This book was amazing. So many genres and things I loved in one book. Romance, mystery, supernatural happenings, and monsters. This was my first book from this author and I will absolutely be checking out other works from her.

This was a fun, quick start in a new series from the author of the Truthwitch series.
Winne, and her immediate family are outcasts, of the Wednesday clan, and the Lumiaries, those who keep others safe from the nightmares. As outcasts, Winnie's family is basically shunned. Her friends desert her, her mother and brother have to take low-paying demeaning jobs (because they should have known her father was a traitor). Despite this, Winnie is determined, refusing to be shut out of her birth right as a Luminary and during the month of her 16th birthday attends the three challenges in order to become a hunter for the Luminaries
There was a lot to enjoy here- a fun, slightly different setting with some traditional monsters (with a little spin) some good characters.
But there was a lot that was familiar and a bit predictable. Winnie is alone, but there is a brooding boy from her past that maybe can help her.... there is a scary new evil that no one will believe her about... clues left her her traitor father in old birthday cards....
All that aside, it was a fun read and has a lot of potential if future installments allow some of the side characters some growth. And I'd like to know more about precisely WHY the Dianas are so bad. They're a rival group of witches. Okay? So? Tell me more please!


ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This novel was about a witch in a small town who hunts fantastical creatures. I really loved the plot! It was very action-packed and suspenseful! The writing was very beautiful. It was dark, atmospheric, and creepy! I really loved the characters and thought that they were developed well! I also thought that the story was very fast-paced and was an emotional ride! I loved the cliffhanger at the end, and I wished that the sequel would be released sooner! This novel is a must-read for paranormal fans! I recommend this novel for fans of City of Bones, Slayer, and Witches of West End!

! This was wonderfully written, I loved the length, I loved the pace, I loved that this set everything up and explained everything in enough detail that I wasn't overwhelmed but understood everything and also kept me engaged and hooked! The perfect balance! I loved that it was single POV, short chapters and lowkey fantasy aka set in our current world but fantasy aspects ofc which is my FAVOURITEE! AND THE ART!! THE ART THAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS BOOK IS EXQUISITE, LIKE THE DRAWINGS OF ALL THE CREATUES AND EVERYTHING!! I am definitely hooked and already can't wait for the next book

Things I liked,
The writing was good. The characters were interesting. The forest was unique.

Things I didn’t,
The world building in this book fell flat. Someone else called this urban fantasy and I feel like that fits. There was a lot missing in this book. Why were they hunting in the forest? Why did the forest only produce nightmares at night? But why did so many people from other regions know about this forest and being a hunter? What was the real threat?

Overall I was confused and bored. The cliff hanger was bad. I feel like she could have given the answer to one question before she cut off the book.

I loved this book!

I should not be surprised since I have loved everything else that this author has written. Now the hardest part is waiting for the next book to come out. The world building could have been a little more fleshed out but I am assuming we will learn more about the other clans.

I've been reading less and less YA as the years go by but I cannot resist Susan Dennard. I adore her series, The Witchlands, so I knew I had to read this new book. Upon starting the first chapter, I was immediately intrigued by the setting and what Winnie was going to be up against. I've been getting more into horror lately so I loved that this seemed like it was going to be fantasy mixed with horror. The Luminaries are located not just in Hemlock Falls but in chapters all over the globe protecting areas against nightmares that are manifested by spirits of certain areas in the world. Almost like a Sam and Dean Winchester meeting the Men of Letters but just in one area of the country. Winnie and her family are currently outcasts of their society because of her father being revealed to be a Diana aka a witch traitor. Winnie desperately wants to be a hunter for the Luminaries so she does what she can to insert herself into the trials that every sixteen year old Luminary does... after all, there is no rule that says outcasts can't attempt the trials. I absolutely loved Winnie and definitely felt a bond with her over all of the other characters. Everything that she went through in this book was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. I am also extremely intrigued by Jay.... I feel like there is way more than meets the eye when it comes to Jay and I'm very much looking forward to book two to find out more about him. And I desperately need him and Winnie to just get over their hangups and get together! If you're a fan of Supernatural, Charmed, or anything else along those lines I highly recommend checking out this book.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this copy because the pacing was a bit slow for my taste, hopefully I will get back to this and purchase a copy!

I really enjoyed this! I loved the little references to the thread, but I also loved how different it was, and how I couldn't rely on the thread for clues as to what was happening. I have Many theories and I'm excited for the next book to come out so I can see if any of them are true!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As an avid fantasy lover, I was intrigued by The Luminaries and its dark, very unique sounding world. Over the course of this book we follow Winnie, a sixteen year old girl who has been labeled an outcast by her people, the luminaries, and who is determined to prove herself and become a hunter of nightmares (and prove her family's loyalty to the cause along the way).

The world of The Luminaries is something I've never come across in fantasy before, and I thoroughly enjoyed Susan Dennard's world building and exposition. Winnie is an extremely lovable main character who has you rooting for her from the start, and the main conflict of the book is tense and exciting, perfect for any fantasy lovers. I thoroughly enjoyed The Luminaries and will be waiting excitedly for the next book in the series.

Intriguing premise and a cliffhanger. Lots of action…just a little too much repetition. And the one extremely annoying, constant repetition in particular is what kept this from being 4 stars.

First, a thank you to Netgalley for letting me read a copy of this book - and later, to Owlcrate, for including a beautiful edition of this book in one of their boxes.

I really waffled between 2 stars and 3 stars for this book, and decided to err on the side of generosity. Overall, I found it a bit of a slog and a bit hard to get into. A lot of times, I found Winnie in relatable and bit grating; but I’m also an adult and not a teen. Maybe thirteen-year-old me would have been more enamored with her and found her aspiring? Who knows.

The last 10% piqued my interest, but of course that was only the very end. I’m not sure if I’ll read the next one, I feel like curiosity will get the better of me and I will, but I’ll only grudgingly do so.

This was such a fun read! I enjoyed the journey and the characters. But I will say that the writing wasn't perfect. I mostly enjoyed this book, but at times the writing did feel a little off.

Still, I'll definitely be carrying on with this series.

Susan Dennard is one of my favorite authors so I knew I had to try this book. I followed the Twitter adventure several years ago so my excitement was already high. However, I am glad that this book wasn't just a novel version of the Twitter story. Most of all, I loved learning about all the different monsters in Hemlock Falls. Overall it was a quick, fast paced read with a really unique storyline with characters you absolutely love!

Hemlock Falls isn't like other towns. You won't find it on a map, your phone won't work here, and the forest outside town might just kill you.

If you happen to stumble into the town of Hemlock Falls, you'll find that here your phone doesn't work and not a single map will show you the location. Winnie Wednesday knows that the forest outside of town can kill you, but she wants nothing more than to fight the monsters that rise nightly. She wants to become a member of the order that protect her town. She wants to become one of the Luminaries. Unfortunately, this path seems closed to her. Her family has been shunned since her father was discovered to be a traitorous witch. However, Winnie can try to take on the dangerous Luminary hunter trials on her sixteenth birthday. If she can complete it and prove herself, Winnie can finally clear her family name, If she wants to survive, she'll need the help of her ex-best friend and to keep her eyes open.

Book Summary:

Winnie Wednesday comes from a line of monster hunters. Like many of her kind, she lives in Hemlock Falls. Unlike most of her kind, Winnie's direct family has been shunned. They bear the brunt of the guilt, as her father was declared a traitor (and worse).

All Winnie ever wanted was to become a hunter, and she's not going to let this exclusion stop her from trying. In fact, if she tries and succeeds, she could make the lives of her brother and mother so much better. She has to try. No matter the risk or the cost.

My Review:

Like many other Susan Dennard fans, I have been counting down the days to the release of The Luminaries. The excitement began a couple of years ago when Susan Dennard read a choose-your-own-adventure of sorts on Twitter, with readers getting to vote on Winnie's actions. It was a blast – it was also something we all needed at the time (think about the timing).

Now we have the first novel in our hands, and it feels amazing. Was it what I was expecting? Yup, I would have to say! A lot is going on in this world, and I'm not just talking about the monsters. We have several hunter families, internal politics, and more than a few mysteries.

Naturally, world-building is one of my favorite elements. I'm also particularly curious about one mystery, but I won't share my theories at the moment (spoilers! If you want to discuss this privately, send me a PM).

Winnie is a young and determined protagonist, which I know some readers cherish (while others avoid). Personally, I appreciated her drive and thought she made several good points. Even if she was a bit reckless on more than one occasion, I guess that's a Wednesday trait, huh?

I hope the second novel will answer some of these questions, though I have no idea how long we'll have to wait until then. Regardless, I'm sure it will be worth it.

Highlights:
Magical society
Young Adult Fantasy
Urban Fantasy
Monster Hunters
Based on interactive tweet thread
Quest for Justice

Trigger Warnings:
Bullying
PTSD
Exclusionary Behaviors

After faithfully following along with the original Twitter choose-your-own adventure thread that Susan Dennard did, I couldn’t wait to read The Luminaries. There’s a lot of callbacks to the thread in this book for the Luminerds, but it also stands completely on its own for those new to this world!

The Luminaries is a relatively quick read with plenty of action. Winnie is a great main character, and Jay is an excellent love interest (fair warning though - this is very much a slow burn romance!). Dennard did a great job of showing how Winnie’s family was shunned because of her father’s actions, and how difficult the experience is for Winnie. The atmosphere of the forest was also amazing. I loved the balance between spooky and wonder. My favorite part of the book though was the magical creatures! However, the ending felt a bit abrupt.

I would recommend this one for fans of YA fantasy who are looking for magical creatures, plenty of action, and secret societies! I will definitely be picking up the next one.

3.5 stars

This was one of my anticipated reads of the year and I enjoyed this haunting tale. After Winnie's father is labelled as a traitor and her family is shunned from the community, Winnie is determined to become a hunter and reclaim her family's reputation. Focusing on the want to belong and to prove herself, Winnie is faced with more challenges than just the hunter trials.

I was gripped by the spooky atmosphere, different monsters known as nightmares as well as the three trials that needs to be completed. The world-building was executed perfectly and Dennard created a magical world where nightmares come to life, where magic is hidden from people and determination is the driving force behind every trial.
I am looking forward to the next book.
Fans of Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters will enjoy this.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for gifting me an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. Interesting story but a tad repetitive. The ending left a lot open so if you want any closure, be prepared to wait for book 2. I can’t wait for it to be released. I must know what is going to happen next and what Winnie is up to.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Teen for this digital arc in exchange for my honest opinion which is not affiliated with any brand.

Lots of monsters, which are well thought out and developed for the story. I really need book two as I loved Winnie's character acr through book 1 and cannot wait to see how she is propelled forward in book 2!