I want to preface this review by saying that while I enjoyed the first Luminaries book, I am much more a fan of Dennard's Witchlands series. This series feels a lot younger, aimed at younger teens as opposed to the YA/Adult crossover vibe of the Witchlands. Which is fine, I'm just less into it.

So that being said, I don't feel like Hunting Moon is quite as good as Luminaries. It's perfectly fine as a sequel, moves some plot points forward, develops a bit of a romantic relationship, and tells us a bit more about the world. The thing is, this romance feels very young and as I am quite far from the teen years myself, I'm not particularly invested. The plot reveals weren't super surprising and were about what I expected given the hints in book 1. The world-building elements in the series are also very heavy on different magical creatures and monsters, which also isn't really my thing. All of that to say, this is a perfectly good version of the book that it is. It's just not something I'm particularly excited about. I will probably read the next book when it comes out, but I just don't think I'm the target audience for this series. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

This is a highly engaging sequel that surpasses its predecessor in both storytelling and character development. Winnie Wednesday's journey continues as she navigates newfound fame, challenges within the hunter society, and a growing mystery that threatens her community and family. As the secrets build and tensions mount, Winnie's internal struggle to define her identity as a Wednesday and a Luminary becomes a central theme.

Winnie continues to evolve. She's now a celebrity after passing the hunter trials, but her newfound status doesn't sit right with her. Her determination to uncover the truth about the Whisperer, a new threat to the hunters that no one else has seen, showcases her tenacity and sense of justice. Her refusal to simply blame the werewolf, despite popular opinion, is a testament to her strong moral compass. The mystery surrounding the Dianas, their magic, and the events in Hemlock Falls four years ago deepens, adding layers of intrigue. Dennard skillfully weaves these elements into the story, creating a suspenseful atmosphere.

The world-building in "The Hunting Moon" is expanded, providing a richer backdrop for the story. The vivid descriptions of the living forest and the atmospheric gothic vibes continue to be a highlight of the series for me.

While this is an obvious young adult novel in its writing, it offers entertainment and depth that will appeal to readers of all ages. Loved the narration; the audiobook is the correct choice for this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. This is an honest review.

The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard is the next, exciting installment in the Luminaries Series. In it, Winnie Wednesday is following the trail left by her father in his clues, trying to find the answer to the new nightmare stalking the forest that she calls the whisperer. The problem is, nobody else believes it is there except for her. The whole town is convinced that the attacks stalking the town are from a werewolf. But Winnie knows it isn't a werewolf and is convinced that the werewolf is not harming others. But how does she convince the ones who can help? Add in some teenage drama that involves old friends and boys, and you have a great story that will keep you wishing for more and not doing what needs to be done so that you can listen to the story instead! If you haven't read the first one, then you still have time to grab it and check out the series. Then you can wait with me for the next one!
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher. I can't wait for more!

I was definitely looking forward to this one, and it delivers. Middle books are tricky, but this is threading the needle very well. We get more lore and more depth to the overall world and our characters. Winnie is properly messed up after the events of book one. Look, I love when an author let's characters feel and be emotionally scarred by things from one book to the next. The big twist is fairly easy to spot, but that doesn't make it less satisfying for everyone to realize. With this as the set up, the finale is going to be whirldwind.

There is a certain kind of YA fantasy that I think works well for older adults, and then there are YA novels that just don't (and no, I am not suggesting they need more spice). This series just hasn't worked for me, even though I appreciate many of the plot twists and find Dennard's writing style quite compelling. I believe it is because the world is still close to our own time, so I have to embrace the idea that all of us are protected from the evils of the forest by 12-18 year olds. That is a hard sell for me. The high school caste system is one I didn't thrive in when I was younger, so there is also a certain amount of cringe for me when I pick up a book that reminds me of how shallow teenagers can be, and the hurt that social system thrives on. As a result I likely won't continue with this series, but that is not to say that it is bad, just not for me.

The audience for YA should primarily be a teenage reader, and there is still a lot here to like. Winnie as a character has grown on me, and I enjoyed seeing her become more independent in this story and stand up for herself and what she knows to be true. I am still intrigued by what happened to her father (and we make some headway there, but still have a lot of questions) and I like some of the interesting turns the book reveals. Clearly there is more to happen, but if you can get past all the feckless adults in this book that really should be doing more in protecting these kids, I think it is an enjoyable and suspenseful story.

The audiobook is very well done- I really enjoyed this narrator and she captures the mood well, both in voicing how immature teens actually behave and sound (such as when they call the FMC "wolfgirl" and in building the tension in the action scenes.

Many thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for granting me access to an audiobook in exchange for a fair review.

Such a good and easy read! This book is fast paced with a slow burn romance, my only complaint is I felt it ended abruptly making me want more. I know it hasn’t even been released yet and I’m already wanting to start the next book.

A dark forest, dark creatures, and nightmares return in this sequel to “The Luminaries.” Having survived her test, Winnie Wednesday is now on a mission to solve her father’s clues that he left after his banishment. “The Hunting Moon” picks up with the first and leaves us with another cliffhanger of what is going to happen next.

