A Land So Wide

By Erin A. Craig

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593686802
• ISBN13: 9780593686805
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Pantheon Books
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.2" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Another Magical Land!

The worlds that Erin Craig writes are so full of fantasy tinged with horror and this book definitely has all those elements which made for a great read. From the beginning with a traveler finding what he thinks is a wonderous land full of trees that sell for high prices and then realizing what a mistake he has made, unfortunately after bringing family and friends to it looking for a new start, I knew it was going to be a thrilling adventure! Trapped by protective stones in the town of Mistaken (a bargain made with the benevolent ones), Greer longs for exploration, creating maps and collecting ones of places she can never go while also spending time with childhood love, Ellis, before the hunt and that's when things go astray. I loved Greer with her skill and independence, not willing to bend to her father's wishes, especially when she finds out all the secrets (terrible awful ones!) about the town and original bargain for safety. The slow unveiling of everything kept up the suspense as Greer ventured into the unknown and finally freed herself from the bonds of Mistaken and learned about her own heritage. I do like how it is her going after the boy she loves (instead of the other way around), but it was kind of complicated about how single minded she was for Ellis and I thought maybe Finn might be a better choice (because he is awesome, brave, and totally devoted to Greer and accepts her as she is). As this story has elements of Scottish folklore, the Bright-Eyeds were quite intriguing, with their history and what they can do and they certainly were fearsome! And I was on the edge of my seat as we got to the climax and the showdown with those beings as well as a bit heartbroken at the eventual cost paid to make the past right and save the town of Mistaken though that ending, though bittersweet did give me hope of eventual happiness for all who survived. I am so happy to have gotten the chance to read this and look forward to all the other lands that Erin may write about!