Miami is still in the hands of the wereleopard clan. Sekhmet's assassination has been dealt with, and Samara's attempt to take over the city has been stopped for now. But things aren't simple for Kess, especially now that she has Samara's son, Rafe, to deal with. While others see only a spy, Kess is determined to help the damaged young man abandoned by his mother.
Rafe is torn: his mother left him in the hands of the wereleopards, presumably to die, but Kess has treated him more like a guest than a prisoner. But Rafe still feels a sense of loyalty to his werehyena pack, and he's uniquely placed to gather information that his mother will need if she ever hopes to take Miami. Things grow even more complicated for the young werehyena when Cormac's non-were sister comes to town for a visit. Rafe finds himself fascinated by the girl, finding more and more reasons to question his loyalty to his pack.
Rafe knows his mother isn't done with Miami or Kess. In the final bloody conflict between wereleopard and hyena, which side will he choose?
Jeanette Battista graduated with an English degree with a concentration in medieval literature which explains her possibly unhealthy fixation on edged weapons and cathedral architecture. She spent a summer in England and Scotland studying the historical King Arthur, which did nothing to curb her obsession. To satisfy her adrenaline cravings—since sword fighting is not widely accepted in these modern times—she rode a motorcycle at ridiculously high speeds, got some tattoos, and took kickboxing and boxing classes. She gave up the bike when her daughter came along, although she still gets pummeled at the gym on a regular basis.
When she’s not writing or working, Jeanette spends time with family, hikes, reads, makes decadent brownies, buys killer boots, and plays Pocket Frogs. She wishes there were more hours in the day so she could actually do more of these things. She lives with her daughter and their ancient, ill-tempered cat in North Carolina.
I enjoy a book that immerses the reader to well into the plot that you feel as though you are riding a emotional roller coaster. "Hyena Moon" did that to me. This book begins right as the previous book ends with Rafe being abandoned by his mother on Kess' doorsteps in hopes she will kill him. He is hurt, angry and confused but Kess does what she does best and shows him kindness to the dismay of Carmac her boyfriend.
Finn has been given the charge to watch him in case he tries something devious. Rafe begin running on the beach with Finn in order to get out of the house. Finn notices the scars of abuse on the rail thin teen and Rafe begins to slowly come out of his shell. While on a trip to the mall to buy some clothes for Rafe, he alerts Kess to a potential attack from one of his sister, Teresa's friend. He runs after his sister in an attempt to talk to her but she gets away before he can do so. She is playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse which leaves Rafe wondering who her real victim is.
Meanwhile, Carmac's sister Lenore wants to come to Miami to visit. Both he and Tess realize how dangerous the situation will be for her and so they decline her request. Lenore is feeling lonely and left out. Her best friend, Wyatt is being sequestered until he is able to control his shifts into a werebear so Lenore decides to take actions into her own hands, gathers her things and boards a train to Florida. Prior to arriving in Jacksonville, she notifies her brother that she wants him to pick her up. Oh, did I mention, he is livid?
When Lenore arrives at the house, Mac makes her call her parents. They too are angry but allow her to stay for a couple of weeks. Soon, Lenore and Rafe begin spending time together. Mac is not pleased causing he and Kess to get into an argument. When Rafe and Lenore head out alone one day, they are almost attacked by Teresa. He calls Tess and she and Carmac pick them up. Once again the anger can be cut with a knife. Kess talks with Rafe and Mac talks to Lenore.
Kess is overwhelm with attempt to protect her dwindling pack and stays busy in meetings. One evening while the gang is out Teresa finds Rafe in the bathroom and informs him that mommy dearest misses him and wants him to come home. Then, she attacks Kess and Rafe runs off with her. Back at home his mother appears to be glad to see him but Rafe does not feel so great about the homecoming. Then, after his phone becomes missing, Rafe discovers that Teresa has used it to lure Lenore so that she can kidnap the girl. When Kess and Mac find out about the kidnapping they have the fight to end all fights. Mac says some things in anger that he will regret and cannot ever be taken back. They marshall the manpower of Mac's pack as well as Kess' to rescue the girl. Rafe talks his mother and his sister into returning to Kess' home where he proceeds to aid in rescuing Lenore. There promises to be an epic battle that many will not walk away from. The question is, wil this be the end for our characters?
I truly enjoyed this read because of the way the characters grew. The major blow up between Kess and Carmac tugged at my heart. I also felt Rafe's internal struggle as he tried to discover what would be the right thing to do. While I realize that this is a YA book, one criticism I have is that the romance between characters (Mac & Kess, Finn & Liala) is just too chaste even under YA standards. In order for romance to be believable it should be hot; otherwise, you just feel that it is just a lightweight crush. In this installment Kess, Finn, and Mac are taking on the responsibilities of mature adults; so, it would have been nice to read some hotness in their relationships. I'm just sayin.'
I would rate the third in the "Moon" series as a 3 1/2, just like the first two. It's equally good, if not a bit better. But again, no half star choices for us, so I'll give it a 4, as I think it deserves more than a 3.
This series has been surprisingly entertaining to me. While I still wouldn't rank it with my all time favorite urban fantasy books, the characters are so likable overall that each book has pulled me in and kept me interested in finding out what will happen to each of them. I think the world building is fun, too, and really enjoyed the creepy little were hyena tribe.
The young hyena, Rafe, is a favorite of mine. I felt his socially misfit & confused character to be nicely written and completely sympathetic. Lenore, on the other hand, is mostly annoying & bratty, but then that's not an uncommon condition for young teenage girls who think they know more than anyone else and figure they should be entitled to do as they please. Hopefully, if the series continues, we will see her become a lot more mature, and worthy of Rafe's devotion. She has all the right building blocks, and they could make a very strong and interesting young couple.
Finn is always amusing, though I'm still not sold on Laila as girlfriend material, but she shows signs of becoming such, and watching their relationship develop will prove interesting. Were jackals. Who knew?
Mac & Kess are a lovely couple, even when showing signs of extreme relationship stresses. No, I wasn't thrilled with the way things ended between them, but I'm convinced that the next book will see some of their problems being resolved. They are obviously meant for each other, so I can't imagine any other outcome.
All in all, this series feels like Urban Fantasy Lite to me, but that doesn't make it any less tasty. Sometimes I find myself craving a snack, rather than a full meal. This fills the bill.
This was just an okay read for me. It started out really well, and the final third of the book was good, but I got kind of bored in the middle. There was just too much Lenore and Rafe, and their chemistry and head noise. I felt a lot of that could have been omitted, and it would have made for a read that would have vowed better.
I liked that Cormac's family and friends, and Laila came back in the story. I liked the action in the last third of the book, nd how it ended. I liked the set up and how Lenore came to be in Miami. I also like the scenes with Samara and Teresa, as they added a little something vicious.
I am surprised to say this, but I'm interested to see how the council dynamics work, and to see if Cormac still remains important to Kess.
Of course this book leaves the reader desperately hanging on for the next book. Aside from that, I really enjoyed this part of the series. There's a lot of action, new alies are formed, there's a fair share of betrayal, new love interests and the testing of love as well as change for everyone. A little warning though, you may need a few tissues.
The third book in the Moon Series. This book is written from Rafe’s point of view for most of it. He’s spent his life being abused by his sister and his mother she tends to take her anger out on him. When his mother takes him with her to a meeting in Miami hoping to push Kess into giving her control of the city she’s forced to choose between her kids. She ends up taking his sister with her leaving her son Rafe in Kess’s care to do as she likes. Living with Kess isn’t like living with his mother, she’s kind she let’s have the run of the house, all he can eat and even takes him shopping. When Cormac’s sister shows up unexpectedly she’s drawn to Rafe almost from the start. As a non-were and the fact that he doesn’t trust Rafe she’s instructed to never go anywhere alone. Of course as teenagers they push the limit, falling deeper in love but Rafe hasn’t ever fit in, now he’s been giving a second chance. Deep down he wonders if his mother left him with Kess to spy and when fate steps in he’s whisked away with his sister back to his mother. Rafe wants to believe that his mother didn’t leave him with Kess to die, that she knew what she was doing. Upon seeing his return she makes him feel welcome but the next morning he learns that his sister kidnapped Lenore and they think Rafe caused it. Will Rafe be able to earn their trust and save Lenore? I really love the way the stories all mingle together, since I grew attached to prior characters in the series. I love the shape shifting concept for the series it’s one of my favorite. I think the best way to describe the series is we have Kess’s story but as the series progresses we get different characters we connect with hearing their own unique story. Each story tends to have a love story mixed throughout which is one of my favorite parts I love clean romance filled with mystery. As with the whole series they have captivated my attention right from the start, causing me to lose all track of time. The characters have grown so much from the prior books, I find Kess to have grown the most from the once scared little leopard. I find that the Moon series is very well written flowing along smoothly from start to finish. I look forward to reading the fourth book.
