Book: Beneath The Desert Moon
Reviewed by plotdrunk
Rating: 4.5/5
I was so incredibly lucky to beta read this beautiful story twice! M.K. Barnett is a gem of a human being and I am so honored she trusted me with her story.
This is a slow burn romantasy full of magic, but it's also a story about grief and healing. Sabhana is not a perfect FMC and that’s what makes her so compelling. She is messy, impulsive, raw, and trying to fight her way (sometimes literally) through loss while trying to pick up the mantle that her grandfather left for her to search for magic.
I love good worldbuilding, so I was obsessed with Sionna, which is the semi-sentient desert that Sabhana is navigating throughout the book. There are so many moments where something small clicks into place throughout the plot, and then you realize there’s something much bigger happening beneath the surface. The magic system in particular is so fun and unique, especially once it starts to reveal itself as you get deeper into the story.
The characters absolutely make this story. Talus, the quintessential little brother, wants to be seen as an adult, and is steady, protective, and quietly supportive. Reyna is the kind of best friend everyone deserves, and Storm brings a sharper and guarded love that can only come from a big sister. There are other characters that I love but won't spoil!
There are so many moments in this book that stuck with me, but the ones centered around grief definitely cut the deepest. This story doesn’t soften it or make it pretty. It’s messy and painful and real, and that’s what makes it so impactful. Some of the lines really hit me in the chest, and you can feel how much care went into writing those moments.
I could keep going, but I’ll end by saying every little detail matters. The story builds in a really intentional way, and by the end everything starts to come together in a way that had me completely hooked. The final chapters gave me chills, and I am so ready to see what happens next. My only complaint is that we have to wait for book two!