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Crescent: A Young Adult Dystopian Romance
In this heated, action-packed debut, an eighteen-year-old soldier discovers her inner strength with the help of her combat instructors. As she navigates this dangerous, post-apocalyptic world, she realizes she has been lied to her entire life.
Crescent Harlowe has only one thing left to live for, and it’s not herself.
Six years ago, the War took her parents, her home, and her life, leaving Crescent alone to protect her critically-ill brother, Soleil. Now, newly eighteen, she is forced to begin deadly training trials where getting eliminated means certain death. For a girl used to surviving in the shadows, her only options have become fight or die.
If Crescent wants to live, she needs to get stronger, and fast. But that means relying on her incredibly dangerous — and frustratingly intoxicating — instructors. Agent Alexander Lennox is the deadliest man in Area 2, and he seems to know more about Crescent than she does herself. Major Chancellor Paris is military royalty with countless secrets hiding behind his perfect smile. The worst part — getting too close to either of them could be more fatal than death itself.
War has already destroyed everything Crescent loves. Will it destroy her too?
Or will she tear down this web of love, lies, and danger, and make it out alive?
Crescent Harlowe has only one thing left to live for, and it’s not herself.
Six years ago, the War took her parents, her home, and her life, leaving Crescent alone to protect her critically-ill brother, Soleil. Now, newly eighteen, she is forced to begin deadly training trials where getting eliminated means certain death. For a girl used to surviving in the shadows, her only options have become fight or die.
If Crescent wants to live, she needs to get stronger, and fast. But that means relying on her incredibly dangerous — and frustratingly intoxicating — instructors. Agent Alexander Lennox is the deadliest man in Area 2, and he seems to know more about Crescent than she does herself. Major Chancellor Paris is military royalty with countless secrets hiding behind his perfect smile. The worst part — getting too close to either of them could be more fatal than death itself.
War has already destroyed everything Crescent loves. Will it destroy her too?
Or will she tear down this web of love, lies, and danger, and make it out alive?
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2026
About the author
Caitlin Liao
1 book49 followersCaitlin has loved writing since her childhood, back when she was fascinated by plagues and magic. Since those early writing years, Caitlin has expanded her writing to span poetry and plays, short stories and screenplays. Crescent is her first novel. When Caitlin isn’t typing away at her desk, she loves to dance, bake, paint, and listen to a random assortment of music. She dreams of bringing her stories to the big screen one day. You can find more of her work at www.caitlinliao.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 29, 2026
4.5!!! woah this was a ride. for a debut..?? hello??? i genuinely loved this book so much. i need more right nowww. i went into it expecting the dystopian romance to be the main focus, but honestly the romance almost felt like a subplot at times n i didnt mind that at all if anything, i rlly liked that there was so much happening outside of the romance because there is genuinely so much potential with this world n this series.
i fell in love w cress ;( shes genuinely such a strong character but shes strong because shes basically had no choice but to be. shes had to grow up so quickly n carry so much on her own, especially when it comes to her brother sol n i think thats what made her pov so sad to read sometimes. you can tell shes just so numb n focused on surviving n protecting the people she loves. seeing how shes just trying to make it thru n how scared she is underneath all of that honestly crushed me so bad. her growth was everything. she goes from barely knowing how to fight to becoming rlly strong, n you can actually see how much she improves throughout the book. i loved watching her slowly become more confident in herself n what shes capable of. i also rlly liked seeing her make friends throughout the book. after everything shes been thru i loved seeing her slowly build connections w people n have something in her life besides just surviving.
now lets get to the romance.. i really liked both of the mmcs which is saying A LOT because i usually despise love triangles 😭 but i genuinely liked both alexander and chance as characters. i definitely preferred alexander tho there was just something abt him n cress that had more buzz to me. i do wish we got to know more of alexander tho. with chance, we get to see more of him n understand whats expected of him n where he stands, whereas alexander still feels so mysterious to me i rlly wanna know abt his past, especially because i feel like he and cress have a LOT in common. theres definitely a reason hes so comfortable around her n seems to understand her in a way other people dont, so im rlly hoping we get more of that in the next book. also something that rlly stuck w me was how whenever cress would get extremely overwhelmed, panicked, or nervous, she'd resort to hurting herself, n alexander caught onto it so many times n would stop her :( i rlly liked that those moments werent just brushed aside, because it showed how much he was actually paying attention to her n how much she was struggling underneath everything.
the world building was rlly interesting too!!! i feel like we barely scratched the surface of everything thats going on n theres SO much potential here. the writing was also so easy to get into which i rlly appreciated bc dystopian books can sometimes get bogged down with too much world building but this never felt like a chore to read. the pacing was good n i never felt like it was dragging.
anyways peak characters peak book peak ships n peak writing i can genuinely see this series going somewhere. theres so much potential here n SO many things i wanna know more abt n cant wait!!
i fell in love w cress ;( shes genuinely such a strong character but shes strong because shes basically had no choice but to be. shes had to grow up so quickly n carry so much on her own, especially when it comes to her brother sol n i think thats what made her pov so sad to read sometimes. you can tell shes just so numb n focused on surviving n protecting the people she loves. seeing how shes just trying to make it thru n how scared she is underneath all of that honestly crushed me so bad. her growth was everything. she goes from barely knowing how to fight to becoming rlly strong, n you can actually see how much she improves throughout the book. i loved watching her slowly become more confident in herself n what shes capable of. i also rlly liked seeing her make friends throughout the book. after everything shes been thru i loved seeing her slowly build connections w people n have something in her life besides just surviving.
now lets get to the romance.. i really liked both of the mmcs which is saying A LOT because i usually despise love triangles 😭 but i genuinely liked both alexander and chance as characters. i definitely preferred alexander tho there was just something abt him n cress that had more buzz to me. i do wish we got to know more of alexander tho. with chance, we get to see more of him n understand whats expected of him n where he stands, whereas alexander still feels so mysterious to me i rlly wanna know abt his past, especially because i feel like he and cress have a LOT in common. theres definitely a reason hes so comfortable around her n seems to understand her in a way other people dont, so im rlly hoping we get more of that in the next book. also something that rlly stuck w me was how whenever cress would get extremely overwhelmed, panicked, or nervous, she'd resort to hurting herself, n alexander caught onto it so many times n would stop her :( i rlly liked that those moments werent just brushed aside, because it showed how much he was actually paying attention to her n how much she was struggling underneath everything.
the world building was rlly interesting too!!! i feel like we barely scratched the surface of everything thats going on n theres SO much potential here. the writing was also so easy to get into which i rlly appreciated bc dystopian books can sometimes get bogged down with too much world building but this never felt like a chore to read. the pacing was good n i never felt like it was dragging.
anyways peak characters peak book peak ships n peak writing i can genuinely see this series going somewhere. theres so much potential here n SO many things i wanna know more abt n cant wait!!
September 7, 2026
Crescent is one of those books that you never see the plot twist coming. It’s one of those books where you hate a character, only to cry over their death because you realised that they weren’t so bad after all. Crescent is a book everyone needs to read right now. NOW.
I had so many questions during this book, and not all were answered, which makes me SO excited for book 2!!!
I had so many questions during this book, and not all were answered, which makes me SO excited for book 2!!!
October 27, 2026
it was good, but i did see like all of the plot twists coming, like there was no way that chance kept the bomb and flare seperate through alllll of that
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2026
What a joy ride this took me on!
As someone who didn’t read dystopian books during my teenage years, I found this so addictive, it is truly binge worthy.
Caitlin is so articulate with her words, well beyond her years as a writer, with prose that is so visualizing it feels as if you are living in the world she is describing. Reading this made me feel as if I was 13 years old when I very much have not felt 13 for a while, I was sitting on my couch, kicking my feet over this masterpiece
Crescent truly changed my life, it had the bunker environment of 10 Clover Lane mixed with the military inscription of Divergent fused with the high-stakes trials of The Hunger Games.
I am so excited to see what this series introduces next, especially when we were introduced to so many lovable characters.
This was overall a 5 star read and I’m looking forward to the next book Caitlin releases.
As someone who didn’t read dystopian books during my teenage years, I found this so addictive, it is truly binge worthy.
Caitlin is so articulate with her words, well beyond her years as a writer, with prose that is so visualizing it feels as if you are living in the world she is describing. Reading this made me feel as if I was 13 years old when I very much have not felt 13 for a while, I was sitting on my couch, kicking my feet over this masterpiece
Crescent truly changed my life, it had the bunker environment of 10 Clover Lane mixed with the military inscription of Divergent fused with the high-stakes trials of The Hunger Games.
I am so excited to see what this series introduces next, especially when we were introduced to so many lovable characters.
This was overall a 5 star read and I’m looking forward to the next book Caitlin releases.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first ever book that dived deeper into dystopian/romance and I was hooked from the first chapter on. The way Caitlin portrayed Crescent was so emotionally in-depth, that it made me feel for her. Because she emphasized her weakness, her fragility — seeing her fight for the win, pushing herself to be the best as possible — they were such intense and, in my opinion, pivotal moments towards her character development. Especially when she was practicing her aim through shooting — that made me so happy for her. The world building is perfect — not too much, not too little. I used to read dystopian/fantasy books a lot when I was younger, so world building always got to me (especially the names, the people & the way of society). However, she captured everything beautifully without overdoing it.
Don’t get me started with my girl Crescent. I feel for her so much. “I feel pity; late-night crying and homesickness aren’t unfamiliar feelings for me.” I felt so bad for her when she said that. I love the way she expresses her feelings — especially when she constantly says “I’m as good as dead.” Her vocabulary makes it feel like she’s literally dead inside, and it was really meaningful. There’s just something about her character that makes me want to hug her and shield her away from the bad in society. It’s the way she thinks, her self-destructive thoughts — it creates this connection that readers can bond with, a way to truly feel her emotions. It’s as if she’s my little sister. Even though she was scared to speak up, she did have her badass moments which I completely loved.
There were these two paragraphs (page 105) that I was truly shocked by. I literally had to pause for a second and reread them. No joke, I literally whispered to myself “this is something Shakespeare would write.”
The family dynamic, especially during the exposition of the novel. I loved the relationship she had with her family — that close, shared bond one where it distinguished her from most fmc’s in dystopian novels. A lot of main characters tend to have broken families, so seeing her have a healthy relationship with hers healed something within the book.
It was truly heartfelt, and the way she cares for Sol was so sweet too!!
I also loved the plot behind her mother/her family with Chancellor’s.
The love triangle — guys, I was crazy about it. Both Alexander and Chancellor had their moments. I seriously could not choose between the two (I wanted to be team Lennox so bad but I think when it came towards the end, I was so team Chance.)
All in all, I enjoyed reading Crescent SO MUCH. This being my first ever dystopian/romance read speaks volumes for that. I literally finished this in one sitting.
Don’t get me started with my girl Crescent. I feel for her so much. “I feel pity; late-night crying and homesickness aren’t unfamiliar feelings for me.” I felt so bad for her when she said that. I love the way she expresses her feelings — especially when she constantly says “I’m as good as dead.” Her vocabulary makes it feel like she’s literally dead inside, and it was really meaningful. There’s just something about her character that makes me want to hug her and shield her away from the bad in society. It’s the way she thinks, her self-destructive thoughts — it creates this connection that readers can bond with, a way to truly feel her emotions. It’s as if she’s my little sister. Even though she was scared to speak up, she did have her badass moments which I completely loved.
There were these two paragraphs (page 105) that I was truly shocked by. I literally had to pause for a second and reread them. No joke, I literally whispered to myself “this is something Shakespeare would write.”
The family dynamic, especially during the exposition of the novel. I loved the relationship she had with her family — that close, shared bond one where it distinguished her from most fmc’s in dystopian novels. A lot of main characters tend to have broken families, so seeing her have a healthy relationship with hers healed something within the book.
It was truly heartfelt, and the way she cares for Sol was so sweet too!!
I also loved the plot behind her mother/her family with Chancellor’s.
The love triangle — guys, I was crazy about it. Both Alexander and Chancellor had their moments. I seriously could not choose between the two (I wanted to be team Lennox so bad but I think when it came towards the end, I was so team Chance.)
All in all, I enjoyed reading Crescent SO MUCH. This being my first ever dystopian/romance read speaks volumes for that. I literally finished this in one sitting.
September 3, 2026
I genuinely don't even know how to write this review because I have SO many thoughts and absolutely no idea how to put them into words without accidentally spoiling everything.
First of all: LOVE ME a dystopian novel, and this one had me hooked from the beginning. I literally finished it in one sitting because I could NOT put it down. I completely loved it.
The world-building, the characters, the secrets, the survival aspect… I could literally see the entire story playing like a movie in my head while I was reading.
And the LAST CHAPTERS??? Oh. My. God. They were SO good. Everything was unfolding and I was just sitting there like WHAT IS HAPPENING??? I had actual tears in my eyes by the end.
One thing I really loved is that there are still SO many unanswered questions. There are so many things that haven't been fully explored yet, and I finished the book with this giant question mark in my head. And honestly? I LOVE that. It made me feel like there is so much more to this world and these characters. I can genuinely see the potential for a whole series here, and I NEED IT.
And the romance??? THE LOVE TRIANGLE??? Both guys had their moments, okay?! I genuinely loved them both for different reasons. And the fact that I feel like BOTH of them are hiding so many things makes it even more interesting. I obviously can't say anything without spoiling it, but… GIRL. I NEED ANSWERS.
I also really connected with the female main character. Especially that feeling of having no choice but to survive. That instinct of “there is no other option, I just have to keep going” really resonated with me, and it made her feel much more real to me.
I'm not saying anything else because I refuse to spoil this for anyone, but if you love dystopian stories, survival, secrets, complicated characters, romance, and endings you’ll refuse to believe actually happened…
READ. THIS. BOOK.
First of all: LOVE ME a dystopian novel, and this one had me hooked from the beginning. I literally finished it in one sitting because I could NOT put it down. I completely loved it.
The world-building, the characters, the secrets, the survival aspect… I could literally see the entire story playing like a movie in my head while I was reading.
And the LAST CHAPTERS??? Oh. My. God. They were SO good. Everything was unfolding and I was just sitting there like WHAT IS HAPPENING??? I had actual tears in my eyes by the end.
One thing I really loved is that there are still SO many unanswered questions. There are so many things that haven't been fully explored yet, and I finished the book with this giant question mark in my head. And honestly? I LOVE that. It made me feel like there is so much more to this world and these characters. I can genuinely see the potential for a whole series here, and I NEED IT.
And the romance??? THE LOVE TRIANGLE??? Both guys had their moments, okay?! I genuinely loved them both for different reasons. And the fact that I feel like BOTH of them are hiding so many things makes it even more interesting. I obviously can't say anything without spoiling it, but… GIRL. I NEED ANSWERS.
I also really connected with the female main character. Especially that feeling of having no choice but to survive. That instinct of “there is no other option, I just have to keep going” really resonated with me, and it made her feel much more real to me.
I'm not saying anything else because I refuse to spoil this for anyone, but if you love dystopian stories, survival, secrets, complicated characters, romance, and endings you’ll refuse to believe actually happened…
READ. THIS. BOOK.
September 19, 2026
arc review: got a copy early from the author!
okay i know i’m kind of late posting this since the book has been out for a minute, but i literally had to come on here and hype up caitlin because i am so proud of her. i actually first found out about her when i saw her posting online looking for arc readers, and after reading her book we ended up becoming friends. seeing her promote it all over social media and now seeing the final product out in the world is so cool.
crescent is honestly so good. if u like hunger games and divergent, you would love this book. honestly haven't read a book in so long with an mmc that made me giggle this much. like you know that feeling when you're reading a book and you just get so enveloped by the story, characters, and scenes? that was exactly me with this book. the main character crescent is the most coolest fmc ever and watching her navigate the whole secret society thing and those intense military trials kept me hooked the entire time. the stakes feel super high because if you fail the training, you basically die, so the pacing never really slows down and there's always something crazy happening.
also the romance is everything. the dynamic she has with alexander and chancellor had me turning pages so fast because you never really know who to trust or what's going to happen next. it has the perfect mix of action, drama, and huge plot twists that i didn't see coming at all. you can tell how much work went into the story and the characters, and the emotional parts feel super real too.
caitlin absolutely crushed her debut book and it's so cool seeing her become a published author. i feel so incredibly happy that i got to read an early copy of this. it's already out so definitely go get a copy on amazon or read it on kindle unlimited!! 5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
okay i know i’m kind of late posting this since the book has been out for a minute, but i literally had to come on here and hype up caitlin because i am so proud of her. i actually first found out about her when i saw her posting online looking for arc readers, and after reading her book we ended up becoming friends. seeing her promote it all over social media and now seeing the final product out in the world is so cool.
crescent is honestly so good. if u like hunger games and divergent, you would love this book. honestly haven't read a book in so long with an mmc that made me giggle this much. like you know that feeling when you're reading a book and you just get so enveloped by the story, characters, and scenes? that was exactly me with this book. the main character crescent is the most coolest fmc ever and watching her navigate the whole secret society thing and those intense military trials kept me hooked the entire time. the stakes feel super high because if you fail the training, you basically die, so the pacing never really slows down and there's always something crazy happening.
also the romance is everything. the dynamic she has with alexander and chancellor had me turning pages so fast because you never really know who to trust or what's going to happen next. it has the perfect mix of action, drama, and huge plot twists that i didn't see coming at all. you can tell how much work went into the story and the characters, and the emotional parts feel super real too.
caitlin absolutely crushed her debut book and it's so cool seeing her become a published author. i feel so incredibly happy that i got to read an early copy of this. it's already out so definitely go get a copy on amazon or read it on kindle unlimited!! 5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had me hooked from the first page. The world-building and dystopian setting grabbed my attention right away, creating a unique and intriguing foundation to the story. The politics and government system were unique as well. I love the emotional depth of the main character Crescent, and her personality is very likable. I was rooting for her from the beginning. Her development throughout the story was really satisfying to read about. I love her relationship with her brother Sol; it was one of the sweetest aspects of the book to me. Her protectiveness and fierce love of her brother are some of her most admirable traits. Crescent’s trauma and coping mechanisms were interesting to read about as well.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the tension and chemistry between Crescent and both of the mmcs— Agent Lennox and Chancellor. I couldn’t quite pick which one I liked better, and every scene had me on the edge of my seat. The banter and interactions between Crescent and each of the mmcs were very entertaining.
The plot was paced well, keeping me engaged throughout the whole story. The ending included some plot twists I certainly didn’t expect, which were very shocking and left my jaw on the floor. Caitlin’s writing style is captivating and kept me deeply immersed in the story. Overall this book was incredible and I can’t wait to read more by Caitlin in the future!
One of my favorite parts of the book was the tension and chemistry between Crescent and both of the mmcs— Agent Lennox and Chancellor. I couldn’t quite pick which one I liked better, and every scene had me on the edge of my seat. The banter and interactions between Crescent and each of the mmcs were very entertaining.
The plot was paced well, keeping me engaged throughout the whole story. The ending included some plot twists I certainly didn’t expect, which were very shocking and left my jaw on the floor. Caitlin’s writing style is captivating and kept me deeply immersed in the story. Overall this book was incredible and I can’t wait to read more by Caitlin in the future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2026
It’s not very often that a book entrances me as much as Crescent did. It was so good that I didn’t ever want to put it down. After reading the first chapter I was slightly lost but after I kept reading, it got better by the second.
