A CHORD OF SILVER MOOND by Tylisha Washington is very emotional to read so keep that in mind before you start.

The themes of duty, sacrifices, honor and self discovery are explored in a second world fantasy. The world building is rich and immersive. The action sequences were vivid and dynamic!

A Chord of Silver Moons by Tylisha Washington was a masterpiece! Tylisha is a genious! Such a good book, the characters are fantastic and the story is immaculate.

this book serves a gripping high fantasy with action, intrigue, and deep-rooted duty. the worldbuilding is immersive and the stakes are high—i loved the representation. a solid start to a new fantasy series!

In A Chord of Silver Moons, Tylisha Washington has created a breathtaking coming-of-age story full of magic and friendship. The book follows a girl called Aryam as she tries to find her oju (basically a power given to guardians, who are protectors of royals) while protecting Princess Marleyn, but ends up trying to save the people of Beldemar from an ancient threat.

There is so much to love about ACoSM! The immersive story, the way they track time, the lovely names...almost everything is perfect! Let us start with the story. Every step of Aryam's journey promised some new consideration, some new obstacle, resulting in a story that does not fail to be entertaining. Well, except for a small portion just before the middle. The pacing was off in that part, making it kind of hard to get through. That little pacing problem resulted in the book losing a star, but it stays a four star read since the rest of the book is so good! The story towards the end was fast paced and engaging, offering a hook for the sequel while finishing the story. Seriously, there are so many books that put a "cliffhanger" at the end, but it is just them being lazy and not bothering to actually close the story. ACoSM does not have this problem at all, instead offering a resolution while still providing more than enough material for a sequel.

The next thing worth praise is the way the characters refer to time. They measure time in "measures" (close to an hour, I think) and "scores" (maybe a year?) which was a bit confusing at first, until you realize that those terms are musical terms. The series is titled "Songs of Aryam." Songs. The story is a song, and the characters are referring to the passage of time in technical music terms! It just felt good to figure this out, but someone else has to find this interesting too, right?

Anyways...let's move on! The final thing to love is the names, or more specifically, the cultures shown. The names like Maya, Chori, and Kyrel are beautiful, but they are simply reflections of wonderful cultures. I loved the storytellers, called griori. I loved the stories shown. I loved the names of the kingdoms (Zehir, Jara, Gedra, and Marad). There was so much to love about the rich culture of these kingdoms, and learning tidbits of their history was fascinating! Again, there is simply so much to catch your interest, but if you are looking for a book with characters that grow, kingdoms rich in culture, and friendships strong as titanium, ACoSM is for you!

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing me with this advanced reader copy in exchange for a review, but all opinions and thoughts expressed are my own!

Tylisha Washington’s A Chord of Silver Moons is a thrilling and emotionally charged fantasy that weaves together themes of duty, sacrifice, and self-discovery. Set in a world where ancient oaths and vengeful creatures shape the fate of kingdoms, this novel is a captivating journey of a young guardian’s struggle to find her place in a world on the brink of chaos.

Aryam Sinanan has spent her life preparing to fulfil her bloodline oath to defend the princess of Beldemar. However, Aryam has always questioned the necessity of her training, believing the akbarrin—vengeful creatures sealed away in a wasteland called The Shadows—to be a distant threat. On her sixteenth birthday, her doubts are shattered when the captain of the royal guard arrives with dire news: the king has been assassinated, the princess is in danger, and the akbarrin may be responsible.

Thrust into a role she never fully embraced, Aryam must leave behind her old life and join her sister guardians in battle. But there’s one glaring problem—Aryam doesn’t possess a spirit weapon, the very thing that gives her fellow guardians their power. As she struggles to prove herself and uncover the truth about the akbarrin, Aryam must confront her own fears and insecurities, all while the fate of Beldemar hangs in the balance.

Washington’s world-building is rich and immersive, blending the beauty of a fantastical realm with the tension of an impending war. The novel’s exploration of duty, identity, and the weight of legacy is both poignant and thought-provoking. Aryam’s journey is compelling, her growth from a reluctant guardian to a determined protector making her a heroine to root for.

The supporting cast, including the sister guardians and the enigmatic captain, adds depth and complexity to the narrative. The action sequences are vivid and dynamic, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Washington’s prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing the grandeur and peril of Aryam’s world with equal skill.

A Chord of Silver Moons is a story of courage, resilience, and the power of self-belief. It’s a tale that will captivate fans of fantasy and young adult literature, leaving them eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Aryam’s journey.