There's science fiction as the genre of big ideas, probing scientific concepts and asking big philosophical questions. And then there is science fiction as a setting, set on an alien world, or with futuristic concepts, but with a recognisable very human story. Its not a binary, the two types blend together, and I like both. The Moon The Sun Forgto is very much in the second camp though. Set in the oceans under the ice on Jupiter's moon of Europa, positing a lively eco-system of aquatic creatures, this is more 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea than the Expanse (though it borrows a few ideas from the latter). This is a sweeping adventure romance, with even hints of piracy going on in its genre smash.

Kassia McCullough is the young captain of the submersible Hyperion, running small transport jobs between company mining stations, occasionally chilling with the giant alien fish. She discovers that the man who caused her father's suicide has been sighted, and she can get her hands on him if she helps Earth cop Max Danzig (yes really) catch his fugitive. Danzig is a marked man the minute he gets to Europa, and only with Kassia's sea smarts, her slightly illegal AI and that special submarine will he get his man/revenge.

This is a big revenge, chase adventure romance, and romance actually takes up a larger amount of the book than expected, pleasantly so. But like all good revenge romances, there will come a moment when they have to choose between their new belov'd and their quarry. This is rollicking stuff, and Wagner has as much fun describing the monsters of the deep (human and aquatic) as his lead couple, who are constantly flirting. The low level dystopian background that the Europa miners are deliberately kept out of the loop with newa and culture stays very much in the background (there's a moment when Max hands over about 100 years of music, art and movies which seems like it would have been a big deal). It keeps its pace and its lead couple are, whilst mainly battered archetypes, flawed but worth rooting for. Fun.

I gave this book a good try, but unfortunately, I DNFed it at 36%.

As a sucker for Jupiter settings, I was immediately drawn to this cover and its promise of a story set on Europa. Given my past experiences with indie sci-fi, my hopes were measured, but I was pleasantly surprised by the narrative quality.

The writing reads like a debut work—which it is—so some roughness is understandable. Readers accustomed to Sanderson or Tchaikovsky will need time to adjust.

My main wish was for more immersive world-building; too often, crucial information came through dialogue rather than allowing us to see and experience this fascinating moon firsthand. At times, the story unfolds like an action movie, which will certainly appeal to fans of that style.
Though highly readable, this is predominantly plot-driven, offering little for character development enthusiasts like myself. The characters, while lacking depth, were still loveable.
Sometimes, the world didn't make sense for me, for example, the presence of a southern American accent in 2271 on Europa. While not impossible, the information that I had about the world wasn't enough to convince me that it was possible.

The DNF is less about the book's shortcomings and more about my personal preferences as a reader. This story surpasses many Goodreads books that have ratings of 4 stars or higher. I'll definitely be watching for B.J. Wagner's next publication.
3.5 stars, rounded up.

This was a fun one. I'd been in the mood for a sci fi spacey adventure and this delivered. I loved Kassia and Max and Alex! Alex was amazing and stole a few scenes. I adore an AI with a sense of humor! I was enchanted by the underwater world of Europa and the technology. I always appreciate when a sci fi novel doesn't over-explain itself, while managing to not leave me hella confused, and Wagner pulled that off perfectly. I liked the enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-ally situation, I liked the questing and adventuring, and I really liked the representation: FMC with a physical disability, and both FMC and MMC have past trauma they gotta heal from, including addiction and substance abuse, and this is a queer-normative universe. Love it!

Another thing I particularly enjoyed is Kassia and Max get beaten. A lot. They get injured, their ship gets damaged, they spend a lot of time running to live to fight another day. They're in over their heads in a lot of ways. These are characters who are not superheroes, they're just clever, scrappy, have a few aces up their sleeves, and sometimes they have allies (and sometimes they get betrayed). They are not invulnerable. Even Alex, clever illegal AI that xe is, faces challenges that sometimes stumps xim: technology is incompatible or outdated, physical range is a factor, other AIs of varying sophistication interfere with xis hacks, an IT team tries to shut xim down... Plot armor here only means our MCs don't get killed, it doesn't mean they don't get their asses handed to them more than once.

The romance was a slow burn with one open-door scene ( BUT THEY GOT INTERRUPTED, UGHHH ) and I felt like it was the natural conclusion of two people in close quarters for an extended period of time, especially when constantly being faced with your own mortality. Does this create the foundation for lasting romance? Who's to say? But I sure enjoyed the ride.

Some readers mentioned they didn't like the plot twist, but I disagree. I didn't think this was really a plot twist? I liked it, and the OH SHIT factor was real, but come on. Everyone knows if you don't see a body, they ain't dead. We also know Rhone is human, but only barely. For me, it felt like there were enough signs to know we weren't quite done with him, so while the manner in which he reappeared was a little surprising, the fact he did reappear at all wasn't.

