Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Drowned Woods

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Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

36 reviews

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.

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cateemma's review against another edition

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adventurous tense medium-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

4.25

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purplepenning's review against another edition

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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

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sunrae_booknook's review against another edition

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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.

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kaetheluise_nckl's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

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booksbyabbi's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

In a story that is as much of a heist adventure as it is a dark fairytale, Emily Lloyd-Jones returns with another brilliantly crafted novel based on Welsh mythology. Mer is the last living water diviner—someone whose ability to control water makes her invaluable to the Prince and a fugitive once she escapes his service. But when her old mentor finds her and proposes a scheme to end his rule entirely, she joins his motley crew to destroy a magical well that protects his rule.

Perhaps my favourite aspect of Lloyd-Jones’ novels is her use of Welsh settings and inspirations. It’s not a setting I see used in fiction very often, so it definitely sticks out. Additionally, Lloyd-Jones’ lyrical and beautiful prose is well suited to such a lovely country—one of my favourites I’ve ever visited. Truly, this was one of my favourite parts of Lloyd-Jones’ other novel The Bone Houses and remains such with The Drowned Woods. The fact that these are set in the same world makes me want to reread both novels to look for any connections between the two!

Lloyd-Jones’ other strength is the resolve of characters. Mer is every bit the strong female character you could dream of with her wit, courage, and resilience. As she navigates alliances and betrayals, her headstrong confidence drives the story onwards. It really was refreshing to see a female character who, through betrayal and difficulty, remains confident in herself, her abilities, and her goals. Plus, she’s a bicon who embodies what casual queer representation should be. The fact that her bisexuality is both discussed and portrayed on the page rather being left off-screen was massively important to me. And it neither made a huge deal out of, or then becomes her central personality trait. Emily Lloyd-Jones is really out here writing the queer representation we all need more of.

Lastly, can we take a second to talk about the magic system???? It’s so well thought out and brilliantly done! I really loved being able to see how magic affects people differently and while it is of the “Other” it isn’t some well-kept secret Mer discovers through the story of she faces severe discrimination for having. Also, seeing her powers manifest in contrast to Fane’s really helped to demonstrate the complexity of her system which I always find fascinating to read.

All in all, this book is a fast and fun read for any fantasy fan absolutely full of action, adventure, romance, magic, loveable thieves, killer pot twists, mythical creatures, and high stakes!

Oh and corgis. Absolutely cannot forget the corgis.

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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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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.

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melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition

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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?

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anapthine's review against another edition

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adventurous dark relaxing 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? No

3.75

Thank you Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautifully written YA novel based on Welsh mythology. As a mythology lover, this was such an easy read. Mer is the last diviner of water that is known of and she agrees to be part of a heist to get revenge on the Prince that stole her young life from her. I loved the character development of Mer and how the legends were weaved so cleverly into the story. I also liked how it was a slow-burned romance with bisexual representation. This was very well written, I would recommend.

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quietlyfierce's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

4.75

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