Ian Douglas's Luna: New Moon disappoints as a follow-up to the Abyss Galaxy Raiders series, trading the latter's taut space opera for a bloated narrative marred by gratuitous sex, superficial fashion descriptions, and tangential subplots. While the core plot—centered on a feudal lunar society—holds promise, the execution falters. The worldbuilding, particularly the reliance on 3D-printed weaponry and technology as a deus ex machina, feels contrived and underdeveloped. The pacing suffers from a glaring imbalance: the majority of the novel meanders through backstory and distractions, only to rush through critical plot twists and revelations in the final chapters.
The novel's redeeming features include its visceral, close-quarters combat sequences and a premise that, with tighter editing, could have delivered a compelling exploration of lunar colonization and societal collapse. As it stands, Luna: New Moon earns a cautious 3/5 stars—a flawed but not irredeemable entry in Douglas's oeuvre.
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