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The final book in The Eating Woods Trilogy

Unknown Binding

First published October 6, 2026

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About the author

Keri Lake

55 books20k followers
Author of gothic romance who specializes in demon wrangling, vengeance dealing and wicked twists.

I love connecting with readers, so feel free to join my reading group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thego...

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 661 reviews
Profile Image for SK .
675 reviews13.6k followers
October 8, 2026
“There isn’t a word that encompasses the love I feel for you, moon witch. It transcends anything I’ve ever felt before.”

That was disappointing for a finale. I believe I'm in the minority here given most people are enjoying this. But it just did not work for me 😭😭 Book 1 was amazing, book 2 kinda meh but still readable. This one? It started off fine, not the best but fine. Then the middle completely fell apart and flatlined and the end was like giving it CPR, just enough not completely recovered 🥲

This was so boring and dull. I did like reading about Maevyth and Zevander, their chemistry was amazing as ever. But the plot did not support them. Things stopped being interesting for them after 40%. The other povs did not do much but drag for 863 pages. Surprisingly the one with the most depth and good storyline was Kazhimyr. He pulled emotions out of me and I always appreciate that. Like the man was a tortured soul I just wanted to hug.

Also, this book was doing this weird thing where things from book 1 and 2 didn't really matter and took a sudden different route. I was left feeling confused. Then dragging scenes which didn't matter in such a slow paced manner but the endings for some characters were wrapped up quickly. Too quickly.

Coming to the ending, it did make me sob. It was painful and oddly satisfying. And yet it was not enough to save the book. The damage was already done. All I wished was the book being actually interesting. It wasn't. This did not need to be 863 pages long. Anyway, done and dusted. I'm free now.



~•~•~
Time for the finale. Just give my baby Zevander some happiness ffs 😭😭
Also, damn.. Over 800+ pages? This book is chonky af. Wish me luck 🤞
Profile Image for èvieane.
196 reviews1,131 followers
January 13, 2026
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍✦ .  ⁺   . 4.0 ☆ .  ⁺   . ✦
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ˋ°•*⁀➷ㅤmight contain spoilers ❗

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Keri really wanted to see me either depressed or dead with this book because there is genuinely no other explanation for the sheer amount of trauma she put me through alongside these characters; before finally giving me a glimpse of happiness...

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I wanted this to be a 5-star read, trust me, I really did. But there were a few things that stopped me from giving it more than 4 stars, which is still a very good rating. I just felt like there were some small things this book could have done better, and unfortunately, they were enough to keep it from reaching that perfect rating for me.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ “I would’ve bled across a path of blades to return to you, moon witch.”


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ honest thoughts
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ Again, I am going to start with the same thing I said for each of these books: READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE YOU START. This is pretty dark and some subjects are not very comofrtable to read about.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I fucking hate spiders so damn much....

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ So, I will first start by saying that this series has genuinely become one of my favourites, and I do not think I will be getting over it anytime soon. I grew incredibly attached to so many of these characters, and even the ones who were not given nearly enough page time still somehow managed to steal my heart.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ This was probably the best conclusion this series could have gotten, but...I am afraid there are still a few buts.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ The book was definitely pretty slow at times, and while I actually loved the pacing overall, there were still moments when I found myself wondering why the plot was barely moving. I enjoyed spending time with the characters and letting the story breathe, but occasionally it felt like we were lingering in the same place for just a little too long.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ I can understand sacrifice in a book, and sadly, it does make the story feel more realistic and emotionally impactful. BUT SO MANY SACRIFICES, KERI??? WAS ALL OF THAT REALLY NECESSARY???
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ THEY WERE FREAKING MATES. I WAS SO DAMN SURE THEY WERE MATES, AND THAT WAS THE WAY YOU CHOSE TO CONFIRM IT TO ME??? Absolutely cruel. I feel personally attacked.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ I actually loved the plot and the way everything came together. Despite my minor complaints, the story itself and this book are definitely SOLID. The authors did such a great job tying everything together and bringing the entire story to a satisfying conclusion.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I just could not shake this constant feeling that something was missing. Nothing major enough to ruin the experience, but just enough to stop the book from feeling completely perfect to me.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ Zevander Rydainn is one of the hottest MMCs to ever exist and Maevyth is probably one of my top FMCs ever. ATP I DO NOT PLAY ABOUT THESE TWO.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ♡ You know I NEVER play about the romance in a book, and let me tell you, this entire series does romance, loyalty, and yearning like almost nothing else. True, it is not entirely the slow-burn it is marketed as, but trust me, you will hardly even mind once you see how beautifully everything progresses.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ It is easily one of my favourite parts of the entire series, and this book especially does such an incredible job at showing just how deep love can run, and how much sacrifice it can drive someone to make for even the slightest chance of saving the person they love. Sure, it is rather...carnal and sometimes pretty rough, but I am no Virgin Mary either, so of course I loved it. More importantly, it actually made sense for their story and for the kind of relationship they had built.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ Now, here is one thing about me: I absolutely HATE this type of epilogue in books, especially when the characters are supposed to be immortal because literally WHERE IS THE RUSH??? This is entirely a personal preference, of course, so take it as nothing more than that.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I am also one of those people who feels like the image of the characters can completely change once this sort of thing gets added, and sadly, that happened here too. I genuinely could not look at Maevyth and Zevander the same way after reading that epilogue.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ So, naturally, I have decided to ignore it. It did not happen.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ characters
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⊹ Maevyth — Oh, this book definitely marked the peak of her growth and development as a main female character. I loved seeing how, despite everything she had been through and all the trauma she was forced to carry, she finally started taking control of her own decisions. She stopped backing away from fights, protected the people she loved, and still managed to hold on to the kindness and goodness that the world had spent so long trying to taint.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Did she become a little more heartless along the way? Yes. But honestly, I think that was necessary for her to finally step fully into her power.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⊹ Zevander — This man could do absolutely no wrong in my eyes. Even if he suddenly decided to turn fully evil and ruin everyone’s existence, I am afraid I would still be standing firmly on his side.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ What I love most about him is that he never loses his own personality or individuality, even when he becomes a complete yearning mess. And THAT matters so much to me. His protectiveness never overrides her wishes or her authority. His patience while helping her heal? His absolute bloody rampage when he found out she had been taken? His respect for her choices and decisions, even when he disagreed with them?
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Oh, Zevander Rydainn... they truly need to make more men like you.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⊹ I will not start talking about any other character, because I might genuinely start crying. Know that I love them all, though....


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ should you read this?
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ This entire series has been such an amazing experience for me. Sure, it is rather dark, and I would genuinely recommend checking the trigger warnings first if you know your heart might not survive this level of SHEER TRAUMA DUMP, but I loved these books with my entire being.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I might have wished for a few things to be different here and there, but I cannot really complain when I absolutely devoured every single one of these books. This series is GOOD, and I am going to miss it terribly.

⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍendㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹



ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ᯓ ✿ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍pre-reading ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⪼
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ○ started ┆08-October-2026┆

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⤿ I can finally start this!!! I just finished my reread of the previous two books, so the pain in me is fresh 🫶🏻 can't wait for this to hurt me even more
Profile Image for Annica ⚡️ annica_reads_books ⚡️.
794 reviews181 followers
January 12, 2026
I need to scream from the rooftops about this series, especially this EPIC conclusion! Vasmora was my most anticipated release of 2026, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it exceeded my expectations in every way. Stop what you're reading right now and pick this series up. Just get comfortable first, because it's a masterfully intricate web of connections, and so much happens that you'll want to take your time to really appreciate everything that Keri puts down. I highly recommend doing what I did and rereading Anathema and Eldritch beforehand, because I had forgotten so many little details. And rest assured, I'll be rereading Vasmora once the audiobook is released.

To be quite honest, I was a little nervous to start this book. If you remember where Eldritch left off, you know that it ended on a dark cliffhanger. And that’s where Vasmora begins. I had a feeling I was heading for pain before I started the book, and it turned out I was right.

“Even decay can be beautiful, once you accept you can’t change it.”

There are absolutely heartbreaking moments, but Keri makes the pain worth it. I teared up in a few spots, which is a feat all on its own. The character development is phenomenal. Zevander was extra swoony, and Maevyth truly comes into herself. It was beautiful to witness their individual growth as well as their relationship with each other.

“I knew the moment I laid eyes on you that I would fight hell and death for you.”

Vasmora is much faster-paced than Eldritch, so buckle up! Beautiful, dark, and unrelenting, this story showcases exactly why Keri takes her time between releases: when her books drop, they're masterpieces. It's the perfect ending to the Eating Woods trilogy, balancing the depravity and horror I crave in a dark fantasy with the romantic elements I long for. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read an early copy. Thank you, Keri. This was one of my top reads of the year, and I can’t wait for the opportunity to visit this story and these characters again. 🪾🖤🦂🕷️🕸️
Profile Image for Tatianna.
326 reviews108 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 12, 2026
WOW!! What a phenomenal conclusion to a truly epic trilogy!!

Full of horror and heartache and the most stunning romance, Vasmora took me on an emotional rollercoaster that surged straight through to the most hard-won and satisfying conclusion I could have imagined for The Eating Woods. I’m never getting over this.

If you’ve read the previous books, you know Eldritch ends with a crescendo of chaos and anguish alongside an insane cliffhanger.. And let me tell you, Vasmora starts exactly where Eldritch left off and does not stop. It’s quite fast-paced, which works so well to continue that momentum and cover a lot of necessary ground. While Vasmora stays true to the gothic style, everything has escalated to terrifying new heights, culminating in an emotive and adrenaline-drenched conclusion.

It’s dark.. it’s stressful .. even devastating at times. I swear each chapter tested my emotional stability and my adrenal system. But omg was the payoff worth every moment!

I’d been shown a new dimension of love—the darker, more terrifying plane where pain was inevitable.


Even with some semblance of what these characters would have to face in this book, I still wasn’t ready. Maevyth’s journey crushed my already wounded heart and fanned the flames of my burning need for vengeance (iykyk). Chapter 18 wrecked me. But I was also so proud of her strength and resilience, and watching her continued character growth throughout this finale was really rewarding.

Speaking of vengeance… wow did Vasmora deliver. I couldn’t think of a better (read: worse) outcome for a certain someone and all I can say is THANK YOU KERI because now I can finally know peace.

“There would be no life after you, moon witch… Stars would lose their brilliance. My world would dull to a colourless hellscape.”


