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.

Unfortunately, the premise here is fantastic but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Not one thing happens that isn’t discussed already in the synopsis, the pacing was slow with little payoff, and the world building felt non-existent. I respect what the author was trying to create here, but too much focus was put on creating a series instead of drawing the reader into wanting to continue the 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!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! It was such a fun and quick read, I loved the concept of the monster hunting and the world that Dennard created. Can't wait for the rest of the series!

“She imagines what tonight’s trial will be like. How it will feel to hunt a nightmare instead of just read about it.”

The Luminaries has a story concept that I feel is very fresh, and not one I’ve personally read before. The modern world mixed with fantasy elements is something I love, and nightmares being real and alive quickly caught my interest and held it.

There were parts that I struggled with, knowing there is a whole section of this world that we have not covered in any detail, including all mentions of Winnie’s father. But I know that as the first book of a series, these questions may be answered at a later period. However, I had a hard time focusing because my mind kept wandering to the unanswered questions.

All of the characters seem to have layers to them, that I really want to find more about. And while we focused mostly on Winnie, who is extremely impulsive and made decisions that stressed me out, I enjoyed her character, and want to see more of her.

I enjoyed this book for what it was. I thought the atmosphere was good and the plot was intriguing although a bit predictable. I was really invested in the main character and her fight to redeem her family name. I enjoyed all the different monsters as well.

I felt that in part of the book that the pacing was off and certain things were repeated a bit too often for me. The ending was abrupt and I know there will be a second book, but I just didn’t feel like I got enough answers. I hope to see more world building in the next book.