Moonbound

A wild and bizarre sci-fi/fantasy adventure, but I really enjoyed it! So unique, even though there are numerous nods to everything from King Arthur to Narnia to Alice in Wonderland to Harry Potter to Studio Ghibli and the most tropey fantasy (all favs of mine). Somehow it still is its own story. Though I didn’t really feel particularly connected to any of the characters, the journey was worth the read. Probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but I loved the absurdness of it all.

I feel like summarizing anything might ruin the surprises along the read. It's mostly sci-fi and fantasy —there are castles, "dragons", wizards, a scholars college, talking beavers, a boy on a quest, an adventure— It has lots of weird, fun ideas and turns, with threads of technology and modern culture references that enrich the setting, making it a very interesting world.

It's been a while since I got the tingly feeling of excitment and surprise while reading an adventure, those moments of revelation that surprise you when you thought that you knew where things were going next, or push you into an even more mysterious —don't know what is happening but I'm enjoying this ride— direction.

There is a pulse in this story that pulls me to try mapmaking, to explore, and to creatively experiment. For me it was a spark that ignited some slumbering ideas and made my imagination crank up a few revolutions.

I had a really good time reading this!

This was an absolute delight—a sprawling, epic quest that's both bonkers and brilliant. Ariel, a young boy in a wizard-ruled town, discovers a sentient AI artifact that becomes his guide and ally. This AI, with its vast historical knowledge, leads Ariel through a world brimming with talking animals, sentient weapons, and wizards.

Sloan masterfully blends science fiction and fantasy into a fast-paced, whimsical adventure. The vibrant cast and richly detailed universe keep you hooked from start to finish. Despite its grand scale, the book reads incredibly quickly, making it a real page-turner.

For fans of imaginative and heartwarming stories, “Moonbound” is a must-read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.