Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this ARC of Where Shadows Meet by Patrice Caldwell.

I was immediately intrigued by this novel after reading the description on NetGalley, as I’m a fan of vampire stories. This sapphic, dark fantasy romance is set in a post-war world where vampires and humans battle, along with the gods who created them. The story follows a vampire princess on a mission to rescue her best friend, taken during an attack on her kingdom, leading her to the Island of the Dead. Along the way, she meets a fate weaver and unexpectedly falls in love.

While I don’t often read YA due to the sometimes immature characters, I found the characters here to be mature and engaging. The pacing is steady, and although the book starts with a complex family tree, the information is revealed gradually, making it easier to follow. The story alternates between past and present and uses three viewpoints, which can be a bit confusing, but the author keeps everything clear and concise. Overall, this is a fresh, enjoyable take on the vampire/human war trope, with gods and fate weavers adding an intriguing twist.

ok loved this! the world-building was so rich, and the vampire lore felt fresh and unique. leyla was such a compelling main character, and i loved following her journey—so much tension, adventure, and emotion. the mix of mythology, magic, and high stakes kept me hooked the whole time. definitely a new favorite!

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Title: Where Shadows Meet
Author: Patrice Caldwell
Page Count: 320
Format: Ebook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Number: 24
Dates Read: 2/1-2
Review: I was given this free advanced copy, and I leave this review voluntarily.

The first impression was that the cover was gorgeous, and the synopsis sounded great. When entering the world, I was put off slightly by the world building, but quickly, I was able to distinguish the characters and the duel timeline. The pacing was medium, and the character development was done well. I truly got invested in the characters, and I will definitely be reading the second book. Which I need right now! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy with a slightly darker side.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Where Shadows Meet by Patrice Caldwell
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: YA Dark Romantasy
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: April 1, 2025

Multiple POV + Dual Timelines
Vampires + Witches
Sapphic Romance
Witty Banter
Forbidden Love
Toxic Relationship

This was a great debut fantasy! I loved how the author developed the lore throughout, especially how she starts the book by creating the first vampire. The vibes are immaculate, especially if you enjoy mythology! I am a little sad. This one is fairly short and it ends on a cliffhanger, so prepare thusly 😅 I can't wait to see where Leyla and Najja's story goes in the next book!


Thank you so much, Wednesday Books and NetGalley, for the digital review copy!

This was a quick read that really harkens back to the melodrama of the Vampire Diaries days. I think teens who enjoy fantasy worlds will enjoy dipping into this vampire story as it bleeds a little out of being strictly paranormal.

I love a deeply rich world with paranormal beings. However, I don’t enjoy opening a book and enduring major info dumps that are meant to introduce me to the world. I want to be taken through the world and see it unfold organically, not be hit over the head with a bunch of dry info.
I just could not find a way into this story.

The premise of this was intriguing. Nowadays, I'll give anything with vampires a shot because, well, I love vampires.

I requesting this book months ago but put it down and forgot why I put it down until I picked it back up again recently. And after reading a few pages I remembered why I stopped reading way back when.

Unfortunately, I had to dnf it. I didn't get far before the writing got to me. It has this push and pull effect where the character will be in the middle of an action followed by an exorbitant info dumping. I tried to read bit by bit for a few days but I can't do it. I've retained nothing and the more I read the more I am resenting this reading experience. The story and it's execution isn't for me.

And another note that isn't about the story itself but the author's note which states that the first book is a "morsel" for what's to come and basically to wait for book two is a wild thing to say before a reader has an opportunity to get into the story. Who says I'm gonna stick around for book one? And in this case I didn't.

I’ve been in my vampire era lately so of course I had to request this book. The cover is stunning and the premise was exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me. I struggled to get invested in the story and that really hindered my enjoyment of the book. I do think this will appeal to others, it just didn’t 100% work for me.

Patrice Caldwell’s *Where Shadows Meet* is a masterful blend of suspense, heart, and hauntingly beautiful prose. This captivating tale weaves elements of mystery, magic, and self-discovery into a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

Set in a world where shadows hold secrets and the line between light and dark is razor-thin, Caldwell introduces a protagonist whose journey is both deeply personal and universally resonant. The characters are richly drawn, each with their own motivations and secrets, making them feel fully alive and endlessly intriguing.

The atmospheric world-building is a standout, immersing readers in a setting that is as eerie as it is enchanting. Caldwell’s ability to balance tension with emotional depth keeps the pages turning, while the story’s themes of identity, resilience, and finding strength in unexpected places add layers of meaning.

For fans of stories that explore the magic hidden in the everyday and the courage it takes to face the unknown, *Where Shadows Meet* is an absolute must-read. Patrice Caldwell has crafted a tale as compelling as it is thought-provoking, solidifying her place as a master storyteller. I definitely recommend this darkly thrilling debut!

Unfortunately this book wasn't my cup of tea. I won't leave a review publicly anywhere as I think a lot of people will enjoy this book and I hate writing negative reviews.

It started out really fast paced and exciting, but the pace started to drag once the main characters were sent on their journey. I thought with the trauma at the beginning I would connect with them all (I usually love when the author hurts us/them) but I just didn't click with them this time around.

I really appreciate the chance to read this story and wish Patrice all the best in publication!!

Personally, I was lost through most of the first half of this book. There was too much thrown in right at the beginning. For the most part, it does start to smooth itself out in the second half, but I'd rather have my full investment and knowledge at the start.

I finished the book because I'm not a fan of DNF-ing. Some books are just more slowly read, and this one was only done as quickly as I did because I was on a time limit to complete it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Do you love vampire books? This is one of a kind! Such a unique take on vampire lore. I ate up every single word!

DNF at 40%. While I appreciated the premise of this book, the story just didn't deliver for me. I am sure there are many readers that will love this one. Thank you for the opportunity to read in advance.

The premise of this sounded so amazing there was no chance of me not picking it up. Gods, vampires, dueling romantic plot lines. An easy sell. Harder to sell was the actual execution. I found it super engaging at times and quite sluggish and even a bit confusing at others. I appreciate the idea and am optimistic that the second book will bring it all together. Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy

I quite enjoyed this sapphic fresh take on vampire lore, even if it borrows a bit from Greek Mythology. I enjoyed the feminist-normative world where women of color were seen as natural leaders and warriors. That said, the narrative is a tad confusing in the beginning, but as the story went on, the time split made more sense and converges to the story's climax. Pacing was a bit hit or miss, as was relationship/character development, but there was enough to keep me reading and I will gladly read the sequel. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I always appreciate a new idea of vampires and their lore. This take on it of a banished god, increasingly paranoid and mad, and the dangers of love and obsession was a great addition to my vampire book collection. The world building was detailed and all the characters drew me in. The pacing of the romance of the 'present day' characters felt a bit off, but not so much that I was transported out of the story. If you enjoy Tamora Peirce or the Noble Dead Saga by Barb and J.C. Hendee you might enjoy this series too.

I really loved this romantic, fun, and lush story. This book was on my highly anticipated list and I am so thrilled, not a piece of it dissapointed.

I honestly tried to pick this book up and read it over and over again. I just couldn't get into it. I first ally put it on my paused book list after a month. I hope I can pick this book up again in the near future to give it another shot. Right now I just wasn't captivated by the characters or the storyline. The blurb about the book sounds super interesting, but for me it's not delivered in a way that is catching my attention.

I have no submitted a review anywhere publicly because I do not feel it's right for me to leave a review on a book I haven't finished yet.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

I REALLY tried to love this- the premise sounds amazing. Sapphic Vampires, Gods, a war with humans.

Unfortunately, it felt like the world building and the massive cast of characters were not fully fleshed out. I knew when the book started by front loading information in the form of a giant family tree that it would be a difficult read. There was a massive amount of info-dumping and with the constant changing of timelines (the POV's switch from past to present) I couldn't keep up. This could be a "me problem".

I just kept wanting for more. More development of relationships and the characters (especially Favre) to be more interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this incredible book.
All I have to say is the vampire novel resurgence is the best thing that could have happened to me. I really enjoyed this book and SAPPHIC VAMPIRES?!?!? Best thing ever.