The Drowned Woods

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. Agent: Sarah Landis, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Aug.)