I had the Owlcrate signed edition (bought used) and I wish I liked it more to justify keeping the gorgeous hardback.

The writing style I had the most issues with. While I am quite fine with 1st person POV, here it is glaringly obvious and takes me out for most of the chapters. There are many filter words "I *feel*", "I *taste*" and were big detriments. Additionally the repetitive sentence structure (Subject>Verb>the rest) had me reading in a way that I can only describe as mechanical. I found myself glossing over much of the paragraph that repeats this structure as it was so prevalent.

The story itself is fine. Nothing particularly special to my taste. It did get a bit more interesting at the end, however it ends on a big cliffhanger. I get wanting readers to pick up the next book but you can still have a satisfying mostly concluded main story with threads that can lead to the next book. Season 1 of Stranger Things is a great example of this. Here I felt another 3 chapters were missing. But due to my issues with the writing style and just serviceable plot, I will not seek out the next book in the series.

"I can think of countless foolish things I want to do. In the end, I do the most terrible of them all. I lie."

⭐⭐

+15 This one is different because it really just focuses on dark magic and basically satanic rituals. (like not really, but kind of) Also has lots of sexual tension/pining, kissing, and some sort of scene (or at least it's assumed to be a scene, I think) Look if your little cousin is looking for a wholesome fantasy novel, turn away, this one isn't it.

First, I have to say that the cover of Lakesedge is simply stunning. It's both gothic and gorgeous; so kudos to the cover designer. The cover did not disappoint when compared to the thematic elements of the book, it truly was the perfect YA gothic fantasy novel (although I definitely thought that this book was about vampires and It was not)

It was a little hard to understand the characters' motives and thoughts behind why they did certain things, however, it didn't really take away from the book (just caused me a whole lot of agony). This book wasn't bad...in fact, it was quite fun and intriguing. I was able to read it fairly quickly. However, I will say the ending was kind of annoying, (cliffhanger) because it's a duology. And since I'm writing this after having read the second one, I can tell you the entire ending/second book was completely useless to me. So, buckle up because the ride you've entered by reading Lakesedge is about to get a whole lot messier.

Short Review: Pretty low 3 star. Decent story all around, but overall just pretty average. Set apart though by its combination of gothic atmosphere and young adult fantasy storytelling.

Long Review:

Violeta—Leta—Graceling and her brother Arien Graceling were taken in by a kind lady who found them on the side of a road near a village. But shadows keep closing in on Arien, causing their adopted mother to turn on them, and perhaps the entire village if they find out. Before things can get too out of control, though, Leta and Arien are whisked away by Rowan Sylvanan, the young lord of the village. A lord who rumors say murdered his entire family as a child. But there are many secrets around him, and a darkness around his manor. Unraveling the truths behind both will help Leta learn more about herself, and see that perhaps more than magical shadows have been chasing her and her brother.

Let’s start off with the good, shall we?

Leta and Arien’s relationship is *chefs kiss*. I love me some good, healthy sibling dynamics. That isn’t to say that both the interactions between them are always right. Leta definitely has some issues with how she treats Arien, but they’re actually addressed during the narrative.

The aesthetic of the magic was very intriguing. Think of Alina and the Darkling from the Grishaverse, but make it more Gothic and more murky for the shadows.

I enjoyed the past of the main characters. They were deliciously angsty without being too over-the-top. Their current situations also had real consequences for what was done in the past, and once more, led to enjoyable angst >:3 Yes, hurt those characters!... Is my inner writer showing too much?

Lore of the world? Solid. Felt at times like it could be expanded upon, especially with the way magic worked, but it was overall enjoyable, and there’s the chance of it getting more come book 2. The gods had lots of intrigue around them, and it did a nice mixing of black and white to form grey, yet also leaving the feeling that there was good and evil. The Lord Under had solid motivations that made him helpful to the plot, yet still had characteristics that made his involvement tricky and dangerous. Definitely hoping to see more development on the goddess next book, though.

Now with these things that I seem to like, why the lower rating? Well, quite simply... Lots of elements with potential, but also so much just... blah/average execution? Like, I could definitely see why someone would enjoy this book, but for me, I just felt like I was slogging through the darky murk that appears in this story.

Honestly, this story was just... average for me? Like, I wasn’t super enthralled, and at times I had to struggle to read it, but I didn’t hate the book. It was just super basic?

Yes, the potential to be more was there. But Leta was just the average “must protect everyone I love, I’m a strong female mc!” sorta character, Rowan had a lot of potential angst and character but had so many just weird moments where the bad boy angle was played too hard and the meat of his character not explored enough. Then there’s the whole romance between them which didn’t really have an organic growth. They just felt like any other character I could find in a typical YA, you know?

I have said I loved the sibling dynamic, but there was definitely some not-so-good behavior that Leta showed, which got touched upon, but I did wish it got touched upon more.

Also as I’ve said, interesting world, just not really enough development behind it.

The focus of the plot was interesting, like what the characters had to accomplish and overcome and all of that. But I’ve seen a few people say this and I agree: it felt kind of repetitive. There was interesting bits with the most intriguing character (the Lord Under), but it was mostly the same plot devices over and over again. The outcome and what was learned was nice, but I wish more meat had been there on the way rather than feeling like pad time? So I think a good way of putting it is I liked the overall idea of the plot, but I think the characterization and plot progression would have been much better if there had been more to the story than repetitive attempts to do a thing.

The magic system was vague and underdeveloped. I know there are different levels of magic systems, but when the plot relies heavily on magic, it would just be nice to get a better understanding of it. There was a speck of expansion from one character who had grown up learning magic, but it felt like seeing more of her lessons into magic would have been pretty beneficial to the system as a whole.

So overall, it’s an okay book. I struggled through it a bit because of my issues, but I was invested enough that when things would get going and spice up, I’d be there for it. I do plan on checking out the sequel when it comes out, but my fingers are crossed that it gives the world time to breathe now that characters and relations have been established. And I just really, really hope it doesn’t go the love triangle route personally... But we shall see.