Themes: 🌕🌑🐺🧙‍♀️🕵🏻‍♀️🧩🗺️📍🧭

My thoughts: 🤓🥸😃😵‍💫

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Let's start with there were FAR less teeth clicking in this book than the first one and for that I will be forever grateful.

I really am enjoying this series. It's so YA but that doesn't deter me, it has more than kept my attention though two books so far and I'll eagerly await the next one. There isn't much I can say without spoilers but this one picks up where the last one left off and we go on an adventure to learn the answers to nearly all the questions I had at the end of book one. Does that mean I am satisfied, absolutely not. I'll be stalking every site until I can get a countdown for book 3 going. Winnie Wednesday still has a lot of story to tell!

HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this story early. I don't think I would have survived a wait until November to get these answers!

I loved the 1st Luminaries books, and I was really really excited to get to read this one early! I really liked the new information on the Dianas and learning a little bit more about how the clans function within Winnie's world. Overall I enjoyed this book a lot, but I kinda feel like maybe book 1 and 2 should have been combined into one larger book? The big twist is something I guessed reading the 1st one so having so much of this one build on the mystery of that made a lot of this seem like nothing was happening.

I definitely enjoyed The Hunting Moon! It wasn’t as good as The Luminaries in my option but it was still such a fun read.
There were many twists in this book that I saw coming from a mile away, BUT there were also twists I had no idea were coming.
The ending left me on my toes. So many answers were finally given but so many more questions arose. This author definitely knows how to end on a cliff hanger.
If you love:
1. Magical worlds
2. Mythical/spooky creatures
3. Slow burn romance
4. An empowered female main character
5. Unexpected twists
Then you’ll definitely enjoy this one
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the chance to listen to this audiobook for my honest review!!

Another great read by Susan Dennard!!! Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Macmillion Audio for the AudioARC copy! Consider myself entertained!

The first book in The Luminaries series was a smash hit, but this one tangled with a tie. I must admit there were parts that I was desperate to get through because I felt the descriptive aspects of nightmares got a bit too thorough and I got bored, BUT I was really feeling that way because a lot of the time these moments were also during high action scenes and I was impatient. So, sorry, not sorry, but I wanted to get on with the good bits.

That said, I LOVE THIS SERIES!!! So far, I am taken in by the plot, by Winnie, by the supporting character (so many to write out here, and by the dynamic friendship of Jay, Erica and Winnie. This story has so many layers and I am so excited to be along for the ride. The Diana’s are just now starting to step in as the bad guys (potential bad guys) and I can’t wait for the coming showdown. I am just crossing my fingers the 3rd boom doesn’t take too long to come out. Fingers crossed!!!

NO REGRETS!!!!!! Hit buy now, right now!!!!!! You won’t want to miss the follow up to one of my favorites books from 2022.

This sequel to The Luminaries was everything I had hoped for and more!!!
The story picks right up with the aftermath of Book one's ending & the pace was on point.
I loved getting some answers about her father and a theory my bookclub had about the werewolf in book one was spot-on! Loved that!
The ending will make you want to grab book 3 as soon as you can!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the advanced copy!

The Hunting Moon

Plot: 1
Writing: 1
World building: 1
Characters: 1
Themes: .5
4.5/5

Audiobook: 5/5

I really enjoyed this continuation of The Luminaries! These books are so underrated! The pacing was good, it had a great balance between info and action.

We get to continue seeing Winnie grow and discover new things about her town, the people, and the forest that surrounds them.
I really loved seeing Winnie figure things out.

Winnie and Jay are two idiots. lol. There's so much angst, I love it!

I can't wait for the next book and this one isn't even out yet. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced listener copy of The Hunting Moon. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

The Hunting Moon picks up right after The Luminaries ended. Winnie Wednesday is back with the Luminaries, and everyone is talking about her. She has been thrust from the sidelines into the limelight. She’s now “The Girl Who Jumped” and everyone wants to see her scar from her werewolf bite. Speaking of werewolves, the town is on the hunt for the one spotted in the woods, and testing is underway. Winnie remains convinced, however, that the werewolf isn’t the new nightmare attacking things in the woods, but no one seems to believe her when she tries to tell them about the Whisperer. And she’s still trying to track down and understand the clues left by her father. In a place where “culture runs thicker than blood,” what will happen with Winnie, the Whisperer, the werewolf, and the witches in town?

As with The Luminaries, I was pulled into the story and did not want to put it down. Even with my suspicions about the true identities of the witches and the werewolf, I still wanted to see how everything would play out and what twists and turns were in store for the characters. I’m interested to see how everything will come to a head at the masquerade in the next book.

I was sucked in by Caitlin Davies’s audiobook narration. I enjoyed the various voices she used to portray different characters; her portrayal of soft-spoken Jay is my favorite of the group.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

I love the world that Susan Dennard has created with the the Luminaries. This second installment was just as good as the first and I can't wait to see where the next book takes us.

