Mancala Moon book tour is through iRead Book Tours and includes an author interview and giveaway below. Share, comment, subscribe.
Join us for this tour from March 23to April 17, 2026!
Book Details:
Book Title: MANCALA MOON by Asa Bowers
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 242 pages
Genre: Literary fiction with magical realism
Publisher: Asa Bowers
Release date: December 2025
Formats Available for Review: print-softback (USA only); ebook (PDF) internationally
Tour dates: March 23 to April 17, 2026
Content Rating: PG -13 +M: however there is one F – word in the book. So I rated it PG-13.
#1 – Hot New Release in
Psychological Literary Novel on Amazon!
“Poignant and ethereal.” — Clarion Review
“Magical realism greets generational trauma in a mind-bending journey of grief and choice.” — IndieReader
“A moving debut. Bowers’s writing is lovely, immersing readers with precise, evocative prose.” — Publishers Weekly / BookLife
“An unforgettable debut written in exquisite prose—rich with symbolism, immersive worldbuilding, and a forest that feels alive, full of surprises.” — Readers’ Favorite
“The forest itself receives a starring role… seeping into each element with deliberate, inexplicable beauty.” — Clarion Review
“Mancala Moon will linger after reading, crafting a real bridge between defeat and moving on that few works of fiction achieve.” — IndieReader
“An enthralling novel about undoing the metaphorical and spiritual barriers that held a family back.” — Clarion Review
Book Description:
Micah Thorne thought grief was the heaviest burden he would carry. But the forest waits, ancient and watching, offering visions he cannot explain—and a choice that could break the cycle of loss—or trap him forever.
Drawn into a mysterious forest where time bends and memory takes shape, Micah encounters a silent fox who seems to know his path and forces that test the boundaries of choice and inheritance.
Deep within the moonlit woods, an ancient game waits to be played. One decision may offer Micah a chance to break a generational burden—but only if he can face the darkness both around him and within.
Mancala Moon is a quietly mythic work of literary fiction infused with magical realism—a modern spiritual folktale that lingers between inner lives and ancient stories. Haunting and emotionally intimate, it explores loss, legacy, and the fragile courage required to heal.
Readers will discover:
- A poetic, mythic journey through grief, family, and self-discovery.
- A forest full of secrets where visions, trials, and ancient forces await.
- Literary fiction with magical realism for readers who love introspective, symbolic storytelling.
- A story that lingers long after the last page, rich with meaning and emotion.
Step into the forest. Follow the whispers. Discover a story that stays with you.
Buy the Book:
Meet the Author:
Asa Bowers writes quiet, mythic fantasy that explores the intersection of spirituality, philosophy, and the healing power of story. He is fascinated by what different cultures consider sacred – their myths, rituals, symbols, and spiritual traditions – and how these shape the human experience.
Blending lyrical prose with psychological depth, his work draws on ancestry, folklore, and the emotional truths embedded in myth. His debut novel, Mancala Moon, is a haunting and emotionally intimate allegory that explores the universal journey of the human soul.
