I was really excited to check this book out based on the description alone. I love books with different mythologies and I honestly didn’t know much about Norse mythology before reading this book.

I really liked the main character Charlie. She’s just your typical high schooler just trying to make it through the year when a kid goes missing in the forest leaving behind some mysterious marks on the trees. Of course Charlie goes to investigate despite her mom telling her to stay away from the forest and that’s where she meets Elias the shady newcomer in town. Elias charmingly evades all of Charlie’s questions only intriguing her more which lead her to discover she may later regret finding out.

There was nothing wrong with the writing style or premise of the story but somewhere in the middle I almost decided to put the book down. I saw that other people were really happy with the cliffhanger ending and decided to keep reading which I’m glad I did. The story was interesting and full of Norse mythology. Charlie’s friends are hilarious while trying together her and Elias together without knowing all the information.

This was a good YA fantasy and I’ll be looking forward to the next book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Don’t be fooled by how quickly I finished this book - I wasn’t a huge fan. I loved the premise and was so pumped for Norse mythology meets the moodiness of The Vampire Diaries but sadly this book did not deliver.

I found that the characters were very extreme versions of their basic personality traits and they lacked depth. There was also a lot of “something strange but nobody knows what” kind of revelations which was frustrating. It was poor foreshadowing at best.

Elias was also a very strange love interest. He literally threatened to kill Charlie’s family and a few chapters later they were fake dating.

Honestly, I almost gave this two stars but the ending was interesting enough to give it three.

I would probably read the sequel eventually but it’s not a high priority. I also would likely not read the author’s other books. I didn’t particularly enjoy the writing style.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set in Silver Shores, Michigan, the story follows Charlie Hudson, a high school junior who starts digging into the strange vanishings happening around town. When she meets the new boy, Elias, in the woods, she uncovers a supernatural world and a danger that’s been quietly growing.

This is an entertaining YA story with a heavy dose of Norse mythology and magic. Emily Pike Stewart’s audiobook narration was spot on. I loved how she adjusted her pacing and tone to match the narrative, especially in high-action scenes. I was especially hooked during the final stretch: fast-paced, chaotic, and wildly entertaining. Love the total rollercoaster ending!

That said, the world-building near the last third of the book leans into info-dumpy territory, and some transitions felt rushed. Still, Charlie’s journey as her world expands beyond what she thought was possible was a joy to follow. This brought all the nostalgia of Vampire Diaries (a fan favorite of my youth) and I am eager for the next book.

Thank you Macmillan Audio & Macmillan Young Listeners for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced audio
This was fun! Gave vampire diaries vibes. I enjoyed the Norse mythology. I loved the little gnome!!!
I also liked the twist at the end. Would definitely read the next one to find out what happens

For the past two years Charlie Hudson life has been falling apart. Her twin sister died and she doesn’t quite know how to cope.

There is a new kid in school, Elias Everhart. and there is something now quite right about him. And Charlie can’t quite figure it out. Then when she is investigating the missing kids and Elsa just appears out of no where.

After that her world is turned upside down. She sees things no one else can see. And she finds out her sister is something amazing.

Charlie and her brother save the world. Only for him to hate his sister.

This was an interesting listen. The story starts out thrilling with missing students and Norse symbols carved into trees, but then it slows down. It is a YA (I'd say more upper YA) so it has YA problems and scenery to include high school drama and dances. The FMC tended to drone on and irritatingly (for the reader) often didn't ask the right questions. Once the story ramped up again though, there was a wealth of Norse creatures described in wonderful detail and a lot of action. I loved the Vaette! He was great. The rollercoaster of events at the end with the epic surprise, was worth the slow middle. I'll be on the lookout for the next book!

This wasn't really what I was expecting from the initial description. I was expecting more of a mystery whereas this was more of a fantasy adventure and world-building type novel instead. It was much more dark in theme than expected and for my taste but there is definitely a market of people who would enjoy this type of story. Audiobook narration was okay for most voices, but not enjoyable for all. I liked some of the connections/links between the lore in this story and some of traditions/lore told around the world.

Norse mythology set in modern times?! Who knew this existed. What I love about the stories built around mythology: you are learning a piece of history. There are pieces of a culture’s history that are built on these stories and it’s really cool to have a glimpse of someone else’s bedtime stories reimagined.

