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faduma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
huldasif's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
On a side note: I really enjoyed the pictures from the nightmare compendium. I only wish there had been more!
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Bullying, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment and Drug abuse
Minor: Death of parent
luceeefur's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
All around the world, the Luminaries live near fourteen sleeping spirits. Each night, when the spirits dream, their nightmares come to life. And each night, the Luminary hunters guard the world against those nightmares, one clan for every day of the week. Last night belonged to the Wednesdays—Winnie’s clan.
A book that began as a story created by twitter polls is a really interesting and unique concept. This was enjoyable, but like most other reviewers pointed out the actual ending was 'meh'. The story concludes but doesn't really wrap up any of the storylines.
I would have liked a little more world building and a little more history of the Luminaries and their societies as well as the Dianas and a little less descriptions about clothing. I did enjoy both Winnie and Jay (obviously I like the brooding love interest) as characters. I appreciated when Winnie snapped at both Lizzy and Jay to say "HELLO I'VE BEEN AROUND THE LAST FOUR YEARS WHILE WERE ALL IGNORING US" - it needed to be said and really showed Winnie's growth from trying to prove herself to being able to say WHAT THE HELL and question things about how the society is functioning.
I'm not frothing at the mouth for the sequel but may check it out at the library to see if things are wrapped up and get some answers.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Bullying and Abandonment
auteaandtales's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
And thank you, Netgalley, for the review copy!
Whoop, read it just in time to start fresh in 2023! I don’t read a lot of fantasy so I don’t have much to compare it to, but it did make me appreciate how easy it was to read. It was fast paced, lots of adventure, and I loved Winnie. I also loved the little inserts of fact sheets on the monsters that exist in this world.
Saying that, as much as I’m not a fan of extensive world building, I think this could have done with a bit more because I didn’t really know very much - who are the Luminaries? Who are the Diana’s? Why is everyone separated into days of the week? How did this enchanted forest come about? What is the actual world like beyond the trials and the mythical creatures?
I’m still looking forward to the next book in this series. Hopefully, a lot of the questions I want to know the answers too will be revealed in the rest of the series. Plus, I hope to get to know some of the supporting characters a bit more as well!
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Bullying
lizgriffinwords's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Abandonment and Grief
Minor: Violence, Gore, and Drug use
maregred's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Violence
rusereviews's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Hemlock Falls isn't your typical rural town. The city is protected by the Luminaries, an ancient order that saves the world every night by killing the monsters that appear in the surrounding forest. Winnie Wednesday's family was shunned after her father was exposed as a witch and a traitor years before. To get her family back into their good graces, she decides to take on the sometimes-deadly Luminary hunter trials on her sixteenth birthday. But she might need a bit of help in training from her ex-best friend Jay Friday, aka the resident bad boy.
When I started reading this book, I wasn't aware it was the start of a new series, so please keep that in mind if you're like me and like to binge series. I do plan to continue with the series, as the world seems pretty cool and I have a few theories I'd like to see if I'm correct about.
I'm still a little confused on how the monsters here are formed, and on the "big bad" Dianas--a group of witches who appear to be the mortal enemies of the Luminaries. I'm guessing we'll get more information about those things in later installments of the series.
The pacing goes at a good clip, so if you're looking for some YA to scratch a thriller itch, this could satisfy that craving for you. There's also a wee bit of romance to curb that want as well.
If you dislike repetitious sounds, I want to briefly mention that several characters--including our main character--seem to have a habit of them. Our main character clicks her teeth together, which makes me worry for her dental bills, and another character consistently blows bubbles with bubble gum. I'm guessing these were supposed to be quirks for the characters, or maybe signs of OCD/stims? That's unclear, though.
Tropes in this book include: supernatural creatures, nerdy FMC, FMC with glasses, outsider
CW: body horror, death, murder, gaslighting, abandonment, anxiety, panic attacks
The publisher provided a audio ARC of this book for me to review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
Moderate: Gaslighting, Body horror, Death, Abandonment, and Panic attacks/disorders
art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I do have a couple of cons that are making this not a 5-star read for me. For one thing, I really don't love any of the characters. I like Winnie but she is also annoying, the same way I found Katniss in Hunger Games annoying. Protagonists don't have to be perfect but there's a balance between regular self doubt and near crippling doubt. But I was happy with how part of that aspect wrapped up near the end. Major spoilers if I go further so I'll just leave it there. xD I also found Winnie's teeth clicking to be very odd. I'm assuming it's a nervous tick of some sort but it wasn't really explained per se which for me made it awkward.
My last con is really just my frustration with needing to wait for the next book! So many open endings I expected to be resolved that weren't! It is however obvious also a pro that I'm so excited for the second book to be released when I'm literally reading an Advanced Copy of the first!
I enjoyed the different versions of classic monsters and how descriptive they are as well as the whole concept of the spirit and forest. The different "families" is also an interesting concept and I'd like to learn more about the history of "The Luminaries" and how the whole system (cult?) started. I appreciated that by the end of the book, Winnie had developed into a more enjoyable character than she was in the beginning as well as the mystery aspects worked into a standard fantasy tale.
If YA Fantasy is your thing, especially if you're a Cassandra Clare fan, definitely check this out. I see the series only getting better from here!
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Violence, Gore, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Minor: Alcohol, Grief, and Drug use
laynemandros's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Drug use, Violence, Abandonment, Bullying, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders