The Luminaries Series: The Lumanaries #1 Published by Tor Publishing Group on November 1, 2022
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Dystopian, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Wizards & Witches, Young Adult Fiction / Werewolves & Shifters
Pages: 304
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Goodreads
From Susan Dennard, the New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series, comes a haunting and high-octane contemporary fantasy, about the magic it takes to face your fears in a nightmare-filled forest, and the mettle required to face the secrets hiding in the dark corners of your own family.
A Barnes & Noble YA Book Club Pick
An Indigo Best Teen Book of 2022
A Junior Library Guild Pick
An Indie Next Pick
A Goodreads Most Anticipated YA BookHemlock 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 enlists 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.
"You'll want to get lost in the world of The Luminaries again and again.”—Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Review:
The Luminaries is a fast-paced supernatural mystery with lots of creepy monsters and a bit of romance. Susan Dennard has created a town surrounded by a forest full of monsters that creep around at night. Clans are separated by days of the week, and each has its own culture ingrained in its blood. Winnie Wednesday’s family was part of the Wednesday Clan tell; her dad betrayed them, and they were forced to become outcasts. As a result, for the past four years, her brother, herself, and her mom have been treated as the ghost who live and try to survive in the town they once were a huge part of. Winnie is determined to rise above and become the best hunter to restore respect to her family.
I was engaged while devouring this tale; Dennard knows how to grip her readers and keep them on the edge of their seats. Then, of course, there is the entire plot of Winnie taking on the Hunter Trials but underneath that is a puzzle left by her father, who has betrayed everyone. I can’t wait for the next book.
About Susan Dennard
Susan Dennard has come a long way from small-town Georgia. Working in marine biology, she got to travel the world–six out of seven continents, to be exact (she’ll get to you yet, Asia!)–before she settled down as a full-time novelist and writing instructor.
She is the author of the Something Strange and Deadly series, as well as the New York Times bestselling Witchlands series, and she also hosts the popular newsletter for writers, the Misfits & Daydreamers. When not writing, she is slaying darkspawn (on her PS4) or earning bruises at the dojo.
She lives in the Midwestern US with her French husband, two spoiled dogs, and two grouchy cats.
