
Member Reviews

As someone who is drawn to YA after being a high school librarian for almost a decade, I thought this would be a perfect fit for me. I found the story slow-paced and at times boring. The supernatural and dangerous forest lacked a bit of edge.

This story was fairly original. The world building was good and imagery was executed well. Many scenes were described in ways that truly made you picture yourself in the pages of the book. Looking forward to the next one.

I really enjoyed this one! The story follows a group of young magic users, each with their own secrets and struggles, trying to survive and fight against dark forces. I liked how the characters felt real and flawed. They made the stakes feel higher because you cared about them.
The worldbuilding is solid, with a magical system that’s cool without being overly complicated. The pace is steady, with enough action and twists to keep things interesting. The relationships between the characters, especially the friendships and rivalries, added a lot of depth to the story. It felt like the kind of fantasy that balances adventure with emotional growth really well. If you’re into a fun fantasy with magic, intrigue, and a group of characters you root for, The Luminaries is definitely worth checking out.

This book for me has perfect time of spook, and that's coming from me, miss major scardy cat!
What you get in this book is fun, but if you need me yo be more specific:
🌳Spooky forest, mosters constantly preying on humanity, called nightmares. Constant eerie vibe
🗡Secret society, The Luminaries, that works day in and day out on protecting humanity from nightmares
🦂Social hierarchy, almost to the lvl of a cult, with its structure, rituals, and very specific internal culture.
I really enjoyed this, atmosphere of this book is palpable, the constant fear and danger Luminaries are in. But this story also carries a dose of mystery that will keep you interested from beginning to end. Lots of world building and Lore come in the shape of a sort of hunters codex with information on these monsters.
Our main character annoyed me a little in the beginning, but after I reminded myself she is an outcast and just a 16yr old. So, expect a lot of drama, and not just from teenagers here.
What I wasn't keen on the shift that happened in social interaction after the first trial. I don't want to spoil a thing! 🤣
And I do think this is a great starting book to a series that I'll be continuing!!!

This was a fast paced fantasy that left me wanting… something. I’m not sure what, but I was hoping for more. Reading the description pretty much sums the entire book up.

The Luminaries follows Winnie Wednesday, an outcast from the typical Luminary society who are sequestered in a community all there own destined to look after a forest where a spirit slumbers. In the evening spirits arise from the mist, and the luminaries are fated to kill them. Winnie's family is cast out of society for the belief that her father is a Diana, and he has been MIA for the last four years. Diana's are the Luminaries arch-nemeses. Instead of waiting the 10 years of their banishment, Winnie finds a loop-hole where she can become a hunter as they all do, by undergoing the three trials in the month of their 16th birthday. She notices something along the way though, there's a werewolf that shouldn't be there, but also something that's much more sinister lurking in the deep dark. What could it be? This stellar beginning to a mysterious series is a true delight.

I value the opportunity I was given to read this in advance, but it has been three years and I still haven't read this. With so many books ahead of me, I cannot return to this title.

I am a huge fan of Dennard's Witchland series and this book did not disappoint! Single POV contemporary fantasy story. Lots of monsters, a little romance story line . The story was fast paced and the short chapters helped make this story fly by.

I think there's not much I can say about this one other than there wasn't much to this story, as far as I can see. The pace was a little off for my liking and the mystery wasn't that interesting. The premise was fascinating, but once again this fell into YA tropes I do not love.

'The Luminaries' by Susan Dennard is the first novel in a YA supernatural series. The story is interesting an well told with likable characters and a well-developed plat.

An intriguing premise with a dark, mysterious town and a strong heroine, Winnie, who wants to prove herself. The tension between Winnie and Jay adds depth to their relationship, but the pacing felt a bit uneven at times. The world-building and monster-hunting elements are fun, though some parts could have been developed more. While the story kept me engaged, it didn’t fully hit the mark for me. A solid read, but not without its flaws

Fantastic pacing and world building. I love a good mystery and this had me hooked.
Thank you for my copy!

The Luminaries is a fantasy novel by Susan Dennard. It is the first book in the The Luminaries series, which blends elements of adventure, magic, and mystery. The book touches on themes of power, destiny, friendship, and self-discovery. It delves into what it means to grow up with great expectations and the pressure of shaping one’s own future in the face of overwhelming odds.
The story takes place in a world where The Luminaries, a secretive group of skilled individuals, use their magical abilities to protect the world from dark forces. The main protagonist, Ziva, is a young girl who is thrust into this world when she discovers her own latent magical abilities. As she trains to become one of The Luminaries, Ziva uncovers mysteries surrounding her past and the fate of the Luminaries themselves.
Ziva’s journey is complicated by the fact that she is not only learning how to control her powers but also facing the weight of prophecy and the role she may play in an impending conflict that could change the fate of the world. Along the way, she forges relationships with other members of the Luminaries, confronts dark forces, and unravels dangerous secrets.

This was okay. It was not perfect but I enjoyed it a lot. The writing was beautiful and it had a cool magic system

The concept for The Luminaries is an interesting one. An entire society that protects the world from the creatures that manifest in a spooky forest is an atmospheric treat. Winnie will do anything to lift the outcast status placed upon her and her family, including participating in the Hunter Trials. These trials are brutal and are the framework for this book.
I enjoyed this book, but it is not without flaws. Winnie clicks her teeth… a lot. It’s a pet peeve of mine, such repetitive actions in stories, but the rest is compelling enough that I can forgive it. I’m a sucker for slow burns and adored the interactions between Winnie and Ugh Jay.

I wanted to like this book so badly but I just couldn’t. The main character just got on my nerves and the story felt really slow paced to me. I was expecting more action.
I really enjoyed the witchlands series by the same author so I had a lot more hope for this one. But this one just fell flat for me. I won't be finishing the series.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

I really loved this book. I listened to it on audio and it was like being told a scary story, which was so cool. I love how there is this dark mist that brings about these nightmare creatures. It's such a cool concept. I really liked the characters. I do think there could be a stronger romance in this. It just wasn't that believable. I can't wait to read the next one!

Thank you for this ARC. Unfortunately, I've lost interest in this premise. I think it will do more harm if I read and do a review at this point. I'm sorry for any inconvenience.

Four stars for the portion of the book that I read. Currently putting this down, hoping to come back to it later

On the spectrum of YA, this is on the younger and safe side. So, if you like that then this is a great book that I'm sure many will love. This one just wasn't one for me.