The character work in this series is unparalleled and the way it has shaped the romance is nothing short of incredible. The yearning and devotion, the mutual vulnerability and the instinct to protect each other at all costs... it is so profoundly moving. Maevyth & Zevander’s bond feels SACRED and their “happy ever after” is so indulgent, so well-deserved and satisfying… I could have read 800 more pages just to bask in their forevermore. SWOON.

“He’s crawled from death and shadows, risen up from that abysmal chasm. For me. My angel with dark wings. My merciless weapon of wrath.”


Keri Lake is truly the QUEEN of gothic romance and I will never tire of her insane ability to deliver a story that makes me feel so deeply. She is fluent in the macabre, the chilling and the dreadful… and she knows how to wield all of it to illuminate hope and love against all odds. Of course this translated so beautifully to an epic dark fantasy, but I am still left awestruck when I think about the magnitude of this world, the depth of the characters and the absolute masterpiece delivered.

I would recommend this trilogy to any romance readers that appreciate gothic romance, intricate fantasy worlds and magic systems, grimdark and horror elements, layered characters and slow burn, intense romance, vengeance-dealing, complex villains, and hard-won HEAs.

One last thing … If you’ve read Keri Lake’s other gothics you will know that she sometimes will include little easter eggs and OMG there is one here that had me screaming!! So clever and fun and a little bit mind-blowing.

Advanced copy kindly provided by the author for review. All thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

Extras:
- Official playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3pL...
- Series character art
- Content warnings
Profile Image for Alex Sousa.
1 review1 follower
October 9, 2026
I really enjoyed this trilogy overall. But I feel some disappointment with this final book. The pacing really picked up in this book, but I feel like some of the plot points fell to the wayside in order to (attempt) wrapping everything up. Spoilers ahead!

One of the biggest disappointments was the final battle. We have been reading about the big, bad Cadavros and Pestilios for three books only for them to be beaten in one chapter, and rather quickly. We had more of a fight with them in the second book than we do in the final book, at least that's what I think. I really don't like it when a book series builds up the antagonist, making them seems like this terribly powerful opponent only for them to be defeated in a single chapter. Why?

My next big disappointment is that the whole book we are reading that Morsana's power is needed in order for them to win the war, but we only see her power being used my Maevyth a handful of times. The last two books heavily imply how powerful and integral Maevyth's power will be since she is Vasmora, but it's barely used or seen. She uses the same powers we've seen throughout the whole series in this book, and the only new abilities after agreeing to be the new death goddess are her squeezing the life out of beings without touching them, seeing the infection in the body through her mind, and raising the bones of ancestorial warriors. What are the other powers? Then, let's talk about how Morsana is supposed to ascend into Maevyth's body is a major plot point for the last two books, only for this to be over and done with in practically one chapter. Then, we learn Maevyth is Deimos's daughter, she tells Zevander the knowledge when she returns to her body, and that's it.... nothing else comes from this...? It's only important because she is resilient to sablefire and can manipulate it? She can't create/use her own sablefire like Zevander? What's the point of being his daughter if she doesn't have his abilities as well? Just so she will have the choice of being a new death god instead of being a vessel for Morsana? Why all this build-up for practically nothing? It just seemed too rushed for me. I wanted to see more exploration of what Maevyth could do with her Death power, and I wanted to see more of a struggle to win against Cadavros and Pestilios.

Another thing that confused and sort-of irked me was Kazhimyr's story line. We read in the last two books how he was so enamored by Allura. Don't get me wrong, I am so happy for her and Rykaia, but it seems odd to me that it's hinted that Kaz and she may have some romantic ties, only for it to go nowhere. Also, what happened between him and Dravien? Was the mate bond a friend mate bond? What happened during their travels that caused Kaz to reach Eidolon before Dravien? I feel like Dravien got the short-end of the stick, and he deserved more in the end. He suffered for so many years/decades, just to be ripped apart by mutations.

Then we have Dolion's POV chapters. He does all this research for so many things only for us, the reader, to learn the knowledge..? He never really gets the chance to explain to anyone what he's discovered. Only once when Zevander and Maevyth back it back to Eidolon, he touches base with Zevander about his discoveries then.... nothing lol. WTF? It all seems so pointless.

Next, we're just going to breeze past the fact that Zevander is the king's bastard son...? I get that Zevander wants nothing to do with the crown, but this is mentioned maybe two times he may be the king's first born son, then it is confirmed after Zevander bleeds on the ritual dagger before he and Lothare reach the nest where Cadavros/Pestilios are. Then it is never mentioned again.

One more thing, how come Maevyth never sees Ravezio after he died? She sees Branimir after he passes multiple times, but never sees Ravezio. I know there are some people that Morsana doesn't have access to. I think she is the goddess of the people who are not claimed by other gods when they die, but still... He is barely mentioned in this book. Only in passing moments is he mentioned, then when he is, the character who is thinking about him is like, "don't have time to mourn him now" then we move on. Ravezio just dies at the end of the second book, and it's over and done with. UGH. He deserves more than that.

I think the author was trying to get this book out as quickly as possible and left some loose ends. I'd rather wait for the last book of the series than to read a story that feels rushed and haphazardly put together just to please the readers. Or maybe this should have been split into two books instead of one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Aubrey Wood.
91 reviews6 followers
Want to Read
January 12, 2026
FOAMING AT THE MOUTH FOR THIS BOOK! Eldritch was SUCH a cliffhanger and I hung on every single word of this story. 6 star series for me and I'm sure VASMORA will be no different! 🥹😭
Profile Image for Shelby | Spicy.booknook.
567 reviews103 followers
October 11, 2026
I honestly have no words right now. This was everything I hoped for and more in the ending of this series. I’ll try and sit with my thoughts and write a better review but just know that I highly recommend this series, and Maevyth and Zevander will forever be a favorite of mine 🥹🥹🥹
Profile Image for RedFireLady Reads.
217 reviews58 followers
October 11, 2026
This book was quite the journey! Maybe a bit too long, but worth the read, regardless.

I love Zevander, he wil forever be one of my favorite book boyfriends. And Maevyth, such a strong and fierce FMC.

The pain from this book... the trauma, sacrifice, and loss along the way was difficult to experience, and such a sad ending for some of the characters. For others.... their ending was very deserved.

I love the ending and seeing Zevander, Maevyth, and their friends and family finally have some peace and a chance to breath and live their HEA.

I enjoyed this series and I am going to miss these characters. I do hope that maybe we will see them again? There are a few openings here for spinoff series' where maybe we will get a few more moments with them.
Profile Image for ari ⁠♡.
330 reviews30 followers
October 9, 2026
I’M NOT READY TO SAY GOODBYE TO THESE TWO

Keri Lake really put Maevyth and Zevander through HELL and back, and I was here for every second of it. 😭🖤

The plot had me hooked, and I loved how everything unfolded throughout the story. There was so much going on, but it all made for a great conclusion to the trilogy
Profile Image for Lena.
579 reviews114 followers
October 11, 2026
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint!! I would genuinely read Keri Lake’s grocery list and enjoy every second of it. Everything this woman writes is a masterpiece. This was the final book of the eating woods trilogy, and it gave such a satisfying ending to a series I love so much. It’s dark, spooky, and gothic with elements of horror that’ll literally make your skin crawl. The romance is full of tension and chemistry. The plot is intricate and engaging. It can be gory and uncomfortable, but you can’t put it down. Maevyth and Zevander had so much growth in this—seeing them overcome their traumas together had me in tears. Their experiences dealing with their trauma felt so realistic because some things never truly go away. The found family and multiple plot lines coming together was *chefs kiss.* I love this series so much.
Profile Image for Taylor K.
57 reviews6 followers
October 23, 2026
Did I think this was as good as the other two in the series? No. Did I think this was bad? No. Were there a lot of spiders? Yes. Was this obnoxiously long? Yes.
Profile Image for Julia.
327 reviews16 followers
October 15, 2026
I enjoyed the trilogy overall, but some things felt unresolved or underdeveloped. However, I will NEVER forgive Keri Lake for Branimir’s fate!!! I was holding on to hope until the very end that he would be healed and finally get the happy ending he deserved after everything he’d been through. But no. And I’m HEARTBROKEN.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessica the Unfortunately Invested.
172 reviews1 follower
October 8, 2026
This book is approximately 860 pages long, and somehow THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH PAGES. 😭

Keri Lake. MA'AM. What have you done to me?!

I picked up Anathema thinking I'd enjoy a spooky little gothic romantasy situation, and three books later, I am emotionally attached to an entire ecosystem of cursed, morally questionable supernatural weirdos.

And now I'm supposed to just... LEAVE?!?!

Absolutely not. 😂

Let's discuss:

🌲 The worldbuilding? Immaculate. Dark, intricate, unsettling, and so richly imagined that I would happily spend another thousand pages wandering around in it. Which is concerning, considering the general mortality rate. 🕷️

✨🦴 The magic system? SO GOOD. Strange, layered, original, and just complicated enough.

💀🐦‍⬛ The atmosphere? Gothic nightmare perfection. Monsters! Curses! Blood! Horrible things lurking in horrible places!
I LOVE IT HERE.

⚔️ The plot? Relentless. This enormous book somehow never felt enormous. I was practically inhaling pages. Pacing was great. People hate on book 2, but it was solid groundwork for action in book 3.

🖤 The romance? FERAL. Devoted. Tender. Catastrophically romantic. And yes, the 🌶️ department delivered. 🥵🤌

And then there's ZEVANDER. 🦂
SIR.

This man has spent three books establishing himself as:
🔥 Dangerous
🔥 Damaged
🔥 Aggressive
🔥 Protective
🔥 Deeply, catastrophically gone
🔥 Willing to make the continued existence of civilization everyone else's problem

But what makes him so wonderful isn't just the ferality.

It's the tenderness. The vulnerability. The absolute reverence he has for Maevyth. 🐦‍⬛ They're in love. They're working through their trauma together.

And Maevyth. 🐦‍⬛🦴

Our spooky little moon witch! Watching her journey across these three books has been an absolute delight. I loved her mystery, her strength, her vulnerability, and the way her story just kept becoming bigger and more fascinating.

My only complaint (not a complaint) is the side characters.

I want more of their histories. Their relationships. Their ridiculous supernatural problems. Their ordinary Tuesdays. Give me spin-offs. Give me novellas. Give me 400 pages of people sitting around discussing what happened last week.

I DON'T CARE. I JUST WANT MORE TIME WITH MY PEOPLE.

And now I'm sitting here feeling genuinely sad that it's over. 😢

I didn't just want to know how this story ended.

I wanted to stay in this world forever.

Which is ridiculous, because the place is an absolute nightmare. 😂🌲💀

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Five stars. No notes. Except please write another thousand pages. 🖤🦂🐦‍⬛🕷️
Profile Image for Deborah Scv.
275 reviews
October 21, 2026
Don’t come for me. I’m as disappointed as you are. 😭

This was one of my MOST anticipated reads of the year, and I genuinely cannot believe I’m sitting here writing this review.

I wanted to love it. I was READY to love it. And yet… here we are.

Apparently I’m very much in the minority, so PLEASE don’t let my review put you off reading it. In fact, read it, come back for the spoilers and tell me why I’m wrong. 😂

But personally? I was bored for about 90% of those 863 pages.

The pacing was all over the place. Painfully slow when I wanted things to move along, then suddenly rushing through moments I actually wanted to explore. So many trials, tribulations and unnecessary detours that ultimately felt like they added to the word count rather than the story.

And now, because I have THOUGHTS…

🚨 MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW 🚨

- Loyce. WHY did we spend so much time here? Has Maevyth not suffered enough already? Did we really need another extended trauma session? It honestly started feeling like an Aelin retelling, and Loyce was giving Archangel Sandriel more and more with every page. IYKYK.

- Kazhymir. Where do I even start? Why isn’t he turning? Guess we’ll never know. How did he get to Eidolon’s Keep before Dravien when they were travelling together? WHEN THE FUCK DID THE BOND WITH DRAVIEN HAPPEN?! And then Dravien just… dies? Was that supposed to be his redemption arc? Because I felt absolutely nothing. ME. The woman who cries over fictional characters like they’re family. Not a single tear. I didn’t understand the point of any of it.

- Corwin and Adira. Why are we suddenly bringing them back into the story just to do absolutely nothing?! They show up before Eidolon’s Keep, contribute next to nothing, and then basically get left behind to bury an injured Corvugon and wait for everyone else to heal. And the dragons?! WHY ARE THEY THERE?! What was the point?! Just to injure the Corvugon and get a few more eggs, I guess… because apparently we needed another pointless side quest. 🙃

- Morsana’s ascension. We’ve spent TWO BOOKS being told she HAS to ascend, with the very real expectation that Maevyth might die in the process. And when it finally happens? Morsana spends approximately five minutes acting like a bitch in heat, desperate to bone and have babies, while Maevyth is off having her own personal Inception experience. WHAT IS HAPPENING?! Then we find out Deimos is Maevyth’s father, he somehow convinces Morsana to leave with him, and Maevyth becomes the goddess of death?! JUST LIKE THAT?! EXCUSE ME?! We spent hundreds of pages building up to this supposedly monumental moment, only for it to be wrapped up faster than I could process what was happening. THIS is what we’re rushing through?!

- Morsana’s powers. For TWO BOOKS, we’ve been told her powers are absolutely CRUCIAL to defeating Pestilios. The key to everything. The reason we’ve been putting Maevyth through absolute hell. And what does she actually do? Raises an army of bones, crushes two hearts and apparently calls it a day. She doesn’t even help cage Pestilios! Turns out all we really needed was a small, spindling child and Lothare. WHO KNEW?! The entire Morsana storyline felt so ridiculously underwhelming after all that build-up. Where was the epic payoff?!

- What happened to the bloodstones everyone wanted ???? They just disappeared good riddance. I know we didn’t need them as they didn’t close the umbravale again but like????

-The blade. All that emphasis on not tainting it, only for Zevander to get cut and everyone to basically go, “Oh well, wipe the blood off.” ARE WE SERIOUS? Was this meant to hint that Zevander might be a bastard son? Is that where we’re going with this? Because honestly… meh.

-Cadavros. And we’re just going to have him develop a conscience at the very last minute and suddenly try to be the good guy?! NO. Absolutely not. You don’t get to pull a last-minute redemption arc out of nowhere and expect me to buy it. 😭

And THAT ending. The whole Shutter Island moment had me rolling my eyes so hard I nearly saw my own brain. After 863 pages, that was really what we were going with?!

But can we give Branimir some love?! Because despite barely getting any page time, he was genuinely my favourite part of this book. Honourable, loyal. HE DESERVED EVERYTHING. I honestly wish we’d had his POV! And his death should have destroyed me, but between the chaotic storyline and how quickly it was wrapped up, I barely had time to feel anything. Even that emotional devastation was stolen from me. 😭

I think my biggest frustration is that there was SO MUCH potential. So many storylines, revelations and characters that could have delivered incredible emotional payoffs, but instead everything either dragged on forever or was wrapped up in five minutes.

I don’t mind a long book. I LOVE a chunky fantasy. But I need those pages to actually give me something.

And before anyone comes for me, I know so many people absolutely adored this book. I’m genuinely happy for you. I WISH I was one of you. 😭

I wanted to be emotionally destroyed. I wanted to cry, scream, throw the book across the room and then hug it.

Instead, I just wanted it to end.

Please tell me I’m not the only one?! Or if you loved it, tell me what I’m missing because I genuinely want to understand! 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kaylareadsallthetime.
63 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 21, 2026
Infinite stars!!! Review to come. What an emotionally beautiful ride this book was. I will now be staring at a wall for the foreseeable future.

First off THANK YOU to Keri Lake for letting me ARC read this. Pinch me. I just finished and this moment still doesn't seem real. How is this my life. How did I get so lucky?! Infinite stars!! Wow. Brilliant. Stunning. Perfection. What a perfect ending to The Eating Woods trilogy. I wouldn't expect anything less from Keri, but wowwwwwwzers she delivers ten fold on this one! I am in awe of this series in a whole. The amount of element and details blow me away. The way I devoured this book, straight up inhaled. I could not stop. The amount of action that is going on. It is a nonstop feel. One you literally cannot put down. You wanna know what comes next. You're on the edge of your seat the entire time. What's coming. What will be. Oh goshhhhhhhh ALL the emotions.
This one has some intense parts, gory parts, heartbreaking parts. YES I cried. How could I not with what goes on. And just knowing this is the finale installment for Maevyth and Zevander, that alone made me weak. I loveeeee all the POVs we get in this one. Yes there is a new one. I squealed and kicked my legs when I saw it. And it is such a perfect addition. Breaks up things, gives you more insight. Just all around bravo!
What we get in this book is answers. We get SO much action. Some spice that's always nice. Sadness. Grit and war. And just honestly a story for the ages. Like I can't actually fathom how I am supposed to move on from this. I feel complete and fulfilled, yet just like what now. These characters have embedded themselves on me in so many ways. I truly will never fully move on. The Eating Woods has consumed my brain for better of three years. And for this to be it truly went above and beyond my expectations of what I wanted from it. Everything was all finished up with a black bow on it.
Pacing is definitely not your typical pace for a Keri book. Trust me I know. LOL. We all know I am an OG diehard of her work. But with how this story plays out and comes to a finish I can't even see it not being so fast paced. It is such a work of art the flow. Seriously give yourself a few open days. Full days. Cause you're gonna be consumed and unable to do anything but read. I want to say a TON more but honestly this is one that needs to be absorbed blind. Just go in knowing it answers all your Eating Woods burning questions and then some. I am not one to break down every little detail in a book. So I won't start now.
I am so excited to see what's next from Keri. I know it'll be moody and dark and Amazing! Until then I will be book hangovering from this book lol.
Profile Image for Lindsey.
518 reviews36 followers
October 23, 2026
A hefty book that took me a while to get through, but one that reminded me that sometimes the best stories are the ones you need to slow down for.

I went into Vasmora expecting a faster pace, but I found myself taking my time, slowing down to digest the story and really sit with everything unfolding. And honestly, by the time I reached the end, I was emotional.

Keri Lake has such a beautiful way with words. The writing, the atmosphere, the depth of the story, the way everything comes together… it’s the kind of conclusion that makes you appreciate the journey, even when it takes a little longer to get there.

I look forward to owning the audio, so I can appreciate the story with James and Melissa performing, giving that 5 star experience.
Profile Image for Becca Gresham.
152 reviews
October 20, 2026
“Tyrants. Monsters. Gods. I’d fight hell itself for you, moon witch, and wear a fucking smile when the heavens saw fit to punish me for it.”

INFINITY STARS.

Absolutely IMMACULATE.

Okay now that I have my thoughts together…. This was my most anticipated read of 2026 and HOLY F DID IT DELIVER. I never thought it would be possible to again have the feeling of reading Kingdom of Ash for the first time, but that is exactly what reading this was.

This trilogy is absolutely incredible and I beg every single one of you to bump it to the top of your TBR immediately.

I am devastated it is over, but will absolutely be adding this to my reread rotation. Keri Lake, thank you for this incredible world.
Profile Image for juliet♡.
97 reviews
April 8, 2026
pre-read: I NEED THISS!! i also need that bitch dead please🤞

I loved this so much!! I'm so sad to leave these characters behind (a reread is somewhere in the future), this series is so vivid and I had forgotten just how dark this world is until I read this. I'm so glad they got their happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Alexa.
95 reviews25 followers
October 13, 2026
“You’re not an interest. You’re a purpose. And I love you more than everything else.”


I finished this at 2:14am and I am still at a loss for words. What a beautifully heartbreaking yet perfect ending to the series. This series was already one of my all time favorites but I think Vasmora solidified that. It was dark, it was gritty, it was gut wrenching, it was action packed, it was everything I was hoping it was going to be and more 🖤

Maevyth's personal growth in this book is unmatched. The things she goes through at the hands of Loyce were nothing short of horrific and instead of letting it consume her, she used it as fuel to get the revenge she and Zevander both deserved.

I would be remiss if I didn't talked about Maeyvth and Zevander's love for each other because oh. My. God. Their pure devotion to each other had me swooning at every interaction. Seriously, Zevander is the ultimate book boyfriend of all book boyfriends and I will never hear otherwise!!

Maeyvth and Zevander's story is one for the ages and while I am so sad to be saying goodbye, I already can't wait to start my full reread. Keri Lake's ability to give us stories like this, painting pictures so vividly of the world, the characters, the grotesque creatures is nothing short of spectacular and I cannot wait to see what she gifts us next 🖤
Profile Image for Crisia.
64 reviews8 followers
October 12, 2026
I'm sad to be writing this because this was another one of those series that had me in a chokehold with the first two books, and I was so so excited for the finale. It wasn't a bad book, but it just didn't have the same hold on me like the others.

My main issue is that it felt like too much was crammed in without enough development. It's a huge book, but its length just didn't feel necessary. There were several characters and plot elements that were either introduced in this book or only hinted at in the previous ones, and I don't think they received the development they needed. I felt like these elements either deserved a lot more attention (perhaps making this a 4-book series instead of a trilogy) or shouldn't have been introduced at all. There was just too much happening without enough depth.

Secondly, I felt like after about 50%, the writing started to feel rushed, and the character interactions weren't as deep or meaningful anymore. This was particularly disappointing because the emotional depth and character development were some of the things I loved most about the previous books.

Overall, I love Keri Lake's stories and writing, and I think that this is absolutely worth it if you've made it this far, but I wish I had been able to rave about it like I did the other two in this trilogy. It was still worth it for me to read as a whole because Eldritch changed my life. I am still obsessed with Zevander and Maevyth because of that book.
Profile Image for Mara.
52 reviews
Currently Reading
October 20, 2026
Pre-read Ending spooky season with the final book. 👻 Please let the revenge be worth the trauma.
Profile Image for Naomi.
41 reviews
October 9, 2026
The pacing greatly improved from the 1st and 2nd books but it was also just a tad bit too fast for me.

Felt like a good number of characters were dropped into the plot and made allies too easily.

Other things just happened so casually after so much build up and tension that it almost felt anticlimactic. For one, the whole Zevander vs Loyce final fight didn't have the payoff I was expecting. I do like the fate she deserved but I just thought the actual fight would be on a grander scale after all the horror Loyce put everyone through for hundreds of pages.

Another battle off the top of my head that felt anticlimactic was the one against Pestilios. All those allies gathered and it was like no one but Gavroche, Lorathe and Zevander had a role so everyone was just fighting for their lives. They really should've had a huddle and come up with a better game plan first after running into Lorathe and the wolves. And wtf was with Gavroche and Rho just running into the web like that? C'mon...

I thought there would be some sort of pregnancy subplot for Maevyth in the latter half of the story since there was all that stuff going on about bulging bellies, birthing and breeding, Morsana obsessed with sowing her oats, etc. But I guess babies are usually saved for the epilogue so as to not get in the way of heroine getting in on the action.

I kind of hate that some of the deaths happened so fast: Daelan, Oswin, Dravien. Also, were Dravien and Kazhimyr bonded mates or something? Maybe I need to reread the books again but I was getting confused as to which side character is intended to be with who. I thought Kaz had a thing for Rykaia?? And what was that ominous cliffhanger scene where Kaz seemed like he was possessed and gonna kill Dravien?

I was also waiting for Dravien to have a proper conversation with Maevyth once he reunited with the team at Eidolon but we basically saw no interaction with them.

I did enjoy that ominous ending though! Reminds me a lot of Inception's ending. I'm pretty sure Maevyth is indeed free from Caligorya and that was just the light coming in at an angle. Especially with all the worry about not tainting the dagger and Zevander having to wipe his blood off it first! But the spiderweb leaves room for thought and a spin-off for other characters to explore their stories (maybe Rykaia and healing her tainted womb?).

I hope Keri Lake one day returns to this enchanting universe of the Eating Woods. While the pacing overall had issues, I immensely enjoyed this trilogy and find it so unique.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
June 3, 2026
There are really two reasons why I want to read this ASAP 🌋

1. Ending a book on a cliffhanger is the meanest thing ever, but leaving the heroine in the hands of a deranged-unhinged-psychopath with military power, defenseless, after serving us 400 pages of depravities and cruelty the captor is capable of, is down right diabolical.

I am honestly scared to read in the next book what was done to her.

2. So someone had to say it, what is with the rungs or piercings or whatever Zevander has on his 🍆.
Like, how is this supposed to look like? I cannot for the life of me imagine it. Why did they only manage to fit just 3 out of 10 in? Like how big is that thing?! They don’t seem to be painful for the female, or are they? I need more info.
Profile Image for Danielle (The Blonde Likes Books).
696 reviews454 followers
October 26, 2026
Overall I really enjoyed this and I didn't want to put it down. That said, I did feel like there were some loose threads that I would have loved to see be tied up. The last two sentences of the book were stressful for no reason, and I'm going to go with it was PTSD and that everything is still real, because otherwise I will riot.

I wish there was more development with Rykaia and Allura as well as Kaz and Dravien?! I feel like both of those things came out of nowhere and then also went nowhere. I also wanted to have a little more closure with Loyce, especially because they made it such a point for the reader to know she wasn't dead once Zevander threw her into the pit, and then we find out she'd dead way at the end (which I'm glad about, I just wish we'd known a little more about how that happened since she consistently talked about how she couldn't die). I also would have loved more development around Demios being Mayveth's father, especially because that ultimately is what helped lead to the resolution of her getting out of Caligorya and not letting Morsana ascend. Similarly, I wish we'd followed up on Zevander's lineage too, especially because we started down the path of learning he may have royal blood, and Dolion may have figured out what his blood magic was, but then it never came back up.

I felt like Cadavros was a little too easy to defeat since he just handed over the amulet, so the final "battle" against Cadavros and Pestilios felt quick, especially after so much build up.

