I love this series, it has been one of my favourites of the last few years. Of the three books, I did struggle with the pacing of this one the most, but it is a great finale to the unique series. There were lots of neat bows and my heart got all the feels it needed. As I mentioned, the pace is a bit slow, particularly in the middle but overall there is still plenty of action. The last 100 pages were packed!

Winnie's dry humour continues in this book to the point it's almost like another character. She isn't my favourite, at times I found her very frustrating but I guess that's exactly what being a teenager is all about! I struggled with some of the descriptions but they are very much part of the forest atmosphere.

As always, I loved the Compendium lore and drawings.

For those who enjoy young adult fantasy that is full of attitude, atmosphere and acerbic wit.

Sadly, a DNF. I can't remember much about the previous two books, but I know I didn't really enjoy them, and I just can't bring myself to care enough to finish out the trilogy properly.

One of my most anticipated reads of the year and I was not disappointed! A fantastic conclusion to Winnie Wednesdays story, nicely rounding off and answering questions the reader has held since book one. This book gives us some incredible character growth , particularly from Winnie, as she discovers that there is more behind what is happening in Hemlock Falls than just what directly affects her own family.
The very sweet (and age appropriate!) romance between Winnie and Jay blossoms, and the friendships within the WTF triangle deepen and strengthen as they learn they have to rely wholly on one another.
Even though the ending was nicely rounded off, I feel like the author has left it open to the possibility of exploring other characters within the Hemlock Falls world.

I have read all books in this trilogy and feel that this was a great ending. I think I would have preferred if the story was spread over a longer timescale (a month for three books is quite tight!). I had predicted some of the twists and then there were some things that I was (thankfully) wrong about. A solid 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I struggled a bit with the first two installments of this series, which felt fairly formulaic and had some very obvious twists. However, some of that actually does pay off in this book, which ties together a lot of the loose ends and feels much more pacey than the first two. I did still get a bit frustrated with some of Winnie's repetitive inner monologue, but less so. Not a series I'd run back to, but not bad.

{Actual rating - 4.5/5}

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I can’t believe this series is over! *The Whispering Night* marks the third and final instalment of Susan Dennard’s incredible trilogy, and I’ve loved every minute of it. This series has been such a joy to read, and I’m certain it’ll remain one of my all-time favourites.

As the final book, there were a lot of threads and conflicts that needed resolving, and I was curious to see how it would all come together. Thankfully, it did not disappoint. The series has always juggled multiple plotlines and intricate details, and this book managed to tie them all up beautifully. Everything fell into place in a way that felt satisfying and true to the story.

The worldbuilding in this series has always been exceptional, and *The Whispering Night* took it to new heights. The lore surrounding the nightmares, the witches, and The Luminaries are some of the most fascinating things I’ve come across. Even with this being the final book, we were still uncovering new pieces of the world alongside Winnie, the main character, which made the experience even more immersive. It’s rare for a series to maintain such a strong sense of discovery all the way through, but this one absolutely nailed it.

And then there’s Winnie. She’s truly one of the best protagonists I’ve ever read. Watching her growth over the trilogy has been a highlight of the series. She’s gained so much confidence and become such a badass over the course of the story, but she’s still the same Winnie we met back in book one. Those little quirks and traits that made her feel so real in the beginning are still there, making her journey feel authentic and rewarding.

I really enjoyed this. Is this the last book?? I think so. It’s such a fun series, and I really enjoyed EVERYTHING in this. The characters are entertaining (Save the fishes!), the plot is worth reading and easy-ish to follow (have i been screaming about something that i was right about for three books???? YES. i want more winnie but i kinda want her dad’s story

This was a perfect ending to the story! Winnie's growth throughout has been amazing to read, is it weird to be proud of a character? She stayed true to herself through the whole series and I love her for it.

Delving deeper into character relationships and their development in this one was great to see, the WTF triangle, and the ever growing pressure of working out who the Diana's are/ what happened to her dad, how's it's all tied. And we get all the lasers to the these questions 🙌🏼

Ome of my favourite things is how detailed the descriptions of the Nightmares are, along with the illustrations, it really helps bring the story to life.

