Fairydale is not just a book—it’s an experience. An intense, mesmerizing descent into madness, love, and devotion across time and space. It’s one of the most hauntingly beautiful stories I’ve ever read, and it’s etched itself into my heart forever.

This novel isn’t for the casual reader. It demands your full attention, your patience, and your trust. You’ll be lost more often than not, but that is where its magic lies. For the first half, you’ll wonder what’s real and what’s imagined, what belongs to this world or another—and then, suddenly, everything will click into place.

Set in the eerie town of Fairydale, where nothing is quite what it seems, this story spans three timelines and weaves together dark secrets, ancient mysteries, and a romance so epic it feels eternal. Darcy, the heroine, finds herself caught between two powerful men: Caleb, enigmatic and dangerous, and Amon d’Artan, a soul from another era who haunts her dreams and, possibly, her destiny.

Amon is the kind of character who ruins you for all others. Fiercely loyal, maddeningly obsessive, and devastatingly tender, he redefines what it means to love someone through lifetimes. His devotion is staggering. His love is the kind that scorches through centuries.

This story aches with longing. It’s dark, mysterious, and deeply romantic. It features witches, demons, curses, reincarnation, and the kind of soul-deep love that transcends time and space. You’ll question everything, especially your sanity, but once you reach the final stretch—you’ll realize you’ve just witnessed something extraordinary.

Yes, the book is long—736 pages. Yes, it’s confusing. And yes, it is absolutely worth every single page. It’s a commitment to read this, but worth it.

What to Expect:
• Atmospheric gothic horror vibes
• A cursed town full of secrets
• Historical and modern timelines
• A love triangle
• Pet names
• You will feel every twist

Favorite Quotes:

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

“How could I want anyone else when I am only because you are? I exist for you just as I exist because of you.”

“From the beginning, he’s been mine. Just like I’ve been his. Wholly. Irrevocably. Eternally.”

“Until you, I thought life and suffering were synonymous.”

⸻

I won’t spoil the plot. I can’t—because Fairydale is something you have to live through to understand. Just know this: It’s one of the most unforgettable, heart-wrenching, spellbinding love stories I’ve ever read.

A story of timeless love, aching devotion, and the eternal promise to find your person in every lifetime. It’s not perfect but it’s perfection in its ability to captivate you and make you fall in love.

Fairydale is a masterpiece of gothic fantasy romance, and without question, one of my favorite reads of the year. I’m still not ready to say goodbye to these characters—and I’m not sure I ever will be.

⸻

Tropes & Themes:
• Dark Gothic Romance
• Soulmates / Reincarnation
• Obsessive Anti-Hero
• Ancient Curses
• Paranormal & Fantasy
• Dual Virgins
• Timelines: 1700s, 1800s, Present
• Plot-driven, character-driven

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📚 Read it for the mystery. Stay for the magic. And lose your heart to a love that defies death itself.

🖤 Fairydale isn’t just a book. It’s a promise written in blood and starlight.

Please check the trigger warnings as some might be difficult for some readers.
Spice: 3.75/5 🌶️

Thank you to Netgally, Veronica Lancet and Atria Books for the advanced readers copy of the newly published version of Fairydale! All opinions are my own.

That was one of the most unique books l've ever read.
For the first half, at no point did I know where the story was going to go. I hated the characters, then I liked some, then they annoyed me, then they endeared themselves to me-l'll give the author that, she can certainly make you *feel*.
I got very confused at times

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book! I found the premise of this book to be extremely interesting. I was intrigued from the start, due to the mystery surrounding Fairydale and the strange happenings that occur. I honestly wasn’t expecting the plot to develop the way that it did. There were several plot twists, -some that I did not see coming- that kept me on my toes!

I do think that this book would’ve been better split between two books; some of the chapters were fairly long, which slowed me down at times. I personally prefer shorter chapters to make me feel like I’m making progress faster!

I also wasn’t not anticipating the book to be this SPICY! If you like very detailed spice scenes, you’ll likely enjoy this one! Also some surprise kinks that I was not anticipating whatsoever.

I LOVED the relationship between the fmc & the mmc. They definitely give off “touch her/him and you’ll die” vibes. Both characters would burn the universe down for each other, which I adore.

