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The Moonlight #1
Shadowed Moonlight
Loving Kane nearly destroyed me once; now that he's Alpha he could be my end.
My life collapsed the day my Were lover Kane abandoned me four years ago, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Now I need his help.
I've got one shot to save my brother, as long as I solve the murders plaguing our city, Cambria. It'll mean diving headfirst into the political minefield of our supernatural elite. But a new alpha has joined the fray. He's dangerous, he's devastating, and he's the same man who obliterated my world all those years ago.
The deal: fake being his mate to solve the case. The cost: everything.
As catastrophe looms and old passions ignite, I'm faced with the impossible choice between loyalty and love. But the killer is watching and waiting to strike. . .
My life collapsed the day my Were lover Kane abandoned me four years ago, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Now I need his help.
I've got one shot to save my brother, as long as I solve the murders plaguing our city, Cambria. It'll mean diving headfirst into the political minefield of our supernatural elite. But a new alpha has joined the fray. He's dangerous, he's devastating, and he's the same man who obliterated my world all those years ago.
The deal: fake being his mate to solve the case. The cost: everything.
As catastrophe looms and old passions ignite, I'm faced with the impossible choice between loyalty and love. But the killer is watching and waiting to strike. . .
352 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 2025
3 people are currently reading
6561 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Harper
6 books96 followersK.C. Harper grew up on Canada's east coast and spends her time plotting to destroy the happiness of her characters. She’s an avid reader, developmental editor, and a full-time human servant to a 4.5 lb teacup Chihuahua.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
October 14, 2024
I'm not sure how to feel about this one, because I didn't love it, but I still had a great time. I would start by noting that it feels much more like a paranormal romance than an urban romantasy.
On the one hand, it's very entertaining. It's fast-paced. I was invested and immersed in the story the entire time while reading. It has a second-chance romance. There's a murder mystery element. It has hot steamy scenes and some pretty cute moments overall. The alpha possessiveness was everything. I also liked Kane, our MMC, even though the FMC, Briar, was slightly aggravating.
On the other hand, it's a bit frustrating. The plot relies a lot on miscommunication. A lot of the happenings were just too convenient... but didn't have the backstory to support the motives. The plot just feels thin in general. The characters lack depth for the most part. And, I found the conclusion rushed and anti-climatic. I'm left with questions that have unsatisfying explanations or none at all, although I should note that this is the first in a series.
I would stress checking the content warnings. One of the occurrences discussed would be quite triggering to some readers, and it kind of comes out of left field.
Overall, it was enjoyable and captivating even though I felt that the plot lacked structure. The author did a fabulous job of keeping me engaged, and I didn't dislike the story or struggle through it, even though I had a lot of issues with the development.
𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓗𝓸𝓭𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓬𝓪𝓹𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓲𝓷 𝓮𝔁𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓶𝔂 𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀
On the one hand, it's very entertaining. It's fast-paced. I was invested and immersed in the story the entire time while reading. It has a second-chance romance. There's a murder mystery element. It has hot steamy scenes and some pretty cute moments overall. The alpha possessiveness was everything. I also liked Kane, our MMC, even though the FMC, Briar, was slightly aggravating.
On the other hand, it's a bit frustrating. The plot relies a lot on miscommunication. A lot of the happenings were just too convenient... but didn't have the backstory to support the motives. The plot just feels thin in general. The characters lack depth for the most part. And, I found the conclusion rushed and anti-climatic. I'm left with questions that have unsatisfying explanations or none at all, although I should note that this is the first in a series.
I would stress checking the content warnings. One of the occurrences discussed would be quite triggering to some readers, and it kind of comes out of left field.
Overall, it was enjoyable and captivating even though I felt that the plot lacked structure. The author did a fabulous job of keeping me engaged, and I didn't dislike the story or struggle through it, even though I had a lot of issues with the development.
𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓗𝓸𝓭𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓬𝓪𝓹𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓲𝓷 𝓮𝔁𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓶𝔂 𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀
February 19, 2025
I have a joke with my sister that some books are “stoplight books.” Meaning—when I’m driving home from work, whenever I’m at a stoplight, I’m cracking the book to keep reading because I can’t wait until I get home. This book is 150% a stoplight book.
Rich world building, fantastic characters that are so well done they feel real, tension that ✨ tensions ✨, and twists and turns every step of the way. A must read for lovers of paranormal fantasy.
Literally mourning the loss of not seeing Kane every day. Cannot wait for book 2!!!
September 16, 2024
Shadowed Moonlight is the first book in a new fantasy trilogy. The main characters are witches and werewolves and what an amazing combination that creates. I wanted a bit more world-building as to how this world works with all the different types of beings. Overall the plot is good, it’s fast paced, there’s a murder mystery, substance misuse and second chance romance. The spice is spicy and fun to read but slightly questionable in terms of why they are having sex in the first place and the dubious consent this created. But there are some twists - slightly predictable but enjoyable to read. As with any werewolf romance there is plenty of possessiveness and posturing. The murder mystery really fell into the background. This is mainly a second chance romance with fantasy characters, so if you want a fun read with this focus I would recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
June 10, 2024
2.75 ⭐
“Shadowed Moonlight” is the first installment of an urban romantasy trilogy written by K. C. Harper and currently in progress.
I am so sad! I had high expectations for this title! Witches, werewolves and fake dating?! I jumped right in, without even thinking about it! And I took a big hit! That doesn't mean it's a bad book, just that unfortunately it didn't captivate me!
The writing is the element I enjoyed the most! Captivating, light and simple, it kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end. The fast, brisk pace pushed me to continue, allowing me to overcome my disappointment with the novel. In practice, I found myself reading it quickly, even without appreciating it!
The story, full of potential, seemed rather sloppy and rushed to me, with numerous convenient situations and several plot holes. Some things seem to happen totally at random just because yes, they have to happen, without any specific reason. The mystery part, centered on a dangerous killer, turns out to be more of a side note than anything else, pulled out when needed and then forgotten, with a solution that left me rather dissatisfied. During the reading I found myself huffing and rolling my eyes repeatedly, bored and annoyed by the narration. There was nothing that particularly struck me, nothing that engaged me. On the plus side, as mentioned above, is the really fast pace, which allowed me to wrap up quickly.
The characters, main and secondary, conveyed nothing to me. I found them superficial, poorly analyzed and with somewhat random attitudes. I was not able to bond with them, soon lost interest in their events, and followed them just because yes, I wanted to get to the end of the book. I'm sorry, because on paper the two main characters had all the makings of winning me over, and instead they didn't! Even the highly sizzling romance left me indifferent. And there was fake dating, a trope I love so much! How sad!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“Shadowed Moonlight” is the first installment of an urban romantasy trilogy written by K. C. Harper and currently in progress.
