Ice Moon, the sequel to Blood Circus by Camila Victoire, continues the story of Ava, who must navigate the dangers of the wild to complete the Klujn Blood Race before the Ice Moon rises. The plot is filled with primal rituals, sentient plants, and earth magic, creating a world that is both dazzling and grotesque. While the book offers an intriguing premise and a richly detailed setting, it sometimes feels overly complex and dense. The pacing can be uneven, with some parts dragging on while others rush through key events. Ava's journey is compelling, but the supporting characters lack depth, making it hard to fully invest in their fates. Overall, Ice Moon is a decent follow-up to Blood Circus, but it may not fully satisfy readers looking for a more streamlined and engaging narrative.

The book's cover and title of this drew me in. The synopsis of the book is way more informative than reading even the first 10% of the book.

Unfortunately the start is pretty rough - it's very difficult to read this book if you haven't read the first one. I wish there had been a recap of some sort.
There are a TON of names, place, terms, etc thrown at you. It takes a while to even learn the narrator/MC's name. She also really feels like an unreliable narrator, for a while it sounded like she was being kept in a windowless room for the past 6 years...but then she goes to school? The author really acts like you're supposed to already know what's going on when the reader is left with more questions than answers. This wouldn't be a problem if things got resolved along the way. Conveniently Ava, the MC, gets a lecture on Klujns and their developmental milestones, mating habits, etc. Disappointed that some things are overly detailed and spoon-fed to readers, while some other huge elements are left dangling.

Overall, this book has potential but needs a lot of polishing. I get that it's a YA book but have a little faith in your readers... Mostly my criticisms are that it felt too confusing: seemingly contradictory elements, too many names, not enough history/world building to connect to anything.