Hello, and Happy Monday! I’m still catching up on my reviews after needing to take a week off because of my hand. Both of these books were really good and were ones I enjoyed. You should consider reading them if you like fantastic world building and wonderful characters.
Dark Moon, Shallow Sea by David R. Slayton
Read by Michael David Axtell
Published: October 2023
Confession:
This was a wonderful dark fantasy with excellent world building and great characters. The narrator also did a very good job with the audiobook. I really enjoyed his voice and his rendition of the characters was solid.
This story follows two characters from very different backgrounds. Both are devoted to their gods and will do anything for them. I loved the fully realized mythologies that the author developed around the Sun and the Moon. They are very distinct and very rich in their concepts. Raef is an acolyte of the Moon Goddess and Kinos is a warrior for the Sun God. They are on opposite sides of a war that was not of their making. I loved following these two and watching their romance blossom. They are great characters with full backgrounds that are not as different as they first seem.
The world building and the atmospheric writing is what fully captured me while listening to this story. The mythology and religious aspects of the story are woven into the narrative, so you really get a chance to feel fully immersed in it. There are many secrets underlying both religions and both characters seek the truths behind them. This is a many layered story with themes of grief, honor and love. It is a dark story and somewhat tragic as well.
I really enjoyed this epic fantasy with amazing world building and characters I could love. I am really looking forward to reading the sequel which comes out in June. I highly recommend this one for those of you who love dark fantasy.
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
Published: November 2025
Confession:
I have to confess that I am not very familiar with Medusa’s myth. I have only read the myth where she meets her tragic end. That said I have no idea how this book matches up to the original story, but that didn’t stop me from really enjoying it.
The author does a great job of bringing Medusa’s story to life. Her family life was an interesting one. I enjoyed her relationship with her sisters and her friend Theo. She was a naive young woman growing up isolated on an island. The story of how she ends up being an acolyte of Athena was well done, and really showed the struggles of women in that time period. Her subsequent decent into becoming a monster was fascinating. I also thought the depiction of Athena was accurate. The greek gods were often not the kindest, and that really shows in this story.
The world building and the writing in this story was also well done. I particularly enjoyed the depiction of ancient Athens. However I did find the pacing to be on the slow side for pretty much the whole book. But the story was well written and compelling which kept me going to the end.
Overall I did enjoy this one, even with the slow pacing. I recommend it if you are looking for a slower historical novel set in ancient Greece or if you like mythology retellings. I would consider picking up another book by this author as her writing is beautiful and her characters are well done.
I think I am all caught up on my reviews now. I hope you enjoyed reading about these two. I do highly recommend both of these. They are both well written, have great world building and characters that are well rounded and relatable.
Until next time…
Confessions of a Serial Reader 