Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell

Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell (432 Pages)

Summary: 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.

Opinion: This is a teen sapphic romance and fantasy read. The book starts slow, but picks up very quickly once the main characters reach the chateau. Lope is my favorite character, but even Ofelia who at first is naive and spoiled goes on a great character arc throughout the course of this book. The romance between the two of them is so sweet to see especially at the end of the book. Getting to see how they respect each other even in hard situations is satisfying. The book gave me Shadow and Bones vibes mixed with Once Upon a Time TV show vibes. Would recommend.