The Drowned Woods

Thank you so so much for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. I very much enjoyed the listening experience. And yes this means I liked the story very much.

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc!

This was amazing! A beautiful blend of welsh culture with a fantasy world, political intrigue and a group on a mission to end a tyrannical ruler!

“The Drowned Woods” by Emily Lloyd-Jones is an easy to read / listen novel with focus on the “magical heist” theme. The story follows Mererid ‘Mer’, a water diviner (read wielder) who is once again on the run from the Kingdom’s prince who wants her for her water-wielding powers. All Mer truly wants is a safe, quiet life, far from power and politics, but all that changes when her former spymaster and father-figure shows up with the proposal of a magical heist.

Starting from the legend of “Cantre'r Gwaelod”, a Welsh sunked kingdom, Emily Lloyd-Jones creates a high-fantasy novel enriched by stories of promised treasures, magical debts, and a lot of complicated adventure stories. To some extent, it is similar to Leigh Bardugo’s “Six of Crows” adventures, in a stand-alone format.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton Audio, Hodder & Stoughton, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

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#TheDrownedWoods #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for the free e-audio in exchange for an honest review.

Okay so I loved this audio. The narrator did SUCH a good job and it was just so brilliantly put together. It was made obvious when there was a new chapter and some of the added sound effects were brilliantly done. The pacing was beautiful. At no point did I feel like I needed to check how long was left because it was dragging, because it simply didn't! I was just lost in this world. I would definitely, definitely listen to this narrator again.

So I have not read any other books by this author, but I know it's set in the same world as another of their books. It did not matter that I hadn't a clue how it connected because this book is written so well. The whole magic system was interesting and easy to follow and so was the world building. At no point did I find myself stressed that I didn't read the other book (though I am now very, very tempted to read it).

This book is described as part heist and part dark fairy-tale and I feel like that is super accurate. If you're looking for either of those things, look no further than this book. It's such a fun, quick read! Very much enjoyed it!

First of all let me tell you that the audiobook is really amazing, the narrator doesn’t just read it but it seems she is acting and the final effect is fantastic.
I love when stories are narrated as if they were fairytales and especially the prologue and the epilogue gave me this feeling.
The plot is full of betrayals and plot twists that kept me hooked up and I almost read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. It definitely convinced me I want to read the Bone Houses very soon.
Mer has a rare power that has been exploited by men to do evil without her knowing, still she feels responsible. She does what she has to survive but she remains quite noble and stick to her morals and that’s what I appreciated about her.
At the beginning the crew and the sort of heist they must accomplish gave me Six of Crows vibes.

I read this story as an e-arc and I finished it within a couple of days. I really enjoyed it, though I felt I had read it so fast that I wanted to drop back into the World through the audiobook.

The background mystical music at the beginning of the prologue really helps set the scene and it feels like the beginning of a magical story. I think Moira Quirk did an excellent job in this audiobook and I felt her voice was very fitting to the story. She builds up tension so effectively and the voices she uses for the different characters were excellent. I also really enjoyed the epilogue which had the mystical music in the background again. This story has made me interested in Welsh mythology!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with this audiobook in advance in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really well written young adult dark fantasy story. It’s a one off but if you have read the book “The Bone Houses” you may recognize the world it’s built in since it’s the same world as that. You’ll get all new characters though as they embark on a dark fairy tale heist quest.
The kingdoms of Wales were once rife with magic and fighting. Eighteen year old Merid, or Mer, knows both all too well. You see, she is the last living water diviner and she has spent many years fleeing and hiding from the prince who bound her into his service. The prince demanded that she locate the wells of all his enemies and then he poisoned them all without her knowing. This caused hundreds of deaths and when Mer figured out what he had done she disappeared from his reach. One day, however, her old handler comes back into her life with a proposition: use her powers in order to bring down that very prince who abused them both,
In order to do that, the magical well that keeps the prince’s lands must be destroyed. The two gather a crew of allies. This group includes the lady of thieves, a fae-cursed young man, and corgi that just may be a bit of a spy. Mer may finally be able to really get freedom and peace for herself. She is determined, along with the others, to take down the kingdom.
This book is really good. It has a lot of the themes that you find in books in the same or similar genres but it does stand out. It’s one of my favorite YA heist fantasies of the year. I definitely recommend this book if this is in a category you are fond of.
If you get the chance to listen to the audio of this, it is fantastic. The narrator is brilliant with the story and every so often there are sound effects that build the suspense at the time (ex, a heart beat, horse running, things like that). I definitely recommend the audio as well.

The synopsis alone drew me in. I loved the welsh folklore, but also the audiobook honoured that by having a narrator with a welsh accent.

It was until i released its based on the forest of a welsh coast that the book gets its name (i know a bit slow).

I really enjoyed the characters, how they become a crew to achieve a mission, but also to try and stop a king who poisons any opposition/enemy wells, affecting all who drink the water. The mix of magic, fae, humans and then through in threats, fights, deception. I didnt want to put the book/audiobook down, as i wanted to know where the journey would go.

I can't wait to read the bone houses. As there is a connection.

This audiobook was amazing! I loved the narrator and felt fully emmersed in the story! I could not stop listening

If you’re thinking of reading this book, DO IT.
I’ve listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed it deeply.

The story starts with a quest and while this is unfolding, we get to know who the characters are, what was their past and what draws them together.

The plot is a tale of magic and fae and the survival of the worlds. The narrator was very good and the plot kept me interested throughout the book. The characters were well developed, wholesome and had depth.

I was pleasantly surprised and I definitely recommend giving it a go!

I enjoyed spending my evenings with this enchanted story.

✨Genre: #YAFantasy #Retelling #Romance

📚: 1/1

I really enjoyed it, despite all the downfall aspects of this book.

First of all I'm a huge fan of Avatar, and the story of #TheDrownedWoods starts with the last water diviner.

Actually main character "Mer" is likable, she is a water diviner, princess puppet and a thief.

There is a side character who is a CORGI. This on its own deserves an extra cookie.

A lot of water magic, that's the part that I liked the most. Because importantly author does not forget that water is everywhere and it turns out to be an interesting spectacle. As well as iron magic and little forest folks, who aren't that cute...

The actual story is fairly bland, there aren't any moments that would make you intrigued, curious, increase heart palpitations, however it's nevertheless enchanting. Some parts are very predictable, but then again, not all the books should be super complicated.

I believe author based this story inspired by the old folk/bard tales and I guess it's one of those easy, relaxing reads for the Autumn nights.

I've rated the book 3/5.
Audio narration: 5/5. I really enjoyed it.