My one complaint on this book is the overuse of terms of endearment, which can sometimes read cringy at times, but overall I really enjoyed reading this one! Would definitely be interested in reading a sequel, if one will exist!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this gifted ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was an interesting concept, but unfortunately the execution of it fell very short for me.

This was like a fever dream that became progressively more unhinged, disturbing, cringey, and repetitive. Dialogue between characters was stiff, lacked chemistry, and was overall corny. The time period dialogue didn’t seem accurate. The FMC’s inner dialogue was like a stream of consciousness that was incredibly repetitive and mundane. She frequently asked herself a lot of questions, which I don’t really like as a reader. All of the conflicts, the resolutions, and twisty moments were brief. What wasn’t brief was this book, which was over 700 pages. This could have been 200 pages shorter and it still would have felt too long written in this style. I was near DNFing several times.

There are a LOT of dark, troubling moments- please read the trigger warnings if you’re going to read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the gifted copy.

Dark romance is not my usual genre, but this was a 100 for me! I absolutely enjoyed it. Actually, when I received it and read it, I went in blindly. I had no idea what it was really about. I am glad that I did. It's got the paranormal and dark elements going for it. What I did enjoy the most was that it gave me historical fiction vibes. Now, I am not sure if it was supposed to be historical fiction, or more so a retelling of something. This book is heavy on the plot, and I mean heavy. If you're looking for something simple, this isn't it. Like morally gray characters? This is the book for you! This is definitely not for the feint of heart. The whimsical elements are great too. However, you've got to have an undivided attention span. The book is long. If you're not the long type of reader, you might not like this book. It's super long—700 pages long. Also be wary of the trigger warnings before diving in. If you can't handle specific traumas, please look into those first.

Fairydale is a beautiful dark gothic romance filled with magic and paranormal elements. This is a tale of reincarnation and eternal love. It is the romance of a lifetime. I enjoyed the MMC, Amon, the most. He’s obsessive and possessive and devoted in all the right ways. I enjoyed both the epilogue and the bonus epilogue. The bonus epilogue made me wish we got a novella of their life in their home planet.

Without knowing much going into it, other than it was very polarizing & a very long (timespans & pages) love story - I thought Fairydale was ok. It's definitely one that I won't be reading again. Even though it was long, it was a fairly quick read for me. I really enjoyed the first half(ish) - I liked the gothic mystery with touches of romance and paranormal/otherworldly-ness. Once it went fully into Sela's backstory, I feel like it was a totally different book by a different author. I can't explain it well & maybe I'm just overthinking it, but if a storyline is eons ago in another world entirely, I don't think they would talk using current phrases (or at least 1950s phrases, if I'm being generous & using the "newest" timeline in the story). Apologies if this is somewhat of a spoiler, but I figured it's okay at this point. I felt there were times in back part/Sela's part of the distant past that got a bit too current events/political. I understand that history proves it repeats itself but still - didn't feel it matched the tone of the first part of the book that I liked. I also felt Lydia's character was a major storyline crutch. Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity.

** I also reviewed on Amazon, but it hasnt been published yet so i dont have the link at this exact moment. i can provide it in 24 if needed**

I was so excited to read this book and boy did it live up to the hype in my opinion! I love a massive book. I know that some people shy away from them but I'm like a moth to a flame when it comes to thick books. The writing style is almost poetic and it is just beautifully written. The plot had me hooked when I found out it was a fated love story across multiple lives. I mean come on, if thats not a romance that hooks you I don't know what will! This is also a slow burn and I love that. Will a book this big thats ultimately what you want. you don't want anything rushed and all of the good parts to happen all at once so then you are left with a book thats 90% fluff. The characters is this book pull you in and have you feeling all the best emotions. It's pretty hard for me to find a book that makes me emotional, but I am so glad that Fairydale is one of the precious few that have made that short list for me! I'm trying not to spoil anything, but please pick up this book and give it a read!

This book started out feeling like a gothic historical thriller and slowly shifted into something mythic and surreal. The genre blending was so well done. At first it reads like a dark fairytale or gothic horror, then you start to feel hints of urban fantasy, and by the end, it feels almost mythological. I never quite knew where it was going, and I loved that.

