The Drowned Woods is a retelling of the Welsh myth of Cantref Gwaelod, which I had never heard before. It’s hailed as the Welsh Atlantis, which I can see: Cantref Gwaelod is a kingdom lost to the sea. In the old tale, Mererid is a maiden who neglects a well that then floods the land; in The Drowned Woods, Mererid is a frigging hero!

So what do a water diviner, a fighter who doesn’t want to hurt people, the heiress to the thieves guild, a man of mysterious origin, a scholar with debts, and an ex-spymaster have in common? A heist, of course! This ragtag team bands together to find the magic well in order to steal the treasure found in its depths. But obviously things are complicated and plans go awry, otherwise this would have been a very short story.

This book is a fast, easy read full of action. As somebody who maybe empathizes too strongly with fictional characters at times, I found myself genuinely shocked at some of the outcomes. I also full on sobbed towards the end, so maybe have a few Kleenex within reach. Overall, The Drowned Woods was really fun and full of Welsh mythology that was brand new to me. I enjoyed it a lot!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review!