Wow this book! This was such an atmospheric and immersive read, dipping me into a world where people moved communities based on their age. But beware the fog because if you go in you might not come back alive.

I loved the characters and how diverse they were, but also how strong and brave the main character is. This world is so intriguing to me and the narration was excellent!! Highly recommend to fantasy lovers who are looking for a book that isn’t widely known.

This was a unique read, it’s been a while since I’ve read a good new YA with creative world building and interesting plot, the lovable characters kept me entertained, and the whole vibe just left me needing more of it, I can’t wait for book 2!
As an audiobook it was extremely enjoyable

This was a weird and wonderful story that had me intrigued from the very first chapter. An early shadow puppet story told within the actual story was probably one of the best side stories I've read in ages and it made me feel invested in continuing the rest of the book.

This was a wholly unique book for me that built an unexpected atmosphere of mystery and suspense. I never quite knew where the plot was going to go and though it could be described as "rambling" this is not a negative description. I quite enjoyed the sensation of just being dragged along through this book, much like the main character seemed to struggle to gain control over her own story.

Though the writing is at times dark and suspenseful I would still classify this as a YA read as it follows the story of children combating the mysterious fog with great courage and bravery. Interesting parallels are drawn to the process of "growing up" and the things you lose when becoming an adult. Loved it.

Thank you to Aspen & Thorn Press, the author and NetGalley for an ALC in return for an honest review.

Unfortunately I found this book really boring. I kept having to put it down and come back to it. I really tried as I hate DNFing and I thought I would like this seeing as I liked 'Tangerines' but I just couldn't get any further than 40%.
I also found the narrators voice was too laid back to make the story engaging. This is definitely one of those cases where the author should not have voiced his own book.

The one star rating is solely for the fantastic artwork on the cover by Nic Ferrari. See more of their artwork on Instagram @nic_brama

#FogandFireflies #NetGalley.

Y'all, this book was WILD. I read it as an audiobook, and when I tell you the scenes that were playing in my head while I listened were 🔥🔥. I still have a couple of plot related questions, but I could tell by the end that we were ramping up to get more answers in the following books.

Ogma and all her cohorts are dynamic and drew me in so quickly. The things Ogma is willing to do, not only for her friends but random people she meets along the way, awe inspiring.

I still can't believe the book is over, and I am READY for book 2.

This is a fantastic dystopian YA. Where the young guard the wall from the fog while the adults live behind in the village. Why? The fog takes the adults but not the children.
The twist? You’ll have to read it.

This audio was great. I was immersed into the story, it kept me captivated and continuously guessing.

The cover grabbed my attention initially, and the plot sounded intriguing - despite it being listed as Teen/YA. After reading, I feel like it might be for a slightly younger audience, but there are some profound ideas that stuck out as an adult (am I one of those?) too.

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

The premise of children having to protect villages from malevolent forces that are deadly to adults is really unique. I'm sure teens will enjoy the idea that the teens in the book are the ones that tell the adults what to do because they actually know better. I enjoyed the protectiveness and nurturing nature of the older children for the younger. Since they are having to spend so much time together, all of the village children are like their own close-knit family. I feel like this kindness could encourage and foster similar reactions toward real life peers.

I love when authors narrate their own book, so they can bring their characters and story to life. As a regular fantasy reader, I appreciate knowing the correct pronunciations of names and places. Insert muffled cough "Mercedes Lackey". Also, Lehnen's Norwegian is much better than if I had been trying to read and make sense of it myself!

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

The pacing of this book was a little off, it seemed to rush ahead and then drag. But the story was compelling and some of the characters were wonderfully complex, others were just filler and background and lacked depth. But I think there major room for growth and I will definitely read book twoo.

Within other published reviews, as well as the description of this book, Fog & Fireflies has been likened to the work of Hayao Miyazaki. Truthfully, I’m not entirely sure that I agree with this statement. In fact, I wonder if the comparison is a bit of a stretch.

While Miyazaki is known for complex world building and strong female leads, one very distinguishing characteristic of a Miyazaki film is the way that he approaches and explores deeper themes. Additionally, while Lehnen creates a world of magic, clouded by fog and mystery, it is not done with a comparable level of detail nor imagination that is standard in Miyazaki’s work.

That being said, Fog & Fireflies seems to be a good introduction to fantasy for YA readers. It doesn’t ask for critical thinking, it only asks the reader to listen. My preference for fantasy is a first person POV, which Lehnen does not use with this book, and I wonder if the choice in narration can be blamed for some of the more lackluster scenes. I would also like to add that when authors choose to use the same wording for one particular thing (in this case, multiple times throughout the book, Lehnen describes the characters as “worrying” their lip) it can make the writing feel a bit lazy.

Perhaps this review is too critical for a YA, but we shouldn’t sacrifice quality simply because a younger audience might not catch these details.

3.5 Stars.
"Why do we grow more scared when we get older"
The story was so interesting and unique. The fog that terrorizes the world and children fight to keep back. I'm not sure if it was a lapse of memory on my part but I don't remember the reason why children were the only ones who could fight back the fog. I do believe the beginning was a bit too dragged out. The story picked up when Ogma becomes lost in the fog and journeys on her own quest. The chapters were very very long but the added effects to the narration really drew you into the story. The last 20% of the story was amazing and I believe if the plot is continued into a second book, I will read it to see what happens next after the characters sail back into the fog.

3/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Aspen & Thorn Press for a free ALC. All opinions are my own.

This was a very enjoyable audiobook. I always love when audiobooks are narrated by the author because you really get to hear what lines the author wanted to emphasize and how they wanted characters to sound.

In regards to the story, I think this reads like middle grade fantasy that’s being sold as YA so it can be darker. With that being said, this is the first book in the series, so maybe this was advertised as YA because later books will be more typically YA and the publisher didn’t want the audience to feel misled. I also think this whole book kind of feels like setup for the rest of the series (which is totally fine, lots of good fantasy series do this, but it’s not my personal preference!).

Thank you NetGalley for providing audiobook for review

What I liked:
The cover is Epic! Intriguing fantasy story. It is built upon children who must protect their town and those they care about. The main character is likable and you root for her. It has twists and turns to keep you engaged.

What I didn't like:
The story could use more plot building. It kind of drags at points and ski

Definitely a nice book that makes you think, good for middle grade and up kids. Would really recommend!

Fog & Fireflies was a unique fantasy listen, filled with eerie visuals that reminded me of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. The story had a playful, almost whimsical tone layered over a darker, subversive world—like falling through the looking glass, but the kids have grown up and are now the ones protecting the adults. It was a compelling twist on familiar dynamics.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Aspen & Thorn Press for the ALC—I enjoyed this one!

Fog and Fireflies offers a unique, imaginative world where children guard their towns from a deadly fog, a concept that’s both eerie and compelling. Ogma’s journey through this strange, drifting land is filled with promise and echoes of classic fantasy.

However, the story often felt confusing. Key elements like the gods, wizards, and time travel were introduced with little explanation, making it hard to stay grounded. While the children’s immunity to the fog was an intriguing idea, the worldbuilding overall needed more depth.

Still, there’s heart in the themes of courage, growing up, and found family. A good read with great potential, but it left me wanting more clarity and development.

🌫️✨Fog and Fireflies is touted as a mix of Pan’s Labyrinth, The Neverending Story, and Studio Ghibli style fantasies (think Spirited Away), in line with Ursula LeGuin, and it’s all spot on! It is dark yet full of hope and light, emotional and captivating, filled with beautiful and immersive world building.

The story is based on a group of children, whom you just can’t help but love all of them. It focuses on one of the older girls, Ogma, and their own village of windmills that is surrounded by a wall. Due to a wizard’s war in the past, children cannot be harmed by the fog, so they are the ones who must guard the wall and keep the adults safe when the fog comes in. The children have built within themselves a loving family and community as they work together, but one day, strangers appear and begin to kidnap them. Ogma rushes out into the fog to save them, and gets lost and in doing so, learns more about the fog and the legends and mysteries they grew up hearing.

The fog itself is so much more than a thick condensation of water vapor - it houses mysteries, phantoms, voices and more, and I really was captivated by all the layers of the fog itself, and what Ogma learns and chooses to do with that knowledge.

The book is marketed as YA, but I felt like it would be more appropriately marked as an older middle grade fantasy. Despite that, as an adult, I still enjoyed it very much, because the writing, world building and character development was absolutely magnificent. I did make some good guesses on the ending, but it didn’t matter because the reveals were done so well and just pulled at all the right heartstrings! 🥹❤️

The audiobook was read by the author himself, which was a nice touch! He added a few effects here and there based on how he must have envisioned it. And there’s a second book in the works! 🤩

(I was given the audiobook via NetGalleyto listen to in exchange for an honest review. 🎧🩶)

This is more of a young (middle or high school age) reader fantasy book. The fog that surrounds their walls attacks adults leaving children to protect them. The book starts off with a "story" about a child who got lost in the fog and found another town. It then switches to a child getting lost and they have to go into the fog to rescue them. The monsters described are terrifying.

This book is best described as a scary story told between children late at night.

I listened to this book and enjoyed the narrator.

The audio was so good that I had to pause at the start and see if the narrator was also someone who does CreepyPasta because the cadencing was so similar. The world and characters were unique and keep you guessing right along with our main character!

I’m torn on how to rate this book. It reads like middlegrade fiction, except it’s very long and I doubt any middlegrader would have the patience to finish it. I enjoyed it, however it took me two months to get through it because I listened to the author reading it, and he puts me to sleep every time. His voice is hypnotic. The plot isn’t overly complex, but I had to go read the back cover blurb in order to have any idea what was happening. I loved the atmospheric, ethereal vibes. The writing itself is quite good. My one main complaint is that the pacing felt incredibly slow and I struggled with boredom. Very magical style of writing though. Incredibly well done for what it is, and I do think if you are looking for a magical post-wizard-apocalypse journey, you might enjoy this one. Especially if you are looking for eery, spooky vibes.

Ogma and the children of her village are tasked with protecting the settlement, walking the walls to keep the fog at bay using bells as a protection and warning system for the adults that are defenseless against the fog and the monsters it hides. When the village is attacked and her friends are taken, Ogma sets out to free them, discovering a lot of truths along the way.

Since this is an audio read, I’ll review the story and narration separately.

Story - extremely atmospheric and creates fantastic visuals. This is the kind of world that would translate perfectly to the screen in the heyday of Jim Henson studios. But the story creates a lot of questions that were answered and presented (gnomes? Dunkirk?) and the world is less a world and more a series of vignettes, making it feel very disconnected. I’m happy to see the author will continue to write in this world and hope that it’s built out more.
Narration - I understand the author narrates the book themself and does a fine job. I do always find it questionable when the main character is female child and narrated by a grown person, but it is the authors story to tell.


Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Aspen and Thorn Press for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.