Beholding the Moon by Augusta Li and Eon de Beaumont is a Urban Phaze book.

Lu-Bai worked his way up from the very bottom of Shanghai society to where he is now, one of the underworld leaders. Now, Lu finds himself under the lustful eye of one Taro Miyake, part man, part god/sorcerer. What ever Taro wants Taro gets, and presently Taro wants Lu. It doesn’t help that Lu finds Taro the most bewitchingly beautiful and dangerous man he has ever met who has built a criminal empire the likes of which the world has never seen. For his part, Taro will use any methods at his disposal to prove his love, but Lu doesn’t believe that true love really exists. Taro tells Lu to meet him at the Typhoon that evening to unfold his plan.

At the same time, Dylan and his lover Song have arrived in Shanghai to celebrate the Moon Festival with Song’s family. Dylan and Song choose to go clubbing their first night and that is when their two worlds collide. Taro sees how much they love one another and decides to put their love to the test in hopes that Lu will come to realize that true love does exist. Taro takes Song and will only release him if Dylan kills a crime lord, Xia Yong-Rong, for him and he has one week to complete the task. Dylan must decide if his love for Song is strong enough to complete this task or run away as Lu advises. Will Dylan and Song find their way together again? Will Lu recognize what love for Taro is before it is too late?

In Shanghai life is never easy, but with some help maybe these men will find what they are looking for. The character of Taro takes on a life of his own from his very distinctive presence, his magical abilities, to the mystical creatures who follow his every request. Lu is a scrapper, but will he learn that some things are not for sale, but given freely. Dylan and Song’s love is very strong, but can it weather the very issues of life and death? I love how the characters react so uniquely to each new situation they have to overcome, some with love, but others with violence and hate. The crime lord Xia is an interesting combination, rational thought laced with viciousness, a brutal combination. Thanks go to Ms. Li and Mr. de Beaumont for a fascinating story.


Reviewed by: Teresa