Anathema (The Eating Woods)

First off @kerilake, you did an awesome job writing this🥳 and thank you! You made my weekend. This book had it all! 🤩 It's rare that I give a book 5 stars on Goodreads, but this... this is a 5-star book! ✨ This book is one of the best I've read all year, I swear. Is this on your TBR? If not get a move on! The WORLD! The PLOT! The MAGIC! The FMC & MMC—perfection. I'm so over the moon writing this right now😅 It has a fantastic plot and fantastic characters (with so much depth). There is no rush; everything gets the pages it deserves. The details❤️ I'm seriously dying over this world and character build. I'm in awe! 😍 5 stars. I love it, and I'm impatiently waiting to get my hands on Eldritch! I'm totally going in a slump after this book!³

This book was so incredibly written to where one minute I was on the edge of my seat and the next I was swooning over Zevander and his cold charm. This book was a book that had a unique touch that I haven’t read in a while. It’s a Gothic Romantasy. That alone gives you an idea of how this novel was. For a while, my husband knew this book as “the scary book”. To give you some context, I never read or watch anything scary or horror of any kind. I embrace the fact that I’m a chicken and am totally fine with it. Anyway, the book had some horror moments that made me turn on the lights during night reading. It was descriptive, intense, and the most horror-ridden fantasy book I’ve personally ever read. With that being said, I actually loved it despite my unease. It was immersive and intriguing in a different way that I have nothing to compare it to. Now the romance is a whole other story (pun intended). The slow burn between our two leading characters was fiery, angsty, and entrancing. I’m not spoiling anything but may I say that the pain and sorrow is real in this book and is completely relatable to those who have been there. So the romance is a mix of so many emotions and intoxicating to read. I hope this review will entice you to enter Anathema and enjoy every bit of it.

