The Drowned Woods is an intriguing and complex addition to Jones' The Bone Houses. This novel somehow managed to combine a heist, a rebellion, and a tale of Welsh fae into a beautifully crafted story that left me with the need to read even more. The plot of this book, its ties to its predecessor, and the characters themselves left me reeling. This has been one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

The Drowned Woods was an adventurous and heartfelt at times read. I enjoyed Fane and Mer's characters but I did feel as though Mer were a bit of a hollow character which made it difficult to be invested in the storyline at times. The little corgi was adorable! I really liked the idea of the otherfolk and how they couldn't touch iron. I thought that was a unique addition to the book as well as Fane's relationship with them. I will say I was unfortunately disappointed with the action as well as the well. I thought the well would be a bigger and more magical part of the story and I found myself pretty disappointed. Mer's water abilities were also really cool, I just wish there had been more details incorporated to make it feel more magical. Honestly the ending was one of my favorite parts, I felt like the author wrapped it up very well and it was a thought provoking ending.

3.5/5✨

This ARC was kindly provided via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

I saw this cover and it reminded me of the bone houses then I realized it was by the same author. So I quickly requested it because I liked the bone houses.

Mer is the last water diviner and on the run from the prince who’d see her back with him to conduct further war atrocities by using her - I’d assume.

Fane is a young man who was previously employed by the others to hunt iron out and take it from their lands as it dampens their magic. He took the job of seven years of service in exchange for seven lives. Giving him magic to kill seven people. He joins Merc’s party along with his trusted corgi!

This book is very much a magical heist type story. We spend a majority of the book following mer as they build their party to go to the well and defy the king. I am not a fan of heists books so for me this book spent too much time, more then half, of it gathering the party which caused me to rate it a lot lower. It does pick up towards the last half. I enjoyed the last half and the little throwbacks of history with the others.

The book also has a reference to bone houses towards the end which I thought was cool.

Once upon a time, a ragtag group of misfits, thieves and a diviner traveled the sewers of the Wales kingdoms to stop the Prince and protect the lands. Once upon a time, that all fell to pieces.

As a whole hearted lover of Emily Lloyd-Jones’ The Bone Houses, I was overjoyed to see her release a new book, let alone one set in the Bone Houses world.

This book is a pretty standard YA adventure/magical realism book. The cast of characters are dynamic, the plot twist was pretty unexpected other than expecting a plot twist. It's always refreshing to see books set in real places that emphasis local lore and mythology like this one does. I fail to see a true Bone Houses world connection, because of how different the worlds feel between books and wish it was marketed as it’s own world.

I was satisfied by the book overall, but probably wouldn’t make an effort to reread it again.

I absolutely loved every minute of this! It is a fun, easy read that I couldn’t put down - a perfectly well-executed YA fantasy that any lover of this genre will enjoy reading. I am officially joining the guild of Emily Lloyd-Jones fans who will auto-purchase all the books.

Written in fairytale fashion, the prologue dips you into this intricate story world and the epilogue wraps the story in a satisfying conclusion. The detailed language and descriptions bring the story to life. There are so many punchy, quotable lines of dialogue that make the characters likable and relatable. The action starts quickly and builds continuously, leading to unexpected twists. There is never a dull moment, with all the plotting and scheming and questing, and the ending is exquisite.

The characters have to be my favorite part about this book. Their development is impeccably interwoven with the plot and I felt like I was experiencing the story alongside them. We are shown a lot about the characters through the way they interact with each other and the world around them. I loved getting to know more about their pasts as the story progresses. The two main players are Mer, a girl with water magic who is snarky and tenacious, and Fane, a sullen but strong boy who bargained to obtain fae magic. Let the witty banter begin.

The author has an ability to give depth to all the characters through a natural insight into the human plight, drawing on your emotions in both the good times and the bad. In other words, this book gave me all feels. Even the side characters are quirky and fun to get to know - shout out to the dog, a corgi spy and our comic relief who is incredibly adorable the entire time. There is a bit of romance, though I would hesitate to call it that because it isn’t a typical romance, but rather the beginning of something that could be. Nonetheless, it is slow and sweet and their connection to each other stems from a mutual understanding and shared consequences of past tragedy that they work through together.

