As far as a second book can go, this one was one of the best I’ve read. There was NO Second Book Syndrome and we got to learn a lot more about the characters, their motivations, their fears. I also liked how the plot was always moving forward and never dragged.

The illustrations are pretty cute, by no means do they look perfect, which is why they are so great. They are Ella’s thoughts as she experiences the journey and I definitely wish more fantasy books had a similar concept.

The character growth of this book was great! I felt that I was able to learn more about them all and I liked how they learned to interact together even when they did not agree on the best route to go.

All and all, this was a great second book to the series and I'm eager to see what the finale of the third brings.



Rating: 4/5

Language: n/a

Romance: a few kisses

Spiritual: n/a

Violence: some, not super detailed, but very prominent; death



*I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all thoughts are my own. ( )

If you have not read the first book in this trilogy, I highly recommend it. These books are meant to be read in chronological order. This book picks up right after the first one. Therefore, by not reading the first book, you will be lost.

It was nice to continue this journey with Ella, her mother, Tessa, and grandfather, Archie. Ella has a new friend and potential love interest in Luggie. Yet, there is still the issue of the Lord of Olearon. He is evil. Besides him, there are the Olearons and Bangols.

Ella and her family are slowly getting closer to trying to find a cure for her cancer. Since the prior novel, Ella has grown confident and become a fighter. Instantly, I do get a movie like quality playing in my head while reading these books. The author does a great job of telling the story. Despite; there being plenty of action, I did find the pacing to still move a bit slowly. In fact, it took me a little while to get excited again about reading this book. Although, I do plan to read the third book to see how it all ends. ( )

This second book in 'The 8th Island Trilogy' continues with more action, turmoil, and introduces even more characters!

Will Ella's advancing cancer end her life before a cure can be found?

Will Ella and Luggie drift apart or is there a way their unconventional relationship turn into more?

Tessa continues to be torn between her husband and her new attraction. What will be the final decision? Ardenal has painfully released her from her vows. Will she grasp this escape?

All these questions, the feuding of the various cultures continue. Will they all be destroyed or will some type of agreement be made?

There is many more incredible "twists" in 'Below the Moon'. The answers will be found, mysteries solved within these next final books of the Trilogy.

I felt there was too many repetitive type of situations, yet it still held the interest of readers. The lead in to the third book was not as strong as the ending of the first book. It almost felt quitting the saga would be feasible. I am looking forward to the final book. I am anticipating a stronger plot... At least i hope so.

*This book was gifted me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review. ( )

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Mine was an advanced reader copy and over 400 pages, it felt like it took a lifetime to get through. I didn't like any of the main characters, and all of the secondary characters sort of blurred together. I completely forgot some were even in the story for several chapters until they suddenly spoke. The writing felt juvenile and the different races were hard to understand and keep track of. I also wasn't a fan of the sketches included in the book, they looked really messy. ( )

With unique style, this book hits the heart and imagination, and leads through an exciting adventure with a touch of romance.

This book takes off where the first one left off (so it seems as I didn't read book one). Archie and his family are settling in on Jarr-Wya, but their troubles are far from over. Ella is battling not only her ever weakening health but also her love life. Tessa is trying to save her daughter while dealing with her own troubles. All the while, they are still wrapped up in secrets, war, and lies.

I received this book and didn't realize until I started reading it that it is the second in a series. Unfortunately, the events of the first book are needed to understand where the second one begins. It took me more than a couple chapters to figure out what was going on and the basics of the world. In other words, this is a series which should be read from the beginning.

The characters, the world and the writing style are unique and give the entire book a flair of its own. Each character has their own personality, background, and concerns. This, along with the twisting plots and sub-plots, make it a read with more depth. It's not only about the mystery and layered intrigue—and there is quite a bit of this—but also about the personal battles. I, personally, had a little trouble connecting with the main characters, which I'm sure had a little to do with the fact that I didn't read book one. Also, the style wasn't quite my thing, although I'm sure many readers will appreciate it.

As an extra nice touch, sketches by Ella dabble the pages. While they don't really enhance the story too much, it was a joy to run across them, and they did help develop her character a bit.

This book is sold as a young adult novel, and I'm not certain it really fits in snuggly to this age group as several of the characters are adults and even Ella hits upon more mature worries such as marriage and bearing children. But it's definitely a read to pick up and is sure to grab the right reader.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed it enough to want to leave my honest thoughts. ( )