Once upon a time, the kingdoms of Wales were rife with magic and conflict, and eighteen-year-old Mererid “Mer” is well-acquainted with both. She is the last living water diviner and has spent years running from the prince who bound her into his service. Under the prince’s orders, she located the wells of his enemies, and he poisoned them without her knowledge, causing hundreds of deaths. After discovering what he had done, Mer went to great lengths to disappear from his reach. Then Mer’s old handler returns with a proposition: use her powers to bring down the very prince that abused them both.
The best way to do that is to destroy the magical well that keeps the prince’s lands safe. With a motley crew of allies, including a fae-cursed young man, the lady of thieves, and a corgi that may or may not be a spy, Mer may finally be able to steal precious freedom and peace for herself. After all, a person with a knife is one thing… but a person with a cause can topple kingdoms. The Drowned Woods is steeped in Welsh folklore and magic, and it's an absolute joy to read. I blew through this novel in a day, and found it unputdownable. The novel is standard length for a YA fantasy, but feels much shorter due to the fast pacing. I found this quite agreeable, and thought that the character development fit well within the heist framework. To me, The Drowned Woods is not a typical story of heroism--everyone in the book exists within a moral grey area, which makes their actions and relationships with one another particularly interesting. Mer and her former spymaster have a familial relationship that is, at its foundation, built on her kidnapping for example. Therefore the dynamics of the heist are more nuanced than a "hero saves the day" story. Mer ponders past actions, forgiveness both for herself and others, and how to right wrongs as she works to undermine the prince. My copy of this book arrived out of the blue, exactly at the moment I needed it. A big heist story with a large cast of characters, each of whom has a unique reason to be there and a different skill to bring to the quest, appealed to me as I am also about to rejoin a group of friends and fit among others in a new way. My favorite character was Mer. This is typical for me, as I am fond of the characters who are prioritized in the narration and who get the most extensive background. I found her introspection a welcome break from the action-packed chapters, and her backstory felt well-fleshed out. I wish some of the other characters had gotten similar treatment, but with six main characters it would be difficult to allot page time to everyone, I understand. (Here is where I'll insert my lobbying for a Renfrew sequel/prequel, if the publishing gods so please!!) I loved the experience of reading The Drowned Woods, and found it an enjoyable read for my afternoon. It was so pleasing to be lost in this world of magic and Welsh fantasy. 5/5 stars.
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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