This is a fantastic read, a really good example of fantasy adventure. I would definitely use excerpts to show students how to craft tension and create good details. I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to the next!!

I had barely even finished the first page of The Luminaries before I ran straight to Twitter to yell at everyone (and at Susan, sorry Susan) about how beautiful and magical the writing was. It was magnificent! So lyrical, descriptive, emotive - I loved it. And I continued to love it past the first page, until the very end.

Immediately upon finishing I ran back to Twitter (lol) to (again) yell at everyone about this book, and to plead for the sequel to hurry up and be released because omg, I have theories! So many theories! And I need to know if they're right! In some ways, this book felt like it was setting up the sequel since we didn't receive many answers (just more questions) and little resolution, but honestly - I didn't mind it. I think the book still felt very fulfilling.

I loved the creativity with the worldbuilding, the tension, and the characters. I felt many things. Loved it.

Thank you to Daphne Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable story, fast world building and interesting characters.
Cute friends to lovers build up happening.
One if those stories you probably assume to be predictable but I still feel like we’ll be surprised.
Looking forward to the series.

I devoured this book in less than 24 hours and when I wasn't reading I was constantly thinking about it. I was eagerly turning the pages wondering what was going to happen next!⁣⁣
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This is my first Susan Dennard book, even though I own her other series, and I can assure you it will not be my last. Her writing is just so captivating and addictive! I liked how detailed the descriptions were for the monsters and could easily visualise them!⁣⁣
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I really liked these characters, especially Winnie and I thoroughly enjoyed the premise! While there are some unanswered questions I am so excited to see where this story takes us! ⁣⁣
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I really recommend this one, especially to those who are new or wanting to start YA Fantasy!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Luminaries is a captivating young adult fantasy book with interesting characters and a captivating story line. Witches, monsters and dark secrets - if you’re looking for a Halloween themed read, this book has it all. And if you aren’t that into spooky November reads, well, give this one a chance anyway. Because it’s a really good story with unexpected plot twists that are sure to keep you on your toes and a cute romance subplot. All in all, a really good young adult fantasy book that is very much worth reading!

Each night, when the spirits dream, their nightmares come to life. And each night, the Luminary hunters guard the world against those nightmares, one clan for every day of the week. Last night belonged to the Wednesdays. Winnie's clan.
Or it was Winnie's clan until the incident, when her family was sentenced to be
outcasts.

Thus:
Winnie's plan is a simple one: pass the three hunter trials, restore her family's status in the Luminaries, and become a nightmare hunter like she has always been destined to be.

I loved the premise of this - of using days of the week to distinguish the different families of hunters.
And there’s a school, training grounds, cliques based on family groups….
Also, I just have to mention the wholesome friendships and the development of Winnie from an isolated, paranoid girl to one who is willing to surround herself with others her age and venture outside her comfort zone.
Not to mention an urban fantasy with Winter vibes despite the changing of seasons. It’s the perfect mix of horror, gothic and fantasy.

I also liked that Winnie, our heroine, wore glasses. I hardly read this in fantasy books and the details paid to this felt important to me. A representation that seems so minor but I know will be good for some people to read.

Overall, this was a fast-paced urban fantasy where the romance is subtle and young and fresh and mostly just hinted at to begin with - my favourite!
This is a perfect creepy read for Autumn time.

First off, thank you to the author and to netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc in return for an honest review/feedback.

This was dark, fast paced and intriguing. Imagine if supernatural was mixed with annihilation and then you also had a monster hunting settlement with some serious cult vibes. There is a touch of romance, a whole lot of intrigue and some absolutely killer illustrations peppered through the book- and… it was an absolute joy to read, the writing style was whimsical and really fed into the world the author was trying to create, I’d definitely recommend this if you’re looking for something creepy and weird but at the same time has bucketfuls of charm.

I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to the fantasy and mythology genre, but, I am widening my perspectives and so far loving it. The author has done this brilliantly. The story is beautifully written, the characters come alive on the page, the settings pop and all characters have a believable voice. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Having lived the Luminaries twitter moment during lockdown, it was a joy to be back in Hemlock falls with Winnie and Jay. Even though I was familiar with the story there were plenty of surprises to be had and I can't wait to read more!

This book was an anticipated read, and it makes me beyond sad that it just wasn't for me at all.
The biggest issue for me was that I was unable to get into the story. I felt like I had too little information to properly visualise it in my mind.
Since I couldn't do that, I was constantly distracted, and the whole book just fell flat. I might try to pick up the finished copy and see if I like it better, but for now it just wasn't it.

I was so excited when I was approved to read this book and it did not disappoint.
I absolutely loved it from beginning to end. The plot pulled me in from the first page until the end. I enjoyed all the twists and turns throughout the story.
The world building was amazing and truly set the picture for what was going on through the story. I loved how descriptive the nightmare creatures were and i enjoyed seeing the illustrated pictures too. They really helped you too understand the characters fear of them. I wish more books did this!
Winnie Wednesday is the main character and she is fantastic. I love her determination and loyalty even when faced with the black mark over her family. She has her flaws but I feel that’s what makes her such a likeable character.
The other characters throughout the book are great and are well developed too. I can definitely see some romance coming in the next book!

This book has definitely lived up to the hype that I’ve been seeing and I absolutely can’t wait for the next book in the series. The ending was so good as I did not see that coming! I felt I was left with a few questions at the end which I hope to get answers to in the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Daphne Press and Susan Dennard for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I found this a satisfying easy read, and enjoyable genre fantasy book. Aimed at YA readers. Hemlock Falls is not the sort of town you want to visit. A horrible death will probably quickly follow. But to the locals, including Winnie, there is no where else they want to be. Hunting monsters to protect her town is all she wants to do. Winnie has lots of challenges to overcome and a mystery or two to solve. The story has many familiar fantasy themes, but that isn’t a bad thing as you can settle easily into the story which is wrapped in a unique package. There is a cliff hanger. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Thank you to Daphne Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I loved the continual motif of having the surnames of the characters be days of the week. Characters from different countries that were visiting also carried these names but in their own mother tongue really pulled together the idea of luminaries and their mission beyond Winnie's story. I'd rate this story 3.5/5 because the plot point was unique and the moral of telling lie + watching it snowball out of proportion was a great cautionary tale to include. The angst between Winnie and Jay was too much (absolutely loved it!)- so clear to see that Jay had feelings for her but winnie was blind to it (just like everything else beyond her tunnel vision). The only criticism i had was that the last few chapters rushed through the ending and there wasn't much depth to the conclusion. There really needed to be few more chapters to conclude this book in a good place.

The Luminaries is first part in a new series by Susan Dennard, who you might know from the Witchland series. It is the first book of Daphne press which will be featured in an Illumicrate box. This young adult fantasy is already a great succes and has won multiple prices. I was really curious about this book, and couldn’t wait to start reading. Will this book be as good as I suspect?

Not all monsters can be slain, and not all nightmares are confined to the dark.
All Winnie wants is to join the Luminaries, an ancient order that protects Hemlock Falls against the monsters and nightmare that live in the forest every night. But she is an outcast ever since her father was exposed as a witch and traitor. On her sixteenth birthday she can join the trails to become a Luminary hunter, and there is no rule in the rulebook which can stop her. Winnie is determined to take the three trails and restore her family’s name, even if she dies trying this. But in order to survice she needs the help of Jay, her ex best friend and most promising new hunter. Can Winnie survive the dangers of the forest and the trails? Will she restore her family’s name? What dangers lurke in the dark?

Susan Dennard has a really nice writing style and a nice pace. She takes the readers to a cosy town, with a dangerous forest on it’s edges. Both the town and the forest have a great worldbuilding. The forest has a lot of nightmares and monsters, which you will be introduced to. Susan Dennard has even added some pictures of the monsters, and descriptions about them in the book. This makes you will have a good image of the dangers that lurke in the forest.

