Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I can confidently say, I’ve never read a book like Fairydale before. I would classify this book as Gothic Paranormal Romantasy. Amon d’Artan is unlike any MMC you’ve ever met. He is irrevocably and wholeheartedly obsessed with Darcy. Talk about a man that will go to the ends of the earth for the woman he loves. I am not even going to try to fully summarize the book but I will say that there were so many plot twists and pivots that I was just along for the crazy ride! You need to just experience it for yourself 😏

The spice in this book caught me off guard and had my jaw on the floor. I don’t even want to say too much lest I ruin anything but WOW🥵. It didn’t pull away from the intricacies of the overall plot which I appreciate!

If you are an audiobook girlie, I HIGHLY recommend grabbing that as well. It is hands down one of my favorite duel narration audiobooks I’ve ever experienced!

I can’t wait to reread this in the future. I’m sure it will still be just as much of a wild ride. While I don’t think this book will be for everyone, I will absolutely be recommending this book! It is quite lengthy and takes a minute to really kick into action. If you’re not willing to stick it out through that, this may not be the book for you right now. I think the girls that get it, will get it when it comes to this one.

Tropes/Vibes:
✨ He Falls First
✨ Touch Her and Die
✨ Multiple Time Lines
✨ Town with Plenty of Secrets/History
✨ Fated (soul)Mates

Quotes I loved:
“You only have to exist and you’re all I see”

“You would be mine under any other name. Just like I would be yours.”

“For you must have loved to know loss and you must have lost to know the fear of loving again.”

This is my first Veronica Lancet book and I’ll be coming back for more, this story was just so unique and creative to me! Thank you Atria and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC💗

I was lucky enough to have read the indie edition last year and have done a reread this year by audio. So it was nice to be able to compare to the traditional published version. Let me say I love fairydale, it has changed all other books for me. It is absolutely beautifully told story spanning generations. I have tried to find other books that could compare but this is so special. You have to be ok going in and being confused for 80% until everything comes together. Now I must say I might be a little bit biased that I feel that the indie version was perfect and should not have been edited. I can’t pin point what was cut exactly but that would be the only criticism I have.

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 4/5⭐️
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮 3/5🌶️

Fairydale by Veronica Lancet is a gothic historical and paranormal romance. Darcy an orphaned English teacher journeys to an unknown town to claim her inheritance from a father she’s never known. With the possibility of a large inheritance she stays in Fairydale but strange things keep happening and she isn’t sure what is real and what isn’t.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!

Now buckle up and hold on because I have a lot to say…

First things first. The atmosphere of this book was everything. Hauntingly eerie and very much a gothic feel. I loved the historical aspect and how it really fit into the way the author helps you imagine and visualize Fairydale.

There are about three different timelines and sometimes I got a little lost but eventually would find my way back. I did enjoy the different timelines though. I thought it really gave you that added perspective to the emotional depth of the story between the main characters.

This is a long book. I think with long books the pacing has to be right. I was hooked in the beginning, got a little bored in the middle, then hooked again towards the ending. The pacing felt a little off for me. However, the atmosphere, romance, and paranormal touches really made up for it.

Amon is the morally gray MMC we all love. I don’t want to spoil anything but seriously *fans self*. I also really enjoyed a lot of the side characters and what they brought to the story. This had quite a bittersweet feel and an emotional story that really lasts the whole book.

“What if my madness recognizes yours?” I will just leave you with that one little quote.

If you love gothic dark romance with a historical feel and a love story that isn’t cut and dry this is for you!

A romance that leads over many centuries. This book was spicy, dark and mysterious. I really enjoyed it. Darcy goes to fairytale after receiving a mysterious letter and a lot of money in the envelope. This is where the story starts.

If you love suspense, love triangles and a creepy town this book is for you.
Thanks NetGalley

⭐️ 4.5 Stars ⭐️
Hooked from the first page—Fairydale is a haunting, intricately layered tale that unravels like a gothic fairytale you’re not sure you should trust.

I’d seen the indie version of Fairydale everywhere on TikTok, so I was excited to see the traditional release available here. From the start, Veronica Lancet crafts a sense of unease and mystery that lingers over every page. You can feel something is off, but the story holds its secrets tight. Watching those threads slowly unravel is part of what makes this book so addictive.

While technically historical fiction, Fairydale reads in a very accessible, modern way. The prose and dialogue don’t always match the era, but as someone who doesn’t usually read historical romance, that actually worked in the book’s favor for me. The multi-timeline structure is done really well, and each timeline has a distinct voice and tone, while still echoing each other in clever, subtle ways.

This is definitely not a casual, light read. You’re introduced to a large cast of characters and multiple layers of lore. You’ll want to pay attention, especially as the different timelines start to overlap and recontextualize everything you thought you knew. I appreciated that, even though I did predict a good number of the twists, the author does make you question yourself and most things are not as they seem. That bit of unpredictability is one of the novel’s greatest strengths.

What held this back from being a full 5 stars for me:
• The female main character often felt a little too passive or helpless for large portions of the story, which became frustrating toward the end.
• The pacing dragged in the final third, with some heavy info-dumping and more telling than showing (a surprise, since the first two-thirds struck a great balance between exposition and intrigue).

Still, Fairydale is a story that lingered with me long after the final page. It’s dark, immersive, and emotionally complex. A new favorite. I’ll absolutely be buying a finished copy and can’t wait to read more from Veronica Lancet.

All I can say is this book has officially earned a spot on my top tier list. It’s beautifully written, with the multiple timelines woven together seamlessly. The story kept me engaged and constantly questioning what was happing, and I couldn’t put the book down. The world building was beautifully done, as were all the character development. If you’re in the mood for a high gothic fantasy that grips you and doesn’t let go, this one is a must read. Just make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.

This book was a trip. I spent most of it alternating between confused and enthralled. The story itself was great & unique, the love story spanning literal centuries was swoon worthy, i loved the MMC, the FMC made me want to shake her for stupidty half the time though. The multiple timelines, POVs, worlds, etc was all little rough to get into and follow but once i got the hang of it i couldnt out it down (that beign said i struggled through the first half so badly, this books a beast). I still have so many questions left unanswered, one being what genre what this book supposed to be even. Also this needed a solid edit, I've never read a book with so many spelling errors. I'm just giving it 4☆ for the vibes at this point.

Wow. I don’t even know where to start with this book.
It’s wild, intense, and unexpectedly emotional. The romance? Absolutely gripping. The connection between the main couple felt genuine, even after lifetimes apart — literally thousands of years. They stayed loyal to each other through everything, which honestly made my heart ache in the best way. Their love felt unbreakable, like it could defy time itself.

Now, yes... the book is long (think 700+ pages), but I get why. The story needed the space, and for the most part, I really enjoyed the ride. Though I have to admit, the ending felt a bit rushed — almost like the start of a whole new book instead of a wrap-up. They’re finally back together, even expecting a baby, but their future still felt kinda up in the air.

And about that steam factor... Whew. Let’s just say, it got a little more intense than I expected toward the end. Some scenes were just over the top for me — not bad, just... a lot. If I’d known beforehand, I probably would’ve skimmed a few parts.

Still, I don’t regret picking this up at all. It’s emotional, a bit crazy, but definitely worth the time and tears. I’ll be checking out more from this author for sure — though I might be ready to skip a few steamy chapters next time.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC!

Whew... where do I even start? Fairydale is one of those books that warns you upfront it’s gonna be long — and it delivers on that warning. But honestly? I think it was too long. There’s no denying Veronica Lancet can write, and the bones of an epic love story were there, but I personally feel like it would've hit harder if the story was split into two (or even three) books.

I was hanging on, hoping for that deep, sweeping emotional payoff — but when it came time to explain why the male lead was so utterly obsessed with her... it kind of fell flat for me. Like yeah, she’s beautiful and sweet, but I needed more- for all he was willing to do for her I just thought there would have been more that lead up to that. More emotional depth. More connection. More believable love.I was really hoping there would be a stronger core to anchor it.

Now, the book is split into three parts, and I gotta say: Darcy and Sela's sections were definitely the parts where you get more details, but ALL the details are not needed. If the story had focused more on those two time periods and what was most important, I think I would've walked away feeling way more satisfied.

As for the spice? Oh, it’s there. It’s hot, it’s wild, and some scenes had me blushing (no complaints in that department). But even with the heat, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that too much was crammed into one book. Plotlines stacked on plotlines, and by the end I was like... wait, what just happened?