What stopped this from being a full five stars for me is I honestly can't tell you what genre it is beyond "sci fi". The sci fi is spacey but also underwater (is anyone getting Rapture from Bioshock vibes? No? Just me?), and there's some cyberpunk elements (bio-cyber implants!), and some dystopian elements, failed space colonization elements, but also a little bit of space western sprinkled in there, too. There are no "good guys" vs "bad guys", everyone's out for their own interests, whether that's revenge or money or power. There's elements of action, adventure, fantasy (with one or two cozy scenes thrown in!) and the romance sub-plot that I mentioned. There's a lot happening, and I feel like that might actually exclude some readers rather than bring some in. I, personally, like all of these things, but I don't know how many other readers do. However, just because a book isn't marketable doesn't mean it's not good. This is good. It's really good. But I can see how it's not for everyone.

I feel like the last 10% of the book was rushed and I would have liked to see either less happen, or each event get expanded on a little more. This factor also helped me settle on a four star rating. A little tweaking could have elevated this, for me, from damn good to holy shit. Still, the final pages left me satisfied and felt appropriate and in line with the characters and if there was ever a sequel novella or extended epilogue, I'd love to get my hands on it. I think there's more story that could be told if the author was inclined, but I also feel satisfied enough to leave it here with this one book.

Our two leads are seeking vengeance for different reasons in the icy seas of Europa. Kassia, captain of the Hyperion, wants revenge on a man called Pretorious Grant for driving her father to suicide. Born on Earth, police detective Max comes to Europa tracking the man who killed his partner, and who also happens to be Grant's half-brother. Kassia and Max join forces to hunt the men down while navigating Europa's 'underworld.'


Although I found this book enjoyable, I do have to say it was fairly formulaic and lacked originality. Kassia acts like the stereotypical 'tough female character' who swears all the time but then also needs to be rescued by Max in the end. Max is the stoic yet sensitive detective still recovering from the loss of his field partner. Obviously they are going to fall in love and bang. They will each get their vengeance by the end but then realize that getting revenge doesn't make them happy. Etc, etc.

That being said, I did find our AI character Alex to be an absolute delight and thought the descriptions of Europa's wildlife to be fascinating. Although Wagner seemed to make Grant's and Rhone's deaths anti climatic (thus reinforcing the theme of revenge being a hollow pursuit), a last minute twist in the end undercuts that message as well as Kassia and Max's character arcs. The book could have been that much better if it had ended without that twist.

Reviews going live on Goodreads, Storygraph and Fable on 3/3 and on Tiktok on 3/4.

I requested this book because I mostly read sci fi and fantasy and the premise sounded really great for a sci fi setting. I just wish there was more of the sci fi setting included.

The cons for me were the world building. We’re on a moon of another planet and it’s briefly explained why that is but I found it odd that Max spends a longer time talking about how odd the hand shake he got was since there were 5 plagues on earth than the fact that they had to move off earth because of that. Let’s hear more about that, less telling and more showing. A real lot of time is spent describing everyone physical details but not their personalities or their surroundings as much.

The story is entertaining (I don’t think the romance added much as it didn’t feel super organic) but if you pulled the story out of the sci fi setting it wouldn’t change a whole lot. I wanted to feel immersed in the story but it felt a little surface level.

Book just needs a little fine tuning/editing and would feel really polished. Impressive for a debut book. I would read more from this author.

When it comes to action and suspense, pacing is everything. It can make or break a story. If the pacing is too slow or inconsistent, the story can feel like a slog. If it’s too quick, it can feel like it’s trying to get to the good bits too quickly. Pacing is difficult to master and not everyone gets it right.

The Moon the Sun Forgot by B.J Wagner is a science fiction adventure set on Europa. It’s about Max Danzing, a newly re-minted detective from Earth who is on the hunt for a fugitive who has eluded authorities for decades. On Europa he meets Kassia, a fiery redhead who’s on her own hunt for revenge, and sees an opportunity in Max. Together they have to navigate Europa’s underworld on Kassia’s ship the Hyperion, and in the process discover some hard truths about each other and possibly fall in love.

From the jump, The Moon the Sun Forgot pulled me in. The prose flows well and the setting of the oceans of Europa is unique enough that I was intrigued by it. Descriptions of characters and places are handled with an expert hand. They don’t feel too heavy, nor do they slow down the action. They do just enough to let your mind fill in the rest, but are well crafted enough to be appreciated. Wagner handles suspense and danger well. I was on the edge of my seat at parts, excited about what might happen next. The stakes are well handled and the characters are realistic and well-rounded.

