Unique characters throughout, a gripping storyline, and fantasy full plots. This book had me gripped from the start. However, I do think that there could have potentially been less focus on the trials and more potential world-building. But still, this is a solid 4 star read from me.

The Luminaries was a book i chewed through in a day. It had me hooked from start to finish. The world building was beyond amazing and i loved both the concept and the characters.

This book is brilliant. Full of twists and turns, excellent character building and a darkly, deceptive world. I recommend, I recommend, I recommend!

I have to admit I didn't expect to get hooked as soon as I started this but I was drawn straight into it. I really enjoyed immersive the story was, it felt like I was right there with Winnie. I really liked the premise of the story too, it's definitely unique to what I have read previously and I really appreciated that.

I loved Winnie as a main character. She's fierce and never wavered from who she is as a person. Something that at her age isn't easy. I also enjoyed watching her figure out who she truly is, this is something I think everyone can relate to as a teen (even in adulthood). As a glasses wearer I appreciated the little detail of Winnie constantly fixing her glasses, instead of wearing contact lenses.

I did think some of the plot twists were predictable but enjoyed them all the same. I look forward to seeing how all of this will play out in the next book! If you're looking for something to read during the spooky season and are a Fantasy lover definitely pick this up!

I really wanted to love this book!

I have been recommended the book quite a few times, and even though I had seen some extremely mixed reviews, I decided to give it a go.

One thing that was clear to me from very early in the book was that I was not the biggest fan of the writing style. It felt very young to me, and while I know I would have engulfed it like I did Twilight at the age of 14, I think I may now be a little too old. I love Young Adult books, but I felt the tone of this one was just a little bit more on the young side and perhaps slightly immature.

The premise of the book was extremely intriguing, and I really enjoyed the plot, although I feel some of the mystery was/is slightly predictable.

Additionally, there was something in the book I didn't quite understand - the main character's teeth kept clicking? I didn't quite get what that meant.

Overall, while I would recommend this book for other audiences, it wasn't for me personally.

The set up was promising but the execution didn’t work for me. We don’t get a very interesting protagonist to follow, and there were just too many magical elements jammed in there – it could have been done with half as many and it would still work. The worldbuilding is extremely light, with still a lot of elements kept vague but not in a good way. The so-called mysteries you can figure out right from the start – nothing that was confirmed for certain at the end of the story, but somehow I doubt that there will be a big twist somewhere.

I LOVED this book. Full of fun twists and a couple to root for from the very first page, I loved that the plot was so detailed and interesting. I really enjoyed the set up and structure of this book, and it has been a recent favourite of mine

This was my first Susan Dennard book and I was very intrigued by the premise of the book. Following Winnie as she begins trials to try to save her family's reputation in Hemlock Falls.

I enjoyed the trials and learning of the backstory to the point that begin the book. This book very much read as the first book in a series and was setting-up the rest of the series.

I was happy with where we left off for this book and can't wait to pick up the second book in the series.

I love the idea of this book but it just doesn’t quite work.

The story follows Winnie as she tries to reclaim her family’s lost status by becoming a Hunter, deal with the emotional trauma of her father’s absence and betrayal, and flirt with Jay, her ex close friend. And if you have read the blurb and my summary, then you have pretty much read the whole story! None of the plot threads raised get resolved, or explored fully – all of the obstacles are introduced and explained (a bit… I’m still not sure exactly what the deal is with the Dianas!). It feels almost like this is a very long prequel and first few chapters to a story that will actually follow in future books?

I got irritated with Winnie’s constant teeth clicking and felt she was being pretty obtuse about some of the ‘mysteries’ she faced – I’m pretty sure I know what Jay and Erica are, even though the story doesn’t confirm it!

In tone, the story feels like a middle grade or young teen book, especially with regards to the relationships and the parental vs. career path plot, but then some of the gory, gruesome content relating to monsters and deaths make the story feel too dark for the emotional age range.

I really do think there is scope for this to be an amazing book with regards to the world and plot we are teased with, but the pacing, characters and overall tone of the story could do with some evening out for it to achieve its full potential.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed reading this book - the plot motors along at a good pace and the world is well built. I will say that there is some very obvious crumb-laying for a big twist, which was actually a bit annoying as the 'twist' wasn't revealed in this book so I feel like the author is going to make us wait for ages in the next book. Winnie's character also needs a bit more development but I'm invested enough to read on.

Wow! This book consumed me, I read it in two sittings (and only because I made the mistake of starting it in an evening and I had to sleep that night). I was so drawn into the world of Hemlock Falls, and the lives of Winnie and her family. I’d been in a bit of a funk after being disappointed with my first read of the month. I am going to see the author talk soon so that motivated me to start this, and the story motivated me to keep reading. I honestly loved it, I just want to know what’s next! This was another Netgalley ARC so I’m glad to have discovered this author (and she liked one on my Instagram posts - that definitely elicited a wee fan girl squeak from me!).

