💬:Suddenly the page changed before her eyes, the ink bleeding together and reforming into new pictures, faster than she could register. Words appeared and disappeared in languages she couldn’t read. A ringing filled her ears, and she could hear her blood rushing in time with her heartbeat.

Sbrana, Analeigh. Lore of the Wilds: A Novel (pp. 165-166). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

📖Genres: fantasy, romance, fae, romantasy, adult, magic,

📚Page Count: 339

🎧Audiobook Length: 10:51

👩🏾‍🏫My Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5 - 2.5/5

Lore of the Wilds is the first in the series of the same title by Analeigh Sbrana. This story is about Lore, a human who lives in a society of fae. Her village falls on disaster and she has no choice but to surrenders herself to the dark fae Syrelle. Syrelle instructs her to tend to his library in the castle they're in. It's not long before Lore runs away with one of the castle guards, a fae named Asher. Later on Lore ends up meeting and becoming enthralled with another fae named Finn.

This book has so much potential but the pacing is off, there's little character development, there's close to no romance and very little chemistry between the romantic interests and the main character even though there are TWO romantic interests, and this fantasy crosses over from being a fantasy drama to being a cozy fantasy to wanting to be high fantasy, and the spicy scene at the end wasn't gotten to with build up or banter or any sort of romantic development.

Overall, the pacing felt off and there was very little character development when it came to Lore, herself. There was also very little romantic development despite this being marketed as a "romantasy" or romance fantasy. I'm giving this 2.5 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️.5 - 2.5/5 Stars

Thank you [NetGalley.com], the author, and publisher for the arc (advanced reader's copy.)

I was SO bored. There is so little explanation of the world building or of the magic that I truly felt like I wasn't even following the plot. She's taken by Fae who are hated to clean up their library...and she wants magic? But then at like 30% she leaves the library...? the romance felt stilted and confusing...not to mention the FMC was so immature for someone who was in her 20s. A big swing and a miss for me. DNF @ 51%.

A cute read! There were some parts that did disappoint me and I wish they were better built up but I appreciated the book for what it was! The fantasy aspect kept me captivated.

this was one of my anticipated reads of 2024 and i am so bummed and disappointed by it. i think one of the mainnissues with it for me was pacing, it started out very fast paced but towards the middle started dragging. her relationship with findrel was very speediky written compared to the buildup with asher that was given. i did really enjoy lore as a character but the romance parts of this fell a little flat for me.

Would be good for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses. I do think the "insta-love" and love triangle were not the best use of tropes in the story. A little disappointing.

I so wanted Lore of the Wilds to be a slam dunk, and while there are certainly parts of the book that I loved, I don’t think that as a cohesive whole it was as good as it could have been.

The first 40% or so of Lore of the Wilds was the best part of the book. Lore was exploring the library, figuring out the fae and trying to make sense of the world around her. This part was also where I best understood Lore’s motivation, as she wanted to help her village and her family, which made sense for what we know of her character thus far. There was a lot of world-building in this section that was interesting, and though I didn't feel it got fully fleshed out, the concepts were interesting and original.

However, as the story developed, there were some major issues. The pacing is totally off for a lot of the second half of the book. It felt kind of jumpy, not giving some scenes the time to develop before moving on to the next exciting moment. Additionally, there’s a love triangle, and I’ll be honest - at the end of the book, I still didn’t really understand why either of the men liked Lore.

I think the main issue I had with Lore of the Wilds is that it really felt like it was written for a young adult audience, and then shoehorned into the “romantasy” genre by adding an explicit oral sex scene. The rest of the action, even including the violence, definitely would have felt at home in any YA fantasy novel, and Lore herself acted like a teenager in some major parts of the book. She kept doing really dumb things in the second half of the book, when she was supposed to be hiding from the fae authorities, which felt contradictory to the characterization of an organized, methodical and hard-working young woman that had been built up in the first third of the book.

Lore of the Wilds ends in a cliffhanger with a twist that I felt was fairly obvious, but I will still likely pick up the second book, just to see how it’s resolved. There were so many open questions at the end of the book that I am curious about how they all get answered. If you’re a romantasy reader looking for new material, you might enjoy Lore of the Wilds, but don’t go in expecting a ton of romance - the main plotline is definitely Lore’s attempt to save her village. For a book advertised as romantasy, I can only hope for more romance in the second book.