Final verdict: I liked the book, but I wanted to love it. Instead, I feel like I need a nap just from the sheer volume of it all. It’s a three-star read for me — not bad, just a little too much and not quite enough where it really mattered.

Fairydale is haunting, steamy, and gorgeously written, a gothic fever dream that blends dark fairy tale vibes, historical mystery, and paranormal romance into one big, twisted ride.

The writing is lyrical and immersive, the small-town setting is moody and eerie, and the dual timelines keep you guessing. Darcy is a strong, stubborn heroine with secrets of her own, and the men in this story? Deliciously obsessive, morally grey, and totally unhinged. If you like your romance with bite and your plots dripping in atmosphere, you’ll eat this up.

Pros:
•Beautiful prose, some lines made me stop and reread because damn.
•The tension (romantic and otherwise) is thick and so well done.
•Great world-building with just enough supernatural elements to keep things off-kilter.

Cons:
•The middle dragged a bit. Could’ve trimmed 100 pages and tightened it up.
•Some of the twists felt predictable, and the emotional reactions didn’t always hit.
•It’s long — nearly 800 pages — and feels it at times.

Still, this book kept me hooked with its lush atmosphere, dark romance, and eerie secrets. A perfect read for fans of twisted fairy tales and slow-burn chaos

One of the greatest gothic romantsy I may have ever read. It is nothing like I've read before as it tests the age of time, love, patience, and how far one is willing to go for the one they truly love. Amon is unforgettable as he travels through different time periods to be with his true love. Darcy having to sole the mystery of her dreams, past, lover(s), and her unknown inheritance give her the opportunity of self growth and development that lead to so many twists and unexpected resolutions and ending. Cannot recommend this story enough!

I DNF'd this book at a little over the halfway mark which breaks my heart honestly.

The first 10-15% of this book was actually fantastic. I loved the gothic mystery vibes and was really interested in the FMC and where the journey to her inheritance would take her. Especially when the train scene happened and Fairydale wasn't the end of the line regardless of what her ticket said. There were some uncanny happenstances that left me wanting more and for the first bit I was hooked!

And then... the funeral scene happened and it completely went off the rails. It had already started to make me question my enjoyment of the book but based on the beginning I had faith the author would pull through. But that scene was just so incredibly out of left field that I had to take a moment to make sure I was still reading the same book and sadly, after that moment, it just did not improve for me.

I cannot explain the amount of ickyness I felt when the FMC accused the MMC of SA and then the moment he says to her the equivalent of 'You were unconscious so you don't know. I didn't do what you think I did regardless of the evidence' and she just immediately believed him and continued lusting after him. I read the trigger warnings beforehand and I don't shy away from some heavy topics but this moment felt really poorly handled and I lost my faith in the FMC. In the beginning their was a quiet strength about her that, as the book progressed, turned into ignorance.

I hate that I had to DNF this book because it truly felt like it had promise. Though the beginning was super interesting and well written it went off the rails and started to feel like I was reading 2 different books by 2 different authors. I am not sure I would pick up another book by this author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher, for allowing me to read and review the eARC for this book.

Fairydale has been on my TBR for ages, and I finally decided to take the time to tackle it. Styled as a gothic paranormal fantasy reincarnation romance with elements of horror, mystery and magic, it tells the tale of Darcy, who heads to the town of Fairydale to attend the funeral and hear the will of the father she never knew after being raised in an orphanage. But Fairydale is so much more than it seems. The town is hostile to strangers, the people know secrets about Darcy that she doesn’t know herself and she’s starting to have horrific hallucinations. The only people who seem friendly are the Hales (particularly love interest Caleb who is the definition of OTP).

This book is truly all over the place. If it had just been a gothic horror and focused on fewer elements, I really think it would have been more successful. Unfortunately, the story is too ambitious. Multiple timelines, an astonishing amount of exposition and SO much bloat. It just didn’t land strong for me. I also felt like I had so many more questions unanswered at the end.

This wasn’t a bad book necessarily, it just tries to be too many things and could use a tough editor.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own

This book was so Amazing!! The storyline was top notch, with great characters and awesome world building!! I loved the darker feel of this story
! I highly recommend this book to everyone!

