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thewildmageslibrary's review
4.0
I didn't know anything about this but decided to finally pick it up. I enjoyed it more than the Bone Houses, though THEY'RE CONNECTED?? I guess it's just been too long since I read TBH, I can't remember how this prequel ties in .
CW: drowning
CW: drowning
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Death, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child death
teaclockwitch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, Torture, War, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Child death
purplepenning's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Colonisation, Child abuse, Classism, Blood, Confinement, Grief, Murder, Body horror, and Violence
sunrae_booknook's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Magic corgi on an oceans 11 / six of crows heist where the MC doesn’t lose their powers at the end? Hell yes! Bi rep so natural it had me weeping to see. Like hell yes to see characters like me just accept sexuality without addressing it or making a huge fuss over it. No surprise or second guessing. Loved that aspect so much. Only reason I took a half star off was for the predictable plot twist but I was so throughly enjoying the read that I didn’t even mind that I figured it out so far in advance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Child abuse, Murder, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Classism, Confinement, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Blood
snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.
Part heist novel and part retelling of the Welsh myth of Cantre’r Gwaelod (which is an area of land submerged under the waters of present-day Cardigan Bay), The Drowned Woods is filled with half-truths, betrayals and magic. It follows a motley crew attempting to steal from Prince Garanhir—some for the glory, some for the gold, some to break the prince’s power to gain freedom as the treasures they’re aiming for aren’t just typical ones kept behind a vault in the castle. Instead, these treasures are within a magical well that feeds into the walls of Gwaelod, providing the kingdom and its ruler power and safety.
Now, while it sounds like a bad idea to weaken the defences of a kingdom as the prince isn’t the sole inhabitant, trying to survive as a hunted, runaway diviner can make one just desperate enough to do anything to gain freedom from a cruel prince. Mer, our protagonist who’s desperate to be free and never again be used by the prince to poison thousands of innocent lives, agrees to join forces with her old teacher, the ex-spymaster and together, they gather the rest of their crew before attempting the heist of a lifetime.
Although the majority of the story is the formation of the crew, the multiple POVs kept the tension and pace going. It slowed down a little in the middle but my investment in Mer and Fane, her love interest, powered me through. The most exciting bits were definitely in the beginning and in the last few chapters of the book, though!
Nevertheless, despite my aforesaid investment, I have to admit that all the characters were two-dimensional. Mer, Fane and Ifanna (Mer’s ex-lover) had the makings to be stronger, more impactful characters but they all fell short and remained stuck like the other characters as devices to move the plot forward. I wanted to know what happened to them, but I didn’t particularly care either. The only moment I felt strongly for the characters was near the end and that’s because the most unexpecting thing happened ever (not spoiling it because it’s honestly the best part).
Overall, The Drowned Woods is a quick, enjoyable read. I appreciated the fairytale-like ending and understand that it is what links it to the author’s other book, The Bone Houses , but personally, would’ve preferred that the story hadn’t ended on such a lovely note. Anyway, if you’re looking for a YA fantasy with a BAMF female lead, this one is one you need to give a go!
Part heist novel and part retelling of the Welsh myth of Cantre’r Gwaelod (which is an area of land submerged under the waters of present-day Cardigan Bay), The Drowned Woods is filled with half-truths, betrayals and magic. It follows a motley crew attempting to steal from Prince Garanhir—some for the glory, some for the gold, some to break the prince’s power to gain freedom as the treasures they’re aiming for aren’t just typical ones kept behind a vault in the castle. Instead, these treasures are within a magical well that feeds into the walls of Gwaelod, providing the kingdom and its ruler power and safety.
Now, while it sounds like a bad idea to weaken the defences of a kingdom as the prince isn’t the sole inhabitant, trying to survive as a hunted, runaway diviner can make one just desperate enough to do anything to gain freedom from a cruel prince. Mer, our protagonist who’s desperate to be free and never again be used by the prince to poison thousands of innocent lives, agrees to join forces with her old teacher, the ex-spymaster and together, they gather the rest of their crew before attempting the heist of a lifetime.
Although the majority of the story is the formation of the crew, the multiple POVs kept the tension and pace going. It slowed down a little in the middle but my investment in Mer and Fane, her love interest, powered me through. The most exciting bits were definitely in the beginning and in the last few chapters of the book, though!
Nevertheless, despite my aforesaid investment, I have to admit that all the characters were two-dimensional. Mer, Fane and Ifanna (Mer’s ex-lover) had the makings to be stronger, more impactful characters but they all fell short and remained stuck like the other characters as devices to move the plot forward. I wanted to know what happened to them, but I didn’t particularly care either. The only moment I felt strongly for the characters was near the end and that’s because the most unexpecting thing happened ever (not spoiling it because it’s honestly the best part).
Overall, The Drowned Woods is a quick, enjoyable read. I appreciated the fairytale-like ending and understand that it is what links it to the author’s other book, The Bone Houses , but personally, would’ve preferred that the story hadn’t ended on such a lovely note. Anyway, if you’re looking for a YA fantasy with a BAMF female lead, this one is one you need to give a go!
Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood and Death
Minor: Violence
halfbloodprincess_hogwarts's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Ok, I loved LOVED the ending!!!!!
I am utterly grateful this book started moving in a solid direction. I thought it would be a lot more exciting and action packed. But it reminded me of Part 1 of HP and the deathly hallows where all they did was hide in the woods😑😑😑 (see what I did there)
I adore Mer (water wielder), Fane (loveable man/Trefor's owner/iron and finder of metals) , Ifanna (princess of thieves) and Trefor (the sweet corgi whom sniffs out magic).
I would have rated this higher but that middle part damn near took a sista out😭😭😭
The magic was pretty cool, but the magical killer water mare's were badass.
So much sorrow, bloodloss, greed, and heartache🥺🥺🥺 luckily this story ended on a positive note or I would have SERIOUSLY been done with this author🤣😭👏🏼
I appreciate the nod to her previous work The Bone Houses at the end🥰
I am utterly grateful this book started moving in a solid direction. I thought it would be a lot more exciting and action packed. But it reminded me of Part 1 of HP and the deathly hallows where all they did was hide in the woods😑😑😑 (see what I did there)
I adore Mer (water wielder), Fane (loveable man/Trefor's owner/iron and finder of metals) , Ifanna (princess of thieves) and Trefor (the sweet corgi whom sniffs out magic).
I would have rated this higher but that middle part damn near took a sista out😭😭😭
The magic was pretty cool, but the magical killer water mare's were badass.
So much sorrow, bloodloss, greed, and heartache🥺🥺🥺 luckily this story ended on a positive note or I would have SERIOUSLY been done with this author🤣😭👏🏼
I appreciate the nod to her previous work The Bone Houses at the end🥰
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Cursing, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, War, Grief, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
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