Review posted to StoryGraph and Goodreads on 4/6/24. Review will be posted to amazon on release day.
A fog has covered a land for many years that targets adults. Only children are safe and in turn have to keep their villages safe by patrolling walls surrounding them. When the fog clears caravaners arrive to trade goods with the villagers but as the night wears on the village is attacked and children are taken. Ogma is lost in the fog when trying to save her friends from being taken. She then embarks on a journey through the fog to find her friends and hopefully find her village again.

The concept of this story was so interesting to me. I enjoyed the folklore behind the story. While I overall enjoyed this book, the pacing was off for me. For example we spend the first 45% of the book in the village before the children are taken. I would have liked to get out of the village faster as this part dragged a bit for me. I loved the segments of Ogma and the Shepherds sailing the fog but at times this felt like we were stuck in a place instead of moving the story forward. The ending felt very rushed to me. It was almost if we needed to take 10-15% of the pages from the set up of the novel and move it to the end to allow for it to breathe and be as big as it felt like it was trying to be. Overall this was a fun read and I’d recommend it to YA readers who want a cool folklore-y road-trip novel.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*



Quotes

'True stories are often sad.'

- Wheeler

'They are dancing. Like the stars.'

- Narrator

Review

Likes:

Cover. I actually only got the physical copy for the cover, but hear me out. The book blurb was interesting too and I never got a physical copy before so I was really excited for it. The book also has more than one cover and they all keep the style of the main cover.

The wording might be confusing at times, but it's creative. Perhaps you have to think a bit longer when reading the book, but it has its own uniqueness.

Doesn't take long to get exciting.

The fog isn't always there. And it's not that rare when it disappears. Yes, it doesn't happen every week, but it's not the typical 'It happened 100 years ago...' story. That's really cool and I am fond of it.

The foreign boy who doesn't speak their language doesn't understand all the time the others and vice versa. Ogma only understands him via his body language and her own memory of stuff. That makes a lot of sense and it's not like she understands him and knows everything without a right explanation.

In chapter 'blank faces' it got really exciting. And the chapter after that a twist of plot came. Totally unpredictable. I didn't even know that something like that was happening. That in chapter 'lost' we would meet some 'interesting' characters. It was so funny. And so crazy. Gave me fairy tale vibes. I'm a fan of fairy tales, so I turned the pages faster and faster, wanting to know more. As someone who always knows the plots of murder mysteries and stuff and never gets impressed by twists I must say this one was really good. You can't predict it, 'cause it got never mentioned before. It kinda did, but you could never know what is actually meant. And you won't predict what 'interesting' characters would be there. Trust me, it's so good and funny, you will love it.

The world building is really good. I would consider it as high fantasy as there are many places where Ogma travels and they all are unique in their own way. Each place gets described perfectly and one can easily make a picture up in their mind on how it would look like.

At the beginning of the book we get told that Ogma is 14 seasons old and at first it was confusing, but it gets explained later on near the end of the book that the word 'year' doesn't exist in her language, they use 'season' instead. So there is a reason behind this, yes one might not know it from the start, but I think it's obvious that she isn't 54 years old and actually 14 as the book is about children protecting the adults.

Dislikes:

Chapters. Some are only 12 pages long, as long as a chapter should be, but some are over 50 pages long. Some read chapter-wise and that is a bit problematic. It makes the book also feel longer than it actually is.

Personally, I think that the 7.,8. and 9. chapters were all a bit slow. The 7. had at least a story to tell, so that made sense, but the 8. and 9. could have been shorter.


What to do for a higher rating:

There should be more chapters, so that the reader can take more frequent breaks and it makes the book seem shorter. A few chapters had a bit of content that was repeated or not necessary and could be cut shorter, to keep the pacing of the book balanced.

End note/Final thoughts:

Thank you for the advanced reader copy of Fog & Fireflies by T.H. Lehnen. And thank you so much for putting the trust into me and giving me a physical copy.



Started the book: 2. April 2024
Finished the book: 6. April 2024
Wrote the review: 6. April 2024

Absolutely evokes the golden age of fantasy, but especially in that way that is approachable to both children and adults. The descriptions were lush, and while I wish there had been a bit more delving into the worldbuilding, I understand that there are supposed to be more books, so hopefully those will get more into how parts of this world came to be, especially the wizards.

There’s a lot going on, from all of the characters to scene settings, which does mean you have to pay closer attention at times to piece everything that’s going on together, but it does give the result that you’re really able to sink into the world and get that slow fantasy feeling.

Fog & Fireflies is a classic adventure story reminiscent of The Neverending Story, Labyrinth, and similar works. I enjoyed the premise immensely but the actual narrative and structure left a lot to be desired. The story felt so disjointed at times and it was hard to follow all the characters. This book had a lot of potential and would have really benefited from tighter editing. Personally, it wasn't for me, but I am willing to try it again at a different time. I recommend Fog & Fireflies if you like classic YA fantasy stories.

•YA
•Fantasy
4 ⭐️
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If judging a book by its cover was a person. It's me! This cover is E V E R Y T H I N G!
This is book 1 in a possibly trilogy.
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Hundreds of seasons ago, a wizard's war scarred the earth, leaving a malevolent fog blanketing the land and carrying the settlements within it like ships adrift at sea The phantoms the fog creates are deadly to adults, so children must guard the walls now and care for each other." This description ALONE had my attention and drew me to this story! Normally, the adults are protecting the elderly or children, but nope, the children protect the village. Ogma is the main female lead who is a child who watches the fog from the walls of her windmills town. Ogma town is attacked, and children are being kidnapped, and Ogma gets lost. She must have hope, faith, and courage to find her way back home.
Dunkirk speaks a different language, and he makes me giggle talking.
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Did I mention before a chapter beginning it has illustration!!!!
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♡ eArc Review ♡
♤ Release April.11 ♤
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Thank you, Netgalley and Aspen and Thorn Press, for the eArc for my honest review.

Fog and Fireflies is a young adult fantasy. It follows Ogma a ten year old girl in a fantastical dangerous world. The dark fantasy elements remind me of Never Ending Story and I love that it doesn't shy away from darker themes.
The settings in this novel are atmospheric and strange. The biggest danger being the fog that surrounds the villages, whispers to the children that watch as they .protect the adults from the phantoms inside it.
There are so many characters and scene changes I had a hard time following what was going on at times. The illustrations helped me picture things a little better.
Thank you to Netgalley for this Arc. This review was given freely and all views expressed are my own.

This was OK. The characters didn't grab me and drag me into the world. I didn't sypathize or bond with any but a good enough read.

**This book releases April 11th 2024. **
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for a review.
I started reading this book sort of blind with only reading a few sentences of the synopsis. I found this was a better way to start out because you get a curiosity to why the kids are guards on a wall, what is so bad about the fog and get to piece these together. I read the full synopsis midway when I had gotten to most of what was given away of the plot. I would say it was better that I had gone in mostly blind.
We follow one perspective of Ogma from a village plagued by fog and the monsters that appear from it.
I loved her as a character and all the character connections in this story.
This fantasy world is extremely unique. The monsters and creatures are so well described plus very new ideas, at least to me.
A lot of lore is established later in the book and got somewhat confusing in parts for me. It explains things but still shrouds some portions in mystery. I'm not sure if this is a setup for a continuation in a series or not because some things say book 1 but then there isn't a definitive “series” listed.
I felt the middle dragged a little with the lore dumps as well as stretching time of feeling lost. The ending was surprising and I wish it was given more time. It felt like we just arrived and then were already solving the problem and done. I also felt that there wasn't a clear explanation to things other than “the fog does weird things”, so this happened.
Overall, I did really enjoy this story and I am hoping the author plans to expand this world because it was something unique and new.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

GENRE: YA Fantasy

MY RATING: 3.75/5
Characters: 4/5
Storyline: 3.5/5
Writing style/structure: 3/5
Overall enjoyment: 4/5

ABOUT THE BOOK
Hundreds of seasons ago, a wizard's war scarred the earth, leaving a malevolent fog blanketing the land, and carrying the settlements within it like ships adrift at sea. The phantoms the fog creates are deadly to adults, so children must guard the walls now, and care for each other.

Ogma watches the fog from the walls of her windmill town. What felt like a game as a child becomes more of a creeping dread with each season she gets older. When Ogma's town is attacked by alien caravanners who roam the fog in inhuman forms, kidnapping children, Ogma is lost in the fog. She must now find hope, find courage in herself, and find her friends.

MY THOUGHTS
With refreshing echoes of golden age fantasy, this novel brings together an imaginative world and fantastical cast of characters to explore the difference between growing older and growing up.

This was a dark and atmospheric read. The first and last quarters of the story had me on the edge of my seat. The middle half was slower paced, but was still filled with interesting lore, ominous backdrops and mystical creatures, as we follow our main character navigating a world of shifting fog and ever-changing landscapes.

I’m glad that I read this on e-book as there is one character that speaks Norwegian in the beginning. I was simply able to highlight the passage and translate it on my Kindle. It is quite important to the character’s backstory to understand what they are saying so this may be a bit tricky if you are reading a physical copy as you will need to manually type it into google.

The use of non-verbal characters was an interesting addition as they only communicated with masks and little flags. The reader learns alongside the main character, how to interpret and understand these curious beings. Bells were also used to communicate amongst the villagers, with each person with a unique octave to identify them.

As this is the first book in a series, you are left with many unanswered questions at the end. I look forward to continuing this story when the next book comes out.

This book comes out on 11 April 2024. I was provided an advanced copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Fog and Fireflies" by T. H. Lehnen is a captivating and beautifully written novel that transports you to a world filled with mystery and magic. The author's descriptive prose creates a vivid and atmospheric setting that truly immerses the reader in the story.

The characters are well-developed and engaging, each with their own unique personalities and motivations. The protagonist's journey is filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to discover what will happen next.

Lehnen's storytelling is masterful, blending elements of fantasy and adventure in a way that feels fresh and original. The themes of friendship, courage, and the power of belief resonate throughout the narrative, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

Overall, "Fog and Fireflies" is a delightful read that will appeal to fans of fantasy and magic. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an enchanting tale that will sweep you away to a world of wonder and imagination.

4 stars: Following a group of children tasked with protecting their town, Fog & Fireflies is a rich adventure that harkens back to classic fantasy tales. While reading, I couldn’t help but be reminded of stories like The Last Unicorn, The Princess Bride, and Alice in Wonderland. I was delightfully surprised by the classic fantasy vibe the book gave off and the story of adventure at the core of this book.

The strengths of this book are definitely the ambiance and action scenes. The world had nice textural elements that made it feel, grounded even in its fantastical elements. The first half of the book does a nice job of establishing the stakes, which makes the second half of the book all the more enthralling. All of the action scenes were captivating, and the author’s use of point of view gave the actions scenes a lot of momentum that kept me engaged throughout.

I think my biggest critique of this book is simply that there are way too many characters for how short it is. It was difficult to remember who everyone was at the beginning, and it felt like learning all of the characters never really paid off because most of them only had a few scenes in the grand scheme of things.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a classic fantasy read like the books I mentioned above!

I am such a sucker for a young adult/ middle grade read. When I read this genre, it is as though I fall back into the realm of wonder, mystery, and "what-if". The world we encounter is one covered in fog with monsters lurking just beyond sight. The children are the ones who guard the walls and protect the village as it seems the adults are more vulnerable to the phantoms. As the story progresses, we learn the fog is a remnant from when wizards battled, scarring the land and cutting people off from each other. When the fog clears, the villages seek each other out with the little time they have, in order to trade and prepare for the next wave of fog and isolation.

There are a lot of strong points in this book such as the creative world, and the dark mysteries which seem to lie just out of sight behind the fog. I like knowing there are more planed in the series with the hopes we will uncover more secrets and build more bonds among the characters.
One of the critiques I had, was I needed a bit more explanation in the beginning to help me understand what type of world I had been dropped into. The shadow puppet story by Wheeler does help, but we also get the perspective of children so it also seems a bit juvenile and not very clear.
I worked through this story quickly and felt engaged and curious about the world. I think it's a pretty strong debut novel and I can't wait to see how the author and characters grow in the next installments,

After reading One Dark Window I was enthralled by this! I absolutely dove into the world thanks to the detailed descriptions. I loved that the children were immune to the fog and thus were the ones protecting the adults. It was so nice to see that dynamic switched and how it worked out because of it. Ogma was a great main character that showed off her strengths but allowed her weaknesses to exist as well.
My ONLY issue was the long chapters. I like a stopping point and there was one that went on for like an hour.

Fog & Fireflies crafts a unique world and premise I have not seen before in a work of fantasy, and kept me very much engaged as I sought to understand this new landscape. We follow Ogma, a child who is part of a world in which a Fog shifts the land around them and their town. A Fog that whispers and plays tricks, but poses an even great threats to the adults of the world, leaving the children to work as the defenders of the town.

I really enjoyed this read, and the world building. It was truly something new and imaginative. I want to visit and learn more about this world and the cast of characters, and I very much hope there may be a sequel in the works.

I really enjoyed the fantasy aspect of the box. The caravaners especially. I was pretty glued in up to the 50% mark. I felt some of the writing had me confused a bit after that. I understood what was happening but the way some parts were conveyed, I got a little lost. Maybe I was lost in the fog too 🤔. Maybe some brain fog on my part 😂. I am not one to complain about long chapters but 1 hour chapters in a 379 page book was a bit much. I would have preferred them to be broken up. I can still that deterring someone from reading the book. I’m in a lot of book groups and I see that complaint a lot. A lot of them like a good stopping point and hour long chapters can make that a bit difficult. I really did like the idea of the children being “immune” to the fog and having to keep the adults safe. It was a nice switch up. ☺️ I also liked Dunkirks character. The lost in translation part between Ogma and Dunkirk made a good storyline as well.

This YA fantasy tells the story of some brave and innocent kids who are the last stand against the Fog, a weird enemy that goes after adults. They spend their time watching the wall and patrolling to keep the Fog away. But there are also some other weird creatures living in this strange fog.

I really enjoyed this story; the author's way of writing makes it easy to get sucked into the world. It evokes a sense of childhood nostalgia, allowing us to witness the bravery of the young heroine, Ogma. The world is exceptional and it sparks your imagination, kind of like watching a Studio Ghibli movie.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Aspen & Thorn Press, and T. J. Lehnen for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Why do we get more scared when we get older?” “We know better.”
In a secluded town, children, nearly devoid of adult supervision, stand as the vigilant guardians against an encroaching mysterious fog, employing strategically placed windmills as their defense. Venturing beyond the safety of their boundaries invites peril from the insatiable fog phantoms, ominous beings that swiftly ensnare any unwary wanderers. Amidst the eerie whispers and nebulous apparitions that seek to entice them away from their watch, the children maintain focus with the aid of resonant bells, their clear tones piercing through the fog's deceptive allure.
Guided by the flickering glow of lanterns teeming with fireflies, the children navigate the darkness, ensuring their unity and safety in the face of the enveloping mist. Though the fog refrains from encroaching upon the children, it ruthlessly claims the adults who dare to venture beyond the protective confines.
Yet, as time inexorably marches forward, the inevitable passage into adulthood beckons for each child, heralding the end of their guardianship and the dawn of new responsibilities.
T.H. Lehnen invites readers on an exhilarating odyssey through a realm where the mystical intertwines effortlessly with the extraordinary, weaving a captivating tapestry of marvel and exploration. From the opening lines, Lehnen's narrative captivates, enveloping readers in a cocoon of atmospheric allure that is both enchanting and irresistible. With a colorful cast of characters, malevolent gods, terrifying demons and a magical landscape this story is definitely one for fans of Hayao Miyazaki.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing this eArc. Fog & Fireflies publishes April 11th.

In “Fog & Fireflies,” T.H. Lehnen crafts a mesmerizing world teeming with intricate detail and rich history. The fog-bound settlements and enigmatic inhabitants create an immersive and captivating setting.

At the heart of the narrative lies a well-balanced blend of action and character dynamics. Ogma and her companions form a compelling ensemble, with Ogma herself standing out as a formidable yet relatable protagonist. It’s refreshing to encounter a strong female character who isn’t hesitant to acknowledge her vulnerabilities and lean on her allies—a rarity in the realm of Young Adult fiction.

“Fog & Fireflies” ticks off all the boxes for a captivating fantasy read. With its engaging characters, intricate world-building, elements of magic, and pulse-pounding adventures, it keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Lehnen’s prose beautifully captures the essence of magic and wonder, leaving readers longing for more.

While the narrative unfolds seamlessly, some readers might find the lengthy chapters a tad challenging to navigate. The long chapters make it hard to pause the book, causing confusion in the story.

Read more at https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews/fog-fireflies-unraveling-the-divide-between-growing-older-and-growing-up

Fog and Fireflies was a good read! It was a cute story and I enjoyed it.

It took several pages to figure out exactly what was going on. I think that could have been explained a little differently. I also think the words used could have been tightened up to appeal to more readers; for instance “tolled their quarter-night chime” (rang their bell). I spent too much time having to use the thinking part of my brain to figure some of this out.

Overall, it was a good read!

Thank you Net Galley and TH Lehnen for this ARC to review!