****4 Stars!

“You are my equal half, my cleaved moon.”

First I would like to thank Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book. I am honored to have been given the chance to read it and give an honest review.

The curse of the haunted Lakesedge Estate has been broken, but at a very great cost. Violeta Graceling has sacrificed herself to end the Corruption. To escape death, Leta makes a desperate bargain with the Lord Under, one that has her living in the land of the dead. And though he claims to have given her all that he had promised, Leta knows this world of souls and mists hides many secrets.

When she discovers she is still bound to Rowan, Leta goes to drastic lengths to reforge their connection. But her search for answers, and a path back home, will see her drawn to even more dangerous bargains, and struggling to resist the allure of a new dark power.

I absolutely loved Lakesedge and Forestfall was a very interesting continuation from that first book; it was not at all what I was expecting! The one thing I truly loved about both books was the writing and the beautiful descriptions given to the world, it made for a very vivid and lush atmosphere. I felt as if I could perfectly visualize the world the author was describing, I even felt as if I could taste and smell the world as well. It was very easy to be pulled into both worlds, which I enjoyed immensely.

The love triangle was not something that I was expecting either, and while I’m very picky with love triangle tropes this one had a really interesting and dark dynamic. I really liked the Hades/Persephone vibes going on between Leta and the Lord Under, it really brought their relationship into a very interesting light. Though despite how intrigued I was by the Lord Under and his dark allure, I have to say I’m team Rowan all the way! It was really nice to be able to read chapters in his POV and understand his deep thoughts and what he was going through during his separation with Leta and among other things. I do wish Rowan and Leta had a few more scenes together, but despite that I really loved the way it ended!

This was a very wonderful conclusion to this whimsical and gothic duology and I enjoyed every moment of reading this series! I would highly recommend this to those who love mysterious, otherworldly and gothic stories about girls who love their monsters!

Lyndall has once again managed to completely enchant me from beginning to end with her lush prose.

Forestfall opens up where Lakesedge left off - Leta trapped in the world below with the Lord Under after making a desperate plea to save the ones she loves the most.

The world below is just as gorgeous as Lakesedge, in such a completely different way. It’s dark, lush and filled with wild magic, luminescent mushrooms, silver winged moths and spider silk. Need I say more?

In Forestfall we get both Leta and Rowan’s perspectives which is lovely as we get a deeper insight into Rowan’s mind and thoughts. They are both perfectly imperfect. And this is why they endear me so much. Leta’s self-growth over the course of the duology was a highlight for me. She is such a fierce, loving young woman and I simply adore her.

I adored all of the side characters! They added so much vibrancy to an already spellbinding world, particularly Lady Moth, Fawn and Owl.

Forestfall is such a perfect finish to a beautiful story. I am genuinely so sad to be leaving this world and I feel a reread will happen pretty quickly! I fell for this duology, world and characters. There will always be a special place in my heart for Leta and the gang.

A heartfelt thanks to Pan MacMillan for providing me with an ARC and a gorgeous finished copy of Lakesedge!

In Forestfall, Leta and Rowan must deal with the consequences of their deals with Lord Under. While he did save their lives and healed the corruption, he took Leta with him to the land of the dead, Below. Rowan, Arien, Clover and Thea are determined to bring her back to the land Above. Meanwhile, Lord Under wants Leta to stay with him, while his sisters Moth, Fawn and Owl want her to leave. They are upset that Lord Under has kept her when she is not truly dead.
I liked Lakesedge and did not think this sequel was entirely necessary.

Thank you to Macmillan for the ARC of Forestfall to review!



Okay before I get into the review here is a little shortened version of it all.

· Love triangle but interesting and fresh? Check.
· Coming into power but also in like a corruption kind of way? Check.
· Red thread of fate trope? Check.
· Monsters? Check.
· Kissing those monsters? CHECK.

I loved this book. I have been in a bit of a slump but I read through this almost 400 page book like it was nothing. It was captivating. I was trying to figure out what the Lord Under’s tactics were. And hoping that Leta and Rowan would find each other.

And even torn apart there is romance and so many kissing scenes that it does not feel like a slog to get through for the reuniting that other books suffer from.

Leta also becomes so much more powerful and becomes more self-agented which I loved. She’s confused but will do what she wants – even if they aren’t the smartest of choices.

I also love how the love triangle was fully established and how it ended! I won’t say much but it was quite unique. And speaking of the ending, unlike a few YA books that just end once the conflict is done and will do an epilogue maybe, Lyndall Clipstone gives us two chapters of what happens after. How they are still dealing, how the world is doing, and how our characters and Leta and Rowan are doing in a new and average daily life.

