HELLO?!? Masterpiece would be the understatement of the century. The yearning, the characters, the twists, the insane world building… everything and I mean absolutely everything about this book is magnificent. I wish my mind was capable of forming such an exquisite story. The way the characters truly love each other is absolutely unmatched in my opinion. You don’t know what it is to yearn until you meet Amon. Veronica Lancet… once again you have accomplished the impossible.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for providing me with a copy for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

There are hits, and there are misses.

And then there are misses.

I struggled with this book for many reasons, chief among them I am truly not the target audience for the author, as it turns out. Had I read this under normal circumstances, I would have DNF’d it, but I had requested and committed to it and wanted to read it in full in order to give my review. While there were a lot of things that did not work for me, there are a few things the book did well, and I also think a specific set of readers will love this book to pieces.

The good:

The pacing was decent, which is important, as this book is nearly 800 pages. The author did a good job of keeping the narrative moving and it never stalled for long periods. Multiple timelines and POVs were juggled and timed successfully.

The not-so-good:

The dialog was excruciating. I found the FMC, in all timelines, to be an absolute dunce–not sheltered and naive–but dense to the point of frustration. Likewise, every time the MMC spoke, my skin crawled. I don’t mind “spice” in a book, but the sex scenes were ponderous and read as if they were written by someone who has never had it before. (There is no audible “popping” sound when you lose your virginity, come on).

Clearly, I didn’t enjoy this book. However, that is unique to me and my tastes, and the whole time I was reading I was thinking to myself that I knew exactly which friends to recommend it to that would feel differently. I say without judgement that if you loved Twilight, 50 Shades of Grey, or are a dark romance enthusiast, you will really have a great time reading this book. The book was perfectly fine brain junk food, I just wasn’t able to switch mine off sufficiently to enjoy it.

If you enjoy themes of fated mates/soulmates, dark romance, “touch her and die”, etc, this is going to tick every box and I highly recommend that you get it. If you like more cerebral and emotional depth, complex and interesting characters, and prefer emotion-forward rather than sex-forward spice, maybe give it a miss.

It definitely took me a little while to get into the story—so many layers, timelines, and mysterious vibes—but once the connections started clicking, I was fully immersed.

The gothic atmosphere, dark romance, and slow unraveling of the truth kept me hooked. I especially loved Lizzy and Amon’s storyline—it had that timeless, tragic soulmate energy I live for.

And that ending? Totally worth the ride. 👏

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book consumed me and was such an adventure! It was so well written and little hints were dropped from the very beginning that you don’t find out till the end. This book was plot twist after plot twist. Some I guessed but others had my jaw on the floor! Throughout the book you’re supposed to be confused on what’s reality and what’s not, what’s lies and what’s truth and that’s what made it so fun. It’s definitely a slow burn and main focus on the story and plot and I absolutely loved it. The amount of details to not only the world building but each and every character you meet was so in depth. The love story is just absolutely perfection. The “two” MMCs are both just absolutely perfection. And the spicy scenes left me breathless. Don’t worry it’s not exactly a love triangle (that’s all I can say without spoilers 🤭).

Definitely a favorite read this year and something I’ll reread in the future to find more hints I could’ve missed on my first read.

Riveting and haunting. This book is perfect for readers who crave a good love triangle. A perfect mix of fantasy, romance, and dark undertones. Even though Fairydale looks intimidating with its page count, you can't stop turning the page because you need more, more, more.

Sadly, this book just wasn't for me. I am giving it 2 stars, however, because I do appreciate the effort and time the author put into this work. The hard work is clear, the descriptions of settings were beautifully done and the characters were well defined. However, I should have read the trigger warnings, because it just wasn't the type of story I enjoy. But I can appreciate a well written plot. It was just too violent for my tastes.

Alright, buckle up.

I don't even know how to rate this. Reading Fairydale felt like watching an episode of supernatural crash into Bridgerton, with a side of monster smut and a time travel hangover. The writing veers into cliche and cringe more than once, the plot jumps around so hard i had whiplash. and i still don't know what was real half of the time and what wasn't. Was that the point? if so 5 stars, bravo.

It's historical fiction meets gothic paranormal romance, with an enemies to lovers? slow burn that turns full sci-fi fever dream. The pacing is wild, like, 59 pages of slow detail, and then a thousand years could pass by and be summed up in only 2 pages. And yet ??? i didn't hate it? This book belongs in a hear me out cake. It is bizarre, horrifically predictable, and sometimes so perfectly timed it feels lazy but i was oddly still invested to finish.

If you like chaotic plots that don't really make sense but somehow keep you hooked, this might be your kind of weird.

Anyways,

MANY thanks to Netgalley & Atria books for a chance to read and review this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - really liked it
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ explicit open door
At least two intimate scenes, explicit language with a variety of sexual acts.

I received a free eARC from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is my own honest opinion about the book.

Book Review: Fairydale
Release Date: 8/19/25

(These opinions are mine, if you don't agree, talk about that on your page)

*Spoilers Ahead*

What I loved:
When all the puzzle pieces started to come together, I loved it.
The EPIC love story between our main characters.

What I did not love:
The first half of the book is INCREDIBLY slow building the back story.

#FreyaVictoria #NetGalley #Fairydale #RomanticFantasyBooks
Will be posted to Facebook, Instagram and TikTok 7/27

Fairydale was a dark, magical escape I didn’t know I needed. The atmosphere was haunting yet beautiful, pulling me into a twisted fairytale that kept me turning the pages. The author does a great job blending fantasy with just the right touch of spice and suspense. If you love morally gray characters, eerie vibes, and stories that feel like a nightmare wrapped in poetry, this book delivers.

📖
Fairydale
by Veronica Lancet
Pub Date: Aug 19, 2025

Love that transcends time? Yes please! The devotion & pining between characters…🤌🏼. If I had to pick my favorite couple it would be Sela & Amon, their love story was tragic yet beautiful, I wanted more. Amon is the most devoted MC, like ever. I love that the characters are truly morally gray, strong & they save each other.

However, I did find myself bouncing back & forth between loving this story & wanting to DNF. It was excessively wordy & repetitive at times, I feel like it could have been edited down so we could have focused on more interesting bits. There was so much packed into this story that I wish it had been a series, give me all the craziness. I also really struggled with the pacing, sometimes the story just dragged in moments that I wanted to move on & then rushed in moments I wanted to know more about. Keep in mind that is my personal preference though.

That said, I know that this is a story that is going to stick with me for a while. This is probably a story I need to reread to see if I enjoy more or dislikIf there is one thing about me, I love a strange book & I feel like this probably fits that category.
🤞🏼Hoping for a sequel.

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Fairydale is a wild ride, and honestly, it’s not going to be for everyone. The pacing is slow at first. It takes its time with the setup and throws a lot at you in the beginning world building, timelines, bits of lore that don’t always feel necessary right away. It was hard to get through the first half. I almost put it down a couple times, but once I hit around the 60% mark, it really picked up and I got into it. By then, I needed to know what happened.

The writing style is kind of hit or miss. Some of the prose is really moody and atmospheric in a way that works for the genre, but there were also moments where it felt overly dramatic or repetitive. The tone tries to stay dark and gothic, which I liked, but sometimes the modern sounding dialogue or weird nickname use pulled me out of the story. I also noticed a few typos and clunky sentences that made it feel unpolished in places.

Character wise, I had mixed feelings. Darcy started off relatable but became kind of frustrating to follow. For someone in her position, she didn’t always act like it. The two male leads, Caleb and Amon, were intense, possessive, and honestly pretty toxic at times. There were serious power dynamics that made me uncomfortable. I wouldn’t call the relationships romantic it felt more like obsession and control. That won’t work for every reader, especially with how normalized it was in the story. It can be great if done right though, but certain things rubbed me the wrong way because of my own personal experiences.

The reincarnation and flashback parts were probably my favorite. Those timelines actually gave me something to hold onto emotionally. The past life story with Amon and Sela was way more compelling than the present day one. It had weight and mystery, and I think if the book focused more on that angle, it would’ve landed stronger.

The overall vibe of the book is dark, sensual, and kind of emotionally exhausting. There’s this heavy, gothic energy that lingers while you’re reading it, and if you like books that make you feel slightly offcenter or trapped in a dream, it nails that. But it also comes with a lot of dark content trauma, manipulation, emotional instability and it doesn’t really let up. I wouldn’t go into this expecting a love story in the traditional sense. It’s more like a psychological descent with supernatural edges.

I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5. There’s something captivating about it once you get through the sloggy parts, but it’s a commitment. The story is long, messy, and emotionally heavy. It worked for me in some ways and really didn’t in others. If you’re into slow burn gothic romance with reincarnation, toxic men, and cursed towns, you might like it but be ready for the emotional toll it takes to get to the end.

This is absolutely a love-it-or-hate-it kind of book - there’s not much middle ground. It’s deliberately disorienting, seductive, and unapologetically strange, but the payoff? So worth it! Easily the most haunting, intoxicating, and wildly unique gothic romance I’ve ever read. Pure magic. 🖤

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7545077406

DNF'ed at 37%. The girls I'm buddy reading with finally convinced me I needed to DNF. This was a trainwreck. No pun intended considering one of the first scenes is her getting off a train and her luggage being stolen. The writing and plot were chaotic. It is so long. The traumatic things aren't traumatic because of the writing and plot being so chaotic.

This story is truly a journey. Darcy inherits a house and a fortune from a father she just finds out exists. She goes to the town a Fairydale to meet with her new found family only to discover the town and it's inhabitants have a strange history. Among that history is a tale of a demon who has been captured and caged by a coven of witches. You travel through different times and worlds to discover the truth of who and what Darcy really is and how she is intimately connected to the most powerful demon they have ever seen. It is definitely a hefty book but it worth every single word on the page! If you enjoy a story with a rich, deep, soul binding love, paranormal aspects, and a mystery to figure out this one is definitely for you. Highly recommend!

The description of this book sounds good. The execution of it however? Not to my taste at all. This is dark and honestly disturbing at a lot of points. It might be for other people, but I would definitely recommend reading more reviews because I definitely should have looked at the negative reviews to avoid this.

Quick Summary:
⟢ Too long (almost 800 pages of this wtf)
⟢ Violent and gaslighting mmcs that are painfully cringe, jealous, and controlling
⟢ Incredibly naive and annoying fmc. She’s scared of the love interest but also feels a connection. Like RUN GIRL HE IS A WALKING RED FLAG AND YOU FEEL PUT IN DANGER
⟢ Annoying as fuck pet names that repeat and ungodly amount of times

There were very few redeeming moments in this story, and I struggled like crazy to not DNF this. The characters are so annoying and act incredibly young. Darcy is a teacher, yet she acts like a high school girl. Caleb and Amon are crazy controlling and downright cringy to read. Caleb using the pet name “Darlin’ Darcy” icked me out on so many levels, and I genuinely thought he deserved jail for how he treated and gaslighted Darcy. He hurt her and then made her think she was crazy when she woke up with no wounds or evidence that anything happened. How could someone do that and claim to love her?

Amon is no better and is a crazy jealous, overprotective cringe man. And Darcy gets uncomfortable!! But she stays with him and Caleb?? Is disturbed and fears for her safety but then is like nah there’s a connection there. BE SO FOR REAL.

The plot felt all over the place, and the book had no business being nearly 700 pages long. The pacing was off, and it dragged at so many points. The writing didn’t do the story any help either, with stupid lines like “lost in each other’s gazes and the timelessness of time.” Timelessness of time???? Honestly summarizes how this book read ngl. Just no.

The idea of past lives is somewhat interesting ngl, and that is perhaps the one redeeming aspect of the story. I still despised this book though, don’t get it twisted. I could escape Darcy’s annoying POV and jump into slightly less annoying chapters. Full of the same people, though different timelines and lives lived. It was confusing in the beginning seeing where the story would go, though by the end I had predicted several of the plot twists.

Dark Gothic Historical Fantasy Romance | Boston, 1955

This gothic tale plunges you into the haunted shadows of a town named Fairydale. In Fairydale nothing is what it seems - not the house, not the men, and definitely not the cat.

Let’s recap: When Darcy receives a mysterious letter and $1,000 demanding her presence at the reading of her estranged father’s will, she finds herself pulled into a decaying estate in 1955 Boston. Throw in a funeral that goes disturbingly sideways. A love triangle that’s more twisted than expected. And enough steamy encounters to fog your windows. This story intertwines dual timelines, paranormal twists, and betrayal.

Honorable Mentions: Fairydale’s Most Eligible Nightmares:

👻 Caleb Hale – Broody with a capital B. Stares like he’s reading your soul, and gives strong “I’ve died before, it’s fine” energy.

🔥 Amon d’Artan – Jealous? Yes. Morally ambiguous? Always. Dangerous? Undoubtedly. He would most definitely burn the world down for you.

🐾 Mr. Meow – Majestic. Furry. Mysterious. Mildly murderous. Will appear out of nowhere when needed, and reluctantly eat a rat or two just to keep you happy. Honestly, a king.

This book was a rollercoaster. The love story was beautifully written. The yearning, the angst, the desperation was all there. Towards the end of the book, the spice got spicy. The paranormal aspects of the book were interesting and unique and the high fantasy elements were entwined with political intrigue in a way that had me wishing for more. However, this book was SO multi-faceted that it would have read better as a trilogy. Because there was so much packed into 600 pages, the plot line felt rushed and chaotic and it truly did a disservice to the otherwise beautiful, dark, twisted story that is Fairydale.

🌙🖤 FAIRYDALE 🖤🌙
by Veronica Lancet
📖 Pub Date: 8/19/25 | Atria Books

✨ “Where you go, I go. If you exist, so do I. And if you don’t…nor do I.” ✨

This book ruined me in the most exquisite way.

A gothic, intoxicating love story that spans lifetimes, timelines, and dimensions. Fairydale is obsession in book form. Dark, decadent, and dripping with longing, this story tangled me up in its web and refused to let go.

⚰️ What to expect:
🏚️ a creepy, coastal town full of secrets
💀 gothic horror + paranormal intrigue
🌒 morally grey men (plural)
📜 three timelines, one forbidden inheritance, and a heroine caught in the crossfire
🩸 “I will find you in every lifetime” vibes
🔥 deliciously dark, poetic spice that will leave you breathless

This is not a book you read, it’s a book you descend into. Fair warning: it’s haunting, it’s heartbreaking, and it will make you question everything.

💬 “I might be evil personified, but you’re the only one I’ll ever be good to.”

I cannot get over Amon d’Artan. Victorian-era, morally grey, obsessive, and poetic in a way that had me clutching my chest and screaming into the void. 🥀 Caleb Hale? Dark and dangerous in all the best ways. And Darcy? A heroine who feels so real, stubborn, sensual, and strong even as the world crumbles around her.

💥 Fairydale isn’t for the faint of heart, but if it’s for you, it will consume you whole.

📌 QOTD: Do you like your gothic romances to feel like a fever dream or do you prefer slow and subtle chills?

#Fairydale #VeronicaLancet #DarkGothicRomance #ParanormalRomance #FairydaleBook #MorallyGreyMMC #HauntingLoveStory #MultiTimelineRomance #PossessiveLove #IWillFindYouInEveryLifetime #Bookstagram #SpicyGothicReads

This book was so good I didn’t want to put it down. There is so much going on in the book that a was confused for most of it but it is so intriguing that you just keep going

At no point did I know where this story was going next—and I loved that.

When I first picked up Fairydale, I read the author’s note warning me about the tangled timelines, slow burn, and layers of intentional misdirection... and immediately noped out. But when I came back to it? It was exactly what I needed.

This is not a book you skim. This is a book that dares you to lose yourself in the fog, to sink in with Darcy and trust that eventually, the path will clear. It’s long. It’s lush. It’s deliberately disorienting. But it rewards your attention—and once it clicks into place? It’s magic.

Three timelines. Past lives. A cursed coastal town. Ancient evil. Power. Lies. And at the center of it all: one very human, very overwhelmed woman trying to make sense of who she is in a place that’s basically designed to destroy her.

I loved how tightly the narrative was woven and how we learned everything with Darcy. No info dumps, no convenient exposition, just vibes, suspicion, and the constant feeling that something was just out of reach. Veronica Lancet drops clues like breadcrumbs, but she’s also absolutely going to shove you off the trail just to see if you’re paying attention.

And then there’s the romance. The yearning. Caleb is sharp edges and danger, a walking storm. Amon is a ghost wrapped in velvet, all charm and tragedy. Both are magnetic. Both are hiding something. And Darcy is caught in the pull of both past and present, trying to hold on to herself as everything unravels around her.

If you want something fast, easy, or casual—this isn’t it. But if you love gothic mystery, morally questionable love interests, and plots so layered you feel like you need a red string board to keep up? Fairydale will absolutely devour you.