Red Moon Rising

Mar 24, 2013 Huda Sarkowi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, teen-angst

Red Moon Rising is probably something that I won't recommend to someone who wants to read a book similar to Twilight. But it is a fresh change from the typical Mr-Perfect-Invincible-Vampire. For once the vampyres in this book actually bleed, they are not portrayed as a sensuous non breeding species, but as everyday people but with the exception of blood-drinking.

So Danny was a regular teen, constantly bickering with his perfect older sister, a gay best friend, he scored himself a human girl fri...more

like · see review

Sep 20, 2012 Ravenous Biblioworm rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rating: 3/5

So I was expecting a lot of things with this book. You know, like lots of action and fighting and fun. What I got was drama and teenage angst… though it was the good kind not the bad kind. Good? How so? Well, drama as in family issues and self discovery. Teenage angst as in handling your first crush/relationship, and going through the Change (aka somewhat like puberty, so stack the Change on top of it and it can get depressing), trying to fit in at school and finding your place. All t...more Rating: 3/5

So I was expecting a lot of things with this book. You know, like lots of action and fighting and fun. What I got was drama and teenage angst… though it was the good kind not the bad kind. Good? How so? Well, drama as in family issues and self discovery. Teenage angst as in handling your first crush/relationship, and going through the Change (aka somewhat like puberty, so stack the Change on top of it and it can get depressing), trying to fit in at school and finding your place. All things we heard of before. But Moore adds a slight touch to it by making it a “werewulves” and vampyres story.

Danny is our main character and he’s half “wulf” and half vampyre. What I liked about Moore’s story is that he has these explanations to his beliefs, for this book, in his vampyre and werewulf lore. Vampyres can procreate and they can’t turn humans into another vampyre. Both Vampyres and werewulves have existed along with humans from a long time ago as they share the same history. Certain famous figures in history are noted as vampyres (and I don’t remember any as werewulves). Moore has interlaced all of this information down smoothly. There aren’t a lot of information dumping. We get the information through snippets of classroom conversations, or the background noise of a TV, they are included in with the storytelling, scene, and moment. There weren’t a lot, close to none, instance where we get an information dump to explain what was what, who was what, and why. Through snippets and laying the clues of the world through out the story, it came naturally and built a good strong foundation for the history of the world in the book.

Danny is struggling to be himself in high school. He has a crush on a human girl and inter species relationships are frowned upon. The werewolves are considered the lowest of the low, and are basically treated as such. Vampires are the elite – the richest, smartest, and wealthiest between them, humans, and werewolves. You take away the vampires and werewolves element in this story and there would still be a strong story here. It could be taken to be race, economic class, and/or societal rank and the story would still exist. The story deals a lot with Danny, his need to try and be himself and knowing what he is and what he would like to be. We have the sister/sibling hate-love relationship going, a jerk coolest guy in school bullying him, and parental relationships that are strained. I mean we have things all found in a contemporary book thrust into a paranormal realm because the characters just happen to be vampires, werewolves, etc… like people are black, Asian, and white, etc.

Which brings me to the next point that nagged me. The vampires all are elitists and everyone wants to be like them. Here’s the thing that bothered me: all the vampires are blond, white skinned, with blue eyes. Every single time I read about a description about the vampires I was like, uhhh… what happened to all the minority groups. It was as if they all disappeared from the face of the earth. They didn’t exist in this story. Not at all. Even the humans were all white. It annoyed the hell out of me. At times, it felt like this book was written for white kids only. Whether it was intentional or not, I still felt that way. Normally, it wouldn’t bother me if there was no mention of other races, I would just assume there was and the story didn’t touch upon them because it didn’t matter. It bothered me here because there was so much emphasis on being a white person, I mean a vampire. I mean really there was. Everyone wanted to be a vamp, which were described as being white, blonde haired and blue eyes. Reminds me of Nazis and Hitler and if that’s what Moore was going for in his depiction of the vampires (because they are elitist and jerks and I was wishing every single one of them would get staked…) then I guess he made his point. But it’s as if you can only be a vampire if you’re a white person. That the elite can only be white peoples. There was no explanations or side comments or even a joke about how another race can’t/can attempt to be a white vampire. It was disorienting. Really, the world in this book was all filled by whites only. There was nothing blatantly racist here in this book, it’s just – as I have said – there was such a heavy note and emphasis on everyone trying to be the white vampire, it seemed a little too naive (or ignorant or foolish, but I can’t really say which for sure) to not touch upon the point of race in some way or another, even if it was one liner. Even Danny who has naturally dark hair and dark skin for a white person has gone through medical therapy to become whiter. We are talking about changing appearance to blend in to be the “cool” white peoples/vampires, and when it [the need to be a white vampire] is such a heavy focus, folks are going to question race. Whether it’s a simple: I wonder what happens to the colored people? Or tough luck for the black guy who wants to be a vamp. Or it’d be weird to see an Asian person with platinum blond hair and blue eyes. I mean these aren’t questions the book will have to have and answer but these are questions readers will have and have no answer to.

