I was really captivated by A Land So Wide, a dark fantasy novel by Erin A Craig. It is the first novel I’ve read by this author and it didn’t disappoint.

I enjoyed her writing style and thoughtful descriptions throughout the story. Greer is a great FMC, and I enjoyed seeing more of her story unfold as she learns of the past and who she is. The flashback chapters woven throughout were helpful in piecing the story together and didn’t abruptly stop the flow of the story.

That being said, towards the second half of the book, I felt like some of the story was rushed while other parts too slow. The plot twists were *mostly* predictable but I still enjoyed them. Overall, I give the story 4.5/5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars because I enjoyed the story overall and stayed up late many nights to sneak in one more chapter!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this ARC! 🤎

respectfully…what? 😀

there was so much promise? so much potential? and that’s…where it went?

Erin Craig always knocks out the vibes and this was no different but the story wrapped up way too fast, it was oddly fantastical but poorly explained. It simply wasn’t long enough to do the story justice.

Bummed for sure. Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy!

I was so excited to see that veteran Young Adult author Erin A. Craig was branching out into adult fiction and I was not disappointed with her adult debut novel, A Land So Wide.

First off, the vibes of this book are meticulous. Gothic, bloody, spooky horror set in the remote Canadian wilderness in the 1700s? Sign me up. Greer Mackenzie is a direct descendent of one of the founding families of Mistaken. Mistaken is a typical lumbar town. There is a mill that employs many of the citizens (owned by Greer's father, Hassel). Barn dances are a prime form of entertainment for the young citizens of the town. And everyone who has ever stayed in the town past sundown must return within its borders every night thereafter the rest of their lives or risk being torn apart when being returned to it by magic force. It's within these confining limits that we find 27-year-old Greer on the verge of marrying her sweetheart, Ellis Beaufort. Greer is a map-maker, an ironic pursuit when one cannot travel farther from home than what you can safely return from before sundown. Her soul has wanderlust of a terrible sort, but she knows she can live a small life in Mistaken as long as her long-time sweetheart Ellis is by her side. When complications arise from The Hunt - a long-held tradition in Mistaken were eligible bachelors hunt for their hidden future wives in the woods outside of Mistaken - and Ellis goes missing, Greer learns that the invisible walls around Mistaken are not as impenetrable as she once believed and that there are things in the woods just waiting for one such as her to come through.

With rich, lush prose that transports us directly to the middle of the unexplored Canadian wilderness, Erin A. Craig tells the story of some of the original creatures to go bump in the night. Pulling no punches, 'A Land So Wide' is both a romance and historical horror story. This story is great for those who may be looking for a stand-alone fantasy novel. I was horrified, sad, entranced and engrossed in equal parts reading this book. And that epilogue? I questioned everything I thought I knew about how it had ended. I'm in love with this novel, and I hope that Erin A. Craig continues branching out into adult novels.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pantheon, and Erin A. Craig for providing me with an eARC of this novel for early reading and review. <3

Surrounded by forests and wilderness, a small settlement survives supernatural predators and attacks by giving gratitude and tribute to The Benevolence. The Benevolence has granted the community of Mistaken with magical ward stones. These ward stones keep the enemies out and the citizens of Mistaken safely inside their perimeter when night comes.
Greer, the daughter of a prominent man in the community, just wants to marry her longtime love, Ellis, but her father stands in the way. When Ellis goes missing past the ward stones one night Greer chooses to follow him, to bring him home to safety, but the creatures in the forest have other plans in mind.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 3⭐️.
I really enjoyed Greer as a main character and liked her relationship with Ellis. I wish that a bit more time had been spent actually developing their relationship for the readers. I would say I enjoyed the first 70-75% of this but right around that point it started to drag for me and once the finale actually started to happen I was ready for this book to be done. I was satisfied by the conclusion of this book but honestly would have no interest in having a copy of this for my home library or reading it again, it just drug on too long for me.

I loved this dark fantasy, loved the town of Mistaken, loved Greer and her unflinching courage. The vibes were immaculate. This is one to recommend!

