Unholy Terrors (Lyndall Clipstone, Penguin)

Unholy Terrors is an alluring, gothic tale of forbidden love and shifting allegiances in a land of magic and monsters. Everline Blackthorn is not like the other wardens who guard the wall of bones, protecting the Hallowed Lands from the wolf-like vespertine—her magical abilities never manifested, and her past is heavy with the legacy of her mother’s mysterious desertion. When Everline encounters an impossible vespertine—one that is more boy than monster—she is determined to seek the truth of the world beyond the wall. Unholy Terrors is Clipstone’s third novel and, while it is stand-alone, holds the same gothic-fantasy charm as her previous works. One for readers of romance rather than for high-fantasy fans, Unholy Terrors is rich in swoon-worthy tropes—enemies-to-lovers, witty retorts, mud-covered skirt hems, vampiric embraces, and shuddering breaths. The setting is a patchwork of fairy tale and religious iconography, and the familiarity provides easy reader immersion while the ritualistic elements lend dramatic weight. While the novel focuses on the palpable (PG-rated) romantic tension, underneath it is a twisting plot exploring coming of age, family ties, and evolving values. Best suited to readers aged 14+ who are fans of L J Smith, Lynette Noni and Sarah J Maas, Unholy Terrors is for all those who have longed to kiss a monster.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Jordi Kerr is a freelance reviewer and youth literature advocate, and a support worker for the LGBTIQA+ community. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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Category: Reviews