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It Came To Me In A Dream
The Darkest Side of the Moon follows a high school girl who, when she meets a boy at school, discovers she is part of an age-old prophecy that could change everything. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The idea came to me after a dream I had, which is depicted on the first page. From there, it took about ten years or so to fully develop into a story that made sense in which I applied certain life events that helped steer the plot. Music was also a heavy influence that helped me slip into the character’s mindset. One particular artist is Within Temptation. Their album The Unforgiving was on constant repeat while writing act three. Random information I stumbled across was also applied and fit like a puzzle piece, like the dragon’s eye symbol.
Nadine comes to terms with the reality that shifters and vampires are real and her destiny is connected to them. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Nadine’s character was more of “seeing is believing.” She struggled to accept it even when it was staring her in the face. The more she was around vampires and shifters she had to accept the reality as her life depended on it. A reflection of life. Sometimes it’s hard to accept something one can’t see and even then one doesn’t want to believe it when it goes against their beliefs.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There are multiple themes. The main theme that drove the story was the Chinese philosophical concept Yin and Yang.
Where does the story go in the next book and where do you see it going in the future?
The next book, A Dance Between Light and Darkness is out now. it continues where The Darkest Side of the Moon ended through another character’s perspective and moving on after certain events that happened in the first book. Although it ties in with The Darkest Side of the Moon it is it’s own story in which it is written in third-person narrative verses second-person narrative that The Darkest Side of the Moon was written in. Currently I’m working on publishing the third book in the series, All I See Are Dark Clouds, which is written in first-person narrative. The series was originally supposed to be three books, however it ended up being five full-length novels and three novella tie-ins. The fourth and fifth books can be expected to be released sometime in 2024.
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The Darkest Side of the Moon
Picture yourself as an ordinary teenage girl trying to navigate your way through high school, only to find yourself entangled with the most popular boy on campus. This scenario may seem like the perfect beginning to a romantic story, but there’s a twist – the boy holds secrets that have been passed down through his ancestors and could impact not just his life and yours but the entire universe. Would you be willing to explore a world far more significant than you ever imagined? Would you be willing to fulfill an age-old prophecy that centers around you? Are you willing to risk everything you’ve ever known for a greater purpose?
M.C. Ryder’s The Darkest Side of the Moon takes readers on a thrilling journey from the mundane world of high school to a darker, more sinister realm of fantasy, delivering a compelling coming-of-age narrative. At first glance, the novel introduces stereotypical characters that fit in the high school scene we all know, but as the plot thickens, readers soon discover that there’s a much larger world out there, one that includes vampires and werewolves. Moreover, the feud between these two factions transcends the world they’ve carefully constructed to hide their true identities.
Ryder’s writing style is refreshingly new and innovative. The author’s decision to refer to the female protagonist, Nadine Drexel, as “You” throughout the book was a bold move, but it paid off well. This approach allowed readers to immerse themselves in the character’s journey, feeling as though they were experiencing it firsthand. Additionally, the short chapters that end after each scene make the story more manageable for readers to digest. It serves as an avenue to delve into the character’s inner thoughts, enabling the audience to sympathize with even the most significant antagonist in the narrative. This is a great book to kick off a trilogy; the author’s decision to end the story will undoubtedly leave readers eager to read the sequel.
If you are a fan of the Twilight saga, then you will love The Darkest Side of the Moon. This novel is an excellent starting point for teenagers who want to delve into the world of book series. Overall, Ryder’s ability to transform a clichéd setting into a thrilling and captivating story is impressive, and I look forward to reading more in this series.
Pages: 401 | ASIN : B0BL5SN55F
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