The Luminaries by Susan Dennard is precisely what I want and expect from young adult fantasy. In actuality, it is everything I want in any novel. From the characters who are much more than they appear to be on the surface, to the rich setting, to the monsters who quite literally spring up from the ground each night, to the apparent haves and have not of the insular community, to the secrets that exist but remain unknown, The Luminaries is perfection. Ms. Dennard’s world is rich in description and development, while Winnie is amazing in her bravery, determination, and longing. I believe there is a bit of Winnie in all of us, which makes her more sympathetic. For all the terror Winnie undergoes during the Hunter trials, the Luminary society is a fascinating one, and I know we have only seen the tip of the iceberg. Given the last thing Winnie learns, it will be a very long wait for book two!