Shrouded with death and mystery, Leta never thought she would step into the cursed house of Rowan Sylvanan who allegedly drowned his entire family in the lake behind the estate. Lyndall Clipstone drew me into Lakesedge with the gothic setting and creepy atmosphere. Not only that, the heart-pumping romance that unsuspectingly crept up between Leta and Rowan fascinates me. Furthermore, the lore behind the Lord Under and his domain Below is dipped in darkness and shadows.

The main thing that sustained Leta throughout the whole ordeal is her love for her family and the people around her. Regardless of the sacrifice demanded, without hesitation, she would do anything for Arien, Rowan, Clove and, Florence. Even if that means losing parts of her that she held dearly. Her bravery shines through whenever she ached for Rowan’s upsetting past and her protectiveness towards Arien.

Leta and Rowan’s love story was tender yet bittersweet. Knowing that the Corruption will soon be out of control, Rowan had never expected himself to fall for someone. Similarly, Leta didn’t anticipate feelings to grow for a supposed family annihilator. When they started spending more time together without any suspicions or hostility reigning their emotions, Leta and Rowan understood one another more than they think.

I can’t wait for the next book! I’m hoping for a further expansion into Lord Under and his world Below.

Once I started Lakesedge by Lydall Clipstone, I couldn’t put it down! It is beautifully written and exquisitely atmospheric, and I finished it in a single day.

Lakesedge is full of dark gothic romance and magic, as well as an amazing mostly queer cast of characters that I would do anything for. Outside of Leta and Rowan’s dark and budding romance, you’ll find some Hades + Persephone vibes between Leta and the Lord Under.

This book is for anyone who is a fan of monster boys, death gods, alchemists, secret gardens, altar candles and pomegranates. I NEED book 2 ASAP!

This cover really grabbed me! I think it is so striking and made me really excited about this debut novel by Lyndall Clipstone. I found this story to be captivating with a rich, chilling setting. It follows Violeta who would do anything to protect her brother even follow him to live with a monster. She can’t help that the monster sparks an interest within her, and he will do what it takes to stop the corruption in the land. Can the monster and Violeta help Arien control his blossoming magic? What will happen when their lives intertwine? This story will capture you until the end of the book, and this is the perfect season for this read!

I really liked this Gothic fantasy, it gave me Romantic genre vibes and I was here for it. The connection between Leta and the Lord Under was super interesting and I’m very interested in seeing that explored in the next book. I absolutely adored Rowan and learning more about him as Leta did.

The magic and the differences in the magic between the characters just added to some great world building. The descriptions of everything was so good and I loved the writing.

This leaves off on a bit of a cliffhanger so I’ll be impatiently waiting for the next!

Lush, atmospheric, and romantic – Lakesedge was everything that I wanted and more!

I finished this within 24 hours, and I cannot wait for October 2022.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

From the beautifully compelling cover to the synopsis, this book was filled to the brim with potential. While I do believe that the author tried to make this a great book, I still couldn't connect to the story and felt a hollowness after finishing this forgettable story.

With, at times, beautiful writing style that sets this dark atmospheric mood we follow a 17 year old girl who's willing to do anything to keep her brother safe and her romance with a 19 year old monster. This book is very much about the vibes and the wiring style and the atmosphere of it so if i were to sum up the plot it would sound pretty pointless but I found myself enjoying my time reading the book. I will say that it definitely dragged on for too long towards the last couple of chapters.

The characters themselves are pretty forgettable and shallow, not really inspiring you to care for them and if you blink you'll not remember much than an adjective to describe them. Still, the author does a great job of showing us the beginning of beautiful romantic relationships and sibling relationships as well as platonic relationships. Now, while I liked the interactions between the characters and how they cared for each other I still did not feel that chemistry in the romance that I was hoping to get so while they had very cute moments together I couldn't really fall for their romance.

The whole plot with the Lord was... Interesting and it has a lot of potential. I still don't know what direction the author would go with for that but there's definitely something there.

Overall, it's not a story that I'll continue but it was still enjoyable while it lasted.

Wow talk about spooky vibes. This book really got me into the Halloween spirit. I loved the writing style. The characters were stunning! Can not wait for more of this story!

I didn't love this like I wanted to. I think it's probably more a me thing right now than the book, but I didn't connect enough with the characters to be invested in the outcome of the story. There were some filters words in the book that could've been easily edited out and those paragraphs reworked to give a little interiority and immediacy to the novel. That said, it's a solid story, and I really liked the MC being demisexual as there is not enough ace rep in YA. The comp to A Curse So Dark and Lonely (another book I didn't like; though I disliked it much more than this one) is accurate and I know some of our patrons and my coworkers will devour this book.

“Because the lake is there. Waiting and wanting.” // “A blackened lake, a poisoned magic, a wound, a curse … a girl who can speak to a god.”

We follow Leta, an orphaned girl living in a gothic town under the rule of a hard woman, who is set on protecting her brother at all costs and saving him from the dark magic that lives within him. When the town's Lord discovers who they are, they're both taken to the Lord's haunted estate, Lakesedge, where monsters lurk around every corner. Filled with haunted visions, a blight, curse, and corruption, and a deceitful death god, Leta and her new found family work tirelessly to remove the curse from the land and lake surrounding the estate.

So, this was a tricky read for me. I was really so excited for this story and I did love the dark, eerie, gothic, and atmospheric vibe of it. The tale was haunting with corrupted magic and tension-filled moments. The premise and concept was really so alluring! The writing was great and the beginning definitely drew me in. But, I just had trouble with the characters overall (their core drives) and for me, the dialogue and action just felt redundant. And particularly, everything felt rushed, vague, and just young with little development over the course of the story (the character relationships and system of magic). There was a lot of push and pull with no real closure by the end. And it was tough for me to get behind the type of sibling trope that Leta and her brother had. The adult version of this story would be amazing!

LAKESEDGE HAS:
— a blight, a corruption, a curse
— a dark manor
— haunted visions
— a poisoned lake
— a deceitful death god
— dark + light, yin + yang magic
— upper YA romance
— LGBTQIA+ rep
— found family

Thank you to the publisher for my advanced e-copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was extremely intrigued by the ice of a new dark, gothic fantasy romance that has to do with monsters, magic, and a Devil. It had a Crimson Peak vibe to the story from the beginning but I don’t know if the Gothic theme penetrated down past the overall umbrella of the story. I thought the world building was very interesting and I always appreciate a book where the supporting characters actually contribute to the storyline, even though I think there’s still a ton of room for growth with them in Book 2. I found the plot development to be a bit unpolished in the first 2/3 of the book but the last 1/3 had me very intrigued mostly by the introduction of the physical Lord Umber (he has hardcore Luc vibes from Addie LaRue and I am SO intrigued by him). Violeta, the main character, is marketed as a heroine but I honestly felt she spent the first half of the book running around whining constantly and found her incredibly annoying. She leveled out more for me in the last third so I’m hoping for some development in her personality in Book 2. I give the book a solid 3 stars because there is tons of potential for improvement in Book 2, and i hope very much to see more of the Lord Umber!

Lakesedge is the first book in the YA paranormal series called World at the Lake's Edge by Lyndall Clipstone. Lakesedge is perfect for fans of a spooky atmospheric read. I love that this is a series, because I am super interested to see what is in store for the inhabitants of Lakesedge in the next book. This book does have one of my bookish pet peeves and though that did annoy me, I still enjoyed this one overall. I think it will be a big hit for upper young adult readers looking for a creepy read for Halloween time. Lakesedge delivers a great creepy atmosphere. 

In Lakesedge we meet our main character Violeta, who takes care of her brother after losing both of her parents. Her brother suffers dark shadows that seem to overtake him at night. When the Lord of Lakesedge, also known as the monster of Lakesedge, sees his shadows he whisks them away to his house and the real mystery of the book begins. I was so intrigued by not only Violeta and Rowan's backstories but also their mysterious nightmares and the shadows of the lake. 

Violeta bugged me a little bit because she falls prey to something I do not like encountering in books. She thinks she has to take on all the burdens of everyone and doesn't see fit to let anyone else into her plans. Even when she tries to, she only does so half heartedly. This is a pet peeve of mine. There are very few instances where I feel this is justified. Most of the time, it is a better idea to get others involved and not carry the burden, or secret, on your own. I understand why it is a popular plot device, but I do not usually love it. I understand this is a personal preference and I only tell you a) in case that is also your pet peeve but more importantly b) to let you know that I still really liked the book despite that being present. I can't wait to see what is going to happen with Violeta next. The ending of Lakesedge was a humdinger! The romance was also interesting, but I am intrigued to see what is going to happen on that front in the next book as well. The mystery of Lakesedge was spooky and held my attention(I'm looking at you Lord Under!), and I can't wait for more.

A gorgeous gothic fantasy perfect for fans of Crimson Peak. The relationship between Leta and her brother is so precious, and the pacing & romance kept me turning pages far past my bedtime.

I enjoyed the gothic atmosphere of the visually stunning movie Crimson Peak. It’s used as a comp title for this novel, and the cover really sets the tone for the story.

If you’re looking for an atmospheric read for this time of year, this is it. With a bleak manor, sinister woods, cursed black lake, and young, mysterious lord said to have drowned his family, it’s easy to immerse yourself in this world. You’ll want to learn its hidden secrets.

After losing their parents at a young age, Leta and her brother, Arien are taken in by a woman who was initially kind to them, but became cruel and abusive when Arien began showing signs of dark magic. Rowan Sylvanan, lord of Lakesedge estate, sees something in him and takes them in, but Leta isn’t sure if their situation is improved. Soon after settling in, it becomes clear Rowan isn’t the monster he’s rumored to be, but instead is cursed by a deal he made with the Lord Under as a child. The estate and lands surrounding it are slowly dying from a magical corruption, and Rowan needs their help in defeating it.

Leta is extremely overprotective of Arien and, although annoying at first, the reason becomes clear. I thought he was around eight-years-old, but was surprised he’s actually thirteen. For me, he reads much younger, although he seems more like a teen as the story progresses. With this gothic tale comes a budding romance between Rowan and Leta, but it doesn’t take center stage. The driving force of the story is about adapting and combining the characters’ magic to conquer the corruption. Leta also has a history with the Lord Under, and they share an unusual connection. It’s something I want to know more about.

I went into this book thinking it was a standalone (there was no mention of a series on NetGalley), but toward the end it quickly became clear things weren’t wrapping up. The sequel releases next fall, so now I’ll have an impatient wait to see what happens after that whopping cliffhanger. If you enjoy dark fantasy with a hint of horror and undercurrents of romance, this is an atmospheric novel I’d recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the first in a series (THANKFULLY) so this book kind of leaves off on a cliffhanger. And I say cliffhanger because we’re not entirely sure what exactly happened, or at least I’m not sure what really happened. There are a few possibilities, but only one of them makes me happy and the others make me want to scream!

Okay, so plotwise this book gives me dark Beauty and the Beast vibes, but is not a retelling, as well as Hades and Persephone vibes, primarily with the world of the dead and the pomegranate. We have dark and light magic, a cursed and misunderstood Lord, and lots of creepy, spooky moments with the Corrupted lake and the Lord Under.

We have our main character Violeta who I’m pretty sure is demisexual and I have two quotes to confirm it. Our main love interest, Rowan, is bisexual or pansexual, which I say because it’s not confirmed which one, we just know he likes men and women. MC’s little brother is also queer (also not confirmed since he’s only 13) and the Rowan’s friend and alchemist Clover is also queer. There are a lot of queer characters in this book, which was so nice!

So basically, we have ace spectrum rep, wlw rep, mlm rep, and bisexual/pansexual rep!

The characters themselves were interesting, though Violeta is very stereotypical in her thinking as a YA main character. Always sacrificing herself for others at her own expense and being willing to hurt herself or die for the people she loves. While heartfelt, sometimes it’s a bit much. I think Violeta is a nice person and a good MC, but sometimes I want to see the characters be a little selfish. No person is always selfless and giving, so why should characters in a book always be?

Rowan was a great love interest and I could see the connection sparking between them. This enemies to lovers takes a turn when we realize that Rowan isn’t the bad guy, not even close, and there are darker beings at play. His personality is more than just being the brooding, depressed love interest though – he’s also a good big brother lol – I’m just kidding. We get to learn about Rowan and his hobbies/interests when he was younger and the story of how all of this came to be. I honestly feel so bad for him.

The other characters, like the Lord Under, were also interesting. While some side characters are more one dimensional than others, like Violeta’s adopted Mom, we also get some fully formed characters too. Clover and the Lord Under are the first to come to mind. They’re not just there to be a part of the story, they are like living, breathing people. While Violeta’s brother, Arien, and Rowan’s servant and guard, Florence, are just kind of there. We get little bits of personality and their purpose other than just being there, but not much honestly.

Now, the Lord Under, he’s a favorite of mine. As the ruler of the afterlife, he will sometimes offer assistance to humans as they near death and offer them a deal. These deals often come with a price and many consequences, so one must be careful to strike up an agreement and be critical on what they want to give up. While I’m still not sure what his motivations are yet, I liked his role in this book. And by the end, clearly I was distraught.

Overall, this book left me slack jawed for several minutes while I re-read the ending many times over, trying to figure out what just happened. The magic of this world is very dark and intense which makes the vibes that much spookier! I read this book in under three hours because I couldn’t put it down. I’m so excited for the next book!

Oh my goodness, I LOVED this spooky and suspenseful story! I loved all the romance, and the horror of it all, and can't wait for the next book!

Welcome to Lakesedge Manor, where Lord Under has a strong connection and darkness steeps through the lake. Where a handsome young lord tries not to fall for the beautiful girl he brought home. Lakesedge is a gothic fantasy and damn it was good. It so creepy and dark, with magic and mayhem. It was so addicting that i read it in one day and I did not want to put it down. Highly recommend for a good fall atmosphere read.

Lakesedge delivered on everything it promised and was the perfect world to fall into at the start of autumn!

Lovable characters engaged in a gothic mystery. Descriptions that gave me goosebumps and that I often go back to re-read again and again. Even the characters I should've despised intrigued me. The romance was believable and adorable even to my own shriveled heart. The magic system was new and the right amount of disturbing. Lastly, the Lord Under. You'll understand!
And look at that stunning cover!

Thank you to the author for sharing the ARC with me in exchange for a honest review!

Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone is a fantasy romance novel following Violeta, who is swept away to the Lakewood estate with her brother Arien when he discovers Arien's powers. Violeta is unsure of Lord Rowan due to rumors that he drowned his entire family. However, Violeta is also drawn to Rowan, confusing her even further. Will she fall under his spell in love or be tied into much more dire circumstances

First, I was captured by the artwork on the cover which is stunning yet dark. The writing developed an atmosphere that absolutely captures the artwork with a moody, yet complicated vibe. The writing also created this dreamy ambience that felt ethereal and made you question what was real.

However, my favorite part of the story was the characters. The characters are complicated, being self-centered at times and sacrificial at others. With Violeta and Rowan I felt this constant push and pull in their relationship, which built the tension in their relationship. Violeta's confusion on how she feels about Rowan added so much angst to this story which I loved! I also enjoyed seeing her dynamic with Arien, who she is fiercely protective of. However, the character arcs of each of the siblings separately really highlighted their growth throughout the story.

Overall, I recommend this novel for anyone looking for an angsty and atmospheric fantasy novel with an unique gothic vibe!

Many thanks to the publisher Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

If you like gothic fantasy with magic, monsters, and some romance this book is for you. The author writes wonderfully by showing and not telling. The fictional world and magic system was created with a high level of detail.

Sadly, this book wasn't for me. The main character wasn't likeable enough for me to be invested in her story . I found myself skipping through paragraphs to find out what would happen next.

A dark and gothic mystery plus romance? My perfect book. This book was so magnetic, I really loved everything about it. The pace was perfect, and the characters were amazing!!
Really loved it.