Review: DARK MOON, SHALLOW SEA by David R Slayton

One of my favorite people, and super talented author, David R Slayton has stepped away from his Adam Binder series for right now, and is sharing his first epic fantasy!! Our reviewer Crystal was the lucky one of the group to read DARK MOON, SHALLOW SEA a bit early. Check out her thoughts below…

Author: David R Slayton
Series: N/A
Release Date: October 31, 2023
Pages: 414
Review Copy: ARC* provided via NetGalley

Blurb:
When Phoebe, goddess of the moon, is killed by the knights of the sun god, Hyperion, all who follow her are branded heretics. With Phoebe gone, the souls of the dead are no longer ferried to the underworld, and instead linger on as shades who feast on the blood of the living.

Raef is a child of the night. He lives in the shadows, on scraps, eking out a meager existence as a thief. But when an ornate box is sequestered in the Temple of Hyperion, the chance of a big score proves too great to resist. What he finds within propels him on an odyssey across the sea and back again, altering the course of his life forever.

Seth is a knight of the sun. But unlike the others of his order, the fire of Hyperion only brings him pain. He believes he deserves this penance, exacted for his unknown origins. Tasked with recovering the contents of the box, Seth must also venture beyond the horizon if he’s to learn the truth about himself.

In a dying world divided by the greed of those in power, Raef and Seth find their destinies intertwined—and learn they might have more in common than they ever imagined.

Initial Thoughts/Expectations:
As a big fan of David R. Slayton’s Adam Binder series, I jumped at the opportunity to dive into Dark Moon, Shallow Sea a little on the early side. What I expected most was wonderful world building with complex characters. From the title of the series, The Gods of Night and Day, I expected there to be plenty of mythology, which is something I enjoy when done well. From the blurb and author commentary, I knew this book would be darker than what I am used to from this author.

What I Loved:
As expected, the world building is wonderful. I had to read a little slower to make sure I didn’t miss anything, because it all felt so important. The world is dark with a dystopian feel. I found the concept of a world without a moon to be absolutely fascinating and got caught up in the visual imagery of the shallows along with the shades and Grief lurking at every turn.

The characters in David R. Slayton’s books continue to be complex and troubled, with more than a little bit of a dysfunctional family aspect. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters and appreciated the themes of self-acceptance worked in, especially with Seth. Seth reminds us that being alone in a crowded room remains one of the worst feelings, and that trying to fit in with people who do not accept you for you is a choice that can destroy you a little bit at a time if you let it. Rafe reminds us that learning who you truly are and what you come from can be freeing, but come with unexpected consequences and responsibilities..

What I didn’t Love:
The most challenging aspect of this book was the limited dialogue. While the conversations picked up as the story progressed and the pieces fell into place, I struggled in the beginning with all of the actions taking place without conversations to drive them. There are good reasons for some things remaining in the dark, and I could appreciate them on the backend.

Final Thoughts/Recommendations:
This is a solid book one in a new series by David R. Slayton. The book is dark and just a tad sparse on moments of levity, but I feel like future books could see more levity as a focus perhaps shifts from building a world to providing more time with the main male characters. The darkness is tempered by complexity and the reader will be intrigued and busy documenting.

Readers who enjoy a focus on plot and action over romance will appreciate the romance-story balance; the romance is there and drives a storyline or two, but we do not get bogged down in the details.

The book did not disappoint and my expectations of wonderful world building and complex characters was exceeded! I look forward to seeing where book 2 takes us now that book 1 has set the stage!