The opening line of this story reads: "His shoes were found during the bonfire".

This book would be great for fans of The Vampire Diaries who loved Damon's vibes and Norse mythology. Although I was not the ideal audience for this story, I still found it enjoyable.

The grief our FMC, Charlie Hudson, a high school Junior, feels is raw and palpable. The mythic creatures the story brings to life are both wholesome and haunting.

The descriptions written throughout this book read like movie scenes in my head - it would make a fun show on the CW network.

Thank you to the Publisher, Wednesday Books, for selecting me to be an ARC reader for the novel Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes.

I will be thinking about this book for days. The world building was so cool. I absolutely loved Charlie. I felt so connected to her during this book. You could really understand her and what she was going through. The twists and betrayals in this book has me jaw dropped. You did an absolutely phenomenal job! I can't wait for the next book!! Side note can I have a vätte please?

Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes

Thank you to @Macmillan Publishers and @NetGalley for this early reading AND listening opportunity!

I'd rate the arc 3.5 🌟 but the alc 4 🌟... the narrator really drew me in.

This book starts similar to Twilight with its depressed and grieving (seemingly nothing special) girl, and the hottest most unattainable guy in the school being interested.

It then launches itself into the upside down. Full of real and slide of hand magic 🎩 ✨️ and lots of Nordic mythology.

Careful, it ends on quite the cliffhanger! This book releases on July 29th and will be included on KU.

3.5 Stars rounded to 4

A very interesting premise with our FMC, Charlie, living in a town where other kids are disappearing and strange Norse symbols are being left behind. She does a little snooping and meets Elias who isn't quite who he seems and introduces her to a whole new world that has existed all around her this whole time. She has to find out who is behind the disappearances, and with her friends and brother, try to stop them.

It was all around a pretty good book that started off a smidge slow but really picked up at the end. The end had some twists and a surprise I did NOT see coming.

Soul of Shadows is a younger feeling ya fantasy that feels a lot like a CW show, or something I would have read or watched in middle school or high school.

I enjoyed the Nordic mythology as that’s not something I’ve read much. The book had a bit of a Nancy Drew mystery feel to it, but with some mythology and fantasy thrown in. Overall I think a younger ya audience might enjoy the book, and I found some parts entertaining, but it wasn’t a favourite of mine and I likely wont be continuing the series.

Thanks to St Martin’s Press Wednesdays Books for the arc, all thoughts are mine.

Review of Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)

Soul of Shadow is a solid YA fantasy with a moody, mysterious vibe and just the right amount of Norse mythology to keep things interesting. It didn’t totally blow me away, but it was a fun, easy read-especially if you're into morally grey love interests, secret supernatural worlds, and the emotional weight of grief. I will admit, it did take me awhile to get into it, and I had to keep reminding myself it was YA, once I got into it though I was entertained.

The story follows Charlie Hudson, who’s been emotionally adrift ever since losing her twin sister. She’s just trying to get through high school when strange disappearances start happening in her town, and symbols start showing up in the woods. That’s when she meets Elias-a shadowy, brooding new guy who definitely knows more than he’s letting on. From there, Charlie is pulled into a hidden world of gods, monsters, and ancient magic that’s been lurking just beneath the surface of Silver Shores.

I liked the premise a lot. The mix of Norse mythology with modern high school drama gave me Twilight and Vampire Diaries flashbacks in the best way. Elias is your classic mysterious “is-he-dangerous-or-just-hot” kind of character, and Charlie’s curiosity and grief made her a compelling (if sometimes frustrating) main character. The friend group dynamic was fun too-Lou and Abigail added some needed levity to balance out the darker moments.

That said, there were parts that felt a little slow or repetitive, and some of the dialogue didn’t quite hit. I also wanted a bit more depth from Charlie’s emotional arc-it touched on grief and healing but didn’t always fully explore it. The mythology aspects were cool, but I think there’s a lot of room to expand in the next book.

And speaking of the next book… that cliffhanger definitely did its job! I’ll be curious to see how things unfold.

Overall, Soul of Shadow is a good pick for fans of YA fantasy who love secret worlds, dark boys with secrets, and a little mythology mixed in. It’s not perfect, but it’s entertaining-and sometimes that’s exactly what you’re looking for.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5* Rounded up

Overall this was a fun, unique and action packed first book to start off a new YA urban fantasy series. I have not read many books that have Nordic mythology and I found that very interesting and well done. The world building was interesting and kept me engaged in this story, I loved the last 30% of this book it had so many great reveals and fun action sequences. I did struggle in the beginning with the pacing and it did take me a bit to become more invested in the story than it usually does but it ended with a punch and now I am looking forward to the next book.

I received an eARC thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books. All opinions are my own.

3.5⭐️
“It was only then that she realized he’d called her by her name.
And she had never given it to him.”

This book read very similarly to popular TV shows and movies, like the description says, it does connect to the vampire diaries in a way. I didn’t mind the subtle connections while reading and thought it was endearing at parts. The book also read very YA, but I loved how the author made everything connect back to each other. There wasn’t one piece of “extraneous” info that didn’t get resolved by the ending. I also really enjoyed reading more into the monsters and myths of Norse mythology, especially the vätte who was the CUTEST side kick.

