I enjoyed The Bone Houses and couldn’t wait to start the author’s latest book. The blurb mentioned a lot of cool aspects that could be found within the book and I was definitely more sold than before. Although I did like a lot of the book, there were things that were just bland and or didn’t grasp my attention as much as I had wanted.

The book is told from multiple point-of-views and I don’t know if it was worth it to have. I did like the past scenes that gave more information on the characters, but it meant less time with the main character Mer. I also wouldn’t saying that knowing more about them actually made me care about them. They kind of had their knack and that was that. When plot twists happened to the characters I can’t say that I felt any emotion towards them. I’m not saying they are bad characters because at times they were funny, but they didn’t keep me motivated.

The author does like animal sidekicks and there is one in this book who is a corgi. I like corgis but frankly, I thought the dead goat was better.

The prologue really pulls you in and is beautifully written. You feel for Mer and her situation and you want to know if she will ever get free from it all. I did like her for the most part but there wasn’t anything that made her stand out compared to other characters in the same genre. The prologue sets up nicely but there was pacing issues for me throughout the rest of the book. Nothing with the heist really happens until a bit after the halfway mark. There is more time talking about a past relationship than the relationship that is mentioned in the epilogue so I’m not really sure why it was mentioned since it felt insignificant. I could probably say that about other plot points as well.

Even though I had issues with the book, I still thought it was a good and quick read. It may not be memorable to me but it wasn’t terrible even if it may sound like that is how I felt, haha.

Overall, it was fine but just not entirely what I was expecting.

Adventure, magic, betrayal, and a heist between a group of people who want to take down a terrible prince. The slow way of introducing the characters of this story helped you understand not only who they are now and what led them here but who they were before. Our three main characters are in no way perfect people, they’ve all been the cause of suffering for others yet we still root for them on their journey. They’re young and have the potential for so much after getting what each of them needed from this mission whether it was redemption, glory, or freedom. While the others in their group are still complex characters, the three whose points of view we get to see hold my heart and I’m glad that they are the main focus of our story. The main character herself, Mer, is a sapphic water diviner, trained by a spymaster, and escaped from a prince and I adore her. The ending of this book was heart-wrenching in a way that I love, though I am glad that they got their happy ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a free eARC copy of 'The Drowned Woods' in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this one - I really did. And I liked it, especially the Corgi sidekick, but I found the plotting a little too slow for my taste. I enjoyed the Welsh mythology aspects and the fmc was engaging, but I kept feeling like something was missing.

Mer is the last living water diviner, on the run from an ambitious and wicked prince who’s bound her into slavery. When her old mentor shows up with a job that can undermine the prince’s power for good, she can’t help but be tempted. It’s a dangerous heist that requires her particular talent to destroy the magical well that protects the king’s lands. With the help of a death-cursed ironfetch, a corgi, and the princess of thieves (who also happens to be Mer’s ex-girlfriend), they’ll have to risk their lives to reach the well and stop more war and conquest before it even begins. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Little, Brown. Trigger warnings: character death (on-page), child/spouse death, suicide, drowning, slavery, torture/branding, severe injury, violence, poison, guilt, self-loathing.

I fell in love with The Bone Houses, but while there’s plenty to like about this book, it doesn’t fall quite as particularly into my areas of interest (no zombies, for one thing). The Drowned Woods is a more typical fantasy of kingdom politics and overthrowing the wicked ruler, and those are things I actively avoid in my reading. There’s nothing wrong with them, but the genre is saturated with that story. I’ve read it too many times, and it was never one of my favorites to begin with. However, if you are a fan of that, there are plenty of small, delightful details that stand out about this book.

To begin with, Lloyd-Jones’s writing is beautiful just on a sentence level in a way that makes me want to read all her books regardless of subject, and the Welsh mythology is always really interesting. I didn’t particularly bond with any of the characters this time around, but I think that was more of a me-thing than a them-thing. Mer’s history and motivations are complicated and well-drawn, and I’m usually down for a quiet, mysterious male lead who can win every fight but doesn’t want to. Their development, both separately and together, is enough to drive the novel. All fantasy books should also have an animal sidekick, and while it isn’t quite on the level of zombie goat, I enjoyed the corgi.

Plot-wise, it’s rather meandering and slow-moving, and that’s not always a bad thing. What I thought was going to be the turning point came a little earlier than expected, leaving the book not quite able to sustain the level of urgency it needed for everything that came after. I have some issues with Mer’s ending as well, but that’s more of a general theme issue than a problem with this specific novel. My favorite part of the book was the little nod to The Bone Houses, which probably says enough all on its own.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

Okay, so I loved the magic (diviner) aspect of the book and the heist aspect. I did not however like how slow the build up was or the finding of the heist crew. It went on for too long, and yet the characters were unremarkable and unmemorable except for our MC and the corgi sidekick. However I love the idea behind this story and the heist so I was able to finish it despite how slow it was.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was given an Arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow! This book was amazing!

This book follows the last water diviner and her group of misfits trying to stop the Prince of the kingdom. There were so many twists and turns it had me on the edge of my seat the last 60%!

I did find it hard to like a couple of the characters but all in all I loved this book! I’ve already pre ordered a physical copy for my shelf!

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the plot was intriguing and the pacing was good, and kept you invested. At least for me it did. Trefor was the best part of the book though. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

I’ve come to the realization that YA is just isn’t for me anymore. I had a hard time reading this as the characters felt very bland and the story moved super slow.

3.5/5 stars

"A person with a knife was one thing. A person with a knife and a cause could topple kingdoms."
I'm not sure exactly what to day about this book. I really enjoyed it while reading, but all thoughts and opinions pretty much left my brain the minute I closed it. I just know I didn't enjoy it as much as The Bone Houses. Which takes place after The Drowned Woods. The beginning half was fairly slow, but not really in a bad way, I actually really enjoy Emily Lloyd-Jones' writing style/pace. I like the heist aspect/dynamic a lot and how we would get flashback glimpses into the characters' lives. My favorite character was Ifanna. Oh and of course Trefor! The MCs weren't as good as Ryn and Ellis though. It was also fun connecting dots from this story to the one in The Bone Houses. I really enjoy all the different Welsh mythology packed within the pages and it makes me want to read more since I'm not that well versed in it. There were some pretty good twists at the end, even if I did guess one of them, and I teared up a few times. So, not a terrible read and I'd still recommend it, but I preferred The Bone Houses more. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. (Also just wanted to say I'm really disappointed/upset at the people who were leaving poor reviews due to the bisexual and lesbian representation.)

The Drowned Woods is set in the same world as The Bone Houses, this author's previous book. There are three POVs: Mererid ("Mer"), a water diviner who can control water and who is on the run after escaping from bondage under a local Welsh prince; Fane, an "ironfetch" who exchanged seven years of his life in service to the immortal Other Folk in exchange for magic that could help him seek vengeance against those who killed his family; and Ifanna, a daughter of a noble family of thieves. Mer and Ifanna already have a romantic history, but the three cross paths when they are brought together to pull off a heist of a magical well of treasure belonging to the same prince who wants Mer captured or dead.

I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did, especially because I loved The Bone Houses. Both books are not necessarily action-packed, but the pacing of this one seemed a bit more disjointed. The reason for this is, I think, because there are more points-of-view, and beyond those three POVs, there are other characters who are part of the heist team whereas The Bone Houses really had just the two main characters. I also found the ending was pretty unfulfilling because it hadn't felt earned. I didn't find the relationship that suddenly developed between Fane and Mer to be believable, particularly since more pages of the narrative were dedicated to Mer's relationship with her father-like figure, Renfew, and with her former girlfriend, Ifanna. I think there may have been more words exchanged between Ifanna and Mer than between Fane and like...ANY other character in the book. I would have believed Mer ending up with Ifanna more, in spite of Ifanna's betrayal in the past, because of these narrative choices.

Otherwise, I of course enjoyed the setting. The world-building was well done, and I loved the various mythical creatures/monsters that the characters had to face. And Trefor, the corgi, was an instant fave.

The prologue to The Drowned Woods had me screaming Avatar like nothing else and unbelievably excited because some Avatar-forbidden stuff happens and I thought it was a tone set up for the rest of the book.

Well.. disappointingly it did not get that dark, however, we do get introduced to a magical corgi so that kind makes up for it.

I liked this book, but I wanted so much more from it. It read a little like a clip notes version of an epic fantasy. There's action, ugly history between characters, magic, betrayal, emotional distress.. and of course royalty, but it all fails to hit as hard as it could because it felt like we were just skimming the surface of something bigger. This is the kind of story that, had I been given more time in this world, with these characters, the end would have had me sobbing my eyes out.

I think it's a good introduction to fantasy however, and would recommend it as such. I also really enjoyed how subdue the romance was. It felt quite natural and not forced together for the sake of having romance.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was alright! I didn’t mind it, didn’t love it, and normally this is the kind of thing I would DNF! I do think this book will become very popular for good reason and I’m looking forward to seeing what more people thing of it.

First off, thank you so much to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the digital ARC of The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones. While I was gifted this book, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own and have not been influenced by others. This is my first book by Emily Lloyd-Jones and I absolutely loved it!

"Mer held up a hand, gesturing at Ifanna. Her voice was rusted as old iron. 'Lady theif.' Her hand twitched toward Fane. 'Ring fighter.' A wave at Trefor. 'Otherfolk spy?'"

I love the characters in this book. We start the book in the prologue learning about Mer: the water diviner stolen by the prince and raised by his spy master. We meet Fane the ring fighter and his corgi, Trefor. We meet Ifanna, the feared thief and daughter to two powerful woman crime lords. Every character in this story has a complicated past. As we unravel the secrets of that past, we see how it effects the present. I don't want to give anything away, but even if you took away the heist and the drama, the characters alone could have captivated me.

This book also contains LGBT representation. One thing that I love about this representation is how casual it is. Not to say I don't love a good coming out story. I do. Those are necessary and powerful. But it is also so nice to see representation that comes off as not a big deal. The sexuality of the characters doesn't seem to matter. Mer is bisexual. It is isn't what she struggles with. There is no coming out story. It's just who she is. And that is wonderful. Another character, Ifanna, has two mothers and no father. This is simply mentioned as fact, no explanation required. Representation like this is important and beautiful. LGBT people exist and have always existed and the book doesn't have to revolve around a coming out plotline for them to be there.

While this book does contain some romance, it is not hot and heavy. If you are into steamy romance, this book is not that. The romance is simple and sweet and a background element compared to the heist the characters embark on. Mer is approached by her mentor and complicated father figure, Renfrew, with the proposition of a heist to find a magical well and steal its treasures from the corrupt prince. This heist takes them on a journey that kept me gripped to my seat. I am a lover of fantasy and this book gave me exactly what I needed.

I do want to add that while this book contains fae, they are more a background element for story building. I personally love any book that deals with the fae, but even if you don't, I don't think that the fae in this novel are too all encompassing as to take away enjoyment from those who dislike the fae. If a fantasy novel with light romance with a heist plotline sounds interesting to you, then I highly recommend this book. I cannot wait for it to come out so that I can purchase a physical copy. I loved this book and can't wait to read more of Emily Lloyd-Jones' work. I can't believe that I didn't read her books sooner. 5/5 stars

This book has all the elements that Emily Lloyd-Jones is great at bringing to life– interesting mythology, troubled characters, and beautiful quotes. I really enjoyed the twists and turns, especially the Easter eggs for fans of The Bone Houses, which is one of my favorite books of the past couple of years. This one is great for people looking for a slice of life sort of fantasy, if that life is filled with thieves and corgis.

There is one relationship I wish had been expanded on more, but I enjoyed how this story came together and it made me want to reread The Bone Houses immediately!

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As someone unfamiliar with welsh mythology, i was really excited to delve into this and for the most part i was not disappointed. It follows a young woman, Mer, who is the last water diviner in the kingdom and on the run from the prince who has and would continue to use her powers for naught. When she is approached by her old spymaster mentor with the chance to bring an end to the abusive prince reign, she is hesitant but ultimately accepts if it means she'll finally be free. Along their journey, the welcome a number of odd characters into their troupe, including a fae-cursed man afraid of his powers, the heir to an elite thief guild, and a spy that likes to steal boots.

One of the things i most loved about this was the world building - it is rich, and detailed, and i was never not curious to learn more about the mythology that inspired it. While some may find researching the many welsh names and tales mentioned tiring after a while, i did not. The author provides just enough context to draw you into the world, and i really enjoyed supplementing the reading with my own research.

The characters were each very interesting in their own right, but I do wish they had been explored a bit more, Particularly the fae-cursed Ironfetch Fane. His character is the silent type who speaks only when he perceives it necessary, but i would have loved to see his personality developed a bit more in spite of his silent nature.

Overall, i did really enjoy this. There was magic, intrique, a slow burn romance that develops naturally, and for those interested (like me), bisexual and lesbian representation and deep connections between the different characters. It may have not been a favorite, but i would still highly recommend to others.

I loved The Bone Houses by this same author, and when I heard she was returning with another standalone novel based on Welsh mythology, it immediately went on my TBR list.

This book tells the story of a water diviner, Mer, who is on the run until she ends up getting involved in an ambitious heist that could give her back her freedom.

With that plot, and all of the Welsh mythology that is tied into it, this could easily have been fleshed out more over a two or three-part series. That said, I also liked the book just as it is. It has a magical “peek into a story book” kind of quality, like you’re being given a glimpse of the true story behind a fairy tale.

So here’s what I liked about this book:
-The tone and setting: Magical, mythological, mysterious. I loved the whole vibe.
-Welsh language and mythology: I already had an interest in this, but this book made me so inspired to learn more and introduced me to tons of starting points for more research.
-The ending: I have a feeling it might be a little divisive, but I really liked it.
-Romance isn’t the focus: I found it kind of refreshing that this book seemed to place more focus on feelings of trust and camaraderie rather than just romantic attraction.
-The pacing: The writing got to the point pretty efficiently.

What I think could have been better:
-Character development, especially of the side characters: If I’m being honest, about half of the heist crew just felt like filler characters, and I think that was a detriment to the “heist” aspect of the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I’d recommend it to readers who like mythology or fairy tale-inspired fantasy, especially standalone novels, such as Naomi Novik’s Uprooted or Spinning Silver, or Erin A. Craig’s Small Favors.

Thank you so much to the publishers for granting me access to this eArc!

3⭐️

Mer is the last water diviner. Born with the gift to bend water to her will, she has always been more valued for what she can do rather than who she is. When her powers are used against her will to poison the water of innocent people, she runs away from only life she has ever known. That is until the man who raised her finds her, and offers her all she has ever wanted: a chance at a new life and revenge.

A beautiful cover and intriguing synopsis are the ultimate catfish. I was excited to dive into this one, however it fell terribly flat.

There was nothing new or fresh about this story. While I did really enjoy the Welsh mythology, the dull characters and tired storyline really made it a struggle to get through.

There was so much potential for a great adventure and I wanted to love it. It had a lot that would have made for an exciting read, which ultimately probably is why I feel so let down by this one.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fine book by Emily, though I was disappointed by a few parts. Overall the story was super intriguing, and I really, really enjoyed the ending. I think I struggled the most with the multi-POV aspect—this could also have just been a preference, so take that with a grain of salt. I much would’ve rather the author focus on Mer and her story. Overall, not amazing, but not horrible!

Mer, a young woman with the ability to manipulate water, is drawn into a heist that promises not only riches but her long-sought freedom. Joined by the spymaster who trained her, a new acquaintance with a dubious bargain with the Otherfolk, and a princess of thieves that Mer shares a history with, Mer must survive monsters and myth and come to terms with her past in order to determine her future—and the future of her country.

The first thing you need to know—regardless of its impact on the story itself—is that this book includes a corgi who may or may not be a spy for the Otherfolk. And it’s fantastic.

Now that’s out of the way—this was a fun book to read! I haven’t read many heist stories before (where have they been all my life??), but this was a fun addition to the genre.

The plot was exciting, especially the last 30–40% or so. And I loved the Welsh mythology that was sprinkled throughout. I just wanted more of it—It would have been lovely to learn more about the Otherfolk and the fae creatures of Welsh lore!

The characters were interesting enough. Once again, I just wished for a bit more out of them. Because the story spent quite a while (about 50%) in the ‘gathering participants’ stage of the heist, I felt like I should care more about these characters, and while I enjoyed learning their backstories and motivations, it was never quite enough to make me feel strongly about them. That said, I did like the slow-burn friendship between two of the main characters.

The magic system is also pretty cool! It’s hard not to draw comparisons to Avatar water benders, but this story still adds unique elements. And another character’s ability to sense iron is really intriguing and used in unexpected ways!

Overall, while I hoped for more out of the mythology and characters, the plot was well written and the twists and turn made it a delightful read!

I did not expect to be able to read this book early but BOY am I thrilled! I adored The Bone Houses, so when I heard there was another standalone fantasy in the same world, I knew I had to request an early copy.

I don’t know what it is about Emily’s writing style, but it is so beautiful and pulls me in with ease. I fly through these books because every word flows so nicely.

She is also just phenomenal at characterization. I fell in love with Fane and Mer, and even Ifanna who was only in about half of the book, because of how well the author writes their personalities and makes you root for them.

The Drowned Woods was one of the first books in a while where I did not see what was coming at any point. I’m usually really good at picking up context clues and able to predict what might happen, but I was wrong at every turn. Impeccable ability to confuse the reader into thinking things would go one way, when they went somewhere completely unexpected!

I loved going on this journey with these characters, I really felt like I was alongside this crew with their heist. I highly highly recommend this authors books, especially The Drowned Woods. I can’t wait for more from this author!