Aside from that fact, I felt Danny’s story was compelling. His being stuck on Juliette and him finding out he may have to go through the Change was believable. His relationships with his sisters, mother, and stepfather were all given a scene to attempt to depict the relationships they had. It was very contemporary. I found Danny likable for his need to want to be accepted and yet stay who he is. He doesn’t want to lightened his skin and go blonde. He liked a human even though inter species relations were frowned on, especially one with a werewolf. There was also the constant barrage of snippets of someone advocating civil rights for the werewolves (this just sparked a memory of a mentioning of the civil rights in the book… I can’t find the page where it was referenced, but then it raises the question, what happened to all the black (and colored) vampires/werewolves/humans?… Did the treatments turned them into white peoples vampires too? (I’m not being sarcastic, I’m being naively curious for the benefit of the doubt) and Danny having a spark of interest in supporting the movement but feeling too small and things are happening too much at a personally level to do anything about it. Though he does get into an argument with his family about it at the dinner table.

The language and form in the novel was average. The world building was built with snippets of history and snippets of descriptions (i.e. the werewolves lived in the slum part of town). It could have been more intense and immediate if we got a closer glimpse of the distinctions. Like when Danny traveled to visit his father in the not so good part of town, we only got a broad explanation of how the place was rundown. Give us descriptors, rotting walls, broken stair cases, rusted cars… etc. to give that visual emotional punch… things like this weren’t explored. Most everything was surface level and proceeded just a few inches deeper into emotional, but never thrusting us there. I understood the plight of Danny’s and his situation because there was just enough there to tell me what was going on but there wasn’t enough for me to completely feel for him. There were implication and I knew what was being implied so I could vaguely imagine what was going on. So when Danny starts crying it’s like that awkward moment when a strangers (or someone you barely know) cries in front of you and you don’t know what to say or do so you just watch and stare awkwardly, which shouldn’t be the case because we know Danny’s history and story like we were BFFs ( as the story is told from his perspective).

Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was a good read and I read it in one sitting. I would recommend the book but it wouldn’t be a first recommendation or be a book that I’ll remember to recommend only if I come across it. I didn’t hate it and I didn’t love it. It was okay and good.

Verdict: Library check out if you want to.

Check out my book review blog at http://ravenousbiblioworm.wordpress.com (less)

like · see review

Feb 29, 2012 Fiddle added it

The book “Red Moon Rising” by Peter Moore, is like if you where in a roller coaster. This book is about a kid named Danny Gray who is half-vamp and goes to Carpathia Night High School. He had treatments when he was a little kid so that the doctors could get rid of the wulves DNA. Most people assume that Danny's other half is human, which is probably good. Since the school he goes to is mixed with humans,vampires, and wulves, he needs to keep his other half of himself as a secret (that he is hal...more

like · see review

Jan 12, 2012 Karen Yingling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dante Gray (or Danny), is in a difficult position. His mother and step-father are vampires, but his father is a werewolf. While the genetic treatments on his sister have removed all of the werewolf characteristics from her, they weren't successful for him, and he becomes more and more wolflike every day. This is a problem because werewolves are second class citizens, and must register with law enforcement and be sent to compounds during the full moon. Danny doesn't really want to face this, espe...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 03, 2011 Dorine White rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ready for a different type of YA paranormal? Try Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore, published by Hyperion.

The story – Danny Gray lives in a world just like ours, except during evolution more than just humans evolved, so did vampires and werewolves. The spin of this book is that a class system has developed where Vampires are the elite and werewolves are treated like scum. In fact, in Danny’s world, World War II was not against the Jews, but against werewolves.

Danny has a vamp for a mother and a wer...more

like · see review

Oct 13, 2011 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a fresh take on the vampire/werewolf genre. It is set in a modern age with a prevailing system that allows humans, vampires, & werewolves to live harmoniously. Nonetheless, it does not escape the nuances of social hierarchy, where in Moore's world, the werewolf ranks bottom.
The plight of Danny Gray, top of the social class as half-vampire, is intensified when his wolven-half slowly manifests with the coming of the full moon. The author delves on how peachy life (as a human or as a...more

like · see review

Jul 05, 2011 Monster added it · review of another edition

Shelves: werewolves-ya, reading-bites-ya

Danny (Dante) Grey and his sister, Jess, are half-vamp, half-wulf. Children of mixed race go through extensive genetic manipulation to eradicate their werewulf genes, and with Jess, the procedure was a success. She’s got the silvery hair and physical grace of a full vampyre, matching the beauty of her wealthy mother and stepfather. But Danny couldn’t finish the treatment course; darker skin and hair and a shorter, stockier frame surround his bright, vampyre blue eyes. He’s socially vampyre, tho...more

like · see review

Jun 21, 2011 Elaine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a completely different take on the vampire/werewolf legend. No sparkles here, although the vampires are considered the superior race. And that is where the problem really begins. Vampires are more intelligent and more attractive than humans, but the societies are well integrated. The fact that vampires only drink synthetic blood probably helps.