The story world…. I need more! The lore and magic systems are so rich and intricate, yet never too complex or confusing. And yet I feel like we have barely touched the surface of this world that the author has created. The entire atmosphere is electric and exciting. There is room for so much more, and here’s to me hoping my need for more stories within it will be met. (Side note: I will immediately be going to get The Bone Houses, a previously published book that is set in the same world.) If you love a good fight against corrupt kingdoms, faery forests, and elemental magic, this is an absolute must read for you!

Emily Lloyd-Jones has such a way with words, and it was magical to be back in the world of The Bones Houses. I’m especially looking forward to picking this up again as an audiobook after it’s released so I can experience the atmosphere through that medium as well.

I really wish I could half stars because I would prefer to give this book 3.5/5. First, thank you to NetGalley for providing me this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Now, I really enjoyed this story and loved the Welsh mythology element of it. I especially liked the mythology because you could see where Sarah J Maas took some inspirations for her books like ACOTAR. However, unlike other stories, this one leaned completely into the Welsh history and mythology and I felt like I was getting a closer representation of it. I also really enjoyed the element of faeries/other folk and how they were viewed in Wales. I loved the characters, most importantly, the corgi.
The reason why I gave it 3.5/5 stars are more personal reasons. I was not a fan of those moment where we jumped back in time to illustrate a particular character’s backstory. I would have preferred if it was kept to the present and the character either told the tale to another character or they thought bits and pieces of the memory that we as the reader could puzzle together. I also did not like the randomness of different character’s POV. The whole story was told in 3rd person limited and mostly followed Mer. But occasionally we got a chapter following another character. I personally think the story would have been stronger if it kept to only Mer or more evenly distributed between the other characters or took a step farther back to appear like a narrator regaling us the mythology of how this particular bay came to be.
However, this was my personal opinion and others may not feel the same way, especially because the story premise and the characters were so interesting. Overall, I did enjoy this story and would probably recommend it to a friend who likes mythology or were intrigued by some of the mythology elements in ACOTAR.

I sooo want to thank #netgally and #littlebrownbooks for allowing me an eArc of #TheDrownedWoods by #EmilyLloyd-Jones for an honest review.
I was sure as soon as I saw that Emily Lloyd had written another book that I would love it just as much if not more than her book #TheBoneHouses and I was right! I cannot express my love for this author and her books! She pulls you into these amazing worlds of fantasy and myth.
I love the story of Mer and Renfrew. I've always been intrigued by the idea of water diviners, that someone can naturally find where water is in the ground it is an amazing concept and in her book its not just water diviners but stone diviners all so many others. I have always loved the stories of the Tylwyth Teg. I enjoy being pulled into stories with these divine mysteries creatures.
Mer thought she had gotten free of the spymaster and his Prince until one day she is caught by the Princes guards and is rescued by the spymaster/father figure who stole her from her family when she was 8. But when Renfrew shows up something has changed and he is in need of her help, its time to take back the kingdom. Renfrew needs a diviner to find the magical well that protects Gwaelod. But to get to the well they will need more than a spymaster and a water diviner, they will need muscle, a master on the Tylwyth Teg, a thief and one more to help them achieve their goals. Fane watched his parents and baby brother die in a fire when his father refused to help break a lock to steal treasures. After his family died and he realized no one would avenge them he decided he would. He found himself in the woods of the Tylwyth Teg, bleeding, starving and freezing he offered his service for the power to avenge his family. 7 years of service for the power to take 7 lives. Fane was young and should have worded what he wanted better the Tylwyth Teg are tricky creatures and no one truly gets what they want from them. Fane lives his life knowing that his hands can bring death that he can't control. Renfrew and Mer find him and hire him for their biggest heist of all. Will they be able to reach the island that the magical well is on or will they die like all the others before them? After all the Tylwyth Teg protect what is theirs with all sorts of tricks and traps. Magic made this well maybe magic will undo it.

4.5/5
Wow what an adventure. I found this really enjoyable and I highly recommend it. I loved the subtle nod to The Bone Houses in this book. You don’t need to read The Bone Houses to enjoy this though. The motley group of characters were fun and I loved the scheming and plot twists. I did figure out the large plot twist before it happened but it didn’t minimize my enjoyment. I love a story with twists and where nothing is as it seems.

