The Wild Huntress

by Emily Lloyd-Jones

From the bestselling author of The Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods comes a thrilling fantasy about three unlikely allies bound together in a deadly, magical competition-perfect for fans of Holly Black and Erin A. Craig.

Every five years, two kingdoms take part in a Wild Hunt. Joining is a bloody risk, and even the most qualified hunters can suffer the deadliest fates. Still, hundreds gamble their lives to participate-all vying for the Hunt's life-changing prize: a magical wish granted by the Otherking.

BRANWEN possesses a gift no other human has: the ability to see and slay monsters. She's desperate to cure her mother's sickness, and the Wild Hunt is her only option.

GWYDION is the least impressive of his magically talented family, but with his ability to control plants and his sleight of hand, he'll do whatever it takes to keep his cruel older brother from becoming a tyrant.

PRYDERI is prince-born and monster-raised. Deep down, the royal crown doesn't interest him-all he wants is to know where he belongs.

A trickster, a prince, and a wild huntress-all in pursuit of the Champion's prize. If they band together against the monstrous creatures within the woods, they have a chance to win. But nothing is guaranteed. After all, all are fair game in love and the Hunt.

Set in the same world as The Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods but with a whole new, unforgettable cast of characters-The Wild Huntress will have readers hooked from the very first page.

• ISBN10: 0316568147
• ISBN13: 9780316568142
• Publish Date: 14 November 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
• Imprint: Little, Brown Young Readers
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Ever since she was a baby, Brawnwen has had the ability to see the otherfolk - monsters included. This made her a unique hunter among her people. Since it was her biggest talent, she made it her job.

Meanwhile, Gwydion is a prince known for his hand sleight and ability to use people. He doesn’t want the throne but knows his brother would be worse. So he’ll do what it takes to ensure the proper leader takes her seat on the throne.

My Review:

If you asked me to make a book bingo card for 2024, not in a million years would I have thought to include another adventure in the world of The Drowned Woods. So imagine my delight when The Wild Huntress came across my shelf.

To be clear, you don’t need to read The Drowned Woods to appreciate or understand The Wild Huntress. It’ll just give some context for the world and certain characters, which isn’t a huge deal here.

The novel is divided into three perspectives: Branwen (the huntress), Gwydion (the prince and trickster), and Pryderi (the prince-born monster). Each perspective adds something different to the story, from a tragic past to conflicting goals and everything in between. And I’ve got to say, multiple POVs done right can enhance a fantasy novel.

The Wild Huntress broke my heart. I mean that in a good way. I wasn’t expecting that ending or even the twists that occurred along the way. I was thoroughly invested in each character and their goals by the end.

This was the “sequel” I never expected to get. Despite that, I find myself hoping we’ll see another adventure set in the same world. It’s greedy to ask and unlikely to happen, but The Wild Huntress proves there’s untapped potential.

Highlights:
Romantic Fantasy
The Wild Hunt
Same World as The Drowned Woods

Trigger Warnings:
Animal Death (hunting)

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