When Moth came out last year, I saw so many rave reviews for it and then noticed I was going to have to read five books to get to this story and folks, I didn’t think I had it in me but OMG - this book is worth every moment of every other book in this series up to it. I kinda don’t even know where to start I love this book so much. 

Moth is a beautiful loner with a secret about his identity that he hides from the world. He has a past and is well known at the raider camp, but he has never fit in with monsters or humans. So he spends A LOT of time alone. Moth is that person who seems mean but is really just super sad and afraid of being scorned. Plus he carries a sword which really works for him. 😂

Charlie is Hunter’s best friend and plot device from Edin who also appears briefly in Gloam, so he too is a relatively known quantity. Gang - Charlie is THE SWEETEST SWEETHEART OF A MAN ever to grace the page. The utter care with which he approaches Moth and their relationship is blisteringly poignant. Basically, my wish for everyone is that they have a Charlie in their life. I cannot understate how good and pure and loving Charlie is and how he deserves everything good in the world. 

The relationship that (slowly) develops between Moth and Charlie is just…ARGH it’s so moving. It’s epic. It’s quiet and sweet. It’s the slow unfurling of a once-in-a-lifetime love. It’s romance at its finest.

Through this book we also get to see yet another part of this world Lily has dropped us in, and we visit a couple of cities as well as a marketplace. Additionally, we get to see the Herald again (bombastic side eye). We are still in dystopian horror town so PLEASE mind the CW.

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻RECOMMENDED! If this is the book that gets you to pick up the other five books in this series up to it? So be it.