The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
2022; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 76; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2022.0516
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Gothic Literature and Media Analysis
ResumoReviewed by: The Luminaries by Susan Dennard Amanda Toledo Dennard, Susan The Luminaries. Tor Teen, 2022 [304p] (The Luminaries) Trade ed. ISBN 9781250194046 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781250194114 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad Gr. 9-12 Members of the secret organization called the Luminaries all live near the world’s sleeping spirits, hunting the monstrous manifestations of the spirits’ nightmares and keeping the world safe. Winnie Wednesday, her mother, and brother were cast out in their community after her dad betrayed the Luminaries, but Winnie has a plan to earn their place again. She will attend the Hunter trials the Luminaries host each year, become a Hunter, and thus restore her family’s good name. On the night of the first trial, Winnie sees a new world-distorting monster, but when others mistakenly believe she’s killed a banshee, she allows herself to get swept up into the glory of acceptance instead of telling the truth. Winnie is a mix of brave, considerate, and deeply loyal, but at times she can be oblivious and undiscerning about whether this community she is so desperate to rejoin is worth her efforts, while the supporting characters aren’t given enough depth to make the case for or against her goal. Dennard’s story is rich in worldbuilding, with descriptions of the monsters in the nightmare compendium and the distinct duties and values of each Luminary clan, but for all the mysteries she sets up—identifying the new monster, Winnie’s father’s betrayal, the appearance of a werewolf—none are resolved by the end of the novel. For fantasy readers who love a slow build, this will become a fast favorite, but readers dissatisfied with novels that are primarily set up for future books may not find enough to entice them into another outing. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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