Dark Moon, Shallow Sea: The Gods of Night and Day Series, Book 1

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 220 ratings

Price: 13.62

Last update: 01-06-2025


About this item

The first in a new epic fantasy series from David R. Slayton—author of White Trash Warlock—Dark Moon, Shallow Sea is a powerful story of divine betrayal, ghosts, and self-discovery, perfect for fans of the Dark Souls series or Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.

When Phoebe, goddess of the moon, is killed by the knights of the sun god, Hyperion, all who follow her are branded heretics. With Phoebe gone, the souls of the dead are no longer ferried to the underworld, and instead linger on as shades who feast on the blood of the living.

Raef is a child of the night. He lives in the shadows, on scraps, eking out a meager existence as a thief. But when an ornate box is sequestered in the Temple of Hyperion, the chance of a big score proves too great to resist. What he finds within propels him on an odyssey across the sea and back again, altering the course of his life forever.

Seth is a knight of the sun. But unlike the others of his order, the fire of Hyperion only brings him pain. He believes he deserves this penance, exacted for his unknown origins. Tasked with recovering the contents of the box, Seth must also venture beyond the horizon if he’s to learn the truth about himself.

In a dying world divided by the greed of those in power, Raef and Seth find their destinies intertwined—and learn they might have more in common than they ever imagined.


Top reviews from the United States

  • D J
    5.0 out of 5 stars This odyssey will keep you reading until late into the night! And there will be more to follow.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2024
    Recommended and rated this book: 5 stars (I actually would give it 10 stars!)
    David R. Slayton, I am hooked! I really enjoyed "The Adam Binder"stories, but they pale in comparison to this new series. The story line is dark but not scary, full of twists and turns, along with a few surprises that you readers will have to experience on your own. I saw that one reviewer thought the middle of the book was boring! Well, I am to tell you to ignore that thought because there is nothing boring between page 1 and page 401 and that is my truth! The author has begun an odyssey and is taking the rest of us along for the ride. May it be long and fun! I will not spoil the plot or story because it has to be read to be understood. Please purchase a copy to encourage Slayton to get book 2 out soon!
    Reasons I enjoyed this book: Wonderful characters /Original /Tragic /Great world building /Page-turner /Action-packed /Unpredictable /Romantic /Entertaining /Haunting /Easy-to-readWitty
  • EDomenic
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written! Read it twice back to back!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2024
    This book is gorgeous. The world crafting is fantastic and the characters are beautifully broken souls that grow throughout the story in ways that simply make the heart ache. I loved the Adam Binder novels, but this book is on an entirely different level. The epic masterpiece that I have been looking for my whole life. The fact that it centers around an LGBTQ+ cast felt so organic, it didn't force the reader to accept something, it just stated it as fact and made it feel just as real as anything ever could be. Such beautiful work. I am so impressed by this and I cannot wait to read the next books in the series! As much as I want to read them now, I also do not want the author to rush this process, so I am content to wait for the next in the series. Amazing!!!
  • Vykyll
    4.0 out of 5 stars I did actually enjoy
    Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2024
    I did actually enjoy this, after getting through some hurdles.
    It almost felt like we should know who some of the Gods were, what the situation was.
    Yes, I know it was revealed later on but I flt like most of it could of been done half-way through and it still would of flowed amazingly.
    Raef and Seth are amazing characters. Raef is a thief and former survivor of something dreadful that happened. Seth's control of his flames were suspicious until it was revealed why. Kinos was a HUGE suprise later on that shocked me silly!
    There were moments that both were great and others I got little bored with.
    This is the first book in the series, it did leave me wanting a lot more.
    But the revealing near the end was a little dissapointing (But I suppose that leaves more for the next book)
  • Darren Lipman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging characters in a richly-detailed world
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2024
    I loved this book. The writing was strong, and I enjoyed the alternating viewpoints. The romantic elements were nicely written, and the world in which the story takes places is rich with interesting details and backstory. A few plot points felt like they came out of nowhere with little real cause, and the climax felt a bit flat in comparison to some of the scenes leading up to it, but these small complaints didn’t lessen how much I fell in love with characters. I look forward to reading more of Slayton’s books and more about Raef and Seth especially.
  • M. Mitchell
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2024
    I really thought this was a great first and what I hope is a long series of books. The three main characters were interesting and the author brought them to life. The world building was both fascinating and unusual. Something that I enjoy in my books. I can’t wait for the next in the series to get published.
  • Deb's reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars Really really good
    Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2024
    I enjoyed this book immensely.
    The unique world building, the fantastic plots twists and especially the main characters. It's fun because I don't think I've ever read mm fantasy with a live triangle but it was really well done.
    The only thing that frustrated me was not knowing how old anyone was.
  • Zachary
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly the kind of LGBT Fantasy book I've been looking for
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2024
    After the White Trash Warlock series, I'm willing to purchase anything with David R Slayton's name on it. This was CERTAINLY no exception. This is a great first book in a series, the world is well written and interesting, the characters all feel unique and deep, and the writing is skillful and descriptive!

    This is EXACTLY the sort of thing I'd like to see out of gay fantasy going forward. Interesting stories with romance being not quite secondary but certainly to the side of what is ultimately an interesting fantasy plot.

    I can't wait to see what else comes out of this author, and I look forward to whatever comes next for this series!
  • Robb W
    4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying Read
    Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2023
    A well-paced introduction story to a fantasy world of light and dark, but without the typical tropes of good versus evil. The character development recognizes and demonstrates that good and evil are individual choices, and even that no one person is all one or the other. Our lead characters are charmingly and beautifully flawed, sharing similar deep Bhuddist-like spiritual practices as a path to personal growth. Less saucy than other gay fantasy, the romantic sub-plots are tender, innocent and youthful. Without spoilers, a surprise twist livens up the relationships. I appreciate that the core story drives this book, rather than simply pulpy gayness, as it were. Looking forward to the unfolding of this world and these characters in future stories!

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