This first book in The Luminocity Seed series is an epic start to an epic fantasy tale. Luminocity is a city built on ancient ruins with forgotten technologies. The surface is bathe by the light of 3 gods and beneath the surface is the shadow of a trapped dark god.

This dark and action packed fantasy follows the fate of 5 characters whose destiny is intertwined. The magic is unique and makes this story even more interesting.

From the prologue you get the sense of fantasy, sci-fi, dark, horror and action that will be throughout the whole book. I found the strong presence of these elements very gripping and intriguing. The story is told through the five different POVs, switching between them as the plot is going on. Although this took a bit of getting used to at first, once I got into this system of narration I felt like it provided me with additional suspense.

My only critique would be regarding the lack of introduction of the magic within this world. The magic is so unique and I loved it (I can’t stop thinking about it) and although you can understand it as the story is evolving, I think it would have been so much more powerful to give a clearer insight into how the magic works.

Regardless, this remains a 5 star read for me and I definitely recommend it to fans of dark, adult fantasy. The cliffhanger at the end has me waiting eagerly for book 2 in the series.

An intricate world, filled with magic and mystery. In this fantasy/horror, we see five POVs from characters that all have a fate entwined with one another, alongside detailed world building that fully captures the imagination with a vivid picture.

I did struggle at first with the many POVs, remembering what had happened in their previous chapter, where they were etc. But once I got into a rhythm, I loved to see all of the POVs of the characters and their stories. I would also love to see a little more explanation into the magic system of the world.

Overall, this was a really intriguing start to the series, it captured my imagination completely with complex characters and vivid world building.

Although I was intrigued by the blurb, I was a little put-off by it being described as horror but I decided to give it a go anyway. I'm really glad I did because I enjoyed it so much more than I expected and there wasn't any real horror in it at all.

From the start, it reminded me really strongly of the Gentleman Bastard series. The setting of a world built on the ruins of an ancient and lost civilisation is similar to that series and the character of Lax is very much like Locke as well. The world building was very in depth and interesting. I really liked the idea of the suns being worshipped as gods. The suns giving different colours of light at different times of day was very unusual, as was the way this was replicated in the different colours of hair and how that was indicative of status. Both mangoes and llamas were very important to this culture - llamas were mentioned several times in common phrases and sayings but they were only actually featured once which made me wonder how prevalent they were in this land.

In the main, the characters weren't too bad, although there were a lot of them. Possibly too many to keep track of or for the author to fully flesh out. Some were more interesting than others, particularly Lax, Val, Ilumi, and Vatra. I really wanted to know about the back-story for Ilumi, Vatra, and the Duke but none was given and I was left frustrated. It became obvious at about 70% that a lot of the questions I had weren't going to be answered. There was just too much story for the amount of book. So much of the book left me with questions and not a single one was answered at the end which was incredibly frustrating and disappointing. After wading through almost 600 pages, it would have been really nice to have had some answers but there weren't any forthcoming. I would have given it 5 stars but I can only give it 4 because of that.

I had some issues with the language that was used. There were a lot of Americanisms, such as 'guys' and 'wanna' which didn't seem to fit the setting. There was a huge amount of grammatical mistakes as well, such as shined instead of shone. I know the author's first language isn't English but I would have thought the editor would have picked up on them.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy to review.

Wow! I really don’t know where to begin with this review. Author Makk Daniel, writing as Daniel McDaniel, has unleashed a smashing debut with “Grieving Gold.” The first in a series, this book introduces the reader to a sci-fi fantasy smash-up that is novel in its approach.

It is always a treat when a new magic system makes the scene. I won’t spoil it for you, but here Daniel has created a new system that will get your attention. The laws governing this system are internally consistent and not so much explained as experienced. The same goes for the science part of the fiction. Daniel’s imagination takes us along for a ride worth the fare.

No story worth telling lacks compelling characters and “Grieving Gold” has them. Each is unique and interesting with interwoven story lines that don’t all cross. The plot covers political intrigue, nefarious characters with an unclear agenda, elements of mystery, and plenty of adventure.

Five stars for Daniel’s debut. I can’t wait to get my hands on book two, “Crippling Crimson.” My sincere thanks to the author and publisher Endless Equinox via NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are mine alone and offered freely.

#LuminocityGrievingGold #MakkDaniel #fivestars #kindlesallthewaydown #Netgalley #debutnovel

Really enjoyed this book. It starts off a bit slow and the magic can be a bit confusing but it's definitely a new concept! Loved the characters and felt like they were nuanced and each of them had a twist or mystery.

Thank You to NetGalley and Endless Equinox for the opportunity to leave a free and honest review.

Unfortunately, this one was not for me. I'm sure this book is going to get glowing reviews, as it well should, but I just wasn't able to keep up with the ever changing points of view. I wasn't entirely sure where the story was going and with the changing POVs, it just did not keep my interest.

I'm sad that I did not finish this one!

DNF at ~20%, 2 stars because the website requires a rating, but with the caveat of this DNF.

From the description, this book sounded like it would be interesting to me. I enjoy the works of Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss, which this book is compared to. However, I had a hard time getting into this book. While I think the magic and world building has some promise, it almost feel like the author is trying too hard to be like Sanderson in the complexity of the world, but it ends up making things muddy, confusing and hard to follow. I also find the wrting style stitled and awkward that is not enjoyable.

I will add that I haven't read a lot of Sanderson or similar stories in a while, having read more YA recently, so it is possible that I'm just out of practice reading in this style, and so this book might be enjoyable to some. The magic use does seem interesting (the idea of "lies" by one character), even if they weren't well described (I had to read the same sentence a few times to understand what was happening), and the author has clearly spent a lot of time thinking about the world in which this story is set. I also love the alligator shape of the continent map.

Thank you for giving me an ARC of this book to read and review!

This was a solid read. Middle of the road fantasy, a lot of PoVs and a very rich world.

⭐️: 4.75 / 5

Publication Date: February 1, 2024

I want to thank Endless Equinox and Net Galley for allowing me to get an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The prologue leaves you with a sense of mystery surrounding the time and setting of the story giving it both a fantasy and science fiction feel to the narrative.

Some of the coolest aspects of this story, were the South American influences sprinkled in! I loved the placement of lush jungles filled with predators along with the tortillas and delicious meals described in the book. The intrigue easily is what kept me so engaged in the book that I kept needing to know what would come next. I loved the FMCs, I found their storylines to be fascinating and well developed all around. And without giving too much away once the storylines started interconnecting I found that really helped make sense of all the POVs. I found the ending to be absolutely brilliant and I look forward to finding out where these characters go next.

As for my reservations, there’s a few too many POVs. Just when you feel you’ve gotten the characters figured out a new POV will be added in. Towards the end I was also getting just a little lost in the timeline of what was happening but that might just be me.

Overall I absolutely recommend this book to read. If you love fantasy with more science fiction feel to it with horror elements I absolutely recommend reading this book! For a debut author this was an absolute knock out.

Would recommend for those who are fans of
- South American inspired setting
- Multiple POV
- Intrigue
- Badass FMCs
- Interesting magic system
- Spiders

⚠️ violence, so many spiders

This book is a great introduction to what is looking to be an intricate, intriguing world. I enjoyed the different storylines throughout the book and the character development throughout for all of these characters. the worldbuilding was great and I'm happy we were given perspectives from characters from different areas of the world and different classes as well.

I initially did struggle to keep up with all of the POV changes, it took me until I got about 15% in to get into the rhythm of the POVs but once I got into it I could barely put the book down! It's definitely worth sticking it out if you're struggling as the layout gets easier to understand as you read on (or at least that was how it was for me).

I hope to keep up with this series as it continues and look forward to the rest of the series!

Thanks to the publisher, author and NetGally for this e-ARC.

I really enjoyed the multiple POV's of this gritty fantasy/horror dystopian tale. The world of Luminocity is incredibly detailed, the characters were engaging and kept me coming back for more. This was an un-putdownable read from start to finish.

"Grieving Gold" lets us into the alluring realm of Luminocity, a city that has reminded me of an exotic, Aztech/Mayan inspired location, with what I would call a postapocalyptic vibe.
The narrative weaves together the destinies of five characters:
The brothers Tama, belonging to the same nobel house but now living diametrically different lifes, Ilumi a scientist coming to the city from her remote village, Aiana, a huntress of what lives in the dark and an orphan, Dawb.
Light and shadow are key in this book - As the title of this series (Luminocity) lets us guess most of the magical system is related to this dichotomy. That, and the influence/effect that the sun gods and their colors have on this world.
I will admit it took me a little while to get used to some of the style used in this book, especially the use of italic for some of the ”gifts” the characters have. Is not until chapter 10 that we get a full impression of the cast, and the undisturbed full immersion in the story can actually start. Said that, once I passed the initial hurdle I really appreciated both the characters and the world (and let’s be honest, such a magic system never gets old) - I am definitely game for continuing this series.

This is a great start to a series. Grieving Gold tells the story of the city of Luminocity, a city standing on the remnants of an ancient civilization full of forgotten technology. We are introduced to five characters whose stories intertwine as the book unfolds.

Grieving Gold is such a rich new world to explore. Each character that is introduced is a fully realized character that is different from the last one. I was drawn most to Lax and Ilumi. Ilumi had a surprising twist that I found interesting and Lax is a charming thief who was once a part of the nobility. I can also see why some people may get confused over all the characters but each character is unique that it is easy to see their motivations and how they live this world.

The author has created a lush and interesting world. The world in the novel is so immersive that though there are dangers I wouldn't mind visiting it if it were real. I love the mix of Aztec and Mayan cultures with the advanced technologies of this world. There is a lot of world building which includes info dumping that can be a little daunting at first but it provides so much insight into this new world.

My only complaint is I wish there is was a little more explanation of the magic system that the world uses. It seems really interesting and I want to know more about it. Hopefully with the next book it will give more insight into how the magic works.

This is definitely a must read for anyone who loves great world building, fully realized characters, and an immersive story then this is for you. I cannot wait for the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Greiving Gold.

This was a solid read with great potential.

The world building was there, but hard to follow. I think the author needs to work on the details. I can see how readers can get lost in this if they are not into world building.

Overall, the book was intriguing. It does have first book syndrome to me - it seems all just a set-up book. I was expecting a little bit more.

But the character development was also fantastic !

I recently finished reading Daniel McDaniel's Grieving Gold, and I have to say, I was blown away by the depth and complexity of the story. Set in the city of legends, Luminocity, the book weaves together the stories of five characters whose fates are intertwined by the currents of destiny.

From Laxerion Tama, a disowned noble son turned heist group mastermind, to Val-Gustus Tama, a golden son forced to take responsibility for threats to the city, each character is well-developed and fully realized. I was especially drawn to the character of Ilumi, a young scientist grappling with the moral implications of outlandish new technologies.

But what really sets this book apart is the vivid and immersive world-building. The city of Luminocity is both beautiful and haunting, and the decaying ruins of the ancient civilization that lies beneath it add a layer of mystery and intrigue that kept me engaged from start to finish. And as eldritch things stir in the dark, the tension and suspense only continue to build.

Overall, I would highly recommend Grieving Gold to anyone who enjoys immersive and thought-provoking fantasy novels. Daniel McDaniel has crafted a truly unique and compelling story that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Luminocity, a city that stands on the decaying ruins of an ancient civilization, stood in the skeletal ruins of long empty dangerous skyscrapers full of the remnants of a misunderstood past. In the city, rich men can be poor in their relatives and street urchins can feel like kings when they have the right "found" family by their sides. And no matter what happens, the three suns and three gods above them watch it all, shedding their light, powering everything that sustains them. But there is a fourth sun, a fourth god that everyone takes for granted.

The story follows several characters, from several backgrounds as they try and live with the choices they have made and the hand of fate that they have been given. From the heights of the rich to the dark caverns under the earth, one thing is certain: war is brewing though it may not be the border skirmish that most people know about. Monsters are stalking the city, and they seem to have their tentacles in all manner of pies.

This book grabbed me from the prologue and held in in thrall until the past page. It was amazing; the world-building involved, the characters that the story followed and the anticipation I am now feeling towards the next book. (Plus the frustration I do not have it in my hands right now.) The writing is smooth, and clever without being arrogant in the expectation you live in a world of six-syllable words. If you like a dystopian sci-fi book that has the potential to be an epic series then I think this is the book for you.

I am not usually a fan of dystopian fantasy books but i still requested this book because the premise looked interesting to me. After reading this book i am on fence about weather i liked this book or not.

I really wanted to like this book and in many ways I think I did. However, it is confusing to say the least. Too many characters all fighting for a place at the front and none of them actually getting there. The magic is intriguing but far from transparent. Maybe some editing down would have made me more invested.

I can see the author has this whole story in his mind but somehow that became more confusing at the end, Maybe the book needed more explanations and more pages but that didn't happened too.

Absolutely excellent!

Grieving gold is a wonderful book filled with intrigue, complex world building, and character arcs as gorgeous as this cover!

Epic fantasy lovers will utterly fall in love with this new gem. The world is rich in detail, the characters build to perfection and the plot perfectly placed. I'm not usually a fantasy girl but this? Yeah an exception for sure. Fans of Brandon Sanderson, I have found a new fave for you!

I had a difficult time getting through this one. It might be a case of it’s not you it’s me - maybe. This book is the beginning to a high fantasy/epic fantasy adventure. We go through this book via 5 POVs. I found myself forgetting who each POV was, what their magic was and where in Lunimocity they were. That’s my only issue really - my confusion. The concept is great and extremely creative. I also get why there’s so many POVs and so much details. The author wants to take this sucker (series) 20+ books deep. For now though, this is where I’m at. I honestly think I would like this book much better on the 2nd or 3rd reread.

Sadly, this books wasn't for me.
I stopped at 20% because i wasn't enjoying myself.

The beginning is very rushed, but fails to provide enough information for me to get immersed into the world. There are some interesting ideas regarding the magic system but the author didn't explain enough of it to captivate me.
In my opinion there are too many characters, and not enough pages for each of them. At 20% I'd expect to like at least one of them, but i felt like they were all strangers and couldn't get myself to care for them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.