Short Synopsis:
Lore is dragged from her poor human town to work for a fae lord. Her task: to find a magical book in the enchanted library. Through her tasks and journey, her paths cross with two very different fae males who she must trust.

My Thoughts:
I came for the gorgeous cover. I stayed for the enchanted library, fae love triangle and magic. This was such a lovely debut fantasy. I will say it has similar themes to a lot of fae books already out (a magicless human girl gets taken to live with the fae, torn between two fae males and learning about magic), but still done in a creative and captivating way. I really enjoyed it!

And the ending? It gutted me. How long do we need to wait until book two?

What You’ll Find in This Book:
📖 Magic
📖 Similar vibes to ACOTAR
📖 Love triangle
📖 Humans vs fae
📖 Enchanted library
📖 Twists

This was a great adult fantasy romance debut novel, with a twist ending! I would definitely recommend to those who think it sounds interesting!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

2.5 ⭐️

Well, on the outside this ticks a lot of boxes: a cottagecore romantic fantasy featuring an enchanted library and fae. I had to give it a shot, but oof. This was not it.

The first big offense here are major tone inconsistencies. One minute I'm thinking ah, this seems cozy! But then suddenly somebody's head is getting cut off and blood is everywhere. And then we're back to being cozy? In the span of a few pages? Help? Another minute I'm thinking that the writing style feels pretty juvenile, possibly geared towards a younger audience, and then suddenly there's out-of-place explicit spice. The whiplash... 😭 Please pick a lane.

Secondly there were a *ton* of structural issues. Pacing was all over the place. The plot developed in a very unnatural and unbelieveable way. The characters frequently instantly overcame obstacles in no time at all and faced zero consequences, which then made most of the plot points feel like irrelevant side quests. What was even the point of the fox? (We could've had a Barbie-like sidekick but didn't? 0/5 according to Ted Nivison's scale /j) And the sheer repetitiveness of the descriptions was eye-roll inducing. He's growling and smells like blackberries and honey, I get it (please make it stop)!! 😃

Romance wise, I was not sold on either love interest. On the one hand, you have instalove with zero chemistry and an awkward progression, and on the other you have the mean one who can't express any of his feelings unless it's aggression. Red flag much??

I honestly considered DNFing this a few times, but stuck it out for no pay off. This had a lot of potential but could've done with several more rounds of rewrites.

This book was so enchanting and mesmerizing. I never wanted to put it down. Page after page it kept getting better and better. Thank you so much netgalley for an arc of this book.

Thank you to netgalley and harper collins for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Dnf

At first glance, I was so excited to pick this one up. The premise sounded right up my alley but the final product just didn’t live up to my expectations. The writing style wasn’t my favorite, and often felt like an overuse of unnecessary text that felt wordy and made it hard to get into the flow of the story enough to truly escape into this world.

I also felt like the pacing was off, moving much too fast in terms of important plot scenes that deserved more time and attention yet slow in certain scenes that felt unnecessarily long.

For these reasons i just don’t see myself enjoying the rest of this novel. While this wasn’t right for me, perhaps other readers may enjoy it.

I loved this book and am completely invested in the story and characters. This was a very readable fantasy where the world building was well done without being overwhelming. The romance aspects were a slow burn, but entirely worth it. And the ending left me ready for the second book immediately. Highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon/Harper Collins for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this ARC! Perfect for cozy fantasy lovers and readers. I'm excited to see more from this author - can't wait for the sequel!

Diverse fantasy with cottagecore vibes. It’s definitely for me and fans of cozy fantasy. It does read like a YA with adult scenes which threw me off a bit. But I liked it! I would and did buy it.

Received a free copy to review from NetGalley. Final rating 2.5 stars.
This book confused the heck out of me. I started really enjoying it, around a 4 star read for the first 30-40ish percent. But then it just went downhill after Lore left the library and kept getting stranger from there. Some of the biggest issues I had were pacing and timing. The plot frequently had random time jumps where I would actually go back and make sure I hadn't accidentally skipped pages. The characters made dumb, impulsive decisions constantly. If they found out new information they would immediately act on it without verifying anything or having any sort of plan - which was frustrating when it happened again and again. By the end it also felt like random plot points were thrown in just to include them. Overall, good potential but disappointing.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

I loved the cover, title, and premise. I tried to read through a few chapters, but this book really couldn’t draw me in. There was a fair amount of description and world-building at the beginning along with some emotional conversations with characters that didn’t feel quite earned yet. You have to show someone being a badass before you get into the feels. I ended up not finishing this book.

Overall I really enjoyed this fae fantasy romance story. It definitely leans heavier on the fantasy side with world building and the romance is not the main part of the story.

This book draws from traditional wild type fae and humans being enslaved by the fae. It has fairy wine making them want to dance and become addicted and magical tales and everything of that style. Lore is a human and her village is basically used by the fae for? taxes? I'm not sure why they won't let them leave their isolated village. She finds herself being taken by the dark fae to find a book in a library no fae can enter because of a curse.

I took away one star because the middle got a little be tedious and slow and then there were some weird transitions with a time lapse that I didn't love. I felt that it was fairly predictable and I have some questions about the "twist" that I just don't feel add up. Like things were thrown in to purposefully throw the reader off but overall do not make sense. I can't really say without giving anything away.

I liked that there were different types of fae and that they seemed to have their own prejudices against each other, it was interesting.

4 stars
1.5 chili peppers

I thought we were getting a love triangle (also because of the cover) and now I'm just not sure what is happening.

I will keep reading the series

Thanks to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun read! I really loved the magical library Lore was exploring and the magic system in here is absolutely fascinating. What a cliffhanger too! l’ll definitely keep my eyes peeled for the next book!

If I had to nitpick, I feel like the book is very fast-paced. It almost feels like YA but not really in that sense. I wish Lore spent more time in the cool magical library...

3.5 stars

I thought this was a pretty good debut with a lot of fun aspects - humans mysteriously trapped in the world of the fae, a girl tasked with sorting through an ancient and potentially deadly library, magical grimoires, and forbidden human/fae romances.

This was an easy read that kept my interest, and I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would based on reviews. I appreciated Lore as the MC and I’m curious about what else she’s capable of. The romance/love triangle situation was just okay and I wasn’t really sold on either MMC, but one does have potential. I saw the betrayal coming from a mile away and I unfortunately wasn’t entirely satisfied with the ending.

I did like the overall story though and will likely continue the series. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

Analeigh Sbrana's Lore of the Wilds weaves a spellbinding tale of enchantment, romance, and adventure that captivated me. Set in a world where humans are trapped under the rule of ruthless Fae, protagonist Lore Alemeyu embarks on a perilous journey to save her village. Desperate, she strikes a risky deal with a Fae lord, agreeing to organize an enchanted library in exchange for her family's safety. But as Lore delves deeper into the treacherous fae world, she finds herself entangled in a web of secrets, forbidden romance, and unexpected twists.

Sbrana's debut novel masterfully combines elements of fantasy and romance, delivering a story brimming with whimsical forests, cozy cottage vibes, and richly developed characters. Lore's journey is one of self-discovery, as she navigates the complexities of love, duty, and loyalty amidst a backdrop of danger and intrigue. The atmospheric setting and intricate worldbuilding create an immersive reading experience, while the tantalizing magic system adds depth to the narrative.

While 'Lore of the Wilds' boasts a captivating plot and engaging characters, it's not without its flaws. I found the pacing to be a little uneven, with a slow start that eventually gives way to heart-pounding action. Additionally, the cliffhanger ending may leave readers clamoring for more, eagerly anticipating the sequel.

Overall, 'Lore of the Wilds' is a magical debut that will enchant readers from beginning to end. With its blend of romance, adventure, and mystery, it's sure to appeal to fans of fantasy romance looking for their next captivating read. Analeigh Sbrana has crafted a mesmerizing world filled with wonder and danger, leaving readers longing for more.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I was drawn to this book because of the cover it looked enchanting. The book had a lot of potential but it left me
frustrated at times as I had trouble keeping up .the pacing was off.Also not sure why this is advertised as an adult
the spice is minimum and the characters acted very ya/na. it ended on a cliffhanger but I am not sure if I will be reading the next book.

Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up.

Lore, an ambitious human, stuck in her village in an enchanted forest and under ruthless Fae rule. To help her village, she agrees to go to the Fae palace to organize an enchanted library only humans can access to find magical books. As Lore uncovers secrets and searches for what she really wants, her own magic, she finds herself relying on and growing attractive to two Fae males, one her bodyguard with plant magic and the other with talents in alchemy.

What to Expect:
- Rep: BIPOC, LGTBQ+ (side character)
- Enchanted library (yes please!) 📚
- Plant magic, book magic 🍄📖
- Cottagecore 🏡
- Found family
- Love triangle ❤️ Bodyguard vs book nerd
- Betrayal 🔪
- Shorter book (in the 300 page realm)

When I read it was about an enchanted library, I was immediately interested. What could be better than magic and books? Overall, I enjoyed this author’s debut novel. There are, in my opinion, some pacing issues, but I really enjoyed the unique magic system and various twists and turns in the book. The book oscillates between cozy and high stakes which I thought I wouldn’t like but I actually did enjoy. The book ends in a cliffhanger, and I am excited to read the next one!

Lore of the Wilds, did not read like an adult fantasy, it read more like a ya or na book. The characters read like teens, at least older teens in the 18-20s, maybe, they never said. I think I'd have loved it more had they been a little older and less hormonal. The story felt very rushed, especially the romantic entanglements. I didn't really feel like I had seen their relationship kind of build up, and I cannot stand love triangles, which is where this one ended up. I did really enjoyed many aspects of the book/story, though, and the main FC was really interesting. I really loved her character and felt myself invested in her journey and cause. I found the premise overall to be compelling and I loved the twist at the end! I do really want to know what happens next, since it ended on a cliffhanger.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like the this book had a bit too much hype around it, and thought it was much deserved. It was still a bit too much.

Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana is a fantasy novel about the fae and a magic library they cannot enter. In a land ruled by ruthless Fae, twenty-one-year-old Lore Alemeyu’s village is trapped in a forested prison. Lore knows that any escape attempt is futile—her scars are a testament to her past failures. But when her village is threatened, Lore makes a desperate deal with a Fae lord. She will leave her home to catalog/organize an enchanted library that hasn’t been touched in a thousand years. No Fae may enter the library, but there is a chance a human might be able to breach the cursed doors. She convinces him that she will risk her life for wealth, but really she’s after the one thing the Fae covet above all: magic of her own. As Lore navigates the hostile world outside, she’s forced to rely on two Fae males to survive. Two very different, very dangerous, very attractive Fae males. When undeniable chemistry ignites, she’s not just in danger of losing her life, but her heart to the very creatures she can never trust.

..............I don't think I was the right reader to receive this book. Don't get me wrong, I really liked this book. The world building was amazing and the magic system was intricate. But I think I'm slowly sliding out of my fae phase. Regardless, it's a good read. Take a chance if you want to.

I enjoyed this one! I saw mixed reviews and it's more romantasy than high fantasy and I liked this story a lot . It's definitely set up for additional books the ending was a severe cliffhanger with that twist and I loved it. Liked the human and fae dynamic. Enjoyed the library that only she could go in and catalog. There were two love interests, one cocky and one grumpy, both handsome😊.
Lore has quite a bit of bad luck all around! Interested to see where this series goes. And adore this cover!