What a wonderful read! Very exciting. Fast moving plot, kept my focus from start to end!.
A great read for fantasy/ folklore fans.

Thank you to Little, Brown and NetGalley for providing an eARC to review!

After enjoying The Bone Houses I was very excited to see what was next for Lloyd-Jones, and I must say this didn't disappoint!

The first half was a bit of fun, but the second half??? My oh my did things kick off!! I really enjoyed Mer's story in particular, and who doesn't love a sweet corgi companion?

A short and sweet read I would definitely recommend - it reminded me a bit of Realm Breaker but in a quieter way, which is by no means a bad thing. I feel that Lloyd-Jones has a great way of building these stories that feel unassuming at first, but by the end you're really rooting for the characters and are absolutely engrossed in the plot.

Overall, a fun time - especially if you're looking for the ever elusive YA Fantasy standalone. I think fans of Margaret Rogerson would really enjoy this! I feel both authors give you the more whimsical fantasy that isn't super intense but leaves you feeling nice and cosy by the end.

I have enjoyed this author in the past. She has a unique writing style that takes time to develop but I enjoy reading nonetheless. This book had a very interesting concept which kept me invested until the end. I did struggle with the characterization and had a hard time staying focused on reading this one. I kept putting it down due to not really being invested in any specific character, but the plot was intriguing enough. In the end, this fell a little flat compared to other novels from this author, but I did enjoy diving back into this world. I will keep my eye out for more from this author, and hope that she continues writing more novels from this universe.

Rating: 4.75⭐️

The Drowned Woods is part heist novel, part Welsh folktale. It’s a loose retelling of Cantre’r Gwaelod, or Welsh Atlantis, and it is chock full of welsh myth, magic and amazing world building. Set in the same world as The Bone Houses (one of my favourite books ever) we follow Mer and a band of merry misfits as they try to execute a heist to end the Prince that used her for her magical abilities. Together with her old handler, a thief, an ironfetch, and an adorable corgi who also might be a spy, they set off to find the magic well and bring the Prince to his knees.

I absolutely loved this story and how full of magic it was. The Welsh mythology was a new experience but I loved it and I want more! It was captivating and alluring. I wish we got to see more of the Otherfolk along side our main cast as I was really intrigued by their community and magic. Mer is a fantastic character and her storyline was fleshed out nicely. I really liked Fane and Trefor the corgi. Fane’s story arc was also fleshed out which is great to see as it could’ve just been glossed over without any true detail. There’s a bit of romance in the story but it’s not the focus and I felt it fit really well as a side piece to the adventure. I also thought Mer’s bisexuality was handled wonderfully. It was put into the story so nonchalantly, and wasn’t the main focus of her character arc.

The world building was great and I felt that it moved smoothly, but there were a couple slow parts. I’ve never really read any Welsh mythology before but I was intrigued by this folk tale and I can definitely see why it’s considered the Welsh Atlantis. I loved the magic system and how the diviners dealt with elements like water, iron, stone, etc. And that ending had me crying. I rarely cry at books but this one hit me right in the feels. Have tissues ready!

You don’t have to read The Bones Houses to understand this book. They act as standalones, however, when I read the epilogue and it was revealed how the two are connected, I audibly gasped and got a little giddy! It’s the perfect connection between the two books and that makes me all the more excited to reread The Bone Houses!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! This novel officially comes out August 16th.

This was my first time reading this author's writing, and so I know that this book technically connects back to "The Bone House" it can definitely be read on its own/standalone with no issue, which is what I did. However, after reading "The Drowned Woods" I am most likely going to pick up the prior book as well, as I really did enjoy the novel overall.

There were some minor inconsistencies with the plot, but I don't always pay mind to those as this was indeed an ARC that I read. And they weren't enough to pull me out of the story either. I also felt as though the pacing of the book was a bit off at times, as the twist/reveal and ending all happened within the last 20% or so. However, this is not something that is unusual in books, but more so a personal pet peeve of mine.

This book is based off of Welsh folklore, but to be honest, I did not know that (or perhaps forgot) until after I had finished reading and was perusing other reviews. I think the book could have done more with leaning into that folklore, either with direct discussion of its elements or an insertion of an explanation after the story (which again, since this was an ARC, it is possible something like this will be added!)

As I said though, I enjoyed so much of this book. While some of the characters were definitely written stronger than others, the trope of assembling a team for a heist/plan is always fun to read. I really enjoyed Mer in particular, and found her an interesting, complex character that went through an impressive amount of development in this one book, especially considering it's a standalone. The plot was also gripping and the writing detailed and action-filled, and once I began reading, it was hard to put down.

The main reason why I gave this review 3 stars instead of more was that it didn't feel particularly different or unique. And I know that's a tall order with books, especially fantasy, but nothing stood out to me. This was a fun, solid read, and I will have no problem recommending it to others who want a good standalone fantasy. One last thing I will say, and I suppose it is a spoiler but also it isn't, is that the tagline on the book cover kind of gives away too much of the plot, in my opinion, including elements that are supposed to be seen as a surprise twist later on in the novel.

I very much enjoyed this! It was a pretty quick read. I fell into the story easily and was entertained and invested throughout. I particularly liked the ties to The Bone Houses, which is another great one by this author, though you don't need to read that one before diving into The Drowned Woods. I think this one would be fantastic in audio, so I might have to give it a reread and try the audiobook.
I'd suggest this as a perfect YA pick for fans of T. Kingfisher or Emily Tesh, anyone who enjoys fantasy rooted in folklore, and Corgi lovers ;) Highly recommend!

After finishing The Bone Houses on audiobook I was just dying to read Emily's next installment set in the same world. Which was pitched as a Welsh Atlantis. I absolutely love Welsh folklore and this book did not disappoint. It's a retelling based off the myth of cantre'r gawaelod (origins of Cardigan Bay in Wales). Which was a sunken kingdom. As with Emily's previous book I really enjoyed the world building and the beautiful descriptions of the landscapes. It really helped paint vivid imagery as I read. It was also quite a quick and upbeat read for summer! I also found that the epilogue tied the Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods up together nicely.




Thank you to Netgallery and Little Brown Books for sending me an arc of this book!

SYNOPSIS: Mererid “Mer” has always been able to control water— even as a young child she could change the course of a river, and stay dry in a rainstorm. Despite her parents best attempts to keep her talents hidden, she was taken from her home in order to become a weapon for the Prince… as a water diviner.

Over the years, Mer did the bidding of the Prince, which led to the deaths of entire villages. Once Mer discovered that she was mislead— the Prince poisoned the wells she found, she fled. For years, Mer lived a life on the run— at least until she was found again by her old handler/trainer.

Instead of taking her back to the Prince, he as another proposition— one in which the Prince’s kingdom will fall. He tells Mer that she is the last living water diviner, and he wants her to use her powers to help him get to a magical well that protects the Prince’s lands, and is the source of his power.

Mer agrees, and joins her handler, only to be later joined by a fae-cursed man and his corgi, a traitorous thief, and two men adept at detecting magical traps. The group sets out with one goal— topple the kingdom, or die trying.

REVIEW: This type of storyline is right up my alley, and I found it quite enjoyable. I felt like the novel did a good job at world building and character development for the size of the novel. It is also my understanding that the place (Wales) this story happens in is the same world as another novel by the author, so if you’ve read her previous books, you may already be familiar with the land.

Without giving away spoilers, I enjoyed that the author threw a couple twists in the storyline that kept me wondering who Mer could and couldn’t trust. I enjoyed the action and betrayal, as well as the ending, and felt that the author gives the reader adequate closure.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

(Review posted to IG soon— @slowerlowerliving)

I am a sucker for a good story. Always have been and always will be. Add in adventure, magic, treasure, and a corgi and your girl is hooked!

Things I loved about this story
-Split into parts to highlight 3 characters
-Character growth
-The ending
-Welsh origins
-representation for all lifestyles

Thank you, Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, for the chance to read and review this!

This is going down as one of my favorite reads of the year! Absolutely ADORED this. I can't recommend it enough. I fell in love with the writing, storyline, fairytale aspects, Mer and Fane, all of it. So beautifully done. It felt magnetic, and I read it all in one sitting.

To start with, Emily Lloyd-Jones's writing fits this magical, fantasy genre SO well. It feels so whimsical, historical, and layered. Her writing makes the pacing perfect, and each part of the story builds well until the end. How she writes about magic almost adds this layer of nostalgia to it? It gave me such a specific feeling that I can't explain, but it felt incredibly immersive and REAL. This might all sound vague, but it's all to say that her writing is some of the most beautiful I've ever read. I hope she continues writing within this genre, especially ones that take on old folk/fairytales! It suits her so, so well!

I also adore her female characters. They feel so real to me, bruised, layered, and with so much depth to them. There's this raw kind of emotion to each one of them. I felt it with Ryn in The Bone Houses, and I also thought it with Mer in this one. I love how determined and vulnerable they are and how you see them come alive as the story continues.

And last, the ending! That reveal towards the end!!! I thought I knew what was coming or who would do what, but I didn't think it would be THAT. I felt like I was going through the same emotions as the characters, especially Mer. AND FANE!!!!!!!! Fane did not disappoint! I adore and appreciate that ELJ constantly threads in some beautiful and tender moments between the characters; I saw it in The Bone Houses and here too. It makes the story that much more wonderful to experience.

And yes, the small connection to The Bone Houses makes it that much better! It was such a sweet little treat to have that world be continued with this new story and characters.

Overall, I LOVED this. Adored it. The storyline, the pacing, the characters, all of the layers, the action, the build-up towards the end...flawlessly done. I think I'll reread it in the fall/winter time. It's definitely going down as a comfort read for me! Can't wait for everyone else to get a chance to read this!

I have mixed feelings about this book. It had all the elements to make for something I'd love reading—Welsh myth, characters with dark pasts and complicated relationships, a magical heist, and themes of redemption, sacrifice, and courage. And the characters should have been incredibly compelling considering their pasts, powers, and moral conundrums. But I felt like we were never allowed to truly get to know them, which made the story feel flat.

The character we were allowed to have the most emotional connection to was Fane. Mer, the main character, always felt like she kept herself at arm's length even from the readers, at least until it was near the end of the book and far too late to let us in.

It's especially disappointing because I can see all the amazing pieces that should have made this book an instant love for me. I think that with a little more time spent on characterization where the readers were allowed to feel what the characters were feeling, the whole thing would have been awesome! It's just missing that key ingredient.

I loved The Bone Houses, so I know the potential that's there. And I didn't not like The Drowned Woods. I enjoyed it. I just wish it had spent more time on the characters and less on the drawn-out build up to the magical heist.

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw that the author was coming out with a new book, I put it on my TBR and requested an ARC no questions asked. That is because I adored The Bone Houses and still think that is an underrated gem, so I was expecting to love this one as well.

One unexpected issue I had with that was the fact that because I did not read the synopsis, I went into this not knowing that this was about a heist...and I don't particularly like heist books. And, unfortunately for me, this book ended up being an exception because I didn't end up enjoying it either.

I wouldn't say that I disliked this, but I also didn't like it. This book just didn't give me anything in the end.

Let's get into the details.

 
WRITING:

This is multi-pov, which I don't think this story necessarily needed. This should have just focused on Mer as the other perspectives didn't add much that couldn't have been figured out through her. It would have made sense if the characters got separated and you had to follow different events, but they were together the entire time so there was just no need.

Other than that though, I thought the writing was fine enough as I had issues with the author's writing style.


PLOT:

The story started off with some good exposition in the form of a tale which I appreciated. That enjoyment continued for a bit as the story was set in motion, but once the ball started getting rolling I ended up losing my interest. By the time I got to the climax, I was enjoying myself even less because I didn't like the direction the story went in. It was just very counterproductive to what the story set out to be.

The sequences of events didn't quite line up well, and there was plot armour in the end as well. Everything ended up being one sudden reveal after another, and it completely threw off the story.

Also, having only read the synopsis as I write this review, I noticed that it spoils something that is not revealed until the end of the book which is...not good.

Finally, though this is the most inconsequential detail, I don't think there was any need to have this set in the same world as The Bone Houses as there is pretty much no connection between the two books.


WORLD-BUILDING:

To get into some details, one thing I thought could have been fleshed out more was the more fantastic elements of the plot. I think the story didn't dig far enough when it came to magic. The point of the story is to find a magical well, but not much is actually said about it as well as the creatures they could encounter along the way.

There are also the otherfolk, who I assume to be fae, and while they had some role in the story, I think it could have been interwoven into the main story a lot more. So, to sum up, I wish the story dove more into the lore of the world.


CHARACTERS:

In all honesty, I ended up not caring about any of the characters. At first, I liked Mer because she was smart, strong, and had a lot of conviction, but her novelty wore off fast. As for the rest of the characters, well, as I said, I didn't really care about them (not even the dog which is kinda sad). No one stood out to me, and I didn't like where most of their story arcs went.

Something else I didn't care for was the subtle romance because they were zero chemistry between the characters and pretty much no development, and there was just no point in having a romance in the first place.


CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:

I am sad that this book just didn't end up being for me. Heists are simply not something I gravitate towards, and with the characters being weak as well there wasn't anything in this that held my interest.

If you do like heists then you might enjoy this as well but, for me, I would recommend you pick up The Bone Houses instead.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, for giving me the opportunity to review this in advance. My review will be posted on my blog two weeks before release.

I really enjoyed this fantasy YA from author Emily Lloyd-Jones!

Mer is a character recovering from betrayal and abuse, who feels forced to do one last job to finally escape her abuser. The character growth was amazing with Mer, who is forced to confront the demons from her past. I also love Fane and Ifanna (and her moms!), and their relationships with Mer were emotional and gripping.

Loved the ending too! This was a dark but ultimately hopeful YA fantasy!

Emily Lloyd-Jones writes novels that I am easily able to connect with the characters on some level and this book was no different.

First thing, there is a CORGI in the story and he has his own personality. Anyone that knows me knows I have an obsession with corgis and I immediately fell in love once I knew that there was a corgi involved throughout the story and that he was thought to be a Fae spy. I found out the corgis in Welsh Folklore are thought to be the steeds to fairy folk and in turn they will spy and report back what they find. It just added a little something to the entire story.

Second, Mer is a character that you immediately see has hard a rough life and was used and abused by people in power. Throughout the story you see the connections she thought she had that weren't true and connections with forever friends and confidants flourish. She gets a chance to go against the King, who caused the death of a lot of innocent lives, and now she works beside her old handler to bring him down. Mer is a water diviner, a person who can control water and connect with water on a larger level, in turn she gets used by people because she has so much power with magic.

This novel is set in the same world as The Bone Houses but it is a whole different story, which is refreshing to not only get to stay in the same world but also get to see different aspects of it through separate characters. If you enjoyed The Bone Houses then you will enjoy this one as well. I will say while I enjoyed the ending I felt like it could have been left at a certain spot and it would have been okay.

4.5 Stars

I wanted to love this one. In fact, I expected to love it like I loved the Bone Houses. But I just.... didn't.

It *should* be everything I like. Set in the same world as Bone Houses, a heist with magic, characters with mysterious pasts... But it just felt flat.

I tried reading the book and listening to the audiobook and neither one could keep my interest. In fact, it sent me into a bit of a slump where I just couldn't bring myself to pick up any book because I dreaded returning to this one. It just felt like a slog?

I'm finally calling it and DNFing at 60% of the way through. I mean, if you're 60% into a standalone heist novel and you're still slooooowly introducing characters / gathering the crew and none of them have been fleshed out enough to have personalities (and you can barely remember their names and certainly not what they look like) and you have almost no idea about the bigger picture or more than the sketchiest details about the characters' pasts or the heist itself..., then that’s a problem.

The one thing I did like was the relationship between Mer and her former mentor. There is obviously fondness there on both sides, mixed with quite a bit of mistrust on Mer's and a tendency for her mentor to go into teacher mode and/or fail to disclose critical pieces of his plot so that Mer has to follow him with a dose of blind faith.

In the end, too much is kept a mystery both from the characters themselves and from the reader. Mysterious pasts and gifts and magic and plans can intrigue the reader. But if so much is kept in the dark that all you can do is stumble around hoping to figure out what the heck is going on, it does not make for a pleasant reading experience.

The audiobook narrator, Moira Quirk, is one of my favorites. She has a great range of character voices and a good grasp of the pronounciation of the various Welsh names. However, even her excellent narration can't make up for the foggy vagueness that encompasses this novel.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Hachette Audio for providing an e-arc and audio arc for review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A twisting tale burrowing deep into the heart of the city and the sea, full of magic (faerie and diviners and mystical objects, oh my!), with an unlikely group of people gathered to achieve a common goal- but which of them is telling the truth about what that is? Which ones are the liars? Who is being mislead? You’ll just have to dive headfirst into the lives of escaped spies, unlikely faerie-touched allies, imprisoned thieves, and a sneezing corgi to find out.
(p.s. the dog(s) live)

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

The strength of this story lies in its central few characters (namely Mer, Fane, Renfrew, and Ifanne). Their shifting relationships and the power dynamics that emerge as they attempt to pull off this heist (despite the fact that each of them is approaching with a different understanding) push the story forward and give it depth. In particular, I loved the slow, gentle bond that developed between Mer and Fane, and the bone-deep loyalty that was nonetheless still fallible between Ifanne and Mer, and was moved by their capacity to forgive and fight for each other. I found it refreshing to see such a healthy and well balanced exploration of the perspectives and inner turmoil each of these characters had.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the author’s scene-building and mood-setting, which brought the images of the island and the caer to life in vivid detail.

I would have like to see some expansion on the prince’s motives and how things changed between him, Renfrew, and Mer, because I was left feeling like there were pieces missing there for a very important historical driver to the unfolding action.

Likewise, some additional world-building brought to the page with regards to the tylweth teg, and Fane’s time with them, along with further exploration of the political intrigue of the various power-holding lands and their rivalries would have built up the stakes of the central heist a bit more effectively for me.

I am currently also reading the Bone Houses by this author, and seeing the tie in to that story in the epilogue of this one was a brilliant little moment.

Overall, what a wonderful way to jump into Welsh mythology and folklore. I look forward to reading more from this author soon.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Bone Houses, so was stoked when I saw this pop up as an ARC. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me as well as her last one and I was mostly bored. I think it was the cast, which felt larger then it needed to be for a relatively short standalone. The Bone Houses basically only had two MCs and I think Lloyd-Jones flourished a bit more with that structure.

The tale of Cantre'r Gwaelod is one of my favorites, and I really liked what the author did with the story because there's not a lot of solid information in the original Welsh story. You can tell she did her research for this because things are actually spelled correctly and used properly unlike a lot of folklore-based stories I've read in the past. Even the inclusion of the corgi was great, I want him as my own now haha and it was queer! I did not know that going into the story and it was a pleasant surprise!

I very much enjoyed the overall setting of the story and the twist at the end I actually did not see coming! And I absolutely loved the connection to The Bone Houses we get to see in the epilogue. However I do wish there had been more development in the romantic relationship. I feel like they didn't even really talk to each other too much and then all of a sudden they were in love. It just felt rushed and unnecessarily included. But overall a good solid YA with great attention to the original Welsh inspiration!

I enjoyed the story but I think the first book was better. The characters were good but I didn't really connect with them like the first. But even with that I still thought it was a nice read and I still be looking out for the next book!

This was SO much fun. I quickly came to love these characters, especially Trefor, and after getting to the end and somewhat freaking out about how it connects to Lloyd-Jones' other work, I had a great time.

This is a Welsh inspired heist story following Mer, a water diviner and her ragtag group of miscreants. This includes her ex-girlfriend a Thieve's Guild leader, the man who basically raised her but works for the prince as a spy-master, a fae-blessed young man with a cute corgi, and more.

After loving <i>The Bone Houses</i> I was even more intrigued to receive an early copy of this for review. Anything to do with water/the ocean always strikes a chord with me because it's what I studied in college, and I've always felt most at home in the ocean.

I loved how we went about getting the crew together, the heist was compelling, I enjoyed the setting, and the main characters were so much fun to read about. They were all connected and I enjoyed watching them have to work together and not knowing who they could trust.

The epilogue was the final nail in the coffin for me. I was waiting the whole time for where the connection would be, and as time went on I was worried I'd just missed it somehow. Now I am desperate to read even more Welsh-inspired tales because I am super intrigued after reading this one.

I will definitely be picking up what ELJ publishes in the future, she becoming an auto-buy author for me.
A huge thank you to Netgalely for the e-ARC! Can't wait to get my finish copy.