Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Silence of the Moon
AUTHOR: S.A. Pavlik
SERIES: Secrets of the Moon, Book 2
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 430 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 13, 2023
BLURB:
A werewolf in mourning.
Alec Channing has been through enough trauma to bring any ordinary person to their knees, but recent events might be the final straw that breaks him. Especially when he discovers he’s lost not just the only constant in his life but something far greater. Meanwhile, a sinister plot is brewing that threatens not only him but the entire preternatural world. But he isn’t alone. Can the man he may be ready to love help him pick up the pieces in time?
A homicide detective with more questions than answers.
Detective Damien O’Connor of the Columbus Police Department has seen things his colleagues could only imagine. He’s directly responsible for the loss that sends his werewolf lover hurtling toward the breaking point. While the man he’s come to love is suffering, a new case lands in his lap that leaves him questioning everything and losing more than he’d bargained for. But sometimes moving forward means stepping back and letting others shoulder the burden for a while. Can he and his team solve the case before he finds himself without a home to return to?
Silence of the Moon is Book Two of the Secrets of the Moon trilogy, an 112k-word M/M, paranormal crime/mystery romance, with a solid HFN ending. This book is NOT A STANDALONE and contains heavy spoilers for Death of the Moon.While there is a complete story arc in this book, there are plot threads ending on a soft cliffhanger that concludes in the last installment of the trilogy. There is language and explicit intimate scenes not suitable for readers under the age of 18. Warnings: MC with PTSD, past torture implied, dealing with grief and self-doubt.
REVIEW:
**This review contains spoilers for the first book.**
Silence of the Moon continues the story begun in Death of the Moon, S.A. Pavlik’s debut novel and first book in this Secrets of the Moon trilogy. Silence of the Moon is not a standalone. This fantasy/paranormal, murder mystery romance is complex, and it is absolutely necessary that you read the books in order not just to avoid spoilers, but because you won’t be able to follow the storyline unless you start it from the beginning.
Alec Channing, a traumatized, lonely werewolf, and Damien O’Connor, a tenacious, “unaware human” detective, are now a fledgling couple, but their relationship is shaky. Alec is more traumatized than at the start, and even with Damien’s support, still feels bereft and alone now that his mentor, who deceived him, is no longer. His PTSD is flaring with a vengeance, and he doubts Damien’s commitment to sticking around. As you’ll recall from the first book, Alec has always had trust issues from people constantly leaving him behind. He chose to remain packless and allowed himself to open up to only one person throughout his long life so far – Ari. Now that Ari’s deception has led to her seeming demise, Alec is left behind yet again. The difference this time is that he has Damien, and he also has friends who are creating a makeshift pack for him, whether he recognizes it or not.
Damien, for his part, has had his eyes opened wide to Alec’s paranormal world and is adjusting to the knowledge. Despite being pulled into new murders, he’s a stalwart presence in Alec’s life. The deepening relationship between Alec and Damien is the best part of this story. The emotional connection between them is palpable, and Damien’s unwavering sweetness and fidelity are downright swoony.
As the middle book in the trilogy, Pavlik has put a lot in play – too much at times. Mysteries, secrets, loose ends, new characters … there’s so much going on that it’s difficult to track at times, even if you have been a close reader of the story since the start of the series. It makes for an unwieldy story that requires patience to get through and a healthy tolerance for lack of resolution. That being said, the overarching storyline is intricate and intriguing, and the world-building is excellent. But it’s the characters that keep this story arc on track. Alec, Damien, and the side characters (like Rin) are carefully sketched and richly created, multilayered, with depth.
Silence of the Moon is a necessary albeit slightly less satisfying entry in this series. Alec and Damien’s relationship overshadows the urban fantasy, mystery aspects of the story in this installment. But they are the backbone of the series and a crucial piece of Pavlik’s overarching story. They make it easier to move through the weighed-down plot and bridge us to the next and final book in the trilogy.
RATING: 
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