Series: None
Author: Erin Beaty
Published June 28th 2022 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Goodreads Synopsis
In this medieval YA fantasy thriller, an orphan with a secret, magical sight gets caught between a mysterious genius and the serial killer he’s hunting.
Rising above the city of Collis is the holy Sanctum. And watching over its spires is Catrin, an orphan girl with unique skills—for she alone can spot the building’s flaws in construction before they turn deadly.
But when Catrin witnesses a murderer escaping the scene of his crime, she’s pulled into the web of a dangerous man who will definitely strike again. Assigned to capture the culprit is the mysterious, brilliant, and enigmatic Simon, whose insights into the mind of a killer are frighteningly accurate.
As the grisly crimes continue, Catrin finds herself caught between murderer and detective while hiding her own secret—a supernatural sight granted by the moon, destined to make her an outcast, and the only thing that might save her and those she loves from becoming the next victims...
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
For Catrin, she has found herself a position working with the master architect, finding flaws in the construction of the Sanctum that no one else can she. Once an orphan with no family other than the sisters in the convent, she has people who she would do anything for, and when the master architect is drawn under suspicion for a series of murders which she alone can hear and see, Catrin involves herself in the investigation, with the handsome Simon at the helm. But as they work together, they start to question everything they've always known, and soon find themselves in a danger no one could ever have imagined.
When I heard that Erin had a new book coming out, I immediately added it to my TBR. I adore her Traitor's Circle series, and have been desperate for more, so Blood & Moonlight was a definitely must read for me! I was drawn to Catrin as soon as I started this book. She's strong, but also quite vulnerable, and she's always wanted a family - or at least to know more about her parents and why she was abandoned at the Abbey. When she falls from the Sanctum, and hears the first murder, it awakens something inside of her which she embraces, but also fears, as she's worried it will drive others away. I loved the way she explored her new found powers, and how she embraces the differences of others around her with relative ease. Meeting Simon, and Juliane was really great for her, and I loved their banter, as well as the romantic aspect.
The true identity of the murderer kept me guessing until the end. I had suspicions of about 5 different characters at one point - including the actual murderer - but the way in which the plot line progressed was definitely one to keep you hooked until the very end. The world building seemed familiar to me, and when I realised it was loosely based on medieval Europe, with real life places and saints interwoven with the fictional, I was in awe of Erin's research. I've been waiting over 3 years for this book, and Erin has not disappointed. If you loved her debut series, this is definitely one for you, and I for one, can't wait for her next story!
Dates Read:
June 25-27, 2022
Rating
4 Stars
Erin Beaty was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, which means she can’t drive a tractor but won’t eat veggies that come from a can.
She graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2000 with a BS in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics) and German, then served in the fleet as a weapons officer on a combat destroyer and later as an instructor the Center for Naval Leadership.
After a few years as a stay-at-home mother and navy wife with a casual family blog, Erin upped her game and started writing her first novel in the spring of 2014. She is now the author of the Traitor’s Circle Trilogy published by Imprint, Macmillan and in several foreign languages.
She and her husband have five children, two cats, and a vegetable garden and live wherever the navy tells them to go.
Erin has taught classes at The Muse Writers Center in Norfolk and has also served on the advisory board of Hampton Roads Writers.
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