It took me over a week to finish this book, and unfortunately, today, I wouldn't be able to tell you anything that occurred. Not in depth, at least. I felt clueless most of the time. The story was slow and drawn out (over 700 pages), the writing wasn't gripping, and I had no idea what was going on half the time. Fairydale, unfortunately, was a no for me. Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Veronica Lancet for this ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 - A LOVE STORY FOR ETERNITY
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - veryyyyy spicy

Definitely check trigger warnings before picking this one up!

This story follows three separate storylines, in three different time periods.

Our FMC Darcy O'Sullivan - finds herself in Fairydale, Massachusetts in 1955

We also get flashbacks from a different time about a different character, Elizabeth Montford - 1790

Our final timeline is about Sela, a women from an even earlier time and a whole different place...

All have one person in common, Amon d’Artan...

Spicy, gothic, slightly paranormal - what. a. read. !!!!!

BIG thanks to Veronica Lancet, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this eARC!

I have heard a lot of great things about this book. However I struggled getting through this. The multiple timelines was a tad bit confusing. Also, some of the characters I just was not vibing with. I might give the audiobook a shot and see if my opinions change.

Thank you for the gifted ebook.

A mix of gothic, horror, fantasy and paranormal fiction with elements of history but at its very core it is truly a heart wrenching romance. Filled with longing, tension, pining, angst, heartbreak, and every emotion in between. The story spans across 3 different timelines and will have you wanting to throw it saying “what the hell is going on?!!!” Its been awhile since I've read a book that had be this captivated, I finished it in two days.

I went into this book with very high hopes. Unfortunately I really struggled to get into this. We were teased with the prologue which really quickly captured my interest, but then spent so much time in the beginning of the book with a different POV that was not that interesting to me. I had no issues with the writing style of this book, but felt like the pacing was off and found it really hard to stay engaged. Ultimately I ended up skimming through the remainder of the book to find out what happened. I think Fairydale has a lot of potential, but likely could use a bit of tightening up.

What could possibly go wrong in a town that rhymes with fairytale? Well… a lot, apparently.

Fairydale is a dark, twisty blend of gothic romance, fantasy, and paranormal horror that pulled me in with its eerie small-town vibes and mysterious, brooding characters. The 1950s coastal setting was vivid and atmospheric, perfect for this kind of slow-burning, otherworldly story.

Darcy is a relatable lead, and watching her unravel the secrets of Fairydale (and herself) was both intriguing and unsettling in all the right ways. Add in two very different, very intense love interests one of whom literally haunts her dreams, and you've got the makings of a deeply emotional and slightly unhinged love story that spans centuries.

Without giving too much away, if you enjoy your romance with a healthy dose of dread, sensuality, and the supernatural, this might be your next favorite escape. My only minor gripe was pacing in the middle, it meanders a bit before ramping up, but the payoff is worth the patience.

Not your typical love triangle, and definitely not your typical fairytale. Proceed with curiosity... and caution.

I enjoyed this one for the most part. The mystery around Darcy and Amon was fun to figure out. The only issue I had was keeping up with the time frame changes.

This is the first book i have read from veronica lancet. The story is dreary yet beautiful. I loved the make ip of the characters including the fmc and mmc. This book is one of the best stories ever read. I was enthralled throughout the book. I read it in two days and wanted more. Seriously, i want more within this world.

There truly are no words big enough to explain how much I loved this book. When I first saw the page count, I’ll admit I was hesitant—I worried it might drag. But I was completely proven wrong. Every page had purpose, and even the things I wasn’t sure about at the beginning ended up making complete sense by the end.

As both a slow-burn romance and a mystery, the pacing was spot on. I usually find myself tempted to skip ahead when I’m desperate for answers, but with Fairydale I never did. I was too invested in the main character, her emotions, and her journey of discovery. I wanted the answers, but I also didn’t want this book to end.

The characters were all incredibly well-crafted. Even those with flaws or those who made mistakes brought depth and weight to the story. The world-building is detailed, immersive, and purposeful—every little detail eventually connects and pays off in a satisfying way.

The author makes a note about all the detail and I thought it might be compared to ACOTAR’s world-building, but honestly, this felt even better. The balance of pacing, mystery, romance, and detail was outstanding. And when the spice arrives, it’s not only good—it’s written with such care that even elements that might feel bold (like blood play) are seamlessly integrated and feel natural to the story.

Fairydale is an unforgettable read. Between the immersive world, the characters, and the way everything ties together so perfectly, I know this is a book I’ll be recommending for a long time. I’m already sad it’s over, but I’m so grateful I got to experience it.

This has become one of my favorite reads of 2025.

It’s a mixture of Gothic, paranormal, horror, and fantasy.
It isn’t anything I’ve really read before and it was so beautifully written. There were many moments that had me question what was happening, thinking I knew, and didn’t.

This is a slow burn, however the romance starts early. The yearning, oh my goodness the yearning that takes place in this story is top tier. The span of over three lifetimes. This book is the definition of “I will find you in every lifetime”.

