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sassycatreads 's review for:
When the Moon Hatched
by Sarah A. Parker
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-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
It’s hard to put into words what I thought of this book. I understand why it’s booktok popular and why people either love it or hate it.
It requires a bit more commitment than your average romantasy — you have to be willing to read the glossary and stick through all the confusing back and forth between Raeve’s POV and the diary pages. But if you persist, you’re in for a helluva ride.
The world building is some of my favorite I’ve read this year. It’s all so lush and gorgeous! The dragons are amazing, and the characters feel real and genuine. It all culminates in grand reveals that will leave you internally screaming and desperate for the next one.
HOWEVER. There were a couple of things that keep this from being a perfect 5 to me.
1: The dialogue. While the prose is lyrical and imaginative, the dialogue didn’t match. Some of it felt juvenile and cringey to me.
2: The Fate herder.You’re telling me there’s literally a magical creature in this world whose sole job is make people stay wherever the plot requires them to be, then immediately skedaddle out of existence? …Ok? That’s too convenient of a solution to me.
All in all though, this is a solid romantasy that’s great for anyone into dragons, heavy world building, and dark fantasy — and I mean DARK. There were times when the descriptions of gore or suffering bordered on too much for me. But if you have a strong stomach, you should be good!
It requires a bit more commitment than your average romantasy — you have to be willing to read the glossary and stick through all the confusing back and forth between Raeve’s POV and the diary pages. But if you persist, you’re in for a helluva ride.
The world building is some of my favorite I’ve read this year. It’s all so lush and gorgeous! The dragons are amazing, and the characters feel real and genuine. It all culminates in grand reveals that will leave you internally screaming and desperate for the next one.
HOWEVER. There were a couple of things that keep this from being a perfect 5 to me.
1: The dialogue. While the prose is lyrical and imaginative, the dialogue didn’t match. Some of it felt juvenile and cringey to me.
2: The Fate herder.
All in all though, this is a solid romantasy that’s great for anyone into dragons, heavy world building, and dark fantasy — and I mean DARK. There were times when the descriptions of gore or suffering bordered on too much for me. But if you have a strong stomach, you should be good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Torture, Violence
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Animal death, Sexual assault