Content notes: Violence, implied rape (brief mention, not of the main character)

I had really high expectations for this romantasy as the premise sounded promising. But it actually took a while for me to get sucked in, and even then, I sadly had to DNF at 60%. I just never found myself invested in the characters nor found the romance to be credible. We will still get the book because even though I personally wasn't a fan, I'm sure other readers will enjoy this,.

my rating is based on enjoyment
3.5

I enjoyed the mystical aspect of this book. The history of the world and all. Lore is our typical rebellious teenager and a part of me loves her for it because though she is faced with adversity, her thoughts aren’t to run and hide, it’s to fight. Empowerment is a different level when you are a teen and it’s definitely something I believe young ladies need to see.

Now with that said I am not a teen so some things just didn’t brush over for me but I recognize I am not the target audience. However, me at 16 would’ve rolled over twice lol.

In Lore of the Wilds we follow Lore Alemeyu, a young woman who lives within the confines of Duskmere, a town that houses all the humans in the fae world of Alytheria. Humans historically aren’t allowed to leave Duskmere—its borders are guarded by fae soldiers intent on keeping the humans inside and without access to magic—but, after an unexpected disaster hits the people she loves, Lore finds herself forcefully escorted to Wyndlin Castle. There, Lord Syrelle wants her to work in a library that no fae has been able to enter in a thousand years due to an ancient curse. Lore, as a human not from this fae world (legend has it that her ancestors came from the sky a few hundred years ago), would be able to walk through its doors and, since she can read the Alytherian language, find certain texts that Syrelle wants.

From there, the story has Lore working in the library under the guard of a fae soldier named Asher. After several chapters focused on her time in the castle, the tale then jumps to her finding a grimoire that only responds to her—a shocking development as she is human, someone who isn’t supposed to be able to wield magic. She flees the castle with the book, with Asher coming with her, as the two have exchanged lustful glances while Lore was forced to work in the library. Without getting too much into spoilers, she miraculously gets help from some of her former guard’s old companions, including another fae male named Finn, who hates Asher but grudgingly grows a rapport with Lore. The plot skips and jumps along, slowing down at some points and then whizzing by so fast at others that I had to double-check to make sure I didn’t miss a chapter. The book ends on a major cliffhanger and a shocking reveal (to Lore, at least), making clear that this novel is just the first in a series. [more on link below]

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this advanced e-book.

I actually went and bought this book rather than reading it on NetGalley - don't ask me why - but I can't get over how nice the cover is, I was immediately drawn to it.

As far as debut novels go, this one was decent! Debut fantasies can be tough, where the pacing can get funky, but the general plot had me hooked. I loved the turn this took at the end, it was a smart choice by Analeigh because now we can dive into these characters more and it's got me anticipating the next book!

I had such high hopes for this one but ended up setting it down around 70%. The world the author built was so cool but the pacing of the story was off. The story was so fast at times and then would drag for several chapters. I just wasn't invested enough to finish it.

"Lore of the Wilds" by Analeigh Sbrana is an enchanting journey into a world where magic thrums through the air and mystical creatures roam the untamed wilderness. From the first page to the last, this book captivates with its lush prose, vibrant characters, and intricate world-building, offering readers an immersive fantasy experience they won't remember.

Sbrana weaves a spellbinding tale that follows the adventures of a young protagonist who discovers she possesses a rare and powerful gift that could change her world's fate forever. I was swept along on a whirlwind of excitement and discovery as she navigated treacherous forests, encountered mythical beasts, and confronted dark forces.

What sets "Lore of the Wilds" apart is its unique blend of familiar fantasy elements with fresh, innovative twists. While there may be echoes of other fey-based fantasies, Sbrana infuses her story with a sense of originality and depth that keeps readers eagerly turning pages. From the intricate lore of the fey to the intricacies of court politics, every aspect of this world feels meticulously crafted and brimming with possibility.

Lore of the Wilds is a fun romantic fantasy with a colorful cast of amazing characters. Perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses, or anyone who enjoys a good fae inspired fantasy. The magic system is unique and interesting, the setting feels rich and alive, the characters are lovable. It is overall a good start for a new series!

