Sarah A. Parker

When the Moon Hatched

Aimee :)

He's fire and brimstone. I'm shattered ice. Our collision is steam and destruction, destined to dissipate, but I'll gladly burn beneath him until the world comes crumbling down.

Don't lie to me, Moonbeam. Lie to the world, but please don't lie to me.'

He whips his hand away, crushing it into a fist of smoke, flooding my system with a cold deluge of relief. ‘Who hurt you?' 

‘I do not hurt, King Burn. I harden. And no - your pet flame did not sing to me. Not even a little bit. Otherwise I would've sung it up the hall and ordered it to suicide itself in a puddle.’

No point hoping for a good outcome. There is none. A thought that's almost ... freeing. That lifts a weight from my shoulders and makes my steps feel lighter.

A smile splits my face as I'm nudged up a curl of stairs by one of the boisterous guards ...

Might as well have some fun before I die.

This is my penance for failing Essi - in so many ways. For believing I could love somebody from a distance. Believing they wouldn't suffer the same fate as everyone who sinks past the calloused scabs on my heart.

Survival’s funny. Some wear it like a whisper, others like a scream. Mine’s a scorched skeleton of flame-forged rage that keeps me upright. 

alexys <3

He threads his hand around the small of my back, tucking me into his chest, warm lips brushing against my temple. "Come back to me, Raeve. To us."

 "Yes," I murmur against her hair. "Know you, crave you, worship you." 

The only beam of light I'll ever need or want in this world, my love for her sitting like a moon in my chest. Only this moon will never fall, no matter how hard she tugs on it.

“I dont understand how you still look at me like you want me."

"Raeve, you could flay me down the middle and I'd still fucking love you.'

wish she still had this energy. jesus christ n

“Chase death, Moonbeam. I pray your bloodlust brings you the same sense of peace I feel just knowing you exist.”

"Spend your life alone, forever wondering why vou scream in your sleep. Calling for that very Moonplume I'ye spent the past twenty-three phases piecing back together, hoping it would bring your spirit peace. All because you loved that beast so fucking much, I knew it would break you to know she was scattered all over the world after scavengers raided her impact zone."

"Don't lie to me, Moonbeam. Lie to the world, but please don't lie to me."

“ I do not hurt, King Burn. I harden.”

“I think this beast cradled you for a hundred phases, breathing life back into your broken body until you both fell from the sky. I think you broke from Slátra's tombstone like a hatching dragon"

“Please don't scare me like that again." 

“You shouldn't spend such lovely words on me, Sire. You should save them for somebody special.”

“I’ll gladly bleed beneath you, so don’t be shy.”

“Try being open to accepting aid, Raeve. You'd be amazed at how the grain no longer chafes. A simple request for my help doesn't make you weak. It makes you real." 

It doesn't matter how much of my skin is smoothed or how deep he kneels at my feet. I'm still an assassin marked for execution come aurora rise, and he's still a tyrant king.

I love living, painful as it's been at times. I love the colors of our kingdom and the way our clouds are ever changing

His gaze dips. "Your eye. What happened?"

 His head banks to the side. "Did it reach up and punch you in the face?"

 I offer him a faux smile. "Strangest thing.

I usually try to finish books even if I don’t like them, but I had to stop midway in this one. I almost hated the FMC. I understand that her childhood and things happened to her made her though and quick-tempered, but I couldn’t understand why she had to be stupid. I also didn’t like the language/narrative of the book. It was unnecessarily complicated. 

ovgun

I wanted to like this, ultimately felt the plot and characters felt like a combination of many Romantasy novels out there right now. 

Laura Mark

4 for world-building (a bit simplistic). 3 for character development - could the FMC really be both that cunning and that dramatically obtuse? Nonetheless, I enjoyed it - maybe more than I should have. 

Mary

I have never been more enamored and shattered by a fantasy book before. This was so breathtaking and intricate that I was soooo obsessed by the end of it. And that epilogue?! Priceless. 

Tsu 💙

Okay so this one is kind of complicated for me. For the first 100 ish pages I was so not into it. I felt like the dialogue was clunky, things were confusing, and for goodness sake what was with all the italics?! After that point, however, I found the story gripping, the writing poetic, and the dialogue to be funny and heartfelt. I almost feel like the story should have started with Raeve’s capture (not a spoiler bc that’s literally in the synopsis).

This world is complicated and I kinda love that? Like there’s a lot going on but I feel like the author really focuses on the parts you NEED to know. Also if you see Kaan’s POV at the start of a chapter prepared to be wrecked emotionally 😘

Overall, I’m super excited for the next book and to see where the series goes. I think that it has the potential to absolutely destroy my heart and put it back together again.

Alissa 

Okay so this one is kind of complicated for me. For the first 100 ish pages I was so not into it. I felt like the dialogue was clunky, things were confusing, and for goodness sake what was with all the italics?! After that point, however, I found the story gripping, the writing poetic, and the dialogue to be funny and heartfelt. I almost feel like the story should have started with Raeve’s capture (not a spoiler bc that’s literally in the synopsis).