The one just didn’t work for me unfortunately. I’d been excited to read something by Dennard, and maybe I’ll try her writing again in the future, but probably not this series.
For me, The Luminaries just felt… flat. I felt like there was too much focus on dumping all of the world-building and family backstory, and not enough focus on the main character, Winnie, as she was actually living out the plot. That world-building itself didn’t really do much for me either, and I’m not sure why. Again, a bit flat.
The Luminaries isn’t a bad book by any means, it was fine. And I’m sure it’ll be a real favourite for other readers, but it just didn’t grab me the way I wanted it to

I'd never read the truthwitch series and I don't think I will be picking it up Susan Dennard is definitely not for me, I found her writing frustrating and the over use of onomatopoeia absolutely killed me, most middle grade books have abandoned this descriptive method. I found this and the over use of descriptive words like teeth clicking?! Really annoying maybe it could of done with a better editor?

This was an odd one. I really liked so many aspects of this; the concept of the Luminaries and their whole culture. I loved the trial aspect of the novel and Jay, with his issues was the perfect love interest for Winnie Wednesday.
Winnie has to face the three trials to become a hunter for the Luminaries in order to help her family out of the shame they've faced since her father was outed as a traitor.
This was a great, if simplistic YA plot and a fairly easy read.
One of the major things I struggled with was Winnie herself. God grief this girl is whinny and can't see what's obviously in front of her. I did like how she was proud of her glasses and refused to swap them and I hope that remains a feature of her personality. I really want her to become more positive and have more faith in herself in the coming books.
An easy YA fantasy with an interesting concept and world building.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

Ok, so this gave me like, vibes. I feel like the premise was similar to another bookbut for the life of me, I can't remember which one. Anyways, I liked it, although to me it was just another YA fantasy. Nothing amazingly special. I would definitely recommend though, and the writing was good. Was it just me or did I feel like the plot was just recycled a few times, ie. Winnie gets in danger, magically gets out of danger, everyone thinks she's amazing, rinse and repeat. And yes, I'm used to more badass MC's, so maybe I'm judging her a bit harshly. Finally, in my criticisms, it didn't have any hooks to get me into the story. It just described the blurb, nothing to bring me back to a sequel.
Gets a solid three stars. Liked the setting, characters, just needed a bit of work on plot and repetition.
This is the perfect book for anyone looking for a slightly gothic, mystery centred YA fantasy. There's some creepy monsters, cult like vibes, family secrets, slow burn, low spice.
Thanks to Daphne Press and Netgalley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A book that I was very hesitant to start, that kind of book that I always thought "I'm either going to love it or I'm going to hate it." I ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would! An original concept with perfect vibes, an engaging story with amazing writing. Characters that completely stood out to me and an ending that left me dying for a sequel!

I really enjoyed this book! It was such a quick read, the characters were great, and I have so many questions that I’ll definitely be picking up book 2!!

I’ve never read Susan Dennard before but I know the Truthwitch books are popular and the cover of The Luminaries seduced me so I thought I’d give it a go. I’ll be real honest, if I didn’t receive a review copy, I would have DNF-ed this book, but I can’t give my opinion until I’ve given it a chance. That said my frustrations only grew as the book went on.

My biggest issue with this book is the main character, Winnie, she’s just, at least for me, incredibly unlikeable. I get that she is walking around with a lot of anger and resentment in her, but she is not the only person who has a sh*tty life in this book, in fact other people have literally had loved ones die and they don’t wield it as an excuse. Winnie’s father betrayed Hemlock Falls and in turn her whole family, after he left, have been ostracised and Winnie’s friend group of Erica and Jay have also gone their own ways. You’d get she’s not going to be happy. BUT her Mum (who also had all this stuff happen to her) is a sweetheart and she’s not particularly nice to her, every time she complained about the new glasses her Mum was so proud of (that she in turn stopped wearing), I liked her even less. She has 2 girls who go out of their way to make her feel welcomed and wanted and she basically just tolerates them for most of the book. And then there’s Jay. We’ve all had friendships that have run dry, or been dumped by a friend and it sucks. But the moment she needs help; training, a lift, hell at one point he even takes off his hoody so she can use it to clean her glasses (!!), he gives it to her. And she’s horrible to him. She makes it clear she wants nothing to do with him, coldly tells his sister (and confirms it to him) that they are not friends, has a total victim complex going on, but continuously goes to Jay, taking his efforts and time with little or no gratitude, before wailing on him yet again. She snatches off him, snaps at him, glares at him, she rejects (or makes him beg) lifts from him to stop her getting wet and when he’s trying to train her or give her tips so she doesn’t die, she doesn’t even show she cares. When he points out that he’s had stuff going on, when she can visibly (and repeatedly!!) notice that he is looking tired, still all Winnie can think about is herself and storms off. She goes from moping that the whole of Hemlock Falls has looked down on her to referring to Jay as a “deadbeat”. But because she’s a teenage girl she starts to warm to Jay when she notices how muscular his thighs are now … sigh. It’s not even that I didn’t care if she lived, I kinda wanted her not to. I couldn’t root for her. She’s entitled, thinking people owe her, because she’s entitled she doesn’t appreciate what she gets, and she can only think of her own suffering. I get she’s 16 - but then also let’s not be all “I can’t believe the adults aren’t listening to her!!” when she’s trying to tell them about a new monster when she’s been acting such a child throughout out the book. Don’t even start me on the whole ‘I’ve had no training but I’m going to become a hunter’ impulsive stupidity.

