HI. SPOOKY SEASON. IT’S COMING. And we are kicking it off (a few days early) with this gorgeous young adult gothic romance, Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone.
Violeta Graceling and her younger brother, Arien, are taken from their home by a monster. Rowan Sylvanan is said to be the monster at Lakesedge, rumored to have killed his entire family by drowning them. Upon their arrival, they realize things are far worse than they originally feared. The monster at Lakesedge carries a terrible secret and a dreadful curse that requires their assistance to cure. The longer she stays, the more she’s forced to question how true the rumors really are. Is he a victim of circumstance, cursed by a sinister God known as Lord Under? Or is he truly as monstrous as she has been led to believe — as he has led her to believe?
This young adult gothic romance was more than I could have hoped for. If you’ve been following my content for a while, you know that I absolutely fall all over myself for world-building. Clipstone did a remarkable job weaving together intricate yet easily digestible lore. The world was immersive and written so beautifully that I almost wished I was there (dark magic, curses, and corruption aside, of course)!
I appreciated the depth of the characters, as well. Too often, you see one-note depictions of villainous characters. While I wouldn’t classify Rowan as a true villain, there is something to be said about the attention paid to his development. His relationship with Violeta, in the beginning, is contentious at best (outright volatile at worst), but their growth felt organic. I enjoyed watching them thaw to each other. I can see how Violeta might not be everyone’s cup of tea — I feel like she was written authentically as a self-sacrificing (at times, brattish) young adult. In over her head, headstrong, and unwilling (or, perhaps, unsure of how) to accept help from those nearest and dearest to her.
This story was atmospheric, haunting, and truly beautiful. This might be right up your alley if you love young adult romances with a paranormal/gothic twist! I cannot wait for the next installment of the Lake’s Edge series!
You can find Lyndall Clipstone: her website, Goodreads, Instagram, Twitter, Spotify, and Pinterest.
What are you planning on reading this spooky season?
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Ivy Whitaker 