Review: The Mayfair Moon by JA Redmerski

The Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski

Published: January 6, 2012

Publisher: self pub

Pages: 352

Received: for review for blog tour

Buy Now: Amazon

After a nightmarish encounter with a werewolf, seventeen-year-old Adria Dawson loses her sister, but gains the love of a mysterious young man and his legendary family.

Strange and tragic things begin to happen in the small town of Hallowell, Maine: residents come down with an unexplainable ‘illness’ and some disappear. In the midst of everything, Isaac Mayfair is adamant about keeping Adria safe, even from her sister whom he has warned her to stay away from.

As unspeakable secrets unfold all around Adria, impossible choices become hers to bear. Ultimately, no matter what path she takes, her life and the lives of those she loves will be in peril. As she learns about the werewolf world she also learns why her place in it will change the destinies of many.

I've seen this written a few times... The Mayfair Moon compared to Twilight, but parts of this story really did remind me of that story line, except you know, this one was ALL werewolves and no vampires. I actually think I enjoyed this more. I think the only parts that really reminds me of Twilight is the fact that Adria and Isaac seem to fall for each other quickly (but they are so sweet together) and the whole move from home only to stumble upon creatures of the night thing. The plot is much different though with a few great twists.

Adria is an amazing character. She takes chances, goes with her gut and fights for the greater good. Adria didn't realize how much her life would change when she left her home in Georgia to live with relatives in Maine. She faces a lot of tough decisions and heart wrenching choices, but she pretty much handles everything with more finesse than I ever could. Adria loses her sister in a way she never thought imaginable, but gains so many amazing friends along the way. When her path crosses with the Mayfair family things seem to get much more complicated - though she finds kindred spirit in Zia (she kind of reminds me of Alice in Twilight except no psychic powers, but all the pep and fashion sense) and her crush on Isaac finally turns into more than just a crush. 

I loved how Redmerski wrote about the werewolves in this story - you see things from an outside perspective for part of the storyline and then we get more of a detailed insider's view once Adria befriends the Mayfairs. I loved the back story for the Mayfair clan and the glimpses of how the hierarchy runs inside such powerful werewolf clans. The werewolves are mine, snarly and vicious. They felt real compared to some of the other werewolf books I've read in the past. They maim and shred the people they attack... it's disgusting, yet totally believable. 

I am looking forward to reading the second book in the Darkwoods Trilogy - Kindred. I need to find out what happens next with Adria and Isaac and the whole Mayfair clan. I would highly suggest this book to fans of Twilight or other werewolf series.

Excerpt:

I started to go back to the oatmeal boxes until I noticed a dark figure standing in

the far corner of Finch’s parking lot. Moving out of the pool of light shining above from

the fluorescent, I stood closer to the end of the shelf.

“Thirty more minutes and he won’t need to come anyway,” Harry said from

behind.

I walked further up and edged my way toward the window to get a better look.

The figure stood just out of the glow from the street light. He, if it was a man, wore dark

clothes from head to toe. The way he stood there, still as a statue and staring toward

the store, made my nerves short out like electrical wires.

“Me and Sebastian don’t hang out much anymore,” Harry went on, still shelving

merchandise. “I mean, I get it and all, but it still sucks. Y’know?”

“Harry,” I whispered, as if the man could actually hear me from that far

away, “come here.”

I felt him standing behind me then.

“Do you see that guy?” I said, taking my eyes off the parking lot for just a second.

“No,” Harry answered. “I don’t see anybody.”

I did a double take. The man was gone.

“No,” I said, moving quickly to the store window and almost pressing my face

against it. “He was standing right there, off in the corner. He was staring this way.”

I turned around fully to face Harry.

“I can’t believe this,” I said.

“Don’t get so worked up, Adria.” Harry started to walk back to the aisle. “Could’ve

been anyone; you’re really jumpy tonight.”

I turned around again. The man, with a grinning, maniacal face dripping with

blood stood an inch from the glass.

I shrieked and stumbled backward, my foot catching under a metal newspaper

rack. I fell hard on my side and newspapers came tumbling down.

Harry came running over.

“Holy shit!” he said.

Harry grabbed me and pulled me to my feet. The man’s eyes swirled black; his

knifelike teeth glistening with blood.

Suddenly, Harry fell over the same newspaper stand that I did. He almost took

me down with him, but let go of my arm just as he hit the floor.

“What the hell!” he shouted.

The man came closer to the window. His wicked, smiling face was like staring

into the face of the Devil.

His hands were behind his back. He pulled his right arm out slowly and pointed

his index finger upwards, the nail two inches razor-sharp and black like his eyes. His

hand was covered in blood.

Blood stained the snow beneath him.

“I imagine uncles taste better than German Shepherds,” the man said so cold

and menacingly through the glass.

I gasped. Harry had gotten to his feet and was trying to pull me backwards with

him, but I pushed him away from me. I threw myself against the window, my face and

the werewolf’s face separated by nothing more than a false sense of security. I banged

my palms once against it, feeling the entire window shake and shudder.

“What did you do to him?” I screamed. “What did you do to my uncle?” I banged

the glass once more; the palms of my hands stung.

The man grinned, revealing his deadly teeth even more to me in his malign

expression.

Harry grabbed me more intensely and managed to pry me violently away from

the window. I was mad with rage, trying to fight my way free, but Harry was too strong. I

felt my shoes scraping across the floor as he pulled me into the nearest aisle.

The werewolf let out a menacing growl from outside, jerking back his head. The

last I saw of him was how his hot breath had melted the cold from the glass.

About the author:

J.A. Redmerski is a Contemporary Fantasy and YA writer - author of THEMAYFAIR MOON and DIRTY EDEN. She’s a mother, werewolf & zombie fanatic, book addict and a happy hermit obsessed with the Universe. Oh, and AMC's "The Walking Dead".

Jessica started her first novel at the age of thirteen and has been writing something ever since. Generally, she loves characters in life and on paper. She pays attention to people, especially those whose personalities make them different from the rest of us: the drug addict roaming the Laundromat that talks to himself, the young, inattentive mother in the park with the meanest kid on the playground - (the entire cast of 'Swamp People') - characters fascinate Jessica and she hopes that it shows in her literary work.

Some authors that inspire Jessica are Neil Gaiman, Cormac McCarthy, Max Brooks, Anne Rice, J.K. Rowling, Richard Matheson, William R. Forstchen, Carrie Ryan, Stephenie Meyer and Lisa Smedman.