Anathema
Keri Lake
The Eating Woods #1
Cover and Synopsis
Anathema Cover & Blurb
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.
Book Information
Anathema
Independently published by September 2024 Keri Lake.
Audiobook narrated by Melissa Barr & James Cassidy.
Genre : Fantasy
Pages : 690 pages, Kindle Edition
Anathema 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
Anathema Tropes
Gothic Dark Fantasy
Slow Burn
Prophecy
Magic
Curses
Review
Anathema by Keri Lake
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.
- Wow. This fucking prologue.
- The atmosphere is enthralling.
- Ouch, sold by your adoptive step grandmother.
- I am thoroughly digging the vibes of this so far.
- Zevander must be part of the bloodline from the prologue.
- 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.
- The Black Pestilence is coming.
- Z’s poor sister is going through some shit.
- Girl, are you poisoned?
- Just seeing dead people.
- Enter the tragic backstory. Somehow I don’t think the brother is going to get better.
- I mean, Moros doesn’t seem that bad. Not yet anyways.
- Hearing demons are we?
- You see the dead girl, but have you ever stared death in the face yourself?
- This fucking uncle.
- Daughter of the Death Goddess you say.
- The voice acting for Moros kills me.
- Moros is most definitely bad.
- These townspeople. Glad I don’t live there.
- Bye bye Moros.
- Bye bye Uncle.
- Were I the cannibal type, I might be inclined to have a taste.
- We love a man who reads.
- Everyone just gonna stay in the dungeons.
- This is some erotic magic.
- What in the seven hells indeed.
- Yes! Girl is definitely going to ride this dragon.
- His little moon witch.
- The tension.
- Fated Mates.
- Girl you were definitely tricked.
- She is definitely referring to you. Enter the prophecy.
- Girls out here learning and mastering glyphs while being fucked.
- Boy. Whatcha doing.
- Not Elowen.
- Well I’ll be dammed.
Anathema by Keri Lake 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?
Quotes
Anathema Quotes
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.
Leave a Reply