A gothic, paranormal queer romance that hit a lot of good notes. Will Watt was brilliant as the audiobook narrator; each character's tone was distinct and believable, and his voice is deeply pleasant to the ear.

The gothic setting was well-crafted and engaging, and the paranormal elements simultaneously stayed true to standard lore while also adding a few unique tidbits.

Emile is torn between two men, and cannot make up his mind about who to choose. This was done well; readers who have been in this situation before will be able to empathize with Emile's feelings and rationales. The romances themselves could have been a bit more believable, though; their development was rushed and under-described, leaving both suitors' utter devotion to Emile confusing.

Clues as to the paranormal truth about some of the characters are dropped early and often, so the reader is aware of the secret well before Emile. This is a fun dramatic irony, but it goes on a touch too long. The reveal happens so late that the book doesn't have time to explore more elaborate action scenes or intimate dialogue.

Overall, the novel was enjoyable. Characters, especially Henri, were satisfactorily round and dynamic. Recommended for existing fans of gothic fantasy and paranormal romance.

*Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing and e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review*

*Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing and e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review*

DNF at 71% This book takes waaaaaaayyyyy too long for anything to happen. At over 2/3s of the book nothing has happened yet. The description includes that there are werewolves in the story and as of now, they have not even been revealed yet. It's a lot of romantic drama/scandal without anything actually happening. I liked the setting and the fact that the characters are more diverse but the actual pacing of the story and plot line leave a lot to be desired. It could have been very good but unfortunately was not. As someone who LOVES fantasy and magic, there has been no magical elements at the 71% mark.

This was very much what I expected based on the description, yetvstill managed to have a few surprises. It was a fun read.

This was such a rich and lustrous story steeped in enchantment and forbidden romance.

On the run from his homophobic aunt, Emile hides his identity, playing servant, and taking employ in the estate of one Count Montoni and his niece and nephew.

Immediately upon arrival, he stirs things up when he discovers a severed hand… and catching the eye of not only the Count’s nephew Henri, but a handsome young doctor, Bram. Tensions rise between Henri and Bram, pitting Emile in the middle, all while Emile is learning more about the strange affliction that plagues the Count and his family at every full moon.

I enjoyed so much about this book, from the pacing, to the writing style, to the fantastic love triangle (in which Emile ends up with exactly whom I hoped he would). The characters have these great qualities and flaws, making them each relatable in their own way. I just adored Emile and his entire character arc. I also really enjoyed the gothic style and the atmospheric storytelling. There is so much to love about this book, way more than I even touched on in this review. READ IT, or better yet, listen to it because the narration was done splendidly.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance audiobook!

First things first, I think the narrator Will Watt did a fantastic job reading this one. I think his tone of voice, accents and pronunciation were all spot on for this specific book and I really enjoyed how he conveyed intensity at the right moments. Would definitely listen to more audiobooks narrated by him!

For the book itself it was a lot of fun! If you go in to this book thinking its a werewolf book, so its all about werewolves, you might feel a little disappointed. This plot is so much more involved with many moving parts that keep the reader/listener interested and curious of what will happen next. Yes, there are werewolves, but this isnt Van Helsing and they arent the MAIN focus of everything this book is about.

Emile is a complex main character who is trying to sort out his feelings and difficult situation all at once. It's layers of stress and it leads to a not-so-typical love "triangle" that I really enjoyed. He was torn between Brams & Henri (cant blame him because WOW) and each man had such differences that they pulled at different parts of his heart and affections.

This book was exactly my type of story and vibe. Very Sleepy Hollow in a gothic Victorian type way with a bit of gore mixed in and a supernatural twist. Thoroughly loved it and will read David Ferraro's next work in a heartbeat!

Jumping, screaming, crying, laughing. This book had everything I needed and wanted all wrapped up nicely within its pages. It's sweet, simple, and so perfect for the way it was described!

This is a book I'll be rereading in the next few months, because every time I read it I discover something new that makes me love the characters, the setting, and the story that much more. David does a beautiful job at creating this Gothic scene and characters that you can't help but fall in love with almost immediately. Right from the get-go I was enchanted by the story telling and the characters who you as a reader can't help but fall in love with.

