Anathema ♥ Keri Lake ♥ The Eating Woods #1

Published September 2024 ♥ Independently Published by Keri Lake

❥ Narrated by : Melissa Barr & James Cassidy

❥ Gothic Dark Fantasy

❥ Slow Burn

❥ Prophecy

❥ Magic

❥ Curses

❥ Trigger Warnings : Strong Language, Explicit Sexual Situations, Murder (Immolation), Flaying, Graphic Violence, Animal Death & Consumption (Dragon consumes cat), Spiders, Gore, Child Abuse, Feticide, Sexual Assault (not by MMC or FMC), Suicide/Suicidal Ideation, Choking, Hallucinations, Torture

When Anathema by Keri Lake came across my feed, I was skeptical. A while ago I tried to read Nightshade but I ended up not finishing it. I wasn’t sure I wanted to bother with Anathema. There are a lot of books I want to read now that I am out of a reading slump. Something about this book had me craving some gothic vibes in my life though, so I gave it a chance.

I listened to Anathema. Highly recommend it if you can. The narration perfectly captured the beauty of Lake’s story.

As always, to avoid spoilers, jump down to my Final Thoughts.

1. Wow. This fucking prologue. 
2. The atmosphere is enthralling. 
3. Ouch, sold by your adoptive step grandmother. 
4. I am thoroughly digging the vibes of this so far. 
5. Zevander must be part of the bloodline from the prologue. 
6. The bloodstones of all seven bloodlines to break his curse and the seventh is a mystery. Let me guess, it’s going to be Maevyth.
7. The Black Pestilence is coming. 
8. Z’s poor sister is going through some shit. 
9. Girl, are you poisoned?
10. Just seeing dead people. 
11. Enter the tragic backstory. Somehow I don’t think the brother is going to get better.
12. I mean, Moros doesn’t seem that bad. Not yet anyways. 
13. Hearing demons are we?
14. You see the dead girl, but have you ever stared death in the face yourself?
15. This fucking uncle. 
16. Daughter of the Death Goddess you say. 
17. The voice acting for Moros kills me. 
18. Moros is most definitely bad. 
19. These townspeople. Glad I don’t live there. 
20. Bye bye Moros. 
21. Bye bye Uncle. 
22. Were I the cannibal type, I might be inclined to have a taste.
23. We love a man who reads. 
24. Everyone just gonna stay in the dungeons. 
25. This is some erotic magic. 
26. What in the seven hells indeed. 
27. Yes! Girl is definitely going to ride this dragon. 
28. His little moon witch. 
29. The tension. 
30. Fated Mates. 
31. Girl you were definitely tricked. 
32. She is definitely referring to you. Enter the prophecy. 
33. Girls out here learning and mastering glyphs while being fucked. 
34. Boy. Whatcha doing. 
35. Not Elowen. 
36. Well I’ll be dammed. 

Anathema Review

Minor spoilers.

Feel the chill of the Eating Woods on your skin.

The vibes and atmosphere of Anathema are, well, everything. It was enchanting and unsettling, haunting and alluring. I was instantly sucked in and hooked from the prologue. I was captivated by both the narration and the world being described.

Everyone knows not to enter The Eating Woods.

Once you do, you never return.

Maevyth is a mortal. She’s also not the most popular girl in the community due to the mystery surrounding her childhood. She has been ostracized by everyone but her adoptive sister and father. But our girl Maevyth is strong and resilient. She has her sister, and that’s all that matters. After an unfortunate turn of events, Maevyth enters the eating woods.

Zevander’s bloodline has been cursed.

To break the curse? Seven bloodstones from the ancient bloodlines. The last of which happens to be our dear Maevyth. Predictable? Yes. Fun just the same? Also yes. There’s only so many tropes to choose from.

Kill Mayveth.

End the curse.

Save his life.

As Maevyth’s true identity is slowly uncovered, it becomes clear that there is more to her than meets the eye. When she survives the Eating Woods? Zevander is forced to protect the last obstacle standing in his way of putting an end to his curse.

Beyond how captivated I was with the setting and writing, I really enjoyed the characters in Anathema. Particularly Zevander’s sister. I wish we had gotten more of her. I also liked the magic system within Lake’s story. I found it to be interesting, although the glyph thing reminded me a bit of Shadow Hunters. I also only ever watched the TV show, so what do I know?

How tragic that a woman’s worth equated to the depth of a man’s pockets.

Yes. I suppose, to some, I am a monster. Let your sister be a lesson. Wild and unruly women have no place in this world. You’re meant to be tamed, or put down, if necessary.

You will see her. At the toll of the bell, my dear, she will stand before The Eating Woods. And you will watch as her vibrant spirit is broken by fear. You will look upon her face and remember the remorse burning in her eyes.

Were I the cannibal type, I might be inclined to have a taste.

Maevyth radiated an irresistible warmth that he voraciously craved in his cold and calculated existence. Like scattered rays of sunlight reaching down to the darkest depths of the sea. The promise of redemption for all the vile things he’d done. Lives he’d taken.

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❥ Purchase : Chapters/Indigo ♥ Amazon ♥ Bookshop.org ♥ Barnes&Noble