connect with the author: instagram~ goodreads
Tour Schedule
Mar 11 – @bearyintobooks * – book review / giveaway
Mar 20 – @books.and.salt * – book spotlight
Mar 23 – Books R US – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Mar 23 – @onlyforthebooks * – book review / giveaway
Mar 23 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Mar 24 – Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight / giveaway
Mar 24 – Books1987 – book spotlight / giveaway
Mar 24 – @ojreads * – book review
Mar 25 – 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS – book spotlight / giveaway
Mar 25 – @bookishlife.line * – book review / giveaway
Mar 25 – @mrs.stormblessed * – book review
Mar 25 – @tia.reads * – book review / giveaway
Mar 25 – @anjiscape * – book review
Mar 26 – @oleksandra.tarnav * – book review
Mar 26 – @michellegodardricher * – book review / giveaway
Mar 26 – @readwithinsoul * – book review / giveaway
Mar 26 – @reader_ceygo * – book review / giveaway
Mar 27 – FUONLYKNEW – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Mar 27 – @bookscape__ * – book review / giveaway
Mar 27 – @adriftinfictionalworld – book review / giveaway
Mar 30 – @bubbleswrapherbooks * – book review / giveaway
Mar 30 – @kiv_coffeeandpages * – book review / giveaway
Mar 31 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
Apr 1 – @readingwithloe * – book review / giveaway
Apr 1 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest / post / giveaway
Apr 1 – @readsandmusic * – book review
Apr 1 – @draculise_ * – book review / giveaway
Apr 2 – @this.human.reads * – book review / giveaway
Apr 2 – Sarandipity’s – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Apr 6 – The Brave Bookshelf with Kim Bartosch – book review / giveaway
Apr 7 – @books.and.salt * – book review / giveaway
Apr 7 – @riribookhaven * – book review
Apr 7 – @Leannebookstagram – book review
Apr 8 – Liese’s Blog – book spotlight
Apr 8 – @ablueboxfullofbooks * – book review / giveaway
Apr 8 – @twinkle_butt_reads * – book review / giveaway
Apr 9 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Apr 9 – @onemorechap * – book review / giveaway
Apr 9 – @xiarareads * – book review / giveaway
Apr 10 – Deal Sharing Aunt – book review / author interview / giveaway
Apr 10 – @jilljemmett * – book review / giveaway
Apr 10 – @readwith_darcy * – book review
Apr 13 – @wiriosjournal * – book review / giveaway
Apr 14 – China Sorrows – book spotlight / giveaway
Apr 15 – Books Blog – book spotlight / giveaway
Apr 15 – @nessasbookreviews * – book review / giveaway
Apr 15 – @bookedinink * – book review / giveaway
Apr 16 – GetUrBook!!! * – book review / giveaway
Apr 16 – @my_fair_fiction * – book review / giveaway
Apr 17 – @lizzies.reading.recs * – book review / giveaway
Apr 17 – @pastacoffeeandbooks * – book review / giveaway
Apr 17 – @respecka * – book review
Apr 17 – @therearenobadbooks * – book review / giveaway
Apr 17 – Country Mamas With Kids – book review /giveaway
Apr 17 – @thisreadergirl *– book review / giveaway
Apr 17 – @therathercosyreader * – book review / giveaway
Author Interview
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
The story came to me both slowly and all at once. For years, I carried the image of a man
wrestling with grief, though I didn’t yet know his name or the shape his journey would take. Over
time, the forest began to emerge—not just as a setting, but as something watchful and alive.
Then I lost someone very close to me, and everything shifted. The story deepened. What had
once been a quiet idea became a story I had to tell, and I began to understand the journey the
novel itself wanted to take.
The fox was the final piece to fall into place. When he appeared, quiet and knowing, the entire
outline suddenly felt whole. That was the moment I realized the story I had been circling for
years had finally come alive.
What is the last great book you’ve read?
The last great book I read was The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Most people
seem to read it as a story about hard work, dedication, and seeing something through to the
end—but my takeaway was different. What struck me most was how someone can devote their
entire life to a goal, pour everything into it, and then, in an instant, have it taken away—and yet,
to the world, it’s just another ordinary day. The sea doesn’t pause for triumph or heartbreak; it
simply goes on. That quiet, unflinching inevitability stayed with me long after I finished the book.
In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?
I actually do a lot of my writing on pen and paper—I guess I’m a bit old-fashioned that way. There’s
something about the tactile experience that I love: the weight of the notebook in my hand, the feel of the
pen moving across the page. I feel more connected to my own words that way. The same goes for
reading—I prefer physical books, appreciating the texture of the pages and the quiet rhythm of flipping
through them. It makes the story feel more real, more present.
If you could put yourself as a character in your book, who would you be?
Definitely the fox. There’s something about him that speaks to me—mysterious, beautiful,
and filled with ancient wisdom. He watches, guides, and knows more than he lets on,
moving through the story with quiet purpose. I’d love to inhabit that space: seeing the world
from a different perspective, carrying secrets and insights, and nudging others along their
paths without ever revealing everything.
Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?
I like to write in a sun-filled room whenever I can. There’s something about the warmth and light
that helps clear my mind and settle into the story. My beagle is always curled up at my feet, and
having that quiet, loyal presence nearby makes the space feel calm and grounding. It’s a small
ritual, but it helps me enter the world of the novel more fully.
Giveaway
Author-signed copy of Asa Bowers’ MANCALA MOON, Plus $25 Amazon Gift Card (one winner / USA only) (ends April 24)
