Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Daphne Press for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: violence, death, grief, injury, blood, injury

Winnie Wednesday got through her trials and is now officially a Luminary, welcomed back into the community that had shunned her and her mother for years. Hemlock Falls is (mostly) at peace now the werewolf is gone, she’s reconciled with her former best friend, Erica Thursday, while finally getting together with Jay Friday. Winnie now has only one thing to think about: to solve the mystery of why her missing father, long accused of being a witch called a Diana, might have been set up. As Hemlock Falls prepares for the Nightmare Masquerade, a week of celebrating all things Luminary where people flock from all over the world, uninvited threatening guests arrive in the small town. Soon enough Winnie is confronted by a masked Diana and given an impossible task that betrays and threatens everything the Luminaries stand for. Caught between the past of her father, numerous new enemies and other issues she thought solved, Winnie digs deeper into the war between the Dianas and Luminaries, only to find that it’s been much closer to home this whole time.

I adore Susan Dennard’s writing, ‘The Luminaries’ is a beautiful and engrossing series and I think this is a brilliant, epic finale to this trilogy. These books have been such a huge comfort, even when the stakes are incredibly high, and this one- while delving deep into the history of Hemlock Falls and the secrets kept by Winnie’s family- isn’t an exception. ‘The Whispering Night’ starts at a break neck pace, easing away from some of the romance of the second book and dragging the reader into a conspiracy that takes Winnie through the forest full of monsters, the parties of her society and the libraries of Hemlock Falls’ past. I did miss Jay a little but I loved her reconnection with her former best friend Erica. Winnie’s humour and intelligence have always been one of the highlights of these books for me, she’s came so far from the banished and quiet girl of the first book and I loved how much her skills are appreciated in this one. Her experiences of trauma, particularly the terrible things she went through during the trials (and everything afterwards), were really well written. The humour is still there but it's balanced with the things Winnie has had to go through and the new traumas she faces. The world of Hemlock Falls is so vivid and fascinating, with rich worldbuilding and such a fun (but scary) vibe as children and adults battle monsters in the forest nightly. I’m so glad that I read this series and that it had such an excellent and satisfying conclusion.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Daphne Press; 1st edition (19 Nov. 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1837840571
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1837840571
Book Blurb
Winnie Wednesday’s future is looking bright. Hemlock Falls is no longer hunting the werewolf, she and Erica Thursday are tentative friends, and Winnie finally knows exactly where she stands with Jay Friday.
With everything finally on track, Winnie is looking forward to the Nightmare Masquerade. But as Luminaries from across the world flock to the small town for the week-long celebration, uninvited guests also arrive. Winnie is confronted by a masked Diana and charged with an impossible task—one that threatens everything and everyone Winnie loves.
Winnie must stop these new enemies before time runs out, but her missing father is somehow entangled with her search for hidden witches, and as Winnie digs deeper into the war between the Luminaries and the Dianas, she discovers rifts within her own family she never could have imagined. What does loyalty mean when family and enemies look the same?
My Review
I have loved reading Susan Dennard's Luminaries trilogy, and am grateful to Daphne Press for sending me these books in return for my review. Winnie is back, but finds herself pulled in many directions, as a daughter, a friend, a girlfriend and a hunter. She has to find the truth about the Whisperer in the Forest whilst a high ranking Diana (a witch) gives Winnie a task that could destroy her family and friendships. Set against the Masquerade Ball, Winnie finds that there are alot of people living in Hemlock Falls wearing masks every day.
With the last book in a series or trilogy I am very careful about what I say as I don't want to spoil anything in realtion to this book, or the previous books, so it will be a shortish review. What I can say is that this book is full of energy, action and surprises. Winnie, not one to seek the limelight, finds herself at the centre of the Masquerade festivities with visiting Luminaries wanting to meet the 'wolf girl', who survived the Werewolf, and completed the her trilas in epic style. As expected she shines through in this book where her loyalty to both family and friends are tested, and I loved seeing how Susan Dennard has developed her and other characters like Jay Friday and Erica Thursday, from the first book to the last.
As with the previous books, Susan Dennard's plotting and storytelling is masterful. There were plenty of surprises along the way and several heart in the mouth moments that I wanted to read through fingers over my eyes. The two opening chapters were fabulous, full of mystery capturing my attention immediately and keeping it until the very last word. As with the previous book I was fascinated by the drawings of the Nightmares from the forest, they are beautifully done and show the fabulous imagnation of Susan Dennard in creating these strange creatures and how thay kill.
The Whispering Night is a stunning finale to the Luminaries Trilogy. It was everything I hoped for with it's fast pace, action, surprises, and finally the answers to so many questions. I highly recommend this trilogy, it has everything I wanted from a Young Adult Fantasy read; a wonderful central character in Winnie, Nightmares living in the forest and a town full of secrets. I am includung a link to my review of the previous books in the trilogy below.
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
The Hunting Moon (The Luminaries Book 2) by Susan Dennard

