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The Erwain Trilogy #2
The Pool of Aeslin
Unleash the magic within, and join Makayla Wood on a journey through a world on the brink of collapse. Garlandia is burning, its throne poisoned by a corrupt king, and seventeen-year-old Makayla knows the fight for her kingdom is only beginning. With her newfound powers and a connection to her elfin lover, Toby, she sets out to uncover the truth, only to discover that the past she's been chasing may have darker roots than she ever imagined. As she delves deeper, she must confront betrayal, forbidden love, and a threat that will take her to the very heart of Garlandia's magic - and beyond.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2025
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Mariah Stillbrook
5 books146 followersMariah Stillbrook, originally from Iowa, is a pansexual, witchy author. She lives in Colorado with her German shepherd, husband, and little girl. She spends most of her days writing, reading, and enjoying the occasional hike. Though she's moving into multi-genre storytelling, she focuses her writing on urban fantasy and horror in both adult and young adult genres.
Author of In the Pines, The Erwain Trilogy, and Hall of Shadows.
Praise for In the Pines:
"Stillbrook penned an utterly mesmerizing tale full of magic spells and rituals, spirits and demons, and witches and their familiars." Readers' Favorite
Praise for The Lost Erwain:
"Mariah Stillbrook delivers a mesmerizing tale due to her stellar writing skills. It was like reading The Chronicles of Narnia all over again. Fantasy lovers will be pleased." Readers' Favorite
Praise for Hall of Shadows:
"This captivating tale contains family secrets, deception, mystery, adventure, paranormal elements, and drama. Mariah Stillbrook pulls her readers into a fully developed fantasy world brimming with enchantment and magic." Readers' Favorite
Author of In the Pines, The Erwain Trilogy, and Hall of Shadows.
Praise for In the Pines:
"Stillbrook penned an utterly mesmerizing tale full of magic spells and rituals, spirits and demons, and witches and their familiars." Readers' Favorite
Praise for The Lost Erwain:
"Mariah Stillbrook delivers a mesmerizing tale due to her stellar writing skills. It was like reading The Chronicles of Narnia all over again. Fantasy lovers will be pleased." Readers' Favorite
Praise for Hall of Shadows:
"This captivating tale contains family secrets, deception, mystery, adventure, paranormal elements, and drama. Mariah Stillbrook pulls her readers into a fully developed fantasy world brimming with enchantment and magic." Readers' Favorite
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 18, 2025
When reading a book series, I almost never read them one after the other. I like to have the chance for the books to settle in my subconscious for a while.
Except, I couldn't do that with The Pool of Aeslin by Mariah Stillbrook. After finishing book one, The Lost Erwain, yesterday, I couldn't wait to jump back into Garlandia and find out what was going on.
Unfortunately, Garlandia is very different since Lala and her friends were last there.
The King (boo hiss) has bought in even more rules, and the faeries, elves, witches, and animals are none too happy about these changes.
This is a darker book than the first of the series, but there are still plenty of laughs along with the death, destruction, and, of course, romance.
Lala is growing up fast and has to learn the way of the magical land even faster.
I am eager for book three.
Many thanks to Mariah Stillbrook for the ARC of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Except, I couldn't do that with The Pool of Aeslin by Mariah Stillbrook. After finishing book one, The Lost Erwain, yesterday, I couldn't wait to jump back into Garlandia and find out what was going on.
Unfortunately, Garlandia is very different since Lala and her friends were last there.
The King (boo hiss) has bought in even more rules, and the faeries, elves, witches, and animals are none too happy about these changes.
This is a darker book than the first of the series, but there are still plenty of laughs along with the death, destruction, and, of course, romance.
Lala is growing up fast and has to learn the way of the magical land even faster.
I am eager for book three.
Many thanks to Mariah Stillbrook for the ARC of this book in return for my honest opinion.
August 7, 2025
Now settled into the world that Stillbrook introduced us to with the first novel, we are immediately plunged back to Garlandia and the adventures of Makayla Wood as she faces her promised future. She will be queen and so much more as dark forces arise and danger comes all the closer.
The same list of characters as the first novel remain and all face their own challenges and changes. I found myself to really enjoy Makayla's human friends and seeing the path they took, and as always I enjoyed the relationship between Makayla and Toby.
By the end of the novel I was on the edge of my seat; a perfect end leading us straight to the final novel of the trilogy.
The same list of characters as the first novel remain and all face their own challenges and changes. I found myself to really enjoy Makayla's human friends and seeing the path they took, and as always I enjoyed the relationship between Makayla and Toby.
By the end of the novel I was on the edge of my seat; a perfect end leading us straight to the final novel of the trilogy.
March 10, 2025
What an amazing and emotional sequel to The Lost Erwain. The story is full of mystery, romance, war, and faerie creatures. I can't wait to see where this journey takes Toby and Makayla! Makayla aka Lala hasn't heard from Toby in a while. She's been spending all her time with Cece and Jeremy because she has given Cece pink hair and Jeremy Elven ears. Makayla is missing Garlandia since she left, however, her faerie parents had appeared for a short visit where Maude gave her the spell book she herself had written about her life in. Suddenly; Makayla and her friends ended up in Garlandia. Things are vastly different from the last time she had been in Garlandia a few weeks ago. The King has started trouble with the people of the land. Thus begins Makayla, Toby, Cece and Jeremy's adventures and journeys begin. This is a must read along with the first book The Lost Erwain!!!
January 20, 2025
I was lucky enough to read this book before publication.
I absolutely adored the first book in the Erwain series, The Lost Erwain, so I jumped at the chance to read book two and it did not disappoint! It was a lot darker than the first one, with Makayla and team trying to defeat the sinister king. Makayla is growing into her destiny and it was a joy to see her thrive. It was a captivating and mysterious continuation of the Erwain series—it will make you yearn for more. I can't wait for book three!
I absolutely adored the first book in the Erwain series, The Lost Erwain, so I jumped at the chance to read book two and it did not disappoint! It was a lot darker than the first one, with Makayla and team trying to defeat the sinister king. Makayla is growing into her destiny and it was a joy to see her thrive. It was a captivating and mysterious continuation of the Erwain series—it will make you yearn for more. I can't wait for book three!
March 4, 2025
Makayla is thrust back into Garlandia where things have become much darker in the few weeks she was gone. Much to her and our surprise Jeremy and Cee-Cee have their own magical destinies.
The romance between Makayla and Toby fires up. I love that they're two parts of one soul.
Makayla still has so much to learn and not a lot of time to do it.
This one took some very surprising twists and turns. I'm anxious to see what happens in the third book!
The romance between Makayla and Toby fires up. I love that they're two parts of one soul.
Makayla still has so much to learn and not a lot of time to do it.
This one took some very surprising twists and turns. I'm anxious to see what happens in the third book!
September 14, 2025
This book didn’t disappoint! Makayla’s back in Garlandia and things are darker than them were when she first was there. I loved this continuing adventure and the world building and the fantasy aspects of this even more! I loved the relationship building between her and toby and all the twists and turns in this book it really left me on the edge of my seat! I can’t wait to read the next book and see what happens next!
March 19, 2025
Makayla has embraced the new normal - her newfound true identity.
She’s taken up arms against the oppressive King Loral.
What dangers and trials does she face in doing so?
Her journey is just beginning, and with the way this book continues to encapsulate the story of her previous lives, and her impending journey, I can’t wait to see what else she comes up against!
A must read story!
She’s taken up arms against the oppressive King Loral.
What dangers and trials does she face in doing so?
Her journey is just beginning, and with the way this book continues to encapsulate the story of her previous lives, and her impending journey, I can’t wait to see what else she comes up against!
A must read story!
May 5, 2025
At this point, I’m invested and anxious to see what happens next. The book doesn’t disappoint and kicks into high gear almost immediately. My only real complaint about this book is that it left me hanging, waiting for the final installment of the trilogy.
4 1/2 💜’s.
Closer to 5 than 4-Goodreads doesn’t so halves.
4 1/2 💜’s.
Closer to 5 than 4-Goodreads doesn’t so halves.
July 10, 2025
In my review of “The Lost Erwain”, I said author Mariah Stillbrook put the fun back in fantasy. Well, in the second book of The Erwain Trilogy, “The Pool of Aeslin”, she puts the "epic” in “epic fantasy".
Book one introduced us to the fantastic fantasy world of Garlandia. Now, seventeen-year-old Makayla Wood and her lover Toby have to protect that world from an evil king. As other reviewers have noted, this book is darker–but that’s because the stakes are higher, Forces are gathering. People are taking sides. It’s all setting up for a massive conclusion in book three. And to make things worse, one of Makayla’s closest friends is acting strangely at exactly the wrong time.
The second book in a trilogy should expand on the characters and concepts introduced in the first, while building suspense for book three. “The Pool of Aeslin” does a great job achieving both of these goals. Can’t wait to read how it all turns out!
Book one introduced us to the fantastic fantasy world of Garlandia. Now, seventeen-year-old Makayla Wood and her lover Toby have to protect that world from an evil king. As other reviewers have noted, this book is darker–but that’s because the stakes are higher, Forces are gathering. People are taking sides. It’s all setting up for a massive conclusion in book three. And to make things worse, one of Makayla’s closest friends is acting strangely at exactly the wrong time.
The second book in a trilogy should expand on the characters and concepts introduced in the first, while building suspense for book three. “The Pool of Aeslin” does a great job achieving both of these goals. Can’t wait to read how it all turns out!
March 21, 2025
I don’t know really what to say. I am utterly in love with the series. The romance, the fantasy, and the emotion through this books is amazing. It’s a mix of Narnia and Throne of Glass. It’s absolutely perfect!!!
Tropes include
❤️Forbidden Love 😈
❤️Friends to Enemies 🔪
❤️Magical Mysteries 🔮
Tropes include
❤️Forbidden Love 😈
❤️Friends to Enemies 🔪
❤️Magical Mysteries 🔮
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews