Black Moon

Paige Tailor #1

by Jessica McQuay

"Am I losing my mind?"

Paige couldn't help but question her sanity. What other explanation could there be for her hearing a conversation held barely above a whisper in the back of a classroom full of students? What about coming home to find one of those very classmates lying in wait in the darkness of her home, ready to attack her?

Confused, frustrated and feeling every ounce of her social ostracism, Paige confides in the one person she's always been able to count on: her mom. But when her mom reveals a deeply rooted, unbelievable family secret, Paige discovers her world is filled with more than she ever imagined possible. A world where fairytales live alongside nightmares and secrets are the glue that binds them together. Suddenly no one is who they seem and Paige is faced with more questions than answers. Can she survive in a world filled with creatures scarier than anything she could imagine and where deceit runs as thick as blood? Or will the truth send her over the edge?

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy, Magic, Mythology

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

The short and simple: I'm mom to 4 little people and wife of 12 years to my hs sweetheart. I love music, play the clarinet in our community band and have an addiction to zumba and coffee. Neither are interchangeable. I need both. As often as possible. LOL! When, you may ask, do I find the time to write with an insanely busy schedule? Well, I don't just like coffee for the taste, although that is a definite perk. ;-)

Reviews

[Jeann (Happy Indulgence) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Moon really intrigued me from the description, and little did I know that I’d be in for a treat when I started reading it.

Meet Paige Taylor, your average, socially awkward teenager just going through the motions of high school. While she’s in class, she begins to see bright white lights and hear the thoughts of her classmates. Pretty soon after, you learn that she’s half Fae, and her mother takes her off to the strange land of Varulean.

It’s here where she learns about her true heritage, how to take control of her powers, and the secret behind her father’s death. We also meet Naialah, a cocky, smart-mouthed, beautiful instructor that teaches Paige how to harness her powers of controlling nature and seeing auras.

While there’s a few things here that are a bit contrived, ie. Paige actually being royalty in the book and being more powerful than most, I really enjoyed the rich descriptions surrounding the world of the Fae. With all of its politics and niceties, there’s something a bit off about this world and Paige’s matter-of-fact comments are really enjoyable.

The book was really fast paced and there was never a dull moment. If you’re not learning about Varulean and how the Fae operate, you’re being dragged off to another training session with Paige and Naialah. Paige’s first person perspective also interweaves with Rachel, a werewolf who is after Paige’s blood. The action sequences and character development are excellent.

Continued here...

Check out my Happy Indulgence Blog for more reviews!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read many books about 'ordinary' teenagers, an abundance with a paranormal plot and a plethora of pretty covers BUT Black Moon feels so refreshing...

The plot is quite what you expect from the summary. Paige a presumed ordinary girl, is being dragged into a realm of magic, supernatural beings and other events that are catalysts towards delicious action. I am utterly hypnotised by this book but there were a few faults that kept me from fully loving it.

If i can express this book in words i would use captivating, enchanting and innovative. Captivating for how easily immersive this book is. The start just hits off like a rocket and drags you to depths you can't fathom to go. I am beguiled by how everything move smoothly; the transitions between perspectives just worked and strengthened my emotions for the characters.

Call this book enchanting as everything is so light and easy to read. The descriptions are beautiful and succinct. Black Moon is innovative as McQuay have a murder-worthy imagination. Black Moon contains events and places that steals your breath away both sublime and twisted.

There were two problems i had with the novel, they are:
-I felt as if Paige's mother didn't play much of a significant role other than introducing the magic world to Paige.
- I love Paige but I found I found the tantrums she had a bit overwhelming. I mean i get that female hormones are hard to control but i guess i was personally just a bit irritated by it. However, she does grow and in the end i was satisfied.

Overall Black Moon is a quick but delightful read.
I'd like to thank the amazing Jessica McQuay for giving me an eARC version of Black Moon <3

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book left me a little confused.
It was a very interesting story, original and unique… but it was the characters that left me really confused…
Paige was a very cool character I really liked her, she was strong and very willing to adapt to the situation. However, she has no friends… none whatsoever… she only has is her mom.
Then she meets, Naialah… Naialah was a really cool character and I really want to know WHAT she is, because she is definitely not fey. However with her arrival, Paige seemed to become even more confused because she doesn’t know how she is suppose to feel about her, is she a friend? Or more?
Other then those two things, or maybe in spite of them… I was still fascinated with the story because it is a Fairy story unlike anything I have read before, so it kept me constantly changing my opinion, or coming up with different theories.
I am actually really excited about where the next book takes us, and I am hoping that it will have Paige figuring out some of the things I found so confusing.
I usually read books that have a magical element to it, but still a major romance as well… this book totally delivered the magical elements, and I found myself not even missing all the romance!
This is a fantastic quick read and I totally recommend it to everyone who is looking for a fairy book!

[Sláinte Wanderlust · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cover & Title - 4 out of 5
Favorite Character - Naialah

Okay i am left with questions..
Who or what is Naialah?
Is Paige gay/bi/whatever? Seriously in a YA book?

Man, i really enjoyed a lot of this but at other times i was like huh?/wtf? I liked the idea, concept, world the author created & I even liked most of the characters.

I am totally up for a bisexual/gay storyline but i am uber surprised if that is the way it is going to go. I cannot think of even one YA book that has same sex relationships for the lead. *shrug* As you can tell this situation dominated my thoughts quite a lot

I think i will have to read book 2 to find out what happens next!

[Jonel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This paranormal YA book is unlike most other books of its genre. Within the Faery realm of Varulean the author tackles many difficult subjects. On the surface, it is a story about a young lady about to graduate high school who discovers that her mother has been hiding the fact that she is actually a supernatural being. This puts a strain on a very close mother-daughter relationship. Underneath the surface, however, it is about so much more. It is about the many different trials and tribulations that accompany the life of a high school student.

I loved the main character. She is not part of the popular crowd and has very few friends. She is not very confident in herself and depends on her mother as her closest friend and ally. She can be whiny and unsure of herself at times and sarcastic and gung-ho at others. She also follows through on the difficult things that she feels she must do and learns very quickly that she must stand on her own two feet, and can depend on the few people that she trusts. She manages to come to terms with the parts of her life that her mother has kept hidden. In fact, she forgives (almost) all of those who have wronged her in some way. She also discovers that revenge is not something that will help her recover. She battles against her own desire to exact revenge against those who have wronged her while also recalling her closest friend from the brink of loosing herself to revenge. All the while this main character is learning what it means to be not one, but two different types of supernatural. She is real, not just your typical supernatural hero.

