Unfortunately, I DNFed this book.

The voice of the writing is strangely formal and doesn't hold my attention, and even after reading 40% of the story, I have no sense of WHO the main character is--I know facts about them--Catrin likes climbing, Catrin is an orphan, etc, but I have no sense of their voice or personality, or what she really wants in life.

Things just seem to happen kind of quickly and randomly, and then get forgotten. A character gets drugged and goes home within a few paragraphs and it's never brought up again. Characters that are supposed to be a bit starcrossed are mean to each other, and though we are repeatedly told the father figure is gentle and kind, on-page he is angry/agressive.

The dialogue in the story is also strangely blunt and contrived-- characters insisting they call each other by their first names, answering the questions the other hasn't voiced, etc.

Finally, I have basically guessed the end of this book, and what I assume is supposed to be the world-altering truth to be revealed. No, I don't know if I'm right, but I'm bored by the drawing out of the answer. Things are happening so slowly while all the answers stare the character in the face. Either these not-so-subtle hints are red herrings, in which case, let's stop dragging this out, Or I'm right, in which case, again, let's stop dragging this out.

“Blood and Moonlight”

Wow. Wow wow wow.

Madness and murder. In a time and place where women are often ladies of the night, nuns, or wives, there is Cat who stands alone.

Orphaned at birth, Catrin, Cat to you, has always been an outsider even amongst the outsiders. Raised in an orphanage Cat bucks the system to work for an architect as a sort of structural engineer, nimbly climbing the scaffolds in the moonlight to search for any cracks or weakening that might be dangerous to the workers. But strange things are happening in the moonlight. Cat can hear things, see things she should not be able to hear or see, like the murder of a friend.

Someone is murdering the women of Collis. How are the victims connected? Why can Cat hear and see their deaths from so far away? Who is the stranger in the moonlight and why do the architect and Mother Agnes refuse to tell Cat who her parents were? Who is she?

There are some books that are meaty, and some that are quick and fast reads. This book is meaty. It is very well-written but it leaves me torn. I’m torn because the book has a definitive ending… but I want to read more. At the same time, sometimes the best books stand alone. I want to read more about Cat and her adventures in sleuthing. I also want this book to stand alone and not have a sequel because everything was written so well that I’m afraid it can’t be topped. Quite the conundrum. But I digress. I highly recommend this book. If you like murder mysteries, magic, a well written and developed plot, as well as a well-rounded protagonist… trust me. Read this book. I did figure out the murderer before the characters did, but I actually didn’t mind that. Five stars

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got an eGalley of this book from NetGalley to review.

Thoughts: This was a decent read that introduces us to a lush fantasy world and some intriguing characters. At the heart this is a “whodunit” type of mystery. The characters are trying to track down a serial killer before he/she kills again. I enjoyed this but found the pacing to be fairly slow, especially in the first half of the book.

Catrin is an intriguing character and I enjoyed reading about the work she does on the Sanctum; it involves a lot of dangerous climbing and precarious architecture. I also loved how her moon magic slowly comes to light and how she learns to deal with it. The side characters are also very well done; they have a lot of depth and are very unique. There is a lot of discussion about madness; both the killer’s madness and the strange insanity of some of the side characters and the abilities they have.

This is very much a “who dun it” type of murder mystery where Catrin and crew are trying to figure out who the serial killer is before he/she kills again. There is a lot of speculation and back and forth and misleading information. You are led to think it is person A and then suddenly maybe it is person B. As a backdrop to the main serial killer plot, Catrin is developing special powers and is trying to figure out why that is happening.

This is the second “hunting down the serial killer” type of story I have read in the last couple weeks. I am not a huge fan of these types of plots. Just like the other book I read (Kelley Armstrong’s “A Rip Through Time”), there are a lot of the characters standing around speculating for a lot of the book. This was very slow for the first 50% to 70% of the book. I almost put it down and stopped reading it altogether. However, I do try to finish books I get for review. I did end up enjoying how everything wrapped up and the pace did pick up quite a bit towards the end of the book.

My Summary (4/5): Overall while I didn’t love this, it was well written. I enjoyed the world-building and the intricate characters. I thought the pacing was too slow and I don’t enjoy these types of “hunting down a serial killer” types of plots. I had been wanting to read something by Beaty since she released her first fantasy series which is why I picked up this book for review. I wasn’t super impressed and don’t plan on reading more by her. However, if you enjoy her more deliberate writing style this might be a great book for you.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not sure why this book took me soo long to finish! I think I just had too many buddy reads going on and kept putting this one aside. I really enjoyed the concept of this fantasy world revolving around moon magic. I also LOVED how it's just one book rather than a series because the ending felt complete and let you wonder about what was next for certain characters. Catrin and Simon are hunting down a serial killer that keeps murdering women and leaving behind clues. I loved the character Catrin and how resilient, kind, and intelligent she was throughout the book. Truly one of my favorite parts was the incorporation of mental illness within this book. The author did a great job of highlighting how mental illness is stigmatized and individuals with these issues are viewed as crazy. However, when it's an illness having to do with your kidney, lungs, or any other organs it's viewed as just that an 'illness'. The brain is also an organ so why is it frowned upon when you are experiencing mental health issues??

The beginning started off with plenty of action! I was drawn in from the get-go and wanted to explore more, but it also made me a little nervous about how the rest of the story was going to go. It felt fast-paced in the beginning then slowed down to pick back up towards the ending. I LOVED the twists and turns at the end!! I truly wasn't expecting that and every time I thought I had it figured out SIKE another curveball.

Overall, if you're looking for a whodunit book with a splash of fantasy this is right up your alley. I plan on reading more books from this author because this one didn't disappoint. I understood the concept of the fantasy world and found that I wasn't overwhelmed with the world-building like I can be with other fantasy books sometimes.

An advanced read copy of this book was provided to me by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I will admit that the stunning cover alone was the impetus of my desire to read this book but the description also peaked my curiosity about the world created in Blood and Moonlight after all the potential for a gripping and unique fantasy story full of magic, mayhem, and even a little romance, what more can a reader ask for? I was happy to say that I wasn't disappointed. This story at its heart is a murder mystery and as a long time fan of the genre I was rather excited by that however, I think readers who may pick this book up as strictly fantasy fans without a previous enjoyment of the murder mystery genre may find the plot slow with a lot of focus being on world building, character building, and of all things masonry work. Yet, the main character Catrin is witty, intelligent, and resourceful which makes it a joy to watch her and investigator Simon attempt to solve the grisly murder thrust upon them. This book is more firmly YA than not but there are somewhat graphic depictions of death and murder if this is something you as a reader are squeamish to you may wish to avoid, There are also discussions of incest, S.A., and mental health issues including suicide. The magic system was very interesting and unique adding a bit of flavor to what would otherwise be a very straightforward murder mystery. It also added to my enjoyment of the story overall. I will say I really found myself enjoying this book it hit all the notes for me. I think fans of Kerri Maniscalco, Cassandra Clare, or Naomi Novik will really enjoy reading Blood and Moonlight.

Read 65% and skimmed the rest.

When I first spotted the cover, I didn't need to know anything else about this. It's a hauntingly beautiful cover that captivated me. The blood dripping down the fingers was the real seller for me. The sad thing is that beautiful covers always sucker me in and let me down. That is what happened here.

The moon having mystical benefits was amazing. I loved how certain characters had heightened senses after coming into direct moonlight. It was unique and I wish the story was more about that than murder but we can't always get what we want.

Figuring out the killer was easy. After this certain character was introduced, I knew immediately. Where's the fun in that? No cat and mouse game? No, thanks. The murders were cool and reminded me of Jack the Ripper. We can never have enough of those.

This book sounded like something I would love but I didn’t like the writing style or the main character. Cat was super cringey and her infatuation with another character kind of creeped me out. And don’t get me started on the releasing of a breath she didn’t know she was holding. *sigh* It’s a hard pass.

Blood and Moonlight is going to be a no from me. This just wasn't written for someone like me because I guessed things before they even happened. I was bored through most of it and Simon was the only decent character. That's saying a lot because he even bothered me some. I just didn't like this and that breaks my heart.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an ARC for a review!

This book had murder, mystery, magick and romance! A few of my favorite things! If these are a few of your favorite things then you'll want to read this book! The story was slow the first few chapters but then picks up and I couldn't put it down!

I liked the magick concept and how it was explained. I don't like long drawn out explanations on majick concepts and this book sums up the process very quickly.

This books makes me want to go dancing in the moonlight (you'll see what I mean when you read the book)!

I don't want to give too much away because it is a mystery and I want you to figure out "who done it," without any sway from me! Enjoy!

This book had me hooked from start to finish. I would describe this as more of a mystery/thriller with a fantasy element thrown in. The magic is unique and easy to understand and adds to the story. The characters are so compelling and the author keeps you guessing until the very end. I thought I had the murderer one minute and then the next I questioned everything and that is the type of mystery I love. If you want a gothic murder mystery with fantasy and romance then this book is PERFECT for you!

I received this ARC through NetGalley, and am glad I got the opportunity to read the book. This does not influence my review. This was a great read. I did not accurately guess as to who the actually murderer was. The world building was great, the story took place in a country with a rich culture based on the sun and the moon (not necessarily worshipping, but prizing either). The romance was okay.

Murder, Moonlight, and Magic. A fantasy mystery thriller with a dash of romance. The story follows an orphan girl who discovers her unusual skills are more than what she thought and a genius inspector who has a peculiar way of knowing what the killer is thinking as these two work together to find a killer who is killing woman and soon focusing on them. In the city of Collis there is a holy Sanctum and a orphan girl named Catrin lives and works there. She spends her days and nights checking building structure to make sure that there are no flaws in the construction before it hurts anyone. One night she witnesses a murderer escaping from his crime and she suddenly finds herself pulled into a dangerous chain of events. Cue Simon, a mysterious and genius inspector of sorts who has an uncanny ability to know what the killer is thinking and a calm in the face of dead bodies that is startling. Simon is put in charge of catching the murderer and needs Cat’s help to figure it out. both of them find themselves hunting for clues as more dead bodies begin to show up and as the killer begins to specifically target people in Cat’s life and leave notes for Simon... soon Cat will find herself questioning everyone in her life and who could possibly be the killer. It doesn’t help that Simon and Cat are beginning to fall for one another but can you truly fall in love with someone if you keep secrets from them and Simon and Cat are full of their own secrets. This was a fantastic read!!! A perfect mixture of magic, romance, detective work, and a jack the ripper-esque mystery. I loved this book so much and honestly I NEED AN EXTRA CHAPTER OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR MY TWO DARLINGS. Simon and Cat’s relationship is quite sweet, both of them have baggage, and they both care and love the other. They are willing to understand and give each other what the other needs and it just *chef’s kiss*. Seriously if you love murder mystery with fantasy and romance, this is for you!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Have chosen not to review this book due to time constraints. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this title

First off a big thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy of Blood and Moonlight! I really enjoyed the book and for me it was a 3.5 book! Plus the cover is to die for! This being an advanced copy didn't influence my rating at all.

I did really enjoy this book and found many aspects of it enjoyable while I was reading. I think my favorite part of the story was definitely the mystery of it all. I really enjoyed the mystery behind figuring out who the killer was, why they were killing and how it all connected together. I think the author did a really great job keeping the mystery going and giving some really interesting clues. I honestly got a lot of Criminal Minds vibes as they were investigating and looking into the motives of the killer, which I really enjoyed. I was definitely surprised at the end of who the killer was and why they did it and the story did a good job of keeping me guessing.

I will admit that I did find some of the clues confusing at times and sometimes the clues were all jammed packed together which made it hard at times to keep track of what was going on. I also sometimes found that the clues were rushed or just kind of thrown in and then not explained in great detail which also made it hard to figure out where the investigation was going. There was a major part of the investigation where they were looking into the first victim that wasn't explained in full until the very last 3 chapters of the book and after the killer had been revealed that would have potentially been better served earlier in the book, but that's my opinion. I will say that once the backstory is reveled for the first victim it did shed a lot of light on the killer and what started their killing spree.

I also really enjoyed the magic concept that the author gave to the book. I loved the idea of having powers granted by the moon. I do think it maybe wasn't entirely necessary for the book, but it did play into the main character Catrin being able to help solve the mystery so it made sense for it to be there, but I feel it wasn't necessary.

Character wise I did enjoy the characters. The main character Catrin is really interesting and her backstory was pretty cool. I do think the author could have avoided her having such a dramatic backstory because I feel it didn't really serve much of a purpose to the story itself other than explaining her powers and why she lived at the abbey. Simon was an okay character. He had some depth to himself and why he was as good at investigating as he was and why he wanted to protect his cousin Juliane, but I found he a little boring to be honest. The other characters Remi, Juliane, Oudin and Lambert were all okay as side characters. They added to the story in the ways necessary, without being too big of a distractor. I will say that Catrin's character does make some rash decisions when she feels that she is right and her idea of who the killer is shifts very quickly over the last 10 chapters or so and gave me some whiplash.

I will also add that the romance in the book was just kind of eh. It wasn't anything super impressive or great and honestly the relationship between Catrin and Simon didn't really leave me rooting for them in the end and honestly I don't think the story really actually needed it.

Overall I did enjoy the book. There were a lot of aspects that I loved and some others that I didn't, but I think it's a pretty solid book that a lot of people will enjoy!

i really loved this book. Beauty’s writing is fantastic and i think that a lot of people will buy this based off of the cover alone and still be very happy with the story

Thank you so much to Net Galley and to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of Blood and Moonlight by Erin Beaty in exchange for an honest review. All of the following opinions are all my own and I hope to influence some people to read this after how much I loved it!!!

5 out of 5 stars - a rating that I hardly ever give.

I do not give out the five-star rating lightly, but this book deserves it. I was enticed to apply for an ARC after seeing this cover a few times. It is one that I remembered versus others in the genre. I am not a fantasy of mysteries yet fantasy is where it is at!

The premise follows Catrin, an orphan who can easily spot flaws in construction before issues arise, witnesses a murder. Simon is hired to solve the case while Catrin begins to uncover where her powers originated from.

The characters were very intriguing and Simon used one of my favorite traits to see in characters - a logical and analytical mind. Too often, we see books where the characters' thoughts and words are incredibly surface level. Each character had intentions that were also backed up with logic. This was not the case here. The side characters weren't filler either. There was romance too, which I was not expecting. The villain also gave me chills - no spoilers though.

The world-building is fantastic and there is definitely so much which could be built upon. It makes me very sad its a standalone! Sometimes, books are better this way though!

Y'all better make this one popular!

Tropes: Slow-burn, angst, "find the killer"

“Our lives are as short and fleeting as phases of the moon.”

I love Erin Beaty’s ‘The Traitor’s Circle’ trilogy, and so when she first announced she was writing a new fantasy story, I immediately added it to my Most Anticipated list. And I wasn’t disappointed.

One of the things I really love about Beaty’s fantasy stories are how realistic they feel. Blood and Moonlight is set in the fictional world of Collis, but it feels a lot like Paris, France. The Gothic architectural designs mentioned mirror that of Notre Dame or Rouen Cathedral or Sainte-Chapelle de Vincennes. A familiarity with the kind of architecture she was writing about really helped set the scene.

Beaty tackles the concept of serial killers in this YA Fantasy, and does so with such incredible accuracy that there were moments I forgot I was reading fiction. Her knowledge of criminal investigations and psychological profiling into serial criminals was astonishingly accurate, with all of her detective’s anecdotes about how these killers think being based in true crime fact. Every time the detective added another piece to the mental puzzle, I wanted to cheer.

One of the characters has schizophrenia, so there was a lot of talk about mental illness and stigmas around it. There was also an author’s note about how she specifically addresses mental illness in this book, but I loved being able to read about all the various ways those who struggle with mental illness are treated by those around them. It was a different, but accurate, depiction of how mental illness can impact someone and their loved ones.

The magic and religion systems in this book were simple and easy to follow. The two deities are the Sun and the Moon (one is good, one is bad). There is a group of people, the Selenae, who get magick from the Moon and are able to use it to heal, to enhance their senses as night, and hear thoughts/connect to minds through blood and moonlight. This is Beaty’s first book in which magic is part of the world, but it fits seamlessly with the rest of the story.

