Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Underwhelming romantasy full of swearing, violence, and sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In WHEN THE MOON HATCHED, those who can weild the magic of the gods rule over the "nulls" and dying dragons calcify into moons that litter the sky. Raeve, an assassin for the rebellion group Fíur du Ath, seeks justice for the downtrodden. When a bounty hunter sets out to find one of the group's agents, Raeve is pulled into a downward spiral of violence, terror and grief. Finding herself torn from home, she sets out for revenge. But as the deep well of repressed memory that lurks within her subconscious begins to overflow, she finds herself both on the hunt, and hunted by her own past.
Is It Any Good?
Dragon moons and gods-imbued magic add a creative touch to this story about a feisty, violent, and damaged fae female. But while the protagonist of When the Moon Hatched is strong willed, she is also crass, snarky, and not altogether likable. The other characters feel flat—too similar and generic to do much more than move the plot forward. Every character swears excessively, which detracts from their individuality, and they mostly solve their problems through violence or smack-talking. The most interesting chapters were the diary entries, which paints a different, slightly more complex picture of the world then what's shown in the rest of the book.
Some of the descriptions are hard to visualize, and a lot of the world-building feels tacked on in an attempt to add some uniqueness. While the dragon moons are cool, the dragons themselves don't add much to the story. The author had a lot to work with, but she leaned into bloodshed and bitter snark instead of focusing on deepening her characters and building out the magic. The romance feels predictable and based on lust more than actual feelings. This first book in the series doesn't come to a satisfying conclusion, leaving readers to wait for the sequel. There is a long glossary at the beginning of the book that might deter some readers, but it's easy enough to skip and dive right in without becoming overly confused.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in When the Moon Hatched. Does defending innocents make Raeve's violence acceptable? Why or why not?
What do you think about the world-building? Are there elements in this fantasy world that remind you of current or historical events?
What do you think about the amount of swearing in this book? Would you enjoy it if there was less swearing? Does it add or subtract from the character development?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Avon Books (HarperCollins)
- Publication date : May 7, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
- Number of pages : 576
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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