Superb fantasy read, the first in a series. The characters all have strengths, but so many fears and life trials to make their intertwined stories interesting. Loved the world, loved the characters, loved the drip drip cliff hanger chapters. Interesting science and innovative magic usage. So many questions to be answered, bring on book 2!! Thank you to Daniel Makk and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Awesome this book has it all, one of the main things that I loved about it was the World building completely newly Originals world for Fantasy lovers to dig into also great characters and action I would definitely recommend this there was some pacing issues that kept me from giving it five stars but still a good debut from a new author

This is the first book in The Luminocity Seed series and what a brilliant start to the series this book is. The story is set in an ancient civilisation and it is run on the power of light. There are five main characters and how they are connected is gradually emerging.

I like all five main characters and at this point, I can't say if I will have a favourite as they are all unique and have different characteristics. There is a set of brothers, Lax and Val but they have different agendas and have only been brought back together due to their father's ailing health.

Ilumi is a young woman from one of the outer tribes who has been invited to the city to work with a professor of light creating new inventions. While in the city she meets Dawb, an urchin who lives by his wits and works with a gang (similar to an Oliver Twist-style person). Then there is Aiana, she is another one from outside the city and she is training to be a huntress, she is probably the most different to the others due to where she lives.

All five have different abilities and not all can channel the power of the light. Light is something that some have used to not just illuminate and power the city but can it to give them an extra edge. With the light, there is also the opposite - darkness. This is something that is starting to creep in and it gives a creepy, tense and edgy nervousness to the story. It also adds suspicion and a thriller feel to the story as this darkness is something dangerous and fatal.

Each of the main five has their own agenda as such, or task if you will. One will be trying to get a position in a political circle, another looking for a lost family fortune, trying to become a huntress, looking for answers to how light can be used and looking for the shadows and the monsters. There is a lot more than this, but I am not going to go into much detail about what happens.

The author has created the start of a series with a fabulous intro to the characters, some of the ways of his world and the city that this is focused around. There are politics and some history and things that are reminiscent of the ancient world. But also there is a lot of action and adventure which adds to the fast-paced feel of the overall story. Knowing that this is the first in a planned series is great, but it also means that I knew this first book would leave me waiting and desperate for more.

This is a book that gives the basis of what I think is going to be a very good series. The author has laid out a good base to build from and I am excited to see where he will go with this.

If you are a fan of fantasy genres then this one may well appeal. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am eager to read the next book. Brilliant start and one that I would definitely recommend.

This one was so hard to review, there is a lot that I really enjoyed. In particular I thought the characters were great and I wanted and still want to follow them and their stories. Many times when there are multiple povs a reader might feel a bit of disappointment when switching to another character but I never felt that with these characters. They each had their complexities and their backgrounds and storylines were so different. It was also interesting to see them intercross with each other during the course of the story. The world with its Mezoamerican influence and magic system incorporating light was not something I had seen before. It’s a really ambitious story and I do want to read the next book to see how it and these characters will progress.

Sounds great right? The problem is the scope might be a big too big. We start with so many questions that are never truly answered and in the end are left on a cliffhanger with no resolution. I understand that it’s the first book in a series but at least some resolution would feel give the reader some closure; it almost feels like the middle book in a trilogy. The other big issue for me was the pacing. We leave off at times in moments where something exciting or shocking happens and switch povs for it to pick up chapters and chapters later. Sometimes it picks off right where we left off and other times we see some time has passed. It could be incredibly frustrating at times. Then there was the introduction of completely new characters as late as a quarter into the novel. I actually feel this would make a great serialized show, graphic novel or animated series with the way it’s written.

That being said, overall I was intrigued and while it could be frustrating at times I did get attached to the characters and want to continue their story. I would recommend this to readers who are looking for something with intriguing characters and unique world building and have a bit of patience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The eye-catching cover of this book is what initially drew me in, but it was the captivating story that truly hooked me. While I was initially hesitant about the frequent shifts between multiple perspectives, every chapter left me eagerly anticipating the next. There wasn't a single instance where I felt bored or wished I could switch to another character's narrative.

I'm amazed that this book is the work of a new author, as it is exceptionally well-written. The world-building is simply breathtaking, and the magic system is utterly unique and fascinating.

I'm genuinely saddened to have to bid farewell to Luminocity until book two arrives. I love the author for providing a progress bar for book two on his website, currently standing at an impressive 51% already. I eagerly await the release date and the continuation of this extraordinary tale.

Thank you to Netgalley and Endless Equinox for providing me with an ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the world of Grieving Gold. The narrative unfolds through captivating and unique perspectives that converge at various points in the storyline. While I relished the book's intricate world-building, I yearned for a tad more interconnectedness. The author skillfully painted a vibrant portrait of Luminocity in the reader's imagination, yet occasionally, the story succumbs to information overload. Understandably, as the inaugural installment in a series, this tendency toward information dumping is forgivable.
The novel's standout feature lies in its meticulous construction of the magical realm, offering readers a detailed glimpse into Luminocity. The book falls short in adequately delving into aspects such as the magic's origin and the diverse range of powers bestowed upon individuals. Despite this, my overall enjoyment persisted, and I believe subsequent additions to the series will likely address lingering questions. For enthusiasts of horror or fantasy, Grieving Gold presents an enchanting fusion of genres, making it a worthwhile read.

An intriguing and gripping story, I loved the characters and can't wait to read more by this author.

This newly unveiled epic fantasy transports readers into a world of strange realms and unforeseen turns, making it a must-read for enthusiasts of Brandon Sanderson, Fonda Lee, Patrick Rothfuss, and George R. R. Martin.

In the radiant city of legends, Luminocity, illuminated by three sun gods, secrets of an ancient civilization lie beneath the skeletal skyscrapers. Yet, in the shadows lurks a dark god's realm, holding grudges through the ages. The destinies of five individuals become entwined, woven into the fabric of destiny, as they navigate the currents of fate and struggle to break free from their puppet strings. From Laxerion Tama's disrupted life as a disowned noble son to Val-Gustus Tama's responsibility as a general facing imminent war, and the moral dilemmas faced by the young scientist Ilumi, this tale explores the intersections of intrigue, betrayal, and emerging technologies that test the boundaries of morality. Amidst inner demons and the search for monsters, the narrative delves into the depths where eldritch things stir in the dark, promising an enthralling journey through a world of light and shadows.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was such an entertaining read and I can’t wait for the other books to come out I will be getting them immediately. Daniel Mcdainel did such an amazing job for this being his debut epic fantasy book and first book in English!
I don’t want to leave any spoilers I feel this book is best to go in blind but this story started off a little confusing with the first two chapters relating to different things and I felt like it never really got explained but I’m hoping the second books goes off of it a little more. There was multiple povs and each character had their own story and situation, some of them did end up connecting which was so fun and exciting. I’ve grown attached to most the characters storylines and always got excited when it switched, there were some random people thrown in at the end that confused me but I hope it has more meaning in the next book. The setting of this book was immersive and unique I like the concept of the light gods and it felt like a new and refreshing world, the world building was impressive and like nothing I’ve read before. The magic system was also the most unique I’ve ever read with the light/blood magic and being able to find there abilities in it. I will say it was a little slower pace of a book but it was a fun adventure regardless and I am so sad it ended on a cliffhanger I can not wait for the rest of this series. There were some horror elements which I devoured, my two favorite genres in one book. There was also great sci-fi aspects of it as well this book really had it all and was written so well I’ll be stalking his website for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Daniel McDaniel/Makk for providing a free ARC in exchange for a review!

Really enjoyed this book! Reminded me of a mix of Hailey Turner's Infernal War Saga and of Brandon Sanderson's Warbreaker novel. The author said he was heavily influenced by Sanderson, and I definitely see it in the unique magic system and multiple POVs.

This story takes place in a post (double post?) apocalyptic world. There is war brewing between the main city, Luminocity, and Texocan, a neighboring country. There are revolving POVs that show us different aspects of the city. Generally, Luminocity seems to be the sort of setting that is only good for certain characters. There's an obvious wealth gap between many of the citizens, as well as an imbalance of resources. I wouldn't say that this is grimdark by any means, but it's tonally not quite YA either. More new adult or adult.

Laxerion is a disgraced noble's son who has turned to a life of crime. Through him, we get to see more of the criminal underground. Val is a general of Luminocity's army. Ilumi is an up-and-coming scientist. Aiana is an underground (literally) huntress who is struggling to find her way. Finally, Dawb is a street urchin bent on revenge.

I think the characters were all very distinct from each other. With multiple POVs, it can be very easy for the different voices to start blending together. I often have trouble with multiple POV because of this- I'll be reading a chapter thinking it's a certain character, and then suddenly realize it's a whole other character. I did not run into this issue a single time!

The lore and magic system explanation is not all dumped onto the reader at once. There's a trickle of information throughout the story- and again, the character POVs are kept true to the respective characters. We never are given info from a character that is something they shouldn't reasonably know.

** Possible improvements **

It seems that some other reviewers have issues with the changing POVs, initially getting into the book, and keeping up with the plot / terminology. The beginning does have a "double prologue." Based on the rest of the book, I think one of these prologues could either be deleted or moved to a different point in the book as an interlude. Two prologues meant to add context to the events of the rest of the story have their uses, but is rather intimidating to have back-to-back at the beginning of a high fantasy book.

This is quite a lengthy book as well, which I don't mind at all. Usually with books of this length and genre, I see some authors break the book up into parts. This is just a stylistic suggestion, though. Another possible change is to add the sun cycle at the beginning of each chapter. There are three suns in this world- a red sun, a blue sun, and a yellow sun. They're often referenced throughout the story. Obviously light and dark also play a huge role in the story as well. So, it may help the reader to keep track of where the characters are at in time, especially their different POVs in relation to each other.

I'm torn between adding either the sun cycle at the chapter's beginning, or the main chapter character's name. Either would be good! I'm just not sure which would be best.

My final suggestion is admittedly nitpicky- occasionally the dialogue can come across as stilted and out-of-place. After highlighting many examples and considering why this may be, I noticed that it is due to lack of contractions in some of the dialogue. Again, this is VERY occasional. It's more often during Ilumi's chapters.

**Conclusion**
Overall, I was incredibly impressed with this novel. I always am interested in self-published and indie authors' books. I can tell that a ton of work and effort went into this. Didn't catch any spelling errors either. This is one of the best fantasy books I think I have read! Very excited to see where the rest of this series goes.

This story started out in a very confusing way. Each chapter seemed to be about a new character with very little info. After pushing through those first few the story is incredible! The characters are amazing and their growth is exceptional. The personality of the characters is also believable. There's nothing I hate more than characters that are too much and trying too hard. This book is well written if you can get past the first 20%

This book has a lot of words, but I don't feel like it says anything.
I knew I was in for it when it had two prologues. They weren't both called one, but structurally, there were two.

This book has too many POV characters. Or at least too many that are indistinguishable narratively. Because of that, I would forget whose chapter I was reading constantly, and I wasn't connecting to anything or anyone. It made it hard to connect to the characters and care about the plot.

It got to the point where I was more skim-reading than actually absorbing what I was reading. There is potential in this book. It just never reached the point, for me, that pulled me into the story. It was very surface-level for me.

I love fantasy tales because they bend or invent rules. It's the author's job to create a strange world that you're comfortable to immerse yourself in and Mr McDaniel does just that here. It took a little while for me to engage but I found myself totally into the story. There are several threads with the usual political machinations and the characters are suitably flawed. However, rather than being 'same old same old', the author breathes fresh life into the formula.

This is a great and welcome debut and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Unfortunately I did not make it even a quarter into this book. I was struggling to connect or even care about the characters. The constant switching of POVs in every chapter made it difficult to keep up. There was a lot of world building going on, which I usually love, but felt here it was just too much information to process at once. found myself skimming more than actually reading. Noticed myself skimming more than actually reading, so I won’t be finishing this one. I do believe others will enjoy and love this though!

While this was a strong debut novel and it definitely had elements I loved, it wasn't a huge hit for me. I'm, unfortunately, not a huge fan of multiple POV's. There are 5 consistent POV's and for me when there are that many characters to follow I have a hard time connecting with any of them, though they were well developed characters. What I did love was the mix of fantasy and horror and how well the author built the world. It was very thorough and the legend that was woven in made it a really interesting setting. Additionally, I would have liked a better explanation of the magic system because I found it vague and a little hard to understand. Overall, though it wasn't a favorite read for me I think it absolutely will be for a lot of people. If you are even slightly intrigued by the synopsis I would definitely give it a chance. I would recommend this book to high fantasy lovers!
**Also, beware before reading if spiders give you the creeps!!**

Thank you to Netgalley and Endless Equinox for the eArc.

I absolutely loved this! I cannot wait to continue this series!!

At first the multiple POV's made it difficult to keep track of what was happening and how their separate plotlines were intertwined. After the first few chapters the multiple POV's were no longer confusing and I was fully immersed in the story!
I loved all the characters! I still can't decide which one is my favorite! Each one was so well written and their personalities and decisions really fit their characters perfectly.
The world building and magic system was exceptional, I'd never read anything quite like it!
Overall this a thrilling fantasy with dark/horror elements that I cannot wait to immerse myself in once again!

I am still reading the book and it looks epically amazing. lol,
the cover the aesthetic the vide is amazing. A detailed review and analysis is coming

McDaniel's world-building is seriously impressive! Seamlessly blending ancient civilisations with futuristic technologies to create a captivating setting that draws you in.

Now, to get that immersive world, there are parts where it feels like you're getting hit with a ton of backstory all at once. It can be a bit much, but honestly, I think it adds the depth needed for this world and makes the story feel more real.

The story's told from five different characters' points of view, each with their own goals and motivations. Admittedly, I initially struggled with the multiple perspectives, but around 20% into the book, I began to adjust to this technique. However, readers who prefer to deeply connect with individual characters might find this approach less satisfying.

One thing I was left craving more of was the magic system in Luminocity. It's super intriguing, but I found myself confused and scratching my head at times. Digging deeper into that in the next book would be awesome!

Despite that, the world-building and complex characters totally make up for it. Can't wait to dive into the next book and hopefully get some more magic system answers!

The world building was a bit complicated, coupled with following many separate characters stories made it difficult to keep up and fully grasp every going on.. I really like the idea and I think the world building could have been a bit stronger. Now that all the different characters paths have linked together I think that the 2nd book in the series has a lot of potential to be better and build off of where this book ended

I wanted to like this book. The synopsis gave an epic story with interconnected characters, creatures and gods; it sounded incredible. I'm sorry to say it did not deliver. In my opinion, the writing was leaning towards amateurish and the dialogue was wooden. The world building was ambitious but vacillated between being info-dumpy and then non-informative. There is quite a lot going on in the plot, with many characters, but I just wasn't given any reason to care what happened. Like I said, I really wanted to like this but it was ultimately not for me.