2024 52 Book Challenge - 31) Includes A Personal Phobia

DNF at 20%.

This is going to be a fantastic read for some people, and I am incredibly jealous of them. Unfortunately for me, the book was very hard to get into. There were so many people and so much going on that it feels like a jumbled mess, and I was struggling to maintain an understanding of anything.

✨ARC Review✨

📚Grieving Gold by Daniel McDaniel📚

Published Date: February 1, 2024

This is a novel that is full of adventure in a place called, Luminocity. This will take you on a journey of an enticing world building. It has exciting action scenes and will truly take you in a whole new world. One of the most fascinating part of this story is the disadvantages of advanced technology.

This is a must read for people who love science fiction and fantasy. While for those who are not a fan of sci-fi, this might take you a while as this is packed of information which may take you on a slow-paced reading. This has a lot of potential and I do hope it will be known to many people. This may not be my cup of tea but it surely does made me out of my sit with eagerness on what happens next.

This is an ARC from Netgalley and Endless Equinox. Thank you for trusting me in exchange for an honest review.

PS This is my first time to read out of my comfort zone — the Science Fiction and it was good.

A story with significant potential that was somewhat hamstringed by writing quality. The prologue starts pretty awkwardly, in my opinion, but once we have a POV going, the narrative voice becomes much more distinctive and natural. I think it needs a beta read and subsequent line edit before it's published on account of some non-story-related errors and awkwardness in the text itself. Some examples from the beginning before I stopped keeping track:

- The Kindle version needs paragraph indents for readability as it currently does not have any.
- At loc 160 the POV character (who is being held by another person) is described as walking toward a railing. At loc 171, the person holding her puts her down.
- At loc 213, it seems as though the words "snared" and "snarled" may have been mixed up.
- General italic errors: There's a lot of italic text treated as internal dialogue that has dialogue tags between the bits of internal dialogue. Those internal dialogue tags seem to consistently be italicized even though they aren't part of the internal dialogue.

Overall, giving this book a 2.5/5 in its current state, with a lot of potential to be improved with editing! I think improving on writing flow and errors is really important for this book in particular, as there is a lot of creativity... and a lot of information for readers to absorb about the world and it can be difficult and less enjoyable to do so when the writing doesn't flow smoothly.

A great fantasy/sci-fi opening to what looks to be an amazing story! The first few chapters I was a little lost but it really pulled me in after that. I found myself rushing through trying to find out what happened next with these characters. I’m very excited to see where this journey takes them! Will definitely buy a physical copy! Thank you NetGalley for the Ebook!

Very interesting concept I wasn’t bored not even for a second. I couldn’t get enough of this storyline and the characters they were so much fun. Definitely would recommend it to my friends. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC.

This is a refreshing fantasy book with South American influences, focused on the lost civilization myths and gods. I have no problem with the too many characters and their points of view, the author's writing flows well and it's easy to understand who they are, where they come from, and how they live in this world.

Together they help to create a complex world and lore. Many characters are full of themselves but in a good way. My favorites so far are the Duke, the kids (I love a good fantasy that includes thieves, urchins, and kids in poverty fencing for themselves), the girl who enters the trials with her amazing knowledge of lenses and I'm curious to see where that banished son is going to end up. I read half of the book in one sitting, but I don't want to rush it because I am enjoying it a lot and it's one of those I don't want to end without having a second on my shopping cart. I'll be patient, but I am a fan. (also, the detail of them drinking our Portuguese cachaca is a great touch)

Love to think of Aztec and Maya cultures with this super advanced tech mixed still with the eeriness of sacrifices, light, darkness, gods, gangs, and different social statuses.

When I am away, I keep missing the characters and I'm always curious about what novelty we'll face next. I will need to have that cover as a physical book. Please keep up with the cover art so we can collect an amazing series. I will need to have that physical cover.

I will update this review if there is something in the 80%s of the end that needs to be added.

Thank you publisher and netgalley for this e-arc.

This book intrigued me, it had so many layers to the story due to the multi POV.

Due to how many POV’s there were it did take me a good 20% to get to grips with the story, and place each character and their motivations in the story. Lumo No Se feels like a very dark and corrupted city that hides in the light despite its seedy deals amongst the higher class/councilman.

I really like Lax and his development in this book, he seemed very avoidant of responsibility until he has to go home and help his brother. I did also quite like his brother Val who’s in a precarious situation being a general but also pushing his fathers agenda with no clear goal in sight.

Dwab felt so genuine and courageous even when he was scared, i really look forward to seeing how his character develops in book 2. Illumi was my favourite in the beginning and the twist with this character surprised me wholeheartedly. The huntress was a great character but I disliked her self doubt and I hope to see her shed that side of herself in book 2.

All in all this book gives you the world building and a foundation to delve into the story. We get character introductions but there is so much more to find out so I look forward to the next book asap!

Sadly I just could not get into this and had to give up.
I feel for some people, this is going to be a really great fantasy book, as it has a lot going for it that some will love.
But for me... I found myself not paying attention and started skimming, which is never a good sign. Too many main characters and points of view for my liking. And a lot of the time I was getting lost in the descriptions of every item in the world and losing out completely on the story and characters.
So sadly not for me, but I really do think it'll be perfect for some.

This was an intriguing read that i picked up on the cover alone. now i'm eager awaiting more in this world.

What a journey. I was absolutely drawn into this book immediately from the beginning to end.

I loved the world building in this book. The author did a really great job describing everything in detail, but in no way did it feel forced so you get a clear imagery of world as the story continues. Multiple POV was done well in my opinion but others may disagree. I love books with multiple perspectives, but some authors do not write it well once it is above 2-3 POVs and I followed through 5 perspectives without any problem. It gives you a unique added perspective to the book that makes you feel like you're watching a movie in your mind. The only thing I did struggle a little with grasping was the magic system, perhaps more information was needed as other reviewers have mentioned.

I cannot wait until book #2 is out to see how it continues. Thanks to Netgalley that I was able to read and discover this book that I otherwise may not have stumbled across. Enjoyed the read, thank you for the ARC!

It's a good and entertaining story with multidimensional characters and cool twists. I enjoyed reading it and appreciate the well-thought-out plot and the author's ability to keep the reader engaged. Worth a shot.

Grieving Gold offers a compelling cast of characters navigating intricate lives in a captivating new world. Woven through the perspectives of a thief, soldier, scientist, hunter, and orphan, the story tantalizes with glimpses of interconnectedness while leaving ample room for exploration in future novels. Despite an at-times opaque magic system and the challenges of a multi-POV narrative, the author masterfully builds a unique setting, from its treacherous jungles and wondrous caverns to the dystopian city perched atop ancient ruins. While the overarching narrative direction remains somewhat nebulous, Grieving Gold leaves a lasting impression thanks to its richly realized world and diverse characters, leaving me eager to delve into the series' future installments.

This book is an amazing journey from start to finish. Daniel McDaniel draws readers in from the first page.

The characters are fully formed and oftentimes grey (like real people so often are). Each with their own paths, it was interesting to see how their stories intertwined and affected the others’. The magic system in this book is interesting and complex, but takes a while to really figure out. This was the most challenging aspect of the book to me, but once it clicked, I really enjoyed it.

Grieving Gold feels different than and reads unlike the majority of fantasy books that are popular today. The unique landscape, city, characters, the vibrant descriptions and beautiful command of language lend to a great and immersive reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this early!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this. I enjoyed the heavy world building, which I found extremely creative and wonderful. It took me a few chapters to really get into this. I do agree with other reviews that the origin of magic/powers could have been explained in more detail. However, the multiple points of view and individual characters ended up getting me hooked. I was interested to find out how all the characters connected. I especially like Lax and Ponlu. I enjoyed this very much and am looking forward to the second book.

I am eagerly awaiting book #2 and beyond. The mix of horror and fantasy is rarely done so well and this book was an epic example of getting it completely right!
I especially enjoyed the character building and development. Having 5 POV's throughout the novel gives such an interesting angle for each story. I hope in the second book we see more direct involvement between them.
I will say this...I LOVE the name Luminocity. It's a perfect name for a city with 3 suns.

I was given this Arc via NetGalley and Endless Equinox in return for an honest review. Thank you!

I loved the imagery and beautiful descriptions in this book. It reminded me of reading Game of Thrones with the multiple points of views. Looking forward to the next one

1.5 Stars.

So sadly I did not finish this book, I left it at about 20%.

I did really try to keep it going, but I could not find myself intrigued enough in the story to keep up with the heavy world building of Luminocity.
The beginning of this book felt very rushed, I did struggle to keep up with it and retain the information given, but for my taste there just wasn’t enough information given for how high fantasy it is. I would have loved a more vivid picture of this world that McDaniel is building, but it felt like I was drifting away and constantly grasping at threads.
This was a very interesting book, I’ve never seen anything like it, extra .5 for creativity!

Thank you NetGalley and Endless Equinox for the ARC.

Grieving Gold is a multi perspective novel following five characters living in a world ruled by three suns. McDaniel's world building of Luminocity is fantastic and engulfing. The five point of views are distinctive and occasionally intertwine throughout the novel. My only critique is the magic system is not fully explained and a tad confusing. Hopefully as the series evolves the reader will get a better understanding of all that the magic system encompasses. Despite this, the story is excellent, and I'm excited for the next book.

Thanks net galley and Endless Equinox for this ARC!

This book just jettisoned to the top of my favorite books list. I’m obsessed!

Grieving Gold follows the lives of five separate yet interconnected characters living in a world ruled by three suns. Some have the ability to find special abilities in the light, while others can lose less desirable attributes in the dark. These findings and losings help our characters navigate a world rife with political mind games, nefarious street gangs, and things in the depths that have far too many legs. As each character strives for their own personal goals, a greater mystery unravels. What lurks deep below the city? And what does it want?

For those wondering if this is the book for them, it is reminiscent of Game of Thrones, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and The Road to Eldorado. All while still maintaining a fresh and unique identity.

Each character comes alive with depth and complexity.
The story shifts between the viewpoints of five characters much in the same style as Game of Thrones. This method of writing keeps the story moving at an exciting pace as readers discover how the lives of the characters are connected.

With influences drawn from South American culture, this dark fantasy does not read like the traditional medieval European story that most people have come to expect in fantasy. There are no knights in shining armor, no wizards in purple cloaks, no fairies with weird love triangles. Instead there are golden ziggurats, tropical verdant jungles, llamas and jaguars, and descriptions of delicious meals that center around corn.

This series is going to be big. It breaks out of the stale tropes that have infiltrated the genre in recent years, giving readers an unparalleled experience. For those looking for a fast-paced, fresh fantasy story, Grieving Gold leaves little room for competition. With vivid characters and a propulsive plot, readers will be dying to read the next book in the series.

5/5 stars. Read it!

Reader’s Advisory Notes:

This book is light on romance which makes it a comfortable read for Ace (Asexual) individuals.

There are some scary scenes, but nothing too distressing.

This book contains a lot of spiders. Arachnophobia individuals beware!

Adult fiction, but also suitable for Young Adult readers who love horror and fantasy.

This book was a fun and engaging ride with loads of potential! The different perspectives were well done, making it easy to follow each character. The effort put into creating the world, from jungles with interesting creatures to a dystopian city with a new world on top, was clear, and I appreciated it.

However, I wish there was more information on the magic system. It's a bit complex, and I didn't fully grasp it. Adding a guide at the beginning of the book or tweaking the explanation could help. Despite this, the story is excellent, and I'm excited for more!