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Luminous
From the author of
Crown of Coral and Pearl
comes an immersive new fantasy about a witch who must learn to harness her power--or risk losing her loved ones forever.
Liora has spent her life in hiding, knowing discovery could mean falling prey to the king's warlock, Darius, who uses mages' magic to grow his own power. But when her worst nightmare comes to pass, Darius doesn't take her. Instead, he demands that her younger sister return to the capital with him. To make matters worse, Evran, Liora's childhood friend and the only one who knows her secret, goes missing following Darius's visit, leaving her without anyone to turn to.
To find Evran and to save her sister, Liora must embrace the power she has always feared. But the greatest danger she'll face is yet to come, for Darius has plans in motion that will cause the world to fall into chaos--and Liora and Evran may be the only ones who can stop him.
Liora has spent her life in hiding, knowing discovery could mean falling prey to the king's warlock, Darius, who uses mages' magic to grow his own power. But when her worst nightmare comes to pass, Darius doesn't take her. Instead, he demands that her younger sister return to the capital with him. To make matters worse, Evran, Liora's childhood friend and the only one who knows her secret, goes missing following Darius's visit, leaving her without anyone to turn to.
To find Evran and to save her sister, Liora must embrace the power she has always feared. But the greatest danger she'll face is yet to come, for Darius has plans in motion that will cause the world to fall into chaos--and Liora and Evran may be the only ones who can stop him.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published October 5, 2021
43 people are currently reading
10960 people want to read
About the author
Mara Rutherford
10 books1,555 followersMara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara has lived all over the world with her diplomat husband and two sons. She is the author of Crown of Coral and Pearl and its sequel, Kingdom of Sea and Stone; Luminous; The Poison Season; and A Multitude of Dreams. Her next book, A CURIOUS KIND OF MAGIC, releases Fall '25 from Wednesday Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
November 4, 2021
this was fine. nothing about it particularly stands out, but there really isnt anything that i disliked about it either. if anything, its some pretty basic storytelling that gets the job done, but doesnt really offer anything more.
the magic is there, but the world-building is pretty weak. the romance is there, but i never really believed the chemistry. the villain is there, but he isnt quite the antagonist the story is needing. again, nothing i truly disliked, but there wasnt enough to make me really like it either.
rounding up because it was a fine read in the moment, but i have a feeling i will easily forget this.
↠ 2.5 stars
the magic is there, but the world-building is pretty weak. the romance is there, but i never really believed the chemistry. the villain is there, but he isnt quite the antagonist the story is needing. again, nothing i truly disliked, but there wasnt enough to make me really like it either.
rounding up because it was a fine read in the moment, but i have a feeling i will easily forget this.
↠ 2.5 stars
May 27, 2021
I was captivated!
July 14, 2022
➸ Trigger warnings for .
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August 3, 2021I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2021
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair review.*
No no no no no. I really don’t like giving one star reviews, but I truly believe that I just read a poorly written Shadow and Bone fan fiction. Luminous is easily the worst book that I’ve read this year, and I’ll outline why below.
Characters
Liora, human glowstick, lives in a kingdom where magic is exploited by the evil Lord Darius for his own personal use. Oh, and she is absolutely in love with her childhood best friend. (Can you see where I am seeing the Shadow and Bone resemblance?) All characters feel flat and one dimensional. Characters constantly tell Liora how special she is and how she has to learn how to brightly shine. The Darkling in Shadow and Bone is actually scary and manipulative, but Lord Darius comes off less like the Darkling and more like Lord Farquaad in Shrek. We are told how horrible and how scary he is (with some attempts at making him seem like he has some kind of internal conflict) but he can’t even keep characters in a hunting party without them basically flipping him off and running off. Random characters are introduced, ignored, and then randomly referenced again later in the book.
Setting:
Overall, the world building is poor. There are references about stars and how stars are important, and there are falling stars. People have wagons and there was a scene where Liora was scolded for being alone in a house with a boy because it wasn’t proper. This gave off some old timey vibes, but modern words like “collateral” were used that threw me off and didn’t support an old timey setting. It’s also a big free for all with the magic system- everyone’s magic is different. Which is fine, but it added to the lack of world building.
Writing
*Sigh.* Again, I really don’t like ripping into authors because writing a book isn’t easy, but this book was so frustrating to read because the writing was so poor. There were some beautiful similes sprinkled throughout this book, but as a teacher, I teach my students to “show and not tell” when they write. The author solely relies on telling the reader EVERYTHING. We are told point blank that Liora is in love. We are told that when a character “clenches his fist” that it is in anger instead of just inferencing that someone clenching their fist is probably angry. We are told how terrifying the dark tapestry is instead of really shown. This makes for frustrating reading.
Consent:
I initially thought that this would be a good middle grade novel, but there is a scene where Liora is grabbed and kissed for the purpose of glowing brighter so her light could be used to see. I do not care that Liora expressed she had been in love with this character; there is nothing romantic about being used by someone with the purposes of achieving a task. I find this scene unsettling and dangerous for children, and I will not include this book in my classroom library for this reason alone.
Overall, this book is poorly written and contrived. The plot jumps around, and the characters are all flat. The monsters aren’t scary (bonus points for the centipede squirrel that made me laugh out loud) and neither is the villain. I do not recommend this book to anyone. Just read Shadow and Bone or watch Shrek.
No no no no no. I really don’t like giving one star reviews, but I truly believe that I just read a poorly written Shadow and Bone fan fiction. Luminous is easily the worst book that I’ve read this year, and I’ll outline why below.
Characters
Liora, human glowstick, lives in a kingdom where magic is exploited by the evil Lord Darius for his own personal use. Oh, and she is absolutely in love with her childhood best friend. (Can you see where I am seeing the Shadow and Bone resemblance?) All characters feel flat and one dimensional. Characters constantly tell Liora how special she is and how she has to learn how to brightly shine. The Darkling in Shadow and Bone is actually scary and manipulative, but Lord Darius comes off less like the Darkling and more like Lord Farquaad in Shrek. We are told how horrible and how scary he is (with some attempts at making him seem like he has some kind of internal conflict) but he can’t even keep characters in a hunting party without them basically flipping him off and running off. Random characters are introduced, ignored, and then randomly referenced again later in the book.
Setting:
Overall, the world building is poor. There are references about stars and how stars are important, and there are falling stars. People have wagons and there was a scene where Liora was scolded for being alone in a house with a boy because it wasn’t proper. This gave off some old timey vibes, but modern words like “collateral” were used that threw me off and didn’t support an old timey setting. It’s also a big free for all with the magic system- everyone’s magic is different. Which is fine, but it added to the lack of world building.
Writing
*Sigh.* Again, I really don’t like ripping into authors because writing a book isn’t easy, but this book was so frustrating to read because the writing was so poor. There were some beautiful similes sprinkled throughout this book, but as a teacher, I teach my students to “show and not tell” when they write. The author solely relies on telling the reader EVERYTHING. We are told point blank that Liora is in love. We are told that when a character “clenches his fist” that it is in anger instead of just inferencing that someone clenching their fist is probably angry. We are told how terrifying the dark tapestry is instead of really shown. This makes for frustrating reading.
Consent:
I initially thought that this would be a good middle grade novel, but there is a scene where Liora is grabbed and kissed for the purpose of glowing brighter so her light could be used to see. I do not care that Liora expressed she had been in love with this character; there is nothing romantic about being used by someone with the purposes of achieving a task. I find this scene unsettling and dangerous for children, and I will not include this book in my classroom library for this reason alone.
Overall, this book is poorly written and contrived. The plot jumps around, and the characters are all flat. The monsters aren’t scary (bonus points for the centipede squirrel that made me laugh out loud) and neither is the villain. I do not recommend this book to anyone. Just read Shadow and Bone or watch Shrek.
October 6, 2021
"Stars don't just shine, Liora. They burn."
Oh man... I really wanted to love this book. The magic system was really fun and there was so much potential but... it fell flat. I love the author's previous duology with my whole heart, but the romance in this novel just didn't hit the same way. It is friends-to-lovers, and I just didn't believe the connection between them. I need more showing than telling. There were also a lot of moments that were very reminiscent of Alina x Darkling between our heroine and the villain character and I couldn't stop comparing it that way.
The magic system was wonderful and I love that all the witches had their own type of magic. It was really cool to learn what everyone's powers were and who was keeping secrets. There were a lot of little twists and turns and the magic world within the tapestry was really creepy. I felt like I had been transported there myself. Mara Rutherford exceeds at creating atmospheric stories and connecting you to her heroine.
I will still be reading more for Mara, but this one didn't hit.
I read an ARC from Inkyard
Oh man... I really wanted to love this book. The magic system was really fun and there was so much potential but... it fell flat. I love the author's previous duology with my whole heart, but the romance in this novel just didn't hit the same way. It is friends-to-lovers, and I just didn't believe the connection between them. I need more showing than telling. There were also a lot of moments that were very reminiscent of Alina x Darkling between our heroine and the villain character and I couldn't stop comparing it that way.
The magic system was wonderful and I love that all the witches had their own type of magic. It was really cool to learn what everyone's powers were and who was keeping secrets. There were a lot of little twists and turns and the magic world within the tapestry was really creepy. I felt like I had been transported there myself. Mara Rutherford exceeds at creating atmospheric stories and connecting you to her heroine.
I will still be reading more for Mara, but this one didn't hit.
I read an ARC from Inkyard
January 31, 2022
2 stars★★☆☆☆
☞ Trigger warnings: **contains spoilers**
**I was provided with an ARC from Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for an honest review**
If you loved the Shadow & Bone trilogy, then you will love this book. I don't like Shadow & Bone so if you squint real hard and tilt your head, its actually my own fault for not liking this book. I should have known better.
It is a great standalone for younger YA readers (13+) and deals with themes of belonging, hiding and becoming who you are, and juggles the topic of destiny vs personal autonomy.
"the story of a girl who believes she has to hide who she is in order to feel safe and valued"
Liora has spent her life in hiding. Hiding from the townspeople, from the king and his advisor Darius and the king's spies. Hiding from herself. She believes she must hide in order to feel safe and valued. She holds the weight of guilt and feels she is a burden to all those she loves, simply for being herself.
"I had known for quite some time that the beast Father feared most lived inside me."
Her fears come to fruition when Darius discovers her powers, and instead of taking her, he takes her sister. She must protect everyone she loves by doing as Darius says. Unfortunately, Darius plans are even more dangerous than Liora ever thought was possible and if she follows through, even more people will get hurt by her actions, or even worse, her inactions.
Darius power stems from oblivion. One touch and you cease to feel anything. No pain, no joy or fear. No emotion. Simply, nothing. His plan is for everyone to feel as empty as he does. He believes it is when they all feel nothing, will they all be at peace. A utopian kingdom.
Darius collects magic users. Regardless of the type of magic they hold within them, he will collect people with magical abilities and use them until they dry up. He scoured the land, and if you have some form of magic, you are either obtained (usually unwillingly) or... death.
Liora's ability is seemingly small. She simply glows, like a star, or moonlight. Her skin is bathed in a soft glow that can pierce the darkest of nights. Liora believes her worth is tied to her appearance. She has been told again and again she will be a prize to be collected by Darius if he finds her.
I wanted the second half of the book to just be about Liora on her journey to save Evran. It was intense, atmospheric and you felt the claustrophobia. The dark can hide so much and to successfully make the reader feel the dark and be afraid of what's in the dark was well executed. When Evran's mother made the decision to save Evran by putting Liora in danger, my heart fell into the pit of my stomach. I was shocked she would be so ruthless. I understand her motivation but there was definitely a better way, and it was not that.
Unfortunately, the story didn't end when Liora and Evran were out of the intense situation. The story went downhill from there. I was checked out and wasn't invested in any of the characters journeys. I was intrigued by Darius backstory and his relationship with Liora but the plot wasn't strong enough, nor the other relationships between the characters for me to be continually interested. The themes of this book felt very heavy handed, with little subtlety. The progression of character arcs of the side characters had no substance and felt hollow.
The last plot twist was interesting but not enough to make up for the last 50% of the book. I would love an epilogue but I doubt I will think about this book again after this. I'm unfazed and unaffected and that's probably the worst thing a book can do to you.
As the author says in her acknowledgements, "It takes a lot of bravery to accept the parts of ourselves we fear the most". Liora goes on a journey of acceptance but the journey felt incomplete with rushed moments and an uncanny resemblance to the Shadow & Bone trilogy. I have no idea if the author was to have a deliberate influence or if it was accidental. It's very possible I am seeing something that doesn't exist but the few similarities were enough for me to stop and reflect on them.
"Stars don't just shine. They burn."
Would I recommend this book?
I think this book can appeal to people between the ages of 13-15, but it will read to old if someone 16+ reads it.
Will I re-read this book?
I don't think it's a book I will want to re-read in the future.
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June 23, 2021
ARC provided by Edelweiss:
I will read anything Mara writes. She has a way of storytelling so smoothly. I start her books and before I know it, it’s ending. They never drag or become monotonous.
I love the characters in this story. The sisterhood bond, the childhood friendship bond, and of course the ‘cruel’ mage but who may not be that cruel.
The magic was fun with everyone’s different powers. The world building wasn’t too detailed to be confusing. It was such an easy read but still had depth.
Content warnings: violence, death of child (more background info)
I will read anything Mara writes. She has a way of storytelling so smoothly. I start her books and before I know it, it’s ending. They never drag or become monotonous.
I love the characters in this story. The sisterhood bond, the childhood friendship bond, and of course the ‘cruel’ mage but who may not be that cruel.
The magic was fun with everyone’s different powers. The world building wasn’t too detailed to be confusing. It was such an easy read but still had depth.
Content warnings: violence, death of child (more background info)
November 24, 2021
This is a really fun standalone ya fantasy that was filled with an interesting magic system & it is so easy to read as the plot is very fast paced
I loved the family and friendship dynamics in this book especially Lioras relationship she has with her sisters as it just so sweet & she would do anything for them the same way I am with my siblings
Liora goes on an amazing journey of self discovery & becomes more and more confident within herself and her powers that I really enjoyed reading about, definitely recommend to younger ya readers
I loved the family and friendship dynamics in this book especially Lioras relationship she has with her sisters as it just so sweet & she would do anything for them the same way I am with my siblings
Liora goes on an amazing journey of self discovery & becomes more and more confident within herself and her powers that I really enjoyed reading about, definitely recommend to younger ya readers
September 4, 2021
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Actual Rating = 4.25
This was one of the most enjoyable ARCs I've come across in a while. I actually never read the Crown of Coral and Pearl series, so this was my introduction to Rutherford's writing. I'll definitely be going back and reading her other works now.
A quick summary: Our MC, Liora, has magic and is trying to keep it a secret - which is hard because she literally glows in the dark. She's in love with the neighbor boy, who's mom is a witch, and she lives with her father and sisters, hiding out from the evil mage-hunting Lord Darius. Shit happens and her youngest sister ends up a quasi-hostage of Darius, she ends up as the neighbor witch's apprentice, and then more shit happens.
The Good:
I genuinely liked Liora who was maybe a bit more naïve then she should've been, but was also brave and mostly practical. Honestly, she was a breath of fresh air as far as YA Fantasy heroines go, given that she seemed to both 1) think about the situations she was getting into and 2) be aware that she might not understand the true motives of others.
Darius is also an engaging antagonistic. I appreciate that Rutherford made him morally grey (though definitely dark grey) without trying to excuse or justify the terrible things he'd done. Hell, Darius didn't even really try to excuse or justify, he just explained his backstory and things made sense. I appreciated the underlying message that someone can be "not totally evil" while still being "not someone you should choose to hang around."
The worldbuilding wasn't extensive, but was thorough enough to support the story. I also found the magic system to be interesting and thought the magical creatures were pretty unique.
The relationship between family members was well-written and believable, though there was a sort-of-twist thrown in at the end that I didn't really feel needed to be there. It's possible this family revelation was meant to leave a bridge to a sequel, in which case....okay. If this is a standalone though, than I don't see why the author included it. Time will tell.
The pacing of this novel was also super solid. Like, I actually stayed up late to read this. Whenever a book can convince me to give up sleep to know what happens next, it's a pretty good book.
The Less Than Good (because realistically nothing about this was "bad"):
Let's talk about the romance. Liora is in love with Evran, the boy next door, though she's unsure about his feelings. As the reader, his feelings are pretty effing obvious but whatever, nbd. The issue is that Liora's relationship with Darius is so much more compelling. Now, I am NOT saying that Liora and Darius should've gotten together - that would've been toxic AF. But seeing how much chemistry Liora and Darius had on the page made it really hard for me to embrace Liora and Evran's connection. Like, there are clearly people out there she has better chemistry with.
There were also a couple of what I call "motivation reveals" - you know, like when one character suddenly learns why another is doing whatever their doing? Well, this book had two of these with one bigger one near the end, and I felt like I missed something. It seemed like Liora's mindset changed completely after she "figured something out" but the knowledge she learned didn't actually matter? It's possibly that maybe I'm just missing something.
Overall, I thought this was an excellent YA Fantasy and it pulled me out of a bit of a reading slump. Would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre!
Actual Rating = 4.25
This was one of the most enjoyable ARCs I've come across in a while. I actually never read the Crown of Coral and Pearl series, so this was my introduction to Rutherford's writing. I'll definitely be going back and reading her other works now.
A quick summary: Our MC, Liora, has magic and is trying to keep it a secret - which is hard because she literally glows in the dark. She's in love with the neighbor boy, who's mom is a witch, and she lives with her father and sisters, hiding out from the evil mage-hunting Lord Darius. Shit happens and her youngest sister ends up a quasi-hostage of Darius, she ends up as the neighbor witch's apprentice, and then more shit happens.
The Good:
I genuinely liked Liora who was maybe a bit more naïve then she should've been, but was also brave and mostly practical. Honestly, she was a breath of fresh air as far as YA Fantasy heroines go, given that she seemed to both 1) think about the situations she was getting into and 2) be aware that she might not understand the true motives of others.
Darius is also an engaging antagonistic. I appreciate that Rutherford made him morally grey (though definitely dark grey) without trying to excuse or justify the terrible things he'd done. Hell, Darius didn't even really try to excuse or justify, he just explained his backstory and things made sense. I appreciated the underlying message that someone can be "not totally evil" while still being "not someone you should choose to hang around."
The worldbuilding wasn't extensive, but was thorough enough to support the story. I also found the magic system to be interesting and thought the magical creatures were pretty unique.
The relationship between family members was well-written and believable, though there was a sort-of-twist thrown in at the end that I didn't really feel needed to be there. It's possible this family revelation was meant to leave a bridge to a sequel, in which case....okay. If this is a standalone though, than I don't see why the author included it. Time will tell.
The pacing of this novel was also super solid. Like, I actually stayed up late to read this. Whenever a book can convince me to give up sleep to know what happens next, it's a pretty good book.
The Less Than Good (because realistically nothing about this was "bad"):
Let's talk about the romance. Liora is in love with Evran, the boy next door, though she's unsure about his feelings. As the reader, his feelings are pretty effing obvious but whatever, nbd. The issue is that Liora's relationship with Darius is so much more compelling. Now, I am NOT saying that Liora and Darius should've gotten together - that would've been toxic AF. But seeing how much chemistry Liora and Darius had on the page made it really hard for me to embrace Liora and Evran's connection. Like, there are clearly people out there she has better chemistry with.
There were also a couple of what I call "motivation reveals" - you know, like when one character suddenly learns why another is doing whatever their doing? Well, this book had two of these with one bigger one near the end, and I felt like I missed something. It seemed like Liora's mindset changed completely after she "figured something out" but the knowledge she learned didn't actually matter? It's possibly that maybe I'm just missing something.
Overall, I thought this was an excellent YA Fantasy and it pulled me out of a bit of a reading slump. Would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre!
October 1, 2021
Title: Luminous
Series: standalone
Author: Mara Rutherford
Release date: October 5, 2021
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: YA fantasy romance
The Crown of Coral and Pearl series is one of my favorites fantasy series in the last couple of years, so when I saw this new offering from Mara Rutherford, I jumped at the chance to read it. If you take the fact that I'm a huge fan of this author's writing out of the equation, the synopsis and gorgeous cover would have hooked me alone. Immediate points for originality. A heroine with luminous skin that has magic that she doesn't know how to harness and must hide from a corrupt, powerful warlock? I was all in.
My entire life revolved around my glowing skin and the fear that the kingdom’s most powerful warlock would discover it. Lord Darius was employed by the king himself, gathering mages and torturing them if they didn’t do his bidding.
Liora has been laying low with her father and sisters in the small town of Sylvan. Her father once held a high position at court, but left in order to protect her from Darius, the man who controlled the King and uses mages to acquire their power. There is a variety of special abilities by those who have magic such as teleportation, "weaving" things into creation, fire starting, and the ability to see in the darkness. However, there didn't seem to be an actual magic system as mainly we were just told that some inherently had magic and some didn't. The magic needed to be activated somehow and everybody's abilities were varying degrees in strength. There wasn't a complicated list of rules or an elaborate backstory to how the magic in the world came to be. So if you are a reader who likes simple fantasy without all of these things this could be the perfect book for you. For me personally, I would have appreciated some more detail. It didn't have to be intricate world building, just enough to bring me more firmly inside the story.
Liora has been sheltered from the world by her father for a long time, so she is a bit naive at times, but you can't fault her bravery. She frequently disregards her own safety in order to protect her loved ones. Whether it's her best friend Evran or her sister Mina, she puts herself in harms way in life or death situations in order to try to save them. However, because of being sheltered, she often seems a tad reckless in her actions. She has absolutely no knowledge of what she is capable of magically because she thinks she is a danger to other people and doesn't try to learn. But secretly...she wishes to see more outside of the four walls of her home. To explore the side of herself that must always be kept hidden, to understand herself completely. After she begins working for Evran's mother the weaver, she discovers that those closest to her have been keeping more secrets than she could have imagined. Is she strong enough to set to rights what Lord Darius has set in motion without destroying her only chance of happiness with the boy who holds her heart?
Through Margana, I was beginning to see how magic could be a force of creation and destruction, of good and evil.
This was an original fantasy and it was easy to immerse myself in, but there was something missing for me in the heroine. I tried to put my finger on where she felt lacking and I felt that it was almost as if she was a secondary character in her own book. It's not that I disliked her, but she failed to make me feel much concern over her situation or even anticipation for the romance subplot. As well, the ending was a little dissatisfying because it ended quite abruptly without showing the resolution to a twist that occurred in the final chapters.
If you're looking for a fantasy standalone that's very straightforward without a complex magic system, this could be the book you're looking for. This wasn't my favorite by this author, but as always I loved her writing style and look forward to seeing what she has to offer next.
