So a lot went unanswered and a lot was added in probably to confuse us purposefully or make us wonder more. I can’t decide if it was on purpose or just because. Like the random thunderstorms including Darcy not getting wet. The whole Caleb piece didn’t make a ton of sense. You’d think the family would find it odd that she moved in if Caleb wasn’t there...so she just invited herself in??? Idk. The premise and first half was so interesting but then it went downhill quick especially when we got Sela’s memories back. Also so many deprived things were likely added for shock and not real purpose.

🌙✨ 3 Stars – Dark, Twisty Fairytale Vibes
Fairydale was a bit of a rollercoaster read for me. I’m still not 100% sure how I feel about it—but I couldn’t stop reading, so that definitely says something.

The best way I can describe it? It felt like a dark, sprawling Once Upon a Time fanfiction—in the best way. Twisty fairytales, layered timelines, familiar characters reimagined in wild ways… it’s definitely unique and has a very specific aesthetic. If you like dark fantasy meets storybook worlds with a slightly chaotic edge, this might be your thing.

It did feel a bit long at times, and I wasn’t always sure where the story was going, but I stayed with it the whole way through. That blend of mystery, nostalgia, and shadowy magic kept pulling me back in.

Not a new favorite, but definitely a one-of-a-kind read.

Be sure to check trigger warnings before you read!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! This was orginally self-published but will be published by Atria on August 19, 2025 just in time for it to be on everyones spooky time TBR

his is a gothic fairytale turned sci-fi story of two lovers. Honestly it could have been two totally different books, the turns were wild!

The book jumps between three different time periods. Present day is 1950s America, with flashbacks of 1700s Europe during the first half of the story. Then around 75% we get a solid 20% of the book dedicated to thousands of years ago, rounding out to present day at the very end. This was an interesting way to organize things, but it told the entire story.

I enjoyed the first part of the book and trying to figure out what the mystery of Fairydale was. It was gothic and a bit dark but intriguing. Then the book decided to dive off a cliff and crash in the giant alien with a ribbed tail full of nerve endings pit of wtf-ness. Nothing is even special about Fairydale other than that’s where the aliens decided to make their home. Idk why I thought this would be a dark fairytale retelling or something magical. It could have been. Such split personalities!

Since I’m just going for it at this point, why all the unnecessary rape or attempted rape? Like five different times! Did Caleb actually rape Darcy, that was never even answered. Plus why did the altered memory just have to include raping the dead woman? I think there is some unresolved trauma coming through these pages.

Once this turned into the alien story it was really hard to finish. There were a handful of cringy one liners, like a true “just the tip” moment, and Caleb enjoying her period blood when he’s not even a vampire, EW. I’ve read people like the spice, but ribbed rails gyrating the back door just isn’t for me.

Okay, well I think the love story is sweet, it’s them against the solar system and they get their HEA I think, so it’s all good. The end.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher Atria Books for the copy of Fairydale in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I still don’t know what to say about this book except that it’s somehow become one of my top 5 reads of the year?! The slow burn, the tension, the incredible romance and the reveals. This is one of the most unique romantasy books that I've ever experienced! Highly recommend for fans of the slow burn romance and fated mates from ACOTAR, with a historical fiction/flashback setting that is so captivating and ensnares the reader from page 1. Fairydale is twisty and gothic, with an element of mystery and past lives that straddles the line of dark romance.

Is the writing super intricate and developed? No. Does that take away from the story and plot? Absolutely not. I cannot recommend this book enough, you will question everything but you'll be too committed to learning more about Amon to worry about it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of Fairydale in exchange for an honest review.

Overall - 5 stars
Plot - 5 stars
Characters - 4.5 stars
Character Developement - 4.5 stars
Setting - 5 stars
Writing - 4 stars

First of all going in I heard it was a confusing book.
But alas, I found that it was easy to follow and you don’t get lost in the book, its just whats happening is so bewildering that you find yourself asking “WTF is going on?” Not because you are lost in the book but because whats happening is so wild, so much The FMC is questioning her sanity, in turn makes you question your own sanity too. I couldn’t relate to her more
At this point. I was enraptured and wanted to figure out all the mysteries as this book treaded along.
And OMG the love story! There is no love story I have read that made me feel so deeply ❤️❤️
**Thank you Atria Books for providing an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Heed the disclaimers at the beginning of the book. All are extremely valid. I don't think I was fully prepared even after the disclaimers, and now that I have finished the book, I still feel like I'm still pulling apart layers. This book felt like the Romantasy version of the movie Inception, you're reading and understanding surface level then it sucks you into a deeper level whilst you're still trying to unravel the plot with who is good, bad or frankly who do we want to end up together. This was a unique read with a new story arc I haven't read previously. I would recommend this book, especially for the patient readers with near ~1000 pages, extensive world/character building, and slow-burn romance. Though I will say, the conclusion and fast-paced ending were worth the wait.

This is a very different style of book for me. One I didn’t know about but decided to jump in and give it a try. I am so glad I did. May have to experiment more. I didn’t know where the plot was going, there were twists after twists and after more things were being revealed, I was shocked because I did not expect THAT.

This was such a dark, addictive read. The writing was beautiful and atmospheric, pulling me right into this twisted, fairytale-like world. The characters were intense—flawed, morally gray, and completely captivating. And the romance? Dark, obsessive, and exactly the kind of chaos I love in this genre.

I’m giving it 4 stars because I wanted just a little more from the worldbuilding and character motivations in some places. A few things felt unresolved, and I was left with questions I really wanted answers to. But overall, it was gripping from start to finish, and I couldn’t put it down.

Perfect for anyone who loves their stories dark, dreamy, and just a little bit dangerous

This was a ride. I got whiplash, felt like I was going clinically insane, and kept coming back for more. Veronica Lancet does a masterful job of making us feel like we're losing our minds at the same time as the FMC.

She's thicc, and this is a whole journey, but it's so worth it.

5🌶️ amazing. absolutely 10000% perfect in every way. no notes. i don’t think i have ever read a love story where the mmc loves the fmc more than in this book. i’m at a loss for words. this was everything that i expected it to be and more. Amon is fucking perfection. i don’t want to say too much and give it away but please go read this fucking book!!!! nothing was what i was thinking it was. coming from someone who does not at all like love triangles…. this was so so fucking good. worth every single page and even after almost 800 pages i still could have read another 800 pages about these characters and their lives and love for each other. 🥹 this will for sure be a reread at some point in my life. this romance will live rent free in my brain for the rest of my days.

Fairydale is an absolute masterpiece! Lancet creates an intricate, multi-layered world in Fairydale that spans multiple genres. This is part fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, and gothic romance. It is richly imagined which makes for a captivating read; I didn't want to put it down. Fairydale spans three different timelines, so it's a story that demands your full attention. Threaded throughout the novel is an epic love story full of angst, longing, and heartbreak. There is an aura of mystery and many unanswered questions which makes Fairydale that much more propulsive to read.

Fairydale starts innocuously enough in August of 1955 with Darcy O'Sullivan learning that she has been included in her late biological father's will. This news comes as quite a shock since Darcy is an orphan. Full of curiosity, Darcy travels to Fairydale to claim her inheritance and meet the family she never knew existed. Once Darcy arrives in Fairydale, she captures the attention of Caleb Hale. Although she can't help but notice how handsome and kind he is, Darcy is haunted by the enchanting Amon d'Artan who lived centuries ago. Odd occurrences and animosity from locals make Darcy's stay in Fairydale fraught with tension, but she remains undaunted. Before long, Darcy's dreams start haunting her waking hours too.

To fully experience the magic of this story, it's best to go into Fairydale knowing as little as possible. The layers and reveals are surprising and entrancing. It reads like a story within a story within a story, and each timeline is equally as absorbing as its counterparts. Your heart will be broken and made whole again. It truly is an epic gothic romance, and I loved every page.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Veronica Lancet for the ARC!
3.5 ⭐⭐⭐
Phew! Where do I start, I overall enjoyed this story. It was incredibly long though and I think it could have been shorter to get the point across. I really enjoyed the love story but I was a little surprised for a book being so long that it was insta love. The concept of the story was really amazing and I enjoyed my time reading it. The smut was decent and I like the beginning of the books spooky vibes. I'm not a fan of flash backs so those were the hardest parts for me to finish. This was good, I look forward to reading more from this author!

This book will forever live as one of my “god tier” books. It solidified my love for Veronica Lancet and has made me obsess over everything she’s ever written.

4.5 stars for Fairydale by Veronica Lancet, the earwig of a book whose scenes demand regular rereads.

Fairydale is a wild ride of a book; if you're preparing to read, strap in for more genres and WTFs than you ever planned to scream out loud while reading a novel. The story starts with our FMC Darcy, an orphaned teacher living in New England, who receives a mysterious invitation to the small town of Fairydale for a life-changing inheritance. What starts as a paranormal mystery quickly morphs to romance, adds historical, then sci-fi. Wild ride. While I do agree that the author has taken on quite a bit in attempting to blend these various genres together, the resulting story salad has managed to install buttons in my brain demanding rereads of various scenes and even the book itself at times. Our MMC is down BAD for the FMC from his first page, with lots of 'who hurt you' moments following in the next several hundred pages. If this is a trope for you, please pick up this book and enjoy! If at any point during this read you find yourself not being able to carry on, please know that the final love scene is absolutely bonkers and worth the trip to the end of the story.

There are TW at the beginning of the book and on the author's website - please give yourself a heads up!

