Dance of the Copsewood

by K. V. Meadows

Born for the stage. Lured by the forest.

Cadence Lavigne has been the principal ballerina for Footlights Theater Group for fifteen years, but at age 30, mysterious symptoms lead to an epic collapse on stage. In the spotlighted aftermath, her expertly crafted mask begins to crumble alongside the career she’s dedicated her life to. All the while, her old dreams of mystical creatures and darkness are resurfacing.

Addax Nightingale has spent most of his adulthood running from the past and the shadow in his nightmares. Cursed to live a loveless life, he’s just returned from his travels—again—to his coffee shop where he imbues drinks with his healing magic. He tells himself everything will be fine…except the sentient cottage he’s been avoiding is calling to him more insistently than ever before.

When Cadence’s best friend convinces her to take a hiatus at her family’s home, impossible things begin unfolding. Objects move on their own, wild critters wander inside, and the forest calls to her, luring her in more each day. Her health continues to decline, complicated by the avoidant, secretive man who winds up at the cottage with her. Together, they must learn to open their hearts again, or let the shadows of the past destroy them.

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2026

About the author

K. V. Meadows is the proud wife and the mother of two young children. With both children on the Autism Spectrum, and one with multiple disabilities, she longed to see more disability inclusion in fantasy.

When she's not poring over words, plotting, or spending hours upon hours making playlists and Pinterest boards for multiple interests, K.V. enjoy spending time with her family, knitting, crocheting, sewing, and playing video games.

Reviews

[Christina Kearney · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

This is a beautiful story. It's written in a way that you can visualize everything as you are sitting in the room with them.

An amazing, healing love story.

Take me to the cottage and I want my own little furry sidekick.

[KMart Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Representation: disability, chronic illness, mental health, previous trauma, BIPOC

This is a cozy love story with exceptional inclusion. It wraps you in soft magic and gentle romance. I cried more than once because I was so emotionally invested.

When she starts to have health symptoms during her ballet performance, Cadence spirals through doctors who can’t explain what’s wrong with her or just assume that she is stressed. That feeling of knowing something is off in your body while the system shrugs at you can be so frustrating, demoralizing, and deeply real, and the book doesn’t flinch away from it. Cadence’s emotional arc hit me just as hard as her physical one. Watching her fight for her chosen career and then have to face the reality that it may be taken from her (through no fault or choice of her own) felt painful. I loved how the story reframes that loss: not as failure, but as something that can lead to a new beginning.

Add in layered mental health rep, previous trauma, and chronic illness themes, and suddenly this “cozy” romance is doing a lot of heavy emotional lifting. This isn’t my usual genre; it’s contemporary romcom at heart, complete with slightly corny jokes, but it works because it feels unscripted. The humor is goofy and charming. These people feel like people you could actually know. The magic is subtle and charming: sentient cottages, whispering forests, healing coffee shops. Cottage witch type magic. It blends naturally with the "real world", small-town setting. And a special love for River. Absolute ride-or-die perfection. The kind of best friend everyone deserves—loud, loyal, and unashamedly herself.

This book is for anyone who’s ever had their body betray them, their life plans unravel, or their identity ripped away from something they loved. It’s tender, painful, hopeful, and very sincere. Cozy, but not shallow.

Kudos to the author for making this book so special. Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Lindsey_reads_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is more than just tropes and hooks to draw you in. This story is one of healing, empathy and facing fear on a level that felt raw and deeply personal. I hope my words can do it justice, because I read most of it through tear filled eyes. This story has the heartbeat of the author, it's been a while since I’ve read something with so much emotion. It will stay in my heart and live rent free in my mind for a very long time.

K.V. Meadows has an incredible talent of writing with such emotional intensity and depth that her characters felt real inside of me, it pulled at my own brokenness and strength. It’s a wonderful cozy, witchy fantasy romance, but for me its so much more. But beyond the healing and comfort trope, I enjoyed the cottage/forest setting, magic, banter and the slow burn connection and romance between Cadence and Dax. THE SLOW BURN WAS PERFECT!! When I say I love a slow burn romance, this is what I am talking about!

~"And all I ever wanted was for-" "Someone to love you," said Dax~
Cadence and Dax's journey of healing from their past, tore open on my heart for them. I found Cadence so relatable in the moments with her fear of being unlovable and her drive for perfection. Both of them facing the same Shadow that has haunted their nightmares just unfolded with such raw emotion ... can you tell I needed this book!

~More then ever, she know how it felt to glare at herself in the mirror and see a husk of a person - a wisp, a memory.~
The moments like this one when Cadence's body is failing and she is fighting just to stand, she found herself supported by her friend.
~“I will never say I told you so in the midst of your crisis,” River said, still holding on to her.~
We all need to be a friend like River is to Cadence. If more people were like her, the world would be a better place.

This was an amazing reading experience and it will stay with me long after that final chapter. OMG that ending, its an HEA but I had a good cry closing my kindle.

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a Shadow lurking in the dark. A Shadow made of our deepest, darkest fears. Of our broken hopes. Of desires never fulfilled. Of shattered dreams. It lingers in the dark, eating away at our life force. It feeds on our doubts. An almost physical manifestation of our soul's unspoken words. So, how do we fight it? How do we chase it away?

It may not come easily. And it may not come quickly. It may force us to question our life choices thus far. It may break us and remake us time after time after time. But it will also forge us anew. The Shadow lingers, but it doesn't have to linger forever.

Cadence and Dax both had their own Shadows following them. Whispering in their ears. Taunting them. Hurting them. Luring them into the dark. And they succeeded, for a while. Sometimes darkness beckons us. But then, a spark alights. Small, timid at first. Then it roars into life, casting away the dark and bringing forth the light. The light of our own path. All the good and the bad that make us who we are. All the hurt, the pain, the suffering. All the emotions, both positive and negative. We are the sum of our experiences.

Honestly, I still struggle to express the amount of love I have for this story and these characters. They have touched my soul, and I can feel tears welling up again just thinking about Cadence and Dax. They both deserve the world. They deserve to love and feel loved. They deserve a HEA of their own, one that feels right to them. HEAs come in different shapes and forms, but they all matter just the same. Especially when accompanied by a sentient cottage, a fox companion, and a family of your own choosing, promising a lifetime of everything.

Thank you, K.V., for sharing this story with us and for having me on your team. It's an honor I will never stop cherishing.

[Sonderous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cadence Lavigne is accustomed to her world spinning on its axis… or rather, she is accustomed to spinning along an axis as the world watches with bated breath. She is a dancer of renown in her prime. Then, during the last show of an impressive season, she collapses center-stage. Plagued by a mysterious illness that brings more questions than answers, Cadence finds herself whisked away from the city and placed in the care of her best friend at the familial cottage. There, she meets Addax Nightingale, a man as seemingly cursed and peculiar as her. Everyone says she needs rest, but that becomes hard to find when the shadows of her past wait at the forest’s edge.

Can I be brutally honest? I don't remember where or even when I signed up to be an ARC reader for this novel. It sort of just appeared one day. But, by the first line I was hooked. Cadence’s struggles were familiar as were Addax. In fact, I felt as though parts of my life were in the echoes of theirs. The sum of their parts – the chronic pain and the curse of love – made their story a cathartic read. Especially because of turmoil consuming my own life. I came across this message of hope that did not dismiss the grief that persists in the shadows of hope’s light. Something that reminded me that even dark days were a step forward.

This novel was a beautiful exploration of grief, fear, and love wrapped up in magical realism, a genre I really adore. It was a reminder that we need magic in this world. Even if it is only for a moment. Even if it's on our worst day. I will be watching for the next book; this time I'll be prepared when the book appears in my library. Because some part of me knew I would need this story, and K.V. Meadows truly delivered something wonderful.

[Jadesbooklore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful story, filled with pain, new love and finding yourself.

While the story has magical aspects, the deeper meaning is very real. Candace and Dax have shadows that feed off their fear and the more they feed it the more it grows.

While the story is cozy with its sentient cottage, a healing coffee shop and a fox in a sweater there is also mental illness, childhood trauma, and disability.

Candace, our FMC, is career driven as a ballerina for a dance company. As someone who used to dance the time and energy you have to put into your body in order to make it into a Company is life altering. She has poured her life into this career and has that ripped away from her as she collapses on stage one night during her performance. Going through many doctors visits and test they can’t find a medical reason for what is happening. The fear Candace must have had to find out that what she loves most in the world she may have to give up. Candace’s character shows that even the strongest people on the outside are quietly falling apart within.

I loved the sibling dynamic of Dax and River. I imagine how hard it was for River while Dax kept pushing her away when all she does is want to help. Dax is punishing himself for being a burden on people so he instead just removes himself from the equation.

