First off, thank you so much to the team for allowing me to be an ARC reader! I ate this book ALLLL the way up!! At first I felt this was a solid set up for the world building and lore. I loved how we slowly found out key bits of information along with our main character Mira, even though I felt her frustration on the speed with which the truth was revealed.

However, as the book progressed, the story really came together and the twists and turns revealed were WILD. I thought I knew what was being set up, and I loved how wrong I was. I can’t wait to get the physical copy of this book, and I REALLY can’t wait until the sequel. I already KNOW it’s gonna be a wild ride.

I loved how complex the characters were, and that even the side characters had depth to them. I also really like how the author was able to balance good banter with both light hearted and tense moments. I would definitely recommend this book, and if you’re wanting to become an arc reader, follow your fave authors and sign up for their newsletters and things. I don’t have a huge following and I’m not getting paid for this, but it’s a different type of joy and excitement when you’re given the chance to be an arc reader, and even more when you just know the book will be good based on the promo, and it ends up being just as good as you’d hoped.

I am trash for 2010 paranormal plots. So I’ve been so hyped for this bc it’s the POC version of it. Also I LOVE werewolf books’ I didn’t go into this wanting something new or super creative. But I did expect at least the old cringe of 2010 era books to be gone from this & for the writing of this to be better than the old 2010 paranormal era books. Like just give me SOMEEEE improvement. Don’t give me the annoying MCs of the 2010 era. They were the WORST

However:
-> this book followed very similar plot beats to twilight. I was a little surprised by that. But I was also fine with it bc I’m a sucker for those type of plots. It didn’t improve it however and that was disappointing
—> it was SLOWWWWWW. This surprised me. Felt like a whole lot of nothing happening until the last 30%

-> she pulled a cop out that drove me insane regarding the MMC’s personality. He started off cold & mysterious. So I was expecting Damon 2.0. Nah turns out he’s fully a Stephan or Edward Cullen. I was SO MAD about that. She rly killed the potential of it RIGHT AWAY 😭 i was so annoyed & angry
-the book was overly angsty for no reason at times. I was confused. It took itself WAY too seriously without a reason for the emo-ness. It was kinda cringe
-I hated that everyone was aware of the werewolf legends & many believed it already & so the MC readily accepted it all too quickly. It made it too easy & boring. I was disappointed by that
-> there author broke the 4th wall at some point & this gave me a lot of 2nd hand embarrassment. Very cringe
—> there’s a lot of telling w/ little showing
-> now I’m sorry to say that the MC in this book is dumber than Bella swan. That takes some skill to accomplish. Like she was annoying as HELLL
-the writing was SO stilted & strange at times. It was jarring. She overly described the most mundane wrong things, but also rly awkwardly? But overall the writing was pretty well written

THE LAST 30% WAS AWESOME! Plot twists that fully surprised me, mostly bc nothing happened & then suddenly everything blew up! But I loved the direction it went. I’m Absolutley hyped for the next book

—> the MC DID redeem herself at the last part of the book in a way that Bella never did. & gained a spine & backbone

—> I love the world the author created and the lore. I thought it improved upon the existing subset we already have of vampire and werewolf books. I thought the plot twists with them and the MC were very creative and wonderfully done! Looking forward to the sequel

Right out the gate, this book pulled me into Mira's story and I couldn't put the book down. The combination of werewolf and vampire lore was absolutely fantastic. As a Twilight/Dracula/Legendborn fan, "Blood Moon" served up some of the most intriguing and well-developed storytelling featuring a Black FMC. I'm desperately hoping that the "end" described in the epilogue is truly a set-up for a sequel.

This book pulled me in from the very first page and never let go. It’s a moody, addictive paranormal romance set in a small town with secrets lurking around every corner. Think New Moon vibes, but with sharper teeth and a heroine who refuses to be sidelined.

Mira Owens finds herself navigating the eerie town of Timber Plains, Kansas, where the myths about vampires and werewolves are more than just creepy stories. When she’s saved from a literal fall by the golden-eyed and mysterious Julian, things take a thrilling turn. The romance is a slow burn filled with tension, destiny, and just the right amount of angst.

Mira’s voice is sharp, witty, and full of personality. Her inner monologue had me laughing and nodding along more than once. The plot does hit a few uneven spots, especially when it comes to the supernatural conflict, which could’ve used a little more development. But the love story? Top tier.

Britney S. Lewis gifts us a powerful, layered Black heroine who leads the story with heart and fire. Mira isn’t just surviving—she’s claiming space in a genre that rarely centers girls like her. And that alone makes this book worth the read.

One of the things I truly appreciated about this book is that it’s written by a Black author and features Black characters—without making race the center of the story. The main character wasn’t defined by her Blackness; she just was—and that was powerful. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with books rooted in Black folklore or stories that are unapologetically Black—those stories are valid and important too. Instead, it showed that we, too, can be the “standard” in paranormal YA. We can be the small-town girl who runs into a mysterious, supernatural boy. We can be soft, introspective, awkward, powerful—without needing to explain our existence. That felt really refreshing, and I think it’s an important shift in the genre.

Now onto the story itself: the writing is absolutely beautiful. The author’s prose is lush, lyrical, and immersive. If you’re someone who enjoys poetic descriptions and visual storytelling, this will definitely stand out for you. I found myself highlighting so many lines just because of how well-crafted they were.

That said, the first half of the book was a bit slow for me. It had strong Twilight vibes—small town, mysterious love interest, slow pacing—and I struggled to connect with the characters early on. The romance tried to be a slow burn, but it didn’t have quite enough tension or emotional depth to fully pull me in. I also would’ve loved to see more complexity in character motivations—at times, things felt a bit too spelled out rather than revealed organically.

But around the halfway point, the book really finds its rhythm. The plot picks up, the stakes feel more real, and the story starts to come into its own. By the end, I was much more engaged and curious about what’s coming next.

While this book wasn’t a perfect fit for me in the beginning, I’m genuinely excited to continue the series. Readers who love atmospheric writing, paranormal romance, and a fresh take on classic YA tropes will definitely want to check this out.

**Thank you to the publisher and NetGallery for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Omg!!!! This was such an amazing read and I need more! The twist were wild, just when I thought I had things figured out I was sooo wrong. So many lies and betrayals and I can’t wait to read more of this

This novel is definitely reminiscent of romantic teen fantasies of the early-2000s. I do feel the arguments between Mira and Julian are a but redundant, but that is the reality of many young relationships. The love triangle feels lopsided since Seven barely gets any time on page. I do wonder more how Mira doesn't know some things about her identity until the end of the book. The lore is also lost in a lot of infodumping. I love that a Black girl is finally getting her teen romantasy spotlight. I also love what was building between Mira and her girl friends. Overall, I think things were a bit rushed, so the lore and character development feel off-balanced.

DNF. I'm sad I couldn't get into Blood Moon. I unfortunately couldn't get past the writing. I wasn't the biggest fan of the author's writing style. The writing gave off first draft vibes...it felt too juvenile. The story just didn't flow well. Transitions were choppy and the setting left me wanting. I felt like the characters weren't developed well and the relationships weren't progressing naturally. The book felt all over the place. Blood Moon was very tropey! I think this will either be a hit or miss with readers. I liked that this book was a spin on the classic vampire books...but this time with more diversity! Although this book wasn't for me, I can see some readers really getting into this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street YA for the ARC.

For anyone who has ever been a Bonnie Bennet fan and thought she deserved better, this one is for us! This fast-paced, spooky, and diverse novel will truly be a game changer in the YA fantasy industry. Not only the main female character a Black girl, but BOTH her love interests were men of color! Mira truly is THAT GIRL.
I don’t want to spoil this book, but let’s just say everyone will devour it and, just like me, we will all be crossing our fingers for it to be adapted for TV. Goodness knows it will be a smash.

5 out of 5 stars!

Thank you Page Street YA and Netgalley for an ARC!

If you were Team Jacob, loved the Vampire Diaries, or just loved the idea that there could be paranormals hiding in plain sight, this one is for you!
After her mom disappears, Mirabella (Bells) attends the local college which (she doesn’t realize yet) houses numerous paranormals. Oh btw her single dad is the sheriff so there’s another little Twilight crumb! I LOVED that this cast was so diverse. I would EAT UP some character art of all these babies because Britney made sure to describe each one’s appearance and really start that imagery for you. Mira is a little torn between Julian and Seven, but I have to say I think I’m Team Julian all the way. Although I’m low key expecting Britney to throw some more betrayal in the next book to try and make us change our minds 🤣 I genuinely can’t wait to see where this goes! The little nods to Twilight and TVD, whether it be little phrases or names brought me some nostalgic joy 🩷

a favorite quote: “I did it because once I got to know you, I knew I’d crawl through centuries, seek the void of a forgotten world, restless and beaten, to keep you,”

Flew through this book because it was so good, I couldn’t put it down! If you’re a fan of twilight or vampire diaries, this needs to be in your radar. Counting down the days until the next book!

Starting off by saying thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc! This was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and I'm so glad I got to snag it early lol.

First of all, this book is for the Twilight fans. That's it that's all like if you were wearing body glitter from Claire's and had a team Jacob pin in 2008 but also prob have some like back or knee pain now BABES LOCK IN IT IS OUR TIME.

This book follows Mira as she starts her college journey. While there, she learns about magical creatures, lore about her missing mom, and so much time.

I flewwwww through this, do yall hear me??? 4 stars because it did have a bit of a slow start in the beginning imo, but that second half??? I had a blast LOL

Can't wait to see where this series goes!!!

I’ve been following Britney since her debut and Blood Moon is the book I’ve been most excited about. She’s done such a great job building up buzz for it! I’m ten toes down for her motivation/inspiration for this story, and I think she has something here for sure.

I went into this book thinking it was a standalone. Idk if I missed her mentioning that it’s a series. Had I known it wasn’t a standalone, my reading experience would’ve been different. While reading, I kept thinking the pacing is off. The real meat of the plot didn’t start until about 80% in so I was like sis how are you about to wrap this up? Knowing it’s the end for now, I am more understanding of the pace.

Ultimately, the plot presents a lot of questions that I definitely want the answers to, so I’m eagerly awaiting book 2. I’m very intrigued by the love triangle situation, and I’m dying to know more about Mira’s family. Britney sprinkled in some secrets I was definitely surprised by and now I must see how this all plays out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street YA for the eARC!

Blood Moon by Britney S. Lewis is the perfect blend of mystery, magic, and romance that had me hooked from the very first page. As someone who was obsessed with Twilight as a child, this book made my little heart so happy. The story drew me in right away with its intriguing mix of werewolves, vampires, and witches, and I just couldn’t put it down.

I have to admit, I saw on threads that Katee Robert was seeking approval for this one, and naturally, I had to apply because I will NEVER deny myself a Katee Robert rec. She has never steered me wrong, and Blood Moon is no exception.

Mira is a fantastic FMC and her connection with Julian Santos, who knows more than he’s letting on, kept me on the edge of my seat, especially with all the secrets he’s hiding. The tension between them builds beautifully as Mira delves deeper into the dangerous world of old legends and supernatural creatures.

I really appreciated the diversity of characters in this story, which added a wonderful depth and relatability to the narrative. It’s always so refreshing to see representation in books, and it made the characters feel even more real and engaging.

I’m so excited to see where this story goes next—if you’re into thrilling supernatural reads with a touch of romance and mystery, you definitely don’t want to miss this one!

For fans of Twilight, The Vampire Diaries and the nostalgia of CW shows in the early 2000s.

This book brings back the feeling of midnight releases and passionately picking your boy team, but what if the main character was a Black girl starting college with mixed feelings about leaving her father behind and so many questions about her mother’s disappearance.

