Anathema (The Eating Woods) Paperback – 12 Sept. 2024

This was on my TBR shelf for far too long! I don’t often choose gothic style novels but I’d seen this book mentioned so many times I thought I should see what the fuss was about. What a little gem this was!A dark, gothic fantasy with slow burn romance. I loved it and pretty much inhaled it over a couple of days. This was my first book by Keri Lake but I’m already looking at which others of hers to read next.There’s a lot going on in this book - a unique magic system, different lands, magical and mythical creatures and monsters, horror, suspense, lore and prophecies. I felt it was all woven together really well within the narrative without it feeling like there was information overload and the world building was interesting and unique. It is also well paced for the most part. I don’t mind if a book has slower paced sections as it gives me a chance to slow down a bit and reflect on everything so far.I felt the character development worked well within the story. I thought the FMC and MMC, Maevyth and Zevander, were really likeable and I liked the way their relationship built and developed throughout the story. I enjoyed the interactions between the different groups of characters- there was a good mix/ balance of personalities with some truly evil ones!This ends on a corker of a cliffhanger so I will definitely be eagerly awaiting book two!

4.5⭐ read. This is a refreshingly different take on many of the usual tropes for the genre. Lake writes great page turners and this doesn't disappoint. It's a layered story with Gothic vibes, an interesting magic system, with mortal and fantasy realms separated by a veil.The FMC, a shunned 'Anathema' in her mortal community, comes across as realistic naive 19 year old. The MMC is genuinely morally grey with every reason to kill her.There is plenty of plot, slow burn and intriguing side characters which I'm sure will develop further in the next book.It slightly lost pace for a few chapters in the middle but I am definitely looking forward to the book 2.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (yes, six stars)🌶️🌶️.5knew it would be good—it’s Keri Lake, for crying out loud—but I didn’t know it would ruin me.Every. Single. Page.This isn’t just a dark fantasy romance. It’s a guttural, poetic descent into rot, yearning, and twisted devotion. I took notes. I highlighted. I annotated like my life depended on it. I never annotate like that. I even made a bookmark. That’s how deep I fell into this world.The worldbuilding? Insane. Gothic, eerie, alive. You feel the woods, the plague, the fear, the politics. The split between the crumbling Ashen City and the wilds? So stark it hurt.And then there’s Lord Zevander Rydainn.Feral. Broken. Gentle in a way that kills you.He’s mine now. I want to curl him up in my lap and run my fingers through his hair and tell him he’s never alone again. I ache for him.Maeve? Stunning. She’s scared, vulnerable, soft—but forced to survive. Forced to fight. And she does. The training scenes? The proximity? The tension?I devoured it.There’s a scene—spoiler—but she comforts his cursed brother. Even in her fear. That moment? It destroyed me. The humanity in this book is so well done, even amidst blood and shadow.The slow burn? BURNING.The ending? I was in tears. Literal tears.I’m not okay. I need more.Maeve and Zevander own me now. Fully.And thank the moons, Keri Lake is dropping Eldeitch this September.I’ll be waiting in line, sobbing.

LOVED this book. Darker than I expected so read your trigger warnings.The tension between the MCs was just delicious and even though their scenes together were somewhat short, you were left wanting so much more. The switch between enemies to lovers was so worth it.The world building was absolutely hauntingly beautiful with heart wrenching scenes that filled you with rage towards their circumstances.

No spoilers:This book was fine. For the first half, it really felt like I was reading two different books. Maevyth’s story was really interesting at the start, a classic gothic setting with religious superstition and interesting navigation of strict gender roles. Zevander’s story felt a bit flat, classic brooding man with dark past, desperate to protect those around him. I felt like he was a character I’d read before.Once their stories joined, it felt like the story was progressing almost without them, or like the characters were carried by the story rather than the other way around. As for the romance, it did sort of feel like they came together out of nothing. I didn’t feel like I experienced their relationship grow.However, overall I still felt like the story was interesting and I wanted to see where it went. This isn’t the best example of a gothic romance I’ve read, but if you’re curious about this book them I would still recommend reading it.

I really enjoyed this book, it started of a little slow.. but it soon picked up.. it was a sloooow burn..This was a dark gothic fantasy.. it was twisted, I loved it…

I just read Anathema on kindle unlimited - I have to say it was one of the best books that I have read this year.The characters were amazing! It had everything: plot, world building and character development. The supporting characters were well rounded and I cannot wait to see what happens in the second book.The main characters were well written and their love story was the perfect slow burn with drops of spice that didn’t affect the movement of the plot. I loved that it was duel POV and that they were written in different styles. Honestly I have so many questions at the end of the book about the cliff hanger and all the other foreshadowed titbits that I’m excited to see how it will all be wrapped up in the second book.I am now going to read the stand alones by Keri Lake as her writing style is divine!