The Drowned Woods not only has an absolute gorgeous cover but is also an amazing fantasy stand alone full of adventures, betrayal , love and friendships.
It's easy to get into the story & follow the heroine's epic journey to defeat a mad king.

The writing is beautiful & has a good pace which isn't too slow but not too fast also. The characters are relatable, are funny & brooding at the same time! I had so much fun reading this book that i completely lost time & finished it in one sitting.

Definitely would recommend for people who love an adventures & exciting read!

I had high hopes for this book, the cover and blurb really caught me, I was excited to start!

The prologue was promising, it set the scene, gave me a bit of insight into the world.

And from then on I was disappointed, the story did not grip me at all.

I loved the idea, I really wanted to Love Mer but it just didn't come through for me. Her abilities fantastic and I love that side of the story.

When they are coming through the cave area and the water horses are chasing them, I really felt the fear. The writing was great, I unfortunately just didn't love the whole story.

eARC Copy provided by Net galley.

The Drowned Woods had such beautiful, compelling writing that I really enjoyed. I also liked the characters, although they annoyed me a few times. I loved the setting and found the world-building and the explanations of everything going around to be well-done enough that I wasn't confused. The pacing of the story wasn't the best though — sometimes slow, sometimes fast, which sometimes ruined my reading experience. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I'm looking forward to what the author releases next.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Drowned Woods is the first book I've read of Emily Lloyd-Jones, though it is apparently set in the world of her 2019 novel The Bone House. However, having not read this, I can confirm that TDW works perfectly well as a standalone! It is an enjoyable, if slightly underwhelming, YA fantasy, and quite a lot of fun.

In tried and true ARC-review format, here are some of the things that made me give TDW 3.5/5 stars.

Things I enjoyed:
A heist! Welsh mythology! A corgi!
A bisexual protagonist, and inclusive characters throughout. We love surprise rep!

Things I enjoyed less:
The characters largely felt quite flat. I especially found Fane (our love interest) largely useless until the last 10% or so of the book, and much less interesting than his dog.
The pacing also felt very off. Again, in last part this really picked up, but the majority of the middle section was very slow-going.

Overall, while TDW did not quite meet the expectations that I had for "Welsh mythology fantasy heist, starring a waterbender" - which I suppose is quite a high bar - it was an enjoyable read.

I will update the review with a link to our blog closer to publication date.
I'd like to thank the publisher Hodder & Stoughton and netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Here we have a found-family heist story featuring a group of misfits all with their own motivation to take down the prince by destroying his magical well. The story is inspired by Welsh mythology, and is in the same world as the authors other book The Bone Houses.

Right from the start the prologue managed to set the scene and made me interested in what was to come. The main character of the story is Mer, a water diviner (someone who can control water) who was stolen from her family as a child and after years in service to a cruel prince now is on the run. But when an opportunity to great to pass up presents itself, she’s dragged into a rag tag crew to take revenge on the prince that ruined her life. I found the magic aspects of the story really interesting, especially Mer’s water abilities. Although the story is told in third person, there is multiple POVs and it helped add a depth to the story. Although most characters ending up feeling a little bit shallow. Apart from Trefor, the best boy and corgi ever!

The books biggest flaw was the pacing. The story started out at a nice pace, but around the middle the pacing started to slow down. The story also started to feel a bit repetitive, only to pick up towards the end and ending on a high note. This made it hard at times to get in a good flow while reading.

If you want to read this one don’t expect Six of Crows, if you go in with that mindset you will be disappointed. But if you wanted more of the world from The Bone Houses then you will probably enjoy this one. I had an overall enjoyable time with the book, but it couldn't really capture me the same way as The Bone Houses did.

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones is a fantasy novel inspired by Welsh folklore and it’s set in the same world as The Bone Houses but with different characters. And after reading this beautiful book I totally want to read The Bone Houses as well.

The protagonist Mer is the last living water diviner and therefore she is very special and particularly valuable for the prince and kingdom. She was forced to work for the prince and hated it and she just wants to be free of this. Mer is a badass and amazing protagonist and I adored her.

She is not the only one who despises the prince and when she is pursued by the spymaster Renfrew to help him in overthrowing the kingdom, she goes on this journey and they bring together an unlikely team. The characters are all so fascinating and I also really liked Fane.

What I loved about the structure of this book is that you get to know Mer really well in the beginning and then it becomes part heist novel, part dark fairy tale. I could dive into this world completely and loved to follow alongside the crew.

Overall, The Drowned Woods is such an intriguing and vivid fantasy story that weaves Welsh folklore into it beautifully. 4,5 stars.

(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Is there a better combination than Emily Lloyd-Jones and Welsh mythology?

I absolutely adored The Bone Houses, so when I saw The Drowned Woods, I was super excited. Did it live up to my expectations? *almost*

Here's the good:

The setting was, as ever with Lloyd-Jones, perfect. It felt well-researched, cleverly crafted and brimming with magic. I just loved the deep fantasy elements blended with Celtic myth and fairytale.

Trefor. Who knew a corgi could be THE star character of a novel?

The medium:

The characters. None of them really gripped me as much as Ellis and Ryn from The Bone Houses. I felt like some of the development felt a little bit flimsy, especially for Ifanna and Fane. Lloyd-Jones has such a beautifully poetic way of writing, that more backstory and more depth for these characters would have been exceptional. So, I felt a little short-changed by how little I knew about them.

The bad:

I really didn't like the development of Fane and Mer's romance, or rather, the lack of it. It seemed to just appear from nowhere. I'm a huge fan of the slow burn, so I would have loved a little more building passion and romance.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Drowned Woods and would be interested to re-read to see if I could draw more from the characters a second time around. It's not as good as The Bone Houses, but still a wonderfully lyrical and magical tale.

The Drowned Woods is a fantasy heist story about an unlikely band who intend to depose a tyrant King.

The magic systems in this book are intriguing and so clever! I really loved ready about them. There are plenty of twists and turns and betrayals, with a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure. Definitely one to read if you enjoy a solid fantasy!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Mer is a water diviner, a rare commodity that saw her taken from her home as a child and bought up in the palace: raised to be the Prince’s spy. When she finds out she is also the Prince’s poisoner, Mer decides it is time to leave. She is just becoming acclimatised to life on the run when her old mentor, Spymaster Renfrew, offers her an irresistible opportunity. All she needs to do is divine one more well in the Prince’s kingdom, one very specific well, and she will have enough riches to start over. The potential to cripple the Prince’s power is just a bonus. Unfortunately things are rarely what they seem and Mer has already learnt the hard way to never trust that those fighting with you have the same goals and priorities.

The world that this book is set in is simple and the plot only explores the edges of the potential that it could have. However, the simplicity of the world-building does allow for a deeper focus on character and plot. The characters of Mer and Fane definitely steal the show. I found it particularly interesting how one was born with magic and the other gained their power through choice. The different dynamics and sacrifices that this creates in their lives add an intriguing depth in the background of the main narrative. They both had stolen childhoods, with questionable parental role-model replacements and a somewhat violent coming-of-age journey. This resulted in both of them having no one to care for but themselves, which contrasts greatly with the character of Ifanna whose character development shows a particular strength nearer the end of the book.

In terms of pacing, this book has a slow start and middle with an explosive final few chapters. I didn’t dislike the slow pacing as there was still plenty of intrigue to keep me engaged, although the ending did feel slightly rushed and the conclusion was a bit too clichéd for my liking. Overall this did not hugely dampen my enjoyment of the book and I would be excited to see another book with these characters.

The Drowned Woods is an exciting, fast paced adventure with lovable characters and lots of magic!

Mer is the last living water diviner, who is on the run from the prince that forced her to kill with her magic. When approached by her old handler with an opportunity to bring him down, Mer agrees.

This fun heist had Welsh influences woven throughout and I became incredibly invested in it. I would have liked it to be a little longer because the plot felt a little rushed at times, but overall I thought the fast pace suited the book.

My favourite character quickly became Trefor, the lovable corgi. The addition of a dog really added to the book and made it truly unique in comparison to other fantasy books!

This is the first book I have read by this author and I am very eager to read more. Halfway through reading, I discovered that book is in fact set in the same world as The Bone Houses, however The Drowned Woods can be read as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely bewitching tale of a witch on the run, an unwilling muscle for hire who refuses violence, and a chaotic good thief, The Drowned Woods is a fast-paced and enchanting Fantasy heist story that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

The main character, Mer, is a water diviner who was stolen from her biological family by the crown prince to be used as his weapon. She is every bit the YA heroine you would love to read about--she has no issues killing people for survival, but she will happily throw away her freedom and risk her life to protect innocents. In fact, it's her unwavering moral compass that lands her in trouble and sets off the story; Mer is on the run when she is recruited by Renfrew, her former kidnapper/stand-in-father, the renowned spymaster. He gives her an offer she cannot refuse: destabilize the prince and his precious kingdom, still his fortune, and win back her freedom.

I'll admit, in the beginning, it was a bit hard to delve into this story. And I found it a bit difficult to even appreciate Mer as a character. But with every chapter, she grew on me. I loved watching her transform from a woman on the run, to a woman on a mission to pull off an impossible heist, to becoming a hero who chooses the lives of others over her own.

The book is narrated through multiple perspectives, the primary being that of Mer and Fane--our other main characters who stole my heart immediately. Like Mer, Fane is also powerful, but while Mer isn't above using her power to shed blood, Fane is completely against the use of violence even if it is to save his own skin.

Which is extremely ironic because Fane's gift is that he can kill without ever being wounded, and when he is recruited on the heist, his role is to play the muscle for hire.

Oh, and we also have a corgi! He is quite an important main character too. I absolutely every single scene he was in.

It is through these contradictory characters that the story begins to unveil itself. On the surface, The Drowned Woods seems like a thrilling YA fantasy adventure about a heist, but since the plot is very much character-driven, the author slowly and masterfully reveals an unexpected twist that I could have never predicted. There is a bit of romance thrown in, but it is never the focus and develops very, very slowly as our main characters grow and mature over the course of the events of the book.

The world-building was phenomenal; I absolutely loved the descriptions of each and every location, but particularly those of the fairy lands and otherwordly creatures. There are many, many references to Welsh myth here, a subject that I am completely unfamiliar with but will definitely be looking into now, and they were interwoven masterfully into the plot of the story. The magic system was intriguing too--it was just the right amount of mystery, but there was a balanced logic to it that made it almost believable.

And the character development was absolutely spot on for everyone--not only for Mer and Fane, but also for other characters such as Renfrew, Mer's secondary love interest Ifanna (yay for bisexual rep!), and even the "villain" Prince Garanhir. I say villains with quotes, because in truth, while there are cruel and merciless characters in this book, there are no stereotypical good guys or bad guys--all of the characters are varying shades of morally grey, and I absolutely loved it.

"The greater good" is a central theme of this novel, and I loved how the author makes us question: at what point do we draw the line? At what point does justice become vengeance, and how can we, as mere individuals, choose which lives should be sacrificed, when all life is innocent and sacred?

As this is a standalone book, the author wraps up the ending perfectly. All lose ends are tied, and yet, I am a bit conflicted about the final resolution. A part of me wishes that the author had ended the story several chapters ahead--with an unexpected tragedy. It would have been more realistic and profound, in my opinion. At the same time, the real world has enough tragedies on its own, so why not have a happy ending in fantasy instead?

And what a beautiful, happy ending it was.

It took me a while continue with this book and truly immerse myself in it, but boy am I glad I took my time and finished it. A truly phenomenal, and unforgettable fairy tale, The Drowned Woods is a must-read for anyone who loves fairy tales, magic, unapologetic heroines and cute adorable corgis.

Thank you Hodderscape for the e-arc on Netgalley!

Mererid has spent the last four years running from her past. As the water diviner sharpened into a weapon by the prince's spy master, Mer escaped when she realized the wells she was asked to find were then used to poison. But when the spymaster finds her and gives her a chance to strike back at the prince and be free for good, she can't refuse and finds herself on a quest for the magical well that protects Gwaelod.

