A coming of age fantasy adventure that has all the classic fantasy elements I love. The world is adrift in floating settlements amongst a magical fog and the children have to be on guard. As the children tell eachother stories you are transported into the folktales and parts of the world open up to you as a reader.
The journey within the fog is at times like a fever dream and then there are moments of pure tension and truly scary creatures.
This really is a magical story of friendship, fear and growth. The cover alone is brilliant and really made me want to experience this world. Definitely one to recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

Wonder and mystery this novel will leave you wanting to stay in this unique world! Lehnen makes the characters lovable while adding unique characteristics wanting you to learn more about them! While this novel has a few different points of view that at times can be confusing the narrative flows easily allowing you to not miss a beat of this story. Overall this was a fun, easy read that I highly recommend!

Thank you to netgalley for the free e-arc of this book. This review is my honest opinion of this book.

"This is why we watch the fog." Dangerous fog surrounds the city, it can make you hear voices and see terrifying creatures. It is up to the children of the village to keep the adults within their walls safe. One of the things that helps keep the fog away are the fireflies. The other is the sheer tenacity of the children and main heroine, 14 year old Ogma. She finds a mysterious young man within the fog and dives off the walls to save him. But he speaks a language completely foreign to everyone within the walls, and it's not the language of the mysterious caravaners who travel through the mists. When the children are abducted in a night raid on a fog free evening. Ogma leaps into action, literally, to retrieve the others. And becomes lost in the fog.

I would love to give this five stars but there is just too much going on in this book. There are so many plot points that get crammed together and some that end up being dropped and left unanswered. Kings, wizards, blue beetle soldiers. No answers about them.

There are lots of characters introduced, some you think will be pivotal to the plot, but they're in like 3 scenes. Like some other reviewers, I think this could have been broken up and expanded into two books so that some of the additional story lines could be followed and finished.

I still enjoyed the book. It would be a good read from middle school up. I think it would be a little frightening for younger readers, in a Coraline-esque way.

Sadly this didn't work for me and I DNFed at 30%.

The idea of this book was really interesting and full of potential sadly I was kind of missing a stronger plot. At 30% I still couldn't really say what the goals of our characters were. This book thrives on "vibes" and if a kinda spooky and mysterious setting is what you're looking for this will definetly deliver that I would have needed a little more structure to keep me hooked though.

The prose was pretty which again plays into the sentiment If you just want to vibe this book will be for you.

There is a character in this book that isn't understood by anybody because he doesn't speak their language but rather speaks danish and again I think this can work for other people as someone who speaks German and therefore can guess what a lot of words mean this didn't work for me.

Yeah give this book a go if it sounds interesting to you I really don't think it's bad it just wasn't for me

With a cover as beguiling and intriguing as this, I had high expectations for the vibe and atmosphere of this book. Luckily, T.H. Lehnen did not disappoint in this regard. Not only was the setting wildly imaginative, but the entire concept of the book was gripping right off the bat. There was something immediately spellbinding about the concept of a world where children are the ones who protect the adults from the things that go bump in the night. If you have a love for brave FMCs, found family, and dark adventures; this is the book for you.

Personally, while I enjoyed this story, I think it had a lot of unrealized potential. The ideas were novel, the characters were unique and interesting, but the plot and pacing really fell flat for me. I’m not the world’s biggest fan of loose magic systems (and this one felt like a complete free-for-all), so I found myself frustrated by having more questions than satisfied answers by the end of the book.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Aspen & Thorn Press for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In exchange for an honest review, I received an ARC to this book from NetGalley and Aspen & Thorn Press!

What first caught my eye with this book was the cover. It is absolutely stunning and very suiting. It fits the story told perfectly both content-wise and vibe-wise.

This book's intriguing concept and worldbuilding is one of its best-selling points. I haven't before read a book where the world shifts as it does in Fog & Fireflies. It must have been terrifying being lost in that fog.

I loved the atmosphere of this book, the dark fantasy, the way the world worked. We don't see a lot of the adults (apart from the caravan people) and I think I'd have loved to see more of that particular relationship between children and adults, considering the world has made the children the protectors. But I do think we get an understanding of what the fear of the fog might do to an adult.

I found Ogma to be a nice, well-rounded character. But I think my favorites ended up being the people from the Caravan.

Fair warning, for those who know they might struggle with long chapters. This almost 400-page book only has 10 chapters. There is also a fair bit of jumping between perspectives within chapters, which might be good to know before going into this book.

