A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig is no different from the others of Craig's work I've read, which is to say, its Extremely lush and rich and descriptive. The environment and the town of Mistaken were characters in their own right, and their presence was felt throughout the entire story. I felt like I was there, up in the forgotten wilderness with Greer as she lives her life in Mistaken, and as she tries to escape it.

First off, my favorites: the atmosphere (obviously), the sweet relationship between Greer and Ellis, the setting (different from atmosphere - the town of Mistaken, it's rules and culture and traditions were fascinating), and the overall Tense feeling I had throughout the entire story. It wasn't scary, but the anxious thrum of being contained while monsters circled your home was palpable.

The mythology surrounding the little village of Mistaken was one of my favorite parts also. The brief chapters from the original settler's time were fun and interesting, everything about the Bright-Eyeds and the Benevolence, awesome!!!! What happens when your guaranteed protection from the things that go bump in the night fails? What happens when the cause of this is through no fault of your own, but you need someone to blame anyway?

Some of my ... not disappointments, per se, but more, missed expectations of the book: going into the second part of the story, I felt we went a little bit off the rails. The ending did feel a bit rushed, and the all-at-once explanations of ~what really happened~ were a bit awkward to me. I wish we had explored these revelations, especially the ones at the very end of the story, a bit more. If we had been given more time with it, I think the ending would have hit harder. My favorite parts of the story were definitely when we were still in Mistaken, in the earlier parts of the book.

Overall, 4.5/5 stars !! Tbh I am very easy to please when it comes to weird little books like this. I would recommend this to just about anyone, especially those who love weird creatures, rich descriptions of a wild and terrifying environment, or someone who just wants some classic fall going into winter creepy vibes.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Pantheon, for sending me a digital ARC!

What distinguishes this work is its promise to transcend typical romance formulas by embedding the love story within larger themes of personal agency, community secrets, and the courage required to reject comfortable confinement in pursuit of unknown freedoms. Craig's incorporation of Scottish folklore adds cultural depth while creating a distinctive atmospheric quality.
The novel appears poised to appeal to readers who appreciate atmospheric settings, determined female protagonists, and supernatural elements grounded in authentic emotional stakes and cultural traditions.

This was a great book! The plot was very well thought out and had so many twist and turns! I would highly recommend this book.

Erin A. Craig is an insanely captivating writer, and she truly has a talent for wrapping her writing around you, dragging you into her worlds. So to say I was excited for her adult debut is putting it mildly.

The premise of this book was so eerie, so instantly engaging, and the first half of the story was dedicated to exploring the world and our main character, Greer. Learning about the village of Mistaken and its history, along with its religion and belief in the supernatural Benevolence, was fascinating and a bit creepy, filled with foreboding. When the synopsis of the book covers basically the entire first half of the story (pro tip: don't read the synopsis), it's a feat in itself that the first half of the book was so strong. There was this atmospheric build-up through it all, which is one of my favourite things about Erin A. Craig's writing.

Sadly, for me, the second half was a bit of a letdown. It became a different type of story, not necessarily a bad story, but a paranormal romance story. While the first half was this slow burn build-up of the world and its ways, the second half was a bit more . . . typical. (It also had a pseudo-love triangle, which wasn't really what I thought I was signing up for.)

I thought the relationships in Mistaken, such as Greer with her father or with Ellis' entire family, were one of the highlights. There was so much history and backstory to all of the people in Mistaken, and I was completely engaged with this weird little village. It was giving folk horror vibes in a wonderful way, so the later pivot to more paranormal fantasy was extra disappointing to me personally.

There's a lot to love about this book - Greer as a main character, the obvious care of the history and build-up of a town that's a character in itself, the writing - but ultimately, I wish it had kept to the things I initially loved about it instead of veering in a different direction.

Thank you to the publisher, Pantheon, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

Erin A. Craig does it again with her fantastic world-building. Right away readers feel like they are in the spooky unknown forest of Mistaken. I could not put the book down and every time I turned the page wherever I thought the story was going the more I read on I just had more questions.

As usual every twist that happens I was not ready for. Greer and her allies were lovable characters and I was curious about everyone's conflicts no matter how big or small.

