When the Moon Hatched, Sarah A. Parker, HarperCollins UK, USBN: 9780008710583

WHEN the Moon Hatched had all the ingredients for a standout romantasy: a tormented assassin heroine, a mysterious rescuer with a shared past, a revenge arc, dragons, and a simmering enemies-to-lovers romance. With echoes of Game of Thrones and A Court of Thorns and Roses, it promised an epic fantasy experience. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the execution didn’t live up to the potential.

The story follows Raeve, a skilled assassin determined to rid her world of tyrants. But one misstep on a mission leads to the death of someone she loves and her own capture. Awaiting execution, Raeve is rescued by a man claiming to know her from the past. Torn between vengeance and growing feelings for this enigmatic stranger, she stubbornly resists confronting old memories and her true identity.

Despite its 700+ pages, the world-building falls flat. Dragons, which should have been a captivating focal point, felt like an afterthought. Worse still, many terms, places, and magical elements are either buried in the glossary or left entirely unexplained – making for a disjointed and frustrating reading experience.

The pacing drags, weighed down by repetitive themes and excessive descriptions. Several chapters feel like filler, and meaningful character development is lacking. Raeve, in particular, is difficult to connect with. While the author may have intended for her to be a hardened, hollow, sharp-tongued heroine, she comes across as selfish and distant.

Kaan, her love interest, is more sympathetic, and his yearning for Raeve is occasionally touching, however, their romance feels forced. Furthermore, the plot twists are, unfortunately, predictable.

For those who enjoy a straightforward enemies-to-lovers romance with a sprinkle of magic, this may still be an enjoyable read. But readers hoping for immersive world-building, strong pacing, or emotionally rich character arcs might be left disappointed. Despite my criticisms, there was an aspect to the story that kept me interested, and I would be keen to see what happens in the next installment. Mariclair Smit – 3/5 stars