Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

While I am not the intended audience for this YA fantasy, I still enjoyed it.
If you enjoy Nordic mythology and YA fantasy, this will be right up your alley.

I did struggle to keep my focus during the middle with all of the mythological explanations, but the story was interesting and kept me coming back. I was starting to wonder why Charlie was so into magic and what the pay off would be- like there had to be a reason for all of this magic talk. I definitely saw 'the twist' at the end coming and I think it set up the next book nicely.

I didn't get the Vampire Diaries aspect of this story, but again, I am probably not the intended audience.
Overall, this was a nice story that had a few twists and turns to keep things interesting.

I love reading YA fantasy as an adult because these were the books that impacted me the most growing up and I live & long for that youthful nostalgia of reading fantasy at 17.

When I received an arc of this book, I thought the premise was so interesting with a sort of more fantastical spin of Magnus Chase and maybe some influence of the Vampire Diaries but I think what this book promises in its delivery is drowned out by the language and this really slows down the progression of the plot. For a short book like this, I feel like plot developments should move a little quicker and I felt really frustrated with the pacing getting lost in childish dialogue.

For some upper middle grade or early high school fantasy readers, this could be a really entertaining and possibly relatable book but it was a little too elementary for me to fully enjoy.

OBSESSED- I was hooked from the very beginning. On Sunday, I sat down intending to read just a few chapters… and ended up finishing the whole book in one sitting. Give me book 2 nowww 😩

This book is inspired by Norse Mythology and is a fantastic YA fantasy/Romantasy!! (Elias was the perfect morally gray character, and I’m hard core rooting for him in book 2 👀)

One of Charlie’s classmates goes missing, and mysterious carvings are found on a tree. Charlie can’t help but investigate and finds herself thrown into a whole new world she didn’t know existed.
This was such a fun read! The world building was interesting and easy to follow, and I loved how it was seamlessly integrated into the plot rather than dumped all at once. I LOVEEDDD the characters and the small town with big secrets vibes. I’m so excited to see where book 2 goes!

DNF at 32%. This book wasn't for me, but I was never the target audience. I think the intended YA audience might find something they really love in this one.

The mystery of the disappearing kids is intriguing and Charlie's grief over the death of her twin sister is real and palpable. I definitely found myself wanting to know what was up with Elias and how it all tied in to the surrounding Norse mythology. But none of that was enough to ultimately hold my attention.

If you like fantasy and YA novels I would definitely encourage you to give this one a go; it just didn't work for me.

First Line: His shoes were found during the bonfire.

Reasons to Read:
Mythic Secrets 🔮 — A classmate vanishes near strange forest symbols, leading Charlie into a hidden world of Norse gods and dangerous magic.


Grief-Fueled Mystery 🌑 — Reeling from the loss of her twin, Charlie’s search for answers might just uncover her own buried destiny.


Fated First Love 💔 — Elia Everhart is hiding more than secrets—and their magnetic connection could change everything, for better or worse.

Good For People Who Like: YA, Mixing of Fantasy/Real World

Rating: 3 trees

Thoughts: Being that this book was one of my most anticipated for the month (on the subject of missing people), I was a little disappointed with how long it took me to get through it. The world building is beautiful and there is a good mix of cute and horrible creatures. But for some reason it took me a while to get into this book. I liked the characters for the most part, so I sat very in the middle of the road as far as my opinion. It is the first in a series so I may need to see how I feel when the next one comes out.

I absolutely loved the world building. This book is all about Asgard and Norse Mythology. And I think it will really appeal to YA readers.

The missing kids mystery will also keep the read entertain while trying to understand what's happening in that small town.

Charlie was an amazing main character. She's strong, full of grief and trying to find back a sense in her life after her twin sister's death.

I love YA books but I think this one was for younger YA and it will really appeal to people around 12 to 17 years old.

fun world that i'm hooked on, definitely very norse myth inspired but also a bit greek myth inspired, i think. the story is awesome and the LI is very well done. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Life will never be the same again for Charlie Hudson.

Early during her junior year, Charlie’s curiosity draws her into the woods where she goes to investigate the mysterious disappearances of her fellow classmates. The last thing she expects to find there is a young man, new to town and harboring secrets of his own, who opens up Charlie’s eyes to the mythological realm around her.

Soon she’s seeing fantastical creatures lifted directly from folklore and learning that some of those characters from Marvel movies exist in real life—but they aren’t exactly like their onscreen counterparts. Through this new reality unveiled to her, Charlie learns there are even darker forces behind the teenage disappearances than she could have imagined.

If you enjoyed the vibes of Susan Dennard’s The Luminaries series, this series will most likely appeal to you, too.

This is good for fans of morally grey love interests—he’s definitely a dark figure but has some protective instincts towards Charlie, Norse mythology, and steadfast gnome-like or dwarf-like companions. The vätte was my absolute favorite part of the book.

I would have liked to have seen a bit more push-pull between Charlie and Elias and to have seen more in-depth characterization, but I definitely plan to pick up the sequel, especially after the revelation at the end of this book and to see how things pan out for Charlie and Elias. There’s more to their story, and I look forward to seeing it unfold.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from Wednesday Books. All review opinions are my own.

This book was so much fun to read! I don’t come across a lot of books involving Norse mythology, so that was really cool to read. I loved the mythical creatures in this and how dark and twisted some of them were. I really liked the reveal at the end with some of the characters and I can’t wait to find out more about it al. I’m excited for a sequel

Emma Noyes delivers a gripping, immersive fantasy in Soul of Shadow, a novel that hooks you from the first chapter and doesn’t let go. The world-building is vivid and atmospheric, blending magic, danger, and court intrigue in a way that feels fresh yet timeless. Noyes' writing is lyrical but sharp, perfectly suited for a story driven by secrets, power, and inner turmoil.

At the heart of the novel is a complex protagonist whose emotional journey is as compelling as the action around her. The moral gray areas, the tangled loyalties, and the simmering tension—both romantic and political—make this a standout. Fans of Throne of Glass or An Ember in the Ashes will feel right at home here.

Soul of Shadow balances grit and elegance in a way that feels both high-stakes and deeply personal. A strong start to what promises to be a thrilling series.

4.5 stars – Atmospheric, emotional, and utterly absorbing.

This is definitely YA and reads quite young at several points but that did NOT deter me from enjoying every single chapter in this book! I honestly can't wait for the next book to come out!!

3.75 🌟
(audiobook + book review) 🎧 📖


Soul of Shadow felt like a nostalgic little time warp for me. It gave me that “reading YA in high school and college” energy, in the best way. If you grew up loving The Vampire Diaries (especially if you were a Damon girlie, because SAME), this book might hit that familiar, brooding, shadowy MMC spot for you.

This is contemporary fantasy with Norse mythology woven in, but it’s not your typical heavy, dense fantasy. It’s lighter, fun, and set in our world, which I actually appreciated because lately I’ve been in a bit of a slump trying to find contemporary fantasy that sticks.

The romance? Definitely a simmer, not a full force, sweep you off your feet love story yet. The love interest gives major dark, secretive vibes (again, Damon coded), and I have a feeling his story will unravel more across the series. So if you’re going into this hoping for lots of romance up front, just know it’s more of a slow build.

The world building? There’s a mix of magical realism, pop culture references, and Norse mythology here. I loved the creature companions (one of them completely stole my heart, bonus points for his obsession with Henry Cavill because SAME), but I did get pulled out of the story a few times when the mythology felt trivialized by too many Marvel mentions or Google like explanations. That part didn’t quite work for me, but I could see it appealing to readers who like pop culture blended into their fantasy.

The narration in the audiobook was really well done. The pacing, tone, and delivery kept me engaged, and it helped carry me through the slower parts of the story. If you’re an audiobook listener, this one is definitely an easy, enjoyable listen.

