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mrs_meg_walsworth's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Gore
Minor: Alcohol, Body horror, and Blood
laurenmiller100's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
- Characters: 6
- Atmosphere/Setting: 7
- Writing Style: 4
- Plot: 4
- Intrigue: 6
- Logic/Relationships: 4
- Enjoyment: 4
A bit disappointed in this one. It’s fine, but lots of room for improvement. I feel like this book really wasted a lot of time in the middle that would have been better spent furthering the intrigue into Winnie’s father or all the strange things around
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
teri_b's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had been curious about this book for a while as I had witnessed part of its coming into existence by the author asking her twitter followers to vote where the story should head towards during the pandemic. So, when I found the audiobook available from my local library, I went for it.
As much as I loved the fast paced story telling and the interesting set up with woods that can produce any kind of monsters and you never truly know what you will encounter when you enter them, I found the characterisation of the main character and her getting back into the good graces of her towns people as well as her fellow pupils less than convincing.
I still flew through this book, as once started, I wanted to know what happened next and the narration itself is very bingeable. However, it is only the tiniest bit of the questions that are being raised that find an answer by the end of the first book.
As much as I loved the fast paced story telling and the interesting set up with woods that can produce any kind of monsters and you never truly know what you will encounter when you enter them, I found the characterisation of the main character and her getting back into the good graces of her towns people as well as her fellow pupils less than convincing.
I still flew through this book, as once started, I wanted to know what happened next and the narration itself is very bingeable. However, it is only the tiniest bit of the questions that are being raised that find an answer by the end of the first book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Gore
snipinfool's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.0
Nightmares that arose from forests all over the world were kept in check by age-old defenders, called Luminaries. Within these forests, fourteen spirits lived and slept. The monsters created from their dreams were exterminated each night so the rest of the world could live in peace. In the US, Hemlock Falls was the town nearest the forest where the spirit was found. Hemlock Falls was hidden from maps, landlines did not work there, cell phone service was sketchy, and the overall feel was different from that over the normal world. Luminaries were born into a house named after a day of the week. Each house had specific duties within the society. Strict rules were in place to keep the residents safe and their purpose hidden from the rest of the world. Winnie Wednesday came from a family of hunters. She wanted to follow in the footsteps of her mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and become one as well. Unfortunately, Winnie's father had broken a serious Luminary rule and disappeared shortly after. Winnie, along with her mother and brother, were cast out of the Luminaries for a period of ten years as punishment. They were found to be negligent of knowing about Winnie's father's activities. They could still live in Hemlock Falls, but they were no longer able to hold certain positions/jobs or attend any family activities.
At sixteen, Luminaries could participate in three successive hunter trials to become a nightmare hunter. If one failed a trial, they lost their only chance of completing the tests. Winnie planned to enter the trials in hopes of restoring her family's name by becoming a hunter. There were no rules stating an outcast could not participate. Because they had been exiled, Winnie did not have the benefit of the training the other participants had. She hoped the training she did on her own would be enough to keep from being killed by the nightly horrors. When Winnie wandered the forest looking for monsters in the first trail, she encountered a creature that she had never seen in the Nightmare Compendium, a listing and description of all known nightmarish creatures. Would anyone believe what she saw?
This was just ok. The plot was an interesting premise, but the story was dull and somewhat one note. I didn't feel connected to the characters. Most of the book focused on Winnie and her anxiety about participating in the three trials. The reader got to know a little about her mother and brother, but I wanted to know more about them. The additional characters only served to show how poorly Winnie and her family were treated and how their life was miserable. There was mention of Winnie's father and potential contact, but that goes no where in the story. Maybe that will come up in a sequel. The story seemed to glide along the surface without the details that would make one want to pick it up again once you set it down. I might not have finished it had it not been a book club selection.
At sixteen, Luminaries could participate in three successive hunter trials to become a nightmare hunter. If one failed a trial, they lost their only chance of completing the tests. Winnie planned to enter the trials in hopes of restoring her family's name by becoming a hunter. There were no rules stating an outcast could not participate. Because they had been exiled, Winnie did not have the benefit of the training the other participants had. She hoped the training she did on her own would be enough to keep from being killed by the nightly horrors. When Winnie wandered the forest looking for monsters in the first trail, she encountered a creature that she had never seen in the Nightmare Compendium, a listing and description of all known nightmarish creatures. Would anyone believe what she saw?
This was just ok. The plot was an interesting premise, but the story was dull and somewhat one note. I didn't feel connected to the characters. Most of the book focused on Winnie and her anxiety about participating in the three trials. The reader got to know a little about her mother and brother, but I wanted to know more about them. The additional characters only served to show how poorly Winnie and her family were treated and how their life was miserable. There was mention of Winnie's father and potential contact, but that goes no where in the story. Maybe that will come up in a sequel. The story seemed to glide along the surface without the details that would make one want to pick it up again once you set it down. I might not have finished it had it not been a book club selection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, and Death
Minor: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
disnelyse's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Gore
Moderate: Death, Abandonment, and Bullying
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
bookish_paws's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Alcohol, and Death
Minor: Bullying and Emotional abuse
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Blood, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying and Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol and Vomit
taryn_g's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Alcohol, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, and Drug use
Minor: Medical content
kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use and Panic attacks/disorders
the_b00kreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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? N/A
5.0
Winnie Wednesday, our main character, is such a strong and independent role model fighting for both herself and her family, eager to redeem their image.
Once an outcast, now welcomed back as though she was never an outcast.
Susan Dennard wonderfully wrote a story that was tense, a story that dealt with feelings of all sorts and a story in which let one know that home can certainly be where the heart is. There's no need to spend time reminiscing on what could have been, instead look at what you have now, what you could have.
For Winnie, it was friendships and also herself. She learned more about herself along the way and it was really beneficial to the story to have been able to get such a deep insight into Winnie's character.
The story itself was so so good! I loved it! The trials to become a Luminary hunter were certainly intriguing, but oh my! That third trial was certainly something. The tension while reading was crazy!
But...I am now left looking for answers and eagerly waiting book 2 after having a curve ball thrown at me (thank you Susan Dennard for that lovely 'what the f**k' moment towards the end!)
All in all, I highly recommend you all to read this book ASAP, you won't regret it!!
Once an outcast, now welcomed back as though she was never an outcast.
Susan Dennard wonderfully wrote a story that was tense, a story that dealt with feelings of all sorts and a story in which let one know that home can certainly be where the heart is. There's no need to spend time reminiscing on what could have been, instead look at what you have now, what you could have.
For Winnie, it was friendships and also herself. She learned more about herself along the way and it was really beneficial to the story to have been able to get such a deep insight into Winnie's character.
The story itself was so so good! I loved it! The trials to become a Luminary hunter were certainly intriguing, but oh my! That third trial was certainly something. The tension while reading was crazy!
But...I am now left looking for answers and eagerly waiting book 2 after having a curve ball thrown at me (thank you Susan Dennard for that lovely 'what the f**k' moment towards the end!)
All in all, I highly recommend you all to read this book ASAP, you won't regret it!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Bullying, Abandonment, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol