Copperstitched

by Kalie Reid

Kalie Reid returns with this fresh new fantasy, intricately woven with a magic completely its own.

Praise for Kalie Reid

“Both sweeping and intimate, The Sacred Space Between is a tender, melancholic portrait of two lost souls rediscovering their faith through love. A debut not to be missed' Ava Reid, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

'Written in prose as vivid as stained glass and heady as incense, The Sacred Space Between is a meditation on loneliness, doubt, and love that heals—and a study in tortured pining. Don’t miss it!' Allison Saft, No.1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dark and Drowning Tide

'An achingly tender and masterful romantic fantasy debut. Reid has crafted a beautiful study in what it is to love ourselves and others while navigating a dangerous and uncertain world. With pages that brim with courage, yearning, and atmosphere, The Sacred Space Between is a story you won't soon forget' Kalie Cassidy, author of In the Veins of the Drowning

'Reid’s delicate prose spins a deeply romantic story of forgiveness, devotion, and belonging. The Sacred Space Between is at times achingly honest, at times beautifully heartbreaking, and compelling from start to finish. A stunning debut' V.L. Bovalino, author of The Second Death of Locke

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Adult, Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 14, 2027

About the author

Kalie Reid grew up just outside Portland, Oregon, before moving across the world to Northern Ireland, where she’s lived for the past decade. Alongside her husband and cat, she currently lives in Belfast where she is forever dreaming of her debut romantic fantasy novel about an exiled saint and the devout iconographer sent to paint him. You can find Kalie on TikTok @KalieReads

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saskia: how am i supposed to defend myself when he keeps showing up at my workshop in linen shirts???? and making me precious items??? and coming to my aid when i didn’t ask it of him?

Kalie Reid deftly unspools her next fantasy standalone: a tale of greed, poison, and the true cost of unchecked power. Copperstitched crests the pinnacle of gritty, atmospheric romantic fantasy, the kind that slivers deep within the skin to settle and meddle with the mind at odd hours. In a city rife with secrets, divided loyalties, and fractured alliances, two childhood friends investigate a plot that has the potential to throw their already unstable world into upheaval, all while avoiding the greater elephant in the room—romantic tension—and laying waste to their relationship to broach something more. Reid further hones her capacity for nuanced fantasy of this scope, grasping the threads of a myriad of tones and even genres to build out a complex world where magic meets industry. This book manages to give a historical romance feel while delivering Reid’s larger political scheme captured within a fantasy setting. When duo Saskia and Nicholas are not off chasing down their next lead or trekking through the inverted city, they are held captive within a classic friends to lovers narrative: one of torn duties and desires, and, of course, yearning. Copperstitched is everything I have come to associate with Kalie Reid. It’s yearning, it’s immersive, and it packs a punch. This is fantasy stitched with a careful hand, where every detail has been pored over and rendered with an exactitude that would leave even the most skilled coppersmith floored. Thank the fates we get to exist at the same time that Kalie Reid is creating.

Read my review

Here for the kalie reid brand of yearning. more than a little obsessed with it

Bookstagram | Blog

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to see more standalones in fantasy where you're left very satisfied with just one book, like this one. I could see this as a series but I'm just as pleased with a standalone.

Saskia stands to inherit her father's title of Guildmaster when he dies, but she cannot marry or the title passes to her husband, setting up some plausible tension for her and the only person she's ever cared for in that way, her best friend Nicholas. Her father's been ill as Saskia tries to work out a murder and where poisoned copper has been coming from. But it turns into much more than a twisty murder mystery as her relationship with Nicholas heats up.

I loved the magic system in this and found the idea of mapmaking, copper, metalworking, etc., imbued with magical compulsions, quite fascinating. I did wish we saw more of the magic system in action instead of the thorny maze of guild politics, which lost me at times.

The characters were also well done, I was invested in the tortured pining between Saskia and Nicholas. There was a strong ensemble cast despite being just their two POVs.

I did like how Nicholas was bi, good bi rep, though I didn't feel his character got as fleshed out as Saskia's was. I wanted to see him as more than a shadow tagging along to the greater woman, and I didn't always get that till the end. I wanted more backstory on him.

I would also call this more of a romantic fantasy than a romantasy. The romantic arc often got swamped by complicated guild politics that I didn't follow very well until the end, so I think romantasy fans may be disappointed by this one. It was also slow paced for all the twists and turns.

I loved Saskia as a character, how she was spoiled and privileged but not ignorant or insensitive, and how she stayed resilient and wily from beginning to end. I enjoyed seeing her come out of the shadow of her father to come into her own as a professional and as a formidable woman.

And the author's writing style was so good, lush and evocative.

I usually don't care for the friends to lovers trope because the spark between them is usually forced or fake to me. This one was proper slow burn that sold me on those two. The yearning in this was a bit heavy handed at times, I am not a fan of sappy angst, but overall I loved it.

What's a little yearning between friends when there's a murder to be solved and a revolution to start?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[ReneeReads · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Say yes to standalone fantasy books! I was very intrigued by the synopsis of this book and the magic system was really neat. I think Saskia, the FMC really comes out of her shell in the latter half of the book and you can see her character growth which is nice. I also think Nicholas was written well and I enjoyed getting to know him as well. I am a sucker for a friends to lovers romance so right off the bat I felt like this book was going to be great. All of that being said, I enjoyed my time with this book and I think there are some very interesting ideas here but where this book fell a little short for me was the explanation of the magic system and how it all worked. The maps were very cool and I loved the idea that they take something from the creator but I was still left a little confused on how it all worked.

All in all though, I thought this was a great book and I wouldn't mind reading more in this world.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[♡]

DNF at 15%…

we‘re kinda just thrown into the story with barely any explanation at all. it felt like it was too early and like there’s too many confusing things going on. i’m not interested whatsoever in continuing to read because i don’t think i can become friends with the writing style or muster up any curiosity for what’s going on.

