Blood on the Moon

June 27, 2011
Freshman Faith Reynolds is finding Colorado State University frustrating and confusing enough without her "seriously good-looking" best friend Derek trying to change their platonic relationship into a romantic one. Instead, Faith is attracted to Lucas, her aloof project partner who is rumored to be part of a weird and isolated mountain family. Despite the recent murders of five young women in the area, their bodies found drained of blood, Faith engages in risky behaviors like drinking too much and letting a sexy stranger drive her home. She narrowly escapes danger thanks to Lucas, but is soon caught in a conflict between vampires and werewolves. Relationship situations ring true, though Knight's debut novel is heavy on the angst as Faith wallows in her inability to truly love ("hat neither of you get is that I'm as screwed up as you two. I don't have some freaky supernatural thing going, but I have my own issues"). While it doesn't stand out in a crowded genre, it's an entertaining story with a juicy climax and cliffhanger ending that sets up an inevitable sequel. Ages 13âup.

June 1, 2011

Knight rehashes themes of werewolf-vampire rivalry and redemptive paranormal romance in a debut that adds little to the genre until the final cliffhanger.

Against the familiar backdrop of remote wilderness and mysterious murders, Colorado State freshman Faith rebuffs the advances of bosom buddy Derek, falling instead for Lucas, an aloof and stunning specimen who morphs into fur, claws and saliva when the urge is strong or the moon is full. When Faith pairs up with Lucas on a school assignment, his one-time best friend and centuries-old vampire nemesis, Vincent, haphazardly targets her as a vehicle to hurt and distract Lucas; Lucas' affection for Faith develops in earnest only after she becomes Vincent's mark. Overly stiff and direct dialogue in this first-person narrative often dulls any excitement that might arise from the conflict and power play over Faith's safety and mortality. Her ability to intuit people's vibes is underutilized, though her telepathic influence over Lucas when he is in wolf form is crucial to the plot. Mounting ardor between Faith and Lucas heightens the stakes of the climactic battle that draws Lucas' pack from its enclave and results in highly unusual circumstances for one of its casualties.

Curiosity about the author's ending promise to tweak paranormal mythology will impel some readers to the sequel, provided they care to learn more about Faith's travails. (Paranormal romance. 14 & up)

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February 1, 2012

Gr 8 Up-Faith Reynolds enters college hoping it will be different from high school and not expecting the same nonsense: annoying people, petty gossip, and boring classes. She's also not prepared for her best friend, Derek, wanting to become romantically involved. Instead, Faith is attracted to her mysterious project partner, Lucas, and intrigued by Vincent, a charming and gorgeous guy she meets at a nightclub. Even though a number of young women have been murdered recently, Faith throws caution to the wind and agrees to go out partying with Vincent. When he tries to kill her, she realizes that he's a vampire. She's saved by none other than Lucas, who's a werewolf and Vincent's ancient nemesis. Faith's and Lucas's feelings for each other grow stronger, even as they realize that he and his fellow werewolves must act quickly to keep more people from being killed. Though there are many werewolf- and vampire-centered novels out there, Knight's debut stands out. This fast-paced book is full of suspense, emotional conflict, and great characters. The gripping ending leaves readers dying for more.-Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.