Lumara

by Melissa Landers

The answers lie within.
Boarding school student Talia Morris has no idea her boyfriend, Nathaniel, is a Mystic, let alone second in line to the throne of a secretive, aspirational magical community―one no mortal has ever been allowed to step inside. Until now. Nathanial’s cousin is about to be married in the biggest wedding the magical world has ever seen, and Nathaniel is allowed to bring a date. Talia is the lucky recipient of the golden ticket every Mystic wannabe in the world would kill for―only she doesn’t want it. Talia thinks Mystic worship is lame and stupid and unnecessarily aggrandizes people for being born a certain way. When she finds out Nathaniel is “one of them,” she almost jumps ship. But Nathaniel loves her, and she loves him. So when he begs her to give his family and their community a shot, she reluctantly agrees.
Enter the most fantastical world any mortal has ever seen, and the coolest magical wedding ever. After a few days of bonding with Nathaniel’s family on the island, of seeing how beautiful their magic is and how peaceful their community, Talia’s about to be won over―until the entire wedding party suddenly falls into an unexplainable coma and the community goes on lockdown. Talia, the outsider, is pegged as the culprit and has to do everything in her meager non-power to prove her innocence. As she embarks on a journey to find the truth, Talia soon discovers reality is not all it seems, and her past may put her in more danger than she ever imagined.
In this captivating YA fantasy, Talia must solve a multigenerational mystery and break a curse, all the while being torn between making her family proud and regaining the trust of the boy she loves.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Mystery, Magic, Audiobook, Ghosts

288 pages, Hardcover

First published December 6, 2022

About the author

**Receive news, updates, and exclusive excerpts from Melissa by subscribing to her e-newsletter!**

Melissa Landers writes science fiction for teens and the young at heart. The Alienated trilogy (ALIENATED, INVADED, UNITED) and the Starflight duology (STARFLIGHT, STARFALL) are complete! Look for Melissa's middle grade debut BLASTAWAY, now available from Disney-Hyperion.

**IMPORTANT** Please do not request an ARC through Goodreads. All review copies are distributed by the publisher.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 to 2 Stars

A world where magic mingles with smartphones, holograms mingle with enchanted islands? That's what I was here for, and I did get it... but I didn't get much of anything else. Really, this book feels like an early (very early) draft of a book that could be good. It didn't feel like a book almost ready to be published. The characters are flimsy, only half-formed, and the plot arc doesn't pack any punch--if you can call it an arc at all. I was very disappointed.

Good bones here, but the execution was flawed. My full review will be available at Gateway Reviews on December 9, 2022.

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Edelweiss+ and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[francis · Rating 2 out of 5]

(This review is based on an ARC) Unfortunately this book really just wasn't for me. I found the romance very bland and the main character even blander. The story didn't seem to impart any kind of basic theme, which made the entire thing feel unsatisfying. I also found the treatment of Olive's disability pretty disheartening, as she had to technically kill herself to be happy. The cover reads as sci-fi to me, so I was pretty surprised when the book wasn't sci-fi at all. I was often confused as to what was going on in the third act, as the pacing ebbed and flowed at random and the tone didn't feel appropriate to the situation. For such an emotional, soapy plot, I didn't feel a single emotion while reading. Overall, this book feels like a draft due to its lack of clarity, depth, and consistency.

[Mira Mio · Rating 4 out of 5]

У автора я читала Starflight - космическое мыло про пиратов, миленько, но на один раз. Lumara - из той же категории, только магический детектив с семейными проклятиями.

☆ по сути это янгэдалт про обретение себя через конфликт с родителем и первую любовь. По исполнению это иногда мидлгрейд со стилем "бедненько, но чистенько". Автор видит цель сюжет и не видит препятствий, так что ни красивой атмосферы, ни интересных фишечек лора не будет.

☆ я догадалась про убийцу на середине книги, но автор так тщательно старалась раскладывать паззлы и запутывать следы, что читалось все равно увлекательно. А ну, автор, как еще ты попытаешься меня обмануть?

☆ К сожалению, финал слит в плане серой морали и арки героини. Больше ничего не скажу, потому что спойлеры.

☆ на четыре звезды натянула романтика. После череды драматичных мудаков из предыдущих книг парень героини просто бальзам на мое сердце. Больше химбо богу химбо!

У автора недавно вышло романтази, а вдруг?

Итого: в четырнадцать лет была бы любовь, а теперь я старая тетка, так что на один раз. Но ни о чем не жалею.

[Alisha Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I get books purely because I like the author. I wasn't too impressed by this cover. It's not really my style, but I loved the books I read by Melissa Landers and I was very curious to read what she would do with magic instead of sci-fi. So I pre-ordered this book (pre-order prices on Amazon are usually better than waiting for the release) and waited patiently and this afternoon I had exactly enough time to finish the book in one sitting.

I had not expected to love this book as much as I did. The first chapter was already insanely intriguing and I loved how pure and honest the emotions of the heroine were. I basically immediately got attached to her and it was therefore impossible during the rest of the book to not root for her and to not pick her side. Especially because we knew that our heroine really was as sweet and caring as she seemed. She didn't deserve everything that happened to her.

I was also very impressed with the plot and how well put together it was. Landers did a great job creating pieces of the puzzle, introducing them to us and then showing us what their true place on the board was. And everything made so much sense once we knew what was going on and what had happened. Basically it was a very tragic and sad story and it's easy to understand why good people would do bad things in this case.

And last but not least there's the magic. Actually Landers doesn't really explain much when it comes to her magic. She lets us experience it. That means that in a way I can't say exactly how everything works and yet it never felt wobbly. It's clear that Landers knows how things work and has thought it through, she's simply only telling us what we need to know to understand this story. And who knows, maybe she'll return to this world at some point for another story! I will certainly read it!

[Zaira's Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aahh this was kind of disappointing for me. The beginning of the book dragged me in so completely that I'd read fifty pages in a blink of an eye--a feat I haven't done in more than a year. The story was so down to earth and so funny that I was hooked. I'd read the author's previous book Starflight, and I was so happy to find the humor was still there. The main character is very relatable, and the quips. My word, I was just giggling chapter after chapter.

This was such a quick, compulsive read. It wouldn't let me think about quitting, even through some of the more lackluster moments. I just had to know what was going on.

One of my first gripes was pretty immediate. The boyfriend, Nathaniel, is pretty generic. He is the 'best boyfriend' and there was nothing else really special about his personality. His dialogue didn't stand out, nor did the on-page time with him seem all that special. He was too perfect. Its true that his flaws come into play later--he's certainly not perfect--but the way he treated Talia later on in the book was never really addressed. To Talia, he was always still the perfect boyfriend, no matter what he did.

The plot was fun, if a little predictable and rushed at times. The worldbuilding is very shaky. The magic had the characteristics of a hard magic system, but it was treated like a soft magic system, which was not my favorite.

I didn't love that Talia was trapped for most of the book. Most of the plot was moved by the secondary characters doing things for her. I felt this slowed down the story, but also made the ending pretty rushed. I really appreciated the themes that the story was delving into, but there wasn't enough time in the book to dig more than the surface level.

Despite all this, I did enjoy my time with this book. It wasn't anything special for me, but I had so much fun it didn't matter.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Disney publishing Worldwide for the opportunity to read this arc copy of this book.

Lumara is a about a young woman who suffers from a heart condition in a world where Mystics have conventions similar to a Comic-Con. Talia wants to have her heart healed so she can live, but the mystic would do nothing for her. Talia’s hate of mystics are assured. Later, we find her going to a wedding on an island of mystics with her boyfriend, Nate. Soon after, everything is thrown into chaos.

The story kept me going and going. I finished it in a sitting. I kept wanting to find out who, what, when, where, and why!

There was so much going on but it didn’t seem chunky or heavy. It was revelation and new mystery throughout the book.