*CHEFs KISS*

I already ripped one booktok book a new today, why not another one.

If you were to ask me what Fairydale is about, I’d say GASLIGHTING.

This book was an absolute cluster F. But yet again I fell into the TikTok hype trap. And yet again you all are a bunch of liars. Except for Ana. If I could tag her review on mine I would cause everything she said is 100% accurate and exactly how I felt.

The only complex thing about this book that I semi enjoyed was the reincarnation and complex timelines. But that’s it everything else from there in forward is straight dumpster fire and I should’ve DNF instead of continuing to suffer.

Now my two biggest issues are how rape and assault are handled in this book. So peeps check your trigger warnings. The way rape and assault are handled in this book was disgusting. It was 100% used for shock value and an unnecessary plot device. I say this as a victim of assault. Instead the author gaslights not only the reader but the FMC about our experiences. To make matters worse the MMC who were are supposed to be rooting for always ends up being the persecutor of assault on the FMC. There’s one scene in particular where FMC was being chased through the woods, she trips and gets knocked unconscious. Wakes up in a different set of clothes with blood running down her thigh and the MMC says nothing happened like she thinks it does. Then proceeds to ask her on a date. And the FMC says yes. I BEG YOUR FINEST PARDON?!?!!! In what universe would this happen or be ok. And that’s only one example trust me there’s more throughout the entire book.

I just can’t comprehend how this book got so much love and support that it went from indie to being trad published. I will never yuck someone’s yum. But I’m sorry y’all have lost your damn minds with this one. If you can’t tell I will never recommend this book. Instead stay far, far away. I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC.

his was such a beautifully written fantasy romance, with the emphasis very much on the romance. The love story is heartfelt and layered, told through dual alternating timelines that wove together seamlessly. It’s the kind of book that really rewards your attention—the details, the emotions, and the shifting perspectives all come together to create something special.

It is on the longer side, and it’s definitely one you’ll want to pay close attention to, as there are many different elements at play. But the payoff is absolutely worth it. The depth of the storytelling, the way the timelines connect, and the romance at the center made this a truly memorable read.

Overall, a great story that I’d recommend to fans of sweeping, romantic fantasy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Fairydale was on my tbr for so long and i am so excited for this republished version.

it had all the fantasy elements that i love so much. will definitely buy my physical copy for my shelf

This is a DNF for me. The constant accusations of rape are just not handled well at all. And BLACKFACE at the wedding?? Disgusting. I cant believe this book is actually being trad published. There's so much wrong with it. Using rape as a shock factor is not okay. The MMC disgusts me. I do not recommend this book at all.

This book was a lot. That’s my first thought right off the bat. I thought fairydale meant fairies… well no. I thought we were going through a portal to fairyland… also no. This is about demons, ghosts and witches and a crazy town that’s all in on the paranormal ongoings. This book is long and felt like it was going on forever so it took me a while to get through. It kept my attention just enough to have me coming back, but it wasn’t something I was dying to get back to.

There are so many twists in this book that it was hard not to want to look everything up on Google to answer one of my MANY questions I had throughout this book. I couldn’t have predicted anything that happened in this book. Be prepared for a wild ride and don’t trust anyone.

ARC Review
Overall rating: 5

I cannot fathom not giving this book anything less than a 5 star. This book was such a long journey yet every single page of this book was needed in order for the story to have the impact that it did. While I was greatly confused for a good 60%, when we finally started to get answers, everything clicked into place. This is definitely a book where every detail matters because literally everything was connected and tied together in some way.

The atmosphere of this book was so perfectly gothic and spooky and just added so much to the overall nature of the story. I could perfectly picture everything that was described, making the whole setting so much more immersive and atmospheric. The characters were absolutely everything as well. The more we got to know them the more invested I became in their goals. I could feel the love and personality of these characters bursting off the page and they truly felt real. These characters utterly embody the sentiment of “I will love you in every lifetime” and it could not have been told in a more beautiful way.

I can definitely see how this story isn’t for everyone as it is a long, hard, slow journey to the beautiful happy ending we ultimately get… but it was for me (and I could not be happier or more satisfied with the journey we were taken through).

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an early copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Publishing for e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book has a witchy, gothic atmosphere and I loved it! It is 700+ pages, so it does take commitment to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Listen, I am 46 years old and have read some craziness in my years, but this may be the worst books I have ever pushed reading to the end. I have a pretty high tolerance for dark romance/dark fantasy/high fantasy, but this book was too long and I hated the FMC.

This book was a fever dream, but not the fun, amusing, wild fever dream but a fever dream you can’t wake up from.

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.

I absolutely loved this book! The writing was amazing, the characters were magnetic, and the unlimited number of plot twists blew my whole mind. Fairydale is a gothic romance, with paranormal elements and even some fantasy vibes thrown into the mix. There is a lot of timeline jumping with the FMC and MMC, so you have to pay close attention at all times! If you blink, the scene changes so make sure you don’t get distracted while reading. That being said, it is sooo freaking worth the mind zonking! Give this book your undivided attention and fall in love with Fairydale. All the damn stars!
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️