I love a good gothic fantasy which is what initially drew me to this novel. The story is set in a gothic world where religion is ruled by saints and icons that people pray to for various reasons. It is dual POV following the two main characters, Jude and Maeve. Jude is a saint on the outs while Maeve is an iconographer sent to paint him. Overall, this book was just overwhelming okay. The story was predictable and the pacing was really off at times. I think the story had good bones, but could have done with more editing as some chapters felt repetitive in the middle. I also wished that the magic system was more fleshed out. The magic had the makings of something original, but ultimately lacked clarity and left me feeling murky about the details. The writing was very atmospheric and I'm interested to see what Reid writes in the future as she continues to hone her craft

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

"The Sacred Space Between" by Kalie Reid is a fantasy romance that follows two young people as they struggle against a religious order called The Abbey. This order has been manipulating the memories of its congregation and peoples by stealing memories of its "saints."

It's been such a long time since a romantasy (I think it's fair to call this that) has caught my attention and held it. I really enjoyed reading the different perspectives from Jude and Maeve and I found both of them to be really engaging protagonists. AND THE YEARNING. Oh my god, Reid does yearning so damn well. I don't often care for romances but Reid really sold it. You have these two lonely souls who are desperate for some kind of connection but deny themselves it and when they stop denying, oh god. My heart. I also just thought the world Reid built was really interesting. I liked the idea of a religious organization just controlling people through memory magic and paintings.

I really enjoyed this and can't wait to see more from Reid.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!*

There were elements of this book I loved - the rich descriptions gave everything texture and made the story feel so tangible. However I did feel overwhelmed by the amount of flowery, overly-embellished prose and became confused at what was being described, and meaning got lost in translation. Definitely could have been more concise at times - I’m not a huge fan of when writers use descriptive prose in place of actual plot/story.

I also wanted more context surrounding ‘the Abbey’ - does this religion have a name? How and why did this organization start? I had a lot of questions about the history of the Abbey that went unanswered.

Additionally, the magic system felt very vague and the mechanics of it were totally lost on me. I think that could have been fleshed out further and made more straightforward - the vagueness of it made me feel like it was just an after thought, which isn’t what I want to feel when I’m reading something labeled ‘fantasy.’

Overall, this story had good bones, I just think the execution would have been made better with more attention to detail and more time to flesh out the magic system, pacing, and wording.

There were really good ideas here that, for me, fell apart in execution. the plot seemed to jolt forward with characters acting as required to make it happen. The magic too was revealed in fits and starts and I never fully understood why the people in power were using it as they did (in a practical sense, what did they get out of it?) or what it would look like if magic users weren't controlled. I'd read other books by Kalie Reid, and I found some of the conflicting feelings on religion were compelling, but it never cohered for me like I wanted.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review! When I heard about an author's debut romance taking place on gloomy moors with comparisons to A Study in Drowning and Divine Rivals, I broke my ankle running to request an ARC. I do see similarities, but this book left me wanting.

This story is told in a dual POV between Jude, an exiled Saint living in isolation, and Maeve, a devout Abbey acolyte who is sent to paint and spy on him. Jude shuns any religious iconography and Maeve is determined to understand why. But as she begins to learn more about Jude, it also unravels everything she thinks she knows about her faith. Kalie Reid does an excellent job personifying the setting; I loved her description of the blustery moors. This is where her writing shines; its very immersive (and you see the comparisons to Ava Reid). There is tension, hidden motivations, and secret feelings. This is such a cool concept and has all the trappings of a five star book...so why didn't it work for me?

My biggest complaint is that this book is too long. The plot really seemed to drag at times. I think this could have been remedied with some better editing; lots of passages were repetitive. The pacing also felt a bit off to me. There are some very slow (and long-winded) scenes at Jude's house, but the book's final conflict felt rushed. And then after the conflict, the book has several unnecessary filler chapters of fluff (read: the author wanted to have a smutty scene, and this is where it fit in best). Because of the length and pace, I found myself bored and had a hard time getting into the story.

