Silver Moon (Silver Moon, #1)

For some reason, I thought this book was free when I bought it; and honestly, I really wish it had been. It's not that I think the story is bad, because it's not... really. The premise is good enough and I can see myself tolerating a story like this, as long as the writing is decent. I can get over a cliche teenage dramafest, a blatantly obvious need for an editor, and an average overall premise, but I certainly cannot get over terrible development and structure. Unfortunately, this book - the way it is - has A LOT of work to do in that arena.

For me, it wasn't developed well enough, if at all. I could tell things were happening just for the sake of the story and not in a natural way. It seemed forced and RUSHED! For example, how many times can Candra find out some valuable piece of information, discover a secret, or catch people doing nefarious things just by simply going on a leisurely walk? Maybe we can use the "walk thing" once, but almost every time? You have got to get more creative - and less predictable - than that. Especially when she's supposed to be on lockdown so she doesn't get killed, anyway. At one point, her aunt let's her go for a walk right when she gets home from the hospital after being attacked by the rival clan WHO IS STILL OUT TO GET HER, all while supposedly being grounded for getting into trouble while on, you guessed it, a previous walk. Who lets a freshly-discharged attack victim take a walk by themselves while grounded for doing that exact same thing? Not to mention, the offenders are obviously out to harm her and not afraid to bust into a locked public building and confront the people she's with to do so. Yeah, so why don't you just let her now-injured self walk around solo right out in the open. They'll surely never come after her like that. It would be so easy they'd think it's a trap. Ridiculous.

And conversations and situations have got to be more believable and sensible. I, for the life of me, could not believe that all Candra's parents had to say to her on the phone when she told them she was almost killed was "by who?" then "okay, we'll be there in the morning, love you." I don't know about you, but my parents probably wouldn't let me off the phone until they were by my side if I were almost killed. Those are just two examples of the many I could give you about how much this story doesn't make sense and isn't believable.

It's not just the plot and movement of this book that are underdeveloped, either. It's EVERYTHING. The characters are one-dimensional, the relationships are superficial, and the circumstances are befuddling. Candra and Ben are supposed to have this undeniable bond, but I don't remember anything happening to make me believe it. And besides that, where is the character build-up? Everyone is automatically one thing or another and then they just stay that way like robots for the entire book. They're either there to protect Candra or destroy Candra and everything they do or say is in accordance to whichever one they are. There's no real emotional struggle or personal conflict at all. Also, can Candra NEVER do what she's told? Her aunt and her friends will tell her multiple times to stay away from Ben, to not go near the Conway's house, to only go to work and school, and she'll turn right around - EVERY TIME - and defy them immediately, thinking she knows better than them even though she just found out about the whole situation yesterday and they've been living with it their entire lives. What a total dimwit.

I'm also not sure what the point of this particular book is... Basically, if you've read the product description, then you're up to speed. We find out everything in the blurb about 20% of the way through, then the whole rest of the book is just Candra almost getting killed by the rival clan a few times. That's it, we don't find anything else out. There's no other big discovery or turn of events, nothing. Then, the book just ends out of the blue, with no rhyme or reason. Candra goes on another one of her walks with a friend, talks about the woods "beckoning to her" and then BOOM, it's over.

Oh, and by the way, I kept forgetting this book is about werewolves because it isn't utilized in the story often enough. There is a total of two werewolf scenes in the entire book. Magic is a more prominent theme and probably should've been left at that, along with the getting powers at 18 thing. Also, Candra's dreams are useless. There are too many of them and whenever she would try to incorporate them with things that were happening in real life, I would get confused. I couldn't tell when something was from a dream or from a real-life encounter. Just... everything's wrong about this book. Too much for one review.

The first star is because this book exists at all, the second is because it has a semi-legitimate plot with unrealized potential. If I were you, though, I wouldn't bother wasting time to read it.

Silver Moon is full of mystery. Candra Lawton is moved to East Hartford to live with Aunt Beth and Uncle Randy. Candra is a rebel of a student and has a perchance for trouble. This actually makes me like her all the more. It is departure from the candy coated heroines that are so good and always do the right thing. Candra is gritty and questions everything from what everyone is hiding to whether her love interest is sincere. What was nice was that Candra didn't take the secrets sitting down and bemoan her fate, she investigates which quite often gets her in trouble.

When she first moves in, Chandra starts to attend High School and is the new student that is ostracized for no reason. He only friends are a couple by the name of Jana and Blake. She also meets the Conways a family who dabbles in dark magic and are a clan with a grudge so deep that the Lawtons are mortal enemies. Cameron and Ethan are the hench men of the family and are continually threatening and stalking her because of the bad blood. But Ben Conway is something more, he seems to like her and Candra is drawn to him. He begins to pick her up to drive her to and from school. No one in the town likes the fact that they are hanging out. Ben is continually in trouble with his brothers for even talking to her and she gets shunned by her supposed friends who are looking out for her. Chandra is not duped but wants to use Ben to end the fued. Ben suggests they talk with his mother and wants to help also. But then everything goes wrong. Chandra ends up in the hosptial. Ben and Chandra decide that they can't be together even though they want to. I have a feeling this will not be the end of them by any means.

The only issues I had with Silver Moon is that everything felt over dramatc for me. I don't know if it was because I didn't quite understand what the big deal is with Candra. It still seems like there is something special about her that we do not yet know. But the book doesn't necessarily hint that there is more to it. Also, Ben and Chandra could have been explored a little more and although I in no way believe it is over between them. I would have liked to see more romance. But it was also refreshing that Chandra didn't lose herself and insist on true love with Ben. I found Chandra a very strong self sufficient girl. She doesn't fall all the way for Ben because part of her still doesn't trust him. She isn't like Twilight's Bella who falls deep in love and is only motivated about being with her boyfriend. I am not even sure you would call Ben a boyfriend.

Some of the dream visions were confusing and black magic didn't seem to adequately explain it. It is almost like there are so many beginnings of stories in this book and not enough tying together for me. I am looking forward to reading the next book hoping that it will become clear.

Chandra is a werewolf who will turn for the first time on her 18th birthday and inherit a power that has yet to reveal itself. The Conways want to take her power to combine with theirs to make them more powerful. The book ends with Chandra just trying to stay safe until she is 18.

The story is definitely YA, but it's enjoyable and has a Rome & Juliet feel. I wish this book had ended with a little more completion to the story, but hopefully the second installment will flow easily from where this one left off.

I really liked this book couldn't put it down .and I only one question... whens the next book coming out??!?