That said, I did love the book though. The beginning with Loyce was so hard to read and my heart broke over and over for Mayveth until she was free. I loved Branimir and enjoyed his arc a lot. Loved the series as a whole and will be curious to see if she ever does another book set in the same world to wrap up some of the loose ends!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Legend_of_Loren.
135 reviews5 followers
October 16, 2026
I have been bitching about waiting for this book ever since Eldritch was postponed, and honestly? I’m so glad I had to suffer and wait because THIS WAS WORTH IT. 🤣🖤

I will die on this hill: Keri is the QUEEN of creating gothic, horror-filled, nightmare-fueled landscapes. The atmosphere, the darkness, the vibes? Absolutely unmatched. She did a phenomenal job wrapping up this trilogy, IMO, and she wasn’t kidding when she said this book would be faster-paced than the previous two. I was hooked and enjoyed every single minute of it!

Also, I’m officially convinced Keri is the next George R. R. Martin when it comes to her characters. 🤣 She is NOT afraid to put them through hell, and I respect that. I actually loved that not everyone got a happily ever after and that people genuinely died during the plague. The stakes felt real, and the story didn’t shy away from the ugliness and tragedy of it all.

My two favorite things about this entire series have to be Rykaia and the relationship between Zevander/Raivox. I am OBSESSED. And that ending? MY HEART. It still hurts, and I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever recover. 😭

Overall, this was an incredible conclusion to the trilogy, and I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting ending. That being said, Keri, if you happen to see this, I would LOVE a little novella set in this world. 👀 I’m not ready to let these characters go just yet! 🖤
Profile Image for Shelbie Booktok.
282 reviews3 followers
October 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6 STARS. ALL DAY.

One of the greatest endings to a trilogy I have ever read. A gothic romantasy that absolutely wrecked me in the best and worst ways possible. I genuinely don’t know how to put into words what I’m feeling right now, lying in bed after crying for the last hour. My heart is full, my soul is shattered, and I think a little piece of me will always belong to this story.

This book was very quick, especially by Keri Lake standards, but that never once took away from the quality of the story or the weight of its ending. If anything, I was so caught up in everything happening that I barely had time to catch my breath. It felt much more fantasy-heavy, with an almost grimdark atmosphere that made the stakes feel real and the world feel brutal. And the romance? The perfect amount. Enough to make my heart ache, to give me something beautiful to hold on to amidst all the darkness, without ever taking away from the larger story being told.

Because this is war. And war is cruel. Not everyone makes it out, and I think that’s part of what made this ending hit so hard. There are losses, there is heartbreak, and there are moments that leave you wondering how your heart is supposed to recover. But somehow, somehow, the ending still felt satisfying in a way I cannot begin to explain. Not because everything was easy or everyone got the outcome they deserved, but because it felt right for the story. It felt earned. It felt like an ending worthy of everything these characters endured to get there.

And the quotes. THE QUOTES. How am I supposed to move on from these characters when Keri Lake gives me lines like these?

“But should fate ever take you from me, I’d carve my own heart from my chest.”

EXCUSE ME????? I NEED A MOMENT.

And then—

“I always imagined Death to be violent and terrifying.”
“I never imagined her to be so kind and gentle. Merciful.”

I AM UNWELL. ACTUALLY UNWELL.

There is something so devastatingly beautiful about a story that can make death feel gentle, love feel eternal, and heartbreak feel like a privilege because it means you got to love these characters in the first place.

I don’t know how to explain what this book did to me. I don’t know how to explain how it feels to finish a trilogy and realize that you have to say goodbye to a world and characters who have come to mean so much to you. All I know is that I sat here and cried, and cried, and cried, because I wasn’t ready for it to be over.

A six-star read. A phenomenal end to a trilogy. A story that hurt, healed, and broke my heart all at once.

Gothic romantasy at its finest. Dark, brutal, beautiful, and devastatingly tender when it mattered most.

I will be thinking about this ending for a very, very long time.

And if you need me, I’ll be right here, staring at the ceiling, emotionally attached to fictional characters who have permanently altered my brain chemistry. 🖤🥀
Profile Image for Josi ⋆˙⟡.
153 reviews1 follower
October 12, 2026
MY CHEST. MY HEART. MY SOOOUUUULLLLL

So I’m gonna need 3-5 business days for my emotions to stabilize.

Keri Lake has done it again, and she did it again PERFECTLY. The ending to this trilogy was WILD, fast, intense, head on a constant swivel, cannot catch a breath but so fking gripping which I find important considering this was nearly 900 pages.

I could not put this down, adult responsibilities be damned. I was so enthralled by the conclusion and the journey to get there.

While we know how much I LOVE & ADORE Zevander’s character…Maevyth is the one to truly admire. She started out as just a girl with no sense of belonging, facing constant judgement and ridicule but she became so much more and grew into an incredible & strong character.

I’ve learned through this trilogy that Keri has intention with everything she writes when she tells a story. There is no such thing as a useless detail, throwaway information, or wasted chapters/scenes. The way she splits this story apart through multiple POV’s creates a much bigger picture to capture the severity of the conflict and showcase the themes of vengeance, sacrifice, survival, & fate. It’s a BEAST of a book/trilogy, believe me, but it is so worth the read.

I still stand ten toes down that this trilogy has probably become my favorite fantasy series, if not series AS A WHOLE, of all time. Bury me with my deluxe editions pls & thnx.
Profile Image for Corina.
346 reviews18 followers
October 23, 2026
I wanted to love this so badly and sadly it fell apart for me. I am actually upset about it.
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