This gave me serious gilded wolves and six of crow vibes with the heist aspect. I love the magic that's been woven into this book, it's subtle but there. The main character Mer, is a giften water diviner which allows her control of liquids, she goes on a mission with an old tutor to bring down the king and along the way makes friends with unlikely company.
It's an easy paced read and I very much enjoyed it.

The drowned woods set in a world inspired from welsh mythology and was a fun read, perfect for a standalone.

Our kingdom is this book is protected by a magical wellspring where our cast of character attempt a heist to exact revenge from the prince of this land… yet things don’t always go as intended and old conflict between characters are not forgiven.

We follow our main character mer who is a water Diviner who I really enjoyed reading about, I love the idea about water magic so that was really engaging.
Our other characters are a diverse cast of personalities and all brought their own purpose to the “heist” involved, however I felt that a couple of the characters did not have enough of a personality or character set up to truly care about their part of the story and my interest was only on Mer, Fane, Renfrew and Ifanna.

Part of the book is branded as being a heist which is not something I’m interest in reading about however the heist in this book was really just an adventure to traverse towards the magical wellspring and on their way trying to make their way through various obstacles, did not feel much like a typical or full blown heist.

The Welsh mythology I felt was not deeply implemented other than a few welsh names and water creatures that are influenced from mythology.

The writing was really enjoyable and simple to consume, I was really engrossed from the start finding out what our character Mer went through and how relationships were formed but mid way the book lost a interest to me however when it gripped me again about half way I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

I’d recommended this book to anyone who is remotely interested in unique and fun magic, a kingdom in peril and a group of characters banding together for a purpose. Overall I’d say it’s not a phenomenal book but it’s a fun, engaging and fast read that we can all enjoy.

4/5 star rating

I loved this so much, the writing is so beautiful, almost lyrical and the world building is top class. I adored Mer, she was so sassy and fun, I loved the relationships she had with ifanna and fane, although Trefor stole my heart ! If you love fantasy heists, unique magic systems, mythology and wonderful writing, this book is definitely one you’ll want to read, need to read. Brilliant

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Mer is the last living water diviner, living in secret until her old tutor finds her and offers her a proposition: use her powers to bring down the prince who once abused them both. With a motley crew she journeys out to do just that - and maybe finally achieve the freedom she's always wanted.

Whilst I did enjoy The Drowned Woods, I didn't love it as much as I thought it would and it ended up being a bit disappointing in places.

Most of that was down to expectations. The story begins in a very fairytale-like manner, in fact the prologue and epilogue were my favourite parts in the novel. When chapter one started I was a bit jarred by the sudden change in writing and I never really got that fairytale feeling back until the very end. The heist part as well...there's definitely a heist but it doesn't take up a large part of the story.

I did like all the characters but I again I didn't /love/ any of them. The one I liked best was most definitely the corgi - how could you not like a corgi character?! I did enjoy reading how they all meshed together and I did get emotional in the sad parts.

My favourite aspect of this one was hands down the setting. The Welsh influences was done so well and the descriptions were wonderful, definitely a highlight of The Drowned Woods.

For me this book had an amazing start, a bit of a disappointing middle, before picking up again in the end. I would still recommend this to anyone who likes interesting, different characters and superb atmospheric writing, and I will definitely be picking up whatever Emily Lloyd-Jones writes next.

Ok, hear me out. This book has Six of Crow vibes - heists, found-family ish trope and a whole massive plot. BUT, and yes, I’m going to say this, it is just so much better than SoC. I loved SoC but The Drowned Woods just topped it in my opinion.

I loved the MC, Mer, with her water magic and witty lines; Fane with his curse; and let’s not forget Trefvor - the corgi.

The plot is just amazing and I literally gasped (I know!) at points. Genuinely didn’t see things happening, although I did appreciate it things were not going to to for smoothly. Do they ever?

I don’t know much, if anything, about Welsh mythology but I absolutely loved this story. If only I could pronounce half the words 🥴

Definitely pick this up!

3–3.5*

The premise of The Drowned Woods sounded so good; I love a heist, and I love a magical heist even more, and yet this is a difficult book for me to review. The beginning was easily a 4–5 stars for me, and then I found it difficult to be invested until the final 20%.

