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Luminiferos #1
Luminiferos: The Omen of Light
The first book in a planned seven-part saga of romance, self-discovery and two worlds on the brink
PARALLEL WORLDS. FORBIDDEN LOVE. A DEADLY QUEST THAT COULD DESTROY THEM ALL
At just eighteen, Lilly White has lived multiple lives. She endured the harsh reality of growing up in an English orphanage, isolated and unwanted. But paradoxically, visions and dreams of lush forests, mystical creatures and most troubling of all – a warm, loving family. Lilly doesn’t know if these are the delusions of a lonely mind, or something more.
When a man with a raven reveals a portal to a lost world, she finally gets proof she is not insane. But for all the ethereal beauty of this impossible place, a toxic darkness creeps closer, consuming everything in its path.
Caught between the desire to belong and the need to fight an evil that threatens all of existence, Lilly uncovers gifts within herself she never imagined.
But some truths are hidden for your own good…
Now she is thrust into a mission to save two worlds with non-existent odds of survival. Yet it’s either that or a fate worse than death.
PARALLEL WORLDS. FORBIDDEN LOVE. A DEADLY QUEST THAT COULD DESTROY THEM ALL
At just eighteen, Lilly White has lived multiple lives. She endured the harsh reality of growing up in an English orphanage, isolated and unwanted. But paradoxically, visions and dreams of lush forests, mystical creatures and most troubling of all – a warm, loving family. Lilly doesn’t know if these are the delusions of a lonely mind, or something more.
When a man with a raven reveals a portal to a lost world, she finally gets proof she is not insane. But for all the ethereal beauty of this impossible place, a toxic darkness creeps closer, consuming everything in its path.
Caught between the desire to belong and the need to fight an evil that threatens all of existence, Lilly uncovers gifts within herself she never imagined.
But some truths are hidden for your own good…
Now she is thrust into a mission to save two worlds with non-existent odds of survival. Yet it’s either that or a fate worse than death.
384 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2023
597 people are currently reading
2644 people want to read
About the author
Yana Metro
2 books92 followersA PhD in Physics, Yana spent years as a nano-researcher before diving into exploration of existential mysteries through fictional characters and magical worlds. Her debut series LUMINIFEROS unites contemporary fantasy and romance in a thrilling seven-part journey of self-discovery. She lives in the urban jungles of London but dreams of lush coniferous forests stretching beneath leaden clouds that almost constantly curtain the sky.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yanametro_a...
Website: www.luminiferos.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yanametro_a...
Website: www.luminiferos.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
February 7, 2023
I might’ve requested this ARC, because I was attracted to the stunning cover, and then I became intrigued by the charming characters, and honestly I couldn’t put this book down!
Maybe it’s Yana Metro’s enchanting writing style? Or the stunning world building? Or possibly these great characters? But I haven’t read an entire book (in a single sitting) in months… until this book. I have a feeling it’s the combination of these, and so much more. I’ll admit I don’t read YA fantasy or YA magical realism often, but if it could hold my attention, and not even make me wish for more “adult themes”, I think that speaks volumes of the writers talent.
This book made me feel in the beginning, like I was experiencing a beautifully dark combination of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and Avatar. Then it evolved into a bit of a “Harry Potter-esque” magical quest. But it always felt unique and fresh. I never knew what to expect, and couldn’t believe that cliffhanger of an ending!
I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series.
Thank you to Yana Metro, and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Maybe it’s Yana Metro’s enchanting writing style? Or the stunning world building? Or possibly these great characters? But I haven’t read an entire book (in a single sitting) in months… until this book. I have a feeling it’s the combination of these, and so much more. I’ll admit I don’t read YA fantasy or YA magical realism often, but if it could hold my attention, and not even make me wish for more “adult themes”, I think that speaks volumes of the writers talent.
This book made me feel in the beginning, like I was experiencing a beautifully dark combination of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and Avatar. Then it evolved into a bit of a “Harry Potter-esque” magical quest. But it always felt unique and fresh. I never knew what to expect, and couldn’t believe that cliffhanger of an ending!
I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series.
Thank you to Yana Metro, and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
December 16, 2024
╭ ✦ •
│
│ ⊹ 𝟹.𝟻𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
│
╰ ✦ •
I was initially drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing description. I had high hopes for it, and while it wasn’t bad for a debut, it wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned from the description.
I have mixed feelings about this one. It had a really good start but the pace slowed down quite a bit and was hard to continue, I found myself struggling to connect with the characters, pacing, and writing style. There was a LOT of info dump and didn't really pick up again until about 70% into the novel.
The book relied heavily on tropes and cliches, including a "chosen one" narrative, a world-saving quest, a love interest with a mysterious past, and a hint of forbidden romance. I felt the romance arc moved too quickly, and the book skipped over important details that I would have liked to see played out. There’s no communication between Lily and Will, and it’s as if they have something romantic. He gives off slightly creepy vibes and seems super possessive of her and it’s clear she likes him/he likes her but they haven’t had that talk yet. During one part Lily starts fantasizing about Will randomly.
Also.. slight spoilers
The plot and characters were a lot more entertaining than the failed romance bits.
The world-building was rich and detailed without being too confusing and it will completely draw you in.
When the story started really picking up its pace, I started enjoying it more. The intricate magic system and the overarching theme of universal peril were captivating and integrated seamlessly with the plot and characters. The characters were dynamic and fleshed out, particularly Lilly. Her emotional growth throughout the book was compelling to witness. Noxohit was an intriguing protagonist; his mannerisms and dialogue made for a great character.
Luminiferos: The Omen of Light is the author's debut, and it wasn't bad; It was really good and had a lot of potential, but the execution is shakey! Yana plans on releasing seven books in this new series, which I am eager to read, and hoping a lot more happens!
If you enjoy fantasy novels with unique storylines and thrilling adventures, I highly recommend this book!
*a copy was provided by the author*
_________________________________
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│
│ ⊹ 𝟹.𝟻𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
│
╰ ✦ •
"I crossed the portal to this world looking for my family, for my life’s purpose; they weren’t what I expected, but I found them both in Faivendei."
I was initially drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing description. I had high hopes for it, and while it wasn’t bad for a debut, it wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned from the description.
I have mixed feelings about this one. It had a really good start but the pace slowed down quite a bit and was hard to continue, I found myself struggling to connect with the characters, pacing, and writing style. There was a LOT of info dump and didn't really pick up again until about 70% into the novel.
