Moonstroke

It is 12 years since a massive solar storm stopped all Earth-Moon communication, and a small American industrial base on the far side of the moon limps along, still hoping for rescue. Only four adults survived the storm; the rest were caught out on the surface during a normal work day. The deceased left numerous children, and they have been trained to continue working the platinum mining operation. A decision was made at the time to teach them very little about Earth, in order to avoid disruption and hope, and the two managers and two scientists who survived keep a tight reign on activities and knowledge. The station's manager also has a daughter, who was five years old and visiting from Earth at the time of the incident, and for a large part she has been kept separate from the other children and educated thoroughly in the belief that one day she will assume her father's mantel or, if possible, return to Earth, which she remembers. At the time of this story, the surviving children range in age from about 14 through the early twenties. The adults work hard to keep them fed and motivated and the remaining equipment from failing entirely.

Although meagerly educated, these teenagers are nothing if not curious, and one day they break into the communications room and hear voices on the radio. When few of them get suited up and go outside they find a battered rover from a distant Chinese installation broken down near the base - with bodies inside. Soon thereafter some sort of ship comes over the horizon.

This was a well-written and exciting story. The adults and teens alike are interesting characters, and their predicament raises all sort of questions about how a small and powerless group of adults could organize the survivors to stay alive and hopeful with such an open-ended future. There is a too-convenient problem with one of the adults which leads to much of drama as the book progresses, but the story still had me rooting for a good ending and more-than-willing to stay up late to find out what happens.

Very enjoyable. I liked the setting and how the author moves the story along while still giving information on the setting.

If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know that I am a huge fan of science fiction, fantasy, young adult, romance and any combination of those. When Moonstroke showed up on my Titles in My Categories section on NetGalley, I clicked on it to see what it was about. What I read caught my attention and made me click on the read now button. I think that I can’t remember if I have ever read a book that took place solely on the moon. I know I have read books where the moon was a stopping point but never the sole area where the story takes place. Also, factoring into my decision was that the entire book took place on the dark side of the moon. Which fascinated me and I couldn’t wait to see how it was the storyline went.

Speaking of the storyline, I liked that the author chose to have almost all the base’s adults die in a solar flare and leave their toddler children in the hands of 3 men. I do wish, though, that there was some sort of preface about the solar flare that happened. It would have given a lot more insight into why the toddlers, now teenagers, are called nextgen and why they continued mining.

I do think that the storyline started really slow in the beginning. Like super-duper slow to the point where I honestly thought nothing would happen, even though it said on the blurb that it would. What also bothered me was that the nextgens were being kept in the dark about Earth and their heritage. Almost everything that they know about Earth came from movies that they were allowed to watch. The only one exempt from this was Katlin, the daughter of the base leader. And even she was exempt from some things. But the book did pick up towards the middle of the book and I was able to enjoy it.

The main characters were teenagers and I thought that the author did a great job portraying how they would act if they lived in a community with no access to Earth. I do think that they acted pretty normal for kids who had no contact with anyone but the people on their base. I mean, they acted like typical teenagers and rebelled like typical teenagers. I loved reading the parts with Van in them because he was very forward thinking for being in seclusion for his whole life.

The last half of the book was very surprising to me and I didn’t expect certain events to happen or certain truths to be revealed. It kinda blew my mind when those truths were revealed and made my heart hurt for those involved.

How many stars will I give Moonstroke: 3.5

Why: I did like this book but I do think that it could have used a bit more backstory than what was given (just my opinion). The beginning of the book was very slow and to be honest, I almost DNF’d it. But, it did pick up speed towards the end of the book and I did enjoy the read from that point on.

Will I reread: Maybe

Will I recommend to family and friends: Maybe

Age range: Young Teen

Why: mild violence

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

I received this free from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
A story of isolation and repression on the dark side of the moon and how both are overcome. Thought-provoking and interesting read.

This is good Sci-Fi. It's not too far fetched, and it works so well for this book. It covers being isolated, even in a larger setting. Solar flares wrecked the communications and now, things are getting real for those who are unable to operate as they did before. Abandonment on the moon is anything but dull.

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.

For lovers of science fiction, you will enjoy this book. The characters were relatable and the book made you want to find out what happened.

I was given this book for a free review.

Unfortunately this was not a book that I particularly enjoyed mostly because it was too one dimensional and written for what seemed a much younger audience. It was too young adultish for my tastes. It gets marks because I could see younger people really enjoying it. It is an easy straightforward read that is set in space (interesting premise). It deals with the long term effects of isolation but in a simplistic and somewhat predictable way. It reminded me of an after school movie special - easy to get into but lacking the wow factor.