Thank you for this arc.

Book Review: "Luminiferos: The Omen of Light" by Yana Metro

The adventure had its moments of excitement, but I found the story a bit confusing at times. Characters appeared suddenly without much explanation, and the pace of the plot felt uneven. Although the world of Luminiferos was imaginative, I struggled to fully picture it in my mind.
While themes of friendship and bravery were present, they didn't feel very original or deeply explored. I found it hard to connect with the characters and their struggles.

In conclusion, it had nice moments, but it didn't quite meet my expectations. Despite its flaws, it may still appeal to readers who enjoy fantasy adventures with a lighter touch.

"Luminiferos: The Omen of Light" by Yana Metro is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance, and philosophy that follows the life of Lilly White, an eighteen-year-old girl seeking meaning in a parallel world. The narrative skillfully weaves between the harsh reality of Lilly's upbringing in an English orphanage and the mystical dreams of lush forests and a loving family that haunt her.

The author adeptly introduces elements of fantasy, creating an ethereal and mesmerizing world through vivid descriptions of mystical creatures and enchanting landscapes. The premise of a lost world accessed through a portal adds an intriguing dimension to the story, offering a refreshing twist to the fantasy genre.

The character development of Lilly is well-executed as she grapples with the dichotomy of her experiences – the loneliness of her orphaned existence contrasted with the allure of a fantastical realm. The emergence of her latent gifts and the journey of self-discovery provide a compelling narrative arc.

However, the book falls short in some aspects. The pacing, at times, feels uneven, with moments of intense action juxtaposed against slower, more reflective scenes. Additionally, the philosophical themes, while thought-provoking, occasionally border on being overly abstract, making it challenging for readers to fully connect with the deeper meanings.

Despite these drawbacks, "Luminiferos" manages to deliver an enchanting tale of love, self-discovery, and the battle against impending darkness. Yana Metro's writing style is evocative, creating a vivid and immersive experience for readers. While not without its flaws, this book is a commendable effort in the realm of fantasy literature.

Lilly White opened the door to a world of possibility when she stepped through the magical portal of Luminiferos. Nature's beauty was everywhere, from the towering trees to the winding rivers and sparkling lakes, but it was also a dangerous world, where darkness lurked around every corner.

Luminiferos: The Omen of Light is a thrilling adventure novel by Yana Metro. Through Lilly's journey to discover her family's past, she uncovers a powerful ancient relic that could unleash a dark force on the world unless she can find a way to stop it. With the help of mysterious allies, she must battle her way through a labyrinth of enemies and evil creatures in order to save her family and the world.

Yana Metro combines elements of both fantasy and magical realism to great effect in this captivating story. The lush worldbuilding and vivid descriptions draw the reader in to a vivid and exciting alternate universe, while the characters feel incredibly real and engaging. The plot twists and turns keep the reader entranced and guessing until the very end.

Thank you net galley for sending me an advanced readers copy of Luminiferos

A short and stellar novel perfect for young adults who want a taste of dark fantasy without diving into the deep end. The characters were so charming and despite the dark aesthetic atmosphere of the book certain details such as the fmcs adorable pet kept the story sweet and easy to read.

I didn’t finish this book due to it not being a great fit for me, sadly. This is merely personal taste, however, and should not in any way hinder anyone from trying it for themselves. It simply wasn’t quite what I expected and it failed to engage me.

Thank you NetGalley, Publishers, and Yano Metro for gifting me a copy of Luminiferos: The Omen of LIght in return for my honest opinion.

2/5 stars
A fusion of fantasy, romance, and philosophy, this is a story of a girl who goes to a parallel world in search of meaning.

At just eighteen, Lilly White has lived multiple lives. There was the cold, hard reality of growing up in an English orphanage, isolated and unwanted. But paradoxically, visions and dreams of lush forests and mystical creatures, and most troubling of all – a warm, loving family. Lilly doesn’t know if these are the delusions of a lonely mind, or something more.

When a man with a raven reveals a portal to a lost world, she finally gets proof she is not insane. But for all the ethereal beauty of this impossible place, a toxic darkness creeps closer, consuming everything in its path. Caught between the desire to find her family and fight against an evil that threatens all of existence, Lilly must hone gifts within herself she never could have imagined, and embark on a journey of self-discovery, transcendence, and love.