The book relied heavily on tropes and cliches, including a "chosen one" narrative, a world-saving quest, a love interest with a mysterious past, and a hint of forbidden romance. I felt the romance arc moved too quickly, and the book skipped over important details that I would have liked to see played out. There’s no communication between Lily and Will, and it’s as if they have something romantic. He gives off slightly creepy vibes and seems super possessive of her and it’s clear she likes him/he likes her but they haven’t had that talk yet. During one part Lily starts fantasizing about Will randomly.
“I dreamed of him holding me tightly against his broad chest, wrapping me in his arms. I saw him lifting my chin and pulling it closer to his face. I imagined him tracing the shape of my lips with his fingertips. I wondered how his lips would taste…"
Also.. slight spoilers
The plot and characters were a lot more entertaining than the failed romance bits.
The world-building was rich and detailed without being too confusing and it will completely draw you in.
When the story started really picking up its pace, I started enjoying it more. The intricate magic system and the overarching theme of universal peril were captivating and integrated seamlessly with the plot and characters. The characters were dynamic and fleshed out, particularly Lilly. Her emotional growth throughout the book was compelling to witness. Noxohit was an intriguing protagonist; his mannerisms and dialogue made for a great character.
Luminiferos: The Omen of Light is the author's debut, and it wasn't bad; It was really good and had a lot of potential, but the execution is shakey! Yana plans on releasing seven books in this new series, which I am eager to read, and hoping a lot more happens!
If you enjoy fantasy novels with unique storylines and thrilling adventures, I highly recommend this book!
*a copy was provided by the author*
_________________________________
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
February 6, 2023
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing a free arc of this book; all thoughts are my own.
I unfortunately DNF’d this less than halfway through and I really wasn’t getting into it. It felt like there was so much going on yet virtually no plot at the same time? I wasn’t keen on the writing style either, it felt very Wattpad to me.
However I’m seeing many other 4/5 star reviews so it may just be a personal preference. Very similar to Lightlark in writing style for me.
I unfortunately DNF’d this less than halfway through and I really wasn’t getting into it. It felt like there was so much going on yet virtually no plot at the same time? I wasn’t keen on the writing style either, it felt very Wattpad to me.
However I’m seeing many other 4/5 star reviews so it may just be a personal preference. Very similar to Lightlark in writing style for me.
dnf
April 9, 2023Thanks to NetGalley & BooksGoSocial for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
DNF @ 8%
After averaging almost a book a day over the last couple of months, I went two days barely looking at my Kindle with no desire to pick up this book. Nothing is catching my attention. The narrator is just handing over information with no emotion, and there’s no drive or motivation to keep reading. Considering how beautiful the cover is and how interesting it sounded, I’m pretty disappointed. If I continue at this rate, though, I’ll be stuck reading Luminiferos for months.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
DNF @ 8%
After averaging almost a book a day over the last couple of months, I went two days barely looking at my Kindle with no desire to pick up this book. Nothing is catching my attention. The narrator is just handing over information with no emotion, and there’s no drive or motivation to keep reading. Considering how beautiful the cover is and how interesting it sounded, I’m pretty disappointed. If I continue at this rate, though, I’ll be stuck reading Luminiferos for months.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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March 8, 2023
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately, I DNF’d this book at around 40%. The premise was incredibly interesting and I loved the cover (thinking now about that saying…), however, the writing and dialogue was a bit underdeveloped.
The plot felt oddly rushed and lacked development of scenes. Everything happened so quickly and yet nothing at all happened. The writing is so “matter of fact” when I feel this book could have used or developed more nuanced and heavy writing to leave a proper impact on the reader.
The only way I can attempt to describe it is like the author was trying to spit out as much information as possible without considering the lack of impact it would have. The scene explaining Luminiferos was lackluster and was essentially as if they sparknoted quick info and turned and told Lily. If you’ve seen the show Glee, you know the quick “and that’s what you missed on Glee!” moment? That’s exactly how the book feels whenever the author attempted to describe anything.
It just unfortunately exasperated me - even from the beginning - and I could not get into it.
Unfortunately, I DNF’d this book at around 40%. The premise was incredibly interesting and I loved the cover (thinking now about that saying…), however, the writing and dialogue was a bit underdeveloped.
The plot felt oddly rushed and lacked development of scenes. Everything happened so quickly and yet nothing at all happened. The writing is so “matter of fact” when I feel this book could have used or developed more nuanced and heavy writing to leave a proper impact on the reader.
The only way I can attempt to describe it is like the author was trying to spit out as much information as possible without considering the lack of impact it would have. The scene explaining Luminiferos was lackluster and was essentially as if they sparknoted quick info and turned and told Lily. If you’ve seen the show Glee, you know the quick “and that’s what you missed on Glee!” moment? That’s exactly how the book feels whenever the author attempted to describe anything.
It just unfortunately exasperated me - even from the beginning - and I could not get into it.
February 2, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book to review, and I have to say that this book captured my attention from the very first page. The magic system and the inclusion of this idea of the whole universe being involved and in danger, all of it was so intriguing and connected so well to the story and characters. The characters themselves were given so much life and personality, and I felt that I could connect to Lilly really well with all of her worries and fears and anxieties for her and her loved one's futures. Her mental struggles are realistic and her growth throughout the novel was amazing to watch unfold. Noxohit is an extremely unique protagonist as he has been portrayed thus far, and definitely gave me the icks with his mannerisms and speech. I'm curious to see how the next books unfold if this author plans on writing more, which I would love and read with no hesitation, since there was a cliffhanger and I was left with a lot of questions. For anyone unsure of whether they should pick up this book, if fantasy novels with a unique plot and adventure are your thing, this book is perfect for you!
February 15, 2023
*Thanks to the author for an eARC of this book*
My first non-fanfic read of the year and... Boy do I have a lot to say. I want to start by saying that the story and world has a lot of potential, and I truly mean that. But I had several major issues that I just could not get over.
I found the writing sounded quite pseudo intellectual, which made it hard to follow, for example: "Fornication and gluttony are the fear of the ephemerality of being; an unbridled desire to sweeten one's passions before physical death." The context: characters discussing how all emotions boil down to love and fear? If you're confused, imagine how I felt reading pages of this.
This posh word salad is particularly evident when the MC (who is only 18 years old) is able to name "Schubert's Serenade", or says things like "My thoughts stopped their Brownian motion." I'm sorry, but I found it incredibly frustrating.
The exposition in the writing is very clunky and feels more like an idea dump than anything else. There is just not enough actual plot development because it's just people standing around TALKING. And not even talking about the main plot, but talking for pages about random stuff that is supposed to suffice as world-building or character development.
Because of the endless pages of exposition and pointless back stories, I didn't care enough about the ancillary characters because they didn't actually DO much. So when **SPOILERS AHEAD** Aisha betrays them, or it turns out Will watched her mum die... I just didn't care. I didn't even care about the romance, because there is 0% development in their relationship. It just feels like it pops up out of nowhere and for no reason, and is explained right at the end, as if the author forgot to add it during the actual book.
I am a huuuuge fan of authors combining ideas from multiple cultures' mythologies, but this really needs to be scaled back in this story. I admire that the author was trying to include some lesser-known creatures too, but there were DOZENS of references to mythological creatures seemingly for no reason.
This book was advertised as philosophical fantasy but it just doesn't pull it off which is frustrating, as with editing and a different style of writing this could be a fantastic fantasy adventure.
P.S I invented a drinking game for this book: drink every time the phrase "solar plexus" or "fairy dust" is used. Enjoy!
My first non-fanfic read of the year and... Boy do I have a lot to say. I want to start by saying that the story and world has a lot of potential, and I truly mean that. But I had several major issues that I just could not get over.
I found the writing sounded quite pseudo intellectual, which made it hard to follow, for example: "Fornication and gluttony are the fear of the ephemerality of being; an unbridled desire to sweeten one's passions before physical death." The context: characters discussing how all emotions boil down to love and fear? If you're confused, imagine how I felt reading pages of this.
This posh word salad is particularly evident when the MC (who is only 18 years old) is able to name "Schubert's Serenade", or says things like "My thoughts stopped their Brownian motion." I'm sorry, but I found it incredibly frustrating.
The exposition in the writing is very clunky and feels more like an idea dump than anything else. There is just not enough actual plot development because it's just people standing around TALKING. And not even talking about the main plot, but talking for pages about random stuff that is supposed to suffice as world-building or character development.
Because of the endless pages of exposition and pointless back stories, I didn't care enough about the ancillary characters because they didn't actually DO much. So when **SPOILERS AHEAD** Aisha betrays them, or it turns out Will watched her mum die... I just didn't care. I didn't even care about the romance, because there is 0% development in their relationship. It just feels like it pops up out of nowhere and for no reason, and is explained right at the end, as if the author forgot to add it during the actual book.
I am a huuuuge fan of authors combining ideas from multiple cultures' mythologies, but this really needs to be scaled back in this story. I admire that the author was trying to include some lesser-known creatures too, but there were DOZENS of references to mythological creatures seemingly for no reason.
This book was advertised as philosophical fantasy but it just doesn't pull it off which is frustrating, as with editing and a different style of writing this could be a fantastic fantasy adventure.
P.S I invented a drinking game for this book: drink every time the phrase "solar plexus" or "fairy dust" is used. Enjoy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2023
I went into this book blindly and I was not sure what to expect. I am so glad that I read this book because it did not disappoint. I read this book in one sitting and I truly enjoyed it. If there is going to be a second book then I will definitely read it. Lilly White is a very likable character, and I was rooting for her the entire time. Thanks NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC!
December 11, 2023
Where was the romance? I'm so sad. The "romance" felt icky, and forced.
The first 65% was boring, lots of information not a lot of things happening.
It was predictable.
The cliffhanger did leave me wanting more though.
The first 65% was boring, lots of information not a lot of things happening.
It was predictable.
The cliffhanger did leave me wanting more though.
February 14, 2023
Thank you Yana Metro for the ARC!
I was instantly drawn to the synopsis and beautiful book cover and was lucky enough to be permitted an advanced copy.
Luminiferos is the incredible story of a girl named Lilly who is trying to find her way back to the home from her dreams, even if nobody seems to believe her story. After living in an orphanage for 13 years of her life a magical world awaits her, filled with all sorts of magical and powerful beings- many of which want her to go back to where she came from. She is told she doesn't belong, but she is determined to prove herself and find her family again.
There is a darkness trying to destroy everything she has ever known and she has to discover who she truly is with her group of powerful and quirky allies.
I enjoyed the world building. I got to travel to different worlds, through magical portals and on fancy treasure covered boats. I got to meet magical spirits and a friendly, adorable, and fiercely loyal gargoyle. And I got to see Lilly fight through her fears to find her full potential.
It begins with the vibes of a child's magical novel and finds its way to an empowering story for many. You'll see characters evolve and a unique aspect of this story is when Lilly wants to be the martyr heroine, her friends call her out on it and won't take any of that nonsense. It's a delight to see, after reading so many "I'll go die alone so I can save my friends" type stories.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
I was instantly drawn to the synopsis and beautiful book cover and was lucky enough to be permitted an advanced copy.
Luminiferos is the incredible story of a girl named Lilly who is trying to find her way back to the home from her dreams, even if nobody seems to believe her story. After living in an orphanage for 13 years of her life a magical world awaits her, filled with all sorts of magical and powerful beings- many of which want her to go back to where she came from. She is told she doesn't belong, but she is determined to prove herself and find her family again.
There is a darkness trying to destroy everything she has ever known and she has to discover who she truly is with her group of powerful and quirky allies.
I enjoyed the world building. I got to travel to different worlds, through magical portals and on fancy treasure covered boats. I got to meet magical spirits and a friendly, adorable, and fiercely loyal gargoyle. And I got to see Lilly fight through her fears to find her full potential.
It begins with the vibes of a child's magical novel and finds its way to an empowering story for many. You'll see characters evolve and a unique aspect of this story is when Lilly wants to be the martyr heroine, her friends call her out on it and won't take any of that nonsense. It's a delight to see, after reading so many "I'll go die alone so I can save my friends" type stories.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
February 16, 2023
Oh. My. God. This was...wow. The world building is incredible, the adventure woah. The characters compliment each other so well, the chemistry is on another plane of existence. I loved it Hairito was one of my favourite character, Will and Lilly close runners up.
I honestly can't wait to see what Yana does with the next book. Thank you Yana for writing something so magical.
I honestly can't wait to see what Yana does with the next book. Thank you Yana for writing something so magical.
