Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

I want to start my review honestly. I DNF'ed around 10% into this book and first wanted to DNF around 3%. I really wanted to enjoy this book. The blurb made it sound right up my alley, but I just could not get into it. The book starts in the 3rd person which made it hard for me to feel what the character was feeling. It was as if I was being told a story about someone instead of seeing it from their point of view and I immediately felt disconnected from the character. While many readers love having a fantasy take place in the modern world, it was not what I was expecting and felt a bit disappointed when Briar was so connected to her phone and Porsche. I also felt as if some of the dialog was a bit cheesy. I had a bit more hope when the chapter changed to 1st person, but found myself cringing at the use of the villains name over and over again. Even in 1st person, I could not connect with the character.

While this book was not for me, those who prefer a modern fantasy world might enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you to Netgally and Alexandra Thomashoff for the E-ARC copy of this book.

I really tried to give this book a fair shot but ultimately I DNF it.

I found it difficult to immerse myself in the story, largely due to the writing style. The frequent shifts in narration were jarring and interrupted the flow of narrative. Personally, I would have preferred a consistent point of view throughout the book to maintain cohesion. The human elements also set me off and I wasn't fond of its setting at the start of the book.

That said, its world-building is expansive so for readers who enjoy a lore-rich plot, this could be a great fit. The characters show some depth but not enough to connect with me. If you enjoy emotional complex characters with a dark defining history, this book could also appeal to you.

Please remember this is just entirely my own opinion and while this book did not work for me, It may work for others.

Arc review

I absolutely loved this book.. I devoured it in 2 days!

The world building was great but not too overwhelming, and the story hooks you in from the very start. The slow burn and angst is perfectly done, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

I’m obsessed with Riven and Caryan.. Riven in particular. I adore his character so much and can’t wait to see how his story develops with Melody.

Hope we see more of Ronin in the next instalment.. I need more of him!

If you love anything by Sarah J Maas or Rebecca Yarros this will definitely be for you. Absolutely recommend this book!! It has all the elements of a perfect romantasy story.

I can’t stop thinking about it, and already can’t wait for the second book!

Not gonna lie…I really couldn’t get into this book at the moment. The characters were great with a good storyline but unfortunately It’s not holding my attention and will probably try again at a later date.

First impression was I felt like the beginning was a little slow, but after reading further I did think it was necessary to get to the good stuff. The world-building was really well done, and I’m hoping we get to see more of it in future books.

.Caryan is that perfectly complex antihero who wants peace but is ready to throw personal freedom out the window to get it. I really liked Melody; the only human in the whole world. Loved her emotional journey.

The romance was steamy, and full of tension. The slow-burn between Melody and Caryan had me hooked. And don’t even get me started on the love triangle—it added a whole new level of drama, passion, and just perfect chaos.

This was such ana amazing fantasy read!

The characters, the world building, the fantasy elements, the romance, I was in love with everything!
The romance especially; it felt so angsty, dark, and full of tension, exactly all the things I love.

The magic system was so unique and I absolutely cannot wait to find out more about it.

I kind of loved everything about this book so can everyone pls read it, thank yewwww.

Thank you so much for a chance to read and eARC of this book! This was my first approved ARC & I was so giddy!! lol

What a way to start! Loved the book from start to finish. Well written, engaging plot! I will definitely be recommending this!

“Kingdom of the Two Moons” by Alexandra Thomashoff is a spellbinding entry into the fantasy genre, weaving together elements of dark magic, forbidden love, and epic adventure. The narrative follows Melody, a young woman with rare gifts, who escapes her oppressive captor only to find herself ensnared in the enigmatic Court of the Two Moons. Here, she encounters Riven, a captivating fae warrior, and Caryan, the formidable Dark Lord, both of whom challenge her perceptions of freedom and destiny. As Melody’s latent powers awaken, she becomes central to a prophecy that could alter the fate of their world. Thomashoff masterfully crafts a tale of resilience and self-discovery, set against a richly imagined backdrop teetering on the brink of war. If you’re drawn to stories of complex characters, intricate world-building, and the timeless struggle between light and shadow, this novel is a must-read.

3.75/5 ⭐️
0.5/5 🌶️

My first ARC read (thank you Netgalley!)

Alexandra Thomashoff’s Kingdom of the Two Moons is an ambitious fantasy with an intricate world, a unique magic system, and intriguing/mysterious characters. While the book offers plenty of potential, its complexity worked against it for me.

Strengths:

- Expansive World-Building: The book introduces a richly detailed world filled with angels, fae, witches, demons, and other magical beings. I honestly found this to be rather overwhelming with so many fae. The glossary at the beginning does offer explanations, which does help to a degree.
- Strong Character Concepts: Caryan and Riven are compelling characters with a dark, mysterious allure, making them interesting to follow. Caryan gives very similar vibes to Xaden/Kingfisher.
- Unique Magic System: The book brings fresh ideas to the fantasy genre, offering a magic system that feels distinct from similar romantasy books. It was very out of the box thinking, and quite refreshing to see.

Weaknesses:

- Overly Complicated Plot: While the story has a lot of potential, the layers of lore, shifting perspectives, and intricate backstories can make it hard to follow. The pacing sometimes drags due to excessive detail. I did feel like majority of this book was explaining places and objects. Which I like to a certain extent. It just got really overwhelming eventually.
- Mix of First- and Third-Person POVs: The switch between perspectives can be jarring, making it harder to stay immersed in the story. Some sections might have been more effective if streamlined. Mixed in with throwbacks/flashbacks I just got really confused at times.
- Unnecessary Details: Certain elements felt like they were included for the sake of complexity rather than contributing meaningfully to the plot.
- Lack of Connection with Melody: Although Riven and Caryan are well-developed, the emotional bond between them and Melody felt weak. The chemistry wasn’t fully convincing, making some of the romantic tension fall flat.

Overall Thoughts:

If you enjoy ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, Fourth Wing or Quicksilver, you may appreciate the dark romance, morally gray characters, and expansive world-building in Kingdom of the Two Moons. However, be prepared for a dense read that requires patience. While the book has a lot to offer, a stronger emotional connection between the characters and a more refined approach to storytelling could make future installments even better. It’s as if the author had so many amazing ideas, but instead of just picking a few and rolling with them, they all got brought into the book and I just generally struggled to follow it all.

There were moments I didn’t even realise I was reading, and flew through chapters, but other times I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. It’s not to say I wouldn’t recommend it, if you like complex reads. But at some points I did struggle. If it was simplified I think it could have been a 4-4.5 ⭐️ read, with more connection with the characters, definitely had a lot of potential.

On my spice! This is delicious. Definitely will help with thy ache from needing something to follow up after Acotar. The world building is next level. The plot is incredible and keeps your mind going. It does tell multiple povs. But it was easy to track. This book is very complex. But I loved it.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I started this book, but it was not an intense high fantasy with a significant romantic plot line that devoured my soul similar to something from ACOTAR. Wow. This book was amazing and left me with a book hangover to rival them all.
The beginning was a bit slow, but I wouldn’t change that for the world as it built up the character and world development in a way that established a strong connection to the characters - maximizing the emotional impact of their choices and consequences. While it did jump between timelines and point of voices, I did not find this hard to keep up with. It actually felt pretty natural and I appreciated the insights into the other characters minds and thoughts. Again - it really added depth to that characters and had me torn for them on what decisions to make and how to navigate their situations. The plot was beautifully complex, but not in a way that was hard to understand - more so in a way that made it unpredictable which kept me up hours into the night reading. I had a feeling it would end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but it was really the withdrawal I got from being in the characters mind and world for so long that left me feeling a bit empty after I finished it.
I am excited to see how Melodys story continues to develop and how these relationships she’s both fosters and attempts to sever.
The downside is reading ARCS sometimes is finishing the book before it’s even officially out and knowing you have the wait even longer until the next book is written. Alas. This shall be my new Roman Empire.

This debut novel by Alexandra Thomashoff is definitely not one to miss! I loved the plot, and the world building was top notch. I also really appreciated the glossary at the start of the book.

We got so many elements that felt familiar from all of our favorite fantasy series, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. But that might be good for some people to know upfront if that’s something that typically bothers you.

All of our main characters were delightfully complex beings, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The banter and tension between our main characters made for a really fun read. There’s also a bit of a love triangle, which normally I’m not a fan of, but this one was done well!

Thank you Alexandra Thomashoff and NetGally for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I love it when books have angels and elves in them. This book did not disappoint in that matter. All the characters did remind me a little of some of my other fantasy books. It's not bad or anything it just means I will enjoy it. It kept me entertained with the characters interactions. Some could be a little annoying but not enough to turn you off from reading which was a big plus for me. The love triangle did give me Vampire Diaries kind of vides because it could be intense at time much like between the brothers and elena. Its entertaining but can sometimes be eye rolling and make you want to slap all the characters lol. Still the book was fun to read, but it was not something so completely different. Some points were predictable. Overall, it is worth the read because the slow burn is what will get, ya for sure, and that gripping tension between the characters.

This book..... I am not over this book and I cant wait for this book to be out so I can yap with everyone about that ending!! The world building in this book was stunning and just so fascinating I want to know more! The magic system is just so intriguing and complex.
The love triangle had me conflicted the whole entire book.... It was done so well.
Melody is such a complex and interesting character but I really grew to like her and the way she thinks. But then we get Blair and she is just female rage put into one person and man was she relatable. Then we have Riven who is a mixture of Rhysand and Rowan and a couple other popular book boyfriends we know and love! I am so excited to see where this series is going to go and what happens along the way!

This blew me out of the water. What a great story. The world building is perfectly paced and sufficiently vast without being too complicated. The characters are so engaging and with some many magical beings you get a little bit of everything. The banter and tension is chefs kiss! Very pleased with this read

Thank you so much for this awesome ARC opportunity

(4.5/5) I absolutely loved this book and finished it in a single day! The world-building was incredible, and I couldn't get enough of the diverse characters—witches, elves, angels, witchers—just everything! Each character felt so well-developed, and the sexual tension was spot on. Despite its 700-page length, the story never felt too long; it was just the right size to immerse you completely in the world. The author did a phenomenal job creating such a rich, captivating universe without overwhelming the reader. I’m already eager to dive into the next book! A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing the early ARC!

Amazingly written. I absolutely loved reading it. It was a bit slow at first but then it got very interesting to read. The world building and characters are top notch. Definitely a recommend

Thank you for the arc!

It took me a little while to get into the story, the pacing was quite slow. The magic system was definitely more unique and it made the plot more interesting for me, but that being said I really struggled with other aspects of the book.

The switch between first & third person made it difficult for me to immerse myself into this, as well as the narrative going back in time. Sometimes I had to go back and reread as I was getting a little confused. I think maybe having a prequel about the past would have made the reading experience more enjoyable.

On the other hand, the world building was detailed, a love a slow burn, the twists were fab and unexpected and I just loved Melody!

This story was overall fantastic. As with any fantasy series, the first few hundred pages can drag a bit while you’re figuring out the magic system and who is who and what is what. I found the very beginning to be slightly hard to follow because of this but once you have placed everything together the storyline is easy to follow. The characters were enjoyable and their dynamics together great. Learning the backstories of Riven and Carayan were fascinating as was the love triangle. The last 200 or so pages had me hooked, the plot was intense and kept me intrigued.

Sorry but this felt a bit like the author took inspiration from other big popular book. From Throne of Glass with the "I do not yield", "I will not be afraid", "To wathever end" to Forth Wing with "It's been my honor", I've had it. I literally look at my tattoo when I read the "I do not yield" line. I know Sarah J Maas and Rebecca Yarros are not the owners of those lines but it's about the accumulation of them.

In this story, we mainly follow Melody who is a half-fae/half-humain. She lives with a mean guy and one day, a bunch of guys are showing up at her door to bring her to the Two Moons Kingdom.

She meets Caryan, the king of the Two Moons kingdom and Riven, his second. The three of them have a bond that is not explained but will be (I guess?) in the next book.

Note : The bond that I am mentioning is about the three of them. Like a triangle. We know about the bond between Caryan and Riven and the one between Caryan and Melody.

Before she is being brought to this new kingdom, she saves Blair. Blair is a witch who is depressed and is longing to live in the humain world.

The world building is complexe and I wish it was done well. I did not understand much of the world and the specific of it. There are many creatures, worlds and laws. Too much was introduced in a short amount of time (despite the fact that the book is huge). I did not care for the writing style, the story, the characters, all of it to be honest. This book felt like a huge, continuing, long introduction. Nothing happened.

One of the things that I enjoyed in this book was reading about the bond between Riven and Caryan. The love between them was so sweet, especially knowing about their past and the suffering that they had to go through.

Melody was also a relatable character. I love reading about badasses female characters but if I was thrown into this world, I would totally be more like Melody.

I think I would like to read the next one to see if the series gets better.