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June 22, 2023
"Stars don't just shine, Liora. They burn."
TW: abandonment, animal death, blood, (fantastical) body horror, child death, confinement, death, death of a loved one, kidnapping, prejudice, violence.
If you read Shadow and Bone and thought to yourself, "You know what this could use? Two Darkling characters, except one is a man-baby and the other is if the Darkling and Gale had a baby. It could also use squirrel-centipede hybrids, zombies, and the most melodramatic dialogue you've ever read." then this book is for you!
Beyond that, this was a quick read with a magic system that could have been interesting if it was handled differently. As it was, it was almost the exact plot of S&B but without any of the things that make the original story interesting. And any compelling parts to this book were lost and overshadowed by the most insipid romance I've read about in quite awhile.
Overall, if someone is super new to YA, this might be the perfect book for them - especially if they want something they can read quickly. But it just did not work for me in the slightest.
TW: abandonment, animal death, blood, (fantastical) body horror, child death, confinement, death, death of a loved one, kidnapping, prejudice, violence.
If you read Shadow and Bone and thought to yourself, "You know what this could use? Two Darkling characters, except one is a man-baby and the other is if the Darkling and Gale had a baby. It could also use squirrel-centipede hybrids, zombies, and the most melodramatic dialogue you've ever read." then this book is for you!
Beyond that, this was a quick read with a magic system that could have been interesting if it was handled differently. As it was, it was almost the exact plot of S&B but without any of the things that make the original story interesting. And any compelling parts to this book were lost and overshadowed by the most insipid romance I've read about in quite awhile.
Overall, if someone is super new to YA, this might be the perfect book for them - especially if they want something they can read quickly. But it just did not work for me in the slightest.
July 28, 2024
I really enjoy Rutherford's writing but the story didn't pull me in. I was very interested in the beginning but the pacing puttered out, and the plot felt stagnant for some time.
August 23, 2021
I wanted to like this so much more. First off, the cover pulls you in because it's gorgeous. The story starts off with some decent world building, but it's difficult to determine what time period we're supposed to be in. I realize this is a fully made-up world, but there's some confusing anachronisms that feel just thrown in and mixed about.
The characters fell somewhat flat for me. The most expressive (and therefore easiest to understand) character was effectively placed off screen for a good portion of the book. The main character's inner dialogue felt utterly repetitive and made it difficult to actually like here. The villain was like a watered down version of the Darkling from the Shadow and Bone trilogy. (There are actually a lot of comparisons to be drawn to that series.)
The magic system was underdeveloped and underwhelming. The descriptions of powers was minimal and not fully fleshed out.
Finally, the actual plot was just a boring romp through the woods to look for ambiguously dangerous creatures.
I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.
The characters fell somewhat flat for me. The most expressive (and therefore easiest to understand) character was effectively placed off screen for a good portion of the book. The main character's inner dialogue felt utterly repetitive and made it difficult to actually like here. The villain was like a watered down version of the Darkling from the Shadow and Bone trilogy. (There are actually a lot of comparisons to be drawn to that series.)
The magic system was underdeveloped and underwhelming. The descriptions of powers was minimal and not fully fleshed out.
Finally, the actual plot was just a boring romp through the woods to look for ambiguously dangerous creatures.
I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2021
* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I really thought this was such a fun take on witch story. It gave me massive vibes of both shadow and bone but also the princess will save this time. I also loved the main romance in this read. It def explores my fav love troupe and it was def one of my favorites. I also loved how this book did have both magic element but was also very focused on the potlics of the world. I will def check out book two, the romance def captures me and i was suprised by the cliffhanger. I def want to read this authors first series as well.
I really thought this was such a fun take on witch story. It gave me massive vibes of both shadow and bone but also the princess will save this time. I also loved the main romance in this read. It def explores my fav love troupe and it was def one of my favorites. I also loved how this book did have both magic element but was also very focused on the potlics of the world. I will def check out book two, the romance def captures me and i was suprised by the cliffhanger. I def want to read this authors first series as well.
August 7, 2021
Beautiful cover that as soon as I saw it I knew I want to read it . Plus the author is another new to me author which is great because I don't read a lot of ya fantasy . But what really got me to like the story besides the cover was the family bond , the word building , the different types of magic, and a evil powerful mage, not only is there all that but there is a bit of romance , secrets that needs to come out, good vs evil , and it some how makes the story flow together perfectly.
August 10, 2020
I was lucky enough to be a sensitivity reader for this enchanting book! The magic, the adventure, the drama, the artistry! It's a lovely combination that makes for a thrilling tale.
December 27, 2021
Thank you to the publisher, Inkyard Press, for providing me with an ARC of Luminous in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
I loved Rutherford’s Crown of Coral and Pearl duology. The world building and the story itself were just wonderful. So, you can imagine my excitement when I heard Rutherford is publishing a new story. About magic. And witches. Yay!
The Details
Having read a few new releases this year, I’m starting to notice a… trend? A common thread? Not sure what to call it, but I’m starting to see some similarities in the publications.
It has come to my attention that the stories feel unfinished. Like the publications have been rushed.
Possibly because of the situation we are dealing with worldwide, publishers want to make sure the publication of books remains steady. It’s pure conjecture on my part. I’m just trying to make sense of it.
Anyway, Luminous isn’t the first story I thought felt unfinished. A quarter of the story is used to set up the plot, yet many details, such as the nature of the magic used in this world, remain oddly vague.
The vagueness made it difficult to connect and imagine this world, which I thought had great potential to afford a reader to get completely engrossed in it.
I also thought the characters could have used a little more fleshing out. I know the protagonist is supposed to be naïve and inexperienced, but it just came across as annoying.
I think there is a fine line between naivete and that goody-two-shoes act that the protagonist kept slipping into from time to time.
I could not stand the male characters in Luminous at all. I thought they were all patronizing and full of themselves. Having one such character adds some depth to the story, but all of them just makes me curl my lip in displeasure.
I have to agree with a few reviews I read about Luminous, one character does remind one quite a bit of the Darkling from the The Shadow and Bone series. Was this intentional?
I wish the story had taken less time setting up the few details that were set up. The saying “show, don’t tell” comes to mind as I kept reading about the protagonist’s thoughts and feelings over and over again.
The Verdict
Overall, I am a little disappointed in this one. I had hoped for more depth, more action and more defined magic.
I would probably suggest it.
August 10, 2021
Big thanks to Netgalley, Mara Rutherford, and Inkyard Press for the ARC in exchange for a review.
Liora, a young woman who has been all but hidden away from her community by her father and sisters because of her glowing skin, is a mage. She possesses magic. And possessing magic gets you killed or kidnapped.
By chance, another mage working under the thumb of Darius, the kings right hand, discovers what Liora is.
Darius, a powerful mage, is set to destroy or force into servitude every other mage alive. Until he meets Liora. She is a shining star to his deep well of darkness.
The storyline is VERY similar to Shadow and Bone, with a few slight differences. Overall, I really liked it and it following a similar structure didn't take away from the story at all.
This is very much a YA, coming of age (or at least coming into one's self) story with very little romance. There's a couple of kisses, that's it.
I'm giving 5 stars, but more like 4.5 cause the originality is a bit lacking, especially since Shadow and Bone is now on TV and the comparisons are pretty close.
Liora, a young woman who has been all but hidden away from her community by her father and sisters because of her glowing skin, is a mage. She possesses magic. And possessing magic gets you killed or kidnapped.
By chance, another mage working under the thumb of Darius, the kings right hand, discovers what Liora is.
Darius, a powerful mage, is set to destroy or force into servitude every other mage alive. Until he meets Liora. She is a shining star to his deep well of darkness.
The storyline is VERY similar to Shadow and Bone, with a few slight differences. Overall, I really liked it and it following a similar structure didn't take away from the story at all.
This is very much a YA, coming of age (or at least coming into one's self) story with very little romance. There's a couple of kisses, that's it.
I'm giving 5 stars, but more like 4.5 cause the originality is a bit lacking, especially since Shadow and Bone is now on TV and the comparisons are pretty close.
November 12, 2021
Luminous is a story about a young girl who has suppressed her magic all her life, when her family and best friends life's get put in danger she must discover how to use and control her powers.
I enjoyed the story and the characters in this one, I just wish it had been a little more fast paced, there were a lot of parts I thought seemed to go on for a little bit too long.
I did like the magic abilities even though we didn't get too much info or world building as I would have liked.
I enjoyed the villain, I think he and Liora could have had some great chemistry, but this was a friends to lovers not an enemies to lovers. Which is ok I did enjoy the romance parts.
Overall was a great quick read that I enjoyed.
Thanks to Harper 360 for a proof of this one.
I enjoyed the story and the characters in this one, I just wish it had been a little more fast paced, there were a lot of parts I thought seemed to go on for a little bit too long.
I did like the magic abilities even though we didn't get too much info or world building as I would have liked.
I enjoyed the villain, I think he and Liora could have had some great chemistry, but this was a friends to lovers not an enemies to lovers. Which is ok I did enjoy the romance parts.
Overall was a great quick read that I enjoyed.
Thanks to Harper 360 for a proof of this one.
