Lore of the Wilds is a young adult fantasy novel about Lore, a teenage human, who becomes entangled with Fae. There are enchanted libraries, apothecaries, and more! This kind of book is super up my alley so I was really excited to read it!

First of all, I enjoyed the Black representation in a fantasy novel, particularly one that leans into Western fairytale/fantasy tropes of apothecary shops, mystical forests, enchanted libraries, etc. I feel like we almost always see White characters in books like these, so I was happy to see the representation!

I thought that the plot was okay. I'm notoriously terrible at following fantasy plots, but this one really got me. I generally was more interested in the vibes than the plot. And the vibes were pretty good! This book has two love interests, both of whom I found engaging. I'm wondering if we will get a love triangle or a poly relationship in the next book. Personally hoping for the latter!! I felt like this was more cozy fantasy adjacent than romantasy. If you're looking for spice, look elsewhere! This book has more tension and yearning. Which is my preference, so I was happy!

Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it if you're also into fantasy with cozy vibes. 3.5 stars rounded up to 5 from me. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC of this book, my thoughts are my own!

Lore of the Wilds was one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2024, and in the end it delivered. Starting off I won’t lie; it was really slow, and I started to wonder if I would enjoy it at all…

But when it picked up it really picked up.

Lore, our FMC is a human from a small town called Duskmere and for as long as she can recall no one has left their town. She works at the local apothecary owned by her Aunt Eshe and Uncle Selim who foster 15 children that Lore has helped raise and helps to take care of as well.

She’s always dreamed of leaving Duskmere with her best friend Gray to search for answers pertaining to magic and where humankind/her people, come from but she gave up on that dream after an ‘incident occurred’.

One day a mysterious Fae male wanders into the apothecary looking for her Aunt and this is where things began to pick up—during their interaction the Fae discovers that she reads his native tongue, Aletherian, and is quite impressed.

He leaves but not too long after the encounter he sends his personal guard to Duskmere to retrieve Lore’s Aunt and bring her to Aletheria so that she can help him with a project requiring the reading of the language.

Lore goes in place of her Aunt and is thrust into a world of magic, adventure, secrets, and betrayal.

She meets some new friends along the way, never forgetting the old, and most certainly not forgetting about Duskmere, her home, and her people.

Lore is determined to find answers and answers she finds.

I’m so anxiously awaiting the second book as this book ended in a cliffhanger that left me now knowing how to feel. I loved the cottage core vibe, the library, the books, the magic, the herbs, detailed smells… I could go on and on. Sbrana did a fabulous job at engaging the senses and I love in particular how she weaves smells into moments throughout the book.

A little quirky thing that I loved in this book is that there is a scene where Lore tries dumplings for the first time and as dumplings are my favorite food I was overly thrilled lol.

Aside from Lore, our FMC—Findrell is my favorite character. Although he is grumbly, I can tell there is so much to him, and I can’t wait to learn more about him in the coming book.

Being an adult fantasy, I thought there would be more spice, but this story had more of a YA feel in my opinion, which I’m not mad about. I quite enjoy YA, but I would have liked more spice from this book.

If there is anything I could have had from this book that I didn’t get, it would be that it was more evenly paced—drawing me in from the beginning and keeping me hooked until the end.

Regardless, I really enjoyed Lore of the Wilds and rate it 4/5 stars.

TRIGGER WARNING: Extreme Poverty, Kidnapping, Slavery, Assumed SA.

Very, very similar to Lexi Ryan's These Hollow Vows but this is a much more toned down version. Honestly the big plot twist that Asher was the bad guy was pretty obvious.

LORE OF THE WILDS follows the titular character as she unexpectedly finds herself put to a task within the dark Fae castle. Given the subjugation of humans by the Fae, Lore decides to twist her situation to some advantage. If the Fae want Lore to find their magical books in the enchanted library, then they must help her hometown rebuild after and earthshake.

LORE OF THE WILDS thus boasts the promise of romantasy, a deal with a powerful Fae lord, and love triangle dalliances with the Fae. While this ultimately sounds like a romantasy lover's dream, especially for Fae fans, the execution fell frustratingly flat. I was really looking forward to this based on the synopsis, but ended up disappointed.

First, although marketed as an Adult fantasy novel, it instead reads like a Young Adult book that happens to have a 21-year-old main character. Lore is ridiculously impulsive and makes incredibly stupid decisions. I might understand this if there was better characterization over the course of the book, but, regrettably, there is not. Given her historical losses and way of life in Duskmere, I would have at least expected her to think more rationally. But there is seldom a plan. And when there is one things mostly go off without a hitch, which is unrealistic.

It also seemed like the author wasn't quite sure what tone or vibe to achieve in the book. It starts off dark, then dips into something reminiscent of cottagecore. And then it does a complete 180 degrees at the end of the book into a dark theme with absolutely no foreshadowing. I felt that LORE OF THE WILDS could've been so much better if the author leaned into building this particular theme or spent more time, via Lore, learning about why the Fae subjugate humans. Instead the reader gets Lore in the library gaslighting herself about a magical book before she goes on the run. Then she plays a merry homemaker cooking in a pub before experiencing an abrupt plot reveal.

When it comes to the romantasy, unfortunately this did not work for me, either, for several reasons. First, there is not enough interaction or shared experiences between the characters for the reader to develop a connection to them to care about their relationship. A lot of time elapses, but it occurs off the page rather than on. Second, there is absolutely no tension. One minute Lore is in a discussion and the next there is the obligate text to indicate that Lore feels spicy. Finally, the times that Lore and the love interest decide to enjoy each other are such odd ones to choose. In my opinion, that only works when there is a build up of tension throughout most of the book.

My other big quibble is that the characterization of the two Fae male love interests is patchy and the dialogue clunky. The goal seems to be that of gruff, surly, emotionless Fae male type for both characters. However, it didn't take long for that facade to wear off of one, which is fine. The second Fae male wore that characterization more often, but it did not feel compelling or mysterious.

I did, however, like the scenes in which Lore learns from the magical book. I would have loved to read more of them, or even read more about the magic system in the book. Unfortunately, though, LORE OF THE WILDS is a miss for me. This might be better suited for someone who doesn't mind romantasy that is lower on plot details in order to move the story along at a quick pace.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. the characters, the story line! everything. The world building in this was top tier. Analeigh really knocked it out of the park on this one.

3.5 stars rounded up!

The vibes, setting, and characters are immaculate. The pacing? All over the place. Some segments of time dragged, others seemed far too skipped over. But, I love Lore and am invested in her story and will be back for the sequel!

Why did I pick this up? A cursed library and a human girl at the mercy of the fae with a magic book (a fairy-witch vibe, put it in a vape and let me smoke it up.
What I loved most? The cozy moments of joy, especially when meeting Isla. Despite the high stakes, I really wanted to cozy up with a steaming mug in a lot of this book.
Who I'm rooting for? Finn. I love a grump and maybe I'm not loyal cause it was pretty instant . .. sorry Asher but not sorry
What moment stuck with me ? The kitchen scene that transported me to Edward Cullen's meadow . . . As if you could outrun me Lore . . . As if you could fight me off.
What thoughts do I have after reading? WHY was the library cursed? I swear it never said and I'm OK with waiting for book 2 not to know, but no one asked either and that's what drives me mad! How isn't that question asked 10000 times? If I'm just failing to remember that it had been asked and answered someone let me know. I'll blame the pregnancy brain
Who's this for? Ya fantasy readers who want a fae and witchy vibe mix with a large dollop of cozy with poc representation.

This feels like a great start but I was often confused about what was happening and had to reread a few things a few times to make sure I understood the why of things. I think my bigger question was always whether this was a YA or NA book.

The writing kept switching back and forth in flow and then BAM a f bomb that had never been used before or since. It felt unnecessary and like it was thrown in there to MAKE this more adult. I’m all for cursing in fantasy books, but it has to be like PART of the character and never once before or since had this character said anything even close to a real life curse word 🤣 just threw me off when the writing was so YA driven.

Overall a decent read though and the cover for this is just beautiful!

Lore’s world is turned upside down when she is personally requested by the Fae Lord to organize their library and look for some magical texts. One would think that being taken away from her village, which is essentially a forested prison that keeps humans inside, Lore would be happy to see the world outside. However, she is faced with prejudice, is looked down at, and feels isolated. Only one person at the palace seems to be somewhat less resentful towards her - the very Fae guard that is tasked to watch her. Lore is torn between her duty towards her village and the magical knowledge that is tempting her. Eventually, everything turns upside down as she is on the run with the book that might or may not be her salvation.

Lore of the Wilds is filled with lavish descriptions and diverse characters that would make you fall in love with them, only to get your heart ripped apart. Ending with an epic cliffhanger, this book is definitely going to make you cry with frustration because the sequel is not coming out until next year.

This was an exciting read. Magic. Friendship. Betrayal. And romance.
Lore is a human with dreams of finding magic. She is trapped in the human town of Duskmere, where they are kept by a fae spell. She is taken to the fae castle with hopes of helping her people. But the unexpected happens, and she makes a friend with a fae guard. While tasked to clean the library, she hopes to learn things to help her people. But she finds a book, it's blank but it called her name. Could this be the magic she's been seeking to help her people? Or will it open doors that lead her down a dangerous path?
Great story and characters who make you root for their success

As a deep lover of fantasy and fantasy romance, I was very excited for 'Lore of the Wilds', especially considering the diverse authorship and characters.

Unfortunately, this one didn't hold up to my expectations. For me one of the biggest issues was the disjointed tone - it would read YA and then abruptly shift to very adult scenes and themes. It's like it didn't know what it wanted to be.

With so much fantasy romance out there, I do feel it's important to try and bring something new and unique to readers, and 'Lore' didn't do that in my opinion. It heavily relied on popular tropes but said tropes didn't progress the story or have any positive impact. The twists and overall plot were fairly predictable and so there was very little to keep me invested.

I had such high hopes for this but ultimately it just wasn't for me.

3.5 ⭐️ This book took me a while to get into or get into the mood to read it. It was a cozy little fantasy that had such a great premise but at many times I was wondering what the big problem was going to be that they would face and what the point was to what was going on. Despite that I still enjoyed the characters and the story but felt very slow and young adult. The ending had a great twist and makes me want to read the next one especially now that the story is more established. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book!

I love the concept and premise of the book, but the actually delivery fell kind of flat. It is a debut author, so I would definitely try out their next title. This one needed a little more polish.

"Lore of the Wilds" by Analeigh Sbrana is a promising debut fantasy novel that blends elements of romance, adventure, and mystery. The story follows Lore Alemeyu, a young woman living in the human village of Duskhollow, which is trapped by elvish magic in a forested prison. When a disaster strikes, Lore is forced to go to the elf castle and work in the library, where she discovers a mysterious grimoire that only responds to her.

Sbrana's worldbuilding is intriguing, with hints of a larger backstory about the origins of the humans in this fae world. The descriptions of the cursed library and the enchanted grimoire are particularly vivid and engaging. The diverse cast, with the main characters being BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ representation, is a refreshing and welcome addition to the fantasy genre.

However, the novel struggles with uneven pacing and character development. Lore, who is supposed to be in her early twenties, often reads as much younger, making decisions that leave readers confused. The romance elements, while promising, feel underdeveloped, with one sex scene feeling out of place and shoehorned in. The ending leaves readers on a cliffhanger, but it's unclear if the reveal will be satisfying or confusing.

Despite its flaws, "Lore of the Wilds" has the potential to appeal to fans of Sarah J. Maas' "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series, with its blend of fae lore, romance, and adventure. Sbrana's writing is effective, with vivid descriptions and a strong sense of place. Readers who enjoy immersive fantasy worlds and are willing to overlook some pacing and character issues may find much to enjoy in this debut novel.

A magically written romantasy that will have you wanting more.
The things I loved.
Hidden magic in a library
Fae
The ending!
Cottage core
Found family

Such a great read! I did not expect that twist at the end and I almost always see the twists coming. Theres human and fae relation issues. There’s a human girl who just wants magic and when she finds it has to run for her life. There’s two love interests. There’s some spice towards the end. I need the next book now! What a twist! Fabulous writing!

I'm not really sure this book knows what it wants to be--does it want to be a YA book? Does it want to be strictly adult? Or cozy fantasy? I think it's just not sure and it shows.

The storyline for Lore of the Wilds is compelling and characters are loveable, but I did find issues in the pacing and general structure of the writing that made this book more difficult to get through despite it being such a short read.

This book was excellent! The characters, the plot, the magic system were all spectacular and I would 1000% love another visit to this world.

I thought this was an interesting book but didn't quite stick the landing for me. I was very drawn in by the cover but I never felt engaged by the main characters, and I had to force myself to get through it.