Review by Frank Plowright

From the beginning Moonstruck has been a compromised series. On the one hand there’s the gorgeous and charming art from Shae Beagle bringing a world of mystical people to life in a believable way. A major part of that is Grace Ellis having conceived those characters and developed their personalities, but Ellis is also responsible for plots so often featuring irritating contrivances where people seem intent on doing something without any great motivation just to cause trouble for Julie. It was the case in Some Enchanted Evening and happens again here when Julie’s friend Cass transports her to a mystical dimension to tell her she must break up with girlfriend Selena or her life will be one of unhappiness. Why that’s the case isn’t a consideration: there’s the plot, take it or leave it.

Part of the problem is that Moonstruck could probably survive as a mystical comedy drama without such intrusions. The cast are so sympathetic that as drawn by Beagle we’d probably be just as satisfied just watching them having a day out. Yet, Ellis also repeats the scenario of Julie and Selena breaking up, which has occurred in every book to date. The means of making this happen are a character appearing from nowhere and attaching herself to Julie. It makes little sense. Then again, neither does Julie and Selena’s relationship. Why would anyone put up with Selena constantly going off on one and never listening?

Ellis also persists with single page inserts every chapter about Julie’s favourite fictional characters, the Pleasant Mountain Sisters. Claudia Aguirre brings them to life this time, in a more realistic style than previous artists, but they remain pointless inclusions.

Moonstruck looking so great raises the volume to average again, but don’t come here looking for a story that makes sense. This ends hinting at more to come, but as there hasn’t been a sequel since 2020 it’s now extremely unlikely.