A beautiful and thought-provoking novel in verse, Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew is an impressive debut that begs to be read and shared immediately. I was absolutely enthralled by this book. I just could not put it down. I’m pretty sure I read it in a matter of hours. The use of verse creates a visually captivating reading experience that manages to feel fresh and capture the vast array of emotions within the work. This empowering novel tackles so many issues still plaguing young women today, perhaps most importantly the issue of shaming, whether it be body shaming, modesty, sexuality, etc. I appreciate Cuthew’s boldness in selecting topics that should not be taboo, but are: menstruation and female sexuality.
Frankie is an engaging protagonist that is both unique and relatable. Her journey from “invisible” teen to viral sensation is tragically familiar in today’s age of internet sensationalism. The speed at which this young woman goes from being called a “frigid nun” to a slut should be unbelievable, but it’s not. While this may seem like the set-up to terrible teen melodrama, I can assure you that this novel has all the girl power and feminism you could ever desire. I don’t think men should shy away from reading this one either. Cuthew does an excellent job including non-toxic male characters, who embrace feminist ideals. Fair warning: by the end of this book, you may find yourself clutching it to your chest while simultaneously giving the finger to all the haters in the universe.
Thank you to MMB tours and Walker Books US for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.