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Lavender and Hemlock
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26A housemaid's quiet life is disrupted when the arrival of a mysterious visitor causes her to question the nature of her seemingly-charming cottage home in this sweet, cozy romantasy with a dark heart.
Step into the Oubliette and forget your troubles....
Housemaid Tansy’s days are all the same. Her only duties are to tend to her charge, old Lady Aster, and take care of their quaint cottage home. The seaside house is charming, peaceful, and above all, isolated. Tansy can't remember the last time she left...or when she arrived.
Merit is a Carrion Knight. A servant of the dark entity the Unmaker, she has been raised to be a monster. But when she's wounded during a routine raid, she stumbles through a mysterious door… and finds herself tumbling into the Oubliette.
When the two meet, an instant connection forms, and a crack appears in Oubliette's perfect façade. As the bond between Merit and Tansy grows and powerful feelings rise to the surface, Tansy must question not only what she wants, but who she is. Because the origins of this charming world are darker than she could imagine—and the key to uncovering them might lie with Tansy herself.
Step into the Oubliette and forget your troubles....
Housemaid Tansy’s days are all the same. Her only duties are to tend to her charge, old Lady Aster, and take care of their quaint cottage home. The seaside house is charming, peaceful, and above all, isolated. Tansy can't remember the last time she left...or when she arrived.
Merit is a Carrion Knight. A servant of the dark entity the Unmaker, she has been raised to be a monster. But when she's wounded during a routine raid, she stumbles through a mysterious door… and finds herself tumbling into the Oubliette.
When the two meet, an instant connection forms, and a crack appears in Oubliette's perfect façade. As the bond between Merit and Tansy grows and powerful feelings rise to the surface, Tansy must question not only what she wants, but who she is. Because the origins of this charming world are darker than she could imagine—and the key to uncovering them might lie with Tansy herself.
416 pages, Paperback
Expected publication November 10, 2026
7 people are currently reading
612 people want to read
About the author
Lili Wilkinson
32 books379 followersLili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of eighteen books for young people, including The Erasure Initiative and After the Lights Go Out. Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for YA and the young people who read it, establishing the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. Her latest book is A Hunger of Thorns.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 7, 2026
This was the exact mixture of soft beauty and dark horror that I love. Both emotional and physical terror are involved, and it creates an incredible world that is so easy to fall into. I could not love it more.
April 10, 2026
** I received an ARC through NetGalley. My views are my own.**
3.5 stars rounded up
This was a nice and atmospheric sapphic romantasy about a runaway former knight and a mysterious housemaid who fall in love. Set mainly in a charming cottage, seemingly hidden away from the rest of the world there was a lot to enjoy about this book, but other parts of it fell a bit flat for me.
What I liked:
-The cover is beautiful! Even knowing nothing about the book, I was drawn to it immediately.
- I'm a sucker for an animal sidekick, so I loved Bracken the dog, along with the goose, the chickens, and the cat hanging around.
-The romance was very sweet. Although it had a fair amount of instalove, I can't say that's ever bothered me. You were definitely rooting for Tansy and Merit to overcome their situations and find love together.
-The plot twists. While I wouldn't call it surprising, I enjoyed that this book kept me guessing a bit. One or two times it had me questioning the predictions I made at the beginning and not every book can do that. It was fun following the characters along their journeys.
What I liked less
-This is advertised as a cozy romantasy, and while it's definitely a romantasy, I didn't find much about this book cozy. While it's atmospheric, I wouldn't call it low stakes, and both characters have a fair amount of trauma that they're working through.
-The characters felt a little basic. You have a righteous knight fleeing an institution she no longer believes in, but also doesn't really know what she does want, and a maid whose sole purpose is to serve her employer, even if she doesn't know why.
Overall, I thought this was a fun, if slightly basic read.
