I was nervous going into this last installment in the Illuminaries trio, I still had so many questions from the first two books. I loved how fast paced this one was. There is so much action packed into every chapter, and I was here for the ride. I love Winnie and thought that her development in this one. The romance between her and Jay is super cute and I was glad to see that play it part in the story. I was so excited when the mystery surrounded her dad, and the other was finally starting to unravel. The closure from that was completely a sigh of relief as I had a slight worry that the series would end without us knowing. I cannot wait to re-read this series straight through so that I can have the full scope of the story fresh in my mind. I love Caitlin Davies narration of this book and can't imagine that anyone would have been able to give it such life like she did.

I received a copy of this as part of the MacMillan Audio Influencers program and thought it was a great conclusion to a fresh trilogy. It was full of action (I think the most of the trilogy) and enough twists to keep me engaged from start to finish. I felt like it gave great resolution to several lingering questions from throughout the trilogy. It also brought in new characters that added to the intrigue of the story via the Nightmare Masquerade.

This book shines for its broader story and the fast-paced, dark atmosphere. Some secondary characters, like Jeremiah, Lenora, and Caterina, were intriguing but underexplored, and I would have loved to see them developed more, but that would have required way more book. On the other hand, Erica’s prickly, "ice queen" charm added depth to her role in the story, balancing out the team dynamic.

The audiobook version enhances the experience with Caitlin Davies’s excellent narration that captures the story’s eerie vibe. The Whispering Night provides a solid finish to an entertaining young adult fantasy series, blending horror and romance in a way that's both accessible and thrilling for younger audiences. The open-ended finale leaves space for more adventures in this world—maybe a spinoff is headed our way???

I couldn't wait for this third and final book in the trilogy . I am grateful for the review copies I received an Ebook and an audiobook. I often read then listen to books I really enjoy. Thank you publishers and Netgalley
The last book had me sitting on edge, thankfully this one pulled me off and gave me some answers I was craving. Fantastic ending ! There were lots of little bits that I missed on my first read that I picked up through the audiobook. I recommend this audiobook highly the narration is fantastic !
Winnie and Jay, she grew up a lot in this series as does their relationship. It’s nice to have a couple you can believe in.
The Diana’s well there is a story you’ve got to read. We find out some really interesting history on them and a couple twisted twists !
What happened to Winnie’s father ? What was the real story. It’s in this book, read it. You’ll have a good time finding out.

This was the exact conclusion I needed for this spooky series. This was way better than book 2 in my opinion and had so much more action that kept me on my toes. If you still haven't picked this series up, definitely give it a shot! It's such an entertaining and immersive world.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

“The Whispering Night,” by Susan Dennard

This is a good book for people that like young YA books, I didn’t love love how quirky and funny it tried to be but would be a good book for actual teens and not so much lover of YA in my opinion. The characters were good when they weren’t trying too hard to be funny. I absolutely hated the recording which I thought were super annoying which leads me into the narration of the audiobook. The narration was good besides the recording, but those recordings really ruined the book for me, but I have a bias that I hate books that have a lot of communication through letters, texts, etc. so if that doesn’t bother you then it’s a good chance you might like the book better.

Anyways, 3 out of 5 stars.

-Werewolves
-Witches
-Mystery

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

I feel like I really enjoyed the first two. But i don’t know. Something about this one fell short for me. Maybe I was just not in the right headspace for it

Note: I listened to the audio and it’s a good audio - no complaints from me on that!

Whispering Night is Dennard's third and final installment of the Luminaries trilogy. We finally get some answers to the questions about Winnie's father, the "new" nightmare manifesting in the forest, and a small bit more about the sleeping nightmares. The world building in these novels has been fantastic and we even still see more in this third novel. I like all of the characters in these books, but the true catch for me were the things we learned about the world along the way. The character development seems to have plateaued, because the characters did not engage me much at all in this third book. The ending, for specific reasons, was very repetitive which wouldn't have been a drawback if I hadn't already felt distanced from Winnie and her journey. Overall, this was a good ending to the series with an opening to have related series in the future, but if it had been the first in series, I probably would not continue.

This series is absolutely one of my favorite series of all time, and The Whispering Night summed it up perfectly! Winnie is such an amazing FMC and she cracks me up with her inner dialogue. This final installment of The Luminaries series was epic, and we go right back to where the last book (The Hunting Moon) left off. I love how complex (but not difficult to follow) the creatures, the family houses (named after days of the week), and the situation with the witches (Dianas) are in this series. We do meet a new adversary (as if Winnie needed anymore) and we also get closure to many questions. One twist in particular (no spoilers) had me legit crying. Susan Dennard is now on my list of favorite fantasy authors! Do yourself a favor and get this series!!! I could write a book praising this series, but trust me, you need to read this immediately!

A massive thank you to Tor for allowing me to read and review this title.

The Whispering Night is the third and final instalment of the Luminaries series by Susan Dennard. I have been following along since before the beginning of this series, when Susan Dennard was posting prompts for the audience to choose on Twitter. And since she is also one of my favourite authors, I could not wait to get into this book and catch up with all the characters again.

Since this is the final book, I'll try to keep the review as spoiler free as possible. We pick up with Winnie after she learns the secrets that her childhood friends have been keeping from her, and we see her trying to mend the bonds with these friends. But the Dianas are not done with their meddling. One of them manages to find Winnie and give her a task, or else everyone she loves will be in danger.

Still seeking answers to how and why her dad became entangled with the Dianas, Winnie must trust her instincts and her newly mended friendship with Erica Thursday to try and stop what's coming. And the forest is also growing restless...

I absolutely loved this series. It's quite different from Dennard's Truthwitch series, but it has its own atmosphere that draws the reader in. It's especially fitting as a Halloween read, as all the monsters and the misty, dark forest are described so vividly.

The characters in this series have grown so much, especially when realising how important friendships can be, and that a support structure can make or break you as a person. I love that this was one of the major focuses of the series. Winnie being an outsider at the start, trying to find who she can trust as she slowly starts to gain her status in the town back from her family's scandal.

There are a few loose strings that weren't fully wrapped up, but in general I am quite happy with how it ended. I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a fun, monster hunting series about friendships and redemption. And of course, I look forward to seeing if Susan Dennard will be releasing more books in this universe! Once a #DenNerd, always a #DenNerd!

The Whispering Night was in my top five anticipated reads this year and, while I’m sad to leave these characters, I’m happy with the way their journey ends.

Reviewing book three in a series is difficult without giving away spoilers, so this will be brief. Winnie believes her life has finally settled down and is back on track. She and Jay are together, no one’s hunting the werewolf, and her friendship with Erica isn’t quite as shaky as it was. She should have known not to get too comfortable.

New foes arrive, and when shocking secrets involving her own family come to light, Winnie digs deeper. Family has always been her first priority, and she’s determined to learn more about what happened to her father. As with the prior books in this series, I love Winnie’s very logical approach to problem solving and the way she stays true to herself rather than cave to the expectations of others. Her growth over the course of the series is outstanding, and I felt a kind of parental pride for her by the end.

Quick pacing, loads of action, and extremely high stakes make for a compelling read. Recommended for readers who enjoy urban fantasy, a slow-burn romance, and characters that steal your heart.

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

The Whispering Night is the dramatic conclusion to Susan Dennard's Luminaries Series. Join Winnie Wednesday, Jay Friday, and Erica Tuesday, along with a host of others, as they try to find the whispering nightmare taking over the forest. Add in a search for Winnie's missing father, a deadly witch with an agenda, and a nightmare festival with people everywhere, and you are sure to find some adventure. I enjoyed this series. Really hated for it to end! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. The audiobook was excellent.

I thought this was a really good time, everything you would want in a finale. I did think all the action at the end dragged a bit (for me, personally), but overall I enjoyed the mystery-solving aspect of it. The relationships, the witch magic, how relatable Winnie is, how bad she is at texting—all of this just added to the enjoyment all around. I was really satisfied with how everything resolved.

"The Whispering Night" presents a captivating blend of fantasy and mystery that immerses readers in its atmospheric setting. The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery is both compelling and relatable, showcasing her strengths and vulnerabilities as she navigates a world fraught with danger and intrigue. The world-building isn't anything crazy, and I wish we saw more nightmares throughout this series. It has a vibe similar to if you mixed the 'Wednesday' tv show with 'Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them'. I found the pacing to be a bit uneven. Some sections felt drawn out, leading to moments where my interest waned. Overall, I felt myself finishing this trilogy wanting a bit... more. Despite these pacing issues, "The Whispering Night" delivers enough charm and depth to engage fans of the genre, and I'm sure this novel will find it's audience. The themes of friendship, loyalty, and self-acceptance resonate strongly, making it a worthwhile read.

This fun conclusion to the Luminaries series has Winnie once again circumventing the rules and the leadership to rescue her loved ones.

Plenty of foreshadowing about the big bad, who isn't explicitly revealed until the end. I love the sweet relationship between Winne and her boyfriend. The setting is a small town where everyone knows everyone, like a magical Mayberry, and you know who is related to whom because their last names are all days of the week.

I enjoyed this series and while I wouldn't call it cozy, it's not exactly dark either.

I love Caitlin Davies. She does a superb job as always.

4.5 rounded up
As one of my most anticipated releases for this year, I found this to be a great conclusion to the trilogy. The writing is lyrical and the mythology solid. This book was full of action, a little romance and a few twists that kept the story moving along.

Jay is forever the best boyfriend; his use of science terms is so endearing. We finally find out what happened 4 years ago.

The narration was well done with different voices for each character. I think it helped pull the lyrical qualities out of the text.

I was given a copy by the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!) and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an early copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

I have adored this series, and this book definitely does not disappoint! Winnie is such a fun character to watch learn and grow, and I really enjoyed seeing her bloom in this book. I love the way that this book ties everything up while still being full of intrigue to the very last page. It so easily kept my attention from start to finish, and I appreciate that even the slower moments kept me guessing and wondering where things were going.

I love the evolution of Winnie's family and friends and the way her priorities switch but also stay the same. She is such a loyal person, and she maintains that until the end, even if some of her people change. She truly went on a journey of self discovery and she was such a joy to watch on it with her strength and resilience.

The worldbuilding of this series is amazing and part of what makes it one of my new favorite series. The way that nightmares are described makes everything seem so real and really gets your heart pounding.

If you're looking for a spooky new series for this fall, look no further, your new favorite is here!

This was a really great ending to the story! We learn a lot of new information, see character growth, and find out the answers to questions from book 1. Where is Winnie's father? What was he really involved in? What's going on with Jay? While there is still a romance, it felt like there was a lot more going on in this book than in book 2. The Whispering Night is action packed and has lots of danger, atmosphere, and twists. A very solid conclusion to the trilogy! The audio narration is good and keeps the energy up for the plot. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

4.25⭐️
When I saw this audio offering in NetGalley it automatically pulled me in despite it being #3 in a series.
I was thrilled when I was accepted to get the audio ALC so I quickly looked up the first two and was able to listen to the first followed by the physical copy of the second book, both through my library.
So I want to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC for free so I could leave my voluntary review.

I’ll admit it did take a hot minute to wrap my head around the world that was created by the author trying to sort out the families (names by the day of the week), their “job” or purpose within the community and then Diana’s, Luminaries and other creatures and beings. But after a while I wrapped my head around it.

I loved following Winnie a strong willed talented Wednesday who on her 16th birthday sets out to prove herself and become a hunter and get her family back on then”right side” of the community since her father seemingly betrayed them and became the enemy.

Winnie showed such strength throughout that you couldn’t help being pulled into her story. The book has everything. A magical world and system, action, mystery and romance all rolled into one.

The Whispering Night was a great ending to the series. It wrapped every up in an awesome way. I love reading strong young female characters that don’t fall victim to the silly tropes and mindless stereotypes that happen many times in YA book series.

As for the production of the audiobook it was great. While I did speed it up to listen, that was personal preference as the published rate was a good one and not slow like so many narrations are these days. I enjoyed the narrator, Caitlin Davies voice as well.

This book comes out November 19th 2024 and would be a great gift (with the first two) for you favorite teen readers as well as to have on library and school shelves.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

"The Whispering Night" by Susan Dennard, the third book in The Luminaries series, is narrated by Caitlin Davies. I thoroughly enjoyed this final installment; it provided a perfect conclusion to an entertaining series. Caitlin Davies excels at bringing the characters to life, and the musical introduction was a delightful touch that matched the book's atmosphere perfectly.
Winnie and her companions return to Hemlock Falls forest, their werewolf hunting days behind them, and her relationship with Jay Friday is now clear.
As the Nightmare Masquerade approaches, unexpected guests arrive, and Winnie faces a daunting challenge from a masked Diana, endangering everyone she holds dear.
In the midst of battling new foes, Winnie discovers her missing father's involvement in her quest to find the concealed witches. This revelation uncovers an age-old conflict between the Luminaries and the Dianas, exposing a division within her own family.
I found this series to be an enjoyable young adult fantasy horror, incorporating romance in a manner suitable for younger readers.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Whispering Night is the final book in The Luminaries trilogy, and it was the finale I needed it to be. This book was everything I hoped for and more. It was an absolutely satisfying conclusion while still leaving the door cracked for future spin offs. I loved that Dennard managed to still keep readers on their toes while dropping mind blowing revelation after mind blowing revelation. I’m impressed by the number of twists and turns this book took while still being satisfying. The plot pacing will have you dreading having to put the book down because it’s so fast and amped up with action. The tension is palpable and will leave you on the edge of your seat hoping the characters survive. I read this via ebook and audiobook, and I can’t recommend the audio enough. Caitlin Davies was amazing in her role. You could easily feel Winnie’s emotions in Davies’s narration from her excitement to panic. It was an amazing performance worthy of this series conclusion.