This isn't my typical genre when reading but can say that I enjoyed it. This book had so many fun twists and turns throughout it that made it so much fun and made me not able to put it down.

🖤✨ ARC Review: Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes ✨🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A haunting, heart-racing romantasy that shreds your soul in the best way!

If The Vampire Diaries and Heartless Hunter had a beautifully cursed baby with secrets, sharp banter, and forbidden love, this would be it. 💔🌌

🖤 Meet Charlie Hudson — quiet, invisible, just trying to make it through junior year. Until one of her classmates vanishes in the woods, leaving behind nothing but shoes and eerie symbols carved into a tree. That’s when everything flips — reality cracks open and something otherworldly steps through. 😱🌲✨

Enter Elias Everhart — mysterious, magnetic, and frustratingly unreadable. He’s hiding something. Scratch that—he’s hiding a lot. And Charlie can’t stay away. The chemistry? Undeniable. The danger? Off the charts. 🔥👀

💫 What I LOVED:

Enemies-to-lovers tension with actual stakes (and maybe gods 👀)

Shadowy secrets that unfold like spells 🖤🪄

A rich, dark world just beneath the surface of reality — complete with monsters, magic, and myths

THAT TWIST. You’ll know when you get there. And yes, you’ll scream. 😭⚡

This book is packed with heartache, fated love, and a creeping sense that nothing — and no one — is what they seem. It's gothic, romantic, magical, and crackling with tension.

If you're into slow-burn romance, morally gray love interests, and stories that leave you gasping and aching for book two, Soul of Shadow needs to be on your TBR ASAP.

📚💔 Thank you for the ARC — I’m still recovering emotionally.
Monsters. Magic. Love that shouldn’t be. And a heroine who might be the key to it all.

#ARCReview #SoulOfShadow #EmmaNoyes #RomantasyReads #ShadowBoysAndSecrets #YAwithBite #MagicAndMonsters #HeartbreakIncoming

I ended up DNFing at 40 percent. The writing was great and if I was 18 years old, I’d gobble this up. I think it just felt immature for this 36 year old. Lovers of YA and teenage drama though, will enjoy!

Soul of Shadows was described as Vampire Diaries x Atlas Six and I can totally see Vampire Diaries as a comparison but I also want to offer Twilight. The high school set up echoes both where a young main character encounters the new strange handsome guy in town and begins to unravel his secrets. A glimmer of morally grey and an enemies start—well you can see where this is going.

Inspired by Norse mythology the magic and monsters are intriguing pulling the reader through the story along the main character as the otherworld unfolds. Balanced with that are high school junior year challenges and teen angst.

Oh and wait until you meet the little Nordic creature (no spoilers).

This book reminded me of The Vampire Diaries in the best way. Charlie is in high school and finds her way into a mythological world with Elias. I think this was a great intro into this world and I'm excited to read future books. The only part I didn't like was what Elias did at the end.

High school, mysterious death, new boy in town, vampires? Soul of Shadow is a YA paranormal romance that readers will love to sink their teeth into! For fans of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight and Susan Dennard's The Luminaries.

Quite honestly I went in blind, I liked the colors on the cover, it’s YA fantasy, didn’t read the synopsis at all (whoops). So what started as a typical urban teenage murder mystery turned into a fantastic story steeped in Norse mythology with fake dating, a shadow daddy and lots of twists and turns along the way. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait for the rest of the series! Clean romance.

I have been a fan of Emma’s since her first series, The Sunken City trilogy. I absolutely loved that series and will always recommend it. I hate saying this though, but this book fell so flat for me. In all honesty, I only kept reading since it was an ARC and I wanted to give it the full shot it deserved. The writing is good. Nothing wrong there.

The storyline though, awful. I wish everyone, including the author, would stop saying this is for fans of the Vampire Diaries. The only crossover to that show is the blatant copying of the character descriptions, setting, and character relationships i.e. the main character is a loner after losing her sister (Alena) and has two best friends, the very peppy-overly-involved-worried about college-blond friend (Caroline), and the mixed race friend who is potentially bi-interested in her brother-goes with the flow friend (Bonnie). I mean the description of Charlie’s room are identical to Alena’s and the physical characteristics of Elias could not be more spot on to Stephen. I get it. The author is known for her obsession with Vampire Diaries and a large part of her notoriety on social media is due to her videos about the show but this was too much. The book even starts with a back to school bonfire which is exactly how episode one of the show started.

