What do you think?
Rate this book
The Luminary Saga #1
Luminary
Who says you have only one soul mate? When a young college student in Marietta, Georgia loses her soul mate and her back up soul mate without ever meeting either, her life takes an unexpected turn. A race of super immortals, the Paragons and their Luminary companions, who live in the domain between reality and the tangible, must intervene. To help her they'll have to retrofit a man's existing soul to be the perfect match for Emily Wren. Retrofitting is a nasty, painful business. Yet it's the only option for insuring a soul mate match, which releases much needed magic to advance the causes of humanity in the world. But is there more at stake than the happiness of one human girl? Read Luminary, the first book in the Luminary Saga by P.S. Meraux.
317 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2015
47 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
P.S. Meraux
15 books76 followersP.S. Meraux writes books about paranormal chaos, sassy heroines, and creatures who are just a little unhinged (in the best way). She's an Indie and Amazon bestselling author—which sounds fancy until you realize it just means she drinks too much coffee and argues with fictional people for a living. Her stories mix sci-fi, mystery, romance, and a generous helping of “wait, did that just happen?”
P.S. has a thing for supernatural oddballs, morally gray weirdos, and badass women who save themselves (and occasionally punch vampires in the face). Her idea of worldbuilding is "let's break everything and see what grows back."
Originally from South Carolina, she now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where her backyard is suspiciously full of fireflies and dubiously English for someone not living in a BBC period drama. There may or may not be faeries. There is definitely sarcasm.
P.S. has a thing for supernatural oddballs, morally gray weirdos, and badass women who save themselves (and occasionally punch vampires in the face). Her idea of worldbuilding is "let's break everything and see what grows back."
Originally from South Carolina, she now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where her backyard is suspiciously full of fireflies and dubiously English for someone not living in a BBC period drama. There may or may not be faeries. There is definitely sarcasm.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 22, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book tells the story of an alternate world where luminaries and paragons are urgently trying to retrofit a human in order to ensure a proper soulmate. We begin the story after the culling, which is the violent and early demise of potential soulmates. Emily Wren has lost her soulmate and even her backup soulmate and this is where we really get involved.
The way Meraux crafts the description of each of the characters as well as this alternate imaginary world is artful. Every single character was described in detail and each one of them had a realistic quality that drew me into the story. The pace was constant and had plenty interest and intrigue.
I did get a bit confused on occasion because there are so many characters and given the level of detail for everything, it seemed like everyone was important to the story and I felt a bit overwhelmed with that.
I loved the concept that there are imaginary elements that are at work to ensure that everyone has a soulmate. This book was an enjoyable YA read.
This book tells the story of an alternate world where luminaries and paragons are urgently trying to retrofit a human in order to ensure a proper soulmate. We begin the story after the culling, which is the violent and early demise of potential soulmates. Emily Wren has lost her soulmate and even her backup soulmate and this is where we really get involved.
The way Meraux crafts the description of each of the characters as well as this alternate imaginary world is artful. Every single character was described in detail and each one of them had a realistic quality that drew me into the story. The pace was constant and had plenty interest and intrigue.
I did get a bit confused on occasion because there are so many characters and given the level of detail for everything, it seemed like everyone was important to the story and I felt a bit overwhelmed with that.
I loved the concept that there are imaginary elements that are at work to ensure that everyone has a soulmate. This book was an enjoyable YA read.
March 30, 2017
Book Title: Luminary
Book Author: P.S. Meraux
Source: Gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 5 stars
Before I get to the review.... Can I get like the other books in the series emailed to me by the author as well? ;) Yes, beautiful readers, this is how good, book 1 is. ^_^
This was a great read. One of my top 10 reads for 2017 and I haven't even read 10 books yet haha. Anyway, this book is about different groups of individuals - the Paragons, the Luminary, shape shifters, immortals, and humans. It's predominately written from a Paragon's point of view though the author did a terrific job of showing the events from other points of views as well. Was easy to follow and it made it more enjoyable and fun.
It's hard to write this review because I feel like I'm jumping around the topics, I apologize.
So, what happens is that an evil plot killed off many soulmates so there were a lot of people who lost theirs. It's the Paragon's jobs to make sure that everyone gets a chance at real love and so Wicus, our main Paragon, wants to make sure that his favorite human gets a soulmate and a perfect one at that. We don't know who's behind the evil plot or really why but it does bring in intrigue into the story line.
This book has a variety of different characters...there are even talking candelabras... for those who saw the new Beauty and the Beast movie, you will like the candelabra in this book. ;) Wicus is a great character and I felt connected to his emotions. Lately, it's been a rarity for me to be able to connect with book characters so this was nice.
The book has a good ending and a preview into book 2. I would recommend it to older teens of 16 and older.
Book Author: P.S. Meraux
Source: Gifted by the author in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 5 stars
Before I get to the review.... Can I get like the other books in the series emailed to me by the author as well? ;) Yes, beautiful readers, this is how good, book 1 is. ^_^
This was a great read. One of my top 10 reads for 2017 and I haven't even read 10 books yet haha. Anyway, this book is about different groups of individuals - the Paragons, the Luminary, shape shifters, immortals, and humans. It's predominately written from a Paragon's point of view though the author did a terrific job of showing the events from other points of views as well. Was easy to follow and it made it more enjoyable and fun.
It's hard to write this review because I feel like I'm jumping around the topics, I apologize.
So, what happens is that an evil plot killed off many soulmates so there were a lot of people who lost theirs. It's the Paragon's jobs to make sure that everyone gets a chance at real love and so Wicus, our main Paragon, wants to make sure that his favorite human gets a soulmate and a perfect one at that. We don't know who's behind the evil plot or really why but it does bring in intrigue into the story line.
This book has a variety of different characters...there are even talking candelabras... for those who saw the new Beauty and the Beast movie, you will like the candelabra in this book. ;) Wicus is a great character and I felt connected to his emotions. Lately, it's been a rarity for me to be able to connect with book characters so this was nice.
The book has a good ending and a preview into book 2. I would recommend it to older teens of 16 and older.
November 1, 2016
Soulmates release magic into the world. I really like that idea. That's the premise for this book. I married my soulmate. The trouble is that no one but myself would have chosen him for me. I know the magic the author refers to in this type of relationship. It really happens. Compared to other couples, you're much happier, you're less stressed, you age much better.
The premise of a luminary is incredibly original and it challenges the imagination. That alone is an exciting thought. The character development and promotion is very interesting and plays up to the expectations set by the original premise. The Paragons are in charge of preparing soulmates for each other. One would like to think they're perfect beings since they hold someone else's happiness in their hands. But this is not the case.
They have their own weaknesses. They also don't recognize humans' drive to decide for themselves. Their strength is to make sure that everyone has a soulmate. And that is a very romantic notion. There's someone out there for everyone.
