“There are monsters in the world. There are monsters in the woods. They slip inside at night. Crawl through the walls of our cottage. They find their way into my brother’s dreams.”

Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone is a dark gothic fantasy romance full of monster boys who gift you pretty dresses, secret gardens and bramble thorns, death gods who whisper your name in the dark, honey-scented altar candles, and almost-kisses at midnight. I was automatically intrigued by this book upon reading the synopsis (I mean, a haunted estate? Monster boys? Sinister death gods? Plus, a focus on sibling relationships? Sign me up!) and the book itself pulled me in from the very first line, making it impossible to put down and me eager to get my hands on book two.

The Plot

Found alone in the woods when they were both children, Violeta Graceling and her younger brother, Arien, have spent their lives in a small village residing with a religious woman who took them in. When Arien started to exhibit signs of dark magic—masses of shadow that erupt from him while he dreams—the woman’s previous kindness turned to cruelty, punishing both Arien and Violeta for Arien’s abilities, leaving Violeta with the desire to do anything to keep her brother safe.

After Arien’s powers manifest themselves on the village’s tithe day, Arien and Violeta are approached by the lord of the valley, Rowan Sylvanan, who desires Arien to come to his estate, Lakesedge, where he has need of his abilities. Wishing to keep Arien safe, Violeta convinces Rowan to take her to Lakesedge as well, even if it means living with a monster rumored to have drowned his entire family.

But Rowan and Lakesedge are not what they seem.

As Violeta becomes closer to Rowan, she learns that he is tied to the death god, the Lord Under, to whom Violeta is also drawn. Now in order to save Rowan, Arien, and Lakesedge itself from the darkness and corruption of the lake and the Lord Under himself, Violeta must confront her own past and her eerie connection to the Lord Under before it is too late as she may be the key to saving them all.

The World, the Atmosphere & the Magic

Lakesedge promised a gothic atmosphere and it sure delivers. Full of dark hallways, abandoned rooms, whispering gods, blood sacrifices, and a sinister lake, this entire book screams “gothic.” While I have read quite a few gothic novels (that comes from taking a course in college literally titled “The Gothic”), I have not read a lot of young adult books that fall into this genre, although after Lakesedge I might have to change that. Lakesedge is the perfect balance of dark and paranormal with just the right amount of horror to make it mysterious and eerie without being overpowering.

The world and setting of the novel definitely help with this gothic atmosphere. Much of the book is set at Lakesedge, a practically abandoned estate owned by a supposed “monster” and nestled at the edge of a dark, corrupted lake where three people have supposedly drowned at the hands of the “monster,” Rowan. Combined with the dark, candle-lit rooms, locked doors, and voices in the night (paranormal and otherwise), the entire setting really adds to the mood and atmosphere of the novel and despite what Violeta and the other characters experience throughout the book, the estate and the lake constantly lurk in the background. I only wish that we got to see more of the estate, both inside and outside, as, despite the vastness of Lakesedge, very few rooms/locations (and their history) were explored, especially in the case of a gothic (or horror) novel like this one where the estate itself becomes its own sort of character. Likewise, I also wish that we learned a bit more about the world outside of Lakesedge or even Greymere (the village where Violeta and Arien lived), particularly the Maylands and how the people there use and view magic just to have more context for the world in which all of the events of the story are taking place.

In terms of the magic in the book, I really liked the dichotomy created between the “light” (tied to the Lady) and the “dark” (tied to the Lord Under) as well as the merging between the two (you cannot have the light without the dark, after all). I also really liked how the idea of magic being dark or light had no impact on the type of character who possessed it (Arien has dark magic, for instance, and he is such a soft bean). Additionally, I enjoyed how, unlike in traditional fantasy where magic just “is” (in that a character possesses magic and can just simply control it), the magic in Lakesedge is strengthened and better controlled through the use of sigils drawn on the skin, which I found really interesting.

The Characters

If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times – if a book contains found family, then I am automatically obsessed! I really loved all of the characters in Lakesedge and their various dynamics with each other.

