Piper C.J.

The Night & Its Moon

An addictive fantasy romance from TikTok sensation Piper CJ, now newly revised and edited. Two orphans grow into powerful young women as they face countless threats to find their way back to each other.

Farleigh is just an orphanage. At least, that's what the church would have the people believe, but beautiful orphans Nox and fae-touched Amaris know better. They are commodities for sale, available for purchase by the highest bidder. So when the madame of a notorious brothel in a far-off city offers a king's ransom to purchase Amaris, Nox ends up taking her place — while Amaris is drawn away to the mountains, home of mysterious assassins.

Even as they take up new lives and identities, Nox and Amaris never forget one thing: they will stop at nothing to reunite. But the threat of war looms overhead, and the two are inevitably swept into a conflict between human and fae, magic and mundane. With strange new alliances, untested powers, and a bond that neither time nor distance could possibly break, the fate of the realms lies in the hands of two orphans — and the love they hold for each other.

The Night and Its Moon

So, I am just going to ignore all the drama surrounding the author and what she has/hasn't done. I am just here to review books. If you want to know the discourse surrounding this book, I invite you to do some research on it and then make an informed decision about whether or not you'll read this book.

As for the book itself, I really liked it! You can tell it's a debut sometimes with how things are a bit meandering with the plot or how some writing choices, like switching POVs in the middle of a chapter, are used. However, it didn't detract from the overall story for me.

And the story here, I thought, was lovely. In a word, this world was lyrical. That is the only way I can describe it. It felt like watching a ballad come to life.

I really liked the characters. I thought that sensitive topics were handled really well, and I am anticipating getting the sequel. Overall, for a debut book, this really wasn't too shabby.

I do recommend this book if you are dying for a fantasy book with a prominent sapphic relationship. I also recommend it if you like classical fantasy books. Just be prepared for a journey because it has a lot of information. Check it out if you're interested!

Emily B

3.75 STARS:

So, I am just going to ignore all the drama surrounding the author and what she has/hasn't done. I am just here to review books. If you want to know the discourse surrounding this book, I invite you to do some research on it and then make an informed decision about whether or not you'll read this book.

As for the book itself, I really liked it! You can tell it's a debut sometimes with how things are a bit meandering with the plot or how some writing choices, like switching POVs in the middle of a chapter, are used. However, it didn't detract from the overall story for me.

And the story here, I thought, was lovely. In a word, this world was lyrical. That is the only way I can describe it. It felt like watching a ballad come to life.

I really liked the characters. I thought that sensitive topics were handled really well, and I am anticipating getting the sequel. Overall, for a debut book, this really wasn't too shabby.

I do recommend this book if you are dying for a fantasy book with a prominent sapphic relationship. I also recommend it if you like classical fantasy books. Just be prepared for a journey because it has a lot of information. Check it out if you're interested!

Beautiful fantasy wlw romance with so many twists and turns. My favorite book I’ve read in years.

Cenedra

okay i did like this book HOWEVER I think there are some issues with typos that make it confusing and also I like nox but not amaris as much and I think I know where the next one will go with gadriel and… I am Interested but also nox deserves the world. I say let her kill men! 

fris🐝

If you miss being absorbed into a series after finishing ACOTAR, pick this up! I was gifted this book knowing nothing about the plot besides what was on the back of the book. Immediately I was sucked in to Nox and Amaris's story. The change of language and emotion between the two POVs truly made this novel wonderful. Piper C.J has the talent of tweaking certain things in each woman's POV to show the difference. I did read a first edition that was personally published and there were a few grammatical errors but other than that this book is wonderful. I purchased the sequel before even having half of the book read.

Macy M

This was a random purchase while I was traveling because I had finished my other book more quickly than I expected - and I was pleasantly surprised!

Really like the character development and the plot. Kept me interested and was a fun/easy read.

Excited for the next one launching in a couple days!

Natasha Johnson

This was a random purchase while I was traveling because I had finished my other book more quickly than I expected - and I was pleasantly surprised!

Really like the character development and the plot. Kept me interested and was a fun/easy read.

Excited for the next one launching in a couple days!

