Rock bands rise and fall regularly. Some hot band with a lot of talent, a lot of heart and a hit single make the leap from local phenomena to overnight sensation—dreams really do come true. Fun Yung Moon is one of those bands whose hit single led to their first album sales in the multi-millions, and their first taste of life as a famous
rock band.
Hote
plays bass for Fun Yung Moon and has been a member of the band from its beginning. He plays
for the love of music, the way it makes it him feel, and he's loved for it by the crowds. His wife falls in love with him when she sees him play—there's no denying the enrapturing soul that
flows from him when he plays. Ultimately, though, his passion for the music and the band becomes a strain on their relationship. After years of living the
rock 'n’ roll life, Hote can no longer find his soul in his music or his life. The end is near,
and everything is being pulled out from under him.
A sixteen-year-old girl determined to be a serious hardcore punk vocalist—in it for the music, not the money—crosses paths with Hote,
and, revelations of sorts come rolling in for him. His wife’s disloyalty to the marriage has left him raw and ready to step unhindered into the world to begin life fresh, but can he? This young girl is so much more than just temptation; she is a fresh reminder of Hote’s past and what he and his wife were before fame and the road took
their toll.
Fun Yung Moon is more than just Hote - everyone’s personal agendas results in mounting animosity and tension. One hit single and a big-selling album
are great, but without a successful follow-up, the band’s time in the limelight
is fading. Have their continuous road trips, endless internal struggles, and desperate personal motivations all
been pointless acts in an attempt to prevent the inevitable?
Art Edwards builds his novel with entertaining chapters dedicated to
each character's perspective on the situations unfolding. To build better depth to the characters, Edwards focuses short—but crucial—chapters to experiences in
from the past, to understand them better and the characters whom they have greatly influenced.
The author is also a musician, and his knowledge and passion for music infuses
the story with realism. Reader James Lorenz voice, perfect for a rock music-type narrative, brings the character of Hote alive; unfortunately, he does not modify his voice or accent for the various characters,
such as narrators such as Patrick Tull are able to do. This lack of delineation
between characters does make some of the dialog and character transitions a little more difficult to follow.