The first half had me second-guessing every interaction. The author has a real gift for nuance. Small moments carried weight. Conversations felt charged even when little was said. The writing is slow to start, but it builds tension in a way that keeps you turning the page. You can tell the author was trying to root you in Darcy’s experience, especially with the internal monologues. At times they felt excessive, but I understood their purpose. The longing in this book, especially early on, was some of the best I’ve read in a while.

The first half of the book may be confusing and disorienting for some. There’s a lot of “Wait—did that actually happen? What does that mean? Who’s actually good or bad?” For me, that was part of the appeal. But if you prefer a clearer narrative from the start, this might not be the right fit. The author has a warning about this at the beginning of the book.

The romance was beautiful and tragic. My heart broke for these two over and over again. The author really excels at writing longing. That said, the second half of the book leaned heavily into repeated love confessions, and it started to feel a little cheesy. The spice ramps up in the back half too, and it sometimes felt like it didn’t really drive the plot or character development. I started to lose interest in those scenes and had to fight skipping ahead.

Most of the tension points and major conflicts felt brief. I think the story would’ve benefited from letting some of those plot threads stretch and develop more fully, especially near the end. The final act and epilogue both felt rushed. But even with those pacing issues, this story stayed with me and that’s usually a sign it mattered.

If I were splitting the rating, I’d give the first half of the book a solid 4 stars. It was gripping, layered, and emotionally sharp. The second half leaned closer to a 3, mostly due to pacing, repetition, and a rushed resolution. But taken as a whole, Fairydale is still a strong and memorable read that left an impression.

If you’re looking for something fast-paced, spoon-fed, or action-heavy, this isn’t that. But if you love slow-burn fantasy with atmosphere, layered emotion, and a story that gradually transforms into something mythic and strange, Fairydale is worth picking up. I wouldn’t recommend it to fans of character-driven romantasy like Fourth Wing or ACOTAR. This story is doing something else entirely.


Atmosphere: 4/5
Worldbuilding: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Spice: 3/5
Ending: 2/5
Overall: 4/5

this was a marathon read and not a sprint. This required attention to detail and taking your time to digest all of the information. I think the whole premise was unreal and the storytelling was positively outstanding. AMON what an absolute man. And of course who doesn’t love a fated mates trope especially when it’s done this eloquently. Don’t be alarmed by the length of this book, it’s 100% worth the time and energy! My ONLY criticism was the chapter length. These chapters were long yall. But they were so well thought out. I loved it.

3.75⭐️

Fairydale is one of those books that grabs you by the hand, leads you into the forest... and then promptly sets the whole place on fire.

Veronica Lancet delivers a dark, twisted fairy tale that’s rich in atmosphere and dripping with madness. The story is immersive and emotionally charged, and while I genuinely enjoyed the ride, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel UNHINGED at times—in the best way.

The plot is layered and ambitious, full of morally gray characters, secrets, and strange magic. That said, it's also long. There were moments where I found myself wondering if we were ever going to come back to reality—or if I even wanted to.

Overall, Fairydale is not for the faint of heart, but if you like your fairy tales dark, your characters messy, and your reading experience slightly feral, this book might just be for you.

PLEASE read trigger warnings as it contains many dark topics. This is not a book you can skim and choose as a light read. Hang on tight and enjoy!

Thank you Netgalley and Veronica Lancet for the ARC of the newly published version of Fairydale!

This book feels like stepping into a dream that shifts into a nightmare and back again. It is not just one genre. It is all of them—dark romance, fantasy, monster romance, historical fiction, magical realism, and a haunting thriller wrapped into one atmospheric story.

At first I doubted it would be for me, but finishing this book felt like waking up from a spell.

Fairydale is the story of a love so deep it outlives time, space, and memory. A demon. A warrior. A cursed soul who never stopped searching. And the woman who has spent her life aching for a piece of herself she forgot she lost. Their story is full of plot twists, yearning, shadows, and magic that feels both beautiful and brutal.

It is lyrical. It is haunting. It is the kind of story that stays with you long after the last page.

Fairydale by Veronica Lancet is an enchanting masterpiece, weaving dark intrigue with captivating characters that kept me hooked from start to finish. A flawless blend of suspense and emotion, it's a must-read that deserves every one of its five stars! Thanks NetGalley!

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!

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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!