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ (4.5/5)

Susan Dennard’s The Whispering Nightmare concludes the series with a dark and atmospheric finale. The detailed descriptions—particularly of the nightmares—stand out as some of the book’s most compelling elements, making these parts a true highlight.

The focus on Winnie’s PTSD and her internal dialogue was handled with depth and nuance, giving her character a powerful emotional arc. However, the rest of the characters felt somewhat underdeveloped, often fading into the background compared to previous books. All of this together made it the least memorable book in the series for me.

While the story wraps up a small plot arc and delivers a satisfying ending—especially with all the nightmares coming together—the introduction of many new characters and the unresolved overarching plot left me wanting more. There’s a lingering sense that the world Dennard has built still has so many stories left to tell.

Despite its shortcomings, The Whispering Nightmare is a haunting and fast read, with enough emotional depth and eerie charm to earn its 4.5-star rating. It’s a worthy conclusion for fans of the series, though newcomers will definitely need to start from the beginning to fully appreciate the journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of The Whispering Night.

This was an excellent conclusion to The Luminaries series. The writing again was excellent and the way that the remaining mysteries were slowly unravelled was so satisfying and intricately written.

I loved jumping back into this world and the characters and getting to see even more development and vivid world building and description.

100% recommend this YA series with a small town cozy feel but with so much to unpack and never ending mysteries to solve.

The final instalment in the trilogy, and a fantastic end to Winnie's journey. The end of book 2 left me with so many answers, I didn't expect Susan Dennard would be able to tie them all up in book 3, let alone in a satisfactory way. As well-written, addictive, and enjoyable as the rest of the series, this has earned its place on my reread rotation.

Susan Dennard's The Whispering Night is a beautifully crafted, atmospheric part 3 of Winnie Wednesdays story that plunges readers into a world of secrets, magical forces, and a compelling cast of characters.
Dennard's signature blend of tension and intrigue shines through, creating a plot that is as captivating as it is unpredictable.
The story is set in a hauntingly atmospheric town where magic forces and magical creatures called nightmares lurk in the shadows and the mist. Dennard excels at building suspense, weaving together elements of mystery, supernatural and romance. Her world-building is rich and immersive, drawing readers into an eerie, unpredictable setting. While Winnie is trying to find her father, save the Luminaries from Dianas and protect Jay's secret, she is a strong yet vulnerable yet strong young woman, incredibly well-developed character by author. Winnie has internal struggles and personal agenda are depicted with depth and sensitivity, making her journey all the more engaging. The secondary characters also bring nuance and complexity to the story, adding layers of emotional depth and intrigue.
What truly sets The Whispering Night apart is
Dennard's crafty writing for Winnie allowing the reader to feel like watching a movie. The pacing is solid, with twists that will leave readers hooked, though some of the slower, introspective moments might feel drawn out for readers seeking constant action.
Overall, The Whispering Night is an enthralling, atmospheric and engaging read that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy and romantasy. While it may not have any strong spicy scenes in her romantic scenes, its intricately woven plot, engaging characters, and eerie setting make it a book worth reading. I highly recommend it to fans of Susan Dennard's previous works, as well as anyone looking for a deeply atmospheric, hauntingly emotional story.
Thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for the chance to read this book

Epic conclusion to the series. Soo many things happening so much confusion but we finally get a resolution to all the unanswered questions. There were lots of twists and turns I wasn’t expecting but that get me hooked and kept me reading. It is still quite young but thrilling enough to keep me agog.

This series is just so well written, keeps you guessing and gives you enough to keep you completely hooked.
Winnie Winona Wednesday is such a lovable character. She's intelligent, loyal, principled and funny. I have loved reading her discovery of what is going down in Hemlock Falls and taking matters into her own hands.

The whole premise of the story and how the Luminary clans are named for the days of the week is just very cool. Dennard has smashed this one out of the park.

The Whispering Night by Jessica Townsend is the highly anticipated and thrilling conclusion to the Luminaries trilogy, delivering a pulse-pounding, swoon-worthy finale that fans have been eagerly awaiting.

Winnie Wednesday’s life seems to be on track. Hemlock Falls is no longer hunting the werewolf, she and Erica Thursday are starting to forge a fragile but meaningful friendship, and Winnie’s relationship with Jay Friday has finally settled into something solid. Just when it appears everything is falling into place, the Nightmare Masquerade—an annual week-long celebration of all things Luminary—arrives in the small town, bringing with it not only long-awaited visitors but also uninvited guests. Among them is a masked Diana, who tasks Winnie with an impossible mission that puts everyone she loves at risk.

As Winnie battles new enemies, old mysteries continue to resurface. Her missing father seems to be somehow connected to her search for hidden witches, and as she delves deeper into the long-standing war between the Luminaries and the Dianas, Winnie uncovers shocking secrets within her own family. The line between loyalty and betrayal becomes increasingly blurred as she realises that family and foes may not be so different after all.

This final instalment in the trilogy is a masterclass in suspense, with nonstop action and brilliantly original twists that keep readers hooked from start to finish. The dynamic between Winnie and Erica takes centre stage, as the two friends team up to solve the mystery of Erica's sister’s death and the role Winnie’s father played in it. The pace is relentless, with thrilling chase scenes and encounters with bizarre creatures, but the true joy of this book lies in the slow unravelling of the characters' complex relationships and the answers they discover along the way.

The Whispering Night is one of the most satisfying conclusions to a trilogy I’ve encountered in a long time. The world-building is rich and immersive, with the haunting atmosphere of the mist-covered forests and the intriguing witchy society of the Dianas leaving a lasting impression. While I’m sad to see this captivating world come to an end, the potential for future spinoffs is endless. The possibility of exploring other Luminary societies or even delving into the world of the Dianas has me hopeful for more stories to come. I can only hope that Jessica Townsend will one day collaborate with a visual artist to bring The Nightmare Compendium to life, as I would buy that reference book in a heartbeat.

As much as this book ties up the trilogy beautifully, I find myself unwilling to say goodbye to this world.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Susan Dennard’s The Whispering Night is an emotional and gripping finale that brings this beloved series to a close in spectacular fashion. The story wraps up the characters’ journeys with heart and just enough twists to keep you on edge. Dennard’s writing is as vivid and atmospheric as ever, pulling you into a world filled with danger, mystery, and heart While a few plot threads could have used a bit more time, the ending makes this a deeply satisfying conclusion that fans will love.

The conclusion to The Luminaries series this book had higher stakes, more mysteries and lots of new creatures! Questions that arise in books 1 and 2 were finally answered and I really enjoyed learning more of the mythology, especially about the Dianas!

I would have loved more time focused on Jay however the romance between Jay and Winnie was adorable and I loved Winnie’s relationships with her friends. Each character has complex mysteries surrounding them and I loved diving further into the triangle of Erica, Winnie and Jay.

This was a high paced read filled with mystery, friendship and monsters and I would highly recommend
for any urban fantasy lovers!

I was really excited for the release of this book, having enjoyed both the prior two Luminaries instalments, and desperately wanting answers to the long running questions that had been set up and drawn out.

Thankfully, we finally got the answers to all the questions!! It was a wild ride with some unexpected twists, some I have guessed, and some really fun drama filled moments.

However, it is unfortunate as I did not love this book as much as I had hoped or expected to :( I’m really not sure what it was, but whereas I remember being sucked in to the story previously, this one felt like it took me forever to read and get invested in to.

All in all, it was a good ending to the trilogy but not a strong book overall.

I'm incredibly grateful for allowing to read this whole trilogy.
When The Luminaries came out you allowed me early access and I was so happy because it sounded so promising and it really was. I entered a really unique world and was mesmerized, I just wanted to continue. Then you allowed me, once again, early access to The Hunting Moon and it continued the patterned of unique world building in monsters and a lot of revelations were made.
I just finished The Whispering Night and I'm so happy I've read this trilogy. As I said above, the world building is so different (from the names of the clans, to the unique monsters and powers, so many unique traits from fantasies I usually read), it had so many twists and revelations I didn't see coming and I my jaw dropped.
I think this was a great ending for a great trilogy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - such a fun YA fantasy with great characters and a good storyline!!

I really enjoyed this book and series and loved getting another chance to delve into the world of Winnie and her renewed friendship with Erica.

With adventure and mystery this book kept me hooked and constantly needing to find out more. With plot twists and clues throughout it kept the book engaging and interesting.

This was a perfect conclusion to this series! I really enjoyed this series.

The characters are so strong and are multidimensional giving great depth to the story. Winnie’s character has developed lots over the series and I enjoyed reading about her strong character who is smart and able to handle a lot of difficult situations that she is thrown into.

The writing style allows the book to flow really well and kept me interested throughout. It is quite fast paced keeping the storyline flowing and preventing me from feeling bogged down in the middle like some books.

Thank you to netgalley, Susan Dennard and Daphne press for this ARC.

I love Jay Friday!

Back in Hemlock Falls with Winnie Wednesday and we continue with the mystery of the Diana's, the Nightmares and the Luminaries.

I dont want to say much about the plot but I will say this is a fun, fast paced and solid conclusion!

𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒋𝒊𝒔:🌙🐺🗝️🥷🧙🏻🌫️🐦‍⬛
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒕: A great conclusion to a fabulously atmospheric YA Paranormal Fantasy Trilogy.
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕:
🧡Supernatural creatures and monsters
🌙 Monster Hunters & Witches
🧡Mystery and Secrets
🌙Reminiscent of Paranormal YA from the 2010’s
🧡An interesting world and a unique blend of Urban and Paranormal Fantasy with hints of gothic horror
🌙Coming of age with a hint of slow burn romance that develops throughout the series

𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
This was a really good conclusion to what’s been an enjoyable trilogy. The book continued to be a good pace, easy to read and interesting, building on and keeping the vibes of the previous books. I still love Jay (“Ahhh Jay”) and enjoyed seeing how Winnie’s character had grown. I felt satisfied by the ending with almost every thread tied off neatly and coming together(although there was a couple of little bits left loose or open to interpretation which keeps with the atmosphere and vibe of the series but have been bothering my brain ever since I read it because I like to know EVERYTHING).

I’ve really enjoyed reading this series as a whole: it has felt engaging, exciting and fresh with the right balance of mystery and secrets that have had me theorising and guessing without being too obvious. I’ve loved the chilling atmosphere, the way the forest is almost a character of its own and all the different nightmares/creatures/supernatural beings that are sprinkled throughout with various and rich lore behind them.

One of my favourite things has been the way each book uses something from within the narrative to immerse you into it and convey the passage of time in an interesting way (Nightmare Compendium Pages/Testing Reports/ Winnie’s Itinerary). There are also beautiful illustrations to accompany compendium pages so it’s easy to visualise the monsters Winnie learns about and faces in the series.

𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨ (4.5⭐️)

I adored the other books in the series so I was ready to be blown away by this and I 100% was! It felt like a fantastic way to end and loved how everything came together at the end.

The Whispering Night is a good conclusion to The Luminaries trilogy!

The book felt too long though, I think it's due to the number of public events Winnie has to attend - it felt quite repetitive and seemed like a bit of time wasting. The pace of the story could've been a lot faster, the danger is definitely there but it didn't feel like it because of how slowly everything was happening.

I really like the world and the characters, it feels like classic YA and is something I can imagine a lot of younger teens enjoying.

I want to express my gratitude to Daphne Press for providing access to this ARC. Throughout my reading experience, I had a lovely encounter with Winnie, which added depth to the story. "The Whispering Night" serves as a fantastic conclusion to "The Luminaries" series, escalating the stakes and unveiling new secrets that kept me engaged. I particularly enjoyed how the plot points from previous books seamlessly connected, and I appreciated the additional insights into the enigmatic Dianas, which enriched the overall narrative. Any fan of the series need to read this one

Such a fun installment of the series! I really loved this book, I’m planning on treating myself to the illuminate edition of this book to match my copies of the 1st and 2nd book.
Thank you for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.