Anathema: The Eating Woods, Book 1
4.4 | 31,930 ratings
Price: 52.49
Last update: 11-30-2025
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- SuziDark Gothic Fantasy Romance!! A must read!!! ????????????????????????⬛”???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ????????????????, ???????????? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????????.
????’???? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????.”????⬛
“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.” ???????????? - Flames_andfableschilling readAnathema 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. - Twinmomx2This book had me reading late into the night!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (I’d give it 10 if I could!)
Anathema (The Eating Woods #1) by Keri Lake absolutely consumed me—I was up way too late because I just had to know what happened next! The world-building is rich and immersive, full of dark magic, dangerous creatures, a mysterious curse, and a slow-burn romance that kept me hooked from start to finish.
I switched back and forth between the ebook and audiobook, and wow—the audiobook is phenomenal. It’s a true duet performance with Melissa Barr and James Cassidy bringing the characters to life perfectly. Their range of characters and emotional delivery made the story even more intense.
If you love fantasy romance with powerful magic, hidden identities, and that deliciously slow build between characters, this one’s for you. I’m dying to start book 2 but waiting (impatiently!) for the audiobook release.
Pick it up—you won’t regret it! ????️????️ spice level
#Anathema #TheEatingWoods #KeriLake - LbaustinBest book of the year so far for me!! ????⬛????????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
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*This is book #1 of a trilogy