The action of Hyena Moon picks up right at the end of Jackal Moon: Finn and Cormac are still in Miami helping out Kess (now head of the wereleopards) and Rafe, the abused and unwanted son of the Alpha Hyena Female, Samara, is living with them.
Nobody trusts Rafe, including himself. Only Kess seems to want to give him a chance. How will Kess cope with Rafe, difficulties with Cormac's protectiveness, and the possibility of losing Miami to Samara?
Well, I didn't get the closure I was hoping for in this installment. Although Hyena Moon hints at a plan that would let Kess go back to North Carolina with Cormac, leaving behind her head wereleopard duties, it isn't happening anytime soon.
Moreover, the cast of characters we are following is growing. Now we spend time in the POV of Kess, Finn, Cormac, Lenore, Rafe, and evil Samara.
This is probably mostly a personal taste thing. While I am not adverse to POV jumps, they tend to work better for me in epic fantasies with intricate plots. When I'm hankering after YA paranormal with a twist of romance, it doesn't work so well. I want to spend time in the head of the character who is growing and changing, not just have their growth summarized.
The longest time we spend in Cormac sister's, Lenore's, POV is when she is still being kind of a spoiled brat in North Carolina. After she comes down to Miami, and she grows and gets more interesting, we see her mostly from other POV. I never got into her character, really, and so this book's romance never touched me.
And then there's Rafe. Loved Rafe. Poor tortured, self-doubting, earnest boy with a fringe of hair covering his scars and his wounded soul. I wanted much, much more of him and less of Kess and Cormac discussing wereleopard strategy.
So maybe I'm not entirely truthful with the "no closure" statement as by the end of the book, Samara has been dealt with (in the most exciting scene of the book) but for the main pairs; Finn/Laila, Kess/Cormac, and Lenore/Rafe, things are very much up in the air.
This Book's Snack Rating: Like eating doritos for the still-yummy characters, but ending up with fingers covered in POV powdered cheese
If you haven't read the first two books in the series STOP RIGHT NOW...DO NOT PASS GO, TURN AWAY WHILE YOU STILL CAN. . .
****SPOILERS CONTAINED****
Rafe was left 'hostage' at Kess' mansion after a meeting w/ Samara (which she invited herself and an entourage to). Rafe doesn't know if she just threw him away expecting him to be killed or left him there as a plant to funnel intel back to her.
Elenore, Cormac's 15 year old human sister, slips the leash and leaves NC for Miami w/o telling her parents. She ends up being allowed to stay for a time and she and Rafe begin to develop a tentative relationship.
Samara plans to take over Miami and Kess, as head of the wereleopard clan, must find a way to stop her or defeat her. Kess offers fair combat w/ loser getting Miami but Samara won't fight unless she absolutely has to. Especially not when she has soooo many werehyenas that she can throw at the limited cat clan.
Teresa makes problems, and right when Rafe tells Kess he is going home Teresa attacks Kess unexpectedly, making it look as if Rafe was complicit. Then, when Samara praises Rafe over Teresa she blows an internal gasket. While Rafe is riding the high of being his mother's current favorite Teresa makes a move, boring Rafe's phone to send a text to Elenore to set up a meet. Elenore accepts thinking she is sneaking out to meet Rafe.
Chaos ensues and the ultimate question of who wins Miami is determined. Unfortunately, it looks like Kess and Cormac are through as he said some terrible things in the heat of the moment - things Kess isn't sure she can forgive or forget. This book also contains lots of high drama, life-altering moments, and some serious shenanigans.
I liked this book better than jackal moon...I was never completely a Laila fan. I grew to like her more towards the end. I was however was a big Rafe fan and enjoyed seeing him working though his terrible life issues and improvements happen for him as the book when along. Lenore was a spoiled brat but I appreciated it when she said that she was and showed signs of thinking of someone besides herself.
For every person that asks how an abused wife goes back to her husband or why an abused child doesn't tell on their parent...I felt this book gives just a little insight to those questions.
I agree with one of the reviewers that stated that a little too much happens off stage. The story line and world building has many possibilities that were not fully explored or really fleshed out. The reality of some of the situations are very true and harsh but the romance is very Disney.
I enjoyed this series more than I thought I would and that is because the relationships feel very real and the reactions to one another feel true to life.
I was glad that Kess did not forgive Cormac (yet I love romance and expect they will fix it). I felt he was completely out of line and especially vicious in what he said.
I liked seeing Kess become the true leader of her clan just at Cormac will be expected to lead his pack and if they do get back together, it should not be just about what the pack needs or wants.
I will continue reading this series and am looking forward to the next book. I want to see how the main characters grow and work through their issues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I mean, where's all the love for this author?!?!?!?
She's virtually unknown! Leopard Moon has less than 700 reviews and the other 3 books in this series have hundreds less than that - COMBINED!
I am amazed that more people haven't given this series a try! I learned about it, here, on Goodreads. Surely it has been recommended to others like it was to me?!?!?!?!?
And she's still SELF-PUBLISHED! o_O That is ridiculous, in my mind! Some publisher is really missing out!
The only thing negative about this whole book, is that the grammatical errors were much worse in Hyena Moon than in the other books in the series. Maybe it's because I was reading a 1st edition. But regardless......
Oh man, let me tell you how much I love this series! I read all four books in three days, which still include a full time 10.5 hour work day, and normal house chore, and building a house! This series has got me completely wrapped around its little finger! And book one starts the awesome journey, continuing right into book two and taking off with book three. Each book gets better and better.
If I have to chose, I will say the most main characters are Kess, Laila, and a bad guy! No spoilers remember :) there are still all my favorite characters- minus Burke- which include Finn, Cormac, Rafe, and Mebis, along with some new characters. And this series needs to continue! I will say I’m surprised, because usually characters are pretty set, but these characters are still growing and developing and even surprising me with their choices. I love when that happens! It’s pretty cool to me. I LOVE this whole series!! ;) Let's hope they keep coming!
Hyena Moon picks up where Jackal Moon left off with Kess as the new clan leader of the leopards. Rafe is staying with Kess after being abandoned by his mother Samara, leader of the hyena pack. Samara is still fighting to gain control of Miami, but Kess & her crew are coming up with a plan to take care of Samara once & for all. Rafe was a very likable character, and I enjoyed seeing him grow throughout the story. Everything changed for Rafe when he met Lenore, Cormac’s younger sister. Lenore was a bit annoying in the beginning with the bratty teenager routine, but I grew to like her more as the story went on. Kess and Cormac are still my favorite pair in this series and I hope they get a happier ending in the next book. I have enjoyed the story being told from multiple POVs and I love the world building. I’m looking forward to see what book 4, Hunter Moon, has in store.
The third book in Jeanette Battista's Moon Series continues the great writing and characters that make these books stand out in the YA marketplace. The plot picks up where book 2 (Jackal Moon) left off, with Kess and her werewolf bodyguards trying to hold off the Hyena invasion of Miami. The focus of this book moves more to the hyena castoff Rafe and his struggles with where his loyalties lie. There is romance, family drama and blood, lots of blood. Makes for a great read. Can't wait for the 4th book.
The fist book of this series got my interest. The second book I could of done without it was like reading some of my children's Disney story's This one the third in the series is amazing I had to know what was going to happen and was never disapointed Kess is tring to figure out a way to keep Miami with her packs dwindling numbers it a difficult thing to do and the hyenas are watching for there chance to take over and new love is blossoming while another may be fading never a dull moment loved this book
I liked this book a lot but I really didn't like Lenore. She is 15 (according to her an adult) but she acts like a brat and that doesn't really change. I never felt like she grew as a person or even apologized for the things she did. That being said the book was good. I enjoyed all the different characters POV's. I like the fact that every book in this series focuses on a different person but still has all the characters you love from the previous books. I was pleased with the ending and I recommend this series if you enjoy books about weres.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others, but I still enjoyed it enough to continue on. There was just something about the Lenore and Rafe relationship that felt ... unreal, contrived, forced... I don't know. Kind of like I knew as soon as she was introduced that they were going to happen. Lenore herself was a dingbat. Just saying.
I have to say that compared to the first two books in this series, this cover is by far the ugliest :( I guess I'm one of those people who get drawn into reading the book when the cover's cool looking. If I wasn't already reading this series I would have never picked this book.
After reading this entire book I find myself FURIOUS with the character Lenore. All things considered the next book better do some damage control for me because I dont like how everything ended and I really don't understand how why it was ended the way it did.
I have enjoyed this series, moments when I needed tissue. However it doesn't end here with this 3rd book. There is another coming in December 2012. Can't wait.
Once again a great book! I am really looking forward to seeing where the next book will take us. I hope we get to see Finn's story a little more or even Mebis'!