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A review by natashaleighton_
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
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: Gore, Blood, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying