Where Shadows Bloom
Fans of Allison Saft and Margaret Rogerson will be swept away into this lush and beguiling sapphic romantasy from the bestselling author of Flowerheart, Catherine Bakewell.
Ofelia has lived her life dreaming of entering Le Château Enchanté—the mysterious court of the gods-blessed King Léo, where the shadow monsters that roam Ofelia’s home never trespass.
Lope has lived her life as a knight, defending Ofelia and her home from Shadows even as she dreams of escaping with Ofelia by her side.
When the Shadows venture too close, Lope and Ofelia are thrust into a journey that will lead them to the heart of the darkness haunting their home: the dazzling and deceptive Château Enchanté itself.
A mesmerizing daydream with a subtle edge of darkness that will leave you utterly unable to put it down, Where Shadows Bloom pits terrifying monsters, chilling secrets, capricious gods, immortal kings, and death itself against the unstoppable love between two girls
Reviews
"In this serene tale of love and longing, Bakewell [...] conjures a beguiling setting filled with danger and desire. Though the backdrop bears resemblance to 17th-century Spain, and plotting draws loosely from the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, the result is uniquely magical, romantic, and poetic."
"The will-they, won’t-they romance told in alternating points of view is delightful, especially since queer romances are nothing taboo in this universe. Love blooms in this well-developed Sapphic high-fantasy adventure."Kirkus
"[The] sapphic romance is delightfully swoony, while the mystery at the heart of Le Château Enchanté is suitably dark, but with a well-earned happy ending."Booklist
“A magical blend of romance and whimsy, equal parts devastating and hopeful. With a touching, tender slow-burn romance at its core, WHERE SHADOWS BLOOM is a lovely and rich confection of a book.”Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A STUDY IN DROWNING
“Gorgeous, lyrical, and incredibly emotional, WHERE SHADOWS BLOOM is a story about love in all its forms—when it’s false, when it’s real, when it hurts, and when it heals. I cannot recommend this dark daydream of a novel highly enough.”Kamilah Cole, bestselling author of SO LET THEM BURN
"Where Shadows Bloom is utterly romantic. Every turn of the page brought me deeper into a world that felt like a carefully crafted fairytale. One filled with sharp shadows, long buried secrets, and stolen glances that set my heart ablaze."Angela Montoya, author of Sinner’s Isle
“Dark, enchanting and deeply romantic, Where Shadows Bloom is the sapphic teen fantasy I didn’t know I wanted! Catherine Bakewell deftly weaves a story filled with monsters and magic, and two brave girls who will remain with you long after you turn the last page.”Tanaz Bhathena, award-winning author of Hunted by the Sky and A Girl Like That
“The glittering balls of Bridgerton meet the dark mystique of magic in this enthralling sapphic love story. Catherine Bakewell’s lush and lyrical writing will sweep you away to the exquisite palace of Le Château, where dark shadows lurk just beneath the gilded surface. I was utterly enchanted!”Leslie Vedder, bestselling author of The Bone Spindle trilogy
"By turns delightful, decadent, and dangerous, Where Shadows Bloom is a captivating sapphic fantasy full of heart and hope. I read it in a breathless gallop and was still shocked by the twists at the end."Jamie Pacton, bestselling author of The Absinthe Underground
"Where Shadows Bloom is a lovely dream of a book! Ofelia and Lope's romance is enchanting and sweet from start to finish. Reading this story is like slipping on your favorite sweater and readers will love cozying up in this lush, vivid world."Erin Cotter, author of By Any Other Name and A Traitorous Heart
"Bakewell's rendition of a shadow-haunted Underworld gleams with hope and resilience. Where Shadows Bloom is an ode to the transformative power of stories and an utterly romantic love letter to their tellers."Isabel Agajanian, author of Modern Divination
“Brimming with magic and adventure, Where Shadows Bloom is a tender, romantic exploration of love in all its forms. The slowburn sapphic romance between poetic knight Lope and the endearing lady Ofelia offers readers a delicious, pining friends-to-lovers fairytale of first love in bloom. I was utterly charmed.”Adrienne Tooley, author of Sweet & Bitter Magic
"Storybook-sweet and achingly magical—a sapphic fairytale you will instantly fall for!"Kika Hatzopoulou, internationally bestselling author of Threads That Bind
"In Where Shadows Bloom, Catherine Bakewell opens a doorway into the vibrant, vicious magic of a Versailles-inspired palace and first love."Ivelisse Housman, author of the Unseelie Duology