The Luminaries

"The Luminaries was in one word a magical book! It was set in a very interesting setting, and all of the characters were extremely well developed and fascinating. I cannot wait for the second book, if there are going to be more books! All in all, this book was a perfect mix of magic, mythology, fantasy, action, romance, and humor elements. From the very first page, this book pulls you in and keeps you wanting to read more and more! The world of the Luminaries is refreshing approach in the world of today's fantasy genre. I loved every second of this book! For one last mention, I loved how inclusive this book was, it extremely diverse and welcoming."

"Maybe it's so bad that it's good or just bad all the way around. The writing is admittedly not the best, the characters are a bit flat, and the plot is vague. Oh, and the book doesn't reach a resolution which is absolutely frustrating. "

"The beginning is a little vague and confusing. There are many new terms and world-specific vocabulary I didn’t know. After the course of the story, however, I knew everything there was to know about the world the character lives in and how the system worked. Everything sounds so majestical and mysterious in this wonderful book! It’s very well told and I don’t regret any money I spent! The only strife I have is with the MC. I just felt like I still didn’t really know them by the end of the book (not sure if it’s just me)? I knew her goals and what she wanted but her personality is something that’s a little more difficult to find throughout the story. Overall, a solid 3.75/5. Not bad, not bad😌👍"

"Such a good read and impatiently waiting for book 2 !!!"

"Needed a little more depth but good story."

"November 2022"

"To be honest, I had a hard time getting into this book. I'm glad I stuck with it. Such a whimsical, folklore style book. Werewolves, banshees, vampiras, Whisper, ghost deer, an unrelenting forest and an underdog family are all ingredients for an amazing story. I love the idea of the Luminaries and what they stand for, their mission and what they fight. I ending of story has been left wide open for a sequel....which I hope the writer does."

"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 is filled with monsters.<br/><br/>Winnie Wednesday isn't a typical 16-year-old. Rather than celebrating a milestone birthday to celebrate, she enters the trials to become a Luminary. It's an ancient order that protects everyone from the monsters. Her family were born hunters and became Luminaries and Winnie grew up studying the deadly creatures logged in hunters compendium. Kelpies, werewolves, banshees, vampyres, manticores, willow wisps, basilisks, and more prowl the grounds and will not hesitate to kill you. <br/> <br/>After her family is shunned by her father being exposed as a traitor, the only thing Winnie can think to do to restore her family's reputation, be accepted by the rest of the town, and prove her worth, she enters the Luminary trials now that she is of age. She will do one of two things, pass the trials and become a respected hunter like her aunt, or die trying.<br/><br/>Winnie lacks the necessary skills and needs training fast. She asks Jay Friday, the local bad boy that all the girls fawn over, and Winnie’s ex-best friend. He is the most promising new hunter in Hemlock Falls, skilled and knowledgeable about the nightmares of the forest and where to go to be safe. She needs all the help she can get, so she swallows her pride and asks him to train her for the trials. He's not the same boy she grew up with. He's changed physically and mentally. No longer the hyper kid she knew, now he is steady, watchful, serious, and dangerous. She needs him to help show her how to make it through the trials in the forest and make it out alive. Winnie discovers a new danger lurking in the forest that no one in Hemlock Falls is prepared for, and people won't listen to her when she makes them aware. It's up to her to learn what she can to stay alive and Jay is more than willing to help her. <br/><br/>This is book one in the series with a few things going on with this town that will be discovered throughout the series. There is a mysterious new creature no one sees except for Winn and one other person, something fishy with her father who is MIA, some secret family stuff on her father's side, and her training to be a hunter like her family. I'm interested in finding out more. There is action, mystery, magical creatures, and a possible budding relationship between Winn and Jay. There's a bit of dancing around interest that looks like it's on a low simmer but will build up later. Baby Steps in this YA fantasy book that's not quite a slow-burn romance, but it's hinting at the potential of it at some point."

"Dnf'd at about 30%. Was this book even edited at all? Interesting premise, but god there's so many issues with the writing that I just could not get past, sorry folks."

"This book is such a cool idea, but I feel like there are a lot of things that need to be expounded upon. So many things are happening and nothing is really being explained enough. "