**I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are entirely my own**

I must start by saying that I did not realize this was Erin Craig's debut adult book. I went into it thinking it was YA (I will admit, I did not read the synopsis at first. I just saw that Erin Craig had a new book coming out and immediately knew I was going to read it. After about 15% of the way through I did read it and my expectations changed a bit). All of that being said, this didn't feel like an adult book to me. It felt just like any of the author's other YA books. The main character, even though she is said to be 27, doesn't feel 27 (that's how old I am right now, actually and when reading, she felt younger than me by quite a bit). I also didn't feel like the scary parts of the book were much scarier than any of her author's books and the romance and "romantic scenes" (there really weren't any if I am being honest) weren't much different than her YA books either. So the tone of the book overall threw me off a little.

None of that though made the story bad, just a little thrown off. The story itself was good and I really enjoyed it. The random little love triangle thrown in for who knows what reason was a little weird though. I will also say, I did struggle a little with the first half of the book. There was a month and a half long period where I didn't even pick this book up and read other things because it felt a little slower than I normally expect from one of her books. Once I picked it back up and got into the second half of the book though, I flew right through and didn't want to put it down.

Overall, it was a good books. Not really what I was expecting out of a debut adult book, I do wish it would have had a more adult tone to it as that's what I was what I was expecting (after I read the synopsis). I don't think it ruined the story though. It ended up being a fun read, with a pretty happy ending.

If you are looking for a good historical fiction novel that has a slight Little Red Riding hood vibe than this is the novel for you. Now this is the first Erin Craig novel I have read but I must say that I was very impressed with this novel. There is also a great blend of adventure and supernatural elements that are sure to keep the reader engaged.
The setting in this novel takes place in the Canadian wilderness and one of our supporting characters is a woman named Greer. Now Greer longs for a life of adventure outside of the village but there is a curse that keeps everyone from leaving so any dreams she has about leaving are stifled as as her plans of marrying the boy she loves named Ellis as her father doesn't approve of him.
However one day Ellis goes missing and Greer vows to find him. She manages to break free from the protection of the stones and sets foot past the barriers of her village. Along the way she meets a mysterious man names Finn and she learns not only the secrets of the woods but also the secrets of some of her own abilities that she didn't know that she possessed.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

Such a unique storyline, like if M. Night Shyamalan's The Village mixed with pieces of Interview With the Vampire and some additional type of mountainy-small-town-romance. This was the first book I've read by Erin A. Craig and I loved her style, getting lost in the prose, setting and characters. The town of Mistaken feels like just that: a mistake, but one you are wanting to fix to almost make amends for a past and forefathers that established rules and processes you had no part in (I mean, if it has always been this way, why change it and make it better?!). This book leaves room for an entire new storyline to happen, and I can't say much more without giving anything away. You will get lost in the beauty of the landscape, but also sucked into the terrors of the unknown and the overarching question of 'what are you willing to die/live for?'. Please give this one a try and lose yourself in the woods beyond the ward stones for a bit, if you dare :)

(Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion)

📖 ARC Review 📖

Once upon a time, in the village of Mistaken—where rules are sacred and the forest beyond the warding stones is filled with danger—a girl named Greer lived under watchful eyes.

As the daughter of the wealthy steward, she was raised to obey: every rule, every custom, every warning etched in hushed voices and fearful glances. And she did.

Until the night Ellis, her beloved, accomplished the impossible. He crossed the stones barrier after dark and stepped beyond their protection.

Instantly, a shadow struck—a creature from Greers nightmares—and he vanished into the trees, running for his life.

Greer is left shaken. If the curse that keeps the villagers within the stones' border is a lie, what else has been buried in silence? What truths rot beneath Mistaken’s perfect order?

Now she must choose: obey, and lose him to the dark—or follow, and step into a forest that watches with bright eyes and hungers with sharp teeth.

All fairytales demand a price.

This one might just cost her soul.

What I Liked:

🌲 The Atmosphere! This story was insanely eerie and dark. Throughout its pages you felt a keen sense of wrongness, in the characters, in the town, in the woods. It pulled you in and immersed you in a sinister world full of creatures and strange lore. It set you on edge as you attempted to figure out the truth hiding in the dark.

🌲 The Writing Style! This story felt like a fairytale plucked straight from the Brothers Grimm collection, one that was both beautiful and deeply unsettling. The time period and isolated location allowed you to dive right in and accept that this place was different, wrong, cursed. It read like a Fable from days long past and I was absolutely here for it!

🌲 The Creatures! I can’t give too much away here just know that this book contains creatures straight from your nightmares. Every appearance gave me chills, they were absolutely terrifying, and absolutely perfect for the tone of the story.

