Day Moon

Tomorrow's Edge #1

by Brett Armstrong

A.D. 2039, a prodigious seventeen year old, Elliott, is assigned to work on a global software initiative his deceased grandfather helped found. Project Alexandria is intended to provide the entire world secure and equal access to all accumulated human knowledge. All forms of print are destroyed in good faith, to ensure everyone has equal footing, and Elliott knows he must soon part with his final a book of Shakespeare's complete works gifted him by his grandfather. Before it is destroyed, Elliott notices something is amiss with the book, or rather Project Alexandria. The two do not match, including an extra sonnet titled "Day Moon." When Elliott investigates, he uncovers far more than he bargained for. There are sinister forces backing Project Alexandria who have no intention of using it for its public purpose. Elliott soon finds himself on the run from federal authorities and facing betrayals and deceit from those closest to him. Following clues left by his grandfather, with agents close at hand, Elliott desperately hopes to find a way to stop Project Alexandria. All of history past and yet to be depend on it.

Genres: Dystopia, Christian Fiction, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fiction, Christian

389 pages, ebook

Published March 26, 2017

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elliott is on the run because he knows something the government doesn’t want exposed and it all started with cryptic messages from his late grandfather. The year is 2039 and Elliott has been assigned to work on the Project Alexandria, purported to provide fair and equal access to all of humanity’s knowledge. As part of this initiative all written word must be destroyed, yet it will be through a book left by his grandfather that Elliott will begin to uncover the truth and risk his very life doing so.

As the seventeen-year-old weaves through webs of deceit and innocently trusts in those around him, with the government watching from every angle, privacy and secrecy is almost impossible, and only one person will stand by his side in his quest to undercover the final answer to the clues his grandfather has so cleverly hidden. Secret codes, Shakespearian works and a scavenger hunt bring Brett Armstrong’s YA dystopian tale to life in Day Moon.

See the world through the eyes of a teen in conflict, who has never had to doubt those around him as he attempts to save history, past, present and future from being erased and turned into a cheap imitation of reality at the hands of Project Alexandria and its dark and mysterious backers.
Mr. Armstrong has created a tale that is both unique and fascinating as he brings his world to life and each scene unfolds. I read as much for the enjoyment and entertainment as I do for the experience of escaping into another person’s imagination. Brett Armstrong’s world is definitely worth the visit. Be advised, there is a strong spiritual undertone, but it is not overpowering.

I received this copy from Brett Armstrong in exchange for my honest review.

Trilogy: Tomorrow's Edge - Book 1
Publisher: Clean Reads (March 26, 2017)
Publication Date: March 26, 2017
Genre: YA Dystopian
Print Length: 389 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Valicity Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is long overdue—by nearly a year—but I’m glad that I finally get to sit down and share what a wonderful work this is with you.

Day Moon was described to me by author, Brett Armstrong, as a near-future science fiction/dystopian novel with a young male protagonist. I was definitely interested, considering the book had a Christian foundation in the writing, but I was also interested in the ‘near-future’ aspect.

The book takes place in A.D. 2039—honestly not so far away and follows seventeen-year-old Elliott as he is assigned to work on Project Alexandria, a software that his deceased grandfather had a hand in founding. This project is supposed to help ensure that humankind has equal access to all of the knowledge available on earth but, of course, Elliott notices that something is amiss.

The trouble begins when the ambitious teen must part with his favorite piece of literature in order to abide by Alexandria’s rules, which happen to state that all printed forms of literature must be destroyed so that humanity has equal access to it—but only in a digital format. Because Elliott is one who follows rules, he is relatively easygoing when it comes to handing over his prized possession: a book containing Shakespeare’s completed works. But when he happens to notice Alexandria’s copy of Shakespeare’s work does not match his written copy, he launches an investigation that opens doors he wished had remained closed.

At face-value, this story sounded like a modern retelling of George Orwell’s 1984, and while the destruction of literature and the value of information is stressed in this book, the underlying Biblical message and Christian foundation sets Day Moon apart from other books in its genre. The writing is very pleasant, told from a third-person perspective while giving each character a relatable personality. I very much enjoyed Elliott’s simplicity and his eagerness to uncover the truth. I liked the deeper journey that he faced: deceit, betrayal, and mistrust, and I feel very strongly that he handled himself in a believable yet entertaining way.

I would most definitely recommend this book to readers of all ages, especially Christians who enjoy adventure and science fiction.

[Kadee Carder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Day Moon falls in the vein of the National Treasure films, which I enjoyed immensely. I love a good “solve the riddle, find the clue” plot, and Day Moon keeps readers quite on their toes as we follow Elliott through a convoluted world where he must decide who to trust, which truths to unearth, and what he will do when he faces the results of his decisions. With some blissful romance and tantalizing imagery, Armstrong provides audiences with a fun ride through futuristic Appalachia. The pacing at times was slow, and it IS a Christian fiction book so don’t be shocked when Elliott’s faith serves as a motivation factor, but the narration is fresh and unique. Armstrong’s debut novel is a thrilling read for all audiences.