I've said this before and I will say it again with the whole my chest: Keri Lake is incapable of writing a bad book. The queen of gothic romance has done it again, but Anathema - the first book in her The Eating Woods duology - feels notably elevated. In tone, cadence, craft, and feeling. This gothic romance is more dark gothic high-fantasy than anything else, but it still has the hallmarks of everything I've come to expect and love from Keri's books - from the exquisitely crafted heroines down to the vicious, broody, emotional constipation of her heroes. Maevyth is shaping up to be my new favorite Keri Lake heroine. The way Keri balances all of these different facets and nuances to Maevyth's character is nothing short of masterful - she's astonishingly resilient and has a mouth on her, but she's also deeply vulnerable and compassionate, even after everything she's had to endure. Her arc isn't quite done yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed the growth she's undergone so far and I can't wait to see the woman of ferocity and power she has the potential to become. Zevander is delicious. Tortured, broody, and the walking definition of "he hates everyone but her". Okay, so not everyone. He does love his sister (as do I. Rykaia is a devious, meddling hoot. Hopefully we'll get some scenes with her and Maevyth's sister, Aleysia. The absolute HAVOC those two could wreak would be nothing short of legendary - but I digress). This is one of the most masterfully executed slow-burns I have read in recent memory, perhaps even ever. This first have of the duology is over 700 pages long, but I was never bored for a single moment. The lore and world-building in this book is rich and decadent and the way Keri crafted each intricate detail was so vivid at times, it was almost effortless to see it all playing out in my head like a movie - and that is a feat only a small handful of authors have ever accomplished, and I can count them all on one hand. There are a number of tangling plots and threads and excellent moments of foreshadowing throughout the book, and several passages that almost felt almost lyrical in their construction, a beautiful dark kind of magic that makes me think of the highest quality of dark chocolate. I don't know - I'm struggling to adequately describe what this book made me feel throughout. It's just... it's just so good. While there is indeed a lot going on in this book, let's focus on the crème de la crème - the budding relationship between Maevyth and Zevander. From the very moment their paths cross, it's clear these two share something inexplicable. This dark assassin from another realm who has never hesitated or faltered couldn't bring himself to harm a single hair on an unassuming mortal's head. But as the two are thrown together by fate and exist in close quarters to one another for the following weeks, anyone with eyes is able to see that there's a darkness in Maevyth that is able to reach Zevander (and his poor elder brother, Branimir) when no one else has been able to. The mystery surrounding who and what Maevyth is is still in the process of being fully unveiled, but what we do get in this book is endlessly intriguing. As mentioned previously, this book is a proper slow-burn - in particular where the romance is concerned, so if you're looking for copious amounts of spice, this book won't be for you. Keri makes you wait for it, and the few teases we do get before those final chapters (yes, I said final chapters) are nothing short of delectable. It takes some serious talent to make doing anything but going all the way as effective as she has and I am forever in awe of this woman's talents. This book is dark and there are a number of deeply disturbing and sometimes outright horrifying moments (which made that whole aforementioned "easily able to picture this playing out in my head like a movie" thing a double-edged sword, if you will). So if you have any sensitivities at all, I would recommend changing the content and trigger warnings first. Otherwise, I cannot recommend this book enough. Anathema was one of my most anticipated new releases of 2024 and it absolutely did not disappoint. Not even a little. Can't wait for the final book! I am desperate to know how all of this ends! INFINITY STARS! The whole firmament! Absolutely brilliant and masterfully executed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"He'd lived too long with the practicality of knowing the stars were too far out of reach, and yet, in his arms lay the brightest of them all. The girl with the moon in her eyes and fire in her soul." THIS IS HOW YOU DO A GOTHIC FANTASY! The prologue traps you before the story begins, luring you into what's to come. Filled with rage, agony, and immeasurable sadness-it demands your attention. I couldn't stay away for long. The world building and magic system is fresh, digestible, and unforgiving. Keri Lake truly did not hold back! The story follows Maevyth who is casted as the disease in her hometown due to being found in The Eating Woods. Not knowing who or where she came from, the people of Mortasia never fail to remind her that she will never belong. The only person she can claim her own, her heart, is her stepsister, Aleysia. The two are an unlikely pair that depict deep and true sisterhood. The other POV we follow is, Zevander's- which had to be some of my favorite time spent in this book. He embodies the very meaning of morally gray. Cursed at a young age and deemed unlovable in ways he aches for yet fights for scrapes of, while looking for a cure- he is shackled into caring for his siblings while also serving the king. When a mage sends him on a mission to collect the very thing that can cure him, the two POV'S finally collide. What I appreciated as a reader who has been seeking out Fantasy books that carry weight more in its plot rather than romance, is what this book is. We could not receive the climax between the main characters without the story being woven throughout, giving you the WHY first and then letting everything else unravel later. The action felt like watching a movie! There were moments I audibly yelled "WAIT WHAT" with a smile on my face. It was vivid, provided comedic relief and had me on the edge of my seat. The pages where we saw Maeve and Zevander blossom romantically (even the crumbs) were well earned, EXTREMELY well paced, and packed with feet stomping banter. When we do get a sliver of something, the story begs for them to be apart, but when they're back on page together, they seamlessly pick up where they left off. It was absolutely mouthwatering. The audiobook was a stunning production by James Cassidy and Melissa Bar. Sometimes you pick up an audiobook and one narrator out shines the other, not here. Both left no crumbs- from their passion, different voices, and ability to capture the aura and essence of both main characters- left me with my jaw on the floor! One of the best audiobooks so far this year! **Please be sure to read all TW/CW. Although an enjoyable read, some of it's contents and eeriness, may not be for suitable for everyone. Your mental health comes first. **

