Quirky Cat
Oh wow. I don't know which cover I love more. The original version of Lakesedge or the OwlCrate version? I'm leaning towards OC, which is good because that is my copy! Lakesedge is the first in a new series, World at the Lake's Edge, written by Lyndall Clipstone.
Violeta Graceling has long known that there are evil things in this world. Her brother is not one of them, despite the terrors that plague him each night. She's tried her best to keep him safe, but the evil of man always wins out.
Rowan Sylvanan is the one who finds out about her brother's secret – a lord with a terrifying history. Leta can't let this man run off with her brother, so she follows along into the darkness. Only to find a whole new threat.
“There are monsters in the woods, in the world. there’s a monster the shadows, and now it knows my name.”
Wow. I have been craving gothic novels with lots of monsters and magic lately, and Lakesedge sure hit the spot. This is a dark tale, one that isn't afraid to pull readers along for the ride, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
I might be slightly in the minority here, as it seems like not all readers enjoyed it as much as I did. Maybe I need to up my gothic reading game (actually, I really wouldn't mind doing precisely that!). But I'm going to focus on my opinions for this review.
The introduction immediately snagged my attention. Violeta is a strong and stubborn character; you can tell right away. I adore how loyal she is towards her little brother. Though I can see how she might be off-putting to the characters within this novel, as boundaries are not a thing she cares at all about.
To me, Lakesedge had some powerful and familiar vibes. Mainly Beauty and the Beast crossed with an aquatic version of The Secret Garden. With a bit more magic in the mix, of course. Not to mention a little brother in need of saving (or does he take the place of Belle's father in this comparison? Hrm).
When I first picked up Lakesedge to read, I honestly wasn't aware that it would be part of a series. It wasn't until I reached the conclusion that this fact became blatantly clear, as the world is not done with Violeta. Not yet, at any rate.
Thanks to Henry Holt and Co. and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks