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Kings of Aselvia #1
Moonscript
"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.
Seven illustrations by the author exclusively included in the paperback edition!
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.
Seven illustrations by the author exclusively included in the paperback edition!
498 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2020
About the author
H.S.J. Williams
6 books274 followersFrom the beginning, H. S. J. Williams has loved stories and all the forms they take. Whether with word, art, or costume, she has always been fascinated with the magic of imagination. She lives in a real fantastical kingdom, the beautiful Pacific Northwest, with her very own array of animal friends and royally loving family. Williams taught Fantasy Illustration at MSOA. She may also be a part-time elf.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
November 1, 2020
Have my emotions finished exploding? No. But I'm going to review this book anyway.
I WILL FANGIRL ABOUT THIS BOOK UNTIL THE DAY I DIE AND NO ONE WILL EVER STOP ME. MMMWWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
I'm sorry. That was weird. You can trust one thing. This will be an exuberant, fangirl, full-of-screaming-how-much-I-love-it type of review.
H. S. J. Williams is a master. A master of story weaving. This book hurts. But it also heals.
Everything is so unbelievably realistic and yet SO FANTASY. Gah. The plot, the characters, the action, the dialogue. The whole story comes to life in a vivid tale of beauty that it's literally like watching a movie (this needs a to be a movie. I will pay for this to be a movie). And personally .... these characters are encouraging. These people are uplifting. This story of sacrifice and love is beyond my ability of expressing how good it is.
I cried. Multiple times. I laughed so hard it hurt my stomach. I smiled so long my face muscles complained. But most importantly I wailed around the house screaming how good it was and my family laughed at me. When a book brings me to this stage .... my family understands it's a treasure. You must understand this as well. THIS BOOK IS EPIC AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.
Description - *dreamy sigh* Didn't I say it was like watching a movie?? IT'S SERIOUSLY REMINDED ME OF LOTR SO. MANY. TIMES. And yet Moonscript is perfectly unique. The vivid scenery and action scenes.
Plot - Never EVER boring. (Imma go recommend this book to everyone .... give me a sec) It was so perfectly intense and yet relaxed throughout!! We had a mix of scenes that got the story where it needed to go. The pacing was absolutely marvelous. AND FINALLY. FINALLY I GOT THE ENDING I'VE ALWAYS BEEN DREAMING OF. A BOOK THAT GAVE LIKE SEVEN CHAPTERS OF HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER. *dies from the overload of joy* And they were such beautiful chapters. *cries*
Setting - We travel through multiple different kingdoms and cities (all of which I have yet to memorize how to spell .... I know ... I know ... ridiculous considering how much I love this book) AND THE FORESTS. ALSO THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM. 😍 AND THE UNSEEN WORLD. GAHHHHHHHHHHH. Everything .... everywhere is just so clear. And then of course. Tertorem. *coughs* Which was just as perfectly imaginable .... but not as beautiful.
Romance - Well ... there are some romantic elements ... but it's not like ... pushy? I liked it. It was cute. I also liked how it didn't take over the story. WE FINALLY JUST HAVE A STORY ABOUT FRIENDS. AND HOW THESE FRIENDS LOVE EACH OTHER BUT NOT IN that WAY.
Content - Fantasy violence. Spiritual Realm. . . . demons and angles. Fantasy cuss words? Idk ... they were kinda amusing. One kiss ... mentioned in passing. Some very slight suggestive references. VERY. CLEAN. YA BOOK!!! 😍😍😍
Characters - OMW. I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON FOREVER. *cries cuz I love them so much and they aren't real* They are soooooo realistic. They have faults. They fail. They get back up again. They heal and move on. ALSO THEY'RE SO DEEP AND REAL. GAH. It's like you never stop learning about them and what makes them, them. (I'm sorry ... I'm a writer ... I should do better at this ... you'd think anyway. BUT I'M IN FANGIRL MOOD) These. People. They say so much in their actions even when they don't say anything at all! And they made me feel things so deeply. H. S. J. Williams puts them all in a position where they get one-on-one time with each other. It's super cool to see what they talk about and how they react when separate members of the party aren't there. 😂😂😂
Errance - The poor boy WHO IS MY CHILD AND I WILL PROTECT HIM FOREVERRRRRRRR. *i have stolen him from his original mother* *coughs* HE'S SUCH A CINNAMON ROLL AND HE HURTS SO MUCH IT KILLS ME. I yelled at him so many times. Cried for him so many times. LAUGHED at him so many times. He's protective and afraid. Strong yet weak. Determined and what the world .... THE PAINFUL WORDS HE SAYS SOMETIMES JUST KILLS ME.
Tellie - I relate to her so much it's not funny. She just wants to help and heal others. Just wants a family. 💖 She just loves. An innocent, never ending love. She's also such a scheming sister AND I LOVE HER SO MUCH. (I AGREE TELLIE!!! TRYSS IS BEAUTIFUL AND ERRANCE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO HER. 😂😂😂😂 💔)
Kelm - The optimist. The perfectly humorous jester of the group and yet not. He loves carving things and is ever so loyal. 💖 ALSO. WHEN HE GETS REALLY SERIOUS ITS SO FUNNY. WHY IS IT SO DEAD FUNNY??? Kelm will literally say everything is peachy--AND MEAN IT--when they're in the dungeon of despair.
Tryss - The warrior .... guardian ... scout .... healer ... tree climber ... and motherly protector of the group. She just is SO GREAT. She's open and yet guarded. Playful and serious. Deadly and comforting. She sacrificed a lot for people she barely knew. She knows what love means and SHE'S ALWAYS SO MISUNDERSTOOD. *cries for her* YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO GET ANGRY TRYSS. I GIVE YOU THAT RIGHT. yet .... She hardly does get angry and I love her for it.
The Daisha - I HAVE NO WORDS. YOUR SERIOUSLY THE BEST. (I have a soft spot for flying creatures).
Overall - MY FANGIRLING LOVE FOR THIS AUTHOR AND ALL HER BOOKS WILL NEVER, EVER DIE. I SHALL RECOMMEND THIS TO EVERY FANTASY GEEK I MEET. And all those who aren't. *wicked laugh*
**FTC DISCLOSURE** I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I am not affiliated with the author in any way (or I wasn't before I read this book). My review is my opinion, so if something I said was offensive please don't take it personally. Thanks! :)
I WILL FANGIRL ABOUT THIS BOOK UNTIL THE DAY I DIE AND NO ONE WILL EVER STOP ME. MMMWWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
I'm sorry. That was weird. You can trust one thing. This will be an exuberant, fangirl, full-of-screaming-how-much-I-love-it type of review.
H. S. J. Williams is a master. A master of story weaving. This book hurts. But it also heals.
Everything is so unbelievably realistic and yet SO FANTASY. Gah. The plot, the characters, the action, the dialogue. The whole story comes to life in a vivid tale of beauty that it's literally like watching a movie (this needs a to be a movie. I will pay for this to be a movie). And personally .... these characters are encouraging. These people are uplifting. This story of sacrifice and love is beyond my ability of expressing how good it is.
I cried. Multiple times. I laughed so hard it hurt my stomach. I smiled so long my face muscles complained. But most importantly I wailed around the house screaming how good it was and my family laughed at me. When a book brings me to this stage .... my family understands it's a treasure. You must understand this as well. THIS BOOK IS EPIC AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.
Description - *dreamy sigh* Didn't I say it was like watching a movie?? IT'S SERIOUSLY REMINDED ME OF LOTR SO. MANY. TIMES. And yet Moonscript is perfectly unique. The vivid scenery and action scenes.
Plot - Never EVER boring. (Imma go recommend this book to everyone .... give me a sec) It was so perfectly intense and yet relaxed throughout!! We had a mix of scenes that got the story where it needed to go. The pacing was absolutely marvelous. AND FINALLY. FINALLY I GOT THE ENDING I'VE ALWAYS BEEN DREAMING OF. A BOOK THAT GAVE LIKE SEVEN CHAPTERS OF HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER. *dies from the overload of joy* And they were such beautiful chapters. *cries*
Setting - We travel through multiple different kingdoms and cities (all of which I have yet to memorize how to spell .... I know ... I know ... ridiculous considering how much I love this book) AND THE FORESTS. ALSO THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM. 😍 AND THE UNSEEN WORLD. GAHHHHHHHHHHH. Everything .... everywhere is just so clear. And then of course. Tertorem. *coughs* Which was just as perfectly imaginable .... but not as beautiful.
Romance - Well ... there are some romantic elements ... but it's not like ... pushy? I liked it. It was cute. I also liked how it didn't take over the story. WE FINALLY JUST HAVE A STORY ABOUT FRIENDS. AND HOW THESE FRIENDS LOVE EACH OTHER BUT NOT IN that WAY.
Content - Fantasy violence. Spiritual Realm. . . . demons and angles. Fantasy cuss words? Idk ... they were kinda amusing. One kiss ... mentioned in passing. Some very slight suggestive references. VERY. CLEAN. YA BOOK!!! 😍😍😍
Characters - OMW. I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON FOREVER. *cries cuz I love them so much and they aren't real* They are soooooo realistic. They have faults. They fail. They get back up again. They heal and move on. ALSO THEY'RE SO DEEP AND REAL. GAH. It's like you never stop learning about them and what makes them, them. (I'm sorry ... I'm a writer ... I should do better at this ... you'd think anyway. BUT I'M IN FANGIRL MOOD) These. People. They say so much in their actions even when they don't say anything at all! And they made me feel things so deeply. H. S. J. Williams puts them all in a position where they get one-on-one time with each other. It's super cool to see what they talk about and how they react when separate members of the party aren't there. 😂😂😂
Errance - The poor boy WHO IS MY CHILD AND I WILL PROTECT HIM FOREVERRRRRRRR. *i have stolen him from his original mother* *coughs* HE'S SUCH A CINNAMON ROLL AND HE HURTS SO MUCH IT KILLS ME. I yelled at him so many times. Cried for him so many times. LAUGHED at him so many times. He's protective and afraid. Strong yet weak. Determined and what the world .... THE PAINFUL WORDS HE SAYS SOMETIMES JUST KILLS ME.
Tellie - I relate to her so much it's not funny. She just wants to help and heal others. Just wants a family. 💖 She just loves. An innocent, never ending love. She's also such a scheming sister AND I LOVE HER SO MUCH. (I AGREE TELLIE!!! TRYSS IS BEAUTIFUL AND ERRANCE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO HER. 😂😂😂😂 💔)
Kelm - The optimist. The perfectly humorous jester of the group and yet not. He loves carving things and is ever so loyal. 💖 ALSO. WHEN HE GETS REALLY SERIOUS ITS SO FUNNY. WHY IS IT SO DEAD FUNNY??? Kelm will literally say everything is peachy--AND MEAN IT--when they're in the dungeon of despair.
Tryss - The warrior .... guardian ... scout .... healer ... tree climber ... and motherly protector of the group. She just is SO GREAT. She's open and yet guarded. Playful and serious. Deadly and comforting. She sacrificed a lot for people she barely knew. She knows what love means and SHE'S ALWAYS SO MISUNDERSTOOD. *cries for her* YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO GET ANGRY TRYSS. I GIVE YOU THAT RIGHT. yet .... She hardly does get angry and I love her for it.
The Daisha - I HAVE NO WORDS. YOUR SERIOUSLY THE BEST. (I have a soft spot for flying creatures).
Overall - MY FANGIRLING LOVE FOR THIS AUTHOR AND ALL HER BOOKS WILL NEVER, EVER DIE. I SHALL RECOMMEND THIS TO EVERY FANTASY GEEK I MEET. And all those who aren't. *wicked laugh*
**FTC DISCLOSURE** I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I am not affiliated with the author in any way (or I wasn't before I read this book). My review is my opinion, so if something I said was offensive please don't take it personally. Thanks! :)
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May 3, 2022Hello, Fair Ones!
Thank you so much for your interest in this story! I began developing MOONSCRIPT while I was still a teen, and over the course of several years I found myself not only in young, innocent Tellie but also in the tired, embittered Errance. It is always the greatest blessing to hear that others feel seen and understood by them and the rest of the cast.
This story can be read as a stand-alone, but it is the beginning of an epic, with five books in the main series and several closely connected novels and side series.
MOONSCRIPT is available in Kindle Unlimited, Paperback, and Hardback at most online book stores! (The latter shows an off-center retail image, but rest assured that it prints centered.)
An audiobook for MOONSCRIPT is currently in the works!
You can find fanart and official merchandise at my site: www.hsjwilliams.com
If you enjoyed MOONSCRIPT and want to continue visiting the world, you can sign up for my newsletter (https://www.hsjwilliams.com/blog) which will be including exclusive mini stories set in Aselvia and also news about my writing progress!
Cover art is by the amazing @morgana0anagrom!
The paperback and hardcover edition will have seven interior illustrations by myself. The map will be designed by @noverantale! Additional illustrations by @inscape.studio!
Thank you so much for your interest in this story! I began developing MOONSCRIPT while I was still a teen, and over the course of several years I found myself not only in young, innocent Tellie but also in the tired, embittered Errance. It is always the greatest blessing to hear that others feel seen and understood by them and the rest of the cast.
This story can be read as a stand-alone, but it is the beginning of an epic, with five books in the main series and several closely connected novels and side series.
MOONSCRIPT is available in Kindle Unlimited, Paperback, and Hardback at most online book stores! (The latter shows an off-center retail image, but rest assured that it prints centered.)
An audiobook for MOONSCRIPT is currently in the works!
You can find fanart and official merchandise at my site: www.hsjwilliams.com
If you enjoyed MOONSCRIPT and want to continue visiting the world, you can sign up for my newsletter (https://www.hsjwilliams.com/blog) which will be including exclusive mini stories set in Aselvia and also news about my writing progress!
Cover art is by the amazing @morgana0anagrom!
The paperback and hardcover edition will have seven interior illustrations by myself. The map will be designed by @noverantale! Additional illustrations by @inscape.studio!
April 29, 2022
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Heartwrenching⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
“It's a lie, you know," she whispered. "This prison, these chains. There is no darkness that light cannot overcome you only need the courage to believe it.” ― H.S.J. Williams, Moonscript
I was feeling sooo guilty about reading this book, loving it so much, and then never posting a review of it! And that's mainly because the already-existent reviews of this book are so amazing that I know for a fact that mine isn't going to measure up at all. But I'm still going to try to convince whoever sees this review that you NEED this book!!! Even though they should've been completely convinced by the other amazing reviews already! Moonscript is literally SO good!
Did I already say that I loved this book? I literally could not put it down!! I ordered it on Amazon, then decided that I couldn't wait the two days for it to arrive and ended up reading all of it on Kindle before the physical copy even came! (btw the book is free rn with Kindle Unlimited so you'd better read it!! but you also NEED the physical copy!! both the paperback and the hardcover has quite a bit of really beautiful exclusive art from the author and the hardcover has got an exclusive short story too!). Light and the darkness, joy and pain, beauty and destruction... 😭💗😭💗 This book was literally EVERYTHING I wanted it to be! Amazing world-building with even more amazing characters. Action-packed, original, and funny, too! And I related to Errance's story in a really strange way, although I think we all can to some degree. Obviously he went through much more than most of us ever will but that just makes his redemption that much better.
The adventures, the bravery, the suffering, Moonscript is a work of art. I'm usually extremely picky with high fantasy novels but I can honestly say that I highly, highly recommend this one!
Moonscript book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYf4D...
««Recommended for those who love...»»
☐ Fantasy
☐ Tolkien
☐ Allegory
☐ Tales of Goldstone Wood
☐ Stories filled with beauty and pain
“It's a lie, you know," she whispered. "This prison, these chains. There is no darkness that light cannot overcome you only need the courage to believe it.” ― H.S.J. Williams, Moonscript
I was feeling sooo guilty about reading this book, loving it so much, and then never posting a review of it! And that's mainly because the already-existent reviews of this book are so amazing that I know for a fact that mine isn't going to measure up at all. But I'm still going to try to convince whoever sees this review that you NEED this book!!! Even though they should've been completely convinced by the other amazing reviews already! Moonscript is literally SO good!
Did I already say that I loved this book? I literally could not put it down!! I ordered it on Amazon, then decided that I couldn't wait the two days for it to arrive and ended up reading all of it on Kindle before the physical copy even came! (btw the book is free rn with Kindle Unlimited so you'd better read it!! but you also NEED the physical copy!! both the paperback and the hardcover has quite a bit of really beautiful exclusive art from the author and the hardcover has got an exclusive short story too!). Light and the darkness, joy and pain, beauty and destruction... 😭💗😭💗 This book was literally EVERYTHING I wanted it to be! Amazing world-building with even more amazing characters. Action-packed, original, and funny, too! And I related to Errance's story in a really strange way, although I think we all can to some degree. Obviously he went through much more than most of us ever will but that just makes his redemption that much better.
The adventures, the bravery, the suffering, Moonscript is a work of art. I'm usually extremely picky with high fantasy novels but I can honestly say that I highly, highly recommend this one!
Moonscript book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYf4D...
««Recommended for those who love...»»
☐ Fantasy
☐ Tolkien
☐ Allegory
☐ Tales of Goldstone Wood
☐ Stories filled with beauty and pain
May 26, 2020
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.*
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.*
January 27, 2020
"A tale about the elves … I would dearly love to hear more about elves." JRR Tolkien in The Fellowship of the Ring
Ah, a tale about elves indeed.
Into an age filled with books about the fair folk, books that seem to only ever regurgitate the same plot over and over, comes Moonscript.
Something new, something different.
In the way of the old classics, Moonscript is made of a vast and varied cast, from curious child to ancient sage. There is deep darkness, romping adventure, innocent hearts and blackened souls.
For the world of Orim is changing. The elven king cannot keep his secrets forever. If a new king is to rise in his place, something else must fall.
Something dark, something cruel, something that has been twisting and tarnishing truth for seven decades.
But seven is the number of completion. The final battle is coming. The world below and the one above will fall or flourish by the courage of many and the choice of one.
Buckle your seatbelts and dive into the journey of a lifetime, perfect for fans of Michael J. Sullivan and Megan Whelan Turner.
(while Moonscript is a standalone adventure, these characters have many more amazing journeys to come, so stay tuned! I know things … many things … I cannot be bribed.)
Ah, a tale about elves indeed.
Into an age filled with books about the fair folk, books that seem to only ever regurgitate the same plot over and over, comes Moonscript.
Something new, something different.
In the way of the old classics, Moonscript is made of a vast and varied cast, from curious child to ancient sage. There is deep darkness, romping adventure, innocent hearts and blackened souls.
For the world of Orim is changing. The elven king cannot keep his secrets forever. If a new king is to rise in his place, something else must fall.
Something dark, something cruel, something that has been twisting and tarnishing truth for seven decades.
But seven is the number of completion. The final battle is coming. The world below and the one above will fall or flourish by the courage of many and the choice of one.
Buckle your seatbelts and dive into the journey of a lifetime, perfect for fans of Michael J. Sullivan and Megan Whelan Turner.
(while Moonscript is a standalone adventure, these characters have many more amazing journeys to come, so stay tuned! I know things … many things … I cannot be bribed.)
July 7, 2020
I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPPPYYYY!!!! *SCREAMSSSS*
Do any of you know the madness I was going through? Waiting for a paperback to come into the mailbox while getting to read everyone's amazing reviews about how great this book is? The wait was way worth it though. THE BOOK MET ALL OF MY EXPECTATIONS AND MORE!!! AND IT HAS PICTURES!!! Like gorgeous illustrations, if I do say so myself. H.S.J. Williams is talented artist and writer and I really recommend that you check out her work, whatever it being her books or art. I honestly saw her art and fell in love with it and knew that I had to get the paperback of "Moonscript".
Did you ever had a situation where you like never seen the sunrise but your friend has? And this friend of yours describes the sunrise with very poetic words and amazing detail that you could just see the sunrise in your mind!?!?!
This book is kinda like that.
The detail in the descriptions was absolutely amazing. After reading this book, I felt like I walked through jungles, forests, kingdoms, mountains, and scary dungeons. The world was astonishing to say the least, absolutely a pleasure to read.
The plot was pretty good too. I love the Christian themes woven into the story. Light versus darkness, I don't think the theme will ever get old.
The Characters:
Errance - *cries* he has been through so much, ahh, our poor Errance. It made me heartbroken with all that he went through. But there were times he could bring a smile to my face. I love how much the other characters were trying to help him or help him open up. I like how realistic Errance is. I ended up really loving this character. I love how protective he is of others even if he had a hard time trusting anyone.
Tellie - GAH! I LOVED HER SO MUCH!!! I just wanted to give her a big hug. She wanted a family. I mean who doesn't want one? But she really didn't have one. And she didn't have the best of life either. *glares at the people who made her their slave* She was so caring, and didn't give up on Errance when others would have. I love her, okay?
Kelm - The over optimistic one. Okay, I admit, sometimes he annoyed me. But overall, I did end up loving him. I love how he was with Tellie. And how he looked up to Errance. And how he loved wood carving. And his nature in general.
Tryss - Motherly, caring, gentle, cool superpowers, can kick up her foes if needed, I loved her, all right?
