The Luminaries

by Susan Dennard

Micaela Alcaino (Artist) and Kerby Rosanes (Illustrator)

Hemlock Falls isn't like other towns. You won't find it on a map, your phone won't work here, and the forest outside town might just kill you...

Winnie Wednesday wants nothing more than to join the Luminaries, the ancient order that protects Winnie's town-and the rest of humanity-from the monsters and nightmares that rise in the forest of Hemlock Falls every night. Ever since her father was exposed as a witch and a traitor, Winnie and her family have been shunned. But on her sixteenth birthday, she can take the deadly Luminary hunter trials and prove herself true and loyal-and restore her family's good name. Or die trying.

But in order to survive, Winnie must enlist the help of the one person who can help her train: Jay Friday, resident bad boy and Winnie's ex-best friend. While Jay might be the most promising new hunter in Hemlock Falls, he also seems to know more about the nightmares of the forest than he should. Together, he and Winnie will discover a danger lurking in the forest no one in Hemlock Falls is prepared for.

Not all monsters can be slain, and not all nightmares are confined to the dark.

• Publish Date: 8 November 2022 (first published 1 November 2022)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Daphne Press
• Edition: Illumicrate Exclusive
• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Special: Bonus Content Exclusive Design Signed Sprayed Edges

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Winnie Wednesday comes from a line of monster hunters. Like many of her kind, she lives in Hemlock Falls. Unlike most of her kind, Winnie's direct family has been shunned. They bear the brunt of the guilt, as her father was declared a traitor (and worse).

All Winnie ever wanted was to become a hunter, and she's not going to let this exclusion stop her from trying. In fact, if she tries and succeeds, she could make the lives of her brother and mother so much better. She has to try. No matter the risk or the cost.

My Review:

Like many other Susan Dennard fans, I have been counting down the days to the release of The Luminaries. The excitement began a couple of years ago when Susan Dennard read a choose-your-own-adventure of sorts on Twitter, with readers getting to vote on Winnie's actions. It was a blast – it was also something we all needed at the time (think about the timing).

Now we have the first novel in our hands, and it feels amazing. Was it what I was expecting? Yup, I would have to say! A lot is going on in this world, and I'm not just talking about the monsters. We have several hunter families, internal politics, and more than a few mysteries.

Naturally, world-building is one of my favorite elements. I'm also particularly curious about one mystery, but I won't share my theories at the moment (spoilers! If you want to discuss this privately, send me a PM).

Winnie is a young and determined protagonist, which I know some readers cherish (while others avoid). Personally, I appreciated her drive and thought she made several good points. Even if she was a bit reckless on more than one occasion, I guess that's a Wednesday trait, huh?

I hope the second novel will answer some of these questions, though I have no idea how long we'll have to wait until then. Regardless, I'm sure it will be worth it.

Highlights:
Magical society
Young Adult Fantasy
Urban Fantasy
Monster Hunters
Based on interactive tweet thread
Quest for Justice

Trigger Warnings:
Bullying
PTSD
Exclusionary Behaviors

Thanks to Tor Teen and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own. Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy