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A review by maggiestraveledbookshelf
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
DNF at 35%
I never write a review for a book that I DNFed… but I’m making an exception here. (Note: I will never leave a Star Rating for any DNF book.)
I really wanted to love this book!! The concept, the opening chapter, the 5 star reviews - It all seemed very promising.
Let me start with this: I believe the author is capable of beautiful prose, and the story underneath all the other elements has the potential to be good.
However.
1. First issue: Writing style
Every single page is overinflated with lofty diatribes, superfluous descriptions, and self-deprecating inner dialogues. Example below:
“Survival’s funny. Some wear it like a whisper, others like a scream. Mine’s a scorched skeleton of flame-forged rage that keeps me upright. Keeps me moving forward.”
An occasional line like this? I love it!!! Every single paragraph on every single page? It just stops being impactful.
2. My next issue: The opening glossary.
This book begins with a multi page glossary, key terms of places in time, pronunciation, and cast of characters. The author notes that you don't necessarily need to read this before beginning the book, but I believe it’s extremely necessary.
It seems as if this glossary was a short-cut of world building, and it made the reading process seem clunky and confusing, rather than immersive and engaging.
3. Next issue: Pacing
I kept trying to trudge through and get to a point in the book where the pace starts to pick up, but it just wasn’t working for me unfortunately.
The interspersed diary entries were also not working in my reading experience.
All that to say… This was frustrating.
If you had similar issues with the book and were glad that you finished it by the end, please let me know if I should try again.
I never write a review for a book that I DNFed… but I’m making an exception here. (Note: I will never leave a Star Rating for any DNF book.)
I really wanted to love this book!! The concept, the opening chapter, the 5 star reviews - It all seemed very promising.
Let me start with this: I believe the author is capable of beautiful prose, and the story underneath all the other elements has the potential to be good.
However.
1. First issue: Writing style
Every single page is overinflated with lofty diatribes, superfluous descriptions, and self-deprecating inner dialogues. Example below:
“Survival’s funny. Some wear it like a whisper, others like a scream. Mine’s a scorched skeleton of flame-forged rage that keeps me upright. Keeps me moving forward.”
An occasional line like this? I love it!!! Every single paragraph on every single page? It just stops being impactful.
2. My next issue: The opening glossary.
This book begins with a multi page glossary, key terms of places in time, pronunciation, and cast of characters. The author notes that you don't necessarily need to read this before beginning the book, but I believe it’s extremely necessary.
It seems as if this glossary was a short-cut of world building, and it made the reading process seem clunky and confusing, rather than immersive and engaging.
3. Next issue: Pacing
I kept trying to trudge through and get to a point in the book where the pace starts to pick up, but it just wasn’t working for me unfortunately.
The interspersed diary entries were also not working in my reading experience.
All that to say… This was frustrating.
If you had similar issues with the book and were glad that you finished it by the end, please let me know if I should try again.