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The Crescent Moon
In the city of Arbash, nestled on the outskirts of a vast desert, the young girl My'ala walks out among the vineyards overlooking a delicate blue sea. Reaching a gnarled tree atop a small hill, she stumbles upon an old man, nestled among its roots - his name is Artemis the Hermit, and he longs to answer the simple question.
What is the meaning of life?
As the years pass, and the realities of a difficult life struggling to get by weigh heavy upon her, My'ala finds herself returning to the Hermit by the tree to seek counsel, and to find purpose in a world where she feels so lost. But when an enemy appears from the sea, and her family are torn apart by the spectre of war, it is in the Hermit's teachings that My'ala will find her answers - and how the meaning of life may just save her city from a swift and certain end...
What is the meaning of life?
As the years pass, and the realities of a difficult life struggling to get by weigh heavy upon her, My'ala finds herself returning to the Hermit by the tree to seek counsel, and to find purpose in a world where she feels so lost. But when an enemy appears from the sea, and her family are torn apart by the spectre of war, it is in the Hermit's teachings that My'ala will find her answers - and how the meaning of life may just save her city from a swift and certain end...
155 pages, Paperback
Published October 16, 2022
103 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Doble
11 books98 followersE J Doble is 24 years old from Bath, UK. A self-published author of philosophical and Grimdark fantasy, his first novel, THE FANGS OF WAR, was released in January 2022. He works in quality assurance by profession, and also reads broadly in history and politics.
When not writing, he is most often found drinking excess amounts of coffee and tending to a variety of houseplants with odd and entirely pointless names.
When not writing, he is most often found drinking excess amounts of coffee and tending to a variety of houseplants with odd and entirely pointless names.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 3, 2023
This is a new novella from the author of The Fangs of War, however it is in its own world. This just released this month so show some indie support!
This novella asks ‘what is the meaning of life?’ And it seeks to answer that question through introspection, life experience, and plenty of soul searching. My favorite thing about the book is that the chapter titles are all feasible answers to the question, but they are presented as the experiences, not necessarily the answers. Love, duty, grief. It’s a very humble book.
I’ll be honest with you, if you’re not prepared for an emotional rollercoaster, this book is going to knock you on your ass. Actually, it will anyway, and it’s not really sorry.
My absolute favorite part of this is the author’s choice to make the story within a fantasy world. It could just as easily have been our own world, a scifi world, a horror world, but the author created (another!) fantasy city and way of life to go with it. It’s fresh and real and adds to every move the author made. I’m floored. This was my first read by the author.
“And the healing she had seen was immediately shattered, taken by the horns of grief.” EJ, we see you, we know what you did.
Personally a 5/5*, this was incredible.
This novella asks ‘what is the meaning of life?’ And it seeks to answer that question through introspection, life experience, and plenty of soul searching. My favorite thing about the book is that the chapter titles are all feasible answers to the question, but they are presented as the experiences, not necessarily the answers. Love, duty, grief. It’s a very humble book.
I’ll be honest with you, if you’re not prepared for an emotional rollercoaster, this book is going to knock you on your ass. Actually, it will anyway, and it’s not really sorry.
My absolute favorite part of this is the author’s choice to make the story within a fantasy world. It could just as easily have been our own world, a scifi world, a horror world, but the author created (another!) fantasy city and way of life to go with it. It’s fresh and real and adds to every move the author made. I’m floored. This was my first read by the author.
“And the healing she had seen was immediately shattered, taken by the horns of grief.” EJ, we see you, we know what you did.
Personally a 5/5*, this was incredible.
February 4, 2024
Sometimes I find myself in a little bit of a reading funk every now and then. Skimming the first few pages of prospective stories with nothing grabbing my attention until I came across The Crescent Moon by E.J. Doble. A novella taking place in a desert city of Arbash once inhabited by The Prophets many years ago but have now gone missing. A story of discovery and faith shrouded in the mystery of the universe unknown. Sometimes there are no answers to find but we keep on searching.
My’ala is a young girl trying to make her parents proud and all she wants on her birthday is to walk outside the walls of her town. Her parents having to juggle many balls in the air including raising another daughter interested in the arts and a son wanting to become a soldier, agree to My’ala’s request. Searching through the vineyards she comes across an old tree with a hermit named Artemis sitting at the truck and he longs to discuss the meaning of life with My’ala. Filled with never-ending questions of philosophy, religion, and family she reluctantly turns to leave Artemis at the tree but when she turns around to say good but he is no longer there.
Over the years My’ala and Artemis will continue these discussions about The Prophets, why they came to Arbash, and where they might have gone. Things seem to be going well until an enemy invasion comes from the sea and the people of Arbash are torn apart at the thought of war. Its these teachings that will help My’ala protect her people and truly discover what The Prophets had in mind.
The Crescent Moon is a novella which forced me to take a step back and reflect on not only questions I had in the book but in my own life as well. The story is easy to digest and My’ala brings with her the joys and curiosity we all had when we were children trying to find our place in this world. Sometimes there are no answers to our questions but the journey to discovering the solutions is what brings meaning to life.
Now is the perfect time to pick up The Crescent Moon especially with the sequel The Jade Sun scheduled to be released in March 2024. I’m looking forward to continuing this series as well as jumping into E.J. Doble’s The Blood and Steel Saga sometime this year.
Cheers!
My’ala is a young girl trying to make her parents proud and all she wants on her birthday is to walk outside the walls of her town. Her parents having to juggle many balls in the air including raising another daughter interested in the arts and a son wanting to become a soldier, agree to My’ala’s request. Searching through the vineyards she comes across an old tree with a hermit named Artemis sitting at the truck and he longs to discuss the meaning of life with My’ala. Filled with never-ending questions of philosophy, religion, and family she reluctantly turns to leave Artemis at the tree but when she turns around to say good but he is no longer there.
Over the years My’ala and Artemis will continue these discussions about The Prophets, why they came to Arbash, and where they might have gone. Things seem to be going well until an enemy invasion comes from the sea and the people of Arbash are torn apart at the thought of war. Its these teachings that will help My’ala protect her people and truly discover what The Prophets had in mind.
The Crescent Moon is a novella which forced me to take a step back and reflect on not only questions I had in the book but in my own life as well. The story is easy to digest and My’ala brings with her the joys and curiosity we all had when we were children trying to find our place in this world. Sometimes there are no answers to our questions but the journey to discovering the solutions is what brings meaning to life.
Now is the perfect time to pick up The Crescent Moon especially with the sequel The Jade Sun scheduled to be released in March 2024. I’m looking forward to continuing this series as well as jumping into E.J. Doble’s The Blood and Steel Saga sometime this year.
Cheers!
September 28, 2022
Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨(4.5 out of 5 stars)
Review: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
Interview with E.J. Doble: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
The Crescent Moon is a really unique novella by the author E.J. Doble, and the initial book on the future series The Realm of Prophets. Our protagonist, My'ala, will meet a mysterious stranger, Artemis the Hermit, being really young (she's around 9-10 years during the first encounter), embarking herself on a relationship where both will try to answer the question "What is the meaning of life?"
I was offered an ARC of this novella, and actually, I devoured it, despite I was a little bit leaning because this is a book so different from what I usually read, as it feels closer to a philosophy essay that has been written with a story form, using the several encounters between the Hermit and Mya'la as a way to firstly propose questions that are derivated from the principal one, and later when May'la is growing, to assimilate and start integrating how the things that happen in her life reveals part of the meaning she's looking for.
It's a really well-written novella, something that shines more due to its nature. When so much weight is over the prose, certainly it's a challenge to get the level the reader is expecting, but certainly, E.J. Doble nailed it, keeping the adequate poetry tone when required, and using symbolism that translates perfectly the philosophical teachings he wants to dissert about.
The chosen setting is an Arabic city, as a symbol of how much of our current philosophical flows are given by masters of this culture, despite this is not always appreciated. The conflicts that appear around the city, and how they affect My'ala's family serve as a way to continue developing the reflections and as something that forces My'ala to mature earlier.
This short novella is certainly a piece of art, which I enjoyed while reading. I feel this review is shorter than usual, but it's the first time I find myself with this kind of book in front of me. Certainly, I can say I enjoyed it, and the craft is really well done, so if you want something less thick, but which will make you think, The Crescent Moon is certainly a great option.
Review: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
Interview with E.J. Doble: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
The Crescent Moon is a really unique novella by the author E.J. Doble, and the initial book on the future series The Realm of Prophets. Our protagonist, My'ala, will meet a mysterious stranger, Artemis the Hermit, being really young (she's around 9-10 years during the first encounter), embarking herself on a relationship where both will try to answer the question "What is the meaning of life?"
I was offered an ARC of this novella, and actually, I devoured it, despite I was a little bit leaning because this is a book so different from what I usually read, as it feels closer to a philosophy essay that has been written with a story form, using the several encounters between the Hermit and Mya'la as a way to firstly propose questions that are derivated from the principal one, and later when May'la is growing, to assimilate and start integrating how the things that happen in her life reveals part of the meaning she's looking for.
It's a really well-written novella, something that shines more due to its nature. When so much weight is over the prose, certainly it's a challenge to get the level the reader is expecting, but certainly, E.J. Doble nailed it, keeping the adequate poetry tone when required, and using symbolism that translates perfectly the philosophical teachings he wants to dissert about.
The chosen setting is an Arabic city, as a symbol of how much of our current philosophical flows are given by masters of this culture, despite this is not always appreciated. The conflicts that appear around the city, and how they affect My'ala's family serve as a way to continue developing the reflections and as something that forces My'ala to mature earlier.
This short novella is certainly a piece of art, which I enjoyed while reading. I feel this review is shorter than usual, but it's the first time I find myself with this kind of book in front of me. Certainly, I can say I enjoyed it, and the craft is really well done, so if you want something less thick, but which will make you think, The Crescent Moon is certainly a great option.
January 6, 2024
4.5 stars (rounded up)
The Crescent Moon is an experimental and philosophical fantasy story that seeks to answer the age-old question: “What is the meaning of life?”.
Within just a couple of chapters, Doble manages to establish an utterly immersive and atmospheric desert-fantasy world, get you invested in multiple complex characters, and pose deep life questions that you will be left pondering on long after turning the last page.
The characters largely feel like embodiments of the themes explored, yet that doesn’t mean that they don’t have incredible emotional depth. Our young protagonist, My’ala, is an incredibly endearing character, and I loved following her through a couple of her most formative years as she seeks to find the true meaning of life.
She is also wrapped up in various complex and compelling interpersonal relationships, which allowed the themes of familial love and mentorship to shine.
All the heartfelt and emotional interactions between these characters touched me in ways I was not prepared for, making this short story all the more impactful.
Doble’s meditative and lyrical prose simply speaks to my soul and works so beautifully for this type of philosophical story. I absolutely cannot get enough of this gorgeous wordsmithing, and I will be first in line to read whatever this man writes next.
This first instalment in the Realm of Prophets series works perfectly as a standalone, yet it will leave you hungering for more in the best way possible.
If you are looking for an atmospheric fantasy novella full of soul searching, introspection, and raw human emotions, then you have to check out The Crescent Moon.
The Crescent Moon is an experimental and philosophical fantasy story that seeks to answer the age-old question: “What is the meaning of life?”.
Within just a couple of chapters, Doble manages to establish an utterly immersive and atmospheric desert-fantasy world, get you invested in multiple complex characters, and pose deep life questions that you will be left pondering on long after turning the last page.
The characters largely feel like embodiments of the themes explored, yet that doesn’t mean that they don’t have incredible emotional depth. Our young protagonist, My’ala, is an incredibly endearing character, and I loved following her through a couple of her most formative years as she seeks to find the true meaning of life.
She is also wrapped up in various complex and compelling interpersonal relationships, which allowed the themes of familial love and mentorship to shine.
All the heartfelt and emotional interactions between these characters touched me in ways I was not prepared for, making this short story all the more impactful.
Doble’s meditative and lyrical prose simply speaks to my soul and works so beautifully for this type of philosophical story. I absolutely cannot get enough of this gorgeous wordsmithing, and I will be first in line to read whatever this man writes next.
This first instalment in the Realm of Prophets series works perfectly as a standalone, yet it will leave you hungering for more in the best way possible.
If you are looking for an atmospheric fantasy novella full of soul searching, introspection, and raw human emotions, then you have to check out The Crescent Moon.
