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natashaleighton_'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
4.5
The Luminaries is the utterly addictive and highly anticipated YA fantasy, which reads like the love child of Shadowhunters and The Hunger Games—complete with high octane action scenes, gorgeously rendered nightmare monsters (we get illustrations) and atmospheric prose that I thoroughly loved.
It follows sixteen year old Winnie Wednesday-a girl soo devoted to the secret, monster hunting society that made her family outcasts, she’s willing to risk everything—including her life—on a deadly trial for a chance to win back her family’s coveted reputation. And, follow in the hallowed footsteps of her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother by becoming the next leader of her clan.
The world building was so incredibly lush and the attention to detail in the descriptions (particularly during all those intense action scenes) was incredible.
I absolutely fell in love with Winnie (whose full name is Wednesday Winona Wednesday btw) in all her indecisive (yet utterly adorable) awkwardness. Having been outcast as punishment for a crime her father committed, and spending years being ignored by close friends and family alike it’s not hard to understand why Winnie is so cynical and emotionally disconnected from everyone around her.
But I really liked that, despite her (super relatable) bouts of self-doubt and insecurity she didn’t let the naysayers win—and showed just how brave, capable and utterly badass she could be with only a fraction of the training or resources that everyone else had.
Given the treatment Winnie and her family experience during their time as outcasts, there’s only a handful of characters that I genuinely liked (out of solidarity with Winnie that is) but Bretta and Emma won me over pretty much instantly. Their kindness and optimism was soo infectious and it was soo heartwarming to see that Winnie had at least two people to liked and cared about her (besides her mum and brother that is) I desperately need to see more of them both in the next book.
Likewise, Winnie’s intense, slow-burn chemistry with former friend and resident bad boy Jay Friday was really interesting (if a little too slow for my liking) and I can’t wait to see how things develop between this too—I feel it’s gonna be explosively intense.
Overall, a fabulously intriguing and utterly imaginative YA Fantasy that fans of breathtakingly nail-biting action, monsters or monster hunters definitely don’t want to miss!
Also, a huge thank you to Blackcrow PR and Daphne Press for the finished copy (and for including me on the tour.)
It follows sixteen year old Winnie Wednesday-a girl soo devoted to the secret, monster hunting society that made her family outcasts, she’s willing to risk everything—including her life—on a deadly trial for a chance to win back her family’s coveted reputation. And, follow in the hallowed footsteps of her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother by becoming the next leader of her clan.
The world building was so incredibly lush and the attention to detail in the descriptions (particularly during all those intense action scenes) was incredible.
I absolutely fell in love with Winnie (whose full name is Wednesday Winona Wednesday btw) in all her indecisive (yet utterly adorable) awkwardness. Having been outcast as punishment for a crime her father committed, and spending years being ignored by close friends and family alike it’s not hard to understand why Winnie is so cynical and emotionally disconnected from everyone around her.
But I really liked that, despite her (super relatable) bouts of self-doubt and insecurity she didn’t let the naysayers win—and showed just how brave, capable and utterly badass she could be with only a fraction of the training or resources that everyone else had.
Given the treatment Winnie and her family experience during their time as outcasts, there’s only a handful of characters that I genuinely liked (out of solidarity with Winnie that is) but Bretta and Emma won me over pretty much instantly. Their kindness and optimism was soo infectious and it was soo heartwarming to see that Winnie had at least two people to liked and cared about her (besides her mum and brother that is) I desperately need to see more of them both in the next book.
Likewise, Winnie’s intense, slow-burn chemistry with former friend and resident bad boy Jay Friday was really interesting (if a little too slow for my liking) and I can’t wait to see how things develop between this too—I feel it’s gonna be explosively intense.
Overall, a fabulously intriguing and utterly imaginative YA Fantasy that fans of breathtakingly nail-biting action, monsters or monster hunters definitely don’t want to miss!
Also, a huge thank you to Blackcrow PR and Daphne Press for the finished copy (and for including me on the tour.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying
art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
I feel like it isn't often these days that a book can surprise me with a world that I've never seen done before. Some of the concepts in The Luminaries harken to Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter world but with completely different world building. There are a lot of ways for Dennard to expand this world in future novels as well.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Violence, Gore, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Minor: Alcohol, Grief, and Drug use
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