My ratings for The Luminaries
Overall Rating: Yes, I loved it. No, you don’t get a choice.
Spice Level: Low to none. But plenty of actual chills, trust me.
Re-readability rating: Worth going back into Hemlock Falls’ forest a few times.
It’s one of those books that grabs you and doesn’t let go. I’ve already found myself casually (or maybe obsessively) recommending it to friends. With the third book coming out this November, I’m counting down the days. Safe to say, this series has me totally spellbound.
Summary
Set in the dark and eerie town of Hemlock Falls, this novel follows 16-year-old Winnie Wednesday. She longs to join the Luminaries—a secret society tasked with protecting their town from supernatural monsters. Each night, the Luminaries fight to keep nightmares from escaping the forest and terrorizing everyone. When the Luminaries discovered her father’s betrayal, Winnie’s family were shunned. Years later, now an outcast, the 16-year-old is left on the outside looking in, excluded from the only life she’s ever known.
Determined to reclaim her family’s honor, Winnie faces her fears. She decides to undergo the deadly Luminary trials to become a nightmare hunter and gain back her family’s place within the Wednesday clan. The deeper Winnie gets into the Luminary world, the more she realizes things might not be as clear-cut as she thought. Protectors of the town? Maybe. But there’s definitely something off with the Luminaries, and you can’t help but wonder: what exactly is lurking beneath the surface?
Key details
Mood of the story
Dark Fantasy, suspense, monsters, and just the right amount of creepy.
Central Themes
Found family, secret society, betrayal, loyalty, friendship, and duty.
Audience
if you’re into dark fantasy, thrillers, and books with secret societies, this is going to be right up your alley.
Opinion: My take on The Luminaries
I genuinely loved this book. It’s one of those rare reads that I couldn’t help talking about. I narrated the whole story to mMy significant other and, shockingly, they got hooked too (and he really doesn’t like reading). I devoured it in just a few hours and had a hard time setting it down. Every chapter had me thinking, ‘Just one more,’. This story pulled me straight out of a reading slump!
World-building
The world-building in The Luminaries is what sold me. The Luminaries society, with its traditions, unique structure, and family roles, is fascinating. It made me wonder how many other “secret” societies are hiding out there in the world (probably none but let a person dream). Each clan in this society has distinct traits, traditions, and roles, it gives an interesting depth to the story and its characters.
Then, there’s the cursed woods that surround Hemlock Falls filled with creatures of legend. The cursed forest is described with chilling detail—trees that seem to watch, paths that shift and disappear, and monsters that range from terrifying to utterly grotesque. As you continue to read, the forest itself becomes almost a character in its own right.
“The forest is a liar. It tricks you into believing that it’s beautiful and safe when, in reality, it’s waiting for the perfect moment to reveal its true face.”
Alice Blackbourne, Chapter 5 of The Luminaries
I loved that Susan Dennard weaves mythology and folklore into the story. It gives the monsters a real sense of history and mystery. It feels like they’ve been lurking there for centuries.
Writing style and Pace
The story opens with a slow burn, establishing the mystery and tension in Hemlock Falls. The more Winnie ventures into the forest, the quicker the pace of the story gets. It pulls you into a cycle of suspense and revelations. The balance between suspense and action creates a nice rhythm that keeps you engaged.
Characters
Winnie is a breath of fresh air as far as protagonists go. She’s flawed, relatable, and driven by this intense loyalty to her family almost to a fault. Most of the time, it gets her into trouble. She’s also grappling with a real sense of anger, bitterness and isolation after her family were made outcasts. This makes her feel way more authentic than characters who just forgive and forget. Plus, she’s not some magically perfect hero either. She has to work hard and mess up along the way, which makes her all the more likable.
The other characters are also intriguing. It feels like everyone in this town has some hidden agenda. Characters like Jay Friday and Erica Thursday, who used to be Winnie’s best friends, are especially intersting. This book is perfect for people who love morally gray characters and that constant feeling of not knowing who to trust.
Story of The Luminaries
While the story follows a relatively straightforward fantasy and YA structure, the book hooks you fast with its unique world and morally complex characters. Themes of belonging, betrayal, loyalty, and self-discovery are explored in fresh ways. The story also raises questions about trust and the true nature of monsters. The plot is full of twists and carefully placed revelations, keeping readers on edge and invested in Winnie’s journey. Let’s just say, I devoured this book in a few days, then jumped right into the second book. When I realized the third wasn’t out yet? Instant devastation.
Other books in the series
The Luminaries is the first book of this series. The second book, The Hunting Moon, was published in November 2023 while the third book The Whispering Night comes out in November 2024. You’d better believe I’m counting down the days.
Fun fact
According to an Interview with BookPage, The Luminaries was initially an idea Dennard tried (unsuccessfully) to pitch back in 2013. But the idea kept haunting her (pun intended). In 2019, Susan Dennard was in a dark place and while sitting at LaGuardia waiting for a flight, she decided to tweet the beginning of this story. That tweet became the starting point of this lovely book we’ve been reviewing. At the end was even a poll for readers to choose what would happen next in the story. This backstory only makes me love the book more—imagine being able to shape your favorite book series!
You’ll love The Luminaries, if you enjoyed…
If any of these books hooked you, The Luminaries will likely be right up your haunted alley.
Grimm's Fairy Tales
by Jacob Grimm
For readers who enjoy eerie forests, dark folklore, and the classic and dark fairytales.
Belladonna
by Adalyn Grace
For fans of Gothic mysteries, strong-willed heroines, and stories with a touch of the supernatural.
Crave
by Tracy Wolff
For those who love a blend of fantasy, danger, and romance with a touch of mystery.
Media adaptation
Currently, there’s no movie or series adaptation for The Luminaries. However, with its dark atmosphere, monster lore and plot twists, I personally think that this book series has the potential to make a wonderful film or TV series. Don’t you think?
Your thoughts on The Luminaries
Did you read The Luminaries? I want to know what you thought!
- Who was your favorite character?
- What did you think of the ending?
- Any theories on what we’ll find in The Whispering Night?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
