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karapillar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content
reading_ani's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“There are monsters in the world. There are monsters in the woods. There’s a monster in the shadows, and now it knows my name.”
I have to confess I had zero expectations towards this book. When I received my edition in an Owlcrate box I read the blurb and was intrigued, but didn’t expect great things from it. But oh boy was I wrong! I absolutely loved and wholeheartedly enjoyed this book! When I finally picked it up to read it, I knew that it would be part of a series, but honestly, even if I hadn’t, there were a lot of things foreshadowing this fact very early on. Anyone familiar with Greek mythology would pick up the not so subtle hints of Violeta sacrificing pomegranate… this in combination with a “Lord Under” point pretty obviously to a Hades and Persephone retelling . And all in all, I have to say that even though I saw the ending coming, I enjoyed every single moment of getting to it and I just can’t wait to read the sequel once it gets released. 🥰🥰
I have to confess I had zero expectations towards this book. When I received my edition in an Owlcrate box I read the blurb and was intrigued, but didn’t expect great things from it. But oh boy was I wrong! I absolutely loved and wholeheartedly enjoyed this book! When I finally picked it up to read it, I knew that it would be part of a series, but honestly, even if I hadn’t, there were a lot of things foreshadowing this fact very early on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
laura_2209's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
caitlincannings's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
crystalisreading's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The description, cover, and title combination for Lakesedge caught my attention right away, and I was glad to be granted an advanced copy. The story itself pulled me in right away, with intriguing world building and a strong older sister fighting to keep her younger brother safe in an abusive environment. The magic/ religious system in the story is interesting and cohesive, and the world as described seemed welcoming and pleasant. Well, mostly. At first. Then the magic really started. And the romance. And the drama. And the impulsive and often self-destructive decisions.
Violetta is extremely self-sacrificing when it comes to protecting her loved ones, and not good at caring for herself at all. The more you get to understand the trauma she has been through, the more her behavior makes sense, but it still gets a little tiresome after awhile. I felt like this was very YA, with maximum angst, both familial and romantic. There’s also some sort of love triangle, and the story ends on a cliffhanger. I keep forgetting that “lush” as a book descriptor means all the purple prose describing everything, and while this book wasn’t terrible, I got a little tired of hearing about how everything tastes like ash or burned sugar or poison or whatever, and how there were strings tied from / tightening her heart, etc. And this is very much my own preference, but some of the things these characters, especially Leta, went through, and the losses they endured, just felt like too much. I could see how the writing is gothic fantasy bordering on horror.
I did love the LGBTQ+ rep, as multiple supporting characters had same sex preferences or were bi/pan, and Leta appeared to be demisexual. And while this is wholly a fantasy setting, and Violetta and her brother are fair skinned and red headed, there’s also a fair amount of supporting characters who are described as having darker skin, curly hair, etc. Also, women have a lot of agency in this story, and while most of the people with leadership roles in the story (lords, village leaders, etc) were male, several of the female characters filled important professional roles and all the women were treated with respect. (The characters definitely existed on a gender binary, and there was no non-binary representation that I can remember.
Overall this was an enjoyable, if sometimes slightly redundant and slow read. I finished it in a few days around the autumn holidays. While I’m not sure I’ll bother reading the sequel, I nevertheless appreciate #NetGalley and Macmillan granting me a free electronic advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
taylorjayne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
rebthack's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Self harm, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
travelthrupages's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Ahhhhhhh that cliff hanger!!! And the next one isn't out until LATE 2022!!
Oh man, I requested this book from Netgalley based on the cover. Not something I usually do, but this one was just too beautiful to pass up. I am so glad I did and that I was chosen to read an advanced e-copy. This is such an amazingly written and well thought out fantasy. I was getting slight ACOTAR and Shadow and Bone vibes while reading (definitely saw Kaz as the Rowan, not going to lie). I was also getting Beauty and the Beast retelling vibes in the beginning too.
We have a bad ass group of female characters. Obviously our main character, Violeta, after making some choice decisions with the Lord Under, comes to find her power. But what is going to happen to her!? Man, this is why I have a love/hate relationship with reading newly published books that are going to be a series.
I really loved that there was representation in this as well.
Overall I am really excited for more people to read this. I am also excited to see where the next book is going and it will definitely be on my most anticipated releases list for next year!
Oh man, I requested this book from Netgalley based on the cover. Not something I usually do, but this one was just too beautiful to pass up. I am so glad I did and that I was chosen to read an advanced e-copy. This is such an amazingly written and well thought out fantasy. I was getting slight ACOTAR and Shadow and Bone vibes while reading (definitely saw Kaz as the Rowan, not going to lie). I was also getting Beauty and the Beast retelling vibes in the beginning too.
We have a bad ass group of female characters. Obviously our main character, Violeta, after making some choice decisions with the Lord Under, comes to find her power. But what is going to happen to her!? Man, this is why I have a love/hate relationship with reading newly published books that are going to be a series.
I really loved that there was representation in this as well.
Overall I am really excited for more people to read this. I am also excited to see where the next book is going and it will definitely be on my most anticipated releases list for next year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Self harm, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Death of parent
caseythereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail