Winnie Wednesday has gotten everything she thought she wanted. She passed the deadly hunter trials, her family has been welcomed back into the Luminaries, and overnight, she has become a local celebrity.

But none of it feels right.

For one, nobody will believe her about the new nightmare called the Whisperer that’s killing hunters each night. Everyone blames the werewolf, even though Winnie is certain the wolf is innocent.

On top of that, following her dad’s convoluted clues about the Dianas, their magic, and what happened in Hemlock Falls four years ago is leaving her with more questions than answers.

And, unfortunately, there is still only one person who can help her: Jay Friday, the boy with plenty of problems all his own.

As bodies and secrets pile up around town, Winnie finds herself questioning what it means to be a true Wednesday and a true Luminary—and above all, where her fierce-hearted loyalties might ultimately have to lie.

In Book 2 of the Luminaries, Susan Dennard has created a captivating sequel in The Hunting Moon. It is engaging, full of twists and turns, revelations and intrigue. I love how the novel starts with Winnie dealing with the trauma of her third trial but having forgotten the truth of the werewolf. She still hasn’t convinced anyone to believe her about The Whisperer and even more she’s finding more clues about her father having been framed. As she delves into matters, truths come out and unexpected mysteries surround her.

What I truly love is how fast the narrative picks up from the first book. The narrative and intrigue are fast paced and the mysteries will keep you reading as fast as you can to find out the truth. While some parts are obvious, what I really like is how Winnie tracks down the truth and what she does once she realizes what she needs to do, where her true loyalties lie.

If you like young adult urban fantasy with an original twist on monsters, monster hunters and witches, this one is a captivating sequel worth reading. I do recommend reading the first book, The Luminaries, first. And if you like my review, keep an eye out for the review of the third book in the series. I truly love the complexity of the world and the engaging characters.

Rating: 5 out of 5 vials.