When I started reading Lakesedge I was immediately hit with a sense of nostalgia. I’ve been reading young adult fantasy novels since age fourteen, and this book felt familiar in a good way—reminding me of books I loved when I was around that age. The atmosphere is dark and mysterious, and a thread of magic runs through everything within the book, from the characters to the setting. I was immediately intrigued by this book, and it didn’t let me go until I had finished it.

Our main character, Violeta, is a stubborn survivor who would do anything to keep her brother Arien safe. They’re living a fairly normal life with their adoptive mother, but also hiding a dark secret—Arien possesses dark magic that’s giving him nightmares. When their local lord, Rowan Sylvanan, notices Arien losing control of his magic while visiting the siblings’ village, he invites them to come to stay with him, claiming he can help Arien gain control over his magic. There is one problem, however, as his reputation is less than favorable. Rumors say he killed his whole family, and that his estate is haunted by the god of death—the Lord Under. While they’re staying at Lakesedge estate, dark secrets are revealed, and a dark corruption needs to be fought before it consumes them all.

I think the main thing I enjoyed about Lakesedge is the overall atmosphere that’s established early on, once the characters arrive at Lakesedge. Something sinister is brewing in the lake behind the house, and everything else is built around this fact. All the main characters are working together to rid the world of the corruption that’s poisoning the lake, and that fact also forms the basis for the tight-knit group that forms throughout the book. The plot focuses on unraveling the secrets of what happened in various characters’ pasts, which ultimately tie together the various relationships among the characters.

What additionally really appealed to me about Lakesedge was the sense of intimacy that I got while reading it. There are really only five significant characters in this novel. Naturally, there is Violeta, the protagonist, as well as her brother, Arien, and the lord of the estate, Rowan. There is also Florence, a sort of all-around caretaker of the estate and its residents, and Clover, an alchemist helping Rowan fight the corruption that’s threatening Lakesedge, who’s also teaching Arien about magic. Because there aren’t that many characters, the book has the room to focus on a few relationships, in particular the one between Violeta and Rowan, and the one between Violeta and Arien, which worked well for me.

I will note that I believe this book could have worked well as a standalone, and I’m not sure a sequel was needed. After the ending, I’m certainly keen to see where the story will go in the sequel, but I also feel like the story could’ve been wrapped up well within one installment. I definitely recommend this one for fans of romantic YA fantasy with Gothic elements (especially if you’re looking for demisexual and other casual LGBTQ+ representation), as well as fans of Rosamund Hodge’s [b:Cruel Beauty|15839984|Cruel Beauty|Rosamund Hodge|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1371652590l/15839984._SY75_.jpg|21580669], which this book reminded me of at times. Also, if you liked Elisabeth’s and Nathaniel’s dynamic in [b:Sorcery of Thorns|42201395|Sorcery of Thorns|Margaret Rogerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541621322l/42201395._SY75_.jpg|61425757] by Margaret Rogerson, I have a feeling you will enjoy the romance in this book as well.

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a digital proof copy via NetGalley.