The one thing I felt let this book down was the overall pacing. The pacing in individual scenes was great, but for the novel as a whole it was inconsistent. For the first third of the novel, the stakes ramp up and the action increases. Things are moving into place. Max and Kassia are on the run and making waves. Then the plot grinds to a sudden halt as it spends multiple chapters developing their romance. Here, we learn a bit about the characters’ fears and aspirations and they learn to have an appreciation for each other, but nothing else really happens. I would have liked to have seen the romance and character development peppered throughout the action. Slowing down to develop characters is fine, but there’s a balance.

All that being said, the novel kicks off again and the action reaches even greater heights as the novel barrels towards its resolution. The romance feels natural and the novel has the unique ability to draw you back in, even when you need to do some chores. It feels a lot like a spy thriller and Max reads like a sci-fi James Bond and I do hope to see more of him in the future.

This debut novel from Canadian author B. J. Wagner had me hooked. The setting and world building was incredible, the MCs extremely likeable, and the plot gripping. It has been a while since I read Sci-Fi, and upon receiving this ARC was so excited to sink my teeth into it. Thankfully, it did not disappoint.

The Moon the Sun Forgot is a crime thriller set in the harsh and unforgiving environment of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons. Europa is covered in ice, which means its population lives deep in the ocean beneath the 8km thick ice cover. The story follows Max and Kassia. The former being a detective sent from Earth to track down an escaped criminal, and the ladder a Europa-native. With the same goal, they become unlikely allies.

Plot
This plot gave me Jack Reacher-treasure planet but underwater on an alien moon vibes. And I fucked with it. Hard. I didn't really know where it was going to take us. Would our MCs get their revenge? What would happen if they met the antagonists?

Wagner kept the plot advancing while withholding just enough information to keep me on my toes. And, *spoiler alert*, I totally though our boy Rhone was gone upon the sinking of Ragnarok. I should've known better...

As a die-hard romantic, I was disappointed that Kassia didn't return to Earth with Max. Especially with all mentions of her dreaming of visiting the planet. But as a realist, I appreciated how Wagner kept who she is as a character in the ending. She doesn't seem like the romantic type just follow a man wherever simply because she loves him. I do wish an additional chapter or epilogue was written letting us know if they ever did meet again!

Characters
Kassia is so badass. If you love a strongwilled, smart, mouthy, and fiery FMC than you will love Kassia (I know I did). Her stubbornness and guardedness definitely made me want to scream at times, but it just added to her strong character and made me love her even more. She felt like an underwater pirate in the unforgiving oceans of Europa.

As for Max, our MMC, he's noble, goodhearted, equally as smart, and badass in the way that Jack Reacher is badass. His character complemented Kassia beautifully. I really enjoyed their dynamic and how their relationship grew. Although he had all the makings for a great character, he seemed to fall a bit flat for me.

I've noticed other reviews mentioning how their relationship seemed sudden, but I disagree. From the very start their romantic interest started growing, and I also liked how the romance wasn't the main part of the story.

Another character worth mentioning is Alex. Our non-binary AI crew member aboard the Hyperion. Witty, funny, and providing good breaks in the storyline for banter (as well as saving our MCs asses more than once), I loved Alex!

Setting & Worldbuilding

The setting and world building was very well done, especially for a debut novelist. It also reflected the story quite well. A dark, deep ocean, alien world feels like a perfect metaphor for two MCs hell-bent on vengeance for loved ones lost. The majority of the story takes place aboard the Hyperion, an underwater vessel commandeered by Kassia.

Wagner did a great job at pacing the info-dumps with plot advances. It can be a precarious balance of not overloading and boring the reader with too much world building and too little plot. I appreciated the injections of info between exciting plot advances.

<b>Final Thoughts</b>
I really loved this book. Kassia and Max were well-written characters, the setting was incredible, and the plot had me on the edge of my seat at times. I love the lawlessness of it all, and the piracy alien vibes. The focus on the plot with a side of romance was perfect.

I am thoroughly impressed that this is a debut novel, and look forward to anything else Wagner may write. He's got a great skill and talent already, it can only get better from here.

The Moon the Sun Forgot offers a captivating adventure set beneath the icy surface of Europa, blending action, revenge, and an engaging mix of characters. While the world-building shines early on and the AI character, Alex, adds a fun touch, the emotional depth of the characters and the romance felt a bit underdeveloped, keeping it from reaching its full potential.

