The Hunting Moon is the sequel to Susan Dennard's incredible fantasy, The Luminaries. While I absolutely adored the first book and was so invested in Wednesday's story, the sequel was just too slow and did not pull me in.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor Publishing Group | Tor Teen, for this eARC to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4/5 stars!

I really liked this continuation of the series. Dennard has done an excellent job of making dark, hard topics and magic approachable for teens without watering it down too much, but also keeping the in between moments fun and lighthearted enough to keep things enjoyable between incidents. I do recognize this is not written for my age group, but I can see how some of the repetitive behaviors/phrases could be off-putting for some. However, I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed it, and felt that some things referenced by other reviewers were less noticeable on the audio. I was entertained and engrossed with the story, and wanted to keep listening whenever I could. I am hoping there will be some twists I don't foresee, as unfortunately I was able to clock that Jay was the werewolf during book 1, and that Erica was our possible antagonist as well. There are definitely some key players still hidden, and I can't wait to find out if her dad truly is a traitor or if he was framed by Erica/another outside force.

This has swiftly become one of my fave series of all time. The Supernatural vibes, the monsters, all of it is so good. The mystery aspect is really good too.

3.5 stars

This one was a bit slow going for me, but finally kicked in around 60%.

A bit more world building, a few answers, and some (very obvious) reveals. The ending left the story at a firm stopping place, but really with a pin in it.

Overall, a classic second book of a trilogy. I'm eager to finally get all of the answers.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

Winnie Wednesday passed her trials and now is part of the luminaries again. The best part being that her mother and brother are not accepted again and she can hold her head high with all of her friends. But being the girl who got bit isn’t so straightforward. Winnie doesn’t believe the werewolf is bad and she doesn’t understand why she is the only one hearing the “whisperer”. She won’t rest until she uncovers all the mysteries and Jay Friday might not be able to help because he seems to also have a lot of mysteries that need solving. I am so excited to find out more answers with the next upcomming novel

I love this series so much. I am captivated by the nightmares that appear in the forest and I can't wait to learn more about them as we uncover more secrets about the luminaries and the dianas. The Hunting Moon was just as good as the first book. I was able to guess some of the secrets (like the wearwolf, which I pegged right from the start in book 1) but there were still other surprises that shocked me.

The romance between Wini and Jay is slow burn, but so worth it! I can't wait to see what is going to happen between them in the next book. And now that Erica is coming back into the mix as well, I am super excited to book three.

If you are a fan of paranormal creatures, and you liked the vibe of Hansel and gretel: witch Hunters and The Brothers Grimm(the matt Damon and Heath Ledger version) then you will love the vibes of this series. The spooky forest is haunting and perfect. I am such a big fan of this series.

I really did enjoy this one, surprisingly a whole lot more than the first book. I thought that the world building got a n uptick in this one. And I really enjoyed getting to know some of the characters better. Winnie's character development progressed quit a bit in this one and I was really happy to see how she handled situations. I like that the writing is easy to follow and keeps you engaged even in spots where the story boggs down a bit. I am super picky with my slow burns and I think that Dennard wrote and balanced this one out perfectly. I am excited to see what happens in the next book.

This was so, so good. So much that Dennard built up to in the first book came to fruition in this one and it was just really satisfying to read. The characters all gained more depth, the mysterious grew deeper, and the climax was just phenomenal. Dennard continues to show that she's incredibly talented and has once again solidified her place as one of my favorite authors. I absolutely cannot wait for the final book in this series.

I unfortunately did not get to this one in time to give a full review by the publish date, however I gave it 5 stars.

I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed The Luminaries and instantly needed to read the second one. I enjoyed The Hunting Moon just as much as the first! I honestly couldn’t put it down and needed to see how it was going to end. I love Winnie so much and seeing her character development in this one from the first. I definitely enjoyed the twists even though I did guess some of them. I can’t wait to read the third and final book in this series and see how it all ends!

Overall, I really enjoyed The Luminaries series and definitely recommend to anyone who loves a fun YA fantasy read that’s perfect for fall!

Winnie falls deeper into trouble in THE HUNTING MOON as she tries to solve the mystery of whether her father is a traitor or not.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This is one of those books that I just want to read for the first time again! I'm completely invested in this series and will continue to be for the foreseeable future!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. I absolutely loved it!! Highly recommend this read!
This is one I wish I could go back and read again for the first time!

I am really loving this series! Very likable characters, great world and I am totally invested. This was fast paced and completely engaging. This one was slightly less memorable than the first but very enjoyable read

“One of the key defense mechanisms of a phoenix is to shine so brightly, their predators are temporarily stunned and unable to pursue.”

The Hunting Moon was one of my most anticipated sequels for 2023 and I was so excited when Tor sent me a copy! I loved everything about the Luminaries, the moody gothic atmospheric setting, the emphasis on sacrifice and loyalty above all seen through the eyes of a teenage girl. Set in a world where monsters reside, I've been hooked since the beginning and The Hunting Moon made me fall for the world all over again.

The story picks up right where Luminaries left, with Winnie Wednesday finally getting her family back accepted into the good graces of her clan, literally all she's ever wanted! But when you spend all your time chasing a dream - it's hard when the payoff doesn't feel as good as you expect. Or how to deal with the town switching their tune as if their past few years of treating her family terribly never happened.

Alongside that, she knows the wolf isn't to blame for the murders but no one else seems to believe her about the new monster she keeps seeing, the Whisperer. Jay is another mystery to her, with their feelings always under the surface but as the new clan leader (the youngest ever!) he's fighting his own demons.

Winnie has so many complex relationships with herself, her clan and her friends (past and present) and at the core of it, there's the anguish of been a teenage girl in a world coming to adulthood. I love the emphasis of her own self growth happening alongside the actual world. There's an undercurrent of danger throughout - seeped into the entire town and I think that makes the book even more enjoyable when we see Winnie's moments of joys. Her parties, her coffee breaks with friends and even her concert interludes - her life does not end because the world is in danger, which endears me to her even more.

There's an explosive ending - so much is revealed much like the end of book 1, with a plot twist I could have NEVER seen coming. No spoilers - but it made me want to reread the book to see what else I missed. I cannot wait for book 3!

rep// side mlm

cw// violence, grief, injury, death

Thank you to the publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this second book of the Luminaries series, Winnie Wednesday has been reinstated as a Luminary and has become touted as a community heroine for passing the deadly hunter trials. However she does not like the attention, and would much rather investigate the two mysteries that she has uncovered: is there a Whisperer or Werewolf on the loose, and what happened when her dad disappeared? She turns to her sometimes friends Jay and Erika for support, and in the process uncovers even more than she bargained for.
This book read like the middle book of a trilogy–it was a bit slow for the majority of the book and I was just waiting for the action to take off. I also felt that this one was darker and full of teenage angst. Overall, it was still an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

This series is hands down one of my favorite ya series ongoing right now. It’s as if we’re getting back to the roots of ya fantasy and I couldn’t be happier to be here to see it. The writing is so fun and bingable, yet there are those heavier themes woven throughout that tug at the heart strings. The characters are all holding a secret or two and as the plot unfolds, they begin coming to light and the intrigue only grows. I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment.

Book Summary:

Winnie Wednesday has picked up many names over the years. For the longest time, she was shunned – an outcast to her society. Now she's the Girl Who Jumped. The Girl Who Got Bitten. What will be her next title?

The rapid changes in her life are enough to make Winnie dizzy, yet her journey is far from over. She must find the truth behind her father's supposed framing, track down a dangerous monster, and learn a few more surprising truths along the way.

My Review:

Oh Winnie, don't ever change. Winnie is one of those characters you want to protect, even knowing full well that she can take care of herself (usually). She's a trained fighter, sure, but she can sometimes be pretty oblivious.

It makes her situation all the more dangerous – and compelling to read. Admittedly, I think most readers figured out at least one (if not two or three) of the big reveals before Winnie arrived. That said, I feel it's in keeping with her character. Last to know and all that, right?

The Hunting Moon is a dark and compelling read, fitting perfectly with the monster hunter vibe. But it's also a light young adult fantasy, so there's always something to lighten the mood (usually Winnie's antics).

I don't think I loved The Hunting Moon quite as much as the first novel in this series (The Luminaries), though I have no doubt I'll dive into the sequel (The Whispering Night) when I get the chance.

Highlights:
YA Fantasy
Magical Society
Urban Fantasy
Monster Hunters