Read
February 10, 2023i got this as an arc and im very sad to say i had to dnf @ 25%. i can forgive a book for being bad if it then means ill be able to hate read but i can't forgive one for being boring.
i picked this one not just for the cover (which is absolutely stunning) but also because the premise promised a fantasy with philosophy and i got 25% into the book and am wondering where the philosophy is. we maybe got one mention of plato in passing but that was it which was very disappointing
in fantasy worlds, especially when the mc is also being introduced to the world i get wanting to have her and the readers understand what's going on but when you have 2 chapters full of info dumping about the world and exposition and a history lesson and have nothing happen it extremely difficult to keep going i could not do it i was gonna cry if i saw one more never ending paragraph explaining something. and the world was interesting don't get me wrong but it was too much tells and not enough show
the main character lilly feels like a passive character in her own story she does almost nothing. she gets invited to this world and has to go with this gargoyle who saves her and the journey to this world was so ?????? to put it eloquently (/s) she meets someone while going there they tell her she can't go in with the gargoyle she says please they let her in. now copy and paste that 3 times. she's always GETTING saved, BEING told stuff never does SHE do anything (maybe she does later on but im not reading any more to know)
i picked this one not just for the cover (which is absolutely stunning) but also because the premise promised a fantasy with philosophy and i got 25% into the book and am wondering where the philosophy is. we maybe got one mention of plato in passing but that was it which was very disappointing
in fantasy worlds, especially when the mc is also being introduced to the world i get wanting to have her and the readers understand what's going on but when you have 2 chapters full of info dumping about the world and exposition and a history lesson and have nothing happen it extremely difficult to keep going i could not do it i was gonna cry if i saw one more never ending paragraph explaining something. and the world was interesting don't get me wrong but it was too much tells and not enough show
the main character lilly feels like a passive character in her own story she does almost nothing. she gets invited to this world and has to go with this gargoyle who saves her and the journey to this world was so ?????? to put it eloquently (/s) she meets someone while going there they tell her she can't go in with the gargoyle she says please they let her in. now copy and paste that 3 times. she's always GETTING saved, BEING told stuff never does SHE do anything (maybe she does later on but im not reading any more to know)
February 4, 2023
I received an ARC of this book, I thought it sounded really intriguing and along the lines of my usual reads. I devoured it in 2 days and absolutely loved it. I found the main characters really likeable and found myself really rooting for them and their relationships. I absolutely ADORED the world building (my favourite part of any fantasy book) and cannot wait to see this pushed further in future books which I will snap up immediately.
If you love fantasy novels - this is a must read! Thank you so much for the ARC 💜
If you love fantasy novels - this is a must read! Thank you so much for the ARC 💜
April 19, 2023
I was given an eARC copy for this book and I really tried to give it the best effort I could. The cover was gorgeous and the concept of this book was so intriguing. I unfortunately DNF'd the book at about halfway because I really just was not vibing. I gave it a few days, put the book down, and tried to come back to it and I couldn't. It felt like very young writing to me, and I know it is the authors first book, but I could not really get into it. The main character fell very flat in my opinion and was very passive and boring for the majority of what I had read. The side characters did not really add much flavor either, but the gargoyle was adorable! I was very excited about this book, so I am a little sad to DNF it, but I really didn't want to make myself read something I was not enjoying very much.
December 11, 2023
IM SORRY I COULDNT.
This is exactly why WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY THE COVER FOLKS!
COVER = 5/5
PACE = 2/5 - SOOOOOO SLOW it was killing me inside!! Didn't pick up until the last 20% of the book
PLOT = 2/5 -predictable, was basic
CHARACTERS = 4/5- needed more character development, 2D characters.
WORLD BUILDING = 4/5 - really pretty world, did enjoy the descriptions
ROMANCE = 1/5 - It was weird, cringe, felt forced.
OVERALL = 3/5 stars
If there's more in this series, I'll probably read it, just because I'm curious, I did enjoy the ending.
This is exactly why WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY THE COVER FOLKS!
COVER = 5/5
PACE = 2/5 - SOOOOOO SLOW it was killing me inside!! Didn't pick up until the last 20% of the book
PLOT = 2/5 -predictable, was basic
CHARACTERS = 4/5- needed more character development, 2D characters.
WORLD BUILDING = 4/5 - really pretty world, did enjoy the descriptions
ROMANCE = 1/5 - It was weird, cringe, felt forced.
OVERALL = 3/5 stars
If there's more in this series, I'll probably read it, just because I'm curious, I did enjoy the ending.
January 20, 2023
As the author of this book, I poured my heart and soul into its creation. The countless hours of research, writing, and editing were all worth it to see Lilly's story come to life! I truly hope you'll connect with the characters and enjoy this heartfelt journey as much as I did.
With light and love,
Yana
With light and love,
Yana
February 6, 2023
Thank you so much to the author and the publisher, BooksGoSocial, for sharing an ARC of this book with me on NetGalley!!!
“Maybe the library in London would hire me back and I could spend my life escaping into fictional worlds far more interesting than my own.”
“Awaken the darkness within you. Become the omen of light..”
Intriguing and entertaining, this book fed my curiosity about a brand new fantasy world that was so good to explore.
With the found family trope and a love that at first seems to be impossible but soon enough impossible to avoid, Lilly stories goes from one parallel universe to the author, meeting amazing friends and magical people and creature who will each have an important part in shaping her future and her past.
Looking for her parents she will find also some magical truths about herself that she has never tried to deny but also been taught how to. I really enjoyed reading this book. Despite the intricate world building, I found the magical system easy to get into and the narrative quite fluid. I felt compelled , as from a spell, to get to the end of it. I felt somehow the need to know what was supposed to happen to these characters and the fact that the ending is quite opened … it leaves me very curious for the future !!!
And the romance blossoming between the characters … so cute and so sweet!! Again I fell in love with another young man … nothing strange about that !!!
I’m very grateful I had the chance to read this book and I can’t wait for the story to continue !!!
'You look breathtak-ing, my delicate white lily.'
'You look like a delicate lily on a thin fragile stem.
Too kind, probably, for this world.'
“Maybe the library in London would hire me back and I could spend my life escaping into fictional worlds far more interesting than my own.”
“Awaken the darkness within you. Become the omen of light..”
Intriguing and entertaining, this book fed my curiosity about a brand new fantasy world that was so good to explore.
With the found family trope and a love that at first seems to be impossible but soon enough impossible to avoid, Lilly stories goes from one parallel universe to the author, meeting amazing friends and magical people and creature who will each have an important part in shaping her future and her past.
Looking for her parents she will find also some magical truths about herself that she has never tried to deny but also been taught how to. I really enjoyed reading this book. Despite the intricate world building, I found the magical system easy to get into and the narrative quite fluid. I felt compelled , as from a spell, to get to the end of it. I felt somehow the need to know what was supposed to happen to these characters and the fact that the ending is quite opened … it leaves me very curious for the future !!!
And the romance blossoming between the characters … so cute and so sweet!! Again I fell in love with another young man … nothing strange about that !!!
I’m very grateful I had the chance to read this book and I can’t wait for the story to continue !!!
'You look breathtak-ing, my delicate white lily.'
'You look like a delicate lily on a thin fragile stem.
Too kind, probably, for this world.'
February 6, 2023
I received this as an ARC but it did not influence my honest opinion.
I will be buying a physical copy for my collection ⭐️
“I thought you’d bewitched me, because I’d never experienced anything like it before.”
“You’ve taken complete control of me. I thought I knew life, but you came and turned my world upside down.”
Will is just such a sweet, broody soul. This book is just such a beautiful written piece and Yana really took her time while world building I can just truly see how peaceful and serene the enchanted forest is. This story follows Lilly Whites journey into the unknown that is her past and her true self. We get to see such growth from such resilient and truly sweet soul. I think everyone who reads this will fall I’m love with Lilly and her bright self and even love broody but emotional Will C.J Raven. Full of love and light, this is a must read for all those who love magic, self journeys and found families. 🖤✨
Be the light.
I will be buying a physical copy for my collection ⭐️
“I thought you’d bewitched me, because I’d never experienced anything like it before.”
“You’ve taken complete control of me. I thought I knew life, but you came and turned my world upside down.”
Will is just such a sweet, broody soul. This book is just such a beautiful written piece and Yana really took her time while world building I can just truly see how peaceful and serene the enchanted forest is. This story follows Lilly Whites journey into the unknown that is her past and her true self. We get to see such growth from such resilient and truly sweet soul. I think everyone who reads this will fall I’m love with Lilly and her bright self and even love broody but emotional Will C.J Raven. Full of love and light, this is a must read for all those who love magic, self journeys and found families. 🖤✨
Be the light.
March 7, 2023
2.5/5
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
DNF'd around 52%. I might skim the rest to see how the story ends, as the story itself was interesting and had great potential. Unfortunately, there's too many technical issues for me to have the patience to continue. I don't feel that I'm going to change my opinion from here on out.
The MC, Lilly, is an orphan in modern times who was left at an orphanage when she was 5, but has always had constant dreams about where she's from - another realm. The story starts with her searching for this "parallel world" at age 18, and she describes all the research she'd done. She'd deep dived into philosophy and different theories to try to solve it, which at first seemed like an interesting mystery. The book is marketed, after all, as having a philosophical twist.
Maybe it happens later in the book... but Plato was mentioned once in the first 5% then no philosophy is ever applied or mentioned again. In fact, when Lilly is later asked what fields of study appeal to her, she says quantum theory. There's little to no philosophy. Most of the book is a chunk of dialogue with little to no "he said with a smile" or "she said" or anything. There were multiple points in the first 30% where I had 4+ pages of nothing but dialogue.
The dialogue is how the world-building was delivered, and it sucks because it was a huge Q&A every. single. time. Lilly talked to anyone for the first 30%, often times without any reason other than just curiosity. Which I guess is valid given her situation. The world itself is interesting, and the building would've been great if it wasn't in info dumps.
The pacing is also... nonexistent. Lilly would meet someone, someone would warn her about them, and suddenly that new person was evil and the whole plot and multiple pages were dedicated to her whining about how evil they were. With little to no interaction, context, or reasoning. There was also a sudden time jump. A chapter suddenly goes "it's been two months" and Lilly is head over hills in love with a guy. We don't see the build up. Then suddenly she's hurt when miscommunication that *she* created occurs, and she doesn't bother to ask about it.
And this might be based on where the author is from, but dialogue written in single apostrophes 'like this' instead of quotation marks kept confusing me. I hope that in the final version (especially if it's the final US version) that it's changed to quotation marks.
Overall, I'm disappointed. It all feels like immature adventures of a 14 year old not an 18 year old. She claims to be strong but she's quick to judge and listen to others' opinions. Which 18 isn't grown up, don't get me wrong. But She feels more middle school than "been on her own and exploring for 2 years in Europe." The writing itself has some beautiful descriptions and some gripping moments, then there's multiple pages in a row of dialogue or miscommunication that's resolved in the next chapter or two then lather, rinse, repeat. It seems poorly edited. The flow suffers, and so far this is my most disappointing read of the year.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
DNF'd around 52%. I might skim the rest to see how the story ends, as the story itself was interesting and had great potential. Unfortunately, there's too many technical issues for me to have the patience to continue. I don't feel that I'm going to change my opinion from here on out.
The MC, Lilly, is an orphan in modern times who was left at an orphanage when she was 5, but has always had constant dreams about where she's from - another realm. The story starts with her searching for this "parallel world" at age 18, and she describes all the research she'd done. She'd deep dived into philosophy and different theories to try to solve it, which at first seemed like an interesting mystery. The book is marketed, after all, as having a philosophical twist.
Maybe it happens later in the book... but Plato was mentioned once in the first 5% then no philosophy is ever applied or mentioned again. In fact, when Lilly is later asked what fields of study appeal to her, she says quantum theory. There's little to no philosophy. Most of the book is a chunk of dialogue with little to no "he said with a smile" or "she said" or anything. There were multiple points in the first 30% where I had 4+ pages of nothing but dialogue.
The dialogue is how the world-building was delivered, and it sucks because it was a huge Q&A every. single. time. Lilly talked to anyone for the first 30%, often times without any reason other than just curiosity. Which I guess is valid given her situation. The world itself is interesting, and the building would've been great if it wasn't in info dumps.
The pacing is also... nonexistent. Lilly would meet someone, someone would warn her about them, and suddenly that new person was evil and the whole plot and multiple pages were dedicated to her whining about how evil they were. With little to no interaction, context, or reasoning. There was also a sudden time jump. A chapter suddenly goes "it's been two months" and Lilly is head over hills in love with a guy. We don't see the build up. Then suddenly she's hurt when miscommunication that *she* created occurs, and she doesn't bother to ask about it.
And this might be based on where the author is from, but dialogue written in single apostrophes 'like this' instead of quotation marks kept confusing me. I hope that in the final version (especially if it's the final US version) that it's changed to quotation marks.
Overall, I'm disappointed. It all feels like immature adventures of a 14 year old not an 18 year old. She claims to be strong but she's quick to judge and listen to others' opinions. Which 18 isn't grown up, don't get me wrong. But She feels more middle school than "been on her own and exploring for 2 years in Europe." The writing itself has some beautiful descriptions and some gripping moments, then there's multiple pages in a row of dialogue or miscommunication that's resolved in the next chapter or two then lather, rinse, repeat. It seems poorly edited. The flow suffers, and so far this is my most disappointing read of the year.
