Eye of the Moon

Name: Eye of the Moon
Rating: 3.818 (11 reviews)
ISBN: 9781947780279

By Ivan Obolensky

Publisher Description

What if your family was cursed or murdered? What would you pay to find out?

In this award-winning multi-genre novel set in 1977 New York, Percy is brought back into the world of his childhood when his erstwhile best friend and brother figure, Johnny, shows up at his doorstep with an unexpected request Percy cannot refuse. They return to the mysterious family estate of Rhinebeck for a five-day house party for Johnny's parents, celebrating their 25th anniversary. What they discover in the wine cellar changes the course of the weekend and their lives.

Johnny's aunt, the legendary socialite Lady Alice, was presumed to have died in her sleep, but Percy and Johnny discover the truth is very different. Nothing is what it seems, and many at the estate have a secret.

"Eye of the Moon is a haunting tale of family secrets and gothic dread. The author paints a story of an aristocratic house party in which not all of the guests are of this world. Filled with hidden motives, mysterious relics, and sinister unknowns, Eye of the Moon evokes the drama of Dynasty with the atmosphere of Manderley."

-Professional Bookseller, Barnes & Noble

This Special Edition includes an excerpt of an interview with Kathy Stickles of Feathered Quill and Ivan Obolensky about Eye of the Moon, which may be of interest to book clubs, educators, librarians, and readers in general.

Get it now.

This is Book 1 of the Eye of the Moon series, blending American Gothic mystery, psychological thriller, family drama, uplit, and slice-of-life. The story continues in Book 2 (Shadow of the Son) as Lord Bromley descends upon Rhinebeck and Alice returns in an unexpected way to collect on a broken promise. In Book 3 (Dark of the Earth), Johnny is caught in a perilous situation, and Percy must confront a different kind of evil to discover the truth of what happened, traversing dangerous territory to try to save him.

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Eye of the Moon Reviews

3.5

Sherri F

Created about 2 months ago

Paisley Raven Reads

Created 6 months ago

“4.5 stars This audiobook took a bit to get into, but once it got going, what a wild ride! Mysterious deaths, family secrets, betrayals, inheritances at stake, supernatural goings on, treasures for auction, shady business intrigue, ultimatums - this book has it ALL. At first, our narrator Percy seems on the periphery of the drama going on within Rhinebeck, the familial home of the wealthy Dodge family. But as family mysteries start to unravel over the course of a long weekend, it becomes clear that Percy is more central to the Dodge family’s history and future than he and his best friend, Johnny Dodge, could have imagined. While not a member of the family, Percy lived with the Dodges and was raised as a brother with Johnny. Their friendship is one of the highlights of the novel, and I loved how Percy and Johnny shared information and strategized their next moves as long-held secrets were revealed. Johnny had his friend’s back at all times and never wavered, even though doing so may have put him at odds with his family. The book boasted a host of interesting guests, all with motives and interests of their own, which took many surprising twists and turns. Diaries, letters, and other documents are weaved intricately into the story, as well as multiple levels of storytelling. At one point, Percy is recounting a story being told by the butler, Stanley, who is recounting a story told to him by Johnny’s aunt Alice. It’s Inception-level layers of narration. My least favorite part of the book was probably the “insta” romance between Percy and one of the Dodge family guests, Brunhilde. I liked Brunhilde as a character in her own right, but they got together way too quickly. It wasn’t clear what either of them saw in each other, and by the end of the weekend the two were engaged. Seriously, what’s the rush? Otherwise, I found the plot absorbing and loved how the characters surprised me at every turn. Despite all the secrets and ulterior motives, these characters were neither cliche nor written in an over the top fashion. I was loathe to leave their company and look forward to reading the next two installments in this trilogy. My only disappointment is that the latter two don’t have an audiobook version yet, which is a shame because I greatly enjoyed the narrators of this one. **Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me the opportunity to review a copy of this audiobook.**”

Created 8 months ago

Janine Bookscatscoffeeandwine

Created about 1 year ago

“Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky has an intriguing premise, blending mystery, family drama, and a touch of the supernatural. While I can see its appeal, it just wasn’t the right book for me. The setting at the Rhinebeck estate is atmospheric, the story is full of secrets and suspense. However, the pacing felt slow, with a lot of lengthy dialogue and backstory that made it hard for me to stay engaged. The characters, though complex, didn’t draw me in emotionally, so I struggled to connect with their struggles and relationships. That said, the writing is elegant, and I think readers who enjoy thoughtful, slow-burning mysteries with a gothic feel might appreciate it. It simply didn’t capture me the way I hoped. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review”

Theresa Munoz

Created about 1 year ago

“Thank you Netgalley and Smith-Obolensky Media for the free audio book in exchange for my honest opinion. First off I have to say that I love the cover of this book, I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's covers and all, but that's what drew me in. "EYE of the Moon" is such a long book, but I can honestly say that it did not feel like 17 + hours . The story telling is so beautiful, it just draws you in. The narrator was a great choice, I think he read the book perfectly. All of the characters were developed really well, it felt like you were in the middle of the story getting to know everyone and their secrets.”

About Ivan Obolensky

Ivan Obolensky grew up in high society, often regaled with the mystical ghost stories and fantastic intrigue of his aristocratic and trailblazing ancestors. These tales inspired him at an early age and colored the formation and background of his award-winning debut novel, Eye of the Moon, and its sequel, Shadow of the Son.

Some elements from his life, and his visits to "Rhinebeck" as a child, influenced the novels in unexpected ways.

Considered gothic mysteries of a new class by readers and reviewers alike, Eye of the Moon and Shadow of the Son primarily take place in a single location, and involve universal themes such as the price of vows, of gifts, of curses, and of settling scores; revenge, mercy, and friendship; love, abandonment, and trust.

Readers commented on the exceptional character development, sharp and witty dialogue, and magnificent settings, as they are transported into a fascinating universe that unfolds before their eyes.

Educated in the US and England, Ivan's roots in writing were poetry, nonfiction, and short fiction. His first stories featured the main characters from Eye of the Moon, Johnny and Percy, in the escapades of their youth.

Ivan's insatiable curiosity has led him on a path of self-study in diverse subjects. In 2011, he wrote articles on the social sciences, which are translated into Latin American Spanish and published online. He has credited his work in nonfiction as critical in developing his skills of weaving diverse subjects together into one good tale.

The authors that influenced Ivan the most are Jane Austen, Raymond Chandler, O. Henry, P. G. Wodehouse, Charles Dickens, Viktor Frankl, J. R. Tolkein, Edith Wharton, and Lao Tzu (The Tao Te Ching, the Stephen Mitchell translation).

Fans of the classics and modern thrillers will enjoy the work of Ivan Obolensky, in his multilayered fiction or nonfiction storytelling.

Ivan lives with his wife, Mary Jo. He enjoys photography, reading, cooking, music, and riding his motorcycle. To find out more about Ivan, visit his website for his blog, updates about projects, and fun stories behind the scenes of his novels.