I loved the writing and setting in this one! It was so haunting and beautiful at the same time! And the premise - where the main character gets stuck in the world of her script - so unique! I kept trying to figure out the identity of the person behind the scenes and was surprised by some of the revelations. Though I was expecting a romance between the two MCs I think it was a bit rushed - especially considering the fact that they met each other only in the last 30% of the book. So, I think this could've been a five star read if that part had been well developed!

The Star and the Strange Moon by Constance Sayers is an extraordinary novel that combines dark magic, artistic obsession, and a love that transcends time, all wrapped in lush, evocative prose. It’s a story that captivates the imagination with its poignant moments of beauty and heartbreak. At its core, the novel is a powerful celebration of female agency and the profound strength of free will, making it a truly resonant read.

The book feels like a masterful blend of Daisy Jones and the Six, The Time Traveler’s Wife, and an obscure, surreal Cocteau film—each of these influences adding to its unique and mesmerizing atmosphere. The characters are compelling, and the intricate storytelling sweeps readers into a world that is both timeless and unforgettable.

Absolutely phenomenal, The Star and the Strange Moon deserves a spot on your TBR. With its unforgettable narrative and immersive world, it shines brightly, earning every bit of its five-star rating. Sayers has truly outdone herself in crafting this breathtaking tale.

Not good, not good, not good!

I don’t have much to say about "The Star and the Strange Moon," the latest release from Constance Sayers. Not much that’s positive, at least.

The novel is tagged as horror on Goodreads, but it’s not, despite the vampires. It’s instead more of a historical fantasy and mystery – and a sappy, predictable, and way-too-long one at that. It’s slow to start, too.

Granted, I listened to the audiobook and did not read the review copy sent to me by the publisher, so some of the annoying melodrama may be due to the performance of the dual narrators. Both Imani Jade Powers and Josh Hurley overplay the characters of Gemma and Christopher, the actress who’s pulled into a 1968 vampire film and the film student who then sets out to save her in 2007. They try way too hard, which makes me wonder if it’s a desperate effort to make up for the subpar reading material.

Sayers also stretches the book out by breaking Gemma’s arc into three small acts, akin to a movie trilogy, but none of the mini stories are developed. And there’s an odd romance tacked on at the very end that feels icky.

No … the book isn’t good. I should’ve stopped writing my review after my first sentence and left it at that.


My sincerest appreciation to Constance Sayers, Redhook Books, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

(4.5 stars)
In 1968 an actress named Gemma Turner disappears from the set of the movie she’s working on, “L’ Etrange Lune.” Meanwhile, in 1986 a boy named Christopher Kent first encounters a picture of the actress. From then on it seems as though he’s haunted by Turner and the mystery surrounding her disappearance. The story follows Gemma and Chris’ POVs. The readers get to see snippets of Christopher’s life and Gemma getting the role in the movie that would become infamous. The story then continues in 2015 as Christopher tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to Gemma Turner.


This was such a strange book with an intriguing premise. When I read it, I couldn’t put it down. It’s difficult to articulate exactly why I found this book so compelling. There’s just something about it that draws you in. I loved so many things about this book, I’ll try my best to be concise.

First, the writing was very well done, it made it easy to become invested in the characters and the story quickly. The premise was a new take on a familiar trope. The characters kept me interested even when the pace of the story slowed down. All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book.

That said, this wasn’t quite a 5 star for me for a few reasons. I didn’t quite like how some of the elements of the story came together. To be clear, I liked the ending but how the characters got there wasn’t what I would have preferred. The explanation for Chris and Gemma’s connection could have been different, in my opinion. Their relationship developed very quickly whereas the rest of the plot moved along slowly. I don’t mind a slow pace. I just think that the ending was over a little too quickly and more time could have been spent in developing certain relationships.

Overall, I really liked this book. I’d read from this author again for sure. I think it would be a perfect book for those who like stories about old movies and curses. This is a slow burn so keep that in mind. The writing was very compelling so I’d definitely recommend this book if the premise sounds interesting to you.


Thank you to NetGalley, Redhook Books, and the author for providing me with an ARC for review.

This was a very nice read that I was excited about after reading the synopsis for this book. I loved how the author, Constance Sayers, incorporated the power of magic into the movie industry and I found the characters in this novel to be very compelling and unique. The book centers around the disappearance of an actress, Gemma Turner, who disappears in the late 1960s and whose disappearance turns into a great mystery as the years go by. I really enjoyed how the author’s writing flowed so easily and the way she created the story. I have never read any of the author’s prior work before reading this one, so this makes me excited to read more of her books. The cover of this book is also very beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

Here’s the thing:

There are too many books and not enough time in the world. My ADD is outrageous, and if you can’t grip me in 2 chapters, I will lose the plot I fear. Now here we are still waiting for a review. Well, here is what I have right now. Even if I were to “choose not to review” it counts that ratio so let’s chat about it.

This was sadly a DNF for me. I could never get into the story. I’ve read others in the series but this one just lost my interest and couldn’t get back into it.

Is it too high fantasy? No. Did I dare dream of how book 1 was? Possibly. If I return I will provide additional updates and thoughts.

The Star and The Strange Moon is an interesting mashup of horror, thriller and mystery.
The dual timelines kept things captivating and Sayers skillfully weaves a story of ambition and greed that spans generations.
An overall, compelling and unique read, perfect for lovers of strange historical novels.

Wow. I don't even remember how I happened upon A Witch in Time, but I'm so glad I did because it led me first to The Ladies of the Secret Circus and now The Star and the Strange Moon. This is the third book by Constance Sayers and with each book, I find more to love. Part thriller, part mystery, part historical fiction, there's something for everyone here and it's so well done. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC, I cannot wait to read the next! Constance Sayers is quickly becoming a favorite and must-buy.

Such a mesmerizing and unique story. I cannot even begin to explain the awe and suspense I felt all throughout reading this book. It was utterly captivating, I was literally glued to every page. However, I wasn’t a big fan of the romance element here just because I was enamored by the story elements of horror film & missing starlets and gripping mystery enough on its own. When the romance came in, the plot lost a bit of that daunting, enthralling quality. But overall one of my favorites of the year!

I loved the story and the writing style of this book. I could not put it down and just kept reading late into the night.

Transport yourself to the eerie world of L’Etrange Lune and the obsession that it begs from those that get swept up by its magic and wonder.

This book follows multiple timelines and characters as they experience L’Etrange Lune. From Gemma in 1968 filming the movie itself under a confusing and somewhat tyrannical director to the cast of characters of the 1878 horror plot of the film itself to Christopher in 1998 and 2008, experiencing the film as an obsessive film student.

This book was light horror and somewhat of a thriller with just a sprinkle of subtle romance.

Overall I enjoyed listening to this read, and was especially grateful to have listen to the audio to help me better hear all of the French words and phrases, but it did lack something to make me really truly fall in love with it. I felt some parts of the character’s backstories were too long and inconsequential, while also wanting to know the characters better. I suppose I wanted more of a detailed intersect of the timelines and less backstory, if that makes sense.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

D
The Star and the Strange Moon
by Constance Sayers
I think I wouldn’t have been so disappointed in The Star and the Strange Moon had the premise not been so intriguing. This book had the potential to be so excellent, but the pacing was all over the place and most of the novel just dragged on while the best parts felt rushed.

In 1968, French-American actress Gemma Turner’s career was struggling. She’s starred in surfer movies that while popular aren’t exactly critically acclaimed. Now she has the chance to work with a French director on a new horror film, L’Etrange Lune that may reshape how the public thinks of her. Gemma finds the director, the set and circumstances around the film to be unusual and creepy.


Cut to the nineties. Christopher Kent is a young man searching for a purpose. His mother was mentally ill and he was removed to live with relatives, where he never really felt like he fit in. Prior to the era of podcasts and internet sleuthing, he becomes obsessed with the mystery around Gemma Turner. While filming L’Etrange Lune she vanished without a trace. Christopher studies cinematography which allows him to become closer to the Gemma mystery. In a wonderfully creepy twist he learns that every 10 years the only existing copy of the film is screened–and every single time it’s different even though that’s impossible.

I love a missing person mystery and the twist about the film changing every ten years was wonderfully weird and spooky. Unfortunately the execution of this book was all over the place. We spend way too much time with Gemma before she even gets to the film set, taking in lots of backstory that ultimately doesn’t impact the plot. It’s about halfway through the book that we even learn about the mysterious screenings and changing films.

There’s a lot loaded onto the front and back ends of this novel with most of the action and intrigue condensed into the middle. The result is that I had a hard time sticking with the book in the beginning, and then felt unsatisfied by the end.

The concept of The Star and the Strange Moon was excellent, but the execution failed making most of the book a chore to get through. I think most readers will have to be very invested in finding out the ending to this story in order to stick with it.

I'm not a particularly big fan of ghosts, let along a mystery behind this. Granted the magical creatures did interest me, I wasn't drawn to the premise behind the book.

What a lovely and haunting story. I loved the world building and appreciate the time carefully spent crafting it along with the characters that inhabited it. I loved this so much.

This book will haunt me--in the best of ways. Written in multiple timelines, The Star and the Strange Moon is one of forgotten history, hidden magic, and family secrets. I loved the way Christopher’s obsession to learn what the mysteriously missing Gemma Turner has to do with the sad progress of his mother’s life, set against Gemma’s story of taking control of her own destiny in a way that would not have been possible in the time and place to which she was born. I would love to see a movie adaptation of this!

This book got me immediately from the synopsis. I love genre blending and this book has all my favorite genres. Mystery, historical fiction, gothic with fantasy and horror elements sprinkled throughout.
This book seems to have everything. A Hollywood starlet and her mysterious disappearance, a haunted horror movie, dual timelines, paranormal elements, vampires, secret societies.
I don't want to give away too much because I think this is the kind of book that should just be dove right into.
This may just be one of my favorite reads though. It's my first from @constancesayers and I will definitely be reading more. If you're looking for something a little different, I would really suggest this one.

Blog tour with R&R Book Tours

http://ramblingmads.uk/2024/01/12/blog-tour-the-star-and-the-strange-moon-constance-sayers/

I really love this author. This was an enchanting story. It had everything mystery. It was thrilling, and a little horror thrown in. Slow start. Once you get going, you will really enjoy it. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for providing this advanced copy to me.

Apparently 2024 is the year of vampires, because this is either the third or fourth book I've read that mentions vampires so far and we haven't even hit March yet.

The Star and the Strange Moon was an enjoyable read, but overall I felt like it was lacking... something. I'm not sure what, as it did a great job of exposition so that we're not confused in the past, present, or movie universe. I think maybe it felt like it was almost too much detail, and I was getting bored of where the story was going? I'm not quite sure.

Gemma Turner was the best part of this book, and she gets 5 stars all on her own. Fierce, emotional, caring, and strong-willed, she is everything I want a female main character to be... until the end. And I'm going to forgive her for it because I too would fall in love with the first person to come back from my world to try to save me, so that's not her fault. It was Chris that actually bugged me, though overall he wasn't that bad of a character. I just kept envisioning Cole Sprouse as Jughead because a lot of his dialect felt like the "I'm a weirdo" speech from Riverdale.

I loved all the side characters immensely (minus a certain director and demon), and they really helped to move the story along. Ivy was another strong woman who did not sacrifice her own happiness for a man she loved, and I respect her SO MUCH!

Overall, a very wacky horror/historical fiction/time traveling/modern/romance story that is enjoyable, but almost feels too long. I won't spoil the ending, but that's what annoyed me the most and made me drop it to more of a 3.5 star rating.

A Captivating Tale of Love, Magic, and Mystique

"The Star and the Strange Moon" by Constance Sayers is a mesmerizing journey into a world where love transcends time and magic weaves through the fabric of reality. Sayers' storytelling prowess is on full display, creating a rich tapestry that effortlessly blends historical fiction, romance, and the enchantment of the supernatural.

The novel follows the intertwined destinies of its characters, with a narrative that spans different eras and continents. Sayers beautifully crafts a tale that unfolds with the grace of a celestial dance, drawing readers into a web of secrets, passion, and the enduring power of connection.

The characters in "The Star and the Strange Moon" are vividly portrayed, each with complexities and vulnerabilities. As the story unfolds, the reader becomes deeply invested in their fates, feeling the highs of their triumphs and the lows of their heartaches. The depth of emotion evoked by Sayers' characters is a testament to her ability to create a truly immersive reading experience.

What sets this novel apart is its seamless blending of historical events with mystical elements. Sayers skillfully integrates magical realism, adding an otherworldly layer to the narrative that captivates the imagination. The prose is elegant and evocative, painting scenes so vividly that the reader can almost feel the magic in the air.

The story's pacing is impeccable, with each chapter leaving just enough mystery to keep the reader eagerly turning pages. As the plot threads weave together, the resolution is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impression that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

"The Star and the Strange Moon" represents Constance Sayers' storytelling prowess. The book transports readers to a realm where the ordinary and the extraordinary coexist perfectly. If you're a fan of beautifully crafted tales that blend romance, history, and a touch of magic, this novel is an absolute must-read. Sayers has created a masterpiece that will undoubtedly find a cherished place on the bookshelves of those who appreciate the magic woven into the fabric of storytelling.