Violeta: I really enjoyed Violeta’s character. She is simply so fierce, brave, loyal, and protective of those around her that she was a character who you cannot help but root for, despite her proclivity for making foolish and reckless decisions (and bargains). Leta is simply willing to do anything to keep her brother, Arien, safe and I loved the bond that the two shared (as an older sister myself, I found Clipstone’s depiction of Leta in that regard to be very realistic). I also really enjoyed her relationship with Rowan (so much (sexual) tension!) and how she becomes sort of the only person who he was ever willing to confide in about his past (thereby changing both her perception and my perception as the reader of him as the narrative unfolded) and they both truly bring out the best in each other. She did annoy me a bit at times with regards to the information that she was withholding from the others, namely Arien, but I could understand why she was doing so (it definitely goes back to her desire to keep Arien safe).

Rowan: I was originally unsure of how much I would like Rowan when Lakesedge began, but overall, I ended up loving his character. I enjoyed watching pieces of his character and his past slowly unravel, beginning with his position as the sort of mysterious and cruel monster of Lakesedge and moving towards the reveal of his true inner self—a lonely boy nursing secrets and a tragic past and attempting to remain strong despite all of it. Rowan is definitely a troubled character both inside and out, dealing with his supposed reputation for drowning his entire family as well as carrying the burden of the truth (you know the Taylor Swift song “Sad Beautiful Tragic?” That is Rowan in a nutshell). I enjoyed learning more about Rowan’s past throughout the book and I could not help but sympathize with him over his past and the decisions that he made as a boy that ultimately cursed him (both literally and physically). He just needs a hug, okay?

Arien: Ah Arien, my favorite soft dark alchemist boi. Arien is such a sweet little bean and I just want to give him a hug. As previously stated, I really liked his relationship with Violeta and how he kind of forces her (in a good way) to do the “right” thing, even if it means putting him in danger. With this in mind, Arien is the type of person to throw himself into danger no matter the consequences, if it means keeping others safe (much to Violeta’s dismay). Sometimes it was hard to remember that he was only thirteen because he definitely acts older and, like Violeta, makes difficult decisions that no thirteen-year-old should ever have to make. I enjoyed watching him transform throughout the novel from a scared boy frightened by his abilities into someone who learns to control his magic and use it to help others (namely Rowan).

Clover: Speaking of characters I enjoyed, I also really liked Clover’s character. She is just so sweet and bubbly I could not help but love her as soon as she stepped onto the page. I appreciated how she served as a sort of contrast to Violeta and Rowan, always attempting to see the best in the situation and think positively despite the situation sometimes warranting otherwise. I liked her role in the story as the sort of “teacher” to Arien as well as a friend and confidant for Violeta, which she definitely needed. I really liked how she became sort of a mom/sister figure for Arien as well as Rowan and I enjoyed her various dynamics with the other characters throughout the story. I also loved the little jokes she made throughout the book about Violeta and Rowan’s relationship, they had me dying!

Florence: While she does not have as much page time as the other characters, I really liked Florence’s character and her role in the story. While she does not have magic or magical abilities like most of the other characters, Florence is with them every step of the way. I really enjoyed her relationship with Rowan and how she was friends with his mom and has stuck by his side despite what he has gone through and the dark events (and accusations) surrounding him. I also liked the relationship she developed with Arien, becoming the sort of real mom that he never had growing up (except for Violeta). She is totally the mom of the group, always prepared with food, tea, blankets, and bandages to reinvigorate and comfort Violeta, Rowan, Arien, and Clover. Plus, she stress bakes, so that is always a plus in my book!

The Lord Under: The Lord Under serves as the villain of Lakesedge, haunting Violeta, Rowan, and the rest of the characters’ lives to some degree (although his connection is really strong with regards to Violeta and Rowan). The Lord Under’s presence cloaked the entire book like a shadow, always there to some degree even if he was not seen. He is very dark, mysterious, and manipulative in addition to being the ruler of the world below, which made him an intriguing character to read about (although I did not necessarily like him). I was really interested in his connection to Violeta and hope that it is explored more in the next book as well as the sort of bargains that he strikes with mortals (Can anyone strike a bargain with him? What draws him to people like Rowan and Violeta? I need to know more!).

The Pacing – Twists & Turns

My only real complaint when it comes to Lakesedge was the pacing. There were some major jumps between chapters in which I wish that more information/scenes were provided, especially when it came to the dynamics between characters. For instance, I wanted more Violeta and Rowan scenes and scenes between Violeta and Arien between certain situations where there were jumps just to further see these relationships evolve. I also wish that we got more scenes of the “magic learning” sessions, which I found really interesting, including how the sigils work and the elements that are “combined” to form spells.

However, what I did really enjoy with regards to the pacing of the book was how the various twists and turns were handled. There was a slow unraveling of information through the book that I quite enjoyed which culminated into secrets revealed, mysteries solved, and bombshells dropped. Secrets and mysteries were scattered like breadcrumbs, working slowly towards shifting and changing the perceptions of the characters, particularly Rowan and even Violeta, through what information was revealed and withheld as the novel progressed.

Conclusion

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait for the second one, because that ending! I need to see what happens next!

I really enjoyed this book. It had all the things I do like -- forests, magic, monsters, brave (but not unafraid) heroine, family (both biological and found) and a gothic setting! I read this all in about one session but warning -- it does leave on a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting the next book NOW! I definitely recommend this one and I plan to preorder to own the physical copy.

Overall, this book was okay. It was enjoyable but nothing stood out as particularly attention grabbing. I think this is a great read for the target audience and would be a great addition to classroom libraries.

Thank you for Macmillan & NetGalley for sending me the earc of this book!

I wanted to love this book. I really really did. Unfortunately I didn’t. I liked it. But I didn’t love it

I went into it because of the summary. Boy monster? Lord Under? Haunted house? What not to love?

This book has everything I usually love: great siblings relationship, found family, broken characters who can only be saved by each other. But for some reason something just felt off

First we have Leta and her brother, Arien being “saved” by the monster lord from their mean and abusive step mother. I kind of felt like Arien and Rowan should have had a bit of a connection. Arien was the one Rowan thought he needed to destroy the Corruption but then Rowan just left Arien with the alchemist and completely forgot about him.

Than we have Leta and Rowan. A girl who only even been loved by her brother and the boy who’s the reason his whole family is dead. I ended up liking their relationship but again something was just missing. It like I knew what I should feel by the end of the book but I wasn’t feeling it.

Leta and the Lord Under on the other head definitely had my attention even though they had the least page time. I felt like the whole book was leading to Leta somehow finding her was back to the Lord Under who saved her when she was a little girl. I’m definitely a sucker for a devil and mortal girl story and this book wasn’t an exception. I loved how he was twisted and dark and would do anything to get what he needed. But I also feel like Leta can become so much more because of everything he did to her.

Overall I definitely think this book could have been a standalone. There was enough time to finish the story. Instead we got an ending that just felt cut off and confusing.

There are monsters in the world.
There are monsters in the woods.
There’s a monster in the shadows, and now it knows my name.

What a ride. I can't wait for the next book, because I NEED TO KNOW what happens.
Lakesedge had all the elements of a gothic novel that I love: dark, mysterious, creepy house, broody man, a force that's trying to kill the main character...

It has elements that remind me of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (mysterious God that makes bargains), and For The Wolf by Hannah Whitten (boy giving himself over slowly to the *thing*). I need everyone to read this so I can scream about it to someone. My initial reaction to reading the last line, and trying to turn the page only to find out that was the end: "THAT'S HOW IT ENDS?! NO, I NEED MORE."

Spoilers ahead!

Now for some spoilery thoughts. I love that this is a gothic fantasy and we get to explore their magic of alchemy. Clover is one of my favorite characters and I hope we learn more about her and alchemy in the next books. The brother/sister dynamic was something I really enjoyed that I don't often see in gothic novels, usually the girl/main character is on her own. Leta's growth and being able to finally accept others' help was very relatable. The Lord Under is both creepy and intriguing, as is his world with the soul trees. I'm excited and terrified to see what happens to Leta and Lord Under and if he can heal her so she can go back to her family (and Rowan).

