firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

unfortunately, dnf’d @50% — as i get older (sob) i find a lot of YA does not appeal to me in the same way it did when i was a young adult myself, but now with so many different books under my belt, i find myself less and less impressed with YA books unless they are truly one of a kind - and there are many out there that are universal reads for everyone!

i feel that my disappointment is mainly due to many YA books attempting to tackle more adult themes rather than creating/addressing issues for the targeted audience.

also, i was just generally uninterested in this book as whole - murder mystery meshed with norse mythology sounded so interesting in theory, but it just fell so flat.

as for the narrator, she did a fine job!

i’m sure this book will find its audience but it’s not me.

First off, thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for supplying me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun and unique read! I've never read a book with Norse mythology and want to read more after reading this one! I loved the mythical creatures and felt the portrayal of grief was done so well. I loved watching Charlie grow as a character from the beginning of the story to the end and loved her friends and the relationship they had with each other and their loyalty. The twists in the story were also nicely done and there was so much happening throughout the book that it definitely kept me hooked and wondering what would happen next. With that being said, I did struggle to connect with the romantic side of this romantasy just because of the way I felt Elias treated Charlie at times, I am curious as to what will happen from here though!

Recently finished Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes* and if you’re a fan of The Vampire Diaries or Twilight, add this book to your TBR immediately. It's got that same addictive, emotional vibe, but with a fresh twist that makes it stand out. Brooding supernatural drama. High school angst. Ancient secrets. What’s not to obsess over?

But, instead of vampires and werewolves, we get deep into Norse mythology. As a Marvel girly, this was fun—more Odin, Thor, and Loki please!

The FMC? Complete Elena-meets-Bella energy at first—torn, uncertain, and carrying some major emotional baggage. But her journey toward self-acceptance is what really hit home—watching her evolve from doubting her place in the world to embracing her true power and identity.

But the MMC? He’s alluring, magnetic, and vulnerable—the picture-perfect morally grey character. Every moment we spend with him is full of tension and mystery… who is he really and where did he come from? And the chemistry between him and our FMC is chef’s kiss!

It’s dark, dangerous, a little romantic, and binge-worthy. Oh, and you’ll absolutely fall in love with the most adorable little gnome/vätte!

*Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

So this book has some good points, the norse mythology is different, and I never really knew what the main male character was going to do which can be fun. I definitely didnt get his devotion to the fmc.

With that being said it started with missing kids, then turned into alice in wonderland creatures, to marvel heroes maybe. It just had way to much in it. It was like a little of everything. The author compares the mmc to damon from tvd and this just isn't true. This absolutely has no tvd vibes, plots anything from tvd except high school students. Maybe more like legacies. It had potential but it failed the mark.

Good riddance, I did not see that ending coming!! I need more or Charlie and Elias ASAP!

10/10 plot
10/10 drama
8/10 emotional damage

If you believe in magic and mystery, this is a great one for you!

———
After Charlie and Mason lose their sister, their entire worlds shift. Charlie forgets to live, and Mason breaks out of his shell completely. When local teenagers start to go missing, Charlie and her friends start to investigate outside of the police investigations.

Throughout the book, Charlie is introduced to Elias who she feels some kind of connection with that seems unexplainable. Through him, she learns of Asgard and all about magical beings.

Even though Elias is the obvious bad boy, Charlie agrees to help him. But bad boys always betray in the end. After Elias kidnaps one of Charlie’s good friends, Lou, she teams up with her brother and some others to get Lou back.

And then she learns who her father is, before he is sent back to Helheim.

It was giving flashbacks to my teen years! I loved the writing and all the different mythical creatures and Of course Loki is my favourite Villian 😏 That ending definitely threw me off a cliff and I was not expecting that!

First and foremost this book is giving all the drama of a CW teen angst show that I live and breathe for. Our FMC Charlie is a very reluctant heroine who is battling both grief and the very tumultuous path of finding herself as a teenager before she gets thrust into a world of mythology and magic that she never asked for. If you love a morally gray MMC, a bit of norse mythology, and all the fun tropes of high school, this is for you! I did find the plot a little hard to keep up with towards the end but I think the author did an excellent job wrapping things up in preparation for what I presume is another book! overall i’d give this book: 3.5 stars!

oh god.

thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an e-arc along with an audiobook. nothing against the narrator! it was good. the story itself tho? not for me.

the reason I decided to read it was because it was advertised as something for fans of TVD and who wasn’t/isn’t obsessed with that show? I think that set my expectations very high.

it unfortunately gave me nothing. the only comparison to tvd I could make is that there’s 3 girl best friends that are in high school and one day there’s this new mysterious guy that shows up in their town and starts going to their school. everything after that… god.

