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Lunamare (Luna Duet #1) by Pepper Winters

One heart. One body. One life.


I'm no novice when it comes to Pepper Winter’s marvellous mind and the worlds she creates, but this is the first book for me that’s not ‘exclusively’ dark.



Firstly, I want to take a moment to mention the dedication in this book. When I first tapped my kindle screen and started to read it (I do not understand people who DON’T read the dedications at all!) I actually got goosebumps. It is the best dedication I have ever read—pure, beautiful, heartfelt, unapologetic love and I absolutely adored it!

Now on to what thought about LUNAMARE.

I’m not sure how to start this review if I’m honest, because I adore Pepper’s writing and consider her one of the best dark authors there is and because of that, I really wanted to love every aspect of this story … but I can’t say I did wholeheartedly did.

There were aspects within this story that I loved a lot—the fact that Nerida’s world was so filled with water (I love the water and it’s where I’m happiest, most alive and free too) I really liked the relationship between Nerida and her dad and I enjoyed the marine biology that fills the pages of this book.

I really enjoyed the way the story is told, that it’s not your basic duel POV story. That was actually one of my favourite parts because you had the beauty of Nerida having lived the story while she was telling it and that comes with knowledge and hindsight which adds another layer to the storytelling which creates more depth was superb.

There’s no doubt that this book is a feast of deep feeling, angst and lust. The connection between Nerida and Aslan is not up for dispute—it’s all consuming and brutal at times. But I may be in the minority when I say this but I didn’t fall head-over-heels for Aslan. I didn’t find myself full of grief for him (and I’m a really emotional reader) I didn’t find him particularly charming or loveable. I didn’t really feel much for him at all, which is not what I’m used to with Pepper’s leading men.

I still don’t know what I expected. I went in fully aware that this story was different. I knew it wasn’t dark and I was excited to read a Pepper story that wasn’t knowing full well she can weave a complex tapestry with her words, which of course she did, but for me, it’s also a book that even given all the complexity and angst, I didn’t completely feel it delivered on what it promised.


Pepper’s talent is that even with a story I didn’t fall head-over-heels for, I still read the book super quickly (in a little over 48 hours) because I was still completely invested in knowing where it went, what the secrets were and what the ending was going to be which just goes to show, not every book has to be five stars for you for enjoy it.

I want to make it clear, I didn’t hate it but I didn’t absolutely love it either. I’m still excited for book two so I can learn the answers to the many questions I have and find out how this story ends.

I’m giving Lunamare 4 stars.

*I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this review and my review is 100% honest and true
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