This was a great debut novel and solid start to a new series. I loved the characters and the character development. The world building was phenomenal. The author describes such a beautiful, cozy, and magical world.
But the pacing was really off for me. I found it hard to stay interested. I am a mood reader so I think I was just wanting more intense things than this book has. The big parts felt rushed and the small parts felt like they went on and on.
The plot twist were also slightly predictable so it didn’t have the payoff I was hoping for.
All in all I think this is a really good book for someone who loves cozy, less intense fantasy

This one was worth the read for the most part. I enjoyed the story but really think that it could have just been one book and not two or more. Parts of the book were pages of the MC swooning over the love interest and it not only felt out of place it felt very juvenile and this book is not YA. Overall I think fans of Sarah J. Maas might love this one as well as those who enjoyed Holly Black's The Cruel Prince.

Will I check out the next book in the series? If I am fortunate enough to snag a review copy I will definitely check it out. I want to say that this is a debut and as one it was pretty on par with what you usually get with a debut author. Kind of clunky but they will find their way.

This book was wonderful! Great world building, good magic system and a loveable main character. What more could you want?!

Lore of the Wilds 3⭐️2.75🌶️

Adult Fantasy Romance
Bipoc
Bodyguard romance
Love triangle
Fae
Chosen one
Secrets
Magic


The premise of the book was good. I was excited for an exclusive bipoc cast. The world building was well done. I loved the enchanted library and nearly-sentient grimoire.

This is a gorgeous book and I wanted so badly for it to be a 5 star and awesome start of a series. Unfortunately it just didn’t hit as hard as I wanted it to. The writing felt very YA with curse words and an on page romantic scene that didn’t really move the plot forward.

I got to half way and I was still confused as to the tone of the book. I found myself not as invested in how the story played out because of that. I liked all the characters, what I knew of them… the writing was very surface when the action started. I found myself wanting just a little more depth and development.

The twist ending was interesting! But the cliffhanger felt very juvenile and YA in how it was executed.

I will be reading this series as it continues because it was a decent debut novel and start to a series.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I wanted to love this book so much. Unfortunately, it ended up being just okay for me. There were several things that I liked especially that it was unique and the lore was interesting.

My main problem with this book was the love triangle. I didn't think there was enough development on either of the relationships. The pacing was just off to me.

The cliffhanger was promising though. I think I might still read book 2 when it comes out.

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR! I really truly enjoyed this book and it was one of my top reads so far this year.

Rating: 3.5

This book has all the cozy, cottagecore, witchy vibes that we love, with a slight dark twist. It is a quick read that is filled to the brim with conflict, adventure, interesting world-building, spellbinding elemental magic, dangerous Fae, and a cursed, magical library.
The FMC is a determined human in search of magic of her own and is willing to risk it all to release her loved ones and fellow townsfolk from the harsh grip of the Fae once and for all. While she is a bit impulsive with most of the way she handles things, which can be a bit frustrating; she makes up for it with her unyielding passion for her people, her steadfast resolve to accomplish every goal her sights are set on, and giving them the justice they deserve, all while overcoming all her self doubts and gaining newfound bravery along the way is so endearing to experience along with her. You can’t help but root for everything that she does, including the stupid shit.
With a diverse cast of enigmatic characters, our FMC learns that not all Fae are the enemies she thought they were, and the bonds of trust are tested when she is ultimately forced to rely on a couple of them to survive.
This may be harder than it seems when her head tells her one thing, but her heart (annoyingly) tells another. A slight love triangle occurs between her and two mysterious and intriguing Fae males (and not gonna lie, I definitely found myself rooting for one of them way more than the other). However, the attraction between each of them was almost instant and I felt both “relationships” lacked a lot of depth and really needed to be fleshed out more. I had a tough time connecting/believing them.
The pacing was a little off at times, and the plot could be a bit predictable… But points for shock value because that twist of an ending might just make you want to throw your book across the room from shock or frustration or (if you’re like me) from both.

Thank you, NetGalley, Analeigh Sbrana, and Avon / Harper Voyager, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!