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Lunar Eclipse & Solar Ascent #1
Lunar Eclipse & Solar Ascent: Collision
What was supposed to be a typical first day of school turned into the most life-changing day for Luna Ly and Dayton Duong. Now armed with superpowers stemming from magical moonstone and sunstone chips, Luna turns into Lunar Eclipse and Dayton turns into Solar Ascent whenever the citizens of Renton, Washington need saving. However, not everyone appreciates their efforts. Believing these heroes ruin their jobs, police officers Ramsey Bosco and Alyssa Johnson set out to uncover the identities of these superpowered children and attempt to rid them of their powers. The first installment to the Lunar Eclipse & Solar Ascent series, Collision displays the start of Luna and Dayton's development as they go through middle school with an interesting twist.
332 pages, Hardcover
Published September 7, 2023
1 person is currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Bui
3 books14 followersJennifer Bui is a lover of books, romantic comedy movies, and TV shows such as Miraculous Ladybug. A storyline wreaked havoc in her head at the age of seventeen and with the encouragement of a friend, the Lunar Eclipse & Solar Ascent series was born. Jennifer lives in Renton, Washington and continues to make memories that she may or may not use as inspiration for book scenes.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 10, 2023
⭐ARC REVIEW⭐
I will start off and say having and reading this book totally slipped my mind and the lovely Jennifer Bui kindly reminded me. And I will definitely say I'm glad she did. While I first started the book I was a bit apprehensive in reading just because I've been so used to reading Adult, Fantasy, and Dark Romance books and this was definitely a refresher.
The two main characters are adorable and compliment eachother amazingly. Seeing the two adapted and overcome challenges as heros and as students was amazing. Luna is a cute ,bubbly, outgoing girl, who is isn't afraid to be herself ,but is also willing to make others comfortable. Dayton while starting off is just as sweet, and heart warming as Luna.
Definitely recommend this book those who enjoy middle grade read's or to parents/teachers that are looking for cute, heart warming books for kids that can also be a cute conversation starters.
I will start off and say having and reading this book totally slipped my mind and the lovely Jennifer Bui kindly reminded me. And I will definitely say I'm glad she did. While I first started the book I was a bit apprehensive in reading just because I've been so used to reading Adult, Fantasy, and Dark Romance books and this was definitely a refresher.
The two main characters are adorable and compliment eachother amazingly. Seeing the two adapted and overcome challenges as heros and as students was amazing. Luna is a cute ,bubbly, outgoing girl, who is isn't afraid to be herself ,but is also willing to make others comfortable. Dayton while starting off is just as sweet, and heart warming as Luna.
Definitely recommend this book those who enjoy middle grade read's or to parents/teachers that are looking for cute, heart warming books for kids that can also be a cute conversation starters.
September 2, 2023
✨ARC REVIEW✨
Lunar Eclipse & Solar Ascent: Collision is a debut novel! This will be book one of nine of her upcoming series! 🙌🏻🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♂️
Although this isn’t a genre I normally reach for, I was pleasantly surprised with the journey this story took me on! The story follows Luna and Dayton on their discovery of being superheroes and how they learn to navigate their life with this new found secret identity! At the same time, Luna and Dayton don’t realize that they both are working together when they are in their superhero form! Although, their friends have caught onto their secret identities pretty quickly 🤭
We also learn that the local police force does not like the fact that a couple of teenagers are now saving the town instead of them! A couple of deputies take on a mission of their own to try to figure out who Lunar Eclipse and Solar Ascent really are so they can take away their powers! 😱
If you have a middle schooler who loves to read and loves superheroes, then this series will be perfect for them! It’s full of crime fighting, friendship, and humor! I also appreciate the author for being inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community as there is bisexual representation. She also represents those with autism! 🥰
The only thing that I did not like about the book is the occasional changes in POV within the same paragraph. This is at no fault of the author and is just my personal preference. It did not alter my enjoyment of the overall storyline!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ⭐️’s
Lunar Eclipse & Solar Ascent: Collision is a debut novel! This will be book one of nine of her upcoming series! 🙌🏻🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♂️
Although this isn’t a genre I normally reach for, I was pleasantly surprised with the journey this story took me on! The story follows Luna and Dayton on their discovery of being superheroes and how they learn to navigate their life with this new found secret identity! At the same time, Luna and Dayton don’t realize that they both are working together when they are in their superhero form! Although, their friends have caught onto their secret identities pretty quickly 🤭