October 16, 2022
I was gifted an arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This book is beautifully written, full of rich descriptions and character growth. We follow our main character My'ala from a very young age through a number of years as she seeks the meaning of life with the help of a mysterious teacher known as The Hermit. For a short novella, this book covers a lot of ground from a wide range of ages, the start of a war and the grief that comes with it. I really enjoyed this story and will be picking up E. J. Doble's 'The Fangs of War' soon. If it is anything like this novella, I am in for a fantastic time!
This book is beautifully written, full of rich descriptions and character growth. We follow our main character My'ala from a very young age through a number of years as she seeks the meaning of life with the help of a mysterious teacher known as The Hermit. For a short novella, this book covers a lot of ground from a wide range of ages, the start of a war and the grief that comes with it. I really enjoyed this story and will be picking up E. J. Doble's 'The Fangs of War' soon. If it is anything like this novella, I am in for a fantastic time!
October 25, 2022
This is the second book by E.J. Doble I've read and I think it's my favorite so far! Still has the author's vivid writing style but a very different story being told. The cover reminded me of a wonderful desert oasis and there were cozy vibes to match. It has so many thought provoking lines and the story was easy to follow. What I did miss was some more interactions with My'ala and the Hermit in her early years as well as some more interactions with her other family members. Overall I give this book a 4.5
January 22, 2023
Omg, how diabolical that I never wrote a review for this. Absolutely shameful in fact. The only thing I can put it down to is that I was so phenomenally blown away, I simply could not write anything coherent on the matter.
Let me tell you one thing, I GUARANTEE this will be one of the most stunning books you'll ever read. You'll want to read it, annotate it, have a one-on-one deep chat with it, take it to a romantic dinner, and run any life-changing decisions by it ahead of doing them.
Set in a fantasy world, this story tells the life of My'ala as she struggles to comprehend the meaning of life, when an impending war ensues, it leaves her begging for answers.
I'm not gonna lie, the idea of a philosophical fantasy did deter me a little, I wasn't sure how it would fit together, but it is STUNNING. Doble is an absolute master at prose as he already demonstrated in the Fangs of War (moment of appreciation for that masterpiece) but he has woven stunning prose, deep questions and an insanely beautiful and vivid backdrop with a strong plot that will keep you turning the page - might I just add that we also get a quirky mentor-archetype thrown in for good measure.
I can't wait to reread this over and over, it will be a thorough comfort read and go-to for me and I'm continually astounded by Doble's work.
He is now an auto-buy author for me and I'll continue to be excited for anything that he produces as apparently he can do no wrong.
Let me tell you one thing, I GUARANTEE this will be one of the most stunning books you'll ever read. You'll want to read it, annotate it, have a one-on-one deep chat with it, take it to a romantic dinner, and run any life-changing decisions by it ahead of doing them.
Set in a fantasy world, this story tells the life of My'ala as she struggles to comprehend the meaning of life, when an impending war ensues, it leaves her begging for answers.
I'm not gonna lie, the idea of a philosophical fantasy did deter me a little, I wasn't sure how it would fit together, but it is STUNNING. Doble is an absolute master at prose as he already demonstrated in the Fangs of War (moment of appreciation for that masterpiece) but he has woven stunning prose, deep questions and an insanely beautiful and vivid backdrop with a strong plot that will keep you turning the page - might I just add that we also get a quirky mentor-archetype thrown in for good measure.
I can't wait to reread this over and over, it will be a thorough comfort read and go-to for me and I'm continually astounded by Doble's work.
He is now an auto-buy author for me and I'll continue to be excited for anything that he produces as apparently he can do no wrong.
June 4, 2023
This is a new novella from the author of The Fangs of War, however it is in its own world. This just released this month so show some indie support!
This novella asks ‘what is the meaning of life?’ And it seeks to answer that question through introspection, life experience, and plenty of soul searching. My favorite thing about the book is that the chapter titles are all feasible answers to the question, but they are presented as the experiences, not necessarily the answers. Love, duty, grief. It’s a very humble book.
I’ll be honest with you, if you’re not prepared for an emotional rollercoaster, this book is going to knock you on your ass. Actually, it will anyway, and it’s not really sorry.
My absolute favorite part of this is the author’s choice to make the story within a fantasy world. It could just as easily have been our own world, a scifi world, a horror world, but the author created (another!) fantasy city and way of life to go with it. It’s fresh and real and adds to every move the author made. I’m floored. This was my first read by the author.
“And the healing she had seen was immediately shattered, taken by the horns of grief.” EJ, we see you, we know what you did.
Personally a 5/5*, this was incredible.
This novella asks ‘what is the meaning of life?’ And it seeks to answer that question through introspection, life experience, and plenty of soul searching. My favorite thing about the book is that the chapter titles are all feasible answers to the question, but they are presented as the experiences, not necessarily the answers. Love, duty, grief. It’s a very humble book.
I’ll be honest with you, if you’re not prepared for an emotional rollercoaster, this book is going to knock you on your ass. Actually, it will anyway, and it’s not really sorry.
My absolute favorite part of this is the author’s choice to make the story within a fantasy world. It could just as easily have been our own world, a scifi world, a horror world, but the author created (another!) fantasy city and way of life to go with it. It’s fresh and real and adds to every move the author made. I’m floored. This was my first read by the author.
“And the healing she had seen was immediately shattered, taken by the horns of grief.” EJ, we see you, we know what you did.
Personally a 5/5*, this was incredible.
April 26, 2023
this was a very fun little philosophical novella that does a lot in a short space. there were a couple of parts that didn't read super smooth (i.e. a comma where i wasn't expecting it, word order, etc) but honestly because doble tackles a lot of very deep topics here i don't think those things are worth getting hung up about, since there's just so much to chew on here. the way doble weaves philosophy and discussing topics like duty and grief and love is really well done and i loved how natural the progression of events felt. i think this would be really neat to read and discuss with friends, and is one of those piece of fiction where you'll be able to find something new on each re-read.
September 26, 2022
5 ⭐️
Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful books I have read. The Crescent Moon is the sensational first entry in a planned novella trilogy in which our main character, My’ala, meets an enigmatic hermit, embarking on a touching relationship as both try to understand the meaning of life.
Beautiful, philosophical symbolism is rife throughout this story, with Doble exploring powerful themes and asking important questions. The wisdom that Doble articulates within these pages astounded me from beginning to end. I was completely captivated throughout this book, with not a single word feeling wasted.
This is absolutely a book that readers need to purchase and dedicate their time to when it is released. It is rare when a book can move me as much as The Crescent Moon has. Ethan is such an extremely talented writer. This is a book that is going to stick with me for quite some time. Poetic, powerful and raw, The Crescent Moon is art in its purest form.
Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful books I have read. The Crescent Moon is the sensational first entry in a planned novella trilogy in which our main character, My’ala, meets an enigmatic hermit, embarking on a touching relationship as both try to understand the meaning of life.
Beautiful, philosophical symbolism is rife throughout this story, with Doble exploring powerful themes and asking important questions. The wisdom that Doble articulates within these pages astounded me from beginning to end. I was completely captivated throughout this book, with not a single word feeling wasted.
This is absolutely a book that readers need to purchase and dedicate their time to when it is released. It is rare when a book can move me as much as The Crescent Moon has. Ethan is such an extremely talented writer. This is a book that is going to stick with me for quite some time. Poetic, powerful and raw, The Crescent Moon is art in its purest form.
October 13, 2022
The Crescent Moon
By @E.J.Doble
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
"And the healing she had seen was immediately shattered, taken by the horns of grief."
I was fortunate enough to be sent an e-arc of E.J.Doble's upcoming novella The Crescent Moon, releasing16th October, so make sure you pick up a copy!
The Crescent Moon is the first installment of a philosophical novella trilogy, and if the next two novellas are anything like the last, we are in for a treat!
Doble is a master at writing beautifully detailed prose, you will be repeatedly reminding yourself that it is a novella and not a poem that you are reading. Each landscape and city described can be pictured with great clarity without feeling like too much.
We also get to see a good amount of character growth with a few of the main characters as the story progresses.
As My'ala explores her home and the surrounding area, meets people wiser beyond belief and discovers things she would never think of, the novella starts to piece together. The reader follows My'ala's experiences along with her and starts to question their own thoughts and beliefs.
In this beautifully crafted, though provoking novella, E.J.Doble shows us once again why he is the author to watch! If you don't pick this up on release, you'll be missing out 💥
By @E.J.Doble
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
"And the healing she had seen was immediately shattered, taken by the horns of grief."
I was fortunate enough to be sent an e-arc of E.J.Doble's upcoming novella The Crescent Moon, releasing16th October, so make sure you pick up a copy!
The Crescent Moon is the first installment of a philosophical novella trilogy, and if the next two novellas are anything like the last, we are in for a treat!
Doble is a master at writing beautifully detailed prose, you will be repeatedly reminding yourself that it is a novella and not a poem that you are reading. Each landscape and city described can be pictured with great clarity without feeling like too much.
We also get to see a good amount of character growth with a few of the main characters as the story progresses.
As My'ala explores her home and the surrounding area, meets people wiser beyond belief and discovers things she would never think of, the novella starts to piece together. The reader follows My'ala's experiences along with her and starts to question their own thoughts and beliefs.
In this beautifully crafted, though provoking novella, E.J.Doble shows us once again why he is the author to watch! If you don't pick this up on release, you'll be missing out 💥
September 19, 2022
4.5/5
A beautifully and simply written story exploring the themes and meaning of life. Ethan uses this short story to look at what drives humans - love, pain, duty, hate, greed, security, uncertainty. He has a poetic prose that keeps you engaged as a reader and thinking about your on life and motivations for living. It’s great to see such a younger author exploring these themes and encouraging his readers to do the same. I’m excited to see what else comes from the start of this new series.
A beautifully and simply written story exploring the themes and meaning of life. Ethan uses this short story to look at what drives humans - love, pain, duty, hate, greed, security, uncertainty. He has a poetic prose that keeps you engaged as a reader and thinking about your on life and motivations for living. It’s great to see such a younger author exploring these themes and encouraging his readers to do the same. I’m excited to see what else comes from the start of this new series.
October 31, 2022
The Crescent Moon is the first story of a trio of philosophical novellas. What Doble does with this one is nothing short of masterful. I was captivated from the get go, and while this is just a novella, I read it in one sitting. It's a comfortable read, yet though provoking and surprisingly emotional.
One of my main praises for The Fangs of War was that the writing seemed to be crafted carefully, with each word selected purposefully. While not a short novel by any means, the prose felt tight and refined, and we see that here as well. Simply put, the writing is beautiful. Literary art. There are plenty of memorable quotes in this one and I found every aspect of how The Crescent Moon was written to be executed perfectly. Even something like dialogue, which many new authors can struggle with, was done so well. Following My'ala as she ages, I found that Doble manages to perfectly encapsulate her growth and maturity, largely through how she speaks and how she thinks. At the start of the novella, we are introduced to a 10 year old girl, and how she speaks is reflective of her age. As the story progresses and she grows, so does the sophistication in her speech. This may come off as a minor detail, but I was impressed at how well this was done seeing that this is just a short novella.
While this is a philosophical story, there are fantastical elements, and they too had me intrigued. The world building is suprisingly detailed, and while Doble had to resort to a bit of info dumping at the start to build the world, what is built is quite large and impressive in scale. I actually love this desert setting, which gave me Moroccan or Tunisian vibes. It felt as though we were thrown into a city like Tunis, rich which history and beauty. I oddly found myself also interested in the sub plot of the story, even while knowing it existed to help future the philosophical aspects of the story. I cared about the city being invaded, the lives lost, and the overall impacts that came with the invasion of Arbash.
As mentioned before, this is a philosophical story, mostly centered on the question that is "what is the meaning of life?" Doble manages to touch on this topic with carefully selected words and well crafted symbolism, as well as showing us aspects of life. We see growth, turmoil, frustration, love, grief, and many other aspects of life that many of us will experience. While there is a more definite conclusion, I feel as though Doble's main goal with this one is to make us think. He touches on various potential answers to the question of "what is the meaning of life?" We see this answered in regards to love, greed, duty, etc. He presents possible solutions based strictly off of emotion (love, for example) versus a more pessimistic (or pragmatic, depending on how you see things) answer. This story is thought provoking, and it was quite nice to have a story allow me to think and come to my own conclusions. I was left thinking about sitations in which duty could become selfishness. In which love can cloud judgment. How grief can be handled. How the many challenges and difficulties in life should be approached.
The Crescent Moon was simply a delight to read.
One of my main praises for The Fangs of War was that the writing seemed to be crafted carefully, with each word selected purposefully. While not a short novel by any means, the prose felt tight and refined, and we see that here as well. Simply put, the writing is beautiful. Literary art. There are plenty of memorable quotes in this one and I found every aspect of how The Crescent Moon was written to be executed perfectly. Even something like dialogue, which many new authors can struggle with, was done so well. Following My'ala as she ages, I found that Doble manages to perfectly encapsulate her growth and maturity, largely through how she speaks and how she thinks. At the start of the novella, we are introduced to a 10 year old girl, and how she speaks is reflective of her age. As the story progresses and she grows, so does the sophistication in her speech. This may come off as a minor detail, but I was impressed at how well this was done seeing that this is just a short novella.
While this is a philosophical story, there are fantastical elements, and they too had me intrigued. The world building is suprisingly detailed, and while Doble had to resort to a bit of info dumping at the start to build the world, what is built is quite large and impressive in scale. I actually love this desert setting, which gave me Moroccan or Tunisian vibes. It felt as though we were thrown into a city like Tunis, rich which history and beauty. I oddly found myself also interested in the sub plot of the story, even while knowing it existed to help future the philosophical aspects of the story. I cared about the city being invaded, the lives lost, and the overall impacts that came with the invasion of Arbash.
As mentioned before, this is a philosophical story, mostly centered on the question that is "what is the meaning of life?" Doble manages to touch on this topic with carefully selected words and well crafted symbolism, as well as showing us aspects of life. We see growth, turmoil, frustration, love, grief, and many other aspects of life that many of us will experience. While there is a more definite conclusion, I feel as though Doble's main goal with this one is to make us think. He touches on various potential answers to the question of "what is the meaning of life?" We see this answered in regards to love, greed, duty, etc. He presents possible solutions based strictly off of emotion (love, for example) versus a more pessimistic (or pragmatic, depending on how you see things) answer. This story is thought provoking, and it was quite nice to have a story allow me to think and come to my own conclusions. I was left thinking about sitations in which duty could become selfishness. In which love can cloud judgment. How grief can be handled. How the many challenges and difficulties in life should be approached.
The Crescent Moon was simply a delight to read.
November 1, 2022
"𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 - 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒚, 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓. 𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆, 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔."
The Crescent Moon is the first piece of work I've read by EJ Doble and it certainly will not be the last.
In the city of Arbash, nestled on the outskirts of a vast desert, the young girl My'ala walks out among the vineyards overlooking a delicate blue sea. Reaching a gnarled tree atop a small hill, she stumbles upon an old man, nestled among its roots - his name is Artemis the Hermit, and he longs to answer the simple question.
What is the meaning of life?
As the years pass, and the realities of a difficult life struggling to get by weigh heavy upon her, My'ala finds herself returning to the Hermit by the tree to seek counsel, and to find purpose in a world where she feels so lost. But when an enemy appears from the sea, and her family are torn apart by the spectre of war, it is in the Hermit's teachings that My'ala will find her answers - and how the meaning of life may just save her city from a swift and certain end...
I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect when I went into this. I've seen high praise for Doble all over instagram and I just never committed any time but I absolutely devoured this novella and was thoroughly impressed with the story, the writing, the characters and the leftover thinking that had struck me when I turned the last page. I adored the interaction between the Hermit and Mya'la that proposed philosophical thinking and the engagement whilst we journey through Mya'la's life revealed a lot about these characters but also ourselves.
The setting itself was full of culture and appreciation, conflic and symbolic development. The maturity in this novel is outstanding regardless of it's length. The writing was beautifully fluid and filled with powerful themes, important questions and complete captivation.
I enjoyed reading this more than expected and that's not to take away from what EJ Doble has created - a wonderfully crafted novella that is both thought-provoking and encouraging.
The Crescent Moon is the first piece of work I've read by EJ Doble and it certainly will not be the last.
In the city of Arbash, nestled on the outskirts of a vast desert, the young girl My'ala walks out among the vineyards overlooking a delicate blue sea. Reaching a gnarled tree atop a small hill, she stumbles upon an old man, nestled among its roots - his name is Artemis the Hermit, and he longs to answer the simple question.
What is the meaning of life?
As the years pass, and the realities of a difficult life struggling to get by weigh heavy upon her, My'ala finds herself returning to the Hermit by the tree to seek counsel, and to find purpose in a world where she feels so lost. But when an enemy appears from the sea, and her family are torn apart by the spectre of war, it is in the Hermit's teachings that My'ala will find her answers - and how the meaning of life may just save her city from a swift and certain end...
I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect when I went into this. I've seen high praise for Doble all over instagram and I just never committed any time but I absolutely devoured this novella and was thoroughly impressed with the story, the writing, the characters and the leftover thinking that had struck me when I turned the last page. I adored the interaction between the Hermit and Mya'la that proposed philosophical thinking and the engagement whilst we journey through Mya'la's life revealed a lot about these characters but also ourselves.
The setting itself was full of culture and appreciation, conflic and symbolic development. The maturity in this novel is outstanding regardless of it's length. The writing was beautifully fluid and filled with powerful themes, important questions and complete captivation.
I enjoyed reading this more than expected and that's not to take away from what EJ Doble has created - a wonderfully crafted novella that is both thought-provoking and encouraging.
October 27, 2022
"It is in the darkest places that the light we seek shines brightest." 🌙
This is the First Novella in a new philosophical fiction trilogy by Indie Author @ejdoble_author I devoured this book in only a few sittings. The Novella is set in the city of Arbash on the outskirts of a vast desert. It follows a young girl called My'ala who on venturing out of the city comes across an old man Artemis The Hermit who sits underneath a gnarled sacred tree atop of a hill overlooking a blue sea. Artemis is a prophet of the sacred lands and he longs to find the answer to the question, what is the meaning of life? Upon this unlikely encounter My'ala at the time being only 10 rains old seeks clarity of her life and that of her parents, brother and sister in a world that becomes littered with uncertainty. So she seeks counsel from Artemis through various chapters in her life.
The novella is highly thought provoking and truly raises a multitude of questions which we all ask ourselves during testing times. Ethan does this sublimely not only through his character work, symbolism and language but he also has a way with words that touch the heart and soul. I must of screenshot and saved over 30 quotes from within the text! I felt myself relating alot to My'ala but also Artemis.
The story challenges us all I feel to seek counsel and support in testing times and furrow our own path in life whatever that may be. It also delves into the fear of the unknown and the sense of unfamiliarity and touches on the family unit and how we all as people are destined to follow our own unique path in life. Sometimes these paths may be frowned upon by our family and peers however if you fight through fear and stay true to yourself and have curiosity and the hope that things will work out for the better you can create you own meaning and sense of purpose in this world. Stunning Novella, go read it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the First Novella in a new philosophical fiction trilogy by Indie Author @ejdoble_author I devoured this book in only a few sittings. The Novella is set in the city of Arbash on the outskirts of a vast desert. It follows a young girl called My'ala who on venturing out of the city comes across an old man Artemis The Hermit who sits underneath a gnarled sacred tree atop of a hill overlooking a blue sea. Artemis is a prophet of the sacred lands and he longs to find the answer to the question, what is the meaning of life? Upon this unlikely encounter My'ala at the time being only 10 rains old seeks clarity of her life and that of her parents, brother and sister in a world that becomes littered with uncertainty. So she seeks counsel from Artemis through various chapters in her life.
The novella is highly thought provoking and truly raises a multitude of questions which we all ask ourselves during testing times. Ethan does this sublimely not only through his character work, symbolism and language but he also has a way with words that touch the heart and soul. I must of screenshot and saved over 30 quotes from within the text! I felt myself relating alot to My'ala but also Artemis.
The story challenges us all I feel to seek counsel and support in testing times and furrow our own path in life whatever that may be. It also delves into the fear of the unknown and the sense of unfamiliarity and touches on the family unit and how we all as people are destined to follow our own unique path in life. Sometimes these paths may be frowned upon by our family and peers however if you fight through fear and stay true to yourself and have curiosity and the hope that things will work out for the better you can create you own meaning and sense of purpose in this world. Stunning Novella, go read it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 15, 2022
"Family is one of the strongest bonds known to us. The care we give, is deeper than even instinct. We would risk everything - our lives, our jobs, our beliefs - to do what we can to love and protect our families and the people we hold close. And why would we do that, something so definitive and personal, if it weren't the most important thing to us?"
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My'ala - starts out as a 9-almost-10yo child seeking adulthood and adventure, only to come across a hermit sitting by a gnarly tree - to talk about the answers to the meaning of life. We watch her grow to well beyond her years with her family and learn life lessons - things as simple as growing a fruit all the way to the complexity of why people think and do the things they do. How one person can think one way and another person can think the opposite, but their end goal is still the same.
Artemis - is an old hermit with eyes like a starry night that My’ala finds upon leaving the city for the first time on her own. He calls himself a wanderer and he's sitting next to an old tree - the Sentinel Tree. He tells stories from the tree about The Prophets as if they are the tree itself.
This is a beautiful story about a girl who learns to think for herself through watching and listening to her family and Artemis the Hermit. Discerning smarts from wisdom through varying conversations on life happenings with her mom, dad, and siblings. Each bringing forth their own example and potential answer to the meaning of life. Learning that the choices you make today can have devastating effects on those around you tomorrow, intended or not. My'ala discovers what it is she believes in and what she doesn't. Happiness… and grief.
“Because we despair what life cannot give us - perhaps we should instead be more grateful about what life has given us.”
“To count our blessings.”
“No,” he corrected “to make our blessings count.”
Absolutely profound. Emotional and thought provoking indeed.
Very possibly my favorite book of the year…
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My rating: 500/5
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My'ala - starts out as a 9-almost-10yo child seeking adulthood and adventure, only to come across a hermit sitting by a gnarly tree - to talk about the answers to the meaning of life. We watch her grow to well beyond her years with her family and learn life lessons - things as simple as growing a fruit all the way to the complexity of why people think and do the things they do. How one person can think one way and another person can think the opposite, but their end goal is still the same.
Artemis - is an old hermit with eyes like a starry night that My’ala finds upon leaving the city for the first time on her own. He calls himself a wanderer and he's sitting next to an old tree - the Sentinel Tree. He tells stories from the tree about The Prophets as if they are the tree itself.
This is a beautiful story about a girl who learns to think for herself through watching and listening to her family and Artemis the Hermit. Discerning smarts from wisdom through varying conversations on life happenings with her mom, dad, and siblings. Each bringing forth their own example and potential answer to the meaning of life. Learning that the choices you make today can have devastating effects on those around you tomorrow, intended or not. My'ala discovers what it is she believes in and what she doesn't. Happiness… and grief.
“Because we despair what life cannot give us - perhaps we should instead be more grateful about what life has given us.”
“To count our blessings.”
“No,” he corrected “to make our blessings count.”
Absolutely profound. Emotional and thought provoking indeed.
Very possibly my favorite book of the year…
.
My rating: 500/5
September 21, 2022
The Crescent Moon
📚Book Review📚
‘Strength is to show you care, and know it isn’t a weakness.’
Profound words and beautiful symbolism is spread throughout this book. Everywhere you look is beautiful prose and hard hitting themes.
This novella focus’ on the meaning of life as experienced by the main character My’ala and those who she is near. Asking questions of the reader whilst exploring them deeper through the eyes of My’ala was a stroke of genius. Allowing the reader to enjoy the introspection between the chapter so as not to get lost in thought and lose the plot was appreciated. How he can achieve so much in such a short space of time astounds me.
Delving into a new sub genre of fantasy, this philosophical fantasy was a breath of fresh air into what can be a very stagnated and repetitive genre.
I will happily admit a lot of the over arching themes and symbolism was lost in my devouring of the book, which just makes me all the happier to know I can reread this novella again and again and find new meaning and enjoyment with each read through
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time
Easiest 5 star I‘be given recently!
📚Book Review📚
‘Strength is to show you care, and know it isn’t a weakness.’
Profound words and beautiful symbolism is spread throughout this book. Everywhere you look is beautiful prose and hard hitting themes.
This novella focus’ on the meaning of life as experienced by the main character My’ala and those who she is near. Asking questions of the reader whilst exploring them deeper through the eyes of My’ala was a stroke of genius. Allowing the reader to enjoy the introspection between the chapter so as not to get lost in thought and lose the plot was appreciated. How he can achieve so much in such a short space of time astounds me.
Delving into a new sub genre of fantasy, this philosophical fantasy was a breath of fresh air into what can be a very stagnated and repetitive genre.
