4.5 stars.

Blood Moon is a fantasy YA book, inspired by Legendborn, The Vampire Diaries, and Twilight—specifically Bonnie x Damon and the werewolves. It follows our 18-year-old protagonist, Mira, in her first year of college as she uncovers the deep secrets of her missing mother, realizing the stories she told her as a child might be true.

At first, I was sceptical about this book since I am not a fan of the Legendborn Cycle, but I had to give it a chance as a huge TVD fan, and I must say I am so happy I did. Even though Legendborn and Blood Moon have similarities, the way Britney wrote these specific things they overlapped in was much more enjoyable for me, and it made me understand more why everyone loved it so much. Both authors have amazing writing styles, but I connected far more to the way Blood Moon was written—I truly felt like I was in this world with Mira experiencing everything she was.

When I began this book, I thought I knew exactly what was going on and I was thinking that it's all kind of predictable (in my notes, I literally wrote: “The mystery surrounding the place is so well done and interesting even tho kind of obvious”), however, most of my predictions were wrong. I obviously won’t spoil anything, but any prediction I made about what each character is was completely off, and I loved that. It truly made me feel like I was there, especially since Mira was just as clueless as I was (but I do have to admit that my girl put some of the things together before me). Obviously, some things were clear from the beginning, but that didn’t change anything about how much I enjoyed it, which is how, in my opinion, you know a mystery is well-written.

The diverse cast was refreshing; all the characters were well-fleshed-out and likable, each with their own story, which made the narrative feel more three-dimensional. Mira was a great protagonist, lovable, fierce, and flawed, I really felt for her, especially when she ended up in situations where I would have just sat on the floor and cried. Her family dynamic was captivating and realistic, but I still don’t get why she called her parents by their first names (I get it with her mother, just not the father).

As for the love interests, they were both nicely done, but sometimes it felt like the author had to shorten the story a lot and I felt like I missed a couple of chapters. The enemies-to-lovers trope didn't work, since they never really were enemies, at least not from Mira's POV. They bickered from time to time, and it did seem that he didn’t like her at first; however, that changed really quickly and I never saw the “hate” between them. Most of the scenes between them were cute, but the constant talk about how they were enemies annoyed me. The other love interest was cute, but we saw far less of him, and I do hope he shows up more in the upcoming books.

The ending was rushed, and I felt like the author didn’t know how to get to the main event in as few pages as possible, so they chose the most improbable thing ever—mc forgetting the only thing keeping them safe. This was completely out of character for them, and it felt kind of lazy, which is truly sad since up until this point, everything was well thought out.

Lastly, since I am not a big romance fan, some of the “too romantic scenes” made me cringe, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t get over. I do wish we get to see more of the supernatural and the war in the rest of the series, but the romance in this one was still nicely done and I’m sure a big romance fan will love it.

I can’t wait to see what the author decides to do next, and I’m really excited for the rest of Bells story!

I really wanted to like this one but unfortunately I was bored most of the time.

The writing is good and I would definitely check out more books from this author but this one needed work with the pacing.
It felt like ntn happened at first and when things were happening they were rushed? Like the MCs going from “I’m going to stay away from him because he freaks me out” to make out at a party back to “I’m staying away from him” ?
The mystery around her mom and everything she didn’t know lost me as well. After a certain moment I didn’t care about it and didn’t care about finding out what it was. Theres only so many times I can read “I can’t tell you” before I lose interest.

Blood moon might be an interesting read for you if you like everything vampire, werewolf and twilight but be aware that it takes time to really get going

I was in a reading slump before I started this book......it's gone now. I haven't devoured a book like this in a long time! It was so enthralling! It yanked my emotions every which way! This author is a literary genius and I can't wait to read more by her!

As a long term Bonnie fan and Team Jacob member, I was so excited when I heard about this book! Britney S. Lewis did NOT disappoint!

Highs:
* Fierce black FMC with witty inner dialogue
* Wolves, witches, vampires - an iconic trio if I’ve ever seen one
* Dark academia (kinda?
* Small town vibes
* Love triangle - I’ll ALWAYS root for the werewolf!
* Vivid imagery
* Mystery and thrills

Lows:
* Underdeveloped relationship between FMC and side characters
* Wobbly pacing - slow then fast then slow again

I need book 2 asap because that epilogue…GIRL!!!

Thank you to author Britney S. Lewis, NetGalley, and Page Street Publishing | Page Street YA for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: September 9, 2025 ♥️

This was a solid 3.75/5 stars rounded up to 4! ✨🩸🐺

I’m always a sucker for a vampire/werewolf YA book (especially since Twilight and Vampire Academy were my everything in middle and high school). I took off a little because it was slow at times and didn’t really pick up for me until after the halfway mark.

I thought this would be super similar to Twilight or Vampire Diaries, and while there are definitely some familiar vibes, it still managed to feel unique and surprising. Some of the plot twists completely caught me off guard! I do wish we had gotten more of the backstory, especially the history of vampires and werewolves and how it ties into Mira and her family, but I’m guessing book two will dive into that, and I can’t wait!

Overall, I really enjoyed this! The magic and paranormal elements were unique while still giving off that comforting, nostalgic vibe I love from classic supernatural YA. Mira was such an interesting main character, and that cliffhanger?!? I need book two ASAP.

If you’re into twisty, dramatic vampire/werewolf stories with a familiar but unique feel, definitely add this one to your list! ♥️

Genuinely had the time of my life reading Blood Moon. As a huge fan of the Vampire Diaries, I was immediately drawn to the marketing of this book on social media, which describes this as a book for anyone who hated how the show did Bonnie wrong, and for anyone who shipped Damon and Bonnie together - two things I feel strongly about!

All that to say - this is by no means fanfiction, and our FMC, Mira, is her own unique character who I adored. She's smart and cautious, but she's also fun and a girl's girl. I loved seeing her build her own community of friends as she heads to Lakeland University, and can't wait to see that group develop even further in the next book in the series. I have a feeling she's going to need those friends as circumstances intensify!

I love a book that asks me to solve a mystery alongside the main character - and Mira has many mysteries to unravel. Whether it be the unexplained disappearance of her mother, the sudden wild animal attacks in her city, or which of the hot men in her love triangle she should choose - Mira has some investigating to do, and it was a joy to do it alongside her.

We follow Mira as she begins her first year at Lakeland University, set seemingly in the center of a series of wild animal attacks plaguing the city. While the attacks grow in frequency, Mira receives a letter from her missing mother and begins trying to piece together the puzzle of her disappearance, all while trying to discern what exactly is going on with the smoldering, sexy stranger on campus who insists it's not safe for her to be there.

I loved the mythology and lore that runs throughout the background of this book. It made the reading experience that more rich, and made the world we see Mira navigate feel that much more developed. As a reader, we're fed bits of information through the epigraphs at the start of every chapter, which I deeply enjoyed. I suspect there are far more Easter eggs than I initially caught hidden amongst these gems, and I can't wait to do a third reread before the sequel eventually comes out.

We see a love triangle between Mira and two MMCs - at the start, I loved both of the MMCs, but gradually grew to distrust one and definitely lean in the direction of the other. I really enjoyed the mysteries that surrounded both MMCs during the book, however - I spent a lot of time wavering back and forth on which, if either of them, was perhaps a villain in disguise. Both male leads seem to hate the other, and I was never sure if each of them had Mira's best interests at heart. I enjoyed that the book kept tugging me back and forth in the possibilities.

I loved watching Mira's character evolve throughout the book, as she discovers more about the secrets that lie hidden in her world. While I often wanted to see her push harder for answers to her questions (especially where a certain MMC is involved), it's clear that the next book will include a huge shift for her, now that she has some answers - and even more tantalizing questions. The last section of the book was jam-packed with action that kept me up reading until 4 a.m. because I simply had to know how it was going to end.

I'm dying to see where the next installment takes us - the ending promises a sequel with even higher stakes! Paranormal pun fully intended.

This review is for a free digital ARC, which I received from NetGalley.

When Britney Lewis began marketing this book as "if TVD's Damon and Bonnie had ended up together," I scrambled for an early copy. Not only do I adore The Vampire Diaries; I also love to support a local author!

I will proceed with what I call the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. No matter what I write below, however, I recognize the effort and time it takes to write, edit, write again, edit again, and eventually publish a book. God, "marathon" doesn't even adequately describe it. So, props to Lewis for getting it out there!

And! This was still better than both Powerless and Fourth Wing.

_____

Good

It is pleasant, and rare, to read a book with Kansas at its center, especially one about the supernatural. As a lifelong Kansan, I know that the state often gets dismissed as "flat and boring," so to give it greater history, while also highlighting its very real positives, was refreshing, to say the least.

My childhood nickname was "Bug," and it was used most often by my father. So, to hear Mira's father use it for her made my heart swoon.

The intimacy Lewis injects into blood-sucking was just...iconic. I have no notes.