This cover is stunning! If I'm being honest, that is why I requested this book and not because I enjoyed the synopsis. I'm working on it! I know I have a problem! I really wanted to like this book but it didn't work for me. There was so much going on and for my ADHD brain, it was just way too much! Between it being too predictable, to there being little to no plot it was just a really tough read.
While I did enjoy the romance and the cliffhanger at the end it wasn't enough to get me to read the second book in the series.

I wanted to like this one but it was not for me and I did not end up finishing the book past 30%. The premise seemed intriguing and I was hoping to enjoy it, especially since it has quite a few good reviews from other readers! However, the writing felt juvenile to me, the dialogue was underdeveloped, and the world-building was info-dumped on the reader. I hope others enjoy it!

This novel had lots of world building, and amazing an amazing magic system. It seemed slow at points, and lacked the romance I was expecting. It felt as though this is the first in a series? If so I would be interested in reading the follow ups.

I want to thank Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for an eARC of this book

⭐⭐

So, I just finished reading Luminiferos: The Omen of Light by Yana Metro. Gotta say, the cover is absolutely stunning! Unfortunately, that’s pretty much the only positive thing I can say about this one. It had so much potential, but man, did it miss the mark.

First off, the writing was kinda clunky. It just didn’t flow smoothly and left me feeling a bit disconnected from the story. And the pace? Slooooow. I mean, seriously, it dragged on and on without much happening to hold my interest.But here’s where things really fell apart for me - the plot (or lack thereof). I was left scratching my head wondering what exactly was going on. It felt like there wasn’t much of a cohesive storyline driving the whole thing.

And as for the characters? Meh. They were flat and one-dimensional. I couldn’t really connect with any of them or get invested in their journeys.All in all, Luminiferos: The Omen of Light ended up being a real miss for me. Such a shame considering how captivating that cover was. But hey, not every book can be a winner.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Suspenseful, Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Great novel that will be the perfect to lose yourself in. Thank you Net Galley ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Wasn’t quite my kind of book. Nothing particular, just didn’t hold my interest in the way I had hoped for. The writing style is good, and I think it just depends on the reader.

It wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read…. It was okay. Just okay. It didn’t really feel special. I had no trouble getting through it, but I didn’t enjoy it either.

This book was alright, I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it. The characters were alright didn’t feel like much depth or growth, the storyline was interesting and seemed to move at fast enough pace which I liked. Overall not horrible but could’ve been better.

This was okay. It didn't quite hit as much as I would have hoped but I still found it to be an enjoyable read overall. Loved the characters but it was very much so 'all vibes and no plot' for me

This imaginative blend of fantasy, romance, and philosophy introduces a captivating parallel world. The story flows smoothly, making it a quick and engaging read. While the unique concept stands out, the first book feels more like an introduction, with limited progress in plot and character development. Although enjoyable, it's difficult to determine if I would recommend it without reading further into the series.

I loved this different take on fantasy and romance. Metro's writing style is so unique and the world building is so fantastic. I hope to see more stories in this incredible universe she's created. Lilly is a great heroine!

This was a surprisingly quick read for me. I honestly assumed that given how unique this world was, it would take me longer to get the hang of it. Still, I breezed through this book. The style of the writing is not complicated, and the plot develops smoothly enough to keep easy track of.

Having said that I’m reserving too much judgement on this for now, as this is only the beginning of a rather long series. This will without a doubt stick out in my mind as a more singular concept. But by the end I still felt as though in the grand scheme of things not too much was accomplished outside basic outlining and character intros. I enjoyed it well enough to continue but at this point am honestly unsure if I would recommend it to anyone.

A great teen book of supernatural beings & ethics or good versus bad energy. Surrounding the mystery of a disturbed young woman that went into an orphanage
At 5yrs old with no real memories except from dreams of another world totally magical & unlike modern day England. Finally emancipated she had worked at libraries before venturing to France where she rented a room from an eccentric elderly lady that had tones of old tomes on Faeries. She had forgotten her rent one time too many & was thrown out & decided to stay in nearby woods where she had a nightmarish experience that gave her a unique pet & sent her to another world. Thus the start of a life & death quest.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The story was ok. Everything felt more like info-dumping instead of showing or gradually telling important information. The characters were not that interesting overall.

This book had my attention the moment I spot the gorgeous cover. I felt eager to learn more and my feelings got confirmed when I started reading. The beginning of the book felt a bit disorienting, as the story was starting through establishing the setting and the introduction of the main characters, but I wanted to continue readingn onetheless. I can't wait to read the other books of the series!