Winnie is a strong-headed main character, who knows what she wants. Even though she is an outcast, she does have some friends who you will also get to know in this book. Every character that is introduced to the readers plays an important role, and are worked out just enough for their roles. I really liked this balance.

This story is mysterious and compelling. I really feel like I was in Hemlock Falls while reading this book. It certainly has a lot of potential to become a really great series. This book is really something which all fantasy readers would enjoy reading. I loved reading The Luminaries and can’t wait what else is waiting for Winnie. I give this book a 4,5 star rating.

This is a great book to curl up with on an Autumn night. A fantasy world of creatures and magic is cleverly created by Susan Dennard, and the story draws you in. The characters are well developed and it sets itself up for a sequel, as not all questions are answered by the end (which was where it dropped a star for me, as I would rather read a standalone).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

it's difficult to write a review for this book,. if you don't know, in 2019, the author used the premise of this story for a "choose your own adventure" game on twitter, for six months a lot of us played with susan dennard and her characters. having the actual book now, even with a different story but with the same characters and setting, is so exiting and scary at the same time.
This winnie is not the same winnie i knew, but i loved her a lot. her circumstances are different what her core values are the same, the love for her family, the loyalty, her spirit and, obviously, her stubbornness. same old winnie who has to make difficult decisions, learn to live with difficult choices and accepting new and old people in her life. the author does female friendship so well, i was so happy to see the start of another beautiful friendship here too, and i have high hopes for the sequel. i can say the same for the romance, or, the start of the romance. this is a slow burn, we don't get love confessions or dates, but we see two characters reconnecting, two people who learn to trust each other again, to be friends again. it's the perfect start.
and the plot? it's so intriguing. there are a lot of secrets to uncover, things we don't know and truths that we start to doubt. the whole concept of the luminaries and the dianas is something i really want to know more about.

The Luminaries is a wonderfully magical book, perfect for those cosy nights when it's raining outside.

This book started as a choose-you-own-adventure on Twitter, and has developed into an atmospheric novel with a sympathetic character we can root for. Hemlock Falls is a charming yet spooky town, where the Luminaries fight against the nightmares in the forest. Winnie Wednesday is shunned due to her traitor father, and plans to prove herself by taking part in the hunter trials, so that she too may become one of the hunter Luminaries! But there is something deeper at stake, as new nightmares surface, and Winnie enlists her ex-best friend and hunter extraordinaire, Jay Friday, to train her.

This book has an intriguing concept, but remains fairly light-hearted through the majority of the book, and there seems to be no serious conclusion to many of the mysteries. I am hoping the next book will engage more deeply with some of those plot points! Nonetheless, I would still recommend it, as it has a little of everything that you want in a book - great writing, spooky happenings, and a friends-enemies-tentative allies romance.

Winnie Wednesday is desperate to be part of The Luminaries, an ancient order of secret monster hunters. However, when her dad was exposed as a witch and traitor, Winnie, her mum and her brother, were all exiled and shunned. On her sixteenth birthday, Winnie can enter the deadly Luminary hunter trials. If she succeeds, she can prove herself loyal and restore her family's name. If she fails, it could mean her death.

The premise of this book sounded deeply fascinating. The whole concept of these monsters, referred to as nightmares, really put a new twist on the age old tales. However, I found the first half of this book extremely slow paced, which I realise should be expected as the world building is developed and explained. The second half of the novel, once the story was in full swing, really picked up the pace and I didn't want to put it down.

The characters are relatable and wonderfully developed. I found it so refreshing having a MC with nearsightedness, being severely short sighted myself!

The ending left a lot of unanswered questions, some of which I was a little frustrated at as they didn't even get mentioned in the final two chapters. I guess this means I need to read the sequel?

Thanks to Daphne Press for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley.
I loved this book! The world build and pacing of the story is perfect and kept me hooked from start to finish! It is the perfect atmospheric read for autumn months and keeps you asking questions all along the way- I thoroughly enjoyed it and am desperate for the sequal so that I can finally get some of my questions answered!

So, who do I need to bribe to get the sequel? I just need to know what happens next and see if Jay is the werewolf:)