For someone who had so few interactions with the other characters, Fane was a gratifying character and his dichotomy was intriguing; however, I couldn’t connect with the other characters and that caused some distance to them or they were slightly too predictable, and I felt underwhelmed. Owing to this, when we reached the scenes that should have been emotional, that element lacked for me. The threat of the antagonist felt inconsistent and not wholly there, and as the book revolves around revenge and uprising against the antagonist, I wish that the feel of that threat was more prominent on the page.

It did take me a while to get into the flow and style of the way this book was written, and I occasionally found my attention drifting in the middle because of the mixed pacing and my issues with the characters. However, I loved the writing, and thought the magic was fun (Mer’s ability as a water diviner was particularly fascinating). Kudos to the water horse scene, which was my favourite scene of the book; the tone and writing were spot on.

Although I enjoyed the plot, the way certain points were held back, the world, the Welsh mythology and the satisfying ending, the skewed pacing meant that the middle felt too long and meandering and the ending felt rushed, and the lack of character depth meant I wasn't as immersed as expected from the strong beginning.

'The Drowned Woods' is a book that is based on the welsh folklore about the legendary ancient sunken kingdom Cantre'r Gwaelod. It tells the tale of the reason why the kingdom sank.

The book is like a positive mix of fantasy and heist and fairy tale. I had trouble getting into the story when I started reading it, mainly because it was slow paced, but it did have some twists and turns I did not expect coming up!

I love Mererid and Ifanna. They're really powerful female main characters and unique in their own way. And I also loved Fane, who wanted to not cause harm even though he was cursed. But maybe I love Trefor a bit more🤭 I mean, how can I not?! He's a great companion to have on a heist!

I have never read a story that shows Welsh folklore before and I so loved reading this one. The mythical creatures, the magic, the thrill, the twists - it was a perfect blend. My only very minor issue was with the pacing. The story, even though not too long, felt a bit so because of the slow pace it followed.

If you want to explore books on Welsh folktales, I think that this one is a good start!!

The Drowned Woods is part dark fairytale, part heist and with a storyline steeped in Welsh legends. This wonderful standalone YA fantasy gave me so much enjoyment to read. There’s magic, adventure and the most adorable Corgi side kick called Trefor. The legend of Cantre’r Gwaelod is fascinating and so much research has gone into compiling this book. Prior to reading The Drowned Woods I knew nothing about this sunken kingdom, under what is now the stretch of open sea at Cardigan Bay and I now want to delve much more deeply into it.

Mer is the last living water diviner and together with her eccentric gang of misfits they embark on a treacherous journey in an attempt to overthrow the villainous prince, however nothing is quite as it seems…. It is a well written story, the plot is engaging and the pacing spot on. Some scenes I was on the edge of my seat and with just the right amount of twists and turns you never quite know what to expect.

The characters are brilliant and I felt connected to all of them. Mer is the perfect female lead, she is strong and courageous and also has a great sense of humour. Her interactions with Fane are marvellous and Fane’s bond with his dog, Trefor, is adorable.

You never quite sure how the story will end but it all came together beautifully in a very satisfying way. A superb story with just the right mix of action, adventure and intrigue. I really enjoyed this author’s writing style and I will definitely be reaching for The Bone Houses at some point.

Happy Release Day!

I really loved this standalone YA fantasy, featuring Welsh legends which told the story beautifully from start to end. Having read so many series lately, it is always refreshing to come across a standalone book that is well paced and doesn't rush to tie everything up or lose its intention. I really liked the heist element which I don't think is done nearly enough - it is so much fun to read about and kept me truly invested. As for the Corgi - can I humbly request we have more of this??? Also, shoutout to the cover artist who did an outstanding job! I received my Illumicrate edition last week and let out a squeal because I was so excited to have a physical copy of what will become a timeless and cherished book. Outstanding writing, great plot and wonderfully loveable characters!

Rating — — ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑.5

This book was honestly so enjoyable from start to finish. Usually I have a habit of getting sidetracked by world building but the way Lloyd-Jones world builds is just so enjoyable to read.

I loved the concept that this book is based on Welsh folklore and it was so well written that it made me so much more interested in the lore behind the book. Not to mention how loveable the characters, at some points I found them slightly disinteresting but honestly Mer as a main character is just incredible and I can’t wait to read Lloyd-Jones’ other books to see how they connect.

Mer is the last living water diviner, and a valuable asset to anyone with a thirst for power. But Mer is determined to live life on her own terms, even if it means she is permanently on the run from the kingdom's cruel prince. When a figure from her past offers her a chance at real freedom, she decides to take it. But the magical heist she embarks on comes at a cost she may not be willing to pay.

The Drowned Woods is filled with twists and betrayals. It has a great cast of characters - including an unforgettable guild of thieves - and a well developed magic system. With vibes of Throne of Glass and Poison Study this is a must-read for fantasy fans.

This YA fantasy heist, it follows the story of Mer a water-diviner who is in hiding after evading capture.

This is a fun story with good characters, at times a little slow paced but overall a decent read!

Thank you to Net Galley, Hodder and Stoughton and Emily Lloyd-Jones for sending me an ARC of this fantastic book. I absolutely loved this book, this is definitely a character driven plot and all the characters were intriguing and fully rounded with their own desires and interests to further the plot and account for their actions. I particularly enjoyed the parts from other characters perspectives that showed insight into their motivations as it added to their characterisation. The world building is wonderful and the inclusion of the otherworld as magic, even if there was little interaction with this world other than the other-touched was no less captivating. The characters combined with the plot created an unforgettable story that I had to finish! I look forward to reading more by this author!

I loved this book! I didn't know much about Welsh mythology before reading this, but now I'm definitely intrigued to learn more.

Would you just look at that beautiful cover 😍 Heck, if that doesn't draw you in, along with the promise of a dark fairytale, magic and myths... I don't know what will!

I REALLY enjoyed The Drowned Woods, more so than I at first thought. Straight away you are thrown deep into the action and the plot continues to be fast paced, as it's characters, each armed with their own unique skill, embark on a treacherous journey, intent on bringing down a villainous Prince. However, things don't quite go according to plan and there's a couple of wickedly good twists towards the end that make the story all the more exciting!

The world building and magic are well crafted, seamlessly woven together with the stories of Welsh mythology to bring a whole other dimension to the storyline. The people are rich in character with heroes and villains aplenty! Including the cutest "side-kick" known to man, Trefor the corgi, who'll bring a little light amongst all the high stake scenes.

I loved it, and couldn't help but root for Mer and her eccentric gang! 💜🌊✨

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

The Drowned Woods follows the story of the last living water diviner, Mer, who is hiding from the prince who forced her to murder hundreds of people without her even knowing. When her old guardian returns with a plot for revenge, Mer teams up with an unlikely crew to get rid of the person who prevents her from leading a peaceful life.

Firstly, I loved the prologue. That being said, I'm a huge fan of prologues tangentially related to the storyline but in the form of a legend that sets up the worldbuilding. I was also a huge fan of Mer's relationship with Renfrew, and her exploration and comfort with her powers. The heist was really interesting, and the crew had a really good relationship with each other that jumped off the page. Ultimately, though, I just didn't love the plot enough to be super compelled by it, but other than that, I thought the author did a great job at crafting her world and her characters! And to end this review, can I just say, that epilogue 👀

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was refreshing to read a book inspired by Welsh mythology. I loved the world-building and the characters were amazing. The whole story is so beautifully woven and I couldn't get enough of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

This book is an atmospheric, enjoyable take on Welsh mythology with an interesting cast of characters and a great plot. Part heist, part fantasy, there is a lot to enjoy here.

Mer is a water diviner on her last job, and she makes a great main character. She's got interesting relationships with Ifanna and Fane, and her complicated relationship with Renfrew is fascinating.

The heist aspect moves quickly and excitingly into a more fantasy element with betrayals, romance, and a very smart corgi.

I really enjoyed this novel, especially the Welsh mythology world building, and I liked how Lloyd-Jones didn't let that stop her from building a diverse main cast.

The ending was really gorgeous, and involved multiple dogs which made me very happy.

I hope Lloyd-Jones returns to this world, as I've really fallen in love with it.

Five stars.

This was a lovely standalone YA fantasy based around Welsh legends, a unique magic system and loveable characters.
I loved the dark fairytale themes, the heist element and the almost creepy world building.
There were a couple of really well done twists, some subtle romance and some high stakes moments.
I recommend for fans of:
✨fantasy heists
✨interesting magic systems
✨less known legends and myths
✨beautiful writing
✨fairytales
✨easy reads
✨a fast paced plot

Thank you Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautifully written YA novel based on Welsh mythology. As a mythology lover, this was such an easy read. Mer is the last diviner of water that is known of and she agrees to be part of a heist to get revenge on the Prince that stole her young life from her. I loved the character development of Mer and how the legends were weaved so cleverly into the story. I also liked how it was a slow-burned romance with bisexual representation. This was very well written, I would recommend.