We also learn that the local police force does not like the fact that a couple of teenagers are now saving the town instead of them! A couple of deputies take on a mission of their own to try to figure out who Lunar Eclipse and Solar Ascent really are so they can take away their powers! 😱
If you have a middle schooler who loves to read and loves superheroes, then this series will be perfect for them! It’s full of crime fighting, friendship, and humor! I also appreciate the author for being inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community as there is bisexual representation. She also represents those with autism! 🥰
The only thing that I did not like about the book is the occasional changes in POV within the same paragraph. This is at no fault of the author and is just my personal preference. It did not alter my enjoyment of the overall storyline!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ⭐️’s
August 9, 2023
I recieved an ARC copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
This book was so sweet! We get to follow the two twelve years old Luna and Dayton when they become their town's brand new superhero duo, Lunar Eclipse and Solar Ascent. Now living double lives, they have no clue who the other person is and are determined to keep it that way. As the story progresses, we get to see how this new responsibility affects their lives and the lives of everyone around them.
This story has so much representation in it in various forms, such as a bisexual female main character, much same-sex attraction/flirtation between the side characters as well as some autism representation! At times, the story briefly mentions things like biphobia, homofobia and ableism but it's far from the main focus of the story. The story also comes with different family dynamics, both troublesome and wholesome!
My favorite thing in this book was the relationships. I feel like every relationship (friendships, family, teacher-student) was well written and so believable! The friendships in this book is very non-toxic and always allows the characters to be emotional and honest with eachother without any judgement.
I would strongly recommend this superhero story to fans of Miraculous Ladybug and those looking for a wholesome story about the struggles of growing up, first love and found families!
This book was so sweet! We get to follow the two twelve years old Luna and Dayton when they become their town's brand new superhero duo, Lunar Eclipse and Solar Ascent. Now living double lives, they have no clue who the other person is and are determined to keep it that way. As the story progresses, we get to see how this new responsibility affects their lives and the lives of everyone around them.
This story has so much representation in it in various forms, such as a bisexual female main character, much same-sex attraction/flirtation between the side characters as well as some autism representation! At times, the story briefly mentions things like biphobia, homofobia and ableism but it's far from the main focus of the story. The story also comes with different family dynamics, both troublesome and wholesome!
My favorite thing in this book was the relationships. I feel like every relationship (friendships, family, teacher-student) was well written and so believable! The friendships in this book is very non-toxic and always allows the characters to be emotional and honest with eachother without any judgement.
I would strongly recommend this superhero story to fans of Miraculous Ladybug and those looking for a wholesome story about the struggles of growing up, first love and found families!
September 3, 2023
Arc review<3
This book gave wholesomeness, awesome super powers, hilarious irony and complete frustration (in a good way) One minute I was loving the adorable main friend group, the next I was amused by how neither of the super heros could seem to figure out their obvious human identities. Lunar Eclipse & Solar Ascent: Collision, is an overall light hearted story but the moments where Lunar eclipse shows her deep compassion for others, and gave her speechs on deep topics such as the scene when she frees the children (I won't give you anymore spoilers you will have to read for yourself) really stood out to me. I could definitely see a younger reader really enjoying and resonating with this book, but as someone who typically reads books targeted at an older audience, I still enjoyed it.
This book gave wholesomeness, awesome super powers, hilarious irony and complete frustration (in a good way) One minute I was loving the adorable main friend group, the next I was amused by how neither of the super heros could seem to figure out their obvious human identities. Lunar Eclipse & Solar Ascent: Collision, is an overall light hearted story but the moments where Lunar eclipse shows her deep compassion for others, and gave her speechs on deep topics such as the scene when she frees the children (I won't give you anymore spoilers you will have to read for yourself) really stood out to me. I could definitely see a younger reader really enjoying and resonating with this book, but as someone who typically reads books targeted at an older audience, I still enjoyed it.
