Book Review: Moonscript by H.S.J. Williams + Blog Tour

Hello, folksies! Today I have got a treat for you!

(Actually, it’s more of a review of a treat. And it’s part of a blog tour. But anyway.)

The wonderful H.S.J. Williams just released her novel Moonscript earlier this month, and I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy! So here’s my review, and keep reading for the blog tour info down below.

About the Book

“It is said that Darkness is empty and whatever vanishes into its depths is lost forever. I know this better than anyone. For I have suffered here in the shadows, and there are none who might find me.”

Seventy years. Seventy years the elven prince has been lost to the darkness, assumed dead by his people and endlessly broken for a book that connects to the hidden realm of his ancestors, a land untouched by evil.

And now a light in the shadows. A chance for freedom. But those willing to help him come from the unlikeliest of worlds.

The orphan girl, yearning for a loving family, and the boy who won’t leave her side. A healer maiden given an unexpected chance for a life beyond narrowed expectations. A grieving creature flown far from home.

They all search for something and now their fates are tied to his. If their quest for life can pull him from the dark mire in which his soul drowns, then perhaps he can be saved.

Or else he will drag them all down to a fate worse than death.

The beginning of an epic saga, MOONSCRIPT is a journey of innocence, despair, and redemption.

BUY ON AMAZON || ADD TO GOODREADS

---

My Thoughts

You know that feeling you get after you’ve read one of the great books of classic literature and loved it? It’s how I feel every time I finish a reread of a Narnia or Anne of Green Gables book. It’s a good feeling. It’s also how I felt when I finished this book. Moonscript is wonderful. I have this habit of, while in the midst of reading, mentally comparing a book to others written in this same time. Usually that has to do with the writing style itself- and usually, I can find better prose elsewhere. But while reading this, I didn’t even have time or the mental capacity to be thinking as I’d usually be, so fully drawn into the story was I; I didn’t even bother. And that, my friends, is only one of the reasons why I adore this book. Here’s another one: the characters. Each of them are so layered and dimensional and so real that how could I not be so fully sucked into their stories? Somehow my usually stretched-thin tolerance for characters found room for all of them! (The good ones, of course. The bad guys were the exact opposite way, no doubt as the author intended!) There is almost always that one character that I cannot stand in a book– sometimes I call them out, sometimes I don’t. Here, that character did not exist. Am I ever so glad for that. The worldbuilding was captivating and– AND– I LOVE adventuring-crew stories! There was so much in this world and I can’t wait to dive back into it and see all the other places it has to offer. I really don’t want to wait long, but… I’ve heard masterpieces take a long time; don’t they? The plot and pacing were done so well, just enough to keep you turning the pages, but not too fast to leave you behind. And that ending… You know, there is a thing about satisfactory endings versus cliffhangers that I would like to discuss some other time. Somehow I find that I’m more invested in seeing the next story take place when the first one doesn’t force you to want to know. (Cliffhangers are such contrived things. Don’t argue with me right now; I am currently feeling very uncharitable towards cliffhangers and will thus respond with no semblance or desire for reasonableness.) I am so, so glad this book did not end with a cliffhanger. And so there goes my review, in which the longest paragraph is my ranting about extremely irrelevant topics– but nevertheless, I shall end it here. I have exhausted my words for the day. This book killed them. *I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required; all views and opinions expressed are my own.*

Tour Schedule

May 7th H.S.J. Williams—Tour Launch

May 8th Light and Shadow—Book Spotlight
E. E. Rawls—Book Spotlight

May 9th Tracey Dyck— Book Spotlight
Elizabeth’s Universe—Book Review
Grace M. Morris—Book Spotlight

May 10th Allison’s Well—Book Spotlight
Amelia Nichole—Book Spotlight

May 11th Ester S. (Instagram)—Book Spotlight
Imperial Scribis—Book Review (you are here!)

May 12th Liv K. Fisher
The Labyrinth—Book Review

May 13th Dreams & Dragons—Book Spotlight
Bookish Musings—Book Review

May 14th Unicorn Quester—Author Interview
Embers Reviews—Book Review

May 15th Unicorn Quester— “3 Reasons Why” Video Review
Writing in Rivendell—Book Spotlight
Sarah, Plain & Average—Book Review

May 16th Jane Maree—Book Review

May 17th Jemma the Dragon Slayer (Tumblr)—Book Spotlight
The Bookish Raven—Book Review

May 18th Words of Hannah Kay—Book Review
Purely by Faith Reviews—Book Review

May 19th Functionally Fictional—Book Spotlight
Jenelle Schmidt—Book Spotlight

May 20th Beka Gremikova—Book Spotlight
Seven Billion Smiles—Book Review

May 21st Today by Bryn—Tour Conclusion & Art Gallery

---

And that’s a wrap! Hope you give Moonscript a try– it is TOTALLY worth it.

Until next time,

~ Merie