I just couldn't finish. It was daunting for me. I got to 42% and put it down. Maybe my head wasn't in the right place?

A journey unlike anything I’ve read before. Veronica had me locked in with this one! Every page had me wondering what could possibly come next. The vibes are perfect for a spooky fall read.

I can't express how addictive this book is! I was obsessed from the get-go and loved the ominous and unsettling tone. I was fully immersed in the story and could not put the book down. I love getting completely lost in long books and this one allowed exactly that. The plot could not be more different, but the surrealism felt similar to "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" for the first half of the story. Basically just a total mind trip until all of the details come together.

I completely understand why this book is polarizing. Large standalones can be daunting, especially this one since it can feel like traversing through a fog of confusing yet mesmerizing dreamlike sequences. The story truly creeps up on you. Once everything connected, I was left feeling simultaneously devastated and enthralled.

There is no real clarity in regards to the plot until about halfway through. You just have to accept what you're reading and enjoy the beautiful moments and haunting atmosphere until everything is revealed. This book was ambiguous, which worked since we learn everything entirely through Darcy's perspective. It allowed me to just get completely lost in an across-eons love story. In the end, I truly felt connected to the feelings of the FMC and MMC because of the long build up. I hope that anyone who picks this book up perseveres through the eldritch vibes because the culmination of love and romance was absolutely incredible!

ARC provided for an honest review.

This book kills me. What in the world is going on?! I somehow could not put this down. I couldn’t look away. This book is completely unhinged and dark and if that’s your thing. Pick this up.

This one was not for me, I really wanted to enjoy this as the premise of it is so intriguing. However it was way too long and plot development entirely to slow.

***Check your TWs***

Tropes:
-dark gothic romance
-multiple timelines
-multiple storylines
-fated mates
-slow burn
-forced proximity
-touch her and die
-morally grey MMC

This was a beautiful and dark story. I was immediately sucked in, and I needed to know where the story was leading. I will admit that about 60% through, I started questioning everything. I went to the book community to make sure that this was indeed a standalone and that I wasn’t getting bamboozled into a cliffhanger after reading this long a book. Many people told me, "Just keep reading, it is worth it." Let me be the one to say to you, it is worth it.

This is the epitome of a love story. Our MMC will find the FMC in every lifetime. It is such a devastatingly beautiful trope, and Lancet delivers it perfectly in Fairydale. This is one of those books that will stick with me. It is hard to even put into words how much swoon is in this story. I can not recommend it enough. If you love fantastic world-building and a slow burn that is worth every second of yearning, I highly recommend this one.

Quotes:
“Your soul. Your very essence and everything that makes you, you. Will you give me that? Lizzie mine? Will you surrender everything that you are to me?”
“Will you deserve it?”
“No one will ever deserve it, Lizzie,” he rasps. “No one,” he states emphatically. “But I would devote an eternity to earn the right to call it mine.”

“Wherever you are, wherever you go . . .”
“Whoever you are. I will find you. That is my promise to you. Always.”

In that moment I know. I simply know that this is what I’d been searching for my entire life. His absence is the reason for that restlessness that simmered in my blood for so long. And his presence . . .
His presence makes my essence sing. Without him, I was lost. With him, I am found again.

IG,TT, & FB: bookkat1214

I want to lead with the fact that I slowly read Fairydale over the course of 2 weeks while I read other things—I don't typically read more than one book at a time, but this book is LONG and I felt like I needed breaks. The prose walks a fine line of being almost purple-prose-y (I didn't personally feel like it crossed that line, but I can understand if someone thinks it's overwritten because of it), but I found it mostly beautiful and engaging. The multiple timelines were where this made me struggle the most because this book is so lengthy and it was difficult to juggle things that happened in one timeline over the other.

I also think that with dark paranormal fantasies with gothic elements tend to lag for me in the parts that focus more on the spooky aspects because they tend to become areas that are told rather than shown. I would have preferred if more was left to the imagination. I can't really hone in on what I'm referring to without spoilers, but I also acknowledge that for someone who might find the length of this book too daunting to attempt, those moments might provide them some respite because sometimes the thinking is done for you in a way.

Darcy and Amon? Delicious. SO much angst and yearning and support and secrets and revelations. I have no notes; their love story was absolutely my favorite part, and I don't feel like the spice was too frequent/extended/out of place.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

3.75 ⭐️s
3 🌶️
🚨 Pub Date: 08/19/25

I wish I would have read this book during the fall because the gothic vibes would be perfect !! the authors note nearly spooked me out of reading this book (stating that it was long and at times confusing, meant to be misleading) but I persevered. i’m not a huge lover of insta-love, just personal preference so I didn’t LOVE the romance. I will say this book is LONG, the author wasn’t misleading in her note, at times a little tough to get through and continue as I didn’t find myself enticed enough. I do think if I was in the mood for a book like this, at the right time of year, this would really satisfy that want.

Fairydale delivers exactly what it promises: a dark, gothic, and twisted romance steeped in mystery, supernatural danger, and haunting atmosphere. Veronica Lancet’s writing paints the coastal town of Fairydale in rich, eerie detail, with odd residents, whispered rumors, and an underlying dread that keeps you turning the pages. The blend of paranormal elements, historical romance, and horror works well, creating a story that feels both timeless and unsettling.