I am so sad! I had high expectations for this title! Witches, werewolves and fake dating?! I jumped right in, without even thinking about it! And I took a big hit! That doesn't mean it's a bad book, just that unfortunately it didn't captivate me!
The writing is the element I enjoyed the most! Captivating, light and simple, it kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end. The fast, brisk pace pushed me to continue, allowing me to overcome my disappointment with the novel. In practice, I found myself reading it quickly, even without appreciating it!
The story, full of potential, seemed rather sloppy and rushed to me, with numerous convenient situations and several plot holes. Some things seem to happen totally at random just because yes, they have to happen, without any specific reason. The mystery part, centered on a dangerous killer, turns out to be more of a side note than anything else, pulled out when needed and then forgotten, with a solution that left me rather dissatisfied. During the reading I found myself huffing and rolling my eyes repeatedly, bored and annoyed by the narration. There was nothing that particularly struck me, nothing that engaged me. On the plus side, as mentioned above, is the really fast pace, which allowed me to wrap up quickly.
The characters, main and secondary, conveyed nothing to me. I found them superficial, poorly analyzed and with somewhat random attitudes. I was not able to bond with them, soon lost interest in their events, and followed them just because yes, I wanted to get to the end of the book. I'm sorry, because on paper the two main characters had all the makings of winning me over, and instead they didn't! Even the highly sizzling romance left me indifferent. And there was fake dating, a trope I love so much! How sad!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2024
This book had potential, but ultimately it fell short.
Let's get into it. This book had a promising premise, yet something about the pacing and writing did not work for me. I had to go back and check to see if it was being independently published or traditionally published. Imagine my surprise when I saw that it was, in fact, being published by Hodder & Stoughton/Hodderscape.
The book felt like it needed to go through more rounds of editing. The mystery failed to catch my attention, the characters felt flat, and the romance was lackluster. All the falling in love and found family development happened off-page in the past. I think that is why I failed to connect with it. It also did not help that to make up for that the author used, what I consider to be, an excessive amount of flashbacks. We would get to a point and to give context to why the scene was important, we'd get hit with a flashback. It is like the author wanted to convince me of the emotional stakes. But it did not work. I did not care. I just wanted to get back to the present and move on with the plot.
So while I think there were some components of a good story, they came together in a way that left me mostly unsatisfied. I don't think I will be continuing this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Let's get into it. This book had a promising premise, yet something about the pacing and writing did not work for me. I had to go back and check to see if it was being independently published or traditionally published. Imagine my surprise when I saw that it was, in fact, being published by Hodder & Stoughton/Hodderscape.
The book felt like it needed to go through more rounds of editing. The mystery failed to catch my attention, the characters felt flat, and the romance was lackluster. All the falling in love and found family development happened off-page in the past. I think that is why I failed to connect with it. It also did not help that to make up for that the author used, what I consider to be, an excessive amount of flashbacks. We would get to a point and to give context to why the scene was important, we'd get hit with a flashback. It is like the author wanted to convince me of the emotional stakes. But it did not work. I did not care. I just wanted to get back to the present and move on with the plot.
So while I think there were some components of a good story, they came together in a way that left me mostly unsatisfied. I don't think I will be continuing this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 5, 2024
I really, really didn't like this book.
I've read a few urban fantasies featuring magical creatures and strong female main characters (FMCs), so perhaps my expectations were too high. I also don't mind unlikeable characters if they're written well. Unfortunately, after a promising start, this book really disappointed me.
The story is told from the first-person POV of the FMC, and it was almost unbearable how much I disliked her. Her decisions and actions felt idiotic, making it hard to sympathise with her. The other characters weren't much better either.
I pushed through and didn't DNF the book, hoping it would get better, but I was frustrated until the very last sentence. This is book one of a planned series, and unfortunately, I will not be continuing with the rest.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've read a few urban fantasies featuring magical creatures and strong female main characters (FMCs), so perhaps my expectations were too high. I also don't mind unlikeable characters if they're written well. Unfortunately, after a promising start, this book really disappointed me.
The story is told from the first-person POV of the FMC, and it was almost unbearable how much I disliked her. Her decisions and actions felt idiotic, making it hard to sympathise with her. The other characters weren't much better either.
I pushed through and didn't DNF the book, hoping it would get better, but I was frustrated until the very last sentence. This is book one of a planned series, and unfortunately, I will not be continuing with the rest.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2024
It's unfortunate, but I had high hopes for this book, but after finishing it, I did not enjoy it nearly as much as I had wanted to. Everything was lackluster, but the plot especially really needed the most work, and don't even get me started on the miscommunication/assuming, and unlikeable characters.
June 22, 2024
It’s a no from me
May 23, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for the Arc!
It was enjoyable read, maybe it's just me, but I really felt quite a lot of emotions reading this. The author seem to be really good at showing us the characters emotions and feelings and it got to me, quite few times ;) . I also really like the serial killer part of the plot. What I didn't like much was the ending...because it didn't really feel like there was one at all. The serial killer plot feels still wide open. From what I see it is a stand alone, but it might change? Because the way it ended definitely leaves an open window for more books. I wouldn't call it a cliff hanger, but a window for sure. The romance part seems done, so maybe we will have some continuation with just different pairing? Hard to say. Definitely wouldn't mind :)
It was enjoyable read, maybe it's just me, but I really felt quite a lot of emotions reading this. The author seem to be really good at showing us the characters emotions and feelings and it got to me, quite few times ;) . I also really like the serial killer part of the plot. What I didn't like much was the ending...because it didn't really feel like there was one at all. The serial killer plot feels still wide open. From what I see it is a stand alone, but it might change? Because the way it ended definitely leaves an open window for more books. I wouldn't call it a cliff hanger, but a window for sure. The romance part seems done, so maybe we will have some continuation with just different pairing? Hard to say. Definitely wouldn't mind :)
May 15, 2024
Publishing date: 15 Oct 2024
Thanks to NetGalley & HodderBooks I was able to read this early.
4 ⭐️
This is an urban fantasy with all the good stuff. Vampires, Witches, Weres - sprinkle in some spice, serial killing and a hot alpha and you get this absolutely fantastic story.
It’s fast paced with twists I did not see coming at all that genuinely had me wanting to scream for all sorts of different reasons. An absolute rollercoaster of emotions.
Next to all the suspense in it though this book actually made me giggle quite a bit, the banter between the characters and our FMC‘s sarcasm are just too good and sooo relatable!!
It’s a thought out system and world while not being too complicated to read with many interesting characters.
Definitely will read the next in this series as soon as possible. I *need* to know how this continues!!!
Thanks to NetGalley & HodderBooks I was able to read this early.
4 ⭐️
This is an urban fantasy with all the good stuff. Vampires, Witches, Weres - sprinkle in some spice, serial killing and a hot alpha and you get this absolutely fantastic story.
