3.25 stars

At first, I was really excited about this book. I enjoyed the setting, the plot, the characters. I was stoked to see what would come next. However, the last quarter was so, so disappointing and made me actually quite dislike this book. It gets 3.25 because I did enjoy the first half.

The romance was not redeemable.

The deaths seemed entirely for shock value.

There's really only one character that's the focus of this book, and everyone else suffers because of it.

I think the ending was meant to be like... unexpected? Trying for something a bit out of the box, and it failed hard for me. It robbed me of satisfaction. I was actually angry after finishing this book. I felt really ripped off.

📣 a fantasy that had me feeling feeeeeelings after I finished

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 what’s one of your Wednesday numbers? Mine are: 1 kid awake, 2 family members I plan on meeting in Pigeon Forge today, 52%, how far I am into my current read: Morbidly Yours.

Did I immediately decide to read everything Emily Lloyd-Jones has written after finishing this badass book? Yes yes I did.

The Wild Huntress is a riveting story of monsters & choice & loyalty & forgiveness & strategy set against a world where the Folk are dangerous & so are humans.

Branwen can see magic. Gwydion has magic. Both are joined together on the Wild Hunt where they meet a third member of their group, a prince who struggles with the monstrous aspects of his past.

It’s hard to sum up this book because it has pretty much everything, including a twist that engaged my heart. There’s one aspect of the plot that left me vaguely unsatisfied but the book is overall so good, it lingers so well, that I’m ending up rating it 5 ⭐️.

Out 10/01.
CWs: death, violence.

[ID: Jess holds the ebook against her green dress. A blue sky & trees are in the background.]

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=2.75 | 😘=2 | 🤬=2 | ⚔️=3.5 | 14+

summary: so there’s this girl who can see magic and this guy with nature powers and they team up to go on this hunt to get a prize or something but all is not as it seems and there’s monsters and intrigue and stuff

thoughts: several things to say:
- kinda boring!!
- I like the FMC’s backstory and magic; very cool
- King Math is an extremely dumb name. like why would you do that.
- Gwydion’s identity as “The Trickster” was more told than shown for like 80% of the novel; I know he’s supposed to be the Twist at the end, but show him being more mischievous before then!! make me buy into this!! semi-charming banter does not a trickster make.
- prince guy was boring. like I’m not invested or emotional about his story at all (including the ending)
- did not care about the romance whatsoever? these people haven’t known each other very long and don’t have enough chemistry to justify hints
- this is not bad, I guess?? (even if I do have several bullet points critiquing it), just not… good. 0r interesting??

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book, it was a perfect fit for what I was looking to read. I was also happy that this ended up being a standalone. Not that I wouldn’t have read a series in this world, I was just glad I got to enjoy the story being resolved.

The world of this book is very similar to the Cruel Prince series, which I love. I love trickster fairy stories and where magic is dangerous. This book includes the mortals, mortals who have some magic, and the otherfolk. There are also magical creatures whose true forms can only be seen with magic.

The plot of the story is about the Wild Hunt which is where the kingdoms of the otherfolk and the mortal, invite hunters to participate in the Wild Hunt to win the Champion’s prize. No one can speak of the Wild Hunt after it is over, so no one knows how the Hunt works and what the stakes truly are. Everyone knows it is dangerous and that people have died taking part in the Hunt, but no one knows the extent of the danger. (This Hunt gives Hunger Games feels and I loved it).

The story follows three main characters, Branwen, Gwydion, and Pryderi. I love all of them and their stories. They are all so well written with their backstories and motives. Branwen is a mortal who is able to see magic, this allows her to become a hunter of magical creatures who prey on mortals. She is desperate to help her mother therefore, she joins the Wild Hunt to win the boon to save her mother.

Gwydion is a prince who has a magical ability but his family overlooks him. He desires to participate in the Wild Hunt because he wants to save his family’s kingdom from his brother who is dangerous and powerful.
Pryderi is also a prince (from another kingdom) who was raised by a monster after being stolen by a monster as a child. His father is the king who participates in the Wild Hunt and has pushed his son to join as well, even though Pryderi does not know what he wants or where he fits in. He knows who to be a killer, but he does not want to be one.

I thought each character was so well done and I loved the three characters coming together and learning to work together even though none of them should get along. They each have unique abilities that allow them to play off each other’s strengths.

I highly recommend this book. I could not put it down. I read it over the weekend, and I was so glad to have had the time to just sit and read it. If you are a fan of classic fairy folk-type settings, I highly recommend giving this a try.

I loved this book. So many references to fae and magic here. It keep my attention through the whole book. If you like fairy tales with mythology references, this is the book for you. A dash of romance, and a smidge of action brings a delightful mix to readers.
I look forward to reading more of her books.

Overall, I enjoyed The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones as I have with her previous novels set in this world. This one takes place in the same world and involves three new friends joining the Wild Hunt to win a boon. The world, based on Welsh folklore, feels lush and magical. The novel started out slowly, introducing the main players and the world, but picks up quickly once the hunt is underway. Some of the plot was telegraphed but still engaging. I didn’t guess the twist but I probably should have done, and the ending leaves a bittersweet taste in my mouth. Recommended for readers of folkloric fantasy. Thank you to Little Brown and Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Leading up to reading this, I spent the last couple of weeks going through all of Ms. Lloyd-Jone's works, and I almost can't say which one I loved more. The Wild Huntress is certainly up there though. It holds true to her previous works, with her blending of folklore and adventure, and the expansion of the worlds we've seen in The Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods. I hope this world keeps getting bigger and bigger, I love being lost in it. I can always count on a dash of romance and some beautiful Welsh tales.

I enjoyed this book.
What I loved about this book was the found family. I enjoyed the relationships between the main characters as they continued to grow and change throughout the book in a way that seemed natural, it did not feel forced nor rushed. I appreciated how much emotion could be felt through the adventures pitfalls and triumphs for all of the characters. The ending wrapped things up with all questions answered. I appreciated how more realistically things progressed without too much unrealistic romance. The only reason I am not giving this five stars is because to me it was a slow start in regard to politics, and the ending without giving too much away also left me questioning the politics and if how everything went down was mismatched.
I haven't read the rest of the books in this same world but, this book convinced me I should. It left me wanting more but worked as a standalone without making me feel like I had to read the other books before reading this one.
Thank you so much for the arc copy.

I am obsessed with literally everything Emily Lloyd-Jones writes. Her world-building is so lush, and her characters are always so beautifully complex! Another 5-star read for me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Lloyd-Jones, and the publishers for allowing me access to the e-Arc.

4.75 stars

This book was captivating from the start. At first, I struggled with the 3 POVs but once you get into it becomes easy. I enjoyed all of the POVs. They all felt like well-rounded characters. Of course, my favorite will always be the Huntress. I love a strong FMC. I enjoyed the way the world was crafted and the competition. I will be reading more of the author's work in the future.

I highly recommend it!

This book is inspired by Welsh folklore which can be seen though the story. The characters really grow on you throughout the story. I felt in the start that the characters were underdeveloped, but it all makes sense by the end. The book had some twists that I somewhat saw coming but I still enjoyed it. While this book is very fast paced, it could have used some moments of slowing down. Overall, this was a great read, and I loved it just as much as I loved other works by this author.

I have a lot of feelings about this book. Bear with me though because I do stand by my 4 stars!

The story follows three characters. This individual stories did not intrigue me much, BUT all together they are an entertaining and interesting combination. Their interactions together had me locked in to the story line. I just wished it had happened faster!

This book needs a map and a pronunciation guide! I don't know if that's in the works for the final book, but it needs to be!

I grew to love these characters. Their found family elements warmed my heart. The personal inner struggles were beautiful to discover. The banter was witty. The action had me on my toes! I kid you not, I did not put this book down for the last 30%. I was completely glued to my kindle.

I have not read any of her other books or any books at all based on Welsh folklore. It took me a good chunk of the book to figure out what all the different Welsh words were supposed to mean because the context clues were hard to read.

I think this book has a little too much exposition. It took a significant amount of time to feel like we made it to the real plot of the book which I found frustrating. BUT when we did get there I was glued in.

My only final question is about that dang cat! I want a whole book about the cat....

Of course, this was a five-star read, there’s a cat sidekick, do I need to say more? 

Okay, I will.  

The only flaw I encountered during my read was a small pacing issue. The book is divided into three sections, one for each main character. They all started with a flashback to their different upbringings. This felt like a great and unique way to present the story, however, when I got to the third and last character, the flashback didn’t add anything more. Throughout the novel, we already learned about its past; it only put a damper on the story, especially as it cut through a huge reveal. Fortunately, it was only a few pages and was easy to overlook. I only wished this flashback could have added something more to the character, something that would justify its actions. But that might just be me trying to find excuses for people’s behavior when sometimes there isn’t any.  

Every other aspect of the book was flawless in my opinion. We follow three unique characters, coming from different lives. Somehow they still found each other and were alike in certain ways while complementing one another in other ways. Because they all fit together so well, it took me a while before I knew for sure what the love interest was. I could see it going in any way. 

These characters were well flushed out, but the same can be said of the side characters. We encounter a lot of them, but they never felt generic. Every one of them had a uniqueness and was well-rounded.   

The plot in itself could’ve been mundane – a hunt with a grand prize as a reward – especially with hunts, trials and tournaments taking over fantasy books lately. However, this wasn’t the case here. There were so many unexpected twists and turns, that it didn't feel common. Not to mention the Welsh folklore that added a singular atmosphere. There aren’t a lot of books that are inspired by Welsh culture – that I know of – so I wasn’t familiar with most monsters we stumbled upon. I researched some of them and others were explained in the book. It introduced me to a new type of folklore I want to learn more about. Just don’t ask me to pronounce any of the names.  

The writing that was truly as magical as the story itself also added something unique to the story. I highlighted so many good passages.  
Finally, the world-building was also throughout. However, I didn’t have the map in the advanced copy I was given which made it a bit harder to remember all the different kingdoms. Nonetheless, I can appreciate how much work the author put into creating a unique world. This is why I already ordered The Drowned Woods to continue living in the same world a little longer.  

A huge thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before it came out. It was a truly magical adventure. And I now have a new auto-buy author.

I am incredibly fond of Emily Lloyd-Jones's writing. I love the stories she chooses to tell as much as how she tells them. I consider her an auto-buy author at this point.

The Wild Huntress had me hooked from the very beginning. I always enjoy her characters and the lore. I loved the atmosphere. There was one point when I thought the story might too closely resemble the story from The Hedge Witch of Foxhall, but enough of the story elements diverge that I no longer feel that way.

This book managed to surprise me, which does not happen often.

Overall, I enjoyed my reading experience immensely and will definitely be recommending this book to customers and to my followers on Instagram. I look forward to purchasing a copy so it can live on my shelves next to The Bone Houses and The Drowning Woods.

It was a little slow to start but once you get going….. it’s an entertaining troupe. Enjoy reading this fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the arc! I’ve never seen a book intentionally torpedo itself like this. I did not enjoy this at all.

It sucks, because it did start so strong. I’ve struggled to connect with this author’s characters in the past, but I was engaged when it came to Branwen. The other characters weren’t as lucky, but one began to grow on me slightly. The other, however, I came to dislike almost immediately. I believe this wasn’t the author’s intention, as they started to shove this character down my throat. They wanted me to root for this character, but I wanted to Old Yeller said character.

Further along into the book, the focus really began to shift from Branwen to the character I hate. Why name a book after Branwen when she doesn’t even maintain control of the narrative? It became all about this specific dipshit, and then towards the ending the plot really went off the rails.

The third act and ending were both so hideous. The book devolved so much you’d think it had tuberculosis. I started skimming, and it just kept on getting worse and worse. If I had a physical arc I would have thrown it across the room. The ending itself was purely enraging; I can’t say anything positive about it if I tried. Thanks, I fucking hate it! I fucking hate that shithead character and I want to see them burn on a pyre. I mean Jesus, that ending will haunt me. I guess this book left an impact, at least!

Anyways, this book is the most pure example of squandered potential. My therapist will be hearing about this, and I’m going to send this author the bill. I am pissed, I am hyperbolic, but I am free. 2 stars

4-4.5 ⭐️ Ah it’s so fun to be back in the world of “The Bone Houses” and “The Drowned Woods.” Although you do not have to read either book prior to reading this, as it reads like a standalone.

The Wild Huntress did not disappoint! It had a fast moving plot that always kept me super engaged. If anything I felt like it could have been longer! I throughly enjoyed the characters and atmosphere. I have mixed feelings about the ending, which keeps me from giving it five stars like “The Bone Houses.” But, I personally still enjoyed it more than “The Drowned Woods.”

Thank you to NetGalley for proving me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for and honest review!

The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones takes readers on a fantastical journey with three characters who come together to win a deadly competition. It has monsters, magic, loveable animal companions, and a little romance. What more could you want?

Emily Lloyd-Jones has beautifully descriptive writing that creates a rich atmosphere for readers to explore. The world-building in this book is executed so well. Reading this book makes you feel like you're living in a fairytale.

The Wild Huntress has Welsh folklore and fae that are absolutely addicting. The magic woven into this story is so much fun to read about. It's not at all difficult to understand. The way all the different magical elements are included in the story is incredibly well done and lovely to read about. The mix of the world-building and the magic system creates a wonderful YA fantasy read.

Deadly competitions and games are my favorite things to read about in fantasy. This book has a big hunt for a competition, and I love it. The competition adds so much tension to the story. The way it affects different characters and relationships gives it a strong impact. Emily Lloyd-Jones did an amazing job with the competition aspect of this story.

I didn't love the pacing of this book. I don't think it ever felt too slow, but the action should have been spread out more. It felt like most of the action and tension had been saved for the end of the story. The last 15-20% felt so different from the rest of the book. While it does make sense for most of the action to be at the end, I do think it could have been spread out more.

This book was entertaining and exciting while I was reading it, but it's not a book I'm going to think about much now that I'm done with it. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like this story will be very memorable for me. It was a wildly fun YA fantasy, but it's not one of my favorites. It is still a book I would recommend, though.

The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones is a great YA fantasy for people who love competitions, folklore, and magical worlds.

Review on Goodreads (sophreadingbooks https://www.goodreads.com/sophreadingbooks) as of 7/30/2024
Review on Instagram (sophiesreading https://www.instagram.com/sophiesreading/) expected 10/8/2024

I was so excited to get this arc, it actually got me out of a bit of a reading slump! I could not put this down. I loved The Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods, so I was pretty sure I would love this too. Happy to say I was not disappointed! Emily Lloyd-Jones is becoming an auto buy author for me. I already have this pre-ordered and can't wait to have my own copy in the fall. Definitely didn't see things going the way they did the last few chapters... especially with Pryderi. That hurt.

Emily Lloyd-Jones continues to amaze with her folklore adaptations. This book had everything I was looking for: a strong lead female character, a flawed love interest, high stakes, and unexpected twists and turns. As with all of her works, I appreciate her ability to create lush story lines with smaller page counts that many fantasies. I look forward to reading future works of hers, and I would highly recommend this book!