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4.0
Anathema
ByPublisher Description
A new gothic dark fantasy coming in 2024
Only the banished know what lies beyond the woods ...
There are whispers about what lurks in Witch Knell—the forest where sinners go to d!e. The villagers call it The Eating Woods because what’s taken is never given back. Only those who’ve lost their senses would dare to go near it.
Or the banished.
Maevyth Bronwick knows better than to breach the misty labyrinth of trees, but a tragic turn of events compels her beyond the archway of bones, to a boundary no mortal has crossed before. One that cloaks a dark and fantastical world that’s as dangerous as it is alluring.
It’s there that he dwells, the cursed lord of Eidolon. The one tasked to keep her hidden from the magehood that seeks to crucify her in the name of an arcane prophesy. Zevander Rydainn, known to his prey as The Scorpion, is the coldest, most calculated assassin in all of Aethyria and he’d sooner toss his feisty ward to a pack of vicious fyredrakes than keep her safe.
If only he could.
Maevyth’s blood is the key to breaking his despised curse and vanquishing the slumbering evil in Witch Knell. Unfortunately for Lord Rydainn, fate has other plans for the irresistible little enchantress. And his growing obsession with her threatens to destroy everything.
Including himself.
Only the banished know what lies beyond the woods ...
There are whispers about what lurks in Witch Knell—the forest where sinners go to d!e. The villagers call it The Eating Woods because what’s taken is never given back. Only those who’ve lost their senses would dare to go near it.
Or the banished.
Maevyth Bronwick knows better than to breach the misty labyrinth of trees, but a tragic turn of events compels her beyond the archway of bones, to a boundary no mortal has crossed before. One that cloaks a dark and fantastical world that’s as dangerous as it is alluring.
It’s there that he dwells, the cursed lord of Eidolon. The one tasked to keep her hidden from the magehood that seeks to crucify her in the name of an arcane prophesy. Zevander Rydainn, known to his prey as The Scorpion, is the coldest, most calculated assassin in all of Aethyria and he’d sooner toss his feisty ward to a pack of vicious fyredrakes than keep her safe.
If only he could.
Maevyth’s blood is the key to breaking his despised curse and vanquishing the slumbering evil in Witch Knell. Unfortunately for Lord Rydainn, fate has other plans for the irresistible little enchantress. And his growing obsession with her threatens to destroy everything.
Including himself.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesAnathema Reviews
4.0
“Recommended for:
Readers who enjoy dark romantasy with a strong sense of world and atmosphere, especially those who don’t mind a more observational reading experience and a slow build into a larger series.
This one left me a bit in between.
I was pulled into the story quite easily, mostly because of the world. It feels built and interesting, even if I would have liked to spend more time exploring it, especially outside the main storyline. It’s the kind of setting that feels like it has more to give than we fully get to see in this first book.
The darkness is there, but it didn’t hit as hard as I expected. With everything going on, it felt more like a fantasy story set in a dark world rather than something that truly leaned into that darkness. It worked, but I think I expected it to go a bit further.
The main character made sense to me, especially considering her upbringing, but I never fully connected with her. She often felt more reactive than active, which made me feel like I was watching her story unfold rather than being part of it.
The male lead fits very much into the dark archetype. It was quite clear from the start where his role in the story would land, which made parts of their dynamic feel expected. Their relationship builds over time, but it leans more into curiosity and obsession than something deeply emotional.
That said, the book kept me reading. The pacing worked, and I found it easy to get through, even if my connection to the characters wasn’t particularly strong.
The ending is a cliffhanger, which I’m not usually a fan of, but it’s done well enough that it still makes me want to continue the series — just not immediately.
Overall, this felt like a strong setup for something bigger. I didn’t feel deeply connected while reading, but I am curious enough about the world to keep going.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5”
BelievableChange and growFormulaicLikeableMemorableMorally ambiguousMultilayeredStrong relationshipsStrong villainAddictiveClever plottingEpic scopeGripping/excitingSatisfying conclusionSteady pacingSuspensefulTwistyWell-structuredAncientAtmosphericBeautifulDarkEerieEnchantedEtherealEvocative imageryExpansiveImmersive world-buildingLushMagicalMysteriousOtherworldlyPicturesqueRealisticSetting fits the storyVivid descriptionsBeautifully-writtenDescriptiveWhimsical toneWittyAbuseAnimal abuseChild abuseDeathExplicit sexual contentGriefHomophobiaMisogynyMurderReligious intoleranceSexual assaultSubstance abuseViolence
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