Moonshade by S. J. West is the first book in the Vampire Conclave series. This book was published in 2016, but first came to my attention through a promotion on Kindle. I like the world building and rules in this series – as someone who has read MANY paranormal fiction series, sometimes it seems like I’m reading the same tropes and ideas over and over. That’s not the case with Moonshade!
Release Date: December 25, 2016
Published by: Watchers Publishing
As of April 29, 2024, Book 1 of the Vampire Conclave series is FREE on Kindle and included with your Audible Plus subscription.
Books 2-4 in the series have already been published and are all included in the Audible Plus catalog at no additional charge, or can be purchased on Kindle for $3.99 each. It’s a low cost series to try out!
Review of Moonshade by S. J. West
When it comes to paranormal romance or supernatural thrillers, world building is so important. Many books follow the rules outlined in Bram Stoker’s Dracula – ie, sleeps in coffins, can’t go outside during the day, etc. West takes a different tact and presents a different origin story, as well.
Sarah is a 25 year old woman in a small town in Louisiana. The book begins with Sarah feeling awful. She’s not physically ill, just restless. She has no appetite, she can’t sleep, she can’t even think straight. Her best friend and adopted sister Kaylee insists on heading out for a night of dancing, and Sarah reluctantly agrees. She usually avoids large crowds like this because she’s an empath – she can feel what other people are feeling, which makes dating and friendship hard.
While she is there, a man comes to dance with her. As soon as he touches her arm, her angst and malaise are gone. She feels good for the first time in weeks. He leans forward and whispers in her ear, “Find me, Sarah.” He leaves quickly and she is immediately agitated again, and feels pulled to him almost with an invisible cord.
Sarah quickly learns that she is bonded to the man, Julian, by magic. Centuries ago, an angry witch cursed the servants of an evil queen with immortality, but one catch is that they must only subsist on the blood of their loved ones. Sarah is a descendent of Julian’s wife, and as such, she is bonded to him. He can drink her blood and only her blood, and if one of them dies, both of them die.
There are other paranormal species and characters in the novel, along with storylines about centuries old resentments and danger. Sarah must adjust to her new life and find a way to stay with her loved ones while never letting them know her secret.
About halfway through the story, there is a large party in New Orleans that Julians sister – another immortal vampire from the evil queen’s household – hosts to welcome a different vampire to the city. All manner of paranormals show up to what becomes a large soiree full of people mingling and playing politics in this great underworld of magic and wealth. While at this party, Sarah gains an important ally, and that leads to more information about who she is and why she can feel other people’s feelings.
My review: 3 1/2 stars out of 5. It’s not a super polished book from a publisher, but it’s a great story and the author is good at character development. I’m excited to see how Sarah and Julian navigate the forces against them and will be reading the next book of the series soon.
If you enjoyed True Blood, Sherrilyn Kenyon, or Gena Showalter novels, give this series a try.
Publisher’s Summary
How would your life change if you inherited a vampire? “Find me, Sarah…” When a handsome stranger whispers these three little words to Sarah Marcel, she knows her life is forever changed. For two weeks straight, Sarah’s been unable to eat, sleep, or even form a coherent thought properly. She fears she’s losing her mind until a chance encounter brings a man into her life who seems to hold the key to solving her problems. With a single touch, he’s able to ease her troubled soul and bring her some much-needed peace. Yet, just as Sarah believes she’s found the solution to her dilemma, he disappears. As Sarah begins to unravel a mystery surrounding her family’s past, she quickly discovers her role in a world that’s hidden from most humans. Being a Marcel comes with certain responsibilities, and there are some things that you can’t hide from forever.