Why didn't anyone tell me this is a queer retelling of The Mysteries of Udolpho?!! With werewolves no less! Maybe because it's a lesser read classic gothic romance so that's not the direction the marketing took, but as a retelling this is really brilliant. It follows the plot beats of the original but smooths the pacing, adds a different paranormal element, and throws in a queer love triangle for good measure.

Emile's aunt has said she will have him committed and lose his inheritance if he doesn't marry a woman. But Emile is gay and wants to live authentically, so he runs away and poses as a servant to get a job at an estate. The family all suffer from a strange affliction during a full moon and Emile draws the attention of both the handsome son of the family and the quiet young doctor from town. But of course, things go very wrong and there are dark secrets to be uncovered....

There was a point at which I was concerned about the direction the story was going to take but the ending was perfection. And I'm curious if we might get a sapphic sequel??? Because it definitely leaves space for that in an interesting way. As a lover of gothic stories (horror, or romance) this really worked for me. And I think it does a great job of having characters who make harmful decisions but then taking responsibility for them and doing better. Having read the original Udolpho I especially loved this because it's such a good retelling, but I think you can enjoy it even if you aren't familiar with the source material. Definitely recommend! The audio narration is excellent as well. I received an audio review copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Wish I could love this book because it had so many of my likes (supernatural, gay, suspense, and mystery!) but I just really didn't like Henri or the way Emile enabled and then explained away his very toxic behavior as "love". Bram definitely was the better option. While this was my biggest peeve, I also think the story overall fell a bit flat for me. The narration was pretty good

I really loved this! It was one of those books that took a little bit, but I found myself warming up to it more and more the further I got into to. It was a little aggravating that Emile seemed to bounce back and forth in his affections so quickly, pretty much based on whichever man was in front of him at any given moment; I actually started calling him "Marquis Thirsty" in my head. But as the other characters became more fleshed out for me, gaining more depth, it was easier for me to understand Emile's attraction to them both.

It was rather nice that while it was made obvious from the outset that particular paranormal creatures were almost certainly involved, the details of it all weren't glaringly obvious--for one, I wasn't entirely certain which characters to suspect. A few of my guesses turned out to lead nowhere, in fact, though I suppose with promised sequels in the works (as I've heard), there's still time.

I also had no idea that this was apparently a retelling of The Mysteries of Udolpho. I had no idea that The Mysteries of Udolpho existed, actually, or what it was about, but from what I've now gleaned, this story seems a pretty well-done spin on it!

“The Alchemy of Moonlight was a really solid story all around! The gothic vibes got me really interested in everything that was going on. The werewolf plot was also well done but I felt the reveal dragged on too much.. the romance was a bit underdeveloped but I liked it nonetheless. The plot was definitely the main aspect taht I enjoyed.

Emil is a Duke in hiding and he’s hiding from his aunt but she finds him and little did he know there was a spie in his midts but soon that spi will be in a three-way love affair with the meal the doctor brim and Henry his aunt want him to marry but Emile doesn’t feel fondness like that for women but besides ruining his life is it has another announcement that will shock him to his core. The wealthy family that he has been working for will soon become a part of his family or at least that is the plan. Not only that but this family has a big secret and they turn out not to be your average duke in family but they are Shapeshifters who turn into wolves so no need to wonder where the mangled body came from or do you because Emile and Brem investigate I really enjoyed this book it had a Gothic feel and horror aspects in it with a love affair to die for. I loved the doctor and a meal at first not so much Henry but then I kind of liked Henry as well I really enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would it is a definite four star read and if you like shape shift there’s great mysteries in you’re into romance then you’ll love this book. I just want to say I really did love Blanch I thought she was a fabulous character I received this book from NetGalley And Dream Skate media but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Modern gothic style literature at its finest. The Alchemy of Moonlight is a wonderfully fun romance with spectacular touches of that classic gothic horror feel. From the perspective of Emile, a normal enough young man caught up in a strange situation with Henri, who seems both normal and entirely otherworldly at times, and Bram, the kindly doctor who just wants the best for our protagonist. Plenty of references to great classics as fun little callbacks, sprinkled throughout.

The narrator is also a master of voices, giving each character their own unique sound to the point you can tell exactly who’s speaking before they even give the name. The reading was full of emotion and perfectly captured the most suspenseful moments well enough to keep the listener on the edge of their seat.

4.25 stars for this one! I really enjoyed it. Emile, our MMC, is in a bad situation, hiding his identity, while working as a staff member of a well off household. He meets an interesting cast of characters, including Henri, the nephew to the owner of the house (who is scum), and his sister. Henri pulls a douche move, so initially, Emile does not like him, and neither do we, the readers. He also meets Bram, the doctor’s apprentice, who we all love lol. Things go from tense to down right explosive when Emile’s aunt shows up, and his cover is blown. From here, it’s an all out melee, with information and tension raining down on us.
I really loved the creepy atmosphere of this book, except for the spiders lol ick 😂 They set the scenes well, with the gross factor, and really brought the fear out for me! From the spiders icky scene, things got gradually more gruesome, and I was here for it!
From beginning to end, I was desperate to find out what would happen next, so if you’re looking for a book that grabs your attention and holds it throughout the story, this one’s great.
The narrator was fantastic, and each characters voice shone through. Will Watts ability to pull off so much emotion in so many different voices is exceptional.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this audioArc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Alchemy of Moonlight is a YA queer fantasy romance about Emile, a runaway marquis hiding from his not-so-nice aunt by working on a count’s house staff. Through his position, Emile learns that the count might be hiding some secrets that may be good blackmail fodder, and drama and action inevitably ensues.

