Susan Dennard’s The Luminaries is a series I have enjoyed from the first page of book one to the end of this, the third and final book, The Whispering Night.

Nothing is lost as we return to Hemlock Falls and a world where monsters are lingering in the darkness, and the hunters who fight to keep them away from those who think they only live in fairytales are perhaps having a moment to simply…be.

Dennard has continued with the world-building that is filled with the enticing level of darkness, and sinister imagery that breathes life into the young adult series. You can almost feel the plethora of monsters the Luminaries have to kill, looking over your shoulder as you read and I love that has continued throughout the series, along with building up the unsettling nature of the setting, I love that care has been taken to make sure the story seamlessly carries on through the books. Not once did I have that momentarily panic over who was who, or what have I forgotten from The Luminaries or The Hunting Moon which could have been off-putting because details are important in the series and you have to pay attention to the details so you can maybe get a step ahead of our protagonist, Winnie Wednesday.

As I said, this is a young adult series, but I think is more suitable for the younger end of that age group as I think the story would be perfect for those who still like to be scared by the thought of monsters but not be left filled with nightmares as well as liking the idea of hunting down the monsters that have scared you in your younger days. There are moments of the series, especially in The Whispering Night when I thought of the series, Wednesday and to a certain degree The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - neither of these comparisons are a bad thing, especially in regards to the latter.

Readers are brought firmly into Hemlock Falls and all that it has both dark and light and walk alongside Wednesday, with her (maybe) friend, Erica Thursday and Jay Friday as she searches for the answers she desperately needs. I have to say at this point, that I find the families in The Luminaries having the days of the week as their surnames both amusing and charming for some reason - I don’t know why but I always chuckle and then hear the nursery rhyme, Monday’s Child going through my head..

I liked how there was a balance between Wednesday finding the normal teenager problems having some resolution and her finding her place within the Luminaries as a whole, and the still vast unknown from the enemies who would welcome the end of all the hunters. Dennard brings together some of the unanswered problems we’ve seen in books one and two and adds just a little more for Wednesday to face, because as with anything that hides in the dark? There is always the why and the what to be answered. Why are there more, and what do they want from Wednesday?

There is resolution, and answers waiting to be found and Dennard does it really well, but I couldn’t help but wonder as I came to the end of the final page.. Is it really the end because I couldn’t help but feel that there are still more stories from the Luminaries and Hemlock Falls.

This book is the third and final instalment in the Luminaries trilogy by Susan Dennard. If you’re looking for a paranormal YA fantasy series that blends action, heart, and haunting atmosphere, this one’s a must-read. From the very first book, this series had me hooked, and this final installment wraps up Winnie Wednesday’s journey in a beautifully satisfying conclusion.

Following on from book one and two, we follow Winnie Wednesday - a hunter in Hemlock Falls, who protects her town from nightmares alongside her fellow hunters. Her character has developed beautifully across all three books, and it’s been refreshing to follow along a quirky and knowledgeable FMC who is both strong and curious.

Main Tropes (trilogy inclusive):
✨Mystery Solving
✨Intelligent and Strong FMC
✨Paranormal/Monsters
✨Second Chance Romance (YA)
✨Family Secrets
✨Looming Threat

As the trilogy reaches its conclusion, Luminaries flock to Hemlock falls for a weeklong celebration known as the Nightmare Masquerade. What’s meant to be a festive event quickly takes a dark turn when unexpected guests arrive, casting a shadow over the celebration.

Winnie finds herself face-to-face with a masked Diana, and is presented with an impossible task—one that threatens everything and everyone she loves. With new enemies in her mists, unanswered questions about her father’s past, and the war between the Diana’s and the Luminaries still looming, will she finally find the answers she’s been searching for?

I love this series. Each book has been fantastic.

I love how the author writes, and brings you into their world. I love the gothis atmosphere, and the storytelling. I love the characters.

This is a series I always recommend, and I'm sure anyone who reads will know why :)

The Whispering Night is the epic conclusion to Susan Dennard's thrilling YA horror series, and let me tell you, it's one wild journey from start to finish! After the events of the previous books, things are finally starting to look up for our protagonist, Winnie Wednesday.

