Book Review: When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker : A Dragon Romantasy That Almost Lost Me
Full Book Review: When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker : A Dragon Romantasy Masterpiece That Almost Lost Me
If you’re even slightly tapped into BookTok or Bookstagram, you’ve probably already seen When the Moon Hatched everywhere. Between the gorgeous, dreamy cover and the viral quotes, this book was impossible to ignore. I finally gave in and picked it up – and with dragons, magic, and a female assassin living in poverty, it felt like the kind of romantasy I usually fall head-over-heels for (Throne of Glass lovers, IYKYK).
And yet… reading this book felt like a marathon.
When The Moon Hatched : A Unique World Building
The worldbuilding immediately caught my attention. The concept of dead dragons being petrified into moons watching over the world, the elemental magic, and a society influenced by powerful gods and celestial forces is so original and rich with potential. I was excited to get lost in this universe. I love that it offers such a fresh take – an original world with a storyline that hasn’t already been told a thousand times in the romantasy genre. The characters are just as compelling, each layered with secrets, trauma, and desires that make you want to uncover more about them with every chapter.
A Slow Start and Writing Style That Nearly Lost Me
Here’s where things got tricky. At over 700 pages, this book is a long commitment and I genuinely struggled to get through the first 350 pages. I don’t usually say “this book could’ve been shorter,” but in this case… it really could’ve. There was also an overwhelming number of invented terms that made it so difficult to read and understand. My whole reading experience for half of the book was me trying to get through a few more pages each day. There were just so many made-up words and unfamiliar names – especially when it came to the gods and elemental forces – that it was difficult for me to understand what was actually happening in the story.
The Prose? Love It Or Hate It
What made it most difficult for me was the writing style. The author’s lyrical, poetic prose has been praised by many readers and I can see why. Some readers love beautifully flowery descriptions. But personally, I found it overwhelming and was making it so difficult to read. Nearly every paragraph is packed with metaphors and similes, and while beautiful, it felt excessive. Some descriptions were just taking up space without making any sense. On the flip side to this flowery prose, there was constant swearing : “fuck,” “shit,” “asshole,” and I am really not a fan of modern swearing in fantasy worlds. It didn’t feel natural or necessary in most cases and took away from the high fantasy atmosphere.
A Character-Driven Story With No Real Plot Arc
The story is heavily character-driven and while I usually enjoy good character work, I also need a solid plot to keep me hooked. In this case, there wasn’t much of one. Sure, there was real character-development and it was beautifully done. But I spent most of the book wondering : What is actually happening? What is the goal? Where is this story going?
Despite all the descriptive language, I still didn’t fully understand the rules of the world—what magic the characters could do, what the gods wanted, or what the real stakes were. It left me frustrated because the world itself is so interesting and could’ve been explored in a clearer, more engaging way.
The Second Half of When The Moon Hatched Redeems Itself
Things thankfully picked up in the second half. More pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place, the stories intensifies, and we get some real character development – especially when Princess Elluin enters the scene. You also begin to learn more about Raeve’s past, which added emotional weight and complexity to her character. This part of the book made me sit up and finally feel invested in the story as revelations kept making me gasp.
While the beginning can feel disorienting with so many unfamiliar terms and a world that keeps its secrets close, everything finally starts to fall into place toward the end. It genuinely felt like I was kept in the dark for most of the book but once the pieces started coming together, it all made sense. The final chapters bring clarity, and the payoff is worth the wait.
The moons are a particularly unique and poetic element of the world of When the Moon Hatched. In this universe, when dragons die, they petrify and become moons that orbit. When, five thousand phases later, another moon suddenly falls and shatters – only for the fae rider who once belonged to the dragon within it to go missing—it’s as if a moon has hatched, and a new story begins. I just wish I had understood it all a bit earlier in the book, because the worldbuilding and the story itself are truly a masterpiece once everything clicks into place.
Let’s Talk About the Romance in When The Moon Hatched
The romance between Raeve and Kaan is hands down one of the best parts of the book. It’s a slow burn, but it’s full of tension, tenderness, and genuine chemistry. Even though it’s somewhat predictable, it’s well-written and rewarding. Romance lovers will definitely be satisfied with their dynamic. The tragic love story of Kaan and Elluin that we discover through diary entries is bittersweet and adds depth to the character of Kaan. The book has some beloved tropes like “He fell first” and “Forced Proximity”. And the cliff-hanger at the end of the book ? It will leave you desperate for the next book.
Is When The Moon Hatched Spicy?
If you’re wondering whether When The Moon Hatched has spice, the answer is: a little. The romance is definitely a slow burn, with a lot of tension building up between Raeve and Kaan throughout the book. Chapter 78 is the only chapter that features a full-on sex scene. Most of the book focuses more on the emotional connection, longing, and tension between the characters rather than explicit content. So while it’s not super spicy overall, that one chapter definitely delivers if you’re in it for the heat.
Final Thoughts Book Review When The Moon Hatched
When the Moon Hatched is a complex and ambitious debut that offers a lot: a unique fantasy world, fascinating magical elements, dragons, moons that watch from the sky, and a strong romantic arc. It has everything I wanted to love in a romantasy novel but the dense, flowery writing style and lack of a clear plot arc made it a challenge to get through. The unique world and story is so interesting and when everything clicks, it really is a masterpiece but I just wish I had understood it all a bit earlier.
That said, the ending is impactful and surprising, and I truly believe this is a series with strong potential. With tighter editing and more focus on plot structure, it could easily become a standout in the romantasy space.
Final Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
I’m still intrigued. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel, and I’m hopeful that the story-and the world-will shine even brighter next time
When Does When The Moon Hatched Book 2 Come Out?
Save the date: the highly anticipated sequel ‘The ballad of falling dragons’ is now set to be released on February 24, 2026.
The book was initially expected in October 2025, but Sarah J. Maas took to Instagram in March 2025 to explain the delay: “This last year has been extraordinary—watching When the Moon Hatched find its way into so many readers’ hands, getting to meet so many of you during my tour, and now digging into the sequel. This process has been incredibly rewarding and has taken on a life of its own, but it’s also taking time to get right,” she wrote.
“To make sure I have the time to give you all the very best version of this story, we’re moving the publication date into 2026.”
