I enjoyed Silence and Shadow by Erin Beaty. The two main character Cat and Simon are quickly embroiled in a murder investigation in a medieval fantasy world. I felt like I was set down in a story that was already in progress. I could follow the story, but this is the second book. I borrowed the first from my library for the backstory. Mystery love stories and interesting interpersonal relationships abound. The story begins city of Londunium. They are pretending to be a newly married but are really in love but both unsure of the other. Cat looks forward to honing her healing magick at the local Selanae university, but instead finds a council of ruthless leaders threatening to erase her non-Selanae "husband’s" memories to protect their secrets. Because he does not have magical abilities he is considered an inferior outsider who threatens their existence. 

Cat is one of the most powerful and promising prospects they have had for quite some time and are willing to bide their time to get rid of Simon to retain her. Cat, fears for Simon and is willing to leave the University to protect him, but will they let her? When a string of mutilated bodies turns up in the woods outside the city, and Simon is recruited to profile the killer they stay to assist the investigation with their special set of skills, but put themselves in danger to do it.

I'm so incredibly pleased with this. The story retains all of the elements I loved about the first book, but also provides the answers and extra world-building I was hoping it would.

I enjoyed how this sequel continues the pattern of what made ‘Blood and Moonlight’ so entertaining. There's another mysterious serial killer on the loose, the exciting moon magic is further explored, the sweet romance continues to blossom, the impressive old-school investigating is still a driving force, and the medieval setting will always be a win in my book.

I will say the character development isn't as strong in this installment, but it's totally made up for by every other aspect of the writing and storytelling.

So all in all, it was such a treat to go on another adventure exploring the depths of criminal minds and societal secrets with Cat and Simon.

This book is pure perfection. The setting is detailed and the storyline keeps you wanting to know what is going to be uncovered next. The first half is a lot of world building and the character discovering more about her powers, but the last half is intense and I could not put the book down. I devoured it! There is a romance between the two main character that is definitely a slow burn but it is so sweet when they finally start admitting their love. It's also a bit of the fake marriage trope too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book.

This book builds a lot more deeply into the world created in the first book, but it was not always smooth sailing. A lot of the world building felt a bit clunky in the explanations of different magicks and details about the Selenae. I felt myself losing interest at a few points over the course of the book, as there were stretches of explanations.

The dialogue was a bit cringy at times, especially between Simon and Catrin, but a teenage me probably wouldn’t have minded. Simon felt a lot more annoying in this book than the first, but it does make sense in his development as he tries to find his place.

While I didn’t love every moment, I do think the depth of the world overall is detailed and intricate, and I did like some of the “full circle” moments at the end. I would say this is a 3.5⭐️ read for me.

This one was fabulous. I loved the romance and just where everything went. I do wish that this would have been more than just two books. As I was sad to see these characters leave me. I can not wait to see what else Beaty has in store for us with books in the future. This one was a breath of fresh air as the story unfolded and ended in an unexpected way.

I picked up an arc from NetGalley not realizing this is the second in the series. That being said it has been decently easy to follow but I am definitely missing pieces of the story that are pertinent. The books pace is slow to medium for at least the first half of the book. Simon and Catrin end being ask to assist with a serial murder case with objections from the Selenae with whom they are staying with. Simon ends up having quite the knack for mysteries and understanding the behaviors of others, while Catrin helps as only she can.
I received an arc and am leaving this review of my own volition.

After reading the first book in this series, <i>Blood and Moonlight</i>, and really enjoying it, I was excited to pick up the sequel and final (?) book following Catrin and Simon. Unfortunately, while I still liked it, it wasn’t as good as the first book (in my opinion). I think the reason for that was that Simon was in this book less. He was a fascinating character in book one and I loved watching him get inside the head of the killer. He’s not in this story as much (it’s more about Catrin navigating her powers) so that detracted for me a bit. I also found some aspects of the world and world building to be a bit convoluted at times. There were still plenty of chilling times with another serial killer to outwit, and this sequel is still worth picking up if you enjoyed the first one.

I enjoyed this so much!! Blood and Moonlight was a surprise book to me last year--a fantasy murder mystery, not something I had ever really thought to put together, but it worked really well alongside a girl coming into hidden power and a budding romance. It's sequel, Silence and Shadow, follows Catrin and Simon as they attempt to get Catrin magical training--and inadvertently have to masquerade as a married couple to stay together. But murder seems to follow them, and they are quickly swept up in a new investigation in a new city.

Some aspects of the plot were a little obvious for me--the secondary bad guy, for instance--and certain things about who was allowed access to Selenae knowledge made me sad with the bittersweet way things shook out. But on the whole I really enjoyed this duology and especially this culmination of Simon and Catrin's romance. The murders in this one were also quite creepy. If you're looking for a fresh fantasy direction that isn't your usual quest or kingdom struggle, pick up these books and give them a whirl--especially if you like shows like Criminal Minds. Really good. 4 stars.

Silence and Shadow comes out Oct 3. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC copy.

Heat level: 1/closed door

The sequel to Blood and Moonlight, which follows Cat and Simon!

This has an interesting premise and I like how the characters were written. I enjoyed the twists in this as well.

The serial murder case was intriguing to follow along with and I had fun reading this. The romance was good
overall too.

A continuation of Cat and Simon's story - They have moved to the city to pursue training at the Selenae university, but instead find that there is a serial murder in their midst. Neither Cat nor Simon fit fully into the world they were hoping to join and they are unsure who to trust as they work to follow the clues and find the killer before they strike again.

Full of politics and suspicion, this installment is a welcome addition to the first book. A great serial murder case set in a fantasy world. The characters are well-written and easy to keep track of for the most part, though I had some difficulty with a couple of the side characters in at the university. Cat and Simon's relationship finally comes together and will be very satisfying for readers.

Recommended for fans of William Ritter, Maureen Johnson, and Cat Winters.

I received this DRC from the publisher via Netgalley.com

A truly incredible read and I loved every second of it. I couldn’t put it down. The characters are so beautifully written and have so much depth and the plot is gripping. Truly a murder mystery that keeps you guessing.

4.5 rounded to 5 stars!

What a conclusion! Silence and Shadow is the sequel to Blood and Moonlight, which I loved! This book combines a charming romance, thriller, and fantasy. If you like true crime with your YA fantasies, this is definitely the series for you.

After the events of the previous book, Catrin and Simon must flee the city. They arrive to the city Londunium and travel to a local Selanae university, known as Akademeia. Selanae with moon based magic hone their skill into healing and Cat hopes she and Simon are able to seek refuge there. However, the powerful council that manages Akademeia disapproving of her relationship with Simon as he is a "Hadrian" and shouldn't be privy to Selanae secrets. They threaten to take all of his memories of her, and so she must do what she can to fit in and protect him. At the same time, there is a local serial killer wracking up victims in the nearby forest, and Simon is recruited to help the investigation. Both Cat and Simon are thrust back into a world of murder, secrets, and conspiracies that threaten their lives.

This was a wonderful follow-up to the previous book, but it also stands on its own. We are introduced to a new city that has a new culture and government. There is also so much more learned about the Selanae and their history and magic. Cat discovers she is extremely powerful and that hasn't even begun to understand the true abilities she has. I love that the relationship isn't completely perfect either after the events of the first book. Both main characters are trying to figure out what they truly want. Simon is struggling to with the feelings that he is a burden to Cat and he is depending on her for stability. At the same time, Cat wants to learn more about her magic and culture, but she is afraid of the divide it causes between her and Simon. I feel this book focuses more on their romance and chemistry than the first as a subplot. The characterization for both characters is developed further.

The serial killer plot line is intriguing and differs from the first one, especially because there are other important events happening that move the plot. I do miss the setting of the sanctum and Cat's previous job, but we also learn more about the Akademeia and the Council that precedes it. Cat gains more agency by heading many of the parts of the investigation herself.

One part that I wish was improved on is the twist towards the end. Cat isn't sure which of the Selanae council members she can put her trust in, and it becomes obvious who is taking advantage of her and her naivety. There are many twists and turns throughout this story as it is a thriller as much as it is a fantasy novel. I'm very happy with how the ending left our main characters.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a wonderful sequel to “Blood and Moonlight”!

𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘊𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘊𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘦 "𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥’𝘴" 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴. 𝘊𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘊𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘬.

This book was unexpected. I really enjoyed the first book, but I somehow enjoyed this one even more. I love Cat, she’s a wonderful MC and seeing her grow as a character was wonderful. I also grew to like Simon’s character more in this book, and felt their chemistry was much better than in book 1! This had so many twists and turns, it kept me hooked throughout. I recommend this series for any fantasy lover who likes a little thriller/mystery!

𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 will be released October 3, 2023! Thank you so much to @macmillanusa , @erinbeatywrites and @netgalley for my early review copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Children’s publishing for this opportunity to read rage and review this arc which will be available Oct3,2023.

This is the sequel to Blood and Moonlight which was an interesting premise to begin with but the sequel took that story and ran with it. The twists and turns, the intense action and the budding romance were nice. It is a medieval whodunit but done right. I honestly enjoyed the sequel more than the first book. It felt more fleshed out.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Silence and Shadow is hands down even BETTER than Blood and Midnight was, and I am overwhelmingly excited to have this book on my shelf as well. I love the murder mystery mixed with fantasy in such a unique environment, it's really an absolutely amazing series, and this sequel is no exception!! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

This book was really good! I really enjoyed book one so I worried this would fall short of book 1 as sequels can tend to do, but it didn’t. It was another murder mystery but in a different setting and everything. I loved the character development and the new characters! Thank you NetGalley for the arc.