I don’t know what exactly put me off, maybe the annoying fmc, maybe the very modern, „cool” language, the very weird creatures or was it the gnome named Henry after Henry Cavill from the Witcher? help. it almost felt like a parody.

it just made me cringe a lot and when I thought it can’t get more cringy, it did. also I didn’t like any of the characters? maybe I should really stop reading about teenagers because they usually annoy me.

or maybe I should not do audio for fantasy books because I don’t get into the story as much. but I think I would’ve dnf if I was reading instead of listening so who knows what the right move really was.

Review:

This book was so fun and interesting. There were many parts that were very nostalgic like early 2000-2010 YA books which made it easy to get sucked into and make you yearn for those books again. The characters were great and I had so many moments I either laughed or was kicking my feet. This book does deal with the topic of death and grief and how hard it is to grow through especially for teens. It also touches on teens drinking and doing drugs, though I don't agree with teens doing those things, teens tend to experiment anyway and this book notes on that. The magic and Norse elements in this book were amazing and I loved it so much. It in fact was what drew me to this book. Charlie was incredible and she could really bring the snark at times.

Elias was the mysterious newcomer to town who had me intrigued at first but oh boy did I not see what was coming with him. The stuff with Charlie's dead twin sister was shocking and I couldn't believe it. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat and now I need more, so many things need answers. Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and can't wait for what is next.

This is a great fantasy book! The story was well written and filled with great world building. This was a great YA book.

I received this as an ARC (widget) and ALC! Disclaimer: I have not watched The Vampire Diaries. Maybe I would appreciate the MMC more if I had??

My thoughts while reading the first half: "Is this Twilight?... This is Twilight." The FMC is named Charlie! Then we got the second half and my thoughts changed: "Is this Marvel?? Now we have Loki."

The ending of this book was really good! So much action and reveals. I was intrigued enough by the ending to want to read more if there was to be a second book (which was set up well).

This book is a trip! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and am so happy I did. Otherwise, I may have missed it.

The story starts out like a modern-day murder mystery, missing kids, shoes in trees, and weird symbols. Then, bam! the story changes course, and you end up deep in this mythical world! There is heartache, betrayal, surprise encounters, and so much great Norse mythos. It is a wild ride, and it is really just so much fun.

3.5/5

Wow, my 14 years old self would have ate this up and beg for so much more. The Vampire Diaries/ Twillight inspo is clearly there and I love the fact that it is norse mythology inspired as I don’t read a lot of these. It is clearly an urban-fantasy with major references to artists in our time (I see you Chappell). The dynamics of the characters is messy, clumsy at times and also childish but that’s what you get with high schooler so I can’t really complain. For me, what broke the pacing was the sudden arrival of a special someone who we are lead to believe are no longer. The visit set the plot in motion but I feel like this could have been handled better. It was too sudden, not well executed and threw me off. I also did not enjoy how one of the main character is basically Loki’s (for lack of a better word) servant. I do not understand the point of that action. Overall, my 25 years old self ejoyed the book as a fun quick read and I will probably read the second one when it comes out (thanks the the forced plot twist at the end and my severe pathology to always finish book series).

*Thank you to St Martin’s press for providing me for the eARC of this book in exchange of my honest review. All thoughts and opinion are my own. *

Finally, here’s something I said while I read the book (MINOR SPOIL) : "Apparently, he is a mare and she is in Asgard?? I am confused I thought this was Michigan hahaha"

I struggled to get through this book and unfortunately was not a fan. I think ultimately it is a bit confusing as it was not quite "romantasy"- the FMC was too immature to really call it that, though I really do not find the book to be appropriate for the age group that actually would not find the protagonist to be quite so childish. The Norse mythology is an interesting departure from typical books in the genre but in the end it is not compelling enough to set this book apart given that I did not really like or resonate with either FMC or MMC. Plot-wise things were not easy to predict so there is at least that.

I'm sad because I really wanted to love this book!

Honest opinion given in exchange for the ARC (thank you to the publisher and author).

3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC!

While I thought the world of Silver Springs was really interesting, heart was sort of lacking for me- I didn’t really bond with any of the characters. I also think the book could have benefited from a glossary after naming some of these creatures offhandedly in conversation and then them not coming back for chapters and chapters. If you weren’t reading this in 2 days I suspect some confusion.

I will say the plot was unpredictable in a good way- I never really could figure out Elias’ intentions, and the plot twist at the end did intrigue me for the next book.

Overall a decent read!

I really enjoyed this retelling of Norse mythology. It was a quick read as the action moved smoothly and kept you wanting to read more until the end. It is set up for a sequel and I hope to catch it!

Charlie sighed. If only her classmates knew the truth: that there was nothing romantic about this situation, that Elias was using this as a way to bully her into being his date, which allowed him to keep a close eye on her.

I enjoyed reading this book, but I really feel like the marketing was all wrong on this one. It's marketed as a romantasy, and I guess there technically is romance, but it really just feels like a horrifically domestically abusive relationship given a fantasy coating. I know a lot of things that are not romantic are normalized as romantic in society, but the things Elias does to her are flat-out inexcusable. I've read dark romance with serial killers and mafia love interests, but for me, there is no grovel that can in any way make up for what he has done to her over the course of the first book. This book feels like that meme on Instagram/Tiktok that pretends to be advertising a hardcore dark romance enemies-to-lovers book and says "if you want to read about these tropes you need... therapy" instead of naming a book, or something like that. I'd never say someone needs therapy just because of the tropes they enjoy reading about, because that feels mean-spirited and like it's weaponizing the mental health system to shame someone, which I don't think is appropriate, but the way Elias behaves towards Charlie is so wildly not within the romance genre that I don't understand the way this book is marketed at all, and it feels like a bait-and-switch.

Anyway, the story was fun to read. I'm not bothered by the illegal activities done by the teenagers like some other reviewers are, because teenagers do in fact drink and do drugs, it's a huge social problem so of course it shows up in books. Some of the side characters seemed more annoying than quirky, but that is again, also teenagers for you. It incorporated Norse mythology in an interesting way, although I don't understand why the author decided to have the Valkyries be chosen by Odin instead of by Freyja? There didn't seem to me that there was a particular reason for that particular diversion from the original myths. The book frustrated me at times, but I'm curious what the second book would be like. I hope Elias actually deals with some consequences for his actions, because... wow.

Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes was a fun YA fantasy read. Charlie is a teenage girl that starts investigating the disappearance of a fellow student(s) from high school. At the same time a new student (Elias) shows up at school and Charlie finds him suspicious. This story reminded me a bit of The Lightning Thief with a teenager unaware of a mythological world and is suddenly thrust into it and trying to understand it and survive. I enjoyed the relationship between Elias and Charlie. I liked that Charlie took a while to warm up to Elias rather than instantly trusting him. I really liked reading about all the creatures in this supernatural world and how they were right out in the open and she could see everything after she had the eyaerberry. I really enjoyed this book!

This book immediately creates the perfect atmosphere, and the small-town vibe is spot on from the very beginning. The story is a quick and easy read, and the writing is done really well, making it enjoyable for teens and an older audience looking for that nostalgic mid-2000s teen setting.

I love how relatable Charlie feels, and how she is also a unique and interesting person. Elias is the perfect example of morally gray. I did find myself wanting to know more about him, and I’m hoping we get more of his backstory.

I loved how the Norse mythology was introduced. I personally haven’t read many books about it, and my knowledge is limited on the subject, so I appreciate the way the author gradually brings in more information in a natural and appropriate pace that kept me engaged.

The ending was so intense, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series, I just know it’s going to be good!

Thank you, NetGalley and the Publisher for the e-arc of the book. All opinions are my own.

"Soul of Shadows" is the first book in an urban fantasy series set in Michigan, primarily in Silver Shores. The magic system is based on Norse mythology, which I found surprisingly interesting to learn about. This was my first experience reading a book inspired by Norse mythology, and I appreciated how it integrated these mythological elements, making the story engaging and captivating.

However, to put it simply, I did not enjoy this book. I found the portrayal of the main female character (FMC) to be unappealing, as she came across as naive and, frankly, somewhat stupid, masked by an attitude typical of a young, angsty teenager who is grappling with grief. This depiction of grief was one of the reasons I disliked the book; it seemed like the author used the character's grief to justify her actions without genuinely exploring how to cope with such profound emotions. Instead, the subject of grief was only addressed when it served the plot, lacking any meaningful exploration.

I did not like any of the other characters, including the FMC’s love interest, school friends, and family members. It felt like they were all living in their own worlds and, frankly, were quite selfish. They pushed the boundaries of the main character despite knowing her backstory, and at times, it seemed like they didn’t care that she existed in their lives. This was frustrating to read and felt inconsistent. Initially, I thought the author was trying to portray toxic relationships through them, but that wasn’t the case. The FMC had a very good, open, and friendly relationship with everyone, even with her brother, who pretends not to care about her.

I didn't like how the author frequently included modern references, such as social media, contemporary buzzwords, and TV shows. This repetitive inclusion often pulled me out of the story. While it's clear that the narrative takes place in contemporary times, it feels unnecessary to reiterate this so often, especially in a fantasy setting.

Most importantly, I did not like how the author normalized underage drinking, drug use, and casual hookups. While I understand that the characters are teenagers navigating their curiosity about adult activities, portraying these behaviors as everyday occurrences for teens sends the wrong message. It raises the question: How is this considered normal? Additionally, the fact that these actions seem organized and indirectly approved by the adults in the story is concerning.

Considering everything I've pointed out, it's clear that the story ultimately misses the mark. Its inconsistencies, obvious gaps, and predictability significantly undermine the overall experience. This not only left me feeling disappointed but also highlighted the potential for a much stronger narrative.