[Linda J.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Day Moon by Brett Armstrong was like looking into our future. Never mind that the story was set in 2039, the characters reveal the same passions of love, distrust and longing for God's guidance when their lives were in jeopardy as the same way we acknowledge the trust we look for in today's world.

Armstrong sets the setting by giving brief details of everyday life, such as the way cars have transformed so travel was safer and lives were no longer in danger of accidents. The most important change was scanning all print materials into a program and then destroyed, called Project Alexandria which was designed by Elliot's grandfather who just happened to have died in the only car crash of that time.

Seventeen year old Elliot is now programing Project Alexandria but discovers subtle discrepancies popping up at alarming rate. From here on in we are discovering multitudes of clues, packed with devastating consequences. Elliot realizes his feelings are growing for fellow student Lara as this race for solving why the government is determined to acquire and possible destroy particular works of classic fiction.

The extremely fasted past roller coaster of events continues to rattle our emotions as waves of excitement and continual twists and turns shake our thoughts of just who can be trusted and what surprise are we going to find next.

This story is woven with the fact that it was a rarity to be a believer, and that believing in God was foolish, but author Armstrong equips Elliot with the knowledge that God does exist and knows that He is there when help is needed.

The reality of Armstrong's writing left me totally exhausted in a good way after reading this book. I sincerely mean this as a compliment to the author as I compare Armstrong along side of Dan Brown of the Da Vinci Code, and the movie National Treasure.

If you are looking ahead at our possible future, you might have just found it.

And yes, I would give this book more stars if possible.

[Aimee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Day Moon is a futuristic Christian fiction novel. The premise of the book is interesting and I really liked how the author incorporated classic works into his story as a focal point in the plot like something to be treasured. I love books and I love reading. I can't imagine a world that would take away the books I treasure most. It would definitely be something worth fighting for.

While I liked the premise of this book, the story itself lacked quite a lot for me. It was very wordy and the plot seemed to move forward at a snail's pace. It lacked urgency and the forward momentum that captures you and keeps you wanting to know more which is especially important in a story like this one. I had a hard time staying with it and I will admit to skimming a lot without losing track of what was happening.

The characters were okay but didn't inspire me. I didn't feel that emotional connection to them or the story that I look for as a reader. The main character is supposed to be seventeen but didn't act or talk that way at all. He came across as an adult most of the time. I had to keep reminding myself that he was just seventeen.

I see a lot of potential here but unfortunately this story just fell a bit flat for me. I can tell that the author is well versed in the English language and proficient in the technical aspects of writing which is impressive. I really appreciated that this book was clean- no swearing, profanity or sexual content.

You can pick this book up on Amazon for under a dollar so if you are intrigued by the blurb and love this kind of book, give it a shot. I'm only one girl with one opinion not shared by all. :)

Content: This is a Christian fiction book so you will find talk of God and Jesus Christ. There were a few instances of mild peril and mild violence.

- I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of the story was interesting. Thus the reason I wanted to read this book. This book started out fine. The author did a good job of laying out the premise for the story. The book that Elliott's grandpa left him had me intrigued. I wanted to know more about Project Alexandria. Who won't be intrigued by the idea of a book of Shakespeare's work that was ever changing.

Ok, so here is the deal. While, I did want to like this book more than I ended up doing so; it turned out that I really struggled with this book. This is because it felt like the story was taking a long time to pick up any speed. Additionally, Elliott was alright but there was nothing too captivating about him that kept me grounded into the story. In fact, I skipped ahead to the middle of the story and proceeded to start reading again. It still felt as if the story hadn't really begun. I won't be proceeding with the next book in this series. Although, I might try reading something else from this author in the future.

[Parker Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book by Brett Armstrong. He has a great wordsmith skills as well as a wonderful imagination. I love the setting of this story as well as the secret of his grandfather. The novel moves at a steady pace so it made it easy for me to pick back up where I left off when I had to put the book down.

I enjoyed this first novel by Brett and can't wait to read more of his work.

[Peter Younghusband · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author asked me to review Day Moon as he felt I would enjoy it as it is similar to a novel I recently reviewed. The description grabbed me so it was not a difficult choice to make. Day Moon is not his debut novel: he has a previous one, Destitutio Quod Remissio. This novel is in a totally different genre, Historical Fiction, while Day Moon is the Science Fiction & Fantasy and Futuristic genres.

Looking at just these genres, it shows that this author has diversity in his writing talent. Destitutio Quod Remissio won the 2013-2014 CrossBooks Writing Contest. Admittedly, I have not read this book (I plan to, despite that fact that I don't read historical fiction) but it has enough merit to meet the criteria for this win. I am not surprised at his win as reading Day Moon shows this author has flair for writing and one that he does well.

Apart from this, Armstrong has created a well-developed plot. No peaks or troughs, just a steady pace that keeps you coming back for more. I was kept guessing about what was going to happen next as Armstrong unfolds the next plot development. Armstrong is careful to not provide too much information along the way that would only serve to derail these developments. Just enough to support the events that are happening at the time or what is going on with the characters.