Werewulves (not a typo, that's how they spell it) however, are not even second class. They are slightly higher than animals. They are considered t...more

like · see review

Mar 29, 2011 Cristy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: humorous, vamps, werewolves, series

RED MOON RISING is honestly the funniest most clever vampire/werewolf book I’ve come across in a long time. Moore clearly has a gift for dialogue, as it is on the money hilarious and quick witted. The characters are all well fleshed out and vividly written, making it easy to become invested in them.

While the idea of vampires living out in the open, surviving on synthetic blood it not a new one (see TRUE BLOOD); the surprisingly original concept of speciesism is definitely intriguing. Where Vamps...more

like · see review

Mar 24, 2011 Vicky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dan Gray has all the usual problems a teen has – girl problems, family problems, bully problems, esteem problems. But along with that, he also has to deal with the fact that he’s a hybrid – part vampire, part wulf and it’s the wulf part that is really in trouble. Most of Dan’s friends think he’s half vamp/half human, which is bad enough, but when they find out his other half is wulf, not human, things get really nasty.

Author Peter Moore has wrtten an intriguing YA paranormal that has little of t...more

like · see review

Jan 08, 2011 Gecky Boz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Radical Rising

*I received this book via Different Area Codes tours

This book gets 4 gnomes and a gnome hat out of 5 gnomes for a great alternate world where wulfs and vampyres are out in the open and a part of society. I like that it reads just like a normal coming of age story but with wulfs and vampyres thrown into the mix. This story reminds me a bit of the whole Sookie Stackhouse series with the whole synthetic blood aspect.

Dante aka Danny Gray, the main character, is trying to get through hi...more

like · see review

Dec 23, 2010 Stormi (Lightning Book Promotions) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Red Moon Rising started out as a interesting book but then towards the end it just seemed to drag on a bit and just didn't have the drive that the beginning had, in my opinion.

It has a different sort of concept about werewolf's and vampires that I thought was interesting. It sort of mirrored the way things were back in the 1950's and 60's with the Civil Rights movement. If you are a vampire then you are sort of like the elite society, but if you Wulf then you are considered to be lower class ci...more Red Moon Rising started out as a interesting book but then towards the end it just seemed to drag on a bit and just didn't have the drive that the beginning had, in my opinion.

It has a different sort of concept about werewolf's and vampires that I thought was interesting. It sort of mirrored the way things were back in the 1950's and 60's with the Civil Rights movement. If you are a vampire then you are sort of like the elite society, but if you Wulf then you are considered to be lower class citizens, they get the worst jobs, they live in the bad parts of town. So if your part vamp and part wulf then your not really considered to be a person of interest.

When Danny was young he had genetic treatments to help him look more like a vampire to fit in with the others at the school he attends, but he got sick during his treatments and they were never finished. His friends all know that he his part wulf and they don't mind but he doesn't like to just spread the word around about who he is, but then he starts changing.

One of the things you have to do if your a wulf is get yourself registered and go to the compound during the full moon. Its a very dangerous place and Danny's father doesn't want to see him half to do this, so he gives him some other alternatives. He could tell his mother and see if his stepfather would spend a huge amount of money to have him put in a facility where they pretty much put you to sleep during the whole full moon experience or he could be a moon runner and avoid the law and be free during the full moon.

If your looking for a serious werewolf book then this is not a book for you. It definitely has a lot of humor and sometimes to me it was a bit much. One thing I really hated was the fact that they would make up names that were so close to the actual product name or person that it just sounded really cheesy. There is a little bit of romance but its not what the book is really about. I like that it has a male point of view though I think it will appeal to both boys and girls.

If you want a interesting werewolf story with a bit of humor then I would recommend you picking it up and giving it a try. Though I can't say it will be going on my favorites list I still liked it.

(less)

like · see review

May 13, 2012 Alex rated it 4 of 5 stars

Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore

How I heard about the book: I actually stumbled upon it while browsing the YA section of my local library

Summary: High school is never easy, especially if you are a lycanthrope living in a world where vampires and humans look down on wulfs. Dante, or Danny as he prefers, is a half- vamp, half-wolf, just trying to get by. Of course things take a turn for the worse when his genetic treatments fail to suppress the wulf gene and he fears that he might have to go through...more Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore

How I heard about the book: I actually stumbled upon it while browsing the YA section of my local library

Summary: High school is never easy, especially if you are a lycanthrope living in a world where vampires and humans look down on wulfs. Dante, or Danny as he prefers, is a half- vamp, half-wolf, just trying to get by. Of course things take a turn for the worse when his genetic treatments fail to suppress the wulf gene and he fears that he might have to go through the change. Can Danny find a way to stop it?

My thoughts:

Good/Liked-

Original- I can honestly say I have never read anything quite like this book. It follows classic monster lore rather well and is put perfectly into a modern society where vampyres coexist with humans. Wulfs are being shunned and struggling to have their rights heard. It is just a very good original idea.
Writing- I enjoyed Peter Moore's writing a lot. The way he creatures this modern society and the usage of classic monster lore is really good.
Characters- Dante, although a lycan, is actually in a situation a lot of people might find relatable. Living with his mom and step father while going through a situation only his biological father, whom he is not on best terms with, can help. He is funny and humorous without completely killing a serious situation and the relationship between Dante and his best friend Claire is almost too perfect.

Bad/Disliked-

When you first begin reading there are some terms that throw you off. As well as getting a feel for the setting and type of place they live in. There is a glossary in the back of the book that has a list of terms and definitions. Unfortunately I didn't find this out until I finished the story and was at the end of the book. Finding that out earlier could have probably saved me the bit of confusion.

Overall: I read all of this book in one evening. Yesterday evening actually. While it is one of those books that I just couldn't put down, I didn't find it to completely capture me the way some books do. It is a good read nonetheless.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book to teens on up.

Rating: I give this book a 4 out of 5.(less)

like · see review

Mar 10, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-alt-wrld, young-adult, wild-things-challenge

Not what I expected when I picked this one up. I really like the strong male voice, it seems there's not enough of them in the YA realm these days, or at least not a lot that boys can relate to. I would say this falls closer to science fiction than fantasy since there is a lot of medical/scientific explanations given.

It creates a believable world where there is a division of classes and how underclass/subservients rise up to make their voice heard. Despite the ongoing tension between the classe...more

like · see review

Nov 12, 2010 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I chose to read this book because I love fantasy novels and I love YA novels; plus, the theme of the novel seemed cool. Half vamp and half wulf? I figured, it's gotta be full of conflict.

And boy, was I right about that! Danny's got conflict with his mother and stepfather, and with his sisters, and with a cold-hearted teen vamp at school, not to mention the internal battles he fights as his symptoms get weirder and weirder. Any teen, male or female, will be able to relate to Danny. He's a great l...more

like · see review

Nov 02, 2010 Tara SG rated it 4 of 5 stars

* * * 3/4

--This book in 6 words:

this fun book makes you think

--Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?

I came across this via Book It Forward Tours and thought the summary sounded interesting. I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did. Red Moon Rising took the vamp/were fad and used it to write a fun YA read with important messages about prejudice and accepting who you are. I think the author did a fabulous job building the world and history. The ARC seemed a little off at the end, but I...more

like · see review

Feb 03, 2011 Melissa (i swim for oceans) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-arcs

Red Moon Rising is the story of Danny (Dante), a teenage boy living in a world divided into three very distinct and separate classes. There are the vampires – elite, rich and powerful, there are the humans – desperate to be everything the vampires are, and at the bottom of the pack are the wulfs. Danny, unfortunately, is part wulf. He’s had treatments to make him look more like the exclusive vamps with whom he attends school, but he had to stop them, and now his symptoms are getting worse. To to...more Red Moon Rising is the story of Danny (Dante), a teenage boy living in a world divided into three very distinct and separate classes. There are the vampires – elite, rich and powerful, there are the humans – desperate to be everything the vampires are, and at the bottom of the pack are the wulfs. Danny, unfortunately, is part wulf. He’s had treatments to make him look more like the exclusive vamps with whom he attends school, but he had to stop them, and now his symptoms are getting worse. To top it all off, Danny has to deal with conflicting emotions towards his biological father, qualms with his mom and stepfather, and the snotty kids at school. Throw in a love interest, and Danny’s world is ready to turn upside-down.

I don’t like vampires and, frankly, werewolves tend to bore me because it’s the same-old, same-old every time…usually. Red Moon Rising isn’t your typical werewolf and vampire tale. With a teenage boy as your narrator, a society that’s twisted and skewed and every bit of teenage angst you can bear, Red Moon Rising is daring and quirky. Author, Peter Moore, took your traditional paranormal tale, turned it upside-down, threw in a snarky MC and added an actual undercurrent of morals throughout the story – an intriguing and infectious combination.

I’ve decided I don’t read nearly enough books from a male POV. Red Moon Rising was a fun read, in large part because of Danny’s narration. He’s every bit a teen boy with humour and hilarity, but his emotions run a bit deeper, and a little more subtle at times, though perhaps more powerful because they boil over at the right (or wrong – depending on how you look at it) moments. I think there’s a real theme of prejudice in the story, as well. Society has class divisions, certain species are considered subhuman, and frankly, this adds a deeper note to what could have very well been a shallow tale. I think the main highlight of the story was the developing relationship between Danny and his father though, and the internal battle for acceptance that Danny consistently dealt with. The only real qualm I had with Red Moon Rising was that the plot becomes a bit predictable after a while and let’s face it – I like to be surprised, and there were a lot of unanswered questions.

Overall though, Red Moon Rising was a great paranormal read, and it definitely exceeded all my expectations. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I’d recommend it for a YA audience (or upper MG), especially those who enjoy paranormal stories.

I received this ARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 26, 2011 Sarah Snyder rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, arcs-i-own

Red Moon Rising is a highly ambitious undertaking that is part Urban Fantasy, part coming-of-age and part social commentary. The story is essentially about a boy - who happens to be half vampyre, half wulf. In Danny's world vamps rule and wulves are second class citizens at best. The tension between the two groups mirrors the turmoil the United States faced in the 1960's. In the book segregation between the species has ended, but the tension still resides. The vampyre are still considered the hi...more Red Moon Rising is a highly ambitious undertaking that is part Urban Fantasy, part coming-of-age and part social commentary. The story is essentially about a boy - who happens to be half vampyre, half wulf. In Danny's world vamps rule and wulves are second class citizens at best. The tension between the two groups mirrors the turmoil the United States faced in the 1960's. In the book segregation between the species has ended, but the tension still resides. The vampyre are still considered the high class citizens, while the Wulves are stuck with low paying jobs.

There were things that I really loved about Red Moon Rising and there were things that I could have done without. I, for one, really enjoyed the way Moore modeled the social unrest after the American Civil Rights movement. It was a highly creative take on your average paranormal YA story - it was very much a coming-of-age story that tackled such topics as inequality,self-image and pride. I loved the fact that this was not your typical paranormal romance - this story has a lot of backbone. While Danny does meet and fall for a girl, it does not take front seat in the plot - it rides shotgun at best. Danny spends the majority of the book worrying about his Wulven heritage and the effects that it has on his daily life. You see, when Danny was baby he had genetic treatments that were supposed to sort of neutralize his Wulven DNA. However, he got sick during the process so they were never able to finish. He and his family always figured that he had gotten far enough in the treatments to keep him from shifting, but soon they realize they were wrong.

Danny is an easy character to relate to, because like almost every teenager in the world, he is going through an identity crisis. Granted, most people (that I know of) don't worry about whether they will be more vampyre or more wulven. He certainly isn't perfect, but he is really trying to accept and embrace his new life. He makes mistakes, but he is the first to admit when he is wrong. Overall he is a very likable character and it is easy to get behind him. You want everything to work out for Danny; you genuinely want him to be okay.

While I loved the idea of the story and found Danny to be an intriguing character there were elements of the writing that I wasn't too crazy about. Moore peppers the book with tons of pop culture references, but they are all slightly altered. He often quotes popular songs, movies and televisions but changes them to fit his vampire universe. While at first this was amusing, I soon grew tired of hearing about McJagger and Gwenbeth Paltroff. These almost pop culture references began to throw the book of track. In all honesty, Red Moon Rising is a serious book and these distractions did not tie in with the tone.

I was a little disappointed with the ending as well. There was a great deal of build up between Danny and the villain, Gunther but the climax was a bit lacking. I just feel like things were a bit rushed and we were left will an awful lot of questions. I understand that it was setup for a sequel, but the reader doesn't really get any sort of resolution in the end of book one.

That being said, I will still be looking out for a book two. I feel like Danny's story is just getting started and now I am very invested in what happens to him. I just would have liked to have a little bit more closure before diving into book two. (less)

like · see review

May 29, 2012 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012, ya

I had high hopes that this book would balance out the overabundance of teen paranormal books with female protagonists. Danny is half-vamp, half-wulf in a town where wulfs are not at all welcome but since he is believed to be half-vamp, half-human, he fits in well. He joins the rest of the teen vamps who attend school at night, staying out of the sun during the day. The treatments Danny had as a child to keep his wulf features hidden and to stop the change from happening appear not to have worked...more

like · see review

Mar 20, 2011 Greta is Erikasbuddy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Praise the Three Little Piggys!! Finally a werewolf book a boy can sink his canines into without rolling his eyes at dreaded love triangles and lip gloss and wardrobe changes.

Totally something to howl at!!

"Red Moon Rising" is about a 9th grade boy (15 years old) who is half vampyre/half werewulf.

Being a werewolf is a big social NO NO! They are treated unfairly and when the full moon comes every month they are dumped into compounds that to me were like concentration camps for wulves. They are ev...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 10, 2012 BAYA Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Danny Gray has to deal with normal teenage problems like sibling conflicts, school cliques, and his best friend is a lesbian rumors. But in Danny’s world there are three levels of society: vampires, humans, then lowly wulves. Danny is half vampire and half wulf and even though he doesn’t fit in anywhere, he’s managed to form a small band of friends and even attract the attention of a human girl. Just when things seem to be going good, Danny starts feeling sick and his symptoms make him suspect t...more

like · see review

Aug 22, 2011 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

In a world where vampyres, werewulves, and humans always coexisted, vampyres are the most revered members and wulves are the lowest. For Dante Gray, being half vamp/half wulf is becoming a nightmare. Although he and his sister were given genetic treatments at birth to suppress their wulf sides, Dante’s treatments couldn’t be completed and now he’s headed straight into his first Change. As his body goes through painful preparations, he must face the prejudices of friends, family and society and d...more

like · see review

Jul 01, 2010 Fiendishly Bookish rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampiregeneral, y-a-paranormal, vamp-a-licious, wolves-and-more-wolves

Red Moon Rising is a strong contender for one of the most realistic teen wolf books I’ve read, more reminiscent of the sci-fi/horror section than the young adult. So where to place it? That’s up to Hyperion. Peter Moore renounces the typical soft werewolf lore in favor of something more authentic. His story is less angst, less “girly”, less Twilight (and Shiver for that matter). Instead, it has more substance and is chock full of real world issues than any other. Can it reel in the girl demograp...more Red Moon Rising is a strong contender for one of the most realistic teen wolf books I’ve read, more reminiscent of the sci-fi/horror section than the young adult. So where to place it? That’s up to Hyperion. Peter Moore renounces the typical soft werewolf lore in favor of something more authentic. His story is less angst, less “girly”, less Twilight (and Shiver for that matter). Instead, it has more substance and is chock full of real world issues than any other. Can it reel in the girl demographic?-that remains to be seen.

At Carpathia Night, Dante Gray has no idea that his world and his high school life are going to get just a bit more difficult. The product of a wulf father and a vamp mother, Dante has mostly favored his mother’s genes. Mostly. After a few genetic treatments to suppress his wulven side, Danny lives his life with his family mostly as a vampire. He sleeps in a Sol-Blok, hangs with a vamp crowd at school, drinks SynHeme and tries to monitor his daily globin levels when he can. He thought he would in the clear until he starts to exhibit some strange effects.

Red Moon Rising is the story of a boy who is at the mercy of fifty percent of his wulf genes and now must potentially embrace a society that is wholly ostracized against. In Moore’s world, Wulves and vamps are two disparate sects of society, and the parallel between real world segregation becomes hauntingly and uncomfortably clear.

Wulves are thought to be lesser in both intellect, and civility, worthy of only the most menial of tasks. Vampires on the other hand are at the highest echelon of society, even above that of humans. Every month wolves are forced into containment, into wolf “compounds” where they are at the mercy of their animal side. Some walk in, others don’t walk out.

As he experiences all the pre-moon phase jitters, it becomes apparent that Moore has no intention of fluffing the story up. Werewulf change is painful, harrowing, and mind bending. But even as Danny succumbs, his awkward genetic makeup spins him into an anomaly that defies classification. With werewolf issues at a critical point in his society, does he have the ability to bridge the gap?

Moore’s voice is one of seriousness that even the most light-hearted banter cannot even alleviate. This tale will wildly appeal to the male crowd who understands the chest pounding and (grrrr) rites of passage present within its pages.

If Hyperion expects crossover to the girly-girl crowd then Red Moon Rising will have to be significantly diluted down into more frothy fare. Less bone, blood, and fur. Lighten up on Gunther, and cut Huey and his activist cause as well as the requisite visuals of wulves being hunted down indiscriminately by the police and the LPCB.

On the other hand, if you believe in the book then let it be. I enjoyed Peter Moore’s vision. Red Moon Rising is indeed, all sharp edges, but it’s a fierce read. I could not put it down. Danny is in perpetual motion throughout the book fighting off hurdles one by one. It’s page-flippingly addictive, action-packed and steaming with obstacles coming from every direction.