It’s fast paced with twists I did not see coming at all that genuinely had me wanting to scream for all sorts of different reasons. An absolute rollercoaster of emotions.
Next to all the suspense in it though this book actually made me giggle quite a bit, the banter between the characters and our FMC‘s sarcasm are just too good and sooo relatable!!
It’s a thought out system and world while not being too complicated to read with many interesting characters.
Definitely will read the next in this series as soon as possible. I *need* to know how this continues!!!
May 17, 2024
Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for the Digital ARC!
So...this was very much a middle of the road book for me. I didn't hate it, and I didn't love it.
My main issues is that I didn't understand...well anything. The main plot with the serial killer constantly felt like a side story that only got relevant to the end. Then it suddenly ended? It felt a little like the author got bored and just wanted it over?
The characters were flat as well. There's parts of this story that feature flashbacks to events that have happened, and it slowly fills in parts for you. But the problem is that I didnt particularly care enough about any of the characters in either the past or present.
Our main character, Briar, had one personality trait: trauma. She was hostile to basically everyone, and I get why but then she'd 180 and be completely different. She's important but then she's also...not...important? She's abrasive and just seems to snark constantly, yet whiplashes to being jokey and friendly the next second with the same people.
Kane had no personality outside of being possessive. That's it. Frankly, I don't get why he was even included apart from to have dubious consent sex. Which happens for like...half the book.
I have issues with too much smut sometimes, but this book made me feel icky with the sex. The reasoning behind the sex was flimsy as hell and may as well have been a piece of tape over a crack. It was just to have angry sex in the book.
The bad guy...I have no idea why he was doing what he was doing to be honest. Some vague 'bad guy' stuff, I guess? And then the overarching 'threat'...I don't get the point of that either.
The world itself was a little interesting, but the problem is that the author didn't DO anything with it. I said I didn't hate this, and I don't. But that's literally because I just felt it had nothing in it to hate.
So...this was very much a middle of the road book for me. I didn't hate it, and I didn't love it.
My main issues is that I didn't understand...well anything. The main plot with the serial killer constantly felt like a side story that only got relevant to the end. Then it suddenly ended? It felt a little like the author got bored and just wanted it over?
The characters were flat as well. There's parts of this story that feature flashbacks to events that have happened, and it slowly fills in parts for you. But the problem is that I didnt particularly care enough about any of the characters in either the past or present.
Our main character, Briar, had one personality trait: trauma. She was hostile to basically everyone, and I get why but then she'd 180 and be completely different. She's important but then she's also...not...important? She's abrasive and just seems to snark constantly, yet whiplashes to being jokey and friendly the next second with the same people.
Kane had no personality outside of being possessive. That's it. Frankly, I don't get why he was even included apart from to have dubious consent sex. Which happens for like...half the book.
I have issues with too much smut sometimes, but this book made me feel icky with the sex. The reasoning behind the sex was flimsy as hell and may as well have been a piece of tape over a crack. It was just to have angry sex in the book.
The bad guy...I have no idea why he was doing what he was doing to be honest. Some vague 'bad guy' stuff, I guess? And then the overarching 'threat'...I don't get the point of that either.
The world itself was a little interesting, but the problem is that the author didn't DO anything with it. I said I didn't hate this, and I don't. But that's literally because I just felt it had nothing in it to hate.
June 16, 2024
2.75 but I have rounded up to 3 because the smut was really good, the world building was adventurous and original but the plot was a bit too convoluted and the reasoning/ending not satisfying enough to have gone through all of that.
An aura/witch named Briar Stone was just a bit too basic for me as well as a wolf being called Kane Slade was just a bit too romantic paranormal by text book for me lol
I loved the werewolf lore. I loved the idea of being commanded. I loved the pack mentality and family element of the book but I was a little confused because at no time did he actually turn into a wolf? If this is part of their world set up then fine but it wasnt really clear to me from the start.
I wasnt a fan of the dialogue which while funny at times i found a little immature. It had an essence to it that was modern which fit the theme but it just wasnt a personal fave for me. Ive seen it done well in say Bride but this felt a little out of place at times.
I also wasnt a fan of the “obsidian” and “sage” references for swear words or versions of “oh my god”. It just sounded silly lol
As mentioned, i liked the smut a lot although i would have liked more aggression from kade both in the bedroom and when fighting. Other than one moment he didnt really show how bad he was despite the FMC saying it every five seconds lol
I love a happily ever after but the end left me feeling a bit deflated. However in a world where books are forced into being trilogies where its not needed, this was a nice aurprise to just be a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley for this digital arc. All thoughts are my own.
An aura/witch named Briar Stone was just a bit too basic for me as well as a wolf being called Kane Slade was just a bit too romantic paranormal by text book for me lol
I loved the werewolf lore. I loved the idea of being commanded. I loved the pack mentality and family element of the book but I was a little confused because at no time did he actually turn into a wolf? If this is part of their world set up then fine but it wasnt really clear to me from the start.
I wasnt a fan of the dialogue which while funny at times i found a little immature. It had an essence to it that was modern which fit the theme but it just wasnt a personal fave for me. Ive seen it done well in say Bride but this felt a little out of place at times.
I also wasnt a fan of the “obsidian” and “sage” references for swear words or versions of “oh my god”. It just sounded silly lol
As mentioned, i liked the smut a lot although i would have liked more aggression from kade both in the bedroom and when fighting. Other than one moment he didnt really show how bad he was despite the FMC saying it every five seconds lol
I love a happily ever after but the end left me feeling a bit deflated. However in a world where books are forced into being trilogies where its not needed, this was a nice aurprise to just be a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley for this digital arc. All thoughts are my own.
June 25, 2024
Was this a great book? No. But was this an entertaining book? Absolutely. The vibes were fun and low stakes, the mix of fantastical characters was delightful, and this was just like a bit of candy between courses for me.
Briar Stone, an aura witch, has her powers tapped to help investigate a string of murders of witches, vampires, and werewolves across her magical town. The only catch is that she has to be fake mated to her alpha werewolf ex who just straight up ghosted her. Or did he???
This book is just a simple palate cleanser for me- its just a fun time (even with the dead bodies and mystery tbh) and I enjoyed rooting for Briar and the wolves, hating on a dumb boy, and wanting to know more about the vampires. This ended like it COULD be a standalone but the door is open and tbh will probably read any of the others because this was just fun.
Thank you to KC Harper and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!
Briar Stone, an aura witch, has her powers tapped to help investigate a string of murders of witches, vampires, and werewolves across her magical town. The only catch is that she has to be fake mated to her alpha werewolf ex who just straight up ghosted her. Or did he???
This book is just a simple palate cleanser for me- its just a fun time (even with the dead bodies and mystery tbh) and I enjoyed rooting for Briar and the wolves, hating on a dumb boy, and wanting to know more about the vampires. This ended like it COULD be a standalone but the door is open and tbh will probably read any of the others because this was just fun.
Thank you to KC Harper and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!
September 13, 2024
I've had this book on my NetGalley Shelf for a while and why the hell haven't I started it sooner? I mean, the story extremely captivating, I wasn't hooked up straight away because I needed to understand the magic world, but it didn't take long though.
Briar is the FMC whose heart was shattered when her ware boyfriend left town without telling her four years prior. Now, Briar finds herslef helping the Conclave of her town, trying to save her brother from being connected to a murder. when Kane, her ex, returns unexpectedly. And they are now working together to find the killer.
The twists of this book were incredible. I gasped while reading most pages of the last 30% of the book. I got some of the twists but most of them were so unexpected and well thought out that made it a glorious book to read.
Even though it's the first book of a series it doesn't end in a cliffhanger, which I was grateful for, but I can't wait to put my hands on book 2.
Briar is the FMC whose heart was shattered when her ware boyfriend left town without telling her four years prior. Now, Briar finds herslef helping the Conclave of her town, trying to save her brother from being connected to a murder. when Kane, her ex, returns unexpectedly. And they are now working together to find the killer.
The twists of this book were incredible. I gasped while reading most pages of the last 30% of the book. I got some of the twists but most of them were so unexpected and well thought out that made it a glorious book to read.
Even though it's the first book of a series it doesn't end in a cliffhanger, which I was grateful for, but I can't wait to put my hands on book 2.
October 14, 2024
2 ⭐
3 🌶️
Shadowed Moonlight was frustrating. I was enjoying the story, but the fact that the FMC would not talk to the MMC and just kept making assumptions about him and others repeatedly drove me up the wall. She cried everywhere when she found out she was wrong, and the MMC forgave her repeatedly. Then, they solved everything with sex. So I kept reading because the story's mystery was holding my attention, and I could get by the behavior of the FMC. She could read auras, which came in handy in the mystery. Until the end, then the cliffhanger ending was just icky, in my opinion. I don't know how the author will write their way out of this, and I don't think I can stand the FMC for another book or three.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Staughton, for the eArc. These opinions are mine.
3 🌶️
Shadowed Moonlight was frustrating. I was enjoying the story, but the fact that the FMC would not talk to the MMC and just kept making assumptions about him and others repeatedly drove me up the wall. She cried everywhere when she found out she was wrong, and the MMC forgave her repeatedly. Then, they solved everything with sex. So I kept reading because the story's mystery was holding my attention, and I could get by the behavior of the FMC. She could read auras, which came in handy in the mystery. Until the end, then the cliffhanger ending was just icky, in my opinion. I don't know how the author will write their way out of this, and I don't think I can stand the FMC for another book or three.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Staughton, for the eArc. These opinions are mine.
July 26, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Books for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This was such a fun read! Super fast-paced and entertaining. I could really feel Briar's desperation to help her brother from the very first chapter. The fast-paced plot kept me hooked until the end. I docked one star for the miscommunication between Briar and Kane that did feel a bit YA for an adult book. A few conversations could've solved some of the biggest issues between the two characters. Additionally, I was a bit confused with the motives for our main villain, but I'm hoping this will be flushed out further as this is the first book in a trilogy.
Overall, I recommend this book if you're looking for a fun, fast-paced read with good spice!
This was such a fun read! Super fast-paced and entertaining. I could really feel Briar's desperation to help her brother from the very first chapter. The fast-paced plot kept me hooked until the end. I docked one star for the miscommunication between Briar and Kane that did feel a bit YA for an adult book. A few conversations could've solved some of the biggest issues between the two characters. Additionally, I was a bit confused with the motives for our main villain, but I'm hoping this will be flushed out further as this is the first book in a trilogy.
Overall, I recommend this book if you're looking for a fun, fast-paced read with good spice!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2024
SHADOWED MOONLIGHT by K.C. Harper is an unforgettable urban romantasy that left me longing for the next book! Harper's writing, storytelling, characters, and pacing are absolute perfection. Her range as a writer is phenomenal. She had me laughing one minute and then crying the next.
Author K.C. Harper combined with narrator Stephanie Cannon are a dynamic duo, and I could listen to this audiobook over and over. I am obsessed with SHADOWED MOONLIGHT and can't wait for the North American book release on January 21, 2025. I will definitely be reading this one again!
Author K.C. Harper combined with narrator Stephanie Cannon are a dynamic duo, and I could listen to this audiobook over and over. I am obsessed with SHADOWED MOONLIGHT and can't wait for the North American book release on January 21, 2025. I will definitely be reading this one again!
June 25, 2024
Briar is a great character, a very angry but loyal character. Everything does in this book is for her brother, but he’s not in a good way and he’s suspected of a crime that means Briar must work with someone she never thought she’d see again but also, the last person she ever wanted to see again.
This is a supernatural murder mystery with dark elements, spice, an arranged mate situation and plenty of feminine rage.
This is a supernatural murder mystery with dark elements, spice, an arranged mate situation and plenty of feminine rage.
dnf-with-no-shame
April 5, 2025DNF @ pg. 145
I knew from about page 5 that I was not gonna finish this, but the masochist in me was curious as to what exactly would break the camel’s back.
And let’s just say, at page 145, that curiosity killed the cat.
This was so bad, I cannot express how much or how disgusted I am at getting to this point in the story just to read a forced engagement that makes absolutely no sense because the characters in this story are weak, wildly undeveloped and I give absolutely no fucks about any of them and their shared existence in a world that has some of the messiest supposedly established world-building that I’ve come across in a very long time.
To the point where it’s manifesting horrible run-on sentences with unneeded verbiage and uninspired rhetoric from me, and that upsets me greatly.
Which means I need to let this go, and move on with the knowledge that I have said my piece and can only hope this spares someone else from my reading experience up until this point.
I knew from about page 5 that I was not gonna finish this, but the masochist in me was curious as to what exactly would break the camel’s back.
And let’s just say, at page 145, that curiosity killed the cat.
This was so bad, I cannot express how much or how disgusted I am at getting to this point in the story just to read a forced engagement that makes absolutely no sense because the characters in this story are weak, wildly undeveloped and I give absolutely no fucks about any of them and their shared existence in a world that has some of the messiest supposedly established world-building that I’ve come across in a very long time.
To the point where it’s manifesting horrible run-on sentences with unneeded verbiage and uninspired rhetoric from me, and that upsets me greatly.
Which means I need to let this go, and move on with the knowledge that I have said my piece and can only hope this spares someone else from my reading experience up until this point.
July 25, 2023
I got to read this book before it was published. Hand on heart, I can say that it is one of the best urban fantasy novels I have ever read. The characters are dreamy, the heat is high, and the world the author has built is perfection. This is a must read.
June 2, 2024
Four years ago, Kane left Briar out of the blue, and disappeared out of her life, leaving everything in turmoil. Her brother became and addict, and she struggles to make ends meet plus she self medicates to deal with the loss of Kane. The story started out well, but the world building in the beginning felt rushed and to me wasn't explained in detail. Purge, Tonic and other drug names dropped without necessarily explaining what they were. This book should have come with trigger warnings of miscarriage, drug abuse, and rape and the fact that it wasn't I hope is something that will be corrected when the book is published. The plot synopsis had intrigued me and I was excited to read it but I just don't think I was this books target audience. It seemed like the author was just in a hurry to have the main characters hook up. The dialogue felt awkward and roundabout, Kane as the love interest didn't stand out to me. I cannot recall how any of the characters looked like except their eyes. The villain reveal fell kind of flat. The author did a good job in pacing, keeping the story going, but the plot and character development was kind of meh.
July 28, 2024
I got an E-ARC thanks to Hodder Book via NetGalley
and I could say this book was kinda hard to get into at first I was a little confused about the world building, but after getting to half the book that was when my interest stared to peak! I felt that this book is great if you want something fast paced and mainly in the romance side the plot kind of reminded me of vampire diaries for some reason, I might be off but over all the book is a good read I would recommend it!
and I could say this book was kinda hard to get into at first I was a little confused about the world building, but after getting to half the book that was when my interest stared to peak! I felt that this book is great if you want something fast paced and mainly in the romance side the plot kind of reminded me of vampire diaries for some reason, I might be off but over all the book is a good read I would recommend it!
July 10, 2024
I was more annoyed than entertained while reading this. I think this had great potential, but it was poorly executed. The sheer amount of repetitive phrases such as "shadowed moon", "shadow and sage!", and "iron hells" really got under my skin. I will admit there were parts I enjoyed, but I was cringing all the way through this book. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
July 28, 2025
✨📚 I was so impressed with this book, the plot twists, the character development, and absolutely cannot wait for the next book.
✨ Aura Magic
🌙 Wolf Shifter
💕 Second Chance Romance
☠️ Substance Abuse
🥵 Mates
🌶️ Spicy Scenes
✨ Compulsion
Highly recommend this series!!!
✨ Aura Magic
🌙 Wolf Shifter
💕 Second Chance Romance
☠️ Substance Abuse
🥵 Mates
🌶️ Spicy Scenes
✨ Compulsion
Highly recommend this series!!!
September 12, 2024
Although I have been reading a lot of novels featuring weres, it seems that my love for such stories are immeasurable because when I read the synopsis of Shadowed Moonlight, I knew that I had to request it. Luckily, I got approved and here I am, writing this review. Shadowed Moonlight has its ups and downs, thus, the 3.5 star rating. I enjoyed some parts of it and some had me frowning. The book is only around 261 pages and there are a lot of things to cover given the themes explored in the story. It’s too fast paced for my liking.
Anyhow, let’s backtrack to what Shadowed Moonlight is all about. The novel follows the story of Briar, an Aura Magi, who can look into your past memories and remember things for you. Her ex-boyfriend, Kane Slade, is a werewolf who abandoned her four years ago, literally destroying her life. As part of her moving on strategy, Briar had made sure to never cross paths with Kane again. Unfortunately, a series of gruesome murders had been suddenly happening in the City where she lives in and ultimately, led her not only to meet but work with Kane. While it’s your typical lovers to enemies to lovers story, I find that I still enjoy them and Shadowed Moonlight is no different. It has the perfect formula of a tragic love story between a couple who’s absolutely head over heels in love with each other but due to uncontrollable circumstances, they got torn apart. The romantic conflict in the story was interesting and it’s something that I can understand why things happened.
What did not sit right with me, however, was that everything just happened so fast that I was not able to fully invest myself with the other aspects of the story including the characters. Every heavy conflict was resolved in a rush manner and I had a hard time reconciling why forgiveness came so easy. There was no period of processing the feelings and everything. The characters were also underdeveloped that it took some effort for me to at least relate to them at some point. I did like the mystery aspect of the novel though because it was scary and understandably so. The author did it right for I was really taken aback when the mystery killer was finally revealed. It never crossed my mind that such character would have the audacity to be the killer. Imagine the hairs on my back standing after Briar uncovered the identity of the person plaguing Cambria City with horrific murdered bodies of the supernatural.
All in all, Shadowed Moonlight has its pros and cons. I was just glad that reading it was not wasted at all because it gave me enjoyment albeit the issues that I have mentioned above. Of course, there was really a lot of smut so if you like these things in your paranormal stories, you better try this one. Plus points that this book is a standalone so no more pining for the 2nd installment to be published.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the e-ARC.
Anyhow, let’s backtrack to what Shadowed Moonlight is all about. The novel follows the story of Briar, an Aura Magi, who can look into your past memories and remember things for you. Her ex-boyfriend, Kane Slade, is a werewolf who abandoned her four years ago, literally destroying her life. As part of her moving on strategy, Briar had made sure to never cross paths with Kane again. Unfortunately, a series of gruesome murders had been suddenly happening in the City where she lives in and ultimately, led her not only to meet but work with Kane. While it’s your typical lovers to enemies to lovers story, I find that I still enjoy them and Shadowed Moonlight is no different. It has the perfect formula of a tragic love story between a couple who’s absolutely head over heels in love with each other but due to uncontrollable circumstances, they got torn apart. The romantic conflict in the story was interesting and it’s something that I can understand why things happened.
What did not sit right with me, however, was that everything just happened so fast that I was not able to fully invest myself with the other aspects of the story including the characters. Every heavy conflict was resolved in a rush manner and I had a hard time reconciling why forgiveness came so easy. There was no period of processing the feelings and everything. The characters were also underdeveloped that it took some effort for me to at least relate to them at some point. I did like the mystery aspect of the novel though because it was scary and understandably so. The author did it right for I was really taken aback when the mystery killer was finally revealed. It never crossed my mind that such character would have the audacity to be the killer. Imagine the hairs on my back standing after Briar uncovered the identity of the person plaguing Cambria City with horrific murdered bodies of the supernatural.
All in all, Shadowed Moonlight has its pros and cons. I was just glad that reading it was not wasted at all because it gave me enjoyment albeit the issues that I have mentioned above. Of course, there was really a lot of smut so if you like these things in your paranormal stories, you better try this one. Plus points that this book is a standalone so no more pining for the 2nd installment to be published.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the e-ARC.
May 21, 2024
“Shadowed Moonlight” is a second chance urban romantasy. It’s fast pace, entertaining, and sexy as hell. I had such pleasure reading this novel, but after finishing it, my feelings are kind of mixed.
The world building was fantastic. It was dark, gritty, and foreboding. I loved reading about the complex political structure of the different fractions (witches, vampires, and werewolves) and their complicated relationships with each other and the humans.
Character wise, I have a love-hate relationship with them. Individually, I loved them. Briar is resilient and I really admired how she rebuild her life after being abandoned by her Were lover, Kane. I also really loved her loyalty and dedication to her brother, Lucas. Kane on the other hand, was everything I expected in an Alpha. Strong, confident, authoritative, and possessive. Despite his over bearing nature, I loved how supportive and respectful he was of Briar needs, especially when it came to Lucas. However, my issues arises when these characters get together. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the angst, tension and steamy chemistry between Briar and Kane, but the amount of mis-/no communication was so frustrating. Also, Briar’s indecisiveness drove me crazy. The only character that I absolutely adored was Lisa. I loved her brutal honesty and straight forwardness. My other issue with Briar and Kane, is how quickly the relationship progressed when the truth was revealed. There was just so much to unpack. Not only did Briar go through a traumatizing experience, but so did Kane in a way. I would have liked to see more of a healing progression on both sides.
As for the Phantom serial killer storyline, it started off strong. The clues left at the murder scenes were super intriguing. I was invested in trying to figure out the “who” and the “why”. However, as the story progressed, it started to become more of a subplot. It didn’t become relevant again until closer to the end, which I didn’t mind, except the reveal at the end was kind of underwhelming. I didn’t understand the overall motivation. What was the purpose of the specific murders? What was the serial killer trying to create? I am hoping it will become more clearer later on since this is the first book in a trilogy.
Overall, I thought it was entertaining. At times it could be a little dramatic, but that is what makes it so addicting to read. I am interested in continuing with the series. The murder mystery girlie in me needs to know what happens and I also hope to see a bit more maturity and growth from the characters and the relationship.
Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The world building was fantastic. It was dark, gritty, and foreboding. I loved reading about the complex political structure of the different fractions (witches, vampires, and werewolves) and their complicated relationships with each other and the humans.
Character wise, I have a love-hate relationship with them. Individually, I loved them. Briar is resilient and I really admired how she rebuild her life after being abandoned by her Were lover, Kane. I also really loved her loyalty and dedication to her brother, Lucas. Kane on the other hand, was everything I expected in an Alpha. Strong, confident, authoritative, and possessive. Despite his over bearing nature, I loved how supportive and respectful he was of Briar needs, especially when it came to Lucas. However, my issues arises when these characters get together. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the angst, tension and steamy chemistry between Briar and Kane, but the amount of mis-/no communication was so frustrating. Also, Briar’s indecisiveness drove me crazy. The only character that I absolutely adored was Lisa. I loved her brutal honesty and straight forwardness. My other issue with Briar and Kane, is how quickly the relationship progressed when the truth was revealed. There was just so much to unpack. Not only did Briar go through a traumatizing experience, but so did Kane in a way. I would have liked to see more of a healing progression on both sides.
As for the Phantom serial killer storyline, it started off strong. The clues left at the murder scenes were super intriguing. I was invested in trying to figure out the “who” and the “why”. However, as the story progressed, it started to become more of a subplot. It didn’t become relevant again until closer to the end, which I didn’t mind, except the reveal at the end was kind of underwhelming. I didn’t understand the overall motivation. What was the purpose of the specific murders? What was the serial killer trying to create? I am hoping it will become more clearer later on since this is the first book in a trilogy.
Overall, I thought it was entertaining. At times it could be a little dramatic, but that is what makes it so addicting to read. I am interested in continuing with the series. The murder mystery girlie in me needs to know what happens and I also hope to see a bit more maturity and growth from the characters and the relationship.
Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2024
Thank you to the author and the publisher, Hodder and Stoughton, for sharing an ARC of this book with me on NetGalley!
“My nerves were bare. Torn open and debrided. Being in Kane's presence, having him touch me, inside of me, it stole my breath, and I wasn't sure I'd ever get it back.”
"And I'm not stopping until you scream my fucking name so loud, the whole world knows it."
"There it is," … "That's my girl. Take it all."
Paranormal creature. A drug no one knows how to deal with. A brother she is trying to save. The love of her life who abandoned her four years prior back in town. A series of murder mysteries to solve and she is the only witch with Aura powers to help. Basically a recipe for disaster right? Add to that the fact that he is an alpha of a pack and you have a very tension packed, quite spicy and possessive romance story in quite a dark setting with an unresolved past and a second chance romance with marriage of convenience. This book started out as confusing as it sounds but, at the end of the day every single fantasy book starts that way. But then the author slowly solved every mystery, answered every question and gave us all the spice we wanted in this complicated story. I enjoyed getting through it possibly even more than I was expecting. It didn’t feel like a particularly hard book to read and I have to admit that it hooked me in pretty fast. And the characters were frustrating at times but all with their good parts. I enjoyed reading about their dynamics and their found family tropes and their possessive alpha male, claiming mate scenes. The FMC was sometimes a bit too vexing (not always in the good way) but overall I could understand her point of view and I can’t complain. While for the MMC … well, he is another story entirely. Did I fall in love very fast very early on? Possibly. So much so that I would list him in the top ten? Not really. But the story is far from over so … I supposed he’ll have time to rise !!
"Power-hungry little minx." His fingers flexed against me. "Being mine, carrying me inside of you, makes you Pack, but it doesn't give you our powers."
"I held back because you hated me. I held back because this was my shot to fix things, and I wasn't about to fuck it up by scaring you off?" His head slanted toward mine, hands landing on my hips. His mouth was so close, the heat he kicked off enveloped me like a cloak. "I held back because if I fucked you, if I tasted you, if I kissed you the way I want, you wouldn't have been able to handle it."
“I smiled, soft and deep and not nearly sated enough. "Don't tell me you're done already, big bad?"
His predatory laugh was a hungry promise that brushed against my soul. I squealed when he flipped me onto my stomach and cocked my ass in the air. "Not even close."
“My nerves were bare. Torn open and debrided. Being in Kane's presence, having him touch me, inside of me, it stole my breath, and I wasn't sure I'd ever get it back.”
"And I'm not stopping until you scream my fucking name so loud, the whole world knows it."
"There it is," … "That's my girl. Take it all."
Paranormal creature. A drug no one knows how to deal with. A brother she is trying to save. The love of her life who abandoned her four years prior back in town. A series of murder mysteries to solve and she is the only witch with Aura powers to help. Basically a recipe for disaster right? Add to that the fact that he is an alpha of a pack and you have a very tension packed, quite spicy and possessive romance story in quite a dark setting with an unresolved past and a second chance romance with marriage of convenience. This book started out as confusing as it sounds but, at the end of the day every single fantasy book starts that way. But then the author slowly solved every mystery, answered every question and gave us all the spice we wanted in this complicated story. I enjoyed getting through it possibly even more than I was expecting. It didn’t feel like a particularly hard book to read and I have to admit that it hooked me in pretty fast. And the characters were frustrating at times but all with their good parts. I enjoyed reading about their dynamics and their found family tropes and their possessive alpha male, claiming mate scenes. The FMC was sometimes a bit too vexing (not always in the good way) but overall I could understand her point of view and I can’t complain. While for the MMC … well, he is another story entirely. Did I fall in love very fast very early on? Possibly. So much so that I would list him in the top ten? Not really. But the story is far from over so … I supposed he’ll have time to rise !!
"Power-hungry little minx." His fingers flexed against me. "Being mine, carrying me inside of you, makes you Pack, but it doesn't give you our powers."
"I held back because you hated me. I held back because this was my shot to fix things, and I wasn't about to fuck it up by scaring you off?" His head slanted toward mine, hands landing on my hips. His mouth was so close, the heat he kicked off enveloped me like a cloak. "I held back because if I fucked you, if I tasted you, if I kissed you the way I want, you wouldn't have been able to handle it."
“I smiled, soft and deep and not nearly sated enough. "Don't tell me you're done already, big bad?"
His predatory laugh was a hungry promise that brushed against my soul. I squealed when he flipped me onto my stomach and cocked my ass in the air. "Not even close."
May 11, 2024
Shadowed Moonlight is an urban romantasy filled with Witches, Weres and Vampires, an incredibly hot alpha, fake dating, a smattering of spice, oh and don't forget the Supernatural Serial Killer!
It's a fast paced, high stakes read, that sinks its fangs in from the very beginning.
It's addictive, so get ready to Wolf it down 😜
The characters, Ladies and Gentlemen let me introduce you to your soon to be new obsession, the delectable swoon-worthy Kane 'Come near her and I'll rip your throat out' Slade, who I guarantee is the purrfect Book Boyfriend material.
Briar is the queen of Snark and Sarcasm, her hurt is palpable and her growth through the story was brilliant as she finds herself and her strength.
My oh my the chemistry between them is off the chart, Mr. Wolfy Mcwolferson scores big on the swoon factor and spice!
Loving Kane nearly destroyed Briar once; now that he's Alpha, he could be her end.
Briar Stone has rebuilt her life after she was heartbroken and abandoned by her Were partner Kane, four years ago. She's got a job at a supernatural tavern, a Magi boyfriend, Mason, and a side-gig reading auras. But none of that matters while her younger brother is addicted to Vamp venom and a few doses away from death.
When a series of brutal murders target the city of Cambria, the supernatural conclave is sent in to track the serial killer and find answers. Briar can inhabit the dead's final, painful moments and will provide them with answers..in return for the cash to afford a cure for her brother. But first she needs a way into the conclave, her in: her Ex, now the Alpha. He agrees to give her access IF she acts as his mate during the investigation, with all that it entails.
Surrounded by the Were she once hoped to call family, Briar finds herself dragged into Kane's world of sex, danger and supernatural politics.
She has to fight her treacherous heart and the growing connection to the lover who ruined her life. Remembering she's there only to help her brother, she has a new life, a new boyfriend waiting after she's found the serial killer.
But she's not the only one seeking answers. The Killer has his eyes on her, and he may be closer than she thinks.
I didn't know while reading it that it's part of a series so I was originally a bit miffed over the story feeling a little unresolved but it makes more sense now I know it's a series. I look forward to the sequel and seeing where the story and characters goes next.
Thank you Netgalley and Hodderscape for the eARC of Shadowed Moonlight by K.C. Harper.
It's a fast paced, high stakes read, that sinks its fangs in from the very beginning.
It's addictive, so get ready to Wolf it down 😜
The characters, Ladies and Gentlemen let me introduce you to your soon to be new obsession, the delectable swoon-worthy Kane 'Come near her and I'll rip your throat out' Slade, who I guarantee is the purrfect Book Boyfriend material.
Briar is the queen of Snark and Sarcasm, her hurt is palpable and her growth through the story was brilliant as she finds herself and her strength.
My oh my the chemistry between them is off the chart, Mr. Wolfy Mcwolferson scores big on the swoon factor and spice!
Loving Kane nearly destroyed Briar once; now that he's Alpha, he could be her end.
Briar Stone has rebuilt her life after she was heartbroken and abandoned by her Were partner Kane, four years ago. She's got a job at a supernatural tavern, a Magi boyfriend, Mason, and a side-gig reading auras. But none of that matters while her younger brother is addicted to Vamp venom and a few doses away from death.
When a series of brutal murders target the city of Cambria, the supernatural conclave is sent in to track the serial killer and find answers. Briar can inhabit the dead's final, painful moments and will provide them with answers..in return for the cash to afford a cure for her brother. But first she needs a way into the conclave, her in: her Ex, now the Alpha. He agrees to give her access IF she acts as his mate during the investigation, with all that it entails.
Surrounded by the Were she once hoped to call family, Briar finds herself dragged into Kane's world of sex, danger and supernatural politics.
She has to fight her treacherous heart and the growing connection to the lover who ruined her life. Remembering she's there only to help her brother, she has a new life, a new boyfriend waiting after she's found the serial killer.
But she's not the only one seeking answers. The Killer has his eyes on her, and he may be closer than she thinks.
I didn't know while reading it that it's part of a series so I was originally a bit miffed over the story feeling a little unresolved but it makes more sense now I know it's a series. I look forward to the sequel and seeing where the story and characters goes next.
Thank you Netgalley and Hodderscape for the eARC of Shadowed Moonlight by K.C. Harper.
October 5, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Shadowed Moonlight by K.C. Harper is a first person-POV paranormal second chance romance. Briar is a witch living in a city for paranormal beings and doing what she can to help her brother who is addicted to a drug called V. When several people end up dead, Briar is assigned to try to solve the murders but what she wasn’t counting on was for her ex, Kane, the new Alpha, to stroll in or for her Coven to ask her to pretend to be his mate.
One of the most interesting things was the deviations from typical werewolf romances. Kane has a lot more control regarding when or even if he marks Briar as his mate than there is in some interpretations of the subgenre. Because everything is from Briar’s POV, we don’t know if there is any lore relating to mates in the werewolf world or when exactly Kane realized Briar was who he always wanted. Other werewolf tropes are present, such as commanding someone a rank lower than you and then feeling compelled to obey, and we get to see that on the page and explored a bit.
The second chance romance starts off with Briar only going through with pretending to be Kane’s mate because she feels that there is no other choice. The added layer to this is what we learn much later in regards to why Kane was gone for four years and Briar’s sort of boyfriend, Mason. I didn't care for Mason one bit; he's a Nice Guy who's true colors get shown the further into the narrative we go. He pushed Briar into the fake relationship and I was really glad when she told him that they were over even if she did leave Kane because it was a big red flag how Mason handled all of that.
Trauma plays a major part in the narrative, from Briar and Kane’s sides. Briar finds her mother's behavior to be emotionally abusive and that her mother does not really consider Lucas, Briar’s younger brother, and his needs. While Kane was away, he was repeatedly SA’d by a pack member. While we don't get a ton of detail on this, it's pretty obvious that he didn't consent and, hopefully, his POV will be explored in later books so we can be told his story more fully.
Content warning for mentions of miscarriage, abuse, SA, depictions of emotional abuse
I would recommend this to fans of paranormal romance who prefer for all parties to have more of a choice in their mates, readers of Romantasy who want something set in our current world, and those looking for a werewolf romance that also features witches and vampires
Shadowed Moonlight by K.C. Harper is a first person-POV paranormal second chance romance. Briar is a witch living in a city for paranormal beings and doing what she can to help her brother who is addicted to a drug called V. When several people end up dead, Briar is assigned to try to solve the murders but what she wasn’t counting on was for her ex, Kane, the new Alpha, to stroll in or for her Coven to ask her to pretend to be his mate.
One of the most interesting things was the deviations from typical werewolf romances. Kane has a lot more control regarding when or even if he marks Briar as his mate than there is in some interpretations of the subgenre. Because everything is from Briar’s POV, we don’t know if there is any lore relating to mates in the werewolf world or when exactly Kane realized Briar was who he always wanted. Other werewolf tropes are present, such as commanding someone a rank lower than you and then feeling compelled to obey, and we get to see that on the page and explored a bit.
The second chance romance starts off with Briar only going through with pretending to be Kane’s mate because she feels that there is no other choice. The added layer to this is what we learn much later in regards to why Kane was gone for four years and Briar’s sort of boyfriend, Mason. I didn't care for Mason one bit; he's a Nice Guy who's true colors get shown the further into the narrative we go. He pushed Briar into the fake relationship and I was really glad when she told him that they were over even if she did leave Kane because it was a big red flag how Mason handled all of that.
Trauma plays a major part in the narrative, from Briar and Kane’s sides. Briar finds her mother's behavior to be emotionally abusive and that her mother does not really consider Lucas, Briar’s younger brother, and his needs. While Kane was away, he was repeatedly SA’d by a pack member. While we don't get a ton of detail on this, it's pretty obvious that he didn't consent and, hopefully, his POV will be explored in later books so we can be told his story more fully.
Content warning for mentions of miscarriage, abuse, SA, depictions of emotional abuse
I would recommend this to fans of paranormal romance who prefer for all parties to have more of a choice in their mates, readers of Romantasy who want something set in our current world, and those looking for a werewolf romance that also features witches and vampires
October 3, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and K.C. Harper for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars, rounded down, because it doesn't match the quality of other books I've rated 4 stars.
The year is 2004 and urban fantasy is in its heyday. Many books are published lording a badass female main character with spunk, magic, and some kind of attitude problem. These books slap, because at this stage in the publishing game, very few of these books exist, and it's refreshing to read about a powerful woman, rather than a demure one. Buffy-esque and trope-filled, they quickly become the perfect serials, most boasting at least a five book roster before fading into obscurity when the dystopian leads take over at the turn of a new decade.
I mention this, because Shadowed Moonlight is reminiscent of this bygone era. When reading this book, I felt as if I held a novel I'd pulled out of a time capsule that I'd buried in my backyard as a tweenager. I felt transported back into a time when Charmed dominated the ratings, and everyone owned a copy of Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. For better or for worse, this book will take you back to this era. I truly have no other way to describe it.
Unfortunately, this also means that Shadowed Moonlight was published more than a decade too late. I truly believe this would have been a hit with readers back in the day, but now? Now, because the marketplace is oversaturated with options, it is with great regret that I share the belief that this book is simply not exciting enough for readers like me. There's nothing wrong with it. In fact, it's a solid book with a solid plot. It's just that it is only a solid book with a solid plot. There is nothing new here.
That being said, K.C. Harper is incredibly gifted at writing smut — and coming from someone like me, who is usually repulsed by unrealistic comparisons or absurdly short refractory periods, that's saying something. Honestly, she could make $$$ if she ventured into the erotica market, be it with a pen name or her own.
Overall, I enjoyed Shadowed Moonlight, but it didn't wow me like its competitors. And it's such a tough world out there right now, so I have so much respect to authors who are consistently writing solid books with solid plots. I hope she continues to publish more content, as I suspect, much like the esteemed Charlaine Harris and her Sookie Stackhouse novels, K. C. Harper's work will only continue to improve as her narratives are developed over time.
3.5 stars, rounded down, because it doesn't match the quality of other books I've rated 4 stars.
The year is 2004 and urban fantasy is in its heyday. Many books are published lording a badass female main character with spunk, magic, and some kind of attitude problem. These books slap, because at this stage in the publishing game, very few of these books exist, and it's refreshing to read about a powerful woman, rather than a demure one. Buffy-esque and trope-filled, they quickly become the perfect serials, most boasting at least a five book roster before fading into obscurity when the dystopian leads take over at the turn of a new decade.
I mention this, because Shadowed Moonlight is reminiscent of this bygone era. When reading this book, I felt as if I held a novel I'd pulled out of a time capsule that I'd buried in my backyard as a tweenager. I felt transported back into a time when Charmed dominated the ratings, and everyone owned a copy of Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. For better or for worse, this book will take you back to this era. I truly have no other way to describe it.
Unfortunately, this also means that Shadowed Moonlight was published more than a decade too late. I truly believe this would have been a hit with readers back in the day, but now? Now, because the marketplace is oversaturated with options, it is with great regret that I share the belief that this book is simply not exciting enough for readers like me. There's nothing wrong with it. In fact, it's a solid book with a solid plot. It's just that it is only a solid book with a solid plot. There is nothing new here.
That being said, K.C. Harper is incredibly gifted at writing smut — and coming from someone like me, who is usually repulsed by unrealistic comparisons or absurdly short refractory periods, that's saying something. Honestly, she could make $$$ if she ventured into the erotica market, be it with a pen name or her own.
Overall, I enjoyed Shadowed Moonlight, but it didn't wow me like its competitors. And it's such a tough world out there right now, so I have so much respect to authors who are consistently writing solid books with solid plots. I hope she continues to publish more content, as I suspect, much like the esteemed Charlaine Harris and her Sookie Stackhouse novels, K. C. Harper's work will only continue to improve as her narratives are developed over time.
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