Moon Spirit


Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
306 Pages
Reviewed on 10/12/2024
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

I grew up in Pennsylvania in the sixties/seventies/eighties and now reside just outside Boston, Massachusetts. After attending six different colleges and studying many different subjects (art, electronics, computer science, psychology), I earned a B.S. in Psychology from Framingham State University and later in life, an M.A. in Human Relations, Specializing in Holistic Counseling Psychology, from Lesley University (psychology is one of my passions).
I discovered my love for writing and storytelling as I read books to my children. On a whim, I started telling them ad-hoc stories, and that lead to me writing premeditated ones (they liked those better). I work as a software engineer, which I love, but there are few things I love as much as sitting down to craft language and bring my characters and their world to life.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Sarah Pierzchala for Readers' Favorite

In Moon Spirit by Fred Gracely, we are introduced to Max Berger, a boy without a past whose present is rather awful. Life in Helpren Municipal Orphanage is hopeless and dreary and, in addition to being prey to bullies, he's also plagued by bizarre waking visions of a beautiful girl and a terrifying evil goddess. These dreams become reality when one night he encounters Sarina, an exquisite but troubled moon spirit on the run from dark forces seeking an orb of power that she has stolen. Sarina pleads for Max's help to conceal the orb. Flattered by the trust the delightful yet naive girl places in him, and intrigued by the exciting assignment, Max makes a snap decision and agrees. But regret soon sets in as this task marks the first of many changes and twists in his life. Will he be able to keep his promise of meeting Sarina at the next full moon to return the orb, or will he be transformed by its frightening powers? And what are the chances he'll be hunted down and destroyed by the ruthless interests seeking its cosmic abilities?

Moon Spirit is a high-spirited adventure bursting with imagination, drama, and humor. Fred Gracely swiftly pulls the reader in with a tantalizing premise enhanced with vivid descriptions of familiar modern cities and ancient moon cults alike. I was especially drawn to the excellent characterizations; Max is a solid hero, but he's also an appealing, realistic kid trying to do the right thing as he navigates a series of ever-more-threatening dilemmas. He's also grappling with the clues to his mysterious past, a past that directly influences his present and that has huge implications for the future. Along the way, he acquires a supporting team of loving adults and fellow foster kids, all of whom are fleshed out with delightful and often humorous details. Sam, Marta, and Zoe are brought to life with endearing quirks that make the team charming, relatable, and just plain fun. The magic-empowered characters such as Sarina, Jexter, and Garook are imaginative. Even mundane figures who appear briefly, such as Mr. Braun and Mr. and Mrs. Hart, are memorably depicted with a few skillful strokes. Middle-grade readers will enjoy the range of cozy family banter and running gags. Light-hearted jokes aside, there's also tons of drama, danger, and more than a touch of noble heroics, pure romance, and tragic self-sacrifice that defy time itself as the well-paced plot winds to an edge-of-your-seat, earth-shattering climax. Readers seeking an exuberant and complex urban fantasy romp will find Moon Spirit hits all the right notes. Highly recommended.

Nino Lobiladze

Moon Spirit by Fred Gracely is for young adult fans of urban fantasy, adventure fiction, and mythology-based novels. Max Berger is a teenager who lives in the Helpren Municipal Orphanage. He doesn't remember anything about himself after an accident that occurred a year ago. No one has ever inquired about him. What if his dreams carry a clue about his past? Max sees a girl from his dreams fighting a lizard-like creature in the moonlit sky. This girl is a moon spirit named Sarina. She asks Max to temporarily keep a magic orb that she stole from evil spirits. Max must return the orb in a month. Suddenly, Max gets a chance to leave the orphanage for a welcoming yet strict foster family. His future encounter with Sarina becomes challenging. The orb shows Max terrifying pictures of calamities yet to come by the will of the goddess of destruction, Ramoteb. Will Sam, Marta, and Zoe, Max's new siblings, help him return the orb and save the world from annihilation?

Fred Gracely's Moon Spirit is a thought-provoking book about the perpetual battle between good and evil. Also, the author studies the significant themes of friendship, belonging, responsibility, and purpose in life. Young adult readers will learn what it takes to become a true family and how to work as a team despite differences. This intriguing tale is quick-paced and very compelling. Max is an appealing main character who finds himself in the middle of a gripping mystery. At first, Sam seems a little eccentric, Marta acts like a bully, and Zoe loves death imagery too much. As the events unfold, we see how amazing these kids are. Gracely offers powerful character development. This novel has a touch of dry humor, incredible twists and turns, one-of-a-kind world-building, exciting elements of mild horror, and a thought-provoking moral. Adult readers will enjoy it, too.

