Of Moons and Monsters

** spoiler alert ** This is my first of Willow Hadley's books and let me tell you I was not disappointed and cannot wait to read more of her works. It's action-packed with incredible world-building and the storyline was pretty unique in my opinion even with the mates who are fated to one another trope and the inclusion of a whole host of supernaturals we've seen often before (though the sexy shifters are rather unique!) And on that note, it's also a fast burn so if you're here for the smut then you're in for a treat. One part I absolutely loved was the way the author kept the communication barrier throughout the whole book. I generally find that characters come across some way to overcome that quite quickly and suddenly it's a setback that is totally resolved in a matter of a few pages. In OM&M however, I love that it adds a whole other element to Isla’s relationship with the shifters. They still grow closer and don't let it hinder their relationship growth but they do have to work harder to understand what each other is saying, feeling, wanting etc. There's a lot left unanswered in this book. In the beginning, we meet these characters who feel like they're going to play a key role and then we don't see them again for the entirety of the book. So I have a feeling this first book is setting up Isla's situation, her relationships with the shifters, her new life etc and then the next in the series we will see more action regarding her demon friend. Well I'm certainly crossing my fingers for that!

This was a low 4 stars for me. The story felt like the author wanted to give the main character, Isla, as many mates as possible. The beginning was a little hard to get into, and then felt completely unnecessary throughout the rest of the book. However, I absolutely loved the care-taking aspect of this story, and I think that the relationships formed between Isla and her four men from Briya are absolutely adorable. I didn't love Maalik as much as the other men, and I didn't love the ending of this book. I'm also nervous for the next book, and the conflicts that will arise from merging Isla's two worlds (Alistair, Rian, and Mathiew) and (Reule, Caelan, Audun, and Maalik). However, the relationships in this book were so sweet, and it was such an enjoyable read. I'm not sure who I would recommend this to since it's such a niche story, but it's worth giving it a try if you typically like paranormal/fantasy poly or reverse harem romances. Also, if you like isolated winter cabin stories this is for sure a good rec for that.

WOW WOW WOW! From someone who loves RH, who loves shifters, and who loves to read about soft and sweet characters with a plot that keeps you invested I absolutely adored this book! I was absolutely in love with these characters and with this storyline and I can’t wait for what comes next from these characters!! I’ll probably add more to this review on or after Release day, but I don’t wanna spoil anything for anyone 🙈! Just know that I loved this book 🖤