June 13, 2024
A sweet, heartfelt, and fast paced start of what gears up to be a wonderful middle grade series, perfect for fans of Miraculous
Rep: neurodivergent MC, LGBTQ+ MCs (and supporting cast), Vietnamese MCs
Rep: neurodivergent MC, LGBTQ+ MCs (and supporting cast), Vietnamese MCs
July 6, 2023
BETA READER REVIEW— release date is September 7th, 2023, Virgo season woooohoooo.
Firstly I want to say thank you sm for the opportunity to help edit your book, Jennifer. I really enjoyed the whole process.
Reading this made me feel butterflies, anxiousness, joy, pain and all of the feels. Luna and Dayton are unique characters who are dealing with a common problem— balancing middle school, friends, (even crushes), with a new duty to save the WORLD. In this book we follow Luna and Dayton in their shared experiences as Lunar Eclipse and Solar Ascent, always wondering, do they have any clue about the other persons true identity? And what will finally cue them in???!
I am a sucker for cutesy romance that makes you smile to yourself and roll your eyes along with the characters. Dayton and Luna are the ultimate “opposites” duo— and I lived for the moments they found peace in each others company, alter-ego or not.
If you’re looking for a feel good middle-grade book to sweeten your day and make you frantically turn some pages I recommend this debut novel by my lovely friend Jennifer.
❤️❤️❤️
Firstly I want to say thank you sm for the opportunity to help edit your book, Jennifer. I really enjoyed the whole process.
Reading this made me feel butterflies, anxiousness, joy, pain and all of the feels. Luna and Dayton are unique characters who are dealing with a common problem— balancing middle school, friends, (even crushes), with a new duty to save the WORLD. In this book we follow Luna and Dayton in their shared experiences as Lunar Eclipse and Solar Ascent, always wondering, do they have any clue about the other persons true identity? And what will finally cue them in???!
I am a sucker for cutesy romance that makes you smile to yourself and roll your eyes along with the characters. Dayton and Luna are the ultimate “opposites” duo— and I lived for the moments they found peace in each others company, alter-ego or not.
If you’re looking for a feel good middle-grade book to sweeten your day and make you frantically turn some pages I recommend this debut novel by my lovely friend Jennifer.
❤️❤️❤️
September 1, 2023
This was just an adorable read. I loved the characters and the story plot. Two teens living double lives. While they hang out with friends and go through school, they save the town from villains. The little friend group is just too cute. Reminds me of when I was in Middle/High School. Everyone always has a little friend group with different personalities. I'd have to say that Savannah and Dayton have to be my favorite characters. But of course, I love them all.
As this author's first book, she did an amazing job. I can't wait for more in this series and watch this author grow. I loved talking to her about the book as well. The characters are just so relatable. I would love for my kids to start reading this book series when they get older. It's a perfect family-friendly book. Also, it needs to be a cartoon or anime.
As this author's first book, she did an amazing job. I can't wait for more in this series and watch this author grow. I loved talking to her about the book as well. The characters are just so relatable. I would love for my kids to start reading this book series when they get older. It's a perfect family-friendly book. Also, it needs to be a cartoon or anime.
July 12, 2023
Beta Reader Review: With a release date of September 7th, excitement is bubbling up!
I'm starting this with my thanks to the lovely author! Thank you very much, Jennifer, for letting me be part of such a wonderful project.
This book touched my heart in many ways, nostalgia to my own middle school days perhaps! So vivid an animated Luna makes a wonderful protagonist! Luna shows that even super heros can have not such a pretty life behind the mask; wonderful how this book touched topics such as the struggles of family, very important and not the easiest to talk about. I'll hold this book very dear for that and I'm sure many readers might take comfort to know that even someone as mighty as Luna Ly is so similar to them. Full of action and so many kicks in the story, this truly was a pleasure to read!
I'm starting this with my thanks to the lovely author! Thank you very much, Jennifer, for letting me be part of such a wonderful project.
This book touched my heart in many ways, nostalgia to my own middle school days perhaps! So vivid an animated Luna makes a wonderful protagonist! Luna shows that even super heros can have not such a pretty life behind the mask; wonderful how this book touched topics such as the struggles of family, very important and not the easiest to talk about. I'll hold this book very dear for that and I'm sure many readers might take comfort to know that even someone as mighty as Luna Ly is so similar to them. Full of action and so many kicks in the story, this truly was a pleasure to read!
September 7, 2023
I loved everything about this book! Except for the police officers. The dynamic between the main characters is something I live for. Luna and Dayton are great as friends and even better as Lunar Eclipse and Solar Ascent! I can’t wait to read the rest of their story and what is in store for them in this upcoming 9 book series!
August 11, 2023
Cute middle grade book. Recommended to fans of miraculous lady bug.
September 6, 2023
𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5 stars
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲.
𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘴, 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵.
𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.
𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩.
𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘌𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩.
As someone who's been trying to get back into the reading world, I could 𝙣𝙤𝙩 pass up the opportunity to indulge in a book written by a good, reliable friend. It wasn't that I felt obligated to, since I'm also a writer myself; I knew from the short sneak peeks she'd preview that this would be something very special. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗯𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁.
𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘌𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵: 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 is a refreshing origin story that centers around the lives of 2 normal Asian-American youth, and how their lives are abnormally affected by their newfound superpowers. Highly inspired by the 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 franchise, 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 is a wildly fun combination of comedy, marvelous action, persistent friendship, and young limerence.
Funny enough, this installment somewhat serves as a mini-time capsule for me; some of its events were inspired by real-life scenes that I 𝘮𝘢𝘺 or may 𝘯𝘰𝘵 have been present for 👀... The novel flies itself to great heights—and unexpectedly, lands firmly on some slippery slopes—with clever humor, engaging storylines, and impactful dialogue. The standout character, Luna Ly / Lunar Eclipse is truly the s̶t̶a̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶w̶ (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ Princess of the Land ♥. I seem to find that the best media always has a unique, ardent individual; Luna is nothing short of that. Her ventures with Dayton Duong / Solar Ascent and their friend group are heartwarmingly entertaining, and I can’t wait to see how their journey unfolds next.
From Luna's eccentric optimism to Dayton's chill-but-bothered personality, their interactions both in and out of costume are essentially a prolonged slow burn. I'm not used to such material, so I found myself 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 punching the air in rage at times. In retrospect, actually, the whole story tolerates an offbeat pace—but for good reason. Simply put, it stays true to Bui’s real life. And that’s something to respect. In relation, I feel like more could’ve happened. But honestly, what makes Collision a solid intro to its planned nine-book series is that it doesn't sell itself as an outrageous spectacle (*𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 “𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯”*— I basically meant that it's miraculous; not exactly like 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 but the action is well-written enough to deserve that title). It’s a down-to-earth novel that just does its own thing; no big action sequences called for (at least, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸, I assume… 😏). And I absolutely adore that!
Having the honor to critique this talented woman's debut novel BEFORE its publication date is something I’m super grateful for. Seeing the one and only Jennifer Bui officially publishing her series out there makes me 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, and I’m here for 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝘁 of it. I'm happily anticipating 𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘌𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 “will be the MOST SPECIAL and WONDERFUL” series this decade.
𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐃 presents 𝐓𝐇𝐄 "𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐙𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐋𝐘" 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓:
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲.
𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘴, 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵.
𝘖𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.
𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩.
𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘌𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩.
As someone who's been trying to get back into the reading world, I could 𝙣𝙤𝙩 pass up the opportunity to indulge in a book written by a good, reliable friend. It wasn't that I felt obligated to, since I'm also a writer myself; I knew from the short sneak peeks she'd preview that this would be something very special. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗯𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁.
𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘌𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵: 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 is a refreshing origin story that centers around the lives of 2 normal Asian-American youth, and how their lives are abnormally affected by their newfound superpowers. Highly inspired by the 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 franchise, 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 is a wildly fun combination of comedy, marvelous action, persistent friendship, and young limerence.