I'm still sad this series is over, but I loved every minute of it.

One of my instant buy authors and so was so happy I got this book.

Honest it was a great way to round up the series. But felt the pacing at the end was a little too fast and choppy. But it's a book with a happy ending so good for the winter months.

I have loved the direction this series has gone in and this was the perfect ending to this series. I love the characters, the friendships she makes in this are amazing, and I loved seeing the development of the relationships she has with family members and other people in the town throughout these three books, and her getting the respect that she deserves. The creatures in this book were so well described and every scene was so atmospheric.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Daphne Press for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: violence, death, grief, injury, blood, injury

Winnie Wednesday got through her trials and is now officially a Luminary, welcomed back into the community that had shunned her and her mother for years. Hemlock Falls is (mostly) at peace now the werewolf is gone, she’s reconciled with her former best friend, Erica Thursday, while finally getting together with Jay Friday. Winnie now has only one thing to think about: to solve the mystery of why her missing father, long accused of being a witch called a Diana, might have been set up. As Hemlock Falls prepares for the Nightmare Masquerade, a week of celebrating all things Luminary where people flock from all over the world, uninvited threatening guests arrive in the small town. Soon enough Winnie is confronted by a masked Diana and given an impossible task that betrays and threatens everything the Luminaries stand for. Caught between the past of her father, numerous new enemies and other issues she thought solved, Winnie digs deeper into the war between the Dianas and Luminaries, only to find that it’s been much closer to home this whole time.

I adore Susan Dennard’s writing, ‘The Luminaries’ is a beautiful and engrossing series and I think this is a brilliant, epic finale to this trilogy. These books have been such a huge comfort, even when the stakes are incredibly high, and this one- while delving deep into the history of Hemlock Falls and the secrets kept by Winnie’s family- isn’t an exception. ‘The Whispering Night’ starts at a break neck pace, easing away from some of the romance of the second book and dragging the reader into a conspiracy that takes Winnie through the forest full of monsters, the parties of her society and the libraries of Hemlock Falls’ past. I did miss Jay a little but I loved her reconnection with her former best friend Erica. Winnie’s humour and intelligence have always been one of the highlights of these books for me, she’s came so far from the banished and quiet girl of the first book and I loved how much her skills are appreciated in this one. Her experiences of trauma, particularly the terrible things she went through during the trials (and everything afterwards), were really well written. The humour is still there but it's balanced with the things Winnie has had to go through and the new traumas she faces. The world of Hemlock Falls is so vivid and fascinating, with rich worldbuilding and such a fun (but scary) vibe as children and adults battle monsters in the forest nightly. I’m so glad that I read this series and that it had such an excellent and satisfying conclusion.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Daphne Press; 1st edition (19 Nov. 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1837840571
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1837840571
Book Blurb
Winnie Wednesday’s future is looking bright. Hemlock Falls is no longer hunting the werewolf, she and Erica Thursday are tentative friends, and Winnie finally knows exactly where she stands with Jay Friday.
With everything finally on track, Winnie is looking forward to the Nightmare Masquerade. But as Luminaries from across the world flock to the small town for the week-long celebration, uninvited guests also arrive. Winnie is confronted by a masked Diana and charged with an impossible task—one that threatens everything and everyone Winnie loves.
Winnie must stop these new enemies before time runs out, but her missing father is somehow entangled with her search for hidden witches, and as Winnie digs deeper into the war between the Luminaries and the Dianas, she discovers rifts within her own family she never could have imagined. What does loyalty mean when family and enemies look the same?
My Review
I have loved reading Susan Dennard's Luminaries trilogy, and am grateful to Daphne Press for sending me these books in return for my review. Winnie is back, but finds herself pulled in many directions, as a daughter, a friend, a girlfriend and a hunter. She has to find the truth about the Whisperer in the Forest whilst a high ranking Diana (a witch) gives Winnie a task that could destroy her family and friendships. Set against the Masquerade Ball, Winnie finds that there are alot of people living in Hemlock Falls wearing masks every day.
With the last book in a series or trilogy I am very careful about what I say as I don't want to spoil anything in realtion to this book, or the previous books, so it will be a shortish review. What I can say is that this book is full of energy, action and surprises. Winnie, not one to seek the limelight, finds herself at the centre of the Masquerade festivities with visiting Luminaries wanting to meet the 'wolf girl', who survived the Werewolf, and completed the her trilas in epic style. As expected she shines through in this book where her loyalty to both family and friends are tested, and I loved seeing how Susan Dennard has developed her and other characters like Jay Friday and Erica Thursday, from the first book to the last.
As with the previous books, Susan Dennard's plotting and storytelling is masterful. There were plenty of surprises along the way and several heart in the mouth moments that I wanted to read through fingers over my eyes. The two opening chapters were fabulous, full of mystery capturing my attention immediately and keeping it until the very last word. As with the previous book I was fascinated by the drawings of the Nightmares from the forest, they are beautifully done and show the fabulous imagnation of Susan Dennard in creating these strange creatures and how thay kill.
The Whispering Night is a stunning finale to the Luminaries Trilogy. It was everything I hoped for with it's fast pace, action, surprises, and finally the answers to so many questions. I highly recommend this trilogy, it has everything I wanted from a Young Adult Fantasy read; a wonderful central character in Winnie, Nightmares living in the forest and a town full of secrets. I am includung a link to my review of the previous books in the trilogy below.
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
The Hunting Moon (The Luminaries Book 2) by Susan Dennard

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ (4.5/5)

Susan Dennard’s The Whispering Nightmare concludes the series with a dark and atmospheric finale. The detailed descriptions—particularly of the nightmares—stand out as some of the book’s most compelling elements, making these parts a true highlight.

The focus on Winnie’s PTSD and her internal dialogue was handled with depth and nuance, giving her character a powerful emotional arc. However, the rest of the characters felt somewhat underdeveloped, often fading into the background compared to previous books. All of this together made it the least memorable book in the series for me.

While the story wraps up a small plot arc and delivers a satisfying ending—especially with all the nightmares coming together—the introduction of many new characters and the unresolved overarching plot left me wanting more. There’s a lingering sense that the world Dennard has built still has so many stories left to tell.

Despite its shortcomings, The Whispering Nightmare is a haunting and fast read, with enough emotional depth and eerie charm to earn its 4.5-star rating. It’s a worthy conclusion for fans of the series, though newcomers will definitely need to start from the beginning to fully appreciate the journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of The Whispering Night.

This was an excellent conclusion to The Luminaries series. The writing again was excellent and the way that the remaining mysteries were slowly unravelled was so satisfying and intricately written.

I loved jumping back into this world and the characters and getting to see even more development and vivid world building and description.

100% recommend this YA series with a small town cozy feel but with so much to unpack and never ending mysteries to solve.

The final instalment in the trilogy, and a fantastic end to Winnie's journey. The end of book 2 left me with so many answers, I didn't expect Susan Dennard would be able to tie them all up in book 3, let alone in a satisfactory way. As well-written, addictive, and enjoyable as the rest of the series, this has earned its place on my reread rotation.

Susan Dennard's The Whispering Night is a beautifully crafted, atmospheric part 3 of Winnie Wednesdays story that plunges readers into a world of secrets, magical forces, and a compelling cast of characters.
Dennard's signature blend of tension and intrigue shines through, creating a plot that is as captivating as it is unpredictable.
The story is set in a hauntingly atmospheric town where magic forces and magical creatures called nightmares lurk in the shadows and the mist. Dennard excels at building suspense, weaving together elements of mystery, supernatural and romance. Her world-building is rich and immersive, drawing readers into an eerie, unpredictable setting. While Winnie is trying to find her father, save the Luminaries from Dianas and protect Jay's secret, she is a strong yet vulnerable yet strong young woman, incredibly well-developed character by author. Winnie has internal struggles and personal agenda are depicted with depth and sensitivity, making her journey all the more engaging. The secondary characters also bring nuance and complexity to the story, adding layers of emotional depth and intrigue.
What truly sets The Whispering Night apart is
Dennard's crafty writing for Winnie allowing the reader to feel like watching a movie. The pacing is solid, with twists that will leave readers hooked, though some of the slower, introspective moments might feel drawn out for readers seeking constant action.
Overall, The Whispering Night is an enthralling, atmospheric and engaging read that will appeal to fans of dark fantasy and romantasy. While it may not have any strong spicy scenes in her romantic scenes, its intricately woven plot, engaging characters, and eerie setting make it a book worth reading. I highly recommend it to fans of Susan Dennard's previous works, as well as anyone looking for a deeply atmospheric, hauntingly emotional story.
Thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for the chance to read this book

Epic conclusion to the series. Soo many things happening so much confusion but we finally get a resolution to all the unanswered questions. There were lots of twists and turns I wasn’t expecting but that get me hooked and kept me reading. It is still quite young but thrilling enough to keep me agog.

This series is just so well written, keeps you guessing and gives you enough to keep you completely hooked.
Winnie Winona Wednesday is such a lovable character. She's intelligent, loyal, principled and funny. I have loved reading her discovery of what is going down in Hemlock Falls and taking matters into her own hands.

The whole premise of the story and how the Luminary clans are named for the days of the week is just very cool. Dennard has smashed this one out of the park.

The Whispering Night by Jessica Townsend is the highly anticipated and thrilling conclusion to the Luminaries trilogy, delivering a pulse-pounding, swoon-worthy finale that fans have been eagerly awaiting.

Winnie Wednesday’s life seems to be on track. Hemlock Falls is no longer hunting the werewolf, she and Erica Thursday are starting to forge a fragile but meaningful friendship, and Winnie’s relationship with Jay Friday has finally settled into something solid. Just when it appears everything is falling into place, the Nightmare Masquerade—an annual week-long celebration of all things Luminary—arrives in the small town, bringing with it not only long-awaited visitors but also uninvited guests. Among them is a masked Diana, who tasks Winnie with an impossible mission that puts everyone she loves at risk.

As Winnie battles new enemies, old mysteries continue to resurface. Her missing father seems to be somehow connected to her search for hidden witches, and as she delves deeper into the long-standing war between the Luminaries and the Dianas, Winnie uncovers shocking secrets within her own family. The line between loyalty and betrayal becomes increasingly blurred as she realises that family and foes may not be so different after all.

This final instalment in the trilogy is a masterclass in suspense, with nonstop action and brilliantly original twists that keep readers hooked from start to finish. The dynamic between Winnie and Erica takes centre stage, as the two friends team up to solve the mystery of Erica's sister’s death and the role Winnie’s father played in it. The pace is relentless, with thrilling chase scenes and encounters with bizarre creatures, but the true joy of this book lies in the slow unravelling of the characters' complex relationships and the answers they discover along the way.

The Whispering Night is one of the most satisfying conclusions to a trilogy I’ve encountered in a long time. The world-building is rich and immersive, with the haunting atmosphere of the mist-covered forests and the intriguing witchy society of the Dianas leaving a lasting impression. While I’m sad to see this captivating world come to an end, the potential for future spinoffs is endless. The possibility of exploring other Luminary societies or even delving into the world of the Dianas has me hopeful for more stories to come. I can only hope that Jessica Townsend will one day collaborate with a visual artist to bring The Nightmare Compendium to life, as I would buy that reference book in a heartbeat.

As much as this book ties up the trilogy beautifully, I find myself unwilling to say goodbye to this world.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Susan Dennard’s The Whispering Night is an emotional and gripping finale that brings this beloved series to a close in spectacular fashion. The story wraps up the characters’ journeys with heart and just enough twists to keep you on edge. Dennard’s writing is as vivid and atmospheric as ever, pulling you into a world filled with danger, mystery, and heart While a few plot threads could have used a bit more time, the ending makes this a deeply satisfying conclusion that fans will love.