Carol Thompson

Moon Spirit by Fred Gracely is a riveting young adult urban fantasy that pulls readers into a world where the ordinary meets the extraordinary. The story starts with an abandoned teenage boy, Max, whose life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters a mysterious moon spirit girl who haunts his dreams. The plot thickens as he reluctantly agrees to guard her magical orb, setting him on a dangerous path filled with moon-worshipping cults, flying lizard warriors, and shadow spirits. The looming threat of The Destroyer, an ancient goddess resurrected to wreak havoc, adds a gripping layer of tension.

Gracely’s worldbuilding is particularly well done, crafting a vivid and immersive setting that makes the fantastical elements feel real and tangible. Reading a fantasy novel where the world doesn’t overshadow the story is refreshing. Gracely skillfully balances the dark, foreboding atmosphere with moments of hope and self-discovery in Max’s epic and personal journey. As Max unravels the truth of his past, readers are treated to a narrative that offers a refreshing take on classic themes, blending action, mystery, and the coming-of-age journey. Gracely is a stand-out writer, and the story is engaging from start to finish. The blend of urban and fantasy elements will appeal to fans of both genres. Moon Spirit is a thrilling ride that will captivate fantasy lovers with its imaginative plot, strong character development, and richly constructed world. It’s a story that entertains and challenges readers to think about destiny, identity, and the power of choice. This is an excellent read, well-crafted with fantastic worldbuilding. Fantasy fans won’t want to miss Moon Spirit.

K.C. Finn

Moon Spirit by Fred Gracely is an urban fantasy novel that follows a teenage boy who, after meeting a mysterious moon spirit from his dreams, is thrust into a world of dark magic and ancient threats. Tasked with guarding a powerful orb, he faces moon-worshipping cults, flying lizard warriors, and sinister shadow spirits. As he embarks on an epic quest to return the orb, he must confront the hidden truths of his own past to save the future. Gracely has developed an engaging fantasy that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant in equal measure and is sure to hit all the right buttons with his target YA audience, thanks to the endearing characters and magical beings they discover.

There are initial elements of urban fantasy that shift rapidly into a coming-of-age story with plenty of dark and challenging twists, but nothing ever veers into being too graphic to spoil the flow and the positive messages of the work. The world-building is vivid and imaginative, hitting all the senses and immersing readers in a realm where ancient magic collides with modern life in tangible ways that step beyond cinematic imagination into full immersion. The character development shines in Max’s journey of self-discovery and courage, and the story’s pacing is expertly handled to challenge Max with new decisions and difficult tasks, maintaining tension while allowing for moments of introspection as he grows and learns from his successes and failures. Overall, Moon Spirit by Fred Gracely is a captivating read that I would certainly recommend to fans of fantasy fiction everywhere for its charming characters and brilliantly-paced voyage of discovery.

Priya Mathew

Moon Spirit by Fred Gracely is a young adult fantasy with elements of adventure and mystery. Max Berger, a teenage boy living in Helpren Municipal Orphanage, has no memories of his past. His only constant is the bullying he faces in the orphanage while awake and the recurring nightmare of a mysterious moon spirit girl when he’s asleep. One night, while trying to avoid his nightmare, Max stumbles into a battle between two supernatural creatures, and one of them resembles the girl from his dreams. Sarina, the moon spirit, is being hunted by evil spirits because she has the Orb. She entrusts Max with the Orb and promises to return to collect it at the next full moon. However, Max’s uneventful life makes a complete 180-degree change. He’s shipped off to the suburbs to foster with the Harts. There, he meets his new foster siblings and slowly starts to build a new life. As time passes, he worries that it won’t be easy to return the Orb to Sarina at the set time. Will he be able to keep his promise? Will Sarina be able to find the help she needs to understand more about the Orb? Or will the evil spirits get their hands on the Orb?

In Moon Spirit, Fred Gracely has brought fantastical elements to life using vivid imagery and descriptive writing. The third-person narration switches between different characters, offering a better understanding of each character’s thoughts and emotions. The story moves forward at a measured pace, balancing moments of humor with bursts of action and suspense. The narrative gradually introduces flashbacks from the past that hold a key to Max’s forgotten past. By introducing each element gradually, the story builds an engaging narrative. The action sequences are well-integrated with the characters' emotional arcs, and this works positively on the overall impact of the narrative. Gracely has created a bouquet of complex characters, effectively portraying each of their motivations and transformations. Themes of self-discovery, redemption, and sacrifice are central to the story. Moon Spirit could be a great addition to your TBR list if you are a fan of fantasy and love quirky and diverse characters.