Lavender and Hemlock out now from Delacorte Press; 416 pages
Content Warning: Gore, war, violence, murder, death of an animal, grief, sexual content
About the Author: “Lili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of more than twenty books for young people, including A Hunger of Thorns, which won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, and was a CBCA Honour Book. Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for YA and the young people who read it. Her latest books are the Bravepaw series and Unhallowed Halls” (Bio from author’s website).
Find Lili Wilkinson on the following platforms:
Tansy, a perfect housemaid living in a tiny cottage by the sea, tends to her duties, serving the old Lady Aster and caring for the charming but isolated home. The only issue is that Tansy can’t recall any memories of her present life or past, and she doesn’t remember when she last left the cottage. Merit, a Carrion Knight and a well-behaved servant of the Unmaker, is fulfilling her role to become a monstrous knight. But when she questions the system, she’s wounded and finds a mysterious door that leads her into the Oubliette, taking her straight to Tansy. When the two meet, they form an instant bond. As the bond between the two grows stronger, Tansy finds herself worrying about her identity, wanting to learn who she is and what she wants. And as the two find a crack in the Oubliette, it is revealed that Tansy may be the key to uncovering the isolated home’s mysteries.
When I found this book, it was love at first sight. Though I had yet to read it, I found the cover absolutely mesmerizing, and it actually reminded me of paladin x cleric fanart but genderbent, which further enticed me into reading it. I love the seaside gothic aesthetic and have dabbled with it myself, but I don’t typically see it written often, so I really admired that. I wasn’t sure how the cozy, cottagecore vibes and dark mystery were going to coincide, but it was surprisingly fitting—the eeriness of the Oubliette, the magical elements, and the sweet romance between Merit and Tansy were all wrapped together nicely. I’m a huge fan of memory loss tropes, and I also enjoyed the worldbuilding, which reminded me of the fairytale vibes of the series Ever After High. One thing that I had a difficult time getting through at first was the insta-love romance between Merit and Tansy; I really enjoyed their characters and found myself rooting for them, but it definitely wasn’t for their build-up as a couple. However, I still loved the characters, especially Merit, my morally gray knight! I was emotional while watching as she discovered herself outside the constraints of the toxic place she once knew as home; I am always fascinated by these kinds of characters, and it actually reminded me so much of Odile in A Treachery of Swans, which I’ve also written a review for. If you’re looking for a whimsical, sapphic romance with a dark twist, check out Lavender and Hemlock!
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Delacorte Press for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Anasofia Alejandro, Pine Reads Review Writer and Social Media Manager