July 25, 2021
Liora is a witch who must keep her powers secret because of a cruel mage who kidnaps those with powers to make them work for the king. This mage, Darius, is actually holding the king under his powers and is the one in control of the whole kingdom. When a cruel plot is uncovered Liora and her friends must try to stop Darius.
I loved this book. There are a lot of twists and turns, a slight bit of romance, magical monsters, sinister plots and more. Author, Mara Rutherford, creates the perfect formula for a page-turner of a book.
*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I loved this book. There are a lot of twists and turns, a slight bit of romance, magical monsters, sinister plots and more. Author, Mara Rutherford, creates the perfect formula for a page-turner of a book.
*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
August 12, 2021
This book was so mesmerizing and captivating! I had lots of fun reading Luminous and I really wanted to read it so being given the opportunity though Netgalley was a real treat. I've read books by Mara in the past and I knew this like many of her books would be exquisite. Luminous is definitely a brilliant sparkly gem and must-read for fans of fantasy!
October 3, 2021
First, a cover check. I LOVE this cover. Let’s be honest. We’re all shallow people. A pretty cover draws our eyes, then the author’s name. Anyway, this book was fantastic. The MC, Liora, has been hidden away by her family due to her powers. She’s a mage and literally has glowing skin. Which is not great if you live in an area that hunts down anyone with magical abilities. Of course, there wouldn’t be much of a story if Liora stayed hidden the entire time. Her powers are discovered and with a villain’s flair, Darius, mage to the king, threatens her younger sister’s safety. In an effort to save her sister, Liora embraces her abilities and discovers the depth of her powers. This kinda gave me Shadow and Bones vibes, in terms of an oppressed and abused minority of people. Case in point, Darius is a mage that works for the king but fosters a goal to liberate other mages from servitude and other situations. Much like the Darkling, wouldn’t you say? There are other slight similarities, but Luminous is an original in its own way. This book was a little bit of everything. It’s a coming-of-age story, with a teeny bit of romance and fantastical elements. Overall, it was a good read.
November 6, 2022
Luminous is yet another wonderful book by Rutherford. I really enjoyed the Crown of Coral and Pearl duology and I was unsurprised to find that I really enjoyed this one.
Luminous really tells the story of being unafraid of who you truly are and the duality of darkness & light, that without one you cannot have the other.
Rutherford has a way of writing strong, flawed, and kind female characters, of which their strength not only comes from within but from the connections made with others.
- realisation of self
- "the friends you make along the way"
- friends to lovers
Luminous really tells the story of being unafraid of who you truly are and the duality of darkness & light, that without one you cannot have the other.
Rutherford has a way of writing strong, flawed, and kind female characters, of which their strength not only comes from within but from the connections made with others.
- realisation of self
- "the friends you make along the way"
- friends to lovers
December 17, 2022
3.5 stars
This was a fun YA fantasy with adventure and travel, set in a world where magic users must hide their abilities or risk being controlled or killed by the sociopathic head mage of the kingdom bent on destroying the world.
Heard that one before? Yup not much new here, but it is fun, even though several of the plot points are a bit too convenient.
This is not a must read but also, if its one you're interested in then you will likely enjoy it. Just don't expect anything mind-blowing or ground-breaking.
This was a fun YA fantasy with adventure and travel, set in a world where magic users must hide their abilities or risk being controlled or killed by the sociopathic head mage of the kingdom bent on destroying the world.
Heard that one before? Yup not much new here, but it is fun, even though several of the plot points are a bit too convenient.
This is not a must read but also, if its one you're interested in then you will likely enjoy it. Just don't expect anything mind-blowing or ground-breaking.
October 18, 2021
I am putting this down for now but I read enough that I'm gonna give it a 3.5! The world was easy to follow ad I did like the characters, I just didn't feel invested and at about 75% in I just didn't feel like that meant I should continue.
December 30, 2021
This is a charming YA fantasy, fairytale-esque story. It’s got everyone’s favourite tropes, is well paced, and very engaging.
That said, there is nothing wrong with this book, but there aren’t any big standouts either. It feels like someone said “yeah it’d be cool to copy Shadow and Bone, just make sure you change it up a bit”. It definitely has its own unique elements to it, but I felt like I’d seen it all before.
So if you’re looking for something familiar in the YA fantasy space, this is the book for you. There’s no real wow factor, but I certainly wasn’t bored.
That said, there is nothing wrong with this book, but there aren’t any big standouts either. It feels like someone said “yeah it’d be cool to copy Shadow and Bone, just make sure you change it up a bit”. It definitely has its own unique elements to it, but I felt like I’d seen it all before.
So if you’re looking for something familiar in the YA fantasy space, this is the book for you. There’s no real wow factor, but I certainly wasn’t bored.
December 17, 2022
I liked it alot. Rtc
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