Charlie, the FMC, goes through quite a bit of growth throughout the novel, starting from a girl who was mourning the death of her twin sister and lost her “light” to someone brave and ready for adventures. Elias was the perfect enemies to lovers boyfriend/supernatural being that did at times remind me of Damon Salvatore.

This is a great book for someone who wants a fun and quick read about Norse mythology and creatures!

This book has:
✨Norse mythology
✨Gods & monsters
✨Betrayal
✨valkyries
✨fake dating

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes is a third person-POV YA contemporary fantasy romance. Since the death of her twin sister two years ago, Charlie hasn’t been the same. She keeps to herself and has lost interest in many of her favorite activities. When a classmate goes missing, Charlie goes to investigate and meets a stranger in the woods named Elias.

Charlie isn’t a very talkative lead and we spend a lot of time in her head as she thinks about the world around her. When we learn that she used to be much more active and invested in the world around her, including romantic relationships, from her best friend Lou, it feels a bit jarring and shows just how much her grief is really affecting her. The death of a loved one can lead us to changing parts of ourselves dramatically, even if it’s not intentional and it’s good for teen readers to have examples of all kinds of grief, from acting out to closing ourselves off from the world.

The fantastical elements come from Norse mythology. There are night mares, goblins, vikings, mentions of Odin and Loki, and more. When Charlie eats a special berry, she can suddenly see all of the things in Asgard that are hidden by a sort of veil that separates the supernatural from humans, but it also means that they can now interact with her, which means they can hurt her whereas, before, they couldn’t even touch Charlie. Charlie has very little knowledge of Norse mythology and the bit she does have she has gleaned from the MCU Thor films that she picked up via osmosis. There isn’t a ton of stuff that goes in depth on the mythos, but I wouldn’t say a reader needs extensive knowledge of Norse mythology in order to enjoy the book.

Charlie and Elias’ romance takes a fake dating trope turn when it’s time for homecoming and Charlie hasn’t focused at all on finding a date. Because the two of them had been getting closer because of Charlie’s newfound connection to Asgard, it felt like a logical next step that the two would find ways to spend more time together. Their romance does take precedence over the fantastical elements in terms of the plot, which makes me think that this is a fantasy romance rather than a romantic fantasy or Romantasy.

I would recommend this to fans of YA fantasy that like a strong romance plot and readers of fantasy romance that want more Norse mythology

I was so excited to read this book and I devoured it back about a month ago! It is such a fun, unique premise and such a fast read that I just flew through it. This book is a Norse mythology based story (which I now have to spend time researching) and had tons of magic, deception and action.

I LOVE our MMC Elias (is he our MMC?!??). He is morally charcoal and I am here for it! I hope hope hope he ends up being good but we just don’t know right now. Love a character like that. I also enjoyed Charlie’s backstory. Her motivations for doing things and her relationships with her friends and family really made the book for me.

Definitely check this one out!

Spice: None, just kissing

Read this if you like:
🌲 Murder mystery with magic
🌲 Norse Mythology
🌲 Morally dark gray MMC

Okay, I knew I was in for a ride the second this book whispered, "myth, magic, monsters, and a dangerously hot boy with secrets." But I didn’t expect it to wreck me in the best possible way. Emma Noyes? She came for my heart, stomped on it with ethereal boots, and then handed it back wrapped in shadow and longing. 💔🖤

Charlie Hudson is the kind of protagonist you root for instantly — relatable, smart, a little lost, and a little haunted (same, babe). She’s just trying to survive high school when BAM! Mysterious disappearances, symbols carved into trees, and a boy named Elias Everhart who radiates "stay away" energy while simultaneously being the most magnetic thing this side of the moon.

Let’s talk about Elias for a second. Imagine if Hades had a TikTok but also read poetry in the woods at midnight. He’s broody, clever, mysterious, and 100% not what he seems. Do I trust him? No. Do I love him? Absolutely yes. 💀💘

This book is twisty and lush, packed with mythology (hi, Norse gods 👋), secret realms, shadowy magic, and that slow-burn, butterfly-inducing romance that makes you gasp, giggle, and text your best friend, “I swear if they don’t kiss soon I’ll combust.”

If you’re a fan of The Vampire Diaries (Stefan/Elena/Damon energy), Heartless Hunter, or anything by Holly Black, this will feed your soul and then set it on fire. And if you’ve ever fallen in love with a fictional bad boy who might also be a supernatural creature? You’re gonna feel seen.

🖤 Soul of Shadow is wickedly enchanting, emotionally sharp, and perfectly atmospheric — like wandering through a dark forest lit only by moonlight and secrets. Just know: once you step into this world, there's no going back. And honestly? You won’t want to.

🌕🕯️✨ 5/5 haunting, heart-ripping stars. Read it. Obsess over it. Then immediately demand the sequel like your life depends on it.

