#20BooksOfSummer 10 – Red Moon Rising- Paula Harrison

#20BooksOfSummer is an annual event hosted by Cathy Brown of 746 Books and runs from 3rd June until 3rd September With the aim to clearing a target of 5, 10 or 20 books from your TBR but with very relaxed and fun rules.

Here is my joining post & List!

Cover design by Lisa Evans

I’ve been intrigued by this book for some time. Littlefae is a fan of Paula Harrison’s Early Chapter books, The Rescue Princesses and The Princess Of Pets and Paula has a gentle way of writing which is comforting even when characters may be in peril.

This is centred around faeries and finding out you are a faery and magical ability so I am in my element!

Faerie
Magical powers
Hidden worlds
Shadow Fae
Discontent

On the last day of school Laney swears she didn’t make the water fountain explode, because that would be crazy. And seeing a hooded figure in strange mist under a Red Moon on her birthday is definitely something to not tell anyone because that is very weird.

Laney’s world is turned upside down when she finds out she is really a faerie but even worse, she’s a ‘late bloomer’ with ‘barely’ any powers and so many people in her village are faeries too who got their powers young like her bully Jessie.

But when the Shadow keeps reappearing in her dreams she goes to Elder Gwen for advice, and sees the Shadow for real whilst on her way…

Red Moon Rising was originally published in 2013 as Faery Tribes: The Crystal Mirror

I actually really enjoyed this youthful MG story about discontent between the faerie tribes that are trapped in the real world, frightened to enter their faery rings and bicker amongst each other constantly causing pain and divides.

It’s a lovely step between the Early Chapter books and more challenging MG with a gentle vocabulary, bigger font, enough peril and short snappy chapters with a steady strong pace to keep interest- so much so that I devoured this book in one sitting as I kept thinking one more chapter!!

“Your faerie self was always inside you, waiting. Maybe it was simply the right time for it to come alive.”

There is a dash of Chosen One, but if Laney is The Chosen One it’s not made clear here, perhaps with things building gently for the other two books in the Trilogy. I liked that there isn’t a sudden mastery that Laney messes up, she falls down and is underestimated throughout and although she does find some skills, she certainly struggles, it’s not like she pouts for a page then can take on a master of magic after 5 minutes contemplating her navel.

Love the magical systems too with the different tribes commanding a power or skill such as those who can live with animals, have dominion over plants, water, flight and more. I think I would want to be a Thorn and have harmony with plants, I’m definitely more of a Rosetta than a Silvermist, Vidia or Fawn if we’re thinking on Tinkerbell movie terms!

I will definitely be seeking out Dark Tree Shining to continue Laney’s adventures!!

Red Moon Rising by Paula Harrison is published by Nosy Crow and was originally published as Faery Tribes: The Crystal Mirror with Nosy Crow.