I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana Series: Lore of the Wilds #1
Published by Harper Voyager on February 27, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Action & Adventure, Fiction/Fantasy/Cozy, Fiction/Fantasy/Romance, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / General
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
A stunning Romantasy debut about an enchanted library, two handsome Fae, and one human who brings them all together.
A library with a deadly enchantment.
A Fae lord who wants in.
A human woman willing to risk it all for a taste of power.
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.
Wow! I finished this late Saturday night; it’s now Monday, and I’m still not over this novel. The writing was beautiful and atmospheric, and I loved all the characters. And, of course, that ending! Ugh! I need the next book now.
I was so excited to read this book because, first, it sounded fascinating, and second, the fact that all three main characters are Black filled my heart with joy. Our main character is Lore, our heroine. She’s our human who wants better for her village and all humans. The novel seems like a typical fae fantasy of fae hating humans, and it is, to begin with, but it becomes so much more. There’s a scene in the last third of the book where one of the characters, Isla (an adorable ray of sunshine, and I want to be best friends with her), is confronted with her privilege and new information about humans and Duskmere. Once Lore tells Isla about her life and the lives of everyone in Duskmere, along with what has happened since Lore and Asher escaped the castle, Isla doesn’t double down on her beliefs or ignorance. She apologizes to Lore for her previous thinking that humans had a good life, and moving forward, she works with Lore so humans don’t have to be subjugated to the Dark Fae. This difference in how humans are thought of as myth or that they had a good life provides a different outlook than the usual fae who hate humans and think they’re inferior. Instead, it’s a lack of information on the fae’s part, which is purposely done by the kingdom of the dark fae as a way to control the humans.
The first of the two fae males we meet is Asher, a volunteer sentry who protects and keeps an eye on Lore. Their relationship is a slow-burn development. He acts as if Lore is dirt on the bottom of his shoe, but then slowly, he sees her for who she really is and develops feelings. Lore is distrustful of Asher because nothing good has ever come from the fae, but he shows his vulnerability, and she brings down her walls. While I was reading, I kept wondering when Finn would show up. He shows up in the book’s second half, after Asher and Lore escape Wyndlin Castle. Finn is definitely worth the wait because I love my violent little grumpy fae. Although, he’d probably hurt me for calling him that.
Finn is more hesitant around Lore. For a second, it feels like it’s due to her being a human. But then something happens (trying to avoid spoilers), and it doesn’t seem like her human-ness is why he dislikes her. Finn’s been hurt in the past and doesn’t let people in easily, which is why he keeps Lore at a distance; he feels so much for her. The tension between Finn and Asher is palpable. They do not like each other, and they don’t want to. It doesn’t help that they both have feelings for Lore. Finn didn’t get nearly as much development as Asher, but I’m hopeful the sequel provides more time with him.
Hopefully, we will see more development with Finn, along with what happens to the characters, as that ending was a cruel and unusual punishment. Seriously, I now have to wait for I don’t even know how long for the next book. I do not like this, and I’m formally lodging a complaint. To who? It doesn’t matter. For now, I just need everyone to read this book so that I can talk about it!
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