About ‘Anathema’ In the suffocating village of Foxglove Parish, Maevyth Bronwick has never fit in. Shunned by judgmental neighbors and trapped by a society that sees her as nothing more than a potential wife, she faces her breaking point when her stepmother arranges a marriage to a man who sends chills down her spine. With no other option, Maevyth takes a desperate risk, escaping into the Eating Woods—a place so terrifying that locals swear no one ever returns. What starts as a heart-pounding flight from a nightmarish future becomes something extraordinary when Maevyth stumbles upon a portal to Aethyria, a magical realm far more dangerous than anything in her wildest dreams. Suddenly, she's thrust into a world of supernatural threats and ancient magic, finding herself at the mercy of Zevander Rydainn—The Scorpion—a legendary figure whose reputation is as sharp and deadly as his name suggests. Forced into an alliance that feels more like a knife's edge than a safe haven, Maevyth must learn to survive in this new world. Zevander becomes her unexpected protector, a man as unpredictable as the magical landscape around them. Their relationship is a complicated dance of survival, trust, and a growing attraction that neither of them saw coming. Tropes in ‘Anathema’ 🖤 Gothic Romance 🖤 Forced Proximity 🖤 Hidden Abilities 🖤 Hidden Identities 🖤 Touch her and die 🖤 Fated Mates 🖤 Found Family 🖤 Morally Grey Hero Similar Books 🖤 'From Blood and Ash' by Jennifer L. Armentrout 🖤 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas Final Thoughts "Anathema" is a gripping gothic horror romance that explores survival, unexpected connections, and the fine line between danger and protection. It's a story that pulls you in and doesn't let go, promising readers a wild ride through magic, fear, and the most unexpected of alliances.

Sigh.. this is a tough one for me to review and decide how I feel about it. The good: • Very spooky descriptions and dark vibes which makes for a good Halloween read • The last 1/4 of the book ramps up in action and becomes more of a page turner • The MMC's sister is a great support character that is so much fun and I would want to be friends with • It's only meant to be a duology so it won't take a million books to know the whole story The not so good: • The first 3/4 of the book is really dark with very little redeeming content and I struggled to get into it • A ton of ridiculous names, places, and magical creatures that were hard to keep track of • The spice isn't great (think piercings, trauma flashbacks, inexperience, etc.) and they never reach home • Triggers: animal death (birds & cats), sxual assault (kids, men, & women), abuse, oppression, incest, etc. • Felt like a combo of Handmaid's Tale + Beauty & the Beast but just the darkest parts of it Overall: Honestly... I didn't really love this book. I kinda liked the FMC but the MMC just gave me the ick. While I enjoy a dark action story, I prefer it to have a little bit of light hearted or happy content (whether it's humor or romance etc.) and this book had very little feel-good content. I'll probably read the second book just because I want to know the full story but I wouldn't reread this first book or recommend it to anyone given all the dark content.

AMAZING! I loved this book so much. I’m so happy that I chose this book based on the bio and not in the author, because I would’ve probably decided not to read it if I had realized who it was that wrote it- it has absolutely nothing to do with this authors fantastic writing and all to do with my weak heart~ I read the Nightshade duet and it was just too dark for me. I must be an empath because I actually feel the deep despair that the characters feel (when the writing is really good) and it can make me really depressed at times. This book was not too dark at all which I really really loved. I have never read a dark romance where both the FMC and the MMC are dark in their own ways, and I found that to be a refreshing twist. The best part about it is both of them are good at heart, but they live in a cruel world and as a result they have to do cruel things. I am a bit worried about the next book though- I am so in love with these characters that have both been through so much trauma, if they go through any more of it I will be really upset so I might have to stop reading here. Grrr my stupid, fragile, heart! Keri you are amazing, thank you for all you do and you’re incredible writing. **this part is about the narration on the audiobook: The MMC voice is godly. I would propose right now, idc what he looks like, he is husband material based on his voice alone. Truly one of the best male narrators I’ve ever heard. My favorite part about his voice is how incredible he was at doing different tones for different characters, but in the most subtle and realistic way possible. It truly sounded like completely different people were talking! I hope to hear his voice much more in the future!! The female narrator… where do I start. I’m torn because she has such a great tone that I really really love. But she has this ugly Brooklyn accent that could not be covered up no matter how hard she tried and I found that to be distracting. Not distracting enough to stop reading though, which does say a lot. I think I’ve tried listening to another book by the same narrator before and had to stop reading because of the thick underlying Brooklyn accent. if this is the same one then she must have a voice coach because it is a lot more subtle but I would appreciate more consistency in the future. The British accent was a complete disaster, truly the worst British accent I have ever heard in my life. It was Brooklish (Brooklyn British) and I’m flabbergasted it made the cut. I think at this point removing British from her repertoire is probably the best idea but that’s just my two cents.

This had everything my dark little heart could want, except for the ending (more on that later.) ✔️Dark, gothic worlds ✔️Magical creatures ✔️A splash of gore ✔️Tab worthy storyline that has more than just romance ✔️A MMC I'd throw hands for 😏Bonus points for bringing out a little rage & sadness in me. This was one of those books I had to force myself to put down at times because I didn't want it to end! I needed to savor every detail. It's a big one, coming in at 600 pages of mind tickling goodness, so bring snacks & stay hydrated if you choose to jump in. The world building and details are no joke. Told from two different POVs, it drags you in quickly, but can get overwhelming at times. I was taking notes like I was prepping for a pop quiz. Probably not necessary, but helped me retain the info better. It felt like watching a dark fantasy tv series unfold with all of the different characters, gods, etc & I loved every single second. Completely addicted. And then those last few chapters 😐. The slowest burn imaginable suddenly burst into flames, on an absurd level. One minute I'm vibing, the next I'm watching five seasons of super spicy chaos on fast forward. Definitely a bit rushed, but I can appreciate the reasoning and see how it was set up for book two. *Check those triggers! This one is heavy. Also, if you have a fear of spiders, this isn't the book for you. Or maybe it is, depending on how you roll 🤷🏻‍♀️. No judgement. 5+ ⭐'s for being one of my favorite reads so far this year! Twist factor-🤯🤯 Gore & creepy factor-🩸🩸🩸 Spice- extreme slow burn & then 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ *This is book #1 of a trilogy

ANATHEMA → KERI LAKE ⭐ 4.5/5 🔥 2/5 · Maevyth Bronwick, a excluída da vila, sempre foi avisada para ficar longe da floresta Eating Woods. Um lugar onde, se você entra, nunca mais sai. Mas quando ela é forçada a correr para o meio dessas terras assustadoras, um novo mundo se abre diante dela. Literalmente. Ela acaba num lugar cheio de magia sombria, criaturas aterrorizantes e magos que só querem vê-la morta. Será que ela vai conseguir sobreviver? Mal sabia ela que lá encontraria Zevander Rydainn, o senhor amaldiçoado de Eidolon, que a alguns capítulos atrás estava tentando assassinar ela (que fofinho ☺️), porque o sangue da nossa bruxinha é uma das chaves para curar sua maldição. Claro que ele não consegue cumprir essa missão, já que a sua magia estava atacando ele em vez dela. Então imagina a surpresa dele quando ela aparece ali, no seu mundo. A escrita da Keri Lake é sempre envolvente e vívida, mas nesse livro ela se superou ao criar um mundo fantástico e perturbador, cheio de línguas, lendas, linhagens, criaturas únicas e um sistema de magia fascinante. Esse é o romance mais slow burn que você vai ver, mas é claro que não falta a tensão insuportável do nosso casal, diálogos engraçados e uma química elétrica. Eles não se suportam, mas o Zevander precisa treinar a Maeve, para que ela consiga atingir todo o seu potencial, já que ela é um mistério para todo mundo. Esses dois personagens realmente trazem o melhor um do outro, e mal posso esperar pra ver como o relacionamento deles vai evoluir no último livro! · ⚠️ Olhem os gatilhos com antecedência e se divirtam.

My copy is missing pages...

Al primo tentativo ho rinunciato, ma ho concesso al libro una seconda prova e questa volta l'ho apprezzato tanto che leggerò il secondo volume. Non si divora in un boccone, ma si lascia gustare pagina dopo pagina. Non è semplice in inglese come lo sono altri libri, ma dandogli la dovuta attenzione scorre via. Da leggere

Zevander I am sorry you have been through a lot