Soul of Shadow is a moody, magical read that blends mystery, romance, and fantasy in a compelling way. Emma Noyes introduces a quiet yet determined protagonist in Charlie, whose world is upended by a strange disappearance and the arrival of the mysterious Elias Everhart.

The story slowly unravels a hidden world filled with danger, enchantment, and secrets that keep you guessing. With atmospheric writing and strong emotional undertones, this book is perfect for fans of hidden realms, slow-burn romance, and shadowy intrigue.

A strong start to what feels like a promising series.

Thanks to @netgalley for the advanced reader copy

This book was a fever dream in the best way! It felt like a 90s sitcom mixed with a bit of realistic stranger things? And a CLIFFHANGER?? I need the second book immediately! I so badly want good things for the MMC no matter how bad he may be. And Charlie is just so cool, I can’t explain it. She’s never afraid to run in the line of fire. This book was so good.

Wow! This book isn't even published yet and already I can't wait for the sequel. I need more, stat! I love different mythologies and I feel like Norse mythology is overlooked a lot in the fantasy genre as the foundation for a magical system, so when I saw the description for this, I knew I had to read it for that alone and I was not disappointed.

If I were to summarize this book in three songs, they would be Bring Me to Life by Evanescence, Decode by Paramore, and I Hate Everything About You by Three Days Grace. Noyes doesn't pull any punches and the ending is going to leave me with a major book hangover.

Yes, we've got another shadow daddy on the scene, but the entire magical world is structured so differently than a lot of what I've seen in other YA Romantasy that I'm letting it slide. Elias is the epitome of morally gray, leaning heavier on the darker charcoal side of the spectrum. It took a little bit for Charlie to come off the page for me, but we got there in the end.

The twists are twisty, the burn is slow, the characters are fun and loveable, especially the vatte. There's tension, mystery, magic, and adventure. Such a fun ride!

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

⭐️⭐️
I wanted to like Soul of Shadow because the idea sounded so good, but it just didn’t click for me. The story felt way too teenagery like trying to be too cool and it came off as cringe, and I had a hard time staying interested. Maybe if I was younger, I could’ve gotten into it more, but it just didn’t hold my attention. I also really didn’t like how much cussing there was—it pulled me out of the story and made it feel less enjoyable. The concept had potential, but overall it wasn’t a good fit for me.

Thank you to Netgally for the ARC :)

This book was so incredible entertaining. I absolutely ate it up. The plot was so cool and had me on my toes the whole time. I absolutely loved all the characters and all of the Nordic mythology was so fun to read about. The way I would give anything to be able to read the second book to right now is problematic. I don’t know what I expected going in but this fully exceeded anything and everything. Thank you so much NetGalley for the opportunity to read this Arc!!

As always, a wonderful book, and wonderfully written, just got a bit weird. DNF at 20% because there was a lot of LGBTQ stuff, and I don't feel comfortable reading that. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the eARC!

This book hasn’t gotten near the attention it deserves. It releases on 7/29 and the hardback is a special edition that’s so pretty! Thank you NetGalley & St Martin’s Press for choosing me to read the arc!


Soul of Shadow is full of Norse mythology and creepy af but it’s so good. This is YA and usually YA books don’t hold my attention but this sucked me right in!
If you’ve ever fantasized about different worlds and mythical creatures being real, this book is for you.
We imagine it to be fascinating, wonderful and magical but is it really? This is what true nightmares are made of.
Trust me when I say not everything is as it seems, we just can’t see it. Most of us couldn’t handle it if we could.

I really liked this book. The folklore is explained so it makes more sense but isn’t overwhelming. The overlapping worlds are described beautifully. The unique creatures are a fresh take on a fantasy world. There’s a murder mystery, a love story, and the fmc is interesting and really grows throughout the book. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

Great epic tale! I’d love to see what happens next for Charlie and the gang. It was a great story and I loved the idea of a magical world superimposed on our world! Genius plot line. The characters were fun and varied, all in all a great story!

I was told this was a vampire book, and to my great disappointment, there were no vampires to be found. This isn't the author's fault at all, but it definitely put a damper on my enjoyment of the book because I kept waiting for them to appear.

Highly recommend the audiobook--the narration was great.

This reads like a teen CW show. It's over the top, cheesy, the characters are super frustrating and make terrible decisions, and you have to suspend disbelief often. If you like this kind of vibe, you'll love it!

Elias felt like a bully to me and I wasn't a fan.

Something that did bother me, and is definitely a personal reading preference, so it might not bother others but, I loathe when there are modern references in fantasy books. Calling out current TV shows, Netflix, and TikTok and Instagram is going to date this book terribly in a few years. It might not seem like a big deal now, but most of the time, you want fantasy books to stand the test of time. This won't.

The circus element felt out of place, NGL. Was this to make her 'not like other girls'? They're in this small town, but yet they have a super exclusive circus there? And her being into magic tricks was also a little odd. I didn't mind the Viking/Norse gods vibes, but straight up mentioning Thor and Chris Hemsworth was awkward. Without spoilers, I wasn't a fan of the sister reveal.

Overall, I don't think i'm the target audience for this one, unfortunately.