This world is just so luscious and atmospheric! I’m always immersed into Emily’s stories from the get-go; her writing has me immediately pulled into the heart of the magic and wonders of her Welsh fantasies.

One particular component I love about Emily’s books is the compassion and consideration with how she writes her animal characters. They’re not just background props but are woven into the story as loyal and loving companions, all with their own distinct personalities. You can just tell from her writing that Emily herself is an animal lover. As a pet parent myself, I really respect this level of love and attention given to the animal companions. So far we've had a stubborn goat, a sassy spy corgi, and a secretly savage cat. I'm curious what other adorable creatures we'll get to meet in the future!

Of the three novels Emily has written so far in this world however, this is my least favorite by far. I was so sure this was going to be another 5 star banger, but was very disappointed with the direction the story headed in, and how everything was wrapped up. Frankly I was left feeling kind of annoyed and deeply unsatisfied. Regardless, I hope Emily will put out more stories in this world. I will be awaiting them with impatient fervor.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for fans of Celtic and traditional faerie mythology, compelling young people learning about the world and lovable pet companions.

This is a fast paced, young adult story that follows three POVs: Branwen, a young woman who has spent much of her life hunting faeries and helping people harmed by their proximity to the faerie forest, Gwydion, the youngest of the royal family and the family outsider and Pryderi, a young prince looking to prove himself to his father.

The interactions between characters feel genuine, and there is a good mix of action and heartfelt emotion throughout the adventures of these three. I also love the way Lloyd-Jones incorporates elements of faerie mythology throughout the book and her descriptions of magic. Also, I want to adopt Palug, please and thank you.

Fluctuating between a semi-baffled (that’s mostly good) 3.5-4 stars.

Inspired by Welsh folklore, The Wild Huntress is about three characters who enter a magical and deadly hunt, teaming up to compete against mortals and fae alike for the chance to win a wish from the Otherking.

I really enjoyed the majority of this book. All of the characters had interesting backstories that were influenced by the magics of their world, for good or for ill, and it was fun to see how their histories both helped and hindered their ability to participate in the Hunt. The cat companion was a marvelous addition, though I wish he had played a larger role.

My only critique would be that the writing would become a bit melodramatic at times, especially in the case of one of the characters, and it detracted from my ability to be fully immersed in the story. It also makes it difficult to know whether this will be a standalone, or if there will be a sequel.

That being said, it’s a good book that only got better towards the end. There was a clear vision of where this book needed to go for the characters to succeed in their personal missions, and it does that in a way that often surprised me with its twists.

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an arc of The Wild Huntress in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ARC.
SPOILERS BELOW:
This is the third novel I've read by this author, after The Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods. All three draw on Welsh mythology. This book references events in the other books but can be read and understood on its own. Lloyd-Jones is great at writing disabled characters, especially characters who have chronic pain. I'm disabled (and I think the author is too). I personally dislike magical cures, but I think the ending subverts the magical cure trope. Magic does treat Branwen's mother's dementia at the end, but it's more of a medical treatment (so that it doesn't progress further) than the magical cure trope as I understand it. Like in real life, in the novel, dementia is not reversible. So, I was OK with that nuance.

As always, I loved the way the book handled the fae. I also love that magic has a cost in Lloyd-Jones' books and takes a toll on its users. I love how creepy and mysterious the Fae are, as they should be.

I requested this book for two reasons: the first being I liked one of this author’s previous books, The Bone Houses, and the second being the premise reminded me of A Far Wilder Magic, which I also enjoyed.

Going in I didn’t have many expectations outside of hoping it would have a nice atmosphere and execute the hunt well. Both of those expectations were met, thankfully, and the atmosphere, which felt cozy and woodsy, was definitely a highlight. The pacing was another thing I really enjoyed. We had time to get acquainted with all the main characters, and then the hunt started, and at no point did I feel things were moving too fast or too slow.

Another thing I liked was how clear the writing was while still having a quality that made each scene very easy to visualize. The Welsh folklore that was incorporated was interesting as well but also easy enough to understand that I wasn’t left confused by the things I hadn’t heard of.

In terms of things I didn’t like, the 70% mark twist was when things started to go downhill for me. I didn’t expect the story to go in the direction it did when I first started, and I wasn’t mad that it did; I just think it was missing something. The decisions one of the main characters made made sense and weren’t overly predictable despite having been foreshadowed, but the actual reveal moment of what they had done and the things that happened right after didn’t feel as impactful as they should have.

After that, we reached the actual ending, and it just… wasn’t as strong as I felt the beginning of the story was. There was nothing inherently terrible about it; it just wasn’t the most satisfying for me, as I felt like a certain character didn’t deserve the ending they got.

Overall, while I didn’t love it quite as much as The Bone Houses, it was still enjoyable. Even though this story takes place in the same world as that, it works just as well on its own. I would definitely recommend this for fans of the concept behind Alison Saft’s A Far Wilder Magic and the mythology and court politics within Anna Bright’s The Hedgewitch of Foxhall, or for anyone who is looking for a cozy fall read.

~🄾🅅🄴🅁🄰🄻🄻 🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶: ★ ★ ★ ✰ ✰.5~

I have read the entirety of Emily Lloyd-Jones' books and loved all of her books. I love her books set in the world of The Bone Houses the best and this was no exception. The way she finely weaves in the fantastical setting and drops in lore-even if you hadn't read anything else from the universe- makes this story not only a great standalone but if you have read the others, an amazing piece within the story. This retelling of Welsh lore follows three main characters as they enter a great hunt for glory and favors, each with their own motives and reasoning. I'll stop here in fear of gushing too much about this and spoiling everything but this book will not only be heavily requested to be purchased for my library but will be bought for myself for my bookcases.

"The Wild Huntress" by Emily Lloyd-Jones is an exhilarating fantasy adventure that transports readers to a world teeming with magic and danger. I was captivated from the very first page by the strength and determination of the protagonist, whose journey unfolds with surprises and challenges that kept me eagerly turning pages.

Lloyd-Jones's writing is richly descriptive, vividly bringing to life both the breathtaking landscapes and the complex characters that inhabit them. The world-building is immersive, seamlessly blending fantastical elements with a sense of realism that makes every encounter and discovery feel authentic.

The protagonist's development throughout the story is masterfully handled, as she navigates not only physical obstacles but also emotional growth and introspection. Her relationships with other characters are nuanced and compelling, adding layers of depth to the narrative.

The plot is expertly paced, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Themes of courage, loyalty, and the consequences of power are woven seamlessly into the storyline, offering readers a thought-provoking experience alongside the thrill of the adventure.

Overall, "The Wild Huntress" is a must-read for fans of fantasy fiction. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more from this talented author.

A stunning example of what the YA genre can be when authors are willing to subvert the expected!

Emily Lloyd-Jones has done it again! The Wild Huntress weaves the authors signature lore based storytelling with lush atmosphere and complex characters. The result is a swiftly paced tale brimming with political intrigue and main characters that are impossibly lovable. Readers will learn to expect the unexpected as they join a magicked Huntress, her cat companion, a Prince, and noble, on the fabled Wild Hunt!

I find these authors books to be a breath of fresh air within a genre I have personally been cooling too. They are able to capture the swift pacing and ease of reading that is often offered in YA while still delivering on complex plots and thoughtful themes. The typical YA troupes, while often present, are tackled in unique and unexpected way . It's just so refreshing!!!!

I was simply swept away by The Wild Huntress.

I was incredibly surprised and impressed by how much I loved this book and my inability to put it down. This book was an experience with adventure, high stakes, and pain (both emotional and physical) for its characters at every turn. Without giving too much away, this book pulls you in and makes you feel for its characters. It provides insight into their lives through vignettes at the start of each of its sections as well as introductions when the characters first appear. It was easy to root for them and hope they all saw their goals through to the end. It was also easy to feel the pitfalls they experienced and their confusion when things went sideways. This was a wonderfully crafted story drawing from Welsh Mythology that I would absolutely recommend and could see my eighth graders reading. It contained just enough elements of romance to draw you in, but without the obscenity that crosses YA books into adult or new adult fiction. It was frustrating in the best ways possible and left you wanting more while still closing off all of its loose ends.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book in exchange for reviewing it. This had convinced me to read The Drowned Woods as well to further experience this author and world she's built.

I love Emily Lloyd-Jones books with my whole entire heart.

The way she writes fantasy is superb. I am in awe with the intricate politics running underneath the plots, the forest drenched setting filled with magic, the characters I desperately need to hug, and a cat companion that is probably very dangerous. It is a book filled with monsters, but there is such a comfort to it. I cannot overstate how good it is and just how much I love it.

This book was such an exciting read! I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to read more from this author. The plot was fast paced and was never boring. The characters were interesting and unique which made the story really enjoyable for me. Great read!

This book was fantastic! I loved this take on the Wild Hunt and really enjoyed the humanity brought to the 3 main characters. I am sometimes hesitant of single volume fantasy and find that the authors can’t always tie up the loose ends, but Lloyd-Jones did an excellent job of giving us both closure and hope for the future.

I really enjoyed this book! It has everything that Emily Lloyd-Jones’ fans have come to love - lush world building, charming characters (with especially charming pets), and an adventure that truly changes the heroes of the story. It’s impossible not to get sucked in to her stories immediately and The Wild Huntress is no different. In fact, I started this ARC this morning during an appointment and then decided to avoid all of my errands for the rest of the day so I could finish it. It was worth it.

Pryderi was an absolute delight from the first page we met him. My only issue is that we didn’t get even more time with him! He was sweet despite his concerns about his past and he simply wanted to help others. Branwen was an interesting heroine and I loved her passion for protecting others. She was smart and careful and I really enjoyed following her journey. Gwydion is one I do have mixed feelings about, but that's not a bad thing. I see how nuanced his character and the choices he makes are and I appreciate it. The most wonderful character, in my opinion, was Palug, the cat. I adored him so much. Lloyd-Jones always includes the best animal companions in her stories.