The Girl Who Drank The Moon

Summary: Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the Forest, Xan, is kind. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. As Luna’s thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge--with dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Deadly birds with uncertain intentions flock nearby. A volcano, quiet for centuries, rumbles just beneath the earth’s surface. And the woman with the Tiger’s heart is on the prowl . . .

Thoughts: This was a mystic and beautiful tale of growing up and family. I really enjoyed the writing style and I was actually fairly surprised by how some of the characters developed in here. Honestly, the character development was the best part of the story as I could rarely predict where they were going next. The plot was good and the setting was intriguing, but it was the strange cast that really keeps you hooked until the end and they don't disappoint!

Content: Magic and some mildly dark plots (abandoning children, attempted murder, near-death experiences), written to still be clean for most ages.