All that to say, I’ve never read a Norse mythology novel. It was good. It’s YA, there’s some language, low spice, high drama. But who could blame them. Good overall, just not obsessed with it. Will definitely read the next book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This story is steeped in Norse mythology, which I didn't see coming, and the way Emma Noyes converged modern day with the mythology is masterful. The FMC is struggling with the loss of her twin sister, and to make matters worse, classmates start to disappear and the only clue left behind are strange characters carved in trees. The MMC, a super hot, dark haired boy with a mysterious past shows up when these disappearances occur and cue the love interest. With the help of her friends and brother the FMC begins searching for answers to these strange happenings and finds herself tangled up with the MMC. The narrator, Emily Pike Stewart, does a great job keeping the listener engaged and voicing all the characters. I would definitely listen to another of her audios.

Thank you for the opportunity to review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I went into it fully expecting one thing only to have it be something entirely different. I like the relationship between the siblings and I’m interested in seeing what happens in book 2.
The narrator was fantastic! She brought the characters to life and gave it the extra zing that made it hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Soul of Shadow follows the story of Charlie, a girl navigating the world of high school after losing her identical twin sister. The town she lives in begins to change after teenagers start going missing, leaving only their shoes and strange symbols carved into trees behind. Charlie becomes consumed with finding these missing teens and figuring out what is going on with the new student Elias Everheart, who shows up just when the disappearances start. Charlie's eyes are opened up to a magical world she never knew existed as she discovers the truth behind the disappearances.

I loved this book. All of the Norse mythology added was well done; it did remind me of Rick Riordan's books, but a more adult version. I was expecting a romantsy YA book and was pleased that this book didn't follow that stereotype, and some of the twists left me guessing on the validity of them!

I thought the narrator did a good job with the characters' voices. She had good pacing and helped to bring richness to the world. The only thing that bothered me was some of her pronunciation of words from the Norse mythology.

I'm glad to see more books featuring mythology from around the world and give this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

I got to listen the this audiobook and it was a good YA book. I like the norse mythology and the characters. I interested in what will happen in book two.

I really wanted to like this book as I haven't read a ton with Norse mythology but idk this one fell flat for me. I didn't understand the characters and their thing for the circus like it didn't really apply to anything in my opinion and could have been left out. I did like the descriptions and the narration was good. Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook.

This book just did not hit for me. I enjoyed the connection to mythological lore and found that very interesting, but I just could not buy into the romantic aspects of it. I enjoy a good villain romance as much as the next person, but Elias just felt too evil for me. I could not see his redeeming qualities and so the romantic interest between him and Charlie felt forced and unnatural to me.

--I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.--

Soul of Shadow was an imaginative fantasy audiobook. The story follows a protagonist navigating a world where shadows hold mystical significance, blending adventure with emotional resonance. Emma Noyes’ creative world-building and engaging plot make this a standout read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance copy!

Lately, I’ve been so lucky to read so many fantastic YA fantasy books - and this one is definitely included!

The vibes were a little Percy Jackson, but Norse instead of Greek; and honestly it was perfect! It had a bit of mystery, a bit of adventure, and even a bit of romance - YA appropriate obviously.

I appreciated how descriptive the storytelling was and how the world building wasn’t just thrown at us all at once - we get to discover it alongside our FMC, Charlie, and that’s my preferred way. That being said, it’s not too heavy on the world building if that’s not your thing, but provides just enough for things to make sense.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun and captivating YA fantasy read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for making an advanced copy available to me in exchange for an honest review.

Overall Rating | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

I DNF the book at about 30%. No negative comments, it just was too YA for me. Narration had good flow and narrator portrayed emotions well.
I will recommend to my friends teenagers.

this was an amazing start to a series! so cozy and the perfect read for fall. i need book 2 in my hands immediately. i was so invested in the plot line and all of the characters, and the narration was fantastic!

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 Shadow A Novel by Emma Noyes and narrated by Emily Pike Stewart

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC. Soul of Shadow is an action packed YA fantasy with a dash of romance. Soul of Shadow’s world is based on Norse mythology, particularly Loki. The mythology was well explained. Emily Pike Stewart narrated beautifully. This could be a book to watch on YA lists.