The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard (Luminaries book 3)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, The Luminaries, and The Hunting Moon, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Winnie Wednesday’s future is looking bright. Hemlock Falls is no longer hunting the werewolf, she and Erica Thursday are tentative friends, and Winnie finally knows exactly where she stands with Jay Friday.

With everything finally on track, Winnie is looking forward to the Nightmare Masquerade, a week-long celebration of all things Luminary. But as Luminaries from across the world flock to the small town, uninvited guests also arrive. Winnie is confronted by a masked Diana and charged with an impossible task—one that threatens everything and everyone Winnie loves.

As Winnie fights to stop new enemies before time runs out, old mysteries won't stop intruding. Her missing father is somehow entangled with her search for hidden witches, and as Winnie digs deeper into the long-standing war between the Luminaries and the Dianas, she discovers rifts within her own family she never could have imagined.

What does loyalty mean when family and enemies look the same?” - taken from Goodreads.

This was a fantastic conclusion to the Luminaries trilogy. Winnie Wednesday is determined to solve all of the current problems plaguing Hemlock Falls. With an influx of visitors to the town, one makes herself known to Winnie as a Diana who is determined to finish what was started four years ago. Can Winnie solve all of the big mysteries in the town before it’s too late?

Visit Susan Dennard’s website.

Eclipse the Skies by Maura Milan (Ignite the Stars book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Ignite the Stars, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Ia Cōcha never thought she’d be working for the Olympus Commonwealth. But that was before she found out her trusted brother Einn was trying to tear apart the universe. Now, Ia, the Blood Wolf of the Skies, has agreed to help the Royal Star Force on one condition: when she finds him, she gets to kill Einn herself.

Brinn Tarver has just come to terms with her Tawny identity when the public lashes out against her people, crushing her family. At her breaking point, she starts to question everything she believes in—including Ia.

After the death of his mentor, Knives Adams is doing his best to live up to a role he didn’t ask for as Aphelion’s new headmaster. Still, with each new step deeper into war, he feels torn between his duties and the pull of Ia’s radical—sometimes criminal—ideas.

As they fight to keep darkness from eclipsing the skies, their unpredictable choices launch this breathtaking sequel to explosive new heights.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I loved the first book in this duology so much that I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second one. I don't know what it is about the subgenre, but I have really enjoyed reading “Space Opera” books. After seeing some of the reviews for this title on Goodreads, I was leery to finish the story because of the possible ending that had been foretold. I even did something I usually don't do and read the last three chapters to see if my fears were true. Fortunately, this book was the perfect conclusion to the story. Our characters really grew throughout the course of this final book. My only regret is that my time with these characters was so short. I cannot wait to see what this author writes next. 

Visit Maura Milan’s website.