Vampires may be overused in the fantasy realm right now but Norse mythology was not the way to try and change up the storyline. Loki is overplayed. I did not like the Valkyrie twist that’s about 60% of the way in. I can’t say more on that twist due to spoilers, but wasn’t a fan. Super disappointed as I have been waiting so long to start this. I will not be finishing the series.

Will be posted on Instagram profile laka52489 on 5/31/2025

DNF at 32%. I was just not invested in the characters or the story at all unfortunately. The writing was fine and it had promise, but I think the lack of world building was the problem. I feel like we were just thrown into everything and I needed more to fully grab my attention.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press / Wednesday Books for the advanced copy!

Soul of Shadow follows Charlie Hudson, a junior who just wants to make it through the year. Ever since her twin sister died two years ago, she’s drifted through her life. When her classmate goes missing, leaving behind a pair of shoes dangling from a tree carved with symbols, she starts investigating and meets the new boy, Elias. As she finds herself drawn into Elias’ world, her own turns upside down as myth and monsters from Norse mythology threaten her and her friends.

This was a really fun, unique take on the ya paranormal genre. It felt very reminiscent of 2010 YA and the Vampire Diaries but with a norse mythology twist. I really enjoyed the setting and atmosphere—it really gave Mystic Falls vibes. The plot was gripping with some slower moments. The norse mythology was a really great addition to this genre and really made it standout. I quite liked the twists at the end. I think it’ll make for a very interesting sequel. It was a really good first book.

I really enjoyed Charlie’s character. And her arc and growth were really great. I can’t wait to see where her story leads in the sequel. I loved her friend group. They were such a fun trio and the support of her friends was really sweet. I also loved her relationship with her brother. Especially their convo near the end. I thought it was really well done. There’s some great conversations and themes in this book dealing with grief. Elias was a very broody, mysterious love interest and I am super ready for the progression and drama of their romance in the next one!

Overall, if you like norse mythology or The Vampire Diaries, I’d definitely check this one out!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday books for the arc

I definitely think the comp to Vampire Diaries is huge here. The prose reads just like them. I'd give it to teens who really enjoy reading fantasy, but want something different. The Norse mythology is a reason to give this a double take.

I had high hopes about this book based solely on the book title and presentation of the cover and pages - the book exceeded my expectations! This is a dark tale; the mystical component has you questioning Elias's true nature and involvement with the missing children right from the start. The Norse symbolism is eerie but central to the story, adding a complex level to the magic, and the links to Asgard and Bifrost make this an offshoot to the Marvel Universe. Charlie makes for an authentic main character as your typical teen - a little curious, a little bold, yet insecure. I enjoyed the dark nature of the book, as well as the *light* element of bringing Asgard to Earth - my favorite magical creature being the vatte! In a time where I feel that we are a little over-saturated with Marvel, I still found this book to be a standout. It would have been just as exciting if the universe was wholly new and not linked to a cinematic franchise. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this fun and creative, dark and dangerous tale!

What would you do if you found out Norse mythology is realy? Charlie is a high school student who stumbles upon a mystery of kids going missing in her town. With the help of the new kid in town, she learns the truth about her world.

This was a quick read and very entertaining to me. I enjoyed the Norse influence in this book.

First and foremost, I’d like to extend my thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Emma Noyes for providing me with an ARC of this e-book. This is my first read by this author, and I was genuinely excited to dive into a world inspired by Norse mythology—a refreshing shift from the more commonly explored Fae and Celtic-inspired fantasies currently dominating the YA scene.

This novel is solidly YA and would be suitable for readers aged 13–17, provided they are comfortable with themes such as mild substance use, fantasy violence, and non-explicit romantic content.

What stood out most to me were the fascinating mythological creatures. As someone with only a passing knowledge of Norse mythology, I found their introductions and descriptions truly delightful and imaginative. The pop culture references—ranging from familiar TV shows to celebrity mentions added a fun, contemporary flair. I also appreciated the diverse cast of characters and the cliffhanger ending, which certainly sets the stage for the next installment.

Did I love this book? Not quite. It's a like but not a lobe. While I enjoyed the character interactions and the overall concept, I found myself wishing the pacing was a bit quicker or the length trimmed down. There were moments where my attention wandered, and although I was intrigued, I never felt fully gripped by the story in all the chapters. I would be locked in on a couple and then my attention would wander until it picked up again.

That said, it's a solid 3/5 for me, and I would likely pick up the sequel if only to find out about--- :)

4.5*
Thank you to Emma and Fierce Reads for this digital ARC!
Oh, this was FUN. I go into all my books blind, so I was pleasantly surprised when I figured out this was a Norse mythology book! I absolutely loved Emma’s take on it and how she seamlessly wove it through the storyline. I felt like I was learning alongside Charlie and trying to make sense of it all with her. The plot was very fast-paced, and I couldn’t stop reading once I hit the 35% mark. I stayed up way too late reading it. Everything about this book was just fun. I had so much fun giggling and theorizing. I loved Charlie and how relatable she was. She can be slightly unlikable due to grief, but I appreciated how realistic she felt. She was authentically herself without trying to be something else, which I really appreciated. I’m excited to see her develop more, especially with how this book ended. I have so many questions that need to be answered. I loved Elias. I love a morally gray man, and he was just perfection. There were multiple moments when I couldn’t decide on my feelings about him, and I still can’t, but I’m still rooting for him. I see so much potential in his character and his relationship with Charlie. I enjoyed the side characters a lot. I hope we see more of them, especially Mason. I feel for him so much. I better see more of Henry. He was just so funny! I can’t wait to see where Emma takes this! I’m really impressed so far.
There were a few passionate kisses. Characters get drunk, swear, and use substances. There was some graphic violence.

This book brought all the moody, mysterious vibes I loved as a teen!

Charlie’s been numb since losing her twin until a classmate vanishes and strange symbols start showing up in the woods. Her search for answers leads her to Elias, the new guy with secrets that crack open a hidden world of ancient magic and danger.

As a Vampire Diaries fan, I had so much fun with this one!! The mix of high school nostalgia and a chilling murder mystery kept me flipping pages.

I was obsessed with the Vatte!

It hit all the right eerie, romantic notes!

Thank you St Martin and NetGalley for the ARC.

This story was amazing and I cannot wait to see what the next book brings. The storyline was unique with mystery and romance tangled in it. The fantasy/paranormal aspect was really well done. I enjoyed the way that grief was explored in this book, I don't want to give to much away but the author shows the differences in the ways people grieve. My favorite part of this book is where the lore is based, it's not widely done in romantasy and I really enjoyed a new fantasy landscape.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The cover is beautiful and I liked the use of the Norse gods. I just feel like i wanted more from this. I wanted more about the relationship between Charlie and her brother. It seemed like there were some past issues in their relationship I wanted to be explored more. I also would have been way more upset about some situations than Charlie was. I still liked it enough to want to read a second book to see how the story plays out.

Soul of Shadow is a young adult fantasy novel. Charlie is a high school student who is just coasting through life after the loss of her twin sister. The new student in town, Elias, exposes her to a mystical world around her so she can help him solve the mystery of disappearances in their town.

This book takes inspiration from Norse mythology so we have gods like Thor and Loki instead of the Irish fae we're inundated with currently. There were a lot of interesting magical creatures as well which was fun. I was partial to the adorable gnome and the indignant ash wife myself. However, since this first book is trying to introduce the plot and the world, we only get glimpses of most of them.

Young adult started to feel hit or miss for me over 30 (for obvious reasons) and I was on the fence with this one. However, I do recommend it to younger readers or those who don't mind fair chunk of the story taking place in the halls of a high school.

Soul of Shadow is a very typical YA fantasy, but felt a bit like a box ticking exercise without adding anything special or unique. That said, I did love the use of Norse Mythology, and that really should have given it a bit of an edge, but I still found the story as a whole didn't really do it for me.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review