There were definitely a few moments where I found myself thinking “I didn’t see that coming,” which was a welcome change from many authors. The story line is by no means predictable. You can rarely guess what is going to happen next. That type of writing comes right through to the final chapter of the novel where you see a budding relationship begin to take root. This is your typical girl falls for her savior relationship, but yet it is not. This is simply because it is a same sex relationship that is so rarely found within YA literature. I loved this twist, especially since it is something dealt with on a daily basis by many living regular human lives trying to escape into the supernatural via literature.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on http://readmybreathaway.blogspot.ca
Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

Right from the beginning of the book, we've got mystery. Paige Tailor would just be your average teenager, except for the white lights that glow from her hands and her ability to hear a whispered conversation from across a classroom. The story only picks up from there, with Paige being attacked in and around her own home by a seemingly crazed classmate, Rachel (who has her own little story woven into this one in select chapters, which is interesting!). When she finally tells her mother what happens, Paige gets the shock of a lifetime: her mother is full-blood Fae, making Paige a half-blood. They travel to Varulean, the home of the Fae and her grandparents' kingdom, where Paige learns she is the granddaughter of the ruling King and Queen and will be taught how to use her wild powers. As she discovers, being a royal can get complicated, as can being a teenage girl. Put them together, and Paige ends up with a lot on her plate!

There is a lot to enjoy about this book. The plot is fairly fast-paced and has tons of unexpected twists and turns. As a reader, I felt as shocked as Paige did at some of the incredible things she learns. This is definitely not a predictable story, which is refreshing! Just when you think things will begin to clear up and make sense, the author throws another twist at you!

Paige is quite the character. We get a real sense of who she is right from the very beginning and she continuously develops as the story progresses. Early on, it appears she is fairly level-headed, even when worried or confused. However, once she gets to Varulean, she has a hot head and a quick temper, which likely comes out due to the abrupt change in world she experiences. Certainly going through everything she does would be too much for many to handle! Paige is not afraid to express herself and is very outspoken, which I admire, despite it sometimes coming off as rude. She also remains very much a typical teenager through the story; losing her cool when things go wrong, and not wanting to be her mother's "tag along". Not to mention the interesting, shifting dynamic between her and Naialah, whom she meets in Verulean, which never fails to be interesting and rile up emotions on both parts!

There is definitely an awkward family dynamic among Paige and her newly-discovered grandparents with her mother caught in the middle. This adds a sense of truth to the story because they do not immediately form one big, happy family when their ways and customs are so completely different.

I absolutely love the world-building. Varulean is presented as an absolutely enchanting place, with moss-like soil, an abundance of flourishing nature, and vibrantly coloured plants like you wouldn't see on Earth. I really appreciate that some history and description of Varulean is woven into the story, as it helps bring it to life. The magic in the novel is also incredible. The author describes things I've never imagined before, and it all sounds incredible fluid and unique.

There were a few things that didn't impress me as much. Firstly, that there were some errors in the writing as well as some awkward phrasings that should have been caught by an editor (which is who I am blaming for those!), though I was able to enjoy the story despite them. There were also moments where I wished there was better indication of who was speaking the dialogue. I am glad to say that this did improve over the course of the novel. I was also very interested in the side story that was going on with Rachel and was disappointed to find it disappear when Paige went to Varulean (though that's not the last time we see Rachel, thankfully).

There were definitely lots of enjoyable things about this novel! Those who enjoy magic would likely find something to love about this one. Especially the very climactic ending! It wasn't too much of a cliffhanger, thankfully, though there is definitely material for the next book in the series! It got me wondering what would happen next without feeling like the individual novel is completely unfinished, which is how I feel books in a series should end!

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige Tailor is 17, an ordinary teen in every way, or so she thinks until her world begins to change. In 'Black Moon' Jessica McQuay has created an exciting paranormal tale in which Paige is quickly removed from the comfort of the known and plunged into a place of magic and monsters.

The story starts off a bit slow for me but soon enough I was immersed in the story and staying up to read just a little more because I had to know what happened next. I love storytelling that draws me along like that, it makes for a fun read, and this certainly was.

It's hard to pick what I like best about the book, the action-y goodness was a huge hit with me and I want to say it is where the author excels:

Then, just like that, it was chaos.
I heard a howl come from somewhere in front of me and before I could make out which wolf the sound had come from, they were running towards us. Panic flooded my mind. I stood frozen,unsure of what to do... p. 206

...I turned back to Naialah in time to see her fighting one wolf with her bare hands, and another with the branches of a tree towering above us. I watched, distracted by her fighting the one with her bare hands. No magic that I could see. There was a noise coming from her as she crouched low to the ground. It was feral and made me dizzy with fear. p.211

Yet the visuals for the world she created were so rich and detailed I find I can't put the action above it.

I took in the strange, exotic land as we followed a trail in what I assumed was Varulean’s version of soil. It was a rich deep brown color like the red brown of an almond. It didn’t feel like soil though. It had a spongy texture that reminded me of moss. With each step I felt like the ground would thrust me upward like a trampoline. I had the urge to take of my shoes and feel the strange texture with my bare feet. p.67

That doesn't mean I don't find the characters compelling! Paige is very 17 and learning her way through new situations that constantly challenge her and many of those moments really resonate with me.

I grabbed my pillow, covered my face and screamed as loudly as I could. I screamed for the old me and my old life and all that I knew slipping away. I screamed for this new person with all of these new ideas and for how little control I felt I had over my own life. My reality was shifting, the world was turning upside down and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. So, I screamed. I screamed because I couldn’t think of anything else I could do. p.62

The other main characters include her arch-nemesis, who is vicious, out of control, and enjoyably unlikable. And a friend she makes who is the stuff of girl crushes everywhere. Loyal, beautiful, mysterious and capable of handling anything that's thrown at her, Naialah is one of the major reasons I say bring on book two!

This book resolves nicely, with a hint of what's to come, and I'm giving it 4 out of 5 because it's a fun, quick read that left me wanting more!

[PhotographerAtHeart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Supernatural and paranormal fun abound in this story. I don't typically read YA adult novels, but Mrs. McQuay has a way with descriptions and words. Her characters are lively and entertaining. You can't help but love them...or hate them. Her fantasy world, Varulean, was described with such candor that I wished it were a real place so I could see what she saw and touch what she touched...to experience it the way she imagines it.

Paige is an interesting main character. She is very thoroughly a teenager being ruled by emotion and quick to get upset. But you watch her grow throughout the story. Granted, not as much as I would have liked, but I assume that is because this is the first story in a series and we don't really want her to grow in one book. She is only 18 by the end of the book after all.

My favorite character is Naialah. I do hope we find out more about the relationship between her and Paige in the next book. It was a very interesting one in this story and I am quite curious to see how it unfolds in later books.

Very well done. This book will not disappoint.

[Kimberly Schaaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to preface this review with the statement that I'm honestly not a "fae" fan. I've tried to read several "fae" books in the past - and have just not been able to get into them.

However, at the recommendation of someone that I truly trust when it comes to book, I dove into Black Moon - with an open mind and high hopes.

Now - with all that being said, I am pleasantly surprised at how much I did enjoy this book! I went through a range of emotions while going through the journey with Paige. I mean, it's not everyday that you find out you're part faery!!! (Yes, I said "PART"...but you'll have to read for yourself to find out what the other "part" is.....) She gets mad, excited, intrigued, happy, sad....everything you can possibly think of for a teenage girl who just had her world turned upside down.

The one thing that I enjoyed honestly the most about this book was Jessica's vivid use of colors to describe the faery world of Varulean. Oh my wow!! Some of the most beautifully written descriptions of how things looked that I've EVER seen in a book before. I felt like I could close my eyes and see the colors that she was describing. It made me wish for some illustrations!!

During her visit to Varulean, Paige is thrust into the care of a "creature" by the name of Naialah. A strikingly beautiful woman that is assigned to be Paige's mentor while in Varulean. The bond that they have from the beginning is strained. It's like there's something more connecting them...but neither one of them is 100% sure what it is. Well, at least Naialah's not letting on that she knows anything. Paige feels uncomfortable around her at times, frustrated, scared, intrigued, enraptured....and there's also a hint of flirtateous longing there. I'm super anxious to see where Jessica decides to take this relationship.

There's the secondary story of Rachel (the werewolve set out to keep an eye on Paige) and Cail (her alpha) that was interesting. Again, I'm anxious to see where Jessica takes Rachel's role in this story especially after....well, you'll just have to read to find out what I mean.

All in all - I enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to #2 in the Paige Tailor series.

[Chris Torretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, what an interesting book! The plot pretty much starts straight away with Paige getting attacked by Rachel. Rachel seems to really dislike Paige. I couldn’t figure out why but I was sadly distracted quite a bit while reading this so it could be something I missed but her hatred for Paige definitely shows through from page one!

The other characters are just as interesting. Paige is really the epitome of a teenager but one that just found out that she’s part fae. What the heck would I have done if my parents dropped that in my lap, I have NO idea! Probably reacted a bit like Paige. She was pissed at everyone! This doesn’t distract from her personality though, it only made me want to know her more. One odd thing was between her and Naialah and I couldn’t figure that out and I won’t say much here other than Paige kept saying how luscious and full Naialah’s lips were! Now I’m a very open gal so this relationship didn’t hurt the storyline for me at all. Actually I wanted more between these two! I was questioning my assumptions but got an answer that I will not divulge of course! You have to read it to find out!! I will just say their tug of war relationship is fun to watch, a bit frustrating at times because both women are stubborn, but still fun!

The plot was also really interesting and again the only questions I have are mostly about Rachel. Her character just seemed SO mean. She adds in a lot that happens to Paige that really wasn’t necessary if she could just sit back and talk to someone but we each have our issues right? Rachel has a fair share for sure! And even though I wanted more from that character she still made me respond to her, which is always fabulous! The plot is very steady, starts with a bang and ends beautifully. I just wish Paige would have learned more before jumping into some of these situations. If she were my daughter I would cringe every time she was out of my sight!!

I could add so much more but the gist of it is this: Absolutely great paranormal book! I can not wait to read the second!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start by saying this is completely out of my norm as far as reading. I don't generally read YA books and I don't generally read books having to do with anything supernatural. I am SO glad I stepped out of my reading comfort zone.

Reading some of the earlier reviews show that some of the reasons others didn't like Paige are the reasons I fell head over heels for her. She's a shy, geeky, introvert. She behaves the way she is described. You don't really connect with her character UNTIL she allows you to. It added to her draw for me. She was the main character and while I normally like to connect with the main character either in a positive or negative way, right away, I didn't with Paige. And it only made her seem more real. I didn't have a passion for her until Naialah brought out her passion.

I love the lingering questioning feelings between her and Naialah. Being a teenager and exploring your sexuality is not something that she be taboo or gasped at. I like that very true to life feeling between Paige and Naialah. There ARE teens who go through these same feelings and Paige gives them someone to relate to.

Lastly the HUGE draw for me was how incredibly the author described her surroundings. When she was in Varulean, I seriously could see it on the pages in front of me. The flowers, the ground, the castle, the people. In the battle scenes with Rachel, the descriptions were so colorful that they leapt off the page.

I cannot WAIT for Book 2!

[Two Nerds With Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Moon is a strong start to a new fantasy series. We are introduced to a world of fae, shape-shifters, werewolves and many other species that makes Black Moon a supe-fest and an exciting one at that.


There are many fascinating story developments within Black Moon that help to shape the characters Paige and Naialah. Their relationship develops in a unique way, one that I thought was a brave and original move from the author Jessica McQuay. Their relationship progresses alongside Paige's acceptance and growth of the many changes going on her life. The relationship and developments were smoothly and delicately handled by the author, and helped to make Black Moon an intriguing read.


There when many aspects about one of the minor characters Rachel, that I found a little confusing. Her background and personality were made fairly clear, but there were occasions within the plot development that seemed to be a little too coincidental without thorough description or detail. It was possible to move past these moments however; they certainly didn't take away my enjoyment of the book.

Black Moon successfully ends setting up the characters and the reader for the next installment. There are still many questions left unanswered and so much possibility for this series. A very enjoyable 4 fluttering fairies!

[Kriss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to think at the beginning and by the end I had read a nice enjoyable story. j would deem this one of my brain candy reads. Dealing with dome.normal teen issues dispute the fact of all the abnormal being thrown af her. Paige does pretty awesome.

What I enjoyed most was the subtle and honest approach the author took to same sex attraction. I have a huge problem with something being labeled YA because it has kids or teens but not approaching the issues as they should be for teens. Jessica did this wonderfully. It has yet to be resolved and could honestly end up just being a curious attraction. It really doesn't matter it fit this tactful and very well written urban fantasy with some pretty great action scenes to boot.

It was another modern take on Fae with some real.coming of age things mixed into a fantasy story. I wish some things were slightly different as well as more things explained better or perhapss resolved, but over all it was a nice YA that I enjoyed.

The small issues for me was perhaps to much was rushed through. The very important fact about Paige's blood lines (which I do not want to go into it as it will be a spoiler). Many things and important facts are brought up and never actually addressed. I know there will be sequels which I hope to catch however I think some things could have been explained in this first book.

