#BookReview: Luminous by @mararaewrites @Inkyardpress

Synopsis: Liora has spent her life in hiding, knowing discovery could mean falling prey to the king's warlock, Darius, who uses mages' magic to grow his own power. But when her worst nightmare comes to pass, Darius doesn't take her. Instead, he demands that her younger sister return to the capital with him. To make matters worse, Evran, Liora's childhood friend and the only one who knows her secret, goes missing following Darius's visit, leaving her without anyone to turn to.

To find Evran and to save her sister, Liora must embrace the power she has always feared. But the greatest danger she'll face is yet to come, for Darius has plans in motion that will cause the world to fall into chaos--and Liora and Evran may be the only ones who can stop him.

A witch who must learn to harness her power--or risk losing her loved ones forever.



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 5 Stars
My Review: This was a wonderful story.  Although I do wish that the author would have gone darker I still really loved this story.  I hope that we get a book two as well since it had an open ending.  I loved how the story unfolded and the characters.  They were all amazing, Liora was a joy as she learned about her powers and what it meant to be who and what she was.  Since we learn certain things towards the end of this book I think the author could go two different ways with a sequel. One would be about the ending of this one and the journey that characters are on.  The other would be a companion title about Liora's sisters learning about where they lay in their world.  Since we know new things.  (This is so hard to wright without spoilers) Darius reminded me of a toned down Darkling from Shadow and Bone. And her sisters were a joy and I wished we would have seen more of them.  

The setting was the same old same old in a new fantasy world.  I loved the darkness and the creatures and the magic.  I would love to learn more about their world as well as Liora and her sister's mother and father.  The pacing in this one was done so well it was steady not to fast and not to slow.  

The romance in this one was very light.  I think readers who don't really want romance in their stories would really enjoy this one.  As there is romance there but its not the main reason for the story.   The ending of this one was wonderful and perfect for this tale.  I do hope to see a book two or even a book three in the coming years as there is so much Mara could do with it.  

Review

"Wonderfully lush and enthralling. I was captivated."—Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows

"A beautiful, enchanting tale of a young woman coming into her own powers. Luminous shines as brightly as its heroine."—Joan He, New York Times bestselling author of The Ones We’re Meant to Find

“Luminous lives up to its name with shining prose, radiant characters, and a love story that burns bright. This story lights the way with a powerful message about embracing your truth and sharing it.”—Elly Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Frostblood Saga

About the Author

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the world along with her Marine-turned-diplomat husband. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara holds a Master's degree in Cultural Studies from the University of London. 

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Posted in: 5 Stars, InkyardPress, Jessica P., Netgalley, Review, Young Adult