When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker

HarperCollins

9780008710224

576pp

Meet Raeve, an assassin whose inner sanctum is a world of ice and murk. Meet Kaan Vaegor, the heartbroken king, mourning the loss of his one true love. You can kind of see where this is going, right? Well, you’re right and wrong. A dragon-filled epic, there is a reason why When the Moon Hatched is a worldwide phenomenon.

I’ve not read much romantasy, tending to err towards high fantasy, or even just plain old literary fiction. But I enjoyed the ACOTAR series immensely, and this book had been on my wishlist for a while. I was instantly drawn in to the world of Raeve, the pace never letting up, and formed a quick attachment to her. Broken protagonists, amirite? Raeve’s world is full of ice and darkness, blood and malice. She has survived so much, and so it is no wonder that when she is captured by a bounty hunter and put on trial, the experience nearly breaks her.

Enter, Kaan. At first I was a bit unsure about his chapters. He didn’t feel as well-drawn as Raeve. But I warmed to him as Raeve did (intentionally, I’m sure). As Raeve and Kaan face-off, you can’t help but root for them. There was something completely authentic about their relationship. Kaan rescues Raeve from her trial, and thus ensues the main meat of the story; who is Raeve, and what is she to Kaan?

I was mesmerised by the world-building in this book. Key to any fantasy is the balance between fantastical and believable, and Sarah A. Parker walks this line well. There was never a moment where I felt lost or confused (I never referred to the glossary at the back). By far my favourite moment was the introduction of some of the dragons. The myth around the dragons is so cleverly done, that you can almost feel the dragon-breath on the back of your neck as you read.

This book absolutely bangs, if I’m honest. Book 2 in the series is due out later this year, and I have already pre-ordered my copy in preparation. You’ll have noticed it’s my first 5-star review of the year, and for good reason: believable romance, stellar world-building, and fast-paced action that never leaves you behind. A wonder of romantasy!