House of the Black Moon

~William Xavier Chandler

I had the pleasure of meeting William Xavier Chandler at Texas Author Con in Dallas this year. The striking cover of House of the Black Moon immediately caught my attention as I passed his booth. At the time, he was busy with other readers, and though I intended to circle back, life (and my easily-distracted “Karen” style) got the better of me. Luckily, fate intervened – William later sought me out, saying he felt a connection and wanted to share his book with me. I’m so glad he did.

It took me longer than I planned to finally sit down and read House of the Black Moon – not because of the book itself, but because of life’s interruptions. Now that I’ve finished, I can confidently say the wait was worth it.

If you’re tired of the same recycled vampire tropes, this novel will be a breath of fresh air. There are no glittering-in-the-sun clichés or eye-roll-worthy instant combustions here. Chandler instead delivers a bold and original take on vampire lore, centered on a protagonist you can’t help but root for – Davis McCarty. He’s complex, frustrating at times, and deeply human despite his condition. More than once, I wanted to shake him for his choices, but that’s what made him so compelling.

One line early on made me laugh out loud: “Abilene-Sweetwater is where the west bleeds.” As someone born in Sweetwater, I never expected my hometown to show up in a vampire novel, and it was a delightful surprise – even if it has little to do with the review itself!

On to the review:

Davis McCarty has lived a quiet, sheltered life in Abilene, Texas – until his grandmother reveals a long-buried secret that changes everything. His search for answers leads him into music, that ultimately ends up cursing him with a supernatural affliction that leaves him questioning whether life is worth living at all. When rumors of a cure surface, Davis sets off across the Southwest on a desperate journey for answers, redemption, and survival. But as he seeks the truth, one question lingers: will he succumb to the monster within, or meet his end before finding who condemned him to this fate?

What makes House of the Black Moon so captivating is its depth. Davis isn’t just a character on the page – he feels like a companion on the journey, one whose flaws and vulnerabilities mirror our own. Chandler’s writing immerses you in Davis’s world with vivid, cinematic descriptions, smooth pacing, and seamless transitions. The supernatural action-adventure elements are woven in with purpose, giving readers a fresh perspective on vampire mythology.

House of the Black Moon is more than just a vampire story – it’s an emotional, fast-paced, and thrilling ride through love, heartbreak, action, and self-discovery, with music at its core. For fans of supernatural fiction looking for something truly different, this book is a must-read.

Pick up a copy and see why House of the Black Moon deserves the hype.

As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair review.

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