"Blood Moon" by Britney S. Lewis: A "Twilight" Throwback with a Paranormal Twist
- Kim Bartosch
- Sep 10
- 5 min read
If you, like me, had your "Twilight" phase—complete with midnight premieres and Team Edward vs. Team Jacob debates—"Blood Moon" by Britney S. Lewis might give you a jolt of nostalgic déjà vu. Marketed as a thrilling paranormal romance set in small-town Kansas, this book does have its own bite… but sometimes it feels like it’s sinking its teeth a little too deep into familiar territory.
Set in Timber Plains, Kansas, the story follows Mirabella “Mira” Owens, a freshman at Lakeland University who’s trying to move on from her complicated past. With her mom gone for years and her sheriff dad (yes, you read that right) keeping the town safe, Mira is just hoping for a normal college experience. But when she meets Julian Santos—a mysterious classmate with long hair, golden eyes, and an icy demeanor—it’s clear that normal is out the window.
And here’s where things start to sound very familiar.
Let’s talk about it.
From the moment Julian scowls at Mira in class, we’re plunged into a plotline that might feel a little too close to Forks, Washington. Mira’s full name is Mirabella, which she insists no one use. Her dad is a small-town sheriff whom she calls by his first name. The werewolves are technically shapeshifters who exist because of vampires. Julian rescues her from a deadly accident and then tries to gaslight her about it. Sound familiar? Yeah, I thought so too.
There are even traces of imprinting—yes, that imprinting—which might raise some eyebrows depending on how deep this trope goes in future books. For readers familiar with Stephenie Meyer's saga, these echoes will be impossible to miss. At times, it truly feels like a Twilight remix or reimagining—this time told through the lens of characters of color and with greater emphasis on werewolf lore, which is a much-needed expansion in the genre. Representation matters, and I do appreciate that Lewis has placed marginalized voices at the heart of this very white-dominated trope.
To the author’s credit, there is a turning point in the story where it begins to chart its own course. The pacing picks up, and the worldbuilding becomes more immersive as Mira uncovers her family’s unexpected connection to the magical war between werewolves and vampires. The second half moves into fresher territory, and I found myself having a lot more fun once it broke away from the heavy Twilight overtones. The backstory of the supernatural factions and Mira’s role in this hidden world brings genuine stakes, danger, and intrigue.
Lewis's writing is fluid, and the tension between Mira and Julian is intense enough to keep romance readers engaged—even if you can predict where it’s going. The moody Midwest college setting gives off autumnal vibes, and there’s enough atmospheric detail to keep you turning the pages.
Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the book relied too heavily on homage—or possibly unintentional parallels—to Twilight. For longtime fans, this may feel like a tribute, a comfort read even. But for those hoping for a fresh spin on the genre, it might feel like a missed opportunity.
And that’s where I personally struggled. I wanted to love this book. The premise is strong, the representation is refreshing, and the promise of a deeper shapeshifter-vampire mythology is compelling. But the abundance of Twilight parallels—from character names to major plot beats—often distracted from what could have been a truly unique story. At times, it felt like I was reading well-written fanfiction rather than an original novel.
Final Thoughts:
Blood Moon is a dark, romantic, and occasionally thrilling read that brings diversity to a genre still dominated by familiar (and pale) faces. Britney S. Lewis clearly has the chops to deliver high-stakes paranormal drama—and I’m hopeful that future installments in this series will lean more into her original storytelling and less into recognizable tropes.
If you’re a Twilight fan who misses that dramatic, slow-burn romance and moody supernatural conflict, this could be a hit. But if you're looking for a totally new story in the paranormal YA space, you might find yourself wishing for a little more originality beneath the blood moon.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3 out of 5 stars)
A familiar ride with just enough twists to keep you going—but here’s hoping Book 2 finds its own voice.
Thank you to the author and Page Street YA for including me on this book tour and for the ARC. Toppling Stacks Tours sponsors this book tour.
About the book:
Publisher: Page Street YA
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publishing date: September 9, 2025
Rep: Black
Synopsis:
Eighteen-year-old Mirabella “Mira” Owens grew up in Timber Plains, Kansas hearing all about the local legend—that werewolves had, many years ago, traveled to their small Midwest town to protect humans from the growing threat of a vampire enclave. Just a story of course, a fairy tale, one Mira had stopped believing in when she was young—just like she stopped believing in the idea of her mom returning, after she up and left without a trace when she was only thirteen.
Mira is grown up now, starting freshman year at the nearby Lakeland University. College feels normal, exactly the thing she’s been craving most… except for one particular classmate: Julian Santos, a mysterious boy with long hair, golden eyes, and a coldness that seems directed exclusively at Mira for reasons she can’t understand and he won’t explain.
When Mira receives an unaddressed letter from her mother, she’s told the world isn’t as it seems. She suspects her mom might be telling the truth when she stumbles across strange animal tracks on a hiking trail, and when she’s miraculously saved from a twenty foot drop by the one and only, Julian Santos.
The problem? Julian would have had to jump the length of the cliff to catch her, making him incredibly fast and strong beyond belief. When she confronts him about this, he denies everything.
But when a Blood Moon rises, Mira soon finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient, magical war, with Julian on the other side of the line. She discovers there’s much more truth to the old town legends than she could ever have anticipated—and her family’s historic role in it will change her world forever.
BLOOD MOON is a dark and thrilling, intensely romantic ride, a fresh take on a werewolf love story for a new generation of paranormal romance readers, and is the first book in a series. It is set against a high-stakes paranormal backdrop—a world ripe with secret identities, rich supernatural lore, and a forbidden romance… that comes with a deadly bite.
About the author:
Britney S. Lewis is the Kansas award-winning author of The Undead Truth of Us and The Dark Place. She has a B.A. in corporate communications with an emphasis in business and art.
When Britney isn’t daydreaming about new stories, she is an urban hiker, exploring the city on foot, looking for iced coffee. She can also be found watching TV shows with her husband and her pup or practicing West Coast Swing. She lives in Kansas City.
You can follow Britney on her quickly growing TikTok account where she loves talking about author success stories, book tropes, and connecting with readers.
This sounds like a good read.
Great review. Thanks for sharing.
I would love to win the Amazon gift card in your giveaway.