Book Title: Lakesedge

Author: Lyndall Clipstone

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.

Release Date: September 28, 2021

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Gothic, Romance

Synopsis:

Content Warnings: Emotional and physical abuse by a parent, Body horror, Gore and blood (including description of wounds), Emesis, Discussions of death and grief (no on-page deaths), Descriptions of drowning and deep water, Drowning-related imagery Self-injury (in the context of a curse that requires regular physical sacrifices), suicidal ideation

A lush gothic fantasy about monsters and magic, set on the banks of a cursed lake. Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and Brigid Kemmerer.

There are monsters in the world.

When Violeta Graceling arrives at haunted Lakesedge estate, she expects to find a monster. She knows the terrifying rumors about Rowan Sylvanan, who drowned his entire family when he was a boy. But neither the estate nor the monster are what they seem.

There are monsters in the woods.

As Leta falls for Rowan, she discovers he is bound to the Lord Under, the sinister death god lurking in the black waters of the lake. A creature to whom Leta is inexplicably drawn…

There’s a monster in the shadows, and now it knows my name.

Now, to save Rowan—and herself—Leta must confront the darkness in her past, including unraveling the mystery of her connection to the Lord Under.

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Author Information

 

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, will be published by Henry Holt, Titan UK and Pan Macmillan Australia in Fall 2021 with a sequel, FORESTFALL, to publish in Fall 2022.

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Author Interview

I am so excited to host Lyndall Clipstone on A Court of Coffee and Books today! Thank you so much, Lyndall, for stopping by and don’t forget to order a copy of Lakesedge!

Congratulations on your debut book! What inspired you to write Lakesedge?

I wanted to write the type of book that I loved to read as a teenager. Lush and romantic, and filled with gorgeous atmosphere. My main inspiration was “what if The Secret Gardenwas a gothic romance”, and it could best be summed up as Wintersongmeets Crimson Peak. 

What was your favorite part of writing Lakesedge?

Building the world and the characters, and seeing them come to life as I worked through revisions. I’m a very visually-inspired writer, so I really loved collecting inspiration (from film, and artwork, and photography) as I created the gothic atmosphere of Lakesedge.

What can readers expect from your main character, Violeta?

Leta starts the book with very little power, and the ways she manages to assert herself against the dangers of the world are very brave and resourceful. But she is very flawed and messy – she makes so many bad choices, she can be very selfish and overprotective of her brother. But that is what I love most about her; how she’s a completely imperfect heroine, full of hope and heart even as she does very foolish things.

What has been your favorite part of being a debut author so far?

Being able to share my book with readers. Whenever I hear from someone that found Lakesedge resonant, it makes me so happy. I’ve also loved being part of a community with other authors, getting to read their books and work with them as we write more stories.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

To be brave and dedicated, and to be comfortable with extended revisions. It isn’t a waste if you have to go back and rework a book you have spent a long time on writing. All writing is rewriting, and revision is the best way to discover the true heart of your story.

What do you hope readers take away from Lakesedge?

I hope Lakesedge can be one of those books that finds a reader at the right time, and becomes a favourite story they can return to again and again. I wrote and revised it during a very stressful time (both personally and worldwide), so it became a wonderful escape for me – and I hope it might be that for a reader too, a place where they can lose themselves for a little while.

5 Reasons to Read Lakesedge

1. Lakesedge is the perfect Fall/Halloween read, with beautiful prose and chilling vibes.
2. The characters and relationships are so exquisitely written.
3. Wonderfully atmospheric and creepy, yet the world is breathtaking.
4. A phenomenal gothic romance that is easily one of my favorites. 
5. An ending that will leave you wishing the sequel was already out!

Tour Schedule

Check out the amazing bloggers on this book tour!