Customer Reviews

Moonshine: A Novel

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you did a poll to ascertain who among us was least into vampires I would likely rank near the top of the list. While I am a loyal fantasy junkie of the first degree, I have never been a fan of vampires, never understood the draw, and lament on a daily basis the vampire craze that has seemingly replaced all other varieties of fantasy on the YA shelves of Borders and Barnes and Noble, something I find deeply frustrating.

Nevertheless, while I may be no fan of vampires, I *am* a fan of this book. I have been reading Alaya's work for a long time and while it was my loyalty to her as an author that led me to this novel, it is her ingenuity as a writer and Zephyr's engaging, light-hearted tone that never takes itself too seriously that kept me hypnotically turning the pages. This is an intelligent, witty book that while aiming (and succeeding) to be fun and funny will nevertheless make you think about the nature of prejudice and all those who are labeled "other" in any society.

To be brief: This is not my kind of book--but I loved it anyway.

One final note: I've noticed a lot of reviewers and bloggers calling this Alaya's debut novel and I wanted to say to those who loved it and are looking for more of Alaya's work that it is in fact her second novel, not her first. Her debut novel is called "Racing the Dark" and is the first in a truly engrossing fantasy trilogy called "The Spirit Binders." The second installment, "The Burning City," will be released on June 1st. Fans of fantasy, Alaya and "Moonshine" should definitely check them out.

This book is set in the 20s. Not exactly the roaring 20s we usually are privileged to have in our movies, but more like the social problems of the 20s we rarely see. This book, of course, goes further and has another group of people who suffer the injustices of prejudice. "The Others" are any groups of people who aren't human.

Zephyr is a "do-gooder" with a heart of gold. She doesn't blindly try to help anyone in need (but she does what she can for those who ask) and sees the hypocrisy of some of the groups she has joined. She understands there is no perfect situation but also believes that everyone has a right to be treated as equals. It's not about saving everyone or that even that everyone needs saved. It's more about the fact that no one is above another. She knows who she is and is willing to suffer for that knowing. These are reasons why I just loved this character.

Amir, her mysterious student and counterpart proposes an offer she can't refuse. As she tries to discover what he is hiding and helping him catch the biggest mob boss on her side of town she starts to fall for him. Although this attraction seems mutual, there is no easy way for them to be together. They do make a good pair as they both challenge what they believe is true in their lives and why. However, as Zephyr's inquiry starts to get more dangerous, Amir tries to pull her from the fray even though he knows it is an impossible task. He respects her independence but needs her help desperately. In the end they are both torn as to what is the right thing and living with the consequences.

Although this didn't end in a cliffhanger, it does have an open ending. I want more! I am so hoping that this is a series. I give this book 4 1/2 stars. It is a wonderful read and I recommend this to anyone looking for a different type of vampire read. Love that it was set in a specific time period.

I am a voracious reader and have been on a paranormal fiction kick lately, but even I am getting over-sated on "paranormal romance" (eg, I loved early Anita Blake novels, but not the later, soft-porn ones). Despite its misleading cover art, this intriguing book proved to be a most refreshing departure. I enjoyed most of the characters, especially Zephyr, the "Singing Vampire Suffragette" (who is not, btw, a vampire herself). The 1920's alternate history NYC was quite well-done. There were enough plot twists to hold my interest, and the writing was fine. Recommended for readers who enjoy alternate history/paranormal novels that are not mindless clones riding the current popularity of vampires, werewolves, and lots of hot sex. This is one I will not be embarrassed to pass on to friends.

You know, I had this sitting around for quite awhile before I made myself pick it up and read it. It sounded sort of interesting, but the 1920s aren't really a time period I've ever been drawn to, and I'm a little bored with vampires, and so many of the urban fantasies I've picked up over the years have been...not awesome. But once I finally gave Moonshine a chance, I was hooked. I really enjoyed the writing--I feel like in urban fantasies especially I tend to either get caught up in the plot and want to skip the romance bits, or I get caught up in the romance and want to skip all the plot bits. I think Johnson's got the absolute perfect balance here--I remained interested in both and did not skim even one bit! The characters are well developed and interesting and somewhat complex, I found the ending unpredictable but not unbelievable, and the whole thing is funny in a subtly sarcastic sort of way that I really appreciate after so many other books that have attempted to bash me over the head with their "hilarity." The ending feels complete enough for Moonshine to remain a stand-alone novel, but there's also definitely plenty of room for this to become a series, and I find I actually really hope that's the case! Well done, Ms. Johnson!

This was really, really good. It's the 1920s in New York, and Zephyr, "the singing vampire suffragette" is spending every waking minute trying to atone for the sins of her family (her dad is a famed demon hunter and she has hunted "Others" in the past) by trying to save, educate, and secure the rights for Others in America. Then she meets Amir, and agrees to work for him to track down a notorious crime boss. Don't want to give anything away, so I'm stopping there. Lots of action, some romance, great characters. I'm hoping there will be more...