Dax is probably one of the most awkward characters ever and I LOVE it! His inner monologues where he’s telling himself to shut up because he’s rambling to Candace is absolutely adorable. And who wouldn’t want a cinnamon roll coffee shop owner who can help you physically feel improved by a drink and play the piano for you😍

I’m so grateful to have received this eARC from the author and look forward to reading more of her work.

[kym ✨ the midnight review · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐¼

Dance of the Copsewood drew me in right away with a blurb promising magical realism, cozy romance, witchy vibes and a sentient cottage. The opening scene alone was enough to catch my interest and lead me to wonder about the rest of the story.

Cadence, our main character, is a ballerina who has headlined for years for a large dance company. That is, until she suffers a medical episode onstage and has to take time away. Her annoyingly supportive friend whisks her away to a magical cottage while they get a second medical opinion, and it's here that Cadence begins to face old traumas, adjust to her new life with neurological disability, and… fall for her best friend's brother?

K.V. Meadows summed up this story really well in her acknowledgements: "To my husband who said that I couldn’t write a rom-com … well, you were right haha (rude!)" Dance of the Copsewood may be a cosy romance, but it's inherently a story of trauma, healing, grueling recovery, and hope.

The usage of a magical Shadow creature as both a literal monster and the embodiment of trauma and fear was fascinating, and I loved the mysteriousness of the cottage and woodland creatures. River's blasé attitude about magic and the strange happenings kept me smiling, and so did her complete lack of surprise or annoyance about her brother and Cadence hitting it off.

Dance of the Copsewood was a fun read on the surface, but it packed a good emotional punch as well. I recommend it for snarky banter and one liners, mysterious magic, quirky characters, and of course the tiny fox familiar.

⭐⭐⭐⭐¼

Thank you K.V. Meadows for the advance readers copy 💖

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this slow-burn cozy romance. A lot of my favorite things were represented: strong friendships, the ballet, and a dark forest, and the magical realism was excellent with a sentient cottage and magical creatures. Bramble was the best; I adored the little fox. Both MCs face some mental and healthcare issues of that sort, which balanced out the fantastical elements and made things more realistic. Cadence's struggle was very relatable and made her a more sympathetic character. Then there's Dax. Other characters describe him as a cinnamon roll, and he truly is. I liked Dax's caring personality. He, himself, has been through a lot and still struggles, but he makes people's lives better even if it's just for a few moments.


The dual storyline was initially a bit confusing. I wasn't sure how it fit, but eventually I worked it out. The story was good, albeit a little slow-going, but it was worth the read. I especially enjoyed all the magical elements and the unexpected connections. This romance was very sweet. I enjoyed seeing the connection Cadence and Dax were building. If soulmates exist in this world, then they definitely are. Dance of the Copsewood was a great read for contemporary readers who like a touch of whimsy.

[Eren Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the free copy of the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

This was actually really unexpected for me even though I've read her other books. It surpassed my expectation for sure! I loved the story and watching as we got the glimpses from everyone, as well as watching as every little thing started to click. It's a sorrowful tale but it's also filled with beauty. I can't say I know how the characters feel in the situations, but I can relate in another way. I know what it's like to be down on myself especially with something that I cannot change. I loved the mixture of real world and magic in this story as well which gave it it's own sense of wonder and beauty between the darkness.

The author does such a fantastic job with conveying emotion and really dragging you into the story and I just love the time I take to sink into her books. The characters even though magical are relatable, they have real issues and overcome obstacles. Much like we, ourselves do. This is another book that I'll keep recommending! It's also easily a book that will be placed on my shelf alongside the other 2.

[Meg Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book has absolutley made my year.

First of all the world KV has crafted alonggside the modern day setting was SO good and stunning!! It fit really well and I was at times, wishing it was real too.
Cadence, i adored her, a very well written complex character who is trying okay!! Her journey with her disability and career was incredibly well written and thismeant a lot.It was really authentic and i did sob at timesokay. The disability rep for both characters was so well written and it makes me so SO happy to read about in fantasy books, with a HEA
Dax, what a M A N. Im obsessed with this cinnamon roll coffee shop owner!! He plays the piano AND is adorably awkward too.
The multiple POV had me hooked, it is a slow burn but when i say it is 10000% worth it!!!! Addax is at the top of my fav fantasy MMCs after this book.
a moment for cadences best friend River, she is 100%there always, for cadence and i loved her. Everyone needs a river i loved her so much she is supportive, chill, a lot chaotic and a fab friend

[April Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

🦊 I received an advanced copy of this ebook from the author 🦊

While this is both a romance (happily ever after guaranteed), and paranormal (because ✨️magic✨️), it's really a story about healing and self-acceptance. Our FMC Cadence is center stage, after her heartbreaking fall from grace as a ballerina.