Overall, I really loved this book! It was a fun, quick read with an engaging plot and fun characters.

A YA fantasy thriller alone could draw in most readers who love thrillers and fantasy books. However, add in a list of amazing characters (many of them being morally gray) , romance, magic, a witty devious killer who keeps you on your toes and guessing. The entire story was a phenomenal page turner with a well set pace that could pull a reader right in with so much suspicion from one character to the next.
Catrin “Cat” is an orphan girl from the city of Collis with a secret. As a baby she was handed to the Sisters of the Light and grew up to become an Architect. Cat uses her secret to inspect the Sanctum which leads to her coming across a crime scene. When witnessing a murderer escaping the scene of a crime.
Cat finds herself tangled in the web of a serial killer who is waiting to kill again and a mysterious, smart and bewildering detective Simon. A detective who happens to be able to have accurate insight into the mind of the killer.
As the crimes continue so does Cat’s need to hide her secret. An extra sight that was given to her by the moon and what may be able to save those about her from the killer.

The constant going plot, I was captivated and engaged. I found myself wanting to find out everything that was hidden, all the secrets and turns; coming up with theories as I read. When you believe you had it all figured out, it turns out you are wrong. A delight that it's not a predictable storyline. It’s intriguing from realistic characters that are not perfect, to the inclusion of mental health, social complications and so on.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Catrin is an orphan girl who works for an architect that is building the city of Collis' holy Sanctum. She has a unique ability to detect flaws in the scaffolding used in the construction of the building. During one of her inspections, she witnesses a murder and she is pulled into the search for the killer by the mysterious and handsome inspector, Simon. When she discovers her latent moonlight and blood magic, that enable her to see clearly in the dark and to hear the thoughts of unconscious or dying individuals, the mystery becomes more intriguing and dangerous. This story will keep you guessing and the author's ability to weave mental illness, and all of it's stigmas, into the story, makes it even more personal and insightful.

I think this novel was okay. After reading a few YA fantasy titles in a row this one is hard to remember and doesn't necessarily stand on its own as original. However, the writing was good enough and I do think students new to YA fantasy will find something to enjoy.

I absolutely loved this book. It kept you questioning all the way to the end. The way the author incorporated the magick aspects was original and thoughtfully done. Though this book stands alone, I would be excited to read a sequel or spin-off from the other plot lines that were mentioned. I simply couldn’t put it down.

Screams echo in my ears, iron is spilling from me, but I’m not dead?
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Wow. This book was definitely something. It was unlike anything I’ve ever read, and it was insanely good.

For starters, this book is gruesome. As a true crime junkie, this is right up my alley. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to say I “love gore”, but I definitely know how to handle it. Heck, I watch true crime for fun. That says a lot.

Anywho, I loved how drawn the explicit scenes were - from the few murder mystery books I’ve read, they never drew an image from me. Along with the imagery, I adored the suspense! It was very well done. from shadows creeping around you at night to the eerie sense of flashbacks, and the sounds of following footsteps. So, I applaud Ms. Beaty for keeping me on my toes because quite frankly, I’m often disappointed with these stories.

But of course, this isn’t just a story of murder and mystery, but of the much-needed awareness for mental illnesses. Here’s the stitch - this book is meant to be a hard-ingested one because the realities of madness are not easily accepted, rather it’s viewed with such disgust. And I for one know how inhuman it is to view it with anything but with a sense of care and value. Life isn’t easy, caring for mentally ill loved ones is hard, but it is not morally right to view them as sickening.

Lastly, how about romance you ask? You have no idea the struggle I went through to accept the insta-love. I liked it but I disliked it? Catrin, especially as the main struggle because she was stupidly jealous? And it wasn’t until something happens that she stops? AND THIS WAS PRACTICALLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BOOK. Buuuuttt, I did enjoy the sweetness of the romance - it wasn’t the greatest but it was nice.

In the end, this book was amazing for its plot. Not so much for the romance, but I definitely recommend it for readers who wish to have a good scare. 😏
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Thank you, NetGalley and Fierce Reads for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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