3.5 stars rounded up
This was a nice and atmospheric sapphic romantasy about a runaway former knight and a mysterious housemaid who fall in love. Set mainly in a charming cottage, seemingly hidden away from the rest of the world there was a lot to enjoy about this book, but other parts of it fell a bit flat for me.
What I liked:
-The cover is beautiful! Even knowing nothing about the book, I was drawn to it immediately.
- I'm a sucker for an animal sidekick, so I loved Bracken the dog, along with the goose, the chickens, and the cat hanging around.
-The romance was very sweet. Although it had a fair amount of instalove, I can't say that's ever bothered me. You were definitely rooting for Tansy and Merit to overcome their situations and find love together.
-The plot twists. While I wouldn't call it surprising, I enjoyed that this book kept me guessing a bit. One or two times it had me questioning the predictions I made at the beginning and not every book can do that. It was fun following the characters along their journeys.
What I liked less
-This is advertised as a cozy romantasy, and while it's definitely a romantasy, I didn't find much about this book cozy. While it's atmospheric, I wouldn't call it low stakes, and both characters have a fair amount of trauma that they're working through.
-The characters felt a little basic. You have a righteous knight fleeing an institution she no longer believes in, but also doesn't really know what she does want, and a maid whose sole purpose is to serve her employer, even if she doesn't know why.
Overall, I thought this was a fun, if slightly basic read.
April 22, 2026
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley; thank you to NetGalley and the publishers.
This book was so intriguing, I was hooked from the start. It was a lot more gothic fantasy than I was expecting and I gobbled it right up. Their love was real, you can feel it through the pages. Lots of twists and turns, I always needed to know what would happen next. Different from anything I have read in a long time! I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it when it is published on November 10, 2026!
This book was so intriguing, I was hooked from the start. It was a lot more gothic fantasy than I was expecting and I gobbled it right up. Their love was real, you can feel it through the pages. Lots of twists and turns, I always needed to know what would happen next. Different from anything I have read in a long time! I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it when it is published on November 10, 2026!
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March 31, 2026✨🌿 Lavender and Hemlock 🌿✨
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
💫 What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Cottagecore
• Isolated house
• Dark fantasy
• Memory loss
• Hidden identity
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
📝 Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
💫 What to Expect
• Sapphic romance
• Cottagecore
• Isolated house
• Dark fantasy
• Memory loss
• Hidden identity
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
📝 Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Since this was listed as young adult, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect; they can really be hit or miss for me depending on how young they’re skewed. But Lavender and Hemlock was thankfully a hit rather than a miss and not too young for someone far out of their young adult years.
That was probably primarily down to the two main characters. I really liked both Merit and Tansy as characters and as a pair. The two had excellent chemistry, and you could really feel the longing between them throughout the book. So much so that I kept trying to will them to kiss. That being said, I did slightly prefer the chapters from Merit’s point of view. Both because I’m kind of a sucker for “bad” characters who turn good and because Tansy's internal conflict got a little repetitive at a certain point. Even though I get why it was that way, it still got a little annoying toward the latter part of the book.
That was really the only negative for me for the book, though. The mysteries and twists were good. Some of the time, I could kind of guess what was going on, but at other times, I was quite surprised by things. Thankfully, all of the mysteries didn’t get frustrating since the book was good about giving you some answers along the way while also still keeping you guessing until the end.
From the beginning, I was struck by how descriptive the writing was, which is important to me for a book like this, and I liked how I could easily picture the scenes and the world. I also liked the little sentences with the herbs and their uses at the beginning of each chapter that seemed to give a hint about what was to come. And of course I loved Bracken, who I somehow just now noticed on the cover after finishing the book and who is the absolute best boy.
All in all, this book gets 4.5 stars from me, rounded up to 5.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
That was probably primarily down to the two main characters. I really liked both Merit and Tansy as characters and as a pair. The two had excellent chemistry, and you could really feel the longing between them throughout the book. So much so that I kept trying to will them to kiss. That being said, I did slightly prefer the chapters from Merit’s point of view. Both because I’m kind of a sucker for “bad” characters who turn good and because Tansy's internal conflict got a little repetitive at a certain point. Even though I get why it was that way, it still got a little annoying toward the latter part of the book.
