I DNFd this book around 10% in which is a good chunk like over 2 hours.
The only thing they kept coming up on my mind was how corny it is.
I know there's a lot of world building to go, and I had a lot of questions about who's who and what's happening. But the way the characters talk to each other and her inner monolog, it was just so dang corny. So it's a no for me, but maybe if you old CW shows or reality t v you'd like this. I don't know, really not for me.

I’ve got to say, I ate this books up in a matter of days!

I’m usually a vibe reader, so I don’t think too in depth when it comes to a read like this. But from the beginning Veronica captured my he essence of dark, gothic of this story.

I felt super unsettled with how Darcy was introduced to Fairydale and all the weird happenings in the town when she was invited to visit to claim a part of her inheritance.

And as the story unfolded to a throwback of the past, hearing the heart wrenching story of Amon and his loss of his soulmate time and time again made ME hurt for him too.

I loved this story - nothing I’ve read before. If you are a vibe reader, who has an affinity for fantastical dark, gothic romance, this is the story for you!

Fairydale has been on my TBR for quite some time, so I was excited to get the opportunity to review this ARC. Thank you Atria and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Truthfully, I really struggled with this book. The beginning is set up in a manner that the reader is basically being gaslit on what is happening. It was very confusing at times, with events in a chapter occurring then the next chapter explains that the events actually didn’t happen. One of the MMC was unlikable for me and I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be rooting for him or not. The constant inner monologue and naivety of the FMC was a lot and it pushed this story to be over 700 pages when I’m not sure it needed to be.

I do appreciate that this was a unique gothic/paranormal romance and I’m glad to have finally read this.

Miss Lancet, you have outdone yourself. This is my favourite read of the year, I would give it 6⭐️ if I could.
The plot line was amazing, there were many times where I thought I knew what was going on… I did not. I have not ready a story like this, for the first time in a while I’ve read something unique, so thank you!
The ‘love triangle’ threw me off but it was good, the tension, longing and yearning was done perfectly and this is actually a slow burn romance and once the spice is introduced, it is consistent and hot. It did not take away from the storyline which I appreciate since I don’t like books that focus more on the sexual intimacies rather than the plot.
Both the MMC and FMC aren’t annoying or insufferable. Even when the FMC is scared, she doesn’t chicken out, she puts her all into everything and the MMC is adorable (you’ll know what I mean) and I love how enamoured he is with the FMC.
For once, I wish this was a series and not a standalone because I miss them already. The epilogues were perfect. I’m the type of person who would much rather the Author tells me what happens to the characters after the story is done rather than let me use my imagination to make up whatever happens after the story is done.

I absolutely devoured Fairydale—it’s a 5 ⭐ gothic, paranormal romance that sucks you in from the start. The coastal setting, layered with supernatural mysteries and shifting timelines, had me glued to each chapter.

What fascinated me most was the eternal soul bond at its core: love that defies time, intertwined through past and present in a way that leaves your heart echoing long after you turn the final page .

The romance is anything but tame—there’s undeniable, dark chemistry and obsession wrapped in brooding intensity, fueled by a morally complex hero who’d go to hell and back for his love. It’s intoxicating.

Yes, the book was HEFTY - 770 pages, but it was totally immersive. The chapters told the full story with a hint of mystery, personal growth, and completely sold binding.

✨ Final verdict: Fairydale is a must read!

#fairydale #bookstagram #booktok #arcreader #advancereadercopy #paranormalromance #gothicromance @altrabooks #altrabooks #veronicalacet

This is the perfect fix if you are looking for a spooky romantasy novel and love historical fiction. This has everything I love from different genres all in the same book. What more is there to want? Thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

I only want to read Gothic romantasy right now and this one delivered! A bit of mystery, a bit of creepy, and spicy romance. I can see why everyone is reading this!

- an orphaned school teacher is sent a letter that her biological father has passed away and she needs to go to the town of fairydale for the will reading for a promised large inheritance
- everything about fairydale is weird and mysterious and you aren’t quite sure what is real because everything is very haunting
- slow burn but once it hits, the spice takes off
- during the day she’s falling for the mysterious man across the street, but at night, another man haunts her dreams, a man who lived thousands of years ago
- the book is told over 3 different timelines
- i feel like this could have actually been multiple books because of how much was packed into it. i was pretty over it by the last 20%
- my favorite part was actually the first 20%
- i loved the dark vibes of it and will look out for more from this author!!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7162522406

Marissa's reviewJun 09, 2025 · edit
really liked it

4.5⭐️✨

Gothic fantasy has had my heart lately and this one was phenomenal!!
The atmosphere had me hooked from the first chapter and the dark & twisty plot made this book so hard to put down, I was constantly shocked and wanting to find out what happens next!
Perfect book if you’re looking for something unique and dark, with a layered plot that is meant to keep you guessing - Also a great book if you like small creepy towns with a bunch of mystery to unravel🕵🏻‍♀️
Also I 🖤 Mr Meow😭

This was so fun! I see why it has been so hyped.

These characters had such good chemistry and this book had such a good atmosphere. I liked the eerie, almost gothic town. I loved the ever-so-slightly horror vibes that appeared every now and then. And I liked that I was surprised by the direction that this story took. We get romance, a little bit of mystery, fated lovers, some spooky magical happenings, and it worked out so well! I would recommend if you're looking for a new darker fantasy-esque situation!

And as a historical fashion knowledge girlie, I tried so hard to ignore the corset inaccuracies. You can do your own research on that.

I did find the year jumps to be a bit confusing, even up until the end (but I always have trouble with that kind of thing in books, so it really wasn't much of a big deal in this one).

This is a very long book with very long chapters, just so you know. I know that some people really care about that sort of thing, so I figured I would put that information out there for those who want it.

I will say this: I did not like the reveal at the very end in the epilogue, but at least it was at the very end. My least favorite trope. (If you know, you know. And I think we all know.) But I know that some people don't mind that.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Fairydale is a haunting, slow-burn romance layered with mystery, magic, and emotional payoff. The multi-timeline plot is intentionally disorienting at first, but once it clicks—especially in Sela’s section—it’s captivating.

Amon is a chaotic force of nature: cruel, devoted, and unforgettable. The writing is intense, with plenty of explicit spice and brooding tension. While it takes time to get there, the story delivers a satisfying, aching depth by the end.

TL;DR: A dark, twisty supernatural romance with rich atmosphere, high heat, and a love that spans lifetimes. Worth the burn.

DNF at 40%. I tried, I really did — but after more than 300 pages, this one is just not for me.

I was intrigued, until I wasn’t. I think the concept is really cool and had a lot of potential, but it’s taking a turn I’m not interested in.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

4.5/5 stars!

WHOA. Well. I feel like this book is much anticipated all around IG and Booktok (even before it got a trad pub deal), so I won't say too much because of spoilers/atmosphere, but I can say that this is the kind of book that I live for.

We follow our FMC, who finds out her father who she's not close with, has died and she decides to go to the will reading in a town called Fairydale. The antics begin not long after. I feel like if you've heard anything about this book, it's a bit of a genre mash-up, and I'm definitely for it.

If you're a fan of gothic-vibes, a bit of fantasy, horror, romance, historical (ish?)ness all wrapped in one gigantic standalone, this one is for you. I can say, it wasn't a full five stars, only because the beginning took me *quite* the amount of time to really sink into, but once I was at the halfway point, I was pretty much sold.

If you've been debating picking this one up--especially now that the cover is redone and it's getting a new format--I DEFINITELY encourage you to do so. And push through even if you feel confused, because you're on the right track if you are.

The description of the book says that Darcy questions her sanity while being in Fairydale, and throughout this book I was questioning mine too in the best of ways because I was wrapped up in it with Darcy. This has all the paranormal vibes with the mysteries surrounding Fairydale and Darcy’s life changing, to the point where the weird things that are happening really swoop you in. There were so many blurred lines of reality as she is experiencing different timelines and learning about herself. Learning with Darcy as the story progresses along made for such an interesting read. And Amon?? Ohhhh boy, what lengths that man would go to for his Darcy. I will say as it got to the final timeline of Darcy learning about her past, it dragged on a bit and I found myself wanting instead to get to the final action scene that was in Fairydale, but overall I found myself not wanting to put this book down. This was such a unique read and I would recommend!!

