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Legends of Elessia - Shadows Over Garm #2
Mask of the Eternal Moon
Lucius and Oskar crossed Elessia’s most ruthless vampire sorceress. Will an ancient artifact be their salvation—or doom the world to eternal darkness?
Monster-hunting priest Lucius lost track of his hated foe, the dread vampire Memphala. Now he roams the foreign land of Garm, looking for any clue as to her whereabouts. But a skirmish at an ancient temple places him and his companions in the crosshairs of a vengeful mercenary company.
The only thing that can save their lives is the ancient artifact they uncovered: the mask Memphala seeks to claim godlike powers.
Will Lucius and his companions survive the wrath of the mercenaries who want them dead and prevent Memphala from plunging the whole of Elessia into eternal night?
Monster-hunting priest Lucius lost track of his hated foe, the dread vampire Memphala. Now he roams the foreign land of Garm, looking for any clue as to her whereabouts. But a skirmish at an ancient temple places him and his companions in the crosshairs of a vengeful mercenary company.
The only thing that can save their lives is the ancient artifact they uncovered: the mask Memphala seeks to claim godlike powers.
Will Lucius and his companions survive the wrath of the mercenaries who want them dead and prevent Memphala from plunging the whole of Elessia into eternal night?
- GenresFantasy
231 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2022
8 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Luís Falcão de Magalhães
17 books48 followersMy name is Luis, and I’m the black sheep of the family.
Born the scion of a household of magistrates and physicians, I was groomed from a young age to meet those expectations. I threw the chain of office away and became a bard instead.
I’ve since traveled the breadth of my homeland, picking up tales here and there. I’ve dined with aldermen and drank firewater with vagabonds; I’ve sung moonlit serenades to hussies and taken the daughters of wealthy merchants to grand balls. I’ve joined secret orders, learning their lore and passphrases; I’ve locked arms with tree-huggers and danced with them under the full moon.
But two things sing to my soul like nothing else. One, the roll of the dice, be it on the wood of the tabletop or within the shards of magical glass that are everywhere in our society. Two, the tales of daring, of heroism and valor, of wickedness and deceit, to be found among the dusty tomes of the world’s libraries.
To contribute to those, I have made my life’s work.
Stay a while, and listen…
Born the scion of a household of magistrates and physicians, I was groomed from a young age to meet those expectations. I threw the chain of office away and became a bard instead.
I’ve since traveled the breadth of my homeland, picking up tales here and there. I’ve dined with aldermen and drank firewater with vagabonds; I’ve sung moonlit serenades to hussies and taken the daughters of wealthy merchants to grand balls. I’ve joined secret orders, learning their lore and passphrases; I’ve locked arms with tree-huggers and danced with them under the full moon.
But two things sing to my soul like nothing else. One, the roll of the dice, be it on the wood of the tabletop or within the shards of magical glass that are everywhere in our society. Two, the tales of daring, of heroism and valor, of wickedness and deceit, to be found among the dusty tomes of the world’s libraries.
To contribute to those, I have made my life’s work.
Stay a while, and listen…
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 4, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This had a twist ending that I was not expecting. I believe it will make for a fascinating read for book 3.
I would say Mask of the Eternal Moon gets indubitably darker than A Silvery Moon. Luis has also stepped up his writting. A mix of switching between characters to tell more sides of the story and being more descriptive.
It leans heavily on a magical object/treasure hunt trope to push the story, even though this quest is inconsequential to Lucius (main character). He just wants vengeance for his voices being taken.. I am highly curious myself who they were to begin with. His distraction tested his loyalties between old friends and new. Luis did an excellent job creating and maintaining quirky personalities and meaningful dynamics with all the characters, friend or foe. So, I feel, even if the journey is simple, the characters make it that much more impactful. There is always someone to root for, or against, even if its not who you initially expect.
This had a twist ending that I was not expecting. I believe it will make for a fascinating read for book 3.
I would say Mask of the Eternal Moon gets indubitably darker than A Silvery Moon. Luis has also stepped up his writting. A mix of switching between characters to tell more sides of the story and being more descriptive.
It leans heavily on a magical object/treasure hunt trope to push the story, even though this quest is inconsequential to Lucius (main character). He just wants vengeance for his voices being taken.. I am highly curious myself who they were to begin with. His distraction tested his loyalties between old friends and new. Luis did an excellent job creating and maintaining quirky personalities and meaningful dynamics with all the characters, friend or foe. So, I feel, even if the journey is simple, the characters make it that much more impactful. There is always someone to root for, or against, even if its not who you initially expect.
April 16, 2024
Power untold. An artifact even the dark immortals crave.
Possessing it will not go unchallenged.
Quick entertaining sequel bristles with action throughout. Exciting adventure perfect to scratch that D&D vampiric itch.
Possessing it will not go unchallenged.
Quick entertaining sequel bristles with action throughout. Exciting adventure perfect to scratch that D&D vampiric itch.
February 9, 2023
Rcvd an advanced reader copy from BookSirens for giving my two cents. It took me a while to get into this book. The premise is good...I've been in a reading slump but I pushed thru. We continue with Lucius and Oskar on the hunt for Memphala....for Lucius to get his "voices" back that he lost in their last battle. Donata is the new priestess of her town and Hilda is on a quest for Gotthilf and they both join forces to find Lucius after the msg is delivered. Memphala is in dark times and has hired the Ravens to help her find what she seeks and will do what is necessary to get it. Lucius, Oskar and a few past friends enter a temple and find half of smtg that Lucius knows is important...when he touches it...he sees visions of death. Not good. What he or Memphala fail to think is what the items will do once put together. There is more at stake then before but will Lucius succeed before its too late?
October 5, 2022
Good Story
Good dialogue, good stakes, enjoyable characters. The writing needs work; too many adjectives in the middle of what were supposed to be fast-paced fight sequences.
Good dialogue, good stakes, enjoyable characters. The writing needs work; too many adjectives in the middle of what were supposed to be fast-paced fight sequences.
January 2, 2024
Previous Review of A Silvery Moon
This is the second book of the Legends of Elessia series and it quick obviously an attempt to bridge the first and last of the trilogy. As such, I felt it was not a good as the either of those two. Like book one, it is fairly short and very action packed (a plus). The write style was very straight forward and simple, so it was easy to follow, but didn’t really pull me into the story much. The pacing was also too fast in many places, but this was all the same of the previous book, so that was no surprise. The PoV also expanded from two to five+ and that was a few too many, especially the inclusion of the PoV for the various antagonists … I don’t need to get into the bad guys head to know how evil they are.
The story itself has our intrepid heroes hunting the ancient (high) vampire that escaped from the last battle in the previous book, and along the way, they realize that she is hunting a mask (from the book title) that would give her god like powers. So far … so good … except despite the looming doom that such an event would entail … the good guys are perpetually giving in to the threat of give me what I want and I will kill you quickly BS. Yes ... I find that aggravating enough to subtract a star from what would have basically an okay story with fairly predictable results all the way to the end (which does has a twist that I didn’t see coming … because it makes absolutely no sense).
The world building is decent … in a D&D adventure sort of way (so I could see marking this as a LitRPG). and Undead and Vampires are still at the center … so it that is your jam … you may be able to ignore the awkward prose. In fact, it took me a bit, but with this book it is clear that the girman, or what ever race Oskar is, are pretty much the same thing as stereotypical dwarves … making any apparent innovation on the fantasy trope only a thin veneer. The only reason that I see to recommend this story is that is is a lead into the last of the trilogy.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#MaskoftheEternalMoon #BookSirens #KindleUnlimited
This is the second book of the Legends of Elessia series and it quick obviously an attempt to bridge the first and last of the trilogy. As such, I felt it was not a good as the either of those two. Like book one, it is fairly short and very action packed (a plus). The write style was very straight forward and simple, so it was easy to follow, but didn’t really pull me into the story much. The pacing was also too fast in many places, but this was all the same of the previous book, so that was no surprise. The PoV also expanded from two to five+ and that was a few too many, especially the inclusion of the PoV for the various antagonists … I don’t need to get into the bad guys head to know how evil they are.
