This was an enjoyable book. The reason for the 3.5 star rating is more so because the YA vibe of it. I'm in my mid 30s so I just couldn't connect to it as well. Probably a lot better for those younger in nature or spirit than I am. It did have some intense moments and twists that kept me on my toes. The storyline itself was good and I enjoyed the author's writing style. Just several bits of it didn't connect well with me due to the youthful vibe. I loved the first book in this series, like LOVED. This one just didn't do it for me as well as the first one did.

I received this ARC from NetGalley to read and review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading the book.

This surprising follow up to The Luminaries finds Winnie no longer ostracized from her community, but embraced and reinstated as an official member. Meanwhile, one of her most loyal supporters finds themself at risk of their own sanctioning and Winnie must decide how, if, and why it’s time for her to step in to help.

Great narration.

So many questions answered, yet so many more asked. While I predicted some of the things in the first book the way everything is revealed was not disappointing.
Susan has such a great way of writing fantasy in way that feels like real life and it is absolutely amazing. I spent 2 days doing almost nothing but listening to this book and I regret nothing.

The audiobook was narrorated by the same narrorator as book 1, and like The Luminaries she has done an absolutely amazing job.

I may edit this review after some extra thought but it's an absolute 5 star read, and listen, for me. If you loved book 1 I absolutely say you need to grab this one in November 7 when it releases.

*thank you NetGalley for the audiobook and thank you Tor (Edelweiss) for the eARC. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review*

I didn't realize this was the second book in the series. However it was very easy to pick up without listening/reading the first book. All I can say is, I want more and I want more now! It was so well written and the narrator was incredible. Every spare second I had I used listening to this book and that doesn't happen often. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author and also books narrated by this narrator! I highly recommend this book. I can't find a single thing I would change about it.

4.5 stars
This was such an explosive sequel. It started right where the first book left off. Winnie and her family are still on the outskirts of the clan despite Winnie now being a hunter. The "whisperer" is still in the forest as well as the werewolf that bit Winnie in her third trial. Winnie has found a message from her dad that claims he was framed and is not a Diana. So much is carried over perfectly from the first book.
I loved Winnie in the first book and I loved her in this one too. She is just trying to make her way and follow her dream of being a hunter. She has loyal friendships mostly with the twins and repairing friendships with Jay. I love all of those characters. I also love the family dynamic between Winnie and her mom and brother. With their dad leaving, they know how important family always sticking together is. Winnie also has some contact with her other ex-best friend Erica. I'm not sure how I feel about her yet, I am hoping there are more books in this series and their friendship gets explored more.
Like I said, there was a lot going on in this plot. I loved the mystery surrounding Winnie's dad and following the clues and messages he left for her. I'm so interested to find out what really happened to him. There were even more monsters in this book and it was really fun to get a bigger picture of what lives in the forest that these hunters need to hunt down every night.
The ending was really a whirlwind with so many twists and turns and so much action. One of the really big plot twists I guessed early on in the first book, but the way it came to light and what happened afterwards was very thoughtful and was taken in a way I wasn't expecting.
There are so many more questions I have, just like at the end of the first book. I'm hoping for a third book to answer all of them!
The narrator of this audiobook was fantastic. She really brought the characters to life and gave little voices to each of them.

Thank you for the copy of "The Hunting Moon" by Susan Dennard @macmillan.audio.

Jumping directly back in to the Luminaries series where it left off. Things are in a pretty good spot this day. Minus the funeral, the town testing for lycanthropy, and the still being quasi-ostracized. But Winnie and her family are more or less welcomed back overnight. Except no one wants to deal with the real threat she found. Oh and the cryptic clues she found from her dad. But who knows, maybe the creature that goes through the monster woods like a living chainsaw is chill?

Narrated by Caitlin Davies, really felt how done with some of those side characters Winnie was. Great work.

Reasons to read:
-Small town monster hunting drama
-Characters finally being forced to talk
-Annoying crow
-Magical wildlife field notes

Cons:
-Small town awkwardness that doesn't give me flashbacks, nope

Thank you to Susan Dennard, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I was interested in this title and luckily I was able to borrow a copy of The Luminaries (book 1) from the library pretty quickly so I could get caught up on the story, which I recommend doing before diving into Hunting Moon. I wasn't blown away by the story, but I liked it enough that I wanted to see what happens next.

Imagine the Dark Forest from Harry Potter. Now imagine a society of people who take it upon themselves to keep the creatures inside in check. That's the basic premise.

That said, I listened to both Luminaries and Hunting Moon twice, and I still don't completely understand the world, which makes my understanding of the plot a bit tenuous. I don't understand the rules of the magic or how the Nightmares are created. So the mist is sentient? How? The Dianas and their motivation absolutely baffle me, but by the end of my second listen to HM I think I had a better grasp on them. I still have no idea why the people are named after the days of the week, other than it coordinates with their designated day to serve in the forest. It also makes no sense to me why the innocent family of a traitor would be punished, though I'm sure there's real-world precedence.

I wasn't too fond of Winnie to begin with, but she grew on me. I'm not sure she's meant to be a hunter, or a luminary, or whatever they're called. She seems to be more lucky than talented, more heart than skill (speaking of Harry Potter...), though I can't deny she knows her shit. Then again, she's an underdog, so she's not supposed to be too competent.

I have similar feelings about Jay--not super fond of him to begin with, but the more time I spent with him and came to understand him, the fonder I became. (view spoiler)

I adore Mom and Darien and the twins; they're a hoot. I'm still not sure what the heck is going on with Emma Snootypants, but that'll probably be resolved in the next book.

Weird note--I have never read an author who uses so much onomatopoeia. I didn't really care for it. Found it rather distracting.

Overall, despite my lack of clarity on parts of the story, I'm enjoying this series, and I'll be looking out for book 3 next year!

The Luminaries left me wanting more. More of the world, more hunting, more monsters, more romance and I got everything I wanted and more! We pick up where the first book left off. If you haven’t read book one. Stop here! There are spoilers ahead. Winnie just out of the hospital officially a luminary. But Winnie isn't ready to dive right in. She’s had enough scares to keep her out of the woods for a while, but one thing that keeps resonating in her mind is the letters her dad sent. Not busying her time with hunting, Winnie dives into the muster of the letters her dad sent unveiling the possibility that her dad was framed. Desperate to find someone to talk to, she tries to turn to Jay, but he’s been promoted to lead hunter after an unfortunate death of the current Friday hunter. Winnie’s brother is busy setting up werewolf testing locations, making her feel on her own. Winnie ends up discovering more than she ever bargained for, and we learn a lot more about Hemlock falls, Jay, her dad and the Dianas.

The book was joust as addictive as the first. A page turner I could not put down. The plot unfolds nicely, leaving you up late at night unable to stop until you can determinedly what happens to Winnie and her family.

Rating: 2.5 stars

I was looking forward to this sequel after the events of the first book. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Unfortunately, it was hard for me to get into the sequel and I just found myself having a hard time caring what was happening.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Winnie Wednesday. After the events of the first book she has a hard job ahead figuring out who the werewolf is and what the whisperer is. I don’t think she is a bad character and does embody a teen really well. She has a lot going on when solving a lot of different mysteries and at least she has Jay on her side to help. I liked that their relationship started taking off, but at the same time it was just really slow and didn’t go anywhere. I was just expecting more from it.

Other characters got a bit more development, but some just felt surface level and with others like Erica there is still so much mystery and alluding to things. It’s kind of hard to stay invested when all you are getting are bread crumbs.

The plot was very slow for me and I wasn’t entirely into it until around the halfway mark. The beginning was filled with the aftermath and that involved parties and a funeral. It was just really slow with the mystery and I couldn’t latch onto anything to make the story worth listening to.

Overall, I am disappointed with this sequel. I was just hoping for more from anything. it just felt like everything dragged so there could be a third book. I don’t know if I will continue on or just cut my losses.

I received this ARC from #SusanDennard and #MacMillanAudio in exchange for my honest opinion. What attracted me to this book was the cover art and the synopsis on the website... what kept me interested once I started reading was Winnie's tenacity in the face of insurmountable odds. I did not expect her to find the inner strength that she did...maybe I would have had I read the first book in the series. I was happy that she found a way to reconnect with Erica and Jay while still finding answers about her family's excommunication based upon the lie about her father's treachery. The fact that her aunt Rachel had her back in the end, even if briefly, My hope is that there is a follow-up and we get to see how much Winnie grows as she gets closer to the truth about her family and environment... it was an enjoyable read with three dimensional characters.

This incredible sequel to The Luminaries picks up where the first book left off.

Winne Wednesday survived the deadly hunter trials, catapulting her into the spotlight and earning her family's place in The Luminaries. But there are troubles weighing on her: the nightmare no one but she believes exists, the clues her father left behind, and the wolf everyone blames for the killings that she thinks is innocent. The questions are piling up, and Winnie is finding few answers.

And then, there is Jay Friday. A boy with plenty of problems of his own that she is still hesitant to trust. Winne works with Jay to peel back the mysteries surrounding the Forest and Hemlock Falls, leaving Winnie to wonder if she is truly ready to be a Luminary and where her loyalties lie.

This book does not take a breath, and I love it. The mysteries surrounding the first book follow us to this one and weave throughout the story as Winne attempts to find herself and her place in Hemlock Falls. The development of her and Jay's relationship flowed beautifully as they both worked through their own issues and found their way back to each other. Winnie's circle of friends in the Wednesday clan really brings a new side of Winnie out and helps her realize she is not alone in life. It was really wonderful to see how Winnie grows throughout this book. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat. I cannot wait to see where this series goes and the adventures to come for Winnie!

The narration pulls the reader into the story as if we as walking along the streets of Hemlock Falls with Winnie. Her tone and style brought life to the characters. If you have the choice, I highly recommend it.

