16 blockbuster September science fiction and fantasy releases to kick off Fall
By Lacy Baugher
September 2021 release: Lakesedge – Lyndall Clipstone
A Gothic fantasy with serious Crimson Peak vibes (and truly the best cover on this month’s list), Lakesedge follows the story of a young orphan girl, her brother who may or may not possess dark magic, and the mysterious lord of a local manor who is rumored to be a literal monster.
Violetta Graceling and her brother Arien were orphaned at a young age, taken in off the side of the road by a religious woman who then raised them both. But when Arien begins exhibiting disturbing signs of dark magic (of the shadows streaming from his hands variety), she punishes them both severely, insisting that it’s a sign that the boy is a servant of the Lord of Under (a.k.a. the god of death).
When Arien’s gift disrupts a local tithe day, he catches the attention of Rowan Sylvanan, lord of the local haunted estate known as Lakesedge. Rumored to have murdered his whole family, Violetta believes him to be a monster, so volunteers to go with him when he arrives to claim her brother and his magical abilities. But that’s only the start of their journey.
The official synopsis describes the story as follows..
"There are monsters in the world. When Violeta Graceling arrives at haunted Lakesedge estate, she expects to find a monster. She knows the terrifying rumors about Rowan Sylvanan, who drowned his entire family when he was a boy. But neither the estate nor the monster are what they seem. There are monsters in the woods. As Leta falls for Rowan, she discovers he is bound to the Lord Under, the sinister death god lurking in the black waters of the lake. A creature to whom Leta is inexplicably drawn… There’s a monster in the shadows, and now it knows my name. Now, to save Rowan—and herself—Leta must confront the darkness in her past, including unraveling the mystery of her connection to the Lord Under."
Lakesedge is available on September 28.
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What science fiction and fantasy books are on your must-read list for September? Sound off in the comments.