[Kevin Klehr · Rating 3 out of 5]

From its seductive cover to the last page, this novel had me intrigued. It is definitely the first of a series and sets up the adventure waiting for us, very well.

Paige is your typical teenager - she has attitude, a few hang-ups, and while an incredible series of events comes her way, she still views them with the self-concern a typical teen has. And, of course, she has a youthful interest in fashion. This point of view makes for a charming read.

For me this story came to life when she visited her magical homeland for the first time. Perhaps this is just personal preference as the novel shifts from light horror to mystical sci-fi, and I always loved old movies about other worlds when I was growing up. The place of her mother's birth had me wanting to visit with its hybrid of nature and never ending royal parties. I'll have to add it to my list of holiday destinations.

Ms McQuay mixes first person with third person in this novel a few times, and although at first it takes you by surprise, the reason why it is written this way makes sense as you continue taking in the story. It begins to fit.

I'm looking forward to the growth in relationships, the secrets to be revealed, and the personal insights that you know are yet to come in this fascinating tale.

[Bookish Satty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side!

Firstly I would like to thank Jessica McQuay, author of Black Moon, for this wonderful opportunity of reading and reviewing this fantastic book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and if you're a fan of YA books then this is the 'it' book for you. Here we get our heroine Paige Taylor as a regular teenager whose biggest problems are not much different than any other teenage girl until one day all her conceptions regarding herself and her bloodline changes leaving her life in a whirlwind of difficult situations.

I truly heart the emotional and deep mother-daughter relationship and really appreciate the way the author presented it in this story. The twists and turns are really breath-taking and the supernatural world that the author is created is really believable.

I loved the writing style of the author which forged the bond between me and story and it's characters from the very first page. The suspense is eerie and you'll keep on guessing the end of the story and will be truly surprised by it.

Hope to catch the next book as soon as possible and I really want to continue with this story and hope to get the chance of revealing the up coming twists and turns in Paige's life.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paige Tailor is a regular somewhat "geeky" teenage girl who keeps to herself. Paige starts to get nervous when strange things start happening to her, like a white light emanating from her palms and the fact that she seemed to read her classmates mind during class. Freaking out Paige turns to her mom who tells her the unthinkable, she's part Fae. Paige is thrust into the world of creatures and magic with stalking werewolves, finding out she's Fairy royalty, and magic training with a gorgeous instructor she can't stand and can't get enough of.
The story pulls you in from the first page and keeps you hooked long after you finished reading. McQuay paints a clear beautiful picture of the fairy world and her take on the paranormal world is refreshing. I liked the relationship between the characters especially Paige and Naialah, though I wish it would have progressed a little more in this book. Overall a great YA read that you will devour in one sitting,definitely going to be looking out for book 2.

[Alison Beightol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a treat! I don't typically read YA or Fae novels but I am glad that I read this one. One of the most interesting this about this novel is the unusual way the author handles POV. That struck me as highly original. It helped cement how I felt about the characters. Another awesome element of this book is the authors gift at world building. For a book in a age group I don't read, I was rapidly turning pages just to see what Ms. Mc Quay would reveal to me next. All my senses were engaged! There is a super interesting plot twist that may or may not be in there. I'm not going to say what it is because I might have just been reading into it but the character relationships are crackling with dynamics!
This was a fun read for me! I'm so glad I read it and have been recommending it to my friends since I started it.(I didn't even have to wait to finish it!)

[Rachel Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

This books brings magic to a new level, with color and imagery that allows you to create the world in your mind. The story is a great setup for what the future will show us about Paige and her newly learned abilities.

I connected to Paige and her geeky personality at the beginning of her story and found myself wishing I had hidden secrets about myself that could give me the powers she's discovered. Throughout the book I witnessed some key events that made me like the relationship that develops between Naialah and Paige, making friendship and trust some of the key elements to make it work. Watching her transform into what she's become at the end is exciting and I cannot wait to continue on this journey with her and Naialah and see where it takes them.

[David Estes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow! A really good debut novel from an up and coming YA author, Black Moon has a little bit of everything: Action, Faeries, Werewolves, and a touch of romance. I recommend this book for lovers of faery stories in particular ;)

I must say, I expect great things from Jessica McQuay in the future, I could tell from chapter to chapter and even page by page, in some cases, that her writing style ability just keeps getting better and better, so I fully expect the sequel to get even better! By the end it was almost like reading a different author, she was that much improved. I can't wait to see what comes next!

[witchyreader13, · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I start a YA novel, I worry that as an adult I may not enjoy it, but this book set aside my fears. It was a fun story with a lot of action and a few twists. The lead character, Paige, is believable & grows up a lot through the course of the novel, and I loved the beginnings of the love story the book hinted at. Would I have liked this book better if I was in its intended readers' age group? Maybe, but I still found this to be a very enjoyable read, finishing it up in two sittings. I look forward to the next book in the series. Just for full disclosure, I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have freely given.

[Chloe (Girl In The Woods Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought BLACK MOON was a very interesting, mysterious and unsettling book. It made me think about all the secrets and whatnots piling against Paige. She was a character that grew the most during the entire story and I can't wait till I get a read for the second book of the Paige Tailor Series. Jessica McQuay has written quite a talented story that has a striking fling to it's readers!

This book will NOT disappoint you!

[Meshanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the very first pages until the very last. Paige was a very believable character and I enjoyed the fact that as the story progressed, she seemed to grow up. I was very intrigued by Naialah and can not wait to find out more about her. I thought the relationship between Paige and Naialah was interesting and I would like to see how that developes and what it developes into. All in all a great read and I'd recommend it to anyone.

[Spring · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent entry by newcomer Jessica McQuay.

[YA Novelties · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come check out this review on our blog!

4.25 Stars!

REVIEW

Okay, I'm going to cheat our usual rating system here. I'm going to give this book 4.25 stars. You can imagine the missing 1/4 star. :) I'm going to be reviewing the Cover Art, Plot, Style, Characters, Personal Pet-Peeves, or PPPs, if you will, and Overall opinions.

Cover Art: Definitely an interesting choice for a cover. It's neither beautiful, nor gory, nor depressing. It's beguiling and alluring. The woman is beckoning potential readers to come over and find out her secrets. After reading the book, I'm honestly quite glad the author didn't go with some frilly-fluffy-bubbly-a-unicorn-threw-up-on-it-cover, as it seems most YA novels about faeries/fairies are. I'll give 4 (out of five) thumbs up for this cover!

Plot/Style: I don't think the plot summary of Black Moon does the book enough justice. I was truly quite skeptical when first going in, but, as I found out later, that I was quite wrong. I feel like the summary of the book gives off the wrong vibe. Not a bad vibe, just different from what I experienced while reading the book. I feel that the style of the book was quite varying. There was a lot of action, emotion, and learning about trusting one another/friendship. If you're looking for romance, this book ain't for you. There are maybe a total of 3-4 pages talking about romance that doesn't even involve Paige, the main character.

The plot of Black Moon definitely contains many plot twists and turns that make the story ten-fold better. While things might not make sense in the beginning, all will be revealed in the end. After reaching the end, I had encountered quite a few of those "Ah-ha!" moments. Out of personal experience, it's extremely hard to write a novel that has just the right pace, interesting sensory details, and lovable characters, and still keep a satisfying ending. Jessica Mcquay is skillful in incorporating ah-ha moments without boring you to death in the process, as well as creating a whole new world that I can easily imagine. (Man, what I'd kill to become a Paige Tailor.)

The type of narration of Black Moon is written in first person, with Paige as the main POV, and sometimes switching off to Cail or Rachel. One last point: I was extremely happy with how the book ended. It wasn't rushed, and it wasn't forced. It was natural, and flowed right out of the heart. (cheesy, I know) Mostly everything is resolved and it reaches a satisfying conclusion. It's really hard to find a decent YA ending, but this book definitely has one.

Characters:
(Paige, Niahlah, Rachel)

Paige: The story revolves around a 17 year old senior, Paige Tailor, who is a geeky, quiet, A+ student. Never one to get in fights, and quite a loner, she seeks to change that, but her life quickly is flipped upsidedown as she finds out that she is part faerie! I was attacted to this book because I can sympathize with the protagonist's geeky, relatable character. Call me bias, but strong POVs are really quite fun for me to read, and Paige definitely fit this role for me. Quick to argue with people she doens't trust, she is really amusing to read, if not a little annoying for her stubborness. I have to admit, although I loved her character, she kind of complains (A LOT) while she's training her fae powers in the middle. All of her quirks kind of grow on you, like a little sibling or cousin. I found it ironic that although she's displayed as "mature" in school, as you read about her later in the faerie world of Varulean, you'll learn that she is quite immature and childish at times. I loved watching her character develop throughout the story. In the beginning she was so new to the aspct of faeries, but by the end, she was a pro; like, pshhhh, controlling nature everyday ain't no biggie. (Her powers were my favorite :)

Niahlah: This lady was just kick-ass awesome. She's so secretive and awesomely epic, you can't help but love her. Her outfits were pretty funky, too. The outfits varied from day to day (in hindsight, this is a GOOD thing, regarding hygiene). She wore thigh-high black stilletto boots a lot of the time, apparently. Most of the book displays how the relationship betwen Paige and Niahlah grows and strengthens. I can't even describe how great Niahlah is. You'd have to read the book to find out.

Rachel: I have to admit: Rachel was a psycho. Jessica McQuay cleverly incorporates both sides of the story into the narration. As we see what's going on in Paige's life, the protagonists, we also get a pook from time to time in Rachel's life, the antagonist. Rachel, well, has many, er, problems. Let's just leave it at that. Rachel is a very needy personality, but puts up a "tough girl" attitude as a front to avoid emotional pain. Yup, for those of you who know a bit of Japanese, she is a tsundere. She's a person that'll treat you coldly and quite rudely, but will actually be quite soft and vulnerable on the inside. As I have been told from the author, more of Rachel's story will be revealed in the sequel! Oh, and did I mention that she's a werewolf?

Pet Peeves:
One of my petpeeves, or annoyances about this story would probably be the slow beginning. Definitely after the first 20-50 pages, the story picks up, but before then, it's quite draggy. I feel like you'd have to be patient to get to the "good part" and not many people are that willing to do so. My impressions for the first part, if you can see above, weren't as happy as the later ones. It might just be me, but I noticed a subtle change of writing style after 100 pages or so. I don't know if this was intentional, to symbolize the maturity of Paige (the book is written in 1st person). If this was done purposefully, then great job!

One more little eensy-weensy annoyance. In the middle of the story, Paige agrees with her fae grandparents to train in the liberal fae arts and socializing before learning magic. I noticed that Paige complains a LOT, LOT, LOT for about 20-30 pages. Once I read over that hurdle, everything was smooth sailing afterwards.

Overall:
One of my favorite parts abotu the faerie world is that it's a matriarchal society, meaning women rule. This isn't common, which is why I enjoy reading about it so much. Most of the fighting characters were women, including Paige, Naialah, and Rachel. GO ESTROGEN! As you can tell, I'm a feminist. So yeah....

I really enjoyed this novel, a lot more than I thought. As I said earlier in my reading commentary, this book exceeded and shattered all my expectations tenfold! :D
Overall, Jessica McQuay creates an elegant, yet dangerous faerie world, that follows the experiences of your not-so-average highschool senior, Paige Tailor. (BTW-how is she even able to graduate highschool in the end? She goes to the faerie world for a decent chunk of time!)It's definitely worth it to give this book a try. I guarantee you'll like it (once you get past the first 50 pages or so).

Happy Reading and thanks to Jessica McQuay for chatting up a storm!

Rosie @ YA Novelties

[Pages in Pink · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 star review for me folks; here's the skinny:


**SPOILERS BELOW, SPOILERS BELOW**



Black Moon begins with our introduction to Paige Tailor, a shy, socially awkward senior in high school. With virtually no friends to speak of, Paige keeps to herself for the most part; until she starts hearing the thoughts of others.

While sitting in class one afternoon, Paige is inundated with voices from every direction only to discover no one is speaking. Trying to focus on just one voice alone, her eyes take her to the boy sitting directly next to her, Matt, who is internally lamenting about his best friends girlfriend. Unaware of her actions, Paige impulsively blurts his secret to the class- leading her to trouble with the teacher, and the boy next to her. Humiliated and embarrassed, Paige heads home for the day to forget about it all . What she doesn't realize, is that there are four people watching her every move and action, just waiting for her to slip up, and Matt is one of them. When Paige arrives home, another one of the four is awaiting her arrival....

I really enjoyed this intro- it gave me a sense of what Paige was about and how she was feeling about all of her new abilities. That being said, the verbiage and conversational tones were a little stiff and didn't flow as well as I would've liked, although that did improve as the story progressed.

