FORESTFALL

Subsumed in dark magic, a teen finds herself in the middle of an impossible love triangle.

In this sequel to Lakesedge (2021), red-haired Violeta Graceling has bargained away her life Above to save her beloved Rowan Sylvanan. Now living in the Below with the enigmatic Lord Under, she finds this world just as fraught as the one she left. Still tethered by magic (and passion) to Rowan, Leta soon finds herself having unexpectedly complicated feelings for the Lord Under. She soon meets his sinister sisters, who wish to take the Lord Under’s power and cast Leta out of the Below. When both the Above and the Below find themselves caught in the balance, Leta is pressured to make a terrible choice: Could she destroy the Lord Under to be with Rowan? Clipstone’s gothic slow-burn has all the right romantic dark fantasy elements—shadowy magic and a tortuous love triangle—set against sensuous repetition (lots of sighs, shivers, rasps, and lip-biting), making for prose that reads like a hypnotic incantation and love scenes that are positively incendiary. While love-triangle tropes are well-trodden ground, Leta resolves things cleverly, exploring different boundaries; those seeking a fresh take on romance will find much to enjoy here. Main characters present White.

An inventive and unconventional duology closer certain to spark discussion.