There’s also a bit of an age gap in tone. While this is YA, some parts felt more mature, and others skewed a little younger or unpolished in pacing and dialogue. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to note if you’re super picky about pacing or prose.

✨ The Vibes:

• YA contemporary fantasy with Norse mythology
• Vampire Diaries meets Twilight energy (but lighter)
• Dangerous MMC with secrets & shadows
• Magical creature companion with a BIG personality
• A cliffhanger that had me immediately needing book 2
• Light, quick, audiobook listen with a strong narrator

Overall, Soul of Shadow is perfect for fans of YA who want a darker, broody MMC, magical creatures, and mythology without getting lost in too much lore. If you’re looking for a quick listen that still gives you those “just one more chapter” feels, this one’s worth checking out.

Thank you to NetGalley & Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. 🙏🏼

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC. This was sooooo good! I need the second one now! I could not out this one down, I was intrigued from beginning to end. The ending had me wishing for more and excited to read the next one. Everything about this books is beautiful from the cover to the writing to the characters and to the way the setting was explained. I could see this book so clearly in my mind while reading all because of how beautifully Asgard and its creatures were explained. I also have some theories about Charlie that I am excited to know if they are true. If you haven’t added this to your TBR do so now and read it as soon as it comes out!!!

A strange boy arrives in town after a mysterious disappearance shocks Charlie's small community. She finds herself drawn to Elias despite knowing that something isn't quite right with him, and soon finds herself discovering long buried secrets.

Read if you like:
-Norse Mythology
-Mystery
-Buffy-vibes

I liked how Soul of Shadow read like BtVS meets Odin and Loki. The nostalgia of it kept me turning pages, but I felt like Charlie belonged in a different book. Her interest in magic tricks and her childhood escape of the circus never really fit with the rest of the storyline. It made it difficult for me to connect with her. However, I would give book two a chance because I'd like to see what happens next.

DNF @ 15%

I just can't do books set in high school anymore. My tastes have changed in the past year and now I'm accepting it.

Also, I'm a little annoyed that this is marketed with The Vampire Diaries, Twilight, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but there are no vampires (from what I've heard). Maybe it's just all the angst of those.

Thank you St. martin's Press for the eARC. My thoughts are entirely my own.

3.5 rounded down💫 maybe true 3? and not at all what I was expecting! Though that’s on me for (once again) not reading a synopsis beforehand😅 all I knew was Emma Noyes saying “romantasy inspired by Damon Salvatore and The Vampire Diaries”…so imagine my surprise when it was YA and there were no vampires💀 again, my bad!!!

HOWEVER! I did still like it!!

✨norse mythology
✨multiple reveals (including one I genuinely did not see coming👀)
✨an interesting magical world hidden where you least expect it IYKYK
✨bad boy who is new to town😏 a young shadow daddy if you will
✨fake dating
✨nostalgia for high school (and high school TV dramas), think homecoming, football games, who is talking to who is the lunchroom!
✨students keep going missing leaving behind strange signs…

I liked a lot of things - the magic, the friend group, the slight odes to TVD, Henry😂! But it had some pacing issues, the romance left me wanting ~more~, and I need YA to be GOOOOD to *feel* it lately and this just missed that. I will most likely read the next one still!

I tried so hard but ultimately I was bored and didn't care what happened to the teens. I wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.

Ever since losing her twin sister, Charlie Hudson feels like she’s just been walking through life rather than living it. Even her relationship with her brother, Mason, hasn’t been the same since her sibling passed away.

Then life takes an even stranger turn when Charlie’s classmates start to go missing. As if their disappearance isn’t weird enough, there are strange symbols in the forest left behind in their absence.

As Charlie finds herself inexplicably drawn to solving the mystery, a new guy turns up in town. Elias Everhart might be gorgeous, but he also feels dangerous. Elias is also invested in solving the mystery, and immersing himself into Charlie’s life. But the more Charlie digs into the unknown, the darker the secrets become.

Soul of Shadow is the first book in a new fantasy series by author, Emma Noyes. Admittedly, Noyes is the reason I decided to give this one a try as I love her other books. However, Soul of Shadow is a marked departure from both her usual fare and my own, as fantasy also isn’t really my thing.

The good news is this was a very quick read that I read in one sitting. But as I expected, I’m not really the target audience for this title as it’s very YA and firmly planted in the fantasy world, two things I feel far removed from. Given fantasy franchises and their huge successes though, it might be a smart move for Noyes to be branching out. It’s just hard for me to predict the success of Soul of Shadow as a series when my own heart and soul isn’t in it.

I'll admit -- I saw Vampire Diaries x Percy Jackson and I knew I had to read Soul of Shadow...and it didn't disappoint! For anyone who grew up reading YA from the early 2000s-2010, this is going to feel super nostalgic in the best way possible, but with a fresh spin that I feel like YA readers in the actual intended age bracket (ie. not me) will also enjoy. Super broad appeal, compelling, and well written, this was one of my surprise favorite YA reads of the year and a very exciting start to a trilogy (duology? Not sure atm, but really would love a trilogy).

For anyone hoping for the vampire part of the Vampire Diaries comp, this is actually a Norse mythology inspired contemporary fantasy that tackles grief in a poignant way that I was NOT expecting. The Vampire Diaries part is that our central romance here is very Damian/Elena coded, and Noyes really nails that dynamic. I don't think there is any false advertising here at all, but I do know some reviewers were let down by there being zero vampires, so just wanted to state that up front for y'all. There are (night)mares, ash/wood wives, drauger, gods, and gnomes, but there are no vampires, and honestly, it didn't need them.

One of my favorite things about Soul of Shadow is actually the worldbuilding. It starts out slowly, with ordinary teenager Charlie at a party with her friends, when a teen goes missing in the woods and all that is left behind are his sneakers and strange symbols carved on a tree. Charlie is a brave girl who would usually investigate, but after dealing with the death of her twin sister, she is a shell of herself. She keeps the disappearances at the back of her mind, focused on her friend group and the upcoming school year, until a mysterious new student named Elias inserts himself everywhere in her life. One day, she follows Elias into the woods, and what she sees there changes her life. Elias is a mare, a creature of shadow who feeds off fear, and he, too, is investigating the disappearances. Once she steps into Elias's world and agrees to investigate with him, her own life becomes filled with magic--wonderful and deadly.

I can never get enough of Norse mythology, so I loved Noyes' take on Asgard/Midgard. I felt she did an excellent job of balancing exposition/definition of the mythical world with plot, and, for a YA book, she never underestimated her readers' intelligence. I loved the pacing of this book, I loved the romance (yay for an actually morally gray love interest!!), and I loved Charlie herself. Noyes has crafted such a relatable and wonderful main character; I loved how Charlie began to discover her inner strength throughout the novel, and I love that her grief felt realistically drawn. I ESPECIALLY love that even though this is--in many ways--a throwback to the YA I grew up with, Charlie is far from a self-insert or a Mary Sue. She's got hobbies, she's got friends, she's got a mythical gnome creature who follows her everywhere...Charlie is a girl's girl, and I love to see the evolution of the urban fantasy/paranormal romance genre.

And speaking of (I will praise this in every single YA romantasy that does it. Every one.)...I love that the most spice we have is a kiss. Although I love me a spicy book, and I'm even a defender of spice in upper-level YA, I think that it's important for teens to have age-appropriate romances, too, that can be JUST as romantic, swoon-worthy, and intense as the spicy ones. Noyes absolutely nails this in Soul of Shadow, and oh my, that twist at the end.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books, and Emma Noyes for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review! I eagerly anticipate the next book in this series!

Soul of Shadow is not my typical read, however, I really enjoyed it. As a fan of the Marvel series, I loved how the author weaved in Norse Mythology into the story. It is definitely, fantasy. I can see that the author is setting this up for a series.