"Lore of the Wilds" by Analeigh is a captivating blend of romance, fantasy, and suspense that will enchant readers from start to finish. Set in a world ruled by ruthless Fae, the story follows twenty-one-year-old Lore Alemeyu as she navigates a dangerous landscape in search of power and freedom.

Analeigh's vivid prose brings to life a world where magic and danger lurk around every corner, drawing readers into a richly imagined universe filled with intrigue and enchantment. The concept of a deadly enchanted library and the allure of fae lords adds a layer of mystery and excitement to the narrative, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

At the heart of the story is Lore's journey of self-discovery and empowerment. As she grapples with her past failures and makes a desperate deal with a fae lord, Lore's determination and resilience shine through, making her a compelling and relatable protagonist. The love triangle between Lore and two fae males adds an extra layer of tension and emotion to the story, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

"Lore of the Wilds" is a must-read for fans of romantasy, with its perfect blend of romance, fantasy, and adventure. Analeigh's lush world-building and gripping storytelling will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in this captivating series.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and author for accepting my request to read and review this book.

I was so so excited to read this book as a huge fantasy and romance fan. I am also the biggest fan of books set in libraries such as The Book that Wouldn't Burn. Add in Fae and you tick all my boxes!

Lore of the Wilds started strong with the backstory of Lore, showing us the village she lives in falling to destruction and how she is taken away by a Fae lord to try break through into a library with a deadly enchantment.

Let me start by saying that I ADORED the 'locked in the castle' library exploration and sneaking around segment of the book. I felt like there was a lot of intrigue, as we as the reader followed Lore as she catalogued this huge library full of magic and mysteries.

I have to be honest, the book did feel rushed and the romance did suffer. I felt like they left the castle and library too soon in the book and I struggled to be interested after that point. I did not expect to have such a big shift so soon. I also felt that the second love interest was met too late in the book to really connect with properly.

In saying that, I felt like the book had the bones of something that I could love, and I feel like maybe the publisher deeming this an 'Adult Romantasy' was kind of false advertising. This is essentially a young adult fantasy book, and if it had been advertised as such I would have either not requested it, or gone into it knowing that it's not going to be spicy and that the characters are very young and act like it.

On account of this, and of the fact that I am so happy to see more BIPOC authors being published and especially being included in bookish subscriptions such as Fairyloot, my rating for this is a 4 but my personal enjoyment was less.

I was really excited to read this book. I love romantasy - and this one looked and sounded great. I am really pleased to say that this was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

The characters in this book are great - they’re interesting and I enjoyed seeing them develop throughout the book. Lore is a fab female main characters - she’s cautious, able to stand on her own two feet and a mature character for someone so young. I liked how much she cared and was willing to sacrifice for those she loved - this made her so interesting to read about.

The found family trope is strong throughout this book and you get a real sense of this group all taking great care of each other - prioritising each other’s wellbeing over their own.

This book does a great job of setting up the world and magic system and giving you enough information to follow it without being too ‘info-dumpy’ - I liked the magic in this book, I always love when the magic links with nature and the world around us and the author did a great job with this.

I don’t think there is anything hugely unique in terms of the story and the plot twist was a bit predictable to someone who has read a lot of romantasy - having said that, it was well written so I really didn’t mind this at all.

Just a gorgeous cosy, interesting, slightly whimsical book - a great start to a new series.

I loved the setting of this book, the world building was fantastic and I loved the world Analeigh created.

I did lose the book in the middle some what - I didn't feel like there was a huge amount going on...
Whilst the worldbuilding and description were great I did feel like the dialogue was a bit too YA for me - apart from the spice. And the love interest got attached too quickly (but there is a reason for this), you find out with the amazing cliff hanger at the end). I also felt like Lore learnt to use her magic very quickly. But maybe with the writing the way it was the timeline was different to what I had pictured.

All in all a great debut fantasy and start to the series. I'm sure the next book will be even better. The ending of this book was fantastic, with a big cliffhanger.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the advance reader copy.

This was a bit of a ‘meh’ book for me, which is upsetting as the premise and cover were what drew me in,

There’s a ‘twist’ at the end which has made me more interested to read the sequel but it wouldn’t get bumped up my list of books to read,

There seem to be a lot of high stakes activities and very little in the way of repercussions for the main character and her various associates.

The romance felt like it was needed to further a plot which could have been left out as it doesn’t really add to the story.

Overall, this book is a good effort for a debut.

Lore of the Wilds
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
3rd Person

Very nice easy read with Cosy cottage vibes, to then adventure and an enchanted library. The world building is interesting, very folk lore fae.
Forbidden Romance, love triangle, with a sprinkle of spice, maybe there will be more in the second?
The book ends on a cliffhanger which I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Lore is a human girl trapped in a village by the fae but she’s enlisted to help in the library for the Fae Lord. She wants out of the village and her family safe and the only way is to find magic of her own. What ever the risk.

I enjoyed this debut it had a lot of things that I love in a book
Cottagecore
Romantasy
Cozy elements
A magical library
Enemies to lovers
Fae
Magic

For whatever reason I did go in to this with a very firm idea in my head that this was YA- it is not YA!

Lore of the Wilds follows Lore a human who lives in a forest that is essentially a prison controlled by the dark fae with no escape - Lore makes a deal with a Fae Lord under guise to save her village but she is looking to gain so much more!

As an FMC I thought Lore was a great character - I am very interested to see how her character develops.

I think that this book will have mixed reviews, for me it worked for the most. I enjoyed the way that the world building ambles and could appear a little chaotic but for me that’s somewhat part of cozy, I think that some people could find it slow.

There was an element that I didn’t really enjoy but it is personal preference, love triangles are not my thing and in my opinion there is only one romance choice here - I’ll leave you to decide but the chemistry is so much more with one potential love interest.
On the subject of romance it did feel a bit rushed and some of the romantic interactions just came out of nowhere and the timings of these interactions were a little off for me.

The book really picks up pace towards the end and while I saw some of the twists the ending took me by surprise, I really didn’t expect that!!! I really need the sequel…

Lore of the Wilds is the story of the human girl Lore who agrees to a bargain with a fae king - Lore will work in his library in exchange for the fae king rebuilding her human village. But of course, things are not what they first appear. Lore finds herself embroiled in a fae/human imbalance, fighting to keep her friends and family safe.

Parts of this were enjoyable to read, and I like the variety of representation - queer characters and neurodiverse characters are present. Parts of this book felt clunky, nothing some editing couldn’t fix, but it distracted me from the story.

Overall it’s a fine read - the world building and magic system are well explained and interesting. The characters are enjoyable and well developed.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was super thrilled to be given an arc of this book and I'm so pleased that it didn't disappoint! I can definitely say that Analeigh has gotten a new loyal reader for anything that comes out in the future because this book was top notch - perfect for fantasy readers all around!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC,

I was really drawn to this book from the cover and description. However I really struggled to get through it. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and was completely put off by the simple conflict resolution. Everything seemed to work on in Lore’s favour repeatedly with very little cost, making me hope particularly care for any twists as I knew they’d all be resolved pretty quick and easily.

Lore of the Wilds follows a human protagonist in search for power, who agrees to help a Fae Lord with the cataloguing of a magical library.

The world was well built, paying special attention to political hierarchies and social issues, as well as a very interesting magic system. I really enjoyed the setting and the overall plot of the book.

My issue lies with the pacing and characterisation. The pace was odd from the very beginning, not allowing the reader enough time to process the different scenes. I think this is what ultimately impacted the character’s development, as they all felt very flat.

All in all, this was a good romantasy debut! I think fans of the most popular romantasy series will enjoy this, as it is heavy on the romance!

I adored the vibes of this book. It felt cottagecore but also like a cosy romantasy with some shocks thrown in!

Things I loved:
❤️ The FMC. I loved her confidence and the way she absolutely stood her ground with the Fae despite threats.
❤️ The love triangle - kept me hooked
❤️ The magical library and the magic overall! Kept me intrigued

One thing I found tricky was the pace of the first half. I loved all the twists and reveals in the second half!!

Overall it is a gorgeous new romantasy series and I can wait for the next book!

"Lore of the Wilds" beckons you into a fantastical realm where the untamed wilderness and ancient stories intertwine, promising an adventure brimming with mystery and magic. Right from the get-go, you're immersed in this capti-vating world where nature's wonders and age-old legends coexist in perfect harmony. The author has a knack for painting vivid landscapes that transport you to the heart of the wilds, and their storytelling style? It's like a breath of fresh air.

But as you journey deeper into the tale, you hit a snag. The middle section? Yeah, it's a bit of a slog. Suddenly, the excitement dwindles, and you're left feeling a bit lost, like you're wandering through the wilderness without a com-pass. It's hard to stay engaged when the plot starts to meander, and the threads of the story seem to unravel before your eyes.

But fear not, for amidst the lulls, there are still glimmers of brilliance to be found. If you're a fan of mythical creatures and ancient lore, there are moments in "Lore of the Wilds" that will undoubtedly capture your imagination. Just brace yourself for a rocky ride ahead. Despite its flaws, the story manages to weave a spell that's hard to resist. And if you can push through the slower parts, you might just uncover a rewarding conclusion that ties everything to-gether beautifully.

So, while "Lore of the Wilds" may stumble along the way, it's still a journey worth taking. If you're ready to venture into a world of wilderness and wonder, then dive in headfirst. Who knows? You might just discover a treasure trove of enchantment waiting to be unearthed.

I had high hopes for Lore of the Wilds, but unfortunately it was a messy read for me and also didn't meet expectations, as I didn't get cottage core vibes from this at all. Yes, Lore does collect some plants and does some cooking, and she tidied up a library, but the larger plot lines simply don't give off the cozy vibes I associate with cottage core.

The plot jumped all over the place without much explanation, ideas raised at the start were never properly explored further along, and new twists popped up randomly.

I felt that we were told rather than shown connections between characters, and I struggled to care for either potential love interest in the triangle. (Spoiler alert: and the one spicy scene really didn't make sense considering the final plot twist).
Lore acted in the most ill-considered fashion, and at various points seemed oblivious of any danger (Spoiler alert as I provide examples: kissing Asher just after discovering the captive women and getting carried away to the point of temporarily forgetting about the rescue; heading out to the market without a care knowing that she a wanted fugitive,...).
Overall, characterisation fell flat, and I reached the point of rolling my eyes at the book each time Lore stared at Asher's 'pouty bottom lip' or her core clenched or warmed as one of the males breathed near her. Descriptions overall felt a bit formulaic and unoriginal.

Too many 'deus ex machina' moments too - it felt like most victories didn't come at much of a cost, that little thought was put into any of the plans, yet everything miraculously panned out for Lore.

This is the first in a series, but unfortunately it's not a series that I'll be continuing.

Gorgeous gorgeous cover, I love it. It was the main reason why I decided to give this book a try, and I suspect many people will be as drawn to it as I was.

Now, when you read this you'll be able to tell that it's a debut book because it's all over the place. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. There's always room for improvement in book two.

The writing reminded me a lot of Chloe Gong, and the story of Elise Kova's Married to Magic series with a dash of These Hollow Vows. But worry not, it has its own unique spin too.

I have to mention the magical library because this is probably the only book so far with that concept that (partially) worked for me. I found those parts really interesting and wish we got more of them before Lore had to go on the run.

The romance is where this gets tricky, because as a lover of love triangles I can't say I was left satisfied with our two choices, but one is clearly better than the other and I liked him more from his intro than the other guy.

Both of those romances developed too fast, but the one with Finn made a lot more sense than the one with Asher. I feel like they had more chemistry and more time to properly get to know each other, even if most of that time was spent with Finn being broody.

Still, they had some cute moments together and I'd love to see where it'll go in the next book.

Asher on the other hand...knowing what we do about him, I'm wondering why that one steamy scene that happened included him. It felt out of character, based on what he was like at the end of the book.

I agree with the reviewers saying that the whole scene was unnecessary and that this should've been marketed as YA because the vibes are absolutely there. It doesn't feel like an adult romantasy. It's okay to write YA romantasies too, I promise.

Character wise I liked Lore, Finn, Isla and Grey, they were the most developed, though they could use a bit more polishing. Also, need someone to tell me if Grey is on the ace/aro spectrum, pretty please.

The ending surprised me, I wasn't expecting that at all (though I was wondering where that character disappeared off too and when we'd see them again). Those final few chapters were the best part of the book all around, and upped the rating by half a star. That's how I know book two will surely break four stars if not more. The story's just getting started.

3.5

*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This was an excellent debut and i was so impressed with the writing style! It has its strong points and low points but it was an easy read and I’ll be hanging out for the next book after that ending 👀

Lore is a human who’s taken by the dark fae to sort and restore an ancient library that none but her can enter. Of course, the library is magic and Lore discovers new parts of herself along the way.

I wish we spent more time in the library itself and developing the lore (see what I did there 😂) before venturing outside at about 40% through. It felt like so much more could have been done!

I had my reservations about some characters but DO NOT sleep on my man Finn 😮‍💨 Asher had his moments but FINN UGH my main man

The writing and world-building was excellent, but I felt like it all could have been developed just a bit more. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this read and think it’s a fantastic series starter!

Hmmmmm this book wavers at about a 3.5star read to me, I enjoyed it! Do not get me wrong this is a good addition to the New Adult genre fantasy with some spice, a love triangle, the grump and the sunshine characters. It just feels a little disjointed at times between scenes and character development is not always told to the reader; you have to just accept the jump of the characters arc and abilities to the arc you are reading. This can feel a little abrupt when reading and can affect the rhythm of reading.
What you do have is a successful world build with a magic system that is well developed, a main character with a mysterious ability while being a human and some wonderful characters that make up a cast that I am looking forward to book 2. I did not see the plot twist which is always good when reading any book but in a fantasy novel is quite a rare feat of the authors! So random thought time - The writing style can feel quite juvenile and then bam! Adult content. The library section of this book was brilliant I hope it returns in book 2 - Finn is a grump, which I am a sucker for but there was so much book before him that his introduction was a little late in the game. Asher is a headscratcher.

I just couldn’t get into this book. Although I was grateful for the opportunity to read the arc version, it’s not for me. The arc is 276 pages and I DNF’d at 90. 90 pages in and there seemed to be little to no direction, character building, or world building. All I knew when I DNF’d was the far were the bad guys and she was organizing a library. Idk where this book was supposed to go but at 90 pages in with little to no info I didn’t have the diligence to find out.

When I saw this cover and heard about this book I was sold. I mean, the cover is insanely atmospheric, a magical library is always a good way to lure a serial reader in and make it a romantasy with a love triangle and it gets even better and better. So, I placed my pre-order for the book and then I discovered that the book was also available on Netgalley to request. Of course I didn't hesitate. I was really happy when Magpie granted my request.

I have to admit this book and I didn't have the click I had hoped we would have. That's not because it's a bad book. On the contrary. The book is well written. I really flew through it and even finished a day earlier than planned. I also quite liked the world and its politics. And I like how it's clear there is still a lot we don't know about this world. So, despite the fact that this wasn't the perfect fit I had hoped it would be, I'm still really looking forward to reading the sequel.

Especially because I'm really curious how this love triangle will work out. I don't wanna give too much away, but I really loved the last chapter of the book and I can imagine it will cause quite some drama in the sequel. I have to admit that for me the real chemistry wasn't there yet. It feels like I don't really know why these people fall in love with each other and how deep that love truly goes. But, I do have a preference for which guy should win and that preference might surprise my friends (or not..).

I'm also really curious where the plot will go. In this book the plot was mainly about exploring the world, meeting interesting characters and getting to know this society, its customs, structures and challenges. It therefore sometimes felt like the book was a little all over the place and the characters were just aimlessly running around and we never got enough time to really get attached to one place, but there was also not a chance to get bored.

So, a very decent debut that certainly makes me curious for more!

1.75⭐️ I hate to say this but this book was boring and messy 😭😭

There were so many plot lines and things that just weren't really talked about enough, the magic system wasn't very well detailed or explained at all and our main character, Lore, makes the most stupid decisions ever....

The reason this was 1.75⭐️ and not 1 is because of Finn, who doesn't appear early enough and the fact that the last chapter was an intresting twist and cliffhanger, but I still skimmed the last 30% of this book because it made me lose the energy and will to read 😭😭

need to edit this to say: the magic system is nit explained AT ALL, and yes this is the first book in a series but some sort of world building should have been explained in my opinion.