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Review
5 stars!
Wow, what an amazing read! A dark gothic fantasy with elements of horror, a richly detailed world, fantastic characters and a slow burning love story, this atmospheric adventure sucked me in and did not let go.
Found abandoned as an infant, Maevyth is a young woman living in small, gothic, medieval-like village by the Eating Woods. Taken in by a local family, she has lived a poor life with no real relationships other than her beloved foster sister, and she’s about to be sold off in marriage. When the suspicious village people banish her sister to the woods, Maevyth follows, only to be sucked through a portal into an equally gothic and medieval realm, but this one has magic and an ancient prophecy that instantly makes her a target.
Zevander Rydainn is the king’s assassin. A broody, scarred badass, he has a traumatic past, and he lives under the shadow a devastating curse – one that gives him all-consuming power, but that will one day turn him mad. It turns out that Maevyth’s blood is the cure, but he finds himself unable to kill her. And when a secretive group of mages also set Maevyth in their sights, Zevander takes her into his home, under his protection, though he wants nothing to do with her.
It’s a great set-up as Maevyth is brought into Zevander’s world, and his mentor, his friends and his sister are all a part of the story as Maevyth learns about her new world and embarks upon magic-wielding lessons. There’s all of the close-proximity, snarky vibes that I love about this kind of story, and Maevyth is smart, sweet and relatable as she adjusts to her new reality. There’s a lot going on in the story, and I loved exploring it all, but for me, I was hanging for the romance. It’s there, but not, more a hint of what will be. The chemistry is definitely there between Maevyth and Zevander, we see hints of it all throughout the story, and every little moment builds the tension so well! The romance doesn’t really come into it until the end of the book, which is steamy, but not (hehe), but worth the wait, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for these two.
“You are mine, moon witch. For all eternity and whatever lies beyond it. No soul has ever been more intricately woven into mine than yours.”
Keri Lake has created a rich and complex world which is wonderfully developed and is engrossing in a way that makes you feel like you’re right there and experiencing everything alongside the characters. It’s a little overwhelming at the beginning, with a lot to take in, but I was quickly captivated, and I loved losing myself in this fascinating world.
This is the first book in a duology, and the story is definitely unfinished. There are some big developments that happen right at the end of the book, and I’m so excited to see where things go from here. It’s an exciting and all-consuming read, and I loved it!
5 stars.
I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated duet style by Melissa Barr and James Cassidy and they do an amazing job bringing this story to life. The various accents and intensity of their voices bring so much life to the story, and it was so good to listen to. I definitely recommend this one in audio.
The Eating Woods Duology