Caitlin is a young author who wrote a 5 star debut novel at 17. That is an insane accomplishment. It is so awesome how many people have supported her along the way.
I would recommend this book to anyone trying to get into dystopian, or a good YA clean book. I loved how detailed she got, and the words she chose were so perfect. I noticed a few typos or double of words and some font changes randomly, but for a first book this is genuinely great.
I loved Crescent so much, and her storyline with her parents were insane, I didn’t expect that plot twist.
I also LOVED the love triangle that went down, I’m not sure if Caitlin was more so leaning towards Lennox or Chancellor, but I was rooting for Lennox the whole time and the ending had me giggling like a little girl. I can’t wait to read the next book when she finds time to write!!! Aghhh
10/10 I loved this with all my heart. Thank you Caitlin for never giving up, and for writing a phenomenal book with beautiful world building. I felt like I was watching a movie in my mind from reading your words.
Caitlin is a young author who wrote a 5 star debut novel at 17. That is an insane accomplishment. It is so awesome how many people have supported her along the way.
I would recommend this book to anyone trying to get into dystopian, or a good YA clean book. I loved how detailed she got, and the words she chose were so perfect. I noticed a few typos or double of words and some font changes randomly, but for a first book this is genuinely great.
I loved Crescent so much, and her storyline with her parents were insane, I didn’t expect that plot twist.
I also LOVED the love triangle that went down, I’m not sure if Caitlin was more so leaning towards Lennox or Chancellor, but I was rooting for Lennox the whole time and the ending had me giggling like a little girl. I can’t wait to read the next book when she finds time to write!!! Aghhh
10/10 I loved this with all my heart. Thank you Caitlin for never giving up, and for writing a phenomenal book with beautiful world building. I felt like I was watching a movie in my mind from reading your words.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Woah
The way this book had me hooked after the very first chapter(dare I say the very first sentence)
This was a true dystopian romance, through and through. The world building was done so beautifully, the characters had so much emotional depth to them, especially my girl crescent. Caitlin was so emotionally in tune when it came to writing these characters. The way crescents weaknesses were portrayed, so raw and real. The way crescent pushed to better herself and being able to see her win; was such an amazing journey through crescents development and growth. The fmc in this book stood out so much more than your average fmc, with a beautiful and close bond with her family, and the softness of crescent all while still having her badass moments.
And don’t even get me started on the love triangle…..omg I ate. it. up. I truly couldn’t help but root for BOTH chancellor and Alexander throughout the majority of the book… at the end I fear I did become a team Chance girl
To say I loved this book would be an understatement, the talent and passion Caitlin put into this book is out of this world.
The way this book had me hooked after the very first chapter(dare I say the very first sentence)
This was a true dystopian romance, through and through. The world building was done so beautifully, the characters had so much emotional depth to them, especially my girl crescent. Caitlin was so emotionally in tune when it came to writing these characters. The way crescents weaknesses were portrayed, so raw and real. The way crescent pushed to better herself and being able to see her win; was such an amazing journey through crescents development and growth. The fmc in this book stood out so much more than your average fmc, with a beautiful and close bond with her family, and the softness of crescent all while still having her badass moments.
And don’t even get me started on the love triangle…..omg I ate. it. up. I truly couldn’t help but root for BOTH chancellor and Alexander throughout the majority of the book… at the end I fear I did become a team Chance girl
To say I loved this book would be an understatement, the talent and passion Caitlin put into this book is out of this world.
September 10, 2026
Wow!!
Caitlin, I saw you posting your book on tiktok before it came out and could not wait to get the chance to read it. Happy to say I could not put it down!
I was a dystopian - world LOVER as a teen, and this book reignited my interest for dystopian novels. This book was incredibly well done (and being a debut is wild!!) Reading this makes me want to go back to my roots of divergent, hunger games, uglies, etc!
Crescent was an amazing character and so relatable. Her love for Sol and her family was such a sweet, sad part of her story but gave her so much more depth. I can’t wait to read The agent, and the rest of the books in this series (and hopefully many more standalones or other series’ in the future?)
One note of constructive criticism I will give is that some parts of the first act felt a bit slow and dragging. It was still very manageable and clearly I liked the book a lot given the rating, but just wanted to give something to consider for writing the next books! I unfortunately am not a creative mind so I have no idea how to improve on this but I know constructive feedback is just as helpful, if not more, as praise.
Caitlin, I saw you posting your book on tiktok before it came out and could not wait to get the chance to read it. Happy to say I could not put it down!
I was a dystopian - world LOVER as a teen, and this book reignited my interest for dystopian novels. This book was incredibly well done (and being a debut is wild!!) Reading this makes me want to go back to my roots of divergent, hunger games, uglies, etc!
Crescent was an amazing character and so relatable. Her love for Sol and her family was such a sweet, sad part of her story but gave her so much more depth. I can’t wait to read The agent, and the rest of the books in this series (and hopefully many more standalones or other series’ in the future?)
One note of constructive criticism I will give is that some parts of the first act felt a bit slow and dragging. It was still very manageable and clearly I liked the book a lot given the rating, but just wanted to give something to consider for writing the next books! I unfortunately am not a creative mind so I have no idea how to improve on this but I know constructive feedback is just as helpful, if not more, as praise.
August 26, 2026
Crescent Review
I really enjoyed Crescent! From the beginning, I was pulled into the storyline, and it kept me interested all the way through. I thought the plot was really engaging and felt fresh, and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. There were definitely moments where I had strong feelings about certain characters, especially one character in particular that I really did not like, but honestly, I think that made the story even more memorable.
One thing I especially enjoyed was the way the military ranking system was incorporated into the story. It added another layer to the world and made the stakes feel higher without being confusing or overwhelming. I thought it was really well integrated into the plot and gave the story its own unique feel.
Overall, I would definitely recommend Crescent to anyone looking for a book with an engaging storyline, interesting worldbuilding, and characters that actually make you feel something. I had a great time reading it and would absolutely recommend giving it a chance!
I really enjoyed Crescent! From the beginning, I was pulled into the storyline, and it kept me interested all the way through. I thought the plot was really engaging and felt fresh, and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. There were definitely moments where I had strong feelings about certain characters, especially one character in particular that I really did not like, but honestly, I think that made the story even more memorable.
One thing I especially enjoyed was the way the military ranking system was incorporated into the story. It added another layer to the world and made the stakes feel higher without being confusing or overwhelming. I thought it was really well integrated into the plot and gave the story its own unique feel.
Overall, I would definitely recommend Crescent to anyone looking for a book with an engaging storyline, interesting worldbuilding, and characters that actually make you feel something. I had a great time reading it and would absolutely recommend giving it a chance!
Read
August 13, 2026This book was absolutely amazing!!
One of my favorite genres is dystopian romance and Caitlin just did such an amazing job creating this story. I loved how it wasn’t just a normal boot camp (which obviously I’ve never been to boot camp so what do I know) but it had different levels to it like the Armageddon which was set in an arena and had them competing to the end. (Major hunger games vibes!!) Also having two mmc just transcended the game. I mean come on I was constantly like which one will crescent choose, which ones meant for her, etc. They also made me angry at times, maybe one more than the other. And you can’t forget about Crescent, I love her so so much. But overall it’s such a great book! It was so easy to read, and constantly had me questioning which characters can I trust and what is going to happen. So I would definitely read this to know more about Crescent and the Eclipse Wars.
One of my favorite genres is dystopian romance and Caitlin just did such an amazing job creating this story. I loved how it wasn’t just a normal boot camp (which obviously I’ve never been to boot camp so what do I know) but it had different levels to it like the Armageddon which was set in an arena and had them competing to the end. (Major hunger games vibes!!) Also having two mmc just transcended the game. I mean come on I was constantly like which one will crescent choose, which ones meant for her, etc. They also made me angry at times, maybe one more than the other. And you can’t forget about Crescent, I love her so so much. But overall it’s such a great book! It was so easy to read, and constantly had me questioning which characters can I trust and what is going to happen. So I would definitely read this to know more about Crescent and the Eclipse Wars.
September 3, 2026
Crescent is an incredible debut that delivers everything I love in a post apocalyptic fantasy high stakes, unforgettable characters, and nonstop tension. Crescent Harlowe is a resilient heroine whose determination to protect her brother makes her easy to root for from the very beginning. The deadly training trials kept me completely invested, and the mysteries surrounding her past unfolded at just the right pace. I especially enjoyed the chemistry between Crescent and her enigmatic instructors, which added emotional depth without overshadowing the action. The world building is immersive, filled with secrets, danger, and unexpected twists that kept me turning the pages. Caitlin Liao has created a thrilling story that balances action, suspense, and emotion beautifully. I finished this book eager for more from this world and its unforgettable characters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed Crescent from start to finish, it’s such a captivating read. The characters are intriguing and the dynamic between them keeps you wanting more. I particularly loved how the author hints at deeper secrets and entanglements that will be revealed in the next books in the series. She does just the right amount of this to add depth and complexity, without frustrating the reader or leaving you feeling unsatisfied at the end. The ending, in fact, is super powerful, devastating in the best ways, and makes you root for Crescent all the way. Highly recommended, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I don’t know what Caitlin put in this book but I need more of it.
I have not read a dystopian romance in so long and this book brought my love for them back. I’m so grateful I got the chance to read this.
The characters immediately captured my heart. There’s no other way to describe it. From the very first page I was hooked.
I became so emotionally attached to these charecters that my mum found me crying on multiple occasions!!
It’s been an absolute rollercoaster and I’m so excited to read more from Caitlin 🫶🏼👏❤️
I have not read a dystopian romance in so long and this book brought my love for them back. I’m so grateful I got the chance to read this.
The characters immediately captured my heart. There’s no other way to describe it. From the very first page I was hooked.
I became so emotionally attached to these charecters that my mum found me crying on multiple occasions!!
It’s been an absolute rollercoaster and I’m so excited to read more from Caitlin 🫶🏼👏❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow. Crescent takes you on a journey you just can’t put down. This was by FAR one of my quickest reads of the year because I was that hooked. Such a good take on the dystopian genre with a SHOCKING ending that leaves you wanting more. The deep dives into Crescent’s mind formed a strong connection to the character and what she’s going through, forcing me to root for her even against all odds.
✅ love triangle
✅ post-apocalyptic setting
✅ TENSION
For fans of Shatter Me, Hunger Games, Legend, you know the drill. PLEASE READ.
✅ love triangle
✅ post-apocalyptic setting
✅ TENSION
For fans of Shatter Me, Hunger Games, Legend, you know the drill. PLEASE READ.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all… Chancellor😢
I absolutely loved this book! I think the world building was beautifully done.
I love to see a strong FMC, and I appreciate that we had Agent Lennox there as a motivator. I think he truly believed in her while not babying her and I think that’s something we don’t see to often in books like these.
I would like to thank the author, Caitlin Liao, for giving me this amazing opportunity to read and review her debut novel! I truly can’t wait to see what she gives us next☺️
I absolutely loved this book! I think the world building was beautifully done.
I love to see a strong FMC, and I appreciate that we had Agent Lennox there as a motivator. I think he truly believed in her while not babying her and I think that’s something we don’t see to often in books like these.
I would like to thank the author, Caitlin Liao, for giving me this amazing opportunity to read and review her debut novel! I truly can’t wait to see what she gives us next☺️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2026
I LOVED THIS BOOK!! To be honest, I really was expecting Chancellor to be a bad guy. I’m pleasantly surprised he wasn’t!!! I started out the book being an Agent Lennox girl through and through, but he was kind of an a$$hole at the end.
There were parts I was kinda confused about. For example, what exactly IS Division One? I might have missed it, but I could only gather that everyone wanted to be in Division One, and it was difficult to be in.
I loved it sm and I think it’s amazing writing for someone so young!
There were parts I was kinda confused about. For example, what exactly IS Division One? I might have missed it, but I could only gather that everyone wanted to be in Division One, and it was difficult to be in.
I loved it sm and I think it’s amazing writing for someone so young!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2026
I really enjoyed this. Slightly comparable to The Hunger Games (one of my fav series). YA dystopian is so back. I only like love triangles when they’re done right and this one certainly was (I was rooting for Agent Lennox). My biggest complaint is that I wanted more of it. So many questions were left unanswered and I’m dying to know what’s going on. I will be thinking about that ending for a while
August 28, 2026
Dystopian has been getting pushed more and more onto my TBR and I’m not mad about it. I will say to me the romance felt more like a subplot. I kinda wished it delved a little deeper into the relationships as most of the friendships/romantic interests seemed a bit superficial. So that didn’t make me feel too invested into any of the characters per se so when certain things happened in the story I just kept moving along. I liked the story itself quite a bit though. Definitely interested in seeing where this series goes from here!
October 1, 2026
3/5
The good:
- The strongest part of this book was the main character! She felt relatable and realisitc given the circumstances of the story. I also like that she genuinely cares about and hates certain people for justifiable reasons rather than being selective about it.
- Chancellor was in my opinion the best character overall. I liked the juxtaposition between his charming side vs his secretive side. It also helped that the two shared a past so it felt like I knew him better. Of all the side characters, he was the most developed.
- The ending made me tear up :')
- I like that mental health was taken seriously instead of being out of touch.
- In terms of pacing, it was slightly too fast but otherwise I didn't have an issue with it.
- The entire book felt very YA which is what it was going for, so good job!
That being said, here are some things I believe could be improved:
- It was unclear what the reason for the war was? How did it start? Are they fighting over resources? Something else? How did the Areas get created in the first place? I think they're based off irl countries but America and France are also mentioned, so are Areas just countries, but renamed? There's a lot of unexplained things which I think the author could've taken more time to answer.
- Depth between Lennox and Crescent felt shallow; I was confused why he was so harsh to the other cadets but all of a sudden gentle and sweet with Crescent?
- The prose was pretty repetitive. Too many sentences began with "I" followed by an action, with these sentences sometimes taking up entire paragraphs.
- This is kinda nit picky but the selection system felt really counter intuitive. The nature of it guaranteed that talent would be lost even if they were objectively great soliders because others just happened to be better. That talent would therefore be discarded and they were basically dead men walking. In war, you need as many bodies as possible. The discarded cadets felt like am uneccessary loss of numbers, you know? I would've made it so that the cadets needed to maintain certain scores to pass, and the others could take on less demanding roles like chefs or something. I get that the stakes are supposed to be high for tension but again this is a nit picky point.
- Something that frustrated me was the logic regarding the bomb and flare discs. Why would they be made to look the same?
Overall, a strong debut novel with lots of room to grow. I'm excited for the release of the next book! <3
The good:
- The strongest part of this book was the main character! She felt relatable and realisitc given the circumstances of the story. I also like that she genuinely cares about and hates certain people for justifiable reasons rather than being selective about it.
- Chancellor was in my opinion the best character overall. I liked the juxtaposition between his charming side vs his secretive side. It also helped that the two shared a past so it felt like I knew him better. Of all the side characters, he was the most developed.
- The ending made me tear up :')
- I like that mental health was taken seriously instead of being out of touch.
- In terms of pacing, it was slightly too fast but otherwise I didn't have an issue with it.
- The entire book felt very YA which is what it was going for, so good job!
That being said, here are some things I believe could be improved:
- It was unclear what the reason for the war was? How did it start? Are they fighting over resources? Something else? How did the Areas get created in the first place? I think they're based off irl countries but America and France are also mentioned, so are Areas just countries, but renamed? There's a lot of unexplained things which I think the author could've taken more time to answer.
- Depth between Lennox and Crescent felt shallow; I was confused why he was so harsh to the other cadets but all of a sudden gentle and sweet with Crescent?
- The prose was pretty repetitive. Too many sentences began with "I" followed by an action, with these sentences sometimes taking up entire paragraphs.
- This is kinda nit picky but the selection system felt really counter intuitive. The nature of it guaranteed that talent would be lost even if they were objectively great soliders because others just happened to be better. That talent would therefore be discarded and they were basically dead men walking. In war, you need as many bodies as possible. The discarded cadets felt like am uneccessary loss of numbers, you know? I would've made it so that the cadets needed to maintain certain scores to pass, and the others could take on less demanding roles like chefs or something. I get that the stakes are supposed to be high for tension but again this is a nit picky point.
- Something that frustrated me was the logic regarding the bomb and flare discs. Why would they be made to look the same?
Overall, a strong debut novel with lots of room to grow. I'm excited for the release of the next book! <3
September 9, 2026
For fans of Divergent!
I can honestly say this book is the reason why I read. This author has brought back the beauty of dystopian novels. Her book is so beautifully written, and captures your attention through the whole book. I need more books!!!! I will recommend this book to every and all readers! Thank you Caitlin Liao for this adventure! ☺️
I can honestly say this book is the reason why I read. This author has brought back the beauty of dystopian novels. Her book is so beautifully written, and captures your attention through the whole book. I need more books!!!! I will recommend this book to every and all readers! Thank you Caitlin Liao for this adventure! ☺️
September 11, 2026
Oh. My. God.
This book was absolutely PERFECT!!! 🥹 I felt so invested from the start and the pacing was perfect—there was never a dull moment, or a moment where I felt it was too fast. I'll be recommending this to everyone I know, this is truly one of the greatest books I've read, I love it so much 🥹🫶
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was absolutely PERFECT!!! 🥹 I felt so invested from the start and the pacing was perfect—there was never a dull moment, or a moment where I felt it was too fast. I'll be recommending this to everyone I know, this is truly one of the greatest books I've read, I love it so much 🥹🫶
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 22, 2026
4.75/5
one of my first real dystopian books i’ve read in a while, definitely helped me out of a slump big time. the characters and world building are SO amazing. this girl is truly talented. i need to know so so so much more. i have many questions that have kept me thinking about this book long after ive finished it. truly truly amazing book overall!!
one of my first real dystopian books i’ve read in a while, definitely helped me out of a slump big time. the characters and world building are SO amazing. this girl is truly talented. i need to know so so so much more. i have many questions that have kept me thinking about this book long after ive finished it. truly truly amazing book overall!!
October 21, 2026
This is one of my new favorite books!! Caitlin is a fantastic author. Whether it's writing a novel or writing a script, she has the talent.
The story is beautifully written, had me crying by like chapters 6 and 37...
I can't wait for book 2 and im excited to see where her talent gets her in the future!
The story is beautifully written, had me crying by like chapters 6 and 37...
I can't wait for book 2 and im excited to see where her talent gets her in the future!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Literally finished this in two days! the pages practically turned themselves and as someone who loves to try and predict how a novel will end this one had me stumped. Im excited to see what will happen next…. specifically with agent lennox😉
October 3, 2026
I loved this book so much and stayed up at night to keep reading it. I haven’t read a good dystopian book in a while and this was so good. I can’t wait for the next one and the fact that this was written by a teenager is just crazy
September 1, 2026
oh my gosh what the actual heck! i couldn’t put it down, i read it in one sitting and stayed up far too late to finish it. WOW. WOW. WOW! I literally can’t wait for book 2!
September 20, 2026
4.5 stars!! OMG I NEED THE SECOND BOOK ASAP!! I NEED to know what happens to Crescent.
If you like books like the Hunger Games and Divergent, GO READ THIS!!!
If you like books like the Hunger Games and Divergent, GO READ THIS!!!
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