Funny enough, this installment somewhat serves as a mini-time capsule for me; some of its events were inspired by real-life scenes that I 𝘮𝘢𝘺 or may 𝘯𝘰𝘵 have been present for 👀... The novel flies itself to great heights—and unexpectedly, lands firmly on some slippery slopes—with clever humor, engaging storylines, and impactful dialogue. The standout character, Luna Ly / Lunar Eclipse is truly the s̶t̶a̶r̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶w̶ (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ Princess of the Land ♥. I seem to find that the best media always has a unique, ardent individual; Luna is nothing short of that. Her ventures with Dayton Duong / Solar Ascent and their friend group are heartwarmingly entertaining, and I can’t wait to see how their journey unfolds next.
From Luna's eccentric optimism to Dayton's chill-but-bothered personality, their interactions both in and out of costume are essentially a prolonged slow burn. I'm not used to such material, so I found myself 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 punching the air in rage at times. In retrospect, actually, the whole story tolerates an offbeat pace—but for good reason. Simply put, it stays true to Bui’s real life. And that’s something to respect. In relation, I feel like more could’ve happened. But honestly, what makes Collision a solid intro to its planned nine-book series is that it doesn't sell itself as an outrageous spectacle (*𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 “𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯”*— I basically meant that it's miraculous; not exactly like 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 but the action is well-written enough to deserve that title). It’s a down-to-earth novel that just does its own thing; no big action sequences called for (at least, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸, I assume… 😏). And I absolutely adore that!
Having the honor to critique this talented woman's debut novel BEFORE its publication date is something I’m super grateful for. Seeing the one and only Jennifer Bui officially publishing her series out there makes me 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, and I’m here for 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝘁 of it. I'm happily anticipating 𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘳 𝘌𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘈𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 “will be the MOST SPECIAL and WONDERFUL” series this decade.
𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐃 presents 𝐓𝐇𝐄 "𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐙𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐋𝐘" 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓:
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑.
December 10, 2023
"Collision," the first installment in the Lunar Eclipse & Solar Ascent series, delivers an electrifying adventure from start to finish. Luna Ly and Dayton Duong, two seemingly ordinary 12-year-olds, find their lives forever changed by a twist of fate. On what was expected to be just another day at school, they become Lunar Eclipse and Solar Ascent, armed with incredible powers from mystical moonstone and sunstone chips.
This story combines the allure of magic and superheroism, reminiscent of beloved series like Miraculous Ladybug and Cat Noir. Luna and Dayton's journey as young heroes in Renton is nothing short of thrilling. They soar into action whenever their city is in peril, painting the skies with their bravery.
However, not everyone is on their side. The tension escalates as determined police officers, Bosco and Johnson, view Luna and Dayton as a threat to their own duties. The clash between heroes and those who seek to unmask them adds a layer of intrigue and suspense that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.
What sets "Collision" apart is its willingness to explore complex themes, including the challenges of growing up, family, and the pressure of being a young teen, admist keeping an extraordinary secret. Luna and Dayton's evolution through middle school is both heartwarming and relatable, with unexpected twists and turns that keep you invested in their journey.
What truly sets this book apart is its commitment to diversity and inclusivity, particularly in its portrayal of sexuality. The way these themes are woven into the story is heartwarming, making it a valuable addition to children's literature.
In summary, "Lunar Eclipse and Solar Ascent: Collision" kicks off the Lunar Eclipse & Solar Ascent series promising a ride through the world of young heroes, magical powers, friendships, and the complexities of adolescence. Don't miss out on this to what is sure to be an exciting series. This one is a must-read for younger readers!
This story combines the allure of magic and superheroism, reminiscent of beloved series like Miraculous Ladybug and Cat Noir. Luna and Dayton's journey as young heroes in Renton is nothing short of thrilling. They soar into action whenever their city is in peril, painting the skies with their bravery.
However, not everyone is on their side. The tension escalates as determined police officers, Bosco and Johnson, view Luna and Dayton as a threat to their own duties. The clash between heroes and those who seek to unmask them adds a layer of intrigue and suspense that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.