Favorite quotes: "Maybe I just want to be the girl who held the hand of a monster." - This could be the tagline to a movie honestly. Monster boyfriends for the win.
"Place me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm; For love is as strong as death. Fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars. You are altogether beautiful, my darling; There is no flaw in you." - SWOON

Lakesedge is a is a wonderful and incredibly rich fantasy novel, so well built and fast paced that I wasn't able to put it down till I reached the end. I was absolutely captivated by the atmosphere, and the characters.

This novel submerges the reader in a landscape so imaginative and detailed that the information of the world building/plot never feels forced, and is never difficult to understand or picture in one's mind. I had an enjoyable time reading this and it held my attention the entire way through that I finished it within the day! I enjoyed every page and thought that the plot/story was very unique. Would recommend to anyone!

Lakesedge is the perfect read to spooky season: Dark, curses, monsters and demons.

Violeta (Leta) loves her little brother Arien more than anything, they didn't have an easy childhood, their parents are dead and now he is plagued with nightmares, nightmares that leave you thinking they are not dreams but cruel reality.

Things can't be worse when they meet Lord Rowan Sylvanan, the rumor said that he kills his whole family and he is a monster.
When Rowan sees what Arien does, he offers to help you in exchange for their help. So Leta and Arien move to Lakesedge estate, a cursed place full of secrets.

This is a great debut, the written style is haunted, you can tour the castle in your nightgown, with a candlelit at hand.

The magic system is dark and interesting, very gothic, I wish to know more, I think we have more secrets to reveal, the author is smart and only shows us things here and there, but everything is interwoven and you don't see the full picture until the last part of the story.

The side characters are excellent. Arien is a ray of sunshine, he wants to learn and perfect his magic to erase the darkness inside him.
Clover is an alchemist, she is clever and charming. Florence is the housekeeping, loyal to the Sylvanan family.

Now, our protagonists, Leta and Rowan are haunted by the past. Both want to defeat the demon and protect and they don't know how to do it. I liked both but above all, I wanted to give a hug to Rowan.

This has the same vibe as the movie Crimson Peak (maybe a little of Laberint) and the book Uprooted.

Read this If you are like me and enjoy:
Atmospheric settings
Gothic Castles, creepy lakes, and haunted forest
Demons and curses
Secret and bad deals
blood tithes and sacrifices
Heroic characters with dark past
LGTB Rep

Just beware: No reading if you don't have a time turner, because the ending was I need the sequel like yesterday

What’s more gothic than a haunted house that sits beside a cursed lake and is owned by a boy who is rumored to have murdered his entire family? Throw in a brave but naive girl who moves into the house and falls in love with the boy and who may or may not be attracted to the Lord of the underworld and this book is about as gothic as they get. I enjoyed the atmospheric writing, the characters and just the right amount of suspense & horror. The romance was a bit angsty but will appeal to the book’s target audience. I would definitely recommend this book to teens who enjoy gothic stories and/or horror with well developed characters and complex relationships. I don’t do a lot of sequels but I am interested in finding out what happens in book two of the series.

Epically and beautifully dark indeed!! 4.25 stars all the way. The ONLY reason it did not get 5 stars is because. . . Oh snap, I am getting ahead of myself.

Let me start over. This book was a lovely read, but don’t start it expecting a one and done happy ending so you can move on to the next one. This book is very much book one of a series and you will be glad!

This book makes me question myself a little, because while I really love the main love interest, I think I love the Lord Under even more. I want to see her undo him!!! However, that makes me feel weird inside and conflicted because I don’t want to see any broken hearts. . . . But I stay by my kink.

Back to what held it back from 5 stars for me, the pacing. Now, before anyone gets their nickers in a wad; no, I do not mean the whole book. A little over 1/2 way into the book the pacing starts to get thrown off for me. It seems to move too fast, like we are trying to skip forward. In the process, it makes some of the relationships not feel as real or as fully developed as they should. But thankfully most of the pacing is brilliant! I love love love the world that has been created and LOVE the characters!!!

