Anathema (The Eating Woods, #1)

📘 About This Book

From the author of Nocticadia comes a spellbinding gothic dark fantasy about a shunned woman who is forced beyond the mortal realm's forbidden boundary, into a terrifying world of cursed souls and grotesque creatures. Only the banished know what lies beyond the woods ... There are whispers about what lurks in Witch Knell-the forest where sinners go to die. 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. Anathema is a full-length, gothic dark fantasy, the first book in The Eating Woods duology. Perfect for readers who enjoy a plot-heavy and atmospheric story with a unique magic system, a slow-burn romance and a touch of horror.

📖 Summary

Anathema, the first installment in The Eating Woods series by acclaimed author Keri Lake, invites readers into a spellbinding gothic dark fantasy world rich with atmosphere, danger, and mystery. Published in 2024, the novel explores the chilling folklore surrounding a forbidden forest known locally as Witch Knell, or more ominously, The Eating Woods. According to village lore, this mist-shrouded labyrinth of ancient trees is where sinners go to die, and anything that enters the forest is permanently consumed, never to be returned. Only the foolish or the utterly desperate would dare approach its borders, and only the banished truly know what horrific secrets wait within. The story centers on Maevyth Bronwick, a shunned woman who understands the deadly rules of the boundary better than most. For her entire life, she has known to keep her distance from the misty labyrinth. However, a sudden and tragic turn of events shatters her world, removing all her other choices and compelling her to take an unthinkable step. Driven by desperation, Maevyth breaches the archway of bones that marks the edge of the human realm, crossing a forbidden boundary that no mortal has ever successfully traversed before. By stepping past this threshold, she leaves behind everything she has ever known and enters a terrifying, hidden world. This realm beyond the mortal boundary is cloaked in deep darkness and fantastical elements, populated by cursed souls and grotesque creatures that test the limits of sanity and survival. As Maevyth navigates this perilous environment, she discovers a landscape that is as hauntingly alluring as it is inherently lethal. Keri Lake builds a deeply immersive dark fantasy atmosphere, blending elements of gothic horror with themes of banishment, isolation, and forbidden exploration. The narrative follows Maevyth as she confronts the horrors of the woods and uncovers the truths hidden beneath the fog. Anathema sets a dark and captivating stage for the rest of the series, offering a gripping journey through a world where survival demands unimaginable sacrifice and courage in the face of absolute terror.

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