Blood and Moonlight by Erin Beaty is an interesting serial killer mystery with a touch of fantasy to make it even more intriguing.

The world that Beaty created was very detailed and enjoyable. The serial killer had a Jack the Ripper vibe and it was actually pretty dark and disturbing when it came to the murders. As for the mystery, I figured out the killer pretty early on, but it was still a good read to see how Cat, Simon, and the rest went about figuring it out. I did get a bit confused too towards the end when Cat comes face to face with the killer… I thought she knew who it was then (guess I was reading too late in the night and was sleepy), so I couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t telling Simon.

While the fantasy aspect was throughout the entire book, it was pretty light. And we didn’t get more information about the concept until about 75% into the story. Even though I was looking for more of a fantasy book, it was so well written and the characters very developed, that I still enjoyed it a lot.

It feels like every YA book has romance in it, the attraction between Simon and Cat wasn’t too overdone, but I think the story would have been just as good, or even better, without it, but that’s just my opinion and you may really enjoy it.

If you are looking for a serial killer mystery with lots of suspects and red herrings, twists and turns, and a touch of fantasy then you should definitely check out Blood and Moonlight.

What initially drew me to this book was the beautiful cover! I enjoyed this book and thought the author did a great job weaving in fantasy elements with a murder mystery. It was different which I really liked. The romance portion felt a little forced at times, but overall, a well written and executed YA book.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

There were some things I liked about this and some things I didn't. Let's start with the good. First of all, this is one of the most striking covers I've seen in quite some time. It is both beautiful and haunting and it immediately made me intrigued. I also very much enjoyed the Selanae people. It was very interesting that a group of people could draw power from the moonlight. I do wish we had more time spent on this aspect because I feel like we barely touched this but it had so much potential to bring this book to another level. Instead of just being pushed to the side, I think the magic aspect should have been more leaned into.

I also thought the world building was quite good, especially for a standalone book. A lot of YA fantasy are able to spread the worldbuilding throughout 3 or so books and Beaty was able to squeeze a lot of cool aspects into one. It also didn't feel too info-dumpy and instead the explanations were able to be woven in organically. The world felt lived in as well.

Now for the things that didn't quite strike the cord with me. I thought the actual mystery was very interesting, although it was rather easy to figure out who the killer was. I did not like the romance. I swear YA books just throw in romance because they "should" have them, but Simon and Cat felt so incompatible. I don't enjoy forced romance subplots and this definitely would have been better if they were simply good friends. The plot also tended to drag a bit, which slowed down the forward movement sometimes.

This was interesting. I am not sure I loved it but I enjoyed it. This is probably not a book I would buy for the library as it is a niche topic but maybe if a student asked for the type of book.

A big thank to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fantasy? Murder mystery? All wrapped up with magic and a mysterious love interest? Sign me up!

Blood and Moonlight by Erin Beaty is a YA fantasy thriller, that follows the story of Catrin as she witnesses the escape of a murderer. Joined by detective Simon, whose mind closely follows that of a killer, Catrin falls down the rabbit hole of murders. But things aren't quite that simple as Catrin has a secret of her own.

Though I've only had the chance to read Erin Beaty's first novel of the Traitor's Kiss. I feel like this newest addition to her literary set, it quite fantastical. As well as perfect for anyone not wanting a full-blow fantasy. Though still want the mystical feel for magic and adventure. But do be warned, this book leans heavily on the aspect of a murder mystery instead of full-blown magic. Still, a great read when needing a break from complex world building and magic systems.

This book is everything!

It has three-dimensional characters, a mysterious serial killer on the loose, exciting moon magic, a sweet romance, impressive old-school investigating, and a really unique setting. The writing has great pacing, flows nicely, and is super easy to binge read. It's one of those books where you don't want to put it down and, when you do, you can't wait to pick it back up again.

The primary focus of this story is the serial killer and, because of that, there are a few questions left unanswered when it comes to the fantasy/magic elements. I think there are enough that a second book could be warranted to tie up some of those loose ends, so I am interested to see if that happens.

But overall, this is quite the adventure into the depths of criminal minds, murder investigations, family facades, and small town secrets.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book! First I’d like to say that this cover is absolutely beautiful and was the reason why I requested the book, it was honestly my favorite part of the book. The writing was alright and I didn’t find myself particularly enjoying the book until I was about 80% done. The romance felt somewhat forced and overall I just didn’t really “connect” with the book.

Enthralling, adventurous, and full of beauty.

Blood and Moonlight had me hooked from the first page. Instantly, I stepped into a world full of crime, high stakes murder, and a main character, with mystical powers that makes her a witness to said murders. This book has similarities to Sherlock Holmes and the Netflix show, Mind Hunter. You dive into a murder mystery that picks apart a budding serial killer. A serial killer that is just beginning and puts the entire town on edge (as any serial killer would).

Our main character, Catrin/Cat, is an orphan that had run away to the local city's Sanctum to later be employed to the Master Architect; in charge of climbing the building's scaffolds to ensure their structure and safety. On the night she unbelievably falls and finds herself witness to a murder investigation, she also unlocks gifts she never knew she had or quite frankly, understands. This murder investigation pulls in a young man named Simon, an investigator of madness from a far-off city. Seeming to always know when a murder is taking place, she pairs up with him in hopes of solving the case, protecting her guardian -Magister Thomas, and saving another woman from the killer's ever increasing appetite for blood.

I found myself unable to put this book down, fully engrossed in the murder mystery aspect. Quite literally, as I stayed up into the late hours of the night to finish it. Most mystery thrillers leave a crumb trail for the reader to make their assumptions and solve the case before our main characters. And though authors most often try to de-rail us, we as readers are able to pin point it no matter the amount of random characters they start throwing into suspicion. While I was able to pick out the right suspect in the end, Beaty did her very best to throw me off my game. She had me second, triple, and quadruple questioning myself within the last 25% of the book which was incredibly fun, adding to my suspense and disbelief. I had so much fun with the psychological thriller our characters had to work out. They got deep and dirty into the mind of a serial killer.

On top of the murderous thriller plot, Beaty also creates a stunning culture that has historically used the moon and its light as a source of power - a culture that has had to hide as their views are considered sacrilege by the majority culture that reverences the sun. I am a lover of the moon and all it's divinity so this touched my heart. It was enthralling and represented issues we have all known to exist throughout the history of man and its many religions. It was gorgeously written. Beaty also does a phenomenal job in touching on mental illnesses (her acknowledgments in the end strictly call this out) within a fantasy book.

Our characters in Blood and Moonlight are now some of my favorite characters of all time. May I just say, Simon and Cat are the most precious sides to one crazy, blood caked coin. They made me swoon and smile. They are quite a match; perfect for their imperfections. Because this was a murder mystery, every side character was suspect and hated by me at some point in time - which truly is a credit to how well Beaty can write a murder mystery. To the characters that did not end up being the killer: I am sorry and I loved you in the end. To the character that was the murderer: you are one sick son of a gun. You deserved it.

I had not read Erin Beaty's previous series, The Traitor's Circle, so I can not attest to her as a writer in terms of growth or in comparison. I can however say that she is one of my favorite authors who have a release this year. I can't stress to you enough how beautiful, thrilling, and captivating this book was. It left me with a book hangover that has me hesitant to read any other murder mystery thrillers in fear that whatever follows would only disappoint. As of right now, it tops the list of 2022 releases I have read so far! While it currently stands as a standalone book, with an ending that I could be completely content with, I would also not mind a continuance.

Let's just say you wouldn't be doing your shelves a disservice by adding this book's gorgeous cover to the collection. This however is not just about cover beauty as its contents are even better than the cover could hint at. I would highly recommend adding this book to your shelves when it is released. A wondrous 4.5 star read (rounded up to 5 for website purposes)!

*a copy was provided by Netgalley for review purposes. Thank you!*

Catrin, an orphan who has found her place as an assistant to the master architect of the Sanctum, is the eye witness to the start of a nasty string of murders in Collis. Simon, cousin to the ruling family of Collis, is hired to investigate the murders and try to catch the killer before more women turn up dead. As Catrin aids in the investigation, she also slowly discovers her magickal abilities granted by the moonlight, uncovering the secrets of her parentage.

I was pleasantly surprised by this read! The cover is absolutely gorgeous, and the story was super engaging and interesting. If you love thrillers and mysteries, especially about serial killers and the psychology behind them, I think you will love this book. The fantasy elements are lighter and I really think the mystery is the heart of the book. I can truly say I did not see the ending coming! I would love a sequel, if only to delve more in to Catrin's powers and how they work. The magick system in this book is so interesting and I really wanted to explore it more than one allows.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for providing me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions and views expressed in this review are purely my own and not affiliated with any brand.

If you like a murder mystery and fantasy, this is the book for you! Erin Beaty does an excellent job of weaving together elements of fantasy with an intriguing murder mystery. The story is engaging and the characters are likable.

I thought this one was really interesting! A fantasy blend with a murder mystery was so intriguing to me and I'm so glad I chose to read this one! I would consider this one slower paced, but the writing was beautiful and atmospheric, and the storyline was quite interesting. I honestly couldn't figure it out and I kept turning the pages to find out more! I definitely had Stalking Jack the Ripper vibes while reading this, but it is still its own unique story and I loved it. And I love the amazing cover as well! I will definitely read more from this author.

"You can't truly be good until you have the choice not to be."

Read if you enjoy:
• murder mystery
• fantasy & magic
• serial killer stories
• strong female lead

Thank you Macmillan Children's for this e-ARC!

The premise of a murder mystery set in a fantasy world was intriguing and at first the book started with a good premise and the way the mystery was introduced. But after a few chapters, I simply got bored. The world feels bare bones and almost cookie cutter like other fantasy books I've read. Plus I just didn't care about why the protagonist cared so much if her boss was a murder suspect. It just didn't hold my attention and the world and writing weren't anything special to not keep going. A bummer but I'm glad I tried it.

What a fantastic story. Blood and Moonlight is filled with dark and mysterious murder tale with a fantasy twist in the mix. The story intrigued me from the moment I read the synopsis and it only grew as I proceeded through the novel. Erin Beaty definitely did not shy away from making these murders brutal and graphic. I did like this angle to the story because a lot of murder mysteries I’ve read tend to shy away from the brutal details. This added a level of intensity to the murders that made me be like What??? How can someone do something this horrific. It kept me wanting to continue to find out how this all turns out.

Catrin is a wonderful protagonist character. Following her story as she tried to unravel the truth behind the murders kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I never could tell who the killer was. Every single time I would think we got a clue to who it is the plot thickened and I questioned everything! Even when it was revealed who it was I never saw it coming until Catrin realized the truth too. The fantasy/magical element to this story with the Selenae and their abilities during the moonlight ours was fascinating! I really loved learning about their abilities and how Catrin tied into them. I do wish we did got a little more about their abilities and how they work. It was just so fascinating I wanted to know!

Catrin and Simon’s romance blossomed so well across the story. It felt authentic and real. It didn’t feel rushed or forced. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the two of them discover their feelings for each other.

When we discover the truth of everything I was like NO WAY. I couldn’t believe who it was and for the reason they did it.

This book was so right up my alley, you have no idea! I love me a good, dark crime thriller, and this one had magic! So, it was perfect, but I am not joking when I say it’s <b>dark</b> and not for the faint of heart…

Blood and Moonlight is a twisting dark mystery in a fantastical world reminiscent of France, and reminded me of Stalking Jack the Ripper, Netflix’s Mindhunter, Criminal Minds, and a dash of magic paired with a Hunchback of Notre Dame setting.

The mystery was extremely, EXTREMELY, well executed! I honestly could not guess who the killer was, and I love how we had several suspects, and it was only when all the pieces fell into place, in the right order, that it made sense and it was so clear. I really appreciate that in a mystery, and Erin Beaty did a fantastic job of sprinkling in clues while always raising more questions. So many questions! About Catrin’s past, about who Simon is, the voices, the Selenae…so many questions, but asked with a trust that the author will reveal all at the right time. There are no loose ends with this story!

It was a very fast-paced story, managing to keep up the intensity while also delivering deep world-building, character development, and a very cool, strict magic system. My curiosity about the world was piqued right from the start, I was immediately pulled into the story, and Catrin was such a incredible protagonist to follow! She has so much spunk and courage, and she didn’t lack relatability and authenticity.

The romance felt very natural—just the way teenagers fall in love. And I guess there was a little bit of love rhombusing in this one, but I truly didn’t mind! In fact, if you can call it a love triangle, it is the best love triangle I’ve ever read, because I didn’t hate it! Or really even think of it that way. It was just two separate situations, without any leading on or playing both sides. Both relationships felt very honest and valuable, and Catrin had very clear intentions with both Remi and Simon.

I also really appreciated the author’s note and Juliane’s character, starting with her strange way of talking, and then learning more about her struggle with schizophrenia. Having had some personal experience with family suffering from this mental illness, I really appreciated the compassion with which Erin Beaty approached the subject, and I think it was very well done. I hope that Juliane helps readers learn not to fear those with extremely difficult mental illness, but to have more compassion for them instead.

Now, the unsavory bits! As I mentioned above, this mystery does not hold back it’s punches, and so it will definitely not be everyone’s cup of tea. I love myself some true crime, so I wasn’t shocked or offended by the content, but those less accustomed to forensic crime (Criminal Minds, SVU, etc.) may have difficulty with some of the content. However, while the content (namely deaths of the victims) are gruesome and disturbing, the descriptions are very simple and not excessive, so you understand what happened without any gratuitous details.

There was something about this book that really grabbed a hold of me and didn’t let go. And it wasn’t just the thrilling mystery. I think it’s that desire for justice we all have, to uncover the truth no matter how ugly it may be. It is only when everything is exposed to the light (or should I say, the moonlight) that we can grieve the truth, process, and find a way forward.

All in all, I have to give this five stars, with a trigger warning. I will definitely be reading this book again when I want a good creepy mystery, or a boost of inspiration! Yeah, I’m a dark soul sometimes…

Trigger Warnings: Rape, Violence, Incest

This book is quite the adventure. A genre-blending mystery that fuses history, fantasy, and historical fiction this book definitely draws readers in. It's also just the right amount of over the top.

Things you'll find in this book: moon magic, gruesome murders, women in architecture, European inspired historical setting, three guys in love with our leading lady, and commentary on how we treat mental health in society historically and in our present day.

This book is pretty slow paced, but lots happens in the book so I didn't get too frustrated with it being slow. The world is easy to picture and the magic system is fascinating and feels rooted in reality and fits with the time period in the book.

If you don't often read fantasy, but like a murder mystery, I think you should give this one a shot. It's a true mystery as opposed to a thriller.

There's also a really wonderful authors note at the end that really took my appreciation of this book to the next level.

I know they say don't judge a book by its cover. But that is what I did for this book. Because I mean look at the cover it is beautiful. I also choose not to read what this book was about before I read it. So I went into this book totally blind. And I was actually really surprised because I really enjoyed this one. Now I am not a big fantasy reader but, I am a big thriller reader. I was not a big fan of the fantasy vibes of this story. But, I did enjoy the thriller vibes. I enjoyed the overall story of this book. I thought it was really well written and I was never bored. So I would suggest this one. I am so happy that I read this book and gave it a shot.

I will never not love an Erin Beaty book. Her writing is so atmospheric and intense that it sucks you in from the beginning sentence. Cat, Simon, Remi, and the lot are fully fleshed characters that have flaws and feel so real. The plot pacing was nice and you never feel like its lagging.

A page-turning tale of obsession, murder and intrigue set in a magical medieval world.

Catrin's an orphan who's carved out a home for herself at a cathedral called the Sanctum. But when evidence indicates her beloved master architect may be involved in a grisly, Jack the Ripper-style series of murders, she joins the investigation to make sure the investigator considers others suspects. Catrin soon finds herself drawn to the mysterious investigator, Simon, even as Simon's wealthier cousin and Cat's childhood friend also show an interest in her.

This book pits two religions against each other - the followers of the sun and the followers of the moon, who can tap into magic in the moonlight. Cat was raised in a nunnery by followers of the light, but she begins to have experiences she cannot explain. When followers of the moon begin trailing her, she begins to question everything she thought she knew.

Determined her friends are innocent, Catrin uses her extra-sharp senses to find evidence that the killer is someone else. But the killer begins toying with Simon and Cat, leaving trophies and evidence to taunt them. But Cat's keeping secrets, too. In the moments before their death, she's heard the victims calling to her in her head. As the killer's victims get more personal, Cat has to decide who she can trust. 

Filled with potential suspects, this book kept me guessing until the very last page. The magic system was well-done, and the descriptions of Cat discovering her powers were beautiful. This was a well-done, unique fantasy. 

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and TBR & Beyond Tours for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Blood and Moonlight is the story of Catrin, a young orphan employed by an architect to inspect structural flaws to prevent deadly outcomes during construction. During one of her inspections, she witnesses a murder and must team up with Simon, a mysterious visitor who has been assigned to investigate the murder.

I loved Catrin - she’s certainly stubborn and proud, but she loves and feels deeply. She is fiercely protective of those important to her. Most of the time, Catrin didn’t need rescuing. Instead, she did most of the rescuing, as the boys of this novel often found themselves in tricky situations. I loved the romance with Simon. He’s an adorable, swoon worthy book boyfriend. He’s earned a forever spot on my shelf. Moreover, the magic system was interesting and creative, but still accessible and east-to-understand.

My favorite aspect of this novel was the murder investigation. Like Mindhunter, Simon used forensic psychology to build a profile of the killer and help narrow down a list of suspects. As a true crime fan, I was pleasantly surprised to encounter these techniques in a YA fantasy novel!

Still, it felt as though Catrin and Simon’s story isn’t quite finished. There are quite a few unanswered questions - mostly regarding Catrin’s background and the Selenae. According to Goodreads, a sequel may be in the works. I’m certainly rooting for this!

I came for the stunning cover and stayed for the main character Catrin and mental health representation.

Though it was less gothic than the cover let on, I appreciate Jared this tale of Catrin, a girl with an ability to spot structural flaws before they become potentially dangerous. And if that weren’t enough to set her up as a nada as, oh yeah—there are murder. And she works with Simon to get to the bottom of what’s happening. And I found myself jotting down clues in my phone app to keep them straight!

Between the beautiful descriptions (I couldn’t help but visualize the architecture as it was described), and the connection between Catrin and Simon, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to MacMillan and Netgalley for this ARC!