Reviews with content warning for Blood - The Drowned Woods

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

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious medium-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

4.0

Well, the casual inclusion of queer characters was a delight for me that I wasn't expecting! Overall, I enjoyed this; it was atmospheric, the magic system was fascinating, and the heist parts of the plot were engaging. The stakes were high, there's a great little group going after the treasure, and the mythology aspects were just really well done.

I do think occasionally, some of the characters fall flat at the expense of the plot, but it wasn't too terrible. Doesn't turn me off of Emily Lloyd-Jones in the future.

Content Warnings

melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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

4.75

Thank you to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for an ALC of this book.

Mer is the last living water diviner, and she is on the run from the prince that wants to control her. But when she runs into an opportunity to bring down the prince who hurt her--and runs into a fae-cursed boy she feels a connection with--Mer does everything she can to be free.

This book was so good! Mer is a FANTASTIC main character. I love her. I love her relationships with the people around her and her struggles and her magic and everything about her. I also love Fane. He is mysterious and soft and bad-ass. And there is a CORGI. A MAGICAL CORGI. So like...obviously I loved this.

ELJ's writing is fantastic as always and the world-building is lush and magical and subtle and wonderful. I want more from this world and I want more stories about Mer and Fane and MAGICAL CORGI!!!!

Did I mention there is a magical corgi?

Content Warnings

quietlyfierce's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

4.75

Content Warnings

snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition

Go to review page

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!

Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warnings

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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? No

4.5

Content Warnings

halfbloodprincess_hogwarts's review against another edition

Go to review page

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🥰

Content Warnings

mjscooke's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I received a digital advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Drowned Woods is an enjoyable, stand-alone, fantastical tale steeped in welsh folklore with a kick-ass, magical, somewhat reluctant, female heroine. While it felt primarily plot-driven with the heist plot-line and revenge at the forefront, the complexities and conflicted depths of the characters cannot be denied. The chapters are easily digestible but I felt the 3rd act was where the story really shone so it was as slow a burn for me as the romance element. I also loved how understated the sexuality was noted. Definitely worth a read if you like stand-alone, adventurous stories with magical realities and conflicted characters.

Content Warnings

More...