As Silver Is to the Moon

by R.A. Watt

New school. First love. A psychotic werewolf that wanted me dead. And it was only week one in Santa Isadora.

For fifteen-year-old Teavan Laurent and his older sister Suzanne, Santa Isadora seemed like a sleepy and idyllic California town to finish high school after their unexpected move west from New York City.

As he struggles to make friends in a town shrouded in secrets, Teavan soon finds himself the target of an irrational tormentor and rumored-to-be werewolf. The revenge-obsessed psycho vows to wipe out Teavan and his small family due to past wrongs beyond Teavan’s control or knowledge. The twisted legacy left to him by his late grandfather brings Teavan at odds with everything he knows to be true—or at least everything he thought to be true.

The impossible truth of the tale begins to gain traction at his first wolf sighting, and Teavan and Suzanne soon find themselves in the crosshairs of the dark and secretive lycan world of Santa Isadora.

Stalked by a legend that shouldn’t exist, Teavan must decide how far he is willing to go to save those that he loves and come to terms with what lurks from within.

Genres: Young Adult

310 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2019

About the author

R. A. Watt is a lover of books, food, wine, and his family. He lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. AS SILVER IS TO THE MOON is his debut novel.

Reviews

[Maryam Rz. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 TEEN STARS

“Gold is to the sun what Silver is to the moon.”

When I dived into As Silver Is to the Moon, I was excited for sth like one of my fave TV shows Teen Wolf: a fun and hilarious teen adventure with unforgettable and adorable characters (I mean, DUH, Stiles!?), peppered with chilling mystery and addictive supernatural creatures, finally giving werewolves the stage they deserve.

This is how I ended up feeling:



Because this book is all that...watered down.
I think I'd sum up my thoughts in a list to spare us both from lengthy paragraphs ↓

PROS:
• enjoyable, fun, and thrilling plot
• likable characters
• a fast read with easy, page-turner writing
• nice high school teens and bullying atmosphere

CONS:
• straight up predictable
• insufficient character depth and development
• inadequately explored relationships
• lacking mystery and paranormal vibe

In the end, yes I found it enjoyable, and can I say that I love the cover? If you're picking this up, don't expect much and you'll be fine and have some fun. But if you like something along these lines and are a fan of TV shows, then watch Teen Wolf ASAP—season 3B is the best thing ever 😭

Many thanks to TER Publishing for granting me an eARC thorough NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

[(Ellie) ReadtoRamble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a really interesting read for me, I haven't read any "werewolf" stories in a long time, in fact, not since Twilight was all the rage I think. I loved Twilight when I read it and I am nostalgic about it, however, with age I have come to understand that it is a bit shoddy and badly written; this book, however, is not. I quite enjoyed it, I think I will give it 3,75 stars just because at some times I didn't get the "feels" I was expecting.
I really appreciated that this book was not at all cringe-worthy like most books on this subject and I felt immersed in the story. I read it relatively fast because it was nicely paced and it kept my interest with all the plot twists.
This book follows the story of a teenage boy who has just moved to Santa Izadora with his older sister and father, they came from New York when his grandfather died and bequeathed his house in his will to them with the express wish that they live there for 10 years. He soon discovers that weird things happen in this town and most importantly that his late grandfather was a werewolf, and he has the gene too. It is a story of apprenticeship you could say, of growth and of family and friendship and I really enjoyed it.
The story was well written and I hope there are going to be more books following Teavan and his friends.

[Tierra T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this because it’s dealing with werewolves! I looooove werewolves. This book was good liked the characters & it was good story!

[A.D. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fifteen-year-old Teavan Laurent and his older sister Suzanne are dismayed when their father decides to move them from New York to small-town California. Their estranged grandfather has passed away, leaving them a rural estate. Shortly after their arrival, a violent bully targets Teavan, citing a mysterious shared "family history." Over the course of the novel, Teavan discovers that lycanthropy is real and that he and everyone he cares about is in great danger.

I enjoy werewolf stories, but found this book to be disappointing. There were a few interesting bits, such the brief appearance of a mysterious run-down cabin and an old bag containing coins and pendants, but these portions were not followed through to any satisfying conclusion. Character development was weak, with major players feeling like they'd been chosen from a checklist of basic stereotypes. Much of the content read as a bit juvenile for the target audience, yet there was violence and language better suited to a mature crowd. The plot was a straight, predictable line.

What bothered me most, however, was the treatment of female characters in this story. They were all, in some way or another, sexualized, usually by the main character. Written in the first person, his open consideration of their figures were cringe-inducing and unnecessary. If such comments were limited only to his love interest, okay, fine. But he even remarks on the looks and shape of the "old" neighbor lady he considered a mother figure. All this while representing himself as pure and chivalrous. To me, it made him terribly unlikable.

If further attention were given to character development-- more personality and motives, less objectification, please-- the characters would be stronger, and this book might rate better with me. As it stands, I would not recommend.

Thank you to Ter Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Bobgirl81 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely had to read the book I love werewolves; it was great. It started out slow but got really interesting. I like that it explained the history of the lycanthropes and the bits of french it had. Can't wait for the next one.Totally would recommend for anyone that doesn't mind a bit of violence.

*Thanks to the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Coralee Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I read this in an e format as an Advanced Reader copy from net galley and Ter Publishing. Thank you for the opportunity.

This is R. A. Watt's debut YA novel. It is a good solid first effort. The opening sets the stage for the evolution of lycanthropes. In France, in the 18th century, a young girl defies custom and falls in love with a non were. She escapes to Louisiana establishing a line of American werewolves.
Skip to the present day where the new in town family is trying to fit into a rural Northern California town. Teavan can not understand why Bruno has taken such an instant dislike to him. Yes, he is from New York. Yes, he has a disability. Yes, he is smart. But, why is he hated because his last name is Laurent?

The answer? Odd things happen in Santa Isadora. Wild animals that may be more than just animals are seen. People disappear. Perhaps there are wolves in the vicinity. Perhaps the 'wolves' are more dangerous. Watt tells a lively believable story, complete with a budding romantic triangle. He is savvy enough to allude to the Twilight saga, and original enough to encourage the reader to engage in a series about Teagan.

Recommended

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was originally I was going to read a different book but there was something wrong with the mobi file. So I was scrolling through the kindle app on my tablet and chose this one to read. The cover is really quite different when compared to the usual shifter books have. I love the central part of the cover where you can see a wolf, a man, and then baby, or that’s kind of what I see. The byline reads “There are no alphas, no soul mates, only vengeance”. The byline suggests a very “eye for an eye” theme and it does fit part of the book well.

At the very beginning of the book there is a small section set in Calais, France in 1773 where two lycan’s are on a mission. It turns out someone has told Thibault that there is a traitor in their midst, so he and Sabine are hidden and waiting to pounce on the traitor. Thankfully Thibault has not been given the traitors name. Then this section ends and we are plunged straight into the present-day plot which is about Teavan, his father Mike, and his older sister Suzanne having moved out of the city and into the country. The reason for the move to Saint Isadora, California is because Teavan’s grandfather Hubert Laurent has recently died and left his son Mike his property. Mike’s initial reaction had been to sell the property, but, Hubert’s will specifies that the land cannot be sold yet etc etc. Obviously Teavan and Suzanne are not impressed with having to move to the “middle of nowhere” after living in a fast moving city.
The book also has a bullying theme within it. Bruno from the school Suzanne attends is used to getting his own way as he is big, tough and knows how to fight. He easily, beats everyone, and that’s if they even put up any type of fight against him. Soon Teavan, is the guy that Bruno wants to fight, not just because he is the new boy but because it turns out that the Laurent’s and Vincent’s have history that goes back a long time. Their history is revealed within the book, but, all I will say is it involves lycan history and it’s a fight to see which bloodline will survive.



I became really fond of Teavan fairly quickly, I wasn’t keen on the reason he was called Teavan, as I personally thought his sister being unable to say Steven would have worked better if his sister had been younger than him. I did adore the relationship Teavan and his older sister Suzanne had, they tended to not bother each much especially as they both go to different schools, which yes, I thought was a bit odd for such a small place to have two high schools. If perhaps it was in the next community/village along it may have made more sense to me. I totally get the Suzanne wants to do design and textiles and this certain school does that best etc. IT was just a little nitty pick thing.

The pace at the beginning of the book was too slow for my usual preference. My usual shifter reads seem to move more quickly than this one did, so yes, I was beginning to feel a little put off until around 47% when the pace picked up speed and I then felt more pulled into the book and desperate to know what would happen. I really liked the explanation of the use of silver bullets, “Gold is to the sun what Silver is to the moon”

This book would work as a standalone, or beginning to a series. If it is the start of the series, I hope we get more lycan’s, perhaps families coming to settle in the area? The series need more lycan characters. Also, the people that are in charge of keeping the supernatural lycan’s in line too. However, with only two known lycans left in Saint Isadora how will that work? The feel of the book and the high school being within some of the action reminded me a little of teenwolf.

Hmmm, So, it was sooo slooow for the first third of the book. Then you become more interested as you learn a little about the history of the different Lycan bloodlines. I would have liked a little more about Hub’s family and his lycan history. Then as you read on everything is building up to a climax where help in the lycan bloodline fight arrives from a previously unknown lycan, which I thought was really good. On the whole I did really enjoy the book.

[Deven Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

R.A. Watt's debut novel is an intriguing spin on the lycan mythology. Set in a high school in California, Watt ties the roots of his story into an ancient rivalry originating in Europe several centuries earlier. You have to feel sympathy for young Teaven, whose grade nine year--with all the normal stresses a typical teenager has to face--suddenly becomes much more complicated with lycans, family curses, and one of the most disturbingly creepy nightmare sequences I've ever read.

[Jane FitzPatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and TER Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review - loved the book.

[Breane Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an arc from netgalley. Really enjoyed this ya paranormal book. Definitely recommend it!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful coming-of-age adventure with some budding romance. It is the story of an uprooted family moved west, for reasons unclear at the beginning. As Teavan and his sister Suzanne settle into the mysterious town of Santa Isadora, strange things begin to happen and they are thrust into the center of an ongoing dispute with werewolves (lycanthropes).

I thought the book was very well written for a debut author! I look forward to further books by him and especially a book II or III - most of the loose ends were tied up by the end but not all.

I would recommend this book for readers as young as 10 or 11, depending on their maturity and reading level. It was a quick and lovable read over three evenings.

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! The characters are relatable and realistic (especially the two main characters Teavan and his sister Suzanne). The Lycan history is fascinating and adds an interesting edge while not dominating this character driven story. A refreshing change for this genre. I found myself invested in the characters fairly quickly and the building suspense was page turning. While classified as YA, as an adult I thoroughly enjoyed reading this debut novel and have recommended to friends and family. I look forward to a possible sequel.

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

As Silver Is to the Moon is an easy read albeit one that doesn't contribute anything new or particularly exciting to the overdone paranormal/werewolf genre of YA.

The protagonist is a high schooler named Teaven whose life in New York is uprooted upon his grandfather's death and his family is relocated to a small town in California. Upon arrival in their new town Teaven and his sister, Suzanne, begin to discover that there are secrets that the community is keeping, secrets that his grandfather knew and didn't share with the rest of the family - specifically, that they are carriers for the lycan gene. Teaven meets local bully, Bruno, and discovers that they are locked in a family feud that ultimately leads to a final confrontation that was entirely predictable and overwrought with awkwardly written fight scenes.

None of the characters felt especially fleshed out and as a result most of them exist as just stereotypes - the angry werewolf out for revenge, the new werewolf struggling to understand and harness his powers (which funnily enough are described as requiring extensive time and training to hone but which in reality take one transformation cycle only), the church girl, the angsty rebel girl, the wise grandmother, the clueless dad, etc.

Overall I found a lot of the dialogue to be clunky and most of the situations were resolved conveniently with too many instances of deus ex machina for my taste.

This book sets itself up to be the first in a series and if that is indeed the case I will not be picking up the next one.

I received this ARC as a courtesy from NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Southern Today Gone Tomorrow]

Written by R. A. Watt, As Silver Is to the Moon is decent YA, however the best part of the whole series is the first chapter that takes place in France. This novel is about Teavan, a boy whose family (father and older sister) recently moved into the house of his recently deceased grandfather (I know, one too many). And learns that there are more than just coyotes in the woods in this little small town. And that there was more to his grandfather than he knew.

Again, the opening chapter is the best. It was interesting to switch perspectives so thoroughly, but still. Still.

I wanted more from this novel. The writing is decent but very modern and repetitive.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should have been my perfect read as I love a werewolf, but the book just didn’t do it for me at all. The writing felt off, pacing wasn’t good, repetitive and awkward. The characters I had no connection to and didn’t find empathetic. Some parts were just weird

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I usually love werewolf/supernatural books however this book didn't really grab my attention. It was interesting to read from the male leads pov and a male lead who wasn't the alpha male that is usually written about. Usually books like this are written from the female leads pov so it was a nice change and pace.

I did not like the dream sequence. It was creepy and weird and just not my cup of tea. Other than that one aspect it was an easy read. I would say that it was for young adult readers middle school age, 12-18 depending on the reader's maturity. There was some profanity which was very light, no sex, and one scene that was underage drinking but it was kept very minimal.

Some of the writing came off chunky and it was hard to get through those bits. I would have liked it better if the book had more mature aspects but this is a young adult book.

If this is a first book in the start of a series I will not be picking up the next book.