Lewis decenters White Europeans in vampiric, lycanthropic myth. She instead offers a new history, one in which a select few of African descent were born of unmatched power, a power which gave their communities protection against the violence and death that often comes with colonialism. This element is what I enjoyed most about this book.

Bad

The book has an overall tendency to repeat itself, offering details already offered and understood, which means we, as readers, are left with less substance, less information. I also believe it would have been effective to leave out the prologue entirely, to let the detils it introduces bloom as the blook develops.

The plot, as well as its characters/their relationships, would have benefitted from a more "slow burn" structure. We speed through the events of this book, and when something does happen, it happens right after the previous thing, without much lull in between. For example, <spoiler>a day after Mira begins college, her estranged mother sends her a letter. While still a revelation, this bears no real weight because we don't know the mother, nor her relationship with Mira. We have not yet had the opportunity to form any real feelings.</spoiler> This, among other instances, leaves readers lacking the suspense and anticipation that could elevate this story to the next level.

This isn't a love triangle. <spoiler>Seven and Mira are childhood friends who reunited in college. Yes, he was her first crush, and yes, he flirts with her nonstop. But where is the substance of their relationship? Who are they to each other now? Why? Is it because of nostalgia she feels so safe with him? Is that why she "could be happy"? Julian, on the other hand, draws her in like a flame. He is Damon in that he's dangerous, bad for her, but he brings out a passion she has for no one else. Seven seems more friend than lover; Julian is ahead by a mile. </spoiler> I just didn't see the tug-of-war common to a good triangle of love.

Who is Mira? I find I don't connect with her much because I don't know who she is. A quarter of the way in, I only knew she "isn't who she was before her mom left," that she's thinking of studying Communications, and that she has two potential love interests. But who was she before her mom left? How is she different now? How does she see the world? How do her experiences drive her perspective? Such things aren't quite clear.

Ugly

The reason for Julian and Mira's tension is shallow at best. There's no actual substance to it. It's all vague warnings and meanness until he's suddenly giddy and they're making out in a closet <spoiler>(he explains why this is later, but I still don't get it)</spoiler>. Give me something. I get that he's withholding information, but it doesn't work.

If we are comparing Julian and Mira to Bonnie and Damon, we have to examine their relationship dynamics and how they evolve. Bonnie and Damon go from no-budge enemies to two individuals with the potential to fall in love. That's hard to write, especially in the span of one book. By my understanding, Damon's opinion of Bonnie shifts from "a useable witch" to a powerful, defending, selfless woman because he observes these qualities in her actions. He watches, he respects; his POV evolves. The same goes for her. He shifts from this selfish, manipulative killer to someone she befriends and even saves. Yes, part of this dual shift is their respective character growth, but its also the observation of their behaviors. We don't see that in this book. Julian doesn't observe how Mira interacts with others. Nor does she really observe him. What do they notice about each other (outside of attraction)? I don't know.

Mira is, at times, clueless. Julian speaks of offering her the moon and stars, on multiple occasions, and she continuously doubts his feelings. May some of this be grounded in her fear of abandonment?

The craft of this book tends to rely on a tell>show structure. Instead of showing Mira, specifically, in danger, for example, Julian tells Mira that's what's happening. The lack of reading it with our own eyes means we don't feel that fear. We haven't seen this danger he's warning of, so how can we know it exists? It would make more sense if we saw it in action, without explanation, before he stepped in and said, "They want to kill you." It'd give more substance to his bitterness, and create tension as we wonder what's happening until it's revealed. Similarly, the dialogue often acts as a plot device (giving us information) instead of functioning as a natural conversation should.

Although this book is very promising, it unfortunately just did not hold my interest.
Maybe it was because, for me, the similarities with the Twilight saga is just too on the nose. It was also strange to me how the FMC one moment called her parents "mother" and "father" and the next moment she referred to them by their names.

I would have also liked to see more action, because I felt as if I was just spending my time in the FMC's inner monologues.

I can not fault the writing and enjoyed the prose. I would like to read something else from this author.

If you enjoy vampire x werewolf fantasy, I'm sure this book will find its audience.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This book is such a good read. I can't wait for the sequel all of the characters were so relatable. I think it will do really well once its released .

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this eARC!

