Moonshadow’s Guardian is a dark fantasy novel by Dianna Gunn, a member of The Sci-Fi Fantasy Collaborative and a friend of mine! Recently, I decided to read and review this book alongside The Picky Bookworm. She’s also writing a review on her blog and if you would like to review this book as well, with or without the book club questions below, please do and share the link in the comments so that I can read them.

Pamela, from The Picky Bookworm, also asked me to chat about the book on her podcast. So keep an eye out for that!

Read Pamela’s Review of Moonshadow’s Guardian here.

All Riana has ever wanted is freedom. Unfortunately, that’s the one thing her kind cannot have.

Bound by the curse in her demonic blood for millennia, Riana has tried several times to bend the rules and live out her life in the mortal realm. Now her consistent rule breaking has drawn the attention of Loki, God of Mischief, the main tormentor of Riana’s kind. But instead of punishing her, he offers her the escape she has always desired. All she has to do is save the kingdom of Moonshadow from a mysterious magical plague.

Armed only with the inherent power of her own blood and Loki’s pet dragon, Riana is determined to fight for the right to create her own destiny. However, when her mission forces her to destroy the last remnants of an ancient culture, Riana must ask – what is freedom really worth?

Moonshadow’s Guardian is a tale about the meaning of belonging, and the struggle to create a future not defined by your past.

Book Description from Amazon

Moonshadow’s Guardian Book Club Questions

Pacing and Plot

Did you find the pacing of the novel effective in building tension and suspense? Were there any moments where you felt the pacing was too slow or too fast?

I think the pacing is good for a fantasy book. This book is categorized as a dark fantasy/horror. I did feel like there were a lot of moments where the tension was building. However, for a horror novel, there was not a lot of suspense or dread that you might associate with horror. It wasn’t horror in that it was terrifying- it was more horror in that there were horror elements and settings. For instance, the beginning of the book has a lot of scenes that take place in hell, involve demons and torture, and other dark concepts (without giving too much away.) But I would definitely say it falls into dark fantasy more than horror because of the pacing and the level of suspense. 

I liked that the chapters themselves were fairly short and easy to read. It wasn’t one of those books where the chapters dragged on and on (which is something I don’t generally like about fantasy – endless chapters). However, there were some areas where I wished I had more description or a little more hand-holding to fully understand what was going on.

Were there any plot twists or revelations that surprised you? How did they impact your understanding of the story?

For a long time in this story, I thought that the creator of the curse was going to be Riana’s mom. That isn’t what happened, but I was kind of hoping that there would be a twist at the end where she has to defeat her own mother in a second form (or something.) 

I really liked the twist with Loki and his contracts. That’s a great detail and true to the character. 

I definitely did not expect the revelations about Eternia’s wedding.

Also, I’m not sure if the Andre/Riana story is supposed to be a twist but I definitely was surprised that it ended up there. Perhaps I should have seen that coming but I didn’t!

I am going to be reviewing the Moonshadow’s Guardian candle in an upcoming blog post, so keep an eye out for that!

Were there any recurring motifs or symbols that stood out to you? What do you think they represent?

Blood is very symbolic in this book. In many ways, blood represents healing and new life while also representing death. It is both the origin of power and saves a major character, while also being the reason that Riana is trapped as a demon… “Bound by the curse in her demonic blood for a millennia,” as it states on the cover.

What Fantasy tropes or themes are used throughout this book? Which ones did you enjoy? Which tropes did you feel worked best with the story?

These common fantasy tropes were definitely utilized throughout this book and I think they work well. 

You can find more examples of fantasy book tropes here and here, to pick out your own.

• Ancient setting (not modern day)
• The Tragic Backstory (Riana turning into a demon)
• Good vs Evil (Although, in this case, the story is more Vampires vs Telars and I don’t think there are clear lines of who is good and who is evil)
• Forbidden Magic (Telars are banished to the swamps)
• Kingdoms at War (talk of a rebellion)
• Reluctant hero (Riana, demon girl, Andre, the brother that no one expects to succeed)
• The Quest (Stop the curse)
• Side Quests (Solve the murder)
• Fantastical Creatures (Dragons, Harpies)
• Training moments (her fighting with Andre, the dragon training Marcus, the Telars also have a brief scene where they are training)

Characters and World-Building

Which character did you find most compelling, and why?

I really enjoyed reading from Kahri’s perspective and I wish that there had more chapters with her – or that the chapters had been a little longer.

Side note: I thought that Marcus was a little boy when the story first started, though I don’t remember how old he was supposed to be. My image of him was like seven or eight years old (just based on how he acted) and then later, he’s described as a young man and he seems much more mature. Regardless, I also liked Marcus a lot.

What ethical dilemmas did the characters face, and how did they respond to them?

Riana has multiple dilemmas throughout the book, where she must choose who she will protect. In one instance, spare one life and sacrifice a Kingdom. Rolf, the dragon, similarly must choose to destroy an army of people to save a boy or let the boy die. You’ll have to read the book for yourself to see what choices they make.

How did you feel about the fantastical world in the story? Did you find the setting immersive and believable?

I liked the whole atmosphere of this story. The setting was immersive and interesting, if not a little horrifying at times. I really, really liked the magic in this book. The way that magic works, the lore around it, and the limitations to it were all very interesting and fun to read about. 

Were there any instances where you found yourself sympathizing with morally ambiguous characters or actions?

Absolutely. I sympathized with Kahri, as stated she was definitely my favorite character. While her whole motive was vengeance, there are aspects to her bringing people back from the dead that make sense. After all, she’s an immortal being who has been cursed to live longer than everyone she has ever loved. 

Writing Style

What did you think of the author’s writing style? Did it enhance or detract from your enjoyment of the story?

Dianna Gunn does a great job. I loved her descriptions of the world and the people. 

Were there any scenes or moments that you found especially powerful or emotionally resonant?

The opening chapter is incredibly powerful. Of course, it’s what needs to lock us into the story and it definitely does that. 

How did the use of multiple perspectives or narrative devices contribute to your understanding of the plot and characters?

I enjoyed reading from multiple perspectives, both Riana and Kahri. 

The Ending

Did the ending satisfy you, or were there unresolved questions or loose ends that left you wanting more?

Yes and no. There were a few aspects of the magic and the ending that confused me a bit. I was left with the feeling that there was more to it that I didn’t fully understand and definitely had to reach out with a few questions for Pamela to see if she could explain it to me, haha. I felt a little like the girlfriend watching an action movie and asking every three seconds “Okay, who is this guy? And why is he important?”

Are there any other works of literature or media that you would compare this novel to?

I can’t think of any off the top of my head, but I bet Pamela will be able to come up with a few!

Would you recommend this book to others, particularly those who enjoy dark fantasy? Why or why not?

Yes. If you enjoy dark fantasy and you want to get invested in a series that takes a bit of a darker approach to the classic fantasy tropes, then I think you will enjoy this book.

If you could ask the author one question about the novel, what would it be?

Okay, just one question? Did Kahri die for good or is there a chance that she could come back in future books?

Are there any aspects of the story or characters that you would like to see explored further in a sequel or companion novel?

I would like to know more about Kahri. I would be interested in a short story or novella from her perspective entirely, as I found her motivations and character arc really interesting. Particularly from the time when she was first creating Magdalene’s Curse.