#BookReview : Moon Deeds (Star Children Saga #1) by Palmer Pickering

Moon Deeds (Star Children Saga #1) by Palmer Pickering
Publication Date: March 7th 2019
Publisher: Mythology Press
Genre: Fantasy / Science-Fiction
Pages: 598
Stars: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)

It’s 2090: the last outpost of freedom is the moon, the best defense against technology is magic, and the only hope for humankind rests in the hands of the Star Children.

Twins Cassidy and Torr must save Earth from a ruthless enemy at a time when the only force more powerful than alien technology is magic. Moon Deeds launches the siblings’ journey across the galaxy, where they must learn their power as the Star Children, claim their shamanic heritage, and battle dark forces that threaten humankind.

The Star Children Saga follows Cassidy and Torr as they slowly awaken to their destiny as the twin Star Children, born every millennium to reconnect with the source of all life. They come to discover the sheer enormity of their task: to find our ancestors on a lost planet across the galaxy and save humanity from a spiraling descent into darkness. The powers they must wield to accomplish this task are truly frightening and put at risk everything they love.

Come along with 20-year-old twins Cassidy and Torr, who inherited deeds to land parcels on the moon. They want to use their moon deeds to get off Earth and escape a brutal dictatorship. But first they must unlock their shaman powers.

A rollicking yet poignant adventure in the not too distant future, when we have colonized the moon and nearly lost Earth to a dictatorship. Only the shamans remain free, plus the lucky ones who escaped to the moon.

Join the adventure! An addictive space opera, science-fantasy series.

** Note: I received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Palmer Pickering. ***

Moon Deeds was an interesting space opera, sci-fi, set in 2090, a dystopian world that was taken over by alien-human mixed breeds called Tegs. The book was about trusting instincts and magical powers, hope, legends, and adventure.

What I liked-

The writing was great, descriptive and engaging. The Setting, world-building, and magic were the best part of the book. It was creative and impressively detailed. The atmosphere and life on the moon and alien technology were well researched and well written. There were many information and a little slow because of length of book all the descriptions on world and characters but it never felt boring.

Book had 2 parts- Earth and the moon narrated in third person mostly from Torr and Cassidy’s view and some portion in the second part was from Ridge’s POV.

First part, on Earth, started with preface telling how Cepheans arrived on Earth and slowly formed a colony with humans, how it caused WWIII, political unrest and eventually the leader of mixed-breeds, Tegea formed an alliance with power-hungry mercenary leader, Metolius calling it ‘Global alliance’.  Together they brought all nations under Global alliance by hook or crook. But some nations managed to stay free by creating a magical shield that kept Teg army out of this shield, cutting all communication from the rest of the world. England, Scotland, Ireland had Druid’s mist as a shield while Northern California had Shaman’s Shield formed by the Shaman sect living in mountains. But the Shaman’s shield was slowly retracting back to its origin, San Fransisco and San Diego were exposed to Tegs, making many flee their home or surrender to Tegs and become slaves in Teg camp. The Gia United rebels, who formed army to fight Tegs, surrendered without fight making Torr, who joined rebels 2 years ago, flee to home to save their parents and his sister Cassidy. Now this part was interesting but it was also very slow.

Torr, Cassidy and their parents were Shamans who left sect long time ago. Their only option was trying to get into Shield using their mother’s magic or going to the moon where Torr and Cassidy inherited land from their great-aunt Sophie. Both Torr and Cassidy were said to be Twin Star Children according to legends and their DNA birth certificate, destined to save the world. But their powers were dormant ever since they were 6 and as they grew up they believed in it less and less. However, they couldn’t ignore the pool of Star song, Cassidy’s miraculous vision that reawakened her belief and Torr’s unusual dreams that led them to choose later option, going to the moon. I was curious to know what will happen once they reach the moon, will they claim their lands and unlock their magical potential or find the star people who can save the Earth.

This portion was well described. It formed great beginning of the story and series. Along with the situation on Earth, it gave the background details on the main characters and their family. Their magical powers were fascinating. Both Cassidy and her mother were Plan spirit medicine experts. They could feel plants and their herbal characteristics, also could diagnose patients and medical conditions. Her father could understand birds and animals and Torr had most unusual powers. He could see facts and dangers in dreams which were close to reality. There was about Torr and Cassidy’s childhood, their visions, how their powers went dormant, why they left the Shaman sect, and how their life changed then on. I loved knowing bits about Shaman magic and how it works.

The second and biggest part of the book was set on the moon. It told about the hard life on the moon- dry, hot weather, endless gray land, dust that was harmful to the lungs, not enough water and food source, mining lords and other dangers. Not ideal habitation and not exactly what Torr and Cassidy expected. This part was more tense. There was a constant feeling something bad was going to happen, either with the land or withing the Peary dome they were staying. It started a bit hopeless but once they made friends and found third link who was going to open the door to the prophecy, it was looking a little better. But that didn’t last long.

Torr’s guilt and worries were palpable. He was struggling to cope with the two men he killed on the border. I liked him. He was brave, practical and realistic. I liked his ideas and concerns on moon. Cassidy was desperate to unlock the magic within her. She sounded naïve and selfish in the beginning but she learned to trust her instinct soon. Her powers were great, I can’t wait to see her master them and use them. I liked connection between twins and their bond with each other. There were many other diverse characters in the book. They all were well described that stayed with me till the end of the book. Some characters were likable, some  annoying, mysterious and lovely while some I hated.

Climax was tense and uncertain. I didn’t like where things were going and that end with cliffhanger wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, not really satisfactory but I’m curious to know what happens next.

Why 3.5 Stars-

Main issue-  I expected at least one conclusion from all the questions I had, that made me curious to read. At least that moon land part or find a clue to unlock their magic or go one step ahead in finding star people but nope, there were no answers in this story!

Second, I liked their adventure arriving on the moon. But there was no action. It was like they were skirting the danger or were just lucky in the first part but at least I expected action on the moon, when they found out about their land, or in the climax, but no!

And third, the end made me furious. When the actual action part came, I was jumping on the sit, yes yes, finally they will fight now, but then it ended! I tell you it was not how I imagined it. I just staring with an open mouth at that big cliff-hanger, dismayed and disappointed! I thought I would up stars to 4 anyway because overall I liked it, not bad even though there was no conclusion or action but that end made me down it to 3.

Look at the page number, it was so long and slow, but good thing world kept me reading and writing was interesting.

Overall, it was descriptive and interesting dystopian futuristic space opera with impressive world-building and setting. I hope there was action, some conclusion or development. I hope the next book gives me answers I was looking for and more action.

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Let’s discuss!

What do you think about the book and review? Have you read this book already? Are you going to add it to TBR? Which is your favorite space opera?

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