My goodness it was such a lovely book to read! Very much recommend it.

I came into it really excited for some lush, haunted, gothic vibes, but was left a little bit disappointed. The beginning dragged a bit for me and the main character did not have much dimension other than caring for her brother, caring for her love interest, and wanting to save everyone. I understand, but she just felt so sanguinely self-sacrificing that it didn't feel genuine. That being said, the entire last act had me SO intrigued. Introducing new stakes and dynamics that lead me acknowledging that I will probably want to read the next book when it comes out too.

A perfect blend of Gothic, horror, and romance, Lakesedge has a haunted atmosphere and ominous tone from the beginning. The story follows Violeta, a girl who will stop at nothing to protect her beloved younger brother Arien, who is plagued by nightmares and consumed by darkness and shadows. When the Monster of Lakesedge learns of Arien’s abilities, he comes for her brother and brings Arien and Violeta Lakesedge, the place where he supposedly murdered his entire family. But Rowan is not the monster he seems, and there are far more dangers at Lakesedge than Violeta ever imagined.

The more Violeta learns about Lakesedge, its black lake, and the people who inhabit it, the more she realizes that she might be the key to saving her brother, Rowan, and the world from the darkness that threatens to swallow them all. However, Violeta and Rowan must first face the horrors of the present, the burdens of the past, and their connection to the Lord Under. Dark and atmospheric, this Gothic romance is all about the lengths people will go to protect the people they love. The bonds of siblings, the love of community, the deep friendships – all of these are worth saving, protecting, and fighting for.

I love the characters, especially Violeta and Rowan. Selfless, brave, and burdened, Violeta and Rowan are more alike than they realize. Violeta and Rowan sacrificed so much when they made deals with the Lord Under as young children. Their decisions changed everything, and both have lived with the fear, shame, and guilt, as well as the never-ending need to make things right, for a long time. They are broken in many ways, yet they both show such strength, determination, and selflessness too. They are unbelievably well-layered characters.

Their love story is also wonderful. An enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance, it is a gradual and lovely story. Both have such complicated lives that neither ever thought about finding love or happiness, but that’s often when it happens, which is the case for this couple. I like how they slowly learn to trust each other and how their bond strengthens throughout the story. Considering how dark and complicated their lives are, it’s lovely to see them find happiness with each other even though their relationship is riddled with obstacles. Their tender scenes offer hope and possibility in an otherwise bleak situation.

The other characters are intriguing as well, though they are not as developed as Violeta and Rowan. I especially love the found family aspect of the book. While at Lakesedge, Violeta and Arien bond with Clover, an alchemist who trains them, and Florence, the caretaker. They are all outcasts in their own way, and yet together they are a strong and whole unit. I love that these characters found a home with each other and learned what it felt like to belong. This found family also offers hope and strength in the midst of darkness.

The magical elements are intriguing and frightening in equal measure. The house, the lake, the blood sacrifices, Arien’s powers, the connection to the Lord Under (who is like the lord of the underworld), and the setting all contribute to the Gothic feel of the book. I’m also super intrigued by Lord Under, who is both frightening and seductive. I’m not sure how I feel about him. Do I hate him? Do I love him? I still don’t know, and the way the story ended made me so eager to find out more about this enigmatic character.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It’s dark and scary and romantic and fascinating and a great start to the World at the Lake’s Edge series. I think the book will appeal to readers who like dark YA Gothic romance with dynamic characters, vivid world-building, and a unique plot. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Lyndall Clipstone, and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

A gorgeous gothic fantasy about a girl, a monster, and the magic and darkness that surrounds them. Violeta “Leta” Graceling will do anything to protect her younger brother Arien who is plagued with shadows and dark magic that consumes him. When the new lord,Rowan Sylvanan, known as a monster who murdered his entire family in the lake behind his home, meets Arien, he offers to help him control the shadows and in return Arien and Leta move in with him at his estate. Leta and Rowan have a strong distaste for one another, Leta because she thinks he is a monster and Rowan because she keeps annoying him, running away, and poking around where she shouldn’t be. But underneath his cold demeanor and the fact that he considers himself a monster, is just a boy no older than her, who is grieving, trying to protect those he still holds dear, and full of scars. What Leta and Rowan don’t know and soon find out is that they are both connected to the Lord Under ( essentially an underworld god) and have both struck deals with him when they were younger and are still reeling from the consequences... but now Leta finds that she can still summon the Lord Under. With Rowan fighting off the corruption that threatens to not only consume him but everyone else, Leta finds that the only way to protect her younger brother and this boy she has come to love, is by striking another deal with the Lord Under... but this time she might be losing more than she can ever imagine. This was the first book in the series and definitely gave me Hades/ Persephone vibes, while just being such a lush gothic fantasy that I had a blast reading. Leta is a prickly, protective, but empathic protagonist. She is willing to do whatever it is to protect those she loves, and Rowan is the exact same. They both are suffering and full of scars, yet still full of love and care for those they hold dear. They might be hard to approach but underneath it all they’re both softies. I loved the chemistry between them and I can’t wait to see where the next book goes!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Okay first I have to talk about the cover of this book. It is absolutely beautiful and it fits the story perfectly! Definitely one of my all time favorite covers.

I loved this book! It was so dark and mysterious. The atmosphere was incredible. I can definitely see myself rereading this in the middle of spooky season October. The author’s writing really worked for me. She knew just how to draw me in and keep me guessing until the very end.

Violeta was such an fantastic main character to follow. She was determined and protective. She would go to the ends of the earth (literally) to save the people she loved. Rowan was the broody type. He was closed off and full of secrets. Little by little the two were able to open up to each other about their past and form a really sweet relationship.

The ending left me wanting more. I am looking forward to the sequel! I’m anxious to see what is going to happen next! I feel like the Lord Under has some tricks up his sleeve. The wait is going to be torture.

I finished this in one sitting and had to take a few hours to think of the right words to properly review this magnificent dark gothic story that wormed its way into my heart.

The story to me anyway starts off as this dark fairytale which I thought it was going to be a retelling of Hansel and Gretel for some reason? I didn’t read the synopsis before diving in and I’m so glad I didn’t.

We have an eerie mansion, a dark lake and found family not to mention a broody love interest for the main character. I just wanted to protect everyone in this entire story. Especially Leta.

this was the perfect story to get me through till October.

And yes I am writing this review being extremely careful of spoilers because the ending left me speechless and I can’t wait for you all to read it in September!

I received an eARC of this story in exchange for an honest review; my thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

This review will contain spoilers.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did - unfortunately the story left so many things unresolved and incomplete (which I presume would be handled by sequels?) that I was left with too many questions to be satisfied with the story as presented. I actually started to read it a second time because wondered if I wasn’t in the right headspace to really appreciate it. But no, the same problems were consistent in the second read as well.

The premise and world were super interesting and the story had great atmosphere. The romance between Violeta and Rowan was just great, and though it definitely succumbed to certain expectations regarding YA tropes, those ended up not being my real problem with how the book was executed.

I very much loved the premise: a gothic fantasy with a magical ginger protagonist and a hot and possibly monstrous emo boy? AND it’s set at a mysterious cursed manor at a lake? My teenage gothic self would be all about it. But my more experienced adult self ended up being really annoyed at reading what seemed to be a super unique story mashed up with some Shadow & Bone fanfic.

The world building was very atmospheric and I thought the magic system and the bits about the corruption were handled fairly competently , if super inconsistently. I didn’t feel like there was enough detail about the world for me to create a mental model of a place and time - more information about the level of technology or the social structure would have been helpful. There seemed to be some odd gaps with social hierarchy and religious superstition based on what is told rather than shown. In specific example, if Violeta‘s whole village was burned to the ground by the Lord because of a fever, why wouldn’t he have just used an alchemist to help cure the village? Or at least make sure the children weren’t sick so they could be adopted rather than slaughtered? It would have made sense if it had been something related to blight rather than a simple plague. And that would also have explained the interest/proximity of the Lord Under. But it wasn’t and so the credibility of the world is damaged.

The relationships mostly lacked natural establishment/logic. Violeta listens to one person call Rowan a monster but her actual beloved brother also seems capable of way worse, so there’s some inconsistencies of show vs tell. Seemed pretty clunky as a way to establish some tension and a reason for them to not immediately hook up. In terms of other relationships that seemed odd, why was Florence so loyal to her Lord but not actively be his advocate to other people? They never really explain her backstory or attachment to him so the affection seems really jarring. Trust seems offered too easily to those servants the siblings meet at the creepy mansion - the book spends absolutely zero time establishing why Violeta and her brother should trust either women at all, given their abuse history. I think the romance between Rowan and Violeta is fine. I appreciate the consent and tenderness in the love scenes.

The attraction between Violeta and the Lord under is a little bit creepy - again speaking of missed opportunities, if Violeta had maybe been more overtly compared to the Lady (or had a special connection to her) and maybe it was a consort thing that could’ve been cool. But it’s not talked about at all and I think if that was attempted to be a theme it needed more emphasis. I presume it’s something that would be covered in a sequel, but again in a first book it’s super weird and unsatisfying, and the set up seemed really rushed.

The theme used about Violeta and her dreams in the dark drowning water was really cool from an imagery perspective, but it really went nowhere with the Lord Under. Because his theme seems to be a spooky forest and not really tied to water. So is the lake corruption trying to communicate to her? It was really unclear what the big intent of that was.

In conclusion, I really liked the parts of the book that were consistent. And if it gets a sequel I hope it works hard to kind of resolve and be a complete story. I think this book could’ve worked a lot better if it had been simplified a bit more, worked less on setting up sequels and worked on creating a stronger character arc for Violeta’s development so that she grows more as a person and is able to handle whatever challenges would presumably happen with things later in other books.

**Review will be published Sep. 21st, 2021**

WELL, THE COVER IS GORGEOUS.

And that little fact drew me in before I was let down by a meh story.

Much potential wasted. That summary gave me all the good vibes of a great gothic fantasy duology intro. I was ready for it. And this was not it.

There is magic in this world, but absolutely no explanation or rundown of what that system is about. I don’t know why certain people got magic and why others don’t. No idea what the limitations are or why it works the way that it does. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Along those same lines are the complete lack of world-building. I got the Gothic vibes and that was it. It all practically took place at one location and that’s all I’ve got. I’m so confused still as to where I was supposed to be that entire time.

Our dear main character wanted me to give up this book at 25%. She was that girl you’re waiting to see die in a horror movie because they run straight to danger rather than taking one moment to logically think. This did get better in the second half.

The story also did improve in the second half. Unfortunately since I was already over it by then because of the weak start I didn’t feel emotionally attached to anything happening. The romance was kind of sweet? It burned pretty well, the spice felt forced, and I’m in mixed thoughts about it all. I’m realizing I’m confused about Lord Under’s place in all of this too. Am I supposed to like him? Is he a morally gray character that has more to him? Remains to be seen.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Gothic Fantasy
- Language: very little
- Romance: kisses to one brief open door scene
- Trigger/Content Warnings: self-harm, loss of loved ones, drowning, poison, magical attacks, creature attacks

Full of gothic suspense and horror, Lakesedge was one of my favorite reads of the year! I loved Violeta and her devotion to her little brother, and I loved untangling Rowan’s mysterious past. The concept of a haunted lake was so interesting, and I really liked the lore of the Lord Under.
This book reminded me a lot of For The Wolf by Hannah Whitten, so I would definitely recommend Lakesedge to anyone who enjoyed For The Wolf, although Lakesedge is young adult.
This book was so creepy and I’m so excited for Forestfall!

“Maybe I just want to be the girl who held the hand of a monster.”

