3 ⭐

I've read (listened to) this whole book in one day, which says a lot in comparison to some of the books I've slogged through recently.

It wasn't by any means perfect; there lacked enough deep world building beyond the setting of the story, for me personally. I would've liked a little more information about the world the characters are in, the creatures, the powers, history of the magic etc.

However it was an easy reading fantasy with supernatural creatures, trials and enemies to friends tropes.

I loved the trials and the action scenes, they definitely helped ramp up the pace of the story. The creatures were interesting enough and the suspense definitely kept me listening - I did not at all see the twist in the end coming!

Overall, a nice quick read and I'd recommend for any YA fans.

When I picked this up, I didn’t know anything about the author or the book. I, also, hadn’t read the blurb either, so I dived right in without having a clue what I’m reading about.

The book is a young adult fantasy and it indeed caters this age group. I personally found it very entertaining and enjoyable.

I liked the world where the story unfolds. We do get sufficient details of the world building and how the society in the book works even though I didn’t find it the best as it could do with a little refinement.

The characters are satisfyingly developed for the storyline’s needs and quite frankly considering the age in which the characters are in, I feel that it was a good choice.

Now, the story was fun! It felt in parts that I wanted/ could do with more information or insight of how things work, but not in a level that I won’t be able to understand the plot. I liked how atmospheric it was in some scenes and the descriptions really sold me on. The pace was spot on and the action was keeping the reader hooked throughout the book. I would recommend it for a quick, fun read and I would definitely read the rest of the books in the series.

Such a fun, fast-paced supernatural mystery with lots of monsters and a bit of romance. A rich and varied cast of characters and a terrifying villain!

I picked up this book as I've had Susan Dennard's Witchlands Series on my TBR for years! And so as per usual instead of reading the books on my TBR I decided to pick up this book on Netgalley!

"The Luminaries" follows the story of Winnie Wednesday, a young girl eager to prove herself in the mysterious and dangerous world of Hemlock Falls. Living in a society dedicated to protecting humanity from supernatural threats, Winnie must navigate complex social dynamics, face terrifying creatures, and uncover hidden truths about her family and her own abilities. As she takes on daunting challenges to join the ranks of the Luminaries, Winnie's journey is one of courage, discovery, and self-acceptance.

This was such a page turner (or whatever the right term is for audiobooks), It reminded me of all the YA books I used to wizz through as a teen in what I'd call the golden age of YA (early 2010s) and if you still have a soft spot for those kinds of books then I would recommend picking this one up. Or even if you have a teen in your life that might like those sort of books but you don't want them to ingest the problematic content within some of the books from that era, this is a great alternative.

On the other hand, it doesn't really do anything new or unheard of within the YA space so if you generally don't like the typical YA style of books with their addict-able writing and loveable characters then this probably isn't for you.

The audio narration is excellent and I have no complaints at all.

All in all, I will be continuing this series as soon as the next book comes out! Can't wait!

Although I’ve read a lot of fantasy novels, and even a lot of fantasy novels with dark twists, this stands out as a ferociously individual magic system as the magic itself focuses almost exclusively on a variety monsters, and the risks they pose to humans.

It’s a dark, creepy read that surrounds you with atmosphere. The town itself feels almost claustrophobic in how small it is; we see a few different locations across the town, but mainly it focuses on the Luminaries, their estates, and the forest.

The Luminaries are named after the days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc), and each have their own strengths and focuses within the organisation. The very beginning is a brutal introduction to the way of the world working, as we see the teenagers collecting bodies from the forest, both of humans and of the nightmares that have been slain in the night.

It took me a little while to get into the story as the beginning is such a deep, dark dunk into the world, but once I was into the book, I was utterly captivated. The physical book itself comes with the occasional illustration of some of the nightmares we encounter in the story, and these are deliciously creepy, giving you an insight not just to Winnie’s drawing abilities, but to the things she sees in the forest. It’s clever, having these little interruptions, as it draws you in even further to the world of the Luminaries.

The story is detailed and well paced, giving you things to ponder for further down the line as well as what is currently happening. There’s so much to take in with this world, and Winnie is in a unique position to view the Luminaries, with the way she and her family have been rejected due to her father’s actions. You can really feel the emotional toll that this is having on all of them as you read through the pages, the heavy weight of rejection and isolation that Winnie feels so many things about.

With the way the book finished (no spoilers, as always!), I can’t wait to dive into the second book. I had some theories about this one and was off the mark, so I have ideas about where this second book is going to take us but I’m not sure whether I’m on the right path… either way, I’m excited!

This....was a really disappointing read. This concept is a fun one that many have played with before and I was absolutely here for a good time. Unfortunately, this is *incredibly* childish, even for a YA book. Whilst books aimed at the 12-16 age bracket are incredibly important in this day and age of adults skewing YA novels, I wish they had something of a more substantial quality to read other than this. Also I think this is supposed to be older YA, which just leaves this... uncatoragisable. Is that even a word? It is now!

The entirety of the books plot is stated in the synopsis. I kept expecting there to be a twist, or just something new that hadn't been mentioned. But nope. Nothing. And whilst this is the first book in the series and most threads are expected to be left open, I do prefer my series' to have at least one or two threads completed by the end of book one, so this was a negative for me too.

There are multiple plot threads present in the book. A love story, the hunter trials we're told about before reading, and her dad's betrayal. Each of them are painfully predictable and not a single moment surprised me throughout. And the worldbuilding is incredibly lackluster. I couldn't tell you anything substantial about the Luminaries, or why it is even a bad thing that Winnie's dad was a "traitor" working for the Dianas. What is even bad about this group? I don't know because we weren't told.

Winnie herself has some attempt at character development, but this is difficult to do to a slice of processed white bread. She is incredibly bland, all the better for (white) teenage girls to project themselves onto, and the little development she does have feels like it is rolled back by the end of the book. This combined with the poor attempt at a romance plotline? And you've got yourself a Twilight-esque book right here.

All of this I could've dealt with (a little better) if the writing had been skilful. Instead we're given onomatopoeia, which feel very out of place in anything older than Middle Grade. "She hauls it out of her backpack. Rrrrippp, rrrrripppp. Velcro opens. Krrr, krrrr. Velcro closes." This was especially jarring with the poor narrator having to read these sections out! And the *clicking*. Winnie is constantly clicking her damn teeth. Why?! I get that it's a nervous tick for her, but she does it far too often and whilst Dennard might've been insinuating a light tapping of the teeth it instead feels like she's clacking them loudly. Completely different vibe.

I do think that some teens will adore this (and I'm sure some adults too!), just as I and many others enjoyed Twilight at the time of reading. But it *is* badly written, it *really* needed an editor, and whilst I probably will read Hunting Moon - that's just because I like to torture myself. I really don't recommend picking this one up. Incredibly disappointing and there are so many better books out there to read.

I really enjoyed this and the story focuses a lot on “faking it until you make it” which I really liked. The premise was definitely unique compared to anything else I have ever read.

I felt like some of the plot twists were quite predictable but I don’t actually mind that too much.

I loved Winnie as a main character, she’s so strong and her determination was admirable.

Cannot wait to read the sequel.

This book gave me the same feelings as I got when reading paranormal books like twilight but much better. The story follows Winnie Wednesday as she tries to become a Luminary Hunter after her family had been exiled four years ago.
Winnie is a likable smart character while also being a teenage girl making dumb decisions. I am also invested in her friendship with Jay Friday and a secret i think he is hiding.
The forest in the book and all the mythical creatures were my favorite part. This is a great start to a series and having read the second book it only gets better.
I recommend this to people who like YA paranormal books.

This is a coming of age story for young adult readers. It sounded interesting when I read the synopsis and I would certainly recommend it to young adults who enjoy this type of game survival type scenario. The main character, Winnie naively blunders through the start of the novel and slowly gains traction as her character develops. There is an element of romance but it, like the other other characters in the novel felt underdeveloped. Overall this has potential but it was not one I particularly enjoyed.

The book box Illumicrate drew my attention to "Luminaries" and I was pleased to have the opportunity to listen to it additionally as an audiobook via NetGalley. So I could switch between the book and the audiobook, depending on what I had time for. I liked the voice of the narrator Caitlin Davies, who did a great job.

The book was a very appealing and atmospheric YA fantasy novel. An intriguing story about dangerous nightmarish creatures and a society that protects normal people from them. The main character Winnie and her friends were young and behaved according to their age, which I liked a lot because it made the story more believable. Overall, the world building of the story was how I prefer it and also I liked the ideas about the monsters/nightmares, the secret society, dangers, and so on. It was very captive and quite a pageturner.

