4.59 avg rating — 44 ratings

"I loved how When Secrets Bloom brings a medieval city to life through the eyes of a young woman. I thought tht Kate is a character who may be fictional but felt real. I enjoyed slipping into the textures of daily life of a Saxon-ruled fortress, the sparks of hope kept alive among Vlach and Jewish families, and the quiet power of women working behind shutters and stone walls. I liked how the novel showed the Church not as an abstract force, but as a looming presence that shapes every whisper of fear about plague or heresy. And I especially loved the shadow of Dracula that hangs over the story, not as a legend, but as something jagged and human through Kate’s cautious eyes. This is a doorway into a world both harsh and breathtaking, and I found myself walking through it without ever wanting to return. I look forward to the sequel. "