The story itself has our intrepid heroes hunting the ancient (high) vampire that escaped from the last battle in the previous book, and along the way, they realize that she is hunting a mask (from the book title) that would give her god like powers. So far … so good … except despite the looming doom that such an event would entail … the good guys are perpetually giving in to the threat of give me what I want and I will kill you quickly BS. Yes ... I find that aggravating enough to subtract a star from what would have basically an okay story with fairly predictable results all the way to the end (which does has a twist that I didn’t see coming … because it makes absolutely no sense).
The world building is decent … in a D&D adventure sort of way (so I could see marking this as a LitRPG). and Undead and Vampires are still at the center … so it that is your jam … you may be able to ignore the awkward prose. In fact, it took me a bit, but with this book it is clear that the girman, or what ever race Oskar is, are pretty much the same thing as stereotypical dwarves … making any apparent innovation on the fantasy trope only a thin veneer. The only reason that I see to recommend this story is that is is a lead into the last of the trilogy.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#MaskoftheEternalMoon #BookSirens #KindleUnlimited
August 23, 2025
This book is certainly not for the faint of heart, as it is dark epic fantasy at its best, it has battles fought with sword and sorcery, adventure, as well as some dark cruel scenes of torture. Lucius and Oskar travel in the land of the Girmun inside the mountain, in search of their arch enemy Memphala, the vampire sorceress. She on the other hand is also traversing the lands of Elessia in search of a powerful artifact, the mask of the patriarch, which she believed would grant her the highest of powers. She manages to capture Hilda and Donata, as well as Silas and Frida, and they are the ones she holds captive and tortures in order to find out where the priest Lucius is. She acquires half of the mask through the betrayal of Silas and Frida, but feels the other half approaching. However when the other half arrives she too is betrayed. The blood God has risen, and he is out to battle the Goddessess to rule the world he had been vanquished from for thousands of years. His reign would be one of chaos and blood. Can Lucius and his group of friends overcome their hatred of Memphala and work hand in hand with her to stop the blood God before he ends the world as they know it? This is a very powerful book which I really enjoyed reading, even though I cringed quite a bit during the torture scenes, and I will be starting to read book 3 immediately as I desperately want to see the blood God stopped in his tracks!
July 5, 2023
‘Tonight, the dead will tell tales’
I, for one, am not interested in sitting by a campfire and listening to them.
The author brings up a thought-provoking point at the beginning. With all the battles won, demons overcome, gods slain, evil annihilated, etc. that we’ve learned about from our ancestors’ sagas and songs, did they ever really solve anything?
‘They seal evils, they delay cataclysms, etcetera. Basically, all they are good for, looks to me, is punting stuff down the road to us’.
Some of the characters discuss various ways to make atonement. The priest says nobody cannot absolve oneself and that he cannot absolve one not of his faith. When in doubt, there seems to be a standard that’s common in may a culture: the golden price. But that begs another dilemma - how does one make restitution to someone’s family who remains unknown?
Some sage survival advice from the author:
Beware of ‘the stuff that wants to be found’!
‘Prevent the vampire from singing the song that ends the world.’
Don’t bury the dead near an ancient dark goddess’s lair because they will begin ‘dancing to her tune.’
Next in series is the trilogy’s conclusion: ‘A Sundered Moon’. I also have an anthology ‘The Rose and the Knight’ and I will continue the Elessia-Age of Rekindling series with an ARC of ‘The Champion of The Ice’ (expected 20 July).
I, for one, am not interested in sitting by a campfire and listening to them.
The author brings up a thought-provoking point at the beginning. With all the battles won, demons overcome, gods slain, evil annihilated, etc. that we’ve learned about from our ancestors’ sagas and songs, did they ever really solve anything?
‘They seal evils, they delay cataclysms, etcetera. Basically, all they are good for, looks to me, is punting stuff down the road to us’.
Some of the characters discuss various ways to make atonement. The priest says nobody cannot absolve oneself and that he cannot absolve one not of his faith. When in doubt, there seems to be a standard that’s common in may a culture: the golden price. But that begs another dilemma - how does one make restitution to someone’s family who remains unknown?
Some sage survival advice from the author:
Beware of ‘the stuff that wants to be found’!
‘Prevent the vampire from singing the song that ends the world.’
Don’t bury the dead near an ancient dark goddess’s lair because they will begin ‘dancing to her tune.’
Next in series is the trilogy’s conclusion: ‘A Sundered Moon’. I also have an anthology ‘The Rose and the Knight’ and I will continue the Elessia-Age of Rekindling series with an ARC of ‘The Champion of The Ice’ (expected 20 July).
March 5, 2024
The classic fantasy adventure of a priest hunting a vampire.
It's not very deep in the background, but it's slowly growing.
Though the priest has the main focus, there are secundary lines of action breaking the linear sensation.
It is clearly part of a series, it hasn't have much sense without the first book and needs the third.
For experienced readers it could taste a bit simple at the beginning, but has some original touches and a big twist at the end wich make more interesting looking forward the last book.
Easy to read, with few details paints deep enough sceneries.
Continous action keeps the reader attention
Perfect for young readers. Enjoy it without many questions.
It's not very deep in the background, but it's slowly growing.
Though the priest has the main focus, there are secundary lines of action breaking the linear sensation.
It is clearly part of a series, it hasn't have much sense without the first book and needs the third.
For experienced readers it could taste a bit simple at the beginning, but has some original touches and a big twist at the end wich make more interesting looking forward the last book.
Easy to read, with few details paints deep enough sceneries.
Continous action keeps the reader attention
Perfect for young readers. Enjoy it without many questions.
October 27, 2022
epic 2
Yet another installment in this high fantasy adventure. The writing has gotten even better. The first one was good, but it really seems like the author has found more of a flow here. I’m getting significantly more engaged with the characters and the world and I’m ready to learn more.
I even think this story could stand alone, and is significantly more exciting than the first.
Yet another installment in this high fantasy adventure. The writing has gotten even better. The first one was good, but it really seems like the author has found more of a flow here. I’m getting significantly more engaged with the characters and the world and I’m ready to learn more.
I even think this story could stand alone, and is significantly more exciting than the first.
October 15, 2022
Sword and Sorcery Success
This is a great action-packed read filled with fantastical characters on a quest to keep the vampire Memphala from plunging their world into eternal darkness. With Lucius leading the hunters, they race to find the mask. Epic fantasy must read
This is a great action-packed read filled with fantastical characters on a quest to keep the vampire Memphala from plunging their world into eternal darkness. With Lucius leading the hunters, they race to find the mask. Epic fantasy must read
August 27, 2025
Blatant copying of the stone mask from "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" on the title page, unacceptable.
February 13, 2024
MASK OF THE ETERNAL MOON is the second book in the Legends of Elessia series and should be read in sequence as this one starts not long after the other finishes.
With the characters now known to me, I was looking forward to getting back into their story. There are multiple storylines going on in this book, and it took a while for me to get them straight in my head. Lucius and Oskar are still together, searching for Memphala. Donata and Hilda go on their own quest. Gotthilf and Helga are at home, and Memphala has her own story too. Not only that but Silas and Frida are new characters that are introduced and they play a big role. So, yep, there's a lot going on!
I thoroughly enjoyed this second book, with all of its twists and turns. Nothing is as expected and the surprises come from every direction. There is action on every page and the pacing moves it along perfectly. There are now slumps in the writing that I found. A brilliant ending that definitely leaves you wanting more.
An amazing story that I am thoroughly enjoying and have no hesitation in recommending!
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 28, 2023
With the characters now known to me, I was looking forward to getting back into their story. There are multiple storylines going on in this book, and it took a while for me to get them straight in my head. Lucius and Oskar are still together, searching for Memphala. Donata and Hilda go on their own quest. Gotthilf and Helga are at home, and Memphala has her own story too. Not only that but Silas and Frida are new characters that are introduced and they play a big role. So, yep, there's a lot going on!
I thoroughly enjoyed this second book, with all of its twists and turns. Nothing is as expected and the surprises come from every direction. There is action on every page and the pacing moves it along perfectly. There are now slumps in the writing that I found. A brilliant ending that definitely leaves you wanting more.
An amazing story that I am thoroughly enjoying and have no hesitation in recommending!
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 28, 2023
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews