Sarah A. Parker’s When the Moon Hatched has been hyped as a poetic and enchanting tale, but for me, it fell short of the praise. The book starts off promisingly, with an intriguing premise and lush world-building, but it quickly stalls as the story gets bogged down by an overabundance of description. 

If you love detailed, flowery prose, this might be your cup of tea. For me, it felt like word soup—so much unnecessary information that I found myself skimming paragraphs to get back to the actual plot. Some might call the style poetic, but I found it more babbling than beautiful, often burying the story under layers of overwrought detail. 

The romance, too, left much to be desired. Half of it is relayed through diary entries, while the other half seems to hinge on fragmented, forgotten memories. This disjointed approach made it hard to feel invested in the relationship, and instead of swooning, I was left scratching my head. 

The confusion extended to the plot as well. While the premise had potential, the pacing dragged, and I spent much of the book bored or trying to piece together what was actually happening. There are moments of brilliance—Parker has a knack for atmosphere—but they’re few and far between. 

Ultimately, When the Moon Hatched feels like a missed opportunity. It might resonate with readers who adore dense prose and don’t mind meandering plots, but for those who value tighter pacing and a more focused narrative, this might not be the right pick. A strong start and a unique premise earn it three stars, but it’s not a book I’d rush to recommend.