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Reviewing this as part of Coffee and Thorn Book Tours. My reviews are guaranteed to be honest. My ratings are based on how much the book resonated with me.

My brother had a phase in his life when he lamented that we are all living dead people. Well, I did not expect to find that phrase reflected so chillingly here.

A story about a historical topic I had no idea about. Luminous presents the fight of women who were employed by radium dial paint companies

I read that the women painting dials were instructed to lick their paintbrush tips while painting the numbers on the dials. They were not warned about dangers and did not suspect problems until they began to suffer severe symptoms. The tragedy is that for its time, this work was well-paid skilled labour available for women, and could even be considered patriotic contribution to WWI effort. They painted watch dials for soldiers and instrument panels for military equipment—all glowing in the dark.

The story focuses on Catherine Donahue, a strong and compassionate woman who joins Radium Dial to support her family. The book paints a fairly idyllic picture at first, but as the consequences of radium exposure become evident, it takes a chilling turn.

Catherine lives with her Uncle and Aunt and tries to come up with a way to help them financially � she finds the ad for Radium Dial and enrols nearly immediately. It’s sad how that’s pretty much her only option. She is told lies about radium and though initially work and camaraderie are as I described � quite idyllic and Catherine meets the love of her life � things begin to change drastically very soon. First, they are but distant echoes but materialise into something truly hard hitting the closer to home things start happening.

In the midst of this Catherine enjoys a truly heartwarming happiness with her husband Tom and their kids. All those early moments , falling in love, hopes and plans, and warm moments are written with such endearing charm that it makes me want to revisit them.

Catherine's bond with Tom, is a highlight of the story, showcasing unwavering support in challenging times.They enjoy the kind of strong bond one can be jealous of. It was truly something I fell in love with in the book. The stalwart, unbreakable support was something to treasure throughout the pages. Catherine made significant observations that I strongly agreed with about how such everyday things, the love and support you get, especially in small, subtle everyday ways, shouldn’t be taken for granted. But even more so the love that comes when the going really gets hard, as it most definitely did for Catherine,Tom and their children.

Their faith plays a significant role in their lives and keeps them resilient. I am usually wary of religious worship in books, because sometimes it’s too preachy, but Catherine and her husband are presented from the start as having strong faith, it’s part of who they are, and maybe part of the community they live in, with a simpler way of life. But faith keeps them fighting.

This small community they are part of has its dark side, as few believe Catherine's fight against Radium Dial, most are against it considering it's a major source of employment. This kind of desperation is what really got to me. Tom and Catherine count their blessings among all this, their life is fortunate - they start out with no mortgage, a meager life but blessed with love and joy. And even when things take a turn for the worse, they find their silver linings and their love is like a beacon. In a sense this bittersweetness is amazing - radium helped them meet, radium forces them to say goodbye.There's a scene in which Catherine says something to the effect that she at least wanted to look like a glowing angel for her husband, because that's the final thing she'd be able to do to show she loves him. That really hit me hard.

The writing is simple yet effectively conveys the contrast between the idyllic beginning and the chilling reality that unfolds under the surface and creeps on its victims when their lives are at their high points. Each chapter is preceded by telling quotes that reflect the developments. She shows how far reaching the consequences of radium were and even more so � how steep was the price for naivety at the hands of a company with no integrity. Naivety, but also unnerving lack of viable employment choices.

The girls keep working happily despite the distant echoes that not all may be well. It’s chilling to see how the mood gradually changes as they start to see their suspicions are true and their fears come to pass as the illness starts claiming more and more of them. It’s chilling how desperation to keep a job leads them to the horrors they have to live through. It’s chilling to see the first victim experience the effects of radium poisoning. Catherine reflects how lonely and terrifying that must have felt. It's chilling how even doctors tell them there is no such thing as radium poisoning. Tom and Catherine have every reason to be furious because they know their life, the life they'd live with love, has been stolen from them.

The gradual change in mood and the desperation to keep their jobs,and the impact of radium poisoning are unsettling, with Catherine's love providing some comfort amidst the grief.

Catherine is half-prepared for what’s to come as a "living dead woman", she fights for her family, but even in all the grief the love she has is comforting. It kind of cushions the impact for the reader, but at the same time makes it even more hard-hitting because for such people, you want a happy ending and yet it's one that cannot come in this case. There is a particularly heartbreaking scene in the courtroom when all emotions spill out. It's devastating and doesn't leave you indifferent. And yet, Catherine and Tom keep the love and the fight until the end, against the odds.

They are fictionalised but they were real people and I’m, glad the writer decided to write the book the way she did, because she created emotional attachment to characters and through that � the story resonates more strongly with me. And chills me more. I also appreciate she picked up a topic I had no knowledge of and also showed the resolve of these women. And the meaning of simple happiness, where love is true, despite the odds. I believe in these things.

However, I also think it would be interesting to write the novel from the perspective of the Reeds, the company owners, the lawyers defending them. The novel creates emotional attachment and successfully conveys the sense of dread that unfolds for good people, good people you want happy. . But I think I'd like to read this story from the side of the Reeds- could be interesting. How did all this affect them when they hid the medical results, when they kept lying? The grey morality here would be interesting to explore. There's potential there.