📖 Overview
Emily Lloyd-Jones is a young adult and fantasy author known for novels that blend elements of mythology, horror, and contemporary fiction. Her works frequently incorporate Welsh folklore and explore themes of identity, mortality, and power.
The author gained prominence with "The Bone Houses" (2019), a Gothic fantasy novel that won acclaim for its unique take on zombie folklore and Welsh mythology. Her 2021 release "The Hearts We Sold" further established her reputation for crafting supernatural stories with complex emotional depth.
Lloyd-Jones writes from Northern California and has published multiple books across genres, including the science fiction thriller "Illusive" and its sequel "Deceptive." Her 2023 release "The Drowned Woods" draws heavily from Welsh mythology and continues her exploration of folklore-inspired narratives.
Her writing style is characterized by atmospheric world-building and the integration of historical elements with contemporary storytelling frameworks. Her work has been recognized through various nominations and awards in the young adult literature category.
👀 Reviews
Readers connect strongly with Lloyd-Jones' blend of folklore and horror elements, particularly in "The Bone Houses." Reddit users frequently mention the book's atmospheric setting and fresh take on zombie mythology.
What readers liked:
- Creative incorporation of Welsh mythology
- Character development, especially in depicting sibling relationships
- Balance of horror and emotional depth
- Clear, engaging prose style
- Stand-alone nature of most works
What readers disliked:
- Pacing issues in middle sections of novels
- Romance subplots sometimes feel underdeveloped
- Some found the endings predictable
Ratings across platforms:
- The Bone Houses: 4.0/5 on Goodreads (32,000+ ratings), 4.5/5 on Amazon
- The Hearts We Sold: 3.9/5 on Goodreads (7,000+ ratings)
- The Drowned Woods: 3.9/5 on Goodreads (5,000+ ratings)
One reader on Goodreads noted: "The Bone Houses perfectly balances horror elements with family dynamics - rare in YA." Several Amazon reviewers highlighted the authentic Welsh cultural elements and mythology integration.
📚 Books by Emily-Lloyd Jones
The Bone Houses - A young gravedigger and a mapmaker battle risen corpses called "bone houses" in a remote Welsh-inspired village where the dead don't always stay buried.
The Hearts We Sold - Set in a world where demons grant wishes for a price, a teenager trades her heart for the funds to attend her dream school.
Illusive - After a vaccine gives a small percentage of the population superhuman abilities, a teenage criminal with the power of illusion must evade both government agents and the criminal underworld.
Deceptive - The sequel to Illusive follows superpowered criminals and government agents in an escalating conflict over control of the vaccine that created their abilities.
The Drowned Woods - A former spymaster and a team of unlikely allies plot to destroy a magical well in this tale inspired by Welsh folklore about the flooding of a kingdom.
The Hearts We Sold - Set in a world where demons grant wishes for a price, a teenager trades her heart for the funds to attend her dream school.
Illusive - After a vaccine gives a small percentage of the population superhuman abilities, a teenage criminal with the power of illusion must evade both government agents and the criminal underworld.
Deceptive - The sequel to Illusive follows superpowered criminals and government agents in an escalating conflict over control of the vaccine that created their abilities.
The Drowned Woods - A former spymaster and a team of unlikely allies plot to destroy a magical well in this tale inspired by Welsh folklore about the flooding of a kingdom.
👥 Similar authors
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Naomi Novik incorporates folklore and fairy tales into her fantasy works, crafting original stories from traditional elements. Her Spinning Silver and Uprooted novels demonstrate her ability to transform Eastern European folk tales into full narrative works.
Katherine Arden builds fantasy narratives around Russian folklore and historical settings. Her Winternight Trilogy shows her facility with weaving supernatural elements into historical frameworks while maintaining cultural authenticity.
Holly Black writes fantasy that focuses on faerie lore and dark supernatural elements. Her work frequently explores the dangerous aspects of magical worlds while maintaining connections to contemporary settings.
Margaret Rogerson combines dark fantasy with folkloric elements in her standalone novels. She focuses on the dangerous aspects of fairy tales and supernatural beings while building complex relationships between humans and magical entities.
Naomi Novik incorporates folklore and fairy tales into her fantasy works, crafting original stories from traditional elements. Her Spinning Silver and Uprooted novels demonstrate her ability to transform Eastern European folk tales into full narrative works.
Katherine Arden builds fantasy narratives around Russian folklore and historical settings. Her Winternight Trilogy shows her facility with weaving supernatural elements into historical frameworks while maintaining cultural authenticity.
Holly Black writes fantasy that focuses on faerie lore and dark supernatural elements. Her work frequently explores the dangerous aspects of magical worlds while maintaining connections to contemporary settings.