Fairydale was picked up by a traditional publisher and this is my honest review of the ARC I received from NetGalley.

Fairydale by Veronica Lancet was quite an interesting read. It is a blend of mystery, suspense, fantasy, romance. It was written in a way that I wanted to read the next chapter, all hoping to get more information to make sense of what was happening in the plot.

The mystery and suspense: Veronica warns you, this is not a book to skip pages or to skim over, as a range of information that does not make sense (initially) is given to you. If you skip just one chapter, the next may not make sense. Because this book is written like a puzzle, it is suspenseful because you have no idea how something happened or what is going on! Of note, many of the mysteries I guessed, as I found the foreshadowing clear and obvious. I also found it interesting that Veronica wrote the book in a way in which you knew who certain people were or what was going to happen, but the main character did not, really built upon that suspense!

The fantasy: The different worlds, magic, creatures, and people were unique. The gothic scenery of one of the timelines was excellent.

The romance: This is a book written about love that spans across worlds and lifetimes. Pure dedication to each other. I enjoyed the character growth of the MFC across the lifespans, especially at the end. She reflected on the role she played in the issues that came about and began to fully accept things. The MMC was a possessive, not only touch her and die, even look at her and die kind of guy. This is an HEA, which I also want when I read a romantasy.

The spice: The MFC is quite a unique, quirky woman who has been incredibly sheltered (in many lifetimes). You must know this going in to better understand her decisions and thought processes. Knowing her background gave context to who she was and her behavior. She is “wound up tight” and you don’t get a lot of spice initially. But then, when you get the spice (no matter the lifetime) you get. the. spice. Check the trigger warnings!

Overall, this was an interesting book and I loved the puzzle approach the author took with this book. The author is a fantastic writer and creates such an interesting plot with complex characters. This was a good 4 stars to me. I decided on 4 and not 5 due to how obvious the puzzle pieces were. I love being surprised by a book, which I did not find in this one.

This book had been on my TBR for the longest time while I was looking for a recommendation similar to my favorite anime, Inuyasha. And I can definitely say that it did not disappoint.

The story begins with Darcy facing multiple personal struggles, all of which lead her to uncover her family's mysterious past. She travels to a small town called Fairydale, where she doesn’t know a soul...not even her father, whose inheritance she has to claim. The town is shrouded in secrets and lies that Darcy must uncover in order to truly understand herself. As the plot unfolds, Darcy undergoes incredible character development, growing into the strong woman she was always meant to be.

In addition to unraveling her true identity, Darcy finds herself drawn to a man named Caleb, but her feelings toward him are complicated by the presence of Amon, a demon who haunts both her dreams and her heart. The book keeps you invested in Darcy's evolving relationship with Caleb, while also making you root for Amon to find his own happy ending. While the townspeople and Darcy’s family portray both Caleb and Amon as villains, I quickly sensed that something wasn't right. But the real question is... who is the true villain in this story?

I highly recommend reading this book to uncover the mysteries for yourself...you won’t be disappointed. The plot twists will keep you hooked, desperate to uncover the truth and finish the story. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down and finished it in four days. If you’re looking for a dark, romantic fantasy filled with mystery, this is definitely the book for you.

A slow start, but still intrigued me enough to keep going. It did drag a bit, I honestly felt like it could’ve been 100-200 pages shorter. The last 30% had me hooked and ultimately bumped this back up to 4 stars. Overall, I enjoyed this. Getting the three different timelines of Sela as herself, then coming back as Elizabeth and Darcy. Amon is the definition of “if he wanted to, he would”. Something’s were a little predictable, and the actual ending felt a little rushed. I’m very happy I finished it!

Definitely read trigger warnings on this one though!

Read this in under 24 hours, this story had me HOOKED and that's putting it lightly. Easily one of the most stunning narratives I've ever had the opportunity to read!! At its core, this is a story of the purest, most unforgettable kind of love. It will be living in my mind rent free for the foreseeable future LOL. It's long, lots of layers, and definitely demands patience. I had to put it down a couple times walk away for a few minutes and come back, mind refreshed, in order to truly appreciate it! Kind of like a crossword puzzle? 😂

I tried really hard to love this novel. I truly did. But it DRAGGED for the whole middle of the book…it just…was a trudge to get through it. Really cool concept, but poor execution.

4.5 Stars! Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books for the e-ARC of the republished version of Fairydale.

I had originally read the indie version of this story in November 2024 and I had forgotten how much I loved the unique, gothic aspects to this book and the devastatingly beautiful nature of its romance. With the new round of edits and adjustments for it to be traditionally republished, I feel that it has only improved in its execution with this re-read. Amon D’Artan is THE romantic, sweet, secretly silly but also morally black MMC that will kill anyone that threatens his woman.

Tropes:
✨touch her and die MMC
✨healer FMC
✨mysterious creepy town/deaths
✨monster lore/romance aspects
✨dual virgin mcs
✨fated mates
✨reincarnation
✨SPICEEEEE (check your TW)

When I first read this book, I had gone in completely blind to the plot and the amount of times i said “what the f*ck” in this book probably broke records. The shock factors are definitely shocking and the mystery really keeps you hooked in even though you don't actually start uncovering the real underlying plot until about halfway in.

This is an extremely unique dark romantasy with three different timelines all tying together and now also has two bonus epilogues that really flesh out the last third of this book’s lore and solves the problem I had last time about it ending too open-ended. I still don’t think this is going to be for everyone, especially those looking for that classic fluffier romantasy feel, but for those that it is for, it’s near perfection.

★★★★
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

Fairydale is a beautifully strange and emotional read that takes a while to settle into, but really rewards your patience by the end. It starts off mysterious and a little hard to follow, but once the story clicks, it becomes something special.

The book follows three different female main characters—Darcy, Lizzie, and Sela—who each feel like they’re going through totally separate experiences, but there’s a deeper connection between them that becomes more clear over time. Amon, the male lead, is dark, intense, and honestly a bit disturbing at times. He is so possessive that it can just be creepy. Some of the intimate scenes with him felt grossly uncomfortable. But once I accepted that Amon isn’t human, and doesn’t act or think like a human would, his behavior--while still creepy—made more sense within the story’s world.

Darcy was tough for me to connect with at first. She came off as extremely naive, and not in a charming way. It made the early chapters frustrating, especially since the book doesn’t offer many answers right away. But I’m so glad I stuck with it, because the second half of the book is fantastic. The last third, in particular, is beautifully written, emotionally powerful, and ties everything together in a way that’s both satisfying and surprising.

The atmosphere in Fairydale is dark and dreamlike, full of eerie magic, unsettling moments, and deep emotional undercurrents. It’s definitely not a light romantasy, and I warn you, IT IS WEIRD, but aren't you tired of the same tropes anyway? This is one where you just gotta go with it! If you like stories with a haunting vibe, layered characters, and mystery, this one will stay with you.

DNF . I just couldn’t get into it. I got about 32% and it felt like I was dreading continuing. Maybe I will try again. I see this came out in 2022 NOT 2025 so I’m confused about that

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!

This book is definitely not for everyone. That being said- I did read it in a few days. It took me a while to get into and figure out the story line. There were the “what am I reading” parts and the “epic love story” parts. Once the plot finally comes together and the story lines merge you finally get the “A HA” moment! Definitely worth a read for the lovers of the gothic romantasy genre!

This book is an experience. Not just a story, but an entire world steeped in shadows, secrets, and sensuality. Fairydale is one of those rare reads that doesn’t just pull you in, it swallows you whole. From the very first chapter, I knew I was in deep, and I didn’t want out.

Let’s get one thing straight: this is a long book. You don’t casually skim through Fairydale on your lunch break. This is the kind of novel you sink into with a blanket and a mug of tea and don’t resurface from until hours (or days) later, blinking like you’ve just stepped out of another realm. That’s not a complaint, mostly. But we’ll get to that.

What Veronica Lancet has crafted here is lush, layered, and haunting. The timelines, yes, plural, unfold across centuries, and every strand ties into this dense, winding web of trauma, love, loss, and legacy. The setting? Perfectly eerie, secretive, full of strange deaths and strange people. The atmosphere is a whole character on its own, and you can practically feel the atmosphere clinging to your skin.

Then there’s the romance. And Amon. Lord, Amon. He’s intense, obsessed, centuries old, and so emotionally complex I wanted to wrap him in a blanket and also yell at him, sometimes in the same scene. The relationship between he and Darcy is deeply intimate, built on more than just lust. That said, there’s heat. Plenty of it. And yes, a few of those scenes could’ve been trimmed down, because I found myself skimming a couple of the longer spicy bits toward the second half. But they serve the emotional arc well, just a bit drawn out.

Now here’s where I docked that last star. The middle does lag. With a book this long, pacing is everything, and there were sections that felt a little too drawn out. The relationship webs are also a bit tangled. At times I had to pause and mentally diagram who was related to who and how it all tied back. And while Darcy is a strong lead in many ways, there were a few moments where her reactions to huge, traumatic events felt muted or rushed, like she just emotionally skipped a step and moved on. That left me blinking a few times and having to recenter myself in the story.

Still, I can’t deny how hard this one hit me emotionally. The way Lancet weaves heartbreak, hope, and history together is genuinely beautiful. The dual, and sometimes triple, timelines come full circle in a way that’s deeply satisfying, and despite the heavy tone, the book never loses its sense of purpose or soul.

If you’re someone who loves dark romance that leans literary, who craves that gothic edge with layered characters, emotional payoff, and a love that doesn’t come easy, Fairydale is worth every single page. It demands your full attention, but it earns it. This wasn’t just a book I read, it was one I lived in.

A strong, solid 4 stars. I’ll be thinking about Amon and Darcy for a while.

Hands down SO good, devoured it. I definitely feel this is now one of my favorite reads this year. Thinking about how much I love this book actually makes me want to cry because I’m so overwhelmed with emotions. This was unlike anything I have ever read before. I’ve never read a love story that made me feel so deeply and had me entirely emotional invested from the start. A mix of gothic, horror, fantasy and paranormal fiction with elements of history but at its very core it is truly a heart wrenching romance. Just dont even think about it, go get it and read it!

I had heard nothing but good things about this book from fellow friends and was so excited to read this book and while the story was mysterious and unique, I couldn’t find the same spark that everyone else felt about this book. It’s definitely not for anyone with a weak stomach and the trigger warnings should be taken seriously. This book was not for me and really caused me to wonder how the people who recommended it to me enjoyed it, and what kind of things they’re into. While I love dark romantasy books this isn’t one I’ll be recommending to other readers unless they love a dark and twisted love story with some fantasy/paranormal aspects.

I made it through the first half of the book so intrigued by the love story and different timelines and was so curious to know what was happening in Fairydale. Then it suddenly took a turn I was not a fan of, it became repetitive and there was a lot of “will they/wont they” accompanied by a love triangle. The ending felt a little rushed but I was also so happy after reading such a long book all I wanted to know what how they would wrap up the story and make everything fall together.

DNF @ 37%

This book is beautifully complex, and hauntingly captivating….for the first 20% which is like 6,725 pages. Don’t get me wrong, I LOOOOVE a long book, but I need something to be happening.

I loved that you couldn’t figure out what was real and what was gaslighting in this super creepy town! So interesting!

Aside from having…”history”, I couldn’t feel the chemistry between the MCs. This was also difficult because I did hybrid with the audiobook and the male narrator’s voice sounded like he was 50 and the female’s voice sounded like she was 20. The difference was gross.

I was very excited and genuinely very sold, but once the connections between the timelines were made (which felt VERY obvious) you just wanted the story to get going and it just wouldn’t.

Do I recommend it? Sadly, no. I don’t. And I really wanted to.


Thank you NetGalley and Veronica Lancet for this rerelease ARC!

This book is such a wild ride, but trust the process. I know the first 25% I'm like wtf is going on? Why does no one care this town is so strange? Then you get more to the story and it starts to make sense. Don't let the length scare you (of Amon's either). The book is more like a book + 2 novellas. It'll make sense as you read. There were so many twists and turns. I would call the turns the ones that you see coming, but there's build up to. Whereas there were twists I definitely didn't see coming.

I also read the new traditionally published version, so I'm not sure if there are many changes from the original indie version.

2025 Book #88
Rating: 4.5/5
Tropes: Inexperienced FMC, Forbidden Love, Gothic, Paranormal/Fantasy, Mystery, Historical
Spice: 2.5 (Ch 18 19 21 22 24 25 28 30)
Romance: Somewhat, insta lust
Plot: Yes
Pages: 736

Fairydale by Veronica Lancet is hands down one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! I’m still completely captivated by this gothic, dark romance that blends historical fiction with a paranormal twist. If you're into stories that keep you on the edge of your seat and pull at your heartstrings, this one is absolutely a must-read. I loved this book from start to finish and couldn’t put it down!

The plot starts with Darcy O'Sullivan, an orphaned English teacher, who unexpectedly gets a letter about her estranged father’s death. With a promise of a sizable inheritance, she travels to the mysterious coastal town of Fairydale, only to uncover secrets that threaten everything she knows. From the moment she steps into the town, it’s clear that nothing is as it seems. It’s eerie, mysterious, and full of twists that leave you second-guessing everything.

What really hooked me was the romance. Darcy finds herself caught between Caleb Hale, a dark, dangerous man with a secret, and Amon d'Artan, a nobleman from centuries past who haunts her dreams. This isn’t your typical love triangle. Amon and Caleb are both incredibly complex characters, each pulling at Darcy in different ways. Amon’s obsession, his dark poetry, and his overwhelming love for Darcy were intoxicating. Honestly, Amon stole the show for me. He’s morally grey, intense, and emotionally layered in a way that makes you fall for him hard, even with his dark side.

The book weaves between timelines, with Darcy’s present day in the 1950s and Amon’s past in the 18th century. This dual timeline keeps the tension high, and as the mysteries of the town unfold, so does the romance and the deeper secrets that tie Darcy, Caleb, and Amon together. I loved how each chapter brought me deeper into this intricate web of lies, passion, and dark history. The tension between Darcy and the two men is electric, and the stakes keep getting higher. The way Lancet blends historical and paranormal elements is brilliant, and it made the entire experience so immersive.

The pacing is fast, but the emotional moments are so deep and impactful. The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, and the dark romance aspects had me hooked from the start. It’s not just the romance, though—the plot twists kept me on my toes, especially with the supernatural elements at play. The town of Fairydale is almost a character in itself—mysterious, foreboding, and filled with secrets.

I loved how the book explored themes of love, obsession, and fate, and the ending left me both heartbroken and satisfied, wanting more. The story has a depth to it that I didn’t expect, and by the end, I was fully invested in these characters and their world.

If you enjoy gothic, historical romance with a mix of paranormal, mystery, and deep emotional stakes, Fairydale is absolutely for you. It’s dark, intense, and beautifully written. I loved every page of this book and can’t wait for more from Veronica Lancet. This book is a solid 5/5 stars, and I couldn’t recommend it enough!

<i>"You're my fucking madness, the fever in my blood, a never fucking ending psychosis that leaves me breathless, helpless and so fucking weak with want for you."<i>

I tandem read this on my kindle and audio and I’ve got to say -- I’m officially in my gothic romance era. The vibes in this book were dark, moody, and mysterious and I loved it. I love books that have force you to take a deep dive in, and then adding this all consuming love that spans the ages – Fairydale delivered. This book is dark, gritty, and full of emotional depth. The narrators do a fantastic job pulling out all the emotions. The plot twists and revelations had me flipping pages so fast, I definitely see a re-read in my future.

𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼:
🖤 Gothic Romantasy
🖤 Dark Horror Vibes
🖤 Morally Gray Villain MMC
🖤 Fated Mates
🖤 Timeline Jumps
🖤 Heart Wrenching
🖤 Standalone
🖤 Posessive MMC

<i>"You make the blood in my veins boil with a need to possess you. To be the only man to ever touch your skin—to sear myself on your flesh."<i>

WAYYYY too long for no reason. This book has all the promise of being amazing because hello its marketed as a dark gothic vibes romance with spooky stuff (that's right in my wheelhouse). It did not deliver and just fell short ( which is funny because as i said the book like 700+ pages)

just not for me, The fmc and mmc were weird and not good weird lol.

Fairydale truly stands out in the crowded romantasy genre with its refreshingly unique storytelling approach. Veronica Lancet weaves together multiple timelines and introduces us to a rich world filled with magical beings that kept me completely captivated from start to finish. There's something special about discovering a story that feels genuinely different from everything else on your bookshelf.

Pros:
The magical elements are beautifully crafted, and I found myself getting lost in the intricate world-building. Each timeline adds depth to the overall narrative, creating layers that make the story feel both complex and rewarding.

Cons:
While I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, I did feel the story could have been tightened up a bit. Some sections felt like they could have been condensed without losing the magic of the tale.

I'll be honest – the multiple timelines took some getting used to. At first, I found myself a bit confused trying to piece together how everything connected. However, once I settled into the rhythm of the storytelling, it all clicked beautifully.

Final Thoughts
Despite these minor issues, Fairydale is a book I'd absolutely recommend to my fellow romantasy readers. If you're looking for something that breaks the mold and offers a fresh take on magical romance, this is definitely worth adding to your TBR pile.

This story is definitely for readers who love unique fantasy worlds, multiple POVs, and aren't afraid of a little complexity in their romantasy reads.

Thank you to the publisher Simon and Schuster/Atria and NetGalley for this arc.

This book was long. I do think some parts could’ve been shorter as a lot of information was given. The story really picked up around the 40% mark. That being said, because of that, I really connected to Darcy/lizzie/Sela and Amon. The plot did not go in the place that I thought it would. I’m a sucker for fated mates and reincarnation and that’s exactly what’s happening in this book. The ending was satisfactory and the bonus epilogue really made it even better.

I give this book 4 stars as some intimates scenes chocked me and were not really my jam but it doesn’t erase the beautiful journey of Amon and Sela. I thought the writing was nice, it was very atmospheric. The different timelines were a nice touch and made us better understand their love for each other.

What a story!
I love the premise, the characters, the magic, and the romance....the romance is an EPIC love story, it's everything!
The only thing holding me back from a 5-star rating is the first 60% of the book could have been condensed - a lot. It felt repetitive to the point of exhaustion, had this been shorter it would have been almost perfect!
That said, I really, really did love it. The spice was... phew!
The characters were so interesting and learning along with the FMC really was a journey.
The MMC is intense... he bring touch her and die to a Whole. New. Level. in the best way.
Full of twists and turns, politics, lies, betrayals, violence and gore, it's really got everything.