Synopsis:
The forest is more dangerous than ever in this highly-anticipated, pulse-pounding, and swoon-worthy conclusion to the bestselling Luminaries trilogy.
Winnie Wednesday’s future is looking bright. Hemlock Falls is no longer hunting the werewolf, she and Erica Thursday are tentative friends, and Winnie finally knows exactly where she stands with Jay Friday.
With everything finally on track, Winnie is looking forward to the Nightmare Masquerade, a week-long celebration of all things Luminary. But as Luminaries from across the world flock to the small town, uninvited guests also arrive. Winnie is confronted by a masked Diana and charged with an impossible task—one that threatens everything and everyone Winnie loves.
As Winnie fights to stop new enemies before time runs out, old mysteries won’t stop intruding. Her missing father is somehow entangled with her search for hidden witches, and as Winnie digs deeper into the long-standing war between the Luminaries and the Dianas, she discovers rifts within her own family she never could have imagined.
What does loyalty mean when family and enemies look the same?
Review:
This book was the ending that I am so excited to finally have in the trilogy! There is a huge mystery of what/where the Dianas are, and what they are up to, and there is no greater girl up to the task than Winnie. Interchanged bits of the past with the present fit perfectly together as Winnie attempts to uncover both what happened to Jenna, Erica’s sister, as well as her own father.
Despite having done everything right and appearing as a huge saviour/girl who was bitten, Winnie still finds herself fighting against the Luminary council people who should be her allies. It’s interesting to see how even when one just tries to survive, if you are perceived as elite, how you can be used to bolster the image of an organization–even if you’re a very unwilling poster child. I quite liked how Winnie did not suddenly become detached or able to cope with the horrors she previously faced, and how multiple times she had to try to go through her PTSD. Despite the hunters being considered elite, it is amazing to see how important that the leaders take mental health into account and not just physical well being/training.
That being said, it’s clear that I would recommend this book series to any YA Fantasy/Urban Fantasy lovers.
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
shifter
Review of The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard
Synopsis:
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.
Review:
This book was bittersweet, picking up exactly where we left off. There were questions left unanswered at the end but almost everything I predicted in the first book was true in this one; the foreshadowing had been quite obvious, but that didn’t stop my enjoyment of the book/series. We really got to see Winnie grow and change and experience both PTSD as well as figuring out what she really cares about and what’s worth fighting for/being loyal to. The ending was absolutely heartbreaking to me. Quite a sweet series and I am quite glad to have read it.
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