The Daisha - UMMM, YES!!!! I was a little disappointed that we didn't see this character until it awhile later. BUT I LOVED HER!!! I know that I just said that Tryss was motherly, but so was The Daisha, okay? She was beautiful, had wings, sharp claws, and most importantly had a sense of humor. I loved her.
Content in Book:
1. Torture. Mainly just talked about in passing, though a little descriptive in some parts. (Physical with beatings and whatnots, mental, emotional, spiritual, marking someone with evil tattoos, etc.)
2. Violence. (Torture. With swords. With knives. With claws and teeth. Etc.)
3. A people got transformed into these creatures.
4. Angels and demons.
5. Being in a dungeon.
Who I Would Recommend This Book Too:
Those who want a Christian fantasy story with the light versus darkness theme. Those who want a intriguing world with very well done descriptions. Those who want intriguing characters. READ IT!!!
Will I Continue With The Series???
YES!!! I heard a rumor that there is going to be like five books with some side series! I AM SO THERE!!!
Do any of you know the madness I was going through? Waiting for a paperback to come into the mailbox while getting to read everyone's amazing reviews about how great this book is? The wait was way worth it though. THE BOOK MET ALL OF MY EXPECTATIONS AND MORE!!! AND IT HAS PICTURES!!! Like gorgeous illustrations, if I do say so myself. H.S.J. Williams is talented artist and writer and I really recommend that you check out her work, whatever it being her books or art. I honestly saw her art and fell in love with it and knew that I had to get the paperback of "Moonscript".
Did you ever had a situation where you like never seen the sunrise but your friend has? And this friend of yours describes the sunrise with very poetic words and amazing detail that you could just see the sunrise in your mind!?!?!
This book is kinda like that.
The detail in the descriptions was absolutely amazing. After reading this book, I felt like I walked through jungles, forests, kingdoms, mountains, and scary dungeons. The world was astonishing to say the least, absolutely a pleasure to read.
The plot was pretty good too. I love the Christian themes woven into the story. Light versus darkness, I don't think the theme will ever get old.
The Characters:
Errance - *cries* he has been through so much, ahh, our poor Errance. It made me heartbroken with all that he went through. But there were times he could bring a smile to my face. I love how much the other characters were trying to help him or help him open up. I like how realistic Errance is. I ended up really loving this character. I love how protective he is of others even if he had a hard time trusting anyone.
Tellie - GAH! I LOVED HER SO MUCH!!! I just wanted to give her a big hug. She wanted a family. I mean who doesn't want one? But she really didn't have one. And she didn't have the best of life either. *glares at the people who made her their slave* She was so caring, and didn't give up on Errance when others would have. I love her, okay?
Kelm - The over optimistic one. Okay, I admit, sometimes he annoyed me. But overall, I did end up loving him. I love how he was with Tellie. And how he looked up to Errance. And how he loved wood carving. And his nature in general.
Tryss - Motherly, caring, gentle, cool superpowers, can kick up her foes if needed, I loved her, all right?
The Daisha - UMMM, YES!!!! I was a little disappointed that we didn't see this character until it awhile later. BUT I LOVED HER!!! I know that I just said that Tryss was motherly, but so was The Daisha, okay? She was beautiful, had wings, sharp claws, and most importantly had a sense of humor. I loved her.
Content in Book:
1. Torture. Mainly just talked about in passing, though a little descriptive in some parts. (Physical with beatings and whatnots, mental, emotional, spiritual, marking someone with evil tattoos, etc.)
2. Violence. (Torture. With swords. With knives. With claws and teeth. Etc.)
3. A people got transformed into these creatures.
4. Angels and demons.
5. Being in a dungeon.
Who I Would Recommend This Book Too:
Those who want a Christian fantasy story with the light versus darkness theme. Those who want a intriguing world with very well done descriptions. Those who want intriguing characters. READ IT!!!
Will I Continue With The Series???
YES!!! I heard a rumor that there is going to be like five books with some side series! I AM SO THERE!!!
April 23, 2022
WOW WOW WOW. 10/5 stars
Ok, just WOW. That was amazing. Like seriously. I don’t remember the last time I read a book with such a deep plot. XD
Characters
Errance: Errance was such a deep broken brooding (hot) character. But iIjust hurt for him with the whole thing with the Darkness *Cries*
Tellie: Tellie was a really sweet character. She reminded me of one of my friends for some reason... Loll
Kelm: Kelm was nice. That conversation with Errance about love was just hilarious. XDD
Triss: I have to say, I am JEALOUS of Triss. How come she gets the cute brooding elf??? Anyway, she’s not my favorite. Not just because she may get Errance in the end, but I guess I didn’t really like her personality. Sry… *hides from Triss lovers*
Zizian: Zizian was… a very colorful character. But I really liked her character!!
Coren: He was the nice brother type. Really sweet. Kinda reminded me of Thorne from The Lunar Chronicles. Probably because he had a ship. XDD
Plot: The plot was AMAZING and deep. I hurt with the characters. I laughed with the characters. I enjoyed every bit of the book. It never really dragged in my opinion. It reminded me of Lord of The Rings. Probably because of the world and the Darkness Vs. Light is such a main part of the story.
Content: As far as I remember, it was pretty clean. Dark and intense but clean.
Again, I think that's all, but I can't put into words how amazing this book is. Seriously. JUST GO BUY IT XDD
Ok, just WOW. That was amazing. Like seriously. I don’t remember the last time I read a book with such a deep plot. XD
Characters
Errance: Errance was such a deep broken brooding (hot) character. But iIjust hurt for him with the whole thing with the Darkness *Cries*
Tellie: Tellie was a really sweet character. She reminded me of one of my friends for some reason... Loll
Kelm: Kelm was nice. That conversation with Errance about love was just hilarious. XDD
Triss: I have to say, I am JEALOUS of Triss. How come she gets the cute brooding elf??? Anyway, she’s not my favorite. Not just because she may get Errance in the end, but I guess I didn’t really like her personality. Sry… *hides from Triss lovers*
Zizian: Zizian was… a very colorful character. But I really liked her character!!
Coren: He was the nice brother type. Really sweet. Kinda reminded me of Thorne from The Lunar Chronicles. Probably because he had a ship. XDD
Plot: The plot was AMAZING and deep. I hurt with the characters. I laughed with the characters. I enjoyed every bit of the book. It never really dragged in my opinion. It reminded me of Lord of The Rings. Probably because of the world and the Darkness Vs. Light is such a main part of the story.
Content: As far as I remember, it was pretty clean. Dark and intense but clean.
Again, I think that's all, but I can't put into words how amazing this book is. Seriously. JUST GO BUY IT XDD
January 14, 2020
I absolutely adore this story. Hannah's writing style is gorgeous and so perfectly fantasy and it makes my bookish soul happy.
There's quite a few major characters in this book, but they're all so well written. Not only do they have unique personalities and motives, but they have heart and soul and hopes and dreams. I connected with this story on such a deep level because of the characters. I laughed with them, I cried for them--I was so emotionally engaged in this story and I loved every moment.
Tellie and Kelm are so sweet and funny. Tryss is gorgeous. The Daisha makes me laugh. And Errance! Errance broke my heart over and over again. I love him so much. His journey throughout this book is so powerful and heart-wrenching.
The whole story is so beautifully written, but I absolutely loved the way it shows both the light and the darkness. The darkness is so deep and evil and deceptive, and the light gave me shivers of awe because of how pure and true and rightly it's portrayed here.
This book doesn't shy from hard topics, but it treats them so gently and it's so lovely to see that done so well.
There's a perfect balance of action and quiet tension throughout this whole story. Even in the 'slower' passages of travel, it still kept me reading, drawing me on because I needed to know how the story ended.
While this is the first book in a series, it ties up really nicely at the end! There's still so much to explore--and that will come in future books--but this story is perfectly wrapped up. And the ending scene is the sweetest thing in the world.
Content:
This is definitely a book I want on my shelf! I've already read through it three times, and fully intend to read it again when I have a physical copy in my hands. I highly recommend this for all lovers of Tolkien and fantasy in general!
There's quite a few major characters in this book, but they're all so well written. Not only do they have unique personalities and motives, but they have heart and soul and hopes and dreams. I connected with this story on such a deep level because of the characters. I laughed with them, I cried for them--I was so emotionally engaged in this story and I loved every moment.
Tellie and Kelm are so sweet and funny. Tryss is gorgeous. The Daisha makes me laugh. And Errance! Errance broke my heart over and over again. I love him so much. His journey throughout this book is so powerful and heart-wrenching.
The whole story is so beautifully written, but I absolutely loved the way it shows both the light and the darkness. The darkness is so deep and evil and deceptive, and the light gave me shivers of awe because of how pure and true and rightly it's portrayed here.
This book doesn't shy from hard topics, but it treats them so gently and it's so lovely to see that done so well.
There's a perfect balance of action and quiet tension throughout this whole story. Even in the 'slower' passages of travel, it still kept me reading, drawing me on because I needed to know how the story ended.
While this is the first book in a series, it ties up really nicely at the end! There's still so much to explore--and that will come in future books--but this story is perfectly wrapped up. And the ending scene is the sweetest thing in the world.
Content:
This is definitely a book I want on my shelf! I've already read through it three times, and fully intend to read it again when I have a physical copy in my hands. I highly recommend this for all lovers of Tolkien and fantasy in general!
May 7, 2020
*I received a complimentary Advance Reader Copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Wow! H.S.J. Williams has the ability to slam you right between the eyes with spiritual themes of such intense Truth, you are left reeling. And then, just when you’re clambering back up, semi-recovered, she pulls out another one and pricks the raw spot. .Moonscript is no exception! More than once, I had to set the book down and stare, open-mouthed, at the wall, as the emotions washed over me. That ability to portray the fight between good and evil can go both ways sometimes, as is evident in Williams’ startling ability to capture the very disturbing nature of evi.
But, in the end, it is the light that wins with a glorious roar of grace and triumph.
My favorite characters were definitely Tryss and THE Daisha. Tryss was a refreshing female character that is desperately needed in fiction—a uniquely gentle and quietly steadfast character who is still cautious, reserved, and suspicious even while being bold in love and kindness. But I have to say it was the Daisha that really stole the show. Cranky, arrogant, magnificent, intense—she is one amazing
Overall, I still like Fairest Son better – the pacing seemed tighter and there were a few other points that appealed to me a bit more. Also, because this author’s writing can be very intense, so it was less overwhelming (for me) to experience her work in a shorter book.
Nevertheless, I am definitely down for the sequel (no way can I leave this world or these characters and not know what happens next). I look forward to seeing what new world H.S.J. Williams will spin for us with anticipation!
Brief Content Advisory:
Wow! H.S.J. Williams has the ability to slam you right between the eyes with spiritual themes of such intense Truth, you are left reeling. And then, just when you’re clambering back up, semi-recovered, she pulls out another one and pricks the raw spot. .Moonscript is no exception! More than once, I had to set the book down and stare, open-mouthed, at the wall, as the emotions washed over me. That ability to portray the fight between good and evil can go both ways sometimes, as is evident in Williams’ startling ability to capture the very disturbing nature of evi.
But, in the end, it is the light that wins with a glorious roar of grace and triumph.
My favorite characters were definitely Tryss and THE Daisha. Tryss was a refreshing female character that is desperately needed in fiction—a uniquely gentle and quietly steadfast character who is still cautious, reserved, and suspicious even while being bold in love and kindness. But I have to say it was the Daisha that really stole the show. Cranky, arrogant, magnificent, intense—she is one amazing
Overall, I still like Fairest Son better – the pacing seemed tighter and there were a few other points that appealed to me a bit more. Also, because this author’s writing can be very intense, so it was less overwhelming (for me) to experience her work in a shorter book.
Nevertheless, I am definitely down for the sequel (no way can I leave this world or these characters and not know what happens next). I look forward to seeing what new world H.S.J. Williams will spin for us with anticipation!
Brief Content Advisory:
October 4, 2021
Christian Fantasy with a Great Heart
Christian fantasy is not my favorite genre, so for personal taste I would probably prefer a little less allegory and a bit more plot. But you will not find me complaining that a book lives up to the demands of its genre. This book knew what it was, and what it had to accomplish and did so with flair. The characters were fun and engaging, the messages beautiful and timely, the world filled out and interesting, and it was an overall really enjoyable read with good prose and pacing. I especially enjoyed the depth of the characters, Coran and The Daisha being my clear favorites. It has been a very long time since I've read such a large book so fast so it definitely was iimmersion. If you are looking for a clean read with LOTR-inspired world building, strong Christian themes and fascinating characters, this is an excellent choice.
Christian fantasy is not my favorite genre, so for personal taste I would probably prefer a little less allegory and a bit more plot. But you will not find me complaining that a book lives up to the demands of its genre. This book knew what it was, and what it had to accomplish and did so with flair. The characters were fun and engaging, the messages beautiful and timely, the world filled out and interesting, and it was an overall really enjoyable read with good prose and pacing. I especially enjoyed the depth of the characters, Coran and The Daisha being my clear favorites. It has been a very long time since I've read such a large book so fast so it definitely was iimmersion. If you are looking for a clean read with LOTR-inspired world building, strong Christian themes and fascinating characters, this is an excellent choice.
December 10, 2020
ARGH THIS WAS JUST...QUALITY LITERATURE.
Yep, I said literature. This was something special. A high fantasy unlike many I've ever read. It was beautiful, the descriptions transcendent, the story itself gorgeous. I fell in love with this story.
The characters in particular helped make this novel beautiful. I initially thought this would be more like HSJ Williams' debut novella, Fairest Son, but NOT AT ALL, MY DUDES. That novella was excellent and powerful, but this one just...excelled it on so many levels.
-Our young heroine, Tellie, is just a pure little cinnamon roll of precious faith and courage. I loved her arc, her realization that even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
-Kelm had the smallest role, imo, but I love him too. So cute, so smol.
-Tryss's arc was also inspiring, although I feel like it has a ton of room to develop in the sequels. She was beautiful and her courage was so admirable. I loved her shapeshifting abilities and I would love to see moooooore of them!!!
-Errance. Oh my goodness, where even to start? He broke my heart, but then it got put back together by the end, and just...argh. The anger, the defiance, the strength...but then his brokenness, and his trauma, and it all just hURT ME SO MUCH. Beautiful. Just beautiful.
-Coren and Zizain! I ADORED THEM!
-The minor characters toooooo I just love them allllllllll
This book was just...beautiful and I loved it so much *sobs*
Yep, I said literature. This was something special. A high fantasy unlike many I've ever read. It was beautiful, the descriptions transcendent, the story itself gorgeous. I fell in love with this story.
The characters in particular helped make this novel beautiful. I initially thought this would be more like HSJ Williams' debut novella, Fairest Son, but NOT AT ALL, MY DUDES. That novella was excellent and powerful, but this one just...excelled it on so many levels.
-Our young heroine, Tellie, is just a pure little cinnamon roll of precious faith and courage. I loved her arc, her realization that even the smallest person can change the course of the future.
-Kelm had the smallest role, imo, but I love him too. So cute, so smol.
-Tryss's arc was also inspiring, although I feel like it has a ton of room to develop in the sequels. She was beautiful and her courage was so admirable. I loved her shapeshifting abilities and I would love to see moooooore of them!!!
-Errance. Oh my goodness, where even to start? He broke my heart, but then it got put back together by the end, and just...argh. The anger, the defiance, the strength...but then his brokenness, and his trauma, and it all just hURT ME SO MUCH. Beautiful. Just beautiful.
-Coren and Zizain! I ADORED THEM!
-The minor characters toooooo I just love them allllllllll
This book was just...beautiful and I loved it so much *sobs*
July 3, 2023
Wow. This is a book that will stay with me for a while coming. I already added the 2nd book to my tbr, but, alas, it is not written yet. However, you may have noticed my 3-⭐ rating and wonder why. Well, let me be clear--I give 3⭐ to books I like. If that doesn't clear things up, let me explain. XD
The storyline of this book is fabulous. I mean *fabulous*. The author crafted a heart wrenching story mirroring true faith in God using fantasy as the vehicle. Elements to this story include rebellion, captivity, cruelty, a cast of supportive and caring characters, embracing identity, and I could go on. This plot had it all. The pacing was great, so I was never bored. The climax of this story was absolutely fabulous--I haven't cried while reading in a while, and this part of the story ended my no-tears-streak.
Another aspect I loved was that I love that the author dealt with this realistically.
However, while the plot was amazing, the execution was not as amazing. 😔 I felt the characterization was off, and the editing was definitely lacking, giving this book an unprofessional feel.
First, the characterization. Tellie and Kelm are 14/15 years old at the telling of this story. Since this is a fantasy with medieval weapons and modes of transportation, I expected more maturity from these teens. I have two teenage kids, and my 15 year old is way more mature than these two teens came across. They seemed more like 10 year-olds than mid-teens. It made the story feel more middle-grade than it was supposed to, given the subject matter.
Also, I think the author could have fleshed out some of the actions/decisions of many of the characters more fully. At times, their actions/words seemed abrupt and unaccounted for. There were several of these instances. I also thought some of the dialogue to be annoying. If Kelm said, "golly" one more time I thought I would throw my kindle across the room. And Coren was a great character, but despite his boldness and sauciness being combined with wisdom, he sometimes came across as immature in dialogue.
Finally, the editing. There were MANY grammatical errors in this book--more than I have ever encountered. It was a definite distraction for me. There were times I needed to stop and think through the sentence I had just read to figure out what it meant due to poor wording and/or poor grammar. To top it all off, at the end of the book is a page that gives you information to sign up for the author's newsletter. Her last name is Williams--with an s, right? To make it possessive, one would spell it Williams'. (Or Williams's, depending on your manual.) However, on this page it is spelled William's, as if her last name is William without an s. I truly could not believe my eyes.🤦♀️
Let me end by saying that I highly recommend this book. I have negative things to say about it, but it truly is worth reading. I love the author's use of language to communicate beauty and faith. I have highlighted many passages that describe beautifully the God I believe in, His precepts, and the faith that He gifts us.
I guess now might be a good time to say that I wish the author had kept to using one name for God in this story. I did not find it confusing necessarily, but I did not feel it was explained. God is referred to as Ayeshune, the One, and God interchangeably with no reasoning for this. While I have various ways of referring to God (the Lord, God, Jesus, Yahweh, etc.), given that this is a fantasy, I would have preferred she use either the One or Ayeshune throughout to be consistent and accessible to people who may be new to or unfamiliar with one God having various names.
I hope you can understand now why I gave this story 3 stars instead of 5. If I were to go by plot alone, it would have been a 4.5⭐ read.
Ok, this is long, and I have not spent the time proofreading it as I should, so I may return to edit it here and there, but these are my initial and fairly raw thoughts on this story.
The storyline of this book is fabulous. I mean *fabulous*. The author crafted a heart wrenching story mirroring true faith in God using fantasy as the vehicle. Elements to this story include rebellion, captivity, cruelty, a cast of supportive and caring characters, embracing identity, and I could go on. This plot had it all. The pacing was great, so I was never bored. The climax of this story was absolutely fabulous--I haven't cried while reading in a while, and this part of the story ended my no-tears-streak.
Another aspect I loved was that I love that the author dealt with this realistically.
However, while the plot was amazing, the execution was not as amazing. 😔 I felt the characterization was off, and the editing was definitely lacking, giving this book an unprofessional feel.
First, the characterization. Tellie and Kelm are 14/15 years old at the telling of this story. Since this is a fantasy with medieval weapons and modes of transportation, I expected more maturity from these teens. I have two teenage kids, and my 15 year old is way more mature than these two teens came across. They seemed more like 10 year-olds than mid-teens. It made the story feel more middle-grade than it was supposed to, given the subject matter.
Also, I think the author could have fleshed out some of the actions/decisions of many of the characters more fully. At times, their actions/words seemed abrupt and unaccounted for. There were several of these instances. I also thought some of the dialogue to be annoying. If Kelm said, "golly" one more time I thought I would throw my kindle across the room. And Coren was a great character, but despite his boldness and sauciness being combined with wisdom, he sometimes came across as immature in dialogue.
Finally, the editing. There were MANY grammatical errors in this book--more than I have ever encountered. It was a definite distraction for me. There were times I needed to stop and think through the sentence I had just read to figure out what it meant due to poor wording and/or poor grammar. To top it all off, at the end of the book is a page that gives you information to sign up for the author's newsletter. Her last name is Williams--with an s, right? To make it possessive, one would spell it Williams'. (Or Williams's, depending on your manual.) However, on this page it is spelled William's, as if her last name is William without an s. I truly could not believe my eyes.🤦♀️
Let me end by saying that I highly recommend this book. I have negative things to say about it, but it truly is worth reading. I love the author's use of language to communicate beauty and faith. I have highlighted many passages that describe beautifully the God I believe in, His precepts, and the faith that He gifts us.
I guess now might be a good time to say that I wish the author had kept to using one name for God in this story. I did not find it confusing necessarily, but I did not feel it was explained. God is referred to as Ayeshune, the One, and God interchangeably with no reasoning for this. While I have various ways of referring to God (the Lord, God, Jesus, Yahweh, etc.), given that this is a fantasy, I would have preferred she use either the One or Ayeshune throughout to be consistent and accessible to people who may be new to or unfamiliar with one God having various names.
I hope you can understand now why I gave this story 3 stars instead of 5. If I were to go by plot alone, it would have been a 4.5⭐ read.
Ok, this is long, and I have not spent the time proofreading it as I should, so I may return to edit it here and there, but these are my initial and fairly raw thoughts on this story.
May 11, 2020
There are not enough stars on Goodreads to capture just how much I adored this book! I knew this book was going to be amazing, but even with my high expectations, it still managed to blow me away! It has been several days since I read this book, and I STILL can't stop thinking about it. The characters, the world, the themes all wrapped me up and touched my heart so deeply. I can't even express how much.
Errance, oh Errance. If you like tortured heroes, he is definitely one. Tortured for 70 years in the most horrible darkness, this elf prince has a long way to go in finding love and redemption. But when it happens...I don't often tear up in books, and usually only over a character's death. But I was tearing up at the end of this book by the depth of his heart and redemption.
Tellie makes a great POV character to balance out what would otherwise be a very dark book. She's optimistic and giving and loving and will stop at nothing to help the scarred elf prince find his way back home even as she searched for a home of her own.
Kelm, Tryss, Coren, Zizain, the Daisha...all of them play a crucial role and touch the heart. The fact that I even remember the character names (I am so bad with names) just goes to show how real they all are. While there is an expansive world, the author manages to keep the cast of characters small enough to make each one count.
This is the type of book to re-read again and again.
If you like stories about elves, tortured heroes, redemption, and Christian fantasy at its finest, than pick this book up. You won't regret it!
Errance, oh Errance. If you like tortured heroes, he is definitely one. Tortured for 70 years in the most horrible darkness, this elf prince has a long way to go in finding love and redemption. But when it happens...I don't often tear up in books, and usually only over a character's death. But I was tearing up at the end of this book by the depth of his heart and redemption.
Tellie makes a great POV character to balance out what would otherwise be a very dark book. She's optimistic and giving and loving and will stop at nothing to help the scarred elf prince find his way back home even as she searched for a home of her own.
Kelm, Tryss, Coren, Zizain, the Daisha...all of them play a crucial role and touch the heart. The fact that I even remember the character names (I am so bad with names) just goes to show how real they all are. While there is an expansive world, the author manages to keep the cast of characters small enough to make each one count.
This is the type of book to re-read again and again.
If you like stories about elves, tortured heroes, redemption, and Christian fantasy at its finest, than pick this book up. You won't regret it!
December 17, 2021
Delicious. Just what my elf-loving, Silmarillion-obsessed 12-year-old self would have wanted ages ago. (Errance, though!)
July 19, 2020
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/v9NZs6U1aYY
4.5 stars
I preordered this book as an ebook, but man, I wish I would have gotten it as a paperback!
Though this book may not be “advertised” as a Christian fantasy, this is Christian fantasy at its finest.
So many deep and rich layers of storytelling. The characters are compelling and the story itself is driving. For the last hour I read, I found myself crying on and off. What a beautiful way to portray the power and grace of God’s love!
I found Errance’s story heart-wrecking and heart-moving. There is no one without the other. It just simply is, and he is a character I believe can touch many readers. He may only be fictional, but his pain, anger, and fear are so real it’s almost tangible.
For being a large read, I excepted to get lost in keeping up with characters, but I was pleasantly surprised to find this not the case! I admit that I felt I lost sight of some characters who were/are some of my favorites (*coughs* Kelm *coughs*). I felt that some characters got not looked over, but were not given as much attention in certain scenes. Rightly so due to scenes I am thinking of (because they were intense)! But I guess you could say I wanted more of these characters to have share that spotlight and not feel like they hid backstage.
It was more than made up for as the book continued however! So much adventure and action! I loved visiting other places the author created for this story world and getting to meet new faces. A certain smuggler was absolutely amazing! (Though I admit that was when the feels really start kicking. LOL!)
Overall, it is hard to put into words how wonderful this story is, but it is one I am immensely thankful has entered the bookish realm. It is a fictional testament of the power of love and truth as well as the power of friendship and family.
Also, that ending was the perfect conclusion to this story. <3
I strongly recommend Moonscript to those who love elf fantasy and fantasy in general, but especially Christian fantasy.
*(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own and was not required to write a positive review.)*
4.5 stars
I preordered this book as an ebook, but man, I wish I would have gotten it as a paperback!
Though this book may not be “advertised” as a Christian fantasy, this is Christian fantasy at its finest.
So many deep and rich layers of storytelling. The characters are compelling and the story itself is driving. For the last hour I read, I found myself crying on and off. What a beautiful way to portray the power and grace of God’s love!
I found Errance’s story heart-wrecking and heart-moving. There is no one without the other. It just simply is, and he is a character I believe can touch many readers. He may only be fictional, but his pain, anger, and fear are so real it’s almost tangible.
For being a large read, I excepted to get lost in keeping up with characters, but I was pleasantly surprised to find this not the case! I admit that I felt I lost sight of some characters who were/are some of my favorites (*coughs* Kelm *coughs*). I felt that some characters got not looked over, but were not given as much attention in certain scenes. Rightly so due to scenes I am thinking of (because they were intense)! But I guess you could say I wanted more of these characters to have share that spotlight and not feel like they hid backstage.
It was more than made up for as the book continued however! So much adventure and action! I loved visiting other places the author created for this story world and getting to meet new faces. A certain smuggler was absolutely amazing! (Though I admit that was when the feels really start kicking. LOL!)
Overall, it is hard to put into words how wonderful this story is, but it is one I am immensely thankful has entered the bookish realm. It is a fictional testament of the power of love and truth as well as the power of friendship and family.
Also, that ending was the perfect conclusion to this story. <3
I strongly recommend Moonscript to those who love elf fantasy and fantasy in general, but especially Christian fantasy.
*(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own and was not required to write a positive review.)*
January 6, 2022
I loved this book! Man, that was sooooo good! Whew, talking about a really deep powerful story arch.
Okay, so I loved that it was about elves, I loved that bit! The kingdom was beautiful, and scary by turns a good mix!
The prologue was fantastic! Like hooked me and carried me till action picked up in the book. I loved Errance and his story, I can relate to him...Like I'm not gonna act like I've had it as hard as him, but I get it.
SPOILER ALERT: but I get having that childish belief and then reach the teen years and losing it then feeling so lost in this neverending cycle of emotions and doubts you don't know how to seal with. I've been there, was there for over a year and finally God brought me back to him through music. Story for another time. Point is I love Errance!
Tellie was a darling! I actually liked her, not comman with me and female characters.
Kelm was...aha...I loved him! He was so fun!
Tryss, omg, I so loved her! Chemas sound so cool!
Coren was one of my favorite something about a rogue just pulls me in....
Zizain was so funny and sweet I loved that gal!
Loeren was....yeah, I really liked him and Casara.
Rendar my heart....his wisdom and riddles!
And The Daisha! Yes! That was epic!
As for the story as a whole. I seriously enjoyed it so much! A few typos sprinkled here and there, a little distracting but nothing too horrible. A missing word or letter for a word but nothing that made it hard to know what was going on.
Wow! What a great book! I recommend this to anyone looks for a great read!
Okay, so I loved that it was about elves, I loved that bit! The kingdom was beautiful, and scary by turns a good mix!
The prologue was fantastic! Like hooked me and carried me till action picked up in the book. I loved Errance and his story, I can relate to him...Like I'm not gonna act like I've had it as hard as him, but I get it.
SPOILER ALERT: but I get having that childish belief and then reach the teen years and losing it then feeling so lost in this neverending cycle of emotions and doubts you don't know how to seal with. I've been there, was there for over a year and finally God brought me back to him through music. Story for another time. Point is I love Errance!
Tellie was a darling! I actually liked her, not comman with me and female characters.
Kelm was...aha...I loved him! He was so fun!
Tryss, omg, I so loved her! Chemas sound so cool!
Coren was one of my favorite something about a rogue just pulls me in....
Zizain was so funny and sweet I loved that gal!
Loeren was....yeah, I really liked him and Casara.
Rendar my heart....his wisdom and riddles!
And The Daisha! Yes! That was epic!
As for the story as a whole. I seriously enjoyed it so much! A few typos sprinkled here and there, a little distracting but nothing too horrible. A missing word or letter for a word but nothing that made it hard to know what was going on.
Wow! What a great book! I recommend this to anyone looks for a great read!
August 9, 2022
I loved this book SO MUCH! I can’t believe it took me so long to get around to reading it. The characters and story are amazing.
I knew going in I was going to love and be a total Errance fangirl. How could I not? What surprised me was Coren. Oh. My. Goodness. I am totally in love with that roguish redhead elf. And I’m not even attracted to redheads. But I’d marry him in a heartbeat, lol! I just love him so much. Honestly, he ended up being my favorite character of the whole book.
I also LOVED the redemption scene. That whole part kept me up way past my bedtime. It was so beautiful, and powerful, and glorious.
There is just so much to love about this book. Read it. Read it now!
I knew going in I was going to love and be a total Errance fangirl. How could I not? What surprised me was Coren. Oh. My. Goodness. I am totally in love with that roguish redhead elf. And I’m not even attracted to redheads. But I’d marry him in a heartbeat, lol! I just love him so much. Honestly, he ended up being my favorite character of the whole book.
I also LOVED the redemption scene. That whole part kept me up way past my bedtime. It was so beautiful, and powerful, and glorious.
There is just so much to love about this book. Read it. Read it now!
September 1, 2021
Reading this on a rainy night was magical ✨😍
This book was so good. Like so many others have said, it has a classic feel. It has all the Lord of the Rings/ Narnia vibes which was such a cool combination.
The allegories and metaphors were everything. This book really touched my soul. The faith weaved into the fantasy in this story was amazing.
I also loved the characters.
I loved Tellie. At first I didn’t think I’d be able to relate to her much at all since our personalities are pretty different and she’s about four years younger than me. But I loved her like a little sister. Her courage and spirit encouraged and inspired me. I could also relate to her wanting to help/ save people when it’s just not possible sometimes. It reminded me to give the people in my life to God who is the real Savior of this life. ❤️
Tryss was such a great character. I could relate to her more since I feel like we’re closer to age. I really related with her frustration with being misjudged/ misunderstood. She was just altogether amazing. Her willingness to help them even though they didn’t trust her.
Kelm was funny and I really liked him. Poor boy❤️ I hope he gets his chance with a certain someone someday (because that melted my heart). ❤️
Coren was also funny and great. Loved him. 😂
The Daisha was also pretty hilarious and just awesome.
Errance. My heart broke for him. His redemption story was soo incredibly good. It reminded me how incredible God’s grace is. My heart just felt overwhelmed by the reminder. It was all so beautiful. I love Errance. He was wonderful. I’ve always been one who LOVES the mistreated/outcasts/hurt characters because ahhh! I just want to love them and hug them and make it okay.
So much happened in this book. I was wowed by the end.
It took me a while to really get into this book. It usually does with me when it comes to fantasy. I even considered not finishing it because I wasn’t sure if it was gonna be my thing. But I am SO glad I didn’t. Because this book touched my soul. It was a beautiful story of redemption, forgiveness, and letting go. It was beautiful and so worth the read!
Thank goodness there’s no cliffhanger here but I can’t wait to read the sequels one day!😍
Ultimately an amazing fantasy that pretty much brought me to tears and stirred my emotions. It reminded me just how amazing God is, and that’s the kind of books I need in my life. ❤️
This book was so good. Like so many others have said, it has a classic feel. It has all the Lord of the Rings/ Narnia vibes which was such a cool combination.
The allegories and metaphors were everything. This book really touched my soul. The faith weaved into the fantasy in this story was amazing.
I also loved the characters.
I loved Tellie. At first I didn’t think I’d be able to relate to her much at all since our personalities are pretty different and she’s about four years younger than me. But I loved her like a little sister. Her courage and spirit encouraged and inspired me. I could also relate to her wanting to help/ save people when it’s just not possible sometimes. It reminded me to give the people in my life to God who is the real Savior of this life. ❤️
Tryss was such a great character. I could relate to her more since I feel like we’re closer to age. I really related with her frustration with being misjudged/ misunderstood. She was just altogether amazing. Her willingness to help them even though they didn’t trust her.
Kelm was funny and I really liked him. Poor boy❤️ I hope he gets his chance with a certain someone someday (because that melted my heart). ❤️
Coren was also funny and great. Loved him. 😂
The Daisha was also pretty hilarious and just awesome.
Errance. My heart broke for him. His redemption story was soo incredibly good. It reminded me how incredible God’s grace is. My heart just felt overwhelmed by the reminder. It was all so beautiful. I love Errance. He was wonderful. I’ve always been one who LOVES the mistreated/outcasts/hurt characters because ahhh! I just want to love them and hug them and make it okay.
So much happened in this book. I was wowed by the end.
It took me a while to really get into this book. It usually does with me when it comes to fantasy. I even considered not finishing it because I wasn’t sure if it was gonna be my thing. But I am SO glad I didn’t. Because this book touched my soul. It was a beautiful story of redemption, forgiveness, and letting go. It was beautiful and so worth the read!
Thank goodness there’s no cliffhanger here but I can’t wait to read the sequels one day!😍
Ultimately an amazing fantasy that pretty much brought me to tears and stirred my emotions. It reminded me just how amazing God is, and that’s the kind of books I need in my life. ❤️
May 7, 2020
Go buy this book. You want regret it.
A tormented elf prince who only wears black (and sometimes really really dark grey), an optimistic chatter box of an orphan who just wants a family of her own, a world traveling apprentice who may or may not have a massive crush on the aformentioned chatter box, and a fierce yet gentle tribal woman who won't let anyone stop her from doing what's right...what are you waiting for? Go read it!
If you enjoy brooding heroes, themes of redemption, perseverance, friendship, dynamic characters, and a beautiful world, you'll love this book! H.S.J. Williams knows how to weave a beautiful tale that draws you in and will make you forget that you should have gone to bed 3 hours ago. This book will leave you sighing contentedly and making grabby hands for the next one!
A tormented elf prince who only wears black (and sometimes really really dark grey), an optimistic chatter box of an orphan who just wants a family of her own, a world traveling apprentice who may or may not have a massive crush on the aformentioned chatter box, and a fierce yet gentle tribal woman who won't let anyone stop her from doing what's right...what are you waiting for? Go read it!
If you enjoy brooding heroes, themes of redemption, perseverance, friendship, dynamic characters, and a beautiful world, you'll love this book! H.S.J. Williams knows how to weave a beautiful tale that draws you in and will make you forget that you should have gone to bed 3 hours ago. This book will leave you sighing contentedly and making grabby hands for the next one!
April 19, 2022
GO READ THIS BOOK. RIGHT. NOW. I'm not even joking this is one of the best books I have EVER read. It's written in the style of Lord of the Rings with a sparkle of humor and underlying truths that blew me away. Constantly.
And someone seriously needs to teach me how to develop characters like that. EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER WAS UNIQUE AND 3-DIMENSIONAL and I have ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE how she did it! But she did!!!
I will be reading this book over and over and over again for years and years to come. And you should too. XD
And someone seriously needs to teach me how to develop characters like that. EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER WAS UNIQUE AND 3-DIMENSIONAL and I have ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE how she did it! But she did!!!
I will be reading this book over and over and over again for years and years to come. And you should too. XD
July 24, 2021
Dang… where do I even start? Moonscript is a classic. The writing style, the beauty, the story, the symbols and message woven between the pages all remind me of classic fantasies such as Lord of the Rings and Narnia! This was a story of love in its purest form and overcoming the darkness inside all of us. It’s deep and dark, but it also has light and laughter and fun.
Errance. This boy needs a therapist. Like my gosh I nearly cried so many times in his POV and he often only had like a paragraph at the beginning of each chapter. 😭😭 My heart broke for him and the darkness and agony that wouldn’t let go. For the suffering he went through for SEVENTY YEARS until he was just a shell of a person.
Tellie was so sweet and adorable!! I would die for her! 😭😍It was kinda refreshing to read a book that not only had a young MC (she’s 14) but that actually acted her age. She acted like a 14 year old, not 18 like they usually do in books, but she also wasn’t annoying or anything.
Tryss was awesome!! I loved her! 🤩 Kelm was sweet and that moment between him and Errance asking for certain advice?? Ugh I loved it! The Daisha was hilarious and I loved her. 😂 Coren and Zizain were a blast. Guys this book had a HUGE cast yet every single one of them were distinct and likable.
The STORY. Guys this book has not only excellent world building but an amazing plot and storyline going on with plenty of heartbreak, horror, and grit. It gets daaark! 😱 BUT, there is light and goodness, and the light does prevail at the end of the book. I loved all of the metaphors with the light and shadows!! So cool!🤩
Can I have the moon medallion?? Please and thank you. ☺️
There’s a few reasons why I can’t give Moonscript 5 stars, but they’re more personal preference than anything else. I tend to not like omniscient books as much because they feel distant and are often confusing. A few parts of the book lagged just enough to where I was still engaged but just wasn’t super motivated to read. And I’m a huge romantic, so while there was technically some romance in the book, it’s not a lot and wasn’t until like over halfway through that it started showing up. So like I said, all minor and personal preference things, but it was just enough that I couldn’t give it 5 stars.
That being said, I still loved this book and cannot wait for the second one!!! 😍 The author did an amazing job!
Errance. This boy needs a therapist. Like my gosh I nearly cried so many times in his POV and he often only had like a paragraph at the beginning of each chapter. 😭😭 My heart broke for him and the darkness and agony that wouldn’t let go. For the suffering he went through for SEVENTY YEARS until he was just a shell of a person.
Tellie was so sweet and adorable!! I would die for her! 😭😍It was kinda refreshing to read a book that not only had a young MC (she’s 14) but that actually acted her age. She acted like a 14 year old, not 18 like they usually do in books, but she also wasn’t annoying or anything.
Tryss was awesome!! I loved her! 🤩 Kelm was sweet and that moment between him and Errance asking for certain advice?? Ugh I loved it! The Daisha was hilarious and I loved her. 😂 Coren and Zizain were a blast. Guys this book had a HUGE cast yet every single one of them were distinct and likable.
The STORY. Guys this book has not only excellent world building but an amazing plot and storyline going on with plenty of heartbreak, horror, and grit. It gets daaark! 😱 BUT, there is light and goodness, and the light does prevail at the end of the book. I loved all of the metaphors with the light and shadows!! So cool!🤩
Can I have the moon medallion?? Please and thank you. ☺️
There’s a few reasons why I can’t give Moonscript 5 stars, but they’re more personal preference than anything else. I tend to not like omniscient books as much because they feel distant and are often confusing. A few parts of the book lagged just enough to where I was still engaged but just wasn’t super motivated to read. And I’m a huge romantic, so while there was technically some romance in the book, it’s not a lot and wasn’t until like over halfway through that it started showing up. So like I said, all minor and personal preference things, but it was just enough that I couldn’t give it 5 stars.
That being said, I still loved this book and cannot wait for the second one!!! 😍 The author did an amazing job!
May 21, 2021
6 stars // read May 2021 // it's currently on sale, guys!
*takes a deep breath*
Wow.
So... two of my favorite authors recommended this book, and I've heard people gushing about it, and have you seen that stunning cover? Yet somehow still I wasn't prepared for how truly beautiful and amazing this book was.
I laughed. I cried.
The writing itself was perfection, smooth and descriptive yet concise. Sometimes books that deal with the Darkness (even when there's some hope thrown in) make me feel dirty and depressed at the end, yet that was not the case here. The characters were alive and real and unique. The interactions and dialogue between characters was genuine. It made me laugh when Errance was caught off guard by something one of the kids would say. The worldbuilding was fascinating and original.
The best kind of books are the ones where, even though we walk in another's shoes and live in a different world, we come from that experience renewed and reminded and changed for the better. Moonscript was that kind of book to me.
Content: Mainly due to descriptions of a tortured character, this would probably be best for readers 14/15+.
If you liked Moonscript, you may also like The Ilyon Chronicles, by Jaye L. Knight.
*takes a deep breath*
Wow.
So... two of my favorite authors recommended this book, and I've heard people gushing about it, and have you seen that stunning cover? Yet somehow still I wasn't prepared for how truly beautiful and amazing this book was.
I laughed. I cried.
The writing itself was perfection, smooth and descriptive yet concise. Sometimes books that deal with the Darkness (even when there's some hope thrown in) make me feel dirty and depressed at the end, yet that was not the case here. The characters were alive and real and unique. The interactions and dialogue between characters was genuine. It made me laugh when Errance was caught off guard by something one of the kids would say. The worldbuilding was fascinating and original.
The best kind of books are the ones where, even though we walk in another's shoes and live in a different world, we come from that experience renewed and reminded and changed for the better. Moonscript was that kind of book to me.
Content: Mainly due to descriptions of a tortured character, this would probably be best for readers 14/15+.
If you liked Moonscript, you may also like The Ilyon Chronicles, by Jaye L. Knight.
February 17, 2022
This book is amazing! Next time someone asks me my favorite book, I'll know which one to say. Adventure and loveable characters, unique world that has a hint of Lord of the rings feels. Darkness and light and friendship and wow this is a great book. The descriptions did not overwhelm/feel too flowery, it was perfect. And again, the CHARACTERS!!! They are beans. I was amazed at the suspense in it. And the humor too! The writing is amazing. Each character has a goal and a point (too often I don't see that in self-published books, but this author knows what she is doing). There were even awesome illustrations in the book!!!
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I could rant for a long time, I'll leave it at, I want to write like this, and if you haven't yet, you should read it! ;)
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*There is violence/pain and dark magic (used by bad people and not shown as good).
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Can't wait for book 2!
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I could rant for a long time, I'll leave it at, I want to write like this, and if you haven't yet, you should read it! ;)
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*There is violence/pain and dark magic (used by bad people and not shown as good).
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Can't wait for book 2!
January 13, 2020
It's written by Hannah Williams. It's naturally a five-star read!
December 19, 2020
Wow.
I first heard of Moonscript when its author did a guest post on Anne Elisabeth Stengl's blog several years ago, and I fell in love with the concept immediately. Fast forward to 2020 and I was among those who pre-ordered it in the early part of the year and am so glad to finally have had the opportunity to read it.
I did put it off for longer than I first intended because *gestures to 2020 as a whole* and I wasn't sure I was ready for an emotional story when I was already dealing with the emotions of world craziness and personal loss. But that ended up being okay because I think I enjoyed it even more having picked it up when I was ready and needed the message of hope inside.
This is definitely in my top 5 books of the year. I adored the characters and need more of all of them. I loved the plot, enjoyed the adventure, the peril, the way the characters grew throughout the story. And THE THEMES AND SPIRITUAL TRUTHS. Wow, just wow. How do I even communicate their depth and beauty? I'm not sure I can. Moonscript tackles themes of hope and hopelessness, salvation, the spiritual realm, etc, etc, head on, never making anything overly simplistic, acknowledging the unseen spiritual battles that go on in every life. And that's just the start. I was moved to tears on several occasions and just... WOW.
I was completely blown away and cannot wait for Collusion and any other future adventures in this world!!!
Recommended to fans of Tolkien and Tales of Goldstone Wood especially, but I think many fantasy fans would enjoy this book.
Content Advisory
Violence:
Errance was captured and cruelly tortured in an evil place for 70 years. While no torture is ever seen on page (he gets taken away, then brought back with new injuries, and we're never told exactly what was done to inflict them), there are plenty of mentions of what he's been through. Much of his torture is physical and his injuries are mentioned (description of injuries ranges from mild to moderate, but never extreme detail. His many scars are also referenced somewhat often), but he was also mentally tortured by the main villain giving him awful visions of things that didn't really happen. We are generally not told what he saw in these visions, but he does tell someone at one point that he saw bodies strewn all over the elf kingdom and lots of blood. The main villain also tends to be rough with Errance in the interactions between them that are on the page. He grabs Errance's face on multiple occasions, digs his nails into his skin, etc.
One instance of fantasy violence involves the villain trying to (via non-physical means) tear the celestial light out of Errance. It's more an internal/spiritual struggle than a physical one, but the scene is emotionally intense.
Even outside of the evil location, people get hurt. Someone takes an arrow to the gut (blood barely mentioned), someone gets clawed in the shoulder (wound moderately described), someone takes a knife to the wrist (barely described). People get hit, thrown, around, and sometimes stabbed. Someone falls to their death from a great height. Not described to the reader, but one character looks and says it's "nasty". A few times throughout the book, blood in mentioned in the case of non-fatal wounds.
Quite a few evil guards and minions get killed. It's implied that one unnamed evil guard's neck is snapped. Evil doers also get knocked around, pushed down a bottomless pit, stabbed, etc, none of which is described in extreme detail. Tellie does witness Errance stab an evil, monstrous, fantasy being, and this is pretty described, but no blood is present.
Evildoers commit their share of violence as well, including attempted killing. Once, they threaten Tellie with a knife, and one bad guy in particular pulls her around by her hair on a couple different occasions. She even gets knocked out with an intentional blow to the head.
Spiritual
There is a being that is representative of the Christian God who is called "the One" or "Ayeshune". He directly interacts with characters on several occasions, showing them love, guidance, and correction, and is shown to be the ultimate good and in ultimate control of everything that happens.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the villain (called the Voice) is a literal demon and proves to be capable of nothing but lies and evil. He works for the Darkness He is not, however, all powerful, or omni present.
The world in this book has a creation story that somewhat resembles the creation story of the Bible to the extent that everyone was created perfect, but fell to sin. The only exception to this is the celestial elves who never fell (except one) and were removed from the earth so they would be able to remain innocent. It becomes apparent, though exact details are not given, that Ayeshune provided some kind of sacrifice so that salvation is possible for all the races.
Some characters have a special gift of being able to walk in the "Unseen" or spiritual world. Those with Ayeshune in their hearts appear as if they have bright light inside of them when seen in that realm. There, one can also see the prayers of others in a physical sense, and fight spiritual battles on another's behalf.
Sexual/Romance:
Kelm has an obvious crush on Tellie and thinks he may want to marry her someday. Tellie has a childish crush on Errance but later sees him as a brother. There are hints of chemistry between Errance and another character (not giving spoilers, LOL). Zizain is happy to flirt with most attractive men but it becomes apparent that she only loves Coren and Coren loves her. A couple shares a kiss (barely described) and propose marriage.
Other:
The culture of one particular city is shown to be very seedy. Slave traders live and sell there, along with other unscrupulous tradespeople, but it is made clear that this is bad, and that a pair of major characters have secretly freed slaves and smuggled them out of the city.
I first heard of Moonscript when its author did a guest post on Anne Elisabeth Stengl's blog several years ago, and I fell in love with the concept immediately. Fast forward to 2020 and I was among those who pre-ordered it in the early part of the year and am so glad to finally have had the opportunity to read it.
I did put it off for longer than I first intended because *gestures to 2020 as a whole* and I wasn't sure I was ready for an emotional story when I was already dealing with the emotions of world craziness and personal loss. But that ended up being okay because I think I enjoyed it even more having picked it up when I was ready and needed the message of hope inside.
This is definitely in my top 5 books of the year. I adored the characters and need more of all of them. I loved the plot, enjoyed the adventure, the peril, the way the characters grew throughout the story. And THE THEMES AND SPIRITUAL TRUTHS. Wow, just wow. How do I even communicate their depth and beauty? I'm not sure I can. Moonscript tackles themes of hope and hopelessness, salvation, the spiritual realm, etc, etc, head on, never making anything overly simplistic, acknowledging the unseen spiritual battles that go on in every life. And that's just the start. I was moved to tears on several occasions and just... WOW.
I was completely blown away and cannot wait for Collusion and any other future adventures in this world!!!
Recommended to fans of Tolkien and Tales of Goldstone Wood especially, but I think many fantasy fans would enjoy this book.
Content Advisory
Violence:
Errance was captured and cruelly tortured in an evil place for 70 years. While no torture is ever seen on page (he gets taken away, then brought back with new injuries, and we're never told exactly what was done to inflict them), there are plenty of mentions of what he's been through. Much of his torture is physical and his injuries are mentioned (description of injuries ranges from mild to moderate, but never extreme detail. His many scars are also referenced somewhat often), but he was also mentally tortured by the main villain giving him awful visions of things that didn't really happen. We are generally not told what he saw in these visions, but he does tell someone at one point that he saw bodies strewn all over the elf kingdom and lots of blood. The main villain also tends to be rough with Errance in the interactions between them that are on the page. He grabs Errance's face on multiple occasions, digs his nails into his skin, etc.
One instance of fantasy violence involves the villain trying to (via non-physical means) tear the celestial light out of Errance. It's more an internal/spiritual struggle than a physical one, but the scene is emotionally intense.
Even outside of the evil location, people get hurt. Someone takes an arrow to the gut (blood barely mentioned), someone gets clawed in the shoulder (wound moderately described), someone takes a knife to the wrist (barely described). People get hit, thrown, around, and sometimes stabbed. Someone falls to their death from a great height. Not described to the reader, but one character looks and says it's "nasty". A few times throughout the book, blood in mentioned in the case of non-fatal wounds.
Quite a few evil guards and minions get killed. It's implied that one unnamed evil guard's neck is snapped. Evil doers also get knocked around, pushed down a bottomless pit, stabbed, etc, none of which is described in extreme detail. Tellie does witness Errance stab an evil, monstrous, fantasy being, and this is pretty described, but no blood is present.
Evildoers commit their share of violence as well, including attempted killing. Once, they threaten Tellie with a knife, and one bad guy in particular pulls her around by her hair on a couple different occasions. She even gets knocked out with an intentional blow to the head.
Spiritual
There is a being that is representative of the Christian God who is called "the One" or "Ayeshune". He directly interacts with characters on several occasions, showing them love, guidance, and correction, and is shown to be the ultimate good and in ultimate control of everything that happens.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the villain (called the Voice) is a literal demon and proves to be capable of nothing but lies and evil. He works for the Darkness He is not, however, all powerful, or omni present.
The world in this book has a creation story that somewhat resembles the creation story of the Bible to the extent that everyone was created perfect, but fell to sin. The only exception to this is the celestial elves who never fell (except one) and were removed from the earth so they would be able to remain innocent. It becomes apparent, though exact details are not given, that Ayeshune provided some kind of sacrifice so that salvation is possible for all the races.
Some characters have a special gift of being able to walk in the "Unseen" or spiritual world. Those with Ayeshune in their hearts appear as if they have bright light inside of them when seen in that realm. There, one can also see the prayers of others in a physical sense, and fight spiritual battles on another's behalf.
Sexual/Romance:
Kelm has an obvious crush on Tellie and thinks he may want to marry her someday. Tellie has a childish crush on Errance but later sees him as a brother. There are hints of chemistry between Errance and another character (not giving spoilers, LOL). Zizain is happy to flirt with most attractive men but it becomes apparent that she only loves Coren and Coren loves her. A couple shares a kiss (barely described) and propose marriage.
Other:
The culture of one particular city is shown to be very seedy. Slave traders live and sell there, along with other unscrupulous tradespeople, but it is made clear that this is bad, and that a pair of major characters have secretly freed slaves and smuggled them out of the city.
April 2, 2020
Whew! Finally an awesome read. Now where do I start? Have you ever journeyed into a book, and you feel like never leaving? You feel like it has every piece of fantasy element you can ever imagine. Themes of unconditional love, survival, war, death and salvation were observed as I delved deeper into the story. Moonscript by H. S. J. Williams is an amazing book with mind-blowing adventures. The background stories of each of the characters are so well-written and inextricably interwoven into one compelling and fantastic book.
Seventy years have passed since the kidnapping of Prince Errance of Aselvia. Tellie, a fourteen-year-old teenager and an orphan, who has known nothing else in her life except work, work, work in the dilapidated inn of her master and mistress. One rainy night, she's awoken from a nightmare to attend to some guests. She sensed something evil in their presence and decided to eavesdrop on their conversation. Little did she know that her own adventure of finding the next elf king has just began. In a world filled with darkness and light, from talking birds to celestial elves and everything in between, will she succeed in her quest?
In my opinion, Moonscript is a Christian fiction novel because of the constant reminder of the God factor and celestial beings living in the higher world. The author uses italics to distinguish between the present and the unseen. This book will teach you that the grace of God is infinite even though one falls into the darkest depth of darkness.
I love the way the characters was well developed and relatable. We see Tryss, a beautiful chema maiden that could blend effortlessly with her surroundings; Corren, a smuggler and a dancer; young Tellie, a brave girl given a huge responsibility and Kelm, her best friend. And then there's The Daisha, a furry winged talking beast with a sassy nature and a great sense of humor. Lastly, Errance, the elven Prince of Aselvia.
I know that this is an ARC edition of Moonscript, but I never fail to mention the professionalism of a book's editing in my reviews. So here we go. I discovered a lot of missing words, apostrophes, and misplaced commas in the narrative. It was a bit distracting, but that did not detract me from the story. I'm sure that a round of editing will smoothen it out and make it pristine.
H. S. J. Williams is an incredible writer, I must say. She wrote the story in third-person perspective, although she switched to first person view most of the time in order to give the reader a perception of a character's thoughts and emotions. That was my favorite part. I highly recommend this captivating novel to fans of "Lord of the Rings", youth of all ages, lovers of adventure, fantasy, and Christian fiction.
There's a quote that I love so much in the book and it says:
"We can be hurt physically. We can be hurt emotionally. But then there's you. Not your body. Not your mind. You. Pain will want to change who you are. It will want to force you to become something you're not. But if you fight hard enough and stay true to the One, it cannot destroy you."
I want to appreciate Book Sirens and H. S. J Williams for the free ARC edition given to me in exchange for my honest review.
Seventy years have passed since the kidnapping of Prince Errance of Aselvia. Tellie, a fourteen-year-old teenager and an orphan, who has known nothing else in her life except work, work, work in the dilapidated inn of her master and mistress. One rainy night, she's awoken from a nightmare to attend to some guests. She sensed something evil in their presence and decided to eavesdrop on their conversation. Little did she know that her own adventure of finding the next elf king has just began. In a world filled with darkness and light, from talking birds to celestial elves and everything in between, will she succeed in her quest?
In my opinion, Moonscript is a Christian fiction novel because of the constant reminder of the God factor and celestial beings living in the higher world. The author uses italics to distinguish between the present and the unseen. This book will teach you that the grace of God is infinite even though one falls into the darkest depth of darkness.
I love the way the characters was well developed and relatable. We see Tryss, a beautiful chema maiden that could blend effortlessly with her surroundings; Corren, a smuggler and a dancer; young Tellie, a brave girl given a huge responsibility and Kelm, her best friend. And then there's The Daisha, a furry winged talking beast with a sassy nature and a great sense of humor. Lastly, Errance, the elven Prince of Aselvia.
I know that this is an ARC edition of Moonscript, but I never fail to mention the professionalism of a book's editing in my reviews. So here we go. I discovered a lot of missing words, apostrophes, and misplaced commas in the narrative. It was a bit distracting, but that did not detract me from the story. I'm sure that a round of editing will smoothen it out and make it pristine.
H. S. J. Williams is an incredible writer, I must say. She wrote the story in third-person perspective, although she switched to first person view most of the time in order to give the reader a perception of a character's thoughts and emotions. That was my favorite part. I highly recommend this captivating novel to fans of "Lord of the Rings", youth of all ages, lovers of adventure, fantasy, and Christian fiction.
There's a quote that I love so much in the book and it says:
"We can be hurt physically. We can be hurt emotionally. But then there's you. Not your body. Not your mind. You. Pain will want to change who you are. It will want to force you to become something you're not. But if you fight hard enough and stay true to the One, it cannot destroy you."
I want to appreciate Book Sirens and H. S. J Williams for the free ARC edition given to me in exchange for my honest review.
May 19, 2020
Really, really enjoyed this book! Stayed up super late to finish it because I could not stop turning pages! Loved all the characters, and really appreciated how Tellie sounds and acts like a young kid! Errance is a fabulous character and I loved seeing his arc and growth, and the climactic chapters were just amazing!
Also, I want a Daisha. Please and thanks. Adored her sass. The side characters were all amazing and added so much depth. The worldbuilding was amazing, and I enjoyed the allegorical elements which weren't too overstated/in your face. Definitely really loved this book and have a feeling I'll be pulling it out for a reread many times. Looking forward to what's next for these characters!
Also, I want a Daisha. Please and thanks. Adored her sass. The side characters were all amazing and added so much depth. The worldbuilding was amazing, and I enjoyed the allegorical elements which weren't too overstated/in your face. Definitely really loved this book and have a feeling I'll be pulling it out for a reread many times. Looking forward to what's next for these characters!
July 19, 2021
ELVES! // the characters are fantastic -- Tellie! Errance! Tryss! Kelm! THE Daisha! (also Coren and Leoren and Casara... and even Daran in his suitably despicable way is one of those villains you enjoy hating because he's not a moron but you still very much want him to LOSE) // beautiful writing // world-building was fun // beautiful allegory that wasn't heavy-handed // ending made me cry all the happy tears // also, I was a bit upset at A THING THAT HAPPENED... but then when it DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN I was not upset anymore. So there's that
More coherent review to come
More coherent review to come
November 30, 2020
This book is everything I dreamed it would be, and a hundred more. <3
My heart was pierced by beauty, hope, light, love, joy, laughter and tears. This story was everything I wanted it to be. The characters were wonderful, and I saw myself in each one of them, some of the more positive things, and the things no one wants to see in themselves but are there none the less and must be exposed that we may be free of them by His grace.
I laughed and cried and hoped and ached with Tellie.
I loved and smiled and my heart broke and shattered and hoped for Errance.
I laughed and enjoyed life and simplicity and the straightforwardness of Kelm.
I wondered at the world and liked the bravery and honesty I saw in Tryss.
I was amused, and felt the awe and the joy of watching someone so strong in spirit as Coren.
I was so excited each time I reached a new illustration, which gorgeously captured the story and characters into a work of art that I had to stop and soak in for a minute no matter how exciting the story was at that point. (Illustrations in paperback only, I believe.)
I thrilled with joy that such a book full of things I loved (original adventure, illustrations, elves, children, forests, mountains, camouflaged folk, inspiration, flying furry talking creature, hope and light and joy, rich writing and world, and a weaving of Truth that lights up the darkness), was placed into my hands after such a strange and wonderful weaving of life threads that lead me to this moment. Life is truly a marvelous mystery. I could write a book about the links between the people and events that lead to this book being in my hands. Not that this book is the center of my life, but it's one of the happy glowing thankful bookish moments along the road, like flowers adorning the fields beside it.
This story reminded me of almost all the books I've loved, and yet it was its own gorgeously epic tale. The Lord of the Rings, The Sillmarillion, Narnia, Redwall, Tales of Goldstone Wood, and even for a brief moment of Stargazer, if only because of the ending, since it was just so. . . yes. :)
I feel like it was written for me, and all the other "me's" out there, to enjoy like a special present form a loving Father who knows just what His children like.
God used it to heal some of my broken pieces.
I would recommend it to everyone because I loved it so much, except it's one of those books that I don't NEED everyone else to read (though it would be cool!!!), because I enjoy it so much myself, I could go on loving it even if no one else did and be quite happy. But everyone loves to share the things they love with the people that they love, so if you like any of the books mentioned, I'd love to share this one with you too. And I'd love to share the Joy and Light of the One it points to with everyone in the world.
My heart was pierced by beauty, hope, light, love, joy, laughter and tears. This story was everything I wanted it to be. The characters were wonderful, and I saw myself in each one of them, some of the more positive things, and the things no one wants to see in themselves but are there none the less and must be exposed that we may be free of them by His grace.
I laughed and cried and hoped and ached with Tellie.
I loved and smiled and my heart broke and shattered and hoped for Errance.
I laughed and enjoyed life and simplicity and the straightforwardness of Kelm.
I wondered at the world and liked the bravery and honesty I saw in Tryss.
I was amused, and felt the awe and the joy of watching someone so strong in spirit as Coren.
I was so excited each time I reached a new illustration, which gorgeously captured the story and characters into a work of art that I had to stop and soak in for a minute no matter how exciting the story was at that point. (Illustrations in paperback only, I believe.)
I thrilled with joy that such a book full of things I loved (original adventure, illustrations, elves, children, forests, mountains, camouflaged folk, inspiration, flying furry talking creature, hope and light and joy, rich writing and world, and a weaving of Truth that lights up the darkness), was placed into my hands after such a strange and wonderful weaving of life threads that lead me to this moment. Life is truly a marvelous mystery. I could write a book about the links between the people and events that lead to this book being in my hands. Not that this book is the center of my life, but it's one of the happy glowing thankful bookish moments along the road, like flowers adorning the fields beside it.
This story reminded me of almost all the books I've loved, and yet it was its own gorgeously epic tale. The Lord of the Rings, The Sillmarillion, Narnia, Redwall, Tales of Goldstone Wood, and even for a brief moment of Stargazer, if only because of the ending, since it was just so. . . yes. :)
I feel like it was written for me, and all the other "me's" out there, to enjoy like a special present form a loving Father who knows just what His children like.
God used it to heal some of my broken pieces.
I would recommend it to everyone because I loved it so much, except it's one of those books that I don't NEED everyone else to read (though it would be cool!!!), because I enjoy it so much myself, I could go on loving it even if no one else did and be quite happy. But everyone loves to share the things they love with the people that they love, so if you like any of the books mentioned, I'd love to share this one with you too. And I'd love to share the Joy and Light of the One it points to with everyone in the world.
May 25, 2020
I . . . have no words. Literally speechless.
-The writing? I CAN'T EVEN.
-The Characters? ......absolutely brilliant.
-The world building? Aselvia is just...*dreamy eyes*
*shrieks* AHHH. Moonscript was awesome!! That ending had me smiling for like ten minutes straight. FIVE. STARS.
-The writing? I CAN'T EVEN.
-The Characters? ......absolutely brilliant.
-The world building? Aselvia is just...*dreamy eyes*
*shrieks* AHHH. Moonscript was awesome!! That ending had me smiling for like ten minutes straight. FIVE. STARS.
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