Summarize as a romantic plot, Craig made a wonderful love story about how far you will go for the one you love that was not about romance 247. It seems so natural and not over the top.

What an amazing adventure, and spooky, mystery that Greer discovers all to save who she loves.

Thank you Pantheon for allowing me a copy of Erin A. Craig's newest story for early review! I am looking forward to picking up my physical copy in the Fall.

Irresistibly dark and full of mysteries, ‘A Land So Wide’ follows Greer as she braves the dangerous wilds to recover her sweetheart. The forests are said to be full of wolves, bears, and killer-creatures legends call “the bright-eyeds”. Can a map-maker make it out alive? Will she be the same woman after her journey?
I had a wonderful time reading this and finding out.

Mistaken is a town that’s spooky as hell and The Hunt they host each year had me raging. I enjoyed how the story dipped into the past to show us how the inhabitants ended up living the way they do. Greer certainly seems naive to a lot in the beginning and I was greedy to unfold the secrets she was blind to in the start. I would say this book is heavy on plot and romance is a subplot, which was preferable here, where the vibes were horror-esque.

I had a delightful time reading this, thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I devoured this book on every lunch break at work and with weary eyes at night - I did not want to put it down. I don’t think I’ve read any of Erin Craig’s other works, but this adult fantasy had me hooked and convinced to add her to my watch-list. While I don’t think any of the characters were fleshed out enough for me to be overly attached to them, I was deeply curious about the world and happy with the ending. I’d rate it 3.6 rounded to 4.

*A Land So Wide* by Erin A. Craig is a captivating and atmospheric tale that skillfully blends eerie folklore with a deeply personal journey of faith, love, and discovery. Known for her ability to craft unsettling and immersive worlds, Craig introduces readers to Mistaken—a remote settlement where the boundary between safety and terror is as thin as the stones that protect its borders.

Greer Mackenzie, the story’s protagonist, is a compelling and complex heroine. As the daughter of one of Mistaken’s most powerful figures, her devotion to her faith and community is unwavering. Yet, beneath her quiet obedience lies a yearning for more—a desire to venture beyond the confines of her world and see what lies beyond the borders. Her sheltered perspective, even as an adult in her late twenties, adds a unique dimension to her character. Her growth is both gradual and believable as she navigates the dangers that await her beyond Mistaken’s limits.

The novel’s opening is masterfully crafted, with vivid descriptions that evoke a foreboding sense of isolation and unease. Mistaken is a town shrouded in secrets, its people bound to the land by ancient bargains with the Benevolence—mysterious protectors who ward off the terrifying “Bright-Eyed” creatures that lurk beyond the settlement’s borders. The lore surrounding the Reaping and the Hunt adds a chilling authenticity to the narrative, further enhancing the story’s rich, folkloric undertones.

However, the latter half of the book takes a noticeable shift in tone and direction, which may not resonate with all readers. While Craig’s world-building remains intricate, the narrative becomes more focused on the creatures that inhabit the wilds beyond Mistaken. For those who prefer subtle, psychological tension over creature-based horror, this change in focus may feel jarring. The pacing slows, and much of the latter half is spent in Greer’s introspection, which, while offering insight into her internal struggles, occasionally detracts from the momentum established earlier in the novel.

Craig’s transition from YA to adult fantasy is notable, though this story feels tamer in terms of horror and complexity compared to *House of Salt and Sorrows* and *Small Favors*. While *A Land So Wide* introduces darker themes and a more mature protagonist, it feels restrained in its exploration of the more unsettling elements that define her previous works. That said, the conclusion is a stunning culmination of Greer’s journey—emotional, unexpected, and ripe with potential for further exploration.

For readers who enjoy:
- Atmospheric settings with an eerie, folkloric vibe
- Protagonists who balance faith, duty, and curiosity
- Slow-building stories that shift from tension to action
- Fantasies where the danger is both literal and existential

*A Land So Wide* is a thoughtful and atmospheric read that captures the essence of Erin A. Craig’s signature storytelling, even if it takes a different trajectory than some may anticipate. While this story may not have been for every reader, the world of Mistaken holds undeniable intrigue, and should Craig choose to revisit it—perhaps with Lenore’s story—I will be eager to return.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third experience with Erin A Craig; I DNF'd House of Salt & Sorrow and I read Small Favors despite being underwhelmed by the ending. My experience with A Land So Wide was pretty similar to Small Favors.

