The Lunar Codex: Book One of the Codex Chronicles. Annie O’Connell.

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Just before his 15th birthday, Jace Northall’s aunt Cora and uncle Roman are doing him again – from the home in Arizona to a new build in a small Floridian town, in an even smaller community. He can’t bring himself to be excited at this new move; he’s tired of moving constantly, never being able to make friends. He’s even homeschooled, because his uncle’s job requires so much travelling, there’s no point in enrolling into a new high school in every town. His aunt and uncle have moved so often that they’ve managed to turn unpacking into a fine art; it’s almost as though there’s something magical about the speed in which they manage to get their new abodes liveable within just a few short hours.

With there only being two other inhabited houses on the court, and with both families having teenagers his age, it’s inevitable that Jace will make friends this time. The new neighbours are gregarious, friendly and welcoming, pulling the Northall’s into their close-knit community with all the heart you’d expect of a good, Southern township. Before long, Jace has found friendship with Marcus Hunter, the boy who lives opposite (and developed a deep-seated crush on the girl next door, Izzie Lewis). As the friendship grows and bonds develop, Jace finally feels as though he’s about to live his life as a normal teenager with friends. But when an unfounded allegation is loosed against him, all of that fractures within a split second.

The Lunar Codex is a fantastical story of teenage angst, a found family and bonds that can start in a flash, but last a lifetime. O’Connell has created a believable character in Jace, both with his feelings of resentment at times and his conscientious attitude towards his aunt and uncle. Even when his entire world is turned upside down on several occasions, his first thoughts are of his companions rather than himself.

Intertwined within this story set in the real world, there is an undercurrent of magic, adventure and a hint of mystery. You never really know what is coming next for Jace and his friends as they try to evade capture – you think you know, and then within a flash, it has changed. It’s a clever build of tension, of keeping the reader turning the page. Although at times, some areas of the novel became frustrating; there would be occasions where there would be some confusion, or something that felt as though it were missing. If the title had more relevance to the book, or if Jace’s apparent powers were explained in more detail, this would have easily been a five moon review.

I’m looking forward to finding out what’s next in store for Jace and his friends; hoping that O’Connell explains more about the wonderful world she has built.

S. A.

First published on Reedsy Discovery as part of their ARC program. Read the original review here.

You can buy The Lunar Codex: Book One of the Codex Chronicles by clicking on its name.