The Drowned Woods is based on the Welsh tale of Cantre'r Gwaelod, translated in English as the Lowland Hundred. Think basically Welsh Atlantis. In the 5th or 6th century, The Lowland Hundred was lost to the sea in the area known today as Cardigan Bay. Today the version is that an inebriated watchman, Seithennin, failed to take notice of an oncoming storm and forgot to close the sluice gates, dooming Cantre'r Gwaelod. But an earlier, more fantastical version of the story goes that the city was sunk when Mererid, the priestess of a fairy well, made it overflow and flood the area.

If you are interested by Welsh or even Arthurian tales (as these stories have a similar texture, Arthur being Welsh and living around the same time), then this is a read you may want to check out. I would say that while it does have interesting characters, the book relies more on its plot and mythology to keep the reader engaged. This definitely makes for a quick read and one to pick up if, like me, you've found yourself missing YA.

Thank you Hodder and stoughton and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.

The drowned woods is the first book I have read by this author while her other book The bone house is still on my TBR. It appeared to be taking place in the same world but with other characters. After reading this e-arc, I’ve put that book higher on my reading list.

The writing style is pleasant and the way the author used mythology in this story was really nice to read. The characters felt a bit flat to me in the beginning and I found the main character a bit too naïve but the ending made it all good.

Part heist novel, part dark fairy tale, and rich with Welsh legends, The Drowned Woods is an ethereal fantasy. This was just the most beautiful book ,from it's gorgeous cover to the immersive storyline. I haven't read anything quite as engaging as this in recent years!

I love my fantasy books - I’m a big fan of magic and the underdog… but dear god I found this book boring. I gave up 40% of the way through - it wasn’t that it wasn’t going anywhere, it’s just that I found myself not particularly enjoying the plot and really struggled to warm to the main characters.

Emily has done it again! the bone houses was one of the best books I've read last year (I think) and I was drawn to the way she created compelling characters that I could relate to despite it being a fantasy. the romance was incredibly well done too. I genuinely dislike books with heavy romance but this was so subtle I adored it. the plot was easy to follow through, not too dense. absolutely well done <3

Mer, sold by her family at a young age has a coveted gift and Prince Garanhir takes an interest in her for ill gains. Trained by a spymaster, Renfrew, she escapes and so does he....and they team up for a heist with some company including Fane and the lovely Trefor.

The characters were likable but Fane was the one I connected to but him and Mer were alike in many ways.

Mer - 'The nobility called such people diviners.'

Renfrew - 'He was whisper and steel, poison and shadow.'

Fane - 'Fane was death itself.'

I really enjoyed this story full of Welsh folklore and I ached to read more about it and searched up some terms!

The writing was utterly beautiful, there was lots of action, drama and a few bombshells dropped!

The end made my heart sing a little. Overall a brilliant standalone!

The drowend woods is my first book by this author and I was very curious what to expect. The blurb grabbed my attention straight away and I love the cover. It fits the plot very well. The writing style is very easy to read. Very detailed, exciting and also emotional. I dived straight into the story and within two days I had already finished it. Reading the book was an up and down. It starts very exciting, then it calms down a bit and the more the plot progresses, the more exciting it gets again.

There were many different characters that at first glance don’t complement each other at all, but the closer you look, the more you realize that the characters are perfectly chosen. From page one I admired Mer for her strength and backbone. She doesn’t give up, whether she’s been betrayed or used. These things will only make her stronger. I really liked the dynamic of the whole group. I was just expecting an exciting fantasy story. But the book was so much more. Betrayal, tension, love, family and one big heist.

I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend this book to any fantasy reader. You will not be disappointed.

Emily Lloyd-Jones weaves a dramatic landscape full of stunning Welsh mythology and folklore. Mer, Renfrew, and their unlikely companions (corgi included) are a colourful band of misfits, each with nuanced and well-rounded characters. There is no perfect hero or villain in this story, instead, Lloyd-Jones dances along the greys threads of morality as they work to understand themselves and each other.

The landscape is vivid, bright. It is easy to picture the world that Lloyd-Jones has created and how the characters move through it. The story itself is compelling and well-paced.

I recommend this book to any fantasy fans, especially those who love Celtic folklore.