I Can’t Wait For…Moon Dark Smile by Tessa Gratton
Moon Dark Smile (Night Shine, #2) by Tessa Gratton Representation: Assorted nonbinary and genderfluid cast
Published on: 21st June 2022
Genres: Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy
Goodreads
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The fate of an Empire lies with a headstrong Heir and a restless demon in this lush YA fantasy for fans of Laini Taylor and Girl, Serpent, Thorn.
Ever since she was a girl, Raliel Dark-Smile’s best friend has been the great demon that lives in the palace. As the daughter of the Emperor, Raliel appears cold and distant to those around her, but what no one understands is that she and the great demon, Moon, have a close and unbreakable bond and are together at all times. Moon is bound to the Emperor and his two consorts, Raliel’s parents, and when Raliel comes of age, she will be bound to Moon as well, constrained to live in the Palace for the rest of her days.
Raliel is desperate to see the Empire Between Five Mountains, and she feels a deep kinship with Moon, who longs to break free of its bonds. When the time finally arrives for Raliel’s coming of age journey, she discovers a dangerous way to take Moon with her, even as she hides this truth from her travel companion, the beautiful, demon-kissed bodyguard Osian Redpop. But Osian is hiding secrets of his own, and when a plot surfaces that threatens the Empire, Raliel will have to decide who she can trust and what she’ll sacrifice for the power to protect all that she loves.
Tessa Gratton is one of my favourite authors, and the previous book in this series/setting, Night Shine, is one of my favourite books of all time. (You can read my review of it here!) You should have heard me when I found out we were getting a sequel! I’ve been checking every week since to see if a release date had been set yet, and this week I found not just a release date, but a cover and preorder links as well!!!
Yesterday in their newsletter (which if you are not subscribed to, you ought to be!) Gratton talked about the official blurb and how, although it’s beautiful and accurate, it doesn’t give any hint as to how incredibly queer the book is. Obviously, that’s both good and a bad thing – readers looking for queer fantasy might not know to pick this up, but anyone who is queer but closeted can read it openly without being worried about the reactions of those around them.
(Personally, I think anyone who’s looking for queer SFF will find it, as long as they’re looking online. There are so many amazing resources now – including, I hope, this blog!)
Regardless, even though I was 99% sure Moon Dark Smile was going to be queer – because it’s Tessa Gratton, and also, it’s the sequel to Night Shine, which was queer as hell – I’m still ridiculously delighted to get it confirmed. More nonbinary rep! NONBINARY MAGIC!!! Do you know how long I’ve been asking for someone to give me nonbinary magic??? ALWAYS. ALWAYS IS HOW LONG. And I’m excited that we’re going to get more of some characters who appeared in Night Shine – especially the palace’s Great Demon!
And let’s be real, that cover is making me swoon. It’s so gorgeous!
Obviously I preordered it the second I could. Now it’s just a matter of pining for next June to arrive faster!
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