This book was a 3.5 ⭐️ for me, rounded up to a 4 based on vibes and enjoyment, especially in the second half. The first half of the book was a little slower and slightly predictable - you were just kind of waiting for the inevitable reveal that you knew was coming, but Emile was apparently too blind to work out 😅 Around the halfway point, though, there were a couple of twists I wasn’t expecting and the action really picked up! From there, I really enjoyed all the secrets uncovered and the progression of the story.

Character-wise, I will admit Emile was not my favorite. I had to keep reminding myself of his age as his occasional naivety rubbed against me. I really enjoyed both Bram and Henri - Bram is kind and genuine and we get to see a lot of Henri’s complexity. That said, I did feel the romance between them and Emile was a little insta-love-y and didn’t have a super strong basis BUT it was super cute 🥺. Blanche was by far my favorite though - she was both complex and genuine and just an enjoyable person to get to know through the story. She has a similar background to Henri, but it drove her a completely different direction than it drove him.

Overall, I would recommend this book for a fun, quick, semi-spooky fantasy romance!

Thank you to Netgalley and Page Street YA for an arc of this one.

Emile poses as a servant to escape his aunt trying to disown him for being gay, but when he is found out he must unravel the secrets of a family--and contend with his own romance.

This book was a little slow at first, but once I got into it I was really enjoying it. Once they leave the manor and head to the castle is when it really picks up in pace, and a lot of the mysteries and werewolfiness are revealed!

The romance was a little odd for me at first. For instance, Henri is not a nice person and I was like...why is Emile into him? But it did grow on me after a while and I think that Henri at least tried to change for the better.

I will say that what really saved this book for me was not just the werewolfiness, but the the resolution to the love triangle at the end! I am always down for some polyamory in my books!

CW: blood, death, abandonment, kidnapping/captivity, torture, homophobia

Ok, so lets talk about the things I loved:
First of all, the cover art?? Gorgeous!
MMM Love Triangle?? Check!
Werewolves?? Check!
Bram (one of the love interest)?? Absolute Swoon
The narrator for the audiobook?? Perfection

Unfortunately, the book overall felt a little flat and boring at times. I did not believe in Emile and Henri's love and connection. I don't think Henri grew enough as a character to forgive his actions in the beginning of the book, and I don't think they should have ended up together. Bram deserved better than what this book did to him.

True rating- 3.5 stars

The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro is a retelling of The Mysteries of Udolpho, with a queer twist on the story that immediately interested me. Unfortunately, I thought this book fell slightly short of my expectations and hopes.

Emile being queer and threatened by his aunt to be forced into a marriage or an asylum added layers of nuance to the story that I quite enjoyed. The gothic atmosphere is strong in this book and well written, bringing to life the castle of Udolpho and its dark, twisting secrets.

Unfortunately I did not love the pacing of this book. The family's big secret is not revealed until the very end of the book, when the reader has realized that secret long ago. Of course, the reader is able to see things that the characters in the story might not, however it can still be frustrating to get through the story and just wishing for the characters to get with the program.

I enjoyed the conclusion of this book, particularly the romance, however I wish that the romance had been better developed from the beginning. It was hard to feel like the characters truly cared for one another beyond lust or attraction from being forced into stressful, traumatic situations together. But, I will always be thrilled to find a polyamorous relationship in media.

I enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook quite a bit, particularly how he performed the voices of the different characters and the emotion he put in to the narrative.

The beautiful cover art and intriguing summary drew me to The Alchemy of Moonlight. And for the most part I wasn't disappointed.

What I loved about this book was the dark, gothic atmosphere that permeated the story. It reminded me a bit of Crimson Peak with the its family drama, gloomy vibe, wonderfully creepy architectures and setting as well as the twisted relationships between some characters.

The werewolf lore was a bit different in some aspects that it ended up quite really interesting. I've seen and read how werewolves heal faster than most humans, but I don't recall of any lore that stated they could be revived from the dead barring certain circumstances.

The early parts of the story was nicely paced and engaging enough, however some parts of it could've been edited down. The portrayal of the relationships between Emile, Bram and Henri felt a bit lacking. It was hard to actually feel the yearning that Emile had for the two men. The romance felt under developed. The ending, though I do appreciate it seemed rushed and had very little groundwork to merit it.

Count Montoni as a villain didn't come across as monstrous as the writer wanted him to be. There was very little shown of how truly cruel and horrific his actions were that he ended up being quite under-utilized IMHO. The reveal of what ailed the Montoni family and the succeeding events after lacked depth that could've been solved if some the earlier chapters were trimmed down and the reveal took its place.

Overall, The Alchemy of Moonlight was a good read but could've been better. Will Watt did an excellent job reading and narrating the story as it made the listening experience truly a pleasant.

Despite some of my criticisms of the story, I'd still recommend giving this book a try if you're looking for a queer gothic, horror story that isn't on the extreme side of spooky with a side of romance.

This would be 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

This was a fun and easy audiobook to fall into. The narrator had a nice voice and drew me into this historical fantasy. There was mystery, murder, and a love triangle that I actually thought resolved well.

Emile comes from a wealthy family, so even though he's in hiding as a servant, he retains his entitled demeanor. That wasn't my favorite and there were times I wanted to shake some humbleness into him, but it was realistic and Emile did come around to realizing how privileged he was.

Bram and Henri battled for who I wanted as the love interest. They both had sweet parts and frustrating parts and Emile had good reasons for caring for them both. I appreciated the turns this took with the relationships and how the characters end up.

This has a pretty good conclusion, but there are loose threads that could be pulled on for a sequel. I guess we'll see!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Dreamscape Lore and NetGalley for the copy.

This is a perfectly paced story that slowly builds and takes you back to a time when appearances mean everything, even if you must deny who you are. Emile finds himself in this situation when his aunt gives him a choice—he can marry and produce an heir or be committed and stripped of his inheritance. The problem is Emile is gay and that is simply not acceptable in society. Emile flees and finds solace by tending to the Montoni family. The family has a handsome young count, Henri that is quite taken by Emile. The dashing town doctor Bram has also taken an interest in him. Emile begins to notice many unsettling things about the Montoni’s and becomes frightened. Heated conversations, body parts and spiders to name a few! Everything starts to unravel when his aunt shows up and throws a wrench in his plans.

This is well written and demonstrates that the author has the gift of creating an atmospheric tale of horror and suspense that is captivating. The love triangle, the suspense and those stupid spiders kept me on the edge of my seat, what a fantastic debut!!

The audiobook was narrated so well!! The accents, the French, C’est Magnifique!

5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheAlchemyofMoonlight #DavidFerraro

I really wanted to like this book, but couldn't connect with it. The reveal came just a bit too late, the pacing felt strange and I ended up disliking the main character. But the narrator was amazing and made it easier to get through the book!

Thank you to Negalley and Dreamscape for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review!

The alchemy of moonlight was an enjoyable audiobook. I read it in one sitting. I loved the idea of this book but there we’re definitely a few things that affected the overall reading experience. The main plot twist wasn’t revealed until the very end, while the reader was able to put it together a lot sooner. Other than the pacing problem, I still really enjoyed the plot/characters and how they interact with each other.

Overall I rated this book 3.25⭐️
It’s worth a shot if you enjoy LGBTQ fantasy stories

Honestly, both a bit disappointing and very . I couldn't stand one of the love interests for the majority of the book and felt it was more of a Stockholm syndrome romance than real feelings. However, that being said I can't totally dislike a book that ends with the love triangle becoming a polyamorous relationship.

Generally I felt like the book went on too long at some parts and seemed to speed through others. Also at one point I thought they were alluding to vampires (possibly a sapphic vampire!) existing and then nothing else really came of it which was disappointing. Overall I feel like the messiness of the couples/throuple and the overall Gothic werewolf horror would have lent itself better to being an adult romance better. Like I want to read this story but with some classic regency spice.

The house of Count Montoni's newest servant has a secret: he is actually a marquis who has fled his home to avoid being forced into marriage by his aunt. Emile's plan is to hide until he becomes of age, when he could inherit his fortune without being subjugated to his aunt's demands.

He's not doing a great job of hiding though, during an outing with the local doctor he swears he recognizes someone, the Count's troublemaker of a nephew has decided to demote his valet and promote Emile to the position on a whim, and above all, there is most definitely something monstrous roaming around the manor at night.

This book had more horror elements than I'd expected, which would normally be fun except that I've been ill and already having trouble sleeping so I was super traumatized at some points like "Emile for the love of god do NOT go there, Don't do That, Emile GO BACK TO THE ROOM DAMMIT."

Unfortunately for Emile he isn't aware of present day horror films so that boy had no sense, I swear.

This book is a fun and pretty fast read (surprised to see the hardcover copy is pushing 400 pages). It has a well balanced blend of mystery, horror, and romance. And of course the gothic vibe, especially once they characters move into a creepy old castle, is strong with this one.

I received an audio ARC from Netgalley for an honest review

I did enjoy the story, but there were a couple things that I thought brought the railing down

The “big secret” to the Montoni family is not revealed to our main character until basically the end even though as the reader, we kinda already know what’s going on. This made me kinda lose interest to the point that when it was revealed I thought “finally!” It was way to much lead up for a “secret” we already knew.
I also felt like that where there were a few different things going on, there was not much time spent on each plot point (His romances, The “secret”, the aunt plot that kinda is a forced marriage, the other forced marriage plot) it felt like we went from point A directly to point B and there was just no in between.

DNF

I am not a huge fan of fantasy stories that start in the middle of a time period. I feel like there wasn’t enough world building and found myself lost so often. I didn’t end up finishing this story because of these reasons.