[Samantha Post · Rating 2 out of 5]

The potential is here, and the story has a good foundation: the premise, the characters, their dynamics and tension, and the world are intriguing. However, the execution was weak; it read like it could have used one more draft. The pacing was off, and certain plot threads ended unaddressed. The part I struggled with the most was the worldbuilding, and because is fundamental to the understanding of the story, the story itself struggled. The world concept was rich and layered, but underdeveloped and under-explained. Usually I’m an advocate for less explaining, but in this case it would have helped ground all the elements of the story. Overall, it was intriguing and full of good ideas (it even had a friends to lovers relationship that I was interested in, which is hard to do), but needed a little more development.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Hannah Rowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5 stars! This was a really mixed bag for me. There were elements I really enjoyed about the story. The setting takes place in historic Amsterdam, which was a win for me. The magic system is very unique and fascinating. There are different guilds and copper is used to hone one’s magic/craft. However, I never felt like I fully got the grasp on the world and its magic. I was intrigued by it, but it was never fully clear to me. This deterred my enjoyment. Had the world building and magic system been a little clearer, I would’ve likely enjoyed it more. The romance is very much a friends to lovers/will they won’t they and is what drove me to keep reading. The yearning is off the charts. I’ve read this author’s previous work, so I know from experience that she writes yearning very well. The mystery got complicated at times and a little confusing. However, it is also what drove me to keep reading. There is a feminist undertone to the story that I enjoyed. Overall, this was just okay for me. However, I loved The Sacred Space Between so I will continue to have my eye on this author!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*

[reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!! 4⭐️!!!

Kalie Reid’s debut, the sacred space between, was my first read of the year and also a four star. I actually really love her writing, stories, and characters. Her writing is so so beautiful, descriptive, and enchanting without trying to hard. She sets the scene perfectly, establishes the world and aesthetic to fit exactly how I imagined it, and connects me to the characters in such unique ways. I absolutely loved Saskia in this book, she was so so deep and the author did a great job with her and Nicholas. All of Kalie Reid’s worlds are so well-thought out and beautiful, with unique magic systems I’ve never seen in books before!! Im certainly a fan. However in both of her books there’s been a little something missing, primarily around the climax. When we reach there it feels a little messier than the rest of the book and I start to lose interest the further we reach there. I think it just comes with practice and more books, and I love her writing and storytelling so much that it would never stop me from reading her books!! I think the climax and the build-up to them could be cleaned up and once that’s complete, she would be a consistent 5 star author for me!!

If you’re wondering if TSSB and Copperstitched are worth it, they completely are. I think Kalie Reid stands out in a crowded genre and crowded market. If you’re looking for beautiful writing, layered characters, and unique worlds and magic systems, this is the author for you!!!

[Salima || salimateez · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a particular feeling evoked by Kalie’s writing that I’ve never experienced with any other author’s work before (any other media now that I think about it) I don’t think I could ever justly articulate it tbh it’s one of those feelings where you have to be there, and you just hope that you’ll get to experience it again. Her words are incredibly beautiful and the character work is— and this is where I lose the ability to string words in any intelligent or coherent way— something you won’t get anywhere else from anyone else. What a joy and an honour to be able to read her stories!!

full RTC !!

Ty Kalie & LB for the arc xx

[Risa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down

The potential was there. But the execution fell flat.

It just felt like I was missing something—almost like this was a second book in a series, and I was missing the setup of the first book. (I think in large part because there are many elements of this book—from the world, to the magic system, to certain conversations—that felt convoluted or confusing.)

The story really picked up after the first third; before that, there were instances where I was ready to DNF, as I felt that certain elements hadn’t been explained very well (and the list kept growing longer). I still felt that way as I kept reading, but there were elements of the mystery that kept me intrigued enough to ignore the parts that needed to be fleshed out more.

This plot has a lot of twists and turns, a lot of which I found to be compelling. However, I don’t feel like the author gave these moments enough time to breathe; it felt like we just move on without letting the shock or reveal really hit us in our feels (which is a shame because the potential with some of these twists are so good).

I liked Saskia and Nicholas’ friends-to-lovers romance. However, I’m not sure their romantic ARC really grew other than them both deciding to eventually say how they feel about each other. (And I would argue that with Nicholas, it wasn’t even intentional, necessarily.) They were also sort of forced into a relationship (which is mentioned in the spoiler section); so it almost felt like the plot was forcing them together, as opposed to the characters growing into their own and working through their feelings.

While I don’t regret reading this book, I’m bummed it didn’t really live up to my expectations.


NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:

- To be honest, this opening chapter feels like it’s at least one or two (or three) chapters too early. It’s interesting since Nicholas and Saskia are talking about a dead body found by her home… but I’m not grounded in this world at all, and I haven’t been introduced to these characters, so it feels like we’re starting in the wrong place, imo.

- Also, given the synopsis for this book centers around Saskia, I’m surprised that the first two chapters are from Nicholas’ POV.

- I do like that we see from the opening chapter how Nicholas has a secret crush on Saskia, who just sees him as a brother.


- The copper earrings that Nicholas made for Saskia are cool, with how they quiet background noise. And I’m sure they’ll come in handy later… But him giving them to her just seems so random.

- I understand that the man died near her home, but I don’t understand Saskia’s obsession with finding out who killed him. Curiosity is one thing; but I don’t understand her devout motivation here.

- I do empathize with Saskia in that she’s doing her father’s work without the recognition, and she’d likely be looked down upon anyway because she’s a woman.

- I’m not entirely sure how the magical maps work. I guess it depends? The examples given in ch5 were of what sounded like an ordinary map that gets someone to the sea faster, a map that leads to a magical coffee shop, and a map that leads to a vault with magical rubies. And then there’s apparently the possibly of creating a map that will make the user the only person in the city? I’m not sure. (Also, with the vault map for example, does it magically get you into the vault, or just tell you where it is?)

- Oh wait… So Saskia does have a crush on Nicholas, but she’s not letting herself distracted by romance because of her duties. (And she’s doesn’t want to marry because then her husband will be guild master.)
- I am cheering for her to be the first female guild master.

- I like that Nicholas is pansexual, and it sucks that the church and the guilds won’t accept queer relationships.

- 14% in (page 50 of eARC): Saskia’s ill father has been poisoned. My printer suspect is Saskia’s aunt’s husband Adriaan

- So what I’ve gathered thus far is iron magical materials are explosive? Like the coin under her father’s tongue?

- Uh, why did Nicholas steal that merchant guild medallion from his brothers years ago? It feels like a plot convenience for him to sneak into this meeting.

- So Saskia’s uncle wants to become the next Copper Minister… go figure.

- CH10: Maybe it’s just me, but I have no idea what was just discussed in Saskia’s meeting with those two men in that gentlemen’s parlor. I know Hans and Nicholas’ names were mentioned, as was Floris (her father)… but it wasn’t clear at all to me what these men wanted from Saskia.

- (Also, this is a late comment, but I’m still not sure who Hans is? I actually had to stop and go back and search her name to see… like she’s obviously a conwoman or sorts who does shady dealings, and Nicholas has known her for five years… is that all we know about her?)

- The slipping the note into a loose stone in the cathedral was cool (and I appreciate them getting that information from Nicholas’ uncle Isaak).

- Oh, so Johannes, Nicholas’ ex, works with him at the metal guild. Good to know. I’m glad we saw him on page, after the way Saskia was bad mouthing him.

- I liked the detail about how it costs Saskia something physical when she makes a map—like a sunburn when making a map through the desert. It sounds like these maps can get your places quicker through magic somehow, I guess. I’m still struggling to visualize how that would work, but it’s cool in concept.

- I’m not surprised that Saskia’s letter was opened. I have a feeling that her aunt was involved somehow either way her father’s poisoning, and/or tied to the Coppersmiths someway.

- ch21: I had to reread the opening pages multiple times. It wasn’t clear to me at first whether Nicholas was there or not; I guess he’s there but invisible / hidden in the shadows using copper?

- I really do like the copper magic (and the issue with how it’ll combine with iron). But when it comes to Nicholas, it feels like he can do and create anything with copper, to the point where it’s coming across as a plot convenience.

- (Also, I’m now 33% into the book, and I feel like we’ve gotten way more Nicholas chapters than Saskia chapters. That’s not a bad thing, but it does make the description on the back of the book somewhat misleading, as so far this feels more like Nicholas’ book, even if the main plot revolves around Saskia’s poisoned father. I thought Saskia was going to be the main focus, given the blurb.)

- Of course the Coppersmiths want Saskia to make a map of the inverted city, in exchange for an antidote for her father. What I find interesting though is the Coppersmiths are mad at Floris for sharing some secret(s) with people outside the guilds it sounds like… so as punishment, they want his daughter to create a map that is essentially a secret too.

- Also, I think I understand the inverted city map now. I had to go back and reread it a couple times (at 33%), when Saskia talks to Schaal. But it sounds like with this map, it will make a magical version of Hilverhelm that will lead you to the one object you wish to find (which the cartographer wills the map to do whilst creating it). That wasn’t clear in all the other times the map to the Inverted City was mentioned earlier on; but I got it now. (And Schaal wants Saskia to find an all-healing plant, a cure for magical copper.)

- I like Isaak as a character, but I’m beginning to suspect that he’s in on this mystery too. Like how he knew that they should put the note for the Coppersmiths in the wall… yes he’s leads the merchants guild or whatever, but also the way Isaak warned Nicholas about the Coopersmiths makes me think he’s in on it somehow. (Like the Coppersmiths wanting to sell to the merchants, which eh signed off on.)

- Interesting that there’s some illness with the copper going around, and Nicholas may have it. (And maybe the plant that can cure Saskia’s father could cure him too.)

- Oh, the puzzle box matching the wallpaper in her father’s workshop is interesting. I actually liked that little trick.

- I will say that now I’m on ch27, 41% in, and the story finally started getting interesting around the 33% mark. I still have questions about certain things, but I’m not so inclined to DNF like I was while reading the first quarter or so.

- 42%: Um okay… so now we have Anne and Johannes coming to help Saskia it seems. Nicholas brought them here to help with the map I think? That’s fine… but Saskia says she knows Anne as well as Nicholas, and yet this is the first we’re hearing of her?

- Also, more importantly, the way Anne was introduced was terrible—I don’t know who she is. Sometime later we find out she’s an apothecary, but it’s like the way Hans was just thrown into the story, without any proper introduction (and we the reader have no idea who they are). This is written in third person, so the author can afford to give us brief context as to who these characters are when they show up on page!

- I appreciate why Saskia doesn’t want to marry. But I was really confused when she basically said that if she married, Nicholas will be sent back to the farms and can’t work for the guilds anymore (so she’ll never see him again). I don’t understand what one has to do with the other?

- 47%: Oh, I mean yeah…I just assumed Saskia’s father had been poisoned with copper this whole time, no? I’m surprised Nicholas is just realizing that possibility now.

- What was the point of Anna rushing to Saskia’s house to catch her before she leaves, to tell her that she looked into a secret thing, only to tell her she’ll fill her in once she gets home? That made no darn sense at all. (Even if someone was watching them in the window—probably the aunt—they could’ve done somewhere else private to talk.)

- So Saskia and Nicholas write being chased by someone in a copper mask. I assume it’s not Schaal though, because doesn’t he want them to go into the Inverted City to get the plant?

- Ah, so Hans owns a market that sells copper masks. We finally have clarity one who she is exactly.

- 54%: Watch Saskia’s aunt be the Copperguild master after all this time…. (especially since they keep mentioned that Schaal is most likely a guy. I bet the copper mask can change someone’s appearance entirely, so that’s a woman can look like a man. (I think it’s her aunt or Hans.)

- I wish the magic system was better explained in regards to cartography. But I’m guessing the reason Nicholas can be in the Inverted City with Saskia is because he helped make the map? So Anna would’ve Anna to as well?

- What was the point of Saskia using her blood (iron) on copper to test if copper is reactionary in the Inverted City? Like why did she need to gather that information? (It honestly just read to me like an excuse for Saskia to save Nicholas’ life after he almost drowned, give him CPR, and remind herself how much he means to her. So it’s not really plot relevant.)

- Their brief trip to the Inverted City felt random and hard to visualize, to be honest.

- 59%: While it’s unfortunate that Anne died, I don’t really feel any emotion towards her because she was introduced in the story so late (and we were just told that she’s Saskia’s best friend rather than seeing it over the course of several chapters).
- It was already obvious to me that Anne was murdered before Saskia even mentioned it at the end of the chapter; and given Aunt Kathrjin wound up with the package addressed to Saskia (that she couldn’t open), found on Anne’s body, I’m guessing the aunt has something to do with Anne’s murder.

- 63%: And then Kathrjin finds Saskia with Nicholas in an alley and says how concerned she was about her winding up like Anne—which implies she knows Anne didn’t die from heart disease. Yep, she’s guilty of something.

- So Saskia and Nicholas were caught in bed together, and now her aunt is making them marry? That feels… strange to me, give Joe her aunt dislikes Nicholas. (Like I guess it’s a religious thing, maybe? Idk, I don’t see the need for them to wed now.)

- 67%: Wait—they have the antidote already? Sid they retrieve it during their trip to the Inverted City? That wasn’t clear at all!!!

- I still don’t understand why Nicholas would be kicked out of his guild if anyone find out about his “scandalous” night with Saskia (even though they didn’t do anything)? Like I know Kathrjin is religious, but the text made it seem like she’s the only one. So if there’s some ties between the guilds and the church, that was not clear or explained well at all.

- Well, the pacing has certainly picked up. We went from Nicholas and Saskia being married, to Floris being dead. The timing is too perfect for me; I bet the aunt has him murdered.

- oh yeah—and then boom Nicholas is arrested (this pacing is breakneck speed now). Yeah, it sounds like Kathrijn had Saskia’s satchel with the empty vial and Nicholas’ things in her possession, and thus wanted them to get married so she could order her brother killed (via the doctor), and then have Nicholas arrested and framed. She’s definitely in on it.

- (I will say, from them being caught in bed together to Nicholas being arrested, it all felt very rushed.)

- I do like that Saskia went to Hans for help (to get the truth pin), in a sort of truce between the women.

- I like the magical objects introduced in this book. What I don’t like, however, is that Nicholas always seems to have access to the exact magical object that he or Saskia need in order to succeed. (Like the compass, in this particular instance.) It would’ve been more compelling if we saw Nicholas have to make one of these contraptions throughout the book, rather than just having them at the ready in his room (or in Hans’ possession in the case of the truth pin.)

- 80% Sorry but even if Saskia didn’t see the body herself, I find it hard to believe that Saskia didn’t know until she found that letter in the office that the first dead body was that of Paven, the Botanist Guildmaster. Word of his death would have surely spread, and there’s no way Saskia, Nicholas, Isaak, Hans, etc. would’ve have found out before now!

- It’s also a bit dumb that Nicholas would have to wear a truth collar while he was in prison. Now, if it was while he was being interrogated, sure, that makes total sense (and it would’ve been compelling to see him try to continue lying to protect Saskia). But once he was in the cell, I don’t understand why they put it on him. (Or why that prisoner he was trying to communicate with also couldn’t really speak much of the truth.)

- I feel like it was just included so that when Saskia came to visit Nicholas, he would admit he real feelings, and she’d know they’re true. (Kind of a cop out.)

- That’s interesting that Saskia’s father was dead all this time; and there was some spell being used to make the corpse look like it was alive all this time. (Granted, I’m not sure why that detail was necessary, but okay.)

- I will say that the chapter where Nicholas’ fever is getting worse, when Hans got him out of prison, was well written!

- It also made me realize though, that I really do love Nicholas and Saskia’s relationship; but their emotions for each other haven’t really changed. They’ve just come to a point where they will say it to each other’s faces now that they were forced to marry (and even then, it’s only because Nicholas had that truth collar on).

- 83%: I knew something shady was up with Nicholas’ uncle Isaak, from the moment he told them how to deliver a letter to the Coppersmiths. So it’s not surprise that he’s Schaal (although I will say I was more focused on aunt Kathrjin as time went on!).

- I’ll also say that I only feel like now, once Nicholas was out in jail and then sick, that the story finally feels like Saskia’s book equally. Before it felt like Nicholas was the main character and Saskia played the secondary role to this dual POV plot.

- So Isaak is Schaal but not the Copperguild master, which tells me Kathrjin is still suspect number one!

- Also Isaac being jealous of Paven and Floris’ bond feels so random…like uh, okay…it’s kind of weak motivation tbh.

- 87%: Yep, I was right. Aunt Kathrjin is the Coppersmith’s guild master. It was so obvious!!! (The reveal was terribly executed though.)

- It feels a bit too easy and convenient that Saskia managed to steal the notebook out of her aunt’s pocket, and then compare the handwriting. And then boom—realize her aunt is the Copperguild master. Way too easy. (First of all, I doubt Kathrjin wouldn’t notice. And second of all, I find it hard to believe that Saskia had never seen her aunt’s handwriting to compare the recipe to it until now.)

- Also, it seemed dumb of Saskia to confront her aunt about being the coppersmith guild master whilst she is tending to her sick husband Nicholas, after knowing that the Coppersmiths were responsible for two recent deaths, including her father!

- I also didn’t understand how Hans showing up (very conveniently timed btw) led to Kathrjin backing off from hurting Nicholas??

- I’m glad Anne is alive. And that whole scheme about using her and others to test new copper to erase memories and control minds is interesting, and I can understand that lucrative business being a good motivator. But it feels a bit like the author pulling her punches to keep Anne alive, tbh.

- I’m glad Nicholas is okay. And I like the idea of Hans being the new Copper Minister. But I feel like this was all worked out way too easily. Even if Kathrjin wanted to protect herself from being arrested, it just feels like she surrender far too quickly.

- Ugh. The sex scene scene spans not one, but two chapters? It was written fine, but unnecessary imo.

- I mean, we should’ve guessed Isaak who be murdered by the Coppersmiths next.

- Okay so it sounds like Saksia plans on turning her aunt into the Constable now that Anne is back safe (through she was drugged so she lost some memory). I’m glad, because I was wondering why we were going to let her continue this killing spree after Isaak?

- Wait—why is Nicholas surprised that it was Kathrjin who killed his uncle? I thought that was obvious???? Or did they assume he killed himself?
- That actually really annoyed me. I thought it was obvious!

- I mean, I get Nicholas saying they need to have Kathrjin clear the pollution. But why not have her arrested, and then she can make said cure form behind bars???


- Oof, that epilogue was ROUGH.

- I’m glad Hans is the Copper Minister. And it sounds like a woman replaced Isaak as well which is nice. And changing the rules about marriage and guildmasters is good too (but I refuse to accept that Karhrjin wasn’t arrested for her deeds.)

- The exploding candle scene was comical. It other than that, the epilogue was boring. And I honestly still have NO IDEA what Nicholas was talking about. Yes he wants to make copper more accessible to merchants…but the description of how that ties in with the Metalworks or whatever felt convoluted and confusing.
- (I’m glad Nicholas is trying to do good work himself, but the explanation was so convoluted. As were many confusing explanations in this book.

- It was a terrible way to end, sorry.

Final Thoughts:

- This book was roller coaster, which some highs and some lows. (I’m still bummed that it ended on such a confusing note.)

- I think Nicholas and Saskia’s relationship was the strongest part of the book. But there wasn’t anything in particular about either of them that stood out or will be memorable.

- The whole plot about the Inverted City was intriguing until we actually got there. That scene wasn’t explained well and was anti-climatic.

- The magic system with the copper and iron was cool. There were elements that could’ve been better explained.

- I wish the mystery had more (believable) red herrings.

- I don't care if Kathrijn had to deal with misogyny. She should've been put in jail.

- I was disappointed in the overall execution, but I don’t regret reading.

[Kam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 for Goodreads/NetGalley)

Copperstitched is a lush, atmospheric friends-to-lovers romantasy set in a glittering, historically inspired fantasy version of 1600s Amsterdam, where secretive magical guilds power their crafts with rendered copper. Saskia van Beek has spent her life preparing to inherit the Cartographer’s Guild from her father—until a mysterious poisoning leaves him bedridden and forces her into a dangerous bargain with the tight-lipped Coppersmiths. To save him, she has to uncover long-buried guild secrets with the help of her childhood friend Nicholas, whose quiet charm and loyalty make the slow-burn tension almost unbearable in the best way.

Kalie Reid’s strengths are on full display here. The craft-based magic system (cartography, copper-working, and the various guilds that rely on them) feels inventive and textured, the kind of worldbuilding that evokes The Gilded Wolves or Six of Crows without simply copying them. The Amsterdam-inspired city comes alive with canals, guildhouses, and a sense of shadowed intrigue. Saskia is a compelling protagonist—ambitious, capable, and navigating a system that isn’t designed for her—while Nicholas is the kind of soft, steadfast love interest who makes the yearning hit hard. Their established friendship evolving into something more is tender, well-paced, and full of those charged glances and quiet acts of care that Reid does so well.

That said, the book doesn’t quite stick the landing for me. The early worldbuilding is dense; the guild politics, the rules of the copper magic, and the city’s undercurrents get thrown at the reader quickly, and I found myself re-reading passages to keep everything straight. Some aspects of how the magic actually works never fully clarified for me, which undercut the stakes a bit. The mystery that drives the plot is engaging, but the climax piles on revelations in a rush that felt messier and less satisfying than the careful build-up that preceded it. A few scenes also had prose that was a little harder to parse than it needed to be.

Still, the romance, the atmosphere, and the originality of the premise carried me through. It’s a solid, often lovely sophomore novel that shows real growth and a distinctive voice in a crowded genre. If you come for the yearning, the crafty magic, and the friends-to-lovers tension, you’ll likely enjoy the ride even if a few of the mechanics and the final act leave you wanting a bit more polish. Looking forward to seeing what Reid does next.

[Miranda · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Kalie Reid writing yearning is officially one of my favorite genres

I absolutely ADORED Kalie Reid’s debut, so when I saw she was releasing a new book, I was sold before there was even a cover or a description. And while I didn’t love this one as much as I did The Sacred Space Between, it was still an enjoyable read.

My favorite thing about Kalie Reid’s books is that she really understands how to capture mutual yearning/pining perfectly. I was so excited to see how she would execute that within a friends-to-lovers context, and she did not disappoint. If I don’t feel the ache in the yearning or wish that I could shake some sense into at least one of the main characters, then something is missing, and this delivered on both of those fronts (in a good way).

When it came to the world-building, it felt familiar in some ways but with a unique spin. I’ve read books featuring Guild-esque groups, but never a world where magic largely revolves around metal. The familiar parts made it a lot easier to understand, because a lot of terminology is thrown at you early on, and the unique parts made it still feel fresh.

In terms of things that didn’t work for me as much, that all comes down to the ending. While I did predict who was behind everything, I didn’t mind that part. What did bother me was the execution. The reveal took place in a way that felt a little too Scooby-Doo like (that’s the best comparison I can make) and like things just fell into place a little too easily. If things wrapped up nicely otherwise, I could’ve gotten past it, but in addition to that, there were some areas that felt like they got no resolution. I remember turning to the epilogue and feeling like I missed a chapter.

Overall, I did enjoy this book, namely because of the romance. If Kalie Reid writes anything that has romance in it safe to say it will be added to my shelf. I would have loved it more had the ending been polished, but as it was, it felt too rushed and abrupt for me to feel fully satisfied finishing it. I would still recommend giving this one a go though, because it has plenty of great qualities, and others may not mind the ending as much as I did.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

~🅞🅥🅔🅡🅐🅛🅛 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ . 5~

[Colie Tichner · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Thank you, Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In a world of magical copper, Saskia Van Beek's father, the Guildmaster of the Mapmaker's Guild, has fallen deadly ill. While trying to take on the reins her father left, Saskia is offered a chance to save her father. All she has to do in exchange is provide shadowy figures with one of the Mapmaker's Guild's most powerful creations. Saskia must juggle the threats looming against her along with her attraction to her best friend, Nicholas.

The magic system is fascinating, and though I had some trouble grasping the particulars, I was swept away by the uniqueness. Magical maps are such a great concept that Kalie Reid really dives into (and that's just one of the many powers copper has that Reid explores). People sleep on friends to lovers, but it can be just as amazing, if not better, than enemies to lovers, and Reid proves it here. She masterfully wields the tension between the intense intimacy of another person and the boundaries they hold onto to hide their true feelings for each other. There is such a push-pull in Saskia and Nicholas' relationship throughout the novel despite the deep love they have for each other, and I was totally hooked. Saskia is a great character; as the book goes on, you really understand how she arms herself against the world and who she is underneath it all. I also loved the neurodivergence rep. Nicholas is such a great counterpart to her, and you can see how his background has defined how he holds himself. Reid's prose is also so rich and lush. She voices feelings in such a visceral way and spins beautiful imagery. Though the relationship was very strong, I was hoping to see some more info on it before we really jump into the story, and I felt like the pacing got a bit muddled halfway through.

But overall, this book really enchanted me. I can't wait to see what Reid does next!

[Aamira · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Romantasy can be tricky. Not only do you have to set up a world that captivates readers, you also have to create a romance that you want to root for. For me, this novel had neither.

Inspired by Amsterdam, the story takes place in a magical city filled with canals and a hierarchy that at times left me perplexed. There’s many guilds and guild masters and guild ministers and coppersmiths and copper masters and honestly the list goes on and on and it’s difficult to differentiate between them all. The story seems to revolve around copper regulation, but it wasn’t interesting enough to hold my attention.

The story starts off with a murder and there’s a conspiracy theory going around as to who’s responsible for the murders and whether they’re related to the political intrigue going on. The part of the story is engaging, but I felt it was bogged down by the minutia of the different guilds and hierarchies and yada yada. This could’ve been more streamlined and probably had greater effect.

Friends to lovers can be hit or miss with me. It’s very difficult to get right. You’ve both been pining for each other for years and can’t seem to say anything? (Insert eye roll). Saskia can’t get married because she wants to be guild master/minister (??) and so she decides she will be a spinster who yearns for her friend and judges his romantic choices. Come on guys we can get a little creative with this no? Obviously they do get around it but the pacing for the romance is so slow that you can’t help but lose patience to get there.

Some reviewers have also mentioned this, but I thought it strange that the book is marketed to seem as if Saskia is the main focus of the story; however, we seem to get more focus on Nicholas. Not that it matters too much, but I think the blurb should reflect that more.

Overall, this didn’t keep my interest as much as I would’ve wanted it to.

[Megan Witsche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes: Romantasy, Friends to Lovers, Mystery, Political Intrigue, Guild Based Magical Worldbuilding, Role Reversal Dynamics, Secret Society / Magical Guild Hierarchy, Systemic Misogyny, Craft Based Magic

Review No Spoilers: A magical world of secret societies, hidden secrets, dangerous bargains, and a friendship that might become something more! This lush friends to lovers romantic fantasy by Kalie Reid pulled me into a glittering world of magical Guilds, where loyalty, trust, and love are put to the test.

Saskia Van Beek has spent her life preparing to become Guildmaster of the Cartographer’s Guild, following in her father’s footsteps. But when her father is struck down by a mysterious poisoning, everything she has worked toward is suddenly at risk. With his life hanging in the balance, Saskia is forced into a dangerous bargain with the secretive Coppersmiths; the antidote in exchange for her Guild’s most closely guarded creation.

As the clock ticks, Saskia must unravel her father’s hidden past, navigate the dangerous politics of the Guilds, and uncover secrets that could change everything. Thankfully, she has Nicholas, her charming childhood best friend, by her side. But as they face one danger after another, years of friendship and unspoken feelings begin to shift into something deeper.

I loved the combination of magical worldbuilding, secret societies, mystery, and a slow burn romance rooted in friendship. The growing tension between Saskia and Nicholas adds an extra layer of heart to a story filled with secrets, danger, and unexpected discoveries. If you love friends-to-lovers romance, magical Guilds, and fantasy adventures with a touch of mystery, this one deserves a spot on your TBR!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️

[MJ]

I DNFd this book at about 71%.

There were a lot of things that had the potential to be good. There was a strong political structure being formed; a friends to lovers romance; death; intrigue; an interesting magic system, in which will is imbued within copper items. Our FMC was trying to fight back this misogynistic societal rules about leadership and marriage.

With that being said, none of these things were done well enough to make me want to finish the book.
The romance was not built up in any way, it felt like it happened suddenly. That may be because a lot of the character descriptions and development were done by exposition and not through showing us the characters actions. At one point everything ramped up so quickly and the MCs didn't fight back at all, it was honestly so weird and done so poorly. I hated it.

This ties in with a lot of the world building. Sometimes I can appreciate just jumping right in to the action, but I think this story could've used a little down time at the beginning to not only show the relationships/friendships between all the characters and their dynamics, but to show how the world functions and how the magic works. There were so many aspects to the different power structures in the society, but I never cared about any of them because they were not established in a way that made the reader feel connected to what was happening. I mean a couple people die and I didn't care because we never really spent any time with them.

This story had a lot of potential and the magic system was an interesting idea, but the execution was really making it a struggle to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this eARC.

[Laurensliterarylair · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for the gifted eARC.

I loved this book! I was immediately drawn into the story. The magic through copper/metal was such a unique and refreshing element of the story. The enemies to lovers trope was so fun to read and the pacing felt perfect. I feel like that’s really hard to do In a fantasy stand-alone but it was done so well. It’s hard to get so much worldbuilding, explain the magic, and really delve into the characters and plot in only one book. However I felt like the author incorporated each of these elements into the story really really well. It makes me want to read more fantasy books that aren’t an entire series!

The characters were fun to read. I thought that their relationship made sense, they really grew throughout the book together and individually. I loved their relationship and thought it was so raw and genuine. I thought they were super cute and honestly I loved Nicholas! (And not just because my boyfriend is also a Nicolas 🤭I swear! I’m not biased!) I feel like we really got to know the characters and I left the book feeling satisfied with how it ended.

The plot was chefs kiss. I am telling you I was so invested in this book! The story was absolutely a blast to read and I will not hesitate to pick up a book by this author in the future!

[KazReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 60% of this book wasn’t at all boring, but it didn’t get truly exciting until the last 40%, which on its own I might’ve rated 5 stars.

The world building is fully fleshed out, the magic system unique with its use of copper as its main instrument, and the use of guilds for the economical made perfect sense in the backdrop of the magical Dutch-inspired city.

It’s easy to get a fell for the atmosphere, the metalworks, the cartography, and the magic of compulsion imbued into it. The setting feels like magic has been injected into industrial history. It has that gritty clockwork fantasy feeling.

The MCs were entertaining to follow, because of their quirks and attributes, but also because of their dynamic. Their romance isn’t the main plot, but it plays a large role in their character development. I loved how they still had things to learn about one another, and habits to overcome to strengthen their relationship to work well together romantically.

The excitement picked up after about 60% for me, which is why this book gets a four starts for me. And it doesn’t get any less because the latter 40% was perfect in my opinion. I latched on at that point. The reveals were poignant, the mystery ramped up, and the stakes reached their zenith. If you don’t mind a slower start to get to a brilliant and complex plot, I recommend checking out this book.

[khadijah · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5 stars

This was a really interesting read! Craft-based magic is one of my favourite types of magic systems in fantasy and it was what I loved most about this book. Kalie’s world building is complex and creative; the magic system is based on the use of rendered copper, and the cartography magic was especially fascinating.

However, I struggled with the pacing. It took a while to immerse myself in the story and I wasn’t quite engaged until more than halfway through the book. There were a lot of interesting mysteries and twists, but the reveals would happen one after the other. I felt like Saskia and Nicholas needed more time to process everything that was happening. The stakes didn’t feel high despite both characters being in frequent danger. The ending also felt a bit abrupt and I was hoping for a more solid conclusion.

Regarding the romance, Kalie writes yearning so beautifully, and I thought Saskia and Nicholas’ relationship was very sweet. It almost felt like something was missing, though, and I didn’t feel compelled by their romance. This may be a personal preference and not a fault of this book, as I sometimes struggle with connecting to established relationships.

Overall, I thought the foundation was strong, but the execution didn’t quite land for me. I think a lot of readers will enjoy this, especially those who enjoy the friends to lovers trope and unique world building.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Krissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copperstitched was an interesting read with its elements of magic, guilds, mystery, and childhood friends-to-lovers. It follows FMC Saskia who is primed to become the next Guildmaster after her father. He experiences a strange illness that forces her to step into the role early and before she is ready. Secrets are uncovered and Saskia is working against the clock to help him. She gets help from some friends and acquaintances but her main source of help and unwavering support comes from childhood friend Nicholas. At first I did not think Nicholas was all that serious about his devotion to Saskia but as I kept reading his yearning and POV showed how much he longed for her while thinking he could never measure up. The story had a few more twists and facets than I was expecting which made up for what I thought was somewhat of a slower pace to start. This was a satisfying standalone and contained unique elements. I thought Saskia was smart and determined and I love that in the female lead.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my review.

[almas · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

UFF- that was rough, my head hurts.

copperstitched follows secret guilds, magical copper, and a city where every secret has a price.

for a standalone, this book had a lot going on. the world-building and the magic system were really interesting. i loved the overall setting with the guild hierarchy, the copper magic, and the incredible slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance, but the way the world and the magic were explained seemed too complicated. half the time it felt like i was missing something, or maybe i skipped something. the intricacy of the political intrigue was so confusing that i had to put all my focus into it just to understand what was actually happening, and even then i was confused. in fact, i'm still confused about a lot of things.

the pacing, too, was very weird. it was slow for the majority of the book, but near the end things started moving at breakneck speed. the mystery about who the murderer was, and the other secrets, was so interesting and kept me guessing, but only until the 60% mark. by then, i had a pretty good idea of who the culprits were.

the only thing that kept me from dnfing the book was the romance. i love friends-to-lovers, and the yearning was so, so good. the constant push and pull had me on the edge of my seat. i also loved the subtle feminist undertone of the book, and saskia's character was very well written.

overall, the premise had a lot of potential. if only the world-building had been clearer, i would have enjoyed it a lot more.

thank you, netgalley and little, brown and company, for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copperstitched was an enjoyable read, but ultimately it fell a little short of being something truly memorable for me.

The worldbuilding felt a bit underdeveloped, and while the magic system was interesting, I wanted a little more from it. Saskia and Nicholas were both okay characters, but neither really stood out as a favorite. I also felt like the romance took its time getting started and didn't really pick up until the final chapters.

One thing I did appreciate was the pacing. The shorter chapters made it easy to keep reading, and I'm definitely someone who enjoys a book more when the chapters don't feel endless.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and had a good time reading it. It just wasn't an unputdownable, stay-up-way-too-late-because-I-need-one-more-chapter kind of book. A decent read, just not a new favorite.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this advanced copy.

[Samantha Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantasy meets murder mystery in COPPERSTITCHED. Saskia van Beek is guild master in everything but name of the Cartographers Guild. An unknown man is found murdered by their shop and then her sick father is poisoned the same way. To discover who is behind these attacks, she depends on her old friend Nicholas in a slow burn friends to lovers romance (with a side of forbidden love trope). The metal-based magic system feels unique and matches the guild setting.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one but found the magic system and world to be underdeveloped and underexplained.

I had the same issue with the last book I read from this author too.

I think where this book shines is in the two main characters and their relationship development, which I thought was really well done.

3.5 stars ⭐️

[Jenni Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Copperstitched! It had a fun and interesting magic system. The story kept me engaged, and I enjoyed seeing how everything unfolded. There were a few slower moments, but overall, it was an entertaining fantasy read that kept me turning the pages.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy!

[Juls · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect combination of romance, political intrigue, friendship, magic and murder mystery.
A friends-to-lovers with a tormenting amount of yearning. A very unique magic system and a murder mystery that will make you feel like Sherlock !

[Haley ♡]

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own

[gina · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Loved the concept and the story
but felt the author was trying too much and not all of it mattered to the overall plot

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up! For my first Kalie Reid book, I enjoyed this! The magic system was unlike anything I have read before. There were some points that I seemed to miss what was happening, but it was easy to pick back up. I will say the world building is challenging at first. Overall, I would love to read more Kalie Reid!

[emma · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

thanks so much to little, brown for the digital arc!

this was one of my most anticipated releases for 2027 after reading the sacred space between and the magic system did not disappoint—i mean, copper being the item that kept this world moving and cartography having a major stake in that business? what a fun twist! additionally, i love stories that center on the arts and inventions because they're at the crux of our society, yet they're never as esteemed as they could be.

what initially intrigued me was that the story begins with a mystery; everything just falls pieces together in parallel and didn't read like an information dump. however, there were several points that were confusing and unclear (guild politics, the varying crafts) while others were very repetitive even within the same page. aside from how complex the world is, the pacing goes off the tracks at the climax and these reveals happen in such quick succession of one another that it didn't feel as satisfying, especially given the underlining women in power or lack thereof theme.

all that said, i'm sure the finished version will be fantastic and i'm looking forward to future releases from this author!

3.25*

[Kath]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Copperstitch by Kalie Reid is a deeply atmospheric romantasy, perfect for readers looking for a change of pace from standard kingdom, princess, and warrior tropes. I would classify this as a political romantasy, as the primary conflict revolves around complicated guild politics. The unique magic system involves the manipulation of rendered copper, and its regulation drives the rest of the worldbuilding. The story also explores the inherent tension between those who can craft magic and the mundane, but equally important, citizens who cannot.

Based on the summary and the magic system, I expected a narrative driven by high political stakes with subtle romantic tension. However, I ultimately decided to DNF at the 50% mark.

My primary issue was with the pacing and structural choices. The story alternates between the third-person POVs of the MMC (Nicholas) and FMC (Saskia). The book opens with Nicholas’s perspective and he is in Saskia's bedroom informing her of a dead body, which prompts her to question him and task him with investigating it. I wish there had been more time devoted to worldbuilding and introducing the two leads independently before this inciting incident. While I appreciate a narrative that avoids hand-holding, beginning the book without establishing the stakes or character motivations significantly lessened the mystery for me. During their discussion of the murdered body, I found myself asking basic logistical questions: Where are the authorities? Why are these two taking it upon themselves to investigate a death, especially when Saskia has graver concerns at home with her father? And why is Nicholas so obsessed with Saskia?

Furthermore, I felt that the political intrigue and the friends-to-lovers romance actively competed for space rather than forming a cohesive whole. During several tense sequences where the leads are sneaking around the city or investigating an area, the narrative would shift focus entirely to the characters obsessing over their physical proximity. Reading otherwise highly competent protagonists drop their situational awareness to fixate on how close they are standing completely removed me from the suspense of the investigation.

Despite these structural flaws, the actual writing is beautiful. Reid creates strong imagery using grounded language and well-placed metaphors that enhance the moody atmosphere rather than distract from it. Even though the romantic moments often undercut the tense action, they are written in such vivid, longing detail that I made it to the 50% mark carried entirely by the strength and beauty of her prose. I am definitely open to checking out her prior novel and any future works.