Blood Moon had so much potential especially with a cast of characters that look like people from my own community, set in a genre that’s historically erased or harmed us. I was excited for a new take on the vampire/werewolf mythos, but this book ended up feeling more like a Twilight knockoff than an expansion of the genre.
Not much really happens until about 50% in, and even then the character development and emotional payoffs didn’t feel earned. The side characters, especially the friends Mira makes, never get enough time to feel real or important. We’re told they’re bonding, but rarely shown it, which left the world feeling flat and underdeveloped.
This was marketed as a love triangle, but that angle felt more unnecessary the farther I got into the story (especially since we barely get any real interaction with one of the love interests). It never felt like a true triangle, more like a plot device meant to call back to Team Edward vs. Team Jacob (and if you were Team Jacob, maybe you'll have more fun with this than I did).
The enemies-to-lovers arc also fell flat for me and nothing about the romance was slow burning either. Mira's "hate" for her eventual love interest is based on vague, cryptic remarks that she doesn’t understand until way too late in the story. If I were in her shoes and a guy that I’ve never seen before says I’m “the bane of his existence” or something to that effect I’d honestly just chalk it up to there being a mental health crisis in America because we don’t take it seriously enough. Don’t get me wrong I love a flawed main character, Mira was frustratingly slow to pick up on danger signs that felt so obvious including this guy that told her numerous times he is a danger to her life. I was face palming everytime homegirl was pondering about the mystery behind what he was talking about meanwhile I ALREADY FIGURED MIRA. RUN. But no instead she was always the last to find out she was in danger. I wanted to root for her, but more often than not, I was just annoyed.
Anyways, there were moments I really enjoyed. The nickname the love interest gives Mira was sweet and unique, I’m a sucker for that. And despite the uneven pacing, the last 30% picked up with some solid plot twists that kept me reading. That epilogue? Perfection. I closed the book more interested in what’s next than what I had just read.
So while this was a rough introduction to Britney S. Lewis’s paranormal world, I’m curious enough to keep going. I just hope the next installment delivers the depth and originality that this one hinted at.

This was SO much fun!! Blood Moon is perfect if you’re into werewolves, vampires, and small towns with spooky secrets. It gave Vampire Diaries vibes in the best way!

We follow Mira, who randomly gets into this mysterious university, and suddenly she’s caught up in creepy animal attacks, local legends, and a cold but cute guy named Julian (the tension?? chef’s kiss!!). As she digs deeper, she starts uncovering secrets about her mom and ends up right in the middle of an ancient supernatural feud.

The pacing was great, I loved the diverse cast, and Mira and Julian's dynamic had me hooked. I do wish the lore and magic were a bit more developed and that it was just a little longer but I still ate this up. And that ending?? Yeah, I’m definitely reading the next one.

I’ve never watched vampire diaries or sat through the entire twilight movie but if Blood Moon by Britney S. Lewis is anything like them, I understand the obsession/ love for those series. Blood Moon is about a young woman named Mirabelle who starts her freshman year of college at the same time ‘wolf’ attacks are happening in her town. While Mirebelle tries to not stare out her window , she does become intrigued by the town’s legend of werewolves and vampires all the while dealing with her studies, hanging with friends, and beefing with a man she’s never met prior to college.
This book is beautifully written. If you buy it for nothing else than the quotes at the beginning of the chapter I don’t blame you. All the characters are wonderfully fleshed out, and now that I know everyone I can’t wait to read book two especially with that cliffhanger.

This book definitely threw me back into the realm of YA fantasy, the feeling of nostalgia as I was reading it and falling into this new YA story very much present in Blood Moon.

Blood Moon started out great and the female main character Mira is already a character written in a way i know she'll be a successful fantasy FMC for the plot of this book. She's got this spirit and fire that Britney does an amazing job writing in Blood Moon, that had me liking her right from the get go. This book ends on a cliffhanger, but already liking the characters and where I think this is going means I know I'm going to dive into the next book head first!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

I couldn't put this book down! I definitely felt the CW influences, though the characters here were (thankfully) a bit more rational. Mirabella is broody and working not to be which definitely reminds me of season one Elena Gilbert, who, like Mira, is still reeling from the loss of family. They're not too similar, though; Mira is unique despite her clear influences.

I'm interested in the background of this world and hope that gets expanded on more; there's a lot of potential. I also really appreciated the friendship in the story, because these weren't just background characters working to fluff up the romance.

Speaking of, the romance was entertaining, maybe a little too fast paced for my liking considering all that was going on. Despite her friends teasing her for being in a love triangle, the chosen pairing was a bit predictable, not that there's anything wrong with that. I did love the chemistry between characters and am excited to see where things go in the future! Also, I loved that people were just fawning over her from the jump, because it's what she deserved. I hope she gets the world, or at the very least, some answers.

❣️BLOOD MOON❣️ by @britney.s.lewis OUT: 9/9/2025

QOTD: Werewolves/Lycans or Vampires?

This one has a definite hold on me 🔥 I’ve wanted a book that gave me Vampire Diaries Vibes and this one did that x New moon all while having such a diverse group of characters! I’m obsessed with Mira (FMC) and Julian (MMC)! Two grumpy star-crossed lovers that have found their way into my heart. I’ll cheer for them until the end and absolutely love their chemistry. The ending was completely wild and I just know I’ll devour the next book in the series when it comes out like I did this one 🥰

About this book:
🩸enemies to lovers
🩸fated mates
🩸plenty of secrets
🩸rival families
🩸who did this to you (my fave🤭😮‍💨)
🩸wolves/Lycans x Vampires
🩸paranormal YA romance

Thank you so much @pagestreetpublishing and @netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book scratched an itch I didn’t even know I had. Usually I don’t like stories that feel overly familiar and I tend to shy away from fan fiction, but when I heard the author describe her reasons for writing this (#justice4bonnie) I knew I just had to give it a try and boy am I glad I did. I loved the characters and the nostalgia of Vampire Diaries and Twilight themes hit just the right notes without being predictable. The pacing started out a bit slow but it really found its stride about a third of the way in and once it did, I couldn’t put it down. Is it groundbreaking? No. But it’s a solidly fun entry into the new adult supernatural romantasy world and I enjoyed myself enough I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it.

I loved this book! Thank you Net Galley for an advanced readers copy of Blood Moon!

Britney combined what I loved from the Twilight and Vampire Diaries stories, BUT wrote if for the black girls who were rooting for characters that looked like us to find their happy ending too. There were nods to scenes in both franchises that I caught and I loved searching for them. The romance was perfect, and I can't wait to see how they evolve in the next installment. I'm sad I have to wait for the next book ( I hope there is one), so I may just need to reread it!

<i>An utterly addictive page-turner you won’t be able to put down!</i>

The author has marketed this as “Justice for Bonnie” and for the “Team Jacob” folks — Honestly I don’t have the information to tell you if she succeeds (I never read or watched them, don’t judge me, i’m kinda old) — but I can tell you this book was phenomenal and gave me everything I needed.

What’s to love…
- southern, small-town setting
- Werewolves 🐺 Vampires 🩸 Witches 🧙🏾‍♀️
- secrets + mystery
- Nostalgia vibes, yet wholly original
- dare I say, enemies-to-lovers? 👀 but also kinda friends-to-lovers x2
- basically the romance was 🔥
- mini love triangle, that even the love triangle haters won’t mind.
- lush prose + imagery
- contemporary college setting with characters that felt much older, this book could have easily aged up and still felt natural (perhaps New Adult is a better designation?)
- THAT EPILOGUE! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! GIVE ME BOOK TWO RIGHT NOW!

What’s not to love…
- the imagery and prose got a little heavy handed at times, usually not an issue for me, but it seemed to occasionally contrast the overall vibes of the story.
- I like being left wanting more, but in this case I think we could have gotten a smidge more during book 1. A little more relationship development, especially between the side characters and the FMC would have been nice.

4.5 ✨ after finishing this book I immediately wanted book 2!! This was such a fantastic read!!
I loved it so much, reminded me so much of
Twilight and who doesn't love Twilight!!

I didn’t know much about this book upon requesting the ARC but I knew it was YA paranormal romance written by POC author. Unfortunately I was in a slump when I started reading it so it did take me a while to finish it.
I have to admit I wasn’t a big fan of the writing style. It felt a bit choppy and like she was just stating facts without finesse. And I myself like it nice and simple but this wasn’t it.

The story was set at a university so it felt a bit more New Adult than YA. As for the story it really dragged. Up to almost 70-75% it felt like nothing was happening but making us prepare for the ending. It was very Twilight-esque and later on infused with The Vampire Diaries which made it not so original.
In some ways it felt very undeveloped and one dimensional.
I wasn’t very fond of the FMC. I understood her inner turmoil but she acted very bratty which I guess is expected from an 18 year old. Not referencing her parents as mom and dad but using their names bugged me so much.
There are two love interests but the absence of the other male character in the most of the story puts you into perspective who’s the main one and he did win me over with time but to be honest the chemistry wasn’t that special.

The last part of the book was more action packed but I prefer my books balanced and to hook me in from the beginning, so the ending didn’t much help with my overall impression. The story clearly indicates that this will be a series but honestly I’m not interested in continuing this journey. This book to me felt like a debut novel.