LAKESEDGE

A girl makes a deal with the devil to save a monster.

Seventeen-year-old Violeta Graceling and her 13-year-old brother, Arien, live with Mother, their adopted parent. Arien is consumed by a dark magic that frightens Mother, whose fear manifests itself as horrific abuse. When the village landowner, Lord Rowan Sylvanan (also known as the Monster of Lakesedge for murdering his family), comes to take Arien away to use his magic, Violeta demands to accompany them. Rowan wants Arien to use his power to help fight the Corruption, a dark force that threatens to consume the entire kingdom. When their attempts fail, Violeta makes a desperate deal with the devilish deity the Lord Under in order to save those she loves. Predictably, Violeta falls for Rowan. She learns that his monstrous moniker may not be what it seems: While he is mysterious and moody, their romance quickly ratchets from bickering to swooning to positively incendiary. Clipstone’s gothic fantasy has nods to “Beauty and the Beast” and the myth of Persephone. While at times this novel can feel a bit formulaic, dark fantasy and romance fans will likely overlook this, getting lost in the layered drama and romance. Most characters are assumed White; a secondary character is queer.

Brooding and atmospheric.