I loved the characters. Talia, Nate, Olive, and Kat were all different, bu5 I do admit they could have been fleshed out a bit more. The world building for Lumara was good. The feel of the island was all there.

A plot twist did send me for a curve. I guessed a couple of them, but the first true curve ball was unexpected.

There were a few places where I needed to go back and read because I missed something or I was confused by the action.

Other than that, I really liked this book.

Thank you again NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for this arc book.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this one with zero expectation and it became available on my Libby App so I went for it! I was drawn in by the cover, magic and sounds of the story and it was exactly what I was after.

The idea of Lumara was a great one! With magic running through its grounds and curses running through the story. At its crux, it was fab and super entertaining in its audiobook form. I can’t comment on the reading experience as I listened to the audio which was well narrated and added to the entertainment factor.

Talia was an endearing character and easy to follow. She’s always been against the mystics but finds herself embroiled in their drama and much deeper in than she ever could have imagined. Nathaniel, her boyfriend (a great character as well) I also had great respect for as he had many moments when he could have been a true and utter ass but he was just a lovely instead. Love that for this book!

The story itself was compelling and I didn’t forsee a lot of the developments. It was an easy book to be engaged with and after this, I’m definitely intrigued enough to see what else this author has come out with as I haven’t come across her that much as of yet!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Landers' stories are so unique and what I liked most about this one is that it is a full-on mystery with supernatural (?) elements. I'm happy to see more mysteries written for the YA crowd. But know going in: this is not a romance and it's pretty "brutal" in parts. I can't say too much without giving anything away.

Either way, I liked it and I think it's pretty darn good YA (I'm such a good reviewer, no? No.) :)

[Krysia Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/30 on the ‘24 YA lonestar reading list

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read, I loved the world and all the twists and turns!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started strong, but I didn’t like the ending. More like 2.75

[Elysha]

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

The cover of this book pulled me in and the description was intriguing. Netgalley says this book is for ages 12 and up and this book mostly leans toward MG, but there were a few small parts that felt like YA.

This was an easy read and I do think many middle grade students would enjoy this book because it has just enough complicated elements that lend itself to drama, but it also remained (somewhat) quaint and wholesome. There were a few scenes of death and pain, but nothing was described too grotesquely. Romantically, the characters never went farther than kissing, though other things were alluded to (just a little bit though).

Sometimes in books there are details that are unnecessary. In this book, I wanted more details, and more relationship descriptions. Talia's life basically turns upside down and the book went through her life more like an action story, but I wanted a bit more pause and reflection. I wanted this book to be a bit cozier and slower. Descriptions of magic were entertaining and I think there is a series that could be explored about the different kinds of magic in this world.

I was expecting a cliffhanger ending, and blessedly, the novel did wrap up and had a conclusion. (Hallelujah! Stand alone fantasies are so rare.) Though I would read a sequel of Talia's life if one is written.

Overall, I enjoyed the narrative, and I'm interested in reading other books by this author, as I do believe middle schoolers would very much enjoy her writing style.

[Izzys_Internet_Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

I loved this book so much! It was short hut had a ton of action and I loved the Magic realism in it! The characters were interesting and the plot had me hooked from the beginning. I wish it wasn’t a standalone because I love the world it takes place in so much but sadly Talia’s story is over. Not that her story ending was a bad thing, i loved it and felt like it was an ending it deserved.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book and easily recommend it, but i wasn’t crazy about the ending.

[Eugene Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll leave a few excerpts of my review from my Medium page, which is a subscription-based writer platform for those who want to read and write in official, valid publications--not necessarily self-publishing because there are vetting and approval mechanisms and commenting features. I was hospitalized for two weeks while this book was checked out, so FYI WTF BRB and leave me alone when thinking that I take too long to consume literature.

Talia says to Kat how Nate is going to tell her about a new development (pp. 22–23). Olive is Nate’s sister who happens to be 17 years older than him — an obvious power imbalance that develops more later on in this sibling relationship. They are half siblings with different fathers (p. 23).

Nate is really rich — a “zillionaire” (p. 26). The Third Wok from the Sun is one Chinese takeout place that they frequent occasionally (p. 26).

Talia finishes eating before him — a peculiarity (p. 27). She asks Nate what is wrong, and he says that Talia can be his date to his cousin Lucy’s wedding (p. 27). Talia will have to miss the homecoming dance to be there (p. 28).

There was a serene rose petal ambiance with lanterns (p. 79). Talia wishes for Lucy and Leo to have a wholesome, prosperous marriage with a gift that she handmade (p. 80).

Lucy and Leo then receive an immaculate souvenir from Talia with “two brushed — copper puzzle pieces” with incandescence (p. 81). Lucy really likes it.

Paralysis — seizure — unconsciousness — this sort of situation is what happens to several participants (p. 97). Talia feels dismayed and disgruntled at how there was a hypnosis seismic cataclysm (p. 99).

Talia sees the boy whom she likes — “like a Greek god” with a “muscled torse gleaming in the moonlight” (p. 151). He still couldn’t fully say that he loves her because of the curse (pp. 151–152). Talia feels like she was drowning (pp. 152–153) — mysteriously blissful. He pushes her down deeper under water pressure to awaken her senses. She has scales suddenly (p. 153), like the cover of the book shows.

Her father now admits that he was behind the plot (253). He tells her to be more mature, though, in retaliatory condemnation (254).

Talia will take a gap year, but she has a family in Pennsylvania (277).

I hope a child or adult will touch the same book that I did, and will have a new reality, a new focus for their life.

It was nice to read a fantasy fiction book from the perspective of a woman who was just trying to get along with everyone and had no idea how much she was lagging behind everyone and how she just needed to redirect her conversations in order to make Olive feel content instead of fighting for Talia’s case when Olive’s situation was sadder with recurring tumors, nightmares, & tremors.

[Lynnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lumara was a quick, easy and sometimes interesting book.

Talia and her boyfriend Nate are students at a boarding school. Talia has a genetic heart condition and Nate is a popular student who also happens to be a secret mystic - a member of the magical community. His particular magical community is secretive and lives on an island, only among themselves. When Talia is invited to Nate's island for a cousin's wedding, she is eager to go, despite her life-long hatred of mystics.

Melissa Landers created an interesting world, where magical and non-magical people coexist, to an extent. Obviously there is deep distrust and sometimes fear about the unknown, but Talia and Nate have to figure out how to break an generational curse to save the day.

As the leaves get pulled back to reveal the situation Talia finds herself in, she learns that the world may not be what she has been led to believe and that reality is what you make of it. The cover art gives some sense of what's going to happen. Some of the big reveals in the plot were incredibly obvious, but it was still fun to read.

I did not love Nate the boyfriend - he was too perfect and frankly, kind of dull in the way that rule-followers often are. This was a world that called for thinking outside the box and I never felt that he was up to the task. His sister Olive is a great character, but I didn't love the way she or her disability were treated by the family; there were some real moments there that made me cringe.

The best character in the book was the island itself, Lumara. I would have liked to have read more about the island and its abilities, frankly. I think it was a plot device that sparked my imagination but was never really fulfilled.

I read the book & listened to the audiobook version as well. Marni Penning was the narrator and it took me about an hour to figure out what was bothering me about her. If you've ever seen the musical or listened to the soundtrack for Legally Blond, Laura Bell Bundy has a particular sound that Penning reminded me of. Oddly, I liked her male voices better than her female voices. It wasn't off-putting enough not to listen to the audiobook, but I definitely enjoyed the reading experience more on this one.

[Zoey P · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion.

Talia Morris is a boarding school student that has a hatred for Mystics. As people with powers over mortals, Mystics have the ability to fix aches and pains or even cure disease. When Talia asks for help, she's told there is nothing wrong with her and her hatred begins. When she discovers her boyfriend, Nathaniel is not only a Mystic, but from a powerful family on the enchanted island of Lumara. When Talia accompanies Nathaniel to his cousin's wedding, she discovers that he past might connect her to Lumara. When the entire wedding party falls into a coma, Talia is the only one to blame. How can she connect her past and show her innocence?

This book was so confusing from the first page and it continued. I will say that I didn't feel connected to anything that was happening at first. Once the first big plot twist happened, things started to make a little bit more sense. From then on, I was hooked! I loved reading Talia's point of view and how she grew throughout the book. It was interesting to see how she saw herself as "not enough" and the way that she grew into more of herself. The magic system in this book was also great, but had it's confusing moments. I do wish that there was a little bit more explained, but I think the story and the characters developing was more important than the system. My favorite parts were seeing Talia as a pivotal role in solving the mysteries but how she always asked for help. I will say that this book was definitely a surprise after the first part.

I recommend this book for those who love magical realism, a confusing but intriguing plot, and found family.

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talia hates Mystics. After being defrauded by a mystic healer who couldn't heal her congenital heart problem but took her thousands of dollars anyway, she knows that they're all con artists. So imagine her surprise to learn her long-time boyfriend was one! She agrees to go to the secret mystical island where he's from for a fancy wedding, and of course, everything goes sideways pretty much immediately as the bride and her love ones are cursed in verrrry dramatic fashion.

The beginning of this book was really strong - the mystics and the worldbuilding felt unique but were integrated into the story pretty seamlessly. I got sucked in. But then, as the story began to unfold I started to lose interest mostly because the characters are a little one-note. I like standalones because I don't have to read 8 books to get the story but find that character development often suffers which was the case here. Everyone is likable but a little bland. The plot moves pretty quickly once the curse unfurls, but it's pretty predictable. There were a few surprises, though, and on the whole, it's a quick moving, creative read. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

TLDR: Lumara is a stand-alone fantasy with likeable characters, creative worldbuilding, and a fairly predictable plot. I think teen fantasy lovers will really enjoy it. I liked it! 3 stars Goodreads, 4 stars on Netgalley.

Thanks to Disney-Hyperion and Netgalley for the eARC which I received in exchange for an unbiased review. Lumara is out 06 Dec!

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being duped out of her savings by a Mystic, Talia isn’t a fan and devotes her social media to exposing them as thieves and shams. Imagine her surprise when her perfect boyfriend, Nathaniel, reveals himself as one. He promises his family and community are different and persuades her to give them a chance. She decides to accompany him to a family wedding on their private island of Lumara.

Lumara is a lush, magical (literally) island filled with vibrant colors, and a place I sure wouldn’t mind visiting. Talia and Nathaniel don’t get to relax for long – during the ceremony the entire wedding party falls into an unexplainable magic coma. And Talia is blamed as the culprit. The plot moves along at a brisk pace after that, and at less than three hundred pages it’s a quick read. Layers upon layers of secrets, lies, and curses soon come to light, and it’s not too difficult early in the novel to see where the story might be headed.

I appreciated Lumara is a standalone novel and the ending isn’t wrapped up in a tidy bow. Some unexpected tough decisions are thrust upon Talia, but she makes good choices that are in her best interests. If you’re looking for a quick read that transports you to a magical island for a few hours, check out Lumara.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Heather Jennings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lumara is a magical island hidden from non-magical people. Our main character is visiting to be the plus-one for a wedding, but she was anti-magic before then. The story has an awkward shift around chapter 10 where it is revealed that our narrator is not really who we or even she thought. There is a mystery to solve involving a crime she purportedly caused.

I read the story the whole way through. The shift was strange as if there had been additional material in between that was edited out in a choppy way. It wasn't a matter of a cleverly crafted unreliable narrator, but instead the result of edits. The relationship the main character has with her own family is under-developed, so I did not really feel sympathy for her at the conclusion of the story or even find her reaction realistic. That said, the dialog between the characters flowed, and I appreciated that not everything was tied up with a tidy bow at the end. I also greatly appreciate that this is a stand alone story and not part of the trend to stretch every YA book into a duology or trilogy.

I think fans of Harry Potter and Fire with Fire would appreciate this title. Thank you NetGalley and Disney Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Janelle Hackbarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read some of the author's prior work, so I thought I'd give this one a read. After reading the first few chapters, I was instantly hooked.

Talia seems to have it all: valedictorian at her boarding high school with a rich, handsome boyfriend. But due to her life-threatening congenital heart problem, her life may be cut short. A year ago, she used every penny she saved to attend Mystic Con, to have a private audience with a mighty Mystic (magic user), to heal her. He doesn't, and the experience has made her sour on Mystics. Currently, her boyfriend Nate wants to bring her home to meet his family for his cousin Julie's wedding. However, there's a dramatic reveal: he's a Mystic. She ends up going to his family's private island, the only place Nate's able to do magic. While there, Talia had visions and is the only one who can see a beautiful teen boy. Then at the wedding, the entire wedding party falls into comas, and Talia is the suspect. Can she solve the mysteries and clear her name?

I have to be honest: I fell in love with Nate. He was the Ideal boyfriend: sweet, understanding, caring, and passionate. He was, hands down, my favorite character. I also enjoyed Talia, trying to and eventually solving the mysteries of Lamara (the island) with her. And the island was beautifully described.

Talia's father was the only character, or "part" of the book I didn't like. He says one thing and then does or means the opposite. I can't give an example without spoilers.

All in all, if you like romance, mysteries, and magic, pick up this book. It's a terrific read that won't disappoint.

[Jamie Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talia Morris spends her life savings to see if a Mystic can heal her heart condition, only to be told there is nothing wrong with her. She becomes an anti-Mystic, anti-magic activist to lash out against the injustice she feels over the situation. Things take a troubling turn with her boyfriend, Nate Wood, invites her to his cousins wedding and reveals that the island, Lumara, is magic and his family are Mystics. Though reluctant and feeling betrayed, Talia goes to the island where she begins having visions and seeing a ghost boy. This leads to curses, family ties, murder, and dark magic, and the revelation, that like Nate, Talia is not who she claims to be either. The characters are vibrant and shine on their own with their own agency while dealing with prejudice, lies, intolerance, and vengeance. The magic and the worldbuilding, however, were never fully explained or flushed out, leaving things in a gray, unexplained area. Though the book was a fast read because the characters were fun, serious, and believable, the worldbuilding and wispy magic explanations left a lot to be desired.

[Malani · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked this; it wasn’t bad by any means, but it wasn’t my favorite book. I went in with 0 expectations, just the knowledge that it was a fantasy, & what was said in its synopsis here on GR. The main character is relatable, the dialog is funny, & the author’s ability to describe someone’s feeling or environment. However, this book needed at least another 100 pages or so! The major plot points felt rushed, especially after we get to Lumara and even more so in the last 40%. The solution to their big problem didn’t necessarily come easily but it absolutely played out WAY too fast. Quite unfulfilling. I wish the secondary characters were more fleshed out; honestly, Olive, Jude, the rest of the Woods, Lumara herself, the rest of the island’s inhabitants?? They piqued my interest a bit more than the ill-protagonist, her ever-perfect-and-loving-boyfriend & her overprotective dad. Lumara was fun to read (until the halfway mark for me because it got predictable) and I would recommend it for fans of shorter, stand alone fantasies or anyone new/unfamiliar with fantasy. 3.5/5 rounded down because of pacing/predicability, but I LOVED the author’s descriptions so I added half a point.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 but I rounded up. I think this book could be a solid book with like more work lol.

I liked some of the characters, but some aspects of the book didn't feel fleshed out to me: like Talia's dad. His backstory and character change would have been soo much more satisfying if this story was longer. Even a duology would have given this book a better chance at five stars for me. There was just too much to explain and explore in a very short amount of time.

Olive also deserved better. I dont think she needed to die, but what's a good book without heartbreak I guess?