I absolutely adored The Luminares and its unique magic system. If you havent read the first one, go do that and then come back here.
This book was very enjoyable to read. It is very much a fun-read instead of a super deep cognitive maze type of read. I really enjoy following Winnies story as she tries to figure out the mysteries of her life. There were a couple of twists and turns in Hunting Moon that I did not see coming. Overall I just really enjoy this universe.
Winnie is a nightmare hunter. The nightmares rise in the mist of the forest every night and bring with them all sorts of nightmareish beings. I am really exicted to read the 3rd one and answer some very deep questions that this book opened up. I always struggle to rate the 2nd book in a series as it is often a bridge-book, which is exactly what this book was, and that in no way is a negative thing. I just cant say much about it without giving a lot away. I loved getting a deeper look into Winnies past, her family and her potential futuere. There is one character in the book that I just cannot pin down if they are good or bad, and that question is NOT answered in this book and I cant wait to read the 3rd one to figure out what happens with her and Jay and with this character that is currently schrodingers cat.

Overall great read.

I liked the first book, but I LOVED this new installment. I felt like the pacing was really good, there was lots of adventure and mystery and loved that she dove deeper into the cool nighmares in the forest. The teenage experience for Winnie came through so well. I could feel that teenage angst and insecurity like I was back living it myself. I can't wait for the next book!

Overall: 4.75/5
Audio: 5/5

Mom's of Teens-things to be aware of: Use of F word, mention of typical teen drug use/experimentation, mention of vape, mention of hooking up, but no details. Would I let my teen read it---yes and there is a lot of the teen and YA I wouldn't let her read.

Oh, this was such a great sequel! I loved the first book, and I couldn't wait to get into the second! I loved following Winnie's journey, now that she's made it through the trials, and is realizing that being a Luminary is not what she thought it was, and maybe not something that she wants

It's funny how different people's experiences can be. I've worn glasses since grade 4, and until recently, never really cleaned them all that often. I often forget they're there, I don't really consciously adjust them all that often as mentioned in the book that Winnie does. Weird!

I'd say the main plots in this book are the clues that her dad left behind, and the werewolf. There was more going on, but was partially or fully connected to these, and I really enjoyed watching everything go down!

One of my suspicions from the first book was correct, which was really great to read! And there was more evidence for one of my other theories, which I'm really excited to see might come to pass in book 3. I can't wait to find out!

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait for book 3!

The Hunting Moon continued to give me everything that I wanted from that nostalgic, early 2000s YA vibe that I loved in The Luminaries. I can't delve too deeply into the plot because it picks up right after a pretty major cliffhanger/spoiler at the end of The Luminaries, but Winnie is still an outcast...just now in a totally different way. She's the center of attention, sure, but no one actually believes anything that she says. She's just the cool girl who, well...[REDACTED], who might have gone a little crazy in the process. At least, that's how everyone seems to justify her ramblings about the new development in the forests around Hemlock Falls.

This second book was everything I've been hoping it would be for a year! I did not re-read The Luminaries before diving back into the world of Hemlock Falls, but even with a brain full of cobwebs after a year, Sooz did an excellent job of filling in the gaps and reminding you just how high stakes everything was before The Hunting Moon started. For the romance lovers: It's still a slow (slow slow slow sloooooow) burn (if you can call a thoroughly YA book a burn) but in the best ways, with the tension between Winnie and Jay Friday remaining a major and frustrating (we know we love it) all time high. There's enough mystery and intrigue to keep you invested in the goings-on in the forest, as well. At times I found myself frozen, hanging on every one of the narrator's words. The story went to places I absolutely didn't expect, and some of the reveals were shocking! In true YA form, there were also reveals that were predictable, which I think is important--you have to let your readers win at some point, and what better way than to give us those "aha!" moments where we get to figure *the situation* out before the characters do. My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that I felt like the book was still building up when it was over...like, I was genuinely shocked to look up and see that I only had minutes left in the audiobook. But I feel like, even if that's an issue with pacing, it's the mark of a well written book that the reader doesn't realize how much time has passed while they've been reading.

The narrator was exceptional, and did such a great job of bringing Winnie to life.

The Hunting Moon was one of my most anticipated reads this year. I needed to know what secrets the forest and a certain character were hiding – I wasn’t disappointed.

Winnie thought passing the hunter trials and having her family welcomed back into the Luminaries would get her life back on track. But no one believes her about the Whisperer, a new nightmare killing hunters in the forest. I’m still a devoted fan of Winnie. She’s a loyal friend, puts family first, and works through problems logically. I loved how she makes Venn diagrams to help discover solutions. After he practically ignored her for the past four years, she and Jay are rekindling their friendship. But Winnie doesn’t let him off the hook – she’s still determined to learn the reason he stayed away. Jay’s secret is revealed – which doesn’t come as a surprise, but adds an interesting dimension to the story. I’m anxious to see where it leads the story in the next book. You either trust the forest or you don’t, he tells Winnie. She has no idea how often that phrase will come back to her over the course of the book.

I’d recommend this for fans of atmospheric dark fantasy with paranormal elements, closely held secrets, and main characters who steal your heart. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Caitlin Davies, who does an outstanding job.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.