Review of Cave of the Dark Moon

[Laney K]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Cave of the Dark Moon" by Merrilee Beckman.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Colum finds himself a member of a society of women. These women each can shape-shift into their inner animal. There are also no men who routinely live in their society. He was only allowed as he agreed to be reborn as the son of an influential member of the society to save his love. The cost was his memories. What will happen as Colum grows up for the second time and the memories of his old life begin to emerge? The answers lie inside a copy of Cave of the Dark Moon by Merrilee Beckman!

I thought the portrayal of gender was fascinating in this novel. The few men who found their way into this society were seen as nothing more than playthings. At one point, Colum adopted a man, Jack, as his pet. The women warn him that men can be dangerous, and, typically, the women only use the men for sexual encounters before being done with them. Other than Colum, no men are allowed to stay. The women rule, maintain order, and exist in harmony with each other without any male influences.

Many questions were brought to light about Colum's place in their society. He was restricted from leaving the cave, where they all lived, and exploring the nearby forest. He also begins to remember his former life as he grows older. Before he was reborn, he was trained in a masculine setting. His character development throughout the novel was complex and was my favorite part of the book.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The book was exceptionally well edited; I did not notice any errors. I thought it was a compelling study of gender through the lens of a fantasy world. There was nothing that I disliked about it. It does contain some sexual content and strong language, so I believe it is best suited for adult audiences. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy fantasy novels and the exploration of gender roles.

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Cave of the Dark Moon
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[NetMassimo]

This seems like an intriguing novel in which the trope of shapeshifting into animals is used to developed themes connected to gender roles, which can offer some food for thought about this subject. Thank you for your great review!

[Blueberry Dragon]

Shape-shifting women, men treated as playthings, and a different treatment of "gender" - sounds like a topsy-turvy fun fantasy world! Thanks for the review @Laney K.