A Fiendishly Bookish Review (and one grumpy cat)
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 28, 2011 Ellz Readz rated it 3 of 5 stars

My thoughts... Red Moon Rising is not your typical vampire/werewulf story. This book is a journey through some of the social issues that have (and in some cases still) plague our society.

The protagonist in this story, Danny, is part of a society that practices segregation and discrimination around species. The Vamps are the dominant race who have all the advantages. The wulves, sitting on the bottom of the pile, are forced to endure less than pleasurable situations and reactions in their daily...more

like · see review

Aug 30, 2012 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-read-during-6th-grade

Red Moon Rising is possibly the greatest vampire / werewolf book ever!! It is about this kid named Danet Gray and how he is genetically part vamp and wulf as the vamps call them. It is a fantasy. Anyway Danet goes to a vamp school and claims to be half human and half vamp. But Gunther Hoering (a vamp senior student) knows he is half wulf and he plans to let everyone know it. However Danet has three sisters to back him up. Not exactly the best sisters ever but they help.

If you like fantasy book...more

like · see review

Jan 28, 2011 Brandi Kosiner added it

I enjoyed Red Moon Rising. It was refreshing to read a book from male POV, as this doesn't happen a lot in YA.
I liked Danny and his friendship with Claire. It was nice to see a LGBT who was comfortable with herself and prominent in the book. I also liked that there were people fighting and unhappy with the species divide, and there were "halfings" and interspecies relationships.
There was a section near the end that I didn't particularly like the setup, but I understand why it was done the w...more

like · see review

Nov 02, 2012 Lynda Tatad rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a new author for me, and I found this ebook at the library and decided to check it out. So glad I did! It was a gripping read, and so different from any other vampire, werewolf books I've read before.

First off vampires and werewolves are born, not made. In this series, though humans are more numerous, vampires have become the elite class, because of their looks, intelligence, and other attributes. Synthetic blood meets their needs, and human blood can cause terrible addictions, so they a...more This is a new author for me, and I found this ebook at the library and decided to check it out. So glad I did! It was a gripping read, and so different from any other vampire, werewolf books I've read before.

First off vampires and werewolves are born, not made. In this series, though humans are more numerous, vampires have become the elite class, because of their looks, intelligence, and other attributes. Synthetic blood meets their needs, and human blood can cause terrible addictions, so they avoid it at all costs! The wulves are relegated to second class citizens and are placed in dangerous government compounds when the full moon happens once a month.

Danny Grey goes to a special school that has classes at night for the vampire kids. His mother is a vampire, his father a werewolf. When he and his sister Jessica were children, they underwent genetic treatments to suppress their wulf sides. Jessica's treatments were successful, while Danny had problems after nearly completing his treatments. Many of his classmates believe he is half vampire and half human, and he doesn't disavow them of that. Only his best friend Claire knows, and she'll protect him from their classmates if they can. He finds himself drawn to Juliette, the only human taking the accelerated night classes at their school.

Soon it becomes evident that he is starting to develop some extra abilities in eyesight, hearing and smell. The synthetic blood sours his stomach, and he calls on his dad for help to find out if he is going through what he thinks he is! He is also finding himself more sympathetic to the few wulf students at their school. The vampires treat them with scorn. One vampire student in particular gets really nasty to Danny when he finds out that Danny is part wulf!

This isn't your typical teen angst book, and there are some interesting takes on the caste system of the supernaturals in this story. There is political activism happening in the background, and some very interesting things definitely happen with Danny! I loved this story! I will definitely be keeping my eyes out in hopes for more books by this author featuring Danny and his family!(less)

like · see review

Feb 19, 2011 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-100-book-challenge, arcs-i-own, mundie-moms-review

Red Moon Rising has a great premise, as Peter Moore adds a very different spin on Vampires & Werewolves when he makes his main character Danny, a half breed-half vampire and half wolf. Now mix that into a society where vampires rank supreme and wolves are at the bottom of the food chain, so to speak, and you have a book that has some teen angst and a lot of conflict.

In the middle of a deeply heated battle/segregation between vampires and werewolves is a half breed, Danny, who's half werewolf...more Red Moon Rising has a great premise, as Peter Moore adds a very different spin on Vampires & Werewolves when he makes his main character Danny, a half breed-half vampire and half wolf. Now mix that into a society where vampires rank supreme and wolves are at the bottom of the food chain, so to speak, and you have a book that has some teen angst and a lot of conflict.

In the middle of a deeply heated battle/segregation between vampires and werewolves is a half breed, Danny, who's half werewolf and half vampire, something completely unheard of. Danny's someone I think teens will enjoy reading about, as he's relatable and has a great voice. He's funny, honest and it's nice reading a book from a guys point of view. Like many teens, Danny has challenges and choices to make. On top of that he has a lot of conflict with his family, with the hot shot vampire at school and himself.