The central romance(s) are intense and consuming, with Caleb’s dangerous allure contrasted against Amon’s old-world charm. The “not-a-traditional-love-triangle” dynamic kept me curious, and the stakes, both emotional and supernatural, felt high throughout. That said, at over 700 pages, the pacing sometimes dragged, and a tighter narrative could have heightened the tension without losing atmosphere.

ARC Review: ⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed the setup for the book, inheritance with strange conditions and uncomfortable situations. Jumping right into the darker subjects - some thriller/suspense vibes. Interesting and creepy mind games.

This has some really good bones. I loved the introduction of multiple timelines and to an extent the purposefully created chaos and confusion.

The length of this book combined with the pacing issues made this a hard read. It dragged along at some points. Too focused on long inner dialogues or scenes that did not add to the plot/world building. Character reactions to certain events don't make sense - especially after finishing the book and looking back.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

I liked this book! This is the most intense touch her and d!e books I have ever read before. I am not a big fan of dark romance books but I actually enjoyed this! It was a bit intense at times but it reminded me of Wisteria with the every lifetime attachment between the two main characters! I preordered my copy and would recommend it but make sure you look at trigger warnings or just generally browse what the story is about.

When Darcy O'Sullivan receives a letter revealing the identity of her late father—the man who left her orphaned—she’s shocked to learn she’s heir to a substantial fortune. To claim it, she must travel to Fairydale, a quaint Massachusetts town where strange happenings begin the moment she arrives. By day, she catches the eye of notorious Caleb Hale; by night, she dreams of the enigmatic Amon d’Artan. As Darcy navigates her new family, a growing romance, and a reality that feels increasingly uncertain, she must decide if this new life is worth the cost.

This is my second time reading Fairydale and I am even more awestruck than the first. There are SO many subtle foreshadowing moments throughout the book that you will only catch on the first read if you are careful enough to spot them. I love how this story is written with the answers basically handed out on a platter, but only when you realize they have been done so. Each layer of this story unfolds so beautifully through Darcy's dreams; it is fun to learn the truth as she is learning it as well and provides for some unreliable narration. While it may seem confusing at first, Veronica Lancet is able to weave the threads together to create an epic love story like no other. This is the type of book that will never leave you once you read it and will impact you from every day forward.

My heart yearns for a love like Amon -- one where he would do anything and everything to have one eternal love. I can't imagine what it would be like to have the love of your life die multiple times and have to wait centuries for each rebirth just to ensure in <b>this</b> timeline you both survive. I really appreciated Mr. Meow in the reread because he will NEVER let Darcy feel alone, even when she has no idea what she's missing. Their love is a gold standard for what we should all be looking for when we find our partners. Definitely read this book if you love complex stories that are emotionally devastating with intricate relationships between characters, it will change your life.

Fairydale is perfect for those that love:
✨ dark gothic romance
✨ multiple storylines / time jumps
✨ you call, I come
✨ touch her & die
✨ epic love stories
✨ fated mates
✨ yearning

thank you to NetGalley and Atria for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

"But what if my madness recognizes yours?"

I am actually blown away by this story, I've never read anything like it and could kick myself for waiting this long to read it! Never has an 800-page book hooked me start to finish like this!

I don't want to give too much of the story away, but we are following Darcy, an orphaned English teacher living in 1955 New England, who is invited to journey to the small town of Fairydale to attend her father's funeral, someone she has never met and who unbeknownst to her had left her a sizeable inheritance. Upon arriving in this remote location, she witnesses multiple mysterious deaths and becomes embroiled in a dark prophecy passed down generations.

This story gave us one of the most unhinged, possessive, yet dedicated love interests I have ever encountered and I'm utterly in love with him. Has he killed an entire town? Yes. Do we love an unhinged man with a thirst for revenge? Absolutely!

The story is so far reaching and complex that it took me a moment to find my footing but once all the tiny pieces came together, it was a literary symphony. I'm normally very good at guessing twists but this one just wouldn't stop twisting and turning until I mistrusted every single character, as well as my own sanity. Do not trust ANYONE!

Looking back at all the passages I highlighted, it is actually insane how much foreshadowing is secretly weaved into the story and I definitely recommend to pay attention to every little detail.

I absolutely recommend going into this story mostly blind (apart from checking trigger & content warnings) for the best reading experience. I can barely categorize this book as it contained so many elements from both paranormal and fantasy genre.

Unfortunately, I started reading this and realized that I am not the target audience for this book. While I believe there are a lot of people out there who will love this book, I couldn't finish it. There are aspects to this story that are not enjoyable for me.

