lloyd-jones doesn't slack on pulling you into a book and forcing you into immersion. as someone with severe adhd, it's so easy to find myself distracted. so when i say that i inhaled this book as fast as i did THE BONE HOUSES, it should mean something. i'm a slow reader who takes a hot second to fully submerge into folklore and myth, but you can always trust lloyd-jones for giving you what you need: a good freaking book

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advanced copy of this.

After reading the Bone Houses and loving it, I was quick to request this book after seeing it had a magical heist and a spy corgi. However, I wasn't able to read it in time and settled for borrowing a library copy. I think because it took me so long to get to reading it, a lot of my assumptions and expectations about the series weren't met. Which has it's ups and downs.

The story is far grander than I had originally expected, it's not a cozy little horror walk through a forest like the last book, it is detailed planning for the heist for a good chunk of it and if I read that years ago, I would have adored it. But as I read through the first half, it felt like a struggle to keep track of characters, plans, and general motivations for anyone outside of Mer and Fane. The second half was easier to get through after a set of reveals for character conflict and resolution though. I ended up liking the ending but sadly this wasn't the book for me.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

When I first started reading this book, I genuinely thought it would become my new favourite.

It started with the prologue. I was immersed in the story from the first page. I loved the writing style, Mer's backstory and her awesome ability to manipulate water.

The book follows Mer, a water diviner who was previously taken into the Prince's care and forced to poison the Prince's enemies. Constantly on the run, wanting freedom, she reunites with her old handler wondering if she'd like to get revenge on the Prince and take him down.

To me, this book started great. I was hooked from the start and I was very curious to see how the book would go, and where. It did slow a bit in the middle, that's where it started to lose me, until the end where a lot of action occurred. I did expect some plot twists and betrayals early on though, so they didn't take me by surprise as much. Nevertheless, I enjoyed seeing how the story would unfold.

Overall, I enjoyed the pace of the book, the writing style (which was very descriptive and atmospheric) and I liked the characters too, specifically Mer, Fane and Ifanna. Despite not having read The Bone Houses, I really liked the epilogue too.

ACTUAL RATING: 3.9 STARS

Lloyd-Jones crafts a tale that is rich in folklore and magic, setting the stage with atmospheric descriptions that pull the reader into a world where the line between myth and reality blurs. The story begins with Mer, who, after being betrayed by the prince she served, seeks to undo the wrongs of her past with the help of a ragtag group of outcasts. Each character is meticulously developed, providing depth to the narrative through their interactions and personal growth.

The heist element of “The Drowned Woods” is executed with precision and suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the plot twists and turns towards its conclusion. Lloyd-Jones masterfully balances the tension of the heist with the emotional journeys of her characters, creating a story that is both exciting and heartrending.

One of the standout aspects of the book is its exploration of themes such as loyalty, betrayal, and the search for belonging. Mer’s journey is a poignant reflection on the power of forgiveness and the strength found in vulnerability. The novel also delves into the consequences of using magic, presenting it as a double-edged sword that can both protect and destroy.

“The Drowned Woods” is a testament to Emily Lloyd-Jones’s skill as a storyteller. Her ability to weave together elements of myth, magic, and emotion results in a book that is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking. This novel is a must-read for fans of fantasy who are looking for a story that combines action, intrigue, and a deep emotional core. Lloyd-Jones has created a world that lingers with the reader long after the final page, making “The Drowned Woods” a standout addition to the fantasy genre.

I was invested in this book from the moment that I started reading it! I really enjoyed the character dynamics and there was great world building. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK! This is my second book from Emily and I plan on reading every single book she releases from here on out. I've also seen some beautiful editions of this book going around and I need all of them!

A wonderful premise and an enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to reading what comes next from this author! Especially if they continue to write characters such as this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy for review.
I really liked this book. I found the magic system to be simple but effective. Im connected with Mer right away and the other characters. I would have liked Fane to have been a more proactive character, His power could have been explored more. it had a good balance of action and story development. I thought that the world building could have been better but it doesn't take much from the story. I think if you are looking for a heist inspired fantasy book that is a good read this would be a good choice.

✨ The Hearts We Sold ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨ The Bone Houses ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


ARC was given by NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.

Content/Trigger Warnings: Brief mentions of animal cruelty, mentions of war themes, violence, depictions of blood, graphic deaths, graphic injuries, mentions loss of loved ones, scene of torture, grief, mentions of night terrors, implied trauma/PTSD


"It was that day the girl learned that water could save a life - or take it. It was a lesson she wouldn't forget."



It's no secret that I absolutely love this author's work and so when I heard this book was coming out, I was so excited. I'll be honest, I've waited to read this book because of all the hype I was hearing surrounding this book. I wanted to go into this book without a lot of expectations and not knowing too much about it. It was so good! Truly, the audiobook made this perfection. The characters themselves were so interesting and captivating, the tavern where everything starts was so vivid, and the freaking corgi was everything! The author has such a beautiful way of building up a world, making it so vivid, and then crafting these characters you just fall in love with. And the way magic worked in this world, how the Fae are always watching and knowing, and the diviners... It was so interesting and if the author wanted to, they could expanded off of what was built within this book. The only reason this couldn't be a five stars was the fact that I immediately predicted, after finishing the first chapter, what the "twist" was going to be. That's the only reason I couldn't give it the full five stars and honestly, I think at this point I've just gotten too good at figuring out twists in fantasy reads. Overall, I had a really great time reading this book. I think I finished the audiobook in two-three days and it was such a captivating read. I think there will be many readers who enjoy this book and get swept up by all the details and the characters you can't resist rooting for. And as always, I'll be eagerly waiting to see what this author does next!

The intro promised more than what was delivered but I truly enjoyed the story all the same. I felt the characters could have had more depth. The multiple POVs didn’t help with this. Sure, we got more backstory and motives behind actions, but it didn’t really give me the closeness I could have gotten had the story focused on just Mer.

The heist wasn’t what I felt it could be and fell short of what I have come to expect of this trope. The ending was underwhelming. Mer’s motives and fears fell away in light of the wave coming for the kingdom and her confrontation with the prince fell flat.

I never fell into this book with any kind of enthusiasm, after my initial excitement during the intro.

I would recommend this for younger readers. For those wanting something more complicated, I would be happy to recommend Six of Crows, or Throne of Glass for similar vibes but a more comprehensive story.

This book was an interesting idea that was well executed. It was a mix of characters that complimented each other, and kept the story interesting and moving. I always want more with standalones, and the same is true for this one. It would have been nice to explore the other worlds more. I disagreed with the ending such as the choices the main character made after one of the twists and that it was a happily ever after.

This book was an interesting idea that was well executed. It was a mix of characters that complimented each other, and kept the story interesting and moving. I always want more with standalones, and the same is true fir this one. It would have been nice to explore the other worlds more. I disagreed with the ending such as the choices the main character made after one of the twists and that it was a happily ever after.

This is one of my favorite fictional worlds to explore! Lloyd-Jones has created a rich setting with engaging characters and I could not put this one down from beginning to end.

This is such a tough book for me to review, as I always find it the toughest to review books that I adored, ones that made me feel something so strongly. I’ll try my best, though, and hope I can get across just a portion of my love for this book!

Ironically, I read this book in a drought of reading (for me), as I finished it while visiting my family and being busy with all the usual family + holiday things. It was honestly exactly what I needed, though, as it felt like a long drink of cold water, one that could keep me sated for a while to come. And honestly, it did! I carried the remnants of Mer’s story in my head for so long after finishing, that it felt like I could dip back into the waters of The Drowned Woods whenever I needed to for weeks after finishing. It’s just one of those stories that lingers (especially if you’ve also read The Bone Houses and understand the connection between them, because that’s a whole other pit of thinking to fall down into).

I really need to commend the audiobook as well. It won an award for being an exceptional audio, and I cannot agree more. It’s one of those audiobooks that only serves to make the book greater, and I felt like Moira Quirk really brought Mer and the cast to life. It just added an extra layer to the entire story, and while I feel like I would’ve loved this story either way, I definitely loved it more because of this audiobook. (I also just liked knowing how the Welsh words were actually pronounced!)

This book was so much more than just a heist story, even though that’s what the synopsis seemed to really focus on. I’d forgotten that aspect of the synopsis, though, and I ended up loving what I found in the story so much more than if it had just been a heist. However, I do feel like if someone goes in expecting heist + found family, they might end up disappointed, since I feel like it veers away from this quite a bit. There are still plenty of fantastic side characters and heist antics, but it also feels like the focus of this book is on other parts of the story.

The Drowned Woods is one of those stories where I can’t quite pick a favorite piece, as I feel like it worked together so cohesively that my love for an individual piece is also due to how it worked with the other parts of the story as well. I loved the lore that built the base of this story, but I also adored the characters and how they struggled and fought and lived. And on top of all of that, the writing was the perfect complement to it all, managing to connect the reader so closely to the story and characters, and carry the gravity of some larger scenes of the book. It all just blended together so wonderfully, and I can see myself rereading this again so many times just to revisit it all (alongside The Bone Houses, of course!)

While The Bone Houses is still my favorite of the pair, this book feels like such a perfect complement to it, while still being strong on its own. I’ve definitely found a new favorite author here, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

This book was really interesting! I was intrigued by the storyline and that's what initially drew me to this title. I also really love the cover artwork.

I was excited for this book because it was a retelling of a Welsh legend. However, I had a hard time being engaged in the story. The novel was ver slow moving that made it hard for me to connect with the characters. Also, there was very little action in this retelling. Still, I recommend this novel for fans of little known legends.

Emily-Lloyd Jones crafts a beautiful tale, absolutely brimming with unique mythology, well developed characters, and unique world-building that immediately draws the reader in. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows, I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a refreshing new fantasy world to dive into. I can only hope that we will see more of this world, and these characters, in the future!

Emily Lloyd-Jones got her inspiration for her novel The Drowned Woods from Welsh mythology, which is very different from Slavic mythology, apparently, much more pleasant without a lot of nasty monsters intent on harming humans. Anyway, the plot of the story is relatively simple, so the charm and ongoing interest lie in the motley band of characters who follow the heroine on her quest to enact revenge on the prince who tricked her. I mean, one member of that band is a dog, so you automatically have to continue reading because dogs rule. The pacing is fast, which keeps you reading, but not too fast that it borders incredulity. I enjoyed my time with Mer and her fellowship and loved how Ms. Lloyd-Jones ended this story. The Drowned Woods is what I consider a beach read for the fantasy set - fun, somewhat mindless, and quick.

I really loved this book and I am just a big fan of Emily Lloyd Jones. The world is very excited and I loved the main characters.