Being a half vamp, half wolf isn't easy at all for Danny, especially when at first he can't figure out what's going on and why he's having all these weird changes. Being a wolf you're treated like a low life in society and are required to register and turn themselves in during the full moon, something Danny's wolf father doesn't want him to do. Mixed into this is Danny's light romance with the human girl Juliet. He has also has best friend Claire, a vampire who's there to help him and support him. I liked that the two of them are not in love with each other and truly are just friends, as Claire is gay. An underlining tone with the story is being accepting of who are, which I think is a great message for teens, as Claire and Danny work to over come their struggles, they are completely accepting of each other.

Overall I had some problems with the plot and a lack of character development which made it hard for me to really like the story as much as I wanted to. I felt like the story stalled a few times through out the book, and I could have done without the overly done pop culture references, which Moore puts his own spin on. In the end, I was left with more questions than I had answers for. I felt like the end was rushed and things were left out of the story. If there's a sequel planned, than I can understand why, though I'd still feel unsatisfied with the ending. Though I was left feeling I wanted to like the book more than I did, I think teens will like Red Moon Rising as it's a paranormal coming of age story with a light romance, humor, acceptance, and action, and one I'd recommend to older teen readers.(less)

like · see review

Feb 19, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-release, arcs-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews, 2011-100-book-challenge

2.5 stars

Red Moon Rising has a great premise, as Peter Moore adds a very different spin on Vampires & Werewolves when he makes his main character Danny, a half breed-half vampire and half wolf. Now mix that into a society where vampires rank supreme and wolves are at the bottom of the food chain, so to speak, and you have a book that has some teen angst and a lot of conflict.

In the middle of a deeply heated battle/segregation between vampires and werewolves is a half breed, Danny, who's half...more 2.5 stars

Red Moon Rising has a great premise, as Peter Moore adds a very different spin on Vampires & Werewolves when he makes his main character Danny, a half breed-half vampire and half wolf. Now mix that into a society where vampires rank supreme and wolves are at the bottom of the food chain, so to speak, and you have a book that has some teen angst and a lot of conflict.

In the middle of a deeply heated battle/segregation between vampires and werewolves is a half breed, Danny, who's half werewolf and half vampire, something completely unheard of. Danny's someone I think teens will enjoy reading about, as he's relatable and has a great voice. He's funny, honest and it's nice reading a book from a guys point of view. Like many teens, Danny has challenges and choices to make. On top of that he has a lot of conflict with his family, with the hot shot vampire at school and himself.

Being a half vamp, half wolf isn't easy at all for Danny, especially when at first he can't figure out what's going on and why he's having all these weird changes. Being a wolf you're treated like a low life in society and are required to register and turn themselves in during the full moon, something Danny's wolf father doesn't want him to do. Mixed into this is Danny's light romance with the human girl Juliet. He has also has best friend Claire, a vampire who's there to help him and support him. I liked that the two of them are not in love with each other and truly are just friends, as Claire is gay. An underlining tone with the story is being accepting of who are, which I think is a great message for teens, as Claire and Danny work to over come their struggles, they are completely accepting of each other.

Overall I had some problems with the plot and a lack of character development which made it hard for me to really like the story as much as I wanted to. I felt like the story stalled a few times through out the book, and I could have done without the overly done pop culture references, which Moore puts his own spin on. In the end, I was left with more questions than I had answers for. I felt like the end was rushed and things were left out of the story. If there's a sequel planned, than I can understand why, though I'd still feel unsatisfied with the ending. Though I was left feeling I wanted to like the book more than I did, I think teens will like Red Moon Rising as it's a paranormal coming of age story with a light romance, humor, acceptance, and action, and one I'd recommend to older teen readers.(less)

like · see review

Mar 30, 2011 Bewitched Bookworms rated it 4 of 5 stars

All in all, I didn't think this was the perfect novel, it did leave me a little wanting, but in the end, the great far out weighed the somewhat negative, and I'd have to say I am totally sold on this story. I really like Danny. I am beyond impressed that Mr. Moore decided to make this story not about Danny's issues with his family who pulled together in the end to help their loved one.... Fancy THAT! A young adult novel breaking away from the family drama norm and creating a solid loving family...more

like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
What's The Name o...: werewolf book [s]	6	74	Jul 04, 2012 03:01am
Roleplay Roleplay...: Vampire roleplay	3	6	Mar 10, 2012 06:43am

title link	preview: Red Moon Rising
avg rating	preview: Red Moon Rising Goodreads rating: 3.75 (513 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7824013-red-moon-rising?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360571468l/7824013.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7824013-red-moon-rising?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore[/url]

Red Moon Rising

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Peter Moore

Books by Peter Moore

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Red Moon Rising