“The only thing they love more than a saint is a martyr.” –

The line above printed on the reading copy of The Sacred Space Between is what first made me pick it up, and I’m very glad I did. Wildly different from many Romantasy books out at the moment, this story places religious belief at its heart, not centred around a single god, but around Saints whom people pray to, with the Abbey serving as the spiritual centre of the world.

Throughout the book, you constantly feel unsure about who to trust. Some characters I initially believed were “bad” completely surprised me, and I loved having my expectations challenged.

I completely understood Jude’s distrust of Maeve at the beginning, especially as the story unfolds and we learn more about his past and the experiences that shaped him.

This novel explores loneliness and isolation, and how they shape a person, with a great deal of care and nuance. The pacing isn’t fast, something I personally enjoyed,  and the short, alternating chapters between Maeve and Jude give you space to pause, reflect, and really absorb what’s happening.

A must read for anyone looking for a Romantasy novel that feels different from the usual dragons and spice stories (though, if you do want a little spice, this one has that too!).

With thanks to Keighley_Reads for a brilliant review!

About the Book

‘Nothing less than blasphemy brought you to me,’ Jude told her. Maeve trembled. He was an open flame. Any closer, and she’d burn.

Jude is a saint with dangerous magic – exiled by the Abbey to live out his days alone in a decaying estate on the moors – until gifted iconographer Maeve is sent to paint his icon. Suspecting she’s a spy for her beloved Abbey, Jude makes it his mission to get rid of Maeve as soon as possible. That is, until he discovers that Maeve holds the same tainted magic as he does, and she may be the key to destroying the Abbey’s power…

But this institution has eyes everywhere, and the only thing the Abbey loves more than a saint is a martyr.

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.

Browse our Shop

Browse our shop for you next read!

Go to Bookshop