Hemlock Falls is no longer hunting the werewolf, she's made tentative peace with her former rival Erica Thursday, and Winnie's relationship with her love interest Jay Friday is on solid ground. Winnie's looking forward to enjoying the Nightmare Masquerade, a massive week-long celebration of all things Luminary (the supernatural beings in this world).

But of course, the peace doesn't last long. As luminaries from across the world flood into the small town, uninvited guests arrive as well. Winnie is confronted by a mysterious masked Diana, who hits her with an impossible mission - one that threatens everything and everyone Winnie holds dear.

On top of this new crisis, Winnie is still trying to unravel the long-standing war between the Luminaries and the Dianas, all while searching for hidden witches and desperately trying to find answers about her missing father. As she digs deeper, Winnie discovers shocking secrets and rifts within her own family that she never could have imagined.

Dennard does an incredible job juggling all these narrative threads. The plot is incredibly intricate, but she ties it all together in a supremely satisfying way by the end. The characters, while perhaps could have used a bit more development in some cases, are all highly compelling and interesting. And that final chapter? Absolute perfection - a true 'chef's kiss' moment that will leave readers reeling.

If you're a fan of YA fantasy/horror with rich world building, complex characters, and a thrilling, twisty plot, I cannot recommend The Whispering Night enough. It's the perfect conclusion to this fantastic series.

While the book brings many plot threads to a close and opens the door to new possibilities, I couldn’t help but feel a little underwhelmed.

The mystery and magical reveals come together cleverly—but not always satisfyingly. Some plot points, like the nature of the spell or the spirits of the nightmares (dead loved ones??), left me with more questions than answers. Why do the nightmares take certain forms? Why is the spell viewed as evil by some Dianas when it seems meant to restore balance? And if the Dianas and Luminaries need each other, why is the opposition between them so toxic and unresolved?

Despite those frustrations, there were some highlights. The villain was genuinely chilling, and the spell cast on Winnie and her mother added a real touch of horror that raised the stakes. I loved seeing Winnie and Erica rekindle their friendship as they unraveled the mystery of Erica’s sister and Winnie’s father. Their relationship is one of the strongest parts of the book, and I was so happy to see it front and center.

Winnie still borders on Mary Sue territory at times, but she’s grown since book one (fewer teeth-clicking moments, thank goodness). Her PTSD is acknowledged with care, and I really appreciated how the story handled mental health—especially the idea that the community isn’t ignoring trauma, but working through it in healthy, supportive ways.

Also the blurb says “swoon-worthy,” but the romance is very much in the background. (And honestly? I'm glad it is. I appreciated that the focus stayed on Winnie’s growth and the looming threats facing Hemlock Falls.) That said, Jay felt more like a plot device than a character this time around. Come to think of it, some characters felt like hollow versions of their earlier selves—Bretta, Fatima, Jay—they just didn’t feel as fleshed out or relevant. But the series ending with Winnie as a potential friend to the nightmares? Now that’s interesting. I'd honestly be curious to see the world expanded through a different lens.

So all in all: a weird, atmospheric finale that ties up most of the loose ends while leaving some threads frustratingly vague. A decent conclusion, even if I didn’t love it, though I'm really glad to see so many people did.

A captivating and atmospheric novel that draws readers into its mysterious and enchanting world. The story is well-crafted, with a perfect blend of suspense and intrigue that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and relatable, adding depth to the narrative. While some plot twists might be predictable, the overall experience is highly enjoyable. The evocative writing and immersive setting make "The Whispering Night" a memorable read for fans of mystery and fantasy.

I loved the first two in this series and was so hyped to dive back in and see what would happen next.
I love Susan Dennard's writing, it captures you from the get go and holds you there until the very end. I love Winnie her character is brilliant, her sarcasm and wit is relatable and she makes the perfect main character within this novel. I absolutely loved how it all played out.

Loved this book, non stop excitement and intrigue from start to finish. So much mystery, adding up the clues, following the chase and the battles all leads to an amazing story to read!

Susan Dennard’s conclusion to The Luminaries trilogy, The Whispering Night, once again transports readers into a realm where mystery and magic quietly lurk behind every shadow. Dennard’s lyrical prose paints a vivid picture of a world steeped in intrigue, where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blur, inviting us to lose ourselves in its atmospheric embrace.

One of the novel’s standout features is its immersive world-building. Dennard crafts an environment that feels as tangible as it is enigmatic, filled with subtle details and hidden layers that reward careful reading. The narrative unfolds with a measured pace that allows readers to savour the mood and ambiance of the setting, even if a few sections might feel slower than anticipated.

At its core, The Whispering Night is a character-driven story. Dennard excels at developing nuanced, interesting characters whose inner conflicts mirror the external mysteries they face. Their personal journeys, filled with moments of introspection and quiet resilience, lend the story an emotional depth that resonates long after the final page.

While the novel’s reflective pacing and focus on atmosphere are major strengths, they can sometimes leave certain plot threads less explored than expected. However, these quieter moments also offer space for character growth and exploration, and thematic richness, adding to the overall tapestry of the narrative.

In all, The Whispering Night is a beautifully crafted tale that melds magic, mystery, and human emotion into a compelling reading experience. Fans of evocative, character-focused fantasy will find much to admire in Dennard’s work, even as the occasional pacing hiccup reminds us that beauty often lies in the details.

This series is one that i recommend to the teenagers i work with often, I LOVED the first installement so much and can still really remember reading it in bed whilst poorly with covid and it just really lifting my mood. I made a huge error with the second and final installment but reading them through audio narration. Thats not to say that the audio books are bad, but as a 33 yr old, the audio really highlighted how young adult and cheesy the books can be at times and that took me out of the story a little.

I will still continue to recommend the books to my students whole heartedly but theres a good chance i will re-read the series in the future but fully without audio to give it the chance it deserves

What first drove me to read The Luminaries was the promise of a slightly creepy forst. What kept me were the amazing character and complex character dynamics as well as the action scenes and the hint of family mystery. The Whispering Night seamlessly picks up where The Hunting Moon ended, throwing the reader right back into the story. And I loved that there weren’t any more explanations but the action just started up right away. I really like the action scenes in this trilogy and luckily for me, there are many and they’re all a mixture of cool, magical and sometimes even funny. Car chases, running through labyrinths, battling monsters in an public building,… The Whispering Night has it all and I’m here for every page of it. I love well written action scenes and Susan Dennard really gives them her best.

Of course, the character development but especially the relationship development also has to be mentioned. Before the start of the trilogy, the main trio Winnie, Jay and Erica have been friends but their friendship broke, mostly because of the exile of Winnie’s family. We soon learn that there was more to it and I loved reading about the struggles of each of them individually. I enjoyed how the three opened up again and shared their stories and troubles as well as the love and friendship that is still between them. Their relationship was so well written with all its ups and downs and the long way back to fully trusting each other. I also liked how the dynamics between Winnie and each person individually were written, how she’s different with each person, yet in this book she is unapologetically herself and stands up for herself, doing what’s right. Winnie has come such a long way and I loved how she doesn’t take shit from anyone, talks back and in general and very plainly spoken, kicks ass. I love her.

One aspect of this book I absolutely loved and that creeped me slightly out were the nightmare illustrations. They’re so cool and really bring the atmosphere of the book across.

The Whispering Night was such a great, action-packed finale to an amazing series! But I do hope that the world will be explored in further books because I have so many questions about the world of The Luminaries and especially the Dianas that I would love to have answered. Winnie’s story however is wonderfully wrapped up and I’m so glad I decided to read the series!

I'm devastated that its over but I've absolutely loved the journey. What a phenomenal end to the story!

It took me a little bit longer to get into this one than the first two, but once it got going I was hooked!

I absolutely love the characters and their developments throughout the series.

I'm sad the series is finished but I can't wait to read more of Dennard's work!

This was an engaging sequel that deepens the mystery and adventure of the Luminaries series. The story follows Winnie as she uncovers more secrets about her town and the monsters lurking in the forest.
The writing in this holds the suspense, with a well written eerie atmosphere and so many good twists and turns. The character development is strong, and the romance and friendships add depth to the plot.
I liked this one a lot and glad I got to continue this series, they’ve all been good reads for me for sure!

I love this series, it has been one of my favourites of the last few years. Of the three books, I did struggle with the pacing of this one the most, but it is a great finale to the unique series. There were lots of neat bows and my heart got all the feels it needed. As I mentioned, the pace is a bit slow, particularly in the middle but overall there is still plenty of action. The last 100 pages were packed!

Winnie's dry humour continues in this book to the point it's almost like another character. She isn't my favourite, at times I found her very frustrating but I guess that's exactly what being a teenager is all about! I struggled with some of the descriptions but they are very much part of the forest atmosphere.

As always, I loved the Compendium lore and drawings.

For those who enjoy young adult fantasy that is full of attitude, atmosphere and acerbic wit.

Sadly, a DNF. I can't remember much about the previous two books, but I know I didn't really enjoy them, and I just can't bring myself to care enough to finish out the trilogy properly.

One of my most anticipated reads of the year and I was not disappointed! A fantastic conclusion to Winnie Wednesdays story, nicely rounding off and answering questions the reader has held since book one. This book gives us some incredible character growth , particularly from Winnie, as she discovers that there is more behind what is happening in Hemlock Falls than just what directly affects her own family.
The very sweet (and age appropriate!) romance between Winnie and Jay blossoms, and the friendships within the WTF triangle deepen and strengthen as they learn they have to rely wholly on one another.
Even though the ending was nicely rounded off, I feel like the author has left it open to the possibility of exploring other characters within the Hemlock Falls world.

I have read all books in this trilogy and feel that this was a great ending. I think I would have preferred if the story was spread over a longer timescale (a month for three books is quite tight!). I had predicted some of the twists and then there were some things that I was (thankfully) wrong about. A solid 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I struggled a bit with the first two installments of this series, which felt fairly formulaic and had some very obvious twists. However, some of that actually does pay off in this book, which ties together a lot of the loose ends and feels much more pacey than the first two. I did still get a bit frustrated with some of Winnie's repetitive inner monologue, but less so. Not a series I'd run back to, but not bad.

{Actual rating - 4.5/5}

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I can’t believe this series is over! *The Whispering Night* marks the third and final instalment of Susan Dennard’s incredible trilogy, and I’ve loved every minute of it. This series has been such a joy to read, and I’m certain it’ll remain one of my all-time favourites.

As the final book, there were a lot of threads and conflicts that needed resolving, and I was curious to see how it would all come together. Thankfully, it did not disappoint. The series has always juggled multiple plotlines and intricate details, and this book managed to tie them all up beautifully. Everything fell into place in a way that felt satisfying and true to the story.

The worldbuilding in this series has always been exceptional, and *The Whispering Night* took it to new heights. The lore surrounding the nightmares, the witches, and The Luminaries are some of the most fascinating things I’ve come across. Even with this being the final book, we were still uncovering new pieces of the world alongside Winnie, the main character, which made the experience even more immersive. It’s rare for a series to maintain such a strong sense of discovery all the way through, but this one absolutely nailed it.

And then there’s Winnie. She’s truly one of the best protagonists I’ve ever read. Watching her growth over the trilogy has been a highlight of the series. She’s gained so much confidence and become such a badass over the course of the story, but she’s still the same Winnie we met back in book one. Those little quirks and traits that made her feel so real in the beginning are still there, making her journey feel authentic and rewarding.

I really enjoyed this. Is this the last book?? I think so. It’s such a fun series, and I really enjoyed EVERYTHING in this. The characters are entertaining (Save the fishes!), the plot is worth reading and easy-ish to follow (have i been screaming about something that i was right about for three books???? YES. i want more winnie but i kinda want her dad’s story