Before I get into the bulk of the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Mythic Roads Press for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Moon the Sun Forgot is a dual POV SciFi novel that follows Kassia McCullough, a mariner who lives off the ocean under the surface of Europa’s icy shell, and Max Danzig, a detective from Earth. Their paths intersect as they both plot courses for revenge. Kassia hunts for Pretorious Grant, the man she holds responsible for her father’s suicide, while Max has traveled the solar system to bring Pretorious Grant’s half-brother Somerled Rhone to justice (and to get some personal justice of his own). The Moon the Sun Forgot comes out on March 3rd and is available for preorder now.

When I first started this ARC, I thought to myself, “Finally. Some good SciFi again.” The world building at the beginning of this novel really hit it out of the park for me (though, it did fade later on). There’s just something about SciFi where it strikes a cord when you see the intricacies of a world that’s had to be adapted by humans and for humans. Seeing the different ways the ships are built and the maintenance required due to different conditions, seeing what’s been adapted for human life, seeing how humans have adapted for space. It’s what gives me so much love for the genre. The set up at the beginning was just so good. Also, who doesn’t love a revenge story? I enjoyed our main characters Kassia and Max so much. Probably Kassia more than Max because she is so confident and sure of herself. But the character who could really steal the show for me was Alex, their onboard A.I. You can place your eye roll here. Hi, my name is Liberty and I love any sort of A.I./droid/bot (the murderous and non-murderous kinds). That’s probably the first thing you should know upon meeting me. Alex was able to act as moments of levity in really dark moments or was able to bring our main characters back to reality when they were lost in fantasies of each other (or their revenge). Such a great character.

As I said before, the world building was lacking once we truly got into the story which made it all fade away for me. I wish I had felt more grounded in the world. All of the components were there to make this such an amazing story for me, but I felt like this one kept us at an arm’s length. When the romance was introduced, I was genuinely surprised. Because I had no idea they felt romantic emotions for each other. So, despite being in both of our main characters’ heads, I felt pretty separate from what they were thinking and feeling. It also felt like the fire of revenge didn’t really burn in our characters. I could see that they definitely blamed those people for their roles in what happened in the past, but I never truly felt the anger, hatred, and passion that supposedly ruled these characters. There were also just moments when the romantic side of the story felt a little…off. It wasn’t the right time or place, in my opinion. Or the descriptions were just so obviously written by a man for men. Which feels weird to say. I normally don’t complain about sex scenes being written by a man or a woman due to gender. It’s more of a general asexual who doesn’t quite get what the hype is about or whatever normally. This time it just felt like the authorial voice was too present in the sex scenes. I didn’t enjoy it.

Overall, this was a good SciFi novel (not great, but still good) and I’m ready as ever to read more SciFi. I think this is a good jumping off point for any reader looking to get into SciFi. I think both the romantic plot line and the humorous side characters can really bridge the gap for readers.

I struggled with this one. I love a good SF novel, but this one jumped right into the action without giving many hints about who we were meeting. If you're into action and plot plot plot over character development, you may enjoy this more than I did. The dialog also felt stilted and took me out of the story several times.

On the positive side, the premise is interesting, as is the setting. It just didn't work for me.

The concept of an undersea adventure on Europa, with miners, pirates, and megacorporations vying for dominance, was intriguing, and the blurb promised a high-stakes story full of revenge, justice, and danger. However, the execution fell flat for me.

The main characters—Kassia, Max, and the outlawed AI Alex—had potential, but their dynamics felt underdeveloped. While their shared goal of vengeance brought them together, I never truly connected with their individual motivations or relationships. Kassia’s vendetta against Grant and Max’s pursuit of his partner’s killer were compelling in theory but lacked emotional impact in practice.

The setting of Europa’s lawless undersea world should have been a highlight, but the world-building didn’t feel immersive. There were moments of tension with dangerous undersea creatures and mercenaries, but they didn’t build enough momentum to keep me fully engaged.

Overall, while the premise held promise, the story didn’t resonate with me. That's why I'm giving this book 1 ⭐.

The ocean setting is a master move because it makes the book original. But even without that advantage over other scifi:s this is a very good book. I would like to read more from B.J. Wagner. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was a really well done scifi adventure novel, it had that element that I was looking for and thought it was beautifully done. It had that tale of love and worked with the ocean setting, I was invested in what was happening with the characters and thought worked overall. B.J. Wagner was able to create a strong writing style and can't wait for more.

I actually really enjoyed this book and am hoping for a continuation in the future. I felt the setting was very unique and I liked how it and the various sea life were described. The story was fun with a good balance of action and storytelling, a bit of romance as well. I found the characters to be enjoyable, especially Alex the AI. I was slightly confused by the name of one of the ships, Ragnarok, it seems like it refers to 3 different ships at different points of the book. Definitely will be purchasing a copy upon its release.