Blue Moon Rising

Blue Moon Rising (1989) is the first novel in the Blue Moon series. It is also a precursor to the Hawk and Fisher series. In this novel, Prince Rupert of the Forest Kingdom and his unicorn are hunting for a dragon. His father King John IV has sent him out on this quest in hopes of him taking off and never coming back. But Rupert feels duty bound to find the dragon. Rupert is searching for the Night Witch, whose home is within the Darkwood. They encounter a huge cobweb, a demon and goblins in the Tanglewood even before entering the Darkwood. Within the Darkwood, only blue phosphorescence lights their way in their trek to the Night Witch's cottage. Luckily for Rupert, the Night Witch was in love with his grandfather. She presents him with a map to the Dragonslair. Rupert continues through the Darkwood to the other side. He keeps feeling like someone -- or something -- is watching him. When they break through to the light again, Rupert heads toward the Dragonslair. The mountain is too steep for the unicorn, so Rupert goes on alone, over scree and up almost vertical slopes. Finally he reaches the mouth of the cave where the dragon dwells. Rupert calls out to the dragon and the creature comes forth. The dragon is thirty feet from snout to tail, with dozens of very sharp teeth and wickedly clawed hands. Unfortunately, the dragon isn't interested in any fighting that day and invites Rupert back into his lair. There Rupert discovers that the dragon's hoard is a huge collection of preserved butterflies. Rupert also encounters the princess who is staying with the dragon. Julia is not quite what Rupert expected in a princess. She has a strident voice and an overbearing manner. The dragon is hoping that Rupert will rescue her just to get her out of his cave. In this story, the dragon agrees to return to the Forest Kingdom with Rupert and the princess. After they reach the bottom of Dragonslair, Rupert calls the unicorn, but he doesn't want to come out where the dragon can see -- and catch -- him. Yet Rupert finally coaxes him into the open and they head back to the Darkwood. Rupert hesitates before entering the Darkwood again, but still goes on. This time, however, the demons are waiting for them. They have to fight thousands of the demons. Finally, the dragon performs some magic to allow Rupert to make the Rainbow Run. He runs and runs and finally reaches a clearing, where he finds a magic sword. He returns to his companions with the sword and calls the Rainbow. The Rainbow not only kills demons, but it melts away their bodies. Moreover, it heals the companions wounds and returns life to the unicorn. But it doesn't restore his horn. Upon returning to his home castle, Rupert learns that the Darkwood is spreading. Demons are raiding villages and surrounding the castle every night. Something has to be done and Rupert is selected to do it. This story relates the maturing of Rupert. He has always been known for doing his

I am a big fan of the fantasy genre. For years I have been searching for a book in this genre that I could really really get absorbed into. It has been years since I have really been swept away by a good fantasy book... then came Blue Moon Rising. This book is wonderful and a great page-turner. The battles in this book are some of the most graphic and well-described I have ever read. It's funny and it keeps you wondering what will happen until the last page. I loved the fact that the book moved with a fast pace and the action came frequently. I was hooked after the first couple of pages. I can go on and on about BMR. You just have to read it. Make it your next book to read if you are a fan of the fantasy genre. I am now reading the Hawk and Fisher stories( seems to be a sequels to BMR) and even those are great.

What a fabulous surprise this book was! With characters you really care for and come to love, this fairy tale is very funny, yet extremely scary. It's a fast-paced mix of action, horror, comedy and love story, and is done amazingly well. Effective writing and imagery allows you to "see" and "hear" the action. Cool.A great opening chapter ensures you'll keep on reading. The faithful but under-appreciated Prince Rupert is sent on a mission to slay a dragon and capture it's treasure hoard for the kingdom's treasury. Fighting danger along the way, Rupert comes across the Princess Julia (a very funny scene) from another kingdom. From this point on, you'll be hooked. Princess Julia is a riot. Tomboy-ish, feisty, brave, funny, irreverent, and sarcastic, you'll fall immediately in love with her, just like Rupert does. Also, Rupert's poignant relationship with his cowardly yet loyal unicorn is humorous and sometimes heart-wrenching. (I never knew a person had to be "qualified" to ride on a unicorn. Did you?) Funny thing: the unicorn's dialogue is tinged with a proper British articulation that caused me to hear actor Roddy McDowell's voice in my head whenever the unicorn spoke. Very effective writing.Dragons, magic swords, evil swords, a drunken warlock, demons, love triangles, a paradoxical castle (bigger on the inside than the outside), treacherous conspiracies, and a terrifying evil that threatens to consume the world, all combine to create a dazzling story which will transport you to another time and place. You'll be sorry when it all comes to an end and you're summoned back to earth.I've loaned this book to dozens of people. Every single person loved it and wanted to read the follow-up book. I've checked around for a sequel but, strangely enough, there isn't one. I guess either this book didn't sell enough copies to warrant one, or maybe Simon R. Green was too pre-occupied with his DeathStalker series and other books. The publisher may also not have realized what a gold mine they had on their hands here. Too bad. Follow-up books would have kept loyal readers happy, and their resulting word-of-mouth would have brought new readers to the series and, thus sold more books.

The first time I read Blue Moon Rising was in 1992, one year after it was first published. I picked it up on a whim, and read it in two days (maximum.) Since then, I have read it at least once a year, and gone through three copies. This book is simply spectacular. It starts out with Prince Rupert, the second son of a bankrupt kingdom, on a quest to find a dragon. What he finds is a flatulent dragon and a sword fighting princess. And, when Rupert returns to the Forest Kingdom, he finds out that the Blue Moon is rising, and demons are walking the Forest Kingdom. Simon Green's characters are funny, and endearing. The intrigue in the court of the Forest Kingdom is as well written as the epic battle scenes. I have read every book that Simon Green has written, and this one is by far the best. If you enjoyed the syle and flair of the Deathstalker novels (despite the fact that they sort of peter out), you will enjoy Blue Moon Rising. Every person that I have recommended this book to has liked it. Read it!