Susan Dennard

Let's get something out of the way right up front: I do not like zombies. I've never bought into the zombie craze. I don't watch The Walking Dead, nor do I have any desire to do so. I usually DNF zombie books because I just can't handle the gore.

With that, you might wonder why on earth I ended up buying a copy of this book and rating it quite highly. Well, it's because Susan Dennard's zombies are mostly nothing like their feral cousins. These zombies are being controlled by The Necromancer, show more who keeps their 'must feed at any cost' drive at a low. These zombies end up being more like smelly messenger boys. There wasn't anything to disgust me and make me feel like I was going to throw up. No blood and guts, thank you very much.

I liked that this story mixed up historical fiction and some steampunk with a dab of paranormal. It was a really cool combination and it totally worked for me. When I finished, I immediately ordered a copy for myself. It's one of those books that just needed to be on my shelf. I'm looking forward to reading it again at some point to see if I can pick out some of the early clues and see if it makes a difference in my reading experience.

I'm really looking forward to the sequel. There were some loose ends that I REALLY need to see resolved; mostly the relationship between Eleanor and another character. I couldn't believe the way THAT ended. :O Why?! WHY?!

Overall, a brilliant read and one that I'll enjoy again. It was a 4.5 Eiffel Tower book. show less

This is a novella that takes place at the end of Something Strange and Deadly. It was an interesting addition to the series, although more about ghosts than anything zombiesque or steampunkish.

This novella starts with Daniel leaving Eleanor, on his way out the door he has a flashback to earlier in his life when he spent some time as an engineer on the heavily haunted steamboat, the Sadie Queen. On the Sadie Queen Daniel works with a vivacious young woman pilot in training named Cassidy. The show more Sadie Queen is going on one final race to prove her worth, despite the ghosts that haunt her. Daniel and Cassidy will have to work to win this race or else both of their futures are at risk.

This novella provides some excellent background on Daniel. We get to learn about his first great love Cassidy. We also get to learn how Daniel, Joseph, and Jie meet to form The Spirit Hunters group.

Daniel is an excellent character. Here you can see how haunted he is by accidents in his past, how loyal and hardworking he is, and how determined he is to do things right. That’s not to say that he doesn’t have a large mischievous streak as well...

I want to read more about Cassidy as well. She has so much energy and determination and is really something special in a world where women just aren’t pilots. I hope she shows up in the next book.

The plot was absolutely wonderful. Basically Daniel is looking for a way to rid the Sadie Queen of her ghosts so that Cassidy doesn’t lose her apprenticeship and way of life. The ghosts are incredibly creepy and gory. They totally gave me the creeps. I loved how the hauntings all tied in with a curse, it was very well done.

This was very well written, engaging, and easy to read. I am glad I read it before reading the second book in the series (which I hope to be reading in the next couple weeks).

Overall a very well done novella. This gives a lot of excellent background on Daniel’s character and on how the Spirit Hunters formed. It was incredibly engaging and very well written. Highly recommended to those who enjoy historical ghost stories. Also highly recommended to fans of this series. I can’t wait to read A Darkness Strange and Lovely. show less

Well that was the end of the series. No more Eleanor, no more Daniel, no more Jie, no more Oliver, no more Joseph, no more magic, no more petticoats, no more adventure…

Believe it or not, I don’t finish many series, so when I actually mustered the courage to finish this one… well I’m completely heartbroken. Because it wasn’t a happy ending, it was a satisfying one.

In this book we’re taken to Egypt on a new adventure, and it’s every bit as fun and thrilling as the book before. show more This book is without a doubt the one with the fastest pace, the one with the most romance, the one with the most feels, and the one with the most twists. I loved every second of reading it, and while it was not at all what I expected at the end, it was a very very great ending to the series. show less

If I thought Susan Dennard's The Luminaries was exciting and ended with a shock, I was wrong. That's because I hadn't read The Hunting Moon. In this sequel, Ms. Dennard continues with a story that continues to amaze and delight. I loved every minute and finished reading it only to mourn the fact that I have to wait once again to read more about Winnie and Jay.

While Winnie's story is about her investigation of the Luminaries and uncovering the mystery behind her father's disappearance, the show more heart of the story is Winnie and Jay's relationship. It is so satisfying watching them circle each other. Every scene between them is fraught with tension and untold secrets. We finally learn some of those secrets, and it does not disappoint. Plus, the scenes with the nose boops are the cutest thing ever!

In The Hunting Moon, Ms. Dennard balances Winnie's hand-wringing and sleuthing. Actually, Winnie does not wallow so much as she wrests control of her all-consuming anger. Her anger is organic and understandable. In fact, Winnie's roiling emotions are natural reactions to everything that happened and is happening to her. The pressures she is under to protect her family and remain its savior while trying to fit back into Luminary society and keep her secrets are tremendous. If anyone deserves to be fueled by rage, despair, confusion, and trepidation, it's Winnie Wednesday.

The Hunting Moon was one of my most anticipated books for this fall, and it will go down as one of my favorite books of the year. Winnie not only uncovers some secrets and obtains some answers, but she grows personally and makes some uncomfortable discoveries about herself. Her relationship with Jay is achingly sweet and makes for one of the best slow-burn romances. Meanwhile, we discover that there may be an unsavory side to being a Luminary. It adds up to a story you cannot put down, late-night reading sessions, and a book hangover. Now, the interminably long wait for book three. show less