Received an eARC from NetGalley/Fierce Reads

In this story we follow Catrin, an orphan girl who lives in the city of Collis. While working on the city's Sanctum, Cat is started by a scream. As she goes to investigate she sees someone running away as she gets closer she finds the lifeless body of someone she knew.

Simon, the city's Venatra, "Investigator", is asked to find the culprit of this crime. While Simon and Catrin work together to find the murderer another body is found. Catrin does all she can to help Simon, while keeping a few secrets to herself.

I was hooked from the beginning. I really loved how the story mostly takes place at night. There is such a magical element to stories that are set at night. The moon plays a big role in Catrin's, Cat's, life. When Cat is touched by the moonlight her senses are enhanced. She can hear noises from far away. Her sense of smell and taste are also heightened, but that's not all. This is not the only magical gift Cat has. If Cat touches blood she can hear the person's last thoughts.

I really liked how Cat's magic also gave her the ability to get a glimpse of what the victims are going through. Although the idea of being in the body of someone who is being killed is terrifying Erin Beaty did a great job in not making it so graphic that I had to put the book down. Another magical ability I liked from the story is that Cat was able to hear the victim's last thoughts when she accidentally touched their blood.

There was one character that was portrayed having a mental illness that to me seemed like touching on schizophrenia. This character also had a photographic memory. Even though the exact illnesses was never really stated, in my opinion it was well written.

I would have liked to learn more about Cat's family and seen her develop her magical abilities more or question why she had them a bit.

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed this story. I laughed, I cried, I fell in love. I was so invested in these characters lives that I never really knew who the killer was until the very end. I did have a few theories, but none played out. It was a surprised until the very end.

I would love it if there was a second book to this story just so that I could find out more about what happens to these characters.

Aside from having an amazing cover this book kept me hooked! The plot was luring, the characters were enticing, I loved the world building. I heard so many great things about previous titles by this author. I cant wait to read more!

Cat is a witness to a murder, but she doesn’t realize it until the body of a woman is found. How could she have heard it when she was so far away from the scene of the crime?

Blood and Moonlight is a YA fantasy thriller that immediately hooked me from the beginning. With a focus on the thriller aspect of the novel, the story follows Cat as she helps with the investigation into finding a serial killer. I thought this was odd because she has no experience that would prove her to be helpful with the investigation, especially since her powers remain a secret. While I understand her participation moved the story forward, I wish a more credible reason had been given.

Cat’s powers are one of the most interesting aspects of the novel. I was disappointed her abilities and her background were secondary to finding the killer. I thought it was unique and wanted to explore this more. The moments when the story traversed into her background were moments I wanted to keep going so I could keep reading about it.

Although there were things I wished were different, I was engaged in the story, continually hypothesizing who the killer could be and second-guessing myself even when I thought I was certain I knew who it was. Blood and Moonlight would be a good read for those who like mystery thrillers that utilize old-fashioned sleuthing and have a bit of magic mixed in. (3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars)

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

My Review:

I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review and place on this blog tour – thanks!

This is my first Erin Beaty book; however, she came highly recommended as a lot of my friends really enjoyed The Traitor’s Circle trilogy. But after reading this one, I am on the fence if I will be picking up that series any time soon. I am still very confused by this book, both of the plot and my feelings toward it. Which is why I have decided to break this review into two parts: “The Things I Liked” and “The Things I Did Not Understand / Liked Less”. So let’s get into it!

THINGS I DID NOT UNDERSTAND/LIKED LESS

Let’s start with the less positive part of this review and keep the best for last.

The so-called magick system! As Cat is an outsider to her own magic, any explanation and world building regarding it was really lacking. It left me very confused and its uses always seemed to be things that were most convenient to the plot (including its sudden awakenning- you cannot tell me that she had not been out in the moonlight after her fourteenth birthday it doesn’t fit her character). Also, if you are going to give your MC magic she doesn’t know about, don’t make her an expert in using it without having ANY training.
Cat’s entitlement to her magick and the Selanae community. For someone who seems to understand the necessitated secrecy of their magic, she doesn’t seem to have a problem with disrespecting the community and bringing everyone in without a regard for their safety.
The romance! You cannot tell me plain, regular Catrin somehow has the romantic interest of not one, not two, but THREE men!! I was really mad about one in particular which I had a feeling was going to be a thing but bleh
WHAT I LIKED

The investigative parts of the first half of the book. It reminded me a lot of Criminal Minds (one of my favourite shows) how Simon got into the head of the killer gave me Walmart Hotch vibes and I was there for it. I loved him and Juliane and wish we had gotten more of that
Cat and Margeurite’s friendship! Again something I wish we would have gotten a lot more of but what page time the pair got I always enjoyed.
The architectural descriptions. I always enjoy learning about architecture and it was interesting to hear about the Sanctum and to try and imagine what this large, holy building would look like off of the page.
All in all, I think a lot of people will enjoy this book! It’s very different from any other fantasy/thrillers I have read before and the writing style is easy to fall into.

Blood and Moonlight releases June 28th

This was a mostly enjoyable stand alone fantasy but it did tend to drag in places and I felt like I was a ping pong ball going back and forth. The cover is amazing

Think Jack the Ripper but with magic. Sold yet? I was. It is set in Victorian-like times where the town is divided into two - those who worship the sun, and those who worship the moon. They say, that those who live under the moon have special powers. Catrin soon learns that she can use moon magic and has to find out how and why. The realization happens that Catrin has magic, when she hears a young girl being killed, and finds her mutilated body. An investigation ensues, and Catrin gets herself involved, as the finger keeps pointing to those closest to her,

The murder mystery was fun. I kept trying to figure out what was happening and why, who is the serial killer. At the same time learning along Catrin where she comes from and her own history,

The magic system is unique, and loved how beautifully it is described.

One of the main themes in this book is schizophrenia and what it is like to live with it. I thought it was handled quite well, even given the times this book is set in.

A fun experience reading the book, even if some of the jumping around and accusing everyone in sight got old. Would still love to see more of this world and this magic.

I felt that this story was a solid 3. It took a minute for me to feel involved enough that I wanted to finish the book. The beginning was confusing, which I assume is due to the world Building. The main characters were predictable, and followed the trend of current young adult novels.

First of all, the cover is gorgeous. That is initially the entire reason I wanted to read the book. After reading the synopsis I was hooked. I am not going to lie I had a hard time getting into this one. I persevered through about the first 30% and then it got much better. This book is a mythological-inspired fantasy. The society the main character Catrin lives in worships the sun. She is an employee of an architect who is in charge of the construction of the sanctum. Catrin witnesses a murder. The murders keep happening and Catrin basically becomes a detective. She discovers powers as well along the way. I also just found out this is no longer a standalone but book 1 of a duology. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
*thank you to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid YA fantasy thriller. I was originally drawn in by the beautiful but interesting looking cover. I really appreciated how the author included and touched on mental health and disorders. The acknowledgements at the end of the book were really wonderful. I thought the pacing was done well and the story was easy to follow. I did find that I was able to guess the killer but it didn’t take away from the fun of the story. This really felt like a great mashup of fantasy, thriller, murder mystery and romance all bundled into one. The magic system was unique and I absolutely loved it. I thought the characters were all really done well and I found myself connecting and caring about each of them. Overall this was a nice entertaining read.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF. I couldn’t get into this story—possibly the timing just isn’t right. The blurb was compelling, and I liked the writing style from what I read…the story just didn’t captivate me like I wish it did.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC version of this book.

Blood and Moonlight is a young adult fantasy thriller by author Erin Beaty. Not only is the idea of a fantasy thriller super interesting to me, I can confidently say now that I am a huge fan of Erin Beaty’s writing. I loved her last series, the Traitor’s Circle and I loved this book so SO much! Blood and Moonlight gripped me from the very first page and did not let go until long after I finished it. This book consumed me for hours. I could not put it down.

In Blood and Moonlight we meet our main character Catrin, who is an orphaned apprentice to the town’s master architect. There are so many layers to this story, but one night when Cat is inspecting the scaffolding in a building, she witnesses a couple of odd occurrences that set the stage for the rest of the story. Here we learn about Selenae, a secretive race of people who can wield magic, and she also witnesses the tail end of a murder, and she notices some strange traits that she never knew she possessed. Being one of the only witnesses she somehow gets roped into the investigation, and one murder becomes a string of them. I was so fascinated by trying to figure out not only who the serial killer was but also learning more about what was going on with Cat.

I am really hoping that we get another story with Cat (and Simon) because I need to know more about this magic, and learn about just what exactly she can do. This story very nicely wrapped up, and like all good murder mysteries, it kept me guessing until the end and there are no cliffhangers. But I loved the book, the characters and the writing so much that I want more! Erin Beaty writes unputdown-able books. All of them have swept me up and transported me to a different place, which is exactly what I want in a book. If you have not yet discovered the magic of an Erin Beaty book, you are really missing out. Pick one up now! And starting with Blood and Moonlight is a great pick! I loved this book. It is easily one of the best books I have read all year and it pulled me right out of a reading slump! Blood and Moonlight is fantastic!

This is definitely a case of where the cover and the premise sounds better than what is inside. I will say it was ambitious and I enjoyed parts of the serial killer aspects.

I saw this book and read the summary and knew immediately I wanted to read it and I wasn't wrong.

Catrin is our main character and she has a special ability to spot flaws in the construction of the holy sanctum before anything bad can happen. When she is out one night looking over the building, she witnesses a murder and is pulled into the investigation to help try to stop the murderer before they strike again.

Assigned to officially investigate the crime is Simon, a distant relative of the town leader. He has insights into the mind of the killer that prove to be strangely accurate and as he and Catrin work together to stop the murderer, they find themselves drawn to each other and as their relationship changes, they disclose secrets that could put them both in danger.

I really enjoyed this book and if you're looking for a new standalone YA with a bit of mystery and magic, definitely pick this one up.

Catrin's abilities were more than those with her magic have ever possessed before and it isn't until she gets caught up in a murder that she realizes how to use them. She starts working with Simon to help solve these murders but has to hide her magic out of fear. The two of them start to form a bond but at the same time no one can be trusted. As things start to unravel and they get closer to the murderer she's forced to reveal her secrets.

The ending was such a rollercoaster and I honestly couldn't figure out who the killer was up until the very last second. I think the author did a good job of keeping things intense and unpredictable. I didn't feel the romance lent much to the story but overall I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a YA Fantasy Thriller with a historical setting.

Four words: Medieval Magic Murder Mystery
These words are the reason that I devoured this book and was completely swept away by the characters, the storyline, and the unique use of magic.

Readers are introduced to Catrin, or Cat, and orphan girls raised by Sisters of the Light (think: Nuns in a sense), and later given the job of Inspector of Scaffolding and Crossbeams for the new rebuild of the Sanctum. This book is set during a Medieval Times era, so you do have to travel back to then, but the descriptions are amazing with how gorgeous the town of Collis is. During one of her nights searching for possible weak points in the wooden supports, she hears the screams of a woman and later discovers that she has been murdered 😮 Call forth the Venatre, Simon, to examine and investigate the crime, along with Cat, a key witness and vital asset. As more and more women are found dead, you are left trying to solve the crime right alongside these two, and let’s just say that I was dead set that it was one person but NOPE was I wrong, big time 😂

Not only does this take place during the Medieval era, but the inclusion of a unique magic system that divides the land is wonderfully written. Secrets are kept, people are banished, and above all, you must not help those that are different…or can you? I guess you’ll have to read to find out!

Overall I loved this book! I haven’t read a mystery this fast in quite some time and I have high hopes for when all you amazing people read it as well 💕

Catrin - Cat to her friends - is an orphan, raised in a convent, and making her way in the world as an assistant to an architect, helping him to remake a cathedral dedicated to the Sun. As his assistant, her primary job is to check the scaffolding to be sure it's safe for the workers, and she good at what she does. One night, while examining the scaffolding in bright moonlight to be ready for the next day, she hears a woman cry for help - and when she runs to help her, she finds a badly mutilated corpse. Cat, as a witness, is caught up in the investigation, but unfortunately, the murdered woman was only the first of several. So begins Blood and Moonlight, a murder mystery set in an alternate world where magic works, for some, and for everyone else, there are hand tools. But in a world where most people worship the Sun, the magic users worship the Moon, and thus are shuttered away in an enclave of their own, their actual abilities unknown to any but themselves.

I enjoyed this novel, although it did take me a bit to get into it - but only the first several chapters. The mystery is well done, and there are several places in the plot where readers may believe they've solved the mystery - but there remain multiple possible murderers until the very end. There is some description of murdered corpses - not in particular detail, but enough that this book is recommended for upper middle school and older.

I don’t have any complaints. I realize that’s not exactly a glowing review but that’s where I’m at. It was good, just not amazing. It was a pretty interesting murder mystery. The setting was really unique. The main character was likable.
I would recommend!

A skilled climber and an apprentice to the Master Architect, Catrin witnesses a murder on a moonlit rooftop inspection. Catrin seeks the help of the inspector, Simon, a man uncomfortably familiar with the particular brand of madness loose in their little town, as one murder becomes many and the culprit could be anywhere and anyone. As she gets closer to Simon, and to finding the killer, Catrin must also hide a forbidden power that manifests in the moonlight. This secret power could just as easily help her solve this mystery as get her killed.

Magic, madness, moonlight, mayhem, and MURDER. Need I say more?

This fantasy murder mystery is a truly perfect amalgamation of my favorite genres. Every aspect of this book pulled me in: the worldbuilding, the characters, the dialogue, the medieval setting, the mystery solving. Blood and Moonlight was a thrilling, captivating read, and I absolutely could not bring myself to put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Erin Beaty for the e-ARC.

Beaty has created here a symphony of a story, it has just about everything you could want in a historical fantasy murder mystery, and more. My first impression was that it started off a little slow. Heavy on the historical and murder mystery part but it was so well done it sucked you right in. The world building in this book was amazing. From the attention to detail while explaining the sanctum under construction it was obvious that a lot of research and love went into setting the stage. I loved imaging the town and the people, reminding me a little of my days playing assassins creed. I loved the characters in this book. Everyone had a story that all together made everything align just right. Cat’s development, especially as she comes into her powers and the murder investigation continues is well done. I was pleasantly surprised to see the metal health representation and thought that it was handled phenomenally, I also really appreciated the authors note at the end further clarifying it. As far as magic systems go I really liked this one. I would have liked to have seen more sooner in the story but understand the way that it was written. I will note that I spent a good majority of the book thinking that one of the characters was the murderer only to be blind sided at the end with the truth which rarely happens to me!

3.8

This started off all pillars of the earth with magic, a serial killer, and some fairly lyrical prose thrown in. Sadly, it didn't sustain. By the time we got to how the magic worked I didn't feel all that invested.