I can't wait to read the sequel and am really looking forward to it. I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a fast-paced and easy-to-read story with a lot of mystery vibes.

I was so excited when I first hear of this title and the cover. The UK cover is so eye-catching and it sounded up my street. Something a little creepy and urban fantasy (not read a good one of those in a while). Plus, I decided to save this and the sequel, The Hunting Moon, for Halloween as it would be perfect reading.

What I got was something really lacklustre and very “meh”. It felt as if it was trying too hard to be so many things that it didn’t work.

The writing was aimed for a much younger audience (more pre-teen or clean teen) rather than YA (the main character has just turned sixteen). I mean, do we need the sound effects of our lead clicking her teeth together every few pages? Or the ripping of Velcro or the zipping of her leather jacket every few pages?

The characters were… bland and boring. I know I should have cared but there was no reason to. We have this vaguely interesting world of Nightmares and the Hunters that keep them at bay, but if I don’t care about the characters, how am I meant to care about the dangers or the fact they are putting their lives in danger?

I did say the world and the Nightmares were interesting, and it was. But it was, also, very much info-dumped. I don’t mind this on some occasions, but everything was thrown at the reader and it made me recoil a little. Could we have it more gentle, ease us into it? Yes, i get why this is the case (because of the main character) but it was too much.

I have read that the sequel is meant to be much better so I will attempt to try that out in a month or so and, if it holds my attention, I will come back but I have very low hopes of that happening…

My first ever audiobook and I absolutely loved it the narrators did a fantastic job it was incredibly well read ,I found it a great fast paced and supernatural read and loved the mystery element to it that keot me entrigued and guessing although i was left with alot of unanswered questions thst i hope get cleared up in book two ,this is 100% in my top 5 of favourite books this year

This was an OK read for me. It had a good sounding plot with a good air of mystery and intrigue but it just fell a bit flat for me. I found myself not really getting that invested in the story which I think was down to the characters. Out 2 main characters just didnt pull me in. If you enjoy the story I would recommend the audio. I really enjoyed the narration which I think kept me listening

"The Luminaries" by Susan Dennard, narrated by Caitlin Davies, is a remarkable audiobook experience that immerses listeners in a captivating world of magic, mystery, and adventure.

Susan Dennard's storytelling prowess shines through in this enchanting fantasy novel. "The Luminaries" introduces us to a richly imagined world filled with unique characters, complex magic systems, and a tantalizing plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The story follows the journey of a young heroine as she discovers her hidden powers and becomes entangled in a web of secrets and intrigue.

Caitlin Davies' narration is nothing short of exceptional. Her ability to breathe life into the characters and convey the emotions and nuances of the story is truly commendable. Davies' voice is engaging and expressive, making it easy for listeners to connect with the characters and become fully immersed in the narrative. Her pacing and tone are spot-on, enhancing the overall listening experience.

One of the standout features of this audiobook is the seamless integration of the narration with the fantastical elements of the story. Davies' skillful narration brings the magic and action sequences to life in a way that feels vivid and exhilarating. Whether it's a thrilling battle or a quiet moment of introspection, she handles each scene with finesse, keeping listeners eagerly anticipating what comes next.

"The Luminaries" is a spellbinding audiobook that not only entertains but also explores themes of identity, friendship, and the power within oneself. Dennard's world-building is intricate and immersive, and Davies' narration adds an extra layer of depth to this already engaging tale.

Did I love it? No. Did I like it? Yes.

Very much a YA/teen story but nonetheless it was ok.

The narrator was made the story better in my opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this audio ARC

Fun, fantastic and fast paced - this is Shiver meets Hunger Games and I am here for it! A brilliant early outing from Daphne Press, I just wanted to get more lost in the world of The Luminaries and all of their brilliant adventures.

this was okay, but read very juvenile and i didn't feel connected to the characters or what happens to them at all. i can see other reader enjoying this a lot tho!

— thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the free digital ARC.

A spooky book that was actually quite interesting! It was on that definitely surprised me.

the narrator was especially great; made the experience a lot more engaging.

However, I will say I felt myself slightly misled with this, but I think if you’re into witches and that kinda of vibe then it’s definitely a book for you.

A fun, YA fantasy novel. This is the first book I've read by Susan Dennard and I enjoyed it, I would look for more stories by her.

I found this to be an amazing and interesting read! And the cover is so lovely!! Looking forward to the author's next story!