Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - When the Moon Hatched

Holy shit monkeys that was a wild ride.

The world building in this book is so damned cool. Everything is very UNIQUE - from the moons in the sky being a beautiful depiction of death, to the interesting layout of the world, to the plants, animals and creatures, to the different cultures, to the elemental magic system, to even the currency. It’s so well thought out and beautifully done. Took a bit to immerse myself in the world because it’s so incredibly different, but once you’re in it, you are IN IT!

As for the characters, they were so rich in their backstories, getting to know them was fascinating. Every little tidbit from reading at the beginning starts to make sense as you go through the story. So many times I was flipping back to earlier chapters and going OHHHHHHHH!!!! WOAH WTF

Raeve was such a cool FMC. She is a BADASS, and it was wonderful to read about her growth as a person and understand more and more about herself as the chapters went on.

Kaan, I love him. This man knows how to yearn. He and Rygun are so cool. His kingdom is giving Velaris but hot, and his ragtag crew are very fun. I hope we get more of them in the next one. I’m especially eager to read more about Grihms egg hunting journey.

The ending was reveal, after reveal, after reveal. It was so intense and exciting and FUN. I CANNOT WAIT FOR BOOK 2. Fall 2025 cannot come soon enough. LOVED IT THROUGH AND THROUGH

(May actually be in my top 3 books this year)

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akschulz's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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evilinchw0rm's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

An interesting world we don’t get to explore enough because we spend all of our time over the shoulders of the leading characters. I would have loved a more macro perspective, or perspectives from characters in other realms of society, to build the world out more and help me care about the narrative.

The spice is limited but deliciously spicy. The dragons are 10/10. The system of magic is novel and I’d like to explore the universe established here more. Just with 50% fewer words and 50% less rage.

The first 400 pages of this book could simply be rewritten to

“She’s angry, she kills stuff, she was mean to a piece of paper.”

and you wouldn’t lose much. Picks up significantly about halfway through, but everyone is still so angry all the time. Lots of rumbling and snarling and rage, not a lot of character development.

My biggest beefs:
-

The Fate Herder was just lazy writing that existed only as a plot device.

It came out of left field; was never introduced, was never mentioned again.
-

Raeve spends so much time being angry that she spends no time asking questions to find answers to situations.

What’s the point?

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happytayls's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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avialaeleigh's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

This book was so interesting. At first I couldn't figure out why we were seeing diary entries for Elluin when our main gal was Raeve. Plus the way that Kaan reacted to her when she had no idea who he was. At first I thought maybe Kaan and Raeve were like destined mates or something, but that is definitely not the case.

This book made me cry, laugh, horny, and get so mad. I wish that there was more to the book. Even with how hefty it already is I hate were it stopped. I feel like we were so close to Raeve recovering her memories and rembering not only that she's Elluin but who Kaan is to her as well as her daughter Kyzari, though I'm not sure if she knows the name of her child.

I hope that Kyzari doesn't get the same treatment that Raeve receive by the scavenger king, and it makes me wonder I'd he knows that Kyzari is his "neice" did he know that Raeve was Elluin and that she was his "sister-in-law"? And if he did why did he do what I think he did, considering we don't have much information on the time that Raeve spent with the scavenger king.

Also is the other that we see from time to time is Slátra, Elluin's moonplume inside her somehow? Is that how she was able to be healed and reborn sorta? And if so do we learn how this happened. And if it has happened before.

Also does Tyroth know that Kyzari isn't his child but Kaan's? And if so why hasn't he done anything with that knowledge. Or did he not see the point when Elluin and Slàtra died and went into the sky together?

Also fuck the author having the last thing being us finding out who sent Nee to Raeve. That is almost worse than being left on a cliff hanger with more questions than answers. Especially with where Kyzari is when she gets the return lark. Of all the people that I thought could have sent the lark throughout the book it was not her own daughter.

I have so many questions and I am not a patient person. I need the second book now and not next October.

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roddenea's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

Well, I looked at the release date for the second book and nearly threw my phone, so I feel like that would tell you something.

*Slightly spoilery but nothing that ruins anything*
I liked Raeve, I'm pissed at Parker for Essi still, and while I saw most of where the story was going, I was so excited to keep reading and confirm it. I did not expect Nee though. Well done.

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bookcaptivated's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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claireinabook's review against another edition

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Found it was too violent and I am trying to avoid unnecessary gore. If you check the trigger warnings, you'll see what I mean.

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