YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

From Susan Dennard, the New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series, comes a haunting and high-octane contemporary fantasy about the magic it takes to face your fears in a nightmare-filled forest and the mettle required to face the secrets hiding in the dark corners of your own family.

Hemlock Falls isn't like other towns. You won't find it on a map, your phone won't work here, and the forest outside town might just kill you.

Winnie Wednesday wants nothing more than to join the Luminaries, the ancient order that protects Winnie's town—and the rest of humanity—from the monsters and nightmares that rise in the forest of Hemlock Falls every night.

Ever since her father was exposed as a witch and a traitor, Winnie and her family have been shunned. But on her sixteenth birthday, she can take the deadly Luminary hunter trials and prove herself true and loyal—and restore her family's good name. Or die trying.

But in order to survive, Winnie enlists the help of the one person who can help her train: Jay Friday, resident bad boy and Winnie’s ex-best friend. While Jay might be the most promising new hunter in Hemlock Falls, he also seems to know more about the nightmares of the forest than he should. Together, he and Winnie will discover a danger lurking in the forest no one in Hemlock Falls is prepared for.

Not all monsters can be slain, and not all nightmares are confined to the dark.

The Luminaries (The Luminaries #1) by Susan Dennard will be one of our GBRs for February 2024.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously

End of ch. 11: Banshee!! (view spoiler)[ Winnie almost got killed by that Banshee, why did she have to get the worst of the Nightmares? I wonder if Jay is a werewolf???? that would be crazy! I wonder why her father went with the Witches? I feel there is something missing, why would he leave his family? I like that there is supernaturals! What is in that damn forest? I like when books leave me with so many questions cuz that means I just want to know so I keep going! :P (hide spoiler)]

End of Ch. 24: (view spoiler)[ I like that Winnie and Jay are training but more and more I feel like Jay is a wolf, we just get so many clues and how does he know so much about the nightmares? I guess school? I don't like how everyone in Hemlock is now nice to Winnie and her family! It was the father that betrayed all of them why is the family being punished for it. I don't think she should tell the truth about the Banshee, they didn't care before about them so no! I like the jealousy from Winnie. I also like the twins they sound so nice. I wonder what the deal with the necklace is? (hide spoiler)]

End of Ch. 36: I love the twins. (view spoiler)[ I am loving the chemistry between Winnie and Jay. I like that Winnie and her mom were able to talk about her dad for a little bit and I hope that her dad did what he did for a good reason. That bit with the Vampira and the Whisperer or whatever that thing is is crazy! Theory time! Her dad is that Whisperer! Idk it would be crazy, the Whisperer is killing Nightmares so it's not so far fetched. (hide spoiler)]

Finished... (view spoiler)[ Dang that is a rude way to do the 3rd trial! I'm glad Winnie passed and that Emma didn't die but still Rachel is heartless sometimes. When did Winnie get bitten by the Wolf??? I still maintain Jay is the wolf and woah bombshell! Her father was framed? by whom? Rachel? I wouldn't doubt it. (hide spoiler)]

Cinthia wrote: "End of ch. 11: Banshee!! [spoilers removed]"

started yesterday!
(view spoiler)[ That Banshee was scary asf!! I would have peed my pants even after hearing any sort of rustling... OOO I didn't even think of jay being a werewolf, but I could see it!!

what is that strange thing/creature she saw?? I wonder if her father went before or after they moved - to the witches? There has to be some sort of information in the letters he's sending her every year. (hide spoiler)]

Cinthia wrote: "End of Ch. 24: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ OOO I didn’t even consider Jay to be a wolf… I had a feeling something fishy is going on with him and his mood swings?? Also what’s going on with that necklace? I feel like it has maybe a good luck charm about it?? The twins are the only ones that have been nice to her even as an outcast… they are friends worth keeping. Erica is a real piece of work though… . (hide spoiler)]

Cinthia wrote: "End of Ch. 36: I love the twins. [spoilers removed]"

I LOVE your theories!! I wish I was reading the updates at the same time I was reading ahhh (view spoiler)[ I would have PEED MY PANTS finding myself surrounded by the vampira… like what..

And what the heck is this whisperer thing? (hide spoiler)]

overall I liked it! Wasn’t crazy about the writing and how repetitive it was, but it was a good creepy gothic story. The fantasy elements were nice with the creatures and honesty I would not have minded even more appearances with them but (view spoiler)[ a banshee and hoard of vampira will fulfill my wants for now lol (hide spoiler)]