That was really the only negative for me for the book, though. The mysteries and twists were good. Some of the time, I could kind of guess what was going on, but at other times, I was quite surprised by things. Thankfully, all of the mysteries didn’t get frustrating since the book was good about giving you some answers along the way while also still keeping you guessing until the end.
From the beginning, I was struck by how descriptive the writing was, which is important to me for a book like this, and I liked how I could easily picture the scenes and the world. I also liked the little sentences with the herbs and their uses at the beginning of each chapter that seemed to give a hint about what was to come. And of course I loved Bracken, who I somehow just now noticed on the cover after finishing the book and who is the absolute best boy.
All in all, this book gets 4.5 stars from me, rounded up to 5.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It feels like a dream until you realize you were never meant to wake up.
Rating: 3.5 ★!
Synopsis:
Light the fire, fetch the water, steep the tea; Tansy knows her routine well. As a maid to Lady Aster in the seaside cottage called the Oubliette, her days are quiet, gentle, and always the same. Tucked between forest trees and the lull of ocean waves, it's a peaceful life. Though, if she is honest, it is the only life she can remember for she cannot quite recall how it began.
Until Merit arrives bloodied, breathless, and far too dangerous for a place like this. A Carrion Knight raised to worship the Unmaker, Merit was never meant to choose her own path. Until one day she does, and it leads her straight to the Oubliette's strange, all too perfect stillness.
Here, a maid and a knight find unexpected solace in the softest corners of life: the pull of the tides, the shape of drifting clouds, the sweetness of raspberries on a afternoon picnic. But the cottage is not as simple as it seems, and when hidden doors begin to open, so too do the questions Tansy was never meant to ask. Because this gentle life hides a darker beginning, and some homes are not meant to be left, only forgotten.
My Review:
I went into this expecting a cozy, low stakes fantasy (plus the GORGEOUS cover had me sold), but I was pleasantly surprised by how much more it offered! While it definitely had some softer moments, there was surprisingly a strong and dark undertone that help set the story. The world was really lush and I loved experiencing the quiet moments and watch our characters fall in love simply over sharing meals from the food stalls, going on picnics by the ocean, and experiencing the small everyday details of life!
This sapphic story follows Tansy, a maid who cannot remember her past and only knows her loyalty to Lady Aster and the Oubliette. She's this super bright and genuine sunshine type of character who must find her identity and reclaim it. I loved how she tries to find meaning in her life without losing her spark, and how she shares those soft moments with Merit. Merit, who was kidnapped as a child and raised under the Carrion Knights, has always thought she had to be this evil monstrous thing. Watching her slowly unlearn that, to choose goodness and find her confidence to crave her own path was really sweet and special. They lean on one another and lean to be a support for each other was so soft and tender, and it screams that first love feeling that you can't help but root for!
While the tone leans a little more towards cozy vibes, the plot itself carries higher stakes than I expected, with darker forces, hidden histories, and an underlying mystery that keeps things moving. Some twists were a bit predictable, but there were still moments that genuinely shocked me! Overall, this was a fun atmospheric read and while maybe not the most unforgettable, definitely one that I felt like offers more depth than it first lets you to believe!
Rating: 3.5 ★!
Synopsis:
Light the fire, fetch the water, steep the tea; Tansy knows her routine well. As a maid to Lady Aster in the seaside cottage called the Oubliette, her days are quiet, gentle, and always the same. Tucked between forest trees and the lull of ocean waves, it's a peaceful life. Though, if she is honest, it is the only life she can remember for she cannot quite recall how it began.
Until Merit arrives bloodied, breathless, and far too dangerous for a place like this. A Carrion Knight raised to worship the Unmaker, Merit was never meant to choose her own path. Until one day she does, and it leads her straight to the Oubliette's strange, all too perfect stillness.
