George Alcott thought he could control his inner demons, but on the night of the full moon, he risks his own soul by conjuring the dark magic of his ancestral line to save Savannah’s life. After a doomed battle against the Hillcrest wolf pack goes awry, Savi is missing, and George must turn enemies into allies if he wants to save her from a fate worse than death.
Savannah Danvers is starving. After waking in captivity and spending days at the hands of monsters, she befriends the very beings who put her in this mess in the first place. Together, they rebel against the supernatural hunters and risk everything for freedom. But among a blaze of gunfire and through a mountain of death, Savi fears they may never emerge victorious.
In the second installment of the Hillcrest Supernaturals series, George and Savi are pushed to the brink of death and forced to ask themselves who, in a city supposedly overrun by supernatural allies, can they really trust?
Seeing all those 5-stars reviews of this book already does not give me an easy time writing my own review. I just feel like I'm either just a huge hater on the genre itself or this series just isn't for me. But first of all, I do give this four-ish stars out of five because I feel like three stars would most definitely not do any justice to this book after all.
The first book of this series, Crimson Bite was a book that I generally enjoyed reading and I liked how it was lighter than anything else that I usually read. Having read probably hundreds of detective stories and thrillers during my life, I often feel like young adult books are not for me and they are often missing a key thing or two. However, Ben Alderson's books have been the first ya-books that I have actually enjoyed and waited to get my hands on the next parts of his series' and Hillcrest Supernaturals is no different.
Even though, I feel like this book was way too fast-paced. The authors were able to tell the story well within just under 200 pages but I feel like there could have been more. It could have been possible to look more into the characters, how they behaved, how they looked, what was happening in the setting etc. And this is the main reason why I don't want to give this book a five-star rating. The plot itself continued the story perfectly and I still like the concept of the series a lot.
I still had some trouble with this book, mainly with Savannah, the other main character. I just simply can not like her and I hate how I see her as the kind of a bad guy here even though she isn't. The way how she is characterized just doesn't make her appear likeable to me. But she does have reasons behind her actions and I feel like the character has already made some interesting development if we compare her in the first book to the second.
All in all, I find this series still really enjoyable and I like how it kind of differs from the main stream ya-books. I really hope that the third book of this series would have that something that I feel like is still missing. Can't wait to get my hands on the third book because that ending definitely left me with way too many unanswered questions!
Moon Struck had me awestruck! After reading Crimson Bite, I knew Moon Struck was going to be just as amazing... what I didn’t know that it was going to be EVEN better. These two authors work spectacularly together and have created not only compelling and driven characters, but an epic storyline and a captivating plot that leaves you wanting and needing more. I can’t even put into words how obsessed and invested I am with this new paranormal series. It ticks all the right boxes and I’m DYING for the rest of the books.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Oh God where do I start?! This book did things to me... I was on the edge of my sit from page one right until the end, I actualy read the entire thing in one sitting, I could not put it down!!
All the twists and turns were so well done and thought out. The world is truly fascinating and it just keeps getting better.
Each page had me falling a bit more in love with the characters (well some of them) i freaking hate George's mother with a passion!! However, Savi, George and Chad have become my babies and I love them very much. The relationships between them were so pure and so beautiful. The romance we follow honestly filled my heart with joy, I haven't been so invested in a relationship for a very long time.
I cannot wait to see what the next instalment will bring, I need book three right now !!
Title: Moon Struck (Hillcrest Supernaturals #2) Authors: Danielle Rose & Ben Alderson Pub. Date: January 8, 2019 Rating: ♥♥♥♥
I received a free copy of this book from the authors in exchange for an honest review.
I hate myself for not getting to this sooner, but with all the holiday stuff and end of the year stuff, there just wasn’t enough time.
But better late than never.
It was fun being back in this world – with these characters.
These books are great to just binge and get lost in. They aren’t very hard reads, pretty quick to get through. The writing is great and like last time, it was so easy to picture everything that was happening. I could see each scene in my head as I was reading it – like a movie was actually playing in my head and I was watching it. I love books that can do that without a lot of flowery prose – books that I can just lose myself in for a few hours and not be hungover from them afterwards.
There were definitely a few moments that shocked me, twists that I didn’t see coming, and I loved them. The end of Chapter 21 being one of those moments. I legit yelled “WHAT”. I really enjoyed the direction the book went, and how new aspects to this world were introduced – like the Supreme. I can’t wait to see more of her.
I freaking love Savi in this book, how strong she is, and how she endured everything she went through. I’m really interested in seeing how this change is truly going to affect her, and I can’t wait to see how she explores this new side to her, and how she interacts with these new characters.
Chad and Geroge are so cute together, so protective of one another, it will be interesting to see how their bond changes in the next book. I want them to be happy forever, but I have a sinking feeling it’s going to get so much worse before it gets better. And I don’t know who Chad is going to side with when it comes down to it. I’ll probably just be internally dreading and screaming with my eyes shut.
And poor George! I feel for him I really do. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he can’t be truly honest with the two people he holds dearest. I’m still not a fan of his mother, but I did NOT see her twist coming.
Just thinking about it makes me super excited and anxious for Hex Bound.
My reservations are still the same as I stated in my review of Crimson Bite, that it felt a little like the show True Blood, but it didn’t bother me as much this time. I did have a little issue with the phrase “mortal coil” – it just irked me. I can’t tell you why really. It felt like it jumped off the page every time. I just didn’t feel like it fit the tone of the book. But other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I’m so grateful that I go the chance to read it and support it!
The email I received it in said that “This one gets crazy…” UM YEAH, IT DID.
If you’re looking for a supernatural book to get lost in for a few hours, with action, drama, and interesting characters, you definitely want to check out The Hillcrest Supernaturals Series. Hex Bound the third installment of this series comes out February 26, 2019!
*Thank you to Ben and Danielle for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Anyone who follows me/knows me is aware that I adored Crimson Bite. Moon Struck, however, topped Crimson Bite in every way a sequel should. The development of the characters, the pace of the plots, the twists - one in particular - and the shifts all added up to Moon Struck being the standard of sequel every author should strive to create.
My hatred of George's mother deepened with every scene in which she appeared. Ugh, I've never hated a character so much in my life. She is vicious, selfish, menacingly calm and emotionally manipulating.
Again, the worldbuilding was fantastic, and everything started to tie in with everything else. I haven't enjoyed a world this much since I read Harry Potter. If it wasn't for the fact that I would die instantly, I would love to live in Hillcrest.
I really liked how the friendships in this book were explored and pushed to their limits in such an authentic way. You know how sometimes you'll read a book and the friendships are either underdeveloped or unrealistic? That is not this book.
This series is quickly becoming one of my all-time favourites.
If you are debating reading it, stop it. Buy the books, read the books, review the books, and tell everyone you come into contact with to do the same.
My excitement for Hex Bound is growing every single day.
I loved this book more than the first. The first book got me to love the characters, but this book made me want to invest myself into them forever.
PROS: • The plot flawlessly continued. I have read a lot of books that have strange subplots to help the story move and they always leave more questions and confusion than answers and closure, but this book was able to seamlessly weave in new parts of the plots while closing up all the questions asked in the first book. • Characters are back and better than ever. They're relatable, funny, enjoyable, and interesting. George has grown more independent, Chad has become more open, Savi is just a new person entirely, and after all that, there are new characters that have incredible potential. • I like the antagonist a lot. Not only was he different and powerful, he kept a levelhead and wasn't too pushy. If anything, he sounded like a strong-willed friend that longs for a complete companionship. • Satisfying chapters. Good amount of questions, good amount of character growth, and great amounts of love.
CONS: • Still some cursing. Not a lot, only about five at the most.
Other than the small amounts of cursing, I couldn't find anything wrong with this book. An incredible second book to an amazing series and I love it with all my heart. The characters, locations, and plot have completely captivated my heart. Very excited to read book 3!
I would highly recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Moon Struck, book two in the Hillcrest Supernaturals Series continues from where book one left off, with Savi being held prisoner while George and her brother Chad try to find her. When Savi discovers that the people holding her are humans trained to be supernatural Hunters, she uses every last bit of her strength and energy to find a way out of her prison. When help comes from those she less expected, Savi discovers that things are slowly changing in her life, to her friends and to her as well. When George is forced into his mother’s coven, all hell breaks loose and the trio find themselves fighting against people they thought were on their side. Will Savi’s changes come between her and her friends? And will another tragedy tear the friends apart forever? I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
As you may know, I struggled with the first book in the series as I was quite confused at the plot and I felt like I was unable to connect to the characters, however, that all changed this time around. I found myself highly engaged within the story this time around and I couldn't put the book down, ending up reading it within one sitting. The character development from the first book to this one is clear to see and you end up falling so in love with each character.
I would highly recommend reading this book even if you didn't enjoy the first one as much. This book has so many plot twists that constantly leave you guessing and wanting to know more about what is to come.
I received an advanced reader copy from the writer.
I really liked this book, it was chalked full of action scenes that really drove the plot forward. This book was a faster pace than the first one and I appreciated it. There were times when I was a bit confused but the situation was quickly explained.
This book dove headfirst into the supernatural world and it was intriguing. I really liked this books take on the elements in the supernatural world, it is new and exciting. I really recommend this book. It closes some chapters from the first book and opens some new ones for the next book.
With Savi missing, George stops at nothing to try and find her. Even if it means going to the Surpreme. Savi learns the people that captured and torture her and other supernaturals are not humans but hunters. George is fighting a darkness inside him and as he discovers more about this darkness, Savi’s brother discovers a secret about George’s moms coven. While Savi fights for her life, she also discovers something else about herself. Great story and I’m looking forward to reading the third book in this series.
Just finished the second book of the series. The story just got better and better with each chapter. I love the whole idea of the story and cannot wait to read the third book in the series. With each chapter something unexpected happend. I like that in a story. Great Job on this one Ben and Danielle.
I know that book 3 will also give me some surprises.
This book is even better! A lot is going on in Savi's and Georges lives, and they still need to work on the mess they made in book one. Trying to keep secrets is hard, trying to stay out of trouble even harder. George´s mother! OMG... can´t say too much... but she is not happy with her son. And Savi's life is in serious danger!