The Drowned Woods
The Sunday Times bestselling and darkly gripping YA fantasy heist novel
-
- €8.99
-
- €8.99
Publisher Description
WINNER OF THE 2023 TIR NA N-OG AWARD
The right cause can topple a kingdom . . .
Once upon a time, the kingdoms of Wales were rife with magic and conflict - and Mer is well-acquainted with both.
For years, she has been running from the prince who bound her into his service - and forced her to kill thousands with her water magic. Now, all Mer truly wants is a quiet life, far from power and politics.
But then Mer's old handler offers her a proposal: use her powers to bring down the very prince that abused them both. With the help of a fae-cursed man, a snarky thief, and a corgi that may or may not be a spy, Mer must decide if she's prepared to run for the rest of her life, or to stand and fight for her freedom - and peace . . .
Part heist novel, part dark fairy tale, and rich with Welsh legends, The Drowned Woods is perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and Maria V. Snyder.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Hair-raising narrow escapes and unlikely alliances encumbered by bitter, uncertain loyalties abound in this thrilling heist tale by Lloyd-Jones (The Bone Houses), set in a melancholic world of fae magic drawn from Welsh mythology. When farmer's daughter Mererid was eight, she was taken from her family by cold-blooded human Prince Garanhir for her ability to manipulate water. After years under his thumb, Mer, now 18, has escaped and is horrified by the atrocities that Garanhir committed with her unwitting help. She is soon recruited by former spymaster Renfrew, one of the prince's closest confidants, for a quest. Renfrew proclaims he has betrayed the prince and is building a team—which includes Fane, a man endowed with magic by the fae; Fane's pet corgi, Trefor; and Ifanna, a thief from Mer's past—to pull off a daring caper to destroy the heart of Garanhir's power, a hidden magical well containing unknown treasures that protect his land. Each of Lloyd-Jones's characters is plagued by guilty consciences, past grievances, and personal traumas, making for a profoundly detailed, fully formed cast. Tense romantic entanglements, intricate lore, and Trefor's well-timed comic relief elevate this moody, ethereal read. Protagonists present as white. Ages 14–up.
