A fantasy romance about power, duty, and a bond that refuses to be ignored. When a magically marked, which would be her death if anyone found out, woman enters elite training for the King’s Guard, she finds herself under the command of the King’s most feared and respected warrior. Thorn, the Blade of the King, and the man she had a one-night stand with the night before. Bound by strict rules, dangerous expectations, and an undeniable pull, the line between authority and desire becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.
Overall, I did like Marked by the Moon. The story itself is engaging, and while I did see the twist coming, it was still fascinating to watch it unfold. This is one of those books where the concept is interesting enough to carry you through, even if certain execution choices didn’t fully work for me as a reader.
Limited MMC POV
One of my biggest frustrations with the book was how the MMC’s point of view was handled. The only times we get his POV are right before intimate scenes, which felt like a real waste of potential. Given the position he holds — both politically and within the story — his perspective could have added so much depth. More frequent POV chapters could have offered foreshadowing, tension, and insight into the larger world and power dynamics at play. Instead, his inner world felt underutilized.
Excessive Inner Dialogue
The FMC’s internal monologue also became repetitive over time. She tends to cycle through the same three thoughts: her best friend (who she views as a sister), her dangerous mark that could lead to her execution, and the MMC —
her boss’s boss’s boss and the King’s blade. While these are all important elements of the story, revisiting them so frequently slowed the pacing and pulled me out of the narrative at times. A bit more variation in her internal focus would have strengthened the overall flow. Better yet, replacing her repetitive inner dialog with MMC’s POV would have made for a much more compelling story.
A Story That Still Works
Despite these issues, the story itself remains interesting. The plot kept me engaged enough. Even though I anticipated the twist, it didn’t ruin the experience. Sometimes a predictable twist can still be satisfying if the journey there is entertaining enough — and that was the case here.
*NOTE: TW, there is a point late in the book where the consent is in question. It didn’t bother me too much, but did make me see the MMC as gross.
Final Thoughts
While I won’t be continuing the series, I don’t regret reading Marked by the Moon. It has an intriguing premise and enough momentum to make it mostly worth the time, even if certain storytelling choices didn’t fully land for me. This is a solid read for fans of fantasy romance who enjoy political tension, dangerous secrets, and slow-building intrigue — just not quite the standout I hoped it would be.
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Hazel Harbor Books 
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