A review by robinainthood
Moonlight upon the Sea by Mariah L. Stevens

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow wow wow! The second installment in The Apricity Series is everything I could ever ask for and more!! This series has surprised me and seems to only get better with each book.

They went back and forth, around and around, and then they feigned indifference. Anything to keep each other.

What I Loved

To start, my biggest critique of the first book was the pacing. It started off slow and stayed that way for longer than necessary, but with Moonlight this wasn't an issue anymore! The story picks up right where it should and flows naturally and satisfyingly after that, with more scenes between our protagonists than you could ever ask for. My other issue (if I can even call it that) was the writing style which, in retrospect, isn't even an issue for me anymore. I've read much worse YA/NA (this week, in fact), and this author stands above the average in my opinion! The dialogue feels so natural and real, like how young adults actually talk and not how YA authors tend to think we talk... if that makes sense? And the descriptions/narration are so well written, seeing the pages come to life in your head comes easier than ever. I'm officially rescinding this aspect of my first review - the writing style is wonderful!

The mystical aspect of this story took me by surprise as well, something I wasn't expecting going into the series, but it's so agonizingly beautiful!
The way Stevens explores PTSD and healing through dreams (dreamwalking, as it's called in the book) is so uniquely captivating, so ethereal and heartwrenching. A divine fate drawing unlikely forces inevitably together as one. A love that is, in some ways, forbidden yet destined to come alive despite the obstacles it might face. Two broken souls meant invariably to be mended by the other, making themselves whole once again.
I mean, are you kidding?? Rip my heart out of my chest and stomp it into the ground next time, it'll hurt less!!

"I'll try again and again and again until He lets me have it."

What I Didn't Love

I have nothing negative to say about this one, y'all. Literally, just read it. Do yourself a favor if you haven't been convinced by now. You're welcome.

Conclusion

This series has me in a chokehold, Ms. Stevens. Free me so I may know peace.

(Also, I'm convinced that Janelle Monae's Don't Judge Me was written specifically and exclusively for Ash and Tayshia. You cannot prove me wrong.) 
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