It's just one of those books that made me smile and cry all at the same time. It was the perfect mix of gothic, French style, and Bridgerton, wrapped up into one. Definitely one of my favourite reads of the year!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was fun! I find I don’t mind love triangles as much when they’re queer, and this one handled the complicated feelings really well. The villains in this book were also 10/10! All told, good book

representation: gay MC, two gay love interests

spice level: none

tw: homophobia, threat of institutionalization, discussion of suicide, discussion of death of a parent, body horror/gore

This was okay. The characters were okay but not very compelling and I didn't really care about them even as I got to the end of the book. I also thought the twists and turns were a bit predictable, but that's not a terrible thing. I had a pleasant time reading this, but I wish the plot was a bit tighter and more thought-out. As it stands, I noticed a few minor plot holes that took me out of the story a bit (if you've read The Mysteries of Udolpho, you'll know what I'm talking about). Overall, this book felt....a bit unfinished? It felt sort of like I was reading the outline rather than a fleshed out book. Perhaps more edits will be made/are planned before this books release? I can see where people will probably enjoy this, I just wanted more out of this read. 2.5 Stars rounded up to 3 Stars.
For the audiobook specifically: I liked the narrator. I think that he added a bit of depth to the story where it was missing in the ebook reading experience. Super cool.

When Emile's aunt threatens to cut him off if he doesn't marry a woman, he escapes a life of luxury to become a servant to the Count Montoni. He quickly attracts the attention of both a handsome doctor and the Count's nephew. All the while, mauled bodies start showing up - first in the city and later on the estate.

When Emile is forced to relocate to the Udolpho Castle (not to be mistaken for the Castle of Udolpho), he starts to uncover secrets and mysteries surrounding the Montoni family.

'The Alchemy of Moonlight' is branded as a queer, gothic, young adult fantasy and it is! Balancing the conventions of both the gothic and the fantasy genre while remaining young adult is a feat, and Ferraro does it really well. Impeccable gothic vibes, 10/10 would NOT visit Udolpho Castle.

I do think the plot and the relationship development between the characters was a bit rushed, and I would have loved to see some more period-typical yearning and longingly gazing. But by the end, I found that it didn't bother me too much. The characters are likeable and they carry the plot.

Emile, a marquis hiding from his aunt who wants to put him in an asylum, pretends to be a servant for Count Montoni. While it's never really clear why the blackmail is so important, its hilarious how Emile is a complete failure at being secretive.
Emile is terrible at secrets and has a confusing amount of bravery. We're introduced to him picking up a severed human hand with a napkin, and at the end of the book, he's freaking out about a decrepit-looking body. He's also got a thing for releasing spiders outside and giving makeovers and making fashion statements.

Bram is the Montoni's family doctor. He and Emile fall in love the moment they touch a severed hand together. Bram is patient and selfless, the perfect man. And then there's Henri, a red flag that fades into a pink softie who thinks picnics are the solution to all fights.
In the romance, Emile's got a heart of gold, but it's only plated (A little inside joke, if I might add). He "doesn't want to break any hearts" so he refuses to choose between Bram and Henri and string them along. I rooted for Bram the entire time, until I realized how much of a dick Emile could be. Bram deserved so much better than Emile. But at the end, Henri slightly redeemed himself. I guess.
Blanche, Henri's sister, is the best thing about Henri and Emile. Sort of like Felicity from Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue. Annette is Blanche's attendant. At first, she's rude but caring. Over the story, like most women written in Ferrarro's novel, are witty and amazing.

The writing peaked with horrific details. Ferrarro is not for arachnophobes and necrophobes. Sometimes I forgot I was reading a romance because the images were described so well. His expansion on the werewolf lore is a refreshing addition as well. That ending was nothing but a rollercoaster of emotions. It went from "You f-ing didn't" in one scene I hated to "You f-ing did it!" in an ending that was perfect.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook ARC of #TheAlchemyofMoonlight in exchange for an honest review. 4/5
Would totally recommend if you want a werewolf horror version of Gentleman's Guide and a bit of a love triangle. Smut readers be warned, there is nothing beyond kissing and cuddling.

Delightful queer gothic horror. At the start of the story, we discover that Emile has run away from home and is posing as a servant in the home of Count Montoni. Emile is a marquis, but until he turns eighteen, his estate is in the hands of his aunt. She has threatened to commit him into an asylum if he doesn't stop his "deviancy" (being attracted to men) and marry immediately. He's just looking for a place to lie low until he comes of age, but gets much more than he bargained for at the Montoni estate. It's clear that this family also harbors secrets- dangerous ones. Emile finds himself in a sticky love triangle with the local doctor, Bram, and the nephew of Count Montoni, Henri, while also trying to uncover the secrets of the Montoni family. Hopefully he can survive long enough to find his happily ever after.

I listened to this in audiobook form, and found the narrator's voice to be quite enjoyable. The gothic setting of Udolpho castle was fantastic. I got into the story so much more when they journeyed there and the mystery and horror elements greatly ramped up. The werewolf lore was interesting, and I could easily envision a follow up novel where the author delves into it in more depth. The only downside to this novel in my opinion is that the romance didn't feel fully developed to me, and the ending was maybe a bit rushed. Overall, I quite enjoyed this story, and would recommend.

Gothic queer paranormal romance. The vibes were dark. The book was a super quick, easy read.
That being said, it read like young YA down to the super annoying and toxic romance.
The plot was messsssy and was there even alchemy?
Read it for the vibes and if you enjoy angsty love triangles.
Dont read it if you require character development or well established lore.

I definitely wasn't expecting anything of what happened because I went into the story with eyes closed, being in love with the amazing cover. I loved that the cover made me listen to this story of mystery, werewolves, love, secrets, arrange marriages and just people being good and bad and something in between.
Emile is hiding and posing as a servant in a mansion full of secrets where he meets charming Henri. Circumstances in the shape of a body brings Emile to meet a handsome doctor. Long story short, Emile finds himself having feelings for both and both court him but the circumstances of mystery surrounding Henri's family will put the romance in the background.
I really liked how Emile found himself doubting his feelings but at the same not afraud of purchasing both his love interest. He truly was lucky that way, given all the attention.
The story flows slowly in the mystery part and in the end everything is revealed and we get action packed parts until the quite satisfactory ending. I would love an epilogue taking place a few months later to see how they are all doing after what happened.

3.5 stars!

I listed to this on audiobook courtesy of Netgalley!

I have to give a shout-out to the narrator, Will Watt. He was lovely to listen to and he did a great job distinguishing between the characters.

I have to admit, the cover is what immediately drew me in. I absolutely love this artist’s style and the premise sounded interesting enough. The Gothic setting was amazing and I definitely felt immersed in that time period. I was prepared for more action than what was delivered, it was mostly slow moving and the plot didn’t really get churning until the 40-50% mark. I wish the romance was a bit more fleshed out, while the main character forgave the love interest’s actions I certainly felt strange about it, and I wish there had been more time to work through that. This book was reminiscent of Mexican Gothic or the Crimson Peak movie. I loved the haunting and dark aspects, I feel like the author could have leaned even more heavily into that! All around though this was a fairly fun queer novel. The ending had some exciting moments and the dialogue was witty. I would recommend for fans of slower-paced character-focused novels.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC of the audio version. The narration by Will Watt was fantastic. His voice was so clear and it was easy to tell when he changed characters there was no confusion there.


The writing really sets up the gothic atmosphere for the novel. The novel has a nice dark, spooky vibe that goes well with the plot of the story. It was nice being able to explore this setting with Emile.


The Count was a nice villain. He was not someone I would ever want to cross in real life. He was cold and unforgiving. The first time he slapped Emile was shocking but not unexpected.


Now I was not a fan of the love triangle between Emile, Brom, or Henri. Normally I don't mind messy romances in my novels but this one was not sitting well with me. The romance didn't seem to go anywhere with either of the love interests and by the end of the book it was left unfulfilled. It was not a satisfying conclusion.


I am a sucker for werewolf novels which is what drew me to this book. There was a nice mystery around the family but it was obvious that they were werewolves and the reveal seemed to drag on as well. I would have liked to have more time to delve into the werewolf lore then what we were given. 


Overall the book was enjoyable and good for people who like gothic romances. I give this a 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the audiobook ARC of "The Alchemy of Midnight". I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I must apologize for any potential misspellings of names or places in my review.

"The Alchemy of Midnight" by David Ferraro is a captivating novel that immerses readers in a spooky and Gothic atmosphere. The descriptions of the mansion, gardens, and castle, along with the creepy and clever use of moon, mist, and spider imagery, contribute to the overall eerie ambiance, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I often found myself reading the book at night to enhance the "spooky" effect!

The audiobook version was a fantastic experience; Will Watt's–the narrator'–voice perfectly complemented the story and perfectly fit the character of Emile.

I appreciated the slow pace and the long build-up to the plot twist, which created a significant amount of suspense throughout the story, although the twist itself was somewhat predictable. Nevertheless, the high stakes involved in multiple conflicts in the book added to the suspense and tension.

Emile proved to be a captivating character, although his thoughts and actions occasionally perplexed me. Regardless, I still found great enjoyment in following his enigmatic and high-stakes journey. The love triangle also added an intriguing dimension to the story. While Bram stood out as my personal favorite character, I longed for his greater involvement throughout the book. I felt that Henri underwent excellent growth throughout the story, even though I didn't particularly like him. On the other hand, I wished that Bram had been given the same opportunity for further development. Additionally, Blanche's character resonated with me, and I desired more scenes developing the relationship between her, Henri, and Emile.

The ending of the book (post-final battle) felt slightly rushed, but it didn't bother me much because I was eager to reach a happy ending for the protagonists. Additionally, although I typically don't enjoy love triangles and occasionally felt frustrated with this one, I was satisfied by the resolution. The decision to live as one family was a refreshing and unexpected twist.

After finishing "The Alchemy of Midnight," I found myself yearning for a sequel or spin-off that explores Blanche and Carmilla's blossoming romance following the events of the book. Such a continuation would also provide an opportunity to delve deeper into the developing relationship between Emile, Henri, and Bram.

4.5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book!

When this book was pitched as a gay gothic mystery, I was so hooked. The cover was eye-catching, the audiobook voiced wonderfully and the descriptions in this book are breathtaking. I think this book pulled off the horror amazingly, it had me so tense and on edge. It was creepy as hell too! The descriptions were amazing, it made everything feel alive and immersed me in the setting. The supporting cast shined more than the main characters and I was so invested in them. I think the romance was actually the weakest part of the book which was disappointing since I gobble up gay romance and that's why it's at 4.5. Overall this is a great book that will keep you entertained and tense so give it a try! Now I'll go into spoiler territory with more details.



SPOILERS AHEAD
---------------



Let me address my biggest fault with the book- the romance with Henri. Henri is a toxic entitled brat that gets better in the very last section of the book. He's introduced as a predatory noble, using his power to isolate Emile. I really could never recover from the fact he SOLD EMILE OUT. How was I supposed to get over that? Also most of Emile's thoughts were about he was hot which was a little shallow. I do appreciate that Emile acknowledged that he was toxic and that was part of his troubles.

Another thing was Emile wanting to marry for love? He's only attracted to men and Henri is right, he will never be able to marry for love. I found it annoying that he was so caught up on that when the other option was an ASYLUM.

Alright Bram was literally a S tier perfect man. Obvious choice from the beginning, he's supportive even when being rejected for his enemy. Anette owned my heart and soul and if she had died I would have rioted. I also wonder if Camilla was a reference to the vampire in Le Fanu's book with her ice cold skin and attraction towards women?

The werewolf lore was awesome, I love the greek mythology twist! It really set an eerie unearthly tone to the book. I would have liked more explanation for that because if the goddesses are real and the witches by extension, does that mean that vampires or other creatures exist in this world? Maybe something to explore in another book because I could see a sequel happening.

Man, the horror was freaky as hell. The leeches, THE SPIDERS. The author knows how to make my skin crawl. Speaking of skin crawling, the monk and Count Montani were creepy and extremely intimidating. I was actually scared of the count and I actually yelled out loud when the head on spike scene happened. The mysteries were also interesting if not a little predictable, but I prefer coherent reveals to twists that make no sense.

Finally, the closure of the book with Henri, Bram and Emile in a poly relationship I saw coming and I was ok with it. Like I said before, the romance was the least interesting thing about the book and Henri doesn't become bearable till the last portion of the book. I would have liked to see more interactions between Henri and Bram because they resolved their hatred for each other pretty fast.

Overall this was a really good book and it helped me relax during a stressful week. I'd say give it a try!

This was a really fun story, if a bit predictable, combining gothic horror and historical romance - and it's queer! I loved the fantasy in it, though it didn't fully get into it until a bit later in the book. I liked the characters fine but none of them really stood out to me. I will say though that the ending was satisfying, and I liked the choice that was made with it! If you're going to read this I'd definitely recommend the audiobook because the narrator did an amazing job.

3.5/5

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

4.5
This book had me completely hooked! I finished it in one day because I just couldn't stop once I started! The audiobook narrator Will Watt also did a great job with differentiating characters with different voices and accents.

Gothic horror and historical romance combine in this queer retelling of The Mysteries of Udolpho (which I've admittedly never read). As such, it is full of shocking twists and tender moments as Emile, a young nobleman pretending to be a servant, hides from his aunt who is trying to force him into a loveless marriage or put him in an asylum. In his new position, he is equally attracted to a hot doctor and his employer (the count)'s nephew. However, there are sinister things going on, including a severed hand he finds on the estate and that everyone else dismisses. Emile must decide who he is really in love with, how to secure his future, and how to escape before it's too late.

Sorry, this book is just not for men. Didn’t finish it. I tried. I don’t really have anything else to say but I’m gonna have to say something because I have to have 100 characters. I don’t think I’m there yet. I’m sorry again that I didn’t like it.