AND if you’re looking for a YA book with some YA spice then this book delivers. Especially that chapter. All I can say there’s a throne and I think BookTok would go crazy for it. And if I don’t see any art of this scene (more so the SFW part of this scene) I am going to riot or even just commission it. Because oh my god.

I do rate this a 5/5 stars. Is it the most perfect book? No, I was a little confused at the beginning with some of the magic because I was only a quarter through my readthrough of Lakesedge. But it was a book that kept me hooked. One that I thought about at work. And it does have an almost perfect ending.

If I doing a more critical post I would round down to a 4.75 as it does have a trope that I don’t vibe with. It does make sense in the book but also I just wish it didn’t happen. I will elaborate on this and more once the book releases and once people have a chance to read it.

Either way, pick up this series! It’s short but not to short. It’s gothic and has a great romance. And Lyndall Clipstone’s writing is magical. It makes me wish I was made out of moth wings and smoke and ash.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lakesedge was my introduction to gothic fantasy and I was absolutely in love. I’m not sure why, but I originally thought this was a stand-alone. I am THRILLED that there was a second book following Violeta and her complex relationship with the Lord Under. Forestfall made me feel so many things. I didn’t know whether to hate or love the Lord Under and the somewhat bitter-sweet end was *chefs kiss*. Thank you Lyndall Clipstone, Fierce Reads and NetGalley m for this ARC!!

This book is so atmospheric and full of rich gothic horror vibes! It was beautiful to read and quite unique in that way. There was a decent plot, though it felt a little slow and not quite as developed as I had hoped. There was something a little off to me in the characters. They were there and doing things, but I didn’t fully understand why or even what exactly they were doing some of the time. The middle also got rather repetitive, and the love triangle kind of forced. But I enjoyed seeing Leta at her full power and loved the Rowan POV chapters! The setting of the World Under was very unique and just so masterfully described.

Overall, I enjoyed this story as a continuation of book 1, though it didn’t pull me in quite like Lakesedge. I would definitely recommend everyone to finish the series and get lost in the gorgeous gothic writing!

Thank you to the author for the ARC!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. I really enjoyed this one!! Lindall’s hauntingly beautiful prose captivated me from beginning to end.

I really wasn’t expecting the author to development a certain relationship they way she did…BUT I mean this in every good way possible because I so badly wanted this to happen in Lakesedge. Was I disappointed in the end? Absolutely not. ;)

Storywise it took a much different turn than I initially expected. I only wish I’d went back to Lakesedge and reread before reading Forestfall.

I was granted an advanced copy o this book by Net Galley in exchange for my honest feedback.

I was obsessed with Lakesedge last year, and Forestfall did not disappoint. Clipstone's writing is beautiful and creepy and really captures the longing, grief, and hope between all of the characters.

I love that she's tackled complicated love stories i which characters carry past mistakes but can still be found worthy of love and forgiveness. I found myself relating to Leta in the way she had to give up little pieces of yourself just to survive.

All in all, it was a satisfying end to the duology and I really enjoyed it.

Many thanks to the author for providing an advance copy to review. All opinions are my own.

Oh this was so amazing! Gothic, dark, tortured, beautiful, magical, and just so perfect. The longing and the angst between both Leta and Rowan and Leta and the Lord Under were *chef’s kiss*. There was an ache in my heart and my soul as I read and I LOVED it! It’s that feeling that your heart is literally in the grips of the narrative. I loved Leta and Rowan’s journeys and how desperately they tried to return to each other. And that neither can escape how inextricably they’re linked to the Lord Under. This is such a fantastic conclusion to the story. To quote the author herself, “blurred as a fever dream but imprinted forever on my heart.”

Thank you so much to Macmillan for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Last year I was given the chance to read Lakesedge early and now I’m on the street team for forestfall and let me tell you it did not disappoint. You get to learn so much more about Violeta and Lord Under as well as other new characters! The writing was so beautiful, I ended up finishing in one sitting. I wish there was another book coming! But the story wrapped up nicely.

Forestfall is a mesmerising romantic, vibrant gothic tale and the continuation to Lakesedge.

Firstly, I want to say I feel so lucky and grateful to have had the privilege to read this arc before it’s release date considering how much I loved the first book this one definitely lived up to my expectations and is a top favourite read of this year.

Between Lakesedge and Forestfall Lyndall has illustrated with her words not one but two enchanting realities that I personally feel spellbound by.
The aura in Forestfall is gloomy, bloodstained, whimsy, luminescent with inklings of horror. It appears like your walking through a hauntingly angelic dream.

Forestfall is everything you want in a gothic romance; monsters, entangled love, heartache and unearthly. The writing is compelling and draws you in from the very first words, prepare to feel the earth beneath your feet and follow the luminous mushrooms in the world Under.

Violeta’s new existence at Lakesedge has now turned to a reality of nothingness.

I loved Lakesedge so when I say I had high expectations for Forestfall I really did but this book exceeded my expectations! What a great conclusion to this duology! I can’t wait to own a finished copy of this book!

Lakesedge was one of my favorite reads last year and I reread it in anticipation for Forestfall.

Forestfall somehow took amazing up another notch though. It was breathtaking. Dark, thrilling and beautifully gothic.

I found myself falling for the Lord Under. Crazy right?! But Lyndall has a way of writing her characters so raw and emotional that you can't help but feel for all of them.

Lakesedge and Forestfall are some of the most immersive stories I've ever ready. I just really resonate and connect with the authors writing style. I can still close my eyes and I'm in the world Under with Violeta or looking upon the ruined lands with Rowan. And the blossoming relationship between Clover and Thea? Give me a story about them next and I will devour it.

You will love these books if you enjoy, dark shrouded scenery, blood tithes, enemies to lovers, and gothic/witchy vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Co for the eARC. These are my honest reviews. And the biggest thank you to Lyndall Clipstone for writing about such amazing worlds to dive into!

Forestfall was atmospherically haunting and once again the author does a wonderful job of pulling you into her uniquely spooky world! I absolutely loved all the little details that made this book so autumn and magic like. I loved The Lord Under and Leta and Rowan's strenuous yet growing relationship throughout the book. I think it was a really cool concept to explore the world Below and it's jarring hold on not only Leta, but Rowan as well. This book was filled with plenty of unexpected twists and turns and I absolutely loved the ending!

Darkness and mystery shroud the opening of Lyndall's conclusion to this spectacular duology.

Violetta sacrificed herself to save everyone she loved from the Corruption and in a desperate play for life made a bargain with Lord Under to live by his side. But Leta realizes not only is she still bonded to Rowan in the world above, but the Lord Under isn't telling her everything. In her search to get back to Rowan, Leta will battle not only with others who live in the world below, but with her own heart.

I don't know when the last time I've been more torn in my emotions over love interests. While I devoured this ARC copy in a day, Lyndall received constant voice memos from me freaking out at like 2am over what she was putting me through emotionally. UGGGHHHHH that ending!! So bittersweet.

If you thrive as a reader while being held in a perpetual state of anxiety due to quintessentially perfect Victorian gothic suspense, then ensure that you delve into this world. I have nothing but a glowing opinion and frankly obsession with this world.

Preorder this simply stunning tale!

I almost needed a breather after this one, it's so lush and dark! At so many points I just wanted to hug Rowan and Leta, they went through so much in this story. For fans of dark fairy tales, the gothic, monsters, and stories that emotionally wring you out before putting you back together.

I was really looking forward to Forestfall, but was disappointed when the story didn't capture my attention like Lakesedge did. To me, the beginning through the middle is choppy with lots of repetition happening: Rowan does spells to see Violeta while Violeta makes bad decisions to see Rowan. I wasn't a fan of the love triangle and felt it was all over the place and needed a better foundation since, for example, in one scene Violeta hates Lord Under, wants to return home to Rowan, kisses Rowan, and then minutes later kisses Lord Under. Minus that, the middle to the end picked up pace with the plot and action and it redeemed the story. Thank you NetGalley and Edelweiss for an ARC.

This was everything I wanted it to be and more. The hauntingly beautiful writing that is standard Clipstone, swept me right back into this gothic world. The cliffhanger ending that Lakesedge left us with was absolutely heart wrenching, and I could not wait to find out what was in store for both Violeta and Rowan. I will admit my heart has a soft soot for Lord Under as we get to see a whole new side of in Forestfall. There are dangers around every corner. Terrors unlike any I have read about before. The turmoil Leta experiences is so palpable, it was as if those feelings overtook my own. I could feel each emotion so vividly. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this entire story, and I felt my heart squeezing with every emotional scene. This was such a magical tale that I can’t wait to read it again.

Let’s get one thing straight—the prose in this novel is gorgeous. The scenery is unveiled in such a way that it’s decadent, and the gothic horror lover in me was VERY HAPPY.

But, my connection to the plot was once again—like the first in the series—tenuous. I wanted MORE. I love the concept, I love the characters. The storyline just wasn’t quite what I was expecting or hoping for. Still, even with that, it was a good read.


Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC version of this novel. Views are entirely my own.

A dark fever dream of a finale, I was upside-down with longing for ALL of these characters! Love all of Clipstone's writing, and this did not disappoint!