The Blue Moon Narthex is definitely geared towards middle grade readers so I try to base my review as that and not so much as the grown adult that I am. There were some Harry Potter like similarities in terms of the characters and the "chosen one" trope that can't be denied, and unfortunately distracts the reader from enjoying the story fully. The main character is 13 years old and comes off as much younger with his actions and dialogue. Though, I did quite enjoy the fresh storyline as I have not read anything else like it. The writing style is clear and direct and easy to follow along with.

Overall, I feel there is plenty of magic, adventure, and intrigue to keep the younger readers happy and engaged.

This was an enjoyable book full of intriuge and adventure. Good book for a middle schooler. My only issue was tye similarities to Harry Potter.

I found this to be an enjoyable read and quite recommend it.

I got a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.   I wanted to read this book because I don't read a lot of Middle Grade books, and this seemed like it would be a fun read. 

The Blue Moon Narthex was a fine book, and it's possible that someone younger than me might enjoy it more. There's lots of adventures and the world is unique. Though there were times when I was confused about what was going on, I think this book could have used a little bit more world building. The characters also needed a little more work, they were all very similar and there were times when I couldn't tell the boys apart very well.

I don't think this story was bad, it just followed all of the stereotypical plot lines of adventure novels.  I found that boring, but others might not and I'm not going to tell you not to read it. 

In the end I gave it 2 stars on Goodreads.

I couldn't get through this book and I decided not to review this on my blog.

There were many things to like about this book, and a few that I didn't like. 

The characters were interesting and likable.  The story is told from Cole's point of view so we get to know him the best.  He is a likable kid with an enormous amount of responsibility placed on him pretty quickly.  He accepts his new life in the Karmanic Sovereign Legion pretty easily and although he has lots of questions about the organization he doesn't appear to ever seek out the answers. He does try to find the answers to what happened to his parents, but without the help of the organization he is now a part of.  Cole's friends Sophie and Britten were also likable, but didn't seem too put out when they were told that they were now part of the organization too and expected to stay and train with Cole.  Which was a little weird. But they are both clever and loyal friends who help Cole even when they know he might end up in serious trouble.  There are several adult characters that were likable as well, but were not in the story that much.

The plot on the whole was interesting, but needs a little work.  It supposedly takes place during the first World War and while there are references to the war, the feel of the book was more modern than that.  Especially in the way people talked and dressed seemed more modern to me.  It is never really explained what the Karmanic Sovereign Legion is or what sliders do exactly.  There is some talk about keeping good and evil in balance but not any explanation as to how they do this. There is an interesting scene where we learn how the narthexes are made, this is the stone the sliders use to move from place to place instantly.  But we are never given a reason why they do this.  There is also a pretty good scene when Cole enters a competition which was exciting and fast pace.  The pacing and plot overall were good and kept me interested despite the flaws.

NetGalley has it listed for teens and YA, but I would place it more solidly in the middle grades, perhaps the 10-14 year olds.  I don't see many young adults finding the book interesting. 

Overall I liked the book but I'm not sure that I will continue the series.

Once In A Blue Moon…Narthex
As I was reading this book, I kept thinking about Harry Potter…three school chums, one a highly intelligent female, one a somewhat ponderous male, and the other an instant celebrity after the death of his parents, whom by working together, hope to solve mysteries and bring back the hero’s dead parents. For me, this was a good thing since I adore Harry Potter, and delight in intellectually superior female characters! The similarities end there for the most part, and the rest of the story is highly original, with a slight steampunk flair and subtle references to the historical backdrop of World War I. Although I would not necessarily recommend this book for all adults since the main characters are only thirteen (which does make some of the plot seem very juvenile), I would definitely recommend it for middle and high school students who like a good book!

Image result for blue moon gifWhat I loved about this book is that it has a well crafted fantasy world, that melds easily with the world we know. For example, the idea that the League of Nations was created due to urgings from the good karma crusaders absolutely tickled me! The plot flowed well, and at a fast pace, from the first page to the last page. By the end of the book the actions of the characters was somewhat predictable, in large part because they were so well developed throughout the story; I did feel like I had actually come to know them. The ending was tied up quite neatly, with an easy lead-off to the next installment in the series, without any crazy cliff-hanger (which for me is a positive).

Image result for three school friends two boys and one girl gifI have already alluded to what I did not love about this book, and that was the somewhat juvenile nature of the story. Obviously with main characters that are thirteen, there is no romantic intrigue (nor should there be!), and some of the actions of the characters reek of childish bad decision making…which while realistic, is not totally my cup of tea. That being said, I must repeat that I highly recommend this for true young adult readers, and I actually do plan on reading the rest of the series, because I am definitely invested enough that I want to find out what happens! Parents: this might be a great book to read with your kids, since it is appropriate for all ages…Cole, Britten, and Sophie just might be able to follow in the hallowed footsteps of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, as the subjects of a series the whole family can enjoy together!

For Those Who Enjoyed: The Lie Tree, Indiana Jones, The Mummy, The Time Machine, Titanic, Crimson Peak, Hugo, The Golden Compass, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Anastasia

This novel was a surprise! It’s set in 1918, which makes it a historical fantasy. I don’t know how many fantasies set in 1918 are out there right now, but I like it! I kinda want more of that! It’s middle grade, which is not my usual read, but I’m pleased to see a fantasy series potentially marketed to young boys. That’s not something you get a whole lot… There’s something steampunky about it, like Hugo, The Golden Compass, and The Lie Tree. All good things. It’s found a great spot in the literary canon. It’s set on a train, involving a train crash (at least in the beginning), which feels chaotic and dynamic in the best way. I trust this author with the story they’re telling! I think a lot of young readers could get a kick out of it!

This book wasn't good. And it wasn't horrid either. So I think 2.5 stars fits because my feelings are mixed with annoyance.

The Blue Moon Narthex is set back in the 1900's and our main character is Cole. And when his father dies, he receives this little magical artifact thing, that is supposed to lead him to finding out exactly who his father was. He ends up getting sucked into this magical world, that's so confusing, and has to find his way and follow in his fathers footsteps. It sounded interesting, and to be honest the first half of the book was pretty good. But then it got really really slow and boring and it felt like it dragged for years. It was a pretty small book but it took forever to read it felt like. And I read it on my phone while up on the mountain and to be honest, if I had any other books, I probably would have stopped this one and picked another one up.

This book was also sorely unoriginal. It was pretty much Harry Potter.

Cole has three best friends, Sophie and Britten. Sophie is the girl in this trio who loves to read and is always abiding by the rules, and also known as Hermione. Britten just follows everything Cole does, and is like a lap dog, also known as Ron. And Cole has fame thrust upon him because his father was such a famous figure in this magical world. It was just waaay to close to Harry Potter for my liking. And then there was this game at the end of the book, and Cole got picked to play because his dad was famous and was also a famous player. ALSO KNOWN AS QUIDDITCH. Honestly, it was so unoriginal.

I'm glad that this was free though, because I would of cried if I actually paid for this.

I really tried to like this book and was gonna give the book 3 apples, but I feel like 3 apples is too much. I don't really feel this story. I don't care about the characters and feel like I'm not that enthusiastic about this book. So that's why I'm giving 2 apples.

Pros
A lot of questions and mystery: At the beginning of the story a lot of questions arise. I still feel like not everything is solved, or that the explanations weren't enough. I do believe that all the mystery is a good point about this book. The book is ended with not all the questions answered, which is also strong.

Cons
Sophie and Britten not going home: I feel like the fact that Sophie and Britten are staying with Cole for a whole year is weird. It's explained as the two of them going to an exclusive Academy. This is not even decided by the parents and these kids are 13. It felt to easy and I kept that in the back of my mind the whole time I was reading this book.
No real tension: There was a lack of tension in this book. The so called "climax" was supposed to be exciting, for me, it wasn't. Sophie even says she was "almost killed" at some point and I don't agree on that one.
Felt like Harry Potter: The book felt like Harry Potter to me on multiple occasions. The three friends, two boys and a girl. Going to a whole new world where they stay a year. The dead parents/father thing. The being famous and following in the fathers footsteps. I don't want to be rude or anything but it felt a bit like a rip off...
Could't picture everything: The characters lack description and depth. The world-building could have been more detailed. I had a hard time picturing everything. Maybe if the book was 40 pages longer and the characters and world would be described better, I would feel more attracted to the book.

I really don't want to be rude and I definitely tried to like the book, but I just didn't. I also don't feel like this is a YA book but more a Children's book. I feel like a lot of hard work went into this book, but maybe if the places were described with more detail, I could've loved the place and the characters. I'm not that excited to read the second part either...
So sad.

Captivating plot,engaging characters and strong story line make this book a must read for every one. I loved it and would recommend it to everyone

3 stars

I have a great interest while reading the introduction from the book. And I do like it with its fantastic topic and particular story line. The Blue Moon Narthex reminds me the adventures of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. (Also, it reminds me one of my favorite series, The 39 Clues. )

As a middle grade story, it's a very talented work. Each plots like a piece of puzzle put the truth and exciting exploration together. However, maybe it's because that there are lots of mysterious things happen so suddenly, making it need to slow down the paces to unveil all the secrets hidden from Cole's dad. That's the reason why I only give it only 3 stars.

Nevertheless, it's still worthy to be patient as getting through the beginning of the book. After passing through those slow-pace plots, everything is being more exciting than I can imagine.

The plot of this novel seemed to borrow way too much from Harry Potter (a young orphan boy discovers he has special abilities, and then he and his two best friends attend special classes in a hidden-from-plain-sight place of magic, and then has to fight to save the future of this new world because he his the "Chosen One.") While some of the secondary characters could have been more interesting if they'd been further fleshed out, the three main characters never manage to break out of their stereotypical roles of hero, smart girl, and goofy sidekick boy. The initial premise of the novel had potential, but it felt too much like the author was afraid to break away from the basic plot lines set up by those who came before in this genre.

What would you do if your dad died suddenly, and you learned that most of what you thought you knew about him was wrong? That not only did he keep secrets from you, but they were secrets of a mystical and dangerous nature? When Cole's father is killed in a train "accident" right in front of him, he learns that his father possesses a rare blue stone - the Blue Moon Narthex. This stone allowed him to assist a group of people who help to keep good Karma flowing in the world. As Cole discovers this, and much more, he and his best friends find themselves neck deep in danger and intrigue.

The story was ok, though it reads as a middle-grade book instead of Teen/YA. Definitely affected my perspective on the events of the book. The idea of helping Karma is an intriguing one, and the overall idea was good, but the execution sometimes seemed a little...convenient. For example, Cole's best friends, who discover what's happening even though it's supposed to be a secret, conveniently are able to spend all of their time with Cole rather than with their own families. Little things like that tended to assist in moving the story along, but definitely tended to make me question what I was reading instead of allowing me to stay in the world.

For many middle-grade readers, however, they will probably enjoy the story. Teenagers - not so much. It's a little simplistic in the writing for them, though a few of the themes might seem more for them. It was sort of odd - the writing and the themes often clashed, as if the author was trying to cover *all* of the bases for every reader, rather than just picking an age group and going with it. Overall, it's a decent book, but not one I'll worry about reading the sequel to.

I truly love fantasy books and there have been plenty of them for middle grade readers over the years. But, as much as I love J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan, I am always on the lookout for a new, fun series. The Blue Moon Narthex, by N.J. Donner, is entertaining and a promising start to a fantasy series for middle grade readers.


What I Liked:

The Narthex Lore:

I thought the explanation of Karma and the KSL (Karmanic Sovereign Legion) was really fun. A secret society helps the world by trying to keep Karma in balance. People in the society use a Narthex to move from place to place on missions.


