What do readers think of A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig? Write your own review.

"A Land So Wide" by Erin A. Craig is a dark and chilling fantasy concerning the deep wilderness village of Mistaken, Canada. The raw, emotional buildup to each plot point puts one's nerves on the cutting edge as the protagonist, Greer, holds nothing back in pursuing her love Ellis as well as the town's potential destroyers, the Bright-Eyed.

I enjoyed how Greer demonstrated mastery of the art of growing up where every person in town knows you. Despite having lost her mother in a mysterious and questionable manner and receiving nothing but criticism for simply living her life, Greer crashes through personal and social barriers bravely on her quest.

She finds, through a series of extremely trying and dangerous "tests," that she's ultimately the answer and the heroine she was seeking all along. Greer shows us that despite aching loss and many dead ends in life, we can still triumph--albeit much differently from what we ever assumed was possible.

A bit of Twilight, a touch of Hunger Games, romance, and fantasy all together. Sounds like a lot but E. Craig pulls it all together in a well structured good story about an amazing young woman with a mysterious mother. If you like fantasy novels, this is a well written one with a cohesive story line.

A land so wide is my first introduction to Erin Craig. The imagery Erin paints of the world and woods is beautiful. The characters feel well thought out and the backstories weaved in, are done so in a beautiful fashion. I really enjoyed the main characters inner dialogue and moral struggles as well as strength. I thought the blend of romance, fantasy, folklore and mystery made for a very interesting read. In fact, I am not ashamed to admit I read most of the book in one fabulous weekend day. After reading, I realized I have another of Erin's books on my to be read bookshelf and am excited to dive in. Overall I would absolutely recommend for anyone interested in the genres above.

A Land So Wide begins with the discovery and settlement of the town of Mistaken, its name suggesting a brutal and imposing landscape, a wilderness that doesn't seem to want these 18th-century Scottish explorers there. The Canadian wilderness provides physical challenges and harsh weather, along with the bounty of natural resources; the townsfolk are at the mercy of bears, wolves, and ruthless beasts known as Bright-Eyed. The town is protected from these monsters by Warding Stones, and the townsfolk make offerings to an invisible Benevolence to keep them safe.

Greer MacKenzie feels trapped in Mistaken, bound by its traditions, but is deeply in love with Ellis Beaufort, someone who is not deemed worthy of partnership by her father, wealthy landowner Hessel MacKenzie. She dreams of continuing to draw maps and exploring the wider world that she knows must be beyond the stones' boundaries.

This dark fantasy, Erin A. Craig's adult debut, is divided into two parts: Mistaken and The Wilds. The first half, set in the town of Mistaken, is steeped in the ideas of the 'old country,' including one where young women must commit to The Hunt, which happens once every seven years. They must hide in the woods, and the men seek out their new wives. Rich folklore and backstory occupy this space but do little to move the plot forward (the first half is similar to The Grace Year by Kim Liggett).

The second half tells a quite separate story, where Greer goes into the woods to search for Ellis, who disappeared during the Hunt. There are dangers she only imagined, and she uncovers a secret that steers the book in an unexpected direction. She is generally a strong 27-year-old protagonist, but sometimes seems like a hapless teenager whom the author may be accustomed to writing.

The landscape is so imposing that it is a character in its own right; foreboding and atmospheric, this is what Craig has done so well with this novel. Where it falters is with the different storylines, which could've been served better with either more in-depth development (to connect the story and character arcs) or a significant edit of the first half, so that it didn't occupy as much of the entire novel.

Since this novel is marketed as an adult publication, and while the fantastical and horror elements are captivating, Craig could have ventured further to step out of the young adult arena, which she already writes with finesse. The ending comes to an obvious, if not rushed, conclusion and may leave the reader wanting more from the land of Mistaken. Despite the flaws of Craig's first foray into adult publishing, it will be interesting to see what comes next.