What I didn’t like:

🌲 Too-Convenient Plot Moments: There were several times where the plot relied a bit too heavily on coincidence or convenience. Clues that seemed obvious to the reader were overlooked by our MC and characters had a habit of showing up just in the nick of time.

🌲 The Pacing in the Middle: While the beginning hooked me and the ending had me racing through pages, the middle dragged a bit. I understand the intention to keep us guessing, but the momentum dipped and made it harder to stay fully engaged.

Overall Thoughts:

🌲This book felt like a grown-up fairytale steeped in eerie lore and haunting beauty. If you're a fan of gothic settings, terrifying forest-dwelling creatures, and a love story powerful enough to defy fate itself, this one’s for you. It’s gripping, atmospheric, and deliciously dark — a perfect spooky season read! 4 STARS.

Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm calling it already. Erin A. Craig is at it again, a master storyteller (I have read almost EVERY one of her books) and this one is not disappointing. So ecstatic to be gifted this ARC by Netgalley, Erin A. Craig, and Pantheon publishing! Gives me major [book:Small Favors|55835986] and [book:The Lottery|6219656] vibes.
Though it starts this way, this is not like either of those stories.
However, it does capture that very dark, folk tale, grim fairy tale vibe I've come to know Craig for. And although this is an adult novel, which I'm thinking is due to the especially dark, graphic nature contained here, she keeps the spirit of whimsical macabre of her previous YA books, which fans will come to appreciate.
This is a very sad tale, that keeps you gripped to each page as we explore the bare elements of survival, hold onto love and hope when both seem utterly lost, and facing the darkest parts of who we are, bringing thrilling and unexpected twists throughout our journey with Greer, Ellis, and the people of Mistaken.

A Land So Wide is a dark, eerie read about Greer’s journey of contentment versus freedom. I went into this blind because I trust Craig’s writing, and I’m really glad I did because at no point did I really know which way the story was going. The world building was amazing and gave a historical fiction atmosphere. Craig’s ability to completely immerse you into the settings of the story with the perfect amount of intricate descriptions is incredible. The writing sets such a haunting, yet beautiful mood. I wanted to savor this so badly, but I just could not put it down. I loved the concept of the Bright-Eyeds and the lore behind it all which gave it a horror element. Read this if you enjoy dark, unsettling stories with an adventurous tone that features some vampires and romance. I loved this, and I can’t wait to get my hands on my physical copy!!

Thank you to Erin A. Craig, to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and to NetGalley, for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved the imagery of this book. The author created such a beautiful world. Greer lives in security within the Warding Stones that protect her town but she dreams of the freedom of being able to live outside of them. There are terrible things outside the Warding Stones, like the Bright Eyeds. On the day she and her love Ellis are to start their lives together, he leaves the safety of the Stones. Horrified, Greer watches, then decides to risk everything and go after him. Once outside, she starts to realize things may not be as she has always known them to be. A scary story, a love story, a fantasy all in one.

First of all I just want to say how excited I was to get this ARC! I read the thirteenth child by Erin Craig and was obsessed and A Land so Wide lived up to the hype of her writing in my head and I loved it!
I was on the edge of my seat before beginning to end! The characters were great, the plot was interesting and the world/setting was amazing!
It was beautiful, dark and moody and I couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait to see what else she comes out with in the future, but in the meantime I’ll be going back down through her discography cause I’m obsessed!
Thank you to NetGalley and Erin Craig and her team for this ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars rounded up. I’d like to start off by saying that I have adored each of Erin’s books so far, and I consider her one of my favorite authors. So I’m pretty disappointed that this one kinda missed the mark for me.

I loved the characters, I loved the setting, and I think the whole “monsters out in the woods” idea was great. Until about 60% in when we discover exactly what those monsters are. I won’t spoil it for others by saying what exactly they are or what happens to Greer, but I will say that it felt a bit cliched. I liked it better when the monster aspect was more mysterious, and, because of that, more creepy.

I will say that this does carry all of the hallmarks that make Erin’s books so great. The folklore, the mystery, the romance. Each of these aspects are alive and well and made me want to finish the book. I think the cliched bits are probably more of personal hang up and everyone will not read it the way I did.

Excited to see what Erin writes next!

Read this book in one sitting! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The writing did feel more ya than adult, but still enjoyed the story and characters regardless.

I’ve loved Erin A Craig’s writing ever since I found A House of Salt & Sorrows, completely by accident, and was absolutely ecstatic to be afforded to chance to read her first adult novel before its official publication.

A Land So Wide is set in the Canadian wilderness and Erin’s dark, misty, mysterious tone works so beautifully here! The level of deftness with which she creates atmosphere is unmatched, and I found myself pulling up extra blankets at times because the descriptions of the deep dark woods were so vivid I found myself sympathetically cold.

The Bright-Eyed are absolutely fascinating, and I LOVE the way we as readers are kept in the dark as to who and what they actually are for so much of the story. They lurk just off the pages, and much like the shark in the movie Jaws, the anxiety surrounding them only grows stronger in their invisibility until the big reveal later on.

I am one of those readers that skips right over the maps, because I am horribly directionally challenged and I figure it’s not my business, but the way Greer loves and cares so intimately for her maps made me actually feel interested and - dare I say, invested, even - in them, which is good because they’re a big part of her personality. Truly, I think I just loved Greer so much that I accepted the map business on her merit alone.

My only snag was the relationship between her and Ellis - I had a long engagement myself and hated it, so their delay in being able to be married was deeply frustrating for me. Truly, I think she had more chemistry with Finn, but that’s a whole different topic.

Overall, I loved A Land So Wide - it is a creepy, haunting, beautiful, compelling story and I 10/10 recommend it.

If there's a word I always connect with Erin A. Craig's novels it's atmospheric. She does such an amazing job of pulling the reader into the setting and making it as real for them as possible. A Land So Wide is a masterpiece of the wild frontier.

Before going into everything I loved about the novel, I did have one minor issue with it. I know that this is Craig's first adult novel, and she's written plenty of young adult, which I think is the issue here. It's stated that Greer is 27, with her boyfriend, Ellis, and best friend, Louise, somewhere around the same age as her. Yet, it didn't feel like that. It could be the case that these people grew up in a confined community (in basically a cult setting), but at times, it was still frustrating in how they acted and the choices they made knowing they were in their late 20s. They read more like they were in their early 20s, at the most, instead.

Other than that, it was such an amazing and tense novel. The Bright-Eyed vampire-like creatures were such a creepy creation, especially up to the middle/late novel where we don't really know what they look like or even see them. Them just being this voyeuristic monster creates a lot more tension and horror then an actual description or interaction. Finding out the background of how Mistaken was created and the whole Benevolence deal was so well done (although I did figure that out quickly, it still made for a fascinating story).

A quick side note on the romance. I was pretty mid on Greer's and Ellis's relationship. He's definitely the better choice out of everyone in the village, especially Lachlan. But I didn't really care if they stayed together or not, and truthfully, I actually thought Greet and Finn had more chemistry than her and Ellis.

I always love a good monster story, but with this one, the added layers of coming to the new world (Canada) and both the humans and the monsters being similar in nature just goes to show that anyone can be a monster.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of one of my most anticipated books of the year!. Ah I just love Erin's writing so much. This one has a different vibe than her other books but does have some similarity to Small Favors with a small town "village/settlers" type setting. It does take as shift halfway through and changes up the tone and the pacing quite a bit. At times it felt like a separate book from the first half. I personally really enjoyed the book as a whole as it's one of the most unique books I've ever read and has the BEST spooky woodsy atmosphere.

As a longtime fan of House of Salt and Sorrows, I was thrilled to dive into Erin A. Craig’s latest—and A Land So Wide absolutely delivers on the lush, immersive prose I’ve come to expect from her. The setting is brutal and breathtaking in equal measure, and Craig’s flair for dark fairytale vibes wrapped in romantic fantasy remains unmatched. Greer’s journey through the perilous Canadian wilderness, with its eerie Bright-Eyeds and folkloric tension, was both gripping and evocative.

That said, my one consistent critique from Salt and Sorrows still applies here: the ending didn’t quite match the momentum or mood of the rest of the story. It felt a little rushed and tonally uneven compared to the dreamy dread that carried the rest of the book. Still, Craig’s work always feels like a gothic fairytale you want to get lost in, and I’ll eagerly read whatever she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Craig delivers another atmospheric, haunting tale with A Land So Wide.

Beautiful, angry, and full of yearning. This is a story of hunger in many forms. Absolutely fantastic. Possibly her best yet.