This book was fabulous. It made me so hungry though. The food they eat sounded so delicious. I love the magic in this book and I enjoyed getting to know these characters. I like that it’s a stand alone book so no story lines were stretched out for the next book.

The world built here has moments of great detail, like the weaving that Ximena does (those animals!!) or the clothing, but there are large swaths that needed more: what daily life is like in the Keep and La Ciudad, what the history of the country (and the two main societies) is, and how the different magics work. Add to that the fight scenes that don't quite make sense, the fact that Ximena's life as the decoy should have trained her to have more control and possession, and the question of Who Was El Lobo is too easily solved and, well... On the other hand, the pseudo-Bolivian setting is unusual and that difference made me continue reading.

This is supposed to be a standalone, but would have benefited from either tightening up the plot or expanding it into a duology. The author says that the next book is set in the same world, so perhaps some of what was left out here will be added then.

eARC provided by publisher.

Five stars

This book totally surprised me in the very best way. My exclusive reason for requesting it, I'll admit, is that I thought the cover was so cool looking. I had little idea of what I was to find inside.

In short, I loved this novel. The world building is developed and fascinating, and while the author has announced that this is a stand-alone novel, and it does come with a complete narrative and plot, I can easily see this work developing into a series of spin-offs. I often find works of this nature tedious and repetitive because the world building can turn into constant reminders about characters' relationships to each other and historical explanations that go on and on, but none of that applies here. The main character is complex and experiences an intriguing learning process which is just the right balance of explained and evolved. She grapples with both her role as a decoy and her status as an authentic, thinking being, and I love that she maintains her position as a "typical" person even when she exhibits extraordinary traits and skills. In this way, she is quite relatable. The ancillary characters in the piece are also riveting. Readers get just enough info to find their stories believable but not obvious/expected. I enjoyed that I was often surprised by various turns of events; this can be...challenging in a YA novel. My favorite aspect is the way weaving is used for communication, creativity, critical thinking, and bridge building. This is reminiscent of the loom's use in classic mythology (Penelope, Circe), and I really love that the author takes a known technique and theme and makes it her own here. The animals are an added - and fantastic - bonus.

I cannot wait to read more by this author. Without question, this is a book I'll be referencing and recommending to students for years to come, and I am already recommending it to friends and family.

❥My Review: I have had so much anticipation feels towards this novel.. from the moment I found out about it, I found the author on social, and I followed her, wanting to know EVERYTHING about this book. This is such a special book, it’s so wonderful to have a Latinx author in YA, they are rare, and we must support each and every one. Isabel is a wonderful writer (and illustrator!) I am proud and honored to have been able to read this novel prior to its release day!

We meet Ximena, the Queen, or is she.. we learn all about Ximena and the journey she’s about to embark on, and it takes on one of the most amazing stories I have ever read.

A story filled with Magic, politics, and finding strength to fight for what’s right for the people. The story evolves in such a powerful way, and it really made me as the reader question some things I felt “right” for the story line. Isabel did an amazing job, telling both sides of the story, in a heart breaking but raw way, and shows us that sometimes, things can change.. for the better.

I am so excited, and greatly looking forward to the next installment of this series, although this is a standalone novel, and the next one will be read as one as well, reading them both I feel will give me a true sense of what the story is about as a whole.

Congratulations Isabel So excited for your debut novel to be out in the world!

On Sale January 7th, 2020!

Make your first read of 2020, your favorite!😍

Thank You #PageStreetKids and #Netgalley for the galley copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.. #Partner

Whimsically written! Reminded me a lot of Caraval in the descriptions and the overall dreamy atmosphere. Slow burn romance that had me sucked in from the beginning. The way the cultural and political factors intertwined were pretty interesting. It's great to see that books now make us aware of the outside world even through fantasy. With regards to the main characters, I had a little trouble connecting with them in the beginning but nothing too big that made me want to stop reading. I did feel it to be just a tad predictable as well, but like I said nothing that made me want to get rid of the book. Ximena was sassy and witty which is what always pulls me when I am reading, and that worked out great. The good outweighed that bad in this one. Solid 4 stars! Can't wait to read more from this author.

Thank you so much to the author for sharing an arc of this title with me.

Ximena is the decoy Condesa, who stands in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. When the usurper king Atoc demands the Condesa’s hand in marriage, Ximena goes in her stead, determined to use the opportunity to find the ancient relic that Atoc used to summon a ghost army and take the throne years before. But as Ximena gets to know the enemy and starts seeing them as actual individuals, she finds herself questioning what course of action is best for her kingdom – and whether that means betraying her Condesa and need for revenge. I’ll admit that it was the beautiful cover (designed by the author!) that caught my eye first! Happily, this story ended up being a fun read! The plot structure and characters are typical of YA fantasy reads, but what does make this story stand out is the integration of Bolivian culture (particularly in language, fashion and food). It was enjoyable (particularly the last 30%) and I flew quickly through this book. If you’re in the mood for a lighter YA fantasy read, Woven in Moonlight might be an ideal choice.

I was very excited to get approved for this ARC; however, the formatting of the Kindle file makes it impossible to read. I have tried both on my Kindle device and in the app, but the text is weirdly overlapped and jumbled. If an updated version is provided, I'll review that; otherwise, I will return here and update this review based on a final copy of the book after it publishes.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

I wanted to like this so much, but I could not get into it.

First of all, thank you to Page Street Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ana isn't back from her mission, yet, and the Condessa and Catalina are doing everything in their power to keep the Illustrian people fed and safe. Only, Ximena isn't the Condesa. Rather, she's Catalina's decoy. Catalina is the last of the Illustrian royal family, and they need to keep her safe.

In the world of Woven in Moonlight, they have magic. Catalina can read the stars, but Ximena can weave moonlight into her tapestries. In a place where her weaving is the only piece of herrself she can embrace, it is everything. But when the Llacsans come with a message and demand she marry the False King, Atoc, Catalina urges her to take the opportunity to spy on the Llacsans.

Surrounded by her enemies, Ximena has