Recommend if:
- you love a stoic lady knight
- you always believe the best in people
- want a combination of whimsy and heartache
- relive those first crush butterflies (and longing)

3.5/5 stars (rounded up for here)

This book walks the fine line between a whimsical fantasy world and some darker themes, perfectly matching the targeted age range. While the prose is lovely, I did sometimes find it very repetitive and just over the top. I think the characters are somewhere around 17 years old, but they read much younger - especially Ofelia. While I understand she is meant to be naive and sheltered, but it feels like too much. And while I absolutely remember the days of the dramatic teenage pining over someone (right down to the elaborate poetry), it got tedious to constantly read the inner monologues. Every time one of our POVs saw or thought of the other character, it was at least two paragraphs of how wonderful and perfect and lovely they were. For this reason, I found the book dragged quite a bit, and could have been like a third shorter. It also felt like the pining took away from the action, which wasn't always described very well, making it hard to follow the actual plots.

That said, by the end, the characters did grow on me (especially Lope), and I enjoyed the direction the story took in the last third of the book. I just wish we got there a little sooner.

I really enjoyed this book the atmosphere was so cozy and the lyrical writing was so beautiful and whimsical this book is full of mystery, monsters and a beautiful love between Lope and Ofelia.
Thank you NetGalley for an arc.

Looking for a super romantic and cozy fantasy?

We follow Ofelia on her quest to find her missing mother, on her way to find them sanctuary in the Castle. Although it seems almost unreal, it's the only place in the kingdom where the Shadows don't attack. But when her mother doesn't return, Ofelia worries. Accompanied by her faithful knight, Lope, they embark on a dangerous journey. But once they reach the castle, there is no trace of the Countess... Will the king, blessed by the gods, be able to help her or does he have dark secrets to hide? It will be released in early 2025!

This is the novel for you, if you like :
✨ cosy fantasy
🌸 sapphic romances
🏰 places full of mystery
🗡️ battles with evil monsters
Thank you @netgalley @catbake for this ARC

I absolutely adore Cat’s novels- Flowerheart left me with all the warm fuzzies, and this book is no different.🥰

From the very first page, you are wrapped into a cosy, whimsical world and an effortless charm that permeates every scene. The sprawling chateau, with its lush gardens and endless corridors, provides the perfect backdrop for a love story that’s as epic as it is tender.

The writing was beautiful and oh so magical, a delicate dance of light and dark. I definitely felt the ‘Bridgerton but make it dark’ vibes—it’s rich and mysterious. Every page had just the right touch of intrigue and romance to keep me utterly captivated.

But what truly stole my heart was the love between Ophelia and Lope. Their relationship is the beating heart of this book—every glance, every sigh, every stolen moment feels imbued with longing, sweetness, and a whole lot of swooning.
Can I just say… THE PINING. THE PINING. Perfection.

Ophelia, ever the radiant princess, is a bundle of innocence wrapped in layers of privilege. She’s somewhat naive, indulged and often spoiled by her royal status, yet her heart is pure, and she carries a lightness of spirit that seeks goodness in every shadow. She will leap before looking, her impulsive nature sometimes drawing her toward danger—but her infectious optimism means you can’t be mad at her, no matter what danger you end up in.

Lope, on the other hand, is a study in contrasts—stoic, serious, and protective, she weighs every decision with the gravitas of someone who has lived through loss and hardship. She’s all about duty, yet her love for Ophelia sparks poetry in the very depths of her soul, adding a layer of romantic tenderness that balances her strength and resolve. Those poetic moments were some of my favorites, each one charging the romance with a dreamy, otherworldly quality that mirrored the cosy atmosphere of the book.

An honorable mention goes to the Shadow King—his inquisitiveness and childlike curiosity about the world he never got to experience added so much depth to his character. Watching his journey unfold, with his growth and eventual trust, was incredibly satisfying and I really enjoyed his addition to the story, I wouldn’t have minded learning more about him at all.

This book had all the warmth, adventure, and swoon-worthy romance I was hoping for, and the intoxicating poetry made it utterly unforgettable.

✨ ARC Book Review ✨

Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell

STAR RATING: 5/5⭐️

REVIEW:
I was left swoony, kicking my feet, and cheering on Lope and Ofelia as they completed their journey through the secrets, the lies, and the shocking twists within the grand palace that Ofelia begged to call home. I was constantly on edge; who was telling the truth? Who knew what was actually happening? The deception by the King was like no other. Lope and Ofelia’s love? I adored them. Every bit.

PLATFORM: eBook/Kindle

Blending the whimsical vibes of Studio Ghibli with sapphic fantasy, Where Shadows Bloom is a captivating tale with pining romance and intrigue.

The main setting is a mysterious chateau, home to courtiers who live superficially and lavishly, including the immortal king. The story showcases a vibrant culture with an easy-going narrative that balances sweetness with a hint of darkness. The pacing is quick, and the transitions between the scenes are smooth.

The characters and their relationships are well-developed, and their struggle to communicate their true feelings adds an authentic layer of tension to the story.

The conclusion is satisfying, tying up all the plotlines with a neat bow.

This delightful YA fantasy is perfect for anyone who cherishes a blend of dark whimsy and sweet romance.

I received an ARC from HarperCollins, and I leave my review voluntarily. My review is my own thoughts and opinion. My experience in reading this story.

Where Shadows Bloom is a YA sapphic romantasy novel following Lady Ofelia and her knight Lope as they visit the mysterious Le Château Enchanté. Fleeing from the threat of Shadows in their homeland to seek refuge in Le Château, the girls must quickly determine who they can trust within the gods-blessed palace.
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A sapphic story about a lady and her knight with bits of Orpheus and Eurydice sprinkled in sounds like my dream story. The setting of this novel was gorgeous! I could vividly picture the beautiful palace and all its finery. Lope quickly became my favorite character. A loyal knight that is also a great poet? Say less! Her words were a beautiful addition to each chapter in her POV. Both POVs felt balanced and the POV switches felt appropriately timed. The nod to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice was one of my favorite aspects of the story. I almost wish it was introduced earlier in the story (though, as a fan of the original myth, I may be biased). The epilogue was also very sweet and a perfect end to the novel. While I really wanted to root for Lope and Ofelia, I wished that we could see their relationship grow a bit more before the mass amounts of mutual pining. Without seeing some of their relationship growth myself, I felt a bit disconnected from why they had such strong feelings for each other. I also felt that Ofelia was a bit too naive and trusting of people she just met. Her actions made her POV difficult to read at times. This sweet story of two girls finding their home in one another is great for readers looking for a sapphic fantasy with a glittering palace full of secrets.
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Thank you HarperCollins for providing this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell is one of my favorite books I've read this year. The story follows a classic fairy tale format of a young noble lady and her dutiful knight who are madly in love with each other and secretly pining away for a love that they believe cannot be as well as dreaming of a safer life together freed from the dangerous world in which they live. This danger takes the form of shadows, mysterious creatures made of smoke that lurk in the darkness and suck the very breath out of all who they happen upon, held at bay from wreaking even greater havoc only by knights and soldiers guarding various estates and villages. The poetic and romantic Lope is one such knight trained from when she was a young orphan to protect the estate of her mistress and her daughter, the imaginative and kind Ofelia. More than anything, Ofelia dreams of arriving at the fantastical Le Chateau Enchante, the dwelling of the immortal king blessed by the gods and the only place entirely free of the presence of shadows, entranced by the stories of balls and banquets she's heard from both her books and her mother. On one fateful night after Ofelia's mother failed to return from a visit to Le Chateau, she and Lope make the journey themselves in search of her and safety. Upon arriving however, they soon discover that not all that glitters is gold.

I really enjoyed both the incredibly soft and sweet romance that blooms between Ofelia and Lope, so full of devotion and need, as well as the mysteries and dark secrets of the world, especially those of the mysterious king blessed by the gods with eternal youth and gifted his wonderful palace of safety and prosperity. As the story progresses, the two heroines find themselves face to face with the court politics of pre-revolutionary France, strange disappearances of some of the king's closest courtiers, and even the gods themselves.

I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a soft and sweet sapphic fairy tale romance and loves mutual pining and royal/knight relationships.

Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Blakewell is a beautiful, lyrical ode to true love, friendship, and what it means to be human, to be alive.
In her newest magic-infused world, which is brimming with gold and luscious balls, fame, and power, two girls are set on a path to discover secrets hiding in the shadows, where monsters are real.
The author portrays the changing friendship, the blooming romantic feelings, and the sacrifice we make for our loved ones, so vividly! This novel sparks longing for more of, knowing more of the characters. Ofelia and Lope are challenged day after day at Le Château, as the truth unfolds. Their love is something that the novel focuses on and it drives the story, however, the family ties and the magic are essential parts of the plot, adding a layer of intrigue to it.
I highly recommend picking up this novel if you like knights, poetry, secrets, and a world touched by shadows.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc! I enjoyed this book. I thought that the romance was very sweet and loved that Ofelia and Lope had loved each other for such a long time. THE YEARNING!!!! It was such a sweet book. I will say though that I felt like the plot started immediately in the book. Like we jut hit the ground running and there was not a ton of exposition for the characters. We met them and they immediately headed off to find Ofelia's mom. All in all it was a great read.

listen, i tried to enjoy this book. i really did. i do not want to be a hater, but the hater life chose me. there was just something about this book that did not click with me. the premise sounded excellent, but the execution fell flat. like really flat. i did not enjoy the characters. Ofelia felt like a 10 year old trapped in a 17 year old. all of her decisions were so stupid. and Lope…did we really need to have a million of her poems? i think a few would have been fine but it felt excessive. overall, just not my vibe :(

I LOVED THIS BOOK.
It was very cozy, very nice, all the yearning and the amazing main characters, the twists and all the pacts made with gods, even with a sketchy one?

I recommend this book if
- You like knights, because you will be obsessed with Lope
- You like poetry, because you will be obsessed with Lope (what a great knight and poet in one)
- You like pretty gardens and castles
- You like yearning, especially between two girls who are obsessed with each other
- You like some suspense and action, like fights with shadowmonsters (and maybe some other evil stuff)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for accepting my request for an ACR of this book!
3.75/5
The way she looked at me, like she understood something, like she saw something in me that I did not—it made me burn.
For her, I would gladly let myself turn to ash.
So to start off I really enjoyed the world building of this story. The way there were the shadows and the gods, it felt familiar but different, having me excited to see what would happen next. On that note, I also enjoyed the villain, because I kind of knew it was them in the back of my mind but I was excited when they were revealed. I will say even though I enjoyed the story I felt like there were some things missing from the overall book, for instance, I had hoped there to be more romance scenes between Ofelia and Lope, and I wish there was more with the exploration of the castle and the people who worked there.

oh to be a knight yearning for her lady. i loved this. cat bakewell writes in the perfect niche of young adult fantasy for actual teenagers— her characters are always rich, her worlds are atmospheric, and i am in love with everything she writes.

“I want to look at you for a thousand years,” I said, my voice pinched. A grin spread across her normally solemn face. “Then I will live a thousand years for you.”

4.5 ⭐️ Thank you NetGallery for the eARC!

This book was so damn yummy. Although the story itself felt like a tale I’ve heard over and over, I just couldn’t put it down. Lope and Ofelia are so adorable and their pining the whole book was so good. I am so glad that their love story was stretched to the end; never a lull causing it to not be romantic. Bakewell has a way with words, and it really shined in this novel. I will not forget their love story too quickly.

The Shadow King… now this is a character I need more of. I feel that Bakewell could write a whole other story on the gods and how they came to be (please!!). The same goes to Carlos and Lope’s friendship. I wanted to see more of them. I just want more!

I’d say where this story falters is in the plot and some world building. As already mentioned, this felt like a tale I’ve heard before. Maybe that’s just the element of writing something fairytale-esc, but I was waiting for more uniqueness. Also the world building could have been better. I believe this is YA so it makes sense, (also it’s very character driven rather than plot driven) but it doesn’t stop me from the fact I wanted to know more. Especially about the gods and how the people function religiously.

Overall, very excellent book!! I want more of this world please!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc
Where Shadows Bloom is a fun and flowery fantasy romance novel following Ofelia and Lope; for anyone looking for a light-hearted romance novel set in a brightly colored fantasy world, Where Shadows Bloom is a perfect read where I am not one of those readers, I can see where others will enjoy Cathrine Bakewells latest novel.

This sapphic fantasy novel did a marvelous job balancing a truly sweet romance with action and excitement. It’s also always nice to see YA for teens at the younger end of the spectrum (14-16).

Thank you to Catherine Bakewell, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for early access to this book.

I am a huge Catherin Bakewell fan, so this review is probably a little biased. However, I was quickly sucked into the palace intrigue and grand atmosphere that Catherine has written.

Where Shadows Bloom is lush and vibrant with sapphic longing dripping from the pages. The pace is quick and tight with twists and turns that I thought were satisfying and fun.

The story follows the tale of young Ofelia, a nieve noblewoman trapped at her county estate, and her brave knight Lupe, Who spends her days writing poetry and her nights slaying shadow creatures. The young love angst is real but it adds a very rich layer to an intriguing plot line featuring greed, deception, and the gods themselves.

I would have appreciated some slower moments that would have allowed for the characters to truly understand or feel the consequences of their actions. But, honestly, it's a beautiful book about the complexities of power and obligation.

If you liked Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek, you will probably really love this.

Syrupy sweet and light, like a confection. Bakewell's prose is such a pleasure to read, truly. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance!

4.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
This was such a sweet and cozy book. Filled with monsters, mystery, gods, and a love between two incredible characters. Lope and Ofelia had such a sweet relationship; poetry at its finest. Readers will be enchanted with this read!