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.

Shocked I finished this in 5 days. I feel like I’ve been put through the wringer sixty seven times only to be put the a meat grinder next. WHAT. WAS. THIS?! 800 pages of pure what the fuck is this. The entire time.

I ADORED the creepy, gothic vibes. The monsters. The magic. The mayhem. It really was so unique! BUT Plz. This is not for everyone. Know that right now. It almost wasn’t for me. But AMON, sweet baby boy. He made everything right for me, that was wrong in this book lmao.

READ THE WARNINGS cuz … period play was WILD.

I haven’t had a five star read in so long and this was worth the wait! This easily became a five star read for me. I loved all the mystery, the longing, and the truly epic love story. And Amon is just that man!!!

This story takes place in 1955 Massachusetts and follows our FMC Darcy O'Sullivan who is an orphan and a school teacher. She finds out her biological father (whom she has never met) has died and she needs to travel to Fairydale for the funeral and the will reading. There she meets her biological family and Caleb Hale. All the while she's having very vivid dreams of a man named Amon in the 18th century. There are very odd things happening to Darcy and she feels like she's being watched and that the people in Fairydale know more than they're letting on.

And the bonus epilogue was much needed! You can only find the bonus epilogue in the traditionally published version of Fairydale which is being published on Aug 19, 2025 in the US.

Thank you to Atria Books for this eARC! This eARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gothic fantasy, historical fantasy, gothic romance this book has it all is so so beautifully written it was my first 6 star read of 2025!
There is a plot twist that had me GAGGED and I don’t want to share too much but it’s a must try read for all people that are fans of gothic literature!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review:

4.5 ⭐️ At its heart, this is undeniably a love story—a lengthy and intricate one, at that. The rich atmosphere, the allure of curiosity, the intertwining timelines, and the complexities of the plot all kept me engaged and eager to continue reading. I went in blind and had no idea where this story was going and to my surprise I never could have guessed its destination. It’s a unique story with an unpredictable plot.

This IS a slow burn that requires patience but will leave you with lingering thoughts about it months later and in my opinion the book earns its pages.

If you are looking for an action packed story that is fast paced this isn’t the book for you. But if you’re willing to put in the time for a slow burn love story that knows no bounds and has mystery and secrets this might be the one for you.

Eh it was fine. It kept my attention but not enough where I really liked it. Liked the story but didn’t love it enough to rate it higher.

What a bold emotional rollercoaster of a book! I love the gothic paranormal vibes.

Fairydale is an ambitious paranormal romance that spans centuries, weaving together ghosts, witches, demons, and reincarnated love. At the center is Darcy O’Sullivan, who inherits a strange estate and becomes entangled in a love triangle that stretches across lifetimes—between the brooding Caleb and the mysterious Amon.

Honestly, I kind of wish that I DNFed this one.

It’s sooo long and it just did not keep my interest throughout. I was intrigued, then I wasn’t, then I was, then I wasn’t. I definitely liked the first 25% of the book the most, and then I feel like it turns into an entirely different book that isn’t at all related to the beginning of the book.

I saw so many mixed reviews, and I see why people love this book, but it just was not for me. Especially the fact that there are three story lines. I feel like I could’ve lived with just two of the timelines and not the third, especially because it took me out of the story a bit.

There’s a little too much spice in this book as well considering the plot.

I don’t regret reading this book, but it isn’t something that I’m super glad to have read.

Thank you very much to Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Darcy receives a letter that her biological father passed away and left her in his will. She travels to Fairydale to collect her inheritance and things start to get complicated. She meets the brooding Caleb in the town and Amon who lived two centuries ago in her dreams.

Dark gothic story. Amon is very swoony... Love his poetic words... Really enjoy it a lot. a bit longer than I would like though... But a terrific book overall.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

👻 𝔉𝔞𝔦𝔯𝔶𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔢 👻
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Veronica Lancet
Format: e-arc, physical copy and audio

This book was addicting! I literally had a hard time putting it down. It kept me trying to guess what was going to happen next. Such an incredibly unique story. I think what I enjoyed most about this is the fact that it’s literally about a love that transcends time. It knows no bounds. It’s two souls that will forever be intertwined.

“𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈? 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒅𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒘𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒘. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏? 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒕𝒐.”

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕:
•Multiple Timelines
•Single POV (FMC)
•Fantasy Aspects
•Paranormal Aspects
•Slow Burn
•Lots of Foreshadowing
•Gothic
•It’s Always Been You
•Mystery
•Soul Mates/Fated Mates

I cannot say enough good things about this book. And the audio was amazing! Done in duet style narration which is my absolute favorite.

Thank you so much to Atria/Simon & Schuster for the e-arc via NetGalley for an honest review. The extended epilogue was perfect. I enjoyed going back to Arkgor and seeing what their lives are like. We always knew Amon was meant to lead the people!!!

I love fae and I love historical fiction so this should have worked for me. Unfortunately, it just did not. The author should have done more research on the time period if she wanted to make this set in the 1950’s. I disliked our main character and felt the love triangle was a huge miss.

Thank you NetGalley for the E-ARC of Fairydale. I originally wanted to read this because a booktuber I love, @laurareads, recommended it and the premise sounded so intriguing! Unfortunately, after receiving the ARC, reading the authors note, 1st chapter, and other reviews I don’t think I should read it given the extensive trigger/content warnings. I’m so sad because it looks so interesting, but basically my review is don’t read if you can’t handle dark books lol. I should have looked more into it before requesting an ARC :(

Fairydale by Veronica Lancett is a darkly enchanting fantasy that weaves together mystery, romance, and the haunting allure of fairy tales. The story is set in an eerie village surrounded by an oppressive forest, with whispers of curses and secrets lingering in the air. Lancett’s atmospheric writing immediately draws you in—the mood is gothic and dreamlike, creating an immersive world that feels equal parts whimsical and sinister. The plot unfolds slowly, teasing out twists and revelations that keep you intrigued, especially as the characters begin to uncover the truth behind Fairydale’s strange occurrences.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is the romance, which is subtle, slow-burning, and deeply emotional. The chemistry between the leads builds with tension and trust, and it adds a tender layer to the otherwise shadowy tone of the novel. The characters themselves are layered and well-developed, particularly the protagonist, whose personal growth from naivety to strength mirrors the unraveling of the town’s secrets. There’s a poetic quality to the dialogue and narration that makes even the quietest moments feel significant, and the emotional stakes feel real without being overly dramatic.

That said, the pacing of Fairydale does lag at times, especially in the middle section where the story becomes a bit too introspective and repetitive. Some plot points felt a little underexplored or left vague, and a bit more clarity in the worldbuilding would have made the stakes even stronger. Still, the ending delivers a satisfying mix of melancholy and hope, tying up the main threads while leaving space for interpretation. Overall, Fairydale is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant tale that leaves a lingering sense of magic and mystery long after the final page.

Absolutely one of my favorite reads! It’s a long read, but the payoff is worth it. And the gothic romance vibes are perfect

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
5⭐️ … 6⭐️, if that was possible.
Oh, this is one of my favourite books I’ve ever read. I don’t have the words for how incredible this was. 5 stars isn’t enough, I’d give it 6 if I could.
An emotionally intense and exquisitely crafted love story that will leave you breathless. Told across multiple timelines, this novel masterfully weaves tragedy, devotion, and enduring love into a hauntingly beautiful narrative. The writing is intricate and deliberate, yet never overwhelming—each twist intentional and deeply affecting.

Fans of possessive, protective MMCs with “touch her and die” energy will swoon over this hero’s unwavering devotion. The chemistry is electric, the spice unforgettable, and the emotional depth staggering. For readers who can handle darker themes and crave romance that lingers long after the last page, this is an absolute must-read. A true standout.