It was an enjoyable and quick read. I highly recommend it!

A Ghibli-esc adventure through a world shrouded in fog. Equal parts enchanting and horrifying as these kids defend their home and look out for each other, especially since the grownups can’t.

An ambitious fantasy novel that is so chock-full of creatures, machines, landscapes, and new characters at every turn that it sometimes loses sight of the forest for the trees. I wish the author had broken this up into a trilogy; the story has some natural points where books could have started and ended, and it would have given him more breathing space to try to cram in everything he wants to include. So what are all these things, you ask? Well, here is just a brief sampling: killer fog that can shape itself into animals; levitating fruit that spontaneously combusts; a headless monster with nostrils in the palms of its hands; a giant feathered serpent; people turning into marble statues (that maybe come back to life?); armor made out of a beetle carapace; a magic caster who can dash on gusts of air; tongue tattoos that translate languages instantly; non-concurrent time streams; a communication system made of various bells rung in different ways; shadow people who are faceless and communicate with semaphore; tiny gnomes, one of which is dressed like Michael from Peter Pan (pajamas and a teddy bear); a wizard with amnesia who can blot out the sun; a horse costume woven out of wicker that comes to life when inhabited by its puppeteers; villages that shift location without explanation; an origin legend carved into an ancient bell; and the list goes on, and on, and on. If this sounds both fascinating and overwhelming, then you understand exactly what it's like to read this book.

I desperately want the author to get a great editor who can help him take all of his enthusiasm and energy and creativity, and shape it into a truly coherent story that flows from beginning to end, and doesn't leave the reader wondering about all the macguffins along the way. I love stories that twist and turn, with many different locales and characters along the way, but there needs to be a thread connecting everything all together. After I read a book, I sometimes read the reviews (only after I've read it, and have my own opinion; never before). I noticed many other reviewers making a similar comment. I still really enjoyed this book, and will be watching for the author's next book with the hopes that he'll take these comments to heart and keep working on his craft. He clearly has tremendous creativity and if he can get the story arc and structure work built in a little more firmly, I have no doubt he will excel.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for sheer abundance of creativity that went into this tale on the part of the author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review.

So I was first intrigued by this ARC copy by the absolutely awesomeness of the cover! And how could you not be? It's sooo good.

I have mixed feelings about the book however. It started very strong with an intriguing setting of a village surrounded by 'Fog' a mysterious entity/force of massive risk - obviously its a bit tropey (how many fantasy stories are set in small villages surrounded by Darkness, Shadows, Demons, Magic etc) but its a solid story element and I was interested in a strange twist where children were assigned to patrol the perimeters to keep the Fog at bay. Was this a strange dystopian setting? A quirk of youth that made them stronger against the Fog? Unfortunately the story didn't really follow this up (much).

Instead Fog and Fireflies exists more as a 'dark romp' sort of story. The majority of the story focusses on Ogma who initially encounters a number of strange occurrences in her village, including finding a mystery German boy (whose mystery isn't much explained either) until eventually finding herself cast into the Fog itself.

The reason I say the story is a Romp, is that the plot tends to leap from scene to scene - really just presenting unusual fantasy elements or moments each time without too much of an ongoing "story." The plot does eventually wend itself to a suitable conclusion but there are a fair amount of scenes that just exist for themselves and aren't that relevant (e.g. Gnomes). There is also a bit of a sense of emotional whiplash. Some the creatures and features of the Fog are dark AF and others are, well, gnomes.

I feel like this book would make a really good movie - as there are lots of atmospheric elements, and many crazy sounding fantasy beasties, however as a book it lacks character development and strong plot

Let me say first thing, that I love the premise of this book - but also that the title is incredibly accurate of the content within.

As a fair warning, I did DNF (did not finish) this book at 20% of the way through.

The premise and basic plot seems like a good one, and I wish I could have enjoyed it more. However it is so slow, that I found myself thinking of skipping ahead a few chapters.

For me the main issue that caused me to DNF is the lack of world building. I understand that it is part of the world itself - that cities live in the fog and basically you are isolated. However I believe the world that we see through Ogma's eyes could definitely use some fleshing out. As someone who prefers richly detailed worlds and scenes, the lack of descriptors left me wanting.

The characters weren't bad, and I did enjoy the "story within a story" as well. The rest of the writing, dialogue, etc was all fantastic, but the fog surrounding the world seemed to seep in to the writing as well and for that I couldn't continue on with it.

