The Dark of the Moon isn't a book you speed through, it's one you savour as missing something could impact everything.. And my review will be vague because it's one of those where if I slip up, it could ruin the whole reading experience.

"A voyage awaits you. You are a beacon in the dark..."

I won't deny, I spent the first 25% confused as there's so much to take on board: the plot is intricate and we have multiple POV's (although it's predominately the main protagonists, Serena and Sebastian at the helm). But everything is so described in such detail, you're picked up and transported into the midst of their world, so even though you're wrapping your head around everything and everyone from dragonmen to undead mermaids, you're immersed as you do so.

"He will bleed for you. He will die for you."

This is a fairly hefty book and had I not been reviewing I'd have read it over weeks as opposed to days simply as there's so much to take in and perspectives. But once I passed that 25% point, things started to fall into place that bit more, it picked up momentum and I certainly couldn't have predicted the path the story would take—some of which left me conflicted in feeling which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. With an vast array of characters bringing that conflict and additional depth to the story, E.S Bell has crafted a captivating opener to her Chronicles of Lunos series.

Find the light or die

I am so glad I started reading this book on a Friday cause I couldn’t stop reading! This is a fantastic fantasy book.

The world E.S. Bell created is wonderful and so well built I felt I was actually there. That’s what I like about fantasy novels, that I can escape to faraway lands and see and experience things I would never be able to experience in real life. This book did just that. It was magical.

The characters were complex and well developed. I loved Selena and her kind, fierce heart. She is so brave and I had so much respect for her after all she’s been through. Can I just say I loved Sebastian? He is a hunted man, who lost his family to the Zak’reth. Don’t get me wrong, he is dangerous (he is after all an assassin), but his heart is not dead. He is faced with a very hard choice, and I liked seeing him struggle with what to do. I really enjoyed the relationship between Selena and Sebastian, and how they helped each other out on so many levels.

Overall this was a great book. It had some great twists too that left me speechless. I loved that! I highly recommend this book to everyone that likes a very well written, developed fantasy novel, with great characters and many adventures. I can assure you, you won’t be disappointed!

By the way, I am recommending this book to all of my GR friends that like Fantasy. Please read it! :D

This novel was a long and enjoyable read. It is written in third person point of view, but offers other perspectives from other characters besides the major ones. It combines so many themes including love, action, adventure, betrayal, magic, and vengeance. Every character has an agenda, but it not always forthcoming. It keeps you guessing as to how the characters will change or what they will become.
Selena Koren is a Paladin, a warrior for the shining face god. There 3 other gods, but Selena was chosen and given special powers. 10 years ago, she destroyed an invading army of thousands but caused the death of innocents. She was punished and only knows cold, never warmth. She is tasked with a journey to murder two people and this will destroy the crescent-shaped hole in her chest that breathes its icy breath. She has no choice but to accept this mission, for it is commanded by the leaders of her people, the Alluren, who also abandoned after the defeat of the Zak’reth. Selena is very trusting, which is dangerous.
Sebastian Vaas has several aliases but is known for being the world's deadliest assassin for the past 10 years. However, for the last 4 years, he has avoided assassination plots until he is approached by the Bazira, who ask him to kill Selena. He needs the money, but does not trust the Bazira. He agrees to the job. Sebastian hates all Zak’reth, since they killed his family, which was where he became known as "Bloody Bastian". He is a rather complex individual.
When Sebastian meets Selena, it is under an alias and he agrees for a price to take her on her journey. Selena does not know who he truly is. Selena's protector, Ilior, does not trust him, but guards Selena since she saved his life. However, there is more to Ilior than meets the eye. As they travel, they encounter others who join them on their journey, each with their own secrets. Sebastian and Selena fall in love with each other, but both do not realize how much the other means to them, but maybe that person can save them as well as accept them. Darkness still looms and many enemies will try to stop their mission. What is comes to down to is, can Selena be successful in her mission and if so, will it cause Sebastian to kill her? I cannot wait to read the next novel in the series to see where their journey takes them to next!!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I requested this book, but I'm enthralled by what I read. The Dark of the Moon is an expertly written novel that is sure to please any lover of epic fantasy and nautical adventures.

The world created by E. S. Bell is wonderfully crafted. Lunos was once a solid land mass, but now is comprised of many different islands. The descriptions of the world are vivid and inventive, and it was easy to imagine myself there. The different religions and gods were intriguing to read about, as were the aspects of magic. In addition, the inclusion of other fantastical creatures and species added greatly to the complexity of the world the author created. The Vai'Ensai are one example of such and I greatly look forward to learning more about them in the future books!

All of the characters were well developed and complex. Selena was a wonderful protagonist and I felt myself rooting for her throughout the entire novel as she embarked on her quest. She was fierce, kind, unwavering in her faith, brave, and real. I also really enjoyed Sebastian as the other main character. Once driven by his need to avenge his family, he now wants to move beyond his dark, dangerous past. The taciturn, brooding man was easy for me to love, despite his menacing nature. The cast of secondary characters were engaging and delightful to read about also, and each have their own distinct personalities and backgrounds. 

There is romance in the book, and from the blurb you can pretty much figure it out, but I absolutely adored the way it unfolded. It was very believable and well-developed, built slowly throughout the story, and didn't take away from the plot but rather added to it. This book is not without its twists turns, however, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how events unfold in the next one.

I want to comment on how excellent the writing is. I was in the middle of reading another series when I started this and had to stop because it was just too good to put down. Before starting, I actually was not aware the E. S. Bell was a pseudonym for contemporary romance writer, Emma Scott, and I honestly never would have guessed. Not many authors can go from writing one genre to the next so seamlessly. The Dark of the Moon reads like the work of a seasoned fantasy writer and I am very, very impressed.

The Dark of the Moon is a captivating novel that readers of fantasy and adventure books will absolutely love. I highly recommend it and I promise you will it will not disappoint!

OMG!!!! Is this book for real!? While paranormal/fantasy is not my normal genre, I have to say I am blown away by this phenomenal book. I am in awe of E.S. Bell’s beautifully written words and her fascinating, imaginative mind. This author surprised us all with a very unique story compared to what she has written in the past. It’s bold and beautiful. I admit I had a difficult time keeping up and remembering all the terms . I am blaming that solely on English as my second language though. Some of the vocabulary is hard for me to grasp, but I think the fantasy world has its own vernacular that you have to learn. Fortunately, the author provided a comprehensive glossary at the end of the book and that really saved my life. How did I know it’s at the end? I usually scan the book at the beginning and the end, and then go through it slowly Don’t judge :) I also want to point out that the story is long with many characters so you need to really pay attention to all of them and their roles.

The storyline is obviously very fascinating and unique. The heroine Selena is a skilled warrior who is gifted with a special magic. A decade before, during a war, Selena summoned the seas to destroy her enemy but unfortunately hundreds of innocent people died. As a result of that, Selena was left with a crescent-shaped hole in her chest which breathes icy breaths. Now, Selena is given an opportunity to heal her wound in exchange for killing two priests. She is not sure she can kill without being provoked. Will Selena go through with the mission given her past actions that resulted in so much pain and suffering? The hero, Sebastian is a merciless assassin. His life’s mission is revenge against the Zak’reth who murdered his family. Sebastian takes one last job but he finds out his target is Selena, the same warrior who killed hundreds of Zak’reth which ended the war. What must he do? Murder Selena or betray the dark forces who hired him. The characters in this book are all complex and interesting. Sebastian seems dark, cold and dangerous but there is more to him than what meets the eye. When Sebastian’s family died part of him died right along with them. All his life Sebastian wants blood revenge but he is tired of it all. When Sebastian met Selena, he was intrigued by her kindness and courage. Selena is kindhearted, compassionate and so easy to love. During the journey to fulfill their missions they fell in love, but it’s complicated and plagued with, lies, deceit, and drama all around them. As I mentioned the story is unique, complex, and nothing is quite as it seems. You have to use your imagination and get lost in this fantasy world. There is a lot going on – war, criminals, pirates, secrets and the vast ocean surround. Half the time you will be on the edge of your seat anticipating what will happen next. If you enjoy magic, mystery, fantasy worlds action packed with twists and turns, strong heroes and heroines – this book is definitely for you. I find the story quite thrilling – it will hook and reel you in. A beautifully written tale about love (a little ), loss, forgiveness and redemption. I urge you to get a glass of wine, sit back, relax and enjoy.

Bon Voyage everyone!!!

PS: A movie on the horizon perhaps? Kind of reminds me of Pirates of the Caribbean :)

Right from the start this book totally had me hooked! The multiple POV, the action, the gore, the lore, the fantasy elements, the writing. It was all amazing, no idea why it took me this long to finally pick this book up! Thank gosh I did it, can't wait for #2! I need to know what happens to all of these amazingly-fleshed out characters, will Connor and Serena meet? What's the deal with Skye? The Bazira? Her powers? I need answers!