When Emile's aunt declares he must marry or be disowned for being gay-he runs away to hide as a servant in Count Montoni's mansion. In their service, Emile tends to the family who all suffer a strange affliction on the full moon. And after overhearing suspicious family arguments, he finds a body on the estate, drawing the attention of a handsome doctor as well as the count's charismatic nephew, Henri.
Before Emile can sort out his affections or unravel the growing Montoni family mystery, his identity is revealed and his aunt comes to collect him.
When she arrives, Count Montoni forces everyone to depart to the remote Udolpho Castle-where there are no witnesses and no chance for escape. There, Emile realizes that he will have to risk his life to find the love he deserves-and survive the Montoni family.
About the Author :
David Ferraro won Library Journal's SELF-e Award for Best Fantasy in 2015. He currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Alchemy of Moonlight is his debut novel.
Review :
"Packed with compulsively readable, nonstop action, this is an affectionate homage to The Mysteries of Udolpho, eighteenth-century novelist Ann Radcliffe's pioneering horror novel. Ferraro expands upon the original to include a suspense-filled, double-barreled gay love story with a twist. Radcliffe would be pleased (probably)."
--Booklist, starred review
"Teems with heart-pounding moments both amorous and frightening [...] Ferraro's handling of coercive power dynamics and conflicting desires, coupled with the intensely raw queer relationships, is fresh and impressive."
--Publishers Weekly
"Ferraro pins down the creepy atmosphere [...] that comes with a gothic text, making the style evocative of its source."
--BCCB
"A gloomy castle full of secrets, mysterious ailments, grisly murders, a handsome doctor, a scheming count--David Ferraro takes all the elements of a Gothic classic, lovingly remixes them with a splash of the supernatural, and filters it all through a queer lens, creating a distinctly modern blend that's all his own."
--Amelinda Berube, author of Here There Are Monsters
"Part murder mystery and part romantic intrigue, this coming-of-age retelling of Radcliffe's gothic classic deftly navigates societal expectations and queer love through Ferraro's sparkling prose, charming cast, and decadently macabre settings. Atmospheric, layered...and with plenty of bite, both feral and tender."
--Catherine Yu, author of Direwood
"As dramatic and haunting as a windswept night beneath the full moon, David Ferraro has created a wonderful reimagining of a gothic classic. Wander through the halls of decadent, ominous Udolpho Castle where danger lies beyond hidden doors, kisses are stolen in midnight hours, and the moonlight will reveal a perilous secret..."
--Lyndall Clipstone, author of the World at the Lake's Edge duology
"Equal parts riveting and macabre, The Alchemy of Moonlight is a brilliant retelling of The Mysteries of Udolpho. I had a hard time falling asleep after reading this!"
--Nicole Lesperance, author of The Depths
"The Alchemy of Moonlight asks us to reconsider how we conceptualize monsters, and the ways we make ourselves monstrous to others. Emile's story will resonate with anyone who has been made to feel less than human."
--Alison Ames, author of It Looks Like Us
