Romantasy fans not yet introduced to Catrin and Simon should pick up Blood And Moonlight. It is a magical and unique murder mystery set in a French inspired fantasy world. The sequel, Silence and Shadow, makes the best new books of October list because I’m eager to read more of the irresistible couple at the heart of the series.

Silence and Shadow by Erin Beaty, the second installment in the Blood and Moonlight series, continues to deliver a thrilling blend of YA romance and fantasy with a tantalizing touch of mystery. This sequel builds on everything I loved about the first book, offering both the answers I craved and enriching the world-building. The plot, characters, and story are all masterfully crafted, drawing me in so deeply that I couldn’t put it down. Simon and Cat’s chemistry is electric and their dynamic adds an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative. I was thoroughly immersed and enjoyed this book just as much as its predecessor.

Erin Beaty's *Silence and Shadow* is a captivating fantasy that masterfully combines intrigue and romance in a richly developed world. Beaty's skillful character development and gripping plot twists keep readers enthralled from start to finish. This novel's blend of suspense and emotional depth makes it a standout in the fantasy genre.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the book, however not as much as the first. I found myself wishing this had been a standalone rather than a duology. I found the magic system unique, although I would have enjoyed learning more about it. Solid 3 stars YA book

I genuinely enjouy\yed this sequel, especially the furthering of this relationship between Cat and Simon. The mmysteriousl elements really delivered and I love to see that in a followup to a book I loved!

I was so incredibly pleased with this sequel to Blood and Moonlight. I loved the first book and was immediately sucked in to the story and characters so I was happy that the sequel retained a lot of similarities while also providing us with more world building and character development.

One of the things that really draws me to this story is that the author blends fantasy and thriller seamlessly. There is a mysterious killer on the loose that Cat and Simon are trying to stop why also confronting Cat’s new found and very interesting moon magic. I also enjoyed the blossoming relationship between the two main characters as an added bonus. It was the perfect amount of believable romance on top of a thrilling story.

I especially love the authors writing style, Erin Beaty draws you in from the very first page. And while the story is fast paced it's still easy to digest! I hope we get more from these characters and this world in the future!

*Thank you to NetGalley, Erin Beaty, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux for sending me a copy of this book to review. All thoughts are my own.*

I enjoyed getting to know Cat and Simon better in this book. It is a new city but they can still find a way to help the locals to find another serial killer. Cat learns more about her Selanae heritage and the powers that she possesses. I found that very interesting, especially with all the types of stones and how they can be used to heal, or discover the truth of the dead bodies that are popping up in the city with mysterious ways of being killed. This book had a more interesting serial killer than the first book. Simon and Catrin also have to deal with prejudices from both the Hadrians and Selanae, as well as the politics of the city and had to make some hard choices about Cat's powers and whether it was best to stay together or go their separate ways. It made for an interesting story that I enjoyed more than the first book and I would not mind reading more tales of their journeys finding killers and discovering all the secrets of Cat's powers.

I loved returning to Catrin and Simon's adventures in this novel. The more I learn about Catrin's magical abilities, the more interested I am in her story. Like Blood and Moonlight, Catrin uses her abilities to help Simon track down a serial killer. I'm a big fan of crime TV shows and mystery novels as it is, so the magical element just adds to the appeal for me. I do worry that more novels in this series could start to feel formulaic, but I'll surely keep reading them as long as they're written.

Mhm I think this book was okay. We got another murder mystery and the development of the relationship between Cat and Simon which is adorable ( honestly the main reason why I finished the book). I feel like a lot of descriptions for the killer and the process to identify him was just kind of a copy of what we were shown in book one. So I wasn't exactly thrilled or super invested in this installment to be honest. I did liked that Cat was more independent and confident in this one though.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me an arc in exchange of my honest review.

I love this book as much as the first one! The cover is also so incredibly beautiful.
The story included all the elements I enjoyed from the first book, with also providing the answers and extra world building I was hoping for.
There’s another mysterious killer on the loose, the moon magic is explored even more, and the romance continues to deepen.
The character development doesn’t play such a big role in this book, but I didn’t care when everything else was so perfect.
Thank you for the ARC!

Its very rare that I like a sequel more than the first book but this one delivered above and beyond what i could have hoped for. The characters of this series are some of my favorites. Their development in this book was really a treat to watch. One of my favorite things about this series is the magic system, I absolutely love the use of the stones and moon magic. The story line was twisty and attention grabbing, every time I thought that i knew who did what or what was going to happen i was completely wrong. In the best way of course.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this novel. Check it out! It is worth picking up and taking home for the weekend! #NetGalley #Edelweiss

The first book was between and 3 and 4 stars for me, however the second book just seemed to drag and 40% of the way in, I just could not get into it. It felt repetitive and had no real story line that really pulled me in. Unfortunately I had to DNF.

This book was SO FREAKING GOOD! I don’t know why I put off reading it. I think that I thought it wouldn’t live up to the first in the series? But it did.
This series is basically criminal minds but in a medieval high fantasy setting. Must I say more?
I adored the characters. Catrin was easy to relate to and I love being in her head. Simon is the epitome of book boyfriend—though I wanted a little bit more of the two of them being flirty. I wish the book had leaned into the fake marriage trope a little harder. That said, what interactions we did get had me giddy. I love their relationship so much.
Once again, this book was the perfect blend of fantasy and mystery. Both aspects were distinct, engaging, and stood on their own; and they were interwoven beautifully.
I desperately want more books in this series. Please and thank you.

This book was for sure a solid sequel to the murder mystery book Blood and Moonlight. Cat and Simons journey reminds me of Sherlock and Watson. Expect that they are love interests and their longing for each other makes me want to smack them upside the head and say, just get together.
This book builds on the mythology of its predecessor, secret society and magic become more well rounded. I love the idea of moon magic, it’s one of my favorite aspects of this worlds magic system.
The vibe of this book for sure is a good mix of murder mystery, magic and burning romance.
Overall this was a solid sequel that had my heart racing and my heart swooning with the romance. A dashing finale to this stunning dualogy.
Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for a copy of this book. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.

what a stunning conclusion to this rich duology. it carried on everything i wanted from the original while adding more layers to the new mystery.

I picked this one up not knowing it was a sequel (so I'm definitely going to go back and read Book 1!) but I don't think it hindered my ability to step right in and understand what was going on. I really liked how the slow-burn romance between Catrin and Simon was handled. It felt very true to both of their characters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review.

"Silence and Shadow" by Erin Beaty is a satisfactory conclusion to the Blood and Moonlight duology, but it came with some mixed feelings. While the story provides closure to the series, the pace of book 2 did feel noticeably slower. In addition, there was a common sense of déjà vu, as some plot points from the first book seemed to be recycled for this second installment, which was a bit disappointing.

The magic system introduced in the series is undeniably intriguing, but it was somewhat convoluted at times. This complexity made it challenging to fully grasp what was happening during certain moments, and I occasionally found myself a bit lost in the details.

On the positive side, I appreciated the character development of Cat throughout the duology. Her growth and evolution as a character added depth to the story. Simon's unwavering support and the new friends and mentors they encountered in this book were bright spots in the narrative. These relationships and the camaraderie they shared enhanced the reading experience.

In the end, while "Silence and Shadow" may have its pacing issues and moments of plot repetition, it manages to provide a fitting conclusion to the series. The character development and the bonds formed by the protagonists are the heart of the story, making it a worthwhile read despite some of its shortcomings.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher.*

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book because I enjoyed the first one so much, and I was not disappointed. I haven't yet read an Erin Beaty book that I didn't like. Keep them coming!

This book was a very natural continuation of the first one. We're introduced to a new place and new characters, but it flows together well rather than feeling disconnected. There's more information about the Selenae, including a bit of their history and conflicts with the Hadrians, but it never felt like an info dump.

Cat and Simon complement each other, and neither diminishes the other. I like that each recognizes the other's strengths and they're willing to make sacrifices for each other. Honestly, I just like them together. Even though the two of them had things they needed to work through, I appreciated that nothing was ever needlessly thrown between them just to cause problems. There were some major obstacles and heartbreaks, but it wasn't just to cause drama.

As with the first book, this one deals with crime, murder, and mental illness. I feel like it handles all of those subjects well.

Note: Murder, including some unpleasant details. Some off-page sex.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. This was a great read, however I was expecting much more romance. There was barely any which made me sad. The book was 99% focused on the plot. I will have to say I liked the preceding book better, but this was still good. Also the synopsis made it seem like a fake relationship trope, but it did not deliver. You guys definitely should read it to find out what adventures they go on.