A review by bzliz
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

This is enjoyable enough if you’re looking for something easy to read that you don’t need to fully engage with to understand. This was a reread, though I don’t remember reading it the first time. 

I didn’t like the groups being named after days of the week. It got old quick. Nor did I like the unfinished plotlines: Winnie’s dad, hints about Erika, Winnie’s deep desire to regain her family’s lost honor, etc. This book was her ingratiating them back into their society of hunters after 4 years of being outcasts treated like garbage. It made it clear to me how this group is super culty and it would be simple to manipulate them into doing virtually anything. 

I did like the scenes of female friendship. The twins being genuinely kind to her even in exile was sweet. Those kind of friendships often get left behind in YA fantasy books. I don’t like Winnie’s full name but I think her mom calling her Winnebago is cute. The descriptions of the monsters were excellent as well. I will likely continue the series to see if my predictions about the story are correct but I’m not expecting serious art. 
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