The Hunter's Moon

The Hunter's Moon follows two sixteen-year-old cousins: Findabhair from Ireland and Gwen from Canada. The pair share a fascination with Irish mythology and have long searched for doorways to the realm of Faerie. During Gwen's visit to Ireland, the cousins embark on an unauthorized trip to Tara, the ancient seat of the High Kings. Their decision to sleep in a fairy mound leads to an encounter with Finvara, the King of Faeries, who takes Findabhair away while leaving Gwen behind. The story transforms into Gwen's quest across Ireland to find her cousin, encountering various characters and navigating both modern and mythological landscapes. Her journey brings her into contact with humans, faeries, and forces she must confront to reach her goal. The novel explores themes of friendship, family bonds, and the intersection between ancient Irish mythology and contemporary life. It raises questions about the nature of duty and desire, and the sometimes conflicting pulls of magical and ordinary worlds.

Readers describe this as an engaging YA fantasy that weaves Irish mythology with a modern storyline. Many note it works well as both a standalone novel and series opener. Readers appreciated: - Authentic Irish folklore and mythology integration - Strong female friendship between main characters - Vivid descriptions of Irish landscapes - Fast-paced adventure elements Common criticisms: - Romance subplot feels rushed/underdeveloped - Some found the dialogue stilted - Middle section pacing drags - Character development could be deeper Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (90+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (200+ ratings) Several readers noted they discovered the book as teens and found it holds up well on re-reading as adults. Multiple reviews mention the book sparked interest in learning more about Celtic mythology. A recurring comment was that the ending felt abrupt compared to the buildup.

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🌿 The Hill of Tara, where key scenes take place, was indeed Ireland's ancient ceremonial and political capital for over 2,000 years, with archaeologists discovering evidence of use dating back to 4000 BCE. 🍀 O. R. Melling (born Geraldine Ruth Melling) spent her early years in both Ireland and Canada, mirroring the backgrounds of her main characters. 🌙 Celtic mythology traditionally holds that fairy mounds (called "sidhe" in Irish) are most accessible during the Hunter's Moon, which occurs in October. ⚔️ The book draws from authentic Irish folklore about the Tuatha Dé Danann, supernatural beings who were said to retreat into fairy mounds after being defeated by mortal warriors. 🗺️ The Chronicles of Faerie series consists of four books total, each set in a different region of Ireland and drawing on that area's specific mythology and folklore.