Nightshade: A Dark Paranormal Gothic Romance (Nightshade Duology)

This was an amazing read & I’m excited for book 2! Had me hooked from page one. Keri Lake Creates amazing & vivid worlds with unique & memorable characters. Loved the “Pulp Fiction-style” of intertwining everyone’s stories. Those are the best books, in my opinion! Highly recommend. Plenty of twists & turns, with enough adult scenery, violence, & emotion, a wild love story, it’s a dark & dangerous fantasy book any fan is sure to love.

When I first began reading this, I found the older, Victorian style language to be a bit of a struggle and it was difficult to get into. Especially since our MFC Farryn, is a modern day girl who speaks like someone from the Dark Ages. But once the story picked up, I couldn't put it down. I was fully immersed in both the past and present lives of Farryn/Lustina and Barren/Jericho and couldn't wait to see the moment the pieces connected for the characters. Usually, when that moment passes in a book, I lose interest....But not in Nightshade. There are so many side plots and twists, that it makes for a curious outcome. Both Farryn and Jericho are likeable characters who are driven by similar passions in their search for answers. I can't recall any moment where i thought, "why are you doing that? Don't go there! Run out of the door, not up the stairs you dumb 😡!" Their actions matched their intentions and made them easier to understand and care about. The tension between them was palpable and the intimate scenes were 😍. Wings, pulses of lightning that act like tiny vibrators combined with his absolute love, adoration and obsession over her....SAY LESS. Its everything you'd want in a reincarnation trope and more. The amount of research that must have gone into this book, I can't even imagine. I'm no expert on ancient religions or angels and demons, but the various planes of existence and types of both fallen and Sentinel was impressive. I felt the world building was decent, but sometimes it felt a little malleable. Something that became obvious when a few things that should have been impossible, were too easily explained away with author created loopholes. The writing was good. The horror elements and graphic scenes playing out in vivid detail that was both disturbing and fascinating. One thing about Kerri Lake, is that she delivers on the creep factor! My only issue was that there were.several instances in which things/characters/events are mentioned, leading the reader to believe it will be addressed again or that its part of the bigger plot. But for some of these instances, there is no closure or resolve and the things that are resolved, are done so in a rush. Like the writer was like "oh yeah, let me quick tie up this loose end". An example of this is when a girl goes missing, and another character mentions in an offhand comment " oh yeah. I tried to do *this* with Danielle but I lost her in the water. No idea where she turned up." Potential spoilers ahead The most significant moment and confusing plot line: Farryn has an encounter with a character several times, and at one point this character comes to her, warning her that someone is going to try and kill Farryn in the Underhill. The character goes into a distressed state, and suddenly a bunch of house maids are feeding off the side characters body. Farryn freaks out, tries to run away and when she's brought back by Van Croix, he gives her some lane excuse about ghosts. At least I thought it was a lame excuse, but its actually the *reason* the author came up with. And during the whole thing, Farryn doesn't tell Van Croix what she saw, or what the girl said, only.that a girl was attacked by the maid. But during the ordeal, the head maid, Anya, comes to assist and mentions someone getting a doctor... But later, when Any a is talking to Farryn, she mentions that her daughter went to the monastery...So then how did Anya know the "doctors" name, if she herself was never at the monastery? Now, its possible this is a lie on the characters behalf, and Ana's true identity will be revealed in book 2, but it felt like a plot hole to me, and not a bread crumb left behind. As I mentioned, there were several instances in which things like this happen because there is so much was going on in the story. I was !mostly vested in the final.outcome and stopped keeping track of the little events because they often tapered out into nothing anyway. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a gothic romance, and I'm definitely looking forward to book 2.

“𝙈𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙙𝙚. 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨. 𝙈𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚, 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡. 𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨 𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮.” 📖 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲 ✍🏼 𝗞𝗲𝗿𝗶 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 🎙️ 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁: 𝘋𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘕𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: 𝘋𝘶𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 🪽 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️ 🪽 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘂𝗺 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️ “𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚.” 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦 ♾️ ᴀɴɢᴇʟꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴꜱ ♾️ ꜰᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ♾️ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴇ ♾️ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ᴍᴍᴄ ♾️ ʜᴇʟʟᴀ ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ 📖𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪📖 Oh my god. This is one of my favorite reads. I’m so glad I’ve ventured into my Keri era, so far I have not been let down. From 𝙉𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙖 to 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙩 & 𝘽𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 (𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦) Keri just has this way of immersing you into these stories and they are so deliciously gothic. Though, I’m not quite sure how to delve into a review of our FMC, because we have two…𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢? But that’s the amazing part of this story, the twists and turns of it all. I went into this blind, and I am so thankful that I did, and I recommend you do the same. But these FMC’s were nothing short of amazing both in their own rite. Jericho, oh this man. This man has made his way into the top book boyfriend list. If you want to know what “𝙄’𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪” looks like, it’s this man right here. And he does so unapologetically and without remorse. I fell so in love with his character. Keri has this way with her all of her MMC’s, every single one of them are dark and delicious. But Jericho is everything you could ever want in a dark and broody man. I am utterly 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱. I cannot WAIT to dive into 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙪𝙢 immediately. I don’t want this to end. This is definitely a top read for me this year. 🎧 𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 🎧 The audio for this was amazing, narrated by Islay Jacobs and Ryan West in dual narration form. Though I am generally a fan of duet style, this narration was just fantastic. The ability Islay had to change accents in this story so wonderfully was just amazing. And Ryan was such an amazing Jericho. 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗘 📖 ᴘʜʏꜱɪᴄᴀʟ ✔️ 🎧 ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ✔️ 📱 ᴇʀᴇᴀᴅ ✔️

This was a good time but it took me a while to get through. There were moments I was bored with the story but overall it was a fun read.

Story kept me interested until the end, huge fan of this overall. I read this while listening exclusively to the song A Thief in the Dark by Regnum Umbrae on repeat (1 hr long instrumental with rain) and oh my god it felt like I was INSIDE THE BOOK. It was spooky, it was gothic, it felt like I was in the misty dark. I did not enjoy the parallel story with Lustina as much, but it was also interesting. Only real real drawback is I absolutely despised the name “Lustina” and every scene where her name was whispered or spoken was irrevocably spoiled to me. Overall huge love.

Keri Lake's ability to paint a beautiful haunting vivid world is unparalleled. A dark paranormal romance that is full of everything you could possibly want. Angels and Demons, Fated Forbidden Love, A Dark Hero who sacrificed the world for her and will again. Keri unfolds this world and story beautifully, with great pacing, intricate detailing and with great emotion.

After being in a smut slump for weeks, this story was a breath of fresh air. It has all the juicy stuff I love, but not just mindless shut. The storyline is intriguing and keeps you on your toes. The author's writing style is top notch. She finds ways to change up her descriptions and not be repetitive. The editing is professional and I wasnt getting Wattpad vibes like the last 3 books Ive read. The story is lengthy, the world-building exciting and the storyline one to keep you wanting more. This is my first book by her and definitely not my last. I found myself staying up way later than normal for just one more chapter. Starting book 2 now!

This is a great, fresh story that I'll remember for a long time. I appreciate originality in writing, character building, and world building. Keri never disappoints. The spice is balanced: There aren't any awkward, senseless, or just laughably inappropriate settings for said spicey moments. I really hate excessively spicey books (arbitrary seggs in every chapter is cringe), and so this balance was perfect for me. I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives per chapter. It kept the story engaging and interesting. 4/5 because the typos and a few corny lines broke the immersion. These were very few, but I'd prefer not to be pulled out of a serious, heartfelt moment to have a chuckle. I recommend Nightshade to anyone interested in a solid dark paranormal gothic romance that isn't too dark or triggering.

I am editing this review after reading Nightshade for the third time this year. I decided to re-read it before Infernium, and holy infernal lands, it was just as spectacular as the first time. This book gives me legitimate chills -- I am sitting here dumbfounded as to how Keri Lake created such a masterpiece. 5 stars could never be enough. Keri Lake's writing is always incredible, and this book is no exception. The world-building is intricate and extensive, though not overwhelming. Nightshade is a genius landscape that is both chilling and enchanting. It's a place where suffering is pervasive and obscure and lost souls are not even aware that they are lost. Experiencing it through Farryn's eyes had me on the edge of my seat and so invested in her journey. The plot is brilliant and checks all the boxes for me: angels/demons, paranormal romance, enemies to lovers, fated lovers, commentary on religion and morality, multiple timelines and POVs, a quest for the truth and an ancient prophecy, as well as flawless smut (I must say... I will never look at a bell tower the same way). I mean, come on. “I have crossed the endless void of time and space, over the centuries I've waited, with a yearning to see your face once more. If you think that I could just let you go now, when fate has gifted me the impossible, then you've not yet met the depths of my obsession. It has no bounds where you're concerned, Farryn. I would fight all the evils of hell for you, but I do not possess the strength to set you free.” Jericho is the definition of morally grey. It is so refreshing, so satisfying, to come across a male main character with a monstrous reputation that is not a paragon of virtue in disguise. He is powerful beyond measure and reports having a proclivity for darkness and destruction since childhood -- this becomes a fate which he knowingly seals in an act of vengeance. Banished to Nightshade by the Heavens, Jericho lives as a pariah among lost souls with no clear path to redemption, and no real incentive to find one. That is, until Farryn Ravenshaw ends up at his cathedral. Jericho says it best: “a villain is quite capable of love. It’s only the matter of what he’s willing to sacrifice for that love which separates him from a good man”. Centuries later, when Farryn questions his acts of evil, he asks her, “are the morals of man so black and white?.. I have killed in ways that would seem merciless, and I have loved just as ruthlessly”. He is possessive, unwavering, confident, vindictive, wounded, and powerful beyond measure. Oh, he also has wings and an eye patch. I can't be the only one twisted enough to find him infatuating. I could go on and on about these characters but I don't want to spoil anything. If you like dark paranormal and/or gothic romance, read this book! You will not be disappointed.

I really don't know how she comes up with such riveting stories. Like OMG this book i finished in a day.. I just couldn't keep it down.. the interwoven stories.. i thought noctacdia was good.. but man nightshade just blew it out of the park. I stan you ♥️♥️♥️

Nightshade draws readers into a dark, atmospheric world brimming with secrets, passion, and supernatural forces. At its heart is Farryn Ravenshaw, who is pulled into a web of mysteries and grim revelations following her father’s disappearance and her aunt’s death. A mysterious mark on her skin, the Pentacrux, ties her to an ancient curse and to the shadow realm of Nightshade, a place suspended between life and death. There she meets Jericho Van Croix, a fallen angel with raven wings, whose tragic past and forbidden allure she cannot resist. Keri Lake masterfully blends dark romance, mystery, and gothic fantasy into a captivating tale that shifts between past and present. Her vivid prose and deeply layered characters create an immersive, emotional experience, perfect for readers who crave haunting love stories with supernatural depth. Verdict: Sensual, mysterious, and heartbreaking. Nightshade is a mesmerizing fusion of dark fantasy, mystery, and forbidden love.

Very interesting premise and the backstory was beautiful and painful, but the present story felt way more exaggerated and messier. I just prefer literary prose, but If you love purple prose and juvenile dialogue, then you'll enjoy it more than me.

Every time I read a really magnificent fantasy saga, I'm sure I will never find something to equal it. I'm very happy to say that*this* is as good as my last foray into the joys of dark fantasy, which I didn't think would happen for a long time. Nightshade is deliciously twisted, with angels, demons & combinations of the two. It blends modern day with centuries old love & hate, passion & vengeance. In other words it's a joy to read! At the heart of it is a love affair so epic that it transcends death & time, fighting to overcome opposition from what appears to be insurmountable forces. In a way I'm glad this is a duology so I can learn the fate of all concerned that much sooner. Unfortunately, that also means I have to say goodbye to two of the most charismatic people that have ever graced a page.