Over the past couple of years, romantasy has really taken off, thanks at least in part to the influence of social media. A blend of traditional romance, with a strong focus on the sort of chivalry seen in stories of knights of old, and fantasy, I’ve been – as I so often am – a bit late to the party, but now that I’ve arrived, I have to say I’m having a blast. In this new title from author Catherine Bakewell, we are given a captivating and thrilling dual narrative – one filled with many of the tropes that fans of the genre would expect to encounter and one that will have readers rooting for a happy ever after for its two main characters as they fight to acknowledge their love for one another – a love that is threatened by the very many obstacles that fate throws in their way. For Ofelia, the lure of life without the constant threat of the Shadows is too great and when we meet her, she is scheming to run away to Le Château – the only place where they do not roam. Having collected together what she considers to be essential items for her adventure, she sneaks out of the manor house home she shares with her mother to meet Lope, her protector and dearest friend, who is as yet oblivious to Ofelia’s plans. Insistent on heading to her intended destination, despite her friend’s warnings of the dangers, the two girls inevitably encounter a Shadow that attacks them and after Lope has saved her life, Ofelia is forced to admit defeat and they return home. When her mother learns of what Ofelia has done, she sets out to visit Le Château herself, telling her daughter that it has been built by the gods for the king, confirming that it is free of the monsters that haunt the rest of the kingdom and promising to return very soon. But when she fails to do so, a restless Ofelia once again determines to make the journey there and together with Lope soon finds herself on the way. Reaching Le Château, Ofelia is soon swept away by her extravagant surroundings and the opulent lifestyle of those who live there, while Lope very quickly becomes suspicious that all is not as it appears to be. With the two girls now drifting apart from one another, will Lope be able to uncover the truth behind their seemingly perfect new surroundings and can she do so in time to save the girl she loves? The old expression opposites attract has never been more true than it is here, with our two protagonists being like the metaphorical chalk and cheese. Ofelia is someone who enjoys the finer things in life and enjoys pretty dresses and fine jewellery, whereas Lope feels more comfortable in trousers and has no interest in being made to look more beautiful through having her hair dressed or having servants at her beck and call. When they arrive at Le Château, the two of them see their new surroundings through very different eyes, which quickly leads to them growing more distant from one another and we can only watch and wait to see just how things will play out for them. As 21st Century readers, we may despair at Ofelia’s initially appearing to be the sort of stereotypical heroine from times past – someone in need of protection and possible rescuing – and, as a result, someone that we might not aspire to be, but this is – obviously – a work of fiction and there will be many picking this up who will either relish the thought of that special someone being there to keep them safe from harm or, like Lope, being that protector. I loved both girls and really enjoyed the time that I spent in their company. A brilliant introduction to romantasy for those as yet unfamiliar with it or a brilliant addition to the collection of those who are already fans, this is a great read for its target audience and I will be keeping an eye out from more novels from the author in the future.

This is the kind of young adult book that I wanted when I was younger. The characters make mistakes but learn from them; the plot is mysterious and engaging; and the world building is brilliantly done. This book is plenty sweet, with a darker undertone and has lots of yearning between two well matched characters. The knight and her lady is one of my favourite pairings in books, and I’m so glad that it’s reappearing in 2025. Lope is serious, where Ofelia is whimsical. And Ofelia is determined, when Lope is shortsighted. I love how balanced their relationship is, and the way that they work together. It was incredibly touching whenever they defended each other, especially in tense situations. The wider plot of this book is incredibly well written, with the right amount of mystery and intrigue. The blend of high society culture, and the fear surrounding the shadows made a fast paced book, and it all fits together beautifully. I loved every minute of this, and I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to read it early! Thank you to the publisher and author for this early copy! All thoughts are my own!

‘Where Shadows Bloom’ is a wonderful new addition to the teen fantasy genre, full of mystery and delightful sapphic romance. The story follows the characters Ofelia and Lope on their journey to Château Enchanté in order to find Ofelia’s mother and escape the violent Shadows - although they quickly realise not all is as it seems and danger is still lurking close by. I really enjoyed this book. The fast-paced, action-full chapters make this an easily accessible book for younger readers seeking to adventure into the romantasy genre, whilst not straying too far above their age-range content wise. Catherine Bakewell is definitely an author to look out for and I hope to see more from her in the future!