I will happily admit a lot of the over arching themes and symbolism was lost in my devouring of the book, which just makes me all the happier to know I can reread this novella again and again and find new meaning and enjoyment with each read through
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time
Easiest 5 star I‘be given recently!
March 22, 2023
Oh I feel so bad about this. I really really wanted to like this but it just didn't work for me. I didn't gel with the writing style and just felt like so much of this just went over my head. The dialogue didn't flow and everything felt like a big speech.
From the other reviews, this looks like it's a case of "me and not the book" as it's just not the sort of thing I vibe with and not what I was expecting going in but I can see why other people would enjoy it.
I've seen a lot of reviews refer to this book as a "philosophy tale" or "philosophical fantasy" and I really wish I'd know that going in as I would have known it was definitely not for me.
I'm extra sad because I received this by winning a giveaway from the author and have a beautiful signed hardback but I have already found a new home for it and I hope they enjoy it!
From the other reviews, this looks like it's a case of "me and not the book" as it's just not the sort of thing I vibe with and not what I was expecting going in but I can see why other people would enjoy it.
I've seen a lot of reviews refer to this book as a "philosophy tale" or "philosophical fantasy" and I really wish I'd know that going in as I would have known it was definitely not for me.
I'm extra sad because I received this by winning a giveaway from the author and have a beautiful signed hardback but I have already found a new home for it and I hope they enjoy it!
June 4, 2023
This is a new novella from the author of The Fangs of War, however it is in its own world. This just released this month so show some indie support!
This novella asks ‘what is the meaning of life?’ And it seeks to answer that question through introspection, life experience, and plenty of soul searching. My favorite thing about the book is that the chapter titles are all feasible answers to the question, but they are presented as the experiences, not necessarily the answers. Love, duty, grief. It’s a very humble book.
I’ll be honest with you, if you’re not prepared for an emotional rollercoaster, this book is going to knock you on your ass. Actually, it will anyway, and it’s not really sorry.
My absolute favorite part of this is the author’s choice to make the story within a fantasy world. It could just as easily have been our own world, a scifi world, a horror world, but the author created (another!) fantasy city and way of life to go with it. It’s fresh and real and adds to every move the author made. I’m floored. This was my first read by the author.
“And the healing she had seen was immediately shattered, taken by the horns of grief.” EJ, we see you, we know what you did.
Personally a 5/5*, this was incredible.
This novella asks ‘what is the meaning of life?’ And it seeks to answer that question through introspection, life experience, and plenty of soul searching. My favorite thing about the book is that the chapter titles are all feasible answers to the question, but they are presented as the experiences, not necessarily the answers. Love, duty, grief. It’s a very humble book.
I’ll be honest with you, if you’re not prepared for an emotional rollercoaster, this book is going to knock you on your ass. Actually, it will anyway, and it’s not really sorry.
My absolute favorite part of this is the author’s choice to make the story within a fantasy world. It could just as easily have been our own world, a scifi world, a horror world, but the author created (another!) fantasy city and way of life to go with it. It’s fresh and real and adds to every move the author made. I’m floored. This was my first read by the author.
“And the healing she had seen was immediately shattered, taken by the horns of grief.” EJ, we see you, we know what you did.
Personally a 5/5*, this was incredible.
September 17, 2022
The Crescent Moon is the first in a novella trilogy. It’s unrelated to his previous fantasy work (which I loved!) but this is an unexpected delight.
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The Crescent Moon is a quiet, comforting, yet thought provoking novella. We follow My’ala, a young girl living in the greatest city in the world, Arbash. A completely isolated guarded city, surrounded by desert and sea. Brimming with beauty and peaceful solace. We watch My’ala as she wishes to know what’s beyond the walls of her city and essentially be an inquisitive young explorer.
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We see My’ala learning the way people live, how they think and we watch as she seeks to determine the meaning of life with a mysterious man with eyes like the night sky and an old tree dating back to the Prophets who founded Arbash.
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It sounds like a lot. But The Crescent Moon is a comforting, small story that shows off life. It shows the good, the bad and how change and something new can be terrifying yet also beautiful.
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Ethan is a fantastic writer and within a small page count, you experience something quite unique. It really was “the great euphoria of human existence” in a book. I’d highly recommend!
.
The Crescent Moon is a quiet, comforting, yet thought provoking novella. We follow My’ala, a young girl living in the greatest city in the world, Arbash. A completely isolated guarded city, surrounded by desert and sea. Brimming with beauty and peaceful solace. We watch My’ala as she wishes to know what’s beyond the walls of her city and essentially be an inquisitive young explorer.
.
We see My’ala learning the way people live, how they think and we watch as she seeks to determine the meaning of life with a mysterious man with eyes like the night sky and an old tree dating back to the Prophets who founded Arbash.
.
It sounds like a lot. But The Crescent Moon is a comforting, small story that shows off life. It shows the good, the bad and how change and something new can be terrifying yet also beautiful.
.
Ethan is a fantastic writer and within a small page count, you experience something quite unique. It really was “the great euphoria of human existence” in a book. I’d highly recommend!
November 29, 2022
A beautiful book about the meaning of life that make me smile, cry and really consider my priorities in life. I loved every poetic moment of this book, from the imagery of the setting to the growth of each character's soul. Finished in one sitting and I highly recommend for anyone looking for a heartfelt book that will really make you think about everything. Another E J Doble win.
January 17, 2024
3.5 rounded up. Weird mostly. I see the philosophical questions circling but answering them felt very disconnected and contrived. I feel like the story could have been fleshed out and more detailed.
June 17, 2023
This story tells of Mya'La , a young girl from the city of Abash, on the outskirts of a vast desert, as she struggles to find the meaning of life, and more, her purpose in the world . She meets a Hermit, sitting under a tree outside the town , he's a mysterious, but wise man who helps guide her through her understanding of the cycle of life, as well as the harshness that comes along with it . As the peaceful nation sees enemies at its gates for the first time in its history .
This story covers a lot in a short span of pages , it's beautifully written , Dobles vocabulary is extensive , and I noted in my review of his debut fantasy, he has a particularly distinct and impressive way with words , that has transitioned from dark fantasy, to something entirely different with this story. It's very impressive to see in the early stages of this young author's work .
