This story follows Catrin “Cat” as she works under the master architect and starts to learn about her past through a murder investigation. There is mystery, blood magic, and the moon. The setting of this was 5/5 stars. I loved the first half of this book with a passion. However, the last 25% of this really lost me. Cat would come up with conclusions about the murderer that came from nowhere and the last quarter of this book was her just accusing everyone with minimal reasons.
This story had Jack the Ripper vibes and that part was interesting. Like I said earlier, the setting of this story was great, but the plot was where it fell flat. There was also so suspense when it came to who the killer was. After the third time of Cat “guessing” who the killer was, I was just ready to finish the book. This feels like a debut novel or the authors first shot at a mystery. However, the setting along with the fantasy/blood magic aspect is good enough that I possibly read more from this author.

Blood and Moonlight is a thrilling YA fantasy/murder mystery surrounding an orphaned girl, Catrin in the city of Collis. Though she was raised in the local abbey under the Sisters of Light, she abandoned the two life paths that orphans of Collis are left with (a life in the cloister or a life on Pleasure Road) to become the assistant of the master architect (or Magister) of the Sanctum, the local cathedral. Catrin is tasked with inspecting the scaffolding following a deadly accident and prefers to do her job at night with the aid of the moon when there are less people around. One night as she is inspecting, she hears cries for help and has unusual visions. Though she rushes to save the person who is screaming, she is met with a scene of carnage and death.
Though the crime was gruesome, usually it would not warrant further investigation as the victim was poor and had a more taboo profession, however when the Comte’s son is named as a suspect, he appoints a venatre (detective) to investigate the crime. Since she found the body, Cat is asked to be interviewed and later joins the investigation with the venatre (Simon) and his cousins, Juliane and Lambert. As bodies begin to pile up, Cat finds herself at the center of something wicked and deadly.
The narrative/writing: Beaty’s writing is beautiful. Her descriptions are rich and detailed. The imagery and settings (particularly the Sanctum and the Selenae quarter) come to life in a captivating manner that makes you feel truly immersed in the writing.
The plot/worldbuilding: Blood and Moonlight is like a Jack the Ripper murder mystery with a sprinkling of moon magic and fantastic elements. The magic system and religions in this book are unique and original which gives this book a fresh feel. The worldbuilding in this book is strongly rooted in the religions surrounding the Sun (the Sisters of Light and other followers of the omniscient power that created the sun) and the Moon (the Selenae who possess a magic that causes those who follow the sun to shun and fear them as heretics). There is also a strong heaping of the found-family trope to round out the intertwining plot points.
The characters: This book has a cast of characters that are all unique and have interesting and individual voices. Though the main focus is on Cat and Simon, the side case is diverse and likeable.
Cat – The story for Cat is one of self-discovery and development into one’s own path in life. For most of her life, Cat felt as though she had no choices in her future until she met the Magister and ultimately Simon. Through the investigation into these murders, Cat develops a sense of self and confidence. She can be a little stubborn and head-strong at times, but she is tenacious and cares about those she loves loudly.
Simon – Simon is a bit less self-assured than Cat with a traumatic past keeping him from reaching the level of confidence I hoped for him. Through his past, he seems to be the only one who can truly connect to the mind of the serial killer to help stop him. He is sweet and boyish and I couldn’t help falling for how much he cared about Cat.
Side characters: My favorite side characters were Juliane and Athene. Juliane was a whimsical and sometimes nonsensical character who I couldn’t help but love. She brought the story a sense of reality with some of her character’s subplot and I felt that she helped round out the story as a whole. Athene was very much a no-nonsense straight to the point type of character and I loved her personality. Remi was also a bit stubborn and not my favorite character if I’m being honest. I felt like he had no boundaries and didn’t understand Cat in the way he thought he did.
Overall: Blood and Moonlight is an engrossing story with captivating characters and an immersive story that is sure to be perfect for readers who love fantasy, magic, and murder mysteries.

To be fair, I didn't have any strong reactions while reading this book, emotionally. Like I cared about the characters, but it wasn't an upheaval of feelings.
And I think this is one of those books that's not meant for it even. This is quite like those quintessential mysteries and thrillers, but with a fantasy setting. And it's a little tricky to talk about because there is so much to love about this book, objectively.

The murder mystery is so well-written. Albeit slightly dragged, the twists and turns, the reveals, and the ominous clues have perfect timing and the desired gripping effect on the reader.

MAGIC SYSTEM

The magic system is also fascinating. I didn't expect it to have a lot of magic, to be honest. And I was mostly right.
Because technically the magic doesn't play a huge role in propelling the plot forward. And the looming threat of a serial killer roaming in their midst doesn't allow for the author to focus on how the magic fits in the world-building too much. It's more like a sub-plot, more relevant to the character's journey rather than the plot.

Though because our character does have the magic, it gives us a bit of an upper hand and more aware of the strange things happening around them.

It's the way it worked that attracted me the most. So it works in the way that there are two kind of magic-users: some who get their magic from the Sun, and others from the Moon.
Generally, the people who get their magic from the Moon are looked down upon and excluded from society. Stereotypes and false stories have been propagated about them in the city, and they've stayed away from them as a rule.
One of the reasons is that these people tend to stay up at night so that their blood can absorb as much moonlight as it can (for magic), and they sleep during the day. That alone is enough to make them an anomaly.

atmospheric and well-researched writing

Another thing that I appreciated in the writing is the character's voice. Our MC is an architect, or like an assistant to an architect. So when she describes a scene or a building, her passion shows through her words. And in the book itself, there are a lot of instances where the author takes a minute to re us about the details of the buildings and structures, and you can tell she knows her stuff.

The writing is very eerie and atmospheric. The way it's written, it amplifies the terror the character feels. It's not fast, but still edge-of-your-seat.

THE PLOT

The way the author keeps us on our toes, constantly making guesses about who's the killer and how are they doing is AMAZING! I already have a strange fascination with stories about serial killers and sociopaths. This was a great example of a book that uses that plot device well.
TBH, the pacing was the only thing I had an issue with. I still can't pinpoint exactly what it was. Maybe it was that we could've easily gone without a few scenes, or cut them short at least.

Just wanna throw it in there- Perhaps I'm just dumb, but I couldn't say for sure who the killer was. I had an inkling, of course. It wasn't completely out of the blue. But others seem to have guessed it easily, but I couldn't. So do with that what you will.

(3.5+) This book had me sufficiently hooked at 12 percent of the way through that, at 1:09 a.m. and running on less than four hours of sleep, I couldn’t bear to put it down.

Erin Beaty has crafted a quite beautiful tale with lovely whispers of magic and romance throughout. This is an ornate world, and it’s so well-researched and well-depicted that it comes alive and acts as a near-perfect backdrop to this story. A lot is based on the fact that you’re able to picture the imagery and the architecture, but Beaty’s way of describing everything is lively and robust without ever coming across as heavy-handed, so I never felt like I was floundering to imagine all the visual intricacies of her setting. The magic in the book was intriguing and fresh, and watching Catrin grow to understand her abilities never came across as forced; she acts as a perfect conduit to this world because she’s charming and spirited and curious. The other characters are intriguing, too, especially Simon and Juliane in regards to their relationship; through them, Beaty deftly tackles some more serious issues (mental illness).

While this book is many things (maybe too many), it’s mainly a murder mystery, and it’s well played out within these pages. I figured out who the killer was very early on, and I was still waiting with bated breath to see how the plot developed and what happened in the end. (Even if, when all’s said and done, the motive didn’t quite make sense.) The only problem with the whodunnit being telegraphed — at least for me — was that Catrin was blind to what I saw as so obvious, so her confusion felt like a glaring oversight and became frustrating. Like, the answer is right there!!!! But the investigation of the murders (which, beware, are quite gruesome) is nicely paced — even as the book toggles between being a murder mystery and a fantasy and a romance — and the clues will definitely get the reader theorizing.

I wish Beaty had created a little more chemistry between Catrin and Simon; instead of their connection growing naturally, it felt like they picked up in the middle of a relationship with no real lead-in, and things thereafter felt a little forced. I really enjoyed the way they related and opened up to each other, but there wasn’t much in these pages to explain this supposedly intense connection they felt. They’re cute together, but, for whatever, reason, I didn’t really buy a deep attraction. I almost think they would have been better as friends.

So, no, it’s not a perfect book. But it’s a well-woven tale, and it was well worth my __ under-eye bags the next day.

(Also, I’ll say what we’re all thinking: The cover is absolutely stunning and worth a buy for that alone.)

Special thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Erin Beaty for proving me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

With well written and believable characters, Blood and Moonlight is a excellent blend of Murder Mystery and YA Fantasy that will engross it's readers. I thoroughly enjoyed the worldbuilding, character development, and thrilling and unique storyline. Special thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of this novel!

I am honestly so surprised by how much I enjoyed this. This is definitely a book where you kind of have to trust the process and just roll with it because to be honest I wish this book had a glossary lol maybe the finished book will have one. BUT TRUST THE PROCESS YOU WONT REGRET IT.
I adore Cat. Me and everyone else apparently 🤣
I was getting some serious whip lash with this mystery! As soon as I thought I had it figured out they'd cast so much suspicion on someone else I didn't know which way was up. Trust no one. This was so good. Even if I was thoroughly confused at times, the best mysteries keep you guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Thrilling and absorbing. I sat down to start this book this morning....and I don't think I got off the couch until I finished it! I loved that Beaty combined a good ol' fashioned murder mystery with a strong YA fantasy. I enjoyed the hunt for the Jack the Ripper-style serial killer with an interesting system of magic.

The characters were all decently well-written and believable. The city and world were...less well-developed, but were still described enough that I didn't feel lost. Perhaps if I had read Beaty's previous work, it would be different. I don't know if her books are all set in the same world or not, but my lack of previous knowledge didn't impede my enjoyment of the story. I felt like the level of gore/gruesome aspects was appropriate for a YA-age book, though I know others might feel as though it was a bit too much blood/gore.

The mystery wrapped up...okay. It was one of those "this crucial piece of information we [the audience and the main character] didn't know before helps to identify the killer at the right moment." Which is...fine. It's not Agatha Christie-level mystery writing, but it was well paced and absorbing.

Overall, I think this is one I would read again, and I'll keep an eye out for more of Beaty's work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for my copy of the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

More like a 3.5 out of 5 but I’ll round up because it was an enjoyable read, even if it was cheesy and predictable at times. Props to Erin for doing the bare minimum and hiring a sensitivity reader for the mental illness/schizophrenia depictions in the book, I really did admire her author’s note for that. As for the plot and story, it felt… unfinished? The entire aspect of Cat’s magic and her secret past were brought up but not played upon enough to satisfy me. I wanted more magic and crime, less romance. Simon and Remy and Lambert and Odin all annoyed me in some way, so I really wish there had been less romance and less men overall to deal with. Good premise, fell a little flat, but ultimately a good, fun, read.

Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
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I was so excited to read this book, and it started out really good. It’s a Jack the Ripper inspired murder mystery with a fantasy touch. The story started out strong and had my attention hooked on it. A thrilling cat and mouse game, a cool magic concept, wonderful slow-burn romance and engaging main character.

The books main character Catrin gets accidentally roped into the murder investigation after overhearing the first murder. She teams up with the investigator Simon and his cousin Juliene. First it’s only for her own selfish reasons, but over time she can’t help but to care. I would honestly say that Catrin and Simon are my favourite part of the whole book. Their relationship was just so lovely to read about, and I really wanted Catrin to end up with a guy that deserved her. Usually I’m not the biggest fan of “the chosen one” trope since it usually makes the main character way too overpowered. But here it just worked. Catrine wasn’t untouchable or anything like that, she just was able to contribute to the investigation in a special way no-one had the ability to do.

They were the only consistent thing that kept my attention, and even when the story started going all over the place they were the one reason I kept reading. Because the story lost my interest towards the end. There just was something a bit off with the pacing of the book, and I noticed that my attention started to falter. There is just so much going on, but not in a good way. Way too many red herrings. But I think my biggest disappointment was that the whole thing with the magic powers didn’t get the chance to get properly explored. It felt like just a fotnot, something bigger that was waiting to be unleashed. But when it actually got some space in the story, the whole thing just felt rushed through. Which is a shame, as I would have loved to see more of it.

There were definitely parts of the book I loved, and others I feel could have been done better. If you enjoyed Stalking Jack the Ripper, then you’ll most likely enjoy this one too! Or if you want a fantasy murder mystery, I can also see you enjoy it.

This is definitely book I requested entirely for the cover, because just look at the composition of vines and the rendering of the skin. Hot damn. As for the book itself, I was extremely excited when I saw that the author has a background in engineering and that really really shows. The descriptions of structural components of the Sanctum (similar to a cathedral?) and the scaffolding Catrin climbs around, how seamlessly those details are woven into plot points really show the author knows her way around structures. Unfortunately, I found the characters fairly forgettable. Catrin feels like your generic YA female protagonist, a little spunky and 'not like other girls' and her romance with Simon, the investigator, felt forced. Additionally, I thought plot twists were all fairly obvious. I did like the magical elements in this book and I definitely wish that could have been explored more. Overall, I rate this book a 3.5/5.

In Erin Beaty's fantasy mystery-thriller, Blood and Moonlight, an orphan with a secret, magical sight gets caught between a mysterious genius and the serial killer he’s hunting.

BLOOD AND MOONLIGHT is a great read for both mystery and fantasy lovers alike. I was super glad that I had access to both the ebook and the audiobook because this felt like a chonk of a book, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It takes a minute to get off the ground, but when the book gets going, it gets going. Beaty has crafted one of those mysteries that kept me guessing with every twists and turn until it landed with a conclusion that I didn't really even predict. With Catrin's POV, we really find ourselves in the middle of the mystery and that's a special quality in a book. I thought the world-building was really unique as well as the magic system, and seeing how Cat learns more about herself through it was satisfying. I also thought the romance between Cat and Simon was super sweet. All of the characters were really multi-faceted and unique. I appreciated the care in which the author has attempted to portray mental illness with Julianne and thought that she did a good job with portraying schizophrenia while stressing the fact that those who suffer with mental illnesses are people worth dignity and respect. The only issue I had with this was the pacing at first, but I thought this was a solid book overall and am glad I was able to read it.

3/5

Reading this was.. an experience. I’ve said this in pretty much all of my reviews, especially my more detailed ARC reviews, but writing style plays a big part in my overall enjoyment of a book. From the beginning, I was not a fan of the writing. Many lines reminded me of a 2012 YA novel:

“After dinner I’d traded my calf/length working skirt for a much shorter one over a man’s breeches and bound and pinned my dark curls into submission.”

This was on one of the first pages in the book.
I did have fun finding the lines that made me cringe, but it distracted me from the plot and characters. I cannot recall most of the characters’ names or how the mystery develops past the initial introduction and a few later details. I give this book three stars because I’ll admit this is a weird complaint to have; I would like to give this a neutral rating so as not to dissuade others from reading.
I’ll leave the reader(s) of this review with another lovely quote that sounds like I plucked it right out of an early draft of Twilight:

“When he left for further study in Lutecia, Remi kissed my cheek like a brother bidding a sister goodbye, saying things would be different when he returned. I'd assumed he was referring to the fact that, Sun willing, he'd have tested out of his apprenticeship. Then he'd called me Catrin—which was unusual—and kissed me again. On the mouth. In a very not brother-like way.”

I’m sorry what 😭

In conclusion, if you’re picky with microscopic details in writing, this book probably isn’t for you. If you can ignore things like this, I would highly encourage you to give this book a shot.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Blood and Moonlight simultaneously evokes two of my major fictional genre loves: gritty mystery/thrillers and fantasy worlds with historical aesthetics, so I ate this up. The world evokes medieval French vibes, and I love getting a sense of the Sanctum and its environs as the intense events occur within them.
The mystery is central to the plot, and it evokes vibes of Jack the Ripper and other notorious historical killers. It’s not afraid to describe crime scenes and violence, and while it’s not done distastefully, it’s still not for the faint of heart.
I appreciate that there’s an effort to also make both a textual statement about mental health issues (particularly schizophrenia) and the legacy of misunderstanding it through supporting cast members. And based on her author’s note, Beaty clearly cares about the subject deeply, and to do so in a crime novel also challenges dated stereotypes.
Catrin is a sympathetic, yet flawed lead. I love when protagonists can acknowledge their prejudices and grow from them. And Simon makes for a great counterpart for her, as while he is arrogant, some of his experiences help in Catrin’s growth. And he’s also just the sweetest, most dedicated person at heart, with a single-minded focus on finding the killer.
I really enjoyed this book, and am eager to try more from Erin Beaty in the future (I’ve heard pretty good things about the Traitor’s Circle series!). If you enjoy fantasy with historical aesthetic settings and intense mystery/thriller plots, I recommend this one.

The moon casts its light on buried lies and concealed truths in this thrilling (sometimes even bone-chilling) murder mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat, anxiously awaiting what will happen next.

Orphaned at a young age, Catrin is taken in by the city’s architect, where she discovers her love for the buildings surrounding her home. One fateful night while out inspecting a recent construction, she happens upon a gruesome murder and becomes involved in an investigation tangled in secrets, deception, and betrayal. When it becomes a game of cat and mouse, Cat must find out who she can trust and who is hiding beneath the city’s shadows.

This book was the perfect combination of magical fantasy and suspenseful thriller. Beaty’s writing was so immersive and imaginative. And with the dark medieval setting, foreboding atmosphere, and beautiful prose, I felt like I was leaping across the cityscapes into the moonlight alongside Cat and Simon.

The unexpected twists, turns, and red herrings had my head spinning endlessly with all the different possibilities and outcomes this book could take. I really admired how clever the two main characters were, working and collaborating as a team to piece together this intricate mystery.

The romance in the book had my heart MELTING!! I loved how they saw and accepted each other as equals and admired their different sets of unique abilities. The addition of magic introduced a sense of enchantment and awe to the story, balancing out the horror and dark subject matter of the plot. I thought it was so intriguing and conceptual but also beautiful. The sense of family and self just added that extra delicate touch the novel needed.

If you’re a fan of fantasy interwoven into a mystery like in stories such as Stalking Jack the Ripper and Crescent City and would love to put your detective hat on, keep this new thriller in mind.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Blood and Moonlight takes place in the city of Collis and follows our main character Cat. This book was enjoyable, and I like when books are multi-genre but it felt like it kept getting off track for this book. One second we have a sad angsty romance and then the next 50 pages are just about this strange moonshine ability that wasn't really developed before. Then there's also the whole criminal minds aspect. The moon abilities were really fascinating and I'm looking forward to learning more about that. I'd recommend if you want a fantasy Jack the Ripper.

I enjoyed this book, but I think it wasn't really my cup of tea. I definitely think it could be someone's favorite book; it has so many cool elements. As far as I could understand, it had a fairly nuanced perspective on mental health and it discussed so many aspects of mental health and disability in a variety of ways. The mystery was very well done, and it kept me guessing right until the very last moment. It's definitely grim (as most books about serial killers tend to be), so keep an eye out for content warnings if you're interested.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Just when I thought I figured out who was behind the murders, the development of the plot and clues had me second guessing myself up until the very end. Some parts were a little predictable, but I think that’s pretty typical for a YA murder mystery. There were some grammatical errors here and there, but they weren’t so bad that they took me out of the story. Where this book truly shines though is with the religions and magic systems that were set up. They were unique and done so well. Overall, it absolutely reads like a YA, but a compelling one. Even though I had my moments where the main character made me roll my eyes (she’s 17) or the plot seemed too predictable, that absolutely did not stop me from staying up until 3 am to figure out who the killer is. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good murder mystery and fantasy rolled into one!

Let’s talk about the cover first. It is gorgeous and I love it so much! It is definitely a favorite for this year. I’m also pretty ecstatic to have finally read another book by this author. It has been so long in between her last trilogy and I knew from the beginning of seeing this book I had to read it.

One thing that hasn’t changed is her writing. It’s still something I enjoy and I like seeing what new characters she has come up with as well as the plot. This plot was much different from her previous books as this time around she tackles a murder mystery. Can’t go wrong with a change and it’s always cool to see what an author can do when they switch things around.

The book is told from one perspective and it comes from Catrin. She works under an architect and helps find flaws in the structure so that no workers will hurt themselves. I can’t say I have ever read a book with that job and it was nice to see something different. I also liked learning about the structure they were building and those who also worked with Catrin. Sometimes they could be quite shady. As the murdering begins other characters were introduced and it was hard to pin point who to trust. I’m not surprised that Cat was so wishy washy with her choices of who it could be. I would have been in the same boat!

There were a few characters that I liked more than others. This could be due to page time as well. Two I really liked were Simon and Julianne (I think that is how you spell her name but I could be wrong 😂). They both were dealing with a lot in the background and some of it is discussed on page. One’s mental state was much worse and I felt for them. It was hard to see them deteriorate over the course of the book. I did like the added author’s note in the back that discussed what she was going for when it came to that character.

The fantasy aspect of this book was pretty interesting to say the least. The reader is discovering this secret world right along with Cat and I wished I had more of it! The magic that dealt with the moon and blood was just too cool to be so short.

Even though there was a lot of things I liked about this one, I still wish I got more of certain things and that the reveal and conclusion wasn’t so anticlimactic for me. Obviously this may not be an issue for others and so it’s not really a big deal.

Overall, this was a nice read in-between all of my heavier fantasy novels I have been reading. It gave me a cool mystery to dive into and maybe one day we will get more from this world. *fingers crossed*

5 STARS
*Let me also start by acknowledging the gorgeous cover and how perfectly it works for this book.*

This murder mystery fantasy novel didn't fail to keep me on my toes. I was making my own theories constantly, flipping back and forth on who I believed to be the killer. This story follows Catrin or 'Cat', an orphaned girl placed into the hands of the Sisters of the Light as a baby, once grown, run away to work with the Architect, Magister Thomas on the building of the beloved Sanctum of the town of Collis. Although we are never told the time period, it is described to be somewhere during the medieval era. Catrin lives with Magister Thomas, along with Mistress la Fontaine and her son Remone 'Remi' la Fontaine. Remi had worked with Magister Thomas as an apprentice for many years and had been gone to train under another to gain even more knowledge and become a Journeyman.

The story starts with Catrin heading out that night to inspect a crossbeam of the scaffolds of the sanctum. Magister Thomas notices her and says he will accompany so she isn't alone, however she prefers to be. Fortunately for her, Perrete Charpentier, a young lady who works on Pleasure Road stops by and demands to speak with the Architect. The Magister allows Catrin to go on her own as long as she wears the safety ropes—which she despises. Now under the moonlight within the Sanctum, Catrin inspects the crossbeam near one of the Gargoyles. It's split and will need to be fixed, it jabs her finger drawing blood just as the wind shrieks through the Gargoyle and something supernatural happens to Cat. Once back to sorts she sees a man fleeing, upon returning to the ground, she discovers a dead body and supposes the man fleeing was connected.

The main plot is the investigation of the killer, we also follow along as Cat searches for answers about her heritage, the magick, and her building romance with Simon who was assigned the Venatre for the investigation. This also touches on many different mental illnesses as well as graphic detail of the murders, so this is not a light read. With all that, this story never ceased to lose my attention or interest and I was ancy to find out all of what was hidden. This novel's ending is bittersweet in a happy way that leaves the future of the characters to the mind of the reader.