I went Into fairydale mostly blind once i heard It was going to be traditionally published. First thank you for the opportunity i had To read this book as an arc. The love story that is ensuing over multiple lifetimes and thousands of years was beautiful. The world building and descriptions were so detailed you can picture any room the characters walk into. The fact that every lifetime that was described felt so different was fun to read. I did find the constant “you’ll find out soon enough” trope a bit repetitive. I dont Know if it was just my own impatience of wanting to know the “truth” myself or if something’s could have moved along at a faster pace. I was Aware of how long this book was and how detail oriented it would be and while i enjoyed The love story, the mystery, magic system i did Find myself getting frustrated with how slowly everything was progressing. All in all i definitely would recommend this book and will be buying a physical copy.

I was intrigued by the book because I have seen it around social media. I was craving something different than a typical romance or Romantasy.

The story follows Darcy, a school teacher who finds out her biological father passed away. With that, he has left her some things in his will and asks for her to come to his home town Fairydale, to acquire it. When she arrives, there seems to be a mystery and lore of the town. Rival families, strange deaths, and beautiful men with dark secrets. Nothing is at is seems, and can Darcy figure it out before its too late.

Honestly, I don’t think this book ended up being for me. I am all for a slow, world building experience, but this book made no sense. I was not a fan of the inner dinner monologue's and there nicknames of Darcy Darlin’ and Lizzie Mine. Then men were possessive, sure, but the amount fo gas lighting that was occurring killed me. Also, it felt as though nothing happened. I want to be invested in the book, but I felt like for the majority of the book, we were having the same conversations over and over again. I am also still confuse don what kind of monsters they are? I thought they were vampire hunters this whole time. I wish there was more clarification and it was clear. I am sure there are others who enjoy this, but it was too strange and too murky for me.

This was weird. I’m not here to kink shame, but some of this was definitely not for me. I also think that maaaaaybe this would’ve done better as a duology, which I’ve never in my life thought.

The plot is very mysterious, to the point I had no idea what was happening for the first half of the book. Of course, it does all fall together and makes sense the more you read, but this may not be for an impatient reader. The ending is cathartic, and I enjoyed reading their journey, even if there were parts I cringed a bit.

The characters are multidimensional and pretty well written, but it becomes a bit convoluted towards the end once you know the past. Our main character isn’t really that same person she started as, and it isn’t just development. It’s not a bad thing, just how the plot is written. I really enjoyed watching the relationships develop, even if I was clueless for a while.

The writing is pretty easy to follow, but some word choices in spicy scenes were definitely not my favorite. This isn’t an immediate turn off for me though, because the spicy scenes were certainly spicy. This book is hot, with some kinks that may not be for everyone.

All things considered, I did enjoy this, it just took me forever to read.

This book had multiple timelines, which I absolutely adore! The characters were incredibly complex and intriguing. The smut was a bit too intense for my taste in some parts. However, as I reached the 50% mark, I started to feel a bit bored. Initially, I thought it was just some unnecessary filler, but boy, was I wrong! I loved how the plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. The story itself was unique and unexpected. I particularly enjoyed how you kept me guessing until the very end. The characters were complex, entertaining, and exciting to read. The story made me experience a wide range of emotions, from confusion and trauma to heartbreak and bewilderment. The tension and longing between the characters were so painful to read, but it was also incredibly captivating. I loved every page of this book, but I would only recommend it to a certain type of reader. This book is definitely not for everyone.

Okay so I got an ARC of this with the bonus dialogue and WOW!!!!! I can totally see it getting slow for some people, but the characters had me in a CHOKEHOLD!!! The love Amon showed every incarnation of Sela was absolutely swoon worthy and I loved the diverse locations the story took place over. I may or may not have teared up at the end when they finally had not one, but twin babies 😭

There were a few spots that I may have gotten a touch confused, but I really really loved this story. I’m literally waiting with bated breath for Veronica Lancet’s next dark gothic fantasy bc I’m HOOKED!

This was not well written or researched. Unfortunately this is being labeled as a slow burn romance when the book itself is just slow. It is boring and disjointed with dialogues feeling stiff and wrong for each time period. It picks up with some actual plot around the 75% mark but this is too long of a book for that to be the reality.