Hounding the Moon (Tess Noncoiré Adventures, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers who crave the fantasy equivalent of a summer movie will welcome Frost's debut, which introduces Tess Noncoiré, a widowed writer who has joined the Goddess-worshiping Sisterhood of the Celestial Blade Warriors, sworn to protect the dimensional portal between humanity and demonkind. Thanks to her magical bond with the wisecracking, cigar-smoking imp Scrap, who changes form to become her Celestial Blade, Tess fights evil—even in the middle of a busy schedule of appearances at science fiction conventions and bookstores to flog her bestselling fantasy novels based on the Sisterhood. When Tess saves a Native American girl from an apparent hellhound attack, she's drawn into a complex plot to open the portal between Earth and the demon realms. Despite an intriguingly dark setup, the novel falters on stereotyped characters and awkward plotting, with Tess spending as much time detailing the charms of SF fandom as she does making herself a target for evil. (Sept.)
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Product Description

Tess NoncoirŽ is a bestselling fantasy writer. She's also become a demon fighter trained in martial arts by the Sisterhood of the Celestial Blade Warriors and partnered with a mischievous imp named Scrap. Together they must find a young Native American girl who has disappeared-before she falls victim to a ferocious hound. As the hunt grows more desperate, the forces of darkness close in on them. Will an old Native American myth prove the key to salvation or to the end of life on Earth?

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 385 pages
• Publisher: DAW Books, Inc. (September 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756404258
• ISBN-13: 978-0756404253
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #343,430 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Ripping Good Yarn!, September 27, 2006

By	Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff "Kaath" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hounding The Moon: A Tess Noncoire Adventure (Hardcover)

Frost combines Aboriginal, Old World, and New World magic, imps, demons, and a sisterhood of demon slayers with the complex weave of a detective novel and the pacing and pathos of an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Tess Noncoire has the chops of Xena Warrior Princess with the smart, funny sensibilities of the modern woman. And, thank God, she's got vulnerabilities! I love this heroine because she's not omniscient. She can be swayed by her emotions and leap to wrong conclusions just like the rest of us.

Frost has given Tess a unique foil in the cigar-smoking, wise-cracking imp, Scrap, as well as wonderful, quirky family, friends, and adversaries. The characterization is vivid, the story is complex and satisfying, the adventure is ripping. Kudos for a most entertaining read!

19 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too bad the writing wasn't better, October 5, 2006

By	D. Payne "ardent book lover" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Hounding The Moon: A Tess Noncoire Adventure (Hardcover)

I wanted to like this book, I really did, but couldn't get past the 2nd chapter. The story line sounded so promising but the writing was so amateurish I just couldn't continue on.

The writer hasn't learned to "show, don't tell" and uses very simplistic explanations of character motivations. Everything felt contrived. I get the impression this is a first writing attempt by a very passionate fan. Lots of enthusiasm for the subject but not enough skill to back it up.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hounding the Moon, January 30, 2008

By	Elizabeth Clare Johnson "Mystic" (Mississippi) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I couldn't put this book down. I was amused by her familiar, Scrap, and
enjoyed the adventures. I am looking forward to the sequel. I'd also like to know if her late husband Dill, was human or part-demon that put a glamoury on her. I gave it five stars and totally enjoyed it.