The Forgetting Moon
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
The Forgetting Moon is a grimdark epic fantasy novel authored by Brian Lee Durfee and published in 2016 by Saga Press.
Plot
Nail, an orphaned youth raised by the retired fighter Shawcroft, finds himself drawn into a vast conflict marked by warfare and power struggles spanning the Five Isles.
Publication
On August 30, 2016, The Forgetting Moon was made available in both hardcover and ebook editions through Saga Press, a division of Simon & Schuster. A trade paperback version was subsequently issued on August 29, 2017. An audiobook adaptation narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds was released by Recorded Books on January 30, 2019. The cover for the North American edition was designed by artist Richard Anderson.
The German translation, titled Der Mond des Vergessens, was published by Klett-Cotta on March 10, 2018.
Reception
In a review for Locus Online, Paul Di Filippo commended The Forgetting Moon for its meticulously crafted spectacle, suspenseful narrative, and thrilling elements, highlighting Durfee’s concise storytelling approach that avoids unnecessary complexity. The novel is firmly positioned within the grimdark category and is recognized for its somber atmosphere.
Jeff Somers, writing for Barnes & Noble’s science fiction and fantasy blog, described the work as "epic fantasy turned up to eleven," emphasizing Durfee’s deliberate infusion of darkness into traditional epic fantasy conventions.
SFFWorld offered a positive comparison to George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, noting shared themes of darkness and expansive scope. The cover art by Richard Anderson received praise for its bold design reminiscent of heavy metal album covers.