Case in point, our MCs don't meet until around page 175, of just a bit over 400. Cadence's journey is about so much more than just falling in love. So if you're looking for a "burn and yearn" romance, this might not be for you.

If you're willing to be patient, though, it's very sweet. Cadence and Dax have matching wounds (metaphorically speaking) and they're sweet and tender together.

As always with K.V. Meadows' work, there's disability representation. And no, the magic doesn't just *fix* it, in order for the characters to find happiness. They find happiness alongside their disabilities.

Bonus points for the cutest magical emotional support animal ever, Bramble the fox. ❤️

[Ellie Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disability representation and trauma healing wrapped into an adorable cosy romance package!

Dance of the Copsewood has everything I love from magical cosy romance genre. There’s a semi-sentient cottage, an adorable familiar, and a healing coffee shop, however, this book breaks from its warm-and-fuzzy façade frequently to explore multiple forms of trauma and its affects on the mind and body.

K.V. Meadows always excels in her ability to write inclusivity realistically. Our MCs spend much of the book struggling to come to terms with sudden disabilities. The emotions expressed are so real and raw, they are not glossed over. Disability is not used as a convenient plot point that magically disappears with a spell or potion. They are also not solely defined by their disabilities. They are multifaceted and complex.

This book feels like receiving a warm hug after a good cry.

Still not convinced? There’s a broody musician with a dimple and an adorable fox spirit familiar. Need I say more?

[Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. Just wow at this book. the setting, the characters, the pain, the healing, the magic. y'all, this book has it all and more.

we've got a perfectionist ballet dancer that is barely holding herself together while her life/world/soul falls apart and her free spirit and witchy vibes best friend tries to be there for her. there's also a dual timeline thing happening that gets connected at the end with some wild truths and revelations.

oh and let's add in a magical house? and hobgoblins and brownies and a forest that only reveals itself to people with the Sight/Gift?

and then we get hit with some mental health and physical health issues from ALL the characters. my heart hurt at so many different points but it was worth it. absolutely worth it.

I implore you all to read this book and love it as much as I do. and then let's hope for a book 2 with River as the focus.

[Zephyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhh this book. I had the opportunity to alpha read this book over nine months ago and my goodness I loved it so much even then. It only got better from there, and now, it's everything. I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! The character arcs, the slooooow burn romance, the mystery, the best friend, the sentient cottage, the matchmaker at the coffee shop. EVERYTHING.
The writing is beautiful. The story is beautiful. Dax is beautiful. Siiiiiiiigh.
This book is dark and yet somehow it's cozy and familiar, making me want to read it again and again. Please if you're considering this book, get it. Read it. Love it.

*I received an advanced copy of this book. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Soha Amer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels like stepping into a quiet, strange forest where something is always watching — not in a scary way, but in a deeply emotional, almost magical way.

What I really loved is how it blends real-life struggles with something otherworldly. Cadence’s story — a ballerina losing control over her body and identity — feels raw and grounded, while the forest and the cottage bring in this eerie, almost healing magic.

Addax was such an interesting character too. There’s this emotional distance around him that slowly unravels, and the connection between him and Cadence builds in a way that feels gentle but heavy at the same time.

It’s not a fast, action-packed book — it’s more about atmosphere, healing, and letting people in, which made it hit deeper.

[aricka]

I am beyond grateful to have had the chance to ARC read this Beautiful story. This is my first introduction to K.V. Meadows and I'm so glad it was. This isn't usually my go to read but it stole my heart. It was complicated yet Beautiful with a splash of magic. So beautifully written. I'm in love with the characters and really hope their stories continue. I know there's a special sister/best friend I'm dying to have her own story. I can definitely say this won't be my last K.V. Meadows book I'm officially hooked. Thank you for allowing me a sneak peek into this world you created. I hope it won't be the last time I get to visit the magical place.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one felt really soft and almost a little magical in a quiet way. It’s the kind of story you just sink into, where everything feels calm but still emotional underneath.

The atmosphere stood out the most to me. It’s very cozy and immersive, like you can picture everything clearly and just exist in that space with the characters. It gave the whole story a really comforting feel.

The connection between the characters leans more on healing and growth, which made it feel genuine and easy to connect with. It’s not rushed or overwhelming, just steady and heartfelt.

Overall this was a really beautiful, calming read that I enjoyed from start to finish.

[Darque Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brownies and hobgoblins and foxes, oh my. This was breathtaking. I absolutely loved it! 5 stars, hands down, and oh so satisfying!

So, bear with my wild, perimenopausal brain, but as I was reading I felt like if John Hughes directed a modern, very loose retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream with Center Stage and Jim Henson/80's/90's style fantasy inspiration and Labyrinth and Willow vibes, this would be it. In all the best ways possible. Dance of the Copsewood was stunning and beautiful.

The characters were dynamic, perfectly imperfect, and loveable. I loved their personalities. I loved their story arcs. And I loved the disability rep portrayed in two of them.

This was a slow burn with a dreamy atmosphere. It was cozy, sweet and thoroughly enjoyable. Just like dancing in the rain.

So glad I requested an arc from the author, and I can't wait to read more from her!

[Megan Hupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

KV Meadows always puts so much heart into her books and I love it. Her representation of disability across her books allows the reader to really see the resilience and determination. This book is a lot more cozy than her other books and isn’t typically what I would pick up for reading but her writing style always keeps me engaged along with the characters. Cadence and Dax are the sweetest and I was rooting for them from the beginning. River is my favorite character with all of her positive energy and quirks.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It definitely had all the cozy fantasy vibes you could want.
Cadence's journey in this book was a hard one and but she persevered. Her life changed but I loved the way her story ended. It shows that everything doesn't have to work out exactly how we want it to still be happy and have a good and beautiful life.
Dax and Cadence built something so real and genuine together. They were kindred souls that connected to support and love each other. It was beautiful.

Thank you to the author K.V. Meadows for the eARC!

[N.N. Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this as an ARC for K.V. Meadows. Dance of the Copsewood is a cozy little romantasy following Cadence, a ballerina who is suddenly struck with a mysterious illness and finds solace in Addax, a coffee store barista with secrets. This book is a journey of love, healing, and magic — perfect for lovers of the cottagecore aesthetic and a romance that makes your heart bleed in the best way.

[Platypus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was an interesting one. In a sense there was no outright plot but more of a journey with the characters if that makes sense.

You were experiencing the pains and struggles that come with so many different aspects that life can throw at you with these characters. In the end learning along side them what growth looks like and how healing can also look like.

[TiffanyMarieTicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 What a beautiful dark cosy book! This is a story that will break you along side the FMC but give you hope by the end. This has such a good disability rep! There’s a little of everything in here. I loved how protective the MMC Dax is. The little fox and the sentient cottage really brought the cozy setting to life. So glad I was able to get the eARC, thank you so much KV!

“To never forget that light shone brightest in the dark.”

“Never let them see you cry,” he said. “Only let them see you fly.”

[Oley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming soon

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Dance of the Copsewood! It was such an amazing read! it was warm, cozy and the romance was such a good slow burn! Cadence, the FMC is one of my favorites.

[Brooklyn L. Wolves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this book, it was beautifully written and the character development was good. I did enjoy the disability rep throughout the book. I just don’t believe I was it’s intended target audience.

[Shandie McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received from Author. I really enjoyed this book. It started a little slowly but I absolutely LOVED how all the storylines came together by the end of the book.

[Laura McCloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this book! KV Meadows once again shines with her ability to include representation into a story so effortlessly you don’t even think twice about it. At its heart, Dance of the Copsewood is a story of overcoming personal challenges, both physically and mentally. Cadence needs to come to grips with the unknowns of her failing body. Enter Dax and now you’ve got someone who has overcome physical setbacks, but is one who has to constantly check in to not let his mental state go.

Yes, you’ll find magic in this story, but I find the magic to be with the strength of the characters and their battles with adversity. Add in a strong connection to friends as family and a loving connection that was meant to be and I was hooked the whole way through!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was emotional & real with disability rep and references to the characters’ traumatic experiences, while still having fun and cozy vibes. A blend of modern world and light magic, with self-discovery at the forefront! Very much enjoyed! Really wanting a cottage getaway now.

Most accurate rating would be between 4.25-4.5! I don’t love star reviews and rounding down felt inappropriate.

Also thank you to the author K.V. for the ARC!