Lets start with the positives.
EC can craft a freaking atmosphere and that is no joke. The first 70% of this novel was tense and creepy AF.
I love me some historical dark fantasy and, as an example of the sub genre, this slapped.
The dialogue actually sounded like real humans speaking.
The love triangle, a trope I rarely enjoy, did serve a purpose here, despite me finding it ultimately unsatisfying.

Now for the cons.
Neither love interest was particularly fleshed out, especially Ellis, who never displayed one single flaw.
While I did enjoy the build up of tension, this was very slow at the beginning and a bit rushed at the end.
Greer, our FMC, is 27 and I did love seeing an older.protagonist. Unfortunately, I felt she was still written as a significantly younger character than she was meant to be.overall,
I found the ending anticlimactic and largely unsatisfying.

This is largely personal preference, but I feel like EC took a really unique and well crafted concept and brought it to a predictable place. This was the same complaint I had with Small Favor, a unique start that wrapped up in a safe, somewhat predictable ending. I'd love to see what EC is capable of if she wasn't beholden (by her own choice or otherwise) to modern writing trends. Honestly, the parents story was far more interesting than Greer's.....

Overall a good read, but much stronger in the beginning than the end.

Wow!!! Such a beautifully vivid written novel!! I absolutely loved it! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc of this book

this book was truly magnificent.
Erin .A. Craig’s writing is truly everything i have ever needed.
5/5 starssss 😭🩷🩷

Thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig is probably a book I would have put down if I hadn’t gotten an advanced copy because it was so creepy in the beginning. I don’t mind suspense but this was a touch more than I prefer. That being said, I’m glad I finished it.

Greer lives in the town of Mistaken, which is guarded by wards set up by the Beloved. The wards protect the town from the Bright Eyeds. When Greer’s love interest, Ellis, disappears beyond the wards, Greer decides to go after him. Her journey reveals things about her, her family, the town, and the land they live in that she never knew, making for a good adventure. For me, that’s when the story picked up.

The book has several jumps back in time to give historical context for the town and for certain characters. I appreciated the back story. I did feel like sometimes the pacing was off— like at the end of the book, I kept thinking “there’s no way this book will be resolved.” Everything did resolve and I’m actually conflicted on the ending! Another thing I struggled with was that Greer and Ellis were supposed to be late 20s, but felt much younger, with Greer’s father even referring to Ellis as a boy over and over.


The other of Craig’s books I’ve read was The Thirteenth Child, which I enjoyed. This book certainly holds all the magic that The Thirteenth Child does, but with more of an eerie atmosphere.

Another hit from Erin A Craig. This book was a beautiful entrance into the adult fantasy world. I loved the atmosphere, as I do in every one of her books, and the subplot of romance. Autobuy author always!

This is the kind of book that wraps you up and doesn’t let you go. It's great to find a book with a rich setting, but I've rarely been so completely transported into the world of a novel.
Greer Mackenzie grew up in the far Northern town of Mistaken, a logging town with special rules. Those rules keep its residents from falling victim to the evil forces outside its boundaries, but they also keep anyone from ever leaving. Though she has wanderlust, Greer is not one to question the rules, until she sees things that make no sense and has to escape Mistaken to save the man that she loves.
If you’ve read any of Erin A. Craig’s books, you know to expect the slow spread of the supernatural to an ultimate showdown. A Land So Wide reminds me most of Small Favors, set in another cut-off town with its own customs and struggle for survival. A Land So Wide is a book that I highly recommend and look forward to reading again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pantheon for this advance read.

I absolutely adore Erin A. Craig’s writing. “A Land So Wide” is unique and creepy. The monsters were scary and if I were Greer, I would be terrified! Greer perseveres nonetheless. While this isn’t my favorite of Craig’s works, I am positive that “A Land So Wide” will find its audience.

I recommend this book for fans of: M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A spooky, adventurous tale (with some romance) about a young woman’s struggle with themes independence and safety, growth and stability. Greer yearns for autonomy and adventure but craves the comfort of familiarity. A classic grow where you are or go where you’re not dichotomy. It unfolds in a creepy, isolated village surrounded by wilderness. Replete with grotesque beasties and violent encounters. Greer learns what and who she is and makes decisions about her future. If The Village and True Grit had a book baby.

I love how Erin’s never afraid to kill characters. In every book of hers this has kept me on my toes and guessing. Never predictable!

Dang… I was so close to loving this one!!

The beginning reminded me of one of my favorite movies, The Village, and I was loving every second. Ellis’ and Greer’s relationship was so sweet; I loved Louise and her bad ass attitude. I loved the history and lore of how Mistaken came to be, and even their odd tradition of The Hunt… It was all working for me until it wasn’t.

The story started falling flat for me almost immediately when Finn entered the picture. The lore of the Bright Eyeds really started to get muddled for me, Greer’s transition, and also Elowyn’s lore was a bit much and wasn’t explained well enough for me. Add all that to even more history about the Bright Eyeds and settlers of Mistaken… I was lost. And surely enough, I couldn’t care less how this book ended.

I hate to leave such a negative review, but when I feel a book had tremendous potential but then just lost it all… Well, I hate that more than anything. 🥲

Erin's writing is so beautiful and captivating, vivid, immersive and utterly compelling, I devoured this, definitely for fans of gothic/atmopsheric reads, the world building was rich and intricate!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

I was really, really disappointed in this one. I had such high hopes and the beginning of the book was soooo good. The first ~third of the book was great, unfortunately it started to flounder well before the mid-way part and ended up a poor man's knock off of M Night Shyamalan's The Village.

This book had SO much potential, but it also had a lot of problems. First off, where were the women?? Louise is supposedly Greer's bff, but she's literally only got two scenes in the whole book (not to mention the age difference would have made being bffs their whole life incredibly difficult, so that just never made sense to me). Greer's mom is dead. Martha just up and disappears around 41% never to be heard from again and somehow...Greer isn't bothered by this? The only other woman left is the big bad.

What was the point of Finn?? Honestly, what was the point of most of this plot. It was so predictable and easy to guess. I figured out almost all of it way before it was revealed. The end was so nicely tied up with a bow that it really made the entire book pointless.

At least at the end of Cinderella, she's changed, everyone knows her step mom and sisters are monsters, she's a princess, she gets the prince, etc. etc.

You could cut out the entire story from 38% to 99% and really not have missed anything.

Greer and Ellis are both so bland and boring that this non-plot driven book isn't even character driven.

The only characters that marginally intrigued me were Louise and Norah and their parts were so minuscule they could have easily been omitted.

If you're into vibes and no plot, this book will be a 10/10 for you.

If you LOVED M Night Shyamalan's The Village and want that again, but in book form - you will probably love this book.

Otherwise, read at your own risk of boredom and regret.

5 unapologetic and enthusiastic ⭐️s
I’m sad I got approved for this ARC because I. HAVE. NO. ONE. TO. TALK. TO. ABOUT. THIS.
Everything Erin writes is always gonna hit to me but she really pried my skull open with her talons and hopped inside with this one. This is a dark gothic fantasy fairy-tale retelling and I ate it up - it was haunting, heartbreaking, and enchanting from start to finish. I would expect nothing less from Queen Erin. I was so hooked that for the second night in a row, I stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish—on a work night!
This book starts off like the movie The Village. Old-timey town, secluded residents, scary things in the surrounding woods. But that’s where the similarities end - these monsters are real. Greer is living her best life with her soon to be hubby and on the day they’re supposed to be married- bam he somehow walks straight through the town’s protective barrier. He disappears into the woods without a trace, sending Greer on a hero’s journey through the Canadian wilderness. Will a mere human survive it?
This book is a blend of folklore, fantasy, and a bit of horror- the exact mix I keep coming back to Craig for. The last 10% of this book I could not even explain how anxious I was - but in the best way.
I have a few unanswered questions, but I love when the ending is left open just a crack, so the reader can make their own assumptions. Overall, I loved it and I’ll keep coming back for everything this woman writes.
And I can not WAIT for all the fan art.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig.

As always, Erin A Craig knocked it out of the park with a beautiful, albeit creepy story!!! Trust me you will love Greer and A Land So Wide.