It's dialogue heavy, it raises many questions about life, emotions, conflicts and struggles, both internally and externally . We see Mya'las view of the people around her, we see how she sees her family's own grief and struggles and how she tries to deal with that. it's a very moving story, one that I would describe as emotionally moving, and powerful
It's a thought provoking story that didn't necessarily grip me with the intensity and intrigue I usually chase , there were some scenes and conversations I struggled to keep up with, and a handful that I felt went on a bit too long, and were toeing the line of overdrscription. While it's not something I would normally seek out . I enjoyed it a lot , and would be interested in reading more of a similar nature , should Doble choose to return to this world
This story covers a lot in a short span of pages , it's beautifully written , Dobles vocabulary is extensive , and I noted in my review of his debut fantasy, he has a particularly distinct and impressive way with words , that has transitioned from dark fantasy, to something entirely different with this story. It's very impressive to see in the early stages of this young author's work .
It's dialogue heavy, it raises many questions about life, emotions, conflicts and struggles, both internally and externally . We see Mya'las view of the people around her, we see how she sees her family's own grief and struggles and how she tries to deal with that. it's a very moving story, one that I would describe as emotionally moving, and powerful
It's a thought provoking story that didn't necessarily grip me with the intensity and intrigue I usually chase , there were some scenes and conversations I struggled to keep up with, and a handful that I felt went on a bit too long, and were toeing the line of overdrscription. While it's not something I would normally seek out . I enjoyed it a lot , and would be interested in reading more of a similar nature , should Doble choose to return to this world
October 28, 2022
For such a short read the story covers a lot of ground. We follow our main character My’ala over a few years as she tries to unravel the mystery that is the meaning of life, with the help of Artemis her mysterious teacher.
The writing is simply beautiful. The prose, symbolism and world building are all so perfectly done I was finding myself completely lost in the srory. You know those books that pull you in so tight you forget you are reading? That is what The Crescent Moon did for me. I really could gush over the writing all day, the world building alone deserves all five stars, it’s to the point and beautiful. There is not a wasted word here.
This 100% has re-read potential and I think any reader could pick up on a new detail and have a new train of thought depending on your mood at the time of reading. Not only is this an entertaining read, it does challenge the reader to think about the questions being posed by My’ala and perhaps come up with their own theories and thoughts. This novella would be great for a book club or buddy read.
I don’t poses the writing skills to fully explain my thoughts in a review, it’s taken me almost a week to come up with this, but Doble has crafted something truly fantastic in The Crescent Moon and I can’t wait to see where he takes this series.
The writing is simply beautiful. The prose, symbolism and world building are all so perfectly done I was finding myself completely lost in the srory. You know those books that pull you in so tight you forget you are reading? That is what The Crescent Moon did for me. I really could gush over the writing all day, the world building alone deserves all five stars, it’s to the point and beautiful. There is not a wasted word here.
This 100% has re-read potential and I think any reader could pick up on a new detail and have a new train of thought depending on your mood at the time of reading. Not only is this an entertaining read, it does challenge the reader to think about the questions being posed by My’ala and perhaps come up with their own theories and thoughts. This novella would be great for a book club or buddy read.
I don’t poses the writing skills to fully explain my thoughts in a review, it’s taken me almost a week to come up with this, but Doble has crafted something truly fantastic in The Crescent Moon and I can’t wait to see where he takes this series.
June 9, 2024
“We will always blame ourselves, if there are no others.It’s how we manage our grief as people, and I did as any other would.”
I have read two books by E. J. Doble and both of them were extremely dark and grimdark. Right off the bat the tone was all light, sunshine and comforting and I was scared. I really liked the way both My’ala and the Hermit and that the story was basically structured as question & answers between them. The writing itself was excellent and a lot of good questions were raised around love, duty, grief and hope.
“But where the offensive failed, we must now place our faith in the defensive. That, I believe, is where this fight shall be won: not in the strike of our blades, but in the strength of our hearts to go on.”
I don’t know if philosophical fantasy is for me though. The narrative choice to jump between different points of time made the story feel disjointed. And the answers to all the questions raised also don't feel complete. Overall, it is short, calming read with some good points, but it kind of falls under the hype for me.
I have read two books by E. J. Doble and both of them were extremely dark and grimdark. Right off the bat the tone was all light, sunshine and comforting and I was scared. I really liked the way both My’ala and the Hermit and that the story was basically structured as question & answers between them. The writing itself was excellent and a lot of good questions were raised around love, duty, grief and hope.
“But where the offensive failed, we must now place our faith in the defensive. That, I believe, is where this fight shall be won: not in the strike of our blades, but in the strength of our hearts to go on.”
I don’t know if philosophical fantasy is for me though. The narrative choice to jump between different points of time made the story feel disjointed. And the answers to all the questions raised also don't feel complete. Overall, it is short, calming read with some good points, but it kind of falls under the hype for me.
December 4, 2022
This book is like anything I had ever read before. While I mainly read fantasy books, this one feels a lot more like a philosophy tale. It has a beautifully written prose with thoughts about the meaning of life. In this book we follow the story of My'ala and her Family in this desert world. We see how differently each family member thinks is the best way to live their lives, and through that, it's very easy to find exactly where your beliefs are as well.
This is a very short read with very little action. However, I feel like this was done intentionally, to put the emphasis on the philosophy aspect of the book.
(Also, the cover for the paperback is absolutely GORGEOUS)
This is a very short read with very little action. However, I feel like this was done intentionally, to put the emphasis on the philosophy aspect of the book.
(Also, the cover for the paperback is absolutely GORGEOUS)
December 31, 2023
I knew that this book was different from the previous ones that Doble had written, but I did not expect that it would resonate with me on a whole new level. The main character wonders what the meaning of life is, and through the story she realizes that everyone has their own way of achieving that meaning. The book is very interesting, especially the main character, and following her, I, as a reader, began to question myself about some things.
5/5
5/5
December 22, 2022
What an amazing emotional, questioning journey this book took me on. So very different from Dobles Fangs of War, The Crescent Moon made me look at the questions of life and what my answers would’ve been at the Character’s young age and at my wise old age now. Such a very intriguing read, I look forward to the next in the series.
Read
May 29, 2023hmmmmmmmmmmm reminded me of The Alchemist
December 13, 2025
This was a lovely little philosophical novella that is reminiscent of the Monk and Robot in many ways but also very much has its own identity. Looking forward to continuing the series.
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