Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - When the Moon Hatched

Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

66 reviews

maryp20's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This world is amazing in every way. I love the different environments and cities, I love all the dragons and creatures, I’m OBSESSED with parchment larks, the characters are all loveable, and the magic is so unique! I just felt like the story lacked a plot. I don’t think Reave’s backstory is interesting enough for that to be such a main focus especially with it being predictable. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Raeve and The Other so much but I wanted more for them besides the backstory and killing Rekk. Now I REALLY love Kaan wholeheartedly. The yearning in his chapters is unmatched and I was swooning for him. His undying love for Reave and willing to burn the world for her but knowing she’s capable and willing to do it herself and supporting that *chefs kiss*, I just wanted more chapters from him. I think the plot twists were good, just not my favorite. I’ll definitely continue the series as it’s published, I think there’s a lot of potential for some really great stories!

Content Warnings

archdaemynkyttb's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional funny fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book was intense and intriguing, the protagonist is difficult to like - but that's kind of the point.

Content Warnings

ganyui's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book was okay. I enjoyed some parts, but I do agree that the author could’ve shortened the story. The author’s writing is very lyrical, so if you’re not used to it, you may have a hard or difficult time enjoying the book.

The part I enjoyed the most was when

Raeve meets the Johkull Clan. Everything involving those scenes had me glued to the pages. And when Kaan had to fight for Raeve, ugh. I love me a good fight scene where a big, strong man has to come save the woman of his dreams.

I just wished there were more

spicy scenes with Raeve and Kaan. For a book with that many chapters, I expected more spice.

If you’re looking for a book that is more focused on slow world-building, this book would be perfect for you.

Content Warnings

jjhicks's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A truly complex and intoxicating first book of the series. What I thought was going to be a straightforward adventure romantasy had a depth I wasn't expecting and hit me harder than I would have liked.

Content Warnings

baibake's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

jaybian's review against another edition

1.5

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I was gifted this book and wanted to give it an honest shot with only the leaflet in mind. The blurb is interesting and I was curious about the world-building and magic system in place. However, going through I was immediately put off and knew right away this is the type of book I actively try to avoid. With that bias in mind...

This reads like the author hopped on the bandwagon of the erotic non-human romantasy. Meaning, there was some substance which I wanted more of and was rewarded with a sex scene instead. This was a rush to the climax where the resolution will be the sequel. If half the story showed more dedication than the sex, I would have enjoyed the story more. I felt like I was trying to watch porn for the plot.

Having a glossary at the beginning full of unique creatures, time explanation, and pronunciation tipped me off. There was more detail there than within the story. It seemed like some that were favored more/more thought out were given more attention and detail within the story. If you don't memorize the glossary then the story will feel like a book report where the reader is supposed to already be familiar with the source material.

That could be my preference, because I much prefer development within the story to better immersify and imagine.

On to the characters. Raeve is messy. Having repressed her pain, hurt, and agony is gut-wrenching. Maybe intentional, but the slow-burn mixed with the rabid lust felt like an endless cacophony. The "Other" could have been better utilized as more than an unknown, rabid entity that lashes out from Raeve's lowest moment. I would have enjoyed more detail or awareness from Raeve's perspective. The whole split personality felt loosely tied to the over-arching plot device of amnesia/repressed memories of having lived as Elluin.

I will commend the slow daunting of piecing together Elluin's backstory as also being Raeve's. Once I made the connection, it made for a bit of a slog waiting for Raeve to get there as well. Surprise, surprise. She haltingly accepted it through ~~sex~~ passionate love.

Kaan is a muscular penis that throbs only for Elluin/Raeve. He does have wholesome qualities that I took to liking overall as a character. I couldn't help but roll my eyes with the typical "member" and "slit" descriptions typically found in supermarket book aisles. Can't forget the chiseled abs and musky scent, of course. Heavy on the desperate masterbatory aid, so-so on character development.

My biggest gripe about character development is using characters for an easy, immediate plot device. Essi's introduction, followed by immense feeling, ending in a swift death had the book set down. An interesting character I would have loved to know more of! Gone to be used for the entirety of the book as a revenge spree. And Fallon? Add Fallon to the pile of inspired development which is carted along with the already main plot baggage.

The day/night time of "aurora" I wish I could imagine. The uniqueness was sadly lost on me. Reimagining elements as active deities was lovely. Activating/communicating with them as a source of power I enjoyed. Not having a translation to what was being said, I didn't enjoy. At first I was flipping to the glossary with high hopes and had to gloss over the language when they were peppered throughout. Bummer.

For Fíur du Ath to be a worldwide secret intelligence/assassination... they were disappointingly absent from the main city of Dhomm/entire Burn Empire. It's the unsuspecting bastion of peace and freedom, yet the only presence was through the mind reader at the pawn shop that agreed not to tip off the agency via the linked bank account.

Dragons? Dragons. Where's PETA when you need them to point out the morality of stealing dragon eggs? There was a little too much hypocrisy for my taste about harvested dragon blood used as currency and overall mistreatment of dragons for there to not be a discussion about why dragon eggs are poached. No shit the mothers were screeching around like animals, but once the hatchling starts to rock in its egg then it's a magical moment in one of the huts secretly built near their nests. It's either that or ~~breaking in~~ charming the beasts to being best friends. If you happen to be a ripped, overly important main character then you also get a super, special bond to your dragon that seems somewhat vague and thrown in. That Daga-Mórrk also reminded me of the necessary glossary. Like I said, memorize it or break immersion having to flip back to it every so often to understand what is casually thrown around.

If you like fast-paced plot with a broken, bloodthirsty MC who just needs to orgasm in a caste society between commanding elements or stealing/manipulating dragons and those who can't, this is for you. If you don't, then be like a dragon and fuck off into the sky graveyard rather than dwell peacefully to the end of the book. This series would have been better off if the first book started at Raeve's "awakening."

Content Warnings

mariaego's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny 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

Content Warnings

hayhaywils's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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

The world does not deserve Kaan Vaegor if I could give a character 5 stars alone I would.
The first time in a long time I've actually cried happy tears.

I struggled to know what I was going to rate this book. There were parts in this book that were incredible, including the prologue. I was hooked from there. I struggled with the pacing because it was quite inconsistent. I feel the pacing is quite slow as it takes a good while to build up to the main story.
However the world building up to this point is impeccable and really gives you a feel for this world. I really enjoyed the concept of the world, quite a simple concept of the world but interesting and really went into depth. It turned a very simple idea of a world,

Hot, mutual (where most of the people in the slums live) and cold place. However I loved how each area of the world had a specific dragon

My main criticism of the book was that it did take a while to get into. The pacing was a little all over the place and I did get lost at parts. The glossary is helpful in understanding the world.

I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book x

Content Warnings

quietlyreading2023's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 6%

Content Warnings

dragonaion's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The author does an amazing job of dropping you into this unique fae world and the beginning grips you easily. Once you get to the middle though, you're having to take more on faith in the author (there's a creature literally called a Fate Herder that seemed strategically placed) and the story.
What is delightfully unique about this story is how the reader is not watching the beginning of a romance, but the complicated and beautiful aftermath. Have faith and if you're hooked in the beginning, be sure to read to the very last page.

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