Some novels are plot driven while others are character driven. Not sure if there is a fine line between the two or even if there should be, but for me, I found this novel to be very character driven. In saying that, I am by no means saying that this is a weakness or that I prefer plot driven structures. I enjoy both. In Day Moon, it is all about Elliot and how he reacts to being plunged into the betrayal, deception, and intrigue of those behind Project Alexandria and even those in his own party. The events of the plot and the backdrop of the futuristic society and its technology only serve as a platform for Elliot to solve the mystery set out by his grandfather to shut down this Project.

When a protagonist has both Federal Government agents and those within his own party being deceptive, betraying him and derailing his attempts to do this, it is not surprising that this novel succeeds by being character driven and focussed on the main protagonist. All this does is endear the reader to Elliot and engage the reader's full attention and support for this character and what he has set out to achieve. You empathise with his despair, doubt, frustration, rejoice when he successfully problem solves and even chuckle at the awkwardness of budding romance (maybe this bring back memories!). You rejoice when his faith in God increases and when he takes a stand for God and Truth. The same applies when he learns to trust God more during the events that are set in motion to thwart him.

Romance always succeeds in softening any action and adventure, mystery and suspense plot line while at the same time strengthening it. And so it does in this novel. I am not a romance reader but when this an author includes it as a subplot, I enjoy it and so I did in this novel. I love romance being written by male authors, maybe I relate to romance from the slight male perspective nuances that a male author includes intentionally or unintentionally. Maybe the romance here is depicted without the degree of sickly sweetness that is in some female-authored romance genres! Armstrong has depicted young romance in all its awkwardness and joy as realistically as I have experienced it and expect it to be. Maybe he is drawing on his own experiences which is a wise thing to do as an author. Write what you know!

One thing I have picked up from reading this novel and investigating the author's background is that he has a passion for writing. This shows in everything to do with this novel's construction. This is also shown in the development of the clues placed by Elliot's grandfather for him, John and Lara to discover and decipher. I know from an interview the author was in that he loved Shakespeare in high school. It is no surprise then, that this novel is influenced by Shakespeare. Armstrong even created a Shakespeare like sonnet, Day Moon, which this novel pivots around. This is also a major clue to the shutting down of Project Alexandria. It is why those behind this project together with the Federal Agents want this sonnet destroyed and seek Elliot for it. Unbeknownst to both these parties, there are Christian classics, (Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim's Progress, Mere Christianity, Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Chronicles of Narnia) that contain further clues and information to do this. It seems some of these latter books form part of the plot for the two remaining novels in this trilogy.

It is quite a feat to compose a sonnet in true Shakespeare-like fashion. While I am no expert on this famous classical author, it appears that Armstrong's motivation for this sonnet is to be a tribute to Shakespeare. He even composed this sonnet in the iambic pentameter method that Shakespeare used. This is defined as

a commonly used type of metrical line in traditional English poetry and verse drama. The term describes the rhythm that the words establish in that line, which is measured in small groups of syllables called "feet". The word "iambic" refers to the type of foot that is used, known as the iamb, which in English is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. The word "pentameter" indicates that a line has five of these "feet".

Iambic pentameter is the most common meter in English poetry; it is used in many of the major English poetic forms, including blank verse, the heroic couplet, and some of the traditional rhymed stanza forms. William Shakespeare used iambic pentameter in his plays and sonnets.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iambic_...)

I featured Brett Armstrong in an Author/Novel Spotlight post in this blog recently (http://christianfictionreviewguru.blo...). I was impressed by his reasons for the spiritual themes that he included,

I feel like as western society moves further from toleration of Christianity, Christians need some encouragement to stand against the tide. I feel very strongly that what we read and watch can and will influence how we behave in our real lives, so Elliott really struggles to do just that. He knows resisting the current is far from the easiest path available to him and that it could well end in his death, but he persists. And he does so following clues left by his grandfather whom he knows well, but cannot communicate with face-to-face to know he’s right about what he’s doing. Elliott has doubts about himself, his grandfather’s intentions, whether all of it is worth it. It’s somewhat like how we interact with Christ. We know Him and have guidance He has left for us, but most of us will never get to look into His eyes this side of eternity and draw our reassurance from there. We have to walk by faith and Elliott, from one terrible setback and betrayal to another, has to choose to keep pressing forward.

There are some other allusions as well. Project Alexandria hearkens back to the world just before the Tower of Babel dispersion. The temptation to pursue a desired cause without considering the consequences is a huge theme of the book and the creation of Project Alexandria by Elliott’s grandfather is reminiscent of Adam and Eve’s fall.

Armstrong certainly portrays these themes and I hope he continues to include these and others in future novels. I appreciated Elliot's short prayers of help and guidance interspersed throughout the novel when he, Lara, John and company were attempting to decipher these clues and thwart their pursuers. This reflects the Christian's response to the nature of this fallen world, in all its good, bad and ugly forms. It also shows that we are to be reliant on God and not on our own strength.

I wondered why this novel was called Day Moon. I knew the author had a reason for it, especially since he composed the sonnet. Not a very attention grabbing title. Apart from this sonnet being one of the clues to Project Alexandria, I thought throughout reading the novel that there would have to be more to it than just this. I wondered if it had any spiritual message or theme. When my wonder was confirmed I was blown away by its simple truth but deep meaning, but also dumbstruck at how easily it would be to miss this or just not realise it all together. I applaud Armstrong for this message and outlining its importance. It has real meaning in today's world where everything is being redefined or truth suppressed and distorted. This is what Christian fiction can do, not just entertain but outline the truth of the Gospel or what is currently happening in the world we live in. It seems that the message behind the definition of what Day Moon is, ties in directly with the reason Armstrong wrote this novel that he outlined in the Author/Novel spotlight post I mentioned above. Too long to include in this review, but it can be read here: http://christianfictionreviewguru.blo...

For a debut instalment in a new series, this novel sets a really good foundation for a very enjoyable future. I look forward to the above themes, plot structure and characters being developed further and even the spiritual involvement such as prayer, use of the Word from the characters, with hopefully more obvious involvement from God or the Spirit being included as well. I say this as there is great potential for this to enhance this type of plot.

Strongly Recommended. 4/5

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a smart read! The author did very well in writing this book so much so that the reader wants to read it slowly and devour every part of the book. I'm a quick reader, and like to get through books within a couple of days, but I took my time with this one, because of all of the intricacies and details that the author places in the book.

The characters are smart, well-written, and develop nicely as the book goes on. I love Lara and Elliott and I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow in spite of the wile adventure that they are on.

I really enjoyed reading what the future will look like through the author's eyes. It feels as though everything the author imagined is actually something that could come true. This is one of my favorite things about the book. It seems real.

I highly recommend this book to others! I really enjoyed this one!

The author gifted me a copy of this book. The opinions in this review are fair and honest.

[Pam Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just a book his grandfather left him. So why is everyone suddenly determined to have it? What is it about this book that is so special. As Elliott begins to ask himself these questions, he discovers that there is, in fact, more to the book than meets the eye. It seems that grandpa was purposefully leaving clues for him to find and decipher. As Elliott, his "almost" girlfriend and his cousin embark on the trail of clues, he never expects the web of deception they will start to uncover. Can they figure out all of grandpa's clues and puzzles before it gets them killed? Using a unique blend of the here and now along with timeless works of literature, Armstrong presents problems that are relevant to todays world issues, and opens the eyes to see more that what is on the surface. I received this book from the author/publisher with no request for reviews. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me this book in the 2 book series was very intriguing and a page turner. Just when I was ready to put the book down I found another intriguing spot in the book and just couldn't put the book down. I really liked this book.
I highly recommend it and will read again.

[Iryna Combs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt fortunate to stumble across this author and his book Day Moon. It is an interesting story of a group of teenage friends trying to solve a huge mystery. While Project Alexandra being worked on, Elliott is doing his best to reveal the truth behind it. He must be careful who he trusts as it seems like everyone around him can betray for their own good. They must go through obstacles and big problems, not intended for teenagers, in order to survive.
I enjoyed reading Day Moon and following the path with the characters. I do love the unexpected twist the author added in the end of the book and I am looking for reading more from this author!

[Fiction Aficionado · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ~ It was the premise that drew me to this novel—the idea of a world where all books have been converted to digital forms, and physical books have been destroyed in the name of ensuring everyone has equal access. It’s an idea that sounds good in theory, but it doesn’t take much imagination to see the possibilities for abuse of this kind of system. I love my Kindle, but that kind of literary socialism? Yikes!

The future world Brett Armstrong has set this story in is very similar to our own, just a little more technologically advanced, which makes it all the more realistic. There is a deceptive ‘everydayness’ about the opening chapters, which follow Elliott and his best friend Lara as they go about their work and studies, but when Elliott shows Lara the book of Shakespeare’s complete works bequeathed to him by his grandfather, the ‘everydayness’ is gone.

It’s the beginning of a life in hiding as they seek not only to protect the precious volume, but also to unravel the clues Elliott’s grandfather has left for them to follow and discover exactly what Project Alexandria is all about. Along for the journey is Elliott’s cousin John, on the run from false allegations of murder, and crossing their paths more than once are some of Elliott’s colleagues—people he can no longer trust. Maybe.

The plot kept me engaged as Elliott struggled to avoid capture, to know whom to trust (even wondering about John and Lara at times), and to decipher what to do next, but I felt the novel would have benefited from a thorough line edit. The punctuation, in particular, was inconsistent, and I thought the writing was more wordy than necessary. That's not to say it was pretentious or purple in its prose, simply that I thought the writing could have been tighter; it tended to use more words than were necessary, or to give more information than was necessary. Too, while the author generally made good use of his wide vocabulary, there were odd instances of misused words, like ‘implicit’ rather than ‘explicit’ or ‘predisposed’ rather than ‘indisposed’. And I didn’t need quite so many references to Lara’s ‘cocoa’ or ‘cinnamon’ eyes.

This is the first in a series, so don’t expect a final resolution here, but there’s no cliff-hanger ending either. There’s also a little romance, though it doesn’t take a prominent place in the story. All-in-all it was a read that kept me engaged and shows great potential as this author continues to hone his craft.

I received a copy of this novel from the author. This has not influenced the content of my review which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Camille Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Day Moon. In an age of action-packed stories, it was refreshing to find something with more realistic reactions from the characters—they make mistakes, get discouraged, jump into things too hastily, and experience doubt. The characters are all very different from one another and have different motivations and goals that make for a complex story.
I enjoyed the descriptiveness up to a point. About halfway through the story, however, I started to skim or even skip areas of description to get to the interesting part.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable read. Very thoughtful, and thought-provoking—something that is often lacking in YA literature.

[David Bergsland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining Christian speculative tale

I have to admit I enjoyed the read though I felt disappointment. The spiritual level is vaguely religious. God is presented as a source of help to the believer. But it’s now six hours since I finished the book and I honestly cannot remember if Jesus or the Holy Spirit were even mentioned.
However, the hero and his grandfather are definitely shared as fairly strong believers. Nevertheless, there’s no personal relationship with the Lord nor any evidence of the Holy Spirit's gifts and direct guidance.
So, the rating is entertaining, but not edifying.

[Beth Westcott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Computers and other technology are wonderful inventions, unless they are in the wrong hands. The question is: who can you trust? Day Moon is a quest for truth and finding a way to overcome the evil that is enveloping a futuristic world. Elliot, Lara, and the others make mistakes as they use their knowledge and level of maturity on their journey, following clues left by Elliot's grandfather in classic books. In light of today's headlines I can see us facing what they are facing, as truth is being replaced by lies and life is expendable when we stand up for what is right. Faith, family, and friends are key elements. I'm looking forward to the next book, Veiled Sun.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Janilise Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great read! Elliott felt like a genuine and unique character. The author did a great job using his own knowledge of technology to make this book feel believable. I enjoyed the adventure and recommend this book!

[kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars - From Underground Book Reviews

There is much to enjoy in DAY MOON. The premise itself will hook you and pique your interest. This may be a futuristic sci-fi novel but the world in which the protagonist Elliot walks on is quite close to the present one. It is a chillingly plausible near-future which makes it so believable. And referring to current trends in technology and pop culture as “old school” or “classic” by that time will definitely bring a smile to your face.

However, for an action-adventure novel, it is lacking.

Read my full review on Underground Book Reviews (dot) org!

[Caitlyn Santi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read! I don't typically read a ton of dystopian fiction but I do enjoy a good dystopian every once in a while, and it was absolutely fabulous to read the strong Christian element in this book (a rare find in the dystopian genre) I think that was my favorite part of the book! I also loved the thread of romance that was woven into this story.
The writing style was a bit literary for my taste, and there were times that I would have liked a bit more action and a bit less description, but overall this was a very enjoyable story that held my attention throughout!
I was glad to discover this new-to-me author, and would definitely read more of his work in the future. I am looking forward to the next book in this series!

[Angie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly...I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book. The writing style was just a bit rough in places, but the action and intensity kept pulling me along to the point where I barely had time to notice the rough spots. (That's a serious compliment coming from me!) Actually, the action and intensity and tension and mystery were by far the best part of the book--and that's coming from someone for whom that part of the plot doesn't usually rank among my favorite things. The never-let-up tension pulled me in so hard that I couldn't put it down, and the strength of that aspect keeps tugging me toward a higher rating in spite of some of my feelings on other aspects. The fact that I want to give the plot at least five stars on its own says a lot about how well it was handled!

Here's the part that has me really conflicted... The questioning/wondering/not knowing who to trust was stellar, but it went on for so long. This is obviously more a me thing than an objective criticism, but by the time the book was over, I was emotionally drained with the effort of trusting/not trusting/betrayal/redemption/or was it really? that went on. There were so many lies and deceptions and wrong choices that it was pretty much impossible to fully trust anyone but Elliot. And yet somehow the other characters got under my skin enough that I couldn't handle not being sure of them, and even after what seemed like ultimate, irrevocable betrayal, I found that I still wanted to trust them when they seemed to come back around--except did they really? Seriously, it was exhausting! And it's my own fault for reading it now, but--THE SEQUEL ISN'T OUT YET. And that leaves me, not exactly dangling, but--there are all these little pieces of my heart and my sanity that need cleaned up now, and I don't know when they're going to get it. XS

So, like I said, I'm not sure if the above is more a pro or a con, but even with that, I would probably give this 4-4.5 stars if it weren't for a couple of scenes and issues that really bugged me. One was a scene where someone almost walked in on an illicit romantic encounter. Nothing was said about it specifically, but from the description of the guy half-dressed and the girl in lingerie, it's obvious what was going on. That put a really bad taste in my mouth. Also, there are a few times where only two beds are available for three people, and Elliot's girlfriend offers that he can share with her. Thankfully, he doesn't--if he did, I would not have finished it--but even the suggestion bugged me quite a bit. There's also some pretty passionate and semi-descriptive kissing between a couple of teenagers who are for all intents and purposes alone in a room (technically, they're not alone, but the other occupant is asleep). All those things came really close to the line for me, and even though none of them quite went over, I can't give the book as high of a rating as I would have if they hadn't been there.

I appreciated the Christian messages included and was really pulled in by the characters and the action, but because of the content issues, I can only recommend this to mature readers. I give it a qualified 3.5 stars.

Content--see above for descriptions of sexual/romantic content; mentions of a woman acting and dressing seductively; one apparently compromising situation that is more innocent than it appears; violence, gunplay, and deaths; some mentions of blood and wounds; mentions of murders and other crimes

[Katrina Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad dystopian! I didn't find it amazing, nor can I say that I even liked it a lot. I liked it, and that's it. :)

Language: ✩✩✩✩✩. We're good in this area, I do believe!

Abuse: ✩✩✩✩✩. I think we're good in this area, as well. Looking back, I can't recall anything abuse-related that would turn a YA reader away.

Lust: ✩✩✩🟉 (3 1/2 stars). There were some kisses (at least one was pretty passionate) and physical attraction between the main character Elliott and his friend/romantic interest. None of it was bad - it was even cute at times - but some of it might make readers uncomfortable.
Also, another character gave off a fairly bad vibe in regards to lust. She is even, at one point, seen wearing inappropriate clothing. It's a long story, but... yeah. :/ That particular character made Elliott super uncomfortable in general, though, so it wasn't put in a good light.

Likes:

- The characters! Most of them were interesting, not flat, which was nice. I found Elliott to be a very flawed yet likeable and realistic character. :)

- The Christian aspect. This is a dystopian book with some elements of Christianity mixed in, rather than a Christian book with some elements of dystopian mixed in. That's how I see the novel, and I like it. As a Christian myself, I found that the author's incorporation of God and faith was well-executed. It wasn't subtle, but it wasn't excessive, and I certainly didn't feel like it was trying to shove the Bible down my throat.

- The dystopian aspect of the novel. This book's version of the world's future was simple, unique, and vivid!

Dislikes:

- The writing style. It wasn't bad; it was pretty distinctive, actually. My problem with it is that there were so many parts that could have been cut down and, as a result, been more effective and engaging.

- Some things the characters did were jarring. It's hard to explain, but I almost want to say some of their immediate decisions seemed... unnatural? Especially John's. And some of the dialogue felt slightly unrealistic.

- Lara. Overall, she annoyed me. I found her a little too possessive of Elliott at times. This is just a personal preference, though. Many readers would or do like her, I'm sure.

Overall: ✩✩✩. Not my favorite book, but I definitely appreciated how unique of a dystopian it was, and how the Christian principles were woven into the novel. If you're in search of a fresh Christian dystopian, I recommend Day Moon!

[April Pulliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Day Moon, the first in Tomorrow’s Edge Trilogy by Brett Armstrong, is a blend of mystery
and adventure with a futuristic flair. Elliott, a teenage programmer for Project Alexandria, is the
main character in this tale of a quest to solve a mystery initiated by his deceased grandfather.
Elliott is joined in his venture, albeit somewhat unwillingly, by Lara Hopewell. Having lost two
family members tragically, Elliott and his cousin, John set out to put together the pieces of a
puzzle designed by their Grandpa McIntyre, a man of intense faith. The virtues of Project
Alexandria, a global movement to digitize all printed materials, remains an enigma to the bitter
end of Elliott’s quest.
Brett Armstrong, author of Day Moon, has seemingly created a niche between the
mystery and adventure genres. I struggled to place it neatly within a category as I read. His
main character, Elliott, is a young man of strong Christian beliefs, and it is evident throughout
his struggle to trust in his friends and his cousin, John. The incredibly complicated series of
clues laid out by their grandfather, Ian McIntyre, makes this an involved mystery novel.
Encounters with the CIA, secret passages, and gun battles add successfully to the adventurous
element of Armstrong’s work. Project Alexandria and the many questions surrounding its uses
tie the genres neatly together in one package.
Armstrong’s characters are vivid and memorable without being violent and vulgar. This, I
find to be, an especially appealing aspect of his writing. Romance is described without
gratuitous sex scenes, and the most intense encounters between adversaries occur without
cursing and overdone violent acts.
I found the lean toward science fiction to be quite appealing. Elliott, Lara, and John make
use of and experience the effects of advanced technology. The entire idea of Project Alexandria
virtually doing away with the need for printed works is both overwhelming and fascinating. It
really gives the reader food for thought. Elliott and John’s meeting in the mall is a quite
compelling scene. The luxury store greeters scanning each customer for personal information in
order to successfully direct them and develop sales pitches is well-thought out and provides
amazing imagery.
The introductory chapters did seem a little slow getting off the ground. I found myself
floundering a bit to grasp the storyline for a few chapters. Armstrong, however, makes the wait
worthwhile as he describes Grandpa McIntyre’s involvement with Project Alexandria. I became
particularly involved in the chapters centering around the Appalachian town frozen in time and
its now-antiquated library. In addition, secondary characters like Evelyn begin to help the reader
make some necessary connections.
I am rating Day Moon a 4 out 5. Armstrong writes beautifully, expresses through his
characters an unwavering faith in God, and manages to touch on multiple genres throughout his
work. His use of Shakespeare’s sonnets is a beautiful contrast to the cold, hard reality of the
technological advances of his setting. Though I felt a few chapters were, perhaps, more drawn
out with narrative than necessary, Day Moon is an overall wonderful read

[Beckie Burnham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Day Moon by Brett Armstrong is a rather ambitious novel that creates a futuristic world in which all knowledge is codified in a central data bank for the good of all mankind. At least that’s what the government is professing. In actuality Project Alexandria has a sinister side that the reader soon comes to suspect is subverting knowledge rather than making it available to all who seek it. The future is not so far away as the action takes place in 2039. Technology is pretty advanced, but not unbelievable — cars are all self-driving and consumers have had all their social and financial needs anticipated by commercial entities. It’s rather unsettling to see the world Armstrong envisions; it is just that plausible. But the insidiousness of control goes further in Project Alexander as all written word is digitalized causing the need for source materials to cease to exist. And cease to exist they become as all physical copies are destroyed. Main character Elliott is made aware of discrepancies through clues left by his deceased grandfather. As he and other friends and family embark on an adventure to uncover the truth, danger occurs around every corner. And no one can be trusted.

Day Moon explores the issue of what constitutes truth — what is given by God or dictated by humans. The danger of corruption of that truth is the main focus of this novel. The chillingly possible reality of Elliott’s world is very credible. The novel is carefully crafted and exhibits Armstrong’s knowledge of both technology and literature. While it is an action-adventure novel, it is a bit slow to develop and the language is a bit more formal than needed. I wished for a bit more activity and less thinking by the characters. Suspense is maintained throughout the novel — Elliott and the reader are continuously kept off balance. The book is the first in the series, so while some things are resolved, Elliott’s quest is not concluded. A strong Christian message is woven throughout the novel, a welcome addition to YA speculative fiction.

All in all, Day Moon is an interesting novel. Although a bit slow, it is nevertheless worth a look by those who like this genre.

Audience: older teens and adults.

(Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[Eva-Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

I was intrigued by this book's premise and it delivered in some ways, but not in others.

To begin with the good, I have to say that I found the world of Day Moon to be interesting and well thought out. Project Alexandria is a big part of the book's focus, and I think it's pretty neat, the way that there are so many layers to it: the name means two different things and it has both good and bad uses and, yeah, it was cool. I also like that this book was set in a not-so-distant future, so everything seemed a little more realistic than other dystopias I've read.

As for the Shakespearean element that first interested me in Day Moon, I really enjoyed the way Brett Armstrong used quotes from different Shakespeare plays to begin most of the book's chapters. And how Romeo & Juliet was one of the catalysts to Elliott figuring out something was wrong with Project Alexandria. Very nice.

So why am I rating this book only 2.5 out of 5 stars? Well, there were two major things about it that I didn't like: the writing style and the characters. Though the plot was mostly interesting, it was also a slog at times and at the end it didn't seem like too much had happened in the book. There are a lot of words to wade through, a lot of 'purple prose', and a lot of metaphors that sounded like they were trying to be clever instead of actually being clever.

And I didn't particularly like/connect to any of the characters, and that'll usually kill my love for any book. Elliott, the main character, seemed to overreact to so many of the situations he was faced with. Lara was the typical feisty, vaguely annoying action girl/love interest. John was probably my favorite, if I have to pick a favorite, just because he seemed to have a richer backstory and deeper emotions than any of the other characters.

Overall, I would say that while the worldbuilding and worldview in Day Moon were interesting, the poor writing and character development spoiled my enjoyment of this book. And that's unfortunate, because I was really hoping to enjoy it.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Joel Thimell · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the toughest challenges in writing a compelling mystery is giving enough information to keep the story moving and entice the reader further and further without revealing too much and giving the end away. That difficulty is compounded when the book is just the first installment in a trilogy. How do you find a satisfactory ending that isn't THE END and won't disappoint the readers?

Brett Armstrong meets those challenges in Day Moon by incorporating numerous genres and a variety of twists. This novel has a little something for almost every kind of reader. Love techie sci-fi? Check. Quest stories? Yep. Brooding mysteries? Definitely. Romance? You bet. Political thrillers? Sure. Dysfunctional families? Absolutely. Teen angst? In spades. Literary allusions? Oh, yeah.

Although the book is classified as science fiction or fantasy, it does not describe a radically different reality like Star Wars or Narnia. Neither is Day Moon another dystopian apocalypse. Instead of speculating about the potential dangers of a possible distant future, it warns us of the man-made disasters that await us a mere 22 years from now. Because the Earth described feels so similar to our own, it makes that forecast more gripping. Think 1984 (which was written in the 1940s) not "Star Trek."

