Low Red Moon is available in your favorite local bookstore now. (YAY!!)
And if you want to really "see" what the book is about, be sure to check out the trailer, which can be found toward the bottom of the page!
And if you want to really "see" what the book is about, be sure to check out the trailer, which can be found toward the bottom of the page!
Low Red Moon is:
It's the story of Avery Hood, who is reeling from the loss of her parents--and the fact that she can't remember what happened to them even though she was there.
She's struggling to adjust to life without them, and to living with her grandmother, when she meets Ben, who isn't like any guy she's ever met before.
It turns out there's a reason why, and Ben's secret may hold the key to Avery finding out what happened to her parents...
But what if that secret changes everything she knows about--and feels for--Ben?
What Others Have To Say:
"Devlin breathes new life into a format that’s lately verged on self-parody by wrapping her shy-teenage-girl-and-supernatural-male love story in an overarching tragedy. After Avery Hood is discovered with the mutilated bodies of her parents but no memory of what happened to them, her grandmother, Renee, who lives in the town outside the forest where Avery was raised, takes her in. Avery wants to help track down her parents' killers, but all she can recall is a flash of silver. Although Ben, a new student at her school, fascinates her, his silver eyes are disturbing--especially when she realizes he’s a werewolf. As their powerful mutual attraction and Avery's mysterious connection to the forest grow, the menacing evil stalking her draws closer. Pleasingly concise for this overwritten genre, the story derives its power and authenticity at least as much from its well-observed study of grief as from the intense love story. Intriguing characters and a suspenseful plot that unfolds with elision and restraint add up to a promising series opener." -- Kirkus
"Devlin offers an eerie and engrossing paranormal murder mystery. Seventeen-year-old Avery witnesses her parents' brutal murder at their home deep in the woods, but she has no memory of the event. The writing reverberates with intense grief and desire, as Avery struggles to adjust to life without her parents; Avery loves the forest, and her isolation and loneliness are overwhelming when she is sent to live in town with her estranged grandmother. She soon connects with new kid Ben with chemistry so powerful that even the revelation that Ben is a werewolf can't separate them. Avery starts to recall pieces of what happened, but she realizes her time is running out when she is targeted and another family living in the woods is killed. As her connection to the forest grows, she is afraid the images she remembers mean that Ben is responsible for her parents' deaths...the emotion pouring off the pages should sweep readers into this haunting story" -- Publishers Weekly
"As soon as I first saw this book I just knew I was going to love it, and as it turned out, my first instincts were completely right, because Low Red Moon is a delightful, romantic, and spellbinding addition to the world of paranormal YA. A read all you YA lovers out there simply can't miss!
From the first page, the reader is transported to the world of Woodlake, a pretty little unknown town in America; one that's been cast the scene of several gruesome murders. Two of those murders were Avery's parents, and ever since the fateful day she was found in between their bodies, she still can't remember what exactly occurred. The only thing she does remember is silver, which is the color of the new boy's eyes- a boy she can't stop thinking of; one who may have her parent's death secret locked inside him.
Avery was a thoroughly three dimensional character because through Devlin's writing you could truly feel her distraught over her parents death to her desire for Ben, the alluring, secretive new boy, to her craving for the life she once had radiating off the page. I found her to be extremely likable and a character who I constantly rooted for. Ben, the alluring new boy, was anther character I liked a lot. I loved how he was so caring when it came to Avery, and I have to admit Avery and his steamy romance was one of my favorite parts of the novel. Though, I personally would have liked more development into it.
Further more, the plot of this one was one that constantly had me on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would occur next. I really enjoyed Ivy's vivid and brief writing style because it never gave the you too much nor too little detail, instead just the right amount to have you enamored in Avery and Ben's world. Also, I loved how she gave took the topic of werewolves and made it her own through new characteristics.
In all, Low Red Moon is a hauntingly romantic read that I highly suggest you pick up, and through this creative read, Ivy has developed herself as a paranormal writer I'll definitely be going back to for more fantastic stories. Especially if one of them is a sequel to this." -- Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf
"I loved the connection between Avery and Ben. It was strong, yet fast. But sometimes love can be like that as we may learn. It was another strong bonding that just seemed like destiny between the characters, that kind of relationship always grabs at me and touches my heart in ways that I can't really explain well. It sort of felt like the relationship from Shiver, but with different qualities behind it. But that overall feel of connectedness is the same.
The mystery elements were REALLY good too. As the book made it's progress I began to develop theories as I tend to do when reading something with a mystery and my speculations that something was "up" with two so-and-sos were correct. With one it took further reading to really grasp at it and I can only hope there will be further development on it when the next book comes out, which may be awhile since this was an ARC.
The ending was breathtaking and intense. Avery's memories slowly come back to her as she makes even more startling revelations about things, including the murder of her parents. My pulse beat with every word read, I couldn't read fast enough to get to the final conclusion to know what would happen. And sometimes I read too fast and miss something and then I have to backtrack all due to my excitement of the conclusion unfolding. It was very shocking as I said.
The romance level as I briefly mentioned before between Avery and Ben was intense and endearing. It was sweet, yet deep. Almost like a Romeo and Juliet, which did make an appearance in the book which made me wonder if we're to see Avery and Ben's romance as such, but I think theirs wasn't as lustful as Romeo and Juliet. There was more endearment to it. Which may also be due to it being set in the now and not when Romeo and Juliet was.
The romance level as I briefly mentioned before between Avery and Ben was intense and endearing. It was sweet, yet deep. Almost like a Romeo and Juliet, which did make an appearance in the book which made me wonder if we're to see Avery and Ben's romance as such, but I think theirs wasn't as lustful as Romeo and Juliet. There was more endearment to it. Which may also be due to it being set in the now and not when Romeo and Juliet was.
Overall a GREAT read and one I HIGHLY recommend to werewolf YA lovers, as the back cover says. There's a lot to the books as the back cover says as well, to recap there was murder mystery, grief narrative--which we can all relate to on some level--and romance that really takes your breath away, causes your heart to skip a beat and go into overdrive. The book was really mind-blowing and now I am eagerly awaiting a sequel and hoping that there will be one!" -- a GREAT read
"Low Red Moon is a riveting paranormal debut that ticks all the boxes: mythical creatures, mystery and a fiery romance.
This is one of the best paranormal romances I’ve read this year. I adored the creepy, secluded atmosphere that Ivy Devlin created in the setting of Woodlake. It’s a small, non-descript American town surrounded by ancient forest that been the subject of myths and stories since Woodlake’s settlers. I don’t think I could live in a town where no secret stays secret for long and everybody knows everything about you and your family. And all of this only made it harder for Avery.
This is one of the best paranormal romances I’ve read this year. I adored the creepy, secluded atmosphere that Ivy Devlin created in the setting of Woodlake. It’s a small, non-descript American town surrounded by ancient forest that been the subject of myths and stories since Woodlake’s settlers. I don’t think I could live in a town where no secret stays secret for long and everybody knows everything about you and your family. And all of this only made it harder for Avery.
Thankfully, I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like to loose both of your parents, let alone have watched them be murdered and not be able to remember who did it. But that’s the reality that Avery faces. Shattering grief consumes her everyday and is only worsened by the empty space where the memory of that night should be. Ivy Devlin conveyed Avery’s fragile state of mind beautifully.
But it was the romance that really captured my attention with enough clandestine meetings to set pulses racing. The chemistry between Ben and Avery sizzled right from the moment they met and their connection only got stronger as Low Red Moon continued and the threat of evil got nearer and nearer to Avery.
The mysteries surrounding the evil presence and the murder of Avery’s parents kept me furiously turning the pages. Hints were dribbled throughout the chapters and led me to quite a few wrong conclusions. So when the murderer’s identity was revealed I actually gasped aloud in shock. Very unexpected!
I loved Low Red Moon and I can’t wait to read more from Ivy Devlin." -- So Many Books, So Little Time
"Low Red Moon is an addictive read, I gulped it down in one sitting, staying up way past my bedtime to find out what happened. It is deliciously creepy in that tales around the campfire, shivers down the spine, I'll just check the doors locked, kind of way.
It's also a love story and a gorgeous, heart stopping, swoonworthy one too. Avery and Ben have so much chemistry, and their scenes together are so hot, I'm surprised the book didn't combust. They do have one of those instant connections but it's tempered by the fact that Avery herself questions if it's real or not and doubts wonders whether she can really trust Ben.
I loved Avery, as a character she is strong, determined and independent. Of course, I loved her relationship with Ben but I also liked her relationship with her estranged Grandmother, Renee. It added another dimension to the book. As does Avery's connection to the forest, which is almost a character in itself. I'm really interested to see how that plays out.
The ending is nail biting. I was only one step ahead of Avery in working things out, which meant I was gripping the book mentally shouting out her not do this, or that, or for crying out loud RUN!" -- Not Enough Bookshelves
"Low Red Moon is a romantic paranormal murder mystery. If that doesn’t grab your attention, I don’t know what will.
The romance between Avery and werewolf Ben was sweet. Ben clearly had Avery’s best interests in mind and he formed a strong bond with her. Avery seemed to fall for him quickly given her fragile state-of-mind. I wish that they had moved a little more slowly in the beginning, although I did like the way their relationship eventually grew.
The werewolf part of this story was unique because Ben was separated from his pack. I found it sad that he was on his own other than staying with his uncle. Werewolves seem to be more strong-willed when they have their pack’s support. Perhaps Ben was more subdued because of this.
The murder of Avery’s parents was violent and Devlin did a great job of describing the scene. The mystery came into play as Avery struggled to find the murderer(s). You will be blown away by the ending." -- Reading Vacation
"First thoughts? The synopsis is perfectly written. I know this might be an odd first thought, but go with me here for a moment. If you just glanced over it, do me a favor and go back up to give it another read. Is there anything at all in there that spoils the book for you? No, am I right? You have no idea how happy that made me. As I saw another blogger complaining a few days ago, so many book descriptions have massive spoilers now! Whoever wrote this one, definitely knows what they are doing.
On to the book itself. There is so much to say, but I will try not to ramble. I was drawn into the story from the very first page! As soon as I opened the book to discovered Avery's parents and their untimely death, I knew I'd be up all night. A warning: DO NOT start this book if you have work early the next day. I can promise you that you'll stay up quite past your normal bedtime due to your concern for Avery. It's a fact.
Speaking of Avery, she is an extremely likable protagonist. What I enjoyed about her most was that she has a "good head on her shoulders" as my mom likes to say. Although she sometimes makes rash decisions (and don't we all?), she has enough common sense to help her get out of sticky situations. Also, despite her age, she carries herself with an attitude beyond her years and I greatly appreciated that. As you all know, there is nothing I cannot stand more than a whiny female protagonist.
Ben. Ah, Ben. Sweet, brooding and deliciously mysterious. I fell in love with Ben for the same reasons that I fell in love with Sam from Shiver. He's the type of guy that makes me glad paranormal romance exists as a genre. The chemistry between Ben and Avery is completely believable, and extremely swoon worthy! There were scenes in this story that made my heart beat fast and made me extremely jealous at the same time. Oh to have such passion! A girl can only dream.
As I'm sure you can tell, I loved this book! I'd hate to spoil it, but let's just say the ending alone makes this book stand out in my mind. I loved it so much in fact that I'm planning on ordering a finished copy with the remainder of my birthday money. Ben and Avery will take their place among my favorite paranormal romance couples, and I can only hope that we hear more about them very soon!" -- A Fanatics Book Blog
"LOW RED MOON, by Ivy Devlin, is an original tale about werewolves stalking the residents of the forest outlining a small town. Devlin gives a fresh-perspective on the werewolf myth and takes you on a ride full of twists and turns leaving you aching for more.
I really enjoyed this book. The mystery about how Avery's parents were murdered kept me on my toes the whole time. And the supernatural element of werewolves and mind reading was enchanting.
Avery was a marvelous character. She did not fit in the mold of a typical high school girl. The home-school aspect kept her at the mental distance from others her age, and I think it made her more adult and able to handle the death of her parents more maturely. Her immediate bond with Ben left a lot of questions unanswered. The connection was definitely swoon-worthy but I would have liked Devlin to expand on their mental and physical link a bit more.
The question of who murdered Avery's parents was always lurking in the back of my mind. Avery searched her mind for clues of that night, but was blocked by the trauma. I enjoyed going on the journey with her to revisit the events of that night through bits of flashes that jogged her memory.
It has been a while since I have been surprised by an ending in a book, and this book did it! I was invested in one person from the start and Devlin completely took the rug out from under me. I really hope there is a sequel to this book that delves deeper into the supernatural background of Ben and Avery. Overall this was quite a unique book and a very strong start to Devlin's paranormal fiction debut." -- I Just Wanna Sit Here And Read!
"Avery was the only witness to her parent's brutal murder but because of the trauma she has blocked the event from her memory. All she can think of when she tries to remember what happened is blood and something silver moving impossibly fast. Everything changed for Avery after that one night - used to living deep in the woods with her parents she is now forced to move into town to stay with the Grandmother she hardly knows. She is grieving for her parents and desperate to find out what happened to them.
When she meets the new boy at school Ben there is an instant connection between them but Avery quickly recognizes something is different about him and soon finds out his secret - he's a werewolf. Despite the attraction she feels she is unsure if he can be trusted, especially when she sees his eyes flashing an inhuman silver.
I've always been a big fan of werewolf stories so I couldn't wait to read Low Red Moon, I'm so glad I did as I absolutely loved it! Avery is a fantastic character and I could really feel her confusion and anger over the death of her parents. I thought her grief was realistically portrayed and I loved the way her relationship with her Grandmother was slowly built throughout the story. Avery is such a real character that it feels like you're reading about one of your close friends. Ben was another character I loved and I liked the fact that despite the connection between him and Avery she didn't immediately trust him implicitly no matter what. That and the fact that Avery refused to just accept whatever Ben told her made their relationship much more believable.
The descriptions of the forest made it possible to step into the book and I literally couldn't put it down. .. this paranormal debut has everything you could want in a book, it will take you on an emotional roller coaster and leave you desperate for more. Although the ending wraps things up nicely I really hope Ivy Devlin hasn't finished with these characters - I want to spend more time in the world she has created! Low Red Moon is a must read for fans of young adult paranormal romance." -- Sarah's Book Reviews
"I have to admit, upon reading the blurb of my Low Red Moon ARC, I thought it wasn’t going to be that amazing. Oh gee, not another paranormal romance! But I was surprised! The intriguing mystery part, for a while, seemed pointless – I thought there was not much mystery.. ;I thought I had it sussed! But I was – yet again – surprised.
Ivy Devlin has managed to inject some new material into the YA paranormal genre – rather than the usual vampire/werewolf boy coming along and wooing a normal girl – there is more depth to this book, and even though this injection didn’t show itself at first – upon finishing the novel I was quite content!" -- Magic Bean Review
"This is a surprisingly short, but intense novel. At just over 250 pages, when the average young adult novel seems closer to 300(+), I had expected to feel as if part of the story would be left untold or development would be abrupt. However I believe Devlin crafted an engrossing, emotional story that while it has the trappings of the paranormal attached to it the book itself is about something very real and very ordinary--grief. Acceptance of it, coping with it, and learning when to share the grief with others.
This is also an adaptation of "Little Red Riding Hood"; our narrator is 'Avery Hood' who is found in a pool of blood who then lives with her grandmother on the edge of the woods where wolves prowl. There are more clues throughout the book, but many of them would give away the ending and the twist on what is happening.
Avery lived a somewhat abnormal life; she lived in the middle of the woods in a house her father built from scrapwood and things people no longer wanted. Her mother made fruit preserves, while her father wrote controversial articles for the town paper. For most of her life Avery had been homeschooled until she finally attended the local high school (and found as most of us do, HS isn't all its cracked up to be). During the course of the book, Avery comes to understand the threat in trusting the ordinary....
There can be certain parallels drawn between this novel and Twilight--but there is a greater depth to Devlin's novel. Also, I believe, a better understanding of a teenager. Avery doesn't always do the right thing in each situation. She fights when she should let go, pushes when she should hold back; when she acknowledges that she has changed from who she was before the murders, she begins to grow. She focuses on her relationships with peers and her grandmother, Renee (who is a responsible adult role model!) she attempts to be objective when it comes to Ben and she re-evaluates what's important to her.
Ben ran hot and cold for me. Its not until we learn a little more about him from his great-uncle Louis that his behavior seems normal. There were times when he came off really really creepy and intense, too intense. Other times he seemed almost indifferent. Why begins to make sense as Avery learns more about him, but on first reading he seems manic. I did enjoy his relationship with Avery however, there was a healthy blend of trust and wariness for them both that was refreshing. Despite everything else that happens neither is too blinded to keep their head on.
From the way the ending laid out, it would seem as if there will be a sequel. There are still some lingering questions--such as what is approaching the Forest and Avery's exact role in it--but Devlin wrapped up this book well. This was a surprisingly entertaining read and I hope to see more in the future!" -- Poisoned Rationality
"This is a surprisingly short, but intense novel. At just over 250 pages, when the average young adult novel seems closer to 300(+), I had expected to feel as if part of the story would be left untold or development would be abrupt. However I believe Devlin crafted an engrossing, emotional story that while it has the trappings of the paranormal attached to it the book itself is about something very real and very ordinary--grief. Acceptance of it, coping with it, and learning when to share the grief with others.
This is also an adaptation of "Little Red Riding Hood"; our narrator is 'Avery Hood' who is found in a pool of blood who then lives with her grandmother on the edge of the woods where wolves prowl. There are more clues throughout the book, but many of them would give away the ending and the twist on what is happening.
Avery lived a somewhat abnormal life; she lived in the middle of the woods in a house her father built from scrapwood and things people no longer wanted. Her mother made fruit preserves, while her father wrote controversial articles for the town paper. For most of her life Avery had been homeschooled until she finally attended the local high school (and found as most of us do, HS isn't all its cracked up to be). During the course of the book, Avery comes to understand the threat in trusting the ordinary....
There can be certain parallels drawn between this novel and Twilight--but there is a greater depth to Devlin's novel. Also, I believe, a better understanding of a teenager. Avery doesn't always do the right thing in each situation. She fights when she should let go, pushes when she should hold back; when she acknowledges that she has changed from who she was before the murders, she begins to grow. She focuses on her relationships with peers and her grandmother, Renee (who is a responsible adult role model!) she attempts to be objective when it comes to Ben and she re-evaluates what's important to her.
Ben ran hot and cold for me. Its not until we learn a little more about him from his great-uncle Louis that his behavior seems normal. There were times when he came off really really creepy and intense, too intense. Other times he seemed almost indifferent. Why begins to make sense as Avery learns more about him, but on first reading he seems manic. I did enjoy his relationship with Avery however, there was a healthy blend of trust and wariness for them both that was refreshing. Despite everything else that happens neither is too blinded to keep their head on.
From the way the ending laid out, it would seem as if there will be a sequel. There are still some lingering questions--such as what is approaching the Forest and Avery's exact role in it--but Devlin wrapped up this book well. This was a surprisingly entertaining read and I hope to see more in the future!" -- Poisoned Rationality
"The flow of language in this book was surpassed only by the amount of emotion behind each word. Avery was one of the most realistic characters I've read--right up there with Evie from Paranormalcy, Jacinda from Firelight (which will be reviewed soon, I promise.) and Lennie from The Sky is Everywhere.
This book is unlike any other I've read. Although it's werewolves--which had me a bit hesitant to read it in the first place--they weren't the focus. It wasn't a question of a boy and a girl from two different worlds trying to merge them. It's a question of who to trust, what to trust--those you don't know or those you do, what you think or what you feel?
It's about a connection to this world that so very few people have, and even fewer pay attention to.
If there was a single thing about this story that I had to choose as my favorite, it would be the blood-red-streak in Avery's hair that would grow a deeper red when someone died and the forest grieved for the loss. This tiny--yet so important--detail completely gripped my attention from the moment it appeared.
This book starts immediately following the murder of Avery's parents, and it's in such a raw moment that from the first page, you are thrown into grief and confusion and loss.
I urge you to buy and read this book. I know I'll be on the lookout for the rest of Devlin's books, for sure." -- Mireyah Wolfe
This book is unlike any other I've read. Although it's werewolves--which had me a bit hesitant to read it in the first place--they weren't the focus. It wasn't a question of a boy and a girl from two different worlds trying to merge them. It's a question of who to trust, what to trust--those you don't know or those you do, what you think or what you feel?
It's about a connection to this world that so very few people have, and even fewer pay attention to.
If there was a single thing about this story that I had to choose as my favorite, it would be the blood-red-streak in Avery's hair that would grow a deeper red when someone died and the forest grieved for the loss. This tiny--yet so important--detail completely gripped my attention from the moment it appeared.
This book starts immediately following the murder of Avery's parents, and it's in such a raw moment that from the first page, you are thrown into grief and confusion and loss.
I urge you to buy and read this book. I know I'll be on the lookout for the rest of Devlin's books, for sure." -- Mireyah Wolfe
Low Red Moon Trivia:
There's one word that everyone uses when talking about Low Red Moon--but that word is never used in the book! Can you guess what it is....?? (And I'm thrilled to report that as of September 28th, Isabel has! So what's the word? Come back at the end of October and see...)
I wrote Low Red Moon because I love the story of Little Red Riding Hood and one day I thought, "What if....?" and started writing.
The original title for Low Red Moon was simply Red--my editor asked me to change it, and as I was working on revisions, I was listening to a CD she sent me--and the song Low Red Moon was on there. I thought it was a perfect song for the book--and would make a pretty good title. Lucky for me, my editor agreed!
Misc:
ISBN: 1599905108
For a hi-res image of the cover, just click on the picture above
