When I first opened the book, I wasn't sure of what to expect. But surprisingly enough, the book had me hooked from the very first page. The book, even though it was over 300 pages, had a mystery-driven plot, which pulled me in.  Beginning with the chapters, the first set of chapters focused on Essence's changed life on her return to the palace. I found these chapters slow-paced because I had to follow through on the new adjustments to her new rules.  The middle part of the book followed up from where Essence and Kieran began working closely. While reading this part, I felt the suspense build up as they both exchanged romantic gestures, such as handholding. Then, getting to the last part, the pace quickened up as the secrets were being unveiled. I felt the emotional tension emitted by the characters, which led to a satisfying ending.  Overall, my only criticism about the chapters was the uneven pacing, which felt slow at first and fast at the end. However, it enriched the narrative but kept my emotions unbalanced.

Another aspect of the book was the genre combination of romance and mystery. The characters Essence and Kieran both established a slow-burn chemistry, making this one of the strongest aspects of the book. Furthermore, as they navigated the palace's secret areas, their relationship grew stronger. Though it was layered with forbidden connection and restraint, they were still able to exchange subtle glances and romantic gestures.  The mystery part of the novel started when Essence arrived in Aero, her kingdom. At first I considered it strange when she was given her new rules, and as I read on, I noticed something was off, which led me to discover the lockdown.  From the part where the kingdom was in lockdown with little to no communication, to Kieran's weird presence at the palace and the hidden passageways discovered in the palace, all these contributed to the tension I felt while reading. Most especially the part where she begins to place her trust in Kieran, I was scared since I could not discern how their relationship was bound to end.

Lastly, the novel was written for young adults, but some parts of the book had more meaning to it.  From a young adult’s perspective, the book could be described as one with a relatable heroine, a coming-of-age theme, and few romantic scenes. However, the book did have some introspective themes.  One of them is trust. Essence blindly trusted everyone around her without knowing they were holding back secrets from her. This ended up affecting her, but it also taught me the dangers behind blinded loyalty and how placing trust in the wrong person can turn everything around.  Another one had to do with the isolation Essence faced after her arrival back in Aero. The rules, steady observation of her activities, and the cessation of communication with the outside world had an impact on her mental health because she was being deprived of everything that seemed familiar to her.  It was then that she started building her relationship with Kieran, and while it was based on emotions and romance, she also saw it as an anchor to protect her mind.

In summary, Essence of Moonstone is much more than a novel; it is a story of mystery and romance with deeper meanings. It is also one I would like to recommend to readers who love engaging mysteries like me.  The book is perfect for readers aged 14 and above, as well as for book clubs, because it includes topics for discussion such as trust and mental health, as previously mentioned above.