lisajuliareads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The last few months I have been struggling with reading, it kept giving me headaches or pain in my eyes. Most books I started I was unable to finish because I just couldn't read and eventually lost interest or hope. I managed to read a graphic novel and 2 very short books the last few months, but that was about it. Then this book came (along with a new pair of glasses to try) and I ~finally~ was able to finish it!
This book was an easy and quick read - if I had my pre-2022 reading abilities, I would've devoured this book in 2 or less days. The chapters were a perfect mix of medium or short, the occasional longer chapter didn't feel too long. It was easy to follow the switches between POVs, even if there was still some mystery around some characters.
The plot was interesting. When I read the summary, I knew I wanted to read this book. It did not disappoint.
However, at some point not getting answers to the dozen questions I had got a bit annoying. The whole time you're aware you don't know the full story, and I know that's on purpose because the characters suffer from magical amnesia, but it gets frustrating. Even by the end it still feels like there are questions unanswered.
Speaking of the end, it felt kind of rushed to me. The whole book is slow to medium paced, and then the last few pages are suddenly very fast. It didn't really give the ending the story deserved. It was over too fast.
I would still recommend this book. While it didn't become an all time favorite like I had expected, I still had fun reading it. I'll still cherish this book, think back to it with a smile.
My rating: 3.75☆
This book was an easy and quick read - if I had my pre-2022 reading abilities, I would've devoured this book in 2 or less days. The chapters were a perfect mix of medium or short, the occasional longer chapter didn't feel too long. It was easy to follow the switches between POVs, even if there was still some mystery around some characters.
The plot was interesting. When I read the summary, I knew I wanted to read this book. It did not disappoint.
However, at some point not getting answers to the dozen questions I had got a bit annoying. The whole time you're aware you don't know the full story, and I know that's on purpose because the characters suffer from magical amnesia, but it gets frustrating. Even by the end it still feels like there are questions unanswered.
Speaking of the end, it felt kind of rushed to me. The whole book is slow to medium paced, and then the last few pages are suddenly very fast. It didn't really give the ending the story deserved. It was over too fast.
I would still recommend this book. While it didn't become an all time favorite like I had expected, I still had fun reading it. I'll still cherish this book, think back to it with a smile.
My rating: 3.75☆
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, Blood, Grief, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death and Child death
faeriefox's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This is a reread and was one of my favorite books in elementary school, and now I remember why.
The book is beautifully written, and the prose flows beautifully. It made me feel so many emotions, and the story is very unique and interesting. It's no wonder it won so many awards.
I loved Antain and Glurk's characters especially, and without those specific personalities, the book would have lost so much.
I didn't find most of the other characters to be well-developed, though, which was especially disappointing in Luna's case, since she is the main character. I felt like she was written as too old for her years, and like she didn't have much personality.
Aside from that though, everything was amazing. I especially loved the background on how the world came to be; most books just exist, and I like that this world is similar to our own in that the people within it have stories for how it came to be. It makes it more relatable.
All in all, this was an excellent book, and I'm glad I read it again.
The book is beautifully written, and the prose flows beautifully. It made me feel so many emotions, and the story is very unique and interesting. It's no wonder it won so many awards.
I loved Antain and Glurk's characters especially, and without those specific personalities, the book would have lost so much.
I didn't find most of the other characters to be well-developed, though, which was especially disappointing in Luna's case, since she is the main character. I felt like she was written as too old for her years, and like she didn't have much personality.
Aside from that though, everything was amazing. I especially loved the background on how the world came to be; most books just exist, and I like that this world is similar to our own in that the people within it have stories for how it came to be. It makes it more relatable.
All in all, this was an excellent book, and I'm glad I read it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Mental illness, and Confinement
Minor: Child death
xmurbef's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Christina Moore and it was absolutely perfect. I wouldn’t recommend consuming this book any other way. I loved how it was written, I loved how it almost felt like a children’s book but had the depth of an adult novel, and I loved the poetry of it all. An absolutely beautiful story.
Some content warnings for this book: child loss, animal cruelty
Some content warnings for this book: child loss, animal cruelty
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
jasmineslibraryy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
this book was magical and whimsical. i loved the characters and the lessons about love, grief, sorrow, and family. so many people undermine fantasy, especially children’s fantasy, as books that can inform and teach and be learned from, but this one left an impact on me and i don’t think i’ll forget it.
luna is chaotic and funny and emotional and is everything a teenage girl should be, i’m so glad young kids (and us older people too) have her to read about!
luna is chaotic and funny and emotional and is everything a teenage girl should be, i’m so glad young kids (and us older people too) have her to read about!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Death
Moderate: Child death
captainoliimar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Confinement, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Child death
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Violence
skudiklier's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This book was really sweet, and I loved the way it was written. It touches on some really important ideas and I'm glad I'll get to talk about it with others in my book club. I'd recommend this to fantasy fans, and people who want a complicated but mostly heartwarming story about love and found family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Grief, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Murder
Minor: Self harm, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
toofondofbooks_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a middle grade fantasy about a witch who rescues babies who are left for dead in a sacrificial ritual every year. One year, she accidentally feeds one of the babies moonlight and enmagicks her. She decides to keep the child as her own and protect her from her mistake. Of course, it's a little more involved than that, but I'm so bad at summarizing which is why I rarely do it, oops.
Anyway though, this book was surprisingly dark for a middle grade read, which I kind of loved. The writing is really great and the characters are loveable. Fyrian, the dragon, was such a delightful character and I love him with my whole heart. Additionally, I just thought that the whole story had a certain charm and whimsy about it that I haven't encountered in a long time. I think this book has a lot to say about the power of hope, family ties both biological and found, and coming of age. There were some parts that dragged for me and I don't think it needed to be as long as it is, but in general, I really enjoyed my time with it.
Anyway though, this book was surprisingly dark for a middle grade read, which I kind of loved. The writing is really great and the characters are loveable. Fyrian, the dragon, was such a delightful character and I love him with my whole heart. Additionally, I just thought that the whole story had a certain charm and whimsy about it that I haven't encountered in a long time. I think this book has a lot to say about the power of hope, family ties both biological and found, and coming of age. There were some parts that dragged for me and I don't think it needed to be as long as it is, but in general, I really enjoyed my time with it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Body horror, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, and Murder
emakay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and Emotional abuse
zombiezami's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Body horror, Mental illness, Confinement, and Ableism
Minor: Child death, Vomit, Death of parent, Animal death, and Sexism
saneism, incarcerationbetweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is such a gorgeous novel! Magic and wonder and learning the truth behind things. Barnhill has created a lush world that I loved getting lost in. I immediately got drawn into the story and didn't want to leave this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death and Confinement
Minor: Death