Crown of Moonlight (Court of Midnight and Deception #2) by K.M. Shea

Crown of Moonlight (Court of Midnight and Deception #2) Reviews

• 
  julia

  ✰ 4 Trash Griffin Stars ✰
  
  

  “You’re a pretty perfect consort, Rigel.”
  “I don’t know that anyone else would agree with you.”
  “That doesn’t matter. I think so, and you’re my consort.”

  
  
  -ˏˋ Initial Thought(s) ˎˊ-
  
  

  

  
  
  -ˏˋ (somewhat) More Elaborate Thoughts ˎˊ-
  
  
  I'm happy to report that
  Crown of Moonlight was a worthy followup to
  Crown of Shadows! I was a touch nervous going into book 2 only because of how impressed I was with book 1, luckily my fears were very much unfounded! Book two was just as fun as book one, and I'm loving where this series is headed. Leila & Co. are freaking fantastic, and I loved seeing Leila use her ingenuity, hilarious personality, and compassionate nature to solve any and all obstacles. I'd say my main gripe with this book - and the series as a whole - is pretty inconsequential, but still really irks me nonetheless. Since book one I've been wondering. . .how the heck do you pronounce Lord Rigel's name? Seriously, HOW?! Is it pronounced RYE-GEL or RIG-GEL? Someone please tell me. It bothered me in book 1 and it continued to bother me in CROWN OF MOONLIGHT. SO, if one of you guys could be a proper gem and let me know the correct pronunciation of Rigel's name that'd be greatly appreciated ❤︎
  
  

  “It has come to my attention that you mainly seem to esteem me for my appearance.”
  “Nah.”
  “Given how often you carry on over my abs, I must disagree.”
  
  
  stay tuned for a series review coming soon to a theater Goodreads near you✨
• 
  Al *the semi serial series skipper*

  This series is lacking an antagonist. I say that because this book was almost the same repeat as the first book with some minute differences.
  
  I enjoyed the first book with Leila trying to fit in as queen amongst her subjects. This book features her trying to fit in among the other monarchs. It wasn't as enjoyable.
  
  Towards the end there was some mention of a villain but it was so vague that I doubt they're going to feature in this series. The author seems to be setting up the story line for another series based on what's happening and some of the things the paragon has alluded to.
  
  I am still curious about book 3, I think I have an idea of who this supposed villain is so I going to read on to see if I am correct.
• 
  Andrea

  3.5
  

  "But the fun, the insults, and—probably—the assassination attempts are about to start all over. Whee!"

  
  I'm having so much fun with the humor in these books- also enjoy a picture of some trash griffons I found.
  
  
  
  
  You're welcome.
• 
  D. BookAngel

  Just as funny as the first one. Still loving all the characters, I just felt like it was missing more romance. Am I reading YA? I don't even know, cause 2 books in a no steam or even a kiss. I want the next book to just have more to it. More of everything
• 
  Carina Shephard

  5 stars // reread October 2022
  
  A fantastic follow-up to the first book.
• 
  Lemon

  Someone kill me....except I'm already dead.
  
  All I can say to this book, which progresses beautifully and naturally in relationship and plot and setting and characters and introduction of new things and progression of some past plots of this Magiford world is....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. KITTY. WHYYYYYYYYY?!?!?! YOU - AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
  
  Thank you. Have a nice day.
  
  Content: Nothing bad. Some violence...a character ogles someone's chest. AHHHHH!H!!
  
  Update: Book 3 summary helps. Very little but there is that little....*sobs*
• 
  Katlover

  Can I just say that I am thankful she is releasing the next book more quickly than she normally does?! Usually, Kitty leaves the end of books closed enough where I am satisfied with the ending. But not this time. Nope! She just had to leave it open-ended. Thank you for the torture my heart will be feeling. Rant done.
  
  All that to say that I truly enjoyed this book. I laughed really hard with the last book but I literally had to cover my mouth at work to hold in my laughter with this one. Leila is what every leader needs to be...compassionate to her subjects, willing to fight for anyone who is being persecuted, and truly caring about the state of her realm and its many different types of life. I love how Leila is totally different from the "stuffy" fae and how she is willing to do whatever it takes to make everyone think about others and not just themselves. The dynamic between Leila and literally anyone is always fun to see because you never know how she will "troll" others.
  
  I loved learning more about fae realms, history, and magic. And seeing old friends from other series is always a nice touch! As always, Kitty turns normal genres into something totally new. And I can't wait to see how the mystery is solved with the next book!
• 
  Lily Mordaunt

  I Have A Problem With Things That Come In Threes
  
  With regard to books, I don’t like love triangles and, as is becoming clear trilogies. There’s always the heartbreak or something at the end of the second book (both romantically and, in the case of Crown of Moonlight, familially). I’m complaining about that aspect but not as much as I might if I didn’t already have book 3 ready to read as soon as I’m finished with this review.
  Now, about the book overall: I enjoyed Leila’s antics more than I did in book 1. I thoroughly enjoyed the scene in the truck with the monarchs, I thought it was hilarious. I also loved watching the relationships develop both between Leila and Rigel and Leila and her court. It was also fun reading the scenes where Leila used her other magic confidently and effectively. And I’m curious to see what will happen next with the courts.
  I thought this was a solid follow up to book 1 and am off—with some expected frustrations at how long it will take for things to be smoothed over—to the final book of this series.
  about Leila‘s declaration of love… It felt a little abrupt to me. Also, why in the world would Rigel believe her when he knows that she can lie? I think one of them acknowledges that point, but then, instead of trying to actually convince him, she just continues to say it expecting a different outcome.
• 
  Melissa

  This was a great 2nd book for this series. It has the same fun playful feel as the first. A little more romance a little more seriousness in this one but still light and fun. My 12 year old is going to love this series.
• 
  Kathy

  3.5
  
  A fun second installment, it felt like a middle book (in that not a lot happens), but still an overall fun read. I again, was left wanting more in the romance department, but at least there is more page time for Rigel and Leila. I'm looking forward to seeing how everything wraps up in the next book.
  
  
  Content: Clean, no kissing very mild romance. No language, mild violence
• 
  Charlene ✿

  5 stars  

  ★★★★★

  
  
  ☞ Trigger warnings: **contains spoilers** animal illness & injury, arranged marriage, alcohol consumption, blood & gore depictions, dead bodies, death of parent (mentioned), death of sibling emotional abuse, estrangement, gambling, hunting, gun violence, knife violence, murder & attempted murder, physical injuries, attempted regicide. .
  
  
  Court of Midnight and Deception reviews:
  #1     
  Crown of Shadows: ★★★★★
  #2     
  Crown of Moonlight: ★★★★★
  #3     
  The Queen's Crown: ★★★★☆
  
  
  

  First read: January 2021
  Second read: February 2022

  
  
  This series is such a comfort read for me. I just feel all warm and fuzzy when I read about Leila's assassination attempts and Rigel's almost smiles.
  
  

  I couldn’t help the little smirk that played on my lips. “We have the most romantic love story ever! The first time we set eyes on each other, he tried to kill me.”

  
  Leila meets and develops relationships with the other monarchs. She establishes herself as a leader with fresh ideas, empathy and courage to protect the fae and humans. Leila really comes into her own in this book. She finds her rhythm and establishes her authority. Her people respect her now and she is making their lives more enjoyable and less fearful. They love her and trust her now. The are even protective of her. I love this development and how she has trolled them into not taking life too seriously.
  
  When Leila knocked Fell on his arse was the crowning moment of this book. 10/10 would re-read all the time.
  
  Leila's changing relationship with her bio-dad is under talked about. It is interesting to read and you develop complex feelings about her abandoned dad that comes back into her life. It's has one sad scene where she was connecting, having a solid relationship and then it breaks again.
  
  I will re-read this again one day. Just massive fan of this series.
  
  
  

  Would I recommend this book? 
  Definitely.
  
  
   Will I re-read this book?  
  You bet.

  
  
  
  
  

  
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• 
  Tricia Mingerink

  This BOOK IS AMAZING!!!!! Not that I was expecting anything less since K.M. Shea has cemented herself as my favorite author for a long time now.
  
  Continuing the story of plucky farmgirl-turned-fae-queen Leila, this book is full of laugh out loud moments, including my personal favorite where a couple of drugged fae ride around in the back of a pick-up truck. I was crying I was laughing so hard during that scene!
  
  The slowburn romance with Rigel really starts to take off in this one, and it is just as adorably sweet and hilariously funny as all of K.M. Shea's romances tend to be.
  
  This book was everything I wanted it to be, and I can't wait until the last book in the trilogy releases!
• 
  ~♥*Marianna*♥~

  Well, it got worse. Nothing too aggravating but the overly simple characterisation continues, the romance is still very lukewarm and the plot execution is boring. I’m not enjoying it so I won’t read the next one.
• 
  Winter

  My heart...
  
  How dare you!? Not cool at all. Cruel, I say! Now I must wait for book 3 whilst dealing with all these emotions? *cries in fangirl*
• 
  Verdelite

  it's not particularly deep reading, but it's so fun
• 
  spring ~♡

  I'm not ashamed to say I'm reading these books only to see the constant roasting but in a cute way conversation between Rigel and Leila. That's it. I don’t care about anything else (mostly).
• 
  Kate

  3.5 ☆
  
  
  Trilogy Review
• 
  Madison

  3.5
  
  It's cute, very YA vibes.
• 
  Dew

  Squash
  
  I recently re-read this series trying to out my finger on why I find it so unbearably boring. It’s so dull and uninspiring that it took me 3 days to re-read the first book.
  
  The fact that Leila is “obsessed with coffee” but the author doesn’t know that the name of the famous Starbucks drink is “pumpkin SPICE latte” and instead leans into the idea that people are drinking pumpkin purée is sloppy writing. That, or Leila is a real ding-a-ling.
  
  The relationships between all of the characters are predicated on Leila refusing to have a single real conversation despite the author claiming that Leila is different from the other fae because she is so honest is maddening. No matter what Leila’s mother, step-father, or anyone else says to her regarding her biological father, she just writes him off. She decided that he was a jerk when she was 2 and that’s that, nothing will change her mind. Same thing with Rigel. She ignores him and uses him and lying about loving him for two full books, then, without warning, proclaims that she really does lurv him and why doesn’t he believe her? Except she also doesn’t trust him and has never gotten to know anything about him.
  
  As for the mystery of the attacks on the Night Court and Leila, which are a carryover of the attacks on Hazel Medeis and Killian Drake, the author doesn’t quite get around to it. If these series are tied into another series by this author that has greater explanation, it would be helpful if the author indicated what other books readers should be looking into for answers.
• 
  Loops

  Very very slow burn
  
  I mean they are married and haven’t even kissed. I love that the author is taking her time to grow these characters but some action would be nice. Otherwise book is great can’t wait for third one
• 
  Amelia Crider

  This was a great sequel! And I am completely in love with all of the characters. Can't wait to read book #3.
• 
  Sierra Smith

  I loved it then the ending.
  
  --spoilers--
  
  You would not believe how extremely livid I am right now. The first annoyance was the way how throughout the book she has been telling Rigel she loves him and he thinks she is lying, but it was ironic enough that it was funny.
  
  But the ending??? Unacceptable. Lord Linus telling her that he is not mad he missed her entire childhood - despicable. Her getting stabbed - horrifying but honestly not shocking with the way the book has been going. Her even having the slight notion that the trap was RIGEL?!?!?! - treacherous, why the hell would he even do that. And then on top of all of that, Rigel disappeared after saying he was going to deal with stuff to save her, I may just have an aneurysm.
  
  I definitely have my theories about who is in charge of all these attacks, but I'm gonna wait and see.
  
  Now onto the good things because there were a lot. The romance definitely hit this rounds, and what a romance it is. They have such a good relationship as friends and I live for it. Her saying that she was going to make him into a statue to preserve his beauty was just excellence tbh. And as I thought I would after reading the last book, I really love Rigel. Like really really love him. Seeing his POV is always such a fun time. Especially since he is emotionally constipated and doesnt realise that the "feeling in his chest" is in face romantic attraction. Him letting Leila sleep in his bed whenever? Yes. He is a yes from me.
  
  Anyway the book was good, I read it in like 2 days.
• 
  Jennifer

  3.5 stars.
  
  This series continues to make me smile. Somehow this author manages to write a Mary Sue heroine that doesn't annoy the heck out of me with her saccharine sweetness. The heroine of this book is a strong woman, albeit prone to whining at times, with a genuine care for all humans, fae, vampire, fill in the blank with whatever supernatural being, and animals that just makes you want to like her. The hero is growing on me too. I hope, if things follow the K.M. Shea UF pattern, that his grumpiness will morph into something wonderful in the third book.
• 
  Jennifer Sellers

  These books were so good, I did not pause for even a moment between finishing one and starting the next, which means they are all one story in my head. For me, that is great. For writing separate reviews for all three, that is slightly more problematic. So I will give it my best. However, I am saving all of my questions and reasons why I feel there should be a fourth book for the last review, so make sure to check it out!
  
  This is going to sound like a complaint, IT’S NOT! I did give this book five stars for a reason. But . . . while there was a tone of story and character development in the scope of the overall series, this book, as a stand-alone could have used more oomph. To be completely honest, I did not even notice it when reading because I immediately started book three and it continued like one story, but when stopping and looking at each book as their own work, it becomes more obvious.
  
  However, that did not take away from my love for it and there WAS a tone of growth between Leila and Rigel, which always makes me happy! Overall, I loved this book and series and I will continue to petition for a fourth!
  
  
  Check out my bookish blog for more reviews!
• 
  Ria

  Crown of Moonlight was a great sequel, neatly avoiding second-book-in-a-trilogy syndrome by expanding the world, developing the characters, taking some surprising turns and tantalising come the conclusion. Whilst there's still plenty of plucky can-do attitude, there was also a real sense of Leila building her tribe and being stronger with their support, which was really lovely. The relationship with Rigel developed very sweetly and I'm curious to see how these crazy kids make this marriage work in book three, all going well. Roll on book three.
• 
  Stormie

  Another really good one. Leila is really likeable and also seems a bit lucky. Her and Rigels relationship continues at a slow burn. She continues to win over even some of her worst enemies. I can't help but like her and root for her. She's kind of crazy which makes her fun to read about.
• 
  Donna

  Magic
  
  Always good stuff. Great world building and magical kingdoms. The characters have depth. The romance is a beautiful slow burn.
• 
  Bookssica

  5/5 stars. I will forever love this series. It got me out of my very long reading slump.