This was a quick read that really harkens back to the melodrama of the Vampire Diaries days. I think teens who enjoy fantasy worlds will enjoy dipping into this vampire story as it bleeds a little out of being strictly paranormal.

I love a deeply rich world with paranormal beings. However, I don’t enjoy opening a book and enduring major info dumps that are meant to introduce me to the world. I want to be taken through the world and see it unfold organically, not be hit over the head with a bunch of dry info.
I just could not find a way into this story.

The premise of this was intriguing. Nowadays, I'll give anything with vampires a shot because, well, I love vampires.

I requesting this book months ago but put it down and forgot why I put it down until I picked it back up again recently. And after reading a few pages I remembered why I stopped reading way back when.

Unfortunately, I had to dnf it. I didn't get far before the writing got to me. It has this push and pull effect where the character will be in the middle of an action followed by an exorbitant info dumping. I tried to read bit by bit for a few days but I can't do it. I've retained nothing and the more I read the more I am resenting this reading experience. The story and it's execution isn't for me.

And another note that isn't about the story itself but the author's note which states that the first book is a "morsel" for what's to come and basically to wait for book two is a wild thing to say before a reader has an opportunity to get into the story. Who says I'm gonna stick around for book one? And in this case I didn't.

I’ve been in my vampire era lately so of course I had to request this book. The cover is stunning and the premise was exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me. I struggled to get invested in the story and that really hindered my enjoyment of the book. I do think this will appeal to others, it just didn’t 100% work for me.

Patrice Caldwell’s *Where Shadows Meet* is a masterful blend of suspense, heart, and hauntingly beautiful prose. This captivating tale weaves elements of mystery, magic, and self-discovery into a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

Set in a world where shadows hold secrets and the line between light and dark is razor-thin, Caldwell introduces a protagonist whose journey is both deeply personal and universally resonant. The characters are richly drawn, each with their own motivations and secrets, making them feel fully alive and endlessly intriguing.

The atmospheric world-building is a standout, immersing readers in a setting that is as eerie as it is enchanting. Caldwell’s ability to balance tension with emotional depth keeps the pages turning, while the story’s themes of identity, resilience, and finding strength in unexpected places add layers of meaning.

For fans of stories that explore the magic hidden in the everyday and the courage it takes to face the unknown, *Where Shadows Meet* is an absolute must-read. Patrice Caldwell has crafted a tale as compelling as it is thought-provoking, solidifying her place as a master storyteller. I definitely recommend this darkly thrilling debut!

Unfortunately this book wasn't my cup of tea. I won't leave a review publicly anywhere as I think a lot of people will enjoy this book and I hate writing negative reviews.

It started out really fast paced and exciting, but the pace started to drag once the main characters were sent on their journey. I thought with the trauma at the beginning I would connect with them all (I usually love when the author hurts us/them) but I just didn't click with them this time around.

I really appreciate the chance to read this story and wish Patrice all the best in publication!!

Personally, I was lost through most of the first half of this book. There was too much thrown in right at the beginning. For the most part, it does start to smooth itself out in the second half, but I'd rather have my full investment and knowledge at the start.

I finished the book because I'm not a fan of DNF-ing. Some books are just more slowly read, and this one was only done as quickly as I did because I was on a time limit to complete it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Do you love vampire books? This is one of a kind! Such a unique take on vampire lore. I ate up every single word!

DNF at 40%. While I appreciated the premise of this book, the story just didn't deliver for me. I am sure there are many readers that will love this one. Thank you for the opportunity to read in advance.

The premise of this sounded so amazing there was no chance of me not picking it up. Gods, vampires, dueling romantic plot lines. An easy sell. Harder to sell was the actual execution. I found it super engaging at times and quite sluggish and even a bit confusing at others. I appreciate the idea and am optimistic that the second book will bring it all together. Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy

I quite enjoyed this sapphic fresh take on vampire lore, even if it borrows a bit from Greek Mythology. I enjoyed the feminist-normative world where women of color were seen as natural leaders and warriors. That said, the narrative is a tad confusing in the beginning, but as the story went on, the time split made more sense and converges to the story's climax. Pacing was a bit hit or miss, as was relationship/character development, but there was enough to keep me reading and I will gladly read the sequel. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I always appreciate a new idea of vampires and their lore. This take on it of a banished god, increasingly paranoid and mad, and the dangers of love and obsession was a great addition to my vampire book collection. The world building was detailed and all the characters drew me in. The pacing of the romance of the 'present day' characters felt a bit off, but not so much that I was transported out of the story. If you enjoy Tamora Peirce or the Noble Dead Saga by Barb and J.C. Hendee you might enjoy this series too.

I really loved this romantic, fun, and lush story. This book was on my highly anticipated list and I am so thrilled, not a piece of it dissapointed.

I honestly tried to pick this book up and read it over and over again. I just couldn't get into it. I first ally put it on my paused book list after a month. I hope I can pick this book up again in the near future to give it another shot. Right now I just wasn't captivated by the characters or the storyline. The blurb about the book sounds super interesting, but for me it's not delivered in a way that is catching my attention.

I have no submitted a review anywhere publicly because I do not feel it's right for me to leave a review on a book I haven't finished yet.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

I REALLY tried to love this- the premise sounds amazing. Sapphic Vampires, Gods, a war with humans.

Unfortunately, it felt like the world building and the massive cast of characters were not fully fleshed out. I knew when the book started by front loading information in the form of a giant family tree that it would be a difficult read. There was a massive amount of info-dumping and with the constant changing of timelines (the POV's switch from past to present) I couldn't keep up. This could be a "me problem".

I just kept wanting for more. More development of relationships and the characters (especially Favre) to be more interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this incredible book.
All I have to say is the vampire novel resurgence is the best thing that could have happened to me. I really enjoyed this book and SAPPHIC VAMPIRES?!?!? Best thing ever.

This was a really quick read. While it started out confusing trying to figure out the different characters and some of the time jumps, i fell into it and it flowed nicely. Im excited to get onto the next book whenever that is published. I wish we had a little more from Favre. But i loved our other two heroines.

I will be purchasing a physical copy as soon as it is released.

Between this, Immortal Dark, and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil I am SO please to say that VAMPIRE NOVELS ARE BACK BABY!!! Caldwell's sapphic vampire story--like all excellent vampire stories delves into the questions of sacrifice, but in a very new way. There is definitely a lot of information you need to digest, don't let that deter you! I promise it is all necessary and not only that, it's wonderful history to learn! I loved this one and I am just so excited for more!

A big thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I'm usually not the biggest fan of vampires, unless they're the ones in Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Cold Town. But these ones were *chef's kiss*.

Where Shadows Meet by Patrice Caldwell is a YA fantasy novel that is a queer vampire fantasy. Once long ago, a girl named Favre sacrificed her wings for love. Thana, the young goddess she so willingly gave them up for, sacrificed that same love for power. But everything has a cost. Favre never got over the loss of her wings. And Thana’s choices led to a life of eternal night, and later, their destruction. Favre has bided her time ever since, waiting for the chance to resurrect the girl she loves who turned her into the creature she hates. Now, a thousand years later, Leyla, the crown princess of the malichora—an ancient race that survives on human blood —must travel to the Island of the Dead when her best friend is captured during an attack on her nation’s capital. Along with Najja, a fierce, beautiful seer, and the last person she expected to help her, Leyla forges down a dangerous path, intent on saving her friend. But nothing is as it seems. The closer she gets to her goal, the more she risks awakening an ancient evil and destroying everything she holds dear. Set in the aftermath of a war between vampires, humans, and the gods that created them, Patrice Caldwell’s devastatingly romantic fantasy debut, Where Shadows Meet, centers the heart-wrenching pain of loss and the struggle of self-discovery to ask: do we choose our fates, or do our fates choose us?

The thing I loved most about this book, was the way Caldwell combined her love for mythology and vampires, which you don't often see in any sort of book, much less a romantic fantasy. I just thought this was utter perfection, in that the reader got a dichotomy of vampires and gods and the mortals trapped between them. It was really cool worldbuilding that I wish more authors would pursue.

Regardless, one little thing I had a problem with was the general pacing. I feel like the story slowed a little too often, or sped up to a pace that made it a little too hard to discern what was really happening. But that's really the only thing I had a complainant about.

Overall, this is a fantastic book. I loved every second of it, and I can't recommend it enough. Read this book now!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this incredible book.

I have been waiting for the book and was so excited to read it! Did not dis.

It was a fantastic read!!! Highly recommend this one!