Farleigh is just an orphanage. At least, that’s what the church would have the people believe, but beautiful orphans Nox and fae-touched Amaris know better. They are commodities for sale, available for purchase by the highest bidder. So when the madame of a notorious brothel in a far-off city offers a king’s ransom to purchase Amaris, Nox ends up taking her place — while Amaris is drawn away to the mountains, home of mysterious assassins.

Even as they take up new lives and identities, Nox and Amaris never forget one thing: they will stop at nothing to reunite. But the threat of war looms overhead, and the two are inevitably swept into a conflict between human and fae, magic and mundane. With strange new alliances, untested powers, and a bond that neither time nor distance could possibly break, the fate of the realms lies in the hands of two orphans — and the love they hold for one another.

Lauren Nicole

An addictive fantasy romance from TikTok sensation Piper CJ, now newly revised and edited. Two orphans grow into powerful young women as they face countless threats to find their way back to each other.

Farleigh is just an orphanage. At least, that’s what the church would have the people believe, but beautiful orphans Nox and fae-touched Amaris know better. They are commodities for sale, available for purchase by the highest bidder. So when the madame of a notorious brothel in a far-off city offers a king’s ransom to purchase Amaris, Nox ends up taking her place — while Amaris is drawn away to the mountains, home of mysterious assassins.

Even as they take up new lives and identities, Nox and Amaris never forget one thing: they will stop at nothing to reunite. But the threat of war looms overhead, and the two are inevitably swept into a conflict between human and fae, magic and mundane. With strange new alliances, untested powers, and a bond that neither time nor distance could possibly break, the fate of the realms lies in the hands of two orphans — and the love they hold for each other.

Really enjoyed the story and characters! Gripping the whole way through, fast-paced once you get through the beginning.

There were a few typos and one spot where a character's name was swapped, but they were easy to get around. A little annoying, but it's the authors first published book so not too bad.

Caroline Piephoff

Really enjoyed the story and characters! Gripping the whole way through, fast-paced once you get through the beginning.

There were a few typos and one spot where a character's name was swapped, but they were easy to get around. A little annoying, but it's the authors first published book so not too bad.

I really wanted to like this book, but there is a lot I didn't like about it. I loved the cover art and when it was propped up as a 'bi fantasy', it admittedly intrigued me. But the story was very 'meh.' 

I also have gripes about the treatment of Nox, who is the POC female main character. She is treated as the savior of the white FMC Amaris. And she gets whipped in the first couple pages of the book? And it's done to protect the white FMC? Seriously? While I don't believe the author did this with any malice, it is still pretty iffy and proves this book could've used some more revisions or outside reviewers.

Some backstory for my next point. I am a huge fan of video games and one of the games I like to play is the Witcher. You may also recognize it from the Witcher show or book. I am all for paying homage to your favorite show or book or movie in your own work. It's okay to be inspired by others' works! However, I would say that the plot involving Amaris and the Reevers is a little 

similar to Ciri and the Witchers. It stopped me from fully enjoying the story because it almost felt like fanfiction (not that there is anything inherently wrong with fanfiction!!) because it felt like such blantant plagirism. 

All in all, it was an OK read. I might check out the next story if someone lets me borrow a copy.

I really wanted to like this book, but there is a lot I didn't like about it. I loved the cover art and when it was propped up as a 'bi fantasy', it admittedly intrigued me. But the story was very 'meh.' 

I also have gripes about the treatment of Nox, who is the POC female main character. She is treated as the savior of the white FMC Amaris. And she gets whipped in the first couple pages of the book? And it's done to protect the white FMC? Seriously? While I don't believe the author did this with any malice, it is still pretty iffy and proves this book could've used some more revisions or outside reviewers.

Some backstory for my next point. I am a huge fan of video games and one of the games I like to play is the Witcher. You may also recognize it from the Witcher show or book. I am all for paying homage to your favorite show or book or movie in your own work. It's okay to be inspired by others' works! However, I would say that the plot involving Amaris and the Reevers is a little too similar to Ciri and the Witchers. It stopped me from fully enjoying the story because it almost felt like fanfiction (not that there is anything inherently wrong with fanfiction!!) because it felt like such blantant plagirism. 