This was such a fun read!
Eighteen-year-old Mirabella “Mira” Owens grew up in Timber Plains, Kansas hearing all about the local legend— how Werewolves had come to their area to protect the humans from Vampires. No one really believes those old fairytales, did they?
Mira's mother had disappeared one night when Mira was 13, and now it's just her and her dad. She's got so much to worryabout, as she goes off to college and leaves him alone. Little did she know that was the least of her worries as strange things start to happen on and off campus as she tries to settle in, make new friends and focus on her studies.
Things start to spiral as she receives a critical letter from her mother, warning her that all is not as it seems, and some of her friends start acting strange.
I enjoyed the campus life happening in this story, and it's diverse cast. When things started being creepy I had my suspicions, but I was wrong about what I thought was coming and the twists and turns kept me reading to find out what happened! I'm looking forward to the next book in the series! I also have to say that I rarely read a book set in Kansas, and as a Kansas girl myself, that made it even better.
Expected publication August 12, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for letting me read this ARC edition for an honest review.

This book felt like watching a CW show (in the Vampire Diaries era), and I do mean that as the highest of compliments (JUSTICE FOR BONNIE). Both nostalgic and fresh, it was a winner for me!

What if Bella was Black and in college and instead of Twilight and New Moon being separate stories, it happened together.

Mirabella was just trying to get over the loss of her mother. Well loss might not be a fair word, since her mother ran away. But she was still just trying to live with that fact in a part of that adjustment was going to a local college she didn’t even apply for but somehow got an acceptance letter with scholarships. How could she say no?

If that wasn’t already unexpected she runs into Seven a cute football player she knew from childhood who’s now a class mate. She also meets Julian an aloof handsome boy who’s looks at her with disdain but something more.

But how could she focus on them when the killings on campus are putting a real damper into her first year of college. Especially since those killings seem to be related to the stories and legends her mother told her as a child those many years ago.

Lewis takes the stories we know and love and scrap books Bloodmoon to be a story for a whole new generation of Black girls.

#TeamJulianAllDay
Now I did have a mixed experience with the book as I just didn’t hold my attention as much! I love for my books to hold me captivate lol and found myself having to come back to it. On the positive side, first let me say, I really appreciated the diversity of characters, which added depth and made the story more relatable for me. It's always refreshing to see representation in literature, and it was great that this aspect resonated with me and made the characters more engaging. Also the whole mystery with her mom and why was just randomly accepted to this college did have me on my toes. I’m team Julian aka black cat all day can’t trust an overly happy golden retriever aka Seven lol. I loved the tension that built between the two. I think what made it hard for me was some of the parallels between some of the shows mentioned by other reviewers so it was like oh I’ve read or seen this before? If that make sense. It wasn’t like a OOOH CHILLEE! What’s this?! But def an author I will keep on my radar!

Yes. Just yes. Omg, I'm still processing this, but I already know I want to reread it at some point this year. Also, yessss to poc representation in fantasy.

I'm just gonna put my "review" as bullets because so many thoughts are coming to me right now.
- it's YA but lateeeee YA kinda like Twilight (Minor Spoilers)
- I'm a Conrad girly & Julian girly for this book
- It's verrry frankly the Twilight/Mortal Instruments/Beautiful Creatures for teens today but like soooo much better (IMO).
- Even though it's fantasy (and the lore is *chef's kiss*, the MCs' background and conflict are very "human", like relatable.
- Y'all remember how pissed we were with Bella? YUPPPP Mari will 99.9% piss u off when it comes to the romance, (especially 3/4 through).
- The lore feels like actual lore/myths, not just common knowledge about vamps & werewolves
- Love triangle & cliff hanger, but more of the ones that drive the NEED for a second book, not leaving huge plot points unresolved.
- PERSONAL OPINION: STAWP pushing Seven, I don't like this mannn (I'm probably gonna pick the black cat over golden retriever character every time). MY MAN MY MAN MY MAN JULIAN