This review is a good 6 months overdue because I've been struggling to put into words how much I loved The Luminaries by Susan Dennard -- not just the first book, but the entire trilogy and the Choose Your Own Adventure Twitter thing it started as.
The Luminaries is a fantastic fast-paced YA with a creepy forest full of nightmare creatures, a secret society, a looming threat, and lots of family secrets. I binge-read all 3 books via audio so fast and can't wait to read them again.
My favourite part might have been Winnie's inner dialogue and voice. She's a scientist at heart and you could tell by the way she described things. It was gory, analytical, shocking, and detail-oriented. I loved it.
For those of you who followed the Twitter series, this story (specifically aspects relating to the Diannas) is different to what you remember. Some of these changes surprised me and the story was better for them (unsurprising, considering Hive Mind Winnie's… interesting decision loops 🤣 and Twitter's character limits ). But even though many plot things are different and more fleshed out, there are plenty of familiar elements. You'll laugh at some of the Easter eggs Dennard has woven in.
If you didn't read the Twitter series, don't worry. You'll enjoy this book series too -- you just might not pick up on all the subtle in-jokes.
Have you read The Luminaries? What was your favourite nightmare?
Thank you, Daphne Press for approving me for that Luminaries eARC all those months ago 😅 I finally got to reading them once I owned all three books 🫣
“I lost myself from page one in Hemlock Falls and its deadly forest, as vicious as it is inescapably alluring.”
—Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Gilded
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
The Hunting Moon is a contemporary YA dark fantasy, and the highly anticipated sequel to The Luminaries by New York Times bestselling author Susan Dennard.
Winnie Wednesday has gotten everything she thought she wanted. She passed the deadly hunter trials, her family has been welcomed back into the Luminaries, and overnight, she has become a local celebrity.
The Girl Who Jumped. The Girl Who Got Bitten.
Unfortunately, it all feels wrong. For one, nobody will believe her about the new nightmare called the Whisperer that's killing hunters each night. Everyone blames the werewolf, even though Winnie is certain the wolf is innocent.
On top of that, following her dad's convoluted clues about the Dianas, their magic, and what happened in Hemlock Falls four years ago is leaving her with more questions than answers.
Then to complicate it all, there is still only one person who can help her: Jay Friday, the boy with plenty of problems all his own.
As bodies and secrets pile up around town, Winnie finds herself questioning what it means to be a true Wednesday and a true Luminary—and also where her fierce-hearted loyalties might ultimately have to lie.
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard (The Witchlands, #1) 🗡️👁️📜🫴🏻🧵
It's a travesty that I was unaware of this series until recently. I just finished the first book, and I'm hooked—wow. Dennard's world-building in the Witchland Series is intricate, beautiful, and, above all, magical.
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard is the first book in the Witchlands series. It is a story about two unregistered witches, Safiyah, a truthwitch, and Iseult, a threadwitch, who are on the run from various opposers, such as empires and mercenaries. Both Safi and Iseult must navigate a tense and scary political landscape. Along the way, they encounter allies and foes, including Prince Merik, a windwitch, and the bloodwitch Aeduen.
To give a little backstory, I had begun rewatching Avatar: The Last Airbender, and as with every rewatch of Avatar, my heart swooned for Zutara. Listen, the first season came out when I was 13; I fell hard for Zuko and never looked back. I also immediately questioned why he and Katara didn't end up together once the series concluded, as their chemistry and scenes were *chef's kiss* 🤌🏼. Moving on, I wanted to know if any books/series exuded similar ATLA attributes/were identical in any way. I ended up finding A Clockwork Reader's BookTube video that recommended books for fans of the Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Thus, I was introduced to the Witchlands series. 🌬️ Side note, I love that A Clockwork Reader is a shameless fan of Zutara like myself, and she mentioned how she got a chance to chat with the author, Susan Dennard, and apparently, two characters in the series were inspired by the dynamic between Katara and Zuko, which of course piqued my interest even more.
⭐️⭐️SLIGHT SPOILER⭐️⭐️
Overall, I loved this book! I haven't read a YA fantasy in a while, but it's such a good read. I'm starting book two next week; I'm swamped with homework, so I need to put that first 🙃
Also, um, I'm sorry, the phrase Aeduan said to Iseult in her native tongue quite literally tugged at my heartstrings and nearly brought me to my knees. Like-are you kidding me?! I gasped when she divulged what the phrase meant, like...that's something heartmates say to each other, not a girl you swore you'd kill the next time you'd cross paths. Lmao. They've had such minimal interactions, but I'm obsessed with them.
I'm so excited to announce that KINDLING is an Indigo Staff Pick for the month of March! Canadian readers, pick it up at your local store or order it online!
🎁 I'm also extending my pre-order offer through next Tuesday, March 5, so now's the time to nab your copy! Send in your receipt or library request to [email protected] and receive three "Polaroids" of the seven kindlings, beautifully illustrated by Naomi Giddings! This offer remains open internationally until 3/5/24 at 11:59pm PT or while supplies last.
Let us all find new books, love those books, dnf books that are not doing it for us, complete reading challenges and goals, read books that have been sitting on our TBRs for longer than they should be there, and to just have fun.
Have you see the incredible pin you get for preordering THE LUMINARIES by Susan Dennard? Preorder and submit your receipt here: https://bit.ly/PreorderLuminaries
I meant to post this so long ago but look at the incredible swag I received for preordering DESCENDANT OF THE CRANE by @joanhewrites 😍😍 I was also lucky enough to get a rose gold bookmark, which is sooo pretty! I’m so excited to read this.
A couple weeks ago my signed/personalized copy of SIGHTWITCH arrived - apparently @stdennard thinks I’m fabulous?! 😍😭 - and yesterday, I got this super awesome travel mug! This was the best surprise ever, thank you Sooz and the @torteen team! If you can’t read it, the mug says “Sightwitches are not born; we are made”. Definitely check out one of my fave books of 2018.
#sightwitch #susandennard #torteen #yafantasy #witchlands #truthwitch #windwitch #bookstagram #books #bookswag #bookmail #yabooks #fantasy #torbooks
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