The Wild Huntress

August 15, 2024
Three misfits join together to compete in the Wild Hunt. As a child, Branwen was touched by magic, allowing her to see creatures others cannot. She uses this power to hunt dangerous monsters. One day, a young man named Gwydion shows up in her village offering her a job helping him compete in the terrifying Wild Hunt, which takes place "on the last day of autumn every fifth year." Branwen agrees, in hopes that she'll win the boon that offers its recipient "anything that magic or power can grant." Gwydion, who can enchant trees and plants, is the nephew of King Math of Gwynedd. Gwydion is determined to win the hunt and stop the king from naming Amaethon, his violent older brother, as heir. Upon joining the Wild Hunt, Gwydion and Branwen (along with her excellent cat, Palug) meet Pryderi, a prince who was kidnapped and raised by monsters. He's struggling to find his place in the world after being found by his father, the king of Dyfed. As the three find their paths inextricably linked, they desperately try to outsmart other players in the hunt--but a shocking betrayal threatens everything they're working for. Told in alternating viewpoints, this sparkling novel moves at a rapid clip, quickly developing connections among the immensely likable characters. Readers will find Lloyd-Jones' trademark charm and subtle humor in a compelling and fantastical package. Main characters in this Welsh-inspired world are cued white. A worthwhile and enchanting read. (map)(Fantasy. 14-18)

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Starred review from August 12, 2024
Every five years, the mortal king of Dyfed and the immortal Otherking of Annwvyn hold the Wild Hunt, a friendly but lethal contest with the Otherking’s boon as a prize. Gwydion, the 19-year-old prince of Gwynedd, hires monster hunter Branwen, 18, to infiltrate the upcoming Wild Hunt, determined to use the Otherking’s boon to prevent his cruel and impulsive brother from ascending as crown prince. Branwen, meanwhile, plans to ask the Otherking to heal her mother’s failing memory; Branwen uses her unprecedented ability to see magic to enter the Hunt with Gwydion, but their true purpose as agents of an enemy kingdom is discovered by Prince Pryderi of Dyfed, 18, who seeks to win the Hunt to prove himself to his father. Despite their conflicting goals, the three team up, developing a fire-forged friendship. But as the Hunt becomes increasingly treacherous, they must weigh the cost of achieving their goals against their bonds to one another. Lloyd-Jones expands upon the Welsh folklore–inspired worlds of The Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods to craft an all-new tale of fae magic, burgeoning connection, and tragic betrayal. The chemistry of the main trio, who read as white, shines in every interaction, lending emotional heft and nail-biting tension to the intense action. Ages 12–up. Agent: Sarah Landis, Sterling Lord Literistic.

Starred review from September 1, 2024
Grades 8-12 *Starred Review* Three lives twine together to affect the outcome of the fabled Wild Hunt. In this tradition, one mortal king and one otherfolk king gather their best hunters to reaffirm their friendship in a competition with deadly stakes and nearly limitless rewards. On the eve of the hunt, trickster and diviner Gwydion approaches Branwen, a storied hunter with a secret ability to see magic. Gwydion's goal is simple: use the kings' boon for winning the hunt to have his sister named as heir of Gwynedd rather than his tyrannical brother. Branwen is desperate for a way to care for her mother, who has a memory illness; Gwydion's offer of a cure is irresistible, if seemingly hopeless. A fool's errand becomes a worthwhile fight when the two cross paths with reluctant Prince Pryderi, the once-missing son of one of the Wild Hunt kings. With monsters on the trio's heels, and indecipherable prophecies and stunning betrayals ahead, the forest is both friend and foe. Believable, well-developed characters with sparkly chemistry inhabit a palpably atmospheric world: Gwydion's plant magic brings the forest to breathtaking (occasionally violent) life, and fiercely lovable sort-of-a-cat Palug is beyond charming. Lush and lyrical, this extremely satisfying and adventurous fantasy is not to be missed.

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October 1, 2024

Gr 7 Up-A lethal magical competition binds three unlikely allies together as they fight for the prize: a boon from the Otherking, the immortal ruler of Annwvyn. Branwen, 18, was touched by fae magic as a babe and uses her magic sight to hunt and kill monsters. Gwydion, the prince of an enemy kingdom, hires Branwen to help him win the Wild Hunt so he can use the prize to stop his cruel older brother from seizing the throne-little does he know Branwen wants the boon for herself, to save her mother's failing memory. Their path becomes tangled with Pryderi, 18, the once-lost prince of Dyfed who wants to win to prove himself and learn where he belongs. The fast friendship makes it easy for readers to get invested in the stakes of the story as chapters alternate points of view, even as the singular grand prize means betrayal is right around the corner. Lloyd-Jones is a deft hand at emotional resonance, tugging at character and reader heartstrings right from the start and ensuring those emotions pay off by the end of the arc. The relatively simple plot keeps the story moving at a fast clip, while strong characterization makes the tale unique to the Welsh-inspired world that's home to her previous The Drowned Woods and The Bone Houses. Main characters are white. VERDICT A gripping and tightly woven adventure with high emotional stakes, recommended for purchase.-Emmy Neal

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