~I received this eARC free from NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley, Veronica Lancet, and Atria books! My opinions are my own and voluntarily given~

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! This one got a bit weird for me I’ll be honest, but at least there were adequate trigger warnings. Will not be for everyone.

If you are looking for a fantasy dark gothic novel then Fairydale is the book for you. It is also a dual timeline story taking place in the 1950's and the eighteenth century. Although it is a bit on the long side but if you are one of those people who appreciate big books then this is definitely the one for you. Although there are some dark themes in this novel to be made aware of before you read on. However, despite that it is still a very good read.
Our main character of focus in the novel is a young woman named Darcy who is a schoolteacher in the 1950's. Darcy grew up an orphan and never truly had a family of her own. One day she receives word that her biological father whom she has never met has died and she decides to go to the town of Fairydale for the funeral.
When she arrives she is united with family she has never met and she also meets the resident Caleb Hale. However Darcy feels like there is something off with the town and soon starts to think that their is someone watching her. Things start to get really weird when she starts having these vivid dreams about a man from the eighteenth century named Amon.
Again this novel was indeed a pleasure to read if you are someone who enjoys outlander then this is the novel for you. The characters were so well written and though I am not someone who is fond of love triangles I though that the one in this book was very interesting.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

this by far is one of my favorite books ive ever read. the dual POV timeline, touch her and die, & the ill find you in every time line is just ugh perfect. i recommend this to everyone that i can. the bonus chapter gave me some of the closure i wanted but i will always want more of amon and sela 😭.

So I’m not sure I finished the book, it may have finished me. When I tell you Fairydale is not at all what I expected, I sincerely mean it.

First things first, mind your triggers going into this book- it was pretty dark at times, so definitely good to be aware of that going in.

I did not expect anything of this book at all. Before reading it and based on blurb I 100% would have clocked it similarly to Master of Salt & Bones by Keri Lake or Gothikana by RuNyx. Both great books, but honestly not good comparisons to Fairydale at all. Fairydale follows three separate timelines and honestly it's a pretty big book, but I read it so fast because I was desperate to figure out what was actually going on.

Veronica Lancet's style of narrative here was so engaging- I honestly felt like Darcy reading through it and learning everything as she learned. It's like Lancet was able to form this ominous cloud around the narrative that lightly dusted the smallest little piece of information and leaving you feral for the full story.

We have to talk about Amon, I don't want to give anything away for the story, because I went in blind and I would urge all readers to do the same, because unravelling his role in the story and how things actually go was absolute magic. I will say this, if you are someone who wants a man who YEARNS with a capital Y, he's your man.

Fairydale like I said is a big book, she's a daunting read. It took me awhile to get to it, not to mention it's tagged as a gothic, horror, romance, historical, paranormal romantasy? That's a lot of things. But I am happy to report that Veronica Lancet was not wrong and all of these components worked in tandem to create the perfection that is Fairydale.

Fairydale is a dark, genre-bending triumph that grips you from page one and refuses to let go. A tapestry of gothic, paranormal, fantasy, mystery, and historical threads, this story is, at its core, a love letter to devotion and sacrifice. It’s a haunting journey through loss and healing that will challenge and move you, provided you’re ready to brave its shadows. The hero’s raw vulnerability and unwavering loyalty will absolutely make your heart ache—in the best way. This is not just a book; it’s an experience you’ll carry with you long after you turn the last page.

DNF at 35%

Thank you so much to Atria and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book, but in the end, I just couldn’t continue. The beginning started off so strong and had my immediate attention but as the story progressed I found it hard to stay plugged in. I had a hard time believing the character would continue on as she did, given some things that had taken place and I felt a bit lost in the plot as the story progressed. I truly did like the concept of the story with the FMC going to a strange town and all but this one just wasn’t for me, but I know others may love it.