Winnie Wednesday has gotten everything she thought she wanted. She passed the deadly hunter trials, her family has been welcomed back into the Luminaries, and overnight, she has become a local celebrity. The Girl Who Jumped. The Girl Who Got Bitten. Unfortunately, it all feels wrong. For one, nobody will believe her about the new nightmare called the Whisperer that's killing hunters each night. Everyone blames the werewolf, even though Winnie is certain the wolf is innocent.
As bodies and secrets pile up around town, Winnie finds herself questioning what it means to be a true Wednesday and a true Luminary—and also where her fierce-hearted loyalties might ultimately have to lie.

I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this book after finishing The Luminaries last year. The Hunting Moon feels very different, but is still an excellent read. Quite a bit slower than its predecessor, not actually picking up a proper momentum until around 50%, however the last half of the book more than makes up for it. I did get concerned it would suffer from dreaded Second Book Syndrome. The understanding of it being a YA is necessary, since in the beginning it just felt like a young and naive lass worrying about school and drama at school - and less a book about a new magic system, magical creatures and intriguing mystery.

The Hunting Moon is used mostly to dive deeper into the history of both the Luminaries and the Diana's, showing just how dangerous both can be, but also how dark the Diana's are and how much they would do for power. One of the big reveals is glaringly obvious, but I didn't find it take too much away from the story. Other than that, it's just a story about growing up and finding one's feet at such a young age in the world and in romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Daphne Press and Susan Dennard for an advanced copy for review. The Hunting Moon is set for release November 7, 2023.

Thank you publishers and NetGalley for this eARC

I absolutely loved Luminaries, so I was hyped to read Hunting Moon and boy was I not disappointed.
I loved diving back into this world, I really like Winnie Wednesday and the way the book is written. It's still got that dry humour and the lavish world building, but the story takes an interesting turn, one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I wasn't expecting all the twists and turns and I really enjoyed reading them.
I highly recommend this series to everyone.

The hunting moon

I decided to give this book 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars mostly because of the ending, I was strangley emotional.

I liked the friendship development we got between winnie and her new friends. Winnie's personal development in realising her old friends had their own issues was well done as well. And then theres the romance, I love a slow burn, but lord, this felt like ages waiting for even the slightest hint of them realising how they feel. But I did enjoy a certain reveal and the aftermath of it.

I'm not sure how many books this series is going to have, but I do think I would have liked there to be a bit more progression in the plot around her dad in this one. That being said, though, the ending of this I'm hoping is going to mean the next book is able to jump straight into the dianas plot.

I would like to see a bit more of Erica, which, given how this book ends, seems likely. She's a character that appears to have a lot of potential for some really emotional moments.

All in all, I enjoyed the book, and I think the next one has huge potential to be a bit more action-packed and hopefully answer some questions for the readers.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, Susan Dennard, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, I enjoyed the luminaries but wasn’t sure where it was going to go next, I thought this was a duology but found at the end with the cliff hanger that is in fact not 😂

It was super fun to read and great for spooky season

Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the advance reader copy.

I listened to the audiobook of the first book and wasn’t a huge fan, there were a few things that just felt like some things were rushed and others not enough.
I will say that reading the sequel was a better experience.

I still found the weird onomatopoeia of actions annoying and as though they were there to raise the word count.

I’m more interested in the third book but still feel like there’s so much that hasn’t been explained about the world.

Overall a quicker read than the first.

I loved the first book. And enjoyed the second book in the series even more!

It focuses more on the character Winnie learning more about her and family. Friendships coming back together. It can be a little slow to start however sometimes it is needed to get back into the story. I definitely recommended rereading the first book before reading this one!

Hoping there’s a third book in the series 👀. There’s definitely more to learn about Winnie Wednesday.

100% will be buying when the book eventually comes out.

Thank you!

This book was highly anticipated for me after i read and loved the luminaries earlier this year.

Set in the same world - the spooky town of Hemlock falls surrounded by the monster infested woods - we follow Winnies directly after the events in the first book. I don't want to give spoilers but I liked how her PTSD was interpreted and how she handled it as a character, seeing more growth for her. All the same rotation of characters were there although ultimately Jay was the one i was most interested in and we saw little development with the others.

I found the pacing slower in this one as a good 40% of the book was more about Winnie coping with the past months traumas and it did feel like it was dragging slightly. The big reveal of who the werewolf was didnt feel that surprising either as I had sussed it from the first book but I did enjoy seeing Winnie finally see it herself.

The last 30% of the book is fast paced and fast actioned, with us returning to the woods and hunting with Winnie. This was my favourite part of the book and will happily read more of these adventures in future outings.

Overall a decent book - not as exciting as the first but i feel that this has laid great groundwork for the next book so i am excited to continue.

Thanks to net galley and Daphne Press for giving me this arc to review.

This sequel to The Luminaries is every bit haunting and mysterious as you'd expect!

After passing the hunter trials, Winnie is back in The Luminaries, and life should go back to normal... except it doesn't. With a werewolf on the loose, and a darkness that only she can see, Winnie is forced to look into her past, and reconsider where her loyalties lie.

As ever, Susan Dennard's skill lies in creating an atmosphere that is both spooky and cosy. Whilst the pace of this novel is slow, it makes for a more comforting read. Don't go into this expecting a fast-paced action-thriller-fantasy - whilst it has its moments of tension, its ultimately a magical mystery that unfolds gently - which is what I like about it! Winnie is a sympathetic teen character, and whilst some surrounding characters don't feel fleshed out, she has a sweet partnership with Jay Friday, her love interest.

Thank you NetGalley and Daphne Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book. Holy stars.

It was a slow start. Achingly slow at times. I was really interested in where Sooz was going with this story, but I also feared it was going to suffer from second book syndrome (the second book in a trilogy is often a slow bridge between the other two books). That last 20%, holy stars. It's never boring in Hemlock Falls.

You get a nightmare! And you get a nightmare! And let's be hunted by witches as well! Goodness gracious, this book was stuffed to the brim with fantastic nightmares, normal teenage drama, and so much intrigue.
There's a mystery Winnie has to solve and as soon as she finds a new piece of the puzzle, the puzzle grows more complicated, needs more pieces. I loved it.

Winnie and Jay. Jay and Winnie. I have no words. Wait, I have one. AAAAAAAAAH. Is that considered a word or more of a screech? That's how I feel about their friendship and their possibly something more. Such growth. Such BOOP.

The Luminaries was a bit faster paced than this one which I loved just a tad more. The Hunting Moon was soaked in mystery and intrigue and was a great buildup for the conclusion.

I need book three RIGHT NOW. Sooz, pretty please 🙏🏼 I need to know more! So many questions, so few answers. Hanging between a three and half and four stars. The bit with the stag and that last 20% was absolutely 100% worth the 4 stars, but the slow beginning was worth more of a three star rating... So I guess three and half stars it is.

Dennard's done it again. I loved the first book and The Hunting Moon absolutely lived up to it. Winnie can't win. She's finally back in with the Luminaries, no longer on the outside looking in. They love her, can't get enough of her, the girl who got bit by a werewolf and survived. But, as much as Winnie longed to be accepted once more, now she is, she wonders whether a life of obscurity would have been better. She can't understand people's attitudes, the praising of her ability, rather than the absolute horror at what happened to her. She really struggles in this book, with her identity, with where she belongs and with her feelings for a certain boy. I really enjoyed how Dennard explored her trauma, instead of making her this kick ass character who fears nothing, making her someone who starts to question the life of the Luminaries, how they send people to die, even children, making her someone who does fear, for herself, for her family, for her friends. She really grows as a character in this book and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her develop.

Plot twists galore, I think I spent the entire last part of this book screaming 'I KNEW IT.' But Dennard still managed to leave me with a whole host of unanswered questions, questions that mean I desperately need to get my hands on book three. Especially the ending! That ending was an absolute killer... seriously, how could you do that. The plot points that get developed and revealed in this book stem from the first, and it really allows Dennards skill at foreshadowing to show through. She leaves plenty of clues as to who is who, and although I did guess quite a few, it didn't make them hit any less, rather made me gasp out loud, hoping that she wouldn't go there only for her to absolutely go there and break my heart. The writing style is unique and I love how we get Winnie's POV, but also parts of the chapter that almost read like someone is narrating her life from the outside.

I think one of the unique things about this book, and a thing I love, is how it's written over such a small space of time. Book one barely spanned two weeks and book two seemed like even less. This allows for a heightened level of tension, it feels like there's no downtime, no time to dilly dally and waste, every line, every page is important to the story and there is no part that seems superfluous or not important to the overall story Dennard is trying to tell. We get so many of the questions from book one answered in this book, but then Dennard hits us with plenty more ensuring we stay glued to the pages still not 100% sure who we can trust, and who we can't.

The romance, the tension, the drama. Winnie and Ugh Jay absolutely have my heart and their relationship in this book just seemed so much more emotionally heightened than book one. Secrets are revealed and truths are told, but Dennard certainly likes to make us wait for anything of substance to happen... seriously the torture... if you're a lover of slow burn then this series is for you. I especially loved how she allowed their relationship to develop almost alongside their trauma, allowing them to slowly let one another in, showing the truth of themselves as well as what they are dealing with. It's tension filled and just adds an emotional as well as sometimes humorous arc to the story.

This series has just been so much fun & I have loved every second of it. If you enjoy secret magical societies that hunt magical beings, slow burn romance, plenty of plot twists and characters you will fall in love with, I can't recommend this enough.

Thank you to Daphne Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

This book gets my award for 'Better Than The First'. I didn't care for The Luminaries, I personally found it boring and that nothing really changed by the end of the book. That's just my opinion, though, yet I was still willing to give the sequel a chance.

Thankfully, it was the right decision because this book managed to exceed my expectations. I still wasn't hugely interested in the first half, but the second half was a roller coaster ride that caused me to not put my kindle down for hours on end.

I love the diverse friendship group that Winnie has developed, and how devoted they are to her. They're caring and perceptive, which is exactly what Winnie needs. There wasn't much of her family in this one compared to the previous, but it makes sense in relation to the plot so it wasn't an issue.

We got to find out more about the world of the Luminaries and the Diana's, which was very much needed from the first book. I will say that I feel the world still isn't fleshed out enough for my liking. I don't entirely understand the schism between both groups, and I'd love to find out more about the world of the Luminaries and the monsters. Hopefully I'll get my wish in the next book.

Jay...I like him but I've got issues with him. He's the stereotypical broody YA male who prefers to grunt and do things before asking. But there's something vulnerable to him that I do enjoy, and I hope the next book expands more on him.

Winnie...is still not my favourite character. I don't understand why she wants to be a hunter still, she's terrible at it. I feel she'd be so much better in a support role, maybe in updating the imagery of the nightmares as that's her passion. Still, she proved to be capable and I'm glad she learned, hopefully she'll grow even more.

The overall plot is fine...the Whisperer proved to be an interesting plot that I didnt see coming, and I really enjoyed that. On the other hand, I felt that the identity of the werewolf was a let down...purely because I'd figured that out in the first book.

Still, considering my thoughts on the first book, I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to the next book!

4.5 stars rounded up!

First of all I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publisher Daphne Press for granting me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the luminaries when I received it in a subscription box back in November 2022 and the ending left me wanting more and when I saw the sequel up on Netgalley I almost RAN to hit the request button. When the first book in a series is THAT good I can’t help but develop high expectations for the sequel(s) and OH BOY did this deliver. Took me a few chapters to get dragged back into the series but when it did?? I think I read for 2/3 hours straight, I only put it down to do necessary stuff like eat and go to the toilet.

I definitely saw one of the plottwists coming (i’ve been screaming this since the middle of book one) so you can probably imagine how hard I yelled ‘’I F*CKING KNEW IT’’ before almost launching my ereader across the room. The others though? I did not see coming AT ALL and I can’t wait to see them play out in the next book

Last but not least, Winnie and Jay are very dear to me and they both deserve the world AND way more <33

This sequel to 'The Lumneries' hits the ground running right where the first book left off. While I really enjoyed it, I do feel this runs more towards young adult than adult like the authors others books and will probably shelve it as such. I really love the story though and all the characters, and for the nightmares mythology structure really interesting.

Overall , a series I will definitely be recommending to fantasy readers.

Set to auto publish on www.doessusanwrite.co.uk at 9am GMT Monday 6th November.

I was super excited to receive the ARC of The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard. Earlier in the year I had booked into a talk in Edinburgh by Susan Dennard and Olivie Blake. Unfortunately Dennard was unable to make the talk, but I was able to get an ARC of The Luminaries. Which I loved. So to receive an ARC of the sequel was amazing!

We launch straight back into the world of Winnie Wednesday and Jay Friday. I’m glad to say that there seems to be have been a thawing of sorts between them, and they begin to open up to trust each other and share their secrets.

There is a lot of action in this story, as you’d expect if you’ve read the first. The Nightmares are described well and it is easy to imagine them. In the last ARC there were illustrations of the Nightmares, which I found useful, but perhaps they were left out intentionally (as our Winnie does often mention that the Compendium does not do the Nightmares justice in terms of how actually terrifying they are). I think a map of the forest might have been useful (and there might be one planned for the published edition). I say that as a reader who rarely looks at maps, the only one I’ve found helpful was in Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo.

There was definitely a good expansion of the lore, if the first book told us about the Luminaries, then this book focussed on the Dianas. We did learn a bit more about the structure of each clan, and their specific jobs within society. I wish we had seen a bit more of Winnie’s new friendship quartet, there was more emphasis on rebuilding relationships with her old friendship triangle. Something that I am delighted to see is the nuance in Aunt Rachel, she’s acting like a real-life aunt would. I wonder if Dennard has niblings and she’s drawing on her own experiences. Protect and cover up their missteps, but don’t take any corrective action. Keep them safe but don’t parent them. Be trustworthy for big secrets but don’t expect long discussions about the consequences of the secret. I know that’s how I am with my niblings so it felt real. And like I definitely want to know more about Aunt Rachel, because she seems like a closed book but she must have strong feelings about taking over from her sister as Lead Hunter (and I imagine we’re talking sibling rivalry; great pride; upset for sibling; annoyed with sibling’s partner from bringing it all down; fear of being the one in charge; and resentment towards the sibling for so many reasons). The nuance of Aunt Rachel was very understated but it has been consistent through both books.

Overall this was a straightforward read, it answered most of the questions from the first book, moving along those that it didn’t. It was fun and lighthearted a lot of the time, with some tragedy and action sprinkled in. The scene has been set for book 3, and I’m looking forward to reading that when it’s out (or preferably slightly before, I don’t know if I can wait until its publishing day if it’s not for a year or more!).

Whilst I realise this series is firmly aimed at those who enjoy YA fiction I have found myself definitely falling down this rabbit hole. I did enjoy the first book but for this reader this follow up is even better. I am thoroughly enjoying Winnies 'journey' from naive young girl desperate to prove herself to a young woman capable of seeing the bigger picture. This book brings answers but also opens the way for even more revelations. At times if I'm brutal Winnie is too much inside her own head but when the action starts I forgive that as she's a heroine I want to succeed and clearly not everything she has been told holds truth anymore. Nightmares are real, monsters exist and whilst the Luminaries despise the Witches they refer to as Diana's it's clear that Hemlock Falls is rife with secrets that Winnie is determined to unlock and that can only be a good thing !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Thank you to NetGalley, Daphne Press and Susan Dennard for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

Expected publication: 07/11/2023.

Synopsis

This is a sequel to The Illuminaries which I thoroughly enjoyed and couldn't wait to get lost in the pages again.

Winnie has passed the deadly hunter trials and been welcomed back into the fold after being ostracised for the betrayal of her father. Her family is no longer being shunned and Winnie is treated like a hero. But Winnie is more concerned with solving the cryptic clues left for her by her father in order to clear his name. As more murders are being committed and no one believes her story about the whisperer all fingers are pointing to the werewolf as the culprit.

Can I just start by saying that Susan Dennard is an expert at world building. She fully immerses you in the story where you feel that you are seeing everything through the eyes of the mc Winnie Wednesday. The detail that's gone into decribing the magical creatures is extraordinary. The slow burn romance between Winnie and Jay is perfect for a YA book.

Where I think the book fell short of the prequel was the tension. The first book had a heightened sense of mystery and excitement surrounding the deadly hunter trials whereas this was focused on parties and clothes?!  We really missed the fast pacing of the first book, it felt like the book didn't really start till the 2nd half by which most readers would have lost interest.

Overall I would say the first book is much better and the sequel just fell short of my expectations. That being said I will still read the last book as I'm invested in Winnie as a character.

A great follow up to book 1. I enjoyed the pacing and character development. It was great to see Winnie come out of herself a bit more though she didn’t feel as determined as in book 1. The tension between her and Jay was great and we did get some answers to the ongoing mysteries but there is still a lot left unanswered. Definitely looking forward to book 3.

Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me with an eARC of The Hunting Moon in return for my honest opinion.

The Luminaries was my favourite YA fantasy read of 2022 so I had big expectations for The Hunting Moon and have desperately been trying to get my little raccoon hands on an eARC of this book (thank you so much to Daphne Press for coming through with the goods!). So the big question is... Does The Hunting Moon live up to The Luminaries hype? Two words.. Hell yes!

Dennard is brilliant at world building and she has continued this with this book! The world of the Luminaries is so fascinatingly similar but different to our own that it grabs the reader in from the first page. The nightmares also continue to be intriguing and Dennard always hits the mark with their descriptions. I was hoping to have Winnies sketches in amongst the pages of the nightmares again like we had in The Luminaries but unfortunately that wasn't the case this time.

The plot is fast paced, I felt like I demolished this book way too quickly for my liking (honestly it felt like I'd just started and then all of a sudden I was 3/4 through). We got a lot of answers in this book, but with more answers came way more questions, Dennard I'm going to need that third book ASAP please! and the ending... What does it mean?!

I absolutely adore the main characters Winnie and Jay, they are very well written and despite being Luminaries incredibly relatable. For fans of the first book that were desperately wanting a Winnie and Jay romance... I heavily recommend that you read this book ASAP.

Overall a beautifully written second book in this outstanding YA fantasy series!

Returning to Hemlock Falls reminded me of all the elements of the first book I loved, the FMC, the forest, the nightmares and the MMC ♥️.
This book was even better than the first instalment, there is so much tension, action and peril throughout! It was so hard putting the book down at points due to how invested I became. A solid YA with gothic themes, romance, a badass FMC and mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

The Hunting Moon absolutely lives up to the hype of The Luminaries.

The story picks up right after the first book ends and you are sucked right back in to the dark world of the luminaries.

The world building in these books is very well done, I felt like I could have been there beside Winnie in the middle of the forest facing the nightmares together.

The characters are incredible, Winnie is so relatable and you can't help but want her to succeed.

I loved reading this and I'm devastated that I now need to wait on the next one!

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Daphne Press for providing me with this arc.