February 17, 2023
3.6 (rounded up to 4) out of 5 stars.
I don’t like leaving books bad ratings when it was a personal reason why I had to DNF it- which unfortunately I did at 68%.
The beautiful cover and description totally caught me for this read! Going into it, I was pretty excited about how it would play out. I was sort of expecting something like ‘Narnia’ or ‘The Light Between Worlds’ where you are given a character who has lived this spectacular life in another world, only to go back to their normal one and things are- bland and they want nothing more than to return whatever the cost.
It wasn’t solely like that, but close to it. I think the concept/idea was all there, really interesting. I just, personally, couldn’t get behind the characters, the pacing, and the writing so much.
It’s definitely a trope-y/cliche-y book. It has your usual ‘chosen one’, ‘save the world!’, love interest with A Past’, low-key ‘forbidden love’ feel. Personally, I feel like the romance arc of things moved a bit too quickly. In general, the book had little skips that avoided some details I wish would’ve actually been played out.
There’s a dance suddenly sprung in that I don’t remember being brought up until the chapter it happens which didn’t make sense to me (unless I missed a mention of it which could be possible!). You’re told that a Little Bad (minor (?) bad character) *does* something bad, but you don’t *see* them do the bad. You’re told the love interest is cold and harsh and then suddenly he’s in love with the main character.
Yana Metro does a lot of ‘tell don’t show’ rather than ‘show don’t tell’ which I think was a major losing factor for me. I love it when books show development like- yes please, show me why we hate this person, show me the cold hearted lover melting for this person and *just* this person, show me how this found family group of mismatched people learn to rely on each other!
Something I *did* love about Yana Metro’s writing though, is her world building. This other world we’re given sounds so amazing. There’s detail put into describing this otherworldly place- how houses float in trees, how magic is entirely real, how the world speaks to the people who can speak back to it. It’s lovely really! I wish that detail was put into those aforementioned things I noted earlier!
I wish I could’ve stuck with this book, but these little things made it not for me. It has a lot of potential and maybe I’ll try to pick it up again one day, but for now I’ve chosen to DNF it for the fact that it got to a point where I just couldn’t vibe with it anymore- and I didn’t want to hate the book because of that!
It’s not an entirely bad read at all, it just turned out to not be for me.
I don’t like leaving books bad ratings when it was a personal reason why I had to DNF it- which unfortunately I did at 68%.
The beautiful cover and description totally caught me for this read! Going into it, I was pretty excited about how it would play out. I was sort of expecting something like ‘Narnia’ or ‘The Light Between Worlds’ where you are given a character who has lived this spectacular life in another world, only to go back to their normal one and things are- bland and they want nothing more than to return whatever the cost.
It wasn’t solely like that, but close to it. I think the concept/idea was all there, really interesting. I just, personally, couldn’t get behind the characters, the pacing, and the writing so much.
It’s definitely a trope-y/cliche-y book. It has your usual ‘chosen one’, ‘save the world!’, love interest with A Past’, low-key ‘forbidden love’ feel. Personally, I feel like the romance arc of things moved a bit too quickly. In general, the book had little skips that avoided some details I wish would’ve actually been played out.
There’s a dance suddenly sprung in that I don’t remember being brought up until the chapter it happens which didn’t make sense to me (unless I missed a mention of it which could be possible!). You’re told that a Little Bad (minor (?) bad character) *does* something bad, but you don’t *see* them do the bad. You’re told the love interest is cold and harsh and then suddenly he’s in love with the main character.
Yana Metro does a lot of ‘tell don’t show’ rather than ‘show don’t tell’ which I think was a major losing factor for me. I love it when books show development like- yes please, show me why we hate this person, show me the cold hearted lover melting for this person and *just* this person, show me how this found family group of mismatched people learn to rely on each other!
Something I *did* love about Yana Metro’s writing though, is her world building. This other world we’re given sounds so amazing. There’s detail put into describing this otherworldly place- how houses float in trees, how magic is entirely real, how the world speaks to the people who can speak back to it. It’s lovely really! I wish that detail was put into those aforementioned things I noted earlier!
I wish I could’ve stuck with this book, but these little things made it not for me. It has a lot of potential and maybe I’ll try to pick it up again one day, but for now I’ve chosen to DNF it for the fact that it got to a point where I just couldn’t vibe with it anymore- and I didn’t want to hate the book because of that!
It’s not an entirely bad read at all, it just turned out to not be for me.
September 2, 2024
eBook Version of Luminiferos by Yana Metro
Provided by NetGalley and Yana Metro
I devoured this book and stayed up too late reading it. It felt so fresh and new and just enchanting. Enchanting, adventurous, and so fun to read! Every description Yana provides made this world unfold before my eyes. I coudn't not picture it. The magic was so unique and fun. My favorite part is the found family, and the mythical creatures. I'm obsessed with Hairito and she is now my new favorite mythical side kick creature! The plot is really fun and gave me hunting for horcrux vibes, the romance is sweet and sacrificial it's just so so good!
I will be making it my mission to ensure everyone reads this book! I am shocked by some of the reviews. My only guess is when people see the word fantasy and romance they expect a certain type of story line. If you are wanting a spicy fantasy romance, this aint it. It's a beautiful, well developed romance that is woven through out the book. Philosophical undertones and so many amazing themes are seamlessly woven into this story.
Yana's writing style is so fluid and effortless to read. I didn't find myself hoping it would move faster, it seemed to move at just the right pace. Things were revealed at just the right time and it was absolutely mesmerizing. This might just turn out to be one of my favorite reads of the year.
Only downfall? It's book one in an unfinished series, so we wait... with baited breath!
Provided by NetGalley and Yana Metro
I devoured this book and stayed up too late reading it. It felt so fresh and new and just enchanting. Enchanting, adventurous, and so fun to read! Every description Yana provides made this world unfold before my eyes. I coudn't not picture it. The magic was so unique and fun. My favorite part is the found family, and the mythical creatures. I'm obsessed with Hairito and she is now my new favorite mythical side kick creature! The plot is really fun and gave me hunting for horcrux vibes, the romance is sweet and sacrificial it's just so so good!
I will be making it my mission to ensure everyone reads this book! I am shocked by some of the reviews. My only guess is when people see the word fantasy and romance they expect a certain type of story line. If you are wanting a spicy fantasy romance, this aint it. It's a beautiful, well developed romance that is woven through out the book. Philosophical undertones and so many amazing themes are seamlessly woven into this story.
Yana's writing style is so fluid and effortless to read. I didn't find myself hoping it would move faster, it seemed to move at just the right pace. Things were revealed at just the right time and it was absolutely mesmerizing. This might just turn out to be one of my favorite reads of the year.
Only downfall? It's book one in an unfinished series, so we wait... with baited breath!
January 15, 2024
DNF at 35%
First of all, what an absolutely STUNNING cover - I can only imagine what this book looks like in person. The premise of a portal fantasy mixed with philosophy and psychological themes had me intrigued.
However, the writing fell very flat and overall read quite convoluted to me. The book seemingly tried very hard to put on an air of mystery, as if we jumped right into the middle of a fairy tale but by 35% I came to the conclusion that so much was happening while nothing was going on. Every scene felt like an underdeveloped exposition of fact and the pacing was overall very stilted.
Unfortunately the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" applied too well in this case.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an hones review.
First of all, what an absolutely STUNNING cover - I can only imagine what this book looks like in person. The premise of a portal fantasy mixed with philosophy and psychological themes had me intrigued.
However, the writing fell very flat and overall read quite convoluted to me. The book seemingly tried very hard to put on an air of mystery, as if we jumped right into the middle of a fairy tale but by 35% I came to the conclusion that so much was happening while nothing was going on. Every scene felt like an underdeveloped exposition of fact and the pacing was overall very stilted.
Unfortunately the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" applied too well in this case.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an hones review.
August 30, 2024
This is the first book I've read by this author and I was lucky to have been chosen for an ARC. I don't usually read YA Magical Realism, but this was a great story. The FMC is 18 and looking for a way to go into a parallel world so she can find her family. The FMC's journey throughout the book is mainly about finding things out about herself, her family, and finding an inner strength she didn't she had. There is a small romantic element as well. This was a cute story about a young woman looking for her place in a world she barely remembers while searching for her lost family and finding a new one. I'm definitely reading the next book.
February 19, 2023
I have received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Luminiferos by Yana Metro was enchanting! If you're looking for a book with vivid descriptions of the world and characters, one of the most unique villains in ya fantasy, and a main character you really want to route for. Then this book is for you! With found family themes and a fun magic system, you won't want to miss this book!
Lily white from the start had my heart. She is so determined to find out who she really is and loves so hard you will instantly fall in love with her. She recalls memories from her childhood, which she is told is all in her head; but Lily knows they're not. She will do anything she can to access this other world she sees in her dreams; to reunite with her family. Little does she know the world she is about to throw herself into!
Noxohit is a character that stands out in the book. He is such an interesting villain. Creepy, but interesting none the less. I definitely want to know more about him.
I hope the romance is explored more in the next book. I feel like it needs a bit more attention because, as a couple, I am so here for them! But I would like to see more of those little moments between the characters, like when he is testing her and asking her to ignore him ... that was a good scene!
For me, this will be a 4 stars overall, but I wouldn't be surprised if the next book was higher!
I am so grateful to Yana Metro for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team, and I can't wait to see what she does next! This is such a fantastic debut <3
Luminiferos by Yana Metro was enchanting! If you're looking for a book with vivid descriptions of the world and characters, one of the most unique villains in ya fantasy, and a main character you really want to route for. Then this book is for you! With found family themes and a fun magic system, you won't want to miss this book!
Lily white from the start had my heart. She is so determined to find out who she really is and loves so hard you will instantly fall in love with her. She recalls memories from her childhood, which she is told is all in her head; but Lily knows they're not. She will do anything she can to access this other world she sees in her dreams; to reunite with her family. Little does she know the world she is about to throw herself into!
Noxohit is a character that stands out in the book. He is such an interesting villain. Creepy, but interesting none the less. I definitely want to know more about him.
I hope the romance is explored more in the next book. I feel like it needs a bit more attention because, as a couple, I am so here for them! But I would like to see more of those little moments between the characters, like when he is testing her and asking her to ignore him ... that was a good scene!
For me, this will be a 4 stars overall, but I wouldn't be surprised if the next book was higher!
I am so grateful to Yana Metro for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team, and I can't wait to see what she does next! This is such a fantastic debut <3
April 4, 2023
☀️🕯️ LUMINIFEROS 🕯️☀️
By @yanametro
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Synopsis
At just eighteen, Lilly White has lived multiple lives. There was the cold, hard reality of growing up in an English orphanage, isolated and unwanted. But paradoxically, visions and dreams of lush forests and mystical creatures, and most troubling of all – a warm, loving family. Lilly doesn’t know if these are the delusions of a lonely mind, or something more.
Quotes
“While my heart was galloping wildly in ecstasy beside him, my soul was resting in serenity, like a traveller who, after wandering through oceans and forests, deserts and jungles, had finally returned home”
“I don’t want three hundred years, if they’re spent without you”
“don’t overcome it or fight it - just be aware of it”
Review
First of all, thank you so much to the author for sending over this ARC. I was so excited to read this one as the concept of melding YA romantasy and philosophy was something I hadn’t come across before.
It was really easy to slip into the world Yana had created and feel immersed within the magic. The first few chapters were really interesting & had me intrigued as to where the story would go. I think following this the plot maybe became a little bit bogged down with world building and info dumping and a bit of stamina was needed to push through that to reach the “quest” part of the tale. But once there things picked up pacing wise and it was easy to become lost in the excitement again. One thing I will say, maybe I’ve just read too many fantasies at this point, but I did see all of the twists coming a mile off. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story but if you’re looking to be surprised and on the edge of your seat, this isn’t the one for you.
In saying that, the romance was cute, the sidekick was adorable, the concept was thought provoking and I really enjoyed it overall!
By @yanametro
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Synopsis
At just eighteen, Lilly White has lived multiple lives. There was the cold, hard reality of growing up in an English orphanage, isolated and unwanted. But paradoxically, visions and dreams of lush forests and mystical creatures, and most troubling of all – a warm, loving family. Lilly doesn’t know if these are the delusions of a lonely mind, or something more.
Quotes
“While my heart was galloping wildly in ecstasy beside him, my soul was resting in serenity, like a traveller who, after wandering through oceans and forests, deserts and jungles, had finally returned home”
“I don’t want three hundred years, if they’re spent without you”
“don’t overcome it or fight it - just be aware of it”
Review
First of all, thank you so much to the author for sending over this ARC. I was so excited to read this one as the concept of melding YA romantasy and philosophy was something I hadn’t come across before.
