“sicknesses of the mind are viewed with a shame not associated with illnesses of the body, but isn't the brain an organ like the heart or lungs? people will shun an insane person more than they would someone with plague, which is ironic. madness isn't catching like a cough.“

i had incredibly high hopes for blood and moonlight. while it didn’t meet my expectations in some areas, it ended up surprising me in ways i did not expect.

what surprised me most about this story was the mental health rep. erin beaty handled topics such as schizophrenia and the stigma surrounding mental illness with respect and grace. in my experience, it’s rare to find fantasy books that tackle these issues, and as a mental health advocate, i appreciated the manner in which beaty highlighted these issues.

the fast-paced plot kept me intrigued, though it was a tad predictable. i figured out the killer within the first few chapters, but the story was no less thrilling. i also found the atmosphere to be lacking. blood and moonlight is marketed as a medieval fantasy, but the dialogue and world-building came across as very modern.

the romance between cat and simon was tender and sweet. i loved them together, and i can’t wait to see what they do in the second installment.

blood and moonlight was a solid read, and i will be picking up more books from the author in the future. 

“maybe the shame would go away if people were just honest. then mental affliction would be considered no stranger than swollen joints or digestion problems, and could be accommodated with the same compassion…”