If you spent any part of the late 2000s arguing over Team Edward versus Team Jacob, you probably felt a weird, nostalgic spark when you first heard about Blood Moon by Britney Lewis. It’s the kind of book that feels like a warm, fuzzy blanket made of angst and sharp teeth. Honestly, most people just call it "the new Twilight" and move on. That’s a mistake. While the vibes are undeniably there, this isn't just a carbon copy of a sparkly vampire story from 2008.
Britney S. Lewis has done something much more interesting here. She’s taken that specific "Midwestern small-town supernatural" atmosphere and injected it with a perspective that was missing for a lot of us back in the day. Blood Moon isn't just about monsters; it's a "Justice for Bonnie" kind of reclamation.
The Blood Moon Britney Lewis Built: More Than Just a Myth
Most people think this is just another YA romance. They're wrong. The story follows Mirabella "Mira" Owens, a freshman at Lakeland University who just wants to survive college without her family's baggage dragging her down. Her mom disappeared years ago, leaving her with a bunch of legends about werewolves protecting the town from vampires. Mira stopped believing that stuff at thirteen.
Then she meets Julian Santos.
Julian has those "stay away from me or I'll ruin your life" eyes—specifically golden ones. He’s cold, he’s mysterious, and he’s incredibly fast. Basically, he’s everything we were taught to obsess over in 2009. But the dynamic between them isn't just about a girl being rescued. It's about Mira realizing her own family history is the literal glue holding these myths together.
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Why the Setting Actually Works
The book is set in Timber Plains, Kansas. It’s flat, it’s eerie, and it feels isolated. Lewis uses the Midwest perfectly to ground the supernatural chaos.
- The University: Lakeland isn't just a backdrop; it's where the "normal" world crashes into the "blood-soaked history" of the town.
- The Letters: Mira gets a letter from her missing mom that flips the script on what she thought she knew.
- The Animals: People are being attacked by things that aren't bears, and the campus is freaking out.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Romance
If you go into this expecting a 1:1 Twilight remake, you'll be surprised. Yes, there's a love triangle. Yes, there's a boy with golden eyes. But Mira isn't a passive protagonist. In fact, some early reviewers on Goodreads complained that she was "too combative."
Kinda funny, right?
In a genre where girls are often just prizes to be won, Mira is stubborn. She asks questions she shouldn't. She refuses to leave campus just because a hot guy told her to. The "slow burn" here is real, and the tension between Mira and Julian is built on secrets as much as attraction. There’s also Seven, the other point in the triangle, who brings a different energy to the table.
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The "Justice for Bonnie" Angle
Lewis has been vocal about wanting to see Black girls at the center of these romantasy stories. For a long time, the "best friend" or "witch sidekick" (like Bonnie Bennett in The Vampire Diaries) got the short end of the stick. This book centers a Black heroine who isn't just there to help the white leads find love. She is the hero. She is the one the world revolves around. That’s why it’s gaining so much traction on BookTok and with readers who felt left out of the original paranormal boom.
Is Blood Moon Actually Good?
Look, if you hate tropes, you’re gonna have a bad time. But if you like the "CW show circa 2010" vibe, this is your gold mine. It's moody. It's lush. The prose gets a little heavy-handed sometimes—Lewis loves her imagery—but it fits the "dark and thrilling" tone she's going for.
The biggest critique? The pacing. It starts a bit slow while Mira navigates her freshman year, but once that Blood Moon actually rises, the stakes (pun intended) go through the roof. The ending is a cliffhanger that will legit leave you screaming for book two, Blood Lust.
Real Talk: The Specs
- Publisher: Page Street YA
- Release Date: September 9, 2025
- Page Count: Around 384 pages
- Genre: YA Paranormal Romantasy
How to Get the Most Out of the Blood Chronicles
If you're planning on diving in, don't just skim it. Pay attention to the legends Mira’s mom told her. They aren't just world-building fluff; they're the map for where the series is going.
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- Check out the Author’s Other Work: Before this, Lewis wrote The Undead Truth of Us and The Dark Place. She knows how to do "grounded horror" and grief really well.
- Join the Community: The OwlCrate and FaeCrate editions are already collector's items. If you want the special sprayed edges and signed copies, you have to move fast.
- Wait for the Sequel: Blood Lust is slated for 2026. This isn't a standalone; it's a trilogy. Prepare for the long haul.
Basically, Blood Moon by Britney Lewis is for the people who never grew out of their vampire phase but wanted something that felt a little more like home. It’s nostalgic, it’s messy, and it’s a total binge-read.
Grab a copy, find some iced coffee (it’s the author’s favorite), and get ready for a cliffhanger that will ruin your sleep schedule. You've been warned.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Follow Britney S. Lewis on social media (@britneyslewis) to catch teasers for the 2026 sequel, Blood Lust.
- Search for "Blood Moon OwlCrate Edition" on secondary markets if you want the exclusive Twilight-inspired journal and red-ink quill set.
- Check your local independent bookstore for signed copies, as many "Sistah Sci-Fi" and Indie-Next partners still have stock of the first printing.