Another thing that missed the mark for me was the magic system. It's very unique and a cool concept, but it felt loosely defined. There were lots of components to the magic and it felt difficult to keep everything straight (e.g. relics, icons, gold glitter, prayers, mirrors, scarves, books, paints, hair, memory loss). It just felt murky. Again, I think it could have worked better with more editing.

My last gripe is that I called at least two of the twists. The foreshadowing was pretty heavy handed and it wasn't hard to guess how things were going to shake out.

All of that to say, I did like this book! I just didn't love it. I think Reid is a great writer and shows a lot of promise for this being her debut. The story was full of beautiful prose and gives the reader lots to consider. In the Acknowledgements, Reid states a main theme of the story is deconstructing long-held beliefs. She does not shy away from exploring the atrocities of organized religion in the name of something 'good'. I love a book that makes you think, and there's definitely lots to ponder here (e.g. does it matter if answered prayers are 'real'? Or is it the feeling that comes after praying that's important? How can we separate beliefs from institutions? etc).

If you like atmospheric writing, definitely consider adding this to your fall TBR! The Sacred Space Between releases 11/4/25.

Book Trigger Warnings: Self-Mutilation, Child Abuse, Religious Trauma

I really enjoyed this one. With high stakes and impossible choices, they must decide how they will survive. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this e-arc.

Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy. This book is so beautiful. The writing was amazing. I love how we got 2 POVs and could see the struggle between the characters internally and externally. The magic system in this book was also really cool and unique. The ending was satisfying and I enjoyed all the interconnnected ways it wrapped up. 4.5 stars

2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I think the author accomplished what she set out to do: explore the themes of religious trauma and deconstruction through the medium of romantic angst and gothic vibes. I have no doubt that there will be readers who swoon over this story for these exact reasons. That being said, it did not work for me.

To be fair, the prose was gorgeous, as was the gothic setting. But the world building was so thin it might as well be translucent. The pacing dragged in quite a few places (for me), and the MC's seemed to make decisions that had more to do with the plot than anything else.

Overall, I think the author is extremely talented, and the story will appeal to those who prefer vibes over clarity (no shade to those that do---neither is better or worse than the other, it's just a matter of taste.) I feel bad rating it only 2.5 stars, but I also feel like honest feedback will help this book find its audience, so I will share my thoughts as I truly feel them.

As always, thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Are you joking!! What!! I think this may be my new obsession??

This writing is absolutely beautiful and captivating.

The storyline is abundantly unique to anything I’ve ever read.

The romance.. I adored it.

The glittering gold magic??? Yes please it was all so vivid in my head.
Absolutely gorgeous novel. Thank you so so much for allowing me to read it early!!

Jude, an exiled Saint and Maeve, a devout iconographer, come together to overthrow an ever-controlling system that harnesses, misuses and abuses their memories. This is an enduring love story that must transcend memory in order to survive.

This was such a twisted story with unreliable characters at every turn but I absolutely loved the path it wound!

The pacing is slow building but ramps up heavily at the end, great read! 4/5 thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC.

What an unforgettable debut! Kalie Reid has crafted a stunningly original and beautifully written book. From the layered world-building to the prose, every element felt intentional and beautifully executed. The magic system was unlike anything I’ve read before, immersive yet easy to digest.
And the romance… absolutely breathtaking. The chemistry between the main characters was electric, the tension was practically leaping off the page. I fell in love with both protagonists, and their relationship was written with such tenderness and care. The dual point of view made the story even more compelling! Most of the supporting characters were equally well-developed, each adding to the story. But what truly set this book apart for me was its exploration of religious doubt and the critique of organized religion. Reid approaches these themes with striking empathy and explores how you can follow something your whole life just to find out how morally corrupt it is.
This book was a complete joy to read, and I already know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. I can’t wait to see what Kalie Reid writes next—whatever it is, I’ll be first in line.

The world building in this book is a 10/10 no notes, Vivid descriptions that make you feel like you are right there,
The story is everything I expected and more. Kalie is an auto-buy from this one alone.

Out November 4th, 2025
The Sacred Space Between by Kalie Reid is a lush, gothic romantasy that beckons readers into a windswept world of saints, secrets, and slow-burning tension. Set on the moors of a decaying estate, the story follows Maeve, a devout iconographer sent to paint the image of Jude—an exiled saint with dangerous magic and a grudge against the Abbey that cast him out. What begins as a mission steeped in suspicion turns into a haunting unraveling of shared magic, forbidden truths, and a love that could either redeem or destroy them both. Reid’s prose is vivid and lyrical, steeped in atmosphere and aching emotion, perfect for fans of Divine Rivals and A Study in Drowning.

Why buy it? Because it’s not just a story—it’s a spiritual reckoning wrapped in velvet shadows and candlelight. Reid crafts a world where memory is weaponized, devotion is dangerous, and love is a rebellion against the divine. With themes of martyrdom, identity, and the cost of faith, The Sacred Space Between offers a deeply romantic and emotionally resonant experience that lingers like incense in a cathedral. If you crave stories that feel like whispered prayers and forbidden longing, this debut deserves a sacred space on your shelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVoyager for this fun ARC!

This book was incredible and exactly what I expected. Atmospheric setting, beautiful prose, tension and yearning that makes you want to keep flipping the pages. While the pacing was a bit slow at times, the book was very enjoyable. If you want a dark standalone fantasy book with unique magic and sweeping romance, this is for you!

I’ve been following Kalie on TikTok for a while and absolutely love her book recommendations, so I was thrilled when I got approved for this ARC, and even more thrilled to find that her taste translates so beautifully into her own writing. The Sacred Space Between is exactly the kind of book I crave: lush, romantic, and achingly slow-burn in a way that actually earns it.

The prose is gorgeous, it is lyrical without ever tipping excessively into purple, to the point I felt like I was physically in the wind-swept moors and candlelit sanctuaries. The central romance between Jude, the exiled saint, and Maeve, the devout iconographer sent to paint him, unfolds with exquisite patience and tension. Their relationship feels inevitable yet hard-won, full of quiet yearning and sharp edges.

The worldbuilding is equally compelling, between the Abbey’s memory magic and the bleak isolation of exile. There's so much to love here. If you enjoy reading about romantic tension, institutional rot, and characters grappling with faith, identity, and freedom, please pick this one up as soon as you can. It is a new all time favorite for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperVoyager, for the ARC.

I just know this book is going to be a hit. I know I'm going to see it as the monthly special edition pick for a bunch of my favorite subscriptions, and I am HERE FOR IT.

I literally did not know what to expect and went in having only read a portion of the book summary, and I'm really glad I went in partially blind. The first thing that took my breath away was the world-building. Kalie Reid's descriptive language was like smooth butter and a warm hug. I felt like I was on the moors living it too. It was beautifully done. I appreciate the handling of those tougher themes, and I appreciate that we see our characters grow and experience so much emotional depth. I felt hopeful after reading this, and I didn't want it to end.

Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this. Unfortunately, at 20% I'm failing to find anything interesting or compelling about the plot, characters or writing. I may return to this later, but for now I'm going to call it.

I really enjoyed this one. With high stakes and impossible choices, they must decide how they will survive, and if they would truly be better together than apart

All the yearning here! Main characters were fantastically developed, magic system was intriguing. Pacing dropped a bit in the middle and twists weren’t surprising, but the star of the story was really meant to be the romance amid the religious trauma

I’m still getting used to the fantasy genre and pushing myself to explore it more. This title was a perfect fit, and I enjoyed the story. I feel Reid did the characters and plot justice. Her writing flowed well. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.