Scarlet Moon (Volume 1) (Children of the Blood Moon) Paperback – October 21, 2016

First, let me say that if you are looking for a well-written, fantasy novel with memorable characters, this is a book to put on your summer reading list. The story is very interesting and definitely makes you want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next. The world Sarah has spun feels familiar but isn't boring because of the abilities of the children. That is what gives depth to the characters. Their abilities allow them to interact with wildlife, the environment and one another, in ways that help their quest as well as grow their relationships with one another. It transforms 2D characters into 3D ones that you care about and keeps you turning pages. Future novels should be great as new characters with new abilities expand the story even more.The one issue that I have with the novel, is Jayden's insecurity and desire to either not be a burden or not be the focus of protection by the people that care for her. This may be intentional due to the characters age (17 years), or just the "teen mind", but it is driven home enough that it becomes noticeable. Now, that being said, the characters have lost loved ones who wanted to protect them, so the emotion is justified, but it's a bit overdone, in my opinion.Does my one issue drop my opinion from 5 to 4 stars? Not at all. It's a solid page turner with great characters and some interesting twists along the way. The artwork on the cover is cool and something you would expect to see on a book store shelf, which is where this book belongs...right before you buy it!

AH! Ok, I'm finally reviewing this. It's very telling of the story that a week and a half later, I'm still thinking about these characters and scenes and such.The basic plot is kind of the tropey "ancient trapped evil is rising and the chosen one must stop them". But I don't know, it felt kind of fresh. I like that there is not just one "chosen one" or Deliverer, but four, and the quest is more about finding all of them rather than heading right for the big bad. There was definitely a more immediate villain in this book, but she felt a little underdeveloped? Maybe because we just heard about her and didn't really get many up close and personal encounters with her. Which reduced the drama a little on the climax.BUT! The characters! I really liked Jayden! (I have a small complaint about her in that she spent most of Ch 1 going on about how she can't kill anyone and then like 5 min later kills a dude out of self defense and then we never have any moral quandaries about killing again.) Ethaan! I kind of fell in love with this guy within 0.5 sec of his first POV chapter. lol! He's one of those characters you just have an instant connection with, and I loved it. All the characters are fantastic. I really enjoyed Logan, and his wolf, because being able to talk with wolves is just cool. And Ryan was so sweet and hilarious as well. I have a minor complaint about the love triangle thing, but I mean, we all know how it's going to turn out, and after reading book 2, it was handled well.The world was so rich and vivid! I loved the concept of blood magic and all the powers. And there's telepathy with animals, and scary flying panthers. And unicorns! It makes my fantasy heart happy. Although with all the walking around and such, I'd have liked a map to help me orient myself.The plot flowed really well and I kept flipping pages. It's a good thing I was stuck at home sick, because I read the whole thing in an afternoon, absolutely glued to the book. And immediately grabbed the second book.I really loved the author's style, and it definitely makes me want to read more of her books! Highly recommend this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. S.D. Grimm’s story world is both well thought-out and complex, but not so foreign that readers aren’t able to understand it. It has a classic fantasy feel to it, but the tropes are used in interesting ways. Jayden, for example, is no damsel in distress—but she’s not without her personal issues that just might put her in need of rescuing at times. While there are several point of view characters, they each have their own unique voices, so once you know who’s who, it’s really fun to watch the puzzle pieces come together. The characters are all written in such a way that you want to spend more time with them, and you want them to succeed.Grimm has a good balance of narrative and action, with a lot of tension throughout. Plus, there’s just enough of a romantic ‘will-they-won’t-they?’ woven in to add depth and excitement without taking away from the main task of the plot. By the time I got to the end, I was left in desperate need of finding out what will happen to Jayden and company in book two! I recommend it to anyone who enjoys sword and sorcery and high fantasy—and fun (and sometimes terrifying) magical creatures.

All the things I want to say about Crimson Moon involve spoilers. Which leaves me with very little that I can safely say. So I shall say this:I greatly enjoyed Crimson Moon. The first chapter hooked me in, despite my plan to read “just one chapter today”. The characters are dynamic and full of life, the tension, tangible, and the twist about halfway through? It had me gasping and unable to set the book down.Apparently, book two will be sometime early next year, and I’ve already warned my family that I will need to pre-order it, and I will need to be MIA for the day that I get it in my hands. While the book resolves some immediate threads, it has a cliff-hanger that has me grasping for hope.A beautifully written novel, and one that I highly recommend! S.D. Grimm has captured my affections for these characters, and I must see them succeed in their quest!

This is a great fantasy book!!! Both my daughter and I read it very quickly (she kept harassing me to finish quicker so she could have a turn...lol). It is traditional fantasy in that it follows the fight of good vs. evil (but what fantasy can escape the parameters that Tolkien has set...) What stood out for me is the author's smooth writing and the unique magic in her world. I'm also in love with the way she weaves in mythical creatures and wolves!!!! But the icing on the cake would be the fact that after the first book I'm not sure whether or not some characters are good or evil. What twists and turns the author will take me on while we journey through the trilogy. Or who Jayden will end up with...<3 <3 <3. I can't wait to read the next one (oh...and neither can my daughter...)