Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the opportunity to read this book.

When I first came across A Land So Wide, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but the description intrigued me. Erin A. Craig has a talent for crafting atmospheric, immersive worlds, and this book is no exception. The writing is lyrical, painting vivid landscapes that transport readers into the heart of the story.

However, as I progressed—particularly around the 23% mark—I found myself struggling with the pacing. The shifts between past and present, while intriguing, became a bit disorienting, making it harder to stay fully engaged. The slower pace also made it difficult to maintain momentum, and I found myself feeling somewhat lost as the story unfolded.

That said, Craig’s ability to weave rich historical detail and compelling character dynamics is undeniable. Readers who enjoy slow-burning narratives with intricate timelines will likely appreciate the depth of this novel. While it wasn’t the perfect fit for me, I can see how it would resonate with those who love deeply atmospheric and layered storytelling.

𝐀 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞 🦇🌙🌲📜

Such a chilling & eerie read full of many secrets ready to be unlocked. I was fully transported into this book's atmosphere. It was so mysterious and Erin's writing does that to you. I can already see myself rereading this book in October. MAKE SURE TO ADD IT TO YOUR AUTUMN TBR!!

The people of Mistaken are protected by the Warding Stones that align the town. The Warding Stones keep bears, wolves, and the Bright Eyed (vampires) out. If anyone spends a night over these borders, they won't be seen again. I wasn't sure how I would like the Bright Eyed/vampires, but I was so into and the creepy feels they give you. 
I found Greer, the main character, so likable. She was brave and always looking out for others. She has always had an unusual gift of hearing people's thoughts and has always wanted to venture out beyond the town. She eventually does so by going after her childhood friend, now lover, Ellis (might I add he is quite sweet), who mysteriously left the boundaries. You follow her journey as she rescues him, facing many unforeseen events along the way. You will be sitting on the edge of your seat while reading this wanting more and more. So many unexpected moments and twists throughout this. 

Thank you NetGalley for letting me have access to the advanced reader copy and thank you, Erin A. Craig for this incredible story!

Chilling, eerie, dark yet whimsical
Greer a woman with wonder and lust for the unknown is trapped in the town of Mistaken with Warding Stones place all along its edges protecting it from the bright eyes but by sunset everyone must be back within the wards. Although she’s grateful to the Benevolents (holy protectors?) for the years of protection she still yearns for more.
At seven she becomes determined to take that fear & do something about it. She would spend her days exploring a little further into the mistaken to discover new areas & creating maps of them with her mother Allie. Even though these discoveries were huge not only for Greers lust for discovery but mostly for her father to find and harvest more wood (Redcaps to be exact a very special type of tree that can be sold for high prices.) She would map out where new Redcaps were bringing in more money for her family. Her mother passes in her childhood leaving Greer to her never pleased controlling father. Although she doesn’t hate her father they just want different things out of this life.
Every seven years the townsfolk host a reaping to offer up all the very best things they have to offer the Benevolents in gratitude for there many blessings. The morning after the reaping comes the hunt. The hunt is meant for the young women in the town over the age of 16 to hide until found by the man that will become betrothed to the woman he finds. So when the time comes for the hunt it’s clear who her father wants to win. A young man that is a hard worker and shows promise for a strong future but Greer has other ideas. She already found the love of her life a young baker in town who she has spent her whole youth with and grown to love. Like most of Erin’s work she sucks you in with the lavish setting/scenic views, charming characters, and even the food always has the perfect placement in the books. Then she crushes your soul with eerie twists and turns ! This book went dark and dark fast and I loved every bit of it with some shocking twist it was so very unique. I am truly honored that I received this as my very first NetGalley Arc thank you so much for allowing me to review this
Tropes
🌲 New World
🌲Greed
🖤Childhood Friend to Lovers
🪨 Isolated town
🖤Impossible Love
🖤 Forbidden Romance
🔥Rituals
🦇 Unknown Creatures (Bright Eyes)

This book was an absolute masterpiece. It was both brutal and dark, with a sense of unease that lingered long after I put it down, but what stood out to me most was its unexpected sense of hope. Despite the heavy themes and at times harrowing moments, there was an underlying beauty that shone through. The way it was written was nothing short of extraordinary — Craig has such a gift with words. Her prose has an almost magnetic quality, pulling you into the story and making you feel as though you are right there alongside the characters, experiencing every emotion, every twist, and every turn.

I’ll admit, I’m not much of a traditional reader. I’ve always been someone who listens to audiobooks, almost religiously, because I struggle to sit down with a physical book for long stretches. But even with my usual preference for audiobooks, this book was impossible to put down. It grabbed me from the first page and before I knew it, I was flying through the chapters, completely immersed in the world Craig created. I ended up finishing the entire book in just three reading sessions, which says a lot, given how difficult it usually is for me to stay focused on a book for an extended period of time. That in itself speaks volumes about how captivating this story is.

For readers who enjoy:
Gothic Fairytale Vibes
Scottish Folklore
Wonderfully Atmospheric Writing
Clever Integrations
Beautiful Settings
Spooky vibes
And vibes like the opening scene in Beauty and the Beast (1991) combined with The Village by M Night Shyamalan

Another amazing tale, this time debuting in the adult category, Erin A. Craig nails another atmospheric horror and fantasy novel. This book reminded me a little of The Village and her other novel, Small Favors. This one was absolutely amazing because we see the main character, Greer, goes out to rescue her partner Ellis who wants to see what is beyond the wards. I love everything Craig writes, and she will probably be an auto-buy author from here on out!

Erin Craig knows how to write deeply capitivating stories! I have read all of her books except The Thirteenth Child. I already own it and will be reading it soon! A Land so Wide does everything, but disappoint!
Craig has a gift for creating new worlds and intriguing characters. This is her debut adult novel and I feel she knocked it out of the park. I believe no matter what the plot was of any book, I would read anything written by Erin Craig. I stay wanting more of her stories! This book is full of vivid descriptions of Mistaken and the Bright Eyed creatures. These creatures are unique and intriguing!
I have never read another book quite like A Land so Wide. It has mystery, romance, suspense, and historical aspects. Craig's stories are dark and whimiscal. The story in A Land so Wide is really fantastic. The twists and turns are unpredictable. I was pleasantly surprised by many things. I really enjoyed how the story came together! I do not feel there were any loose ends or questions left unanswered. I highly recommend A Land so Wide. It was a very satisfying and enjoyable read!
Thank you to Netgalley, Pantheon, and Erin Craig for the arc! All opinions expressed are my own.

Last August I sat down with a copy of “Small Favors” by Erin A Craig and loved it so much that I was furious I had to spend all of the next day driving instead of finishing it. I remember thinking to myself that I had never read something like it, and I would give up a kidney for more of that feeling.
More has arrived in the form of “A Land So Wide”.
From the very beginning, the rich descriptions of the land and the horrors of Mistaken’s first days send tingles all the way down your spine. The tapestry Craig weaves between past and present has the unique effect of making you feel simultaneously as though you know everything and nothing about this secluded town and its mysteries. You are kept on your toes, with your own ears straining for the same whispers of the wilds that only Greer can hear.
Greer’s growth as a protagonist was so very fun to cheer on—after being established as a thoughtful (if somewhat pampered) naive girl with a soft heart, she is thrust again and again into situations that can (and do!) make weaker folks flail. Yes, love makes her soft and vulnerable; it also makes her strong and vicious, morphing her from doe-eyed prey to be to a cunning predator.
My favorite part of reading a Craig story is the clever way she feeds info to the reader—just enough to make you feel as though you’ve got the whole thing figured out, and just too little to guess the ace up her sleeve. You come away with a sense of both “I knew it!” and “whoa, she got me!” I love being fooled into thinking the story follows a pattern and then being ripped right out of it. This knack for sleight of hand is what keeps me eagerly awaiting every pre-orders arrival.
I was so honored and delighted to receive this ARC! Thank you for providing me with one of my favorite releases of the year!
Make sure to pre-order your copy today!

Erin A. Craig is undeniably the queen of dark fairy tales. When I heard about her book, A Land So Wide, I discovered that it is loosely based on a Scottish tale called Tam Lin. While there are various versions of this story, Erin's rendition is far superior to others I have read. She replaces the fairies with something much darker and more dangerous, and she doesn't hold back on the violence. A Land So Wide is her debut in adult literature, and she could not have chosen a better story to tell. I am completely captivated by everything she writes.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC of this novel.

There is something about Erin A. Craig and her writing that has me hooked. I desperately look forward to every word she writes and cling on to them like a baby to its mother. Craig spins words and stories into a magical and mystical blend of beauty, danger and dreams. She writes both the rose and the thorn. And A and so wide is no exception. Craig offers a brutally cold and vicious novel of finding out your life is a lie and the only way to discover the truth about the world and yourself is to come face to face with a terrifying land of unknown. The town of mistaken where our protagonist lives is anything but what is seems and we get to follow Greer as she figures out truth from the lies the towns creator and townsmen create.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pantheon for the eARC of A La d So Wide.

I had not heard of Erin Craig, but I was instantly hooked by this story. It’s a bit of M. Night Shyamalan, a bit of A Forest of Hands and Teeth, and a bit 30 Days of Night. It is a sweeping, dreamy, creepy tale set in the wilds of Canada and a fictional village called Mistaken. Mistaken is protected by ward stones. These stones keep the Bright-Eyeds out and the residents in. When Greer Mackenzie’s long time love, Ellis, is convinced to be a sacrifice to the monsters beyond the wards, Greer begins to unravel the many secrets of her family, herself, and Mistaken as she embarks on the quest to find him.

Craig does an amazing job at creating an atmospheric experience when it comes to the setting. Greer is brave and fierce. Ellis is kind and handsome and good natured. Finn has an intensity to him. The villains are strong villains, though I would say I am somewhat confused about Greer’s father. All in all, this was a great read and any fans of mystery/sci-fi/fantasy should check it out in September!

One thing Erin A. Craig is always going to do is write the most atmospheric books ever. Her writing sucks me straight into the world. And this book was no exception. The dark and eerie nature of the world was so appealing it made it so difficult for me to put this one down. This is Erin A. Craig's debut in adult novels, and it made me love her writing so much more than I have before. It made it so the darker elements of the book could be explored in more depth than they might have been able to in a YA book. One thing about this being adult, though, is that I sometimes felt the main character, Greer, read a little bit younger than her age. She is written to be 27 years old, something which I had to keep reminding myself of because I kept thinking was around 20-22 instead.
If you love books filled with mystery, magic, and monsters I really think this book is going to be the one for you. Erin A. Craig really knows how to write a beautifully sinister novel with darker tones that frighten the reader just the right amount. Loved it.

This book was incredible. Erin is one of my favorite authors and her first adult novel did not disappoint!

The story is set in the town of Mistaken—where the founders made a deal long ago to protect those that live in the town from the terrible beasts in the nearby forest. Warding Stones were placed to protect those who lived in Mistaken, but anyone that stayed the night would be bound there forever.

In the forest beyond are creatures known as the Bright-Eyed, which are deadly and are responsible for the destruction of many small villages and towns.

Greer Mackenzie is the daughter of the miller, and on the day she and her beloved, Ellis, are meant to begin their lives, terrible tragedy strikes. When no one comes to her aid, Greer is resolved to set out on her own into the wild wilderness past Mistaken. On her journey to find Ellis, Greer fords rivers and crosses mountains. She escapes numerous Bright-Eyes that seek to hunt her—all the while finding out the truth about herself.

This book was deeply atmospheric and was wonderfully written, just like the rest of Erin’s books. She is a truly gifted storyteller and you will not regret getting this book!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

I was SO excited to receive this ARC.
Erin A. Craig has been along time favorite of mine and this book is one of her best!
From the atmospheric writing to sinister plots this book will keep you up late into the night!
Craig is a master at intricate world building and this was packed full. Prepare yourself for some revelations that will leave you with whiplash.

A Land So Wide had me hooked from start to finish. A gripping tale with the same beautiful and atmospheric writing that Erin A. Craig has showcased in all of her other books. I mean, this author NEVER misses. I absolutely loved reading A Land So Wide and I can't wait until it comes out so I can add it to my bookshelf!

Man, did this miss the mark for me, and I'm sort of really depressed about that.

First let's talk about the good; I enjoyed the concept of the Bright-Eyeds and the connection to vampires. An unseen force kept at bay from the village by some invisible means, descending only at night from the night sky? Yes, I'll have one of those please. The atmosphere was eerie and claustrophobic in the best of ways. And, while we don't get too much of her, I really liked the character of Louise Beaufort.

And now the bad.

To start, A Land So Wide doesn't come across as adult, just YA with some occasional crude dialogue and fade-to-black sexually charged moments. It honestly felt more like Greer and the other characters were written as 17/18/19 year-olds but aged up to reflect a mature rating. Also in that regard, Greer is incredibly gullible and naïve for a grown woman, nevermind her sheltered existence. To the point of it being obnoxious -- Noah Finn's "reveal" was obvious from the moment his character appeared on page.

I'm also not a fan of the weirdly forced love triangle, but moreso especially the "fated mates" trope that is only introduced halfway through the book. Greer and Finn have zero chemistry, with the latter coming off as a complete creep, at least in my opinion.

Despite Greer's critical thinking deficiency, I did sympathize with her craving for more in life, to travel beyond her known borders. I respect and relate to that. Which is why I was disappointed the actual journey through the forest was not only a slog, but repetitive. Between the point that Greer leaves Mistaken and the climax happens, the story essentially consists of: Greer walks through unknown wilds thinking about Ellis or Finn, Finn disappears and reappears at convenience. Greer is stalked by something at night. She falls asleep thinking about Ellis or Finn. Rinse and repeat.

I just didn't care. I did, however, want to know more about the land's natives. Screw the Mackenzie-Beaufort drama, I want to learn about the people who found ways to survive outside of Mistaken, like the unnamed girl and her father.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this arc in echange for an honest review.

I came across another reviewer comparing this book to One Dark Window, and I must concur! The darker tone and setting of the story set it apart from other fantasy novels currently being published. A Land So Wide is an enthralling journey into an entirely unique and unsettling world. The setting is unlike anything I’ve encountered before. How Craig was able to conjure up this world of intrigue, mystery, and fantastical elements is beyond me. The novel’s landscape creates a sense of wonder and unease. Craig’s exceptionally descriptive writing paints vivid and atmospheric scenes that make the land itself feel alive, drawing readers into its beauty and danger. I felt as though I myself was in the town of Mistaken, needing to look over my shoulder or give my thanks to the Benevolence. The world feels tangible and immersive, enhancing the character-driven narrative. This book stands out for its captivating storytelling and the way the setting becomes an integral part of the story. If you’re seeking a beautiful, haunting, and atmospheric novel that transports you to an unforgettable place, A Land So Wide is an absolute must-read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc!

this was amazing! It was everything I wanted and more from this book. It was so atmospheric and i would say its an adult spiritual successor to her other book " small favors" which is one of my favorite books of all time. I'm a sucker for a secluded town with strange happenings and more than meets the eye, and more eyes on you than you realize. I cant wait to read it again when it officially comes out this September!

I am a huge fan of Erin Craig's writing style and her books and was so excited to see her coming out with an adult novel! A Land So Wide was a grim and adventurous read filled with mystery and horrors. It follows Greer Mackenzie and her town of Mistaken. Mistaken was founded by a Scottish lumberman who started the town but soon realizes the horrors of the new land. Mysterious bright-eyed creatures that wreak havoc and violence upon the people. The difference is that Mistaken is protected by warding stones to keep these bright-eyed creatures from entering the town. Greer dreams of a world beyond Mistaken and her wish comes true when her beloved Ellis wanders past the warding stones just before sunset. Greer follows Ellis into the wilderness determined to find him. Along the way she meets a mysterious Noah Finn who helps her on her perilous and unknown journey. She also comes face to face with the bright eyes and they are even more horrific than she could have imagined. She starts to uncover not only the truth about Mistakens past and history but also her parents' connection to it as well as the mystery surrounding the bright-eyed creatures. This story is perfectly paced and definitely reads like a horror adventure. It was a very unique read, and I think readers will love this one.

3.5 Stars! I love Erin A Craig so much so when I heard she was returning to a creepy forest setting like in Small Favors, I was so excited. The first 50% of the book was impeccable. I was in the woods with Greer, I could hear and feel everything that she heard and felt. Where the story fell apart for me was unfortunately when it was supposed to get exciting. Greer leaves the safety of her town to save the love of her life and the pacing of this last half of the book felt so bizarre. The introduction of Finn and his constant fading in and out of the story made it so that I never felt connected to him, never felt the chemistry we were meant to feel. Then there were deaths and huge pieces of action that felt like they were brushed over. I had to read one section twice to make sure I understood who died. This especially applies to the climax - it was…anti climactic. I hope that will another round of edits before publishing these things can be fixed because I loved the lore and atmosphere, but as it stands now, we didnt get enough time with the Bright Eyed, with Finn, or even with Elowen. I would have happily read 100 more pages if it meant I felt any emotional attachment because the bones of this story are great! Thanks for the ARC and I look forward to Craig’s next work.

A very original and captivating standalone! The description of this book is so spot on - it’s incredibly atmospheric and feels like a grim fairytale in its eeriness and sense of adventure into the unknown. This has a really unique spin on a classic story of a girl being isolated in her world and understanding, but then finding the bravery to break away and find her identity. I was incredibly hooked in by the lore of this settlement and the dark nature of magic and beasts that haunt the town. The pacing was mostly consistent throughout and I loved that the romance was more subplot but still had a lot of great depth and yearning. My only complaints would be the abruptness of the ending and the plot twists felt a bit predictable in parts. Would definitely recommend as a solid switch up from classic romantasy!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!