I am really excited about this book and the possibility of sequels. For one Zephyr is a really great lead: she is an overworked, do gooder type, who battles with her past as a trained monster hunter. I liked Zephyr because she is well rounded, she is flawed, she spreads herself too thin, she has a temper etc.

Amir was a great romantic lead and a great foil for her in general. I was downright giddy whenever they interact which is a good sign in a paranormal romance type book. He is downright dreamy as the out of touch foreign Prince type to Zephyrs angry populist.

I loved the time period, more specifically who the focus is on within the time period. It's easy to show Gatsby-esque excess in the time of flappers and gangsters. It is more interesting to show the lower class denizens packed into the LES just trying to eek out a living and survive. The monster world of NYC is interesting and makes sense mixed with all the immigrant populations of the time.

So all in all a fun, unique, read and I am eager for more! Highly recommended.

I've been reading a lot of vampire books lately, particularly young adult paranormal fiction, so this book was a breath of fresh air, and I was excited to get it through Librarything's book giveaway. It's definitely in the paranormal, urban fantasy camp, but written for adults, and it totally capitvated me with the unusual heroine, Zephyr Hollis, ex-Montanaian (?), former Vampire hunter, and current all-round do-gooder.

The book is set in an alternate history of NYC some time during prohibition. Vamps,fairies, and djinn all are an accepted part of society, but tend to be on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. Zephyr has chosen to champion the lost, the needy, the poor, and the human-challenged segment of society, those that the upper eschalon ignore as invisible.

Zephyr is pulled into helping a particularly attractive, mysterious "Other" named Amir, who won't reveal his reasons for needing Zephyr's help in tracking down a notorious vampire mob boss. In between juggling temperance meetings, teaching night school, and handling her famous vampire hunter father who shows up in town, Zephyr manages to get herself into and out of many scrapes with the fringe society she has immersed herself in. To her chagrin she finds unwanted notoriety as the "Singing Vampire Suffragette."

I would highly reccommend this book for anyone who is starting to get jaded with vampire fiction, or who likes Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series. This is a clever and inventive book and I can't wait to see if there is a follow-up to this book. I will definitely be looking forward to more adventures from Zephyr Hollis.

As a fan of the fantasy/paranormal genre, I have read tons of books that follow the same old plot lines, which can be comfortable but predictable. Moonshine takes these elements and mixes them together in a delightfully unique and refreshing way! The 1920s setting, the idea of vampires as "Others" who are marginalized in society at that time in similar ways to Italians, Irish, and African-Americans, a former demon hunter-turned vampire suffragette who teaches and sings by night and marches in picket lines during the day. . . The list of wonderful touches and well-developed characters that make this story fantastic can go on and on. You don't want to miss this, I could not put the book down and I look forward to reading the next installment.

Sucked in from the onset, I fell instantly in awe of the singing vampire suffragette, Zephyr Hollis and her world of out of the coffin, vamps that have inalienable rights just like any other person. I find my fascination didn't end with the character of Ms. Hollis though, it also extended to her dashing counterpart Amir and her charming friends, Lily, Iris and Aileen. Johnson definitely has a knack for character creation. Paired with the strong 3 dimensional characters was also a very staccato and fun tone that was reminiscent of the Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series. Moonshine is a keeper, and I hope to revisit the world Johnson created over and over again.

REVIEW: Zephyr Hollis has had quite an interesting couple of days. First she finds a dead child in an alley and hides him away before the authorities can stake him and cut off his head. Then she finds herself in the employ of one very mysterious and gloriously sexy Amir. It is not just a casual endeavor either, she has to track down the notorious Rinaldo, vampire and mob boss, so Amir can do, God knows what to him. With a crazy new drug on the street, marketed to vamps only, and human and vamp relations hanging by a tenuous thread, Zephyr must track down Rinaldo and still try to keep her head at the same time.

Charming and engrossing, Moonshine is a must read. Unlike most historicals, Moonshine puts you within the moment, engages in witty and dated dialogue without you even realizing and gives you a small history lesson at the same time, without of course, being too obtrusive. I think I learned 10 new ways to say drunk. Fun. I'd like to call this the historical that isn't all stuffy and swarthy like most historicals.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Adult novel, for mature readers. Fans of Carriger's The Parasol Protectorate will enjoy.

As many of the other reviews have stated, the whole sexy vampire thing is pretty much played out, but having said that, I have to admit that Alaya Johnson has succeeded in creating a truly fresh and memorable angle on this somewhat tired genre. I for one love the fact that the entire story isn't driven by the romantic leads relationship, there are a whole host of interesting characters and subplots to tempt your imagination, making the moment when the main characters do come together all the more rich and believable. The time period of the 1920's, being so pleasurably decedent, was also an inspired choice to have made, and meshes with her alternate universe perfectly.

This is a book that left me incredibly satisfied yet still wanting more, leaving me with nothing more left to say except "when can I read the next one?"