Points of Issue:
- the author's note gave a very clear indication that this book won't be for me
- the author's note also gave some content warnings, and several of them are just not for me

I feel like this book could have been heavily edited down to be 350 MAYBE 400 pages. I typically love books that have multiple timelines but this was the same story over and over and over again, but it didn’t get any better. It’s hard to stay incredibly invested in a book that takes so many sessions to complete. I couldn’t stand the nicknames and physically winced when they were used. I really wanted to love this book and maybe with some heavy editing it could be better. Also, that author’s note felt unnecessary and kind of condescending.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Okay it lost a star for me because of the insanely long chapters BUT the world building was amazing. The story was amazing. The suspense? Amazing! There were times that it definitely felt like it dragged but when you get to the last few chapters EVERYTHING makes sense. I had my theories by about chapter 5 then I questioned all of them lol. This is definitely a story that will have you questioning your sanity. The flash backs and different POVs were a bit hard for me to follow at first but it gets easier. Amon and Sela deserved that ending in more ways than one. Everything they went through made the ending worth it😭

I had to dnf this book at 30%

I wasn't expecting the MMCs to be soooo intense so quickly and Darcy was annoying most of the time and took so many stupid decisions...

Fairydale was probably the most unhinged book I’ve ever read—but I mean that in the best possible way.

The plot is complicated and often confusing, but it’s intentional. You’re meant to feel just as lost and disoriented as the main character, which made the reading experience oddly immersive. The two main characters are complex and fascinating, but honestly everyone else feels underdeveloped in comparison which was a bummer.

There were moments where the story completely went off the rails and I caught myself thinking, …really? But I was already aboard the unhinged train express and it wasn’t stopping LOL.

The vibes are immaculate—gothic estates, regency-like yearning, candlelit corridors, and a romance that’s equal parts obsession and dangerous. What I thought of was Twilight meets Phantom of the Opera, wrapped in a dark, spooky atmosphere that’s perfect for the fall.

Where to even begin with Veronica Lancet's rerelease of "Fairydale"? While the book’s premise as a Gothic horror, paranormal fantasy, and historical love story is captivating, the execution is unfortunately a chaotic and overwhelming mess. Clocking in at almost 800 pages, the narrative is bogged down by redundant storytelling, a lack of world-building, and character inconsistencies that ultimately make for a frustrating reading experience.
The novel attempts to weave a sprawling tale across multiple timelines and locations, but the world-building is so lacking that I never once felt immersed in the setting. We're given glimpses of different eras and places, yet none of them feel fully realized. This superficiality extends to the characters, who are largely one-dimensional and contradictory. Caleb, for example, swings wildly between being a cruel, narcissistic bully and an "extremely sweet" partner, with no discernible reason for his Jekyll-and-Hyde behavior. This is especially confusing given the stark contrast to Amon, who, even when jealous, directed his aggression toward a rival, not his love interest.
Protagonist Darcy is, to put it mildly, an exasperating character. Her incessant whining and overthinking—especially her tedious internal debate about loving two men at once—make her incredibly difficult to root for. Her naivete is so pronounced that she consistently misses major events happening right under her nose. Elizabeth is equally frustrating. Despite knowing Amon is a "demon," she repeatedly questions if he has two different entities inside him, which feels like a contrived way to create tension rather than a genuine character dilemma. In stark contrast, Sela emerges as the only truly likable female main character and is undoubtedly worthy of her own dedicated story.
Ultimately, "Fairydale" feels like a novel with a strong foundation but poor construction. The prose is often iterative and superfluous, with far too much inner monologue and conversation that could have been condensed for better pacing. The sheer amount of plot packed into a single volume makes it feel overstuffed; splitting it into two books, perhaps with a novella in between, would have given the narrative and characters the room they desperately needed to breathe.
While I went into this rerelease hoping for a captivating read, I finished feeling that my time had been wasted. The bones of a good story are there, but they are buried under a mountain of frustrating inconsistencies and underdeveloped characters.
Trigger Warnings: Please be advised that this book contains substantial trigger warnings, including kidnapping, murder, rape, PTSD, and suicide. Please check the full listing for a complete overview before reading.

This book was phenomenal!! I listened to this book on audiobook while reading along on my Kindle. I was extremely captivated by the story and kept thinking I had the story figured out until something else would happen, and I would have to go right back to square one on my hypothesis.

I also listened to the audiobook and really appreciated the fact that this was a dual-narrative audiobook. I tend to like the story better when there is a dual narrative. At times, the male MMC was hard to hear due to the male narrator's voice being quiet- that is the only critique I have of the audiobook. Otherwise, the narrator's voices were very well at personifying the characters' voices with different accents and feelings behind the words they were portraying.

Due to the nature of the book being extremely long, the audiobook was extremely long as well. This, unfortunately, led me to grow disinterested over the extended period of time that it took me to listen to this book. Ultimately, this led me to DNFing this book, but only because I am a mood reader and my interests were pulled elsewhere. I do plan on finishing this book in the future, or perhaps reading without the audiobook involved.

Overall, the portion of the book that I read/listened to was extremely well written. The plot was entertaining and kept me on my toes. I was screaming, laughing, gasping, and in awe of the characters and the story throughout this read. Despite the fact that I did not finish this book, I will still be recommending it based solely on the fact that the story that I did read was exceptional, and the fact that being a mood reader (even though I know it is unfortunate) causes my interests to deviate from books at times.