Suspenseful intrigue, witchcraft-tinged atmosphere, and high emotional stakes
Moonset on Desert Sands by Sherri L. Dodd continues Arista’s journey with deepened mysticism and mounting peril. Having narrowly escaped a year darkened by a serial killer’s shadow, Arista seeks sanctuary in the mystical serenity of Sedona, Arizona. She spends her time working in a metaphysical shop under her Auntie’s protective gaze while tentatively opening her heart to Dakota, the watchful security guard whose warmth begins to mend the pain left by another. But when unexpected fainting spells escalate and Auntie urges her back to Boulder Creek, Arista is compelled to face both personal scars and renewed threats. There, she comes face to face again with her murderous Uncle Fergus, a man who has grown increasingly aligned with a far darker power and whose thirst for revenge remains undiminished. As she struggles with mounting dangers—a deadly incident in the desert, the unnerving presence of a stalker, and the tightening grip of Fergus’s sinister alliance—Arista’s resilience, friendships, and family ties are tested to their limits. Only by channeling every ounce of her burgeoning magick and courage can she hope to endure. With a blend of suspenseful intrigue, witchcraft-tinged atmosphere, and high emotional stakes, Dodd crafts a vivid story of survival and transformation.
Sherri L. Dodd had a formidable task on her hands to achieve a second-in-series novel that raises the bar on an already compelling mystery series, and she has more than hit the target with this thrilling installment that raises both the intrigue and the heart rate. Some gorgeous and richly atmospheric backdrops enhance every moment of the action and bring our central protagonist into a nostalgic but also painful reconciliation with her past. This conflict is the driving force of the novel, and Arista is a resilient, relatable heroine whose journey is sure to grip readers from start to finish as her fate shifts and twists. The plot presents exciting challenges that never feel gimmicky or unrealistic, balancing romance, danger, and just the right amount of magick with finesse. Then, of course, there’s Uncle Fergus, who is a chillingly unforgettable antagonist. His presence introduces twist after twist of increasingly dark revelations that add yet more mystery and urgency to poor Arista’s arc of growing into her power. The stalker subplot is both eerie and emotionally impactful, and additional plot threads are well-woven into the tale for a satisfying story where everything is relevant and no stone is left unturned. A mysterious novel that seamlessly blends mystical themes with page-turning suspense, Moonset on Desert Sands is a perfect middle entry to a compelling trilogy that leaves readers eager for the conclusion.
