I absolutely love this book. Analeigh Sbrana has created a fantasy world that you'll be excited to lose yourself in. From the thrill of Lore's journey to the romantic tension to the twisty, cliffhanger ending, you'll find yourself unable to put it down.

Lore grew up in a human community that suffers under the neglect and confinement brought upon them by the brutal, magical fae who rule the kingdom. Her life is upended when an earthquake wreaks havoc on their community and a group of fae show up to take her to the castle where a powerful fae lord tasks her with finding grimmories in their cursed library.

Lore's journey will appeal to anyone who has felt the heavy weight of their community's success and survival on their shoulders. I particularly think of first born daughters who are used to being relied on to help raise their siblings and care for their families.

Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing a copy for review!

Thank you to publisher & Netgalley for a copy of this book!

2.5 🌟

The cover is what drew me in. How freaking beautiful.

Where do I start? I thought this book had some positives:
-Loved the premise of a human in a fae library

-loved learning of the library itself


Then there’s the negatives:
-scenes are cut off strangely, from one scene to the next

- I did not feel a personal connection with any of the characters

- one dimensional characters

- no explanation of magic system

- cheesy and repetitive giggling that kind of got on my nerves.

- I also didn’t FEEL any of the romance that was budding, I just didn’t care enough to find out what would happen next.

Unanswered questions abound. Why do the fae hate the humans? Why is the human land devastated? The reader never finds out.

My favorite part of the whole book? The ending. It was a surprise and a shock. A cliffhanger, for sure, but a good twist on the book. It is what bumped my 2 star rating to a 2.5.

Perfectly what I needed! An escapism fae story with tons of twists and turns, the ultimate fantasy, where you don’t want to believe what you are thinking. Looking forward to the next one!

I went into this very intrigued but as it progressed I discovered the writing style wasn't really for me and I couldn't get into the characters. It does read like a typical romantasy so if that's what you're looking for, this might be the book for you. I read up to 30% and wasn't very taken with the burgeoning romantic arc.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars! Lore left her village in hopes of finding magic for herself to help her people. Lore was human and she made a deal with a fae by working for him in his library. While working there she found a grimoire that might help her with what she needed to help her people. Along the way she finds help from people that you would least suspect. Good book and I recommend it.

Overall, I enjoyed it! If I was being a little more particular in my review, I’d give it a 3.7 or 3.8 out of 5 stars, but felt better rounding up. The pacing was easy and balanced, the characters are enjoyable, and the twist - which I won’t spoil - was pleasantly unforeseen. There were some moments of confusion where I was aching for just a little more substance but at the end, a fun fantasy read featuring fae, magic, and a MC who shows there’s magic in each of us.

Absolutely spell-binding! One of the most dynamic fantasy novels I've had the pleasure of reading this year.

Perfect for fans of One Dark Window and A Court of Thorns and Roses! Lore of the Wilds is an absolutely engrossing tale of magic and uprising. Clear your schedule for this one because once you start it, you won't want to put it down! The ending will surely leave your jaw on the floor.

A solid and entertaining NA fantasy debut! This book follows Lore, a human, as she is torn from her home and forced to work for the Fae. Her tasks include organizing a giant magical library where Lore finds a magical book that gets her into a wee bit o’ trouble :)

I really enjoyed this story! The magical library vibes delivered, the pacing was fast enough to keep me interested, and the prose was incredibly descriptive and easy to follow. THANK YOU to this author for including multiple friendships between a man and a woman that have no sexual or romantic undertones - that trope is boring at this point and stupidly heteronormative.

My only qualm with this book is the character and relationship development fell a little flat. The author succeeded in creating a dynamic and interesting world and a fast paced story, yet did less well in creating complex characters. Lore is okay, if a little uninteresting, but there are quite a few supporting characters that were hard to distinguish from one another. The romance also had a lot of telling - not a lot of showing. It was a little unclear as to why Lore was having feelings for her love interest(s). Overall, this is a quick and engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I am super excited to read the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this book! I liked the cottage-core vibes and the magic. Lore is a great character! Just incredible vibes all around. — I wanted a bit more character development and plot details. I felt like a lot of the story was rushed or skipped ahead.

This book is beautifully written and inspiring. Such a great romanticy. I will deff put this on my shelf.

Easy to read, not the most gripping for me personally, even though it’s supposed to be high tension within the scenes. Stopped after chapter 2 (5%). I’d guess a three to four range for the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-arc of Lore of The Wildes!

This is a great debut fantasy novel, definitely for fans of fae, love triangles, and the Maas Universe. The fact that this is an all BIPOC cast is something that I think the genre needs to continue to create space for! Although this is a fantasy world, the struggles of the humans in this story mirror that of people of color in our real world, I think the author did an excellent and deeply emotionally compelling job of making those similarities known and interwoven through the plot. Eventually it even gets a little Handmaids Tale-ish.

Heavy stuff aside, the family bonds and likeable characters are easy to connect to. You have found family, community, lgbt representation, resilience, magic, royal courts, a touch of fae folklore, golden retriever/grumpy/sunshine tropes, a twilight-reminiscent scene and Alice coded side character, multiple bad guys, a little heat and spice, AND THE TWIST/CLIFFHANGER!!! I knewwww I had a feeling and was getting the ick from one of the lover boys for a reason, and who’s team I was on!

A few times the pacing dragged for me a little bit, it picks up after about 35% for the most part, with more action to come towards the end. Also, hopefully the final editing takes out the fact that “blackberry scent/taste” is mentioned about 9 or so times, that was honestly my biggest irk. Like I said though..that ending!!! Will be reading book two for sure. This book is obviously a work of love so congratulations to this author for their hard work, I am sure it will be well received once officially published!

Some of my favorite quotes 😏

“Good girl”
“I’ll kill you for touching her”
“You’re mine to protect”

I have a lot of conflicting thoughts on this one- partly because this has been a highly anticipated read for me! A fantasy book with real diversity, fae love interests, magical books? All things I absolutely love. But there were also some problems from me that made this only a 3.5⭐️.

Firstly the pros: Lore of the Wilds has a wonderfully diverse cast, with a unique premise, while also featuring some beloved tropes: fae love interests, love triangle, “chosen one,” etc. It featured interesting characters and a variety of fae and creature characteristics. The magic between Lore and her book was compelling, and I liked the development of Lore finding her power.

Cons: The first thing I noticed was that even though the book is single third-person POV, it lacked a distinct voice. I wanted Lore’s character and voice to be more potent for me to connect with her. I also had issues with the pacing, as time jumped occasionally, and the plot was attempting to follow several different threads at once. The dialogue felt awkward and forced at times, and did the common Romantasy thing of inconsistently switching between modern colloquial and archaic speech. The spice was fun but often felt really sudden and inorganic.

Overall, I thought this book had a lot of potential, but it seemed to attempt a lot more than it actually accomplished. It often felt like boilerplate romantasy, despite the unique world and premise. The author did however capture dynamics of power and oppression, and the trauma a community holds when it has endured ongoing catastrophe.

Wow this book was so fun!!! it was cozy and fantastical while also still having an edge of adventure and excitement.

fae, magic libraries and books, earth magic, what more could i want??

Sbrana has created such an interesting and complex magical world that is so inviting and warm while also being dangerous. her characters were well written and developed and built relationships that made you so invested. Lore was sweet and caring while the rest of the cast of characters complimented her so well. i LOVED finn, new book bf??

overall i really enjoyed this and i cannot wait for the next book!

This is a solid debut novel. There were some pacing issues that made me lost interest in a lot of scenes but I really liked the vibes of this book. The plot is very unique but I wasn't sold in the relationship between Asher and Lore. Something about them didn't click for me. The cliffhanger was very promising.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who allowed me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lore of the Wilds is a cozy-ish fantasy romance with lots of twists and turns.
The premise of this book was absolutely amazing. If you're secret desire is to work with books all day in a library, you will love this book.

Our main character Lore works at an apothecary in the only human town of Duskmere. Humans are subjected to the cruelty and control of the Fae; they are not allowed to leave and are heavily taxed so they remain impoverished. In a desperate plea to save her town she accepts a bargain with the Fae.

Lore is extremely intelligent, selfless, and in-touch with her emotions. I really loved her progression through the story. Knowledge is power, and Lore's greatest strength is wielding it to her advantage.

There were some issues with pacing. The initial connection between Lore and Asher seemed inauthentic or rushed. Once one of the characters true motives were revealed at the end of the book their actions didn't fully make sense to me, but perhaps more will be revealed in the next book.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed Lore of the Wilds and I can't wait to see what comes next in the story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who allowed me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lore of the Wilds is a solid romantasy debut! I found the premise really intriguing, and I really enjoyed Lore as a character. The way the book ended— whew! I was expecting SOMETHING, but not that much of a twist! I will definitely pick up the sequel when it comes out because I need to know what’s next!

As for any criticisms I have, I’d say the pacing of the story threw me off a bit, and this book sometimes feels like it’s a prequel for whatever is coming in the next book. I also think the book could be great in the YA category if a couple small tweaks were made regarding brief sexual content. I think it would appeal greatly to a YA audience!

Overall, I hope the characters and their relationships develop even more in the next book, I look forward to reading more from this author!


3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)

A solid debut fantasy! I enjoyed the premise and the magic system, but felt it difficult to connect with the characters. I wish it had been marketed as YA… I think younger readers would’ve liked this story.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Lore of the Wilds" by Analeigh Sbrana is a captivating fantasy novel that weaves a tale of magic, danger, and the complexities of Fae-human interactions. The magic system in the book offers a fresh perspective on fae and faeries, adding a layer of intrigue to the narrative. Sbrana's world-building skillfully creates a land ruled by ruthless Fae, and the enchanted library becomes a focal point of tension and mystery.

The protagonist, Lore Alemeyu, is a compelling character with a satisfying growth arc. Her journey from a desperate deal with a Fae lord to navigating the hostile world outside is thrilling and emotionally resonant. However, Lore's indecisiveness in matters of the heart may frustrate some readers, as her romantic entanglements feel a bit wishy-washy and driven more by external factors than genuine connection.

Despite this minor flaw, the strength of Lore's character development shines through, making her a relatable and engaging lead. While somewhat disappointing, the plot twist is overshadowed by the overall story arc's strength and the chemistry between Lore and the two dangerous Fae males. The author successfully builds tension and keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

In "Lore of the Wilds," Sbrana crafts an enchanting and perilous fantasy world. While the romantic aspects may have room for improvement, the unique magic system, well-developed characters, and compelling plot make this book a solid four-star read for fantasy enthusiasts.

4.5 stars!! What a book!! Enchanted libraries, humans and fae, diverse characters, strong FMC, and a great ending! I loved this.

I was immediately pulled into this. A world where humans are trapped and surrounded by fae seemed so unique. The world building was solid and easily understandable, and the magic system was simple, but great nonetheless. Each of the characters has their defined personalities that stood out from one another, and our main characters was fantastic. She embodied the strong FMC spirit perfectly, while also showing her fears and vulnerabilities. And the diversity of the characters in this was *chef’s kiss*. And the ending?!?! What a fast-paced and unexpected cliffhanger. The only reasons this wasn’t a 5 star read are sometimes the pacing slowed down too much for my liking, while others felt a bit rushed.

I highly recommend this one and will be eagerly awaiting the next book!!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own and freely given.