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kiwij96's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I am a sucker for stories with Cymraeg in them and those which are based on welsh folk tales such as this one. Seeing my country's language and cultural tales in a book is always an amazing feeling.
Six of Crows meets Welsh folk tales in this short YA standalone. The last water diviner is on a quest to overthrow the Prince with a group of misfits: a thief, a spy, a scholar, a soldier, a ring-fighter, and a corgi who loves cheese. I mean really, what is ther not to like?
Some parts of the story do feel like they go on a bit but overall the story was well-paced with some great characters and some great twists.
Six of Crows meets Welsh folk tales in this short YA standalone. The last water diviner is on a quest to overthrow the Prince with a group of misfits: a thief, a spy, a scholar, a soldier, a ring-fighter, and a corgi who loves cheese. I mean really, what is ther not to like?
Some parts of the story do feel like they go on a bit but overall the story was well-paced with some great characters and some great twists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism and Vomit
j_emerson18's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
5.0
OH. MY. GOD. This book is everything to me. The connections to the previous book was unmatched. Emily Lloyd Jones stands as my top three favorite author. She's phenomenal. The characters drive me crazy and have me so invested in their well being. The banter is top tier. Dear God this was such an amazing read. So incredibly invested in this fictional universe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, Child death, Blood, Violence, Vomit, Torture, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol and Abandonment
leonormsousa's review
adventurous
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Animal death, Child death, Vomit, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, Blood, and Violence
booksthatburn's review against another edition
This feels similar to THE BONE HOUSES in many of the ways that made it just okay for me. In particular I find myself disliking the animal companion, this time it’s a Corgi. I want the guy to be broody instead of just quiet, I have very little sense of what anyone thinks, and I’m just not having a good time, so I’m stopping.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Torture
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and Animal cruelty
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
quietlyfierce's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence, Death, Kidnapping, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Torture, War, Genocide, and Grief
Minor: Vomit and Child death
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
4.0
I just had quite a laugh at myself when I opened up my Kindle to see what I highlighted while reading The Drowned Woods. Ya girl really went and highlighted over forty times throughout the story (and let's be real, half of these highlights were about the corgi).
After reading The Bone Houses, I knew I wanted to pick up absolutely anything Emily Lloyd-Jones wrote. I love the atmospheric writing, the little bit of spookiness, the cozy vibes, and the way the characters just feel so real. That last bit was certainly the case in The Drowned Woods. I felt so connected to this cast of characters that if you'd tapped me while reading, I would've been convinced it was Fane or Mer at my shoulder.
While I was aware that the two books took place in the same world, I wasn't expecting to see so many familiar terms and elements and it was such a great surprise as I read. The ending of this one was the absolute best part for me, leaving me actually gasping with excitement about the way things connected. The epilogue was also written in the same format as The Bone Houses, which was just so much fun. It was a nice little gift to the "dedicated" reader and it tied the two together so beautifully.
Some may make the case that the protagonist of this book is Mer. However, I'd make the case that there is no true "main character." It follows a group of characters that almost all hold equal importance to the story. There are a few "honorable mentions" of sorts, and Trefor (the corgi who, in my opinion, was the best character in the book), but for the most part, each person contributes the same amount to the plot.
The plot - oh, the plot. If you're of the frame of mind that thinks "if you've read one heist book, you've read them all," you are wrong. This heist book is unlike any other. It takes you for a wild ride. It makes you think you know what's coming and then surprises the heck out of you. It makes you love morally gray characters. It will have you sneezing like Trefor at all of the magic. It's incredible.
This book is such a quick and easy read, but it won't quickly or easily leave your mind. I read it in just over a day and enjoyed every second of it. I honestly didn't want it to end. Let it be known that Emily's books are the epitome of comfort-reads! I could pick them up again and again and find something new every time.
After reading The Bone Houses, I knew I wanted to pick up absolutely anything Emily Lloyd-Jones wrote. I love the atmospheric writing, the little bit of spookiness, the cozy vibes, and the way the characters just feel so real. That last bit was certainly the case in The Drowned Woods. I felt so connected to this cast of characters that if you'd tapped me while reading, I would've been convinced it was Fane or Mer at my shoulder.
While I was aware that the two books took place in the same world, I wasn't expecting to see so many familiar terms and elements and it was such a great surprise as I read. The ending of this one was the absolute best part for me, leaving me actually gasping with excitement about the way things connected. The epilogue was also written in the same format as The Bone Houses, which was just so much fun. It was a nice little gift to the "dedicated" reader and it tied the two together so beautifully.
Some may make the case that the protagonist of this book is Mer. However, I'd make the case that there is no true "main character." It follows a group of characters that almost all hold equal importance to the story. There are a few "honorable mentions" of sorts, and Trefor (the corgi who, in my opinion, was the best character in the book), but for the most part, each person contributes the same amount to the plot.
The plot - oh, the plot. If you're of the frame of mind that thinks "if you've read one heist book, you've read them all," you are wrong. This heist book is unlike any other. It takes you for a wild ride. It makes you think you know what's coming and then surprises the heck out of you. It makes you love morally gray characters. It will have you sneezing like Trefor at all of the magic. It's incredible.
This book is such a quick and easy read, but it won't quickly or easily leave your mind. I read it in just over a day and enjoyed every second of it. I honestly didn't want it to end. Let it be known that Emily's books are the epitome of comfort-reads! I could pick them up again and again and find something new every time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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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