Thank you to Fierce Reads and Macmillan for providing an ARC of this book.

Violeta and her brother Rowan were found alone in the woods when they were young. Growing up, Rowan has dark dreams that frighten their surrogate mother. They catch the attention of Rowan, a Lord who owns Lakesedge and also has a dark past, it's been said that he drowned his family when he was younger. A sinister figure., the Lord Under, has bound Rowan to him and also wants to bring Violeta under his thrall.

This is a gothic tale about family, magic and love. I have to say I'm not really into magic and people writing sigils on their arms and summoning spells, so this wasn't a big hit for me. It was entertaining and well written, but I couldn't really get into the plot. I can see how fans of this type of novel would be into it though and hope it will be a big hit!

The plot is set up for a sequel, and while I'm interested in finding out what happens, it probably won't be a must read for me.

𝗟𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘 is a dark and lush dream vividly rendered. Full of moonlit forests, pooling shadows, inky water, spellbinding magic, and beautiful monsters. And at the heart of it all is Violeta, a determined, irreverent heroine who is desperate to protect her brother, Arien, from the monsters in this world and below it. But as the story unravels, these monsters—one wreathed in shadow, and another bathed in otherworldly moonlight—become impossible to resist. Like the most enchanting dreams, Lakesedge ended too soon and I am still trying to recapture the wonder it made me feel. If you’re searching for a gothic romance that is teeming with mystery and magic and monsters, put this one on your list.

This is a story about family, first love, bravery, and protecting and making sacrifices for those you love.

I loved this book! This novel was amazing! It is well written, has great characters, witty and clever banter and is a perfect example of what a great gothic novel is all about: beautiful descriptions, a haunting estate, horror & mystery, a complicated romance, a curse...

This is a book one of a series, but I kind of wish there wasn’t a follow up as I love how this ended!

I highly recommend this book for any age that loves a good gothic tale.

Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Company (BYR) for a copy of this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #Lakesedge

This book gave me all of the gothic scenery & clothing that I envisioned reading this book’s original synopsis. As a fellow read head, I could totally envision myself as Leta in that final dress by the lake! What an eerily beautiful & dark visual that created!🤩

Rowan gives us all of the beautifully broken boy vibes that any gothic fantasy reader will love. What a said thing to come from a tiny boy nearly dying. Now he doesn’t feel like he can even deserve something like love.

I will say, I do wish this had been longer. There are several times that state “a few weeks later”…but what happened during those few weeks? A lot can happen in a new relationship in that amazing of time, or so much could’ve been learned about alchemy that I would’ve loved to read about.

I also would’ve loved to hear more about Arien. He was very effected by the choices Violeta made and we get a glimpse at his emotions, but would’ve loved to seen a bit more about him accepting who/what he is and embracing his magic.

Also…just not sure how I feel about the end. Does he take her back? Does he keep her?! I’m not really certain. Maybe that’s how it’s meant to be, which is a choice. I’d just love a more certain resolution, personally, but maybe that’s just me being my own particular self haha. Maybe we’ll find out in the next one!?!

Now for another great thing…the scenery! I am in LOVE with the descriptions of Lakesedge & the world below. Seriously, well done!

‘Lakesedge’ is a fantastic YA fantasy and should be on everyone’s TBR!

I seem to be in the minority, but I wasn't very into the story. And it's disappointing because I really wanted to love it. Lakesedge has an absolutely beautiful cover and an interesting premise. I don't know if it's officially comped as a Hades and Persephone retelling but I read a review on Goodreads that mentioned it and I think that's an accurate description. Lakesedge wasn't for me personally. It was darker than the books I usually read. Very gothic and gritty. I more prefer paranormal fantasy. I do think many will still enjoy this book.

Violetta’s brother Arien has been recruited to help fix a curse on the Lakesedge Estate, but Leta finds that she has powers of her own when it comes to making deals with the devil.

Overall, I thought the strongest aspect of the book was how atmospheric the writing was. I didn’t emotionally connect with the characters; I found Leta to be aggravating in the first half of the book, but it seemed like the fight went out of her in the second half once she started bonding with Rowan. None of the other characters felt well-rounded to me, even with their tragic backstory. It made it hard to care for what they were going through and by the end I just wanted to know how the story ends.

While Leta’s protectiveness over her brother was understandable, her relationships with the other characters fell flat for me. That’s saying something as I found Leta’s reaction to Arien in danger to be comically over the top, which soured my impression of her for the rest of the story. Rowan, as the master of the house and lord of the land, is supposed to be the cold character that gradually warms up as he falls for Leta. However, he’s also a teenager and at times I found myself thinking how unbelievable his characterization was. Of course there are mature teenagers, especially those who suffer from trauma, but the dichotomy between young adult in his late teens and acting like a grumpy forty year old did not make sense in my head. Likewise, the other side characters did not feel fully fleshed out and I feel like they were underutilized in pushing the story forward.

I do like how the story ended, as I felt the story could have encompassed one book but we are left with a twist. While this story wasn’t it for me, the stakes certainly were high and the whole spooky vibes would be great for someone who likes slow and immersive stories that envelope you into its world.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. If you love magic, victorian gothic stories, monster boy romances and deals made with the Lord of the Underworld, you NEED to read this book. I was hooked from the first line and couldn't put it down. As an older sister with a younger brother, Leta and Arien's relationship really resonated with me. And Rowan? *SWOONS* I can't wait to do some more doodles of Rowan, Leta and Arien (If you need more reasons to read Lakesedge, you can see my drawings @angelaanimates over on instagram). Now to wait til Forestfall...

I was blown away the whole time! The writing drew me in from the first line and I was fully immersed and captivated all the way through. Clipstone has such a magical way of writing that paints the perfect gothic forest, magical, underworld, cursed, with a side of flowers aesthetic. The characters were great. The tension and slow burn of the romance was one of my favorites. Such beautiful prose when describing Rowan and Leta together.

~minor spoilers~
I also appreciated the villain. The Lord Under was so interesting and had me questioning so much. I’m getting Hades and Persephone vibes because the ending! Is he good, is he bad, should I be worried about Rowan and Leta, I have no idea. I love Rowan and don’t want anything getting between them yet at the same time I’m so intrigued?? I need the next one now!

An outstanding gothic, dark fantasy debut that I will definitely be adding to my shelves when it comes out!

OH. MY. GOD.

How am I supposed to wait a whole year for the sequel?!?! This book...I have no words. I went into this with zero expectations, but if I’d had any I think the events in this book exceeded them all. I know it’s compared to Uprooted. I will also say this gave me major Kingdom of the Wicked vibes, including Hades/Persephone. It’s creepy and perfect for spooky season!

I adore Rowan so much!!! Considering I usually lean more towards the MC’s interactions with the villain in books, Rowan is just one of those characters whose interesting enough to make me fall head over heels in love with him. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy Violeta’s interactions with Lord Under. ;) I also loved the whole ‘found family’ trope in this. Honestly I just loved all the characters.

A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this eARC. I’m so happy I got to read it sooner!!

This was such a delightfully dark and beautiful treat! This was lyrical and haunting - Gothic Horror and Romance at its absolute fantastical best - with the fantasy/magical elements only strengthening the Gothic themes, making it that much more enthralling. And all this beautiful darkness is enshrouded in a fast moving and engaging plot. I couldn't put this one down, and stayed up into the middle of the night finishing it in one sitting. It's got it all: Mystery, Romance, unique Magic, Hidden Powers, Monsters, Horrific Nature elements - but most especially: snuffed candles and whispers from Dark Gods at the edge of your sleep...

**A million thank you's to both NetGalley and Henry Holt for an eARC of this book in return for my honest review**

The Lowdown: Orphans, ostracized in their village, Violeta and her brother Arien find themselves at the hands of the owner of the infamous Lakesedge, after he discovers Arien's secret, something Violeta's desperately been trying to hide for years: her brother has Magic. A dark and dangerous shadow magic, that might or might now have something to do with the horrible blight infecting the land. Rowan (owner of Lakesedge) is convinced that Arien's magic can help him fight back the source of the blight, the black and oozing lake behind the house. A lake that claimed Rowan's entire family. But of course all is not as it seems, and mystery upon mystery stack up as Violeta tries to discover the truth behind the black Lake, the blight, Rowan, her brothers magic, and memory that haunts her, of a night in woods long ago where a she may have made a deal with the darkest God of all, the Lord Under. Originally motivated only to save her brother from the growing darkness threatening them all, Violeta slowly begins to fall under Rowan's spell and becomes determined to save him as well, which may mean venturing into the blackness below the lake to once again make a bargain the lord of the dead.
"I can't stop shivering. Because the real horrors of Lakesedge aren't in this room. They're on the blackened shore of an endless lake, where a monster fed the ground with his blood. Where my brother will go, with magic and shadows to try and mend it all."