The Narthexes themselves were intriguing and kind of like the wands in Harry Potter. Each Narthex is unique and seems to be meant for only one person. But they can be stolen and used (somewhat less effectively) by others, so a Narthex is guarded fiecely.


There is also a good explanation of the concept of karma that I think is accessible to younger readers. This book does not go into any religion's theology, so I think the reader will understand karma without it being associated with religion.


Characters:

I really liked Cole, the main character. He is thirteen years old and just trying to figure out who he is when he is left without his father (his mother died years ago). I thought the author found just the right balance for Cole between awkward child and emerging young teen. Cole is angry about his relationship with his father and feels dad put work in front of his family. That is something I think many kids can identify with.


Norman (a friend of Cole's dad) is also a great character. There is more to Norman than meets the eye, and as the book progresses we see why he was Richard's best friend.


I also appreciated that Cole's stepmother was not the stereotype "evil" stepmom. She is a complicated person who emerges as someone who loves Cole as a mother would, even when it is not reciprocal.


Themes:

I think one of the main themes in this book is the transition from child to teen. Children usually see the world only in terms of themselves. They have a hard time getting the big picture. I think, as Cole learns how his parents were involved in the KSL, he comes to understand that his parents were working to make the world a better place. Sometimes, that meant they couldn't be doting parents. But they still loved him.


What I Was Mixed About:

Historical Setting:

The story is set during WWI in 1917, yet I never really got a sense that this was happening in that time. I wish there had been more details about the war and how people lived at that time. It would have provided a contrast and added to the wonder the characters felt at all the secret technology being used by the KSL.


I also felt that Sophie's character should have been put in an historical context. In the book, Sophie is given immense opportunities to learn and participate in the KSL. At a time when many girls did not even go to high school, Sophie being allowed to learn, work, and contribute, would have been astonishing. I wish that Sophie's role as a trailblazer would have been acknowledged and explored. I feel it was a missed opportunity.


Confusing, At Times:

With the vast amount of information presented to the reader, the book became confusing in parts. There are many characters that make very brief appearances and then are gone for long stretches. This left me thumbing through my copy, trying to figure out who they were.


Overall, I enjoyed this book. With lots of action, a cool mythology, and an engaging main character, this novel is a fun introduction to the Karmanic Sovereign Legion series.

This book definitely made me think of the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. Cole isn’t as snarky and full of attitude as Percy, which was nice. I liked the relationship Cole shared with his father through letters and the stories he learned about from his father’s associates. His friends, Sophia and Britten, rounded out his inner circle nicely. I thought Sophie was pretty much adorable.

The story contains a large cast of characters, and I sometimes found it difficult to keep everyone straight, especially when several characters had similar names. For the most part, though, this didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the story. I thought often even minor characters had clear roles and specific goals and character traits. It felt like this story introduced me to a whole scene of characters who will probably reappear later on.

Elements of mystery and suspense kept me moving from chapter to chapter. Cole’s compassion and his determination kept me rooting for him from the first page to the last. Late elementary school readers who like adventure or suspense stories should totally get a copy of this book.

I'm still undecided about whether or not I liked this book. It seemed to go off in more and more unbelievable directions. Maybe I'll wait till the next one to make my final decision.

This novel is definitely meant for middle school children. I would probably not recommend this for anyone over the age of 13. That being said, this novel was ridiculously similar to Harry Potter. I'm not even kidding you, it was like a knock-off, meh version of Harry Potter. While the story had some interesting concepts like shifting in time, and the force of Karma, the writing and the characters fell flat. I wish the author had spent a chapter or two at various stages of the story just developing things properly and with more detail, because that would have certainly made it all more cohesive. Also, there needs to be way more unique elements; the fact that it sounded uncannily similar to Harry Potter meant that I compared it to Harry Potter - and I found this book pale in comparison. I appreciate the effort that the author put into this story. However, there just weren't enough redeeming qualities for me to give this book a positive recommendation.

I really enjoyed this book. I will be reading the rest of the series.