This book was different than the books I normally read. I liked it! I would read another book by this author.

I really enjoyed listening to this novel. The narrator started out a bit dry but perked up as the story got going. The World building is immediately immersive, from the first chapter.
I listened straight thru to the end!
It begins in a dystopian world where children are the protectors over villages and the adults who live in them. They are menaced by a fog that tries to envelop the village and contains many different creatures (both real & ghostly) who wish the children harm. Other villages are far away or unseen due to the fog. When a caravan arrives while the fog has pulled back, the village is hoping to set up for trading.
From this point on the story leaps into adventure, fantastical creatures, friends captured and reclaimed. Ending includes solving a mystery and maybe another novel for this possible series.
Jump in and enjoy the ride. I absolutely recommend this story to fantasy and horror readers. #Netgalley #Fog&Fireflies

For me, this is 2.8 stars, rounded up to 3.

The cover is beautiful but if you're worried about the spookiness factor, the cover art is way more menacing than the story is - this is perfectly appropriate for a younger YA audience. The story is more about children having to grow into their very real adult responsibilities and having to be brave to push on when things don't go to plan. It describes the connection of childhood to adulthood and the unknown that bridges the former to the latter - some taking more direct routes, some taking roundabout, and many thrust to adulthood without much choice in the matter. The whole book felt like an eerie, elaborate campfire tale, albeit one that simply passes by.

The audiobook listening experience: the male narrator speaks softer than my personal preference but he does a decent good job at conveying emotion, etc, in the dialogue, including yawning words when appropriate. Echos were also added when written into the story which was a nice touch. There are several somewhat discernible audio changes (between recording sessions, perhaps) but my brain could quickly settle in, disregard, and continue listening.

Overall, for me the plot left something to be desired and there was a subset of plot elements that seemed only tenuously connected. I did enjoy the feelings evoked and the lore within the story.

Many thanks to T.H. Lehnen, Aspen and Thorn Press, and NetGalley for providing a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Fog & Fireflies was labeled as a Young Adult fantasy, but I found its themes, characters, and tone more aligned with Middle Grade. While marketed as having lush worldbuilding akin to Hayao Miyazaki and vivid characters in the vein of Maggie Stiefvater, comparisons of new authors to established authors don’t do either author justice, in my opinion. In truth, every author brings their own voice and style, and Fog & Fireflies carves out a unique place for itself with its whimsical, fairy tale-like but also grim storytelling.

The story unfolds in a world where a fog threatens adults, leaving children to protect their communities. Initially, this premise felt like a way to remove adult figures from the equation, and later evolved into an exploration of how growing up can make a person susceptible to becoming the villain. The discussion about becoming more scared as we grow older struck a chord with me.

While I expected a darker atmosphere via describing the world around these characters, the whimsy caught me by surprise. There were moments when the book leaned into a more ominous tone, it didn’t fully resonate for me until the end of the story. The idea of the fog being dangerous to adults reminded me of His Dark Materials, where children navigate threats that seem to uniquely target those who have crossed a certain threshold into adulthood. (Haha, there I go comparing authors like a hypocrite. 😆)
That said, there were moments of charm, particularly in the way some characters embodied the capricious nature of traditional faeries—neither fully kind nor fully cruel, a coin flip between helpful and menacing. The concept of found family also played a role, emphasizing the resilience of children working together to build autonomy when guardian figures were absent. This is a theme that younger readers, especially middle grade audiences, might find relatable and engaging.
In terms of pacing, it took a while before I felt the plot truly emerged, making it difficult to stay engaged early on. The audiobook, narrated by the author, had a detached tone that felt more like reading aloud than storytelling, which I found disappointing. However, the book's core ideas—found family, self-reliance, and the transition from childhood—hold merit, and middle grade readers would enjoy stepping into this whimsical yet eerie world.

Overall, while the book didn’t entirely align with my expectations, its thematic elements and moments of unpredictability make it a unique read and good for those looking for books of found family. Readers who appreciate whimsical fantasy and layered allegories about growing up might find something to love in Ogma and Co's journey.

This was available for me through NetGalley as an audiobook, thank you for giving me the opportunity to listen.

I really enjoyed Fog & Fireflies. The author is also the narrator of this audiobook so it was nice to hear the story as it was intended to be told. That being said I did have to speed it up to gain a sense of urgency in the story. The author has a lovely voice but little inflection that left me having difficulty focussing on the story.

It takes place in a medieval fantasy setting within a wall-perimetered town, on which the town’s children keep watch to keep The Fog at bay. We later find out that The Fog moves towns around and that our town is harder to come across because of its windmills.

Our main character is one of the children of the watch who ultimately ends up getting lost out in The Fog.

There are so many clever ideas and elements of time displacement, magic, creation, destruction, and corruption.

I absolutely loved where the author took an idea of travellers (with the Caravaners), and painted such a lush and creative take on them. It’s so easy for fantasy writers to fall into stereotypes and cliches, but I was pleasantly surprised.

3.5 out of 5 because it was a little confusing at times where I had to stop and re-listen to chapters. Ultimately, I’d love to see/read more of this world!


Additionally, there seemed to be some technical issues with the audiobook as there was a single instance of background sound to support the narration, and then during chapter 5 and onwards the audio would randomly increase in volume startling me.

I read an e-ARC in tandem with an advanced audiobook.
Firstly, 5 Stars for that amazing cover! It's what drew me to this arc.
Secondly, Fog & Fireflies felt very unique. I really enjoyed the overall plot, the fog and monsters, the lore, the crucial roll of children, and the fear that comes with growing up. I was sucked in quickly. For me, it read lower YA/upper Middle Grade.
The pacing was a bit off for me. It slowed about 2/3 of the way through, then picked up again for the final act.
The audiobook is narrated by the author T.H. Lehnen, which I highly recommend. Lehnen has a melancholy, yet calming voice; perfect for the foggy and dreary setting and circumstances throughout Fog & Fireflies.

Thanks to NetGalley and Aspen and Thorn Press for an eARC and the audiobook!

Fog and Fireflies gripped me from page one. The world is like nothing I have ever imagined, a dark and terrifying world that hides it's wonder and enchantment beneath a veil of malevolent fog. I highly recommend this book!

This book had such a unique and wide cast of lovable characters! I would love to see this world brought to life. I went back and forther between the audio and the ebook for this one. I will say, i did enjoy the audio best just due to some formatting weirdness in the ebook.

The external part of the book such as the cover and synopsis are very appealing. I enjoyed the detailed world building as well as the characters. The concept of the fog and the characters that the fog creates is very interesting and original . I do feel like for a young adult book this read more middle grade. I would recommend this for higher level middle grade or younger level young adults who enjoy a dark and suspenseful fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aspen & Thorn Press for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Ogma, along with the rest of the children, protects the village from the fog. After an attack, Ogma finds herself on a journey to survive the fog and try to find her way home.

This book for T.H. Lehnen is a dark fantasy that seems well directed to middle school or young adult. The world building draws you into a magical place where danger is always nearby. It has a feeling of dealing with the fae, or the terror of being lost in the dark.

I found myself swept away in the story. I would absolutely recommend this one - it has some of the dark and magic of Ghibli movies like Nausicaa or princess mononoke.

I can't wait for more from the author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Things I enjoyed:
The atmospheric writing
The dark slice of life style ‘plot’, this book
The characters were well thought out and individual
The lore /world building was also interesting and I’m. Hoping we’ll get more answers

Things I didn’t like:
Our main character, whose pov you are in at all times, is a female child. The choice to have a male narrator was, I thought, disappointing. I didn’t understand the choice as I don’t believe this added anything to the story.
This was a slice of life book with very some pretty dark elements however near the last 15% or so there is a lot of movement in the story and then it’s just abruptly ends. I wish we would have had more closer. This can be done well but I feel…unfinished. This is the first in a series so hopefully we pick back up and finish out the kids story

There also should be a trigger warning for off page child death, kidnapping and on page volume y against a child.

Overall I think I’ll continue with the series but I won’t be top of my list.

I am reviewing this based on the narrator. I didn't like his voice, and I felt it wasn't appropriate to the character. The MC is a young girl, and it would have been nice to have a younger person with more enthusiasm narrate. I felt his voice was very neutral and literal. There was no intonation, and it was way too soft.
The story itself is great, and I gave the actual story a higher rating
The fog changes the landscape and moves villages to or away from others. Children are immune to fog, so they patrol the walls of their village until they are 18 seasons old. The fog also speaks, moan,s and changes into figures and creatures.
On rare occasions, the fog would break, and during that time, if a village was in sight, it was a trade break when they would barter and trade with the other villages. Also, during this time, older kids would leave their villages to experience others and learn new trades.
Fogs and Fireflies is a unique perspective on fantasy and I did enjoy the story. I also liked the characters and their interactions with others in the village.

The cover of this book is what drew me in. The artwork is absolutely stunning, so I knew I had to read it without even knowing what it was about. I listened to the audiobook, and while the story is really well written, the narrator was not my favorite. I think this is one I will physically have to come back to. I'm glad it's the first book in a series!

Review of Fog & Fireflies by T.H. Lehnen

Fog & Fireflies is a beautifully atmospheric and haunting tale that blends dark fantasy with a coming-of-age journey. T.H. Lehnen’s storytelling is immersive, pulling the reader into a world where an eerie fog threatens everything in its path. At the heart of the story is Ogma, a brave and determined young girl who must navigate danger, mystery, and her own fears to protect her home.
Lehnen’s writing is rich and poetic, painting vivid imagery that lingers long after the final page. The world-building is intricate, filled with intriguing lore and eerie moments that keep the tension high. Ogma’s character is compelling—her courage and vulnerability make her an easy protagonist to root for.
This novel is perfect for readers who enjoy dark fairytales and atmospheric fantasy. It weaves together adventure, mystery, and emotion in a way that makes it both thrilling and deeply moving. Fog & Fireflies is a mesmerizing read that will stay with you long after the fog clears.

Fog & Fireflies by T.H. Lehnen is a a unique and thought provoking debut novel about children who protect their village from dangerous fog and the phantoms within it. While this was kind of a miss for me, I think that is solely because it felt more middle grade than YA to me, making it seem like it's aimed at a much younger audience. However, I think the writing was wonderful. The world building was immersive and interesting. The plot started off strong and captivating but by the halfway point it did start to slow, making it easier to lose interest. However, I think this is a great choice for younger readers and even older ones that like YA and middle grade reads.

The audiobook was very well done. It really brought new life to the story and gave it even more emotional depth.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love found family, a brave female lead and a cool fantasy world.

I really loved how the world building was handled. I feel like usually when I read fantasy it’s all written out for you or the MC goes into some boring monologue about how the world works which I find boring and hard to keep track of. That or you’re left with questions you don’t get the answers to until many chapters later. But this is so very different. Everything flowed so naturally. And although you’re piecing these things together (mostly on context) it’s not confusing at all.

It took me a quarter of the way through the audiobook to finally become fully invested but that’s just how I personally am when reading fantasy so I truly do not put that on the book itself. But The ending had me covering my mouth and dropping my jaw, to be honest. I thought this was such an interesting read. And although it does feel like there are things unanswered sometimes, it doesn’t bother me in the slightest and it doesn’t make the story feel unfinished. It’s fitting considering our MC is just a kid who only knows the town she’s lived in and just how to protect it. She lacks experience and so she herself doesn’t have all the answers and I think that’s okay.

I highly recommend this book. I’m a romance reader but I’ll fight literally anyone for these kids.

We follow Ogma, a young girl who is tasked to guard the village from monsters that appear from the fog.
The book reads as a slightly darker YA fantasy but not too young where adults can’t enjoy themselves, I think it can be enjoyed by all!

Ogma is a well written character, we experience her emotions surrounding growing up, friendship, and learning the truth.
I really loved Ogma as the protagonist, I think for a child she is still relatable for the (adult) readers.

The world is darker, mysterious and creative with rich lore and a backstory.
I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere throughout with the presence of the fog causing some excellent spooky moments.

The world and story gave me mixed vibes of Alice in wonderland and The Mist.

I did feel at times I was loosing interest and the plot was dragging, I still throughly enjoyed the book and will be excited to read book 2 and see where this story expands.

4 star read. Wrote this at 1am after finishing the book so probably very incoherent. Woops. Summary: an enjoyable read with a dark atmospheric world. Excited to read book 2!

Thank you Netgalley and Aspen & Thorn press for an ARC.

I enjoyed this book, but felt that it was lacking character development and there were many parts that seemed unnecessarily drawn out that did not add to the story. As I stated reading this book, I was immediately intrigued. The world and storyline captured my interest, but I felt that they lacked depth. The first half and second half of the book felt like completely different stories. I felt like the second half of the book came as a surprise, and not in a fluid way, The first half of the book is drawn out and makes it seem as though the scene is being set for something completely different than where the second half goes in the story. I felt that the storyline veered in a completely different direction and the first half then became somewhat drawn out and unnecessary, especially due to the fact that the characters were not given enough depth. There were many parts in the story that I felt were too long with not enough information, and there were many parts that were quite confusing. I am not sure if the confusing parts were possibly intentional? There were a few times that the story reminded me of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and there were a few characters that were named "hearts" and "Cheshire" so this may have been intentional. I felt that the second half of the book was jumping quickly from one thing to the next and not everything made sense, or fit into the story. This was very different from the first half of the book, which was a fluid story that did not cause confusion.
Overall I enjoyed the story and liked this book, but I felt that it could have used more depth and consistency.

This book had me in a chokehold. It was deliciously dark and mysterious, and I could never figure out the ending. The person I thought would be the hero in the story turned out to be the nightmare, providing a gut-wrenching, twisted ending that was amazing!!

There is so much that I want to say about this book, but I am afraid I will spoil it. The use of musical elements as location devices is genius! The emotion that drips off the page from the innocence of the children and the fear of the adults keeps the characters and their conflict valid. "Why do we grow more scared as we grow older?"

This book put me in the mind of the movies The MIST and The Neverending Story. The attention to detail in the world-building and lore was amazing. The description of the Fog and the layout of the towns. The way the history is passed down among the children in this book, and the moments of wit and banter. Though it felt a bit younger than YA, it was still a very good audiobook!

The author narrating the story was genius; he did an outstanding job of bringing each character to life.

"Why do we grow more scared as we grow older? Because we know better." What a line, and what truth!

Thank you so much, Netgalley, Aspen & Thorn Press, and T. H. Lehnen for the ALC of Fod and Fireflies.

I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

This is the second time I’ve gotten to read this story and I like it just as much as I did the first time. The first time I read this story I got to read it through my Kindle and this time I got to read it with the audio and I’m an immersive reader so getting to listen to the book and see the book helps me visualize everything that’s happening and this was such a nice dark fairytale book that I just loved. Getting to hear the audio really brought the characters to life. Thank you for letting me have the opportunity to experience both platforms. The audio narration was done quite well. I enjoyed the voice and the characters that the voice actor gave to the story.