Song of the Moon by Catherine Banks - Review

Synopsis via goodreads:
What if you found out that there was another world inside your own? What if all of the things you thought made you weird, actually made you powerful?

Artemis's life is changed forever when the mysterious man from her dreams, Ares, comes to claim her as his mate. The seventeen year old girl must find a way to adapt to her true life and accept her fate or run from it. She must overcome her fears and human ideals to give her self to the dangerous world, and man, that is her destiny.

Have you ever felt as if you were out of step with the world around you? Like the world was a puzzle, where everyone else interlocks together nicely and your piece seems to have a to many curves or tabs, to “fit.” Like somehow your the piece that does not make the “cut.”

One of the reason's I enjoy reading so much is because though I often feel out of step with my world, like my puzzle piece just does not make the “cut.” Reading and falling into a “fiction” world make me almost feel “in step” somehow, my tabs that seem so far off most of the time, come together better in these worlds; some authors just have that knack. They draw you into their creation, they take your hand, introduce you to characters, create a dynamic original world that, if you could will yourself enough or wish hard enough, you might just wake up to find that universe right outside your window.

AHH if only....

Sure there's problems created, everyone has problems, but somehow it just fits, something inside you just clicks into place and you can feel your body almost relax, feel the details take over...

Song of the Moon was like that, and though it's not the first book, or maybe even the best book, to ever make me feel like that – it was a nice breath of fresh air, everything about it is unique – from the details of the world, the diversity of the plot, to the emotions of the characters.

Artemis is a girl I would not want to meet in a dark alley, she's strong, both mentally and physically! Though it takes a long time for her to develop her feelings for you, once she does, she does not pull any punches, she protects those she loves with a fierceness that's rarely seen, even in the world in which she inhabits! She's willing to lay her life on the line and does so more than once, in order to preserve her way of life.

Ares is another strong character, he's got a sense of himself that seemed to flow off the page, and though I can't explain why (a detail not to be missed while reading) I can say I found him alluring and dynamic, he's got a fierce love for his way of life. He's mysterious, at times dark, but at the same time he can be lighter even funny.

Artemis and Ares fall in love; it's beautifully created, and told in enchanting detail. For Ares it's quick, having been raised the way he has, but for Artemis and the life she has know up till she meets him, she has never felt love nor has she felt the lure of love. She's confused, and often states that it's to soon to be feeling the pull that she seems to be...as such she takes her time, comes to it in what I would call a more natural way.

I honestly can not wait to find out what happenes to these two, especially after the ending of Song of the Moon!

The plot, well WOW – Catherine Banks tells one bang of a story; I found myself laughing, shaking with fear, and I had goose bumps rise up on my arms more than once. This book has, what I might call an expansive plot – there's so much going on, from Artemis finding out who and what she is, the love story, to the relationships Artemis has to develop in order to survive. However, even though it seems as if things are running at you, and your powerless to stop them from coming, something happens, a snappy comeback from one of the characters, a tender moment or a memorable line, that draws things together, and though things don't make total sense until close to the end...you are given just enough to make you desire to continue; bread crumbs if you will.

I loved, the way the secrets unfolded...just enough, and just at the right times!

The ending, well the ending is a amazingly written cliff hanger, that leaves you salivating. You know how at the end of a TV season, each show does there best to come up with some way to really build the suspense? Well, Catherine Banks must pay close attention, because she leaves us with nearly more questions than answers at the end of Song of the Moon, I am DIEING to read, book 2!

Catherine Banks tells a dark, dynamic and “real” story, with a world I liken to that of a photograph, that expands allowing it to become almost 4-d; all of my senses seemed to be pulled in, I could smell the forest, taste the raw meat, feel the love and see the beauty of the tree's. I felt as though I could reach out and touch the trees, wrap my body in the blanket of love that was created within the pack, and smell the intense scents all around me; it was intense, yet subtle, a unique experience...that I can't wait to find again!

Bottom Line – With it's intense yet tender story, Song of the Moon drew me in...I read it in about 24 hours, it's a quick read that I did not want to put down, though I can tell you with 100 pages to go, part of me wanted so desperately to put it down and finish tomorrow, JUST so I could have a reason to reconnect with Artemis, however the part that won out demanded I finish! I have read several reviews on goodreads that liken this book to Twilight, and though there's a love story, I honestly did not see the connection at all, Catherine does have the ability to draw one into a story much like Stephanie Meyer, Song of the Moon could not be more different than Twlight! I give Song of the Moon 5 mushrooms, it's a must read for fans of the paranormal!

Buy, Borrow or Steal? A buy for sure, I am happy I have this one sitting on my shelves!

Song of the Moon (Artemis Lupine, #1)
By: Catherine Banks
294 pages
Published: February 19, 2010
Received via Catherine Banks, for my honest review, THANK YOU!