Reviews

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard

Only show reviews with written explanations

chelseajlouie's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kashpoint's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

3.0

whatyoutolkienabout's review

Go to review page

4.0

My reviews are always 100% honest and my own opinions. I will try to never fully spoil a plot. This particular copy I was given access to a copy to review via netgalley. #NetGalley #TheLuminaries #SusanDennard #TorTeen

The Luminaries is a good horror fantasy by Susan Dennard but it just missed the mark with me, partly due to our heroine, Winnie Wednesday. I personally just could not gel with her. I think part of this was her driving force was to bring her family back from being shunned due to her father helping a Dianas (a witch of sorts) but we never really learn much about them and why they are enemies to the Luminaries which makes it difficult to understand just why everyone has decided to shun Winnie and her family. I appreciate this is the start of a series but a little more information of just why it was such a terrible thing for Winnie’s father to do would have perhaps aided me in understanding her drive.

The story itself is complete and stands alone but we are left with a lot of questions that I really hope are answered in the next book because it all did end rather suddenly. Having read the Witchland books I am sure that Dennard has this all planned out and I understand that if it is a series we cannot expect to know all the answers in the first book but I felt the reader is left with a lot more questions than answers.

That said it is an easy, fast paced and quick read and I did enjoy the horror elements. I just hope that we get more world building and lore in the future books so we can better understand the world Winnie lives in and how it all works.

lilliankeys's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

vkcwy's review

Go to review page

adventurous

3.0

kirrilis_bookish_bliss's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was fun, fast paced and filled with monsters and a touch of romance.

Also, Winnie wearing glasses just makes it that much better and realistic.

Winnie is a hunter outcast who wants nothing more than to help her family get back into the Luminaries good graces. Partaking in a series of trials she tries to do her family proud. But with new monsters on the loose that only she can see it makes it all that much harder.
Also, there's this boy helping her that she just can't put her finger on.

All I can say is I was left with more questions than answers we were given so thankfully the next book was there ready for me straight away. (Otherwise, I may have gone mad as the ending is a bit abrupt.)

This book was fun with amazing world and monster biology building!