Anathema
From the author of Nocticadia comes a spellbinding gothic dark fantasy about a shunned woman who is forced beyond the mortal realm's forbidden boundary, into a terrifying world of cursed souls and grotesque creatures.
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.
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Keri Lake
Keri Lake’s writing is a deep dive into the shadows of human nature, where love, vengeance, and dark secrets intertwine. Known for creating gripping, emotionally charged tales, Keri’s work spans the realms of gothic romance, urban fantasy, and dark suspense, luring readers into worlds where nothing is quite as it seems, and every choice comes with a price.
Raised in Michigan, Keri’s love for storytelling blossomed at an early age, nurtured by her passion for poetry. Though she pursued a career in microbiology and medical technology, her heart always belonged to the written word. Encouraged by a creative writing teacher in high school, she set her sights on writing novels, a dream she brought to life in 2008 with her debut publication.
The Eating Woods
In the shadow of ancient trees, where magic runs as wild and untamed as the forest itself, The Eating Woods series by Keri Lake beckons readers into a world where every whisper of the wind might be hiding something far more sinister.
At the heart of this dark fantasy series lies Maevyth Bronwick, an enchantress cast out by society and drawn into the perilous realm of Witch Knell—an unyielding, haunted forest known as The Eating Woods. Here, the trees have secrets, the ground holds curses, and fate isn’t something you can escape from easily. Maevyth’s journey through this mystical land is fraught with danger, but it’s her connection to Zevander Rydainn, the cursed lord of Eidolon, that truly pulls her into a tangled web of desire, magic, and unavoidable destiny.
The Eating Woods consists of two books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

