Aside from wanting more background on the entire world/how they ended up at the point where the story started, this was a great read. I really enjoyed Lakesedge, and while that is still the better read, this one was almost just as good, just a vastly different setting.

3.5/5 Stars

Everline Blackthorn has vowed herself to the wardens who protects the community from Vespertines. When strange things start happening in the Moorland, Everline goes against her fathers wishes and investigates the cause, uncovering a dark secret. She must team up with a Vespertine named Ravel to pass safely through the land. In exchange for his help, Ravel asks Everline to feed from her.

I was excited for a monster enemies-to-lovers romance, and although I found this a bit predictable, I still enjoyed the story for the most part. The pacing is extremely slow, and it is rather predictable. I liked the concept of the Vespertines, I wanted to know more about them. I think there was a lack of worldbuilding, and I was confused at some points of the story. I liked the tension between Ravel and Everline, we love a good forbidden romance... even if it was a bit of a weird set-up. I did really like Everline and Lux's friendship along with the complicated relationship Everline had with her sister Briar.

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended.

This was a fast for me. I enjoy the story and the characters and the magic. I found that the darker elements added a ton to the plot, but they also created a sense of welcome when everything came to a hit. I also enjoyed how the ups and downs in this book were resolved as we read more of the story, and found that the conflict in nature of all the characters what is my favorite part of the book.

This book was just not for me. I was expecting something different but I am not the target audience for this one!

Every time I thought this book was about to end and leave me stranded with a cliff hanger, the story moved on with yet another twist and turns! This could easily have been a series, but I’m not sure if there is more to follow.

I was a little bit lost at several points because the world-building wasn’t entirely cohesive, Ex: I think there were multiple locations identified as “the chapel” and a lot of the time I wasn’t totally sure where exactly the characters were because they travelled quickly between locations that previously took days. If there were more in the series, I would definitely read them.

I LOVE EVERY SINGLE THING THAT LYNDALL WRITES! You know you're getting a dark, deep and poetic story. I've been so lucky to be on her street team in the past, and loved ARC reading this one too!

Absolutely loved the story. There's a deep richness to the world building and a layer of grim undertones that give the story a gothic feel. Hints of enemies to lovers and a woman searching for the truth in a world of lies. Strong emotions and sibling rivalry mix with magic and yearning for an excellent book that I never wanted to end.

*eARC provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I love a good monster romance. Read this if you also wanna make out with an eldritch god.

This was an enjoyable read. I think it will be popular with my teen/YA readers. I will be purchasing for my library system.

I want to thank the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me an advanced copy in place of an honest review. This isn't my normal style of reading, but I found myself gravitating towards the premise of gothic romance. However, I found that the characters were a little lacking, they didn't come off relatable, and their verbiage seemed younger than what they were supposed to be. Which is disheartening because the idea of this story is fantastic. However, if the author writes another book, I will gladly give it a read.

"Unholy Terrors" plunges readers into a world where holy warriors face off against monstrous vespertine. Everline Blackthorn, a devoted warden, defies orders to investigate eerie omens, uncovering unsettling truths alongside Ravel Severin, a rogue vespertine with his own agenda. Lyndall Clipstone crafts a dark and gripping tale of forbidden love and moral ambiguity, where survival hinges on confronting the darkest depths of one's soul. Despite occasional pacing issues, the novel's intensity and complexity make for an enthralling read, perfect for fans of dark fantasy.

*I received this book as a NetGalley ARC*

Unholy Terrors is a dark and gothic fantasy stand-alone, that I desperately wanted more time with. It wasn't bad, but not my cup of tea. Wonderfully well-written descriptions, but a main character that falls remarkably flat at the beginning of the book. I think the female plain Jane for protagonists has worn me out, but she does get more fleshed out the farther you are in the book. The spacing for the beginning of the book was slower than I'd prefer for a stand-alone, but the mystery behind the main character's backstory and world made up for it. It had a wonderfully uncanny magic system and world. The world is described beautifully. The book is a story about grief and healing. The grief Everline goes through is very well thought out and written, it brings up the question of, "When is a monster a monster? What makes someone a monster?" I think those questions made it all worth it, because this book makes you question a lot of things. "When is an action considered good? Is it still good if it has bad repercussions? What makes something good or bad?" I am always an absolute sucker for a book that makes you questions things.

Unfortunately, this book fell flat for a number of reasons. The writing was well done, but didn't particularly feel unique. In fact, I felt as though I'd read similar writing from several authors before. What didn't help was the story seems to struggle to set itself apart in what is quickly becoming an oversaturated market. While I don't think the book is necessarily bad, in fact, it very much is not, it just simply isn't strong enough to hold its own against a growing subgenre of YA novels.

Regardless I appreciate Macmillian providing me with an eARC.

I would describe Unholy Terrors as a mashup of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Veronica Mars. Everline is warden sworn to hunt Vespertines to protect humans. However, she breaks her oath after learning secrets about the monsters and continuing to question her mom's disappearance.

The book is dark and bleak. The writing is often poetic in its descriptions, which I loved. However, there were times when it could be overwhelming and I would stumble over it while trying to comprehend what was happening. At times, it moved a little slow but I could not put it down because the story was compelling. I wanted to see where Clipstone was taking me and what secrets were going to be revealed. I enjoyed this one a lot.

This one was good but sadly forgettable. It’s one I would recommend but I wouldn’t really think of it right away. Was interesting but not groundbreaking

3/5 Stars

I had fun with the general story of this book. However, I think this is one of the circumstances where the book feels written for young adults. The writing feels very young and basic. Like I said the story itself was fine but I didn't gain anything from it. It all felt very familiar. I would absolutely say this would be perfect for beginner fantasy readers or any teen/ young adult wanting to get into the genre.

Gothic? Check. Romance? Check. Interesting religiosity? Check. Fun read? Check. Wanting a little more from the book? Check. Fun read, interesting premise and atmospheric. Did I love it? No. Did I enjoy it. Yes.

I adored the Lakesedge duology by Lyndall Clipstone but unfortunately, I didn't love Unholy Terrors as much. The premise was still really good and the writing was still amazing but it just felt short. It took me a while to be captivated by the story as the pacing seemed off. That being said, it was still a solid book.

I’m so disappointed. This book didn’t feel unique at all; it was indiscernible among the other YA books I’ve read recently. The premise was great but the execution was incredibly lackluster. However Clipstone has grown as a writer since her debut; the writing in terms of craft was done well.