This sat on my currently reading shelf for almost two months. Don’t ask me why. I wouldn’t know. Well, actually I do. I think. Maybe.

I honestly don’t have a lot to say about Lakesedge. The gorgeous cover was what drew me in. (It was love at first sight. I am weak for beautiful covers. Who isn’t?) So when I had the chance to read an ARC, I took it.

While it took me months to read Lakesedge I can honestly say that I didn’t dislike anything about it. There was nothing inherently bad or unlikable about it. This was definitely a case of “it’s not the book, it’s me.” (The reasons I’d rather not divulge.)

Lakesedge boasts a beautiful, atmospheric writing. If I could have done things differently, I’d want to read it in one sitting purely because of this. The world of Lakesedge was both magical and haunting, wrapped in intrigue. There was that one scene that I legit got spooked.

What (or rather who) surprised me the most was Leta. I love how protective she is of the people she cares about, most especially Arien. I rarely see that kind of loyalty and selflessness with a dash of reckless abandon. And although she seemed weak and powerless at first, she didn’t let that stop her from doing what needs to be done.

I think it’s no surprise that I LOVE Rowan. This beautiful, broken, monster boy with a genuine heart. He’s in desperate need of a hug. I live for the rare, sweet moments of banter between him and Leta.

I can’t not say it but… what was up with that ending?! (Anyone wanna talk about it with me?)

Lakesedge is a stunning debut with amazing writing, a gothic romance, an untrustworthy death god and monster boys you can’t help but love. I can’t wait to read the sequel!

I received an ARC via Netgalley to read and review. Quoted excerpt/s may change in the final print.

When I read the blurb for this book I was beyond excited. It has everything I love in a story: gothic, magic, Beauty and the Beast inspired…

But as I was reading the story, I soon learned that I didn’t care for the main character, Leta, to the point where she ruined my enjoyment of the rest of the story. It's difficult to enjoy a story when the main character is so hollow and selfish. Had she been left out; this would be a five-star story for me. Harsh? Maybe, but that is MY truth.

The setting: it is set in a old, dilapidated castle in the middle of a very scary place. There is a nefarious lake, wolves, shadows, and darkness galore. The author did an amazing job of creating a very believable and atmospheric setting. This is not a gothic story nor a Victorian one, it has hints of both but feels like it is trying too hard.

The plot (without spoilers): magic is involved, a kind of infection/contagion, good vs. evil in the darkness and shows. I enjoyed the ideas the plot presented, and I really felt the desire for the characters to clean up their reality.

The magic: the system of magics in this story is amazing and well thought out. I felt like it was familiar yet unique in a way that really bonded me to the use of the magic. It was a brilliant aspect to add to the story.

The characters:
Leta: immature, negative, impulsive, hollow, dull, and unlikeable. Without spoilers: she did things/made choices and hid the results and pretend they didn’t exist just to hide her choices, even if they hurt the ones she loved. Selfish to the core and unredeemable.

Arien: Strong, caring, intuitive, likeable, and mature. I really liked that Arien was the stronger of the siblings and that he took his role seriously and with brave heart. He had character and brains.

Rowan: mysterious, cursed, lonely, strong, and bold. I enjoyed Rowan the most because he had that energy and caring that really makes a strong hero. You might think him the anti-hero, but he is so much more. He was a nice balance to Leta.

Lord Under: trickster, unforgiving, dark, and too “villain” like. I can’t explain him without spoilers, so I will say he is a very interesting man.

Overall this has some pacing issues and read a bit hollow at times. I would have like more detail in the reasons the characters made the choices they did. I would also really like for Leta to have been a much strong female lead.

I say give this a chance, because it might just not be the book for me but will be wonderful for you! I received an ARC via NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and I am leaving an honest review.

I loved the atmosphere created by this book, and definitely got a gothic vibe from it. Unfortunately for me, I felt like I couldn’t connect with the characters in the way I wanted. They all felt one dimensional to me sadly. However, this book was an overall enjoyable and quick read for me and sometimes that it just the kind of boom you need!