The impending romance between Winnie and Jay is not something I am looking forward to for the above reasons. It’s a little cliche. He’s the moody musician with muscles and looks but no awareness. She’s the awkward glasses wearing book worm but that one time she wore a dress (borrowed of course as the cliche goes) and a bit of makeup, she is the only person he can look at in the crowd.

The last 15% of the book picks up in terms of plot and monsters and I even started to like Winnie in those last pages, but the next instalment would need a lot of self reflection and growing up. I will give the book credit for this last section which showed the potential this book had.

The writing is repetitive - Winnie’s anxious tendency to click her teeth and play with her jacket zip are over killed, as is even mention of the leather jacket Winnie wears, you very quickly get it and don’t need the constant reminders. Likewise you will learn A LOT that Jay has grey eyes, messy hair and looks tired, always tired.
Winnie has near memorised the compendium , a book of all the nightmares, and I realise this is likely part of her character, this book is cluttered with recited extracts. As Winnie walks through the forest you get italic paragraph after another info dumping about the vampires, banshees etc in a way that feels like it takes you out of the story. I would rather have detailed descriptions and writing that makes me know something or ‘see’ it than have resorted to this to get everything across.
And when there is world building, it’s either (or both) vague and overly complicated. The Diana’s are only briefly mentioned and yet Winnie’s father’s involvement with them is constantly referred to, a betrayal so terrible due to how awful they are that her entire family has been punished for it. But you don’t really get it because you don’t get the Diana’s. The system of the family’s; Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays etc, the different family sayings, the different creatures, the trials, the whole closed off society of Hemlock Falls, the “halfers”, the “nons”… it’s all interesting enough, or it could be, but it’s just thrown at you and never really delved into enough for substance. Why do these nightmares even exist? Is this exclusive to Hemlock Falls? If not, why is it so guarded? Why are literally children dealing with disposing of bodies and then risking their lives (with willing parents) at the age of 16?? They don’t get paid so why are they choosing this??
In addition to the repetition and the vague world building, there are also two twists that are painfully obvious, one being the identity of a Diana and, so obvious they basically have an arrow pointing at them, the identity of the werewolf, the clues are in no way subtle.

This book just wasn’t for me and I feel like there’s no point reading the next instalment because this one was too obvious, I feel I already know what’s going to happen. Thank you NetGalley though for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

At face level, this is a book with various monsters so it’s fun for that and does have its moments, if you just don’t look into it too much.

My first five star review of 2023. Pacey, mysterious and action packed. You won’t see me in a dark forest anytime soon as I am as untrained as they come 😱

Winnie Wednesday lives in Hemlock Falls, but don’t try to look it up, you won’t find it anywhere, and with good reason; the forest conceals nightmares.

The town is protected by the Luminaries, an ancient order than Winnie desperately wants to join and she’s willing to die trying to get in.

This is book number one in The Luminaries series and there’s at least going to be a sequel so I get the whole point of writing a series is to spread the story out; it allows the author to go into a lot of detail in each book.
My bug bear is that this book has a lot of introductory world building (which is essential!) but then a lot of suspense with not much pay off, I was expecting a reveal at the end of this book so I’m hoping that will happen early on in book two!

Onto the actual content, I really liked the premise of these badass monster hunters, and I loved the extracts from the nightmare compendium interspersed throughout the book. I did find some of the text repetitive especially when it came to Winnie’s mannerisms; there was a lot of mention about her clicking teeth and her pushing her glasses up which I understand is there to help build the image of Winnie in our heads, but it just didn’t seem necessary to repeat it as often as it was.

As for the characters, I’m expecting book two to give more backstory to a fair few, I want to read about Emma and Bretta, Darian and Andrew, and also the elusive Dianas.

Overall, not a premise I’ve read before so it made for a refreshing read.