Idk, man, there's something really entertaining about this series. I'm bringing up the tv show analogy again because the plot elements and development does feel by the beat, but they are executed well and foreshadowed, so I'm not complaining in the least.

The mystery was solid. There was one reveal I did not anticipate and I liked the plot twist it provided.

Winnie's arc in this instalment was great. How she grew cognisant of her own shortcomings as well as the ways the Luminarie society has failed her and her family. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

Wow wow wow. So I want to start by saying I don’t usually like or read fantasy. A beautiful book full of action, withchy goodness, family dynamics, hurt and fighting. & so much more.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this second installment of this series. I love how we are learning more and more about the families and the nightmares. Some questions are answered, but then we are left with more unanswered questions. Looking forward to the next installment. The magic system is interesting.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the audio book, these opinions are my own. I loved the Luminaries so I was very excited to dive into The Hunting Moon! Winnie has passed her trials but why doesn’t that feel as good as she dreamed? Questioning everything she thought she knew and everything that happened to her dad, Winnie sets out to find answers. But will she like what she finds? Complicating things are her ever growing feelings for Jay. I loved getting to read more about Winnie, Jay and the gang! Winnie’s feelings of confusion and her doubts were a perfect reaction to the events of the Luminaries! Thrilling, deep, and full of emotions! Also loved the growth for Jay and Winnie! Plus the ending had me consuming the book! Caitlin Davies really brings Winnie’s voice to life! Can’t wait to read again!

So glad I went back to reread The Luminaries because this one dives right in where that one left off.

This book was so well balanced. You get the perfect mix of mystery, adventure and romance. Winnie is thrust back into the world she was abandoned by and she is struggling to trust anyone. As more and more questions arise about Whispers and the Dianas, and the fear that a werewolf is among them, Winnie begins to find her way.

I absolutely love this world. The scenes that play out, the atmosphere, the intrigue… everything all melts seamlessly in this dark, ya sequel. I love that Winnie begins to test herself in this book. She learns to trust others and herself as she faces challenges I couldn’t imagine.

I liked how strongly she leaned on the injustice of how she was treated in The Luminaries, and here, we get to see make strong friendships and alliances. Plus, there is this whole eerie Nightmare presence that she continues to stumble upon in the forest. All she wants is for people to understand the danger it poses. And when she struggles to get people’s attention, she has to find her own ways of tracking and analyzing… with quite a bit of help from Jay, which was a whole thing! I loved Jay. The two of them together? FIRE

The audio of this is narrated by the same voice of The Luminaries and that brought the perfect level of continuity to not only Winnie’s voice, but the story itself.

“𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑀𝒶𝒸𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝓃 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓈𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃. 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃”


The narrator of this book was the lovely Caitlin Davies, her voice was perfect for this book i could tell which character was who from the style she used for each person. The way she can work the reading into feeling like you were living their lives in real life was absolutely amazing. She also narratored The Luminaries which is the first book in this trilogy? series? I really need to know when the next book is coming out and what the name and cover is going to be. As you can see i am obsessed over here.


I listened to this in one day, which i mean tell's you something. I wanted to say this was going to be a 4 star with how slow the beginning was but that ending gripped me and holy moly the slight reveal of the "crow" i mean i was in the middle of brushing my teeth when i was listening to that and almost spit the toothpaste out going "wait what, who, how?" so with all that being said i did round my rating up to 5 stars on goodreads but if i were to really truly rate it, it would be 4.5.


So in all, i just really need to know Susan Dennard WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK?

This was a book I was very excited to read.

The Luminaries was such a great book, the setting for me really turned it from a good book into a great book. The mists rising in the woods and bringing with it the creatures... still gives me shivers.

So yes, VERY excited about this book and it did not disappoint. I actually tore through it in just a few days then needed to digest it because really, a lot happened. I am not going to get into any of that but I will say the plot and characters developed quite a bit and now I'm more than a little hungry for the next book!

I've already preordered a special edition of this book, if that tells you how much I loved it. I listened to it early on audio and I LOVE the narrator, absolutely perfect for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advanced audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.

I've been on a fantasy kick lately, and saw this one but didn't do much reading about it so I didnt realize it was part of a series. It is the second book in the series called the Luminaries. I need to go back and read the first book to see what I missed but I was sorta confused until I realized that it was the second book as it seems to pick up where the first one left off. There are some small recaps/ spoilers from the first book, but surprisingly I was able to keep up without reading the first book. That could also be because its pretty YA reading so the world building itself isn't too complex.

I enjoyed the narration of this book a lot and will go back and read the first book as well as the third book when it comes out.



Thank you NetGalley for an arc audiobook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early audiobook copy of The Hunting Moon in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to this book without having first read The Luminaries; although I’m sure there was context I didn’t have for some of the book, I still enjoyed the story where it picked up. Several unexpected twists and turns, and overall a great listen! Would love to listen/read the others in the series too. Narration was excellent, highly recommend.