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A review by justabookishreader
Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Catherine Bakewell does something that is already wonderful and beautiful on its own with this book. One thing that I've felt to be missing in most fantasy romance novels is that when a major character has a point of view and a particular hobby, there is no special way of seeing the world due to that hobby. I don't know if Cat and I ever talked about this or if she just magically read my mind, but she did exactly what I would ask any author ever to do. She describes certain things in painter's vocabulary, other's more poetically - its, well, poetic.
I know that those of us in the bookish community mostly agree that there is no such thing as a new idea anymore. I would agree with that statement as far as themes and messaging go, but not necessarily the plots or the characters, etc. I bring this up to say that I apparently have "a type". Simply put, Where Shadows Bloom is a story about what it means to be human. Closer to the end we even see a human that doesn't act like a human and a being that yearns to be human (would love a short story about this part).
Catherine explores different types of love, from motherly, to best friends and to true love. While at the same time delving into one of my favorite discussions ever - immortality and invincibility. My only critique would be that I thought there was going to be an enchantment on the castle or Ofelia at some point for reasons. But at the same time I do see that it is more of an isolation progression and is actually... almost cult like? Though I do love the idea of an enchantment so maybe I'll have to steal that for my own writings.
This was one of those books where I ran out of tabs due to all the descriptions I wanted to remember, and of those mysteries that I felt so incredibly smart for figuring most of it out on my own, before the reveal. With as few spoilers as possible, I will end on this - the thing with the mirror oddly enough gives "Melody in the mirror" from Barbie and the Diamond Castle vibes.
Well done Cat, this was amazing - I can't wait to see what you do next!
I know that those of us in the bookish community mostly agree that there is no such thing as a new idea anymore. I would agree with that statement as far as themes and messaging go, but not necessarily the plots or the characters, etc. I bring this up to say that I apparently have "a type". Simply put, Where Shadows Bloom is a story about what it means to be human. Closer to the end we even see a human that doesn't act like a human and a being that yearns to be human (would love a short story about this part).
Catherine explores different types of love, from motherly, to best friends and to true love. While at the same time delving into one of my favorite discussions ever - immortality and invincibility. My only critique would be that I thought there was going to be an enchantment on the castle or Ofelia at some point for reasons. But at the same time I do see that it is more of an isolation progression and is actually... almost cult like? Though I do love the idea of an enchantment so maybe I'll have to steal that for my own writings.
This was one of those books where I ran out of tabs due to all the descriptions I wanted to remember, and of those mysteries that I felt so incredibly smart for figuring most of it out on my own, before the reveal. With as few spoilers as possible, I will end on this - the thing with the mirror oddly enough gives "Melody in the mirror" from Barbie and the Diamond Castle vibes.
Well done Cat, this was amazing - I can't wait to see what you do next!