All in all, it was an OK read. I might check out the next story if someone lets me borrow a copy.

sydney bannaxh

a 4.5 star read, i thoroughly enjoyed it. like i really did. the change of voice for different characters was really compelling and were them some typos ? sure but like i’m not gonna let an extra letter get in the way of a good story

Katie Avila

This was a great book! I walked into the novel knowing very little about the book or its plot, and I believe that this is how it should be approached. Half of the fun of this book is the way that it unfolds. (And, trust me, it is nothing like you would expect... at all!) Seeds of mystery sewn in the first couple pages of the book that follow you through to the end, but the rest is just a wild ride of plot twists and near-misses.

It is all set against a very intricate, vivid world unlike any other fantasy novel that I have read. Sometimes I get worried about starting a  new fantasy series because of the often front-loaded world-building. It's hard to push through the several chapters of extensive fantasy context and very little plot. This book was entirely different, since it starts out with two very sheltered girls who know only enough to warm the reader to know that, at a bare minimum, there are magic, fae and political divide at play. As they break free and learn about the world around them, so does the reader, which adds plot twists and depth while not overloading world-building context all at one time. 

I loved how the narrator was omnipresent but imperfect in their storytelling, potraying the near-misses between the leads from their perspectives with the limited amount of information that the characters would have had at the time. I also loved that the narrator delved into the thoughts and feelings of the side characters on occasion. I felt that it especially let the reader into the thoughts and feelings of the secretive or reticent characters without breaking them out of character.

I really liked that, though two female protagonists are both queer to a certain degree, there weren't any monumental "coming out" moments, existential sexuality crisises. The characters just loved who they loved, and that wasn't a problem for their reality or culture. 

I think Piper CJ is a fabulous writer, and I can't wait to see what else she comes up with. I'm only sad that I have to wait until August for the next one...

Lauren Sayers

many spelling, spacing, and grammar errors. some character names were not spelled the same throughout. just something that bothers me:/ very slow and wished it had picked up more like it did towards the very end. character descriptions were repetitive. at times there was too many descriptive sections that i just found myself skipping. the narration was hard to follow at times as it felt it was switching. not sure i’ll pick up the next one:(

Naomi

first off, i am extremely offended that this started with a CJ Lewis quote

The way she describes the dark character is appalling. The use of epithets makes it seem as if she was just right-clicking for synonyms— inky-haired, raven-haired, dark haired— oh my fucking god we get it! You know, it's not that white people can't write pocs, but for the love of god get sensitivity readers. Is Nox simply a very tan yt from the mediterranean, is she from a place reminiscient of sub-saharan africa, is she from the indian subcontinent? nobody knows!
Is this book supposed to be 3rd person omniscient? 3rd person limited? neither the author nor the editor knew.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHY WOULD YOU INCLUDE NOX GETTING WHIPPED?? and in the little timeskip after, referring to her 13 year old self as a "young woman" 
DNF.

Rosie

I’ll come back to review this book after I’ve watched the Witcher to see how much is stolen

Sophia 

Don’t bother reading this book. 
It doesn’t have the quality expected from the adult high fantasy genre - you’ll be disappointed if that’s what you want. It’s not even good enough to be YA either; it honestly reads like a rough draft - which isn’t surprising, given that the author has said that she wrote it in days. 
The “world building” relies on excessive, tedious imagery. The plot is marketed as slow burn…but it’s just slow. The intense focus on the physical characteristics of the characters is repetitive and uncomfortable. The book really pushes the contrast of white innocence with traumatized/sexualized character of color. Nox is supposed to be a main character..but she’s clearly supporting cast. Her whole personality, motivations, and plot line centers around Amaris. Dual-POV? It’s really not - more like messy third person. And the bridge between childhood love and adult romance is not executed well. Not to mention how convoluted the plot was - and not in a good way. A random reference to Norse mythology? Okay…
So yeah, long review that’s full of criticism. I was an ARC reader back in January, and I refrained from putting out an honest review to support a new Queer author. But the book isn’t deserving of a high rating, not to mention the author’s behavior on social media and GoodReads. I’d skip this one if it’s on your TBR. 

The Night & Its Moon

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