Anathema cover art

Anathema

The Eating Woods, Book 1

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Anathema

By: Keri Lake
Narrated by: James Cassidy, Melissa Barr
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $33.99

Buy Now for $33.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

From the author of Nocticadia comes a spellbinding gothic dark fantasy about a shunned woman who is forced beyond the mortal realm's forbidden boundary into a terrifying world of cursed souls and grotesque creatures.

Only the banished know what lies beyond the woods...

There are whispers about what lurks in Witch Knell—the forest where sinners go to die. The villagers call it The Eating Woods because what's taken is never given back. Only those who've lost their senses would dare to go near it.

Or the banished.

Maevyth Bronwick knows better than to breach the misty labyrinth of trees, but a tragic turn of events compels her beyond the archway of bones to a boundary no mortal has crossed before. One that cloaks a dark and fantastical world that's as dangerous as it is alluring.

It's there that he dwells, the cursed lord of Eidolon. The one tasked to keep her hidden from the magehood that seeks to crucify her in the name of an arcane prophecy. Zevander Rydainn, known to his prey as The Scorpion, is the coldest, most calculated assassin in all of Aethyria, and he'd sooner toss his feisty ward to a pack of vicious fyredrakes than keep her safe.

If only he could.

Maevyth's blood is the key to breaking his despised curse and vanquishing the slumbering evil in Witch Knell. Unfortunately for Lord Rydainn, fate has other plans for the irresistible little enchantress. And his growing obsession with her threatens to destroy everything.

Including himself.

Anathema is a full-length gothic dark fantasy and the first book in The Eating Woods series. Perfect for listeners who enjoy a plot-heavy and atmospheric story with a unique magic system, a slow-burn romance, and a touch of horror.

Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website.

Narrated in duet style.

©2024 Keri Lake (P)2025 Podium Audio
Dark Fantasy Fantasy Gothic Horror
activate_mytile_page_redirect_t1

What listeners say about Anathema

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    25
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    27
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    24
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

If you love a slow burn with gothic vibes this is for you

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .5

I waited for the audiobook to drop before reading it, and it finally did! The world-building throughout the book exuded a perfectly dark and gothic vibe, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, the two main characters lacked a strong connection, even though they were destined to be together, which was different. It’s a slow burn, which, for me, was a downside and contributed to the unnecessarily length of the book. Nevertheless, I appreciated the cliffhanger at the end and will continue reading the duology when the second book is released.

Tropes:
Gothic dark fantasy
Some horror scenes
Slow burn
Fated mates
One bed
Found family
Magic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this gothic romantacy!

One of my favourite books, can’t wait for the next one! Great plot, great characters, very easy to be immersed in their world and story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Dark gothic fantasy

What a fantastic story! The audio performances were perfection! So many creepy macabre moments that had me on the edge of my seat, everything served a purpose in the story. The writing is so expressive that the world is very quickly tangible and tactile which makes those moments even more impactful! So glad I read this late so I don’t have to wait too long for the next book!!! Absolutely brilliant book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This was my full first audiobook!

And I loved every bit of it! I'm so glad I chose this book to lay the path toward audiobooks, I'm going to purchase the paperback and I can't wait for book 2!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Perfection

Now this is how you write a dark fantasy!
Absolutely loved the story from start to finish.
The story was written so perfectly, and the narrators did a great job to add to the experience.
Highly recommend

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I started with 20 reading hours and somehow it disappeared so bloody fast 🤷‍♀️

I Ate this book UP!! it was a great slow burn and holy hell hurry up and release the next book! 💀💀
and the narration tickled my 😵 brraaain 🙌
sooooo good!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just incredible!

Anathema
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Char. Dev.:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Conflict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Narrator performs: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my favourite/best book of last year, and listening to the audiobook for this reread was perfect!! Both voice actors did incredible work. As its Duet style all the female characters are beautifully performed by Melissa Barr. She was the perfect choice in my opinion. Her accent work, her line delivery and her overall performance was excellent!

And the male characters are voiced by the immensely talented James Cassidy. He embodies Zavender for me. He sounded exactly like I thought he would and the emotions behind his line delivery was perfect!

This plot is incredibly intriguing! There are so many questions posed in this book which makes me so excited for the second book coming out this year! I loved the world building and how Keri Lake writes and sets up plot points!

The characters are very multifaceted but as it’s the first of a series there is still so much more j want (NEED) to know about them!

I adore anything Keri writes! She’s one of my instant buy authors!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love love LOVE it!!

Could not love this more. Actors, story and characters....fantastic. Waiting impatiently for book 2.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Unsure if I liked this book

It's a very slow start and middle, started to get better and book 1 finished. Hoping book two will be better.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.