Book: Mooncursed by Holly Renee
Reviewed by Suzy Wickedly Good Reads
Rating: 4/5
ARC received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Holly Renee book, and the first thing that struck me was just how beautiful her writing is . There is an almost poetic quality to her prose, and the imagery throughout Moon Cursed is absolutely gorgeous. Honestly, it feels perfectly matched to that stunning cover and those beautiful printed edges. (And yes... I already preordered myself a physical copy. 😂)
Lou is one half of a set of twins bound to a prophecy. While her sister has been revered as the holy and sacred twin; Lou has spent her life branded as the cursed one and a witch feared by the people of her village. (Exactly why Lou is considered cursed isn't explored as deeply as I would have liked in this first book, and I'm hoping that's something we'll learn much more about as the series continues.) When Lou's village decides that sacrificing a virgin bride to the Drowned King will save their dying land, Lou is chosen; much to the horror of the villagers who believe sending someone already cursed may doom them all. But Rune, the Drowned King, doesn't immediately take her life. Instead, he keeps Lou blindfolded whenever they are together because the moment she sees his face, she is destined to go mad... and die. Tell me THAT isn't a delicious setup.
For me, Moon Cursed very much reads like the opening act of a larger story. A lot of this book is devoted to establishing the world, the prophecy, and the complicated dynamics between the characters. Because of that, there were sections where the pacing lulled, and I found myself wanting the story to dig deeper into the mysteries it was introducing. But the atmosphere? The imagery? The tension surrounding Lou and Rune? So good. And then that ending... Hello, major cliffhanger. There are still so many unanswered questions, and I feel like we've only scratched the surface of what is really happening with Lou, Rune, her sister, and that prophecy. I'm hoping Book Two takes everything established here and dives straight into the meat of the story, because after that ending, I am absolutely ready for it. Beautifully written, hauntingly atmospheric, and full of promise for what comes next. Now please give me Book Two.