Reviews

The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling

ember_is_gay's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 

This was so good, I loved it so much. It was so interesting to read something with just two characters (apart from minor mentions here and there), especially two that had never met before and were not thrust together 24/7. Both were so complex and I really liked the way the relationship between them built. 

 

The way that Gyre started growing so unsure of herself and what she was seeing, the situation not at all helping really made for spooky as the reader; knowing there was something wrong but not what.

 

It wasn’t scary; more spooky and creepy, unsettling. I think it really captured the importance of relationships and the human desire for connection and trust. 

marta_correia's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• 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

3.0

ikiaika's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.75

corikane's review

i tried but i just don't find it THAT interesting - if it's gonna haunt me in the next week or so then i'll resume

sytrius's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

weirdmoth's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No

2.5

x3melly's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-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

5.0

zenzi2read's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.0

This book has a strong start. They give you just enough world building to get you started with this adventure. The first portion of the book is atmospheric and tense. Towards the middle, it starts to drag. There’s also not enough time spent on character development. There are only two characters in this lengthy book. I should know deeply by the end. There’s also an unnecessary romance. It reads more like Stockholm syndrome than a genuine feeling..

ethias's review against another edition

5.0

Wow that was quite the experience! I had some ideas of where it was going but was wrong on almost every count. I couldn’t put this one down, read it all in one day quite feverishly. I feel quite tired and relieved now that I’ve finished, this book was very good at making you feel tension and exhaustion and emotional pain along with the characters.

I’d say my only complaint is that I don’t see why Em’s motivations are any less ethical than mining for ore, if anything I’d say hers are more ethical if I’m being honest. Mining for ore just benefits the owners of the company and no one else, just makes them a profit. What’s more human than mourning and grief? Of wanting closure and to honor the dead? The sheer number of people who died is certainly a point of complaint, I just struggle to see the problem with her ultimate goal vs. the goals of mining ventures.

Overall a stunning read that was chilling and horrifying and gut wrenching, well done!

sandnort's review against another edition

2.0

This wasn't a fun experience. Not much actually happens other then the the Main character picking a fight with her boss over and over and over. I tried to feel for the MC but her paranoia is exhausting and I was over her emotional break downs by the halfway mark. I wish the climbing was a greater part of the book but it's skipped over for more fights between the two.