Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!!

WOW! I am blown away. Everything about this is spectacular- the gothic atmosphere, the yearning, the religious elements- I was captivated! I saw this being marketed for fans of The Knight and the Moth and I 100% agree! The plot is interesting, the characters are relatable and complex, and their slow burn relationship was done very well. I read this in one sitting and am already planning on a reread! I can't wait to see what Kalie Reid does next!

This book is marketed for fans of "Divine Rivals" and "A Study in Drowning", and I couldn't agree more!

There's so much to like about this book. It has a moody setting, dual POV, complex magic system, and an intricate plot. Plus, this book is the author's debut novel! I think reading books from debut authors can be such a rewarding experience. You never know when you'll find a new favorite author!

"The Sacred Space Between" follows Maeve, a talented portrait artist who has devoted her life to her church. Her painting skills are invaluable; she spends her days reading descriptions of saints and painting their icons. One day, Maeve meets a saint in person for a sitting. However, something magical happens, and things unfold from there...

Our other protagonist, Jude, was exiled from the church several years before. He lives a lonely life in a crumbling, half-forgotten house on the moors. But Jude has a bigger problem: he's slowly losing his mind. The same magic that makes him a saint is something the church has been siphoning away... and the cost of the magic is Jude's memories.

Which brings me to my biggest critique of this book. I can tell the author spent a lot of time brainstorming the church and the magic system, but I personally found it difficult to follow. I wish the link between a saint having their icon painted and the church's ability to draw power through it was better explained.

I also struggled with the pacing of this book. The story moves at a slower pace, which made it difficult for me to feel engaged in the plot. And I know what you're going to say: "But Camille, this is an atmospheric read. It's meant to build over time." To that, I would say that I LOVE atmospheric books that slowly build. "One Dark Window" and "An Enchantment of Ravens" are two of my favorite books of all time! I think you can have gothic books with dreamy prose and still have a fast-paced plot.

But I could have overlooked the pacing if it wasn't for this book's spice. It pains me to say this, but the explicit scenes ruined the ending for me. This book is a standalone, and I don't think it's a spoiler to say that the main conflict wraps up by the 90% mark. I was confused how the author planned to extend the story... until Maeve and Jude ended up with a bedroom (and bathtub) to themselves. And again, I want to preface this by saying that I have nothing against spicy scenes. I'm famous in my friend group for reading that chapter from ACOSF in public with a straight face. But in this book's case, I don't feel like the spice was needed. Maeve and Jude had already demonstrated their love, trust, and vulnerabilities to each other—we didn't need a literal showing of it.

Moving back to what I did like, I think the author does a phenomenal job describing the setting! The misty moors, briny sea breezes, and circling crows were fun to read about. It's easy to feel immersed in this story! I think "The Sacred Space Between" would make a great fall read.

I also like that this book blends historical fiction, fantasy, and romance. It's one of my favorite trifectas! I'd love to see more books that have genre-bending elements that are done right. None of the genres in "The Sacred Space Between" outshine the others, which I feel can be difficult to do. Kudos to the author for pulling that off!

Overall, "The Sacred Space Between" is a 3-star read for me. I think this book will appeal to readers who like atmospheric settings, a slower-paced plot, two POVs, and a well-balanced blend of genres. If any of those sound like your kind of read, make sure to get your copy when this book comes out on November 4th!

I received an eARC of this book courtesy of the Little, Brown and Company publicity team; all opinions are my own.

The premise of this book held promise. But the pacing was off-- excruciatingly slow at times it frustrated the heck out of me, and the plot, was frankly, quite confusing. I felt the characters were also muddled throughout the book and I had a difficult time putting the pieces together. By the time I reached the climax, I wasn't really invested in the story anymore and just skimmed to reach the ending.

With that said, while this may not have worked for me, I still encourage you to pick it up because it is worth a read. Will you like it and will it stay with you long after you turn the last page? That remains to be seen. But you won't know if you don't try.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown and Company for the e-galley!

I can already see people complaining about the pacing being too slow and the ml being too wishy washy. But I for one, LOVEDDDD having a male lead being as well developed as mc. I think we need to delve more into the male leads not being perfect from the start and actually showing vulnerability like what happens in this novel. I loved the atmosphere and general direction this book took and would actually buy the book physically even though I already read it.

Rating: 4 Stars! YAY!
Format: ebook

The themes of hope, redemption, and friendship in this story are really beautiful. I am in awe at how raw and honest Kalie Reid writes her characters and their experiences. As a Christian, I hesitate to read books where religion is villainized, but the reality is that harmful religious institutions do exist. I loved how Kalie Reid highlights the dangers of misguided religion without categorizing faith as a whole as evil.

This book doesn’t comment on whether God exists but rather the harm of oppressive religious institutions, and I think this is a very important distinction.

With all of that being said, I adored the characters in this story. Their journey towards hope and freedom was both heartbreaking and powerful. I loved how Reid developed the MC's friendship and romance. It was one filled with gentleness and vulnerability, and we often don’t see those themes in Romantasys.

This story weaves magic in a way that is both interesting and unique to the genre. At times, I was a little confused about how the magic worked, but it did not significantly affect my reading experience. Overall, this story was gripping, moving, and a lovely representation of good overcoming evil.

What a phenomenal debut! Congratulations, Kalie Reid! Thank you, NetGalley, for gifting me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading other books by Kalie Reid! :)

Tropes
-One bed (sort of)
- I wouldn’t say this book is enemies-to-lovers, even though it is classified as one. These two aren't enemies; rather misunderstood or misinterpreted by each other.

Spice level 1/5

Book Details:
-Page count: 432
-Publication date: Nov 4th 2025
-Date read: Aug 18th 2025
-Other books read by author: 0 (This is her debut! :))

The Sacred Space Between was one of my most highly anticipated reads of this year, so I'm disappointed to say I really disliked this. The worldbuilding was basically nonexistent, which was a shame because it had the potential to be a really interesting world and magic system. I finished the book with no understanding of any country, landmasses, culture, or governing body besides the Abbey. When the secret of memory magic was revealed, there had been absolutely no leadup to it prior in the book, so it was just suddenly as if there were other memories and events that had happened, but both we and Maeve were learning about them at the same time. I thought the romance was adorable, and that was the only reason I finished the book: I wanted to see how Maeve and Jude's relationship developed. I know this is the author's debut, and since I did like the writing style, I wouldn't be opposed to picking up her next book, maybe when the sting of being disappointed by such a highly anticipated title has worn off.

A beautiful and tender love story set against a seasalt and moor grass backdrop. The story unfolds slowly, with some truly beautiful writing. One to pick up for anyone who wants more yearning and slow burns whose spice payoff doesn’t come until the very end in their romantasy.

This was seriously so good. The writing was wonderful, the characters were well developed, the plot was addictive. I couldn’t put this down. I hope everyone loves this as much as what I did.

im disappointed. The first half of the book felt unique with their religion and the fantasy aspect.
Then it turned into a basic romantasy. I felt like I was reading about two teenagers. They did not act, plan, or talk like adults.
They fell in love sooner than they should've, the characters lacked personality.
it was an okay read - it was predictable.

4,25 ⭐️

The Sacred Space Between is an evocative and haunting journey, one that plunged me into waves of melancholy and anxiety, only to ultimately leave me with a flicker of hope and even a bit of anger.

The writing style is both deliberate and strong, guiding the reader through the story in a way that let me enjoy every single step and element of the story.

The best thing was definitely the atmosphere, moody and gothic, sorrounding the decaying estate that Jude inhabits. The world building is also complex and really thought through, from the history of the saints to the images the author was able to convey.

It's a book about hope and anger, of restitution and somehow revenge. The characters perfectly embody the decaying world, the secrets and mysteries of the story.

The characters are indelibly drawn, both delicate and resolute. Jude’s quiet strength and Maeve’s utter devotion swirl together in an unforgettable story.

The following review will be posted on Goodreads on October 28, 2025, one week before the publishing date.

What is devotion without faith and what is faith without devotion?

Maeve was raised in the Abbey, where devout elders raised and cultivated saints—those who were born magically and whose magic grants them the ability to answer prayers—and iconographers—talented artists who painted the likeness of the saints. Since she began her training, Maeve had a lofty ambition to become the lead iconographer for the Abbey, driven by her own faith and reverence for the saints. However, when she is sent away by the Abbey to paint a new icon for Jude, an exiled saint, Maeve soon finds that everything she thought she knew about the world is not as it seems.

The Sacred Space Between was an exploration about faith, devotion, and the grim reality behind sainthood. When we think of saints, we think of the miracles that surround them and all the good that they represent, but rarely do we remember the hardships and horror that led to their sainthood. This book delves into the perspective of people who are disillusioned by religious institutions. Jude, Maeve, and the other children in the Abbey were all handpicked and groomed into serving the people and were exploited by the same people who were meant to nurture and protect them. This loss of faith has made some characters turn away from faith entirely, but it also allowed for other characters to re-evaluate what faith and devotion means to them. There’s a very poignant conversation that Maeve has with Felix, one of the saints, towards the end of the book that perfectly captures how I, and perhaps a lot of former/lapsed Catholics, feel about religion.

The entire concept surrounding sainthood and iconography was very unique and interesting. I do wish there was a little more worldbuilding and more time to build up the magical system. There were definitely some pacing issues, which took away from my enjoyment of the book, but it didn’t lessen the impact of the message.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVoyager for providing me with this ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for this ARC!!

This had a very interesting premise but was hindered by the major pacing issues. I really wanted to love this but I just think it was a mid read that I’ll have forgotten about next week.

The pacing issues sometimes caused the plot to take a backseat - and for the longest time, the characters just didn’t know… didn’t know what to do, didn’t know what to think, didn’t know what to try… which actually settled the characters as just okay for me. I wasn’t that invested in them and I’ll admit I found the dialogues a bit cringe (for lack of a better word) and their trust was given faster than I expected. The romance was mid as well - with tropes not being naturally woven in the story. The writing failed in keeping my interest and my mind kept wandering off.

Overall, I think this has potential. I don’t normally enjoy reading about religions but this was very well handled and brought some interesting philosophical outlook on certain topics.

Loved reading the spellbinding and mesmerizing paranormal story. Maeve is sent by the Abbey to paint a new icon of Jude, a saint, and to spy on him and report what she finds back to the Abbey, but as she gets to know Jude, she learns the nefarious ways of the Abbey, her feelings for Jude become stronger, and wonders how both Maeve and Jude can stop the Abbey. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written full of mystery and suspense, and a must read riveting romance story.

If you’ve been searching for a book that’s Pride & Prejudice 2005 with a dash of magic then this book is for you! The moors are so vividly described you can almost feel the fog swirling around your fingers. But Kalie Reid isn’t just great at atmosphere, her characters won my heart too! Jude’s wet cat energy had me swooning and I loved Maeve’s quiet strength and arc! Readers who enjoy gothic atmospheres, lush descriptions and religious criticism will gobble this up - I know I did!

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced readers copy .

The novel unfolds when Maeve, a devout iconographer bound to the Abbey, is assigned to paint the icon of the exiled Jude, a saint stripped from their post for harboring dangerous magic. Jude initially sees Maeve as an agent of the Abbey, but as they draw closer, he realizes she shares the same tainted power—and together, they may be the key to the Abbey’s downfall .

If you crave an atmospheric gothic romantasy with emotional heft, rich world-building, and magic-laced yearning—despite occasional pacing lulls—this book may enchant you.

4.5/5 stars

I love all things saints, relics, and iconography, so I was so excited to get my hands on an ARC of this book -- and I really enjoyed the ride that this novel took me on! It's such a fascinating mesh of a new fantasy world with more familiar and (somewhat) historical aspects of medieval sainthood. The atmosphere is haunting, the vibes are vibing, and the tension is simmmmering.

If you have been following my reviews for a while, then you know that I'm not really a romantasy fan; that was one of the reasons I was apprehensive of this novel. Often, I find that romantasy novels focus more on the romance than the fantasy, and the worldbuilding is often lacking. However, I didn't find that to be the case in this novel. There was a good amount of romance and plot, and I felt like the relationship progressed naturally. It wasn't too quick (because sometimes they're saying I love you 30% of the way in) and there was some good tension throughout it all.

I loved both Maeve and Jude, and their respective journeys throughout the novel. Both had some really good development and had pivotal moments toward the end. I liked the supporting characters as well, though the two mains took most of the spotlight.

The reason this isn't 5 stars for me is because the magic system is somewhat confusing. It's difficult to parse out what's going on in the beginning -- though I suspect that it's on purpose -- but even once you learn what's really going on, there's still a bit of haziness that didn't really make sense to me. I may be alone in this observation, but I'm not really even sure I full understand the relationship between all of the different aspects of magic in this world and how it works.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it!

Thank you so much to Little, Brown, and Company for the e-ARC of "The Sacred Space Between"!!

I went into this book knowing absolutely NOTHING about it. I hadn't heard of it before, I veeeeeerry briefly skimmed the synopsis that the publisher had sent me, and I didn't dive any deeper. That said, I was definitely surprised!

I can see the resemblances to "Divine Rivals" in the way that this story feels somewhat tragic (but with a good ending and no cliffhanger). The plot was very unique and I really enjoyed it; however, I would have liked a tad bit more world development. There were some things that were kind of thrown into the story that I personally didn't quite understand and, had I gotten a brief description somewhere in the first few chapters of the book, I think it would've helped me enjoy the story even more.

There is also the possibility that I just read this at a time where I wasn't in the right headspace for a fantasy novel, but nonetheless, I still really enjoyed this story. Maeve and Jude were such perfect soulmates and I was beyond thrilled to see them get their happy ending.

3.75 stars!!

This was such a delightful read!

The atmosphere of the story really pulled me in right at the beginning. It reminded me so much of the way that Adrienne Young is able to transport you to this place and just fully immerse you. The magic system itself probably could have used a little bit of fleshing out. But I think part of that is that our characters are figuring the magic system out as we are, so I was ok with not fully understanding what was going on. The world is so contained to only what our two main characters know, and you can really see that conveyed as the story progresses and they learn more about the world around them outside of the information they were raised on. The romance between our MCs was very sweet, you couldn't help but root for them as they figured out their feelings for each other while also dealing with past traumas and conflicting beliefs.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the eARC!

The atmosphere of this story is so great. The magic system needs a little more fleshing out, but I absolutely loved this!

4.5 stars ⭐

I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. I went into this completely and utterly blind, and the haunting beauty of this book delivered. The author fully immerses the reader from the very first page, with her deeply descriptive and emotional storytelling. Those who have struggled with discordant or unhealthy groups of organized religion will find themselves in the main characters of Maeve and Jude; especially as they grapple with their own identities outside of the toxic environment they grew in.