I’m so excited to be part of the TBR & Beyond tour for this heist novel with a twist. Find the full tour schedule here.
About the book
The Drowned Woods
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publishing Date: August 16, 2022
Synopsis:
A magical, ethereal fantasy from IndieBound bestselling author Emily Lloyd-Jones.
Once upon a time, the kingdoms of Wales were rife with magic and conflict, and eighteen-year-old Mererid “Mer” is well-acquainted with both. She is the last living water diviner and has spent years running from the prince who bound her into his service. Under the prince’s orders, she located the wells of his enemies, and he poisoned them without her knowledge, causing hundreds of deaths. After discovering what he had done, Mer went to great lengths to disappear from his reach. Then Mer’s old handler returns with a proposition: use her powers to bring down the very prince that abused them both.
The best way to do that is to destroy the magical well that keeps the prince’s lands safe. With a motley crew of allies, including a fae-cursed young man, the lady of thieves, and a corgi that may or may not be a spy, Mer may finally be able to steal precious freedom and peace for herself. After all, a person with a knife is one thing…but a person with a cause can topple kingdoms.
The Drowned Woods—set in the same world as The Bone Houses but with a whole new, unforgettable cast of characters—is part heist novel, part dark fairy tale.
Book Review
A disillusioned water diviner teams up with a spymaster for the heist of a lifetime. This book features a twist on the classic heist novel and memorable characters who’ll grow deep roots into your heart.
Mer’s the last water diviner and on the run from the prince who used her power to create unspeakable horrors. But when the prince’s former spymaster Renfrew finds her, he offers her a chance to get revenge. Together, they’ll steal the treasures in a magical well at the heart of the prince’s kingdom and weaken his power.
They assemble a ragtag crew: a scholar who’s the premier expert on magical traps, a man with otherworldly fighting ability, a soldier of unknown origin and Mer’s addition: the heir of the thief’s guild, Ifanna, who once betrayed Mer but now holds the key to success.
Mer finds herself drawn to Fane, a man who traded seven years of his life for seven human lives in a bargain with the otherfolk, even as she suspects he’s not telling her everything. My absolute favorite character was Trefor, Fane’s companion, the happy Corgi who everyone suspected of being a spy for the otherfolk (fairies). This story draws delightfully on magic and myth, weaving a world where Fane and Mer may have more power than even they suspect. Their feelings for each other may change the course of history.
There are plots within plots in this novel that pits its characters against mythical creatures and curses. All is not what it seems, and villains and heroes shift as the story unfolds. A riveting read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and TBR & Beyond Tours for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
About the author
Emily Lloyd-Jones grew up on a vineyard in rural Oregon, where she played in evergreen forests and learned to fear sheep. She has a BA in English from Western Oregon University and a MA in publishing from Rosemont College. She currently resides in Northern California, where she enjoys wandering in redwood forests. Her young adult novels include Illusive, Deceptive, The Hearts We Sold, The Bone Houses, and the forthcoming The Drowned Woods. Her debut middle grade, Unseen Magic, will release in 2022.
Need more to read? Find all of my fantasy recommendations here.
