I am DNF-ing this one unfortunately. The premise sounded so interesting, but ultimately it was so very boring! I gave it 40% to try and grab me and make me interested, but it just kept going without anything happening to make me want to keep reading. I also feel like too much time was spent focused on the FMC's sister's death. I was so tired of hearing about it! I get it, I do, but it felt like a big portion of the first part of the book is spent referring to her dying.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Wednesday Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was truly not what I was expecting, nor was I prepared for this one. YA, No vampires, but there was a really cool magical world that was hidden in an incredibly unreal place. I liked parts of this one - the magic, the found family. The pacing was really off, and the romance was just plain dull. Not sure if I'll read the next book or not.

Charlie Hudson is just trying to survive junior year after losing her twin sister, floating through life, until a classmate vanishes mysteriously in the forest. Drawn into the mystery, she becomes entangled with Elias Everhart, a captivating newcomer with secrets that lead her into a hidden world of Nordic magic, gods, and monsters. As Charlie uncovers the truth, she finds herself facing a love destined to fail and secrets far beyond anything she imagined.

I really enjoyed this book- the world-building, the human characters, and the creatures. But especially the VÄTTE, I loved him and his cookie obsession so much! I really liked Charlie, her curiosity really hooked me and pulled the story along so well. She's also so loyal to and protective of those she loves and that makes her character even more likable- everyone wants a friend like that. Now, Elias? What teenage girl wouldn't fall for him? He’s the ultimate HS crush, and I just want more of his story! Book 2, where are you???

The Norse mythology of this book was so well done and now I'm off to research it more. I think it really helped play into the storyline and the world building of the book, as well as helped with the character development. This book was very much YA Romantasy, and I loved every bit of it, especially the wit and the banter (my favs). Overall, definitely check this one out if you like any of the above.

Rating: 4/5
Spice: 1/5

Tropes:
Norse Mythology
Shadow Daddy
Morally Grey
Small Town
Secrets & Mysteries
Fake Dating
Hidden Magic

Thank you so much Emma Noyes, NetGalley, Wednesday Books and St Martin's Press for this eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Soul of Shadows is a fast-paced and captivating fantasy that drew me in right away. I loved the mix of magic, danger, and intrigue, and the twists kept me hooked until the end. It’s an exciting, adventurous read that left me eager for more.

Wow. Just wow. I absolutely COULD. NOT. PUT. THIS. BOOK. DOWN!!!! SOOOOOO good!!!! Such a fun spin on Norse mythology that was set in present time with TONS of twists and turns!!!

Omg this is definitely going to make my top favorite books this year!!!!

Thank you to Emma Noyes for the gifted ALC and book, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Emma Noyes for the ARC of Soul of Shadow. While I normally do not gravitate towards high-school focused main characters and settings, I found this book engrossing and the characters believable and endearing. The world building was atmospheric. This book gives dark academia vibes mixed with a world of Norse mythology and dark themes. While this is marked as YA, the characters deal with real-world magic and adult themes. Very much enjoyed the read.

content warnings: gun violence, disappearance/murder, death of loved one

since the death of her twin sister two years earlier, charlie hudson has just been going through the motions of life, the spark that was once in her now burned out. when her classmates start turning up missing, though, she’s determined to uncover what evil lurking in the forest is responsible. she teams up with a newcomer, elias everhart, who’s as mysterious as he is handsome. what charlie isn’t expecting is to have her eyes opened to an entirely new world, one filled with magic, gods, and monsters.

this book intrigued me because of the norse mythology aspect. i love mythology, but don’t come across many books featuring norse mythology, so i was excited for this component! luckily, this was one of the stronger parts of this book, and i was not let down as i read about mares, vättes, norse gods, and more. noyes did a decent job blending old mythology with the modern world, in my opinion. unfortunately, though, while the mythology was interesting, i found the plot a bit lacking. there were some good parts, for sure, especially as the mystery surrounding the missing kids unraveled. however, there were so many other parts that were just, for lack of a better word, corny. from charlie’s magic tricks to reveals that happened toward the end, i just had to wrinkle my nose a bit. still, this wasn’t a bad book, and i’m considering putting the next one on my tbr because i am intrigued to know what will happen between charlie and elias.

his book completely pulled me in from the start. The world-building is lush and atmospheric, and the writing has that addictive quality that makes it hard to put down. I loved how Emma Noyes balanced action, intrigue, and romance—it felt fast-paced without losing the emotional depth of the characters.

The characters themselves were a highlight. I connected with the heroine right away, and the relationships and dynamics kept me invested throughout. There were also some great twists woven in that kept the plot from ever feeling predictable.

If I had one small critique, it’s that I occasionally wanted just a bit more detail in certain parts of the world-building, but overall this didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the story. It’s definitely one I’d recommend to fans of dark, romantic fantasy.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Thank you so much to Emma Noyes, NetGalley, and Wednesday Books for the ARC of Soul of Shadow! This is my first book by Emma Noyes and I had such a great time!
 
Soul of Shadow is a YA Norse mythology book that follows our main character, Charlie, about to begin her junior year of high school. A couple years ago, Charlie lost her identical twin sister, and nothing has been the same since. After a boy from their school goes missing and his shoes are found in a tree marked with unique carvings, this begins Charlie’s story into the world of Norse mythology.

This was a fun read! A high school girl discovers the Norse gods and creatures of myth are real after meeting the mysterious new boy in town. Tackling themes of grief, abandonment, and fear Noyes takes us on a wild ride discovering the world of Asgard with our MC, Charlie and her friends. I enjoyed Soul of Shadows and I’m curious how the author will continue the series given the new information and cliffhanger she left us with!

Charlie is still grieving the death of her twin, Sophie, upon entering her junior year of high school. Classmates have been going missing, and her bestie Lou thinks they should investigate. This leads to Charlie meeting Elias in the woods and after discovering he’s a mythical monster tracking the disappearances, he introduces her to the world of Asgard forever changing her life.

Charlie was an interesting character. She’s grieving, isolating herself from others, and just trying to get by each day. Her relationship with Elias pulls her out of her shell and gives her a purpose, saving her missing classmates, and she really starts to come into her own strength. Elias isn’t all he seems, is he a monster, a victim of circumstance, or something else? Charlie is wrestling with that dilemma just as the reader is. I loved Charlie’s friends and brother and honestly, I wish they’d been involved more. I’m hoping they get more front time in the next book! While I enjoyed the book, I did find it to be a bit long in some spots, the world building and explanation of some things just seemed a bit stretched out. That being said, it was easy to follow and was interesting learning about Norse mythology as it’s not something I’m particularly familiar with.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc. All opinions are my own.

When it comes to Norse mythology, everything I know, which isn't much, I learned from Thor/Avenger movies. My lack of knowledge is the primary reason I read this novel. I'm a fan of The Vampire Diaries, so that comp title immediately grabbed my attention. But make note - no vampires appear in this story.

Charlie is clever, curious, a good friend, and she still feels the loss of her twin sister very deeply. She's kissed a few guys in her time, but boyfriends were never in the picture. When the attractive new guy at her high school seems to only have eyes for her, she's puzzled and intrigued. Ignoring him is next to impossible, especially when he keeps popping up, and her friends are encouraging her to ask him to the homecoming dance.

Based on that, you might think you know the path this story takes. You don't - which I appreciated. Unpredictability is always welcome in my reading. I learned about Norse mythology and the fantastical creatures in that world. But I have to give a shout out to The Witcher- loving vatte, Henry. He's adorable and sweet, but don't let that fool you - he can be very formidable when required.

The pacing wasn't what I prefer, but that's just my taste. It wasn't an issue for many other reviewers. That cliffhanger twist at the end was something I didn't see coming - at all - but it's a perfect setup for the sequel.

This story isn't what I'd expected. I feel like I was mislead with the comp title, but I did enjoy learning more about Norse mythology. Recommended for fans of mythology and mystical creatures, a little high school drama, and unexpected plot twists.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"The back-to-school bonfire was a rite of passage for Silver Shores High School students.”

Only this time, everything's wrong. And Charlie, who loves magic, knows it. It's time for a hike in the woods.

Deeply dark with magical realism, this book will appeal to fans of dark academia and thrillers alike. And fans of Percy Jackson-style will find plenty to like here too. It's the perfect choice for October TBRs.

”A sort of tug. A yearning. A thickness in the air between them, as if the tunnel were filled with invisible smoke. It clogged her throat, her chest. It should have made her sick. But if she were being honest, it made her feel exactly the opposite.”

I enjoyed this a lot! I would say it's a slightly upper YA, due to some themes happening. content warnings can be found in the book.

I got invested pretty early on and was pleasantly surprised by some plot twists I did not see coming. my favorite part was probably Henry the Gnome like creature, he was so fun. the mmc is a true morally grey character, so keep that in mind.

"I'm a mare, darling. This is what mares do."

the mythology was super fun as well & I can't wait to see how book two will go, because that ending?! I was flabbergasted.

thank you to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for gifting me an e-arc.

Ugh, I really didn't enjoy this book at all. As someone who loves young adult fiction, I was hopeful, but the story just fell flat. The main character, Charlie, came across as incredibly self-centered and, frankly, unlikable. Then there was Lu, the wealthy friend who constantly expected her peers to foot the bill for her expenses—it's just so frustrating!

As a BIPOC woman, I was particularly disappointed by the portrayal of the black character, who was introduced in a way that made it seem like the female main character felt sorry for her simply for being one of the few black people in town. That felt reductive and insensitive.

The male main character was a total jerk, completely unworthy of any sort of redemption arc. The portrayal of him as a Nightmare added to the despair; I've read some fantastic series featuring Nightmares, and this was just not well executed at all. Finally, the ending left me rolling my eyes in disbelief. I simply can't find anything redeeming about this book.

This book reminded me of when I first read twilight in the best way, I think I would have been absolutely obsessed with this when I was a teen.

The high school setting with a magical world that opens up to you along the way, combined with the bad boy you shouldn’t want to get close to felt very nostalgic. The addition of Norse mythology kept things fresh though, and I really enjoyed how that was continually broadened.

One of the highlights for me was the cutest critter sidekick, a little garden gnome-looking guy with his hat pulled down to his big round nose. Even while only communicating in squeaks and squeals, he was full of personality and I absolutely adored him.

I enjoyed the relationship between the two leads, and was surprised by the way things went with them, I can’t wait to see where it goes next!

Thanks to the publisher for the copy.

When I saw this book was being marketed as vampire diaries x teen wolf x Norse mythology I was immediately sold. My millennial heart needed no more detail. The mythology was very well done and it had a lot of good action scenes. I’m not super familiar with the specific folklore, but it made me want to read more Nordic inspired content. While it was a little too YA for my current taste, I would have been ALL OVER this book in high school. It was very nostalgic, and a strong 4 star read. The cliffhanger was mean **but I loved it** and I will be waiting for the next in the series. If you enjoy YA & very low spice (think only kissing) I would recommend you read Soul of Shadow.

𝓶𝔂 𝓱𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼

♡ Fake dating
♡ Norse mythology
♡ Enemies to lovers
♡ Murder mystery
♡ Magical creatures

A story where love, magic, gods, and monsters collide.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, for sending me over this ARC!

Why am I always rooting for the bad guy to secretly be *good* 😩😭

Honestly, this story had so much potential, and overall, I think the execution, world-building, and characters were all well done. I felt a connection to the storyline immediately and was fascinated by everything. This book is full of depth and many layers to the plot. I was a little disappointed by the last quarter of the book, mainly because I had high hopes and dreams for some of the characters, but maybe it will go in that direction in the second book. I plan to continue this series.

3.75 stars, but rounding up for GoodReads.

Pub Date Jul 29 2025

As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨

Soul of Shadow⁣
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Thank you @wednesdaybooks @macmillan.audio for my gifted copy!⁣
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I loved this one y’all! I came in with zero expectations, but couldn’t stop listening to it. Even on my runs, I felt like I had to find out what was going to happen with Charlie and my new favorite little vätte!⁣
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I do feel like this was more “new adult” than “young adult” if I’m being honest. Which may be why I enjoyed it more than anticipated? The audio was perfect though. So many different realms and creatures that I’m glad I had audio for correct pronunciation. ⁣
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Soul of Shadows had more twists and turns than a mountainside road. I was thoroughly entertained and I think the last few chapters had my jaw on the floor. ⁣
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I had issues with a certain Valkyrie that I feel like the plot line doesn’t make sense? Wouldn’t she know about Loki and why is she asking things that she would know about? Regardless, I cannot wait to see what happens next!⁣
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Out now.⁣
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QOTD: favorite mythical creature or favorite dinner?

This book was so much more than I expected. There was more Norse mythology than I expected and I really enjoyed that aspect - it’s not everyday that I get to step into that world. The author crafted a captivating, but also heart wrenching tale. I felt so much while reading this book. The tension between Elias and Charlie was palpable and their interactions were unpredictable. Mason, Lou and Abigail provided good side characters, but it’s the vätte that will still your heart - I want a guardian gnome so badly.
The plot did not roll out quite the way as expected, which is fun, but the ending is also rather open. There is definitely more to come. I am really hoping for a redemption arc in the next one, but maybe that’s wishful thinking on my part.
I highly recommend this to anyone that loves mythology mixed in with their regular everyday day life. If you like to think that there is magic around you, then this is a good book for you to pick up.
Many thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for a digital advanced copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are honest and my own.

Charlie Hudson just wants to get through junior year. Since the death of her twin sister two years earlier, she’s drifted through life, going through the motions at school, parties and even at home. When one of her classmates goes missing in the forest, leaving nothing behind but a pair of shoes and strange symbols carved into a tree, Charlie is drawn to the disappearance by forces she can’t explain. She starts to investigate Elias Everhart, the newcomer in town. Elias is getting close to her older brother causing issues for her with her Oder brother. Elias doesn’t answer her questions as he has secrets. What are they? Charlie will be led by those secrets to a world hiding in plain sight made up of gods, monsters and magic. There are truths and temptations lurking in the darkness. When he explains he’s a creature from Norse mythology and he opens her eyes to it all around them, Charlie’s world is changed. is that good or bad?

I liked the characters in this romantic fantasy. The plot was interesting to me due to it having Norse mythology in it. Noyes’ research and creativity in her combining of Norse mythology in the novel is excellent. Rather than simply borrowing familiar names like Thor and Loki, she delves into lesser-known creatures and concepts—mares, vättes, draugar—creating a rich story that feels both educational and entertaining.