This book is a really fast read. Excellent fantasy novel!!!
The premise of a luminary is incredibly original and it challenges the imagination. That alone is an exciting thought. The character development and promotion is very interesting and plays up to the expectations set by the original premise. The Paragons are in charge of preparing soulmates for each other. One would like to think they're perfect beings since they hold someone else's happiness in their hands. But this is not the case.
They have their own weaknesses. They also don't recognize humans' drive to decide for themselves. Their strength is to make sure that everyone has a soulmate. And that is a very romantic notion. There's someone out there for everyone.
This book is a really fast read. Excellent fantasy novel!!!
November 23, 2016
Finding a soul mate - it is a topic that has been written about by many in a great number of stories. But this particular take on how our soul mates are chosen for us, made this an original and unique read for me.
The book flows back and forth between the characters who need to find love, and the ones who are making the decisions about whom should be meeting and falling in love with whom. The contrast between both worlds, I found to be well written and a good flow from one side to the other.
This is a book that has been written for young adults but it is nice to read such books as an adult also and I do think this book would appeal to all ages from 13 years and up.
The book flows back and forth between the characters who need to find love, and the ones who are making the decisions about whom should be meeting and falling in love with whom. The contrast between both worlds, I found to be well written and a good flow from one side to the other.
This is a book that has been written for young adults but it is nice to read such books as an adult also and I do think this book would appeal to all ages from 13 years and up.
May 17, 2017
This was a sweet book – romantic and feel-good.
Paragons exist in a place outside of our world, and the job of some of them is to match soul mates on Earth and help them meet each other. When soul mates meet and fall in love, they release good magic into the world which helps to battle against evil, wars, etc.
Something about Emily Wren makes her special… when she meets her soul mate, she will release some extra-special magic into the world. You can imagine, then, how disastrous it is when both her possible soul mates are killed on the same day – and before ever meeting Emily. This seems more than mere coincidence and causes a lot of trouble for the Paragons who now need to try to retrofit souls to be her soul mate… while someone seems to be mysteriously working against that.
It’s a good story idea with lots of potential!
My only real complaint about the book is that I never really felt I got in touch with the characters… I never got enough of Emily because the book focused mainly on the Paragon and Luminary in charge of looking after her. And while the Paragon’s world was very interesting and imaginative, I didn’t get enough of a feel for the inhabitants, either.
The book ends with an interesting twist and clearly was a set up for the next book – but thankfully wasn’t a cliffhanger.
This is an enjoyable YA paranormal romance.
True rating: 3.5 stars.
Paragons exist in a place outside of our world, and the job of some of them is to match soul mates on Earth and help them meet each other. When soul mates meet and fall in love, they release good magic into the world which helps to battle against evil, wars, etc.
Something about Emily Wren makes her special… when she meets her soul mate, she will release some extra-special magic into the world. You can imagine, then, how disastrous it is when both her possible soul mates are killed on the same day – and before ever meeting Emily. This seems more than mere coincidence and causes a lot of trouble for the Paragons who now need to try to retrofit souls to be her soul mate… while someone seems to be mysteriously working against that.
It’s a good story idea with lots of potential!
My only real complaint about the book is that I never really felt I got in touch with the characters… I never got enough of Emily because the book focused mainly on the Paragon and Luminary in charge of looking after her. And while the Paragon’s world was very interesting and imaginative, I didn’t get enough of a feel for the inhabitants, either.
The book ends with an interesting twist and clearly was a set up for the next book – but thankfully wasn’t a cliffhanger.
This is an enjoyable YA paranormal romance.
True rating: 3.5 stars.
September 9, 2018
Categorized as a “paranormal romance,” P.S. Meraux’s Luminary can best be described in one word: charming. Or maybe two words. Wildly creative. Or maybe three: A terrific read! At the heart of the best fiction, we find some action, a little intrigue and suspense, good character development, and a logical plot that moves along at a steady pace. Luminary, the first in Meraux’s Luminary series, has all these attributes.
First we meet Emily in her early 20s as she awakens from dream about an experience she underwent when she was only twelve. She followed her brother into the woods where he was to meet his jock friends, snags some of his rum and coke, manages to get half drunk, heads home through the woods, gets lost, is threatened by assault but magically rescued by two luminous beings. Years later, Emily doesn’t know what to make of this. Was it real or “just” a dream? Next we meet David, a soldier home from the war who suffers from PTSD and has these awful battlefield nightmares whcih he has to contend with frequently.
These two are not alone in the world. Meraux introduces us to a cast of supernatural beings – seers, wizards, elves, luminaries and Paragons, each with his/her own agenda. Chief among them is Paragon Wicus and his sidekick Luminary Waxine. Wicus, like other Paragons, has the challenging task of finding a soulmate for thousands of humans under his care. Emily is his special concern. She’s a sweetheart, a girl-next-door type, intelligent, hardworking, kind, and friendly. She worries about her “thunder thighs,” not realizing just how pretty she really is. Her best friend is her dog Max, and, most of all, she’s lonely. Wicus wants to fix that by finding her the right soulmate. He has two candidates, Josh and Charlie, who require “retrofitting” to be suitable for Emily. However, Wicus becomes quite annoyed when David appears on the scene.
This sets the reader up for a tale that whisks along with a fair amount of suspense as we wonder who will become Emily’s soulmate. It’s important because when the souls are properly matched, they exude a magic that keeps the world in balance. There’s a mystery at the heart of this story, too. Something has happened to a large number of souls who are not properly matched. Wicus begins to suspect foul play. He wants to know if the souls that are being targeted or is it the Paragons? And if so, why?
There’s a kind of existential dilemma, too. Why is there so much “barren love” in the world? Why do so many humans fall in love with the wrong person and never become mated to their soulmates? Wicus has concluded that too many of us are too needy for validation that we exist and that our existence matters. This craving for validation leads to wrongful pairings.
Luminary has a couple of problems. One is the last chapter which resolves the mating issue – sort of. Emily meets the right guy but isn’t really well-connected to him yet. And other questions brought up in the story aren’t really answered completely. This semi-ambiguity is a clear lead-in to the next book in the series. But even one in a series requires the ability to stand alone, and Luminary just barely meets that requirement. Also author Meraux repeatedly makes a specific type of grammar error that a copyeditor should have caught, and that readers find very distracting.
Despite these problems, the story is sound, very creative, and very well-done. Five stars.
First we meet Emily in her early 20s as she awakens from dream about an experience she underwent when she was only twelve. She followed her brother into the woods where he was to meet his jock friends, snags some of his rum and coke, manages to get half drunk, heads home through the woods, gets lost, is threatened by assault but magically rescued by two luminous beings. Years later, Emily doesn’t know what to make of this. Was it real or “just” a dream? Next we meet David, a soldier home from the war who suffers from PTSD and has these awful battlefield nightmares whcih he has to contend with frequently.
These two are not alone in the world. Meraux introduces us to a cast of supernatural beings – seers, wizards, elves, luminaries and Paragons, each with his/her own agenda. Chief among them is Paragon Wicus and his sidekick Luminary Waxine. Wicus, like other Paragons, has the challenging task of finding a soulmate for thousands of humans under his care. Emily is his special concern. She’s a sweetheart, a girl-next-door type, intelligent, hardworking, kind, and friendly. She worries about her “thunder thighs,” not realizing just how pretty she really is. Her best friend is her dog Max, and, most of all, she’s lonely. Wicus wants to fix that by finding her the right soulmate. He has two candidates, Josh and Charlie, who require “retrofitting” to be suitable for Emily. However, Wicus becomes quite annoyed when David appears on the scene.
This sets the reader up for a tale that whisks along with a fair amount of suspense as we wonder who will become Emily’s soulmate. It’s important because when the souls are properly matched, they exude a magic that keeps the world in balance. There’s a mystery at the heart of this story, too. Something has happened to a large number of souls who are not properly matched. Wicus begins to suspect foul play. He wants to know if the souls that are being targeted or is it the Paragons? And if so, why?
There’s a kind of existential dilemma, too. Why is there so much “barren love” in the world? Why do so many humans fall in love with the wrong person and never become mated to their soulmates? Wicus has concluded that too many of us are too needy for validation that we exist and that our existence matters. This craving for validation leads to wrongful pairings.
Luminary has a couple of problems. One is the last chapter which resolves the mating issue – sort of. Emily meets the right guy but isn’t really well-connected to him yet. And other questions brought up in the story aren’t really answered completely. This semi-ambiguity is a clear lead-in to the next book in the series. But even one in a series requires the ability to stand alone, and Luminary just barely meets that requirement. Also author Meraux repeatedly makes a specific type of grammar error that a copyeditor should have caught, and that readers find very distracting.
Despite these problems, the story is sound, very creative, and very well-done. Five stars.
June 11, 2017
Luminary was an interesting read because the idea behind it seems new to contemporary fantasy. Immortal beings set up soul mates and when they are properly joined and romance is ignited, magic is released into the world. The main character, Emily, has found herself in a bind. Her soul mate connection has not been met.
This is a story about romance, mystery, fantasy, creation, and more.
This is a story about romance, mystery, fantasy, creation, and more.
January 7, 2017
This is the first book in P.S. Meraux’s YA fantasy series. I really loved the premise of the story. Soulmates are orchestrated and created through the guidance of immortal beings, Paragons. The main character, Emily Wren, is unknowingly supposed to meet her soulmate, but someone or something has messed with her fate, and with the fate of many other humans. I’m purposely being vague here! I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
Luminary is equal parts fantasy, romance, and mystery. Although most of the book focuses on the roles of the Paragons, there are also witches, wizards, elves and vampires! Like many first books in a fantasy series, much of the book is spent world-building and describing characters in great depth. If you’re into lots and lots of description, you will enjoy Luminary.
I personally enjoyed the humorous bits, especially the bantering between the Paragon, Wicus, and his magical “assistant”, Waxine. There were also touching scenes in the novel, intimate portrayals of personal tragedy, of healing, and of finding one’s true love. There were many characters to get to know, their stories intertwining with each other. It was a lot to keep straight in my head. I was disappointed when Emily’s story ended so abruptly—I’m not a big fan of cliffhangers. BUT, Meraux’s second book in the series, Beacon, is available, as well as the next four books. So, that’s a plus!
Luminary is equal parts fantasy, romance, and mystery. Although most of the book focuses on the roles of the Paragons, there are also witches, wizards, elves and vampires! Like many first books in a fantasy series, much of the book is spent world-building and describing characters in great depth. If you’re into lots and lots of description, you will enjoy Luminary.
I personally enjoyed the humorous bits, especially the bantering between the Paragon, Wicus, and his magical “assistant”, Waxine. There were also touching scenes in the novel, intimate portrayals of personal tragedy, of healing, and of finding one’s true love. There were many characters to get to know, their stories intertwining with each other. It was a lot to keep straight in my head. I was disappointed when Emily’s story ended so abruptly—I’m not a big fan of cliffhangers. BUT, Meraux’s second book in the series, Beacon, is available, as well as the next four books. So, that’s a plus!
July 14, 2016
Luminaries (which are animated lamps), along with paragons, immortals, vampires, witches, Vikings, shapeshifters, and humans, populate a confluence of worlds in P.S. Meraux’s book about the urgent retrofitting of carefully selected humans to ensure a proper matching of soulmates. The story begins after an event called “the culling”(the violent and untimely deaths of a large number of prepared potential soulmates). Meraux creates detailed and original worlds and has fine powers of description.
I rarely read young adult science fiction/fantasy books, and that may be the reason it took me so long to connect with this novel. There were so many characters right off the bat, and most of them were described with such precision that, as a reader, I expected that every one of them might be important, and I had to make a running list to remember all of them. As the book continued I found more focus and specific characters to care about and root for, and it became evident that this book sets the stage for a series to follow. In the future, I expect to read the second of the series.
I rarely read young adult science fiction/fantasy books, and that may be the reason it took me so long to connect with this novel. There were so many characters right off the bat, and most of them were described with such precision that, as a reader, I expected that every one of them might be important, and I had to make a running list to remember all of them. As the book continued I found more focus and specific characters to care about and root for, and it became evident that this book sets the stage for a series to follow. In the future, I expect to read the second of the series.
June 15, 2017
Luminary is a great fantasy novel about soul mates. In this fantastic world all humans get a primary and a secondary soul mate. Each person's mate is monitored by a paragon, an immortal being whose job it is to bring souls together. Wicus is the primary paragon character in the book and he's struggling to get a girl named Emily Wren a soul mate because both her primary and secondary soul mates have been killed. However unbeknownst to Wicus there is an evil force working against his goal of pairing mates, particularly Emily. Wicus seeks to retrofit Emily with two new prospective mates, but he runs into some troubles. A third candidate is out there, a guy named David that looks surprisingly like Wicus. Wicus doesn't want David for Emily's soul mate, but he might not get his wish. This was a very well written story, easy to follow with very little grammarical errors. I thought it deserved five stars for originality and how well it held my interest.
January 13, 2016
A very scintillating paranormal fantasy. It is amazing when you think of how the author conceived the idea. The fiction is unimaginably real and supernatural. Very unique idea as it is not about vampires and werewolves. Its not even about anything conventional you already know.
