Moon Sugar
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley October 31, 2022
Author Angela Meyer
Distributor: Transit Lounge
ISBN: 978-0-6484140-5-6
Publisher: Transit Lounge
Release Date: October 2022
Website: https://transitlounge.com.au
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Moon Sugar is a somewhat intriguing tale wrapped around the world of experimental drugs, dependence and the insular nature of today’s societies. Mila is a forty-year-old personal trainer on the rebound from a failed relationship. Josh is a larger than life, incredibly good looking man who is financing his European trip by working as an escort.
He and Mila took part in a secretive drug experiment which gave them both a much needed income source, which after six months seems to have failed, as neither of them has managed to go into an ‘altered state’ of emotion, which was the expectation of taking the lichen called Xanthoria.
But when Kyle mysteriously disappear in Berlin, his death is listed as suicide, Mila, for one does not believe possible. His long time best friend Kyle, struggling with being newly divorced, and grieving for his friend, decides to carry on with the trip planned by both he and Josh. He is also far from convinced Josh is dead.
This sets the scene for some interesting dialogue as Mila and Josh meet up in Berlin, both on the same quest, to find Josh and both struggling with a personal sense of isolation and despair.
Angela Meyer has carefully crafted the character’s personalities so they fit seamlessly together as they all struggle to come to terms with the hand life has dished them and the irony of love, lust and companionship.
Moving between, London, Belin and Australia the pace picks up part way through the book, as the many strange events and clues begin to form a pattern that is becoming somewhat terrifying, as well as dangerous.
Involving the world of technology, experimental drugs and the idiosyncrasies of people, Meyer has opened a small window into the sad and often isolated world of so many as they seek to understand and relate to others.
Challenging, confrontational in some aspects, quirky in others interestingly Moon Sugar is very difficult to simply leave once began. Certainly a novel of modern times Meyer shines a light into areas we, as a fast paced, careless society often refuse to confront.