This was a mostly enjoyable stand alone fantasy but it did tend to drag in places and I felt like I was a ping pong ball going back and forth. The cover is amazing

Think Jack the Ripper but with magic. Sold yet? I was. It is set in Victorian-like times where the town is divided into two - those who worship the sun, and those who worship the moon. They say, that those who live under the moon have special powers. Catrin soon learns that she can use moon magic and has to find out how and why. The realization happens that Catrin has magic, when she hears a young girl being killed, and finds her mutilated body. An investigation ensues, and Catrin gets herself involved, as the finger keeps pointing to those closest to her,

The murder mystery was fun. I kept trying to figure out what was happening and why, who is the serial killer. At the same time learning along Catrin where she comes from and her own history,

The magic system is unique, and loved how beautifully it is described.

One of the main themes in this book is schizophrenia and what it is like to live with it. I thought it was handled quite well, even given the times this book is set in.

A fun experience reading the book, even if some of the jumping around and accusing everyone in sight got old. Would still love to see more of this world and this magic.

I felt that this story was a solid 3. It took a minute for me to feel involved enough that I wanted to finish the book. The beginning was confusing, which I assume is due to the world Building. The main characters were predictable, and followed the trend of current young adult novels.

First of all, the cover is gorgeous. That is initially the entire reason I wanted to read the book. After reading the synopsis I was hooked. I am not going to lie I had a hard time getting into this one. I persevered through about the first 30% and then it got much better. This book is a mythological-inspired fantasy. The society the main character Catrin lives in worships the sun. She is an employee of an architect who is in charge of the construction of the sanctum. Catrin witnesses a murder. The murders keep happening and Catrin basically becomes a detective. She discovers powers as well along the way. I also just found out this is no longer a standalone but book 1 of a duology. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
*thank you to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid YA fantasy thriller. I was originally drawn in by the beautiful but interesting looking cover. I really appreciated how the author included and touched on mental health and disorders. The acknowledgements at the end of the book were really wonderful. I thought the pacing was done well and the story was easy to follow. I did find that I was able to guess the killer but it didn’t take away from the fun of the story. This really felt like a great mashup of fantasy, thriller, murder mystery and romance all bundled into one. The magic system was unique and I absolutely loved it. I thought the characters were all really done well and I found myself connecting and caring about each of them. Overall this was a nice entertaining read.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF. I couldn’t get into this story—possibly the timing just isn’t right. The blurb was compelling, and I liked the writing style from what I read…the story just didn’t captivate me like I wish it did.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC version of this book.

Blood and Moonlight is a young adult fantasy thriller by author Erin Beaty. Not only is the idea of a fantasy thriller super interesting to me, I can confidently say now that I am a huge fan of Erin Beaty’s writing. I loved her last series, the Traitor’s Circle and I loved this book so SO much! Blood and Moonlight gripped me from the very first page and did not let go until long after I finished it. This book consumed me for hours. I could not put it down.

In Blood and Moonlight we meet our main character Catrin, who is an orphaned apprentice to the town’s master architect. There are so many layers to this story, but one night when Cat is inspecting the scaffolding in a building, she witnesses a couple of odd occurrences that set the stage for the rest of the story. Here we learn about Selenae, a secretive race of people who can wield magic, and she also witnesses the tail end of a murder, and she notices some strange traits that she never knew she possessed. Being one of the only witnesses she somehow gets roped into the investigation, and one murder becomes a string of them. I was so fascinated by trying to figure out not only who the serial killer was but also learning more about what was going on with Cat.

I am really hoping that we get another story with Cat (and Simon) because I need to know more about this magic, and learn about just what exactly she can do. This story very nicely wrapped up, and like all good murder mysteries, it kept me guessing until the end and there are no cliffhangers. But I loved the book, the characters and the writing so much that I want more! Erin Beaty writes unputdown-able books. All of them have swept me up and transported me to a different place, which is exactly what I want in a book. If you have not yet discovered the magic of an Erin Beaty book, you are really missing out. Pick one up now! And starting with Blood and Moonlight is a great pick! I loved this book. It is easily one of the best books I have read all year and it pulled me right out of a reading slump! Blood and Moonlight is fantastic!

This is definitely a case of where the cover and the premise sounds better than what is inside. I will say it was ambitious and I enjoyed parts of the serial killer aspects.

I saw this book and read the summary and knew immediately I wanted to read it and I wasn't wrong.

Catrin is our main character and she has a special ability to spot flaws in the construction of the holy sanctum before anything bad can happen. When she is out one night looking over the building, she witnesses a murder and is pulled into the investigation to help try to stop the murderer before they strike again.

Assigned to officially investigate the crime is Simon, a distant relative of the town leader. He has insights into the mind of the killer that prove to be strangely accurate and as he and Catrin work together to stop the murderer, they find themselves drawn to each other and as their relationship changes, they disclose secrets that could put them both in danger.

I really enjoyed this book and if you're looking for a new standalone YA with a bit of mystery and magic, definitely pick this one up.

Catrin's abilities were more than those with her magic have ever possessed before and it isn't until she gets caught up in a murder that she realizes how to use them. She starts working with Simon to help solve these murders but has to hide her magic out of fear. The two of them start to form a bond but at the same time no one can be trusted. As things start to unravel and they get closer to the murderer she's forced to reveal her secrets.

The ending was such a rollercoaster and I honestly couldn't figure out who the killer was up until the very last second. I think the author did a good job of keeping things intense and unpredictable. I didn't feel the romance lent much to the story but overall I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a YA Fantasy Thriller with a historical setting.

Four words: Medieval Magic Murder Mystery
These words are the reason that I devoured this book and was completely swept away by the characters, the storyline, and the unique use of magic.

Readers are introduced to Catrin, or Cat, and orphan girls raised by Sisters of the Light (think: Nuns in a sense), and later given the job of Inspector of Scaffolding and Crossbeams for the new rebuild of the Sanctum. This book is set during a Medieval Times era, so you do have to travel back to then, but the descriptions are amazing with how gorgeous the town of Collis is. During one of her nights searching for possible weak points in the wooden supports, she hears the screams of a woman and later discovers that she has been murdered 😮 Call forth the Venatre, Simon, to examine and investigate the crime, along with Cat, a key witness and vital asset. As more and more women are found dead, you are left trying to solve the crime right alongside these two, and let’s just say that I was dead set that it was one person but NOPE was I wrong, big time 😂

Not only does this take place during the Medieval era, but the inclusion of a unique magic system that divides the land is wonderfully written. Secrets are kept, people are banished, and above all, you must not help those that are different…or can you? I guess you’ll have to read to find out!

Overall I loved this book! I haven’t read a mystery this fast in quite some time and I have high hopes for when all you amazing people read it as well 💕

Catrin - Cat to her friends - is an orphan, raised in a convent, and making her way in the world as an assistant to an architect, helping him to remake a cathedral dedicated to the Sun. As his assistant, her primary job is to check the scaffolding to be sure it's safe for the workers, and she good at what she does. One night, while examining the scaffolding in bright moonlight to be ready for the next day, she hears a woman cry for help - and when she runs to help her, she finds a badly mutilated corpse. Cat, as a witness, is caught up in the investigation, but unfortunately, the murdered woman was only the first of several. So begins Blood and Moonlight, a murder mystery set in an alternate world where magic works, for some, and for everyone else, there are hand tools. But in a world where most people worship the Sun, the magic users worship the Moon, and thus are shuttered away in an enclave of their own, their actual abilities unknown to any but themselves.

I enjoyed this novel, although it did take me a bit to get into it - but only the first several chapters. The mystery is well done, and there are several places in the plot where readers may believe they've solved the mystery - but there remain multiple possible murderers until the very end. There is some description of murdered corpses - not in particular detail, but enough that this book is recommended for upper middle school and older.

I don’t have any complaints. I realize that’s not exactly a glowing review but that’s where I’m at. It was good, just not amazing. It was a pretty interesting murder mystery. The setting was really unique. The main character was likable.
I would recommend!

A skilled climber and an apprentice to the Master Architect, Catrin witnesses a murder on a moonlit rooftop inspection. Catrin seeks the help of the inspector, Simon, a man uncomfortably familiar with the particular brand of madness loose in their little town, as one murder becomes many and the culprit could be anywhere and anyone. As she gets closer to Simon, and to finding the killer, Catrin must also hide a forbidden power that manifests in the moonlight. This secret power could just as easily help her solve this mystery as get her killed.

Magic, madness, moonlight, mayhem, and MURDER. Need I say more?

This fantasy murder mystery is a truly perfect amalgamation of my favorite genres. Every aspect of this book pulled me in: the worldbuilding, the characters, the dialogue, the medieval setting, the mystery solving. Blood and Moonlight was a thrilling, captivating read, and I absolutely could not bring myself to put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Erin Beaty for the e-ARC.

Beaty has created here a symphony of a story, it has just about everything you could want in a historical fantasy murder mystery, and more. My first impression was that it started off a little slow. Heavy on the historical and murder mystery part but it was so well done it sucked you right in. The world building in this book was amazing. From the attention to detail while explaining the sanctum under construction it was obvious that a lot of research and love went into setting the stage. I loved imaging the town and the people, reminding me a little of my days playing assassins creed. I loved the characters in this book. Everyone had a story that all together made everything align just right. Cat’s development, especially as she comes into her powers and the murder investigation continues is well done. I was pleasantly surprised to see the metal health representation and thought that it was handled phenomenally, I also really appreciated the authors note at the end further clarifying it. As far as magic systems go I really liked this one. I would have liked to have seen more sooner in the story but understand the way that it was written. I will note that I spent a good majority of the book thinking that one of the characters was the murderer only to be blind sided at the end with the truth which rarely happens to me!

3.8

This started off all pillars of the earth with magic, a serial killer, and some fairly lyrical prose thrown in. Sadly, it didn't sustain. By the time we got to how the magic worked I didn't feel all that invested.