The author beautifully takes on a strange and detailed pleasant journey of a part of life that nobody seems to understand or even acknowledge- the super immortal's world. His detailed explanation and his narration style will keep you turning page after page frantically.
I disliked paranormal books and movies earlier, but I have changed my mind. I feel it is a very beautifully narrated book. But you can never know unless you go through the book itself.
The author beautifully takes on a strange and detailed pleasant journey of a part of life that nobody seems to understand or even acknowledge- the super immortal's world. His detailed explanation and his narration style will keep you turning page after page frantically.
I disliked paranormal books and movies earlier, but I have changed my mind. I feel it is a very beautifully narrated book. But you can never know unless you go through the book itself.
October 12, 2016
It's different from a lot of free books I've read. First of all, its a real book. Second, the author puts you in the mind of several of the characters in two different worlds. It was great having more than one point of view to go by. I loved the character development and the story. I thought it was going one way, you know, kinda straight-forward like and it twisted and went someplace else entirely which was totally surprising. I liked that I could not guess what was going to happen next. I want to know what happens to these characters in the next book.
December 30, 2016
An amazing YA story
I typically do not read YA but I must say, I was blown away by the intricate dynamics of each and every character. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone but I will say, I absolutely can not wait to see how the story unfolds!
I loved how Each character was thoughtfully plotted out and described. The details painted such a vivid mental image of each character. I also enjoyed how every character had such realistic personalities and traits. The book was well written and detailed.
I typically do not read YA but I must say, I was blown away by the intricate dynamics of each and every character. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone but I will say, I absolutely can not wait to see how the story unfolds!
I loved how Each character was thoughtfully plotted out and described. The details painted such a vivid mental image of each character. I also enjoyed how every character had such realistic personalities and traits. The book was well written and detailed.
March 15, 2017
"The first time soul mates look into one another's eyes, that first kiss, that first caress, the first time each hears the sound of the others voices, a voice.."
There's no doubt the premise to "Luminary" is deeply romantic and quite original. Paranormal beings making sure we, humans, find our soul mate. I suppose some people might think, 'if only'. The author has done a great job of conjuring up parallel worlds populated by beings whose daily activities impact greatly upon each other. There is great detail (too much in fact) how souls are retrofitted etc etc and the goings on with Wicus, Waxine and candelabra type characters.
I suppose the real let down for me (not a paranormal fan) was that I found the scenes in the paranormal world too dull. I found myself breathing a sigh of relief when the POV went back to the real humans. For me, Wicus wasn't an interesting character (at all!), rather like a ghost version of a civil servant, or government burecrat. Yawn. He mused-all the time and I read yellow-flamed gaze about fifty plus times. He furrowed his brow a lot!
If I was to sum it up I think the plot was good but bogged down by awkward writing with too much telling. Underneath there is a good concept screaming to get out, but in its present form it just didn't set my world on fire.
There's no doubt the premise to "Luminary" is deeply romantic and quite original. Paranormal beings making sure we, humans, find our soul mate. I suppose some people might think, 'if only'. The author has done a great job of conjuring up parallel worlds populated by beings whose daily activities impact greatly upon each other. There is great detail (too much in fact) how souls are retrofitted etc etc and the goings on with Wicus, Waxine and candelabra type characters.
I suppose the real let down for me (not a paranormal fan) was that I found the scenes in the paranormal world too dull. I found myself breathing a sigh of relief when the POV went back to the real humans. For me, Wicus wasn't an interesting character (at all!), rather like a ghost version of a civil servant, or government burecrat. Yawn. He mused-all the time and I read yellow-flamed gaze about fifty plus times. He furrowed his brow a lot!
If I was to sum it up I think the plot was good but bogged down by awkward writing with too much telling. Underneath there is a good concept screaming to get out, but in its present form it just didn't set my world on fire.
August 14, 2017
I must admit, I have never read a book like this before and I didn't know what to expect when I did.
However, I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed this unique tale. Soulmates. We all this we have one. But, what about two? Is is possible? This book dives into that question.
The concept is quite simple: every human has a predetermined primary and secondary soulmate, and there are immortal beings guiding us towards them. After that, it is basically up to us to make it work. On the flip side, their are shadows working against us by killing our potential mates before we have had the chance to connect.
This is a topic that I would have never thought to explore and I am glad that some did. It is very detailed and well though out. The pace and characters made this a more enjoyable read that I would have imagined. Highly recommended!
However, I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed this unique tale. Soulmates. We all this we have one. But, what about two? Is is possible? This book dives into that question.
The concept is quite simple: every human has a predetermined primary and secondary soulmate, and there are immortal beings guiding us towards them. After that, it is basically up to us to make it work. On the flip side, their are shadows working against us by killing our potential mates before we have had the chance to connect.
This is a topic that I would have never thought to explore and I am glad that some did. It is very detailed and well though out. The pace and characters made this a more enjoyable read that I would have imagined. Highly recommended!
September 17, 2016
P.S.Meraux has created a unique fantasy world, with an enjoyable and fascinating cast of characters including Waxine, the irrepressible and strong-minded animated chandelier. This is a very different take on a fantasy world, one where supernatural Paragons are tasked with managing the meeting of pre-destined human soul mates, for when soul mates unite a very special magic is released into the world. But after one incident, termed the Culling, a number of intended soul mates are inexplicably killed through one accident or another. To restore the lost magic, the Paragons are forced to ‘retrofit’ new soul mates for those humans now deprived of the ones intended for them. Most particularly, the Paragon Wicus is determined that young Emily Wren will still have her soul mate, and begins retrofitting two young men to be her primary and back up soul mate.
The Paragons are depicted as benign creations, at least in their own minds, but there is enough venality and foibles among these super immortal beings to make for a complex and unexpected story, including their apparent ignoring of their human charges rights to self-determination. An attitude that made me rather uncomfortable, but also I have a suspicion that was intentional on the author’s part. A clever use of the untrustworthy narrator trope.
The writing is rich, complex but also is subject to some rather confusing changes in point of view. It is the first book in a series, and includes a large, sometimes too large, cast of characters, with the role of some not yet clear. Some are presumably intended to have roles in forthcoming episodes, but at this stage it would help if the cast had been trimmed down or some indication was shown of the reason for including a character. Fortunately, the story primarily focuses on Wican and Waxine, and the relationship between the immortal and his supposed assistant luminary, the unreliable Waxine, is a delight.
This is very much a YA story, with a level of detail in the setting, character descriptions and situations characteristic of the genre, but which may not be that interesting for other genre readers. In generally, it is likely to be a book a reader will totally love, or will find not their type at all. I’m of the latter, still not sure if I liked it or not. It is a standalone book, with a conclusion to the story of Emily Wren, but also finishes with a linking passage to the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Paragons are depicted as benign creations, at least in their own minds, but there is enough venality and foibles among these super immortal beings to make for a complex and unexpected story, including their apparent ignoring of their human charges rights to self-determination. An attitude that made me rather uncomfortable, but also I have a suspicion that was intentional on the author’s part. A clever use of the untrustworthy narrator trope.
The writing is rich, complex but also is subject to some rather confusing changes in point of view. It is the first book in a series, and includes a large, sometimes too large, cast of characters, with the role of some not yet clear. Some are presumably intended to have roles in forthcoming episodes, but at this stage it would help if the cast had been trimmed down or some indication was shown of the reason for including a character. Fortunately, the story primarily focuses on Wican and Waxine, and the relationship between the immortal and his supposed assistant luminary, the unreliable Waxine, is a delight.
This is very much a YA story, with a level of detail in the setting, character descriptions and situations characteristic of the genre, but which may not be that interesting for other genre readers. In generally, it is likely to be a book a reader will totally love, or will find not their type at all. I’m of the latter, still not sure if I liked it or not. It is a standalone book, with a conclusion to the story of Emily Wren, but also finishes with a linking passage to the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2016
Luminary is a paranormal romance about Emily Wren, a girl who, unknown to her, has lost her destined soulmates, and Wicus, the Paragon who safeguards her interests, must correct this. He had an assistant, Waxine, a magic candelabra with a decided personality.
They find two replacements, Josh Taylor who has lost his wife Julia to cancer, and Charlie Anderson, a teaching assistant, and alter them to make them a good fit for Emily. Apparently, each soul has a primary soulmate and a secondary soulmate. I'm not sure how exactly this works out. I mean, do these two soulmates then each also have primaries and secondaries respectively?
Another candidate then crops up, David Bowen, an ex-soldier, whose primary soulmate dies in Turkmenistan and whose secondary soulmate is still growing up. David looks exactly like Wicus, which sends all the Paragons into a tizzy. Why is there such a striking similarity? And is he going to upset the well-laid plans?
The parts featuring Emily were more interesting than the parts featuring the supernatural beings. Emily is clumsy, unsure of herself, and overly conscious of her 'thunder thighs'. She came across as perfectly ordinary, even kind of boring, but she is supposed to be special, with as yet untapped magical abilities.
There are some editing issues and the writing didn't really work for me. There was more telling than showing, and the sentence construction was rather awkward. There is surely a better way to inform the reader what a character does than reveal it continually in this manner -
"Concerned, the licensed pediatric nurse walked over to closely examine the girl"
"The publishing company heir stepped forward and brushed the grit off his hand."
"The content writer had read that every woman in the world had something about herself that she didn't like."
"The publisher’s son got the distinct impression that Red wasn’t speaking to the woman."
They find two replacements, Josh Taylor who has lost his wife Julia to cancer, and Charlie Anderson, a teaching assistant, and alter them to make them a good fit for Emily. Apparently, each soul has a primary soulmate and a secondary soulmate. I'm not sure how exactly this works out. I mean, do these two soulmates then each also have primaries and secondaries respectively?
Another candidate then crops up, David Bowen, an ex-soldier, whose primary soulmate dies in Turkmenistan and whose secondary soulmate is still growing up. David looks exactly like Wicus, which sends all the Paragons into a tizzy. Why is there such a striking similarity? And is he going to upset the well-laid plans?
The parts featuring Emily were more interesting than the parts featuring the supernatural beings. Emily is clumsy, unsure of herself, and overly conscious of her 'thunder thighs'. She came across as perfectly ordinary, even kind of boring, but she is supposed to be special, with as yet untapped magical abilities.
There are some editing issues and the writing didn't really work for me. There was more telling than showing, and the sentence construction was rather awkward. There is surely a better way to inform the reader what a character does than reveal it continually in this manner -
"Concerned, the licensed pediatric nurse walked over to closely examine the girl"
"The publishing company heir stepped forward and brushed the grit off his hand."
"The content writer had read that every woman in the world had something about herself that she didn't like."
"The publisher’s son got the distinct impression that Red wasn’t speaking to the woman."
November 2, 2016
This first book in P.S. Meraux’s YA fantasy romance series sets up the following premise: every human has a predetermined primary and secondary soulmate, and the task of ensuring that these soulmates meet falls to a cadre of immortal beings called Paragons. Once that initial meeting takes place (thanks to the Paragons’ manipulations), the rest is up to the soulmates themselves.
But what happens when both primary and secondary soulmates die before any meeting can take place? And what if there’s a shadowy conspiracy responsible for the deaths of many such potential mates—all at the same time?
Luminary introduces Emily, a college student whose soulmates die at the outset of the book. The Paragon in charge of her fate now has to “retrofit” two replacement soulmates. Except things don’t always go according to plan…
Overall, I liked this book. It’s a clever concept, with plenty of whimsical and humorous touches. But the pace dragged a little, thanks to overly detailed descriptions that didn’t seem to contribute much to the main story. It reminded me of a child with ADHD, tasked with going upstairs to retrieve something from his room. Along the way, he gets distracted by the various shiny objects scattered along his path, so he stops to admire them. Then he takes time to stop and chat with the many people he meets along the way. Maybe he makes it to his room—eventually. Maybe he doesn’t. I don’t know yet. I haven’t finished the series yet.
Luminary is the first part of Emily’s journey, and while it hints at more intrigue and romance to come, it ends way before the destination is even in sight. So if you start reading, be prepared: the adventure continues in the next book (Beacon), and the one after that (Candlelight), and the one after that (Spotlight), and the one after that…
But what happens when both primary and secondary soulmates die before any meeting can take place? And what if there’s a shadowy conspiracy responsible for the deaths of many such potential mates—all at the same time?
Luminary introduces Emily, a college student whose soulmates die at the outset of the book. The Paragon in charge of her fate now has to “retrofit” two replacement soulmates. Except things don’t always go according to plan…
Overall, I liked this book. It’s a clever concept, with plenty of whimsical and humorous touches. But the pace dragged a little, thanks to overly detailed descriptions that didn’t seem to contribute much to the main story. It reminded me of a child with ADHD, tasked with going upstairs to retrieve something from his room. Along the way, he gets distracted by the various shiny objects scattered along his path, so he stops to admire them. Then he takes time to stop and chat with the many people he meets along the way. Maybe he makes it to his room—eventually. Maybe he doesn’t. I don’t know yet. I haven’t finished the series yet.
Luminary is the first part of Emily’s journey, and while it hints at more intrigue and romance to come, it ends way before the destination is even in sight. So if you start reading, be prepared: the adventure continues in the next book (Beacon), and the one after that (Candlelight), and the one after that (Spotlight), and the one after that…
February 1, 2017
3.5 Strong Stars!
Luminary was such a refreshing read. Imagine that your soul mates have died, one right after the other. What happens now, are you doomed to walk the Earth alone forever? An event called The Culling, has just occurred causing the demise of potential soulmates. Emily Wren, a young college student, is caught without not only her initial, but her backup soulmate as well. Enter Wicus, the Paragon who is in charge of ”retrofitting”, in order to set up two new soulmates for Emily. He uses luminaries, which are best described as light beings, to make sure that soulmates are uniquely designed and perfectly created to fit each other.
The story gets interesting when we meet Josh and Charlie. They are both left without their soulmates and they need to be reconstructed to match Emily’s soul. Their retrofitting is chiseled into their souls, and done while they sleep which causes a lot of suffering for Josh as he goes through the transformation. Emily’s character is also quite charming, and intriguing. I wished the story would have gotten to her earlier on.
The uniqueness of the story is what captivates you. P.S. Meraux has created such an intricate world of magical beings, luminaries, paragons, vampires, witches, shapshifters and werewolves who are all after this magic created by the soulmates. There are times that the descriptions of the creatures is so in depth it takes away from the story, but it’s still appreciated only because they help understand this new world. I don’t usually focus on sentence structure, more on the story itself since I’m not any better, but I think re-editing would have pushed my rating further up. Overall, it is an awesome imaginary tale with a lot of potential.
Luminary was such a refreshing read. Imagine that your soul mates have died, one right after the other. What happens now, are you doomed to walk the Earth alone forever? An event called The Culling, has just occurred causing the demise of potential soulmates. Emily Wren, a young college student, is caught without not only her initial, but her backup soulmate as well. Enter Wicus, the Paragon who is in charge of ”retrofitting”, in order to set up two new soulmates for Emily. He uses luminaries, which are best described as light beings, to make sure that soulmates are uniquely designed and perfectly created to fit each other.
The story gets interesting when we meet Josh and Charlie. They are both left without their soulmates and they need to be reconstructed to match Emily’s soul. Their retrofitting is chiseled into their souls, and done while they sleep which causes a lot of suffering for Josh as he goes through the transformation. Emily’s character is also quite charming, and intriguing. I wished the story would have gotten to her earlier on.
The uniqueness of the story is what captivates you. P.S. Meraux has created such an intricate world of magical beings, luminaries, paragons, vampires, witches, shapshifters and werewolves who are all after this magic created by the soulmates. There are times that the descriptions of the creatures is so in depth it takes away from the story, but it’s still appreciated only because they help understand this new world. I don’t usually focus on sentence structure, more on the story itself since I’m not any better, but I think re-editing would have pushed my rating further up. Overall, it is an awesome imaginary tale with a lot of potential.
June 18, 2016
My favorite books are the kind that do not follow familiar formulas (at least not like it's a blueprint) but forge their own paths. P.S. Meraux is good at making the characters more realistic and original than some authors I have read which is a great relief. I mean she makes an animated candelabra seem like a real person! The story is compelling and well written. The characters have insecurities and uncertainties and are a little damaged. Even the super immortals who I as I take it---are supposed to be saints or something have their flaws and distorted ideas.
Emily's family reminds me of mine. So I liked her a lot, typical Midwest brat. I admit I was pulling for Josh, he's someone that I think most people can sympathize with, a young widower trying to survive the death of his first wife.
Charlie I didn't care for much. I know guys like him, they don't take anything seriously. I loved David, tortured soul that he is. He's endearing, so perfect on the surface. He's got his share of flaws, I appreciate that he's dealing with inner demons because of what he went through during the war and how he reacts to stuff. I loved that David is very loyal.
Luminary is a sweet story that starts at a hectic pace in a different universe in the midst of a crisis then moves back and forth between their world and the real one. I must say I was captivated. This book is a keeper that I higher recommend. I'm moving on to the rest.
Emily's family reminds me of mine. So I liked her a lot, typical Midwest brat. I admit I was pulling for Josh, he's someone that I think most people can sympathize with, a young widower trying to survive the death of his first wife.
Charlie I didn't care for much. I know guys like him, they don't take anything seriously. I loved David, tortured soul that he is. He's endearing, so perfect on the surface. He's got his share of flaws, I appreciate that he's dealing with inner demons because of what he went through during the war and how he reacts to stuff. I loved that David is very loyal.
Luminary is a sweet story that starts at a hectic pace in a different universe in the midst of a crisis then moves back and forth between their world and the real one. I must say I was captivated. This book is a keeper that I higher recommend. I'm moving on to the rest.
December 24, 2017
Soulmates, Evil Wizards, and enchanted objects!
This story couldn't be anymore original! With a female lead whose flaws make her endearing, three possible love interests (one of whom might be Mr. Wrong), a meddlesome higher power who only wants the best for his charges, and a host of supernatural beings from witches to elves, Luminary is a book not to be missed.
The Luminaries and Paragons are Cupid 3.0 complete with spy-level tech, a council of elders, and lots of arguing about the future of souls destined to be together. Follow our main Paragon as he observes the souls he guides and shapes find each other. Watch as he alters certain souls to help them heal and find love again. The concept of having not one but two soulmates in a lifetime (almost like an heir and a spare) was interesting to think about. Instead of pining away after the death of your first true love, there is a second out there for everyone; however, you still have to meet them. You could live your life and never find one of them, despite a Paragon's best attempts.
Become intrigued with the process of soul-matching and mating, fall in love with the arguing Paragons, worry over the states of the personal lives of each character as the stakes are raised when an enemy with a vendetta against Paragons unleashes a plot that could ruin not just the love life but the magical fate of one of the characters.
A well-paced and worthy read.
This story couldn't be anymore original! With a female lead whose flaws make her endearing, three possible love interests (one of whom might be Mr. Wrong), a meddlesome higher power who only wants the best for his charges, and a host of supernatural beings from witches to elves, Luminary is a book not to be missed.
The Luminaries and Paragons are Cupid 3.0 complete with spy-level tech, a council of elders, and lots of arguing about the future of souls destined to be together. Follow our main Paragon as he observes the souls he guides and shapes find each other. Watch as he alters certain souls to help them heal and find love again. The concept of having not one but two soulmates in a lifetime (almost like an heir and a spare) was interesting to think about. Instead of pining away after the death of your first true love, there is a second out there for everyone; however, you still have to meet them. You could live your life and never find one of them, despite a Paragon's best attempts.
Become intrigued with the process of soul-matching and mating, fall in love with the arguing Paragons, worry over the states of the personal lives of each character as the stakes are raised when an enemy with a vendetta against Paragons unleashes a plot that could ruin not just the love life but the magical fate of one of the characters.
A well-paced and worthy read.
May 21, 2017
The strange rescue event Emily experiences at the start of this epic story, becomes clear to the reader later as being quite routine for soul minders. Learn why Emily is so special for the Paragons.
I was totally engrossed in the multi-dimensional work required for establishing primary and seconary soul mate binding. How the Paragons go about these tasks, the Ups and Downs which occur while tryng to orchestrate the meet-ups of the humans containing these souls is exciting and quite enlightening - one does consider other possible realms where a strict procedure may ensure optimal management of our souls.
With humans being made out of stardust, the soul minders are able to work on selected people while they sleep. But accidents to happen even in their line of work.
David Brown, a miltary veteran, should not have even appeared on his soul minder's list, and would certainly not have been the minder's choice. There are many reasons for this and the fact that both David and his minder look almost identical gives cause for dicussion within their realm.
This is a book I would love to return to and read again, propbably after reading other books belonging to the Luminary Saga.
The author Meraux, has a writing style which is provides comfortable reading the reader pinned page to page. All-in-all, I fantastic story which I can only recommend.
I was totally engrossed in the multi-dimensional work required for establishing primary and seconary soul mate binding. How the Paragons go about these tasks, the Ups and Downs which occur while tryng to orchestrate the meet-ups of the humans containing these souls is exciting and quite enlightening - one does consider other possible realms where a strict procedure may ensure optimal management of our souls.
With humans being made out of stardust, the soul minders are able to work on selected people while they sleep. But accidents to happen even in their line of work.
David Brown, a miltary veteran, should not have even appeared on his soul minder's list, and would certainly not have been the minder's choice. There are many reasons for this and the fact that both David and his minder look almost identical gives cause for dicussion within their realm.
This is a book I would love to return to and read again, propbably after reading other books belonging to the Luminary Saga.
The author Meraux, has a writing style which is provides comfortable reading the reader pinned page to page. All-in-all, I fantastic story which I can only recommend.
May 30, 2016
Emily is 23 and excited about her life, close to finishing college, has a good part time job and doesn't know anything about everything that is going on in the supernatural world hidden from her own but will totally change her life. There's a super wicked twist in the end along the lines of BAM! Fate smacks her in the face. The characters seemed three dimensional and real, not rushed.
In one of the opening chapters I got a little confused about the members of the council of nine, the ruling body of this alternative universe that the Paraons work out of, there were a number of introductions made in rapid succession but I found that it didn't hurt the book overall. I like that the mystery behind why her original soul mates were killed runs as an added storyline throughout.
I really liked that the book is not predictable. I read a lot and if I see the plot right away it ruins the book for me and I don't bother to finish it. This is not like that. I got into it, and it's a real book. The 200+ pages flew by before I knew it. Intriguing plot and concept that captured me until the end and left me wanting more. Luckily there was a preview of the next book, Beacon, which I imagine the author put there to draw me into the next one. It did.
In one of the opening chapters I got a little confused about the members of the council of nine, the ruling body of this alternative universe that the Paraons work out of, there were a number of introductions made in rapid succession but I found that it didn't hurt the book overall. I like that the mystery behind why her original soul mates were killed runs as an added storyline throughout.
I really liked that the book is not predictable. I read a lot and if I see the plot right away it ruins the book for me and I don't bother to finish it. This is not like that. I got into it, and it's a real book. The 200+ pages flew by before I knew it. Intriguing plot and concept that captured me until the end and left me wanting more. Luckily there was a preview of the next book, Beacon, which I imagine the author put there to draw me into the next one. It did.
August 13, 2016
This is a terrific concept for a Young Adult book: ageless beings called Paragons and their candelabra-like Luminary buddies are responsible for making sure every human has the perfect soul mate. I imagine that this idea would be particularly good news for those readers at a stage of life where close friendships are probably the most important possessions you can have!
P.S. Meraux has populated this magical world with all sorts of mythical creatures, including both the familiar and unfamiliar. The author also waxes lyrical at length with often quite poetic language.
But to be brutally honest, the book works best only once we ditch the endless descriptions and static yap-yap of the immortals to start hanging out with the humans – as this is when the real plot begins to emerge. So ironically it is the characters that make this novel different who are holding it back. Plus, the fact that a multitude of human soul mates are violently killed early on seemed to me to be wildly out of step with the gentle, whimsical tone of much of the novel.
Overall, a mixed first step in a series that I’m sure will get better as the author gets their head around how to operate these interesting characters.
P.S. Meraux has populated this magical world with all sorts of mythical creatures, including both the familiar and unfamiliar. The author also waxes lyrical at length with often quite poetic language.
But to be brutally honest, the book works best only once we ditch the endless descriptions and static yap-yap of the immortals to start hanging out with the humans – as this is when the real plot begins to emerge. So ironically it is the characters that make this novel different who are holding it back. Plus, the fact that a multitude of human soul mates are violently killed early on seemed to me to be wildly out of step with the gentle, whimsical tone of much of the novel.
Overall, a mixed first step in a series that I’m sure will get better as the author gets their head around how to operate these interesting characters.
May 12, 2016
I enjoyed it. I had not experienced anything from this author before, but I liked the cover description about soul mates and finding the one person you're supposed to be with. It appealed to the romantic in me. I was surprised by this 'other world' where characters that I never knew existed went about the business of making sure people have soul mates. Nice notion. I guess it's like having a supernatural angel or something. I honestly never read anybody describe the soul this way before, like its a physical part of us that can hurt and be changed and has such an impact on who we are as human beings. That was mesmerizing. I don't want to give anything away but there is a nice story as well. I didn't see the ending coming, which I really loved.
July 23, 2017
Loved
Loved this book! The idea of soul mates being predestined is something new to me.
Can't wait to read the next book.
Loved this book! The idea of soul mates being predestined is something new to me.
Can't wait to read the next book.
January 6, 2017
This is a new to me author. I loved the concept of this book and overall story arc has a lot of potential. It's mythical beings meets contemporary Romance. The characters are likeable and there are touches of humour which make you smile. I did get distracted sometimes as the story had a tendency to veer of the trodden path and not stick to the main story. The description are good but I felt a little too long and in depth. However as I said before the concept and story is good. I will read book two to see how this pans out.
June 7, 2017
"Simply a Brilliant!"
I really enjoyed this book. It was blown away by the convoluted dynamics of each and every character. The book is so well written in a perfect manner. I literally felt pulled into the story, it was wonderful. I don't want to spoil the whole story here for everyone, just go ahead and enjoy this unique magical read!
I really enjoyed this book. It was blown away by the convoluted dynamics of each and every character. The book is so well written in a perfect manner. I literally felt pulled into the story, it was wonderful. I don't want to spoil the whole story here for everyone, just go ahead and enjoy this unique magical read!
February 7, 2017
Engaging and fluffy
Luminary is the first of a YA series of books that delve into the subject of higher powers massaging the lives of Humans. It is an area of humanity that has been used many times over from the Greek Myths through to storylines in many graphic novels.
Paragons ensure every human soul finds their soul mate to release magic into the world. If not that soul mate, another will be remodelled to fit the purpose. The mantra of soul mates is absolute.
Two main characters emerge, Emily Wren, the focus of the soul tinkering and Wicus, the Paragon responsible for her future happiness.
Although Emily is a main character, she is not the protagonist in this story. That position is rightly attributed to Wicus. He is the one with the dilemmas and responsibilities to pursue. His is the emotional arc that needs to find salvation or absolution. Emily is merely the focus of his energies.
We learn about magic being released when soul mates meet but are left in the dark about why this magic is important. What would happen to both universes if that magic failed? We are never given any insight into that possibility, no sword of Damocles to bow beneath. This would underscore the drive that Wicus pursues and give substance to his singular insistence that Emily Wren will find her soul mate.
The ending when it came, felt truncated without a substantive conclusion. Every book must reach a conclusion of sorts. Every book in a series of books must also entertain a conclusion that wraps up elements of the story. Not all, but some. This was not the case with this first book. Only the obvious conclusion manifested.
Along the way we were given great visuals in scene setting only to be upset with languid changes of POV that did create some confusion. Some sentence construction lacked cohesive flow offering statements as opposed to narrative. This gave a feeling of untidiness to the structure of the book. Not enough to put the book down and forget it but enough to leave the story for a day or two. The writing beyond all that was engaging though could prove a little on the sentimental side. The introduced villains, the almost obligatory bad apples lacked any real bite in creating darkness.
All in all, the book was appealing and a decent read though another edit would have cleaned away many of the niggling issues. Villains when introduced, need to be fleshed out as much as possible and their motives investigated to act as a counterpoint to either the story or the protagonists.
Luminary is the first of a YA series of books that delve into the subject of higher powers massaging the lives of Humans. It is an area of humanity that has been used many times over from the Greek Myths through to storylines in many graphic novels.
Paragons ensure every human soul finds their soul mate to release magic into the world. If not that soul mate, another will be remodelled to fit the purpose. The mantra of soul mates is absolute.
Two main characters emerge, Emily Wren, the focus of the soul tinkering and Wicus, the Paragon responsible for her future happiness.
Although Emily is a main character, she is not the protagonist in this story. That position is rightly attributed to Wicus. He is the one with the dilemmas and responsibilities to pursue. His is the emotional arc that needs to find salvation or absolution. Emily is merely the focus of his energies.
We learn about magic being released when soul mates meet but are left in the dark about why this magic is important. What would happen to both universes if that magic failed? We are never given any insight into that possibility, no sword of Damocles to bow beneath. This would underscore the drive that Wicus pursues and give substance to his singular insistence that Emily Wren will find her soul mate.
The ending when it came, felt truncated without a substantive conclusion. Every book must reach a conclusion of sorts. Every book in a series of books must also entertain a conclusion that wraps up elements of the story. Not all, but some. This was not the case with this first book. Only the obvious conclusion manifested.
Along the way we were given great visuals in scene setting only to be upset with languid changes of POV that did create some confusion. Some sentence construction lacked cohesive flow offering statements as opposed to narrative. This gave a feeling of untidiness to the structure of the book. Not enough to put the book down and forget it but enough to leave the story for a day or two. The writing beyond all that was engaging though could prove a little on the sentimental side. The introduced villains, the almost obligatory bad apples lacked any real bite in creating darkness.
All in all, the book was appealing and a decent read though another edit would have cleaned away many of the niggling issues. Villains when introduced, need to be fleshed out as much as possible and their motives investigated to act as a counterpoint to either the story or the protagonists.
June 28, 2017
First off, I should preface this by saying I’m a newcomer to both the young adult and the fantasy genre, so my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt. The basic idea behind Luminary is that magical beings called paragons influence human behavior and interaction, pairing people to fall in love and become soulmates, which releases some sort of magical energy.
Pros:
It’s a very interesting concept, the idea of magical beings influencing the romantic pairings of humans. And I also think this a concept could be taken in many other directions in future entries- it would be interesting to see how a book in this series handles the debate between free will and determinism.
Also, the author doesn’t cheat by overusing expository dialogue, especially in scenes between magical beings. The author makes their world and relationships feel real – the author hints at a past without needing to get too explicit.
Cons:
For starters, I think this book needs a good line editor to run through it. Tell-not-show sentences like “This was a demanding affair which he conducted with a great deal of solemnity” have no place in a published work. With this, the author populates passages with descriptions of facial expressions, telling us the emotional state of the characters with very little action to propel the story forward - I felt the book could easily be cut down by a third without losing much. And in more of a minor nitpick, there were several awkward sentence fragments peppered throughout.
Characters: Personally, I found the book to have too many characters, especially magical ones, and while I commend the author for making them all seem very real with a small amount of ink, it seemed like half a dozen could be eliminated without affecting the story in any significant way.
Audience: It’s difficult to tell who this book is aimed at. While never too explicit or gratuitous, the book has some fairly frank discussions of sexual relationships that probably aren’t appropriate for those on the younger side of the YA spectrum. At the same time, I’m not sure this book explores its concepts deeply enough to appeal to adults. But once again, I’m not too familiar with the YA genre so I may be off base here.
Pros:
It’s a very interesting concept, the idea of magical beings influencing the romantic pairings of humans. And I also think this a concept could be taken in many other directions in future entries- it would be interesting to see how a book in this series handles the debate between free will and determinism.
Also, the author doesn’t cheat by overusing expository dialogue, especially in scenes between magical beings. The author makes their world and relationships feel real – the author hints at a past without needing to get too explicit.
Cons:
For starters, I think this book needs a good line editor to run through it. Tell-not-show sentences like “This was a demanding affair which he conducted with a great deal of solemnity” have no place in a published work. With this, the author populates passages with descriptions of facial expressions, telling us the emotional state of the characters with very little action to propel the story forward - I felt the book could easily be cut down by a third without losing much. And in more of a minor nitpick, there were several awkward sentence fragments peppered throughout.
Characters: Personally, I found the book to have too many characters, especially magical ones, and while I commend the author for making them all seem very real with a small amount of ink, it seemed like half a dozen could be eliminated without affecting the story in any significant way.
Audience: It’s difficult to tell who this book is aimed at. While never too explicit or gratuitous, the book has some fairly frank discussions of sexual relationships that probably aren’t appropriate for those on the younger side of the YA spectrum. At the same time, I’m not sure this book explores its concepts deeply enough to appeal to adults. But once again, I’m not too familiar with the YA genre so I may be off base here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews