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The Cobworld
Princess Bronwen has a terrible secret—three years ago she made a wish at the forbidden Wishing Well to become the heir to the kingdom. That same night the true heir, her best friend and first love, vanished without a trace. Now Bronwen is engaged to his replacement and facing a loveless marriage just to one day become queen.
When Prince Rylan returns as mysteriously as he left, but with no memory of where he’s been, his reappearance changes everything. As Bronwen and Rylan fall in love again, the worst happens—Rylan disappears, but this time Bronwen uses the Wishing Well to chase after him into a mysterious underground land called the Cobworld.
As Bronwen comes face to face with the terrifying curse of the strange people holding Rylan captive, she learns his true purpose in the Cobworld and must act quickly or lose him forever. On her journey through a fractured land of eternal night, Bronwen will discover the truth about a murdered queen, a land bitterly divided, the dangerous Wishkeeper, and ultimately herself.
In the end, saving Rylan may require a sacrifice greater than Bronwen ever imagined. Not all wishes come true. Will this one?
When Prince Rylan returns as mysteriously as he left, but with no memory of where he’s been, his reappearance changes everything. As Bronwen and Rylan fall in love again, the worst happens—Rylan disappears, but this time Bronwen uses the Wishing Well to chase after him into a mysterious underground land called the Cobworld.
As Bronwen comes face to face with the terrifying curse of the strange people holding Rylan captive, she learns his true purpose in the Cobworld and must act quickly or lose him forever. On her journey through a fractured land of eternal night, Bronwen will discover the truth about a murdered queen, a land bitterly divided, the dangerous Wishkeeper, and ultimately herself.
In the end, saving Rylan may require a sacrifice greater than Bronwen ever imagined. Not all wishes come true. Will this one?
- GenresFantasy
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Review of advance copy
What a very unique concept!
And one of the most fast-paced story I have ever read
3.5 🌟🌟🌟✨️
I am always seeking retelling of stories we barely hear of
I am just sick of the "Beauty and the Beast"s and the "Cinderella"s and "Peter Pan"s!
So I was excited to find one that is inspired by East O’ the Sun West O’ the Moon which is a Norwegian fairytale
Princess Bronwen is ambitious and in love with her best friend, the King-to be, Rylan
However, she desperately wants to be the queen and not the consort
So she makes a wish...at a magical wishing well
A wish that results in the disappearance of Rylan!
The story is intricate and full of surprises at every page
Ancient secrets, feuds, and histories of kingdoms are woven to stop the two young lovers....will their love save the day, or will Bronwen's secrets and ambitious stand in the way?
The writing style is very fast paced
You are not bored one bit
It is told from the third person POV of Bronwen, and though it is labeled as Romance Fantasy, I did not feel the need to have Rylan's POV
Eventhough this is a YA / Middle grade story, I still wanted depth, insights and gripping quotes
To be honest, this was a one-time only book
Still enjoyable
And one of the most fast-paced story I have ever read
3.5 🌟🌟🌟✨️
I am always seeking retelling of stories we barely hear of
I am just sick of the "Beauty and the Beast"s and the "Cinderella"s and "Peter Pan"s!
So I was excited to find one that is inspired by East O’ the Sun West O’ the Moon which is a Norwegian fairytale
Princess Bronwen is ambitious and in love with her best friend, the King-to be, Rylan
However, she desperately wants to be the queen and not the consort
So she makes a wish...at a magical wishing well
A wish that results in the disappearance of Rylan!
The story is intricate and full of surprises at every page
Ancient secrets, feuds, and histories of kingdoms are woven to stop the two young lovers....will their love save the day, or will Bronwen's secrets and ambitious stand in the way?
The writing style is very fast paced
You are not bored one bit
It is told from the third person POV of Bronwen, and though it is labeled as Romance Fantasy, I did not feel the need to have Rylan's POV
Eventhough this is a YA / Middle grade story, I still wanted depth, insights and gripping quotes
To be honest, this was a one-time only book
Still enjoyable
September 15, 2026
4.25 Stars
As a loose retelling of the Norwegian folktale East of the Sun and West of the Moon, I knew I had to read this story, and it did not disappoint.
Cobworld’s setting is a beautiful cacophony of rich descriptions blended with the grounded realities of leading a kingdom. The plot follows Princess Bronwen after her childhood friend, the heir to the kingdom, disappears. Bronwen’s motivation throughout the story drives the overarching conflict and plot: “But [Bronwen] wanted more. [She] wanted to be queen in [her] own right, not just the wife of the king.” (p.6)
The world-building is immersive. I loved exploring the different inhabitants of Cobworld, along with the concept of colour, especially when characters are in their true skin. The overarching theme of wrestling with morality and making grey choices when there isn’t a clear “right” answer was handled really well. The wishing well serves as the perfect metaphor for how good and bad often go hand in hand: “You are a wicked thing, I think to the Well, but in its dark waters I see only my own face. Who is to blame for a wish, after all—the one that fulfills it, or the one who makes it?” (p. 26)
At its heart, the story carries a powerful message: chase your dreams, but never at the expense of others.
While the ending was slightly predictable, the author did wrap up the story in an important way. Bronwen’s final choices demonstrated real character growth, with a message that is deeply important for older middle grade and younger YA audiences to hear.
My only critique is that I wished for more character development from Rylan. At times, he felt a bit like a secondary passenger. Added personality, tension, and chemistry between Rylan and Bronwen would have made me feel even more invested in her ultimate decisions.
Vibes & Tropes:
Friends to Lovers
Portal Magic (The Well)
Fae / Magical Realm x Mortal Realm
Morally Grey Choices
Found Family
I highly recommend Cobworld for upper MG and lower YA readers, especially those who love mythical worlds, folktale retellings, and all things fae!
As a loose retelling of the Norwegian folktale East of the Sun and West of the Moon, I knew I had to read this story, and it did not disappoint.
Cobworld’s setting is a beautiful cacophony of rich descriptions blended with the grounded realities of leading a kingdom. The plot follows Princess Bronwen after her childhood friend, the heir to the kingdom, disappears. Bronwen’s motivation throughout the story drives the overarching conflict and plot: “But [Bronwen] wanted more. [She] wanted to be queen in [her] own right, not just the wife of the king.” (p.6)
The world-building is immersive. I loved exploring the different inhabitants of Cobworld, along with the concept of colour, especially when characters are in their true skin. The overarching theme of wrestling with morality and making grey choices when there isn’t a clear “right” answer was handled really well. The wishing well serves as the perfect metaphor for how good and bad often go hand in hand: “You are a wicked thing, I think to the Well, but in its dark waters I see only my own face. Who is to blame for a wish, after all—the one that fulfills it, or the one who makes it?” (p. 26)
At its heart, the story carries a powerful message: chase your dreams, but never at the expense of others.
While the ending was slightly predictable, the author did wrap up the story in an important way. Bronwen’s final choices demonstrated real character growth, with a message that is deeply important for older middle grade and younger YA audiences to hear.
My only critique is that I wished for more character development from Rylan. At times, he felt a bit like a secondary passenger. Added personality, tension, and chemistry between Rylan and Bronwen would have made me feel even more invested in her ultimate decisions.
Vibes & Tropes:
Friends to Lovers
Portal Magic (The Well)
Fae / Magical Realm x Mortal Realm
Morally Grey Choices
Found Family
I highly recommend Cobworld for upper MG and lower YA readers, especially those who love mythical worlds, folktale retellings, and all things fae!
September 9, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this book and so happy I got to read it! This book really had me from the beginning until the almost end. Why only 4 stars, because the ending felt a little lacking... As if there was a big piece missing and you pause the book in the middle of reading. You could say every one got what they wanted, so I give it that.
But this book is a perfect little YA fairytale thriller book. I love fairytale retellings and I loved that this was technically one but not a typical one. I like that it was fast-paced, the end a little too fast paced..., and there was always something happening. What doesn't really read well is the 'love' between Rylan and Bronwen, because you don't really get their background so it doesn't make the most sense when she wants to go back. However, the way that she falls in love with the Cobworld and all its inhabitants was fun to read.
Why this book was still so good for me: Bronwen is a young woman who stands for what and who she believes in. Such as her mourning years when Rylan was gone and fighting for him when he appeared. She will make the sacrifices when needed, even it that means giving her younger sister the love and happiness she deserves and Bronwen not becoming queen, and fought for every tribe in the Cobworld. I loved reading that, because often a FMC will sacrifice many other people in order to save the one.
I would recommend this book if you like the YA writing style, happy ending, fairytale elements, political intrigue with deep running history and are starting off with the 'horror' elements. (Read horror very very lightly here ;))
But this book is a perfect little YA fairytale thriller book. I love fairytale retellings and I loved that this was technically one but not a typical one. I like that it was fast-paced, the end a little too fast paced..., and there was always something happening. What doesn't really read well is the 'love' between Rylan and Bronwen, because you don't really get their background so it doesn't make the most sense when she wants to go back. However, the way that she falls in love with the Cobworld and all its inhabitants was fun to read.
Why this book was still so good for me: Bronwen is a young woman who stands for what and who she believes in. Such as her mourning years when Rylan was gone and fighting for him when he appeared. She will make the sacrifices when needed, even it that means giving her younger sister the love and happiness she deserves and Bronwen not becoming queen, and fought for every tribe in the Cobworld. I loved reading that, because often a FMC will sacrifice many other people in order to save the one.
I would recommend this book if you like the YA writing style, happy ending, fairytale elements, political intrigue with deep running history and are starting off with the 'horror' elements. (Read horror very very lightly here ;))
August 1, 2026
ARC Review: The Cobworld by Savannah Foley
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I recommend for ages 13+
Princess Bronwen's childhood friend, Rylan, reappears after being missing for many years with no recollection where he was, all for him to go missing again two weeks later. Bronwen wishes on a magical well to find his and is transported to the Cobworld, a place thought only to exist in fairytales. While trying to find Rylan and go back home, she gets caught up in magic and court politics.
I highly recommend this book! It was very quick paced without feeling rushed and had such an interesting magic system. I loved the underlying themes of sacrifice and redemption. Cruel Prince fans would love this book!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I recommend for ages 13+
Princess Bronwen's childhood friend, Rylan, reappears after being missing for many years with no recollection where he was, all for him to go missing again two weeks later. Bronwen wishes on a magical well to find his and is transported to the Cobworld, a place thought only to exist in fairytales. While trying to find Rylan and go back home, she gets caught up in magic and court politics.
I highly recommend this book! It was very quick paced without feeling rushed and had such an interesting magic system. I loved the underlying themes of sacrifice and redemption. Cruel Prince fans would love this book!
Review of advance copy
“I don’t want this world to end.” A sentiment I couldn't agree with more after reading Savannah J. Foley’s standalone fantasy novel, The Cobworld. In her novel, Foley leads readers on an adventure through the eyes of Tiramhael’s future queen, Princess Bronwen. Despite being the eldest princess of Tiramhael, Bronwen's future as queen is unstable due to an old law that restricts a princess from ascending the throne without a husband. Consequently she is raised alongside the closest male heir, Prince Rylan, from an early age. Regardless of the love connection that formed between Bronwen and Rylan, Bronwen still longed to be queen without a marriage. Her wish was so strong she turned to an ancient wishing well for help. The wishing well itself had a sinister side, twisting wishes, and a history long before anyone lived in the land. Still knowing this information the princess proceeded to make a wish that led to Rylan disappearing never to be seen again. So everyone thought, imagine their surprise when Rylan randomly appears after three years without a trace. Unfortunately, this is not the happy reunion Bronwen hoped for, before the romance could fully be rekindled the prince goes missing for a second time. Despite fears of her own, Bronwen blindly chases Rylan into a world she believed was only real in her books. In the Cobworld, Princess Bronwen is thrown into various deadly situations to save her true love. Throughout this journey Bronwen also accidentally discovers the mysteries of her true self and possibly the way for all her wishes to come true.
I found Foley’s book to be a captivating quick read. What I enjoyed most about this book is the world that the author created. I would like to highlight that the ways in which the author described the cobworld really made me visualize it. As I was reading I felt like I could really see an underground world with misty skies and luminous foliage. Not only does Foley bring to life this new world, she also brings to life the creatures of the Cobworld. It was refreshing to read characters that had so much depth to them in the little time readers have with the story. Residents of the Cobworld are not always what you expect them to be, making you think twice about the mechanics of the Cobworld.
Despite finding enjoyment with the way the Cobworld and its residents are depicted, the love story between Rylan and Bronwen lacked the passion to convince me it was true love. I felt as though Prince Rylan was more in love with the Cobworld than he was with Princess Bronwen. Although Bronwen displays an intense love for Rylan, willing to give up almost anything to be with him, it appears as though the prince does not feel the same. Rylan was willing to give up on having a relationship with Bronwen multiple times within the story, but what he did not waiver was his willingness to return to the Cobworld.
I would rate this book a 7 out of 10. This book contains mild romance scenes, along with moments of violence making it better suited for readers ages 13 and up. Overall, Foley’s book is an exciting read for fantasy lovers looking to discover a new world without the commitment of reading an entire series.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found Foley’s book to be a captivating quick read. What I enjoyed most about this book is the world that the author created. I would like to highlight that the ways in which the author described the cobworld really made me visualize it. As I was reading I felt like I could really see an underground world with misty skies and luminous foliage. Not only does Foley bring to life this new world, she also brings to life the creatures of the Cobworld. It was refreshing to read characters that had so much depth to them in the little time readers have with the story. Residents of the Cobworld are not always what you expect them to be, making you think twice about the mechanics of the Cobworld.
Despite finding enjoyment with the way the Cobworld and its residents are depicted, the love story between Rylan and Bronwen lacked the passion to convince me it was true love. I felt as though Prince Rylan was more in love with the Cobworld than he was with Princess Bronwen. Although Bronwen displays an intense love for Rylan, willing to give up almost anything to be with him, it appears as though the prince does not feel the same. Rylan was willing to give up on having a relationship with Bronwen multiple times within the story, but what he did not waiver was his willingness to return to the Cobworld.
I would rate this book a 7 out of 10. This book contains mild romance scenes, along with moments of violence making it better suited for readers ages 13 and up. Overall, Foley’s book is an exciting read for fantasy lovers looking to discover a new world without the commitment of reading an entire series.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"It is a terrible thing to miss someone when they're right in front of you." And the hardest part is missing who you truly are not what you're supposed to be.
Princess Bronwen of Tramhael is not just a princess, nor a pawn in a political game, nor a tool for a lineage she is a queen. She may not have a kingdom, but she has something much more valuable: grit. Bronwen lost the love of her life due to a twisted fate, and her hope of becoming queen a title she thought was her destiny, what she always wanted to be was shattered. Loss teaches us to recognize what truly matters. It forces us to separate what we want from what is worth fighting for. In this novel, we see Bronwen go through that journey and give up her wants in favour of her needs. Because if breath becomes mere air, life becomes nothing more than a passage toward nothingness.
The story and plot are frankly one of a kind. We see love triangles, sacrifices, a not-so-subtle revolt against patriarchal society, and the sheer power of coincidence. The world is rich and complex, and its most fascinating feature is the question it asks: "Who is to blame for a wish the one who fulfills it, or the one who makes it?" A wish come true, a blessing or a curse? That is for you to decide.
Is our protagonist perfect? No. Some may find her reckless, foolish, or naive. But one thing I think everyone can agree on is that she fought for what she believes in every single step of the way. In her mourning years, in her restless defence of Ryan's sake, and throughout her incredible journey, she persevered.
The pacing throughout the book was solid there were no moments of stillness except in the late two-week deadline, which was well placed. However, I found the ending highly unsatisfactory not because of the relationship resolution, but because of the political situation in the underworld. I think it would have been stronger if we hadn't seen a transfer of power at that moment. While Bronwen's decision to resign from the title is admirable, I don't think it served her or the underworld well. I would have preferred to see her face the second chance she was given on different footing fighting on the front line, not on the sidelines, especially now that she has a new side to her and the love of her life by her side.
That, for me, was the biggest reason this didn't become a perfect romantasy: the author played it safe at the end. There's nothing wrong with that but given everything that was at stake throughout Bronwen's journey, I wish we had gotten more. I also think it was a missed opportunity not to give Bronwen's parents and grandfather's backstory more spotlight, especially with all the rich worldbuilding lore available.
Who is this book for? If you want to see something different in the genre something that combines the underworld, paranormal creatures, love, sacrifice, secrets, wishes, and above all, the power of hope and resilience with a sprinkle of feminine fantasy, then you're already there.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Happy reading ◉‿◉
Princess Bronwen of Tramhael is not just a princess, nor a pawn in a political game, nor a tool for a lineage she is a queen. She may not have a kingdom, but she has something much more valuable: grit. Bronwen lost the love of her life due to a twisted fate, and her hope of becoming queen a title she thought was her destiny, what she always wanted to be was shattered. Loss teaches us to recognize what truly matters. It forces us to separate what we want from what is worth fighting for. In this novel, we see Bronwen go through that journey and give up her wants in favour of her needs. Because if breath becomes mere air, life becomes nothing more than a passage toward nothingness.
The story and plot are frankly one of a kind. We see love triangles, sacrifices, a not-so-subtle revolt against patriarchal society, and the sheer power of coincidence. The world is rich and complex, and its most fascinating feature is the question it asks: "Who is to blame for a wish the one who fulfills it, or the one who makes it?" A wish come true, a blessing or a curse? That is for you to decide.
Is our protagonist perfect? No. Some may find her reckless, foolish, or naive. But one thing I think everyone can agree on is that she fought for what she believes in every single step of the way. In her mourning years, in her restless defence of Ryan's sake, and throughout her incredible journey, she persevered.
The pacing throughout the book was solid there were no moments of stillness except in the late two-week deadline, which was well placed. However, I found the ending highly unsatisfactory not because of the relationship resolution, but because of the political situation in the underworld. I think it would have been stronger if we hadn't seen a transfer of power at that moment. While Bronwen's decision to resign from the title is admirable, I don't think it served her or the underworld well. I would have preferred to see her face the second chance she was given on different footing fighting on the front line, not on the sidelines, especially now that she has a new side to her and the love of her life by her side.
That, for me, was the biggest reason this didn't become a perfect romantasy: the author played it safe at the end. There's nothing wrong with that but given everything that was at stake throughout Bronwen's journey, I wish we had gotten more. I also think it was a missed opportunity not to give Bronwen's parents and grandfather's backstory more spotlight, especially with all the rich worldbuilding lore available.
Who is this book for? If you want to see something different in the genre something that combines the underworld, paranormal creatures, love, sacrifice, secrets, wishes, and above all, the power of hope and resilience with a sprinkle of feminine fantasy, then you're already there.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Happy reading ◉‿◉
Review of advance copy received from Author
I wrote this! Wanted to use this space to share some fun facts about the story!
The concept for the story was inspired by the 2011 sci-fi horror film ABSENTIA, which I highly recommend!
If you read the physical book, I left a little graphics surprise for you shortly after Bronwen enters the Cobworld ;-)
The FMC Bronwen is my most "autistic" character to date, and shares some of my own autism spectrum experiences, such as caring deeply for people but not necessarily wanting to interact with them one on one, and feeling like everyone is communicating in ways she can't detect or replicate.
The story can be considered a loose East o' the Sun West o' the Moon retelling, which was my favorite fairytale growing up. There's a strange little film called The Polar Bear King that contributed to this affinity.
The "Cobworld" seems to be a word I made up, and I hope it invokes connotations of cobwebs and hobgoblins.
A side character, Philip, is so named because I didn't want to use that name for the prince in my sleeping beauty retelling (too close to the Disney version), and while it was originally a placeholder I ended up keeping it because he's SUCH a Phillip.
In the original draft, Rylan disappeared for 7 years, not 3, but I didn't feel the love story made sense if he vanished when they were 10/11 instead of 14/15.
While most of the societies in the book happen to be led by women at this particular point in their world's history, I didn't intend for that to happen. Some groups make sense that they would always be led by women, but other folk such as the Elves inherit by best fit, not gender.
My concept of societies divided into Court or Host is inspired by the concept of Seelie or Unseelie courts. In THE COBWORLD, "civilized" societies loyal to the Elven crown are considered part of the Court, and all other societies are considered part of the Host.
I didn't go into writing this book knowing the truth about the force behind the Wishing Well. That revelation came from a brainstorming session with my best friend, Cade. Goes to show how much sometimes writing comes from the subconscious and not from conscious planning!
The original manuscript had a friendly mentor librarian named Nero, but he ended up being cut.
The banshee society was also not part of the first draft, until I restructured to give Bronwen an additional adventure in the Cobworld. As you'll understand after reading, the addition of this society completely changed the arc of the main villain and Bronwen herself, and now the story wouldn't even work without them!
Happy reading!!!! <3
The concept for the story was inspired by the 2011 sci-fi horror film ABSENTIA, which I highly recommend!
If you read the physical book, I left a little graphics surprise for you shortly after Bronwen enters the Cobworld ;-)
The FMC Bronwen is my most "autistic" character to date, and shares some of my own autism spectrum experiences, such as caring deeply for people but not necessarily wanting to interact with them one on one, and feeling like everyone is communicating in ways she can't detect or replicate.
The story can be considered a loose East o' the Sun West o' the Moon retelling, which was my favorite fairytale growing up. There's a strange little film called The Polar Bear King that contributed to this affinity.
The "Cobworld" seems to be a word I made up, and I hope it invokes connotations of cobwebs and hobgoblins.
A side character, Philip, is so named because I didn't want to use that name for the prince in my sleeping beauty retelling (too close to the Disney version), and while it was originally a placeholder I ended up keeping it because he's SUCH a Phillip.
In the original draft, Rylan disappeared for 7 years, not 3, but I didn't feel the love story made sense if he vanished when they were 10/11 instead of 14/15.
While most of the societies in the book happen to be led by women at this particular point in their world's history, I didn't intend for that to happen. Some groups make sense that they would always be led by women, but other folk such as the Elves inherit by best fit, not gender.
My concept of societies divided into Court or Host is inspired by the concept of Seelie or Unseelie courts. In THE COBWORLD, "civilized" societies loyal to the Elven crown are considered part of the Court, and all other societies are considered part of the Host.
I didn't go into writing this book knowing the truth about the force behind the Wishing Well. That revelation came from a brainstorming session with my best friend, Cade. Goes to show how much sometimes writing comes from the subconscious and not from conscious planning!
The original manuscript had a friendly mentor librarian named Nero, but he ended up being cut.
The banshee society was also not part of the first draft, until I restructured to give Bronwen an additional adventure in the Cobworld. As you'll understand after reading, the addition of this society completely changed the arc of the main villain and Bronwen herself, and now the story wouldn't even work without them!
Happy reading!!!! <3
Review of advance copy
"I love him in a way I know I will love no one else. Completely and without end."
⋆.˚⟡ summary
this story is so precious🥹 the cobworld follows bronwen, a princess who wanted to be queen in a land where only men can rule, and rylan, the heir to the throne and the love of her life. frustrated, she makes a wish at the dangerous Wishing Well, and it results in rylan disappearing for three years. bronwen is haunted by the guilt until rylan suddenly comes back, with no idea who he is or where he was - but he's only back for two weeks. they fall back in love until he disappears again and this time, bronwen will not let him go. she makes another wish to be with him and this one takes her somewhere she thought only existed in fairytales.
the cobworld.
⋆.˚⟡ the worldbuilding
the whole idea of the wishing well and the cobworld with its elves and ogres and banshees was so fairytale-esque ⋆.˚⟡ i loved the different creatures and their unique histories, and especially how all their societies were led by women.
⋆.˚⟡ the characters
my favourite part about this book was how kind the characters were. i loved each and every one of them - they were all so real and imperfect and human. they made mistakes and sacrifices and loved each other so purely - not just the romance, but the familial relationship and friendships as well.
• bronwen
i absolutely loved her. she did something wrong and was hungry for power, but she was selfless and good and kind, and the whole time she was scared that she wasn't. i wish i could tell her that only good people worry about not being good, and if only she could see that she had nothing to worry about. her wish to be queen was so justified, and i felt her pain when she was denied it by her own people. her character arc was absolute perfection.
• rylan
i know this was their story, but to me it felt like bronwen's story and rylan was just there. he was nice, and i loved how much he loved libraries and kept finding bigger ones lmao. he did seem a bit passive compared to bronwen though. very go with the flow kinda dude.
• philip
i know he's a minor character but he was just so kind. at first i didn't like him because bronwen was being forced to marry him, he was willing to sacrifice so much just for his duty and for her even though they weren't in love? my god there isn't a single unlikeable character in this book
• namaya
i loved the underlying message that there is no pure good or evil, there are only two sides of the story. my heart ached for namaya even though she was the reason bronwen and rylan couldn't be together. her dialogues was written so well - she only spoke to bronwen in one chapter but i felt all of her pain and insecurity and jealousy.
⋆.˚⟡ bronwen & rylan
IM SOBBING SHE LOVED HIM SO MUCH. he was perfect for bronwen. even though we didn't get to see them fall in love on page, their love for each other was so evident in their actions and felt natural. i was rooting for them the whole time, even when all the odds were against them.
⋆.˚⟡ other thoughts
• all the different aspects of the plot fit together so seamlessly. i loved the main plot twist and how it impacted bronwen
• this is probably the first book i've read where the FMC does more for the MMC.
• i loved how the ending highlights that you can do good even if you are powerless.
thank you to the lovely author, publisher and booksirens for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!
disclaimer: the opening quote in this review is from an uncorrected proof and is subject to change before publication
⋆.˚⟡ summary
this story is so precious🥹 the cobworld follows bronwen, a princess who wanted to be queen in a land where only men can rule, and rylan, the heir to the throne and the love of her life. frustrated, she makes a wish at the dangerous Wishing Well, and it results in rylan disappearing for three years. bronwen is haunted by the guilt until rylan suddenly comes back, with no idea who he is or where he was - but he's only back for two weeks. they fall back in love until he disappears again and this time, bronwen will not let him go. she makes another wish to be with him and this one takes her somewhere she thought only existed in fairytales.
the cobworld.
⋆.˚⟡ the worldbuilding
the whole idea of the wishing well and the cobworld with its elves and ogres and banshees was so fairytale-esque ⋆.˚⟡ i loved the different creatures and their unique histories, and especially how all their societies were led by women.
⋆.˚⟡ the characters
my favourite part about this book was how kind the characters were. i loved each and every one of them - they were all so real and imperfect and human. they made mistakes and sacrifices and loved each other so purely - not just the romance, but the familial relationship and friendships as well.
• bronwen
i absolutely loved her. she did something wrong and was hungry for power, but she was selfless and good and kind, and the whole time she was scared that she wasn't. i wish i could tell her that only good people worry about not being good, and if only she could see that she had nothing to worry about. her wish to be queen was so justified, and i felt her pain when she was denied it by her own people. her character arc was absolute perfection.
• rylan
i know this was their story, but to me it felt like bronwen's story and rylan was just there. he was nice, and i loved how much he loved libraries and kept finding bigger ones lmao. he did seem a bit passive compared to bronwen though. very go with the flow kinda dude.
• philip
i know he's a minor character but he was just so kind. at first i didn't like him because bronwen was being forced to marry him, he was willing to sacrifice so much just for his duty and for her even though they weren't in love? my god there isn't a single unlikeable character in this book
• namaya
i loved the underlying message that there is no pure good or evil, there are only two sides of the story. my heart ached for namaya even though she was the reason bronwen and rylan couldn't be together. her dialogues was written so well - she only spoke to bronwen in one chapter but i felt all of her pain and insecurity and jealousy.
⋆.˚⟡ bronwen & rylan
IM SOBBING SHE LOVED HIM SO MUCH. he was perfect for bronwen. even though we didn't get to see them fall in love on page, their love for each other was so evident in their actions and felt natural. i was rooting for them the whole time, even when all the odds were against them.
⋆.˚⟡ other thoughts
• all the different aspects of the plot fit together so seamlessly. i loved the main plot twist and how it impacted bronwen
• this is probably the first book i've read where the FMC does more for the MMC.
• i loved how the ending highlights that you can do good even if you are powerless.
thank you to the lovely author, publisher and booksirens for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!
disclaimer: the opening quote in this review is from an uncorrected proof and is subject to change before publication
September 11, 2026
This follows Princess Bronwen whose best friend and first love disappeared three years ago, and it’s all her fault.
When Rylan suddenly appears again, Bronwen thinks she’ll not only get her love back, but marry him and be queen.
Except, after two weeks, Rylan disappears again, but this time, Bronwen follows him and is determined to get him back.
This was a unique fantasy. It felt like a fairytale mixed with a portal fantasy with a wee bit of romance.
Bronwen’s journey is interesting. I struggled with her a lot because I felt like she was rather selfish and tended to think only about herself and what she wanted, namely to be heir and queen, even if that meant giving up the person she loves most. Which I didn’t understand how you could claim to love someone that much and yet would rather have the crown. I found her feelings to be false because of how much she desired the crown. I kind of wish the story went the route where Bronwen pursued the crown, and forget the romance. It would have made it interesting that’s for sure. But alas, we had to have the romance that was already there, we just didn’t experience it, and instead just know they were always in love.
I liked the idea of the plot, but I struggled in many areas that seemed to drag, scenes that felt unnecessarily long and I just wanted to reach the end and the entire time Bronwen seemed to just not know what she wanted.
I liked the sibling relationship between Bronwen and her sister Marra. They seemed very close and clearly loved each other. Their interactions and relationship I would say were my favorite to read in this book.
Also, I don’t like spiders, and there’s…spiders. Kind of skimmed through a lot of those areas 😅
It’s a unique and interesting read for sure. And I do recommend it, I just don’t think it was quite for me.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When Rylan suddenly appears again, Bronwen thinks she’ll not only get her love back, but marry him and be queen.
Except, after two weeks, Rylan disappears again, but this time, Bronwen follows him and is determined to get him back.
This was a unique fantasy. It felt like a fairytale mixed with a portal fantasy with a wee bit of romance.
Bronwen’s journey is interesting. I struggled with her a lot because I felt like she was rather selfish and tended to think only about herself and what she wanted, namely to be heir and queen, even if that meant giving up the person she loves most. Which I didn’t understand how you could claim to love someone that much and yet would rather have the crown. I found her feelings to be false because of how much she desired the crown. I kind of wish the story went the route where Bronwen pursued the crown, and forget the romance. It would have made it interesting that’s for sure. But alas, we had to have the romance that was already there, we just didn’t experience it, and instead just know they were always in love.
I liked the idea of the plot, but I struggled in many areas that seemed to drag, scenes that felt unnecessarily long and I just wanted to reach the end and the entire time Bronwen seemed to just not know what she wanted.
I liked the sibling relationship between Bronwen and her sister Marra. They seemed very close and clearly loved each other. Their interactions and relationship I would say were my favorite to read in this book.
Also, I don’t like spiders, and there’s…spiders. Kind of skimmed through a lot of those areas 😅
It’s a unique and interesting read for sure. And I do recommend it, I just don’t think it was quite for me.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 21, 2026
The Cobworld — 4.5 ⭐️ I received this as an ARC from Book Sirens.
I really enjoyed The Cobworld! The pacing was great, and once I started reading, it kept me hooked. I especially loved the romance, and the world itself was one of my favorite parts. It felt genuinely original, and I honestly can’t think of anything else I’ve read that I could directly compare it to.
I do think this book leans more toward a YA audience, but I still really enjoyed it as an adult reader. It’s a standalone romantasy with a unique world, an engaging plot, and a romance that kept me invested.
The reason I landed at 4.5 stars instead of 5 was mostly because there were a few scenes toward the end that felt a little rushed. I found myself wishing we had gotten more context and time to really understand what was happening. There was also one decision involving the crown that didn’t completely make sense to me. I understood why she wanted to go home, but since they ultimately turned around and went back together to help, I kept thinking it would have made more sense for her to keep the crown and for her and Rylan to rule together.
That said, those things didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the overall story. I loved the originality, the pacing, the romance, and the fact that it kept me turning the pages. Definitely a fun standalone romantasy that I’m glad I picked up! ✨📖
4.5 ⭐️/5
I really enjoyed The Cobworld! The pacing was great, and once I started reading, it kept me hooked. I especially loved the romance, and the world itself was one of my favorite parts. It felt genuinely original, and I honestly can’t think of anything else I’ve read that I could directly compare it to.
I do think this book leans more toward a YA audience, but I still really enjoyed it as an adult reader. It’s a standalone romantasy with a unique world, an engaging plot, and a romance that kept me invested.
The reason I landed at 4.5 stars instead of 5 was mostly because there were a few scenes toward the end that felt a little rushed. I found myself wishing we had gotten more context and time to really understand what was happening. There was also one decision involving the crown that didn’t completely make sense to me. I understood why she wanted to go home, but since they ultimately turned around and went back together to help, I kept thinking it would have made more sense for her to keep the crown and for her and Rylan to rule together.
That said, those things didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the overall story. I loved the originality, the pacing, the romance, and the fact that it kept me turning the pages. Definitely a fun standalone romantasy that I’m glad I picked up! ✨📖
4.5 ⭐️/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
ARC Review: The Cobworld by Savannah J. Foley
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommend for age 13
I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this book.
I do have to say that it took me longer than normal to finish. I really enjoyed the storyline, but there were certain parts that felt like they were dragging on a little. I found that the second half of the book moved much quicker than the first half, and I definitely found myself more invested as the story progressed.
I was originally quite skeptical about Bronwen’s character. She felt weak in the beginning, but as the story went on, she really seemed to find herself. She became stronger, more determined and willing to fight for what she wanted. And honestly, she worked hard to get there. It’s no easy feat to go to a land you know nothing about and try to save your prince — the love of your life.
I really enjoyed watching her character develop throughout the story, and her character arc was probably one of my favourite parts.
Overall, I thought the storyline was good and there were definitely parts that kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. I’m glad I gave this book a chance, even though I’m not sure I would have picked it up on my own.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommend for age 13
I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this book.
I do have to say that it took me longer than normal to finish. I really enjoyed the storyline, but there were certain parts that felt like they were dragging on a little. I found that the second half of the book moved much quicker than the first half, and I definitely found myself more invested as the story progressed.
I was originally quite skeptical about Bronwen’s character. She felt weak in the beginning, but as the story went on, she really seemed to find herself. She became stronger, more determined and willing to fight for what she wanted. And honestly, she worked hard to get there. It’s no easy feat to go to a land you know nothing about and try to save your prince — the love of your life.
I really enjoyed watching her character develop throughout the story, and her character arc was probably one of my favourite parts.
Overall, I thought the storyline was good and there were definitely parts that kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. I’m glad I gave this book a chance, even though I’m not sure I would have picked it up on my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2026
ARC review: the book follows princess Bronwen. It starts with her childhood best friend, Rylan, reappearing after being missing for 3 years and having no memory of anything from before going missing and during the 3 years. After 2 weeks of coming back he ends up disappearing again causing Bronwen to go to the magical well to wish to go to where Rylan is known as the cobworld. While trying to find and convince rylan to go back home she ends up getting caught up in the politics and magic of this world.
It was a good book to read and I’d recommend it! It was quite an original read. I found that I really enjoyed it despite not being much of a fantasy reader, I’m quite glad I picked this up!!
4⭐️/5⭐️
(I received an advanced review copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily)
It was a good book to read and I’d recommend it! It was quite an original read. I found that I really enjoyed it despite not being much of a fantasy reader, I’m quite glad I picked this up!!
4⭐️/5⭐️
(I received an advanced review copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
Thank you Savannah Foley and Book Sirens for the chance to review this ARC.
So we have Rylan and Bronwen, two childhood best friends and loves. Rylan has been missing for three years due to something horrible Bronwen had done but did not want to come face to face with it. He mysteriously comes back, dirty and disheveled, and with no memories of what had transpired prior to his return. Stranger still is that Rylan only has two weeks up above before he must return where he came from. But then it gets weirder as Rylan himself is acting strange...and then everything begins to unravel once his two weeks are up, and Bronwen goes to great lengths to go save him when she goes following him to wherever he was taken. Along the way, she finds out several secrets of her own dark past, and that of her people's. All the stories she's grown up hearing are true but are mixed up with a lot of myth.
I loved this mysterious, fairy-tale like story where its the Princess who has to go out and save her Prince, a close child-hood friend and love of her life. Good combination of fantastical, some horror, mystery and some political elements with a sweet dash of romance. Entertaining and thought-provoking.
So we have Rylan and Bronwen, two childhood best friends and loves. Rylan has been missing for three years due to something horrible Bronwen had done but did not want to come face to face with it. He mysteriously comes back, dirty and disheveled, and with no memories of what had transpired prior to his return. Stranger still is that Rylan only has two weeks up above before he must return where he came from. But then it gets weirder as Rylan himself is acting strange...and then everything begins to unravel once his two weeks are up, and Bronwen goes to great lengths to go save him when she goes following him to wherever he was taken. Along the way, she finds out several secrets of her own dark past, and that of her people's. All the stories she's grown up hearing are true but are mixed up with a lot of myth.
I loved this mysterious, fairy-tale like story where its the Princess who has to go out and save her Prince, a close child-hood friend and love of her life. Good combination of fantastical, some horror, mystery and some political elements with a sweet dash of romance. Entertaining and thought-provoking.
Review of advance copy
If you’re looking for a strong female lead, seamless fantasy world-building, and great dialogue… this is your book!
I really appreciated the depth of Bronwen‘s character. She was more than just a stereotypical, run-of-the-mill heroine with shallow motives. Her story was bigger than her love for Rylan. It was refreshing to read a book that had a romantic plot and still took the time to fully flesh out the rest of the story.
I would have loved to see deeper backstories for some of the characters, particularly Chelice. I’d definitely read a sequel!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really appreciated the depth of Bronwen‘s character. She was more than just a stereotypical, run-of-the-mill heroine with shallow motives. Her story was bigger than her love for Rylan. It was refreshing to read a book that had a romantic plot and still took the time to fully flesh out the rest of the story.
I would have loved to see deeper backstories for some of the characters, particularly Chelice. I’d definitely read a sequel!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 3, 2026
ARC
3.5
This story was enthralling, but the summary was misleading. The only curse in the story is on a society the reader doesn’t meet until about 40% into the book. I did appreciate the choices the MC has to make and how she confronts her own character. The fantastical world is creative and interesting.
I was disappointed with the male love interest. He did not seem as devoted to the MC as she was to him. He just let life happen to him and refused to challenge his situation.
There was only one obvious error: page 91, “Stanley” should be “strangely”.
3.5
This story was enthralling, but the summary was misleading. The only curse in the story is on a society the reader doesn’t meet until about 40% into the book. I did appreciate the choices the MC has to make and how she confronts her own character. The fantastical world is creative and interesting.
I was disappointed with the male love interest. He did not seem as devoted to the MC as she was to him. He just let life happen to him and refused to challenge his situation.
There was only one obvious error: page 91, “Stanley” should be “strangely”.
Review of advance copy
Very fun and interesting book, I really enjoyed the worldbuilding both in the Above and in the Cobworld and it was a fun twist on childhood fairytales. The only thing I wished it had was more conflict, there was not really any point where someone came off as truly "bad" for very long, especially not when they started talking. And I didn't get that "nightmare" or bad place vibe very much. I did like Rylan and Bronwen's relationship and Marra and Bronwen had a nice sister relationship down to the best friends who also get mad/annoyed at each other easily.
This was an ARC provided for free!
This was an ARC provided for free!
Review of advance copy
this is a fun, quick, whimsical read. It feels like Alice in Wonderland with a little bit of Harry Potter and Throne of Glass. I liked the characters, there was enough adventure, and a satisfying ending. It could be longer, but for how many pages it is, it was great. I was hooked from the beginning and am thankful for this arc. There were some parts that were predictable but it did not take away from the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
LOVED it!
I completely devoured this book. It was so quirky and enthralling with a touch of dark whimsy. I loved the total mystery of everything and that the story was a new concept for me. After reading many of the same plots and same paths, this was a refreshing change! Thank you to the author for this book, it was a nice reprieve from a lot of the more common themes :) The world building was spot on!
I completely devoured this book. It was so quirky and enthralling with a touch of dark whimsy. I loved the total mystery of everything and that the story was a new concept for me. After reading many of the same plots and same paths, this was a refreshing change! Thank you to the author for this book, it was a nice reprieve from a lot of the more common themes :) The world building was spot on!
August 1, 2026
ARC review (3.75)
The beginning was so good and hooked me right away with the magical well! Honestly the story was giving.. Alice and wonderland vibes with how they ended up another world (Cobworld) with so many different creatures. I wanted Bronwen to get what she wanted but I’m happy for her character growth and realizing love is better than power.
The beginning was so good and hooked me right away with the magical well! Honestly the story was giving.. Alice and wonderland vibes with how they ended up another world (Cobworld) with so many different creatures. I wanted Bronwen to get what she wanted but I’m happy for her character growth and realizing love is better than power.
Review of advance copy
Interesting storyline. I enjoyed this version of "fairy tale" characters. The burning away to get to the heart of what truly matters and how far one would go for love. I did enjoy this story and while it didn't feel glued to my hand, it was difficult to put down and when I did, I wanted to get back to the story.
I received an advance review copy for free and leave this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free and leave this review voluntarily
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC reader here. I'm giving my honest review in exchange for the ARC.
If your a fan of fairy tale retellings, but want a more original story, this is that. It's pulling from fairy tales and folklore to make its own world and stories, and I love that.
Who doesn't enjoy a play on be careful what you wish for? When there is a literal magical wishing well in one kingdom.
If your a fan of fairy tale retellings, but want a more original story, this is that. It's pulling from fairy tales and folklore to make its own world and stories, and I love that.
Who doesn't enjoy a play on be careful what you wish for? When there is a literal magical wishing well in one kingdom.
Review of advance copy
Really amazing read for fans of Garth Nix and Sarah J. Maas.
The plot kept me guessing the whole way through and the surprises were welcome parts of the story.
The FMC held onto her core character the whole way through even with development.
Loved all the different types of characters in the Cobworld - extremely creative way of writing.
The plot kept me guessing the whole way through and the surprises were welcome parts of the story.
The FMC held onto her core character the whole way through even with development.
Loved all the different types of characters in the Cobworld - extremely creative way of writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I found this book interesting characters the plot were very good it was very atmospheric I recommended this book
September 16, 2026
This is a great fairytale/ fairy story, incorporating many beliefs about the other world so close to our own. Lovely resolutions to problems
September 18, 2026
Great retelling of a less well known fairytale, the world is rich and had great world building and I enjoyed the characters.
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