A Land So Wide
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child comes an irresistible blend of dark fairytale and romantic fantasy. • The town of Mistaken has a secret…and it’s up to one woman to uncover the truth, confront her past, and save the man she loves.
"Wonderous and haunting. Erin A. Craig strikes gold again." —Marisha Pessl, New York Times bestselling author of Night Film and Darkly
"This book is an undeniable triumph. Beautiful and dark and unforgettable.” —Shea Ernshaw, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A History of Wild Places
Like everyone else in the settlement of Mistaken, Greer Mackenzie is trapped. Founded by an ambitious lumber merchant, the village is blessed with rich natural resources that have made its people prosperous—but at a cost. The same woods that have lined the townsfolks’ pockets harbor dangerous beasts: wolves, bears, and the Bright-Eyeds—monsters beyond description who have rained utter destruction down on nearby settlements. But Mistaken’s founders made a deal with the mysterious Benevolence: the Warding Stones that surround the town will keep the Bright-Eyeds out—and the town’s citizens in. Anyone who spends a night within Mistaken’s borders belongs to it forever.
Greer, a mapmaker and eccentric dreamer, has always ached to explore the world outside, even though she knows she and her longtime love, Ellis Beaufort, will never see it. Until, on the day she and Ellis are meant to finally begin their lives together, Greer watches in horror as her beloved disappears beyond the Warding Stones, pursued by a monstrous creature. Determined to rescue Ellis, she figures out a way to defy Mistaken’s curse and begins a trek through the cold and pitiless wilderness. But there, Greer is hunted, not only by the ruthless Bright-Eyeds but by the secret truths behind Mistaken’s founding and her own origins.
Playfully drawing from Scottish folklore, Erin A. Craig’s adult debut is both a deeply atmospheric and profoundly romantic exploration of freedom versus security: a stunning celebration of one woman's relentless bravery on a quest to reclaim her lost love—and seize her own future.
- Pages
- 437
- First published
- September 2, 2025
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Ebook
More editions
▾
Pick a cover to preview.
Shelved by 3 Litcadians
Reviews
- adventurousdarkmysteriousSlow-paced
Finished September 1, 2025
I picked up this book because I'd read Small Favors by this author a few years ago, and parts of it have haunted me to this day. A Land So Wide seemed even more up my alley. And in some ways, I was 100% correct, but in others, I did feel just a tiny (tiny!) smidge let down. First and foremost, I loved the setting and the atmosphere of this book. It remained gloomy and ominous all throughout the story, and it always felt like the wilderness was just a few steps away. I also enjoyed the cultish town of Mistaken, which always has you questioning whether the truth is being told by anyone that lives there. The folklore inspiration really shines in this, both in the world-building and the story structure/writing, making the whole thing seem like it should be listened to around a campfire on a chilly night. That being said, I do wish the story had been a bit creepier and more haunting. While Greer (and, oddly, her father) was a well-developed character, I wish we'd gotten more of Ellis and other characters Greer meets on her journey to find him; I think it would have helped to make the overarching plot and ending more impactful to have known more about them. It was also a slow build and took some time to pick up, so if you need action from page one, this might not be for you. Overall, I found this to be another enjoyable read from Erin A Craig! If you're in the mood for something atmospheric and a little spooky this autumn, A Land So Wide is going to be a safe bet! * **Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for an ARC of this book!*