The characters were lots of fun I enjoyed Mer and Fane. Ifanna was great too but the best of character was Trefor the corgi. I love when books include cute animal companions and he was so fun! I did find myself not connecting as well with the characters as I did with The Bone Houses. I think maybe there were more of them so it was harder and the romance felt a little strange it was so subtle I was almost surprised by the ending but overall still happy with it.

The plot and the world building were great. The story never felt bogged down with too many details but I could still imagine all the places described. I thought the inclusion of Welsh mythology was so fascinating. The magic and the diviners were one of my favorite parts of the story. I found the magic system fascinating with the different elements. The heist aspect of this story was also done really well. I enjoyed how the story included assembling the crew and learning about each character along the way.

Overall I think this was a solid dark fantasy fairytale filled with captivating mythology. Even if you haven’t read The Bone Houses I would still highly recommend this.

Thank you Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emily’s words are laced with pure magic. The style of her writing is one of my favorites ever. No matter what’s happening plot wise, you know where you are and what’s around you, but described SO enchantingly. The beautiful scenes, emotional scenes, badass scenes and everything in between keeps you wanting more, and not feeling like it’s over described!! She’s got the perfect recipe. This novel brings you Welsh Mythology, a Corgi ‘spy’, Otherfolk magic, and a sunken Kingdom... Oh, and a heist with a rag-tag group brought together!!! I literally squealed during the epilogue. You’ll know why. UGH. So good. I will read anything that Emily puts out on shelves.

The Drowned Woods had everything I look for in fantasy books. Emily Lloyd-Jones wrote a story that was so well written I found myself flying through the pages, unable to put the book down, pondering what would happen next. My favorite piece of this entire story was how believable the characters were.


The writing is clear and clean, and very immersive. The book hums along at a good clip, but the pacing makes sure we're given time to breathe between plot-intensifying moments. The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb. I felt absolutely transported and I'm so incredibly glad I was able to read an arc of this story.

The Drowned Woods is a perfectly paced story with beautiful world building and characters that are true. We follow a fun mix of characters, including a water diviner, ring fighter, lady thief, and otherfolk spy as they try to destroy a magical well and obtain riches beyond their wildest dreams.

Emily Lloyd-Jones wrote a story that was so well written I found myself flying through the pages, unable to put the book down, pondering what would happen next. My favorite piece of this entire story was how believable the characters were. Mer, our water diviner, had experienced quite a life for such a young person and I enjoyed having a character that was described as being a "badass" and her actions followed through. For someone who is always on the run and trained to defend herself - we saw her enter a room and make sure there were multiple exits, she wasn't afraid to fight and was always armed even though she had magic - these little actions made her character so much more realistic.

The excitement beyond the storyline and how easy it was to discuss with a fellow arc reader made this book so much more beloved by me. I can honestly say that Emily Lloyd-Jones just became an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Emily-Lloyd Jones does such a good job of writing cozy fantasy books. The Drowned Woods combines some of my favorite tropes of found family, revenge, and rooting for the underdog. I loved reading this book and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good standalone fantasy! (And also read The Bone Houses while you're at it, you will love it.) Emily-Lloyd Jones is always able to capture exactly what it feels like to be in the world of her books and this book is no exception. I found this book totally unique, just like her previous works. READ IT. PREORDER IT.

Emily Lloyd-Jones has just been added to my elite "auto buy" author list with her execution of The Drowned Woods! How she delivers such breakneck pacing without skimping on world or character building is admirable.

The Drowned Woods has it all! You'll follow a robust cast of characters, including a water diviner, a fae cursed fighter, a spymaster, and a corgi ( yes, you read the right) as they try to execute a dangerous heist of mythical proportion.

Lloyd-Jones excels at crafting tales that are just so dang readable. The Drowned Woods is no exception. I found myself flying through these pages, longing to know what would happen next. The story itself, inspired by Welsh mythology, is thoroughly engaging and yet for me, it's the characters that really shine here. Each are complex and flawed and we get to hurt and heal with them inside these pages.

This was so close to being a five star read for me but the ending lost some of it's impact when a consequence that happens to one of the characters gets reversed. I think the author still stuck the landing she gave us....the masochist in my just wanted to be hurt more!

Thank you Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the eARC of The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book from start to finish.

From the first page, you are instantly drawn in to a world of magic, thievery, mythology, bi-representation(!!!!!), and even a bonus magical corgi.

Lloyd-Jones has a way of giving her characters depth -- and in this book, it's shown through Fane's struggles with his moral compass, the complexity of Mer's values and emotions, and the struggles and motivations of all of the characters.

This story is set in the same world as The Bone Houses, but you don't need knowledge of that book to read this one (although I highly recommend that you do!). The story telling drops you so firmly into the world it's as if you're going on this revenge adventure along with the characters. You feel their pain, love, betrayal, and more right alongside them. It was a phenomenal story and I wish I could read it again for the first time.

I would read anything that Emily Lloyd-Jones writes, and I highly recommend that you do too.

5/5 stars. I can't wait to read it again.

No one knows how to destroy me quite like Emily Lloyd-Jones. Devastating and uniquely magic.

I will start this review by saying I am a true Emily Lloyd-Jones fans.

The Bone Houses is one of my all time favorite books, and when I saw that Lloyd-Jones would be publishing a new book in the same world, I was instantly excited.


This book contains:
- A magic heist
- A magical corgi
- Forbidden touch!!
- Welsh mythology
- A fantastic magic system
- A bisexual main character
- Did I mention the magic corgi?

This book is truly magic, no other way to describe it and I know I won’t be able to fully do the feeling it gave me justice. The Drowned Woods takes place in the same world as The Bones Houses, but is still considered a standalone and so it builds it’s own lore and magic system throughout the book. Though Lloyd-Jones has created an incredibly fantastic and deep world it never feels like an info dump and the pace still lends itself to an epic adventure.

I will say I do think that The Drowned Woods failed to land the same emotional punch as The Bone Houses. The reason is that this story follows many more characters and covers a much more complex adventure. While that makes it much higher stakes and a little more thrilling than The Bone Houses, it simultaneously makes it harder for the same emotional journey to happen with the larger cast of characters. However with that trade off this story still manages to hit the 5 star mark for me.

There’s just something about the way Emily Lloyd-Jones writes her male protagonists/love interests that make them so endearing and easy to care about. The only way that I can think to describe the way she portrays them is tender. Fane might look the part of the strong, tall, dark and handsome man, but he’s damaged and soft under the layers and never overbearing. The romance is not overly present in the book but it is a soft undercurrent that is very enjoyable.

One day I hope to write as well as Lloyd-Jones. I think that she is extremely underrated as an author and I can only think it’s because she writes standalone rather that series. Her prose is so unique, her writing often lyrical and she always drops amazing one or two liners that punch me in the gut and have me highlight half the book.

*3.5/5

i absolutely enjoyed this book, and i feel that other people who loved the bone houses will as well. i loved mer and fane as the main characters, but also ifanna, and trefor the corgi was the star of the show. the book is divided into three parts, and in my opinion, the first and the last one were the best. i found that the middle part of the book was a little bit flat, and i actually did not care very much about the plot part of the book. i was more interested in the characters. what i absolutely LOVED was the epilogue, and i'm not saying anything else because you will have to experience it! it was not a perfect book, but i really enjoyed reading it.

*Thank you so much to Little Brown publishing, Emily Llyod-Jones and Netgalley for providing me with a E-ARC of "The Drowed Woods" in exchange for an honest review *

So Emily first ripped my heart out with "The Hearts We Sold" so I couldn't wait for "The Drowned Woods"! It was incredibly eerie and it sucked me in from page one.

Entertaining but I think if Mer's backstory was fleshed out a little more, particularly her time in the thieves' guild, I would have connected with her better.

The Drowned Woods is a heist twist in a Welsh legend about a girl who plunges a well into the deep.

The worldbuilding MADE this book. I adored the island setting, the sea caves, and Lloyd-Jones’ vivid, lyrical writing. Ifanna and Fane were the best—their characters ins talk contrast to one another, with excellent arcs. And the other folk! I loved how they were a fringe part of the story—there in the background, but not central. Also, there were a couple of twists that literally sucked the air out of my lungs. WHEW.

My main quibble is the heist part. Everything pointed to this book being a SoC-style heist, with breaking into places and sneaking past guards and coming up with clever ways to make off with the treasure. But we got none of that. It was a quest, not a heist. So that was a bit disappointing!

That said, as a quest story, it entirely delivered. The Drowned Woods is a must-read for lovers of Welsh folklore and quest/avengers assemble stories.

Eternal gratitude for Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

-A