Without giving anything away (I hate book reviews that tell me what's going to happen), I loved the fact that one of the core premises for the story is that ideas matter. We live in an age that teaches relative truth and the idea that every individual creates their own morality. This story illustrates the inevitable dangers to society of that kind of thinking (even though it doesn't get bogged down in any philosophical debates).

The story is well-written, the main characters meticulously described and the plot zig-zags through a dizzying array of twists and turns. Highly recommended for readers who love YA stories.

[Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis for this book I was intrigued. First off, as a reader, seeing all those books being digitalized and then being thrown away made me sad, but also made me think that there is probably some truth to that in the future of books! I thought the story line was creative, and the way the author described how people would act, react, and go about their everyday lives is exactly how I imagine it. I think it would be fun to read this book in thirty years to see how spot on it really is.

I did like Elliott's character. He had a strong sense of faith, and a love of books that I could easily identify with. I appreciated how he seemed to hold true to how the books should be - in their original state. At times I felt he was a bit naïve, but can certainly understand how easily a mind can be swayed when there is a beautiful woman in front of you (aka Kendra). And I cannot tell you how many times, even in the first few chapters, that I yelled at him to tell Lara how he felt. Or something, anything. I felt like that was more of anticipated moment for me then solving the mystery!

There were a few times where I felt that the story was kind of dragging. Not the entire book, nor an entire section, rather I found it to be here and there. It was not so much that I stopped reading, but may have considered had the pace not picked back up again. The last third of the book probably contained the most action and held my attention the best. I found myself enjoying putting all the puzzle pieces together with Elliott, and while I figured it out before he did, it was still great to read him figure it out to the end.

Overall it was an interesting read with a unique storyline. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter were also a creative way to break up the reading a bit. This is an author I will keep my eye on for awhile and see how he does. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[B.W. Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Day Moon tackles an interesting "what if" situation: What if all printed works were digitized, only for the government to decide what each work really was all about rather than actually reading the original writing and coming to your own conclusions about it?

That's the situation the main character, Elliott, faces in Day Moon, when he recognizes a version of Shakespeare's works his grandfather left behind does not match what is entered into the government database, a digitized compilation of all writings dubbed "Project Alexandria." I liked the concept because it begs the question about who decides what when it comes to writings that have passed down from generation to generation and what gets lost along the way.

As for the main character, I liked how Brett never keeps people guessing as to what Elliott is thinking at any given moment and how his character stays mostly consistent, though he must learn about who in his life can or can't be trusted. Elliott's Christian beliefs are made clear, but it's never done in a preaching manner, but more about what Elliott thinks for himself.

There were a few spots in which I though the pacing was a bit off, and a couple of times in which the writer seemed to stray away from Elliott's POV and lapse into another persons, but I chalk those up to how a writer tries to show emotion from a non-POV character and might not always hit the mark.

Those weak spots do not detract from the story, though. It's not only an enjoyable read, but one that makes you think, regardless of your religious and/or philosophical beliefs.

[Amilisom · Rating 3 out of 5]

So “Day Moon” is basically near-future speculative fiction. In this case the thought experiment revolves around what would happen if in 2039 the government started a program to digitize all books in existence into a single government-run compendium of all human knowledge and destroy the physical copies.

I’m sure nothing bad will come from that.

It was even started with good intentions by Elliott’s (the protagonist) grandfather. Except that one day his grandfather’s self-driving car got into a super-rare accident and he died.

I’m sure there’s nothing suspicious about that.

Now this premise is pretty good, but personally I admit this book wasn’t really my thing. As a whole, I felt like the majority of the book revolved around three different topics:

1.) Running from the feds
2.) “National Treasure” style clue-hunting
3.) Teen drama and distrust

If these sound appealing, perhaps this is a book for you. Personally, I think I would have preferred if the story dug a little deeper into the philosophical consequences of having a government that is skewing truth. How would that affect the individual? How would it affect society? Perhaps the sequels address that.

My favorite chapter in the book is the mall scene with the hologram. It highlights the technological advancements in this world and how AI, marketing, and data mining could make for an uncomfortable combination. A book expanding on that would be interesting.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m guessing that when Day Moon was first published people wondered if the events were possible. To be honest there still may be those who think the events couldn’t happen. Unfortunately with the current political situation I don’t think this Science Fiction novel is so far fetched.
Elliott is a bright young man with artistic tendencies and computer science abilities. He is working on a project his grandfather started which is digitalizing the books of the world and then apparently destroying the print copies. Lara is a friend whom Elliott would like to make his girlfriend. Lara notices some disturbing things and shares them with Elliott. Danger and intrigue soon follow. Elliott begins to wonder just whom he can trust - the reader won’t be sure either.
The story is not without surprises. It is one of those books that is scary if you believe it could happen - definitely a book to make you think.
Brett Armstrong is a brilliant storyteller. I have enjoyed everything of his that I have read. Day Moon is Book one in his Tomorrow’s Edge Trilogy. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I would not hesitate to add Day Moon to a k-12 Christian school library. It would be appropriate for mature middle schoolers and high schoolers.
I received a complimentary copy of Day Moon. This is my honest review.