This world is complicated and I kinda love that? Like there’s a lot going on but I feel like the author really focuses on the parts you NEED to know. Also if you see Kaan’s POV at the start of a chapter prepared to be wrecked emotionally 😘

Overall, I’m super excited for the next book and to see where the series goes. I think that it has the potential to absolutely destroy my heart and put it back together again.



Intense world building, story was amazing, Kaan 🤤

Kyle Dickinson

I am obsessed with this book. This story has me hooked immediately and I finished it in two days. I cannot wait for the next book in October !!!

Brianna Hickey 

The audiobook voice actors were great. One of my favorite listens from that perspective. 

Abigail F

Really enjoyed the twists in this book and the world building, I just felt like it was only the beginning and could have easily been twice as long with still more to come but have been a more satisfying ending. Also she didn't mourn her friend a lot just saying...

Hayley Pardoe

Omg the writing in this book is outstanding. I love the imagery and descriptions throughout the story. The level of violence and trauma was next level, reminding me a little of the poppy war trilogy. There are so many layers that you keep discovering until the very end. The FMC is badass and I am obsessed with this storyline. I need the next book ASAP!

Anna

so many words used in such an unnecessary way and the breaks as well… the story is intriguing (kind of) but ugh. 

madi

super cool concept and quick read but I wish the plot was less rushed? idk I feel like something was missing. But yes I read the whole thing and will be reading the next 

Ruby Emmeline Fisher

I’m writing this, not even knowing what to rate this book. I feel so conflicted between 4-5 stars… I absolutely love our main character so so much. I love the depth to her and her obvious flaws, I love the way she responds to things. I wasn’t so sure on the memory loss trope, just because i literally just read a book with a similar one, but also because i’ve never really liked it. A lot of people say the first 20 chapters are slow and confusing, but that wasn’t the case. There were only a few times i had to look at the glossary, and i was entertained the whole way through. Not to mention, i personally don’t like the physical appearance of the male love interest, but i wont let that stop me from enjoying the book and wont let it effect the rating since it’s just a personal preference, and doesn’t take away from the book as a whole. I am excited for the second book, and to see what happens. I also felt the romance was a bit quick for my liking, as i really enjoy slow burn.

long winded but good, plot starts to come together near the middle. writing gets a little cringey, but the plot ends on kind of a cliff note so i’m excited for the next one | lil spicy | lil cringey | dragons 

callie

Lili V Guba

Some bits I found really slow while others I was obsessed with. However felt left with a lot unanswered 

Megan caddick

Need Kaan's and Moonbeam's  happiness. Happy Rek (whatever his name is) got karma 😁😁

Susan

Minnie Mazuera

This was a good start to what this series. But I do think it is a little overhyped. I guess I also had the same experience with this one as well as the other really popular book with dragons. Especially my experience with the FMC. I liked her for about 5 seconds but then she got annoying with how repetitive she is. Which is also very similar too. The writing was also really lyrical and I do think it took away from the book a little. It’s like it tried too hard  to be memorable but instead made it drag and a little boring. I just think it ran too long but if I remember only the parts I deem important and not the other added in stuff I liked the book and storyline and am intrigued to see what book 2 will bring. 

Priscilla Stanfield

4/5⭐️ • 2.5/5🌶️

This was a good start to what this series. But I do think it is a little overhyped. I guess I also had the same experience with this one as well as the other really popular book with dragons. Especially my experience with the FMC. I liked her for about 5 seconds but then she got annoying with how repetitive she is. Which is also very similar too. The writing was also really lyrical and I do think it took away from the book a little. It’s like it tried too hard  to be memorable but instead made it drag and a little boring. I just think it ran too long but if I remember only the parts I deem important and not the other added in stuff I liked the book and storyline and am intrigued to see what book 2 will bring. 

4.5⭐️ rounded up /// holy moly what a wild ride!!! this was such a beautiful start to what i can only imagine will be a crazy beautiful tragic journey. this book is THICCCCCC but the story really sucks you in at certain points. is it a little long winded at times… yes. was the fist 40% slow as fuuuuuge… yes. BUT once you get to the middle the story really picks up and i had a hard time putting it down!!! this had everything i love in a good romantasy… but i was left with a few questions that i hope will be resolved in the second book! now to wait for book two!!! 

BROOKE A

DNF at 18% - this is literally the worst books and most terrible writing I’ve ever experienced in my life. I truly do not understand the hype, but this is my first confident DNF in my reading journey. Maybe the plot gets better, but it’s clear the writer is not for me. 

Syrina

love the magic system and plot, but repetition of words or a certain male body part almost drove me up a wall (pls less gross descriptions.)

holy shit I loved this book! Such a good fantasy. Such a good romance! It's a bit dark and gory, but so addictive! I LOVE Raeve.  I would like her to be my murder wife, please. And the relationship between Raeve and Kaan?! PLEASE. Kaan is the ONLY man. Chef's kiss. 10/10. I'll take both of them thank you. I will be doing my best impression of waiting patiently until the next installment.

When the Moon Hatched

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