The synopsis of this book was *chefs kiss* but unfortunately the book just had too much going on all at once. There were a lot of flash backs to previous lives, and it started to feel a bit repetitive. Also its like 700 pages and a good majority of it felt like it wasnt necessary..

I’ve been putting off writing this review for a few days because where to begin LOL. It took me awhile to get through this book so I really had to organize my thoughts.

There are a lot of things I liked about this book. The three timelines, and the large variety of genres (historical fiction, fantasy, romance, and sci-fi). It gave me a bit of whiplash near the end with the drastic shifts in genres, but definitely kept me on my toes. It packed a lot in for a standalone, but still managed to wrap everything up in a neat little bow, which is impressive.

The thing that I didn’t love about this book is that it was definitely longer than it needed to be. There was a lot of repetition with the FMC’s inner monologue and the romance dialogue, which killed a lot of the joy for this book for me. It could have drastically decreased the size of this monstrous 800 page book. The romance was also a little cringey at times, so it made it a tad difficult to get through at moments.

A huge thank you to net galley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review 🤍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received a copy of this book from Atria and am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions are my own.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐡𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞?

I have no idea how to write a review for this book without spoiling all the twists and turns within it. It was a fantastic read and I loved every second of it. I was getting gaslighted for almost the entire book; however, if I could reread this book without knowing all of the twists, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I loved Darcy; she was such a fun character to read, and I love how she perceives the world. Amon is one of my new favorite MMCs. I feel like he wants to be so big and scary, but he is just an adorable golden retriever puppy. Caleb is just the perfect dangerous, broody man. I loved the plot of this book; all of the twists and turns leave you reeling.

✨Gothic
✨Paranormal/Fantasy Elements
✨Villainous Love Interest
✨Love Triangle
✨Orphaned Hroine
✨Broody Men
✨Slow Burn

I was so excited to read this book but unfortunately I just don’t think this book pace was for me. It’s soooo verbose, it took me like 15-20% of the book (which was like 3 hours of reading) to even understand what was going on, and by 30% I was really struggling to keep going. It’s an interesting plot concept but any advancements in the story are separated by so much of nothing happening.

I strongly urge readers to check the content warnings. I did, and I was still shocked by some of the content, which frankly kind of gave me the ick for some of the characters and prevented me from getting as invested as I wanted to be.

I also felt like once I finally had a grasp on the concept, some new fantasy aspect would be introduced and I would be confused again. I read a lot of fantasy and don’t normally have this problem, so it felt a little overwhelming.

Overall, I think I just didn’t care enough about the book to sit through the incredibly slow pace. I liked the author’s writing and the concept of the book, but 20+ minute chapters really took me out of the book and I couldn’t get into it as much as I wanted.

** SPOILERS MARKED LATER **

I went into this book almost completely blind. I didn’t know what to expect, but was intrigued by the hype I’d seen in the booksta community…and excited to have snagged both a gifted physical copy at Comic-Con and an e-version from NetGalley.

The first 15% of the book had me hooked! I loved the gothic vibes it was giving, and was intrigued by the darkly suspenseful hints at some underlying/unrevealed magic. I was so sure that it was going to be a 5-star read! Getting through the next 70% of the book, however, was a feat. I wanted to dnf so many times. 🥲

I was able to predict the major twists early on, and the flashbacks across timelines felt tedious and excessively long. I understand why the author felt the need to include so many time jumps, but they didn’t feel executed well. The dialogue didn’t progress the story forward in the way I’d hope it would, and the style of speaking in each era felt the same – which kind of took me out of it. Even with the extreme time spent on explaining the connection between the main characters, I never felt invested in their romance. Which is probably because it’s centered around a trope I don’t vibe with.

Then the “big reveal” happens, and the last 15% of the book is interesting (kinda) again!

I appreciate what the author created here and her swing at such an EPIC love story, but it just wasn’t for me.


***SPOILERS***





If I ever hear/read “Lizzie mine” or “Darcy darlin” again, I’m going to scream. It was SO overdone. And usually I like my fictional men to be a little toxic in their obsession and possession of a woman, but for some reason this just gave me the ick. There wasn’t enough tension in the build-up of the relationships to make that feel exciting. I had hoped that when we finally learned how Amon and OG Darcy (Sela) met that there would be some epic love story or really intentional coming together, but instead we got love-at-first-sight in the most boring way possible. You accosted me in my garden, got an erection, and I liked it? Cool. Why did that take 700 pages?

Something that is really crucial to my ability to immerse myself into a story is consistently on tone/language within the era being written. I felt that was lacking in this book. The characters spoke the same whether they were in the 1790s or the 1950s, and that was really distracting for me. I think the author was trying to make clear connections between Sela-Lizzie-Darcy, and have Amon remain consistent throughout, but it fell flat.

