It’s a decadently dark and sumptuously detailed YA gothic fantasy. The decaying, gothic manor setting and the maiden meets monster, Hades and Persephone style premise was utterly breathtaking!
When Violeta and her brother, Arien end up at Lakesedge they expect to find a monster. Everyone has heard the rumours about its owner, Rowan Sylvanan—the boy who drowned his entire family as a child. But the neither the estate nor the monster are what they seem.
As she falls for Rowan, Leta discovers he is bound to the Lord Under, a death god bound to the black waters’ of the lake. A creature to whom Leta is inexplicably drawn...
Now, to save Rowan—and herself —Leta must confront the darkness of her own past, in order to unravel the mystery behind her connection with the shadowy death god.
This was an incredibly stunning and addictive read! I was completely obsessed with the vividly gothic setting;it’s decaying beauty, wildly overgrown gardens and sinister blackened lake were a magnificently descriptive feast. The writing was both, absolutely lush and wonderfully lyrical which added to the dark fairytale-esque atmosphere.
The characters were all really well written and the slow burn, tension filled romance between Leta and Rowan was definitely swoon worthy. I also really enjoyed meeting the mysterious god of death, the Lord Under who was definitely intriguing, I’d love to see a bit more of him in a sequel.
Overall, it was and incredible book and I’d definitely recommend to lovers of dark or gothic YA Fantasy or fans of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden.
Also, thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for the arc.
Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone is out 12 October
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5