As we get further into the storyline, we discover that Paige's mother is 100% Fae, a faery Princess no less!!- explaining all of Paige's newly developed abilities. Although Paige is angry and disappointed that her mother has kept this from her since birth, she processes the info and moves forward with a hidden smile and the joy that she is no longer just an ordinary girl, she is half-faery.

The rest of the story takes place (for the most part anyway) in Varulean, the Faery dimension. Descriptions of Varulean left me reminiscent for Oz; I was kinda waiting for the Lolly-pop Guild to make an appearance, and although there were midgets conducting murderous business, they weren't dancing. Or holding lollipops. I digress.

Once in Varulean, Paige begins standard combat training, magic lessons, and history lectures about her people. OH- I forgot to mention- her grandparents are the King and Queen of Faery. Yup. AND- they have given her the best trainer in the land, Naialah- a bad ass Inter-species specialist- SHE not only masters faery magic- but any other supernatural power as well- I'd take that super power for SURE!!! We just don't know what Naialah IS... because Paige is certain she is NOT Fae. Shifter, werewolf maybe??

Now. Here is where things got really squicky for me. Paige is developing feelings for Naialah. Like FEELINGS, feelings. You with me? There's no making out or anything, but there are lots of staring at lips, body scans from head to toe, butterflies in the belly, sweaty palms and "can't wait to see her" type of things. Hey. I have no problem with two girls who dig each other- but I need an ALPHA MALE to get my blood pumping, not a girl in great boots, so my eyes just about bugged out of my head when I discovered what was going on. However. Naialah could have been switched out with a dude and it would've worked out just peachy for me- because Naialahs character was written was LIKE an Alpha.... cocky, smug, smirky smile, badass, the ultimate in defenders, etc. The only way I can see this being redeemed for me is if Naialah is a shifter and really a dude, and has been shifting to a female body... It could happen, right??

Another issue I have with the attraction between Paige and Naialah is that it's never addressed. Ever. There was never any internal monologue about the scary attraction or feelings Paige was having- that would be a pretty big deal to a teenager- I feel like it needed to be touched on in some capacity. I could be way off base regarding this relationship, but I don't think that's the case.

So. Why 3 Stars??
.5 star deduction for the cut and dry verbiage for much of the book. I am a girl who needs lots of detail to spaces, places and a faces. Descriptions were not what I was hoping for; books need to take you there, I had to work to fill descriptions during much of this one... besides Varulean/ OZ, of course :)

.5 star deduction for lack of true drama. I understand that this is the first book in a series, so I'm sure the drama will build; but other than a few fight scenes, there was nothing much to work through. Paige has no real friends to speak of and nothing to really lose. There will be more drama in the future regarding her supposedly dead father, which the King and Queen have been steering-so I'm interested to see where that goes.

1 star deduction for the relationship situation between Naialah and Paige. With the YA genre demographics being what they are, feelings and alternate relationship developments really needed to be addressed and spoken about (even if in internal monologues). Again, I feel this was really lacking, and hope it is further addressed in later installments.

This is a definite YA read. Aside for some language, it's fine for just about anyone. If you love YA paranormal, and an alpha male lead isn't an absolute necessity for you- this book will fit the bill!!!

I was provided a free eARC by the author in exchange for a fair review.

[Dear Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can also read this on The Social Potato Reviews

Disclaimer: The author sent me a free copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. This, however, did not influence my review in any way.

More of a 3.5.

This has got to be my nth paranormal book this year. But I'm not complaining. The Paranormal genre may be one of the most overused out there, but it is one of the most flexible, too. The possibilities are endless and if one has a good imagination, they can make a new vibrant and supernatural world of their own. Black Moon by Jessica McQuay is no exception - you can find most of them supernatural beings here!

Paige was a geeky, quiet and discreet student, running for Valedictorian. Yes, was. Her life turned upside day when one day, she started noticing new things about herself. Suddenly, white light emitted from her palms, and if that wasn't freaky enough, she found herself hearing other people's thoughts, too! Not someone to lie and hold back vital information, she confided in her mom the experiences she was undertaking, only to become even more confused. Turned out, her mom wasn't really who she was... what would that make her, then?

At first glance, a reader (especially someone who has read a lot of paranormal books) can tell that the beginning started like any other - a girl finding out she's more than what she thinks she is and embarks on an adventure to discover out more about herself. Something like this can get tiring after a while, but most of the time, characters make up for it. While Paige was quite interesting, I didn't really feel attached to her at all. I think it has something to do with the fact that there wasn't much internal narration (by my standards, anyway) going on. There were a lot of "she did this, and did that, and then did this" that it affected my experience of getting to know the heroine. Here's an example...

I grabbed my jacket and my back pack, which I packed with snacks, water, and a few other things that might come in handy for the day, and I headed out the back door. I crossed my backyard and disappeared into the tree, making sure to follow the small but distinct path worn into the dirt. I walked for ten minutes until I found the place I was looking for. A place I'd been going to for years to be alone, to think, to get away.

There's nothing really wrong with this style of writing, but I personally find it a little tiring to read. Nevertheless, it's just a detail, and not something to get worked up on.

While the introduction was enjoyable (with Paige realizing her capabilities for the first time), I honestly found it a bit too fast for my taste. She learns of her powers, tells her mother, and then her mother reveals to her who and what she really was, and the succeeding acceptance of this truth comes earlier than what I expected. I felt that the whole revealing and accepting situation could have used more tension, build-up and escalation in order to create some sort of "excitement" for the reader. I was *still* in page 30 and Paige and I already knew of her background. While I didn't find it that disappointing, it felt like a rollercoaster because it was over before I knew it. Get my drift?

Because of this, I felt that the relationship between the Mother and Paige was a little superficial. Yes, the flow of the story was good, but the dialogue between the two at the beginning seemed a little stiff. Again, this may come from the fact that too much information was given right away. There were times that I felt the chain of events were too rushed... and the main character too... undecisive? I felt a bit uneasy that Paige wasn't willing to go to the other dimension at the beginning, and then after a few pages, she suddenly wants to with all her being. O_o

Aside from that, the paranormal world that the author has created seemed extremely colorful and animated. While I don't like too much details regarding what the character was doing every second, I always welcome details of world-building. The faerie world was illustrated beautifully and vibrantly. I wouldn't mind living in such an environment myself!

And to be honest, the "romance" here made me feel a bit... anxious, too... but it's just the first book, so we'll see!

Overall, this is a good story with a promising plot, but I think it should try to slow down a bit because I think it's revealing too much too fast (I always think that "less is more"... the less you give, more room for imagination, that kind of thing). There was little room for mystery, which could have been great for paranormal stories like this.

[Sue Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Type and Source of Book:
Ebook generously offered for free by the author!

Thoughts: ***Warning - May Contain Spoilers***

OVERALL THOUGHTS:
This book bugged me - but in a good way. I think I feel this way due to some of the mystery woven into the story towards some of the characters and situations. Some of this mystery was answered in the book later in the story; for example, the reason for the ominous feelings Paige felt towards her grandparents when she met them, or the reason why werewolves were even included in the story. Some of the mystery is still unresolved - and I think that's what bugs me... because now I have to read the next book or it will drive me insane!!! I want to know if I'm right!!

The biggest unresolved mystery in my brain is one that I don't even KNOW if it's a real "mystery" or not since the way the book ended seemed to tell me I'm wrong - grr!! The "mystery" is the fact that the author started hinting at doubts about one character near the end (including some freaky red-eye thing), and creatively flipped initial feelings towards another character (eg: first I thought this person was one way, and now I'm having a touch of empathy towards them).

I also hope that SOMEHOW there is a miraculous twist for ANOTHER character - because I think that a love story there (with empathy person) could balance the girl-on-girl action elsewhere in the book.

OR maybe this could happen: empathy person could somehow be related to Paige!

....Either way, my gut will continue its twisting until I find out the truth in the next book of the series.


ELEMENTS I LIKED:

1. The way there was a MOM in a book

The YA main character wasn't mysteriously alone for a change! AND both Paige and her mom did things that "normal" people do... Like take 3 hours to pack for a trip! Or (Paige) rinses her mouth after brushing her teeth by bending over and sticking her mouth under the running tap. Oh! Paige's mom makes plain old spaghetti too... Well... maybe not PLAIN old spaghetti...

I took a bite and nearly passed out. It was freaking delicious.
"This is amazing mom."
She chuckled.
"You always love my spaghetti." <----This just makes me want to practice cooking over and over again until I get somebody to love it as much as Paige does :)


2. Varulean. For those of you that haven't read the book I hope this isn't TOO spoiler-ish:

Varulean is smaller than earth as a whole. It isn't a planet like Earth or Mars, but a dimension of earth's reality. It's hard to explain, but it's like we are in an alternate version of earth. Time, space, gravity... it is all the same here in Varulean as it is on Earth.

I liked how the author's imagination created this world and it makes me want to learn to draw better so that I can extract parts of Varulean's world and put it into a drawing to save. We kept learning a little bit more of this world each chapter, it seemed (eg: at one point it mentioned it had 3 suns, some of the rooms changed inside, etc.).... The "images" I would want to try and create would be two scenes that stood out for me:

a) The initial view of the castle (see-through but not quite see-through... can see furniture but only shadows for people).... which of course we find out the image is not truly that - but I like this inital glimpse that Paige sees... But I'd have to also include some of the plant life outside as well.

b) The training field - this one would be tough to draw but I think I would have it as a half/half drawing:

Half would be the blank whiteness of nothing surrounded by a stone wall (maybe the stone wall could have the different classes written on it: Tichlocia - Beginner, EcinaEid - Intermediate, Oroinai - Advanced, ClynaAltia - Masters)

The other half would be the waterfall scene - Paige's first view of this with Naialah floating/garment changed.


3. The odd new words

I'm weird, I know - but I got a kick out of trying to pronounce some of the author's invented words. For example, one plant called Arocijia (I pronounced air-o-key-jee-yah) another plant called OpliaNi-Artisi (ope-lee-yah-nee-are-tee-see)... I may be completely wrong but it was still fun trying.

The author's words are quite creative - even her real life PETS have neat names (goldfish named Sparkle and cat named Talula).


FINAL THOUGHTS:
All in all - a decent book and I just wish the wait to find out the truth about the "mysteries" will be quick.

[Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

From
http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....

At A Glance
Black Moon is an odd book that's hard to review. I enjoyed reading it but was also left scratching my head in confusion when it comes to the plot.

The Good
Okay, so the cover is what drew me to this book at first. Then I read the blurb and was like, "Fairies? I am all over that." But Black Moon ended up being nothing like I imagined. This is a self-discovery or coming of age story. Paige is a loner. She has no friends and no connection to teenagers like her. But when her mom tells her of her fairy heritage and takes her to a type of fairyland, Paige really starts to grow into herself.

Paige is a brat in the beginning of the book. But as her time in fairyland grows, the more Paige learns who she really is. She learns how to handle fairy politics, how to fight, and how to use her magic. And from Paige's new found self, she learns to ask questions. Questions about what these fairies really want from her and the truth about her family. Paige doesn't let anyone dictate her life. She fights for what she believes in no matter who she is up against. And when her magic and fighting mentor joins her on her crusade, that's when things really got interesting.

Naialah was the best character by far. She is really snarky and a little condescending, but in a fun way. At first, Paige hates her, but Naialah proves to be her best friend and confident. Naialah has a past that we are not privy too. She is not quite fairy which is suspicious. She is something else and it kills me not knowing. I want to find out what secrets she is keeping. I love a good mystery. Plus, she is so scary but sweet all at once. It's so interesting seeing her freak out with power and magic one minute, then becoming so caring and loving the next.

I loved the world Jessica created in Black Moon. The descriptions of the fairyland were amazing. I could picture everything with clarity and vibrancy. I would love to learn more about the fairy people in the next book.

The Bad
My biggest gripe with this book was that the plot was not well structured. It was pretty aimless. The beginning was okay, the middle was meh, then the ending picked up. As for a solid plot, there wasn't one. This is more a story of self-discovery, which I don't mind, I just didn't expect it. And, really, it seemed like a waste of a great concept. This book had so much more potential.

Another huge annoyance was the descriptions. Every single action Paige performed was documented. We read about her taking a shower, drying herself off, brushing her hair, brushing her teeth, getting a soda, drinking the soda, going into the office, turning on the computer, waiting for the computer to load up... I think you get my point. So tedious and so unnecessary. It drove me crazy.

There was a decision made by the end that I did not agree with. Paige and Naialah go out on a mission but decide to not 100% complete it which is only going to cause more trouble later. It was just a silly choice to make.

The Snuggly
There is almost no romance in Black Moon. But the few moments of interest we see is between Paige and Naialah. I wasn't expecting that. I loved Paige's confusion with this turn of events. She is confused by her attraction to Naialah and it really worked well for the story. I am assuming she didn't know her sexual orientation until now. I would love to see Paige grow more comfortable with the woman she is becoming.

Final Thoughts
I would like to read the second book of the series, which is a good sign. I need to see what's going to happen next, especially with Paige and Naialah. But I hope their is more a structured plot next time. Recommended.

Quotes
I took in the strange, exotic land as we followed a trail in what I assumed was Varulean’s version of soil. It was a rich deep brown color like the red brown of an almond. It didn’t feel like soil though. It had a spongy texture that reminded me of moss. With each step I felt like the ground would thrust me upward like a trampoline. I had the urge to take of my shoes and feel the strange texture with my bare feet.


*****

Then, just like that, it was chaos.
I heard a howl come from somewhere in front of me and before I could make out which wolf the sound had come from, they were running towards us. Panic flooded my mind. I stood frozen, unsure of what to do...

[Kelbian Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Impression:

Black Moon was a very engaging read. When I started it, I barely had the chance to read a few paragraphs, but then once I had the time, I couldn't put it down. Every time my life demanded I take a break from reading, I couldn't stop thinking about what was going on with Paige. I even stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish it!

My Rating:

I've rated this book 4 stars, but my real rating is 3.5. It was just so good I had to round it up instead of down!

Black Moon gets a solid 3 stars for the amazing writing. Jessica McQuay is VERY good with words. It wasn't difficult to imagine anything from Paige's house to the castle in Varulean. I was so very impressed with the way she weaved words together. She's either got serious talent (well there's no doubt about that!) or spent A LOT of time writing this book.

I did have a few issues with the book though and because of this it lost a star and a half. There were some parts that confused me:

The shifter vs werewolf thing.

I couldn't figure out if they were the same deal. A werewolf is a shifter, no? When Paige is told that her father is a shifter, she's very surprised. But I was not. I kind of thought she knew, since Rachel made the crack about her father mating with a human. I wondered why Paige didn't make a big deal of it before. Okay, so she did mention that she didn't know what a pack leader was. Maybe it's just my Urban Fantasy overload that's making me think..."well, a werewolf pack of course". Needless to say the much later later scene wasn't shocking to me at all. I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that you never really find out what Paige's father is.

The other thing that stuck with me was that the book, while beautifully written, seemed to be two books in one. Maybe even three. The changing POVs weren't that distracting, but they were almost too far and few between. At the beginning it's evenly paced between Rachel and Paige. Then in the middle it's all Paige. Then at the end it's Rachel, Paige and Cail. Like I said, it didn't ruin the book for me. In fact, I enjoyed the different POVs (even the switch between first person and third person), I just wished they were more evenly paced, so that I could have the chance to know Cail and Rachel better, as they both seemed to be pretty complex characters.

The plot at times was also quite convenient. Whenever I would question the likelihood of something, it would be cleared up a few pages later in just a couple words. For example when Nailah found out all the information and they headed down to Cascade, I wondered how in the world she did it. Then a few sentences later, she mentioned she had friends in high places that owed her favors. And when I questioned Paige's lack of friends (which didn't dawn on my right away to be honest) she mentioned that she stuck to herself. There is no problem with any of this, I guess I just would have rather been shown than told.

The last thing is that I believe Paige's conclusion that Rachel murdered her father came way too fast. So fast that even I had to sit and think for a minute. I'm still not sure how she came to that conclusion. I don't feel that Rachel having it out for her was enough. She really did seem to switch gears quickly when she thought Naialah was going to kill Rachel in her defense too. She went from wanting Rachel dead, to wanting to save her in no time at all.

I also was dying to know what Naialah was, but never found out!

Despite these criticism (which I consider fairly minor in the grand scheme of things) this was a great read. It was interesting enough that I wanted to keep going, was thinking about it when I wasn't reading it and, well, stayed up late just to finish.

I've read (and written..lol) books like Black Moon before. The girl that finds out she's more than just a regular citizen. But Black Moon had it's own unique traits. The Faery magic was unique, Varulean (Faery town...:P) was unique and literally it's own world, and even the way they dressed was all from the mind of the author. I loved that. I also like the idea that this book didn't center around romance and that the little bit of "romance" there was hints at an LGBT theme. For her unique ideas and attention to detail, I've added another half star.

This is a job well done. 3.5 stars :)

[Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out the book tour for this book. You can enter the giveaway at my blog as well as read an excerpt of the book. Click button to go to tour post


This story starts with a geeky teenage girl, that was running for Valedictorian, she is quite and withdrawn a bit. Then her life turns around in unexpected ways. Suddenly, a white light comes out of her palms, and then found herself in a strange situation, she is hearing thoughts of others. And of course embarrasses herself, and makes an enemy by blurting out what she heard. That part was funny to me, lol.

I liked how Paige told her mom right away, and then her mom leave the room, and comes back floating, and tells her she is a Faery, and goes on to explain everything.
I enjoyed the paranormal element to this, as that’s the kind of books I like anyway. But I did have a few issues, and this is more just me in general, but feel some people will share this view. Maybe.

I just was surprised that the main character in a YA book is into girls, and this was a turn off for me. I could not connect at all with her way of thinking, and being inside her head was uncomfortable to me. But its not only that part that makes me dislike Paige, it’s her in general, she is whinny, immature, and just annoying to me.

That being said, the story is good around that part. Paige learns she is part Fae, and gets to go to the land of the fea to meet her grandparents, and this is where she meets the girl she crushes on, Naialah. I caught on almost instantly to this, but it was confirmed at the end when Paige said something about wanting to flirt with Naialah, so I guess I was dead on about that. She had made small hints to us, like how her eyes kept getting drawn to her lips, well, that was a dead giveaway right there, lol.

But setting that aside, I was still intrigued with the story as a whole. I did have some questions that just were not addressed, but I think those will be as the series continues.
Naialah on the other hand I think is a great strong heroine, and would much rather hear her story, what is she? What are all her powers? I also have this feeling she does not return these feelings that Paige has, I think she more looks to Paige as a sister or something. (maybe it’s my wishful thinking on that part) But no way to know for sure. What I would like to see as this series progresses that Paige just realizes she was confused, and does like boys, lol. I am sure that happens, right? Need our hot guys to show up on the scene. This is a YA book after all, lol.

But, this story is worth reading, like I said; it held my interest on the mysteries surrounding her dad who was murdered long ago, and the things she finds out about him.

One thing I want to mention, I what an incredible job the author did with the world building in Varulean, the lands of faery, I could actually see it in my head the descriptions were so vivid. The people, the flowers, the castle, all of it. The battle scenes were very colorful too, you feel as if your there.

Her hatred toward Rachel I could feel, and the writing was very well done. I will be checking out some more of this authors work.

4 out of 5 for me, I am judging by the writing, and not my personal preference, and the connection to the main character, which I don’t have. Still recommended for those paranormal lovers out there, the good outweighs the bad.

I was provided a copy of the book from the author for my honest review for a book tour.