The Wild Huntress

by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Every five years, two kingdoms take part in a Wild Hunt. Joining is a bloody risk and even the best hunters can suffer the most gruesome fates. Still, hundreds gamble their lives to participate—all vying for the Hunt’s life-changing prize: a magical wish granted by the Otherking.

BRANWEN possesses a gift no other human has: the ability to see and slay monsters. She’s desperate to cure her mother’s sickness, and the Wild Hunt is her only option.

GWYDION is the least impressive of his magically talented family, but with his ability to control plants and his sleight of hand, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his cruel older brother from becoming a tyrant.

PRYDERI is prince-born and monster-raised. Deep down, the royal crown doesn’t interest him—all he wants is to know is where he belongs.

A trickster, a prince, and a wild huntress—if they band together against the monstrous creatures within the woods, they have a chance to win. But nothing is guaranteed, for all are fair game in love and the Hunt.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Romantasy, Audiobook, Young Adult Fantasy

421 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2024

About the author

Emily Lloyd-Jones grew up on a vineyard in rural Oregon, where she played in evergreen forests and learned to fear sheep. After graduating from Western Oregon University with an English degree, she enrolled in the publishing program at Rosemont College just outside of Philadelphia. She currently resides in Northern California.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

ELJ has a way of telling folklore in a way that i feel like im sitting in a small medieval town in northern wales, listening to the local cyfarwydd recounting the tale of a wild huntress, a prince, and a trickster to a group of villagers.

the narrative feels authentic and the storytelling is genuine. its the best kind of writing for a story filled with thrilling adventure, demanding magic, and things in the dark that arent what they appear to be.

every myth ELJ has told has been a real winner, so im super excited to see what she comes up with next.

↠ 4.5 stars

[Alexia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to ultimately give up on this book—deciding to DNF it at the 50% mark. Despite my efforts to push through and read a few more pages at a time, I found the experience increasingly tiresome. The narrative felt unbearably slow, with a stagnation that made it hard for me to stay invested in the story.

The characters come across as incredibly flat and one-dimensional. Take Branwen, for example—the typical female protagonist who hails from a disadvantaged background. Her storyline centers around her sick mother, with Branwen's goal of restoring her mother's health. While the author attempts to depict her as a tough, badass hunter and a stoic figure, I find myself exhausted by this recurring archetype. Why is it that we rarely see female protagonists who enjoy the privileges of wealth, have strong, loving family dynamics, or compete in challenges simply for the sake of personal achievement and glory?

As for Gwydion, he was dislikable right from the beginning. I caught wind of his fate through spoilers, and I can’t help but feel that had I continued, my disdain for him would only deepen. On the other hand, Pryder is somewhat likable but ultimately falls flat as well. He lacks the spark to keep me engaged; his character feels overly bland and unremarkable.

The romance in the story failed to ignite any chemistry or passion. It felt weak from the start and remained lackluster throughout the pages I managed to read. Knowing the trajectory of the plot and how it unfolds, I can confidently say that it might have been more effective for the book to forgo a romantic subplot entirely.

I genuinely attempted to give this book a chance and hoped it would pick up, but I just can’t bring myself to continue. The overall experience left me feeling uninspired, and I had to concede that it wasn't worth my time any longer.

[Samantha (ladybug.books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg that was incredible. The characters, the hunt, everything had me absolutely enthralled. Such a raw and bittersweet story.

Full review to come

[Jaime Fok · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75
This was so wonderfully refreshing! I haven’t had a story surprise me like this in a long time, not in a plot-twisty way but just in the fact that this is an actual creative story that didn’t go in the direction we normally go in.

I loved all 3 of our POVs, loved their dynamic together. The plot was super fun for me.

My biggest criticism is probably in the pacing. I didn’t mind the slow start, but I wish we got a little bit more time with the conclusion.

[Brend]

''same world as The Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods''
I'll be reading

[vee ! ᰔᩚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

do you ever read a book and you start thinking ‘this is great, this is lovely, i’m so happy i picked this up’ and then the ending comes and completely changes your perspective on the whole experience? yeah, that! i originally picked this up bc it reminded me of “a far wilder magic”, which is one of my favourite books ever, so i was super excited to get into it! and heck, my decision paid off!! i was loving this book, absolutely loving it. i loved the found family trope, i loved the three main characters and their dynamics, and palug… 🥹 (however i feel like we should’ve gotten to know more about him??) but then the ending came and ripped my heart out and left me feeling so dissatisfied. there were certain things that happened to a certain character (my favorite character, unfortunately 😞), orchestrated by one of the other characters, and i just couldn’t see them the same way afterwards, especially considering how they reacted to what happened (or how little they reacted? it was very disappointing, to me personally, and i couldn’t reconcile it with the person i had been reading about. it gave me such whiplash). i’mmmm feeling really sad rn bc i was flying through the book but i couldn’t help but skim the last 5 chapters or so bc i found myself not caring anymore and isn’t that the worst feeling 🥹

*SPOILERS IN THE COMMENT SECTION <33

[Millie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture if Throne of Glass and The Cruel Prince had a love child, that is this book.

Branwyn has a magical eye and can see things other people can’t which makes her a valuable asset to her village but can’t do anything about her dying mother. Gwydion is the least powerful person in a very powerful family and is looking for some way to keep his brother off the throne. Pryderi is the prince, who happens to be raised by a monster instead of a king and just hopes to be a good king considering all he has been through. All are looking for something that only the Wild Hunt can grant, a dangerous game that is hosted but the fae every five years but only one will have the prize of a wish.

I thought this was a fun read. The characters were fun, I think I liked Branwyn’s POV the best but I didn’t get to the point where I was skipping the other peoples. Like I said before it was similar to Throne of Glass and The Cruel Prince, I lovedddd Throne of Glass but didn’t like The Cruel Prince as much so I think this book ended up getting a little watered down. Nevertheless I always am up from some fun trials in my book IT JUST TOOK TILL HALFWAY THROUGH TO GET TO THEM. I think there might have been some pacing issues because there was a longggggg exposition and this is literally a standalone. But I was pleasantly surprised that I was still very entertained the whole way through. This does have romance but I wouldn’t consider it a romantasy, it was just a tiny smidgen of it don’t go into it expecting a romance BUT the romance that is there is good.

Overall it was a solid fantasy that I would recommend for any fantasy reader who doesn’t want to read a big series.

[Daphne ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was written by a cat person.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kinda love triangle/friendship and an ending that I feel conflicted about. A strong start and a really weak whiplash ending.

Branwen was accidentally anointed with the ability to see the fae as a baby. She is known as the huntress, slaying monsters. She is contracted by Gwydion, the weakest of his diviner noble family, to join the Wild Hunt to get a magical wish. Along the hunt, they are joined by Pryderi who is prince-born and monster-raised and absolutely the sweetest character.

This started off great with a lyrical fairytale tone, then changes tone with a time jump as Branwen becomes hardened to life as a huntress to care for her mother. The hunt happens relatively late in the book for it to be the main selling point.

After that, this is more akin to Holly Black’s stories like The Cruel Prince.

I did like that all three had POVs that were introduced to reveal their histories. However, this also worked against the ending when certain motivations were revealed which I felt should have been more hinted at in their own perspective.

The last 25% just really let me down. It didn’t help that I couldn’t forgive one of the character’s actions and not enough attention was paid to this after the initial scenes after.
Two or three stars - I don’t know!🌟

This was a great audiobook with Welsh accents and I will be reading other of the author’s works.

Bookstagram

[Jackie ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read of 2025!!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book, it was a perfect fit for what I was looking to read. I was also happy that this ended up being a standalone. Not that I wouldn’t have read a series in this world, I was just glad I got to enjoy the story being resolved.

The world of this book is very similar to the Cruel Prince series, which I love. I love trickster fairy stories and where magic is dangerous. This book includes the mortals, mortals who have some magic, and the otherfolk. There are also magical creatures whose true forms can only be seen with magic.

The plot of the story is about the Wild Hunt which is where the kingdoms of the otherfolk and the mortal, invite hunters to participate in the Wild Hunt to win the Champion’s prize. No one can speak of the Wild Hunt after it is over, so no one knows how the Hunt works and what the stakes truly are. Everyone knows it is dangerous and that people have died taking part in the Hunt, but no one knows the extent of the danger. (This Hunt gives Hunger Games feels and I loved it).

The story follows three main characters, Branwen, Gwydion, and Pryderi. I love all of them and their stories. They are all so well written with their backstories and motives. Branwen is a mortal who is able to see magic, this allows her to become a hunter of magical creatures who prey on mortals. She is desperate to help her mother therefore, she joins the Wild Hunt to win the boon to save her mother.

Gwydion is a prince who has a magical ability but his family overlooks him. He desires to participate in the Wild Hunt because he wants to save his family’s kingdom from his brother who is dangerous and powerful.
Pryderi is also a prince (from another kingdom) who was raised by a monster after being stolen by a monster as a child. His father is the king who participates in the Wild Hunt and has pushed his son to join as well, even though Pryderi does not know what he wants or where he fits in. He knows who to be a killer, but he does not want to be one.

I thought each character was so well done and I loved the three characters coming together and learning to work together even though none of them should get along. They each have unique abilities that allow them to play off each other’s strengths.

I highly recommend this book. I could not put it down. I read it over the weekend, and I was so glad to have had the time to just sit and read it. If you are a fan of classic fairy folk-type settings, I highly recommend giving this a try.

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is supposed to be a fantasy story about the Wild Hunt, so what does the author want to make sure of?
*Inclusivity y'all*
two gay couples who are just briefly mentioned to appease the cult.
One has cats the other adopted a daughter. Probably from a birthing person. -_-

“You’re doing very well, Penbras. You’ll have a story to tell your grandchildren someday.”
“I don’t have children,” Penbras whispered. “I have two cats. And a husband.”
Ah!

“My cousin Derwyn used to live near my home. He and his husband lived near the village. Derwyn was a kind soul, gentle and eager to help anyone who needed it. He had adopted a daughter.”

Good job. This is what I'll remember from this story: the woke nonsense.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this one. I was flying thru the pages, loving the story, world building and the characters, but then a certain thing happens to one of them and I couldn't reconcile certain actions with a certain character so the ending quite failed me...

Also, I think what happens should have more impact on the story, as it is maybe severely injuring or maiming that character would have worked better with the tone the book has afterwards?


Also... Why there's no more intel in Palug after all that has been implied?

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

The easiest 5 star rating I’ve given in a while. This book is an absolute gem and beyond underrated. The author’s prose is beautiful and reminiscent of V.E. Schwab and Margaret Owen. The plot is unique and the twists are continually unexpected. The pacing is solid - I never wanted to put this book down. And the characters are incredibly dynamic and compelling, as are their relationships. I highly encourage people to pick this book up. I can’t wait to read more from the author!

[ShannonXO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy perfection. Whatever Emily Lloyd-Jones is putting in her books, bottle it up and sell it to me to experience over and over again. Her characters are so real, so flawed, so utterly compelling and loveable. There are few authors I've read who can nail multi-POV so effortlessly but this has cemented me as a fan of hers forever. And that ending??? I was not expecting all the twists and the sheer devastation I was hit with and I don't know that I've recovered yet.

Thank you so much to Hachette Canada for the ARC!

[Muffinsandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow.
J'ai très vite été happée par l'histoire et ce même si le rythme est assez spécial : paradoxalement, j'ai trouvé que c'était à la fois lent et bourré de rebondissements. J'ai surtout adoré l'ambiance qui est extrêmement immersive, ainsi que le style d'écriture qui permet de te happer encore plus. C'est une plume douce et travaillée à certaines moments et quand il le faut, acérée et percutante à d'autres... une petite merveille qui m'a vraiment permis de rentrer dans l'histoire. Et l'intrigue - addictive, originale, pleine d'enjeux et de tensions, de rebondissements et, en gros, tout ce que j'aime dans les bons romans de fantasy YA. Pour couronner le tout, j'ai aussi adoré les personnages, nos trois héros si différents et pourtant animés par les mêmes instincts, mûs par les mêmes angoisses et forcés de faire face aux mêmes dangers... chacun à sa voix et j'ai savouré chacune d'entre elle.
Je ne saurais pas mettre le doigt sur ce qui a fait de ce roman un coup de coeur, expliquer pourquoi il m'a autant happée et fascinée... mais j'ai vraiment adoré !

[h o l l i s · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoo boy, I needed this. Not only has it been ages since I've enjoyed something but the fact that it was a YA? Mind boggled. I say that as if I didn't request this knowing I had really enjoyed some of the author's previous works but honestly that guarantees nothing. So here I am only a little surprised but very much pleased.

You don't have to have read, or even be vaguely familiar, with THE BONE HOUSES or THE DROWNED WOODS to enjoy this one. But if you're even remotely interested in Welsh mythology and fantasy, retold and reimagined and also not, you should definitely give this one a go.

And for those who might not be familiar, if you find the match-up of a huntress with a talent that is both gift and burden, the overlooked son in a powerfully magical family, and a prince stolen away and raised by a monster, banding together to win the Wild Hunt, each for their own reasons, to be at all compelling? Be prepared because there is plenty more about the premise, and these characters, to hook you. And surprises that are both unexpected and heartbreaking, too.

I loved the way each character and their backstory was introduced. There wasn't a traditional POV switch in each chapter or section but we did swing between perspectives in a subtle way and I really enjoyed how the author set that up. Each were flawed or struggling with something and the Hunt forced them to confront or challenge what they knew of themselves and their hopes for the future.. even as they fought for both their lives and their freedom. The friendship they forged in such a short time, after suspicions gave way to uneasy trust and blossomed further, was so wholesome and lovely and made the moreso because it was hardwon. But when there's the power of the Otherfolk and kingdoms on the line, not to mention prophecy, brace yourself for tragedy -- of various kinds.

This is a story I will absolutely revisit and I do hope there's more stories to come that will continue to colour in and flesh out this world. Because I'll definitely keep reading them.

** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

---

This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.

[Sarah SG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the arc! I’ve never seen a book intentionally torpedo itself like this. I did not enjoy this at all.

It sucks, because it did start so strong. I’ve struggled to connect with this author’s characters in the past, but I was engaged when it came to Branwen. The other characters weren’t as lucky, but one began to grow on me slightly. The other, however, I came to dislike almost immediately. I believe this wasn’t the author’s intention, as they started to shove this character down my throat. They wanted me to root for this character, but I wanted to Old Yeller said character.

Further along into the book, the focus really began to shift from Branwen to the character I hate. Why name a book after Branwen when she doesn’t even maintain control of the narrative? It became all about this specific dipshit, and then towards the ending the plot really went off the rails.

The third act and ending were both so hideous. The book devolved so much you’d think it had tuberculosis. I started skimming, and it just kept on getting worse and worse. If I had a physical arc I would have thrown it across the room. The ending itself was purely enraging; I can’t say anything positive about it if I tried. Thanks, I fucking hate it! I fucking hate that shithead character and I want to see them burn on a pyre. I mean Jesus, that ending will haunt me. I guess this book left an impact, at least!

Anyways, this book is the most pure example of squandered potential. My therapist will be hearing about this, and I’m going to send the author the bill. I am pissed, I am hyperbolic, but I am free. 2 stars

[Charlotte May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am officially a big Emily Lloyd Jones fan!

Her fantasies are so immersive and easy to get swept up in.

Branwen hunts monsters. It is the only thing she is truly good at, plus she has a magical eye that helps her to spot them. When word of her skull reaches Gwydion - a cousin to the royal family, he arrives on her doorstep with an idea.

The Wild Hunt is organised by the Other King and the Human King as a way of retaining harmony and camaraderie between the lands.

But the wild hunt has more secrets than anyone realises, and when a third member joins their group, each of them has their own goals and secrets to keep.

I loved all 3 characters, the magic, the action and even the betrayals. A truly great fantasy story.

[hav! · Rating 4 out of 5]

i would consider dying for this book.

such a lush, beautiful landscape that drew me right into the world. it reminded me of the early days of reading Cruel Prince and realizing people could eat burnt brown honey ham and not just plebeian foods like bacon on a stick.

and we had such fun main characters to play with! i love them all dearly and i finally got my fantasy wish. death, destruction, general mayhem, etc.

think of this like if The Hunger Games and The Cruel Prince had a baby.

a screaming, adorable, heartwrenching, funny baby!

[Ceinwen Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fresh (and occasionally, heartbreakingly faithful) reimagining of several stories of the Mabinogion that will also stand nicely on its own feet for readers who aren't familiar with Welsh mythology. Emily Lloyd-Jones never disappoints!

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

last chapter was the best

also have to point out how much i love welsh mythology

[lookmairead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spectacular, give me 16 of them right now.

Fall is my favorite reading season because of books like these. They perfectly capture the season. They keep me guessing. They charm me.

Will conquer more of Lloyd-Jones catalogue before EOY because her other books are in the same world.

Highly recommend the audiobook!

4.25/5

[norah · Rating 2 out of 5]

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=2.75 | 😘=2 | 🤬=2 | ⚔️=3.5 | 14+

summary: so there’s this girl who can see magic and this guy with nature powers and they team up to go on this hunt to get a prize or something but all is not as it seems and there’s monsters and intrigue and stuff

thoughts: several things to say:
- kinda boring!!
- I like the FMC’s backstory and magic; very cool
- King Math is an extremely dumb name. like why would you do that.
- Gwydion’s identity as “The Trickster” was more told than shown for like 80% of the novel; I know he’s supposed to be the Twist at the end, but show him being more mischievous before then!! make me buy into this!! semi-charming banter does not a trickster make.
- prince guy was boring. like I’m not invested or emotional about his story at all (including the ending)
- did not care about the romance whatsoever? these people haven’t known each other very long and don’t have enough chemistry to justify hints
- this is not bad, I guess?? (even if I do have several bullet points critiquing it), just not… good. 0r interesting??

[Madi Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 I adore Emily’s Welsh folklore inspired books so much. The whimsy is always unmatched. The magical animal companion is always adorable. And there’s always just the right amount of romance.

This is my favorite of the three welsh books so far. And It’s probably the most intense and heartbreaking one too.

It’s The Hunger Games meets An Enchantment of Ravens. A fast pace fight for magical wishes while trying to find your purpose.

[Brittany]

DNF- moves too slow and I’ve given it until 50% and just not invested :/ sad- was looking forward to this one!

[Starr ❇✌❇]

"a YA fantasy set in the same world as The Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods, about a monster-hunting girl who teams up with a prince to win the dangerous tournament known as the Wild Hunt. But unbeknownst to the two of them, the hunt is far more dangerous to win than to lose."

Okay I love The Wild Hunt and I LOVE the Lloyd-Jones verse THANK YOU

[MikeLikesBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did a buddy read with this book and was excited to read it. There were many things I liked about the book. The Huntress and her abilities were really cool. Her friendship with the Prince and the trickster were also one the best part of the story. Some things that missed the mark for me was the rambling and slow pace at times. I would get a little board then it would pick up again.

[Ranjini Shankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounding up. This had a lot of great elements like three strong MCs and an interesting spin with the hunt and the secrets it holds however it had some serious pacing issues. The build up is prolonged and then the ending has huge events and no space for it to breathe. This could easily have been two books and I wouldn’t complain because there was so much more in the world I wanted to understand.

Bramwyn can see magic in one of her eyes and this makes her an excellent hunter of monsters. She joins up with two others in order to take on the Wild Hunt which gives her a chance to secure a boon from the Otherworld King if she wins. However not all is as it seems during the hunt and she has to ask herself, who does she really trust?

The ending is such a pivot from the beginning that it felt like two different books. I appreciate the author not shying away from real consequences but I think I needed more character introspection after the sequence of events instead of a two page epilogue

[Helen Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook - great! Took hold on a car ride and didn’t let go.

Not every book I read can be called a great story but this one felt like somebody was reading me a story not narrating a book. I don’t know if that makes sense but I just needed to keep on listening the minute I turned it on.

I switched between audio and book which was a jolt because the Welsh pronunciations are not anything like you’d think when you see the word spelled out. Eventually I abandoned the book because the audio was more enjoyable.

Love that it was a complete tale set in an interesting world but not saddling me with more books to read.