The Star and the Strange Moon Review

Hello, all!

I love books that have a bit of magical realism to them, and Constance Sayers always delivers in that aspect. I was pumped to receive a copy of her latest release, The Star and the Strange Moon. Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!

Pub Date: 11-14-23
Adult - Fantasy

It's 1968, and actress Gemma Turner is slowly fading from the spotlight. She was once a sought-after star, but after her last few films panned, she's grasping at straws. Gemma believes her luck has finally turned around after being offered a role in a new horror movie. But the film isn't what she thought; the script is nonsensical, and the director is eccentric. Gemma is determined to make the most of the situation, but one night on set, she disappears, never to be seen again.

In 2015, the disappearance of Gemma Turner is one of film's greatest mysteries. For Christopher Kent, the actress has haunted him for most of his life. From the moment he first viewed L’Etrange Lune, he's been obsessed with figuring out what happened. The film is shown every decade, and every time, there are new scenes. Christopher knows this should be impossible. Gemma is gone; how is she showing up? The deeper his investigations dive, the more Christopher risks losing himself. Will he be able to outrun the cursed film before it takes him, too?

I was looking forward to this since I enjoyed Sayers's previous books, but something about it didn't work for me. It was just so long. Granted, it was an intricate plot with lots of details to lay out, but it felt like a chore to read. I did enjoy the mystery element and trying to piece everything together. Sayers wrapped everything up interestingly, but again, it just took too long to get there. I liked our characters, but I was slightly more interested in Christopher because Gemma felt a bit much at times. What intrigued me about this was how genre-bending it was. It was a little bit historical, a little bit mystery, a little bit horror, a little bit literary fiction. Despite not being a new favorite, I thought the premise was solid, but the execution could've been better.

Rating: 3/5