It was really easy to slip into the world Yana had created and feel immersed within the magic. The first few chapters were really interesting & had me intrigued as to where the story would go. I think following this the plot maybe became a little bit bogged down with world building and info dumping and a bit of stamina was needed to push through that to reach the “quest” part of the tale. But once there things picked up pacing wise and it was easy to become lost in the excitement again. One thing I will say, maybe I’ve just read too many fantasies at this point, but I did see all of the twists coming a mile off. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story but if you’re looking to be surprised and on the edge of your seat, this isn’t the one for you.
In saying that, the romance was cute, the sidekick was adorable, the concept was thought provoking and I really enjoyed it overall!
February 9, 2023
(ARC review)
This is a unique fantasy world, existing in parallel to our world. I liked how Gargoyles, Sirens, Dryads etc were the main inhabitants rather than the classic Elves, Fairies and Mermaids. Overall this was a unique world that I enjoyed getting to know. The author took elements from various folk lore and combined them to create a new yet familiar world which I always appreciate.
The characters were all engaging enough, although I found a lot of their interactions and dialogue felt slightly unnatural and only in place to move the plot forward. I think more work could be put into these interactions to make them seem more genuine. More emphasis needs to be put on character development in general. This was a very plot driven story and it would have been nice to see a better balance between plot and character development.
My biggest complaint overall is the overuse of adjectives. Every sentence has about five flowery adjectives to go with it. Adjectives are great for setting the mood and painting a vivid picture for the reader but you can have too much of a great thing. Personally I’d set a limit of two adjectives per sentence at the very most. And if you’ve already used an adjective for something twice - don’t use it again! The reader already knows.
While the world building was enjoyable, I found the excessive info dumping took away from the enjoyment of the story. The author seemed to follow a tell don’t show approach which doesn’t engage the reader. Additionally a lot of things were explained time and time again. Just like the adjectives, once, or maybe twice if there is need for emphasis, but no more.
I see a lot of potential in this story and think it could be really good but I don’t think it’s ready for publishing just yet.
This is a unique fantasy world, existing in parallel to our world. I liked how Gargoyles, Sirens, Dryads etc were the main inhabitants rather than the classic Elves, Fairies and Mermaids. Overall this was a unique world that I enjoyed getting to know. The author took elements from various folk lore and combined them to create a new yet familiar world which I always appreciate.
The characters were all engaging enough, although I found a lot of their interactions and dialogue felt slightly unnatural and only in place to move the plot forward. I think more work could be put into these interactions to make them seem more genuine. More emphasis needs to be put on character development in general. This was a very plot driven story and it would have been nice to see a better balance between plot and character development.
My biggest complaint overall is the overuse of adjectives. Every sentence has about five flowery adjectives to go with it. Adjectives are great for setting the mood and painting a vivid picture for the reader but you can have too much of a great thing. Personally I’d set a limit of two adjectives per sentence at the very most. And if you’ve already used an adjective for something twice - don’t use it again! The reader already knows.
While the world building was enjoyable, I found the excessive info dumping took away from the enjoyment of the story. The author seemed to follow a tell don’t show approach which doesn’t engage the reader. Additionally a lot of things were explained time and time again. Just like the adjectives, once, or maybe twice if there is need for emphasis, but no more.
I see a lot of potential in this story and think it could be really good but I don’t think it’s ready for publishing just yet.
April 10, 2025
I'm not a huge fantasy reader, as I find they overwrite the story, and it becomes repetitive, and I lose interest!
However, I am just so excited that I blitz through this and loved it so much, I haven't felt this much excitement in a long time about a book!
I loved the fmc Lilly she was brought up in an orphanage and hasn't had the best childhood. She can sense she has a purpose and can hear her mum calling her name during these vivid dreams.
She does find her way into the spirit world and finds out she is the last of her kind. I don't want to give anything away.
I loved the secondary characters. They are misfits, not perfect, but they're all true hearted. I loved the impressive writing of the world's, the description of Faivendei was just spellbinding and beautiful. I always enjoy forbidden love, good vs evil, magical artefacts, and the chosen one.
However, I am just so excited that I blitz through this and loved it so much, I haven't felt this much excitement in a long time about a book!
I loved the fmc Lilly she was brought up in an orphanage and hasn't had the best childhood. She can sense she has a purpose and can hear her mum calling her name during these vivid dreams.
She does find her way into the spirit world and finds out she is the last of her kind. I don't want to give anything away.
I loved the secondary characters. They are misfits, not perfect, but they're all true hearted. I loved the impressive writing of the world's, the description of Faivendei was just spellbinding and beautiful. I always enjoy forbidden love, good vs evil, magical artefacts, and the chosen one.
April 5, 2023
There is such beautiful world building in this book and the creatures and everyone mentioned was such fun to read about. This book reminds me of the anime Inuyasha. A group of, at first, reluctant friends go off on a journey to find the pieces of Luminiferos, which remind me of the jewel shards. There is forbidden romance and I will admit I was rooting for it to flourish despite the odds. Found Family and betrayal are a lovely mix that both warmed my heart and made me tear up. I can not wait to see where this story goes through the course of the next 6 books.
February 16, 2023
Well I want to start off by saying a MASSIVE thanks to the author for letting me read this book early pre release date. I highly appreciate it, it is my first ever book to review and I am more then excited to get started. This book gripped me from the very first few pages and sucked me into this beautiful universe. I LOVED Harito. Such a funny and cute character that I am always thinking about even after reading and it has got me calling my cat a Gargoyle LOL. The writing was very easy to read, was not a slow burn at all and just this beautiful universe opened up right before my eyes!!! The story is very captivating, EXTREMELY enchanting and electrifying. The characters where amazing, some points quite sad but others just so beautifully done. I highly recommend to all readers. I am excited to see if there will be any other books by this author as I will read straight away.
#Luminiferos
#Luminiferos
February 27, 2023
I received this book as an arc and was just so grateful for having the Opportunity to read this and also the first book I’ve had for an ebook so it truly was an experience!! But thank you for letting me read this and review it, now to the review:
I will admit, I struggled to read through it a little, but once I got going and kept a paced read, I adored it. The magical world? Lilly as a character? I adore!!!
I’m also happy to say this is probably one of my first reads of 2023 as I’ve not been sticking to the goal I set at the start of the year :,) oh well!!!
A good read overall, it might just take awhile to get into but in my personal opinion? It’s worth it.
I will admit, I struggled to read through it a little, but once I got going and kept a paced read, I adored it. The magical world? Lilly as a character? I adore!!!
I’m also happy to say this is probably one of my first reads of 2023 as I’ve not been sticking to the goal I set at the start of the year :,) oh well!!!
A good read overall, it might just take awhile to get into but in my personal opinion? It’s worth it.
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