Book Tour Review: Forestfall by Lyndall Clipstone

About the Book:

Title: Foresfall

Author: Lyndall Clipstone

Series: World at the Lake’s Edge #2

Page Length: 384

Publication Date: Sept. 27, 2022

Synopsis: Some oaths can never be broken…

The curse that haunted Lakesedge Estate has been broken, but at great cost. Violeta Graceling has sacrificed herself to end the Corruption. To escape death, Leta makes a desperate bargain with the Lord Under, one that sees her living at his side in the land of the dead.

But this world of souls and mist hides many secrets. And when Leta realizes she is still connected to Rowan by a tethering spell, she will risk everything— even her soul— to try and reach him.

Torn between power and love, life and death, Leta struggles to keep hold of her humanity as she falls further and further under the spell of the world Below… and the Lord Under.

You can check out the tour schedule HE RE.

LINKS:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54273670-forestfall
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250753414/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forestfall-lyndall-clipstone/1140376261
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Forestfall-Lyndall-Clipstone/9781250753410
Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/forestfall/9781250753410-item.html
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250753410

My Review:

I’m so excited to be part of the book tour for Lyndall Clipstone’s Forestfall, the second book in the World at the Lake’s Edge duology. This is a dark and suspenseful read with spooky, eerie vibes – perfect for the fall season!

Forestfall picks up where Lakesedge left off. Violeta sacrificed herself to break the curse that plagued Lakesedge and saved her loved ones. Now Below with the Lord Under, Leta realizes she is still tethered to Rowan, who desperately looks for a way to rescue her. The story is told from Leta and Rowan’s points of view, which I really liked. It’s interesting to see what’s happening from both of their perspectives, especially considering they spend much of their time in different worlds.

The world-building throughout the story is exceptional. Rich and vivid and atmospheric, the setting and plot include many Gothic elements, which add to the dark and ominous tone. I was so easily immersed into this unique and dangerous world where enemies and threats lurk around every corner. I also liked that the story takes the characters to new settings, from Below to the place where Leta’s story with Lord Under began. Each setting is unique and richly defined and adds to the overall dark and mysterious feel of the story.

The plot is suspenseful and intriguing, and I love the addition of new characters and supernatural beings. Leta, Rowan, and the rest of the characters learn so much about the Lord Under, his world Below, and the beings who inhabit it. Leta meets many others who have nefarious intentions, and between the dangerous landscape and the villainous beings she encounters, she can never let her guard down. Plus, the Lord Under is a walking jumble of contradictions. Does he love her? Is he using her? Leta never really knows where she stands with this morally grey lord.

Leta struggles with her conflicting feelings throughout the story, especially when it comes to two particular males. She definitely has a type – the monster boy, and she’s not the only one. There’s a bit of a love triangle, which was hinted at in the first book, and though I’m not usually a fan of love triangles, I liked this one! I understood Leta’s confusion and fears. The author explored Leta’s conflicting feelings, confusion, and concern well, though there is one love interest I rooted for from the start.

Rowan also goes through tremendous struggles over the course of the story as he fights to keep the darkness at bay while searching for a way to get Leta back. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for Leta, and he is unwavering in his devotion to her. They have such a lovely romance, and Rowan’s depth of feelings is reflected in everything he does. I so hoped that this pair would find a way back to each other and that Leta would also reunite with her beloved brother.

The found family aspect of the story is fantastic too, and it’s easy to see how much Leta, Rowan, and the rest of the group care for each other. They love and support each other through all of the conflict and danger, and they often put themselves in harm’s way to protect those they love. And there’s another love story within this group that is so sweet! I’m a big fan of the found family trope, and Clipstone does it well.

This is a captivating conclusion to the duology, and if you liked the first book, you’ll definitely enjoy this one. It’s dark, atmospheric, and immersive, and the character arcs and world-building are layered and intriguing. Special thanks to TBR & Beyond Book Tours for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Rating:

Favorite Lines:

It was the first time I’d ever shared that secret. I expected the worst … that she would be disgusted, that she would fear me. Instead, she held my hand and promised to follow me into the dark.

All I’ve given up, each step I’ve taken that’s led me here, it has always been my choice. That doesn’t make it hurt any less.

At first, I cried so much whenever I thought of what I had lost. Who I had lost. Endless tears that overwhelmed me, my despair a thing I could drown beneath. The waves of a lake, swiftly rising. Now, I only let myself take tiny sips of grief. Like my sadness is a poison I can become immune to, dose by dose.

“For all my power, it feels, sometimes, that I’m the one to be held, spellbound, by you.”

I was the monster in the world. I was the monster in the woods. And though I was spared, all still feels ruined. Torn apart by claws and teeth.

About the Author:

Lyndall Clipstone writes about monsters and the girls who like to kiss them. A former youth librarian who grew up running wild in the Barossa Ranges of South Australia, she currently lives in Adelaide, where she tends her own indoor secret garden. She has a Bachelors in Creative Writing and a Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Management.

Her debut novel, Lakesedge, has been published in three countries, was a Dymocks Books bestseller, and has been nominated for numerous awards. The sequel, Forestfall, will publish in 2022.

She is represented by Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management.