Crow Moon

by Shawna Romkey

After Leni loses her father, she’s sent to live with her eccentric aunt outside of town. She wants to go off to college and do what her father has always wanted her to do, but the mysteries of her estranged mother’s family lead her to start unraveling the secrets long ago lost and hidden away. Will she be able to find out who she really is while living up to her father’s last wishes, or will the powers of the Crow Moon claim her for itself?

ebook

First published July 1, 2015

About the author

USA Today best-selling author, Shawna grew up around farms in the heart of Missouri but went to the University of Kansas, was raised in the US but now lives on the ocean in Nova Scotia with her husband, two sons, two dogs and one overgrown puppy from hell. She’s a non-conformist who follows her heart.

She has her BA in creative writing from the University of Kansas where one of her plays was chosen by her creative writing professor to be produced locally, and two of her short stories were published in a university creative arts handbook. She earned her MA in English from Central Missouri State University where she wrote a novel as her thesis.

She’s taught English at the university and secondary levels for close to twenty years and can’t quite fathom how all of her students have grown up, yet she’s managed to stay the same. She’s a huge geek and fan of Xena, Buffy and all kick ass women, and loves to write stories that have strong female characters.

Books:
Speak of the Devil, 2013
The Devil Made Me, 2014

http://www.shawnaromkey.com/

Reviews

[Amber Houlton o'neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that this book really hit home with me. The main character, Lenore (Leni), is not your typical girly character. Like most female heroins, she is smart and brave. This character is unique, however, in that she uses her brain and logic rather than emotion and reaction to approach her challenges. Not being a girly girly and using this same coping mechanism in my own life, I appreciated seeing a character like Leni in print. I don't relate to drama and over-the-top antics, and Leni doesn't either. I truly enjoyed getting to know this unusual young woman.
That being said, know that the beginning of the book is greatly dedicated to understanding Leni and her world, so you'll need to wait a bit for some action. It's worth the wait, however, as the action won't disappoint when it comes.
All in all, another great read from Romkey and another strong female lead, this time with the added benefit of a new and different character. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next for Leni and where Romkey takes us with her witches.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another win for Shawna Romkey. After four books, I can honestly say I will pick up anything this woman writes because I know I will enjoy it. Her books are fun, slightly romantic, and breathe new life into the paranormal YA scene.

In this book, Leni is dealing with the loss of her father and trying to get through school when she is sent to live with an aunt she doesn't know on the side of her mother's family who left her when she was 10. Dealing with debilitating panic attacks (a result of he mother's abandonment), and a new environment, she begins unraveling a long line of family secrets that she'd rather not be a part of but that lives in her blood.

For fans of paranormal YA.

[Tarrah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good solid book about a coming of age witch. Set in Kansas City which is pretty cool.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally getting around to writing up a little review for Crow Moon!

I had the pleasure of meeting Shawna last year at a convention, and after reading Speak of the Devil I was really excited to get my hands on her newest release.

I thought this book was a pleasant twist on the typical "girl discovers she has supernatural powers" genre. I thought both the main character, Lenore, and the plot itself were both really different and well done. I really liked that we were able to see Leni struggle with magic and I thought that the way the magic was laid out for her was really interesting and unique.

My favourite part of the story was that despite the fact that the story had a romantic element, it wasn't the main focus. In fact, there was barely a focus on it at all! And that, my friends, I found incredibly refreshing.

[Sue Slade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crow Moon was the sixth young adult novel I’ve read by Shawna Romkey and it won’t be my last. This one was quite different from her others in that you’d never know it was a Paranormal at the beginning of the story. Early on it dealt with Leni’s adjustment to the death of her father, her new living arrangements, her panic attacks, starting college, and her issues from her Mother’s abandonment when she was younger. It’s later on in the book that she finds out that she comes from a long line of witches and we see her struggling to come into her witchy paranormal powers, which turn out to be quite surprising. I did love the fact that Leni meets a shy, tongue-tied teacher’s aide, bringing a romantic element into the story. I also quite enjoyed the descriptions of the mansion she comes to live in with her aunt.

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lenore, or Leni as she likes to go by, first her mother leaves her then her father dies leaving Leni to move with family she does not know. With her new family she learns much more about herself and her family.

This is a great story. If you love witches and Poe this story is just for you!

[Deborah Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character in this book, Leni, has had a number of challenging experiences in her relatively young life. Her mother left her and her father suddenly a number of years ago, when Leni was still a child, with no real understanding of why. Now she is almost 18, with a brilliant and very inquisitive mind. Having finished high school early, she is set to start at the university at the beginning of second semester where her father teaches. She suddenly loses her father in December, and is sent to live with an aunt, her mother’s sister, whom she really doesn’t know. She is determined to follow through with what her father and she had discussed and planned for re her university studies - even though she continues to struggle with these traumatic events.

At her Aunt’s property , there seems to be an undercurrent of unusual things happening. Strange cottage in the woods, an unfriendly and somewhat mysterious groundskeeper, warnings of not going into the woods on the property, and then the posters of girls who have gone missing in this area over a number of years. The mansion she now lives in with her aunt also seems to hold some interesting and unusual historical secrets which may play into some of these unusual events.

While exploring both the home and property some mysteries and secrets become evident that she wants to unravel about her mother’s family. Leni decides she wants to try to get to the bottom of these long ago lost secrets- and the supposedly magical powers of the Crow Moon which she was born under. The further she dives into these mysteries the more dangerous it begins to get for her…..

I enjoyed the way the author builds the suspense in this book. Also the rich descriptions of the home and surrounding countryside where Leni now lives. A fun early romance fits in nicely too. Recommended read for those who like mystery, magic and determined strong independent thinking women who sometimes have to struggle to find their way.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I read by Shawna Romkey. I enjoyed the read. It moved along at a medium pace.
I don’t normally read books about witches, so if there are cliches within that area of fantasy, and they were in this book; they would still be fresh to me.
The challenges of a young person coming of age while facing the challenges of losing their father and going off to live with relatives she has never met can be interesting in any genre. I had to look up a reference to Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “”Lenore” but generally this is quite accessible. Some themes include coming of age, figuring out who are your friends and foes both outside and inside your family, and issues with estrangement’s from a parent.

[Mai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+. Very intriguing. I liked the concept, but it wasn't quite to my taste. I'd read more by the author though.