Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this novel. Check it out! It is worth picking up and taking home for the weekend! #NetGalley

I want to preface this review by saying I usually LOVE Susan Dennard's books. They're usually top tier reads for me. However, this one fell short. I felt disconnected from the story and didn't feel the same enjoyment that I usually do. Not sure what was different but it just didn't enrapture me the same way her other books do.

Susan Dennard's second book in the Luminaries series is even better than the first! The story goes deeper into the overall mystery behind Winnie's dad's leaving and his mysterious notes. There is a little more romance in this (which is not the point of the book, but I enjoyed it and hope for more in book three).

The Hunting Moon is the second book in the Luminaries series. This book was just as good as the first. The characters are well-developed and highly likable, which makes you root for them from the beginning. The mysteries surrounding Hemlock Falls are interesting enough to keep you coming back to see what will happen in this series.

I absolutely adored The Luminaries but this one missed the mark a little. It was still relatively full of action BUT where was the suspense and that signature style of punchiness.

Winnie is still a little whiny but throughout the course of this one, we start to see why she is how she is (honestly she's kind of bratty which wasn't particularly a thing in The Luminaries).

Loved that Jay was still quintessentially Jay but also inside was squishy marshmallow who just wants the best for his bestie. He also continues to reign supreme as the town hottie who NOW PLAYS IN A BAND. Tick for dark, handsome and morally grey love interests everywhere.

I really wish there had been more in the forest but I will admit I got super excited when we finally get to see the Dianas and their mischief.

Overall not too bad but comparing it to other publications of Dennard, this one definitely has second book syndrome

In this sequel, we are following the events just days after Winnie’s last trial.

All questions are answered in this continuation of Winnie’s story. There is some angst building between Jay Friday and Winnie, death and despair is still part of life, and what’s up with the Dianas?

The book felt completed with the ending, but if the author was going to pick up the story again, she could elaborate more on what happened in the years that Winnie’s family was outcasted, and how that affects Winnie moving forward as a hunter.

Book Review of The Hunting Moon (The Luminaries #2) by Susan Dennard

Cover Story: Still Death
BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Talky Talk: (Not) Nightmarish
Bonus Factors: Not a Bridge Book, Mysterious Loner Dude
Relationship Status: Still Excited

Red alert! The Hunting Moon is the second book in the Luminaries series. If you have not read the first book in the series (The Luminaries), man your battle stations turn away now, as there might be spoilers in this review. If you’re caught up, however, feel free to continue below.

Cover Story: Still Death
I really love the macabre beauty of this series’s covers, and this is no exception. The juxtaposition of life and death is a perfect representation of the book’s contents and the relationship between the Luminaries and the nightmares they battle in the Hemlock Falls forest.

The Deal:
Winnie Wednesday is thisclose to getting everything she’s wanted for four years: to become a Luminary hunter and to be welcomed back into Luminary society along with her mother and brother. So she’s not sure why she feels the way she does, like the success isn’t actually what she wanted after all. No one believes her about the Whisperer. She has no idea why her dad sent her clues about him being framed in birthday cards, and she doesn’t know why her mom would keep them hidden away in the attic. And then there’s Jay … Ugh, Jay.

Winnie isn’t sure what the future will hold, but there’s plenty to figure out in the meantime.

BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Although Winnie’s a bit more uncertain about herself in The Hunting Moon, thanks to the many uncertainties she’s facing, she remains a super cool person who I’d love to be friends with. (And I wouldn’t have shunned her as an outcast for four years, Luminary societal rules be damned.) She’s clever and witty and even when she feels so overwhelmed she wants to just curl up in a ball under covers and let the world pass her by, she is willing to do what it takes to find out the truth. And stand up for those she loves.

Swoonworthy Scale: 6
The relationship between Winnie and Jay is a slow burn, but Dennard doesn’t stretch it out too long (and make it annoying rather than exciting). There’s the right amount of heat building while Winnie’s working toward the truth, and she comes to some realizations toward the end that ratchet up the swoon.

Talky Talk: (Not) Nightmarish
The world of Hemlock Falls is a strange and mysterious place that also feels familiar. It’s a small town filled with small-town problems and people with big personalities. The fact that some of their problems revolve around nightmarish creatures stalking the woods at night, a werewolf on the loose, and maybe some witches hiding amongst the Luminaries are certainly different from those of any small town I’ve known, but I can’t be 100% sure that a place like Hemlock Falls doesn’t exist somewhere in the world. (There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio …)

Additionally, along with the excellent worldbuilding, I love the wit that shines through in Dennard’s writing and her lovely descriptions.

Bonus Factor: Not a Bridge Book
Although it’s the middle book of a trilogy (I think), The Hunting Moon doesn’t just serve to bridge the gap between them. It’s a solid story in its own right and even ramps up the action and suspense, leading to continued anticipation for what’s to come. There’s actual plot progression and character growth. Can you imagine?!

Bonus Factor: Mysterious Loner Dude
Jay Friday continues to rocket up the rankings of my personal MLD Hall of Fame. I couldn’t care less that he has secrets.

Relationship Status: Still Excited
I have been waiting for our second date since the moment the first ended, Book, and it didn’t disappoint. We’re really good together, and the chemistry just keeps building. I can’t wait to see where our third date takes us.

Sooz has done it again! This book opens up with a host of mysteries and it ends with them as well. I don't think we were ever supposed to struggle to know who the werewolf was, that's pretty obvious, but there are some other things happening that are really blowing my mind.

I love the creatures in this series and how the nightmare compendium, especially Winnie's, plays part in her adventures.

Great follow up to The Luminaries. I can't wait for the conclusion to the series. It was great to see Winnie start to put together the bigger picture now that she's reclaimed her family's place in the clan. I also loved getting to discover some of Erica and Jay's secrets.

Winnie is now a local celebrity. Everyone knows that she is the girl who jumped … and the girl who was bitten. She should be happy that she is now accepted, but it doesn’t feel right and there is a new nightmare that is hunting the hunters. Everyone believes the werewolf is at fault, but Winnie believes differently. It doesn’t help that Winnie is also trying to unravel the weird clues her father left about the Dianas. Who can Winnie trust? How many people will die before the questions get answered?

The Hunting Moon is the second book in The Luminaries series. This supernatural thriller will keep readers guessing as the protagonist uncovers lie upon lie. Dennard takes the world she created in the first book and expands into more intrigue and additional family drama. I will tell you the truth … I don’t remember much about the first book, yet I was fully able to enjoy this story. I don’t know if others will have the same experience, though. A strong second book with many more possible.

The Hunting Moon is the second book in Susan Dennard’s The Luminaries series, following Winnie Wednesday, a young hunter-in-training who desperately wants to be welcomed back into the clan and find out what happened to her father. At the end of The Luminaries, Winnie had just passed the hunter trials though she narrowly escaped with her life and the town now fears a werewolf walks among them. She can’t seem to get anyone to believe that there’s something else hunting the hunters in the woods around Hemlock Falls so Winnie begins investigating the Whisperer on her own. Well, with the help of Jay Friday who seems to keep showing up to save her.
In my review of The Luminaries I pointed out that this book is good, classic young adult from when I was actually a young adult, but dressed up with a somewhat more modern style. I stand by that and The Hunting Moon is a solid, well-written sequel that kept me hooked page after page. I think I’ve grown too used to the darkness in many of the adult fantasy books I read because everytime something potentially good was about to happen, I got super nervous that it was all going to go horribly wrong. This may be a mild spoiler, but for the most part, everything turned out exactly the way Winnie wanted it to and there wasn’t any gut-punch awfulness to sour the mood.
That being said, Winnie is growing as a character and she’s beginning to question some things and see that life isn’t as black and white as she initially assumed. She looks at the traditions of the hunters young and old, and really starts to wonder why things are the way they are. I appreciate this is any coming of age story because it is in fact an important part of life. The adults aren’t always right and don’t always know what to do!
The supernatural element and the hunter traditions take a bit of a back seat in The Hunting Moon, mostly because Winnie has gotten through her trials and is now being a sneaky teen and going off into the forest to investigate the Whisperer. There are still a few cool interactions with the creatures that arise from the Mist around Hemlock Falls and it makes up for in quality what it lacks in quantity. This installment also focuses on the Dianas much more and I believe in the third book they will be a primary focus.
I admit, I’m a little disappointed this ended up being longer than the duology I thought it would be, but that’s because now I have to wait for the sequel. I think this is a cool fantasy world and honestly can’t wait to see where things go next!

This was everything I needed. I love this series and how dark it can be while still being light, fun, and dealing with issues. It’s clearly YA, but the fun type that is an excellent palate cleanser, well written and just a great time every page.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

I just....really like how this is set up in the story. The first one was hauntingly beautiful and yes, it's not amazing world building, but this sequel still drew me in. The beginning was a bit meh with the results of the first book coming through for Winnie and her mom and Winnie and Jay's friendship...but it grew in action. The ending 1/4 or so of the book had me going OH NO and then the very end had me also going OH NOOOOOOOO! I do really like this unique urban fantasy world, but I hope the world is built more in the next one in the series.

A solid sequel but not the best, which is unfortunately common in a trilogy. It has all the slow burn YA romance tropes which make it a fun read but it's just too slow and I think could have easily been a duology and read much better with better pacing that way. This just doesn't have the action of the first, so it took much longer to get through and didn't hold my interest, especially in the first half. But there were enough twists that I want to keep reading into the next book.

4/5 stars.

I really enjoyed this quick read. The plot is very engaging and Winnie continues to be a compelling main character. The layers of mystery really develop throughout the book and some are revealed by the ending. Definitely one of the best paranormal YA reads I've delved into lately.

In Book 2 of The Luminaries, we pick up right where Book 1 left off. Winnie's near-death experience has shifted her perspective on her goals, and the whole community is hunting the were-wolf among them.

As Winnie struggles through these events, she shows growth in her relationships and makes decisions about doing what is right. The struggle of being a teenager in such a difficult society is clear on the page and the small hints of what more is to come made me excited for the next book as well. This book has great atmosphere for a fall read as well.


Thank you to Tor via Netgalley for my eARC.

4*

After reading the Luminaries earlier this year, I was excited to get my hands on the second novel in the planned series.

Dennard continues to deliver a novel full of the same rich and complicated characters, in a world that isn't as black and white as the ride-or-die by their house motto members of the Luminary clans would have you believe.

Seeing more of Winnie and her growth, the way she continues to challenge expectations and push boundaries was a great way to continue to the story. Plus, we're always happy for more of Jay.

The Hunting Moon is a real solid follow up to the first in the series, Luminaries. While the pacing is pretty slow for the first half of the book, it's well worth trudging through to get to all the action in the second half. The last part of the book will have you eagerly waiting for the next book.

Winnie is a strong character. She's smart, intuitive, and resourceful. The best part is she feels genuine. Her point of view and voice seem very realistic. I think for this reason, I was very engaged in the character and looked forward to the continuation of her story.

Dennard fleshes out the world building as well. Readers will learn more about the Luminaries and the Diana's. I think it did a lot to help flesh out the world and the story as a whole.

Overall, a good read and a wonderful follow up in the series. It is very much a Young Adult read. While adults may enjoy it, the overall feel of it appeals very much to a teen/early adult audience. Either way, this is one that we will add to our collection.

The Hunting Moon, by Susan Dennard, is the second installment in the authors The Luminaries series. The story follows a group of people who live in Hemlock Falls. These folks are trained to hunt and kill the monsters (nightmares like changelings, and harpies) that are spawned each night in the forest, before these monsters escape and kill innocents. 16-year old Winnie Wednesday has passed her hunter trials but now has the infamous reputation as being the girl who jumped as well as the girl who was bitten by a werewolf.

She is also the only one in Hemlock Falls who seems to know about a new nightmare called the Whisperer, but she also lost part of her memories. To make matters worse, Winnie worries that her Aunt Rachel, who knows about her trials and the reality of what Winnie did, will go back on her word to allow Winnie's family back into the Luminaries after they were banished 4 years ago after her father was accused of being a Diana (Witch). Winnie's trials are not over. She still must put together the pieces that her father left behind for her.

Secrets that could finally give the family piece of mind after 4 years of being treated like malcontents and traitors. To make matters worse, the lead hunter, Grayson, is murdered which makes Jay Friday the youngest lead hunter in Hemlock Falls. Jay, Winnie's former best friend, has been keeping secrets, and so, it seems, is her former friend Erica. Her refusal to simply blame the werewolf, despite popular opinion, is a testament to her strong moral compass.

*Thoughts* The mystery surrounding the Diana's (Diana – a member of a witchlike society that is the Luminaries’ mortal enemy), their magic, and the events in Hemlock Falls four years ago deepens, adding layers of intrigue. I do think there's more the author has not explained about the events of what really happened to Winnie's father. While you can presume, that something awful happened, you also have to consider that there may be others who are involved. And, just how many secrets are Jay and Erica keeping from Winnie? I guess we have to hope for a third book to find out.

The Hunting Moon proves to be an extraordinary and worthy sequel that captivates readers with its intricate plot and unexpected twists. From the very first page, the narrative unfolds with suspense, drawing readers into a world where each chapter reveals new layers of mystery. The author skillfully weaves together a tapestry of suspense, intrigue, and unexpected turns, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the entire journey. The characters are compelling, their development adding depth to the overall narrative. The pacing is impeccable, creating a relentless momentum that makes it nearly impossible to put the book down. With its cleverly crafted storyline and suspenseful atmosphere, The Hunting Moon is a must-read for those seeking an enthralling and immersive literary experience.