Here, a maid and a knight find unexpected solace in the softest corners of life: the pull of the tides, the shape of drifting clouds, the sweetness of raspberries on a afternoon picnic. But the cottage is not as simple as it seems, and when hidden doors begin to open, so too do the questions Tansy was never meant to ask. Because this gentle life hides a darker beginning, and some homes are not meant to be left, only forgotten.
My Review:
I went into this expecting a cozy, low stakes fantasy (plus the GORGEOUS cover had me sold), but I was pleasantly surprised by how much more it offered! While it definitely had some softer moments, there was surprisingly a strong and dark undertone that help set the story. The world was really lush and I loved experiencing the quiet moments and watch our characters fall in love simply over sharing meals from the food stalls, going on picnics by the ocean, and experiencing the small everyday details of life!
This sapphic story follows Tansy, a maid who cannot remember her past and only knows her loyalty to Lady Aster and the Oubliette. She's this super bright and genuine sunshine type of character who must find her identity and reclaim it. I loved how she tries to find meaning in her life without losing her spark, and how she shares those soft moments with Merit. Merit, who was kidnapped as a child and raised under the Carrion Knights, has always thought she had to be this evil monstrous thing. Watching her slowly unlearn that, to choose goodness and find her confidence to crave her own path was really sweet and special. They lean on one another and lean to be a support for each other was so soft and tender, and it screams that first love feeling that you can't help but root for!
While the tone leans a little more towards cozy vibes, the plot itself carries higher stakes than I expected, with darker forces, hidden histories, and an underlying mystery that keeps things moving. Some twists were a bit predictable, but there were still moments that genuinely shocked me! Overall, this was a fun atmospheric read and while maybe not the most unforgettable, definitely one that I felt like offers more depth than it first lets you to believe!
April 18, 2026
Lavender & Hemlock was not at all what I believed it to be, but I had an amazing time with it nonetheless. It was fast-paced, high-stakes, and incredibly twisty. I guessed the first twist within 50 pages, and then was incredibly shocked when ANOTHER twist came that proved the first one wrong—that was fabulous writing.
Tansy is complex and lovable and has quite a lot of trauma to work through, and she was easily my favorite character. Her choices may not have always been good, but I understood why she made them. Sometimes it really is easier just to forget. Merit is equally complex and lovable, and her childlike wonder of simple things (like raspberries) endeared her to me immediately. Their romance was innocent and adorable and I loved every minute of it.
The writing was enjoyable, and easy to read at a fast pace—I breezed through this book.
However, one thing I most certainly would not call this book is *cozy.* It's violent, it's upsetting at times, it carries deep-set themes of abuse, grief, loss of identity, and a handful of others. All of that would have been perfectly alright with me, had this book not been advertised to me as a cozy fantasy romance. It's a bit of a shock to the system when you expect a low-stakes romance-forward adventure story, and then half the characters die.
The ending was confusing and felt almost rushed to me? I loved what was done with Tansy's character, and can only assume it was being set up for a sequel? maybe? I would have liked to have spent a bit more time post-incident, but it seemed like everyone got over everything rather quickly.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Tansy is complex and lovable and has quite a lot of trauma to work through, and she was easily my favorite character. Her choices may not have always been good, but I understood why she made them. Sometimes it really is easier just to forget. Merit is equally complex and lovable, and her childlike wonder of simple things (like raspberries) endeared her to me immediately. Their romance was innocent and adorable and I loved every minute of it.
The writing was enjoyable, and easy to read at a fast pace—I breezed through this book.
However, one thing I most certainly would not call this book is *cozy.* It's violent, it's upsetting at times, it carries deep-set themes of abuse, grief, loss of identity, and a handful of others. All of that would have been perfectly alright with me, had this book not been advertised to me as a cozy fantasy romance. It's a bit of a shock to the system when you expect a low-stakes romance-forward adventure story, and then half the characters die.
The ending was confusing and felt almost rushed to me? I loved what was done with Tansy's character, and can only assume it was being set up for a sequel? maybe? I would have liked to have spent a bit more time post-incident, but it seemed like everyone got over everything rather quickly.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
April 13, 2026
Before I start my review, thank you to Random House Children's Books and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book!
This review will not contain spoilers of this book, as I would like all potential readers to be able to read my review.
Lavender & Hemlock truly took me by surprise as we entered the world of small magics and beautiful storytelling.
We meet Tansey, who is a young woman taking care of Lady Aster on her small estate. Everyday is similar to the last until one day, she stumbles upon a dark haired knight named Merit. From here, the story takes you on a journey of love, yearning and duty. Questioning your every thought along the way. Just when you think you know what's going on, author Lili Wilkinson, proves that not all is what it seems.
I couldn't put this book down as we explored this budding LBGTQ+ relationship about two women struggling to choose their duty, or love.
I rate this rate a solid 4/5 stars for its originality, storytelling and characters. This was a spectacular standalone book, in which I would recommend to those who wish for a whimsical story that you cannot put down.
Thank you again for the advanced copy, as I will be happily picking this up upon publication!
This review will not contain spoilers of this book, as I would like all potential readers to be able to read my review.
Lavender & Hemlock truly took me by surprise as we entered the world of small magics and beautiful storytelling.
We meet Tansey, who is a young woman taking care of Lady Aster on her small estate. Everyday is similar to the last until one day, she stumbles upon a dark haired knight named Merit. From here, the story takes you on a journey of love, yearning and duty. Questioning your every thought along the way. Just when you think you know what's going on, author Lili Wilkinson, proves that not all is what it seems.
I couldn't put this book down as we explored this budding LBGTQ+ relationship about two women struggling to choose their duty, or love.
I rate this rate a solid 4/5 stars for its originality, storytelling and characters. This was a spectacular standalone book, in which I would recommend to those who wish for a whimsical story that you cannot put down.
Thank you again for the advanced copy, as I will be happily picking this up upon publication!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for the ARC copy from NetGalley!
3.5 rounded up!
I could picture this as a really fun Studio Ghibli film. It has all the trappings, a garden cottage, fantastical magic, whimsical animals, a mystery to escape, and a challenge to save a kingdom.
While I really liked all the pieces, I found myself leaning towards Merit’s chapters more. Merit was the more fleshed out of the two POVs. She’s a conflicted knight from a rather grim-dark world with life or death stakes. I deeply liked Marit for her interiority and goals.
Tansy was the weaker of the narratives. I still enjoyed her as a contrast to Merit. But I found myself wishing I was in Merit’s head.
Probably because Tansy’s environment overshadows her. She’s got an innocent, young, personality but she does spend most of the book asking questions without using her brain. She doesn’t discover anything so much as stumble upon it or get dragged through it. She gets told everything to the very end— which I thought was a shame.
All and all a fun, imaginative read.
3.5 rounded up!
I could picture this as a really fun Studio Ghibli film. It has all the trappings, a garden cottage, fantastical magic, whimsical animals, a mystery to escape, and a challenge to save a kingdom.
While I really liked all the pieces, I found myself leaning towards Merit’s chapters more. Merit was the more fleshed out of the two POVs. She’s a conflicted knight from a rather grim-dark world with life or death stakes. I deeply liked Marit for her interiority and goals.
Tansy was the weaker of the narratives. I still enjoyed her as a contrast to Merit. But I found myself wishing I was in Merit’s head.
Probably because Tansy’s environment overshadows her. She’s got an innocent, young, personality but she does spend most of the book asking questions without using her brain. She doesn’t discover anything so much as stumble upon it or get dragged through it. She gets told everything to the very end— which I thought was a shame.
All and all a fun, imaginative read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Recieved an ARC from NetGalley. A maid lives a monotonous lifealone with her elderly charge. In parallel a knight escapes her service after being betrayed and stumbles into the maid's life. The first couple chapters I wasnt sure I was going to get into this book and wasn't overly impressed with the world building. Well I was getting ahead of myself. This book is wonderfully complex. Definitely a slow burn between the two FMCs and it has a Coraline mixed with romance mixed with Stranger Things vibe. The teeth baby made my skin crawl - when you get to it, you'll know. Highly recommend. Yes it's YA, yes there is a bit of a slow start, but the plot is sufficiently complex and the romance is sweet. One that I have thought about a lot over the last few days since I finished it. To me that's a mark of a good book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lavender and Hemlock was such a cute and cozy read, perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli films, magic, sapphic themes, and believing in the power of one's self.
Within the book there was so many wonderful nods to magic and whimsy from the moment we meet our two leads. Merit has a strong exterior, but her own self doubts and amazing level of growth that leads the reader to believe that even from darkness and pain there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Following Tansy, there is an element of awe in how much power one can hold and be unaware of, yet still find and cultivate.
Bonus elements in the book include wonderful fragments of facts of herbs and flora for those who love plants.
Over all, a fantastic read, perfect to demolish in one sitting.
Within the book there was so many wonderful nods to magic and whimsy from the moment we meet our two leads. Merit has a strong exterior, but her own self doubts and amazing level of growth that leads the reader to believe that even from darkness and pain there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Following Tansy, there is an element of awe in how much power one can hold and be unaware of, yet still find and cultivate.
Bonus elements in the book include wonderful fragments of facts of herbs and flora for those who love plants.
Over all, a fantastic read, perfect to demolish in one sitting.
April 10, 2026
Thank you Netgally for the ARC of Lavender & Hemlock.
There’s something quietly haunting about Lavender and Hemlock, and so much of that comes from Tansy’s perspective as she navigates a life that begins to feel increasingly unfamiliar. What starts as a quiet, routine existence slowly unravels into something far more unsettling—especially with the arrival of Merit, whose presence alone seems to shift the balance of everything around her.
The dynamic between Tansy and Merit is where the story really pulls you in. There’s a tension in their interactions that never fully settles, a sense that something deeper is happening just beneath the surface. Merit carries an air of mystery that keeps both Tansy and the reader questioning what’s real and what’s being withheld.
The atmosphere is where this book truly shines. It’s soft and eerie rather than overtly dark, creating a slow-building unease that lingers long after you’ve put the book down. The writing feels delicate and almost poetic at times, perfectly mirroring Tansy’s internal unraveling as she begins to question her world.
What stood out most to me was how the story explores identity and perception—how easily reality can blur when you start examining a life you once accepted without question. Tansy’s journey is subtle but powerful, pulling you deeper into that uncertainty rather than rushing toward answers.
If you enjoy character-driven stories with a quiet sense of mystery and an atmosphere that feels both beautiful and unsettling, this one is absolutely worth the read. It’s not loud or dramatic—it’s slow, creeping, and stays with you.
There’s something quietly haunting about Lavender and Hemlock, and so much of that comes from Tansy’s perspective as she navigates a life that begins to feel increasingly unfamiliar. What starts as a quiet, routine existence slowly unravels into something far more unsettling—especially with the arrival of Merit, whose presence alone seems to shift the balance of everything around her.
The dynamic between Tansy and Merit is where the story really pulls you in. There’s a tension in their interactions that never fully settles, a sense that something deeper is happening just beneath the surface. Merit carries an air of mystery that keeps both Tansy and the reader questioning what’s real and what’s being withheld.
The atmosphere is where this book truly shines. It’s soft and eerie rather than overtly dark, creating a slow-building unease that lingers long after you’ve put the book down. The writing feels delicate and almost poetic at times, perfectly mirroring Tansy’s internal unraveling as she begins to question her world.
What stood out most to me was how the story explores identity and perception—how easily reality can blur when you start examining a life you once accepted without question. Tansy’s journey is subtle but powerful, pulling you deeper into that uncertainty rather than rushing toward answers.
