Anathema (The Eating Woods)

"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. **

Anathema is a story I’d been anticipating to read since its release last year. I went in expecting a gothic atmosphere paired with a chilling story line. What I found was a richly developed world, layered with lore, and filled with characters carrying heavy emotional baggage as they fight to protect their realm. There are definitely some eerie moments. You will get your fill of the macabre with mysterious ravens and a spider or two. While the world-building felt a bit confusing at first, once the story gained momentum, I was fully drawn in. Maevyth is a clever heroine, though her lack of self-trust was sometimes frustrating. Zevander’s brooding nature, on the other hand, completely fits his tragic backstory and added a edge to the narrative. Be prepared for a slow burn. The tension in their relationship was sometimes to much to bear, but it eventually delivers.

🐦‍⬛”𝑴𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆. 𝑰’𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈.”🐦‍⬛ “Anathema “ by Keri Lake 💀🐦‍⬛💫🔥🖤🦂🌕 5⭐️ 2.5🌶️(major slow burn 🔥) Loved , Loved , Loved This book!! It was dark , spooky , heartbreaking, complex !! Everything I look for in a Dark Gothic Fantasy book!! I was hooked from 100 pages in !! Even though the first 35% was this complex world/ character building, I absolutely loved it!! And ate 🥣 it up!! 🖤Keri Lake really knows how to write a story that makes you feel like you are part of it!! This is my first book by her and it will definitely wouldn’t be my last!! MFC “Maevyth “ 🐦‍⬛is an outcast in her world , there’s an arch in the (The Eating Woods) the dark forest beyond her house. There’s a horrible act committed by her sister and she’s banished into the arch. But “Whatever is taken is never returned “ Maevyth is thrown into this alternate universe and finds her “destiny “ MMC Zevander 🦂is a cursed , grumpy, morally grey, “Assassin for the King” who is trying to find a cure for his brother who is also cursed and is in advance stages of this monstrous and deadly curse! His only hope is a mortal “Maevyth “ who at first he despises, but soon learns she is the only hope of finding a cure . The enemies to lovers/slow burn🥵 between Zevander & Maevyth was just written so good!! It took a while for anything to happen, but when it did !! Phew 😮‍💨🥵🔥🫠 There so many intriguing layers to this story , with a unique magic system that incorporates some of the spicy scenes!! And there’s so many great secondary characters! Like “Zevander’s “ sister “Rykaia” just loved her !! Loved her wit and her friendship with Maevyth !! And The “ The Crone Witch” love to see more of her backstory!! And of course all the 🐍🦂🐉mythical creatures/ monsters!! I absolutely loved everything about this book! So if you like Dark Gothic Fantasy Romance, Duel POV , complex World Building, a Unique Magic System, mysterious creatures and monsters, Enemies to Lovers, One Bed/ Horse , Fated Mates, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Curses & Secrets, Found Family ! Then I would highly recommend you pick up this unforgettable book!! And I’m really looking forward to the continuation of this story !! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 “She was his. Lunamiszka. My little moon witch.” 💫🌕💫

This book has been on my TBR list for most of 2025. I thought the physical copy in October intending to make it a fall read due to the spooky vibes. But every time I picked it up, I couldn’t seem to get started. So I read nightshade by Keri Lake instead and decided I’d come back to this one. Tried it again after Thanksgiving and I just could not get drawn in during the first couple chapters. So I decided to do something I typically don’t do and try reading it WHILE listening to the audiobook. And boy did I hit the jackpot. The audiobook is in the Duet style and boy did James Cassidy and Melissa Barr absolutely kill the reading of this book! The audio experience elevated this book and had me binging right after NYE. At first, Anathema reminded me of Nightshade due to the religious undertones and some of the underworld aspects. But this is where Ms. Lake thrives - world building. She created a completely New World with a completely unique magic system, with beautifully gothic undertones and this is why the book is beefy. There is no room for confusion. And I was SAT for every bit of this book once I found my stride. All in all, what a great read to start 2026. Keri Lake writes some of the most dense fiction without it being overwhelming or stuffy. I’m still sad we won’t be getting a second book in the Nocticadia world. (I’m sure she is tired of our tears lol) This is one is definitely a gothic romance but it’s no less horror coded than her other works. But onwards to Eldritch! I’ll order the physical copy and sit on it until the time is right lol.

I liked the overall plot of the story. Maevyth a supposed mortal with magic. She is an outcast in her village was abandoned as a baby. Lives with her given family. Her sister Aleysia. It's a religious community who believe all sinners should be punished. Maevyth sister ends up getting banished to the woods were a monster lives. Maevyth goes after her and ends up crossing into another world. Little world building not alot. Met alot of characters but not much backstory.. I understand fantasy you make up words but why do you have to make it so difficult. There were at least three pages of definitions and everything sounded the same. I stopped the book twice but picked it back up because I do Like Keri. End the end I did like it..but just lay off the made up words.

So I for some reason cannot stand when books start out with a whole ass glossary at the beginning. For the first book in a series or a stand-alone at least. If it were in a book continuing a series or a previous world, I can understand the need for a refresher. But if you are a new reader to the world or series, I think it comes off as a little bit intimidating as usually a lot of big words and fancy meanings are thrown at you. I am fully aware I do not have to actually read through it but if the intention wasn’t for me to do so, why is it at the beginning of the book rather than the end? I’m assuming for me to reference as I read but that’s somewhat annoying to do on a kindle and I find it a bit lazy. If the work is written well, I won’t need the reference. And touching back on this point after completing this book, it was written pretty well. The world building was very good. I think the average person will for sure be confused here and there. But when are you not when being introduced to entirely different world for the first time? Now this probably gets into some **SPOILERY** territory but it turns out this is a world that does have fated mates. Which I do not mind. Just more than the first half of the book isn’t pitched like that. It kind of just felt like something to throw in there, like checking off a box. I don’t know- for me, it just didn’t seem to fit. And the way you tell who your mate is, I found really kind of…. dumb. I’m sorry. Peace and love. And the relationship or progression of it anyway started out so well. It was moving at a somewhat understandable pace. But towards the end, it just snowballed too quickly for me. It’s difficult to explain without giving a spoiler honestly. There is a point towards the end where the FMC needs help but the MMC is practically adamant that the FMC is his least priority. Which I could understand if not just a few chapters later- he’s snacking on her lunchbox talking as if the FMC is the love of his life. Honestly my issue just comes from the pacing with it. This is the first book in a series I believe, so I think it actually would’ve paid off to save the romance for later when it would make more sense. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me but hearing the dialogue of the MMC saying the FMC is not his problem and then the next, is with the FMC- it just kind of feels like a slap to the face cause we are reading from his POV but also her’s. And maybe it’s just me with this but I cannot stand when the MMC is constantly just walking around literally BRICKED UP. Like please calm down. I will say, this author does actual horror very well in my opinion. Like a gothic horror. For me personally, it is hard to imagine horror in novels but I could do so reading this. Some may complain about how long it takes for any romantic development but in my opinion, I don’t think it was long enough. It wasn’t done horribly by any means but like I said previously, I think the payout would’ve been better if it happened in the second book or something. Because for me, the writing and plot was good enough that it carried the story. Some books I think need the romance aspect to help carry the book- but this wasn’t one of ‘em. This book was very easy and quick to read. And I wasn’t left feeling like I was just dragging my feet till the FMC and MMC got together. The author did the tension pretty well in my opinion. Over all though, I enjoyed the book. I like the characters and the world building was great. Which is surprising because I read it cause I saw it on TikTok and that tends to fail me. This was one of the good ones in my opinion however. I will for sure read the second one.

Clocking in at a whopping 690 pages, it took a fair amount of FOMO for me to finally pick this one up, but I did it! And I’m so glad that I did. While I do think we could’ve shaved 75-100 pages, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time with this one. Keri’s writing is atmospheric, the story is creative and engrossing, and both Maevyth and Zevander are intoxicating characters. I can’t wait to see where the conclusion takes us.

This book was absolutely perfect—an easy five stars. A dark, gothic tale filled with slow-burn romance, forced proximity, and just the right amount of horror elements. Don’t ask me what this book is about because I want to give NOTHING away. From start to finish, this book was a masterclass in storytelling. The plot was gripping, the pacing was spot-on, and at no point did the 600 pages feel like they were dragging. I devoured this book. Every detail was deliberate. Every word, every scene had a purpose. The writing was so vivid that I could see it like a movie in my mind, yet there were no unnecessary filler. Whoever edited this book deserves a standing ovation, because it was perfection. When I say there wasn’t a single dull moment, I mean it. I was completely engrossed for every page. The romance was beautifully done, the found family dynamic was heartwarming, and the magic system was both unique and easily integrated into the world-building. Even with the map and glossary, the world-building was intuitive enough that I hardly ever had to flip back for reference. Everything made sense in the context of the story as it unfolded. I felt everything reading this book—emotion, laughter, cringe-worthy moments from the gore, and swooning from the slow-burn tension. It was a rollercoaster in the best way. Honestly, I have no critiques. This book is flawless. Keri Lake SE LA COMIO – she absolutely crushed it. This is the first book in a trilogy, and I’m already counting down the days until the second book drops later this year. This is my first Keri Lake book and she’s officially a must-buy author for me.