Also the main character being magical but like being useless was something else. Nevermind the magic denying cuff. She just... wasn't good at magic? Or something? I don't know lol. Bless the island for taking pity on her in the end. Because really she didn't do anything 🙄

Still, I was sucked into figuring out who done it. The mystery was the only thing that kept me going and gave the book a higher rating.

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some will find the beginning might not grab them, but a couple chapters in, they're likely to be hooked. Talia has her hopes dashed, not to mention her savings drained, by a Mystic who she thought would be able to heal her weakened heart. Her mom died from the same affliction and she and her father have been alternating between grief and desperation ever since.
Fast forward a year and she's in an intense relationship with Nathaniel at the private school they attend. When he invites her to his cousin's wedding, her life is turned upside down. He's a Mystic and comes from one of three branches of these magic wielders. His group, the Cores live on an island hidden by magic. When Talia arrives, events are set in motion that are fast-paced, full of deception, and lead to her finding herself questioning almost everything she ever believed. The unfolding is done in a way that one must keep reading, even if other things require your attention.

[Macaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talia hates mystics. Born with a heart condition she visited a magic convention with the idea that a mystic could cure her. He didn’t. He took her money and tricked her. A year later she’s dating Nathanial the most popular boy at their boarding school. Right before fall break, he breaks the news to her, he is a mystic. She doesn’t know how to feel about that, but agrees to go to his family home for a wedding during break. Her black outs have returned and she’s starting to have visions of memories she doesn’t actually remember. Nathanial and his family are mystics connected to their island, so his mother askes the island for help with Talia’s headaches and memory issues. Landers does a good job of explaining the different types of mystics, without bogging us down. Good read.

I had an advanced copy of an audio book. Marni Penning is a great narrator for this book.

Thanks to Disney and NetGalley for a copy.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so. Like, I feel like this thing needs a better blurb, because I did not anticipate the high level of psychological thriller involved in this fantasy/murder mystery. Our narrator, Talia is unreliable and almost every single character in this book has some sort of ulterior motive. And what started as just a mistake turned into an entire generation of hatred and bad blood. 

Talia wasn't just unreliable as a narrator though. She was also SO aggravating. She seemed so oblivious throughout so much of the story I had a hard time believing that she couldn't figure out what I already had. (But like another reviewer here, maybe I've just been hurt too much and find everything suspicious lol)

I will say that despite Talia's annoying naivety, this author had me drawn in from the moment we met Ghost Boy. It was thrilling, suspenseful, and altogether a very enjoyable book.

[Glenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

How would you feel if you found out what you believed about yourself was a lie and that you helped deceive yourself?
Talia thinks she has it all: she is the top student at her boarding school, she has a loving father, a handsome and rich boyfriend, and a great roommate. Her only issue is that she has a heart issue that will kill her sooner rather than later (and already killed her mother). She decides to spend the money she has saved for a car to go to Mystic Con and be cured. Yes! This world has people with magical abilities as well as regular humans. The mystic tells her that her heart is fine and then spelled to mute her and make her leave. She is angry and sets out to scorch mystics using social media. Then, her boyfriend invites her to his family's private island to attend his cousin's wedding but also tells her that he, too, is a mystic. Things are set into motion that bring out the truth about Talia and her family and her disability.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one heck of a journey. It starts by introducing us to Mystics, people who can wield magic, and our main character Talia, whose life is seemingly perfect. She soon discovers Lumara, an island filled with magic and Mystics. Suddenly, a major turn of events occurs - and I mean major. My one qualm is that it happens almost halfway through the book and completely changes the rest of the story. Talia's character and personality are altered drastically after we are accustomed to her previous persona. I found this a little too big of a change and hard to get used to. However, things begin picking up after this plot twist, making it more exciting and compelling. The aspects of magic were very interesting and unique to me; I love how the author explored it throughout the book. Lumara will leave you with many powerful messages, and while none of the story goes how you expect, the conclusion is satisfying and beautiful.