If you enjoy character-driven stories with a quiet sense of mystery and an atmosphere that feels both beautiful and unsettling, this one is absolutely worth the read. It’s not loud or dramatic—it’s slow, creeping, and stays with you.
April 3, 2026
Can I just say I love the flowery theme of Lavender and Hemlock? The little one liners that start each chapter may actually be my favorite part of the whole book. This is saying something important because I devoured all 416 pages…in four hours. Lili Wilkinson really has woven together just the right amount of light versus dark into the storyline to make it a delicious read.
I’m a big mystery fan (especially steeped in fantasy) and this one kept me guessing throughout the whole read. There are just so many twists and turns. Every time I was given some type of new and important information I’d have to take a moment to re-collaborate my internal reading compass to see if my guess as to what was going on was still accurate. This book made me think and rethink, and I loved that about it.
Other things I liked:
- [ ] Valient
- [ ] Tansy
- [ ] Every single setting change
- [ ] The (YA) FxF relationship
Things I wanted more of:
- [ ] Communication between certain (I won’t spoil it) characters
- [ ] More time in Valla with the Carrion Knights and more time in Bright City
- [ ] More time spent on and more insight into # 29
There was both a television show and a book I could not stop thinking about while reading Lavender and Hemlock. The movie Snowglobe (holy nostalgic) and the Half-Blood Prince (the pensieve.) If you have ever enjoyed either of these things, definitely read this.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for providing me with this ARC book for review. All opinions are my own.
I’m a big mystery fan (especially steeped in fantasy) and this one kept me guessing throughout the whole read. There are just so many twists and turns. Every time I was given some type of new and important information I’d have to take a moment to re-collaborate my internal reading compass to see if my guess as to what was going on was still accurate. This book made me think and rethink, and I loved that about it.
Other things I liked:
- [ ] Valient
- [ ] Tansy
- [ ] Every single setting change
- [ ] The (YA) FxF relationship
Things I wanted more of:
- [ ] Communication between certain (I won’t spoil it) characters
- [ ] More time in Valla with the Carrion Knights and more time in Bright City
- [ ] More time spent on and more insight into # 29
There was both a television show and a book I could not stop thinking about while reading Lavender and Hemlock. The movie Snowglobe (holy nostalgic) and the Half-Blood Prince (the pensieve.) If you have ever enjoyed either of these things, definitely read this.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for providing me with this ARC book for review. All opinions are my own.
April 2, 2026
A book that lives up to its beautiful cover! This story a is great blend of cozy, magic, mystery and coming of age. The romance that blooms between Tansy and Merit is so heartwarming. The storytelling and pacing was good and I could not easily guess where the story was going (in a good way!). An excellent YA read suitable for 12+
Tansy is the sole caregiver to an old lady who likes her days to exactly like ones before it; with some tea, a walk, and a nap. While Tansy is content with this quiet seaside life, there's a tug in her to want more; a knight in shining armor...
Merit is a ruthless knight who was stolen as a child and trained to be a dark Carrion Knight. While she has spent her life devoted to the way of the Unmaker, is she truly evil? Is there more out there for her, can she be something else?
After being inflicted a near death injury, Merit stumbles upon Tansy's cozy cottage and is nursed back to health by the redheaded maid. As their feelings for each other begin to grow, they begin to question the lives they've known and begin a quest to take back their lives and make their own decisions.
But things aren't always so easily said then done. Their lives are tangled with magic, their sense of duty, lost memories and the 500 year old tale of a dead king and an evil mage.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley*
Tansy is the sole caregiver to an old lady who likes her days to exactly like ones before it; with some tea, a walk, and a nap. While Tansy is content with this quiet seaside life, there's a tug in her to want more; a knight in shining armor...
Merit is a ruthless knight who was stolen as a child and trained to be a dark Carrion Knight. While she has spent her life devoted to the way of the Unmaker, is she truly evil? Is there more out there for her, can she be something else?