For me this was reminiscent of the Gothic Romance classics like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, but even more so of the Gothic Horror Classics like Dracula and Frankenstein - where horror elements and romance were different sides of the same coin - where there's beauty in the darkness, and man struggles to reach beyond his own mortality in order for something...more. It also had nuances of the Hades and Persephone myth, which were particularly poignant in this setting. Light and growth springing forth from the darkened realms of death.

There's a lot packed into this story, and I'm guessing much more to come. I absolutely loved this world, and this is my #1 Fall Must Read so far - for both YA and Adult readers, and fans of any or all of the above: Fantasy, Gothic, or Historical Fiction. It's simply great story-telling at its best.

Quotes and other snippets:

Like all good gothic's its got the perfect setting in the house at Lakesedge (and the monstrous black lake beyond it):
"Strange emotion threads around me like the vines woven across the shutters. There's something so sad about this poor, solemn house. With its windows like closed-over eyes and a ring of cold iron at the door. It's like something kept under a spell, too long asleep."

And Rowan is sure to have lots of fans, he's a great brooding, tainted, monster of a haunted shell, and just like the heroine, we the reader are drawn to him like moths to a flame:

"Rowan." The shape of it lingers after I speak it aloud. A monster. A boy. A boy with a name that I can feel on my tongue. Darkly sweet, like honeyed tea. Heat starts to creep across my face...."

"I want him. I want him in a way that I'd not expected to want anyone, ever. He's under my skin. In my blood. Tangled around my heart."

The gorgeous cover caught my eye and the premise caught my interest. My expectations were not high, I’m afraid…too much cookie-cutter mediocrity lately. What a pleasant surprise to encounter characters and storyline unique and engaging enough to have me looking forward to the sequel.

This book was absolutely mesmerizing. At times spine chilling and others hopeful and bright. The writing style really enveloped you into the story. I don't know how Clipstone did it, but I felt all the emotions she was trying to conjure. It was written so well and was everything I could ever want in a gothic romance. The characters drew me in and I felt such a protectiveness towards them. My only regret was reading this book so quickly. Now I have to wait so long for the second one! If you are a fan of horror, romance, fantasy, anything basically, then you will love this book.

Oh my goodness! A monster boy and a death god, and the girl who's connected to them! Is this a Persephone retelling?? Or at least a nod? Because woof, the connection Violeta has with the Above and Below...That ending was :o and I need the sequel immediately!

It was really fun exploring all the nuances in the different relationships. Finding out about Rowan and seeing his true self made me want to hug him, so I'm glad he had Violeta (or really, that they had each other to work through all their stuff).

The worldbuilding and magic and descriptions are so well done. There were twists at every turn as the two main characters kept sacrificing themselves and getting in each other's way lol. And then of course, there's the tricky Lord Under doing his own thing, while Clipstone weaves a fine line on if we should like him and trust him or not.

I feel like the side characters kinda got pushed to the background toward the end, and only Clover ever really says anything about Violeta and Rowan, but I let it go since the story was centering and tightening around Violetta and Rowan and Lord Under. I hope we get to see more of everyone in the sequel!

If you like lush, dark, gothic fantasy, with mysteries to uncover, blurred lines, and a ticking clock to save the world and each other, read this book!

I was initially drawn to Lakesedge because of the review comparisons to Brigid Kemmerer who is a fave author. Lakesedge did not disappoint. It was mysterious and creepy with a little underworld mythology thrown in.

While it took a little bit to “get started,” I was pulled in by the characters. The main characters were struggling with loss and making seriously difficult choices. I also loved the supporting characters who rounded out and humanized the creep factor.

I will definitely be purchasing this for my library, and now I need the sequel!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. For the most part I really enjoyed this book. The only problems I had with the book was that it was a bit slow to start, and there where a few places where the plot felt a bit confusing. But, I did enjoy the characters and setting.

Okay, so let me start this by saying that I already preordered this based off of the synopsis. You mention 'death god' and I'm already sold.

That being said, a death god isn't always enough to make a story good.
That was not the case with this book. I was hooked from the first few sentences.
This is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. The worldbuilding was, to me, incredible. I was there every step of the way. Delightfully gothic, and dark and beautiful. I could smell the summer nights. Feel the cold water, the darkness. I adored it. The magic system was simple, which I enjoyed. Sometimes these things can get confusing but I had no problem understanding how their magic worked and I'm curious to see more!
I did wish to see more beyond their little manor, but that was more of a selfish want than anything. It didn't take away from the story in any way. It felt claustrophobic in a good way, you have these characters who are all trapped in their own ways. It seemed appropriate. And since it's not a standalone, I will get my wish to see more of the world and the characters.
Violeta and her brother have an amazing relationship, it felt real. Their circumstances are terribly sad and I always love the 'found family' trope.
Rowan is delightfully broody, which is how I like my leads. All of the relationships felt organic and not rushed in any way.
All in all I'd give this a 5. A a nice gothic fantasy, with a sweet romance, a teensy bit of enemies to lovers. I mean what more could I ask for? Plus, a mysterious death god who I'm anxious to learn more about.
I'll definitely be reading anything this author releases in the future.

This book took a little bit of time to grow on me, if I’m honest. I loved the description and the cover art, and that’s what drew me in initially, but the first 25% of the book felt a little flat to me. I’m very glad I stuck with it though, as the rest of the story was really compelling! Lord Under was my favorite bit—the whole underworld, the way the author conceptualized it was fantastic. I loved the magic in the world and the way sigils work, and the main character was likable. The romance felt a bit forced, or sped along, but the kissing scenes were well written and felt impactful to the story. Overall, I enjoyed it! Would recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing for graciously allowing me to read an early eARC of this book.

I think I’m the minority here but I really had a difficult time with this book. This review will contain some spoilers. The main character Leta is always described as brave and so caring and selfless but throughout the entire book she makes selfish decisions that continually get the people she cares about injured. This book felt like a middle grade mashup of beauty and the beast meets Addie larue. Leta spends the first part of the book fearing her brothers darkness/sickness only for us to find out she knew knew the entire time what was wrong with him. Not only that but she’s the one who bargained for an outcome and that was the consequence. The plot was confusing and the ending felt rushed. Leta was the only human to be able to see and walk next to Lord Under. We are continually told she has a special connection with him. I wish this had been explored more besides that he loved her fearlessness and bravery and was impressed with her as a child. Yet he would trick her and she would fall for it every time. I understand he’s supposed to be a deity and be morally gray but it was frustrating to see Leta say how kind he was and forget the bad. Also I know she is 17 but sometimes this felt like she was the 13yr old and her brother was the 17 yr old. She supposedly wanted to at all costs protect him but when they had the opportunity to help him and his powers she wanted to keep him hidden away because magic is bad. Well we later find out she had magic and is just oh no big deal. Once we know she can use magic to help it’s like we forgets that Leta shut down her brother helping. Basically it feels like once she gets magic it’s all fine and dandy but she spent the first half of the book fearing it and thinking everyone with it is a monster. The overall world building was nice and I did enjoy the magic system and the runes. I did like how the author played with the concept of the lady of light and the lord under. Overall it was a great concept but just felt muddled. I really really wanted to love this but just struggled.

This book was so well done! The building tension had me on the edge of my seat--every time I thought the stakes couldn't rise any higher, they did! I loved the world-building: it was creepy and consistent, and I haven't read many modern books that include such traditionally gothic elements. I would definitely recommend picking up this book!

A lush tale of curses, nightmarish secrets, and dark magic, all with a hefty price. I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastical story, unable to put it down over a weekend. Violeta was a terrific main character who stayed very active in moving the story forward with her bravery. The immersive setting kept me close to the characters and the story, giving me vibes of Brigid Kemmerer stories, as well as Beauty and the Beast and even Phantom of the Opera.

A fave quote, "There are monsters in the woods, in the world. There's a monster in the shadows, and now it knows my name."