What sets "Collision" apart is its willingness to explore complex themes, including the challenges of growing up, family, and the pressure of being a young teen, admist keeping an extraordinary secret. Luna and Dayton's evolution through middle school is both heartwarming and relatable, with unexpected twists and turns that keep you invested in their journey.
What truly sets this book apart is its commitment to diversity and inclusivity, particularly in its portrayal of sexuality. The way these themes are woven into the story is heartwarming, making it a valuable addition to children's literature.
In summary, "Lunar Eclipse and Solar Ascent: Collision" kicks off the Lunar Eclipse & Solar Ascent series promising a ride through the world of young heroes, magical powers, friendships, and the complexities of adolescence. Don't miss out on this to what is sure to be an exciting series. This one is a must-read for younger readers!
July 7, 2023
***WAS GIVEN AN ARC FOR REVIEW BY THE AUTHOR !!!BOOK IS OFFICIALLY OUT ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2023!***
my first ARC !! this was a very exciting read, especially considering it's a debut novel.
personally, i don't read any middle-grade books; however, this was very enjoyable. the story itself is filled with likable characters and is filled with conflict to keep the reader interested and engaged. however, like every book, it has some aspects that i both enjoy and dislike! pls keep in mind that this is the first book in a nine-book series, so many questions will be left unanswered!
what i enjoyed:
the novel kept the reader engaged throughout its entirety, which is good when writing middle-grade books. it was thoroughly entertaining and kept me reading!! i also enjoyed reading about luna and her family, i found myself relating to it and i can see a lot of other southeast asian kids relating as well. also, lgbtq characters!!! so good to see more rep for them-- it's especially good to see southeast asian lgbtq characters! i didn't have them in books growing up, so i'm glad to see them in novels now. the development between solar and lunar is also well-paced, which is good! also love to see neurodivergent characters in literature!
what i disliked:
this is just me nitpicking, as i'm not the intended audience for this novel, but pacing! the beginning of the book moved really fast, i wasn't expecting their powers to manifest in the third chapter, but i understand as it's needed for the plot. there were also some minor grammatical things that needed sorting out, though i don't believe that people will see them as much as i did; i'm observant! i also wish we got a bit more action scenes, each excerpt of the missions felt a bit bland and two-dimensional.
my first ARC !! this was a very exciting read, especially considering it's a debut novel.
personally, i don't read any middle-grade books; however, this was very enjoyable. the story itself is filled with likable characters and is filled with conflict to keep the reader interested and engaged. however, like every book, it has some aspects that i both enjoy and dislike! pls keep in mind that this is the first book in a nine-book series, so many questions will be left unanswered!
what i enjoyed:
the novel kept the reader engaged throughout its entirety, which is good when writing middle-grade books. it was thoroughly entertaining and kept me reading!! i also enjoyed reading about luna and her family, i found myself relating to it and i can see a lot of other southeast asian kids relating as well. also, lgbtq characters!!! so good to see more rep for them-- it's especially good to see southeast asian lgbtq characters! i didn't have them in books growing up, so i'm glad to see them in novels now. the development between solar and lunar is also well-paced, which is good! also love to see neurodivergent characters in literature!
what i disliked:
this is just me nitpicking, as i'm not the intended audience for this novel, but pacing! the beginning of the book moved really fast, i wasn't expecting their powers to manifest in the third chapter, but i understand as it's needed for the plot. there were also some minor grammatical things that needed sorting out, though i don't believe that people will see them as much as i did; i'm observant! i also wish we got a bit more action scenes, each excerpt of the missions felt a bit bland and two-dimensional.
September 15, 2023
That was one of the cutest book I've read off lately. This book by Jennifer Bui is about Luna and Dayton, loved the characterisation in this one, it was an amazing read. It is a middle grade book and I am sure it can be enjoyed by the people of any age-group. This is book one in a series of books. Jennifer has done a great job, since she has made the plot so cozy and exceptionally cute to read. Its really interesting to embark on the magical journey of Luna and Dayton. I found this YA fiction to be very relatable and it made me re - visit those childhood school days.
This one made me reimagine my childhood with magical powers and made me think about how those powers would have changed my childhood and also the ones around me. I loved Luna as someone who is portrayed as a people's person and loves being around all her friends and loved ones. Also Dayton turns out to be this really sweet boy. Have loved the bonding between the two and their superpowers, aimed at changing the world all for better. Loved all the friends of this duo, who have been so supportive of them throughout the story.
The sun and moon duo is something to look forward to, made it a really unique way of seeing things.
I would love to thank Jennifer Bui for writing this book as, a work like this one in YA category is a milestone of a read and would be looking forward to more upcoming books in this series.
This one made me reimagine my childhood with magical powers and made me think about how those powers would have changed my childhood and also the ones around me. I loved Luna as someone who is portrayed as a people's person and loves being around all her friends and loved ones. Also Dayton turns out to be this really sweet boy. Have loved the bonding between the two and their superpowers, aimed at changing the world all for better. Loved all the friends of this duo, who have been so supportive of them throughout the story.
The sun and moon duo is something to look forward to, made it a really unique way of seeing things.
I would love to thank Jennifer Bui for writing this book as, a work like this one in YA category is a milestone of a read and would be looking forward to more upcoming books in this series.
September 26, 2023
Lunar Eclipse & Solar Accent: Collision is a cute little middle grade book that I was super excited to go into and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. As a middle grade book lover this book had everything that makes middle grade books from the adorable friend-group to the way where they interact with each other. I love how the characters actually act there age because in most middle grade books they’ll have the 11 year old main characters act like a full grown adult Marry Sue but that wasn’t the case here. Each of the characters had their own personality and brand that made it so easy to tell them all apart. They also had flaws which I really love because it gives us room to see their development later on in the future. If you are looking for a silly little breather book to take a break from all the high fantasy and dark books then I 100% recommend this book because it’s also low stakes while still being enjoyable. Go check it out!
August 15, 2023
Is fascinating the idea to bring in the same story diversity from different mindset, different culture, and to see them through the eyes of preteens.
I enjoyed all the 31 chapters of the book. I connect with each of the characters in it.
Is easy to fall for the protagonists of a book but this time I will be part of the co-protagonists aka the group of friends that are there for their friends without judging but accepting each other.
All deserve it 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I enjoyed all the 31 chapters of the book. I connect with each of the characters in it.
Is easy to fall for the protagonists of a book but this time I will be part of the co-protagonists aka the group of friends that are there for their friends without judging but accepting each other.
All deserve it 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
January 2, 2024
- Beta reader review - this book comes out September 7th, 2023 -
This book was an awesome read from beginning to end! The main friend group is introduced all at once so it was a bit hectic to learn all these new characters, but it was really easy to get them down by the second chapter. The story delves right into Luna and Dayton’s first day of their seventh year, and we get to experience their perspectives throughout it. They both get their superpowers early on, and I really enjoyed the part where they decided to test their powers out and go on their first superhero mission. I really enjoyed the differences in how Luna and Dayton act together compared to how Lunar and Solar act together. This story is perfect for readers who enjoyed watching Miraculous Ladybug! The two heroes have their share of funny moments, difficult moments, and happy moments through the story, and I loved going through it with them and learning how they view things and their decision making skills. When I started reading this book I got sucked right in finished it quickly, never wanting it to end. I can not wait to read the second book!
This book was an awesome read from beginning to end! The main friend group is introduced all at once so it was a bit hectic to learn all these new characters, but it was really easy to get them down by the second chapter. The story delves right into Luna and Dayton’s first day of their seventh year, and we get to experience their perspectives throughout it. They both get their superpowers early on, and I really enjoyed the part where they decided to test their powers out and go on their first superhero mission. I really enjoyed the differences in how Luna and Dayton act together compared to how Lunar and Solar act together. This story is perfect for readers who enjoyed watching Miraculous Ladybug! The two heroes have their share of funny moments, difficult moments, and happy moments through the story, and I loved going through it with them and learning how they view things and their decision making skills. When I started reading this book I got sucked right in finished it quickly, never wanting it to end. I can not wait to read the second book!
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