After being inflicted a near death injury, Merit stumbles upon Tansy's cozy cottage and is nursed back to health by the redheaded maid. As their feelings for each other begin to grow, they begin to question the lives they've known and begin a quest to take back their lives and make their own decisions.
But things aren't always so easily said then done. Their lives are tangled with magic, their sense of duty, lost memories and the 500 year old tale of a dead king and an evil mage.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley*
April 20, 2026
Review to come.
April 24, 2026
God, I really, utterly, sincerely loved this one.
I was trying to articulate and pinpoint exactly why this landed so well for me, and I've come to the following conclusions: 1) Wilkinson perfectly balances fantastical whimsy against horror. The ransacked doll room, characters leaking sawdust, and The Baby Scene were utterly frightening. I struggle sometimes with "cozy" fantasies that have absolutely no stakes - there were stakes here, both real and life-threatening. The Unmaker's creatures stalking the various portal worlds were also incredibly unnerving. 2) The portal jumping through the doors of the Oubliette, and worlds being encased within snow globes... What an incredibly unique idea, and it is handled so expertly. The seaside town, in particular, reminded me of His Dark Materials (I'm unsure if that was the intention, but that's what made me connect to it!
There were also quite a few twists I earnestly didn't see coming, which kept me on my toes. I think this is one that I'll eventually give a reread, too!
I was trying to articulate and pinpoint exactly why this landed so well for me, and I've come to the following conclusions: 1) Wilkinson perfectly balances fantastical whimsy against horror. The ransacked doll room, characters leaking sawdust, and The Baby Scene were utterly frightening. I struggle sometimes with "cozy" fantasies that have absolutely no stakes - there were stakes here, both real and life-threatening. The Unmaker's creatures stalking the various portal worlds were also incredibly unnerving. 2) The portal jumping through the doors of the Oubliette, and worlds being encased within snow globes... What an incredibly unique idea, and it is handled so expertly. The seaside town, in particular, reminded me of His Dark Materials (I'm unsure if that was the intention, but that's what made me connect to it!
There were also quite a few twists I earnestly didn't see coming, which kept me on my toes. I think this is one that I'll eventually give a reread, too!
April 27, 2026
cozy but creepy ish sapphic fantasy.It follows Tansy, who lives this super quiet life as a housemaid in a little seaside cottage called the Oubliette. Her whole world is basically taking care of her elderly charge, keeping the house in order, and that’s it. She doesn’t really question it, even though she can’t remember how she got there or the last time she left, which already feels a little off.Then Merit shows up she’s a wounded Carrion Knight, basically raised to serve this dark entity and do terrible things. She stumbles into the cottage by accident, and from the second she and Tansy meet, things start to feel wrong in a different way. Like the “perfect” cozy bubble Tansy’s been living in starts cracking.From there, it turns into this slow unraveling of what the Oubliette actually is, who Tansy really is, and what’s been controlling their lives. The more their connection grows (which is very soft, slow burn sapphic romance), the more the illusion falls apart, and it gets darker than you expect.The vibe is honestly my favorite part. It’s very “lavender on the surface, hemlock underneath”like cozy cottagecore but something is definitely lurking under it. It’s quiet, a little eerie, and very atmospheric.I will say it’s definitely a slow build. Not a lot happens super fast, and it leans more into mood and identity questions than action. But if you’re into that kind of story, it really works. it’s a dreamy, slightly unsettling fantasy about identity, memory, and breaking out of something that feels safe but isn’t. If you like cozy aesthetics mixed with darker themes and sapphic romance, this one’s really worth it.
April 3, 2026
As a reader who is obsessed with fantasy, I adored this book. The worldbuilding is amazing, as well as the characters and the plot. It has a perfect mix of fantasy, romance, and mystery to keep you hooked the whole way through. I am looking forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for this ARC!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for this ARC!
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