I am so sick of love triangles. can we please make this trope extinct rather than slipping it into fantasy romance novels in 2025 with no warning? It's one thing to advertise such a controversial trope so the reader can make an informed decision. That way the select few who do like the trope can seek it out. You can't just toss it in there as a surprise and expect the average reader to be down for that. As such, a love triangle is a deal breaker for me, especially when the other love interest was a person who had guarded her mother and her from the time she was a baby. That is borderline problematic to me.

I don’t know exactly what I was expecting when I started this book but it did not go how I was expecting.

Erin's ability to transport her readers to this land of Mistaken, where the villagers have been imprisoned within the bounds set by the ward stones keeping away the Bright Eyes and other unknown monsters, lurking in the surrounding wood. This dark and ominous atmosphere is exactly what you'd expect about a book whose setting is inspired by the Canadian Wilderness.

We follow our female lead, Greer, born and raised in Mistaken, abiding by the rules set for every young woman. When settlers first arrived in Mistaken, the number of men to women was incredibly uneven, so they created 'The Hunt'. Every seven years young eligible women run into the woods and hide, waiting for a man to find her and immediately marry.
Greer, now forced to participate in The Hunt, sits and waits for her beloved, Ellis, to come find her... only he never shows. Greer, after realizing that no one is willing to help her, goes out on her own to track down Ellis, past the boundary of the ward stones, learning all kinds of truths about herself, her people, her family, truths that make the difference between life and death.

I read this entire book, cover to cover in a single day. I could NOT put it down. The vibes, absolutely immaculate.
The story was incredibly well crafted. The foreshadowing part one and the truth later revealed in part two, is proof that Erin puts a lot of care and consideration into her words and the world she crafted.


This is the first time I've read a romance where the main characters are already in a preexisting relationship prior to the story beginning and I was really worried it wasn't going to work well, or if he would even remain the love interest through to the end. There's something refreshing about it though, knowing she would do anything to get her man.
This is Erin's Adult debut, and unfortunately that was incredibly obvious in terms of how the romance was actually acted out.
The biggest draw back for me happened in part 2 when we get a love triangle. Now Greer is a grown woman being raised in an isolated village, so the second a new man comes into her life, totally makes sense that she'd be curious. It's just the way she went about it, wasn't exactly to my taste (mostly because I was rooting more for the other guy than Ellis).
I'm no stranger to reading of 500 year old fae and their 20 year old women, but something about this man being a constant in her life, watching her from a distance ever since she was born, sounded to me more like grooming and arranged marriage than fun 'what if things had been differnt'. The mild cheating and confusion of feelings, just made Greer seem more immature even though I understand there may have been some more magic at play.

The ending as well, I feel could have been drawn out a little bit more, there was the large climactic ending and then the book was just over. I felt that there wasn't enough resolution with Greer and Ellis.

Greer has always been curious of the land surrounding her hometown. Being a warded town that draws its inhabitants back at nightfall means traveling far away isn’t possible. But the warded town is grateful for the protection it has, from the bright-eyeds especially. Monsters that all the children are taught to free from birth. As Greer prepares for the once in 7 years hunt, a tradition for boys and girls to find their life partners, all she cares about is her love, Ellis. But when the hunt goes horribly wrong, what is there for her to do?

This was super cool and I loved that at the beginning I had no idea what was going to be happening next. I had some thoughts pop up here and there I didn’t give much weight to, and some of them turned out to be correct, but many did not. So glad to have had the opportunity to read this as an arc, I’ll for sure pick up a physical copy!

3.5 stars. I admittedly struggled to get into A Land So Wide - which surprised me, as I loved two of Craig's prior novels (House of Salt and Sorrows, House of Roots and Ruin). That being said, my curiosity to discover just what (and who) was beyond the borders of Mistaken kept me turning the pages - as well as the need to find out the ending to Greer and Ellis's love story. Drawing from Scottish folklore, Craig's writing is beautiful and her cast of characters is richly developed.

This was a difficult book to rate. There were things I loved about it and things I hated.

What I liked: The creepy, dark, gothic aspects were done really well. The town of Mistaken and the eerie beings that haunt it called bright eyeds added an underlying aspect of mystery as well. The book was easy to read with plenty of action and twists and turns.

What I disliked: Finn’s entire character was confusing and unnecessary. I initially thought he would be a father figure to Greer as he watched over her and her mother from the moment she was conceived. But then the author turned it into a love triangle 🤨. Also for someone who is in love with Greer he leaves her alone to fend her herself an awful lot and conveniently shows back up when the drama is over. Lastly, the way the ending played out with Finn’s character felt rushed and incomplete. It all left my head spinning in confusion.

The pacing felt very off. The first half of the book was slow introducing back stories and relationships, which I honestly didn’t mind because of the creepy gothic overlay. But the second half of the book felt so rushed and full of “twists” it gave me whiplash.

3.5 stars

I was torn on this one. On the one hand, I loved Part I of this book - it reminded me a lot of her Small Favors book with the rustic town entrench in eerie happenings. There was mystery, intrigue, and the foreboding atmosphere Erin Craig always does so well. And I wish we would have just stayed there, in Mistaken, with the unique traditions, rich cast of characters, and sweet romance with Ellis.

But Part II almost feels like the story turns into a portal fantasy because everything is jarringly different. We're suddenly thrust into a different setting, with pretty much just Greer as our sole character, and it takes on almost a wilderness survival story. It also becomes much more high fantasy as the story goes on, and I don't know, I think I just prefer the slow burn, quaint village thriller story side of Erin A Craig's writing better.

That said, all of her books are worth a read!

I liked the premise, but language was a bit repetitive at times. Wish it ended differently, but still worth the read.

Erin A Craig is one of my favorite authors! She’s an auto buy author for me. A Land so Wide did not disappoint! It was such an atmospheric read. It really reminded me of the movie The Village. I loved the creepy vibes, the writing, and the characters! I highly recommend this one if you are looking for a creepy read for sure! Perfect for spooky season! Thank you so much to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

Erin Craig is undoubtedly my favourite author for gothic, dark, fairytale-esgue type of stories. I love the creepy feeling as the plot twists and something unexpected happens, some trippy little secret is unraveled and truth comes to the surface. This book is no less interesting than other Craig books. And the town of Mistaken......well, what a creepy, strange little name for a town circled in stones. Mistaken, the town that if you stumble into and spend the night - well you just belong to the town forever. After all the stones that keep the town safe from monsters also keeps the people trapped forever.

This story follows Greer, a map-maker and dreamer who defies the stones and the town and its traditions to venture to the woods to save the love of her life Ellis. In this journey Greer is hunted by the Bright-eyed as well as secrets that want to be found out.

Buckle up and prepare for a trippy, interesting read - as are all of Erin A. Craig's books.

If you loved Craig’s Small Favors, you’ll love A Land So Wide. As gorgeously written but even more horrifying, A Land So Wide follows Greer, a mapmaker trapped in an isolated settlement in the Canadian wilderness by a magical boundary that keeps the villagers in and the Bright-Eyeds, the terrifying monsters in the woods, out.

The story is deeply unsettling and packed with beautiful prose and fascinating lore of both the settlement and the Bright-Eyeds. The Bright-Eyeds were not what I was originally expecting but I enjoyed where the plot took us.

That said, there were moments where the pacing felt a little odd- either too slow in the first half or too fast/repetitive in the second- and I really would have liked to spend more time with both MMCs.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am already looking forward to rereading it in the winter just to really soak in the creepy, atmospheric vibes.

Thank you Pantheon and NetGalley for the ARC- all thoughts my own!

4.5☆

An incredibly gripping dark fantastical story, A Land So Wide will without a doubt capture your attention from the very beginning. Erin A. Craig masterfully writes eerie and suspenseful imagery and plotlines that have you needing to know what comes next, as every single chapter ends with some sort of reveal or cliffhanger that you cannot stop at. Unique descriptions, mysterious secrets, and frightening monsters - human or not - all contribute to a thrilling read from the very first page all the way until the last word. Another stunning book by this author.

Greer Mackenzie is a wanderlust cartographer who longs to leave the confinements of Mistaken. However, the Warding Stones make that impossible because after sunset, no matter where you are, you are involuntarily and violently ripped back within the borders. With so many dangerous animals - and not-so-mythical monsters - this restriction is their only safety. Mistaken is the only town that has an agreement with the Benevolence where they offer feasts for the Reaping, but there is also another, more sinister, offer made each year during the Hunt. When Greer’s intended, Ellis, walks through the barrier and does not return, Greer does everything possible to get him back, and she uncovers the darker secrets of her land, people, monsters, and herself.

RELATIONSHIPS & CHARACTERS -
- Greer Mackenzie is the daughter of the wealthiest person in the land of Mistaken, though it does not come with the benefits she hopes for. She has been lucky enough to explore the world a little more than most while mapmaking, she is with the love of her life, and she does not have to worry about her next meal. However, she has lost her mother, her father only wants what is best for the land, and she is required to participate in the Hunt, which makes her the target of just about everyone. Readers learn about the world with her and she is able to mostly step up to the dangerous tasks at hand with her cleverness. I appreciate the character development she goes through and the bleak and morbid choices she makes which was an unexpected and pleasant surprise.
- Ellis Beaufort is Greer’s selfless love who does everything for the good of others. He is rather easily manipulated and is such a sweetheart, and his relationship with Greer is simple - a refreshing change on the typical forbidden relationship filled with banter and unnecessary problems. Ellis also has some surprises, but he is not a major character in the story apart from being the reason Greer goes on this journey.
- Noah Finn is a character introduced a little ways into the story, and I personally desperately wanted to root for him. At times I did, but he was part of a semi-creepy love triangle. He is still a great character, though his reveal is rather obvious from the first time he is mentioned.
- Bright-Eyeds are the sinister creatures that stalk the borders of Mistaken, waiting for a human to slip up so they can feed. They are seeingly intentionally unclearly described to maintain a mysterious lure and dangerous air around them, and they are certainly vicious.

ENGAGEMENT & ENJOYMENT -
This was an incredibly fast-paced read that had me immediately hooked, and continued to keep my attention on every page. There are so many secrets to uncover, backstories to understand, creatures to decipher, and lands to explore, and every single aspect of this book is done in a fascinating way that never lacks intrigue.

ATMOSPHERE & SETTING -
The atmosphere was the highlight of this book. The descriptions used to bring even the simplest things alive was extremely unique, and everything had such a dark and ominous tone to it. I really appreciated how there was no shying away from brutality, and the grotesque scenes that were so bluntly included will remind you to never get comfortable or expect a compromise. The Hunt was such an interesting concept (that I would hate to be a part of) and the cultish nature of the town to ensure that this happened amongst all of the recent tragedies was fascinating. The most prominent piece is the forest, and the way it was illustrated continued to add to the haunting unknown and created a disturbing, unsettling feeling that stuck throughout the entire story.

DEVELOPMENT & PLOT -
The story developed quickly while also giving the time to fully understand the events taking place before moving on to the next part. There were several aspects of the story that needed to be investigated, both present and past, and this did so in a way that logically progressed. While most of the reveals were not surprising to me, and there was one twist that I wish stuck, I was not disappointed. The brutality was shocking each time it came up, and if you like chaos like me, you will be delighted. There was never a time in the story where the interest waned, and I am again pleased with the darker direction this book took in order to get to its desired ending instead of finding the convenient, happy, easy way out. The ending of this book has my absolute favorite type of ending, so I will reiterate again that I was hooked from the prologue to the very last word, and I closed the book with a smile on my face.

Thank you so much Erin A. Craig andNetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my genuine review!

Oh wow I have so many thoughts. The first half of this book was immaculate and I loved the atmosphere and characters! Especially the nascent dread that followed our main character. However, I do feel like the book lost its vision a little bit in the second half, after the introduction to the second love interest. As Greer learns the truth about her town, herself, and her family I wish there was much more internal development. We never really saw her struggle or grow as a result of all that she learned. Most importantly the ending felt extremely abrupt and the choice Greer makes (going back with her family and first love interest while shunning the newly discovered part of herself) felt extremely abrupt and frankly a little unearned.

I am obsessed with this book! First, the writing is incredible. Craig weaves such beautiful sentences and descriptions. The way that she goes about setting scenes and moods is seriously so talented. There are lines that I had to stop and reread just to take it in. And the story itself is captivating! Greer lives in a town called Mistaken. Mistaken’s residents are sort of trapped behind these giant warding stones along the town’s perimeter. You can go beyond their borders during the day but must be back before sunset. If not, the stones will literally pull you back, no matter what is in the way. A gift from the Benevolence to keep the townsfolk safe from the dangerous Bright-Eyeds who hunt the forests a night. Greer, who suffers from wanderlust and curiosity, sees this as a blessing and a curse. When her beloved, Ellis, travels outside the borders and the stones don’t drag him back, Greer will stop at nothing to follow him and get him back. In her quest to do so secrets about her world and herself unravel.

I did not know where this was going to go and was delighted with the outcome! My advice would be, go into this blind. I saw someone already share what I consider to be a spoiler and that really disappoints me because it so surprised me. I really can’t express how much I loved reading this and how impressed by the writing I am! It has dark and gruesome moments, as well as beautiful moments. 10/10 recommend!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon for the e-ARC! I will absolutely be pre-ordering a physical copy. Book releases 9/9/25.

This fantasy novel delivered a richly imagined world and compelling characters that pulled me in from the start. While the pacing lagged in a few sections, the plot stayed engaging enough to keep me turning pages. The blend of magic, conflict, and emotional depth made for a satisfying read. Overall, I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars for its strong storytelling and immersive atmosphere.

I’ll start by saying I love Erin A. Craig’s eerie, atmospheric YA fantasy novels, so I was thrilled to dive into her adult debut, A Land So Wide. As expected, the atmosphere was beautifully immersive—one of Craig’s signature strengths. The story had a fresh feel, blending fantasy with rich folklore elements, which I really enjoyed.

The first half of the book was engaging, though the pacing felt a bit slow at times. In contrast, the ending came on too quickly and felt rushed, which left me wanting more development in the final chapters. Still, it was a unique and haunting read that shows Craig’s talent for world-building and storytelling!

Thanks for NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book sucked me in. I stayed up way later than I should to figure out what was happening. I was captivated from the jump. And then about 75% in I had no idea what was happening or how the story had gone where it went, but I still liked it a lot. I'd recommend this book to friends, I just wish there had been more....time? Spread it out over two novels, or build more of the latter half into the first half. It was such a shift that I wanted more time to process what was happening in the final 25% of the book. I needed more resolution than what I got, but overall, I had a great time, and I loved the novel. An excellent foray into adult fiction for Erin Craig, and I hope someone secures the rights because I'd LOVE to see this adapted into a limited series!

Erin Craig's adult debut is so suspenseful and powerful, it gave me nightmares. She excels at tense, atmospheric writing, but her romance is not something to discount.

This was an excellent fantasy novel. The worldbuilding was wonderful, set in a dystopian past where it's unsafe to leave the village after sundown. The characters were all extremely three-dimensional, the plot moved quickly (in a good way) and I found myself immersed in the story. I read this book in one day, and I would gladly read any other books in this universe, if the author chooses to write a sequel!
4.5 Stars!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the ARC!

The Queen of writing atmospheric eerie prose has done it again. This magical realism horror was so beautifully written—sorry I'm just in full gush mode. This was M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, but with a much more satisfying ending. I was a little worried because while I did really enjoy Craig's "House of Salt and Sorrows" the third act felt a little rushed—that is not the case here.

Greer was such a sympathetic main character and god you really felt her heartbreak, fear, and her tenderness for everyone she cares for. The willpower she has to keep going on for all of them while keeping calm during truly a HARROWING quest just shows how strong she truly is. I love her and the supporting characters so much. I feel so much right now and I don't know what to do. (Ellis and Finn are both so good *god* this book.)

This was PERFECT I'm so SO ridiculously happy. Also, if the author Erin A. Craig wanted to write a book on Selkies, I, for one, would inject that into my veins.

Thank you, NetGalley, Pantheon, Erin A. Craig for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5/5