Blog Tour ~ The Moth Keeper by Kay O’Neill ~ 5 Reasons to Read the Book

March 6, 2023 Mehsi Comments 3 comments

Afternoon all!

A warm welcome to the Blog Tour for The Moth Keeper by Kay O’Neill!! I am SOOOOOO Excited that I can be part of the tour + read the book + give you 5 reasons on why to read it. Because it was a GOOD book. O’Neill did it again!

Next to those 5 reasons I also got book/author information~

Let’s get started!!

5 reasons I would recommend to read this book!

1. The art I just ADORE Kay O’Neill’s art so much. It is soft, pretty, and I love the colours and how much it can tell a story. And I love that each chapter has a pretty moth to admire!
2. The characters! We got a great cast of supporting characters who do everything to help out Anya. Like Anya’s best friend, Estell, who makes sure that she has food and medicine and talks with her about her Moth Keeper job. And she is also the one who, when Anya loses it all and starts getting lost in loneliness, finds someone to help Anya. Then there is Anya’s mentor and his lover and they were just so much like the couple from Tea Dragon Society and I was just squeeing in delight. I just loved how they were there for Anya. Never got angry at her even when it was obvious that maybe Anya should have asked for helped.
3. Anya! She was such a sweet character, though she needs to learn to ask for help when things get tough. But given her issues and her mental health I could forgive her. I mean, she hasn’t had the easiest past, and whereas the rest of the village is fine living in the dark, we see that it is tough for Anya despite having been there since young child. Then there is the fact that being a moth keeper is a lonely job. You are often hours away from friends and family making sure that the moths are happy and taken care off. Some of her struggles I could definitely relate to. That even if you have your found family around you, can you feel lonely? And there were others. I do love that she never gives up and that she keeps going on. When things go south she takes responsibility.
4. The folklore/the stories about the Moon Spirit, about Lioka, and how it all ties back together with the story we have now. I would definitely love more stories about the people living in this world. Please give us a novella or a whole new graphic novel with just Moth Keeper stories/folklore!
5 That we don’t just follow Anya. Yes, for most of the book it is Anya, but we also get glimpses of the town, of Anya’s friend being taught how to do medicine, we see Anya’s mentor with his lover. We see how the town moves and flows through the night and how everyone is happy.

Being a Moth Keeper is a huge responsibility and a great honor, but what happens when the new Moth Keeper decides to take a break from the moon and see the sun for the first time? A middle-grade fantasy graphic novel about passion, duty, and found family.

Anya is finally a Moth Keeper, the protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower to bloom once a year. Her village needs the flower to continue thriving and Anya is excited to prove her worth and show her thanks to her friends with her actions, but what happens when being a Moth Keeper isn’t exactly what Anya thought it would be?

The nights are cold in the desert and the lunar moths live far from the village. Anya finds herself isolated and lonely. Despite Anya’s dedication, she wonders what it would be like to live in the sun. Her thoughts turn into an obsession, and when Anya takes a chance to stay up during the day to feel the sun’s warmth, her village and the lunar moths are left to deal with the consequences.

K. O’Neill brings to life a beautifully illustrated fantasy world about responsibility to yourself and your community. The Moth Keeper is filled with magic, hope, and friendship.

Content Warning: depression, trauma, burn out themes, abandonment (historical, shown on page through flashback), ableism (historical, minor)

Buy this book here: Amazon ||| Book Depository

About the author:

I am a self-taught writer and illustrator based in New Zealand. I’m interested in nature and all kinds of creatures, mindfulness and mental health, and the magic of every day life. To date I have published three books, which have won Eisner, Harvey and Dwayne McDuffie awards for children’s comics, as well as being Cybils Award finalists and featured on the ALA Rainbow List.

Outside of work I love tea and food, plants, transitional seasons, reading, walking and listening to podcasts.