After dinner is cut short due to a mysterious black moon with a red ring, Sylvie overhears a slightly heated argument between her mom and grandma that prompts her to find out the source of contention - especially since it involves her and her birthright that she was not aware of. What follows next changes Sylvie’s life for good, as she is thrown into saving a world that she thought was only a part of her imagination. With her list of things to learn, and creatures to save constantly growing, will she be able to keep all her promises to rescue those who need her and break the curse her mother is under? Or will the weight of it all change her mind?
I thought this was a fun, easy read! It felt very traditionally YA and would be perfect for younger readers who love fantasy but can also handle a little bit of darkness in their stories.
I agree with what other reviewers have said about the Dream Realm giving Wonderland vibes. I think that’s a great comparison! The world was so unique and filled with all kinds of interesting and strange characters, much like Wonderland.
I did think there were a few too many POVs, which ultimately kept me from connecting with Sylvie on a deep level…I couldn’t quite get past a superficial appreciation of her because when I’d start to connect, we’d be thrown into a new POV.
Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
BETWEEN THE MOONS is a YA fantasy that I find perfectly suited for readers on the younger side of the YA spectrum or readers who enjoy that kind of story. It’s an easy read, but one that will definitely transport you into a fun adventure. The story unfolds a bit like a storybook tale—like Alice in Wonderland, but with an awesome family dynamic and more mystery. It moves between the human world and the Dream Realm—literally, the place where dreams are created. I especially loved getting to unravel more and more of the Dream Realm’s secrets and meeting its inhabitants. True to its name, the Dream Realm is filled with whimsical characters and fantastical creatures. We have monsters, gnomes, mermaids, talking animals. I absolutely loved how magical everything felt there.
The reason I say the book reads like a younger YA is that the characters, however enjoyable, weren’t extremely complex. There was little room for gray morality, but rather each one was well-defined within the role of hero or villain (at least for now). This didn’t make the reading experience less pleasurable, however. The characters were fun, and I loved the family bonds—especially those between the protagonist, Sylvie, and her grandparents—and the found family dynamic with the friends she makes in the Dream Realm.
My one complaint—and ultimately the reason why I’m not giving the book a full 4 stars—is that I would have preferred to have less POV characters. I would have liked to find out some of the information on the Dream Realm and some character backstories through Sylvie’s perspective or through dialogues, but overall I really enjoyed escaping to the Dream Realm with Sylvie and her friends! There’s still so many mysteries to unravel, and I’m especially curious to see how the very last plot twist will unfold in the sequel!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.
Thanks so very much to author P.L. Porter for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and views expressed below are entirely my own.
Admittedly, I hardly ever reach for YA fantasy these days, but this was such a welcome and fast-paced palette cleanser for me to dive into this week! So much of this narrative touched that nostalgic part of my soul that is still so in love with storybook fairy tales. I’m such a sucker for an author who can so very beautifully entwine fantastical whimsy with darker elements of mystery! VERY interested to see how the plot thickens in the sequel!
For me, the crown jewel of this book was the worldbuilding of the super intriguing Dream Realm. I loved the mystical and curious vibe, which provided for an excellent escape from reality! Although the many character perspectives provided for a mutli-faceted understanding of diverse experiences, I would say it was a bit difficult to keep up with, but altogether this was an enjoyable and well-paced first installment!
Perfect for fans of classics such as Alice in Wonderland and the Chronicles of Narnia. This one is undoubtedly being shelved under FairyTale/Fantasy in my classroom for my high school students to enjoy for years to come!
This was a fun read! Great for younger readers and those that love Coraline, Alice in Wonderland, and maybe even The Neverending Story. This story is more along the lines of a darker story with fairytale elements. Sylvie has learned that nothing is what it seems, during her summer vacation she learns the truth about her family, which takes her on a rollercoaster ride filled with magic and mystery. The relationship she has with the other characters is truly wholesome!
I loved that the Dream Realm was filled with curiosities and different characters! It definitely gave me that feel of Wonderland in a sense. The pacing of the story was pretty steady. I wish there would have been more origin stories, I love learning about the different characters and their pasts. This would be awesome to read in the second book! I am a sucker for the side characters, they totally help build the story.
Huge thanks to the author for sending me a copy! All opinions are my own.
Title: Between the Moons Author: P.L. Porter Release Date: July 27th, 2021 Page Count: 323 Start Date: August 23rd, 2022 Finish Date: August 27th, 2022
Review: Story: I planned to read a couple chapters a day here and there. I wound up getting behind. It didn't matter. The moment I picked up this book, I practically devoured it. If I could have gotten away with it, I probably would have blown off all of my responsibilities to read it all in one sitting! I need the rest of this series in my life! I need multiple novellas based on this world. It's wonderful. I knew when I stumbled upon this book that I would love it. I always trust my gut when it comes to books. I haven't been wrong about a book I just know I'm going to love yet. Characters: I was really intrigued by how much depth all the characters in the book. My favorites were the one the came from the dream realm. Especially ones that come in later in the book. I'm going to leave it at that so I don't put any spoilers. Critiques: I can't think of any really. Final Thoughts: I really loved this book. It's unique and fun and I really am glad I read it. I can't even begin to explain how quickly I devoured it. This is this author's debut novel! It's really well written and so wonderful to read. She has a great writing style. It's also full of humorous characters and scenes. I found myself laughing so much! I really need more people to read this so I can have discussions about it!
This book was a quick YA read. It was fun and dark and funny and enjoyable. If you love Alice in wonderland, you’ll love this. It’s whimsical with the Dream Realm and all the different characters that are dreamed up there. I would love to know more about the Dream realm and all the creatures there. I love wonderland and have always wanted to go so the Dream Realm would be amazing to visit. Even if a little dark.
Sylvie is a normal high school girl about to start her summer break when she discovers her heritage of being a watcher in the dream world. Reads like a dark fairy tale with original and unusual characters with emotions that are really relatable! Really looking forward to the next book in the series!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The descriptions of the characters were so vivid, it was like I was watching a magical fantasy movie. Kudos to the author! Looking forward to a second book.
Loved the book the first time I read it in 2022 and loved it again now mid-2024. Took it with me knowing vacation and it was the perfect book to read with a cup of coffee on the porch.