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pointeshoebookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
. . . I still don't know what to even think about this book . . .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse and Alcohol
queenstaves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Excellent slow burn romance. The only complaint is the sheer length of one of the internal monologues at the climax. Its is such a small complaint though.
Very engaging and well done.
Except... it's weird how much religious significance is emphasized, and the transgressive nature of certain things... to then not have ANY consequences is just bad? There should have been something addressing that, or leave it out, imo.
Very engaging and well done.
Except... it's weird how much religious significance is emphasized, and the transgressive nature of certain things... to then not have ANY consequences is just bad? There should have been something addressing that, or leave it out, imo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Hate crime and Gaslighting
Parental narcissism is also a significant content warning. I did skim/skip some parts to get past it. But it's not done as a shock value thing. It works with the character's growth.not_another_ana's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4.25/5
Since her childhood, the hunt has been nothing but a blood-soaked myth. The fare of true New Albian heroes, not country girls with Yu'adir fathers. It's never been real. But now it's here. Close enough to register. Close enough to win.
In New Albian, where alchemy is common and mythical beasts still roam about, Margaret Welty is stuck in a town that hates her waiting for her mother to return from her travels. She's resigned to an unexciting life when the hala, a supernatural violent creature resembling a fox, is spotted in her neck of the woods bringing the Halfmoon Hunt to her little town. Whoever can kill the hala will get riches and fame and Maggie is ready to take on the challenge. There's just one little problem, only pairs (consisting of a hunter and an alchemist) can enter the hunt. Enter Weston Winters, a wannabe alchemist who comes looking for Margaret's mother to hopefully become her apprentice. Together they're an unlikely pair, but they might just have what it takes to win.
If you want to read this book because the hunt and the alchemy sounded interesting then put it back down. The Halfmoon Hunt doesn't really being until 80% or so of the book. It isn't plot driven, it's propelled by the characters. The hala is only there to get the two protagonist to meet and spend time together. This is why I'm rating it 4 stars and not 5, even though I loved it. The action did not deliver and was more of an afterthought.
Here's what this book is really about: a slow burn romance that hinges on the understanding between these two characters that outwordly seem wildly different yet, on the inside, are both longing to belong. It is beautifully written, I lost count of how many lines of this I highlighted. The protagonists inner worlds are so well constructed and carefully layered that you deeply feel for them. The book also deals with a lot of religious discrimination and xenophobia, with Maggie and Wes both being religious minorities and having to face a lot of bigotry in the midst of their romance. If the action had been set up correctly this would have been an easy 5 stars to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death
moonytoast's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
atmospheric, full of yearning and magic…. definitely a top tier YA fantasy book ❤️
ALSO FUCK EVELYN WELTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALSO FUCK EVELYN WELTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Sexual content
cam356's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Grief
r_a's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Religious bigotry
modernmatilda's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Reasons to read this book:
Rapunzel and Flynn Rider romance vibes
Cottagecore vibes for days
Soft fantasy
Audiobook Weston Winters has a Newies-boy accent and my entire heart
An absolutely LOVELY read that I wish I could spent eternity in.
Rapunzel and Flynn Rider romance vibes
Cottagecore vibes for days
Soft fantasy
Audiobook Weston Winters has a Newies-boy accent and my entire heart
An absolutely LOVELY read that I wish I could spent eternity in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol
bujo_bellel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really love this book, even tho it took me ages to complete (probablly because I was in a reading slump) and also the book was due at the library and I needed to re-borrow it. This book is a slow burn romance. I have never read a slow burn romance before but I can say that I quite enjoyed it. This book focuses more on the fantasy side than the romance side which I think was a good direction for this book to go in. I love the world building, and it has quite fall vibes imo. As you read, the author describes the world in such a way that it was as if I was there myself. I really love how the plot progressed, and I really came to love the characters very much. The character dynamic between Wes and Margaret was done really well and I love how their relationship and characters developed. I liked how the various characters impacted the plot and how the story changed each time something happened. It was a wonderful book to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I will die on the hill that says a 3-star rating is a good rating. I liked this book! I enjoyed the Jewish folklore element (if you liked The Wolf and the Woodsman, you’ll love this book), I thought the plot was unique and the romance was sweet.
I didn’t know much about it going in, and it threw me for a bit of a loop when the world was far more “modern” than I was expecting (they drive cars and use phones). I thought it was going to be a full-blown fantasy story with like horses and swords for some reason, so it confused me for a second before I got my bearings.
I didn’t know much about it going in, and it threw me for a bit of a loop when the world was far more “modern” than I was expecting (they drive cars and use phones). I thought it was going to be a full-blown fantasy story with like horses and swords for some reason, so it confused me for a second before I got my bearings.
I found it especially moving to witness the protagonist, Margaret, journey towards healing the toxic views of love she has based on her relationship with her emotionally abusive mother:
“Love is not the sharp-edged thing [Margaret] always believed it to be. It’s not like the sea, liable to slip through her fingers if she holds on too tight. It’s not a currency, something to be earned or denied or bartered for. Love can be steadfast. It can be certain and safe…”
The only reason it didn’t get a higher rating from me was because the pacing for the middle 1/3 of the book was a bit slow for my taste. It kind of lagged a little bit, but found it’s stride eventually. I definitely enjoyed it, but it didn’t blow me away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Hate crime, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent
robin_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is a pretty unusual type of YA fantasy, though I'd say it's definitely upper YA if not New Adult.
An Irish Catholic boy and a Jewish girl--though the names of the religions are different in this book. A lot of their story is about the hatred directed at them for where they come from/the beliefs associated with that. There is magic and alchemy (which felt a lot like Fullmetal Alchemist btw) and a horrible mother.
It was way more emotional and hit much closer to home than I expected.
All in all, this was very enjoyable! Do check CW/TW
An Irish Catholic boy and a Jewish girl--though the names of the religions are different in this book. A lot of their story is about the hatred directed at them for where they come from/the beliefs associated with that. There is magic and alchemy (which felt a lot like Fullmetal Alchemist btw) and a horrible mother.
It was way more emotional and hit much closer to home than I expected.
All in all, this was very enjoyable! Do check CW/TW
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail