Review Detail

Ice Moon is the exhilarating sequel to Blood Circus by Camila Victoire. Ava starts the story back in the human settlement, debating whether to stay or embark on the Ice Moon trials of the Klujn people. If she misses it, she will be forever an exile. The decision is taken from her, and the only chance of survival is to rescue Diablo and get his help to undergo the trials and find Circo. She is told by Grouse that if she doesn’t return with the heart of the mad king Warwick, then her parents and friends will be executed.
Her trip through the wilderness is with the idea that forging under pressure makes you stronger. She is warned to make her journey as perilous as possible so she learns the most she can and gains a better standing in society upon her return. I like that there is a romantic possibility with Diablo, but his companionship goes beyond the trivial feelings of attraction. I also like that instead of taking the easy way out with the narrative and having the story be about their love, it is about her forging herself into a vivacious and capable adult. There is something satisfying about her trials of survival, and having her shed her shame and guilt and face herself and decide to love herself as she is. This journey of survival is exciting and healing.
The themes of nature and the predatory nature of humans are heavily leaned on to make this dystopian future world. The humans are destroying the Klujn, which are the only beings capable of healing the world. They try to overcome the poisons they consume and surround themselves by eating Klujn meat and dissecting it for parts. Their disregard for nature shows the baseness of our own society. This all sets Ava up for a third book where she is likely going to serve as the avenging earth spirits to stop humans’ evil spread and return the balance of nature.
Overall, this book is deeply spiritual regarding its views of nature. I liked this book better than the first and am excited for the setup for the third book.