This book was a little difficult for me to get into at first, but once I did, I couldn't put it down! The characters were likable and the murder mystery had me guessing. I would think I got it, but then I would be shocked by a twist. Also, this isn't relevant to the story itself, but look at that cover! It's gorgeous. Anyway, I would really recommend this book and I hope others like it as much as I did.

This book gets an automatic 5/5 stars from me simply for the fact that it’s probably one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read. The vibe of this book is probably one of my favourites that I’ve read and I appreciate the fact that the author managed to write it so well blew me away. I really loved and adored this so 5/5 stars!!

Quick Stats
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

Special thanks to Fierce Reads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.

This book is the perfect blend of magic and mystery, perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco. It has utterly unique and enthralling world building and magic, and it has a compelling mystery that had me desperate to know what was going to go down.
Not to mention—the characters! I absolutely loved Catrin, and her POV was engaging and easy to relate to, but Simon has my whole heart. I was obsessed with his character. Brooding, of course (I’m a sucker for the broody LI trope), but wholly unique and motivated.
I have never read a book that so perfectly straddled the line of a genre mash-up (in this case, fantasy and mystery). If you took out all of the fantasy aspects, you’d still have an amazing and compelling mystery story. If you took out the murder mystery plot, you’d still have an addicting fantasy novel. Often times, in mystery-fantasies, one aspect is focused on more than the other in terms of development, and the other feels slightly lacking, not as compelling. Beaty, however, expertly balances both, Neither storyline usurps the other, neither lacks in development, neither leaves the reading feeling vaguely unfulfilled.
This book has all the best tropes—orphan of mysterious (…perhaps…magical?) origins, broody love interest with secrets of his own, a hint of found family, and more, but it never falls into the cliches.
There is also mental health & disability representation in the book, which I’m honestly not sure how to feel about. There were aspects that could be construed as problematic. Stories of characters who have a certain mental illness (who are dead by the time the book starts) doing atrocious things. However, the book juxtaposes this with a character who has the same mental illness, who is nothing like that, and does address the fact that some people are good and some people are bad, mental illness or otherwise. In the end, I personally wasn’t upset by that portrayal of mental illness, since there were more genuinely good characters with mental illness than bad.
There’s one more aspect of the rep that I feel conflicted about and want to adress, but it contains spoilers, so I’ll put it at the very end, clearly marked.
Lastly, before addressing that final potential issue, I want to mention the author’s note at the end of the book. In the author’s note, Beaty addresses her representation of schizophrenia. She adresses the fact that her portrayal is somewhat colored by the way in which such a condition would be seen and treated in the time and era that the story is inspired by. She also speaks about the personal aspects of schizophrenia with herself. She is very vague, in order to respect her own and others’ privacy, but she talks about someone very close to her, whom she loves, as having schizophrenia. She simply says that the character’s delusions are “very close to what [she] has seen up close and personal” and “that is all [she] will say on that.”

In conclusion, the book itself was incredible, but I’m somewhat unsure of the rep. I personally didn’t find it outright harmful, and though I have a history of delusion, I am not schizophrenic, and you should definitely listen to the voices of #ownvoices reviewers over mine.
Now, you may scroll down for the last bit of information, but please be warned, it contains pretty major spoilers.
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One of the major side characters, Juliane, is portrayed as having some kind of schizoaffective disorder, which is then confirmed as schizophrenia by Beaty in the author’s note. As far as I can tell, there is nothing harmful in the way that her hallucinations and delusions are portrayed.
Then, about 3/4 of the way into the book, she dies. Specifically, she is murdered by the serial killer which she is helping to hunt.
Now, this is a murder mystery about a serial killer. Obviously, lots of people get murdered. However, killing off the only living disabled character in the book definitely falls into the “bury your [minority character]” stereotype, which is pretty harmful. And under any other circumstances, even in a murder mystery, I would have been like, no, that’s shitty.
Except, based on the role Juliane played in the book, she kind of had to die. Like, if you took out all the aspects of her schizophrenia, and only made her Simon’s sidekick and cousin, she almost had to die for the plot to wholly work. It sort of wouldn’t have made sense to leave her alive.
But again, however she is disabled, and that lends a subtext to this even if it isn’t intended by the author. Like playing into the killing off your minorities trope, but also, the fact that her death could easily be interpreted to be necessary to “free” Simon from his “stifling” role as a caregiver, as if he couldn’t have ever had his happily ever after if she were alive. And again, I don’t believe Beaty intended for that implication at all, however, in killing Juliane off, it is there, intentionally or not. And that doesn’t quite sit right with me. Yet, as I said, I don’t know how Juliane could have been left alive under the circumstances, and I truly believe any potential harm was unintentional, and so I am left loving the book but feeling somewhat unsettled on this aspect of the disability representation.

An excellent YA book that fits into so many genres. It really is hard to pinpoint one specific topic/setting. It is medieval, mystery, murder, YA, a splash of romance. Erin Beaty did such a fantastic job spinning this world and connecting all of the dots. I thought I knew who the murderer was several times during the book and I was wrong at the end. That is a truly talented author who can keep you guessing literally until the end!