The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Eighteen-year-old Mererid is the last living water diviner. Many would kill for her power, and she has spent the last several years running from the prince who once used her powers to destroy his enemies. One night, Mer's old handler returns with a way they can bring down the prince who used them both: destroy the magical well that keeps the prince's lands safe. If all goes according to plan, they and their allies may finally be able to gain freedom and peace ... but things rarely go according to plan.

346 pages. 

The Bone House by Emily Lloyd

 Pages: 352

"Seventeen-year-old Aderyn ("Ryn") only cares about two things: her family, and her family's graveyard. And right now, both are in dire straits. Since the death of their parents, Ryn and her siblings have been scraping together a meager existence as gravediggers in the remote village of Colbren, which sits at the foot of a harsh and deadly mountain range that was once home to the fae. The problem with being a gravedigger in Colbren, though, is that the dead don't always stay dead.

The risen corpses are known as "bone houses," and legend says that they're the result of a decades-old curse. When Ellis, an apprentice mapmaker with a mysterious past, arrives in town, the bone houses attack with new ferocity. What is it that draws them near? And more importantly, how can they be stopped for good?"

I wish this author has more standalone fantasy novels. I really enjoyed the Drowned Woods with is quirky magic (and the corgi!!) and strong characters. This one was a twist of more welsh folktales with more of a horror twist and another fun sidekick/pet in the goat.

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Pages: 346 

"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. 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."

I love a good re-telling. This one is based off the Welsh myth of Cantre'r Gwaelod. Add a heist, adorable corgi, and an intriguing magic system and I was sold. My only complaint is that the characters felt a little flat and recycled from common tropes seen in fantasy YA. I wish there was a little more development but the plot and twists make up for it.

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones

the corgi the corgi the corgi the corgi the corgi the corgi

I don't even know how to describe this book. But like...I was mostly there for the corgi and his boy. And the magic water girl. 
The magic was cool. 
352 Pages

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

....Can I have a mapmaker please...
All these moving skeletons got me:

This do be like Curse of the Black Pearl
I love Ellis. And no it's not because I know an Ellis library....it's because he's wonderful.
I knew that bone house was that person... like... I'm fine. 
Ok so my first guess about who his parents were was wrong, but my second was right. 
352 Pages