiiiittle bit more than the first one! I was super excited for it once I knew it was going to be about Farren and Ryder and I loved them! Their enemies to friends to lovers was one of my favorites! I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my audio ARC!!

Claire Legrand delivered everything I could have wished for in the second installment of The Middlemist Trilogy. This is Fantasy (with Romance) at its best.

The intricate nature of the plot and the world building built so well from A Crown of Ivy and Glass, balancing telling Farrin's story and setting up the stakes for the final conclusion.

The Romance between Farrin and Ryder was so beautifully handled. As was the delicate and thoughtful way in which Farrin's journey was written, with her anxieties and issues with self perception.

The audiobook narrator, Evelyn Rose, was the perfect choice. Her ability to give clear, distinctive voices to all the cast (including excellent male voices) was immersive.

One very small lapse, for me, was some of the pacing in the last section. But perhaps that was just my impatience to see all the threads come together. Overall, I enjoyed A Song of Ash and Moonlight very much.

Many thanks to Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC of A Song of Ash and Moonlight.

This was the 2nd book in Claire Legrand's Middlemist trilogy. I actually felt this book, which is told by Farrin, the eldest Ashbourne daughter is much more action packed and flowed a bit better. There is a rivalry between two families, however, Farrin starts to fall for the son of the rival family, and they work together because there are occurrences that are happening throughout the land that they don't understand. I cannot wait until the third book to figure out how this ends!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced audiobook.

This story was well written and had an interesting premise, but I could just not get into this book. It was long and too slow paced for me. I also found it to be very predictable. It felt a bit like a chore to read. The chemistry of the love interests in this book was also flat for me.

I really enjoyed this second book in the series and getting Farrin's story! The narrator is great and easily conveys every emotion these characters feel! The intriguing storyline and lush world building were expanded on from the first book! I loved Ryder and Farrin's slow burn, sweet romance. All of these characters are well written and have my heart! If you like Bridgerton vibes, mixed with romance, mystery, mystical creatures and magic..then you will enjoy this series!

Absolutely loved the 2nd book in the series. This time we get Farrin’s story. Steeped in a gothic Romantsy with enemies to lovers with slow burn and the MMC falls first! Still gives a fantasy version of bridgerton vibes. The add on to the world building in this book is fantastic. Such a good time reading this! Can’t wait to see what happens next. Thank you @netgalley for the chance to review.

i will forever love claire legrand. after absolutely eating up her emperium trilogy this year, i was ecstatic to recieve the arc of the second book in her latest series and it exceeded my expectations. this book follows farrin, gemma’s sister from the first installment and can i say that i liked this one even MORE????? the romance was romancing and i feel like we explored the magic even more so this time around, i am positively captivated!!!

I had no idea this was the 2nd book in a series when I requested the ARC. As soon as I was approved I listened to the first book and was a little nervous. While I loved the world building and magic, I didn't like the FMC, Gemma. She was a bit annoying and I was worried that would carry over to this book. I was so wrong. Farrin is an amazing heroine - her snark, her power, her relationship with Ryder - it's all awesome. This book was exciting and beautifully narrated. It kept my interested in the series as a whole.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I tried to get into this book and ultimately couldn’t connect with it. The writing is extremely lyrical bordering on verbose which I’m sure some readers would love but it’s not for me. The narration leads hard into the outlander comparisons and I felt like Claire Fraser was reading to me.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook and reader copy of A Song of Ash and Moonlight by Claire Legrand in exchange for an honest review. What an epic journey this book is. This is book two in the series and even though I haven't read the first, I still really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the duality that everyone had and how it was portrayed either as good, bad or both.

This book picked up a lot towards the end, but I do think it could have been much shorter and had a better impact. The length and pace of the book made it hard to stay engaged in the story, in my opinion, though part of me just liked the main characters in the first book better. I appreciate that this series feels unique from other books in the genre and that this book highlighted a neurodivergent FMC.