A ghost and a vampire fall in love and the result is one of the most tender, succinct, and heartbreaking explorations of grief in a story that I have ever read. It has been a long time since I last read a book that made me feel so much emotion. A Tale for the Shadows explores the different ways in which grief affects those around us-and how to cope with it. This was an instant 5 star read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars

I loved this story. I was pulled in by the magic realism of the world. The characters were so loveable. The FMC knew her flaws and she changed for the better. She is ghost and she falls in love with a vampire. It's not traditional, but it's a beautiful companionship. He has a cat too. What's not to like?

I enjoyed the adventure they took together, to be together forever. The side characters were well executed also. It gave me Nettle & Bone vibes. So if you're into T. Kingfishers work, you might like this read. An unlikely found family who have each other's backs.

There is no spice in this, but it didn't need it. There was plenty of emotion, especially towards the end. I shed a couple of tears.

This is a story of people getting a second chance after death. It explores grief, death, love and loss. I would say it's focus is more aligned to this, than it is of fantasy. It's worth noting before reading. It is more character driven than plot.

Trigger warnings include but aren't limited to, death, death of a child, gore, blood, terminal illness, murder, gaslighting and grief.

Enjoy

Senka was murdered by the man she loved and trapped as a spirit. Until Silas, a vampire, burned down her cabin and she was freed. They pursue justice - aided by a cat...

A terrific supernatural fantasy. Love the ghost and vampire interwine. It's romantic, dark and magical.
A very refreshing story.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it

A ghost, a vampire and their adorable cat fighting shitty vampires and humans (alongside discussions about grief) is not a book I thought I needed to read but I definitely liked the experience.

I do have to preface it by saying that this is one of those books that you have to suspend your disbelief for and just let the theme of the book get to you. There were parts of the plot that felt a bit too convenient in favour of the main characters but by that point, I was invested in them enough to take it for what it is. It would have been better for the main story being told to have maybe another nuanced subplot or have the two main plot threads interweave a bit more rather than have them solved one after the other.

I did enjoy the characters of Senka and Silas and the overarching plot outside of the story (iykyk). But Luna and Shadow definitely my favourites.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of A Tale for the Shadows.

This book is such a refreshing and masterfully woven story. Joyce Sherry takes familiar supernatural lore and creates something that feels entirely new. The dynamic between a murdered ghost and a weary vampire is the perfect engine for a story that is equal parts a quest for justice, a dark romance, and a tale of a truly unique found family. The narrative is sharp, witty, and full of heart, avoiding tired tropes and instead giving us characters who feel complex and lived-in, even in their afterlives. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention Luna, a cat who proves to be one of the story's most vital and endearing characters. If you love supernatural stories with genuine emotional weight, compelling mysteries, and characters you will fiercely root for, you need to read this.

A Tale for the Shadows by Joyce Sherry is such a good story. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.