Lavender & Hemlock

A quiet seaside cottage can seem like the perfect refuge, but appearances are not always what they seem. In Lavender & Hemlock, Lili Wilkinson creates a fantasy world where domestic routines, strange magic, and unsettling secrets gradually come together. Tansy is a housemaid whose days revolve around caring for elderly Lady Aster and maintaining their isolated cottage. The home appears peaceful, and its familiar routines give Tansy a sense of security. Yet she cannot clearly remember when she arrived or when she last left. Her understanding of this seemingly comfortable life changes when Merit appears. Merit is a Carrion Knight who serves the dark entity known as the Unmaker. Raised to become a monster, she is injured during a raid and finds her way through a mysterious door into Tansy’s world, the Oubliette. The connection between the two young women grows, bringing warmth and affection into a setting that hides a much darker history. As Tansy and Merit learn more about each other, questions emerge about identity, memory, good and evil, and the origins of the world around them. The story combines a romantic relationship with fantasy worldbuilding, mystery, and an examination of violence and moral responsibility. Readers can expect an atmospheric blend of cozy fantasy and darker supernatural elements, with unusual characters, hidden histories, and a developing sapphic romance. The book is particularly suitable for young adult readers who enjoy romantasy, portal fantasy, mysterious settings, and stories that balance tenderness with unsettling discoveries.