"Fog & Fireflies" by T.H. Lehnen presents an intriguing premise with the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world shrouded in a malevolent fog, where children must confront deadly phantoms to protect their settlements. However, despite the potential of its concept, the execution falls short, resulting in a disappointing reading experience.

One of the main drawbacks of the novel is its inconsistent pacing. The story often feels dragged out, with repetitive scenes that fail to advance the plot or deepen the characterization. This leads to a sense of tedium and makes it difficult for readers to maintain interest in the narrative.

Additionally, while the world-building initially promises a rich and immersive setting, it ultimately feels underdeveloped. Key aspects of the world, such as the origins and nature of the fog, remain vague and unexplored, leaving gaping holes in the story's logic and detracting from its overall believability.

The character development also leaves much to be desired. While protagonist Ogma faces significant challenges and fears, her growth feels superficial and lacks emotional depth. Supporting characters are similarly one-dimensional, failing to leave a lasting impression or evoke empathy from readers.

Despite its shortcomings, "Fog & Fireflies" does have moments of tension and suspense, particularly in scenes where the characters confront the dangers lurking within the fog. However, these fleeting moments of excitement are overshadowed by the novel's overall lackluster execution.

In conclusion, while "Fog & Fireflies" may appeal to fans of dystopian fiction initially drawn to its intriguing premise, its flaws in pacing, world-building, and character development ultimately undermine its potential, resulting in a forgettable and unsatisfying read.

Ogma is 14 seasons old in a world defended by children who patrol the wall. Not only is the dark to be feared as a young child but the fog and mystical creators who inhabit it are far more dangerous. The reader is thrown into a world where children are taught at an early age that they must protect the city and the older villagers who have aged out of patrol duty. When a new arrival, Dunkirk, is saved by Ogma before the fog can “disappear him” a series of events are set in motion that will upend everything she has grown accustomed to. When the fog finally claims her she must embark on an Alice in Wonderland or an Odyssey type adventure to try and find her way back home.

I would have give this book a 2 ½ to 3 star rating. It was a struggle to get into this book towards the beginning due to too much description which saps the story of subtext. I wanted more world building and character development. Lehnen has given the reader such a fascinating world with strong, independent women. A world where most of the leaders are women and children but I wanted more background on these characters. Little context is given on how this world has been or might be in the future which limits the reader to the here and now. As soon as we have an inkling that we might be given more explanation the story line is quickly changed.
The chapters could have been divided into smaller more manageable chapters. Some chapters had too many side stories happening without giving more context or explanation to current characters or plots. I was also confused that little to no backstory was given on these children’s parents, none of the kids discuss this or seem concerned with the loss of lack thereof.

I did like the original concept of this world and its underlying theme where children are innocent and not “afraid” yet, or aware of the dangers in the world. They are untouched by the evils of the world and therefore are untouchable by the fog. I would have loved to see this book separated into a trilogy where Lehnen could expand on the side stories that do tie into the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aspen & Thorn Press for the ARC.

Boring. I have an aversion to fantasy, but I thought that I could get into this one due to the "dark" fantasy element. It was okay and descriptive, but I just couldn't land on anything of interest. Ogma was a cool character and the idea behind it, while a bit like a Shamalyan film, was fairly original. I just couldn't get into it and struggled through the slog. However, I will say that anyone who is a fan of fantasy will most likely love it and I can see my students really getting into it.

I was curious about this debut. I love a book that has children as the main focus when it comes to a different world or society. The fantastical aspect was interesting. Slow pace for me because if the writing style, and I didn't connect much with the story. I do love the cover. Hope the author keeps writing more.

I truly enjoyed this book. I'm always a little wary when reading a book that's for older children/ya because it generally means that all adults are incompetent, evil/bad or both and that always bothers me. Not that there can't be adults who are those things. I feel like this book does a decent job combining helpful adults and it makes it entertaining to read not just for children/ya but also for us who are older. It felt like they did made this story very unique and didn't feel like a story that has been overdone before. I love the characters, and the twists and turns along the way as well as the ending, which I didn't see coming. Love a good mystery. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

'"Why do we get more scared when we grow older?" he asked quietly.
"We know better," Ogma said.'

Wow! What a stunning debut! From characterisation to world building, I loved it all! The cover and the premise are what immediately lured me in – children protecting the adults and their village is such an interesting concept to build the story around. I loved Ogma, the main character, and how her story progressed. Her bravery, protectiveness and love for her friends made her such a beautiful character to read about. The diversity of all of the creatures is an aspect I loved, too. Some of them truly felt like products of a nightmare, but still, all of them were described beautifully. It is obvious the author's imagination was working overtime while writing this story and it has made it incredibly original. The combination of action scenes and world building is done nicely, I was never bored!

I would have loved to know a bit more about some of the side characters, there are so many of them, and I would love for this to have a sequel even more. I believe there is a lot of potential for it!

Loaded with adjectives and adverbs, this book is almost unreadable. It gives the sense of fan fiction written by somebody who had swallowed a thesaurus after becoming enamored of a fantasy style video game.. The reader never achieves empathy with any of the characters, as the author makes character development take a backseat to development of a ridiculous alternative world.. I suggest the author find an alternative career as a science magazine writer or a video game developer

4.5 rating (arc review)

As soon as I read the description for this book, I knew I had to read it and I was not disappointed.

Fog & Fireflies has everything you would want a great fantasy book to have. It’s has captivating characters, great world building, magic, adventure, lots of intense moments and several twist that I didn’t expect.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I can’t wait to see what else T. H. Lehnen does next.

"Why do we grow more scared as we get older?"
"Because we know better."

Every now and then you come across a new release that feels like you’re reading a modern classic. Whether it be the themes, the writing itself, or how reminiscent it feels of another classic; there’s a certain charisma to these stories that makes them feel special. This week I’ve had the pleasure to read not one, but two of these stories. One of them, Impossible Creatures, has already garnered plenty of well-deserves praise and love. The other is an upcoming indie title, that I’m therefore even more excited to put on people’s radar.
With vibes of The Neverending Story, a world reminiscent of Miyazaki, and a story that feels like a folktale told at night around a campfire: this is a release to keep your eye on.

The Story:
In a world blanketed in a never ceasing fog inhabited by nightmarish creatures, humans are confined to isolated settlements that sail the fog like ships. Ogma lives in one of these settlements, and is part of the team of children guarding the walls and sounding the alarm whenever one of the fog-phantoms approaches. Her job is an important one, and one only children can do, as the older you grow, the more susceptible you become to the fogs treacherous calls.
One day, Ogma’s town is attacked by shadows from the fog. In an attempt to save those she loves, Ogma sets off on a journey into the unseen, where she must rely on her wits and her friends in order to survive.

What I loved:
The immediate standout here is the quality and depth of the worldbuilding Lehnen put into this story. From the setting of the fog-drowned world with its floating settlements, to the fearful creatures that inhabit it, to the history and lore of the wizard-war that created this situation: it feels like Lehnen knows this world inside out, and is excited to take you on a journey through it.
The plot offers a good balance between action and character interaction, and Ogma and her traveling band make for great companions on this trip. I especially love how Ogma was a strong female character, that isn’t afraid to recognise that she still needs help and support from her friends (something that unfortunately is quite rare in Young Adult fiction).
Another element that made the story feel similar to modern classics like The Neverending Story is how well it translates to different age-ranges of reader. I would classify the story somewhere between the upper-end of middle-grade and the younger side of YA (12 to 15 years), but it’s core-themes of friendship, fear, growing up, growing older and growing apart translate perfectly to adult readers as well.

What I didn’t love:
Fog and Fireflies is a debut novel, and has some struggles typical of that. Most notably, it struggles a little around the half-way point. After a fascinating beginning, there’s a bit of a drop in pacing, as well as a very quick expansion on the world and magic-system that doesn’t quite feel like it gives the reader enough time or information to adjust. Although the author seems to know the lore of his world inside out, he struggles at times to keep the reader up to pace. I hope the next book in this series will expand further on this worldbuilding and fill in the gaps that were left in my understanding.
That brings me to my second point of critique: I wish the Goodreads page and marketing had been a little more clear about the fact that this is the start of a series, not a standalone fantasy. To me, this wasn’t a problem, but know before going in that this is a satisfying story in its own right, but it does have some open ends after you flip the final page.

As a final aside, I’m happy to let you know that I had a great mailexchange with the author, in which he stressed how much he values accessibility, and an audiobook is in the making so visually impaired readers can enjoy the story too. If you know me, you know how deeply I appreciate an author (especially indie!) thinking of such things.

Many thanks to T.J. Lehnen and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was so so so good!!! It’s not something I would normally read but I was so gripped from the beginning! And it’s short I read it in one day!