Hope you enjoy as I did and do with each reread. :)

Thank you Atria Books for this eARC.

I am a big fan of Jane Eyre, and this is very reminiscent of Charlotte Brontë‘s novel. The Gothic setting, the orphan learning about family she never knew, and having to travel out of a comfort zone to a new place, are all themes in both books. I also enjoyed that Darcy was essentially a reimagining of Jane.

I find overall this was executed well for what it was trying to be.

Despite liking the Gothic elements and the illusions to Jane Eyre, I just could not get behind the story or the characters. The chapters were too long, which made it hard to take breaks while reading it. I just did not like this book. There is a lot of exposition being dumped on me as the reader – it felt more like I was being told rather than being shown.

I also felt that the story needed to move a little bit faster. I found Darcy to be an unreliable narrator, but there wasn’t a reliable side character to keep the “truth” of the situation story forward.

Unfortunately, this just missed for me.

I loved this story; it was different from so many of the romantasy books I’ve read and I’m so happy it wraps up nicely.

It is hard to write a review without spoilers so I’ll just say enjoy the ride!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! I’m having a bit of a hard time writing a review or giving a star rating, because there were some aspects of this book I loved, and others that I hated and felt cringey to me. I’ll start out with the things I loved:

- I thought the overall plot was fantastic. I was very intrigued by the story and the unique mystery and timelines within it. There were times when other things about the book made me want to DNF, but the plot kept me going. I am a sucker for detail, and this book certainly has A LOT of detail.
- I am into gothic spooky sort of settings, and this book definitely incorporated some of those elements that kept me hooked.
- There were some female empowerment parts I was a fan of!

Things that didn’t land for me:

- I think the author took on too much. I could see this maybe being separated into a duology or something, which would have made it more palatable. (I say this also has someone who advocates for more standalone novels, but I think there was just too much here, and a lot got lost in translation.)
- I liked the various timelines, but they were very confusing and it was hard to keep track of. I annotated this book and have a history of reading big fantasy novels, and I still had a hard time keeping track of the family lines. Maybe if a genealogy map had been incorporated at some point it would have been easier to follow (although perhaps that would have caused spoilers and was an intentional choice not to include).
- I wanted to love the MMCs but found them to be cringey. I am all down for a “touch her and die” trope, trust me, but this was … too much? Not believable? The nicknames killed it for me a bit, it just felt forced and not genuine. Like, I got the ick.
- I really hated the infertility trope, and do not feel like it was handled gracefully. I do understand the timeline that the book takes place in, but there is literally a line where the FMC ascribes to the idea that a woman’s only value is motherhood. Despite the timeline, this is just a very bad thing to promote, in that the FMC never really grew away from that belief. I wish the author had addressed better that a couple who chooses one another is, in and of itself, a family, and is enough. To be fair, there was a trigger warning for this, but I don’t think the overall trope, which is delicate in and of itself, was handled with care.

Overall I am glad I read this, but this book, unfortunately, was not my favorite.

"Until you, I thought life and suffering were synonymous."

End of review. Perfection.

Just kidding but that may be my favorite book quote, like ever.

I don't even know where to begin to review this. Prior to reading I saw this classified as a gothic historical paranormal romance and I laughed because what? Oh no, that’s this book, 200%!
This was unlike anything I have ever read before, its very core it is truly a heart wrenching romance. The longing, tension, pining, angst, heartbreak… my word.
It will simultaneously have you mind fucked have you shipping out of responsibilities to continue reading, but also, having NO IDEA what you’re reading!
This love story is the epitome of, I will find you in every lifetime.... I have waited 1000 years for you and I will wait 1000 more because you are worth it. Pure swoon.

My official rating for this book is 4.5 stars. I was warned before getting into this, that this would be a long journey with lots of information. After reading it, I can agree that this was a LONG read, but it was also very good! It took a little more thought process sometimes to keep track of who was who and in what time period and then have it all come together in the end. The book has you thinking one thing, and then bam, it was something that you didn't even think. I truly commend this author for writing such a story that kept me wanting to read more and have me understand what was happening 90% of the time. I would definitely recommend this book to those that love historical romance, romantasy readers, or someone who just wants something different from their normal romance routine that is open to trying new things!

Wow. What a journey this was. This book was so LONG but also so unique. I didn’t know what was really going on for a while there at the beginning but as the pieces began falling into place, I was HOOKED. This book was the best example of true love prevailing… of being madly obsessed with your person. It was amazing. And not only did we get the “touch her and die” trope… but we got the “touch ME and die bc you upset my person by putting your hands on me” trope and I AM HERE FOR IT. Did I mention the narration for this book was INCREDIBLE?! Wow. I just can’t say enough good things. If you can get past the length of the book and the confusion in the beginning… it really is such an amazing story. 10/10 recommend.