Book Review: Crypt of the Moon Spider by Nathan Ballingrud
Title: Crypt of the Moon Spider (Lunar Gothic Trilogy #1)
Author: Nathan Ballingrud
Release date: August 27th, 2024
*Huge thanks to Netgalley & Tor Nightfire for the digital ARC!*
Having previously read Nathan’s stellar short story collections ‘North American Lake Monsters’ and ‘Wounds: Six Stories From the Borders of Hell,’ I was beyond excited when this novella was announced. Nathan also has a novel out, ‘The Strange,’ but I’ve yet to get to it, my TBR as deep as the Mariana’s Trench at this point.
But when Netgalley approved me for this one, I knew I’d be diving in quick, and after reading Michael Patrick Hicks’ review, I couldn’t wait to see what I was in for.
What I liked: ‘Crypt of the Moon Spider’ takes place in an alternative reality, where humans have colonized the moon to a degree. Many years ago, a cave was found deep under the forests on the moon, a cave where an immense spider lived. Now, the moon is home to those deemed ‘unfit’ on earth, people with depression, melancholy and immoral thoughts.
Taking place in 1923, we follow Veronica, as she arrives at an institution on the surface of the moon, where Dr. Cull has developed a cure for melancholy. She wants to get better, wants to return to earth and her husband, but doesn’t believe she can be fixed.
Ballingrud does a wonderful job of setting the stage and frankly, while this is considered ‘science fiction’ it merges the line between sci-fi and horror so very well. This novella is unnerving. You know something lurks, something’s just below the surface – not only of the moon, but also of the story.
Once Dr. Cull’s methods are revealed and Veronica’s childhood stories are unlocked, the story rampages towards a shocking mid-story climax. It was frankly unexpected, seeing how Ballingrud was telling this story, but it worked perfectly to set up the second and third acts.
The ending brought some closure but also created significantly more questions. These questions will be front and center when book two arrives and Ballingrud deftly makes it so that the reader wants to know the answers to those questions.
What I didn’t like: Within the story, we are introduced to the character known as ‘Grub.’ I personally thought the section that details his backstory and arrival was unwarranted. While it did work to show us Dr. Cull’s depravity and methods, it slowed the pacing. Saying that, there’s the potential this was necessary for the trilogy aspect.
Why you should buy this: Ballingrud has a way with prose that instantly transports you to whatever wonderful place he’s created. It’s one of those things that the masters of writing have and the rest of us chase. The story within is magical but grounded, while also being dark and sinister. The first book in this trilogy effortlessly has the reader in the palm of its hand, making us long to learn what comes next.
4/5