The sex scenes were largely not my style. Probably because I never felt invested in the connection between the characters. I love a good trigger warning, but oral sex on a menstruating woman is never going to do it for me. I just can’t get past the taste of a penny in my mouth. And the TAIL at the end?? I wasn’t feeling it.

Overall, most of my gripes boil down to the same thing - this book never felt like it knew what it wanted to be! Are we a historical gothic romance? Magical time traveling mystery? Alien/monster porn? I like long books when they’re done well and the space is used intentionally, but since I couldn’t nail down what the author was going for, I was never able to relax into the world.

Overall, I didn’t hate it and didn’t hate the writing style, but I’m irritated for the time I spent on it and probably wouldn’t pick up another book by this author.

Warning: spoiler heavy review. Because I have thoughts.
If I weren't reading this as an ARC to review, I probably would have DNF'd after the first 2 or 3 chapters. And I definitely would have taken the author's note as the warning it was intended to be. After reading over 700 pages, I get the feeling that notes were given, suggestions were made, and all were rejected by the author. Now, I haven't written a book, and I get that maybe this is her magnum opus, but this needed a lot of editing. If you want 700+ pages of mostly just trying to establish the gothic/paranormal romance vibes, this is going to be for you. However, I had a hard time getting into this due to the dialogue and inner monologue not sounding period-appropriate. For any of the three different time periods this book takes place in. It seemed like many scenes were written to shock the reader, but the characters had little to no reaction - what do you mean you just watched a dead dude come back to life, vomit up all of his organs, and die again, and then immediately you go to brunch. Also, you think you've been sexually assaulted, the man denies it, and you giggle and go on a date with him. Really? There were many depictions of sexual assault that I didn't feel were handled with any sensitivity. I also have a hard time believing that not a single person throughout this process read the wedding scene and failed to suggest that maybe the face paint might seem like blackface. In context, it wasn't intended to be that, but it wouldn't have been a major rewrite to fix. My husband got small updates as I hit different points in the book and just couldn't keep it contained anymore, and once he heard they were aliens, he was done. Alas, I still had about 20% to go after that. While not the WORST last-minute world-building I've experienced, that just seemed like trying to pack too much into this one book. Once you get deep enough into the book, there is a lot of spice, and the characters have good chemistry, albeit with cringy dialogue. But if I never again have to read about the "grungy texture" of a tail being inserted into someone, I'll be happy.

I highly recommend reading the warning labels on this one. There was a lot more rape or mention of rape than anticipated. I do wish there was a little less but I know it is a dark fantasy romance. Has a great storyline. Did get confusing at times with the constant back and forth with the main character being different names but overall was a good story line. I do feel the ending was little rushed. It was like this big long buildup to the fight and was over in a few pages. I do love the rehang at the end.

I went into tis book pretty much not knowing anything at all, but I think that really helped set the tone for this dark and atmospheric tale with multiple timelines and a confused and, at times, unreliable narrator. Love this boots down.

I requested this so I could read the extra epilogue and it did not disappoint. I love it and I thought it was a nice add on.

I was very excited when I first received the arc for this book because the description sounded so interesting and intriguing, but I’m sad to say that I ended up being disappointed overall.

The plot had so much potential but the poor execution prevented me from enjoying this story. I feel like too many elements got mixed together, which made the book very underwhelming and messy. I also wasn’t a fan of the writing, to me it felt a bit too watt-paddy for a dark gothic historical romance. The book was very repetitive and definitely could’ve been much shorter (like 300 pages shorter). I’m 90% convinced this book would’ve been better if it had been shorter 🤷‍♀️

I also didn’t really connect with the characters. Plus the FMC was annoying and naive and it got on my nerves a couple of times. I didn’t vibe with the insta-love romance. Like I know they’re supposed to be soulmates, but like can we get a bit of yearning?? Angst?? 😭 Why are they talking about marriage just a day after meeting each other?? I did love seeing how devoted they were to each other; I think it was beautiful.

I’ve seen a lot of people mention how confusing the different timelines were but personally I didn’t have an issue with that. I actually enjoyed the flashbacks. It was interesting to know what happened to the characters in their past lives.

Overall, it wasn’t a terrible book but it was way too long and a bit messy at times.


Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for Fairydale, especially being a TikTok sensation the way it had been recommended - I mean, a gothic, historical, fantasy, paranormal romance? Sign me up! And the witchy, spooky atmosphere Veronica Lancet creates is incredible, no denying this. The town feels alive, haunting, and mysterious in the best way, and I could vividly imagine the eerie streets and creepy events. I even found myself wishing I had read this in the middle of spooky season because it would have been perfect!

But yeeeesh… the length. Seven hundred pages is way too much for this story. I figured the people frustrated with the length were maybe playing it up a bit? But now I know to trust people when they say it's looong. The first half was interesting and I was definitely giving it a big chance, but then it left me confused and struggling to stay invested, and it was honestly rough trying to keep up with all the chaos. The FMC drove me crazy at times, the romance felt off, and the alternating timelines, while eventually rewarding, made the middle portion feel even loooonger.

The ending of the book is where things finally click (or was I too invested and stubborn to not like it?). The story picks up, Sela’s arc shines, and the gothic vibes really come together. I just wish the whole book had moved at that pace with less meandering, more magic. Overall, I think this one will be a love-it-or-hate-it for readers. I pushed through and I’m glad I did, but it took me foreverrrrr and my brain is still toast.

3 stars: the atmosphere is gorgeous, the world is intriguing, but the story needed serious trimming. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this copy!

Unique! That’s the first word that comes to mind when I read Fairydale. Followed by dark, bewitching, and mystifying. The twisty turning plot gave me whiplash but kept me very intrigued. Plus the mystery of it all had me reading as fast as I could to find the answers I sought or giving me more questions. It very much reminded of something Tim Burton would write with the setting of the town and vibes/personalities of the characters.

Talk about a stunning example of dark fantasy that utterly captivates from the first page to the last. This isn't a fairy tale with a neatly tied bow; it's a descent into a world that is as breathtakingly beautiful as it is deeply unsettling.

Lancet's prose is a powerful force, weaving a tapestry of atmosphere and dread that will cling to you long after you've put the book down. The titular village itself is a character, a seemingly enchanted place where every whisper holds a secret and every shadow hides a truth.

The narrative unfolds with masterful pacing, building a chilling mystery around its cast of complex and compelling characters. Their motivations are as tangled and thorny as the ancient woods surrounding Fairydale.

Without revealing any of its brilliant twists, I can say that this story explores the cost of secrets and the true price of "happily ever after." For anyone who loves fantasy with a sharp, gothic edge and a plot that will keep you guessing until the final sentence, Fairydale is an absolutely essential read and a definite five-star experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a temporary e-ARC!

Fairydale is a dark, paranormal/sci fi read which is just what I’ve been wanting lately! That being said - this book really missed the mark for me. It follows multiple timelines with I normally LOVE seeing them all come together, and the magic systems are interesting enough but the main characters inner monologue because redundant so quickly because it felt like it was never ending that I became very detached from the story very quickly.

That being said - I feel like the author did a good job of setting the scene and made the spooky/dark vibes come to life.

Overall I don’t think it’s a bad book. Just not the book for me. 🤍

This book was eerie, gothic and dark. First off this book is very lengthy. Just be aware of that and know you will feel like it’s unnecessarily long at times. The story follows Darcy a sheltered teacher from Boston. She is summoned to a town calledd Fairydale where stranger things begins to take place around her. As the story u folds she lives two parallel lives. It got a little confusing for me at times. The pacing was a little off and then lengthy. The narrative weaves between multiple timelines and perspectives. But overall Darcy’s naivety made the story frustrating. I think I finished it because of the male character. The ending was worth it!

Fairydale by Veronica Lancet is dark, moody, and totally unhinged in the best way. It feels like stepping into a twisted gothic dream. Totally haunting, messy, and addictive. Definitely not a fluffy romance, but if you’re in the mood for something intense and atmospheric, it delivers.

I’m really sad. I very very much wanted to enjoy this book. It is everything I like in books. However. This just was not it for me. I can see how others would enjoy it. And I’m very very surprised I didn’t…

Whoah. This was such a deep journey and I love it. The trauma was hard to get around and I had to step away many times to process what was going on. It’s also insanely long and I think it could have perhaps been 200 pages shorter. Overall though, it’s a beautiful, sexy, mysterious story. The setting is perfectly described and I’m so glad this book with picked up by a major distributor! Great for spooky season honestly and 🌶️🌶️🌶️ was top tier.

to the people who rated it 5 (or 4) stars, <b>are we reading the same book???</b> 😃

lesson learned: <b>never trust a booktok recommendation AGAIN</b> 👍🏻

hate both mc's. the fmc is just lucky in every scenario as possible. she's imagining herself as catherine (from wuthering heights; even though i haven't read the book). also, she kept telling that she's tiny while caleb (or amon idk) is big. liek gurl, stop it.

i'm also irritated at amon. he did something for the fmc in the past. and he also did something that threw me off at 85% mark 😬

Interesting story and a fresh premise. I enjoyed reading. Thank you for letting me have an advance copy!