by Lyndall Clipstone
Lakesedge is a debut novel from Lyndall Clipstone. Lakesedge Lake is cursed. The lord is a monster. What will happen to Violetta and her brother when they find themselves thrust into the magical estate? Will Violetta tame the monster and claim my heart? Let’s find out!
Read if you like: YA with a gothic flavor, magic, dark boys with dark secrets, leading ladies who come into their own and learn to lean on others.
Violetta and her brother, Arien, were orphaned at a young age and while their new mother seemed kind at first, her kindness fades when their past comes back to haunt them. They struggle to keep each other and their secrets safe. While Violetta secretly longs for the missing warmth of her family and runs from the shadows who whisper her name. In a twist of fate, they meet the Lord of Lakesedge. Rowan Sylvanan has many monstrous secrets and upon discovering the siblings whisks them back to his mysterious manor. There may be a monster in the manor but the Lord Under, a death god, is all too interested in Lakesdge and its residents.
Maybe it’s all the nostalgic feelings but I absolutely adore this book. A note from the author described this book as ‘a love letter to her teenaged self.’ And after reading this book it’s easy to see that my teenaged self and her teenaged self would get along. (Ohmigosh! ME TOO!)
It gave me similar vibes to: The Secret Garden, Labyrinth, Uprooted, Sorcery of Thorns, Howl’s Moving Castle.
Why do I like a main character in survival mode so much? I dunno, maybe it’s the slow but inevitable character growth and blossoming into new life. Understanding that she can have more to life than just fighting to stay alive. I also love the setting. It was just enough magic and found family to keep the warm fuzzies going and keep the creepy shadows at bay.
Rowan is the epitome of dark and brooding with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’s perfectly frustrated with his role of Lord and doesn’t care one bit if the world thinks that he’s a monster. I thought their relationship was adorable and they came to a mutual understanding naturally. The romance was YA steam at its finest. I loved the ending and the set up for book two! Lakesedge is definitely going in my favorites of 2022. Forestfall here I come!
I will say I’ve seen people critiquing the main character as annoying or boring… sorry, she was busy trying to keep her brother safe, so sorry she’s not interesting enough to be in anything but survival mode. I thought she was a very believable 17-year-old. I hate overly mature expectations of YA characters. Believable teen characters are so much more fun in this type of story. And honestly, I’d be worried about anyone who doesn’t take a moment to trust someone after their own horrible track record and the horrific reputation of this new
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