Moon Gate Prophecies - A Fantasy Romance

by Kelly Crumpley

Welcome to the Land of Petra—where the Monarch Empirium has fallen and the merciless Grimmstone giants now reign.

Hope flickers in the shadows as whispers of rebellion stir. To reclaim the realm, the lost moon gates must be found, and the ancient Aethan Games awakened once more.

A fae Enchantress.

A celestial General.

Enemies by blood. Bound by fate.

Born to destroy each other—but destined to ignite a revolution.

The Prophecy

In a world where the Monarch Empirium has been overthrown by a powerful fae lord and his army of giants, a prophecy speaks of the Seraph and the Maiden, destined to save the world.

The Maiden Enchantress

Wyendaria Wyldethorn, an Emeraldian fae guardian, has always walked alone. Her heritage has led to her people being hunted to the brink of extinction, forcing her to live behind a glamour. Educated as an Enchantress, she has managed to scrape out a living selling enchantments and mending the sick. When her identity is revealed and a bounty is placed on her head, she loses everything- her home, her apothecary shop, and most importantly, her younger sister, Reishi, who is kidnapped.

The Ancient Power

Thrown into a dangerous world overrun by giants, an ancient power awakens in Wyendaria that hasn’t been seen in thousands of years. She hopes it will help save her sister, but the Queen has a bigger plan for Wyendaria’s powers. The Queen forces Wyendaria to compete in the deadly Aethan Games in hopes of restoring the Monarch Empirium. What’s worse, is that the Queen makes a deal with the enemy to guide Wyendaria through the Games – the brother of Reishi’s kidnapper.

The Seraph General

In exchange for provisions, the stranded handsome celestial General, reluctantly leads Wyendaria to the hidden celestial moon gate they both need to access. Despite the General being drawn to Wyendaria, his disdain for mortals and the strict rules of the Games prevent him from acting on his need. Desire and longing are hard to resist, even for a celestial, and she’s making it difficult for him to control his mortal flesh.

The Deadly Games

The fate of the world teeters on the edge of a blade, and a very unlikely pair. The Aethan Games not only test the right to rule as Monarch, but reveal secrets and betrayals that may be the ruin of both of them, and the world. They must bring all species together to win this war, and eons of disagreements between fae, humans, celestials, and giants make that nearly impossible. Failure means losing more than just their hearts; if Reishi's ancient powers mature before she is rescued, the enemy will have the weapon they need to enslave them all.

Fantasy romance novel. Enemies to lovers. Fated mates. Found family. Romantasy. Fae Fantasy.

606 pages, Hardcover

Published September 22, 2025

About the author

Kelly Crumpley writes adult fantasy romance steeped in ancient esoteric lore, myth, and prophecy. Her stories explore the tension between fate and free will, often led by fierce heroines, brooding warriors, and enemies-to-lovers chemistry. As a watercolorist, artist, and lifelong romantic, she blends lush worldbuilding with poetic language and emotional depth. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her painting or wandering the woods with her two yorkies Maple and Mochi. Moon Gate Prophecies, her debut novel, is the first book in the Monarch Empirium series.

Reviews

[Kristen Yencho]

If I could I would rate this 6 stars! From the very first page I was hooked! The slow-burn romance, character struggles, and fast paced read is one I definitely recommend! If you love good vs evil, romantasy, fae, magic, and slow-burn I highly recommend reading Moongate Prophecies!

[Shannon]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Moon Gate Prophecies, and I am so grateful because this book was such a ride! From the very beginning, the story draws you into a world that feels magical and dangerous, yet so easy to picture. Kelly Crumpley has a way of writing that feels both detailed and accessible, and I was hooked on the prophecy-driven plot right away.
The characters are what truly stood out for me. Each of them had depth, flaws, and motivations that made them feel real, and I found myself genuinely caring about their choices and struggles. I loved the way themes of fate, trust, and resilience wove throughout the story, it made the emotional moments hit even harder.
The pacing was spot on, with enough action to keep the tension high, but also quiet moments that allowed the characters and relationships to shine. By the end, I was both satisfied and sad it was over, which to me is the mark of a great read.
If you love prophecies, strong character development, and immersive fantasy, I can’t recommend this book enough. I’ll be eagerly waiting for more from Kelly Crumpley!

[Mybookish.odyssey]

Such an astounding book!!!!!!
The world building in this book is phenomenal!! Moon Gate Prophecies introduces you to the Land of Petra— The attention to detail makes this such an immersive read.
In the Land of Petra, the Monarch Empirium has fallen and the merciless Grimmstone giants now reign. Rebellion stir to reclaim the realm. In doing so the lost moon gates must be found, and the ancient Aethan Games awakened once more.
The FMC, is fae Enchantress and MMC, is a celestial General. They are Enemies by blood. Bound by fate. Born to destroy each other—but destined to ignite a revolution.
The plot is full of adventures, and plot twists… enough to keep you vested in the book.
There is so much more, I don’t want to give out too many spoilers😜.

If you enjoy tropes that include:
Deadly Games
Found family
Fae & Shifters
Slow burn romance
Enemies to lovers
Fated mates
Ancient prophecies … then add to your TBR!!!

Thank you KellyCrumpley, for the opportunity to read Moongate Prophecies eARC.

[Ashley E.]

This was so beautifully written, the amount of thought and time put into this was all over every single page. The world building was flawless. It pulls you in and keeps your attention making it next to impossible to put down. If you’re a fantasy romance reader looking for something new to pick up that will keep you wanting and needing more…this is for you! “Even the tallest trees bow to the storm” The journey that begins with two sisters who come to realize they may be part of a prophecy to unite everyone and bring harmony amongst all who dwell in them. On the journey we experience so much more than we could have ever hoped for!

[Courtney Ferguson]

If you’re a romantasy lover, Moon Gate Prophecies is an absolute must-read! This book has all the tropes we crave… slow burn romance, enemies-to-lovers tension, hidden identities, & so many jaw-dropping twists, but it still manages to feel completely fresh & unique. The world-building is so immersive that you feel like you’ve stepped right into the story, & the character development is top-notch. Every character feels layered & real, making it impossible not to get emotionally invested. Plus, the story is action-packed, with twists and turns that will keep you up to see what happens next!

As if that wasn’t enough, the book also includes 14 stunning watercolor paintings, all created by Kelly herself, which bring the world & characters to life in such a beautiful way.

If you love fantasy, romance, or just a story that completely sweeps you away, you need this book in your life. Prepare for an adventure filled with magic, mystery, & a love story that will have you swooning!

[Frouke]

I'm so happy I got to ARC read this book! not many books have me hooked from the start, but this is one of the few that did! great world building, and amazing characters. full of mysteries that make you want to never put it down!

[Kayliegh Renee]

Such a good fantasy book. I can’t wait for book two!

[Susan Duncan]

Kelly Crumpley has such a good imagination and story telling ability. In so many fantasy books, you can practically see the Wikipedia page on Fae or Fairy being retold. Not with Moon Gate Prophecy. The characters grow and develop throughout the book with just enough explanation as to who they are and why. It is action packed! I also appreciated the lessons learned along the way. A bit of inspiration for our own lives. You won’t be disappointed!

[author_books_friends]

Moon Gate Prophecies - A Fantasy Romance
Kelly Crumpley

The author does a wonderful job at taking you on a journey. The scenery and characters are described in a way that keeps you reading.
Wyen and Stellan journey you get to meet so many wonderful characters/creatures and there's beautiful illustrations in the book of the characters.
The author really did a wonderful job at making you feel like you were on the journey also.
As I read the book I kept thinking I felt like I was at a movie.
I really enjoyed the book, if you like fantasy with growth of the characters and the way they feel and think. You'll enjoy this book too.
There's also humor and secrets unveiled, I can't wait for book 2.
I highly recommend this book

[Laura]

An absolutely captivating story!

[Talitha de Vries]

2.5 ⭐️

This book felt like a long ride, and not always for the right reasons. While there were moments of fun banter (especially between Stellan and Wyen) and some interesting trial concepts, the overall execution left me more frustrated than invested.

First of all, the inconsistencies drove me crazy. Eye colors changed multiple times, which made me lose faith in the details. I keep notes in which I also note their appearances. Yes, some characters have an eyecolor with other swirling eyecolors. I’m not talking about those. Just one example: Commander Ballack Helveron. Blue eyes on page 80 and on page 100 he had big brown eyes. The leopard guardian—later revealed to be her father—appears in his human form with brown hair, described as being “like Wyendaria’s.” But Wyendaria is Emeraldian fae, which means white hair by default. The only reason she ever has brown hair is because of a glamour. So no, it’s not genetics they share. Then the mismatched description between text and the illustration of the leopard. One wing is about 10 centimeters. The text says two sharp, elongated teeth protruding several wings from either side of its mouth. And I could not see the teeth on the illustration.

I appreciate the immense worldbuilding, but at times it was just very confusing. Sentients are celestials banished to earth from their realm. But ‘celestials’ is also used in the book as the ones who seek power and want to kill the Emeraldian fae. So you start wondering who is trying to do what and where do they reside. Then the giants…I kept on wondering how they came to be. With humans being born from celestials and fae I was finally convinced the giants were born from celestials with humans. And then comes page 163 where we learn from Wyendaria that giants are born from celestials and fae wives. In the end we learn the pregnant females were poisoned which caused the children to never stop growing, so they became giants. Because of all of these inconsistencies I could not get into the flow of this book.

The romance felt forced. They declare their love, especially Stellan, excessively. I loved the way he described it. We read her thought process and realisation that she loves him too and says that to him. Right after, they end up in the final 6 trials. Although it is still on the same day, many many pages later they finally kiss. In the first few of the final trials we already read her thoughts and how Stellan is her safety and when she needs to imagine where she wants to be, even though she is trying to save her sister and mother, it is still him. Nowhere else she wants to be…. Ok ok, we’ll go along with it. And then the chapter ends with “Could I be falling in love with this Star Man?” What do you mean!?! You already declared your love to him, literally a few hours ago. Then the eventual intimacy at the very end lacked emotional payoff. I never truly felt their connection. Also, she is a maiden, but at times when you read her thoughts, you would think she has plenty of experience.

Wyen herself tested my patience. She gave off “annoying kid in a movie who’s about to ruin everything” vibes. Never listening, but it always goes right for her in the end. Her reaction to Stellan’s guards really did it for me when Stellan wasn’t with them at one point in the book. She immediately turned hostile and threatening without knowing the facts first. I really started disliking her.

There was a lot of fighting in this book, with impossible odds. And yes, plenty died, but none in her circle. Although I hate it when someone I don’t want to die dies, it can also give the book more depth and it would be more realistic. Especially, with the impossible odds.

By the end, I am just not excited for book two. With all the inconsistencies and rushed romance, this series just isn’t for me.

[Brittany Johnson]

This story has kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading! A thrilling non-stop adventure, coupled with a slow-burning tension-filled romance. With a beautiful cast of characters that the reader will come to love and grow with! I can guarantee you will not be disappointed with this wonderfully magical tale that weaves together fae, humans, giants, and more!!!

This is literally fantasy at its finest! It's stunning! I’m obsessed!”

[Tiff D]

I received this book as an ARC and from start to finish was 2 days!

the world building and relationships between the characters were *chefs kiss*.
all the adventure and action that was packed into this was absolutely engaging, as was the magic aspects.

But the plot twists were what made this 5 stars. I couldn't predict the second half of the book and it was great to be able to sit on the edge of my chair and enjoy it!

[Samantha Barrier]

First and foremost, I must say this was truly the most immersive setting in a romantic fantasy that I’ve been privileged to travel to!

Our main character Wyendaria, and her sister Reishi are forced to eke out a living by selling enchantments and helping heal sick villagers, as they are Emeraldian fae living in disguise. Their people have been previously hunted almost to extinction.

Through this novel, Reishi is kidnapped and in order to save her, Wyendaria must team up with Stellan, a celestial general who is morally opposed to mortals, and also happens to be the brother of her sister’s kidnapper.

There is a prophecy that claims when a powerful celestial joins with a maiden, the tides will turn and they stand a chance of saving the world.

Ultimately, there is so much more than just Reishi’s fate at stake, and in order to save her sister, her people, and her world, Wyendaria must compete in a series of deadly games alongside Stellan.

These games are designed to test their physical tenacity and mental mettle, and determine their ability to rule.

They must rule to alter the fate of the world, which is suffering as a twisted and corrupted fae has corrupted an army of giants, and is hell bent on taking over.

There are deep rooted prejudices our characters must go up against in each other and in their own hearts, in order to come together and withstand and eradicate the evil that prevails.

I absolutely cannot wait to see how the adventure continues in book 2, and encourage everyone to check out the truly captivating magic that Kelly Crumpley weaves with Moon Gate Prophecies.

[Samantha Garner]

I’m only 50% through the book so not yet finished but so far it’s an absolutely epic quest! I appreciated the intro with pronunciation help for the characters names & it has a cool map, I love a good map!

Meet Wyendaria, she’s a forest faery who lives in a mushroom with her sister & runs the town apothecary, creating healing enchantments for the fae folk. Someone on the elder council has it out for her & creates a terrible lie that turns the whole town against her, making them out to kill her. With the threat imminent she must flee, but not before her sister gets taken by an all powerful celestial who seems out to destroy the world with his evil giants.
In the midst of everything she knows getting destroyed she meets Stellan, a powerful celestial. They find out that Wyen is the key to everything & she must save the humans, the fae & the celestials with an unknown power that awakens inside her & by competing in trials to become queen. Cue the epic quest… they’ve not long set out but have already been attacked by sabre tooth’s & killed a giant!

I’m loving it, think Lord of the rings style quest. The writing is so descriptive & rich, you really feel like you’re there, I can picture everything so vividly in my head! Very much looking forward to the next 50%…

[Oops I ARC'd Again]

!!NO SPOILERS ARC OFFICIAL ARC REVIEW!!

Moon Gate Prophecy by Kelly Crumpley was magnificent. Full stop. This isn’t just a book you read; it’s a book you live inside of. From the gasp-worthy prologue to the punch-throwing moments in the early chapters, every page had me hooked.

The romance? Chef’s kiss. The plot? Unstoppable. The worldbuilding? The complete package. And the characters? They felt so real it was like walking beside them — layered, flawed, and unforgettable.

Fantasy readers: this book needs to be on every single shelf out there. Add it to your TBR, shove it into your friends’ hands, shout about it online — whatever it takes, because this one deserves to be everywhere.

And here’s the part that makes it even more special: the illustrations are by Kelly herself! You can feel how much love, thought, and heart she poured into this story. It shows in every single chapter.

This was only my second official ARC read, but WOW!— it has set the bar sky-high for everything that follows. Kelly Crumpley delivered something powerful, beautiful, and absolutely shelf-worthy.

♾️Infinity STARS!! ✴️🤩

[Krissy Phillips]

This book was such a great read! So enjoyable. It was so beautifully written. The author Kelly Crumpley sure knows how to world build. I could vividly picture the world as I read through the book. The character development was top-notch. This story grabbed me from the very first chapter. The action and adventure the author takes us on was amazing. This story has it all, ancient prophecies, enemies to lovers, fated mates, slow-burn romance, politics, magic, deadly games, and so much more. There are giants, fae, and shifters. There is so much to this world, and the plot was great. The Moon Gate Prophecy is so easy to lost into. I really enjoyed the following the journey that the FMC Wyen and MMC Stellan go on because of their connection and chemistry, and their banter was perfection. They just made me root for them.
It's a long read, but I read it in two days because I couldn't put it down. It was such a page turner. I can't wait to see where the next book takes me.

I would definitely reccomened this to everyone!

[RedElf’s Bookshelf…. Deanna Gaiser Girr]

I absolutely loved this book! From the very first chapter, Moon Gate Prophecies pulled me in and didn’t let go. It’s thrilling, exciting, and full of adventure, with just the right mix of action, magic, and slow-burn romance.

Wyendaria’s journey had me hooked the entire time. The worldbuilding was vivid and immersive, and every twist kept me turning the pages late into the night. The romance was beautifully done—slow, tense, and layered perfectly with the larger story.

If you love A Court of Thorns and Roses or other epic fantasy romances, you will fall in love with this book. It has everything I look for in a fantasy read: adventure, danger, passion, and a heroine you can root for.

Kelly Crumpley has created a story that feels both fresh and timeless, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes next. This is a must-read for fantasy romance fans.

[Georgina]

✨ ARC review of Moon Gate Prophecies ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’ve read and loved our shadow daddies… it’s time to invite this very hot sky daddy to the table 😏✨

First of all I want to thank Kelly for sharing this incredible story and opening this beautiful world to me. I didn’t actually follow any sign up to ARC read this one, however one of my friends read it and we stumbled across each other in comments, and Kelly was gracious enough to share a copy with me too. I’m so incredibly grateful for this because I absolutely adored this book, I actually can’t write about everything I loved because otherwise this review would take about a month to read. 🥹

This book had me engaged from the start. The world-building and lore are exquisite, the pace kept me in it and the trials the characters endure pulled me right along with them. I absolutely adored the love between Wyen and Stellan, I’d have killed for just one chapter from Stellan’s POV. And that ending? Absolute chef’s kiss 💋.
I’m already counting down to book two. I loved the tropes, I like knowing what I’m getting in high stakes fantasy (unfortunately I’ve gone through a few books where book 1 is perfect but book 2 introduces a second MMC, I’m glad it doesn’t appear to be the case in this one). It took me so long to read it because I felt like I needed to savour it, I think I’m going to have to do a re-read too because there was so much happening.

This one leans heavily on the fantasy, with romance and spice sprinkled in. There’s a delicious cave scene and the full shebang (pardon the pun 😉) doesn’t happen until about 98%! One of the slowest burns I’ve read, and I loved the anticipation.

💭 That said, a couple of things just didn’t quite land for me: (and even with these bits of feedback, it was still an OUTSTANDING read for me)

• The timeline of their feelings was a little inconsistent. They confess love when they use the Aeonstone, but then around 70% Wyen is questioning if she’s falling for him.
• The spice language felt uneven. As a frequent spicy reader, it jarred me when we swung from “lady bits” 🙈 to suddenly using the p-word. For a virgin FMC and such a lush fantasy setting, I think some gentle editing would’ve elevated those scenes.

Overall: This is a fantasy story with an epic scope, high stakes, and a sky daddy MMC worth the hype imo😍. The slow burn paid off beautifully, and while the spice could be tightened up, the journey itself was unforgettable. I absolutely encourage readers of epic fantasy to pick this up. You’re not going to be disappointed!

Enemies to lovers 💥❤️
Fated mates ✨
Slow burn 🔥 (the slowest!)
Found family 🫂
Trials & challenges ⚔️
Ancient prophecy 📜
Powerful FMC 🌙
Celestial/sky daddy MMC ☁️🔥

[Tracy]

Wow, fantastic, well written, amazing world and character building.

This book is so worth the read. A story of tragedy, deception, slow burn romance that shouldn’t be. Fae, dragons, celestial’s and not forgetting giants and mermaids all delicately entwined. this is a fantastic first book in the series. The characters had depth, flaws, and motivations that made them feel real and I was engaged in what happened to each and everyone of them.

I am so pleased I got this arc and I truly can’t wait to read book 2. Well done Kelly fantastic story writing I can’t wait to see where the story goes

Kelly Crumpley

[Nicole Kralis]

I received this book as an arc and am so thankful for it! This book was incredible. Kelly Crumpley created a world of such vivid detail. Her use of metaphors and imagery was absolutely fantastic. I felt like I was right there with the characters. I loved that it was more of a slow burn romance because we were able to watch the main character Wyendaria come into herself before/during falling in love. I loved all of the magical beings from the fairies to the giants and was absorbed inside the book the entire time. I would be holding my eyelids open at night to stay awake so I could read more despite being so tired! And the fact that Kelly herself did all the beautiful artwork is even more amazing! So talented!!! This book is a must read!!!! Well deserved 5 stars!!!!

[Paloma]

Moon Gate Prophecies has magic, an intricate and wonderful world, and characters that bring action to each chapter.

Once you start this book, you won't want to put it down. I enjoyed the fae world and their myths and lore. Our main characters Wyen is young, smart, strong, and determined. She is gifted, and there are hidden secrets behind who she really is and her purpose in this world. There are several things going on, but each one is clear and easy to follow. You can't help but enjoy each character and their own story.
Thank you, Kelly Crumpley, for this amazing eArc. All opinions are entirely my own.

[stories.and.sips93]

I was very intrigued by the fact that humans weren’t just useless characters in the face of powerful and magical races. The fae in this universe were multi-faceted and extremely interesting. The FMC was very easy to root for, and I loved the dynamic between her and her friends. The only thing holding me back from 5 stars was the MMC didn’t quite connect with me emotionally, but that’s more of a personal preference than a reflection on the author. She created a wonderful story that I highly enjoyed reading!!

[Stefanie Verhelst]

Wow 🤩 and again wow!!! What a book! To me this is fantasy at its best! ❤️

This book easily pulls you away from real life and takes your mind into a beautiful fantasy world. All credits to the author for building up such a great world, she puts in words what a mind can barely dream of.

I enjoyed the romance building up, a love so pure, so destined. Without spoiling, I truly loved the love quotes, a love so beautifully expressed, it warmed my heart and made me breathless. I want more of this! 🤩

I’ll definitely read this book again! ( and again☺️)

[Felicia]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK! I am just now getting into reading more fantasy so I am so glad I got the chance to read this. Not only is the cover for this stunning, the whole book has been so good. The writing in this book is fantastic and the storyline keeps you constantly wanting to read more. It took me no time at all to be drawn in and wanting to binge the whole thing. I love the uniqueness I found in this book, the author did amazing. If you are a fantasy reader, I promise you will not want to sleep on this book. It is well worth the read!

[Shannon Katariana]

This is the journey of Wyendaria, just your average forest fae. Just your normal enchantress. It starts off with her in the forest collecting items as an enchanter. This from there you go on an epic journey with her from being accused of poisoning people, to being on the run. From there is and her sister run into a beautiful ball for the humans. Her sister then gets caught and kidnapped by the bag guy Semjaza and his blue Grimmstone giants. Thus begins Wyendarias quest, with Stellan, a celestial, to save the kingdom of Petra thus to save her sister. This book takes you thru the prophecies of Moon gate. This is a wild, crazy, banter filled, adventure, and a tad bit of spice. If you love lord of the rings, hunger games, and any other book that takes you on a long vivid journey. Then this book is for you!

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 - Very Plot Driven and detailed.
❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 - Character growth is seen from the beginning.
❤️‍🔥 - Just enough spice and banter to keep you intrigued.

These are the reasons for my 5 star review!

If you don’t believe me, trying reading it yourself!

[Sheryll R]

Moon Gate Prophecies was my first introduction to a Fantasy Romance Novel. I loved it! Such creative imagination and attention to detail. Wonderful characters I anticipated getting to know. I didn’t want the story to end and am looking forward to the sequel. I especially liked the”good gifts”from “the Father of the heavenly lights” sprinkled throughout this novel. I’m so proud of my special friend, Kelly Crumpley, and her extraordinary accomplishment ! Renee Franklin from Camano Island, Wa.

[Kari Catalano]

A beautiful love and life story! It filled my senses to the brim. I could almost smell,feel and see the beauty written on the pages. I was turned on to this book looking for a fun “witchy “ fall read. You don’t just get witchy vibes, but fae, dragons, shifters, tink types faeries, celestial being and Mother Earth herself. The only negative I can of….. more of that delicious spice! I will forever chuckle at “balls deep”!

[Angie Rose]

Kelly writes fantastic deep high fantasy.
At first the length of the book terrified me but as I began to read, the way Kelly writes her plot and her characters swept me up in a whirlwind of magic, romance, excitement and how to find yourself.

If you love high fantasy, fae, deep magical lore and epic battles; this book is for you.

[R H]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW, THIS BOOK!!! I absolutely LOVED this book! It was the thing I most looked forward to in my days reading it. I can't wait for future works of art from this lovely author! Thank you for writing this book! Well done!!! 👏💖🔥💫