Following on from what happened in The Luminaries we follow Winnie as she is invited back into the Luminaries and she trys to uncover the mystery about the whisper and her dad. We meet some Dianas and find out about the werewolve. I loved the training aspect of the book.
The audiobook was done really well, and I was engaged throughout. Highly recommended, and looking forward to the sequel.

I read The Luminaries via the audiobook so when I had the chance to read The Hunting Moon via audio too I couldn’t pass it up since I felt it really enhanced the experience.

The Hunting Moon continued right from where The Luminaries left off and we were thrown right back into the mystery of this new nightmare that nobody wants to admit is real.

Listening to the audio meant I really felt like I was in the story with the characters, seeing what they saw and hearing what they heard. The narrator did a very good job and it was all very clear and easy to listen to. The narration also stayed clear when sped up.

I sped through this book so fast, and felt so absorbed into it. I’m really looking forward to seeing where the story goes next and how everything will be resolved. I will definitely be listening to the audio for book 3 too!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for this copy.

So, I was truly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Luminaries but, since then have been looking forward to The Hunting Moon and then I was offered a chance to read and review the audiobook, which was just perfect as life is very busy and I could multitask!

As soon as the story started, I was flung back into Winnie’s world and Susan Dennard is a genius at summing up the events of the first book without any sense or feeling of repetition.

The Hunting Moon continues from where The Luminaries left off, Winnie is now infamous in Hemlock Falls and life is forever changed, all of which Winnie is struggling with, especially as she’s still trying to the mystery of her father and the Dianas, and of course Jay.

Whilst I did find the narrator’s tone a tad pitchy at times, this didn’t dissuade me from listening to the audiobook and I can truly say I flew through it.

Dennard has built on the foundations of The Luminaries to delve deeper into the politics of the society, the shades of grey of the the forest and its inhabitants and the variety of mysteries that Winnie is facing, including friendships, family and all the social norms that had previously been out of bounds.

If you haven’t started this series, plunge in - especially if you love werewolves, witches, magical forests and nightmares!

This book had me completely hooked. I absolutely couldn’t stop reading. The characters of course are amazing and the story had me not wanting too put my kindle down. I can’t wait until this book comes out so everyone can read this book

An atmospheric and mysterious continuation to the Luminaries series.

I really enjoyed book 1 and was excited when I saw the audio of book 2 was up. The narrator really adds to this story for me, so I was waiting for the audio rather than requesting the ebook.
Book 2 felt more plot-heavy that the first book - in a good way - and I loved getting to see more of the world and the mystery unfolding.

The ending especially made me eager to continue the series. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

So the first in this book was absolutely OUSTANDING and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the follow up as it was just truly an absolutely amazingly crafted and well built world with brilliant characters.

I was a bit worried because it had been a fair while since I read the Luminaries and I was a bit hazy with the details but the author did a fab job of bringing me back up to speed and back into the world she created.

Back in Hemlock Falls with Winnie and the fallout of the trials - She’s a local celebrity but she’s struggling to adjust. She has a lot of mysteries to solve, with nightmares, dianas and her father, she has a lot to deal with. Oh and throw a bit of romance into the mix, I’m not surprised Winnie has a head full!

I got into so quickly and I forgot just how great the writing is. The audiobook was great too and wonderfully narrated as with the first. Occasionally (by my own fault and admission) I did space out a few times but the story always brought me back again.

After reading this, it’s reminded me to get stuck into some other novels by the author as the ones I’ve read have been great. An entertaining series the Luminaries has been!

I was very excited to get my hands on this audio and reacquaint myself with the world of Winnie Wednesday.

The audio was great, the narrator was engaging and it was easy to listen to large chunks at a time as the story was well paced and easy to follow. I really love the world that has been created by Dennard with the different houses within the Luminaries and the Nightmares.

There was plenty revealed in this instalment - lots I did manage to guess, but it hasn’t diminished the story for me personally. There is also lots left that’s still a mystery and new questions raised.

Much like the first one, you can very much tell that this is a series due to the pacing and development of the plot - you know you’re not getting all the answers and that you’re being set up to be left wanting ready for the next book!

A solid instalment and I look forward to seeing what’s next for this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this audio.

The second book of THE LUMINARIES, THE HUNTING MOON follows Winnie's attempt to uncover her father's clues while her town is obsessed with finding the wrong monster.

This series is such a good, atmospheric autumnal read (for all it's set in the Spring!) We get to spend more time in the forest, this time on sleuthing (that goes wrong) instead of for trials. Old monsters return and there are new ones too as Winnie begins to seriously question the truths she's lived by.

I really enjoyed the exploration of PTSD. Winnie went through a lot in THE LUMMINARIES and is dealing with the consequences of that here. It isn't helped that her town and its culture have jarringly different responses to it than her, pushing her further into rebellion against its way of life. The contrast also helps highlight how much she is struggling and why.

This book delves deeper into the mysteries set up in the first book, which was very satisfying to get answers to theories (and I was smug about getting some of them!) Not all the mysteries are fully solved, but one of the pretty big ones it, culminating in a big action sequence at the end. Plus, there are of course (it's a Susan Dennard book!) new mysteries set up and the unsolved are deepened.

The audiobook is well narrated by Caitlin Davis, altering pitch to distinguish between narration, compendium extracts, and updates from a Luminaries' website. The overall atmospheric tone of the book is captured with ease, with expert use of speeding up and slowing down the narration for tension and pacing.

I am very excited for the final book in this series now!

Okay, but YA fantasy done right hit differently.

Winnie Wednesday has gotten everything she thought she wanted. She passed the deadly hunter trials, her family is welcomed back into the Luminaries, and she has become a local celebrity.
But it all feels wrong.
Still, nobody will believe her about the new nightmare called the Whisperer as everyone is busy blaming the werewolf, even though Winnie is certain the wolf is innocent.
Not to mention, she has her dad’s clues to follow and figure out. 

Thank you to Bonlinda audio for sending the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review!

Of course, it was very obvious in book one that Jae was the werewolf, so seeing his withdrawal and anxiety in the background of Winnie’s whirlwind of a life is both fascinating and tearing-out-your-hair frustrating.

I went in with lower expectations as I remember liking book one for a perfect quick autumn fantasy but then all the more nitpicking reviews came out.
However, I still found myself really enjoying this!
Winnie has such a realistic teenage protagonist voice. The first person perspective just works so well, and is written with such finesse that Winnie is such a vivid character despite it being developed in only two relatively short books.

Yes, it did annoy me about the sudden focus on dressing up and make up and parties amidst the panic and increasing deaths, but Winnie’s perception on it matches mine completely.

I am sad to report, there is still a lot of teeth clicking. And pushing glasses up your nose. But to be fair, as someone who does wear glasses, that is a full time job.

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 stopping the book down at points due to how invested I became. I was late for one day at work as I sat in the car park finishing a chapter. The narrator is clear voiced and it’s a very engaging audiobook. A solid YA with gothic themes, romance, a badass FMC and mystery. Thank you for the audio ARC.

Listening to this audio version is a brilliant way to experience this action packed fantasy story. The narrator is perfect. Second book in a terrific fantasy series for teenage listeners and up. There is no less peril in Hemlock falls, monsters continue to roam the woods patrolled by the local populace. Winnie has additional problems, now welcomed back into the community, she is trying to find her father and prove he was framed and at the same time work out her feelings for Jay. Lots of action, life threatening danger, mysteries and new monsters - Winnie has her hands full. Thank you to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Back with Winnie Wednesday and Hemlock Falls and, after the events of The Luminaries, Winnie and her family are back in the good graces of the Luminaries but Winnie has her own plans!

I listened to the audio and can totally recommend it, the narrator was perfection!

This book certainly does not suffer from 2nd book syndrome, I really enjoyed it, more than book 1 in fact!

I do love a bad boy and Jay is my utter fave in this book but Winnie's growth is amazing!

I don't want to say anything about the plot but you can expect the same darkness, mystery and gothic forest from book 1 along with more action, drama and maybe a bit of romance!

There's a jaw dropping reveal (which I did guess and then dismissed!) and an ending that made me aaaaw and say no way! Book 3 please!

'You either trust the forest or you don't.'

I received both and e-arc and audioarc through Netgalley all opinions are my own.

These are just some of my first fast thoughts. I will write a more thorough review later.

I enjoyed The Luminaries, and was excited to start reading the sequel!
I liked this book, and finished it fairly quickly.
This time I actually really got annoyed by all the characters last names, especially when I had to hear their weekday names all the damn time. It got really tiring really fast.

I liked the plot and the pace of the book.

I did like the narrator, but she would sometimes sound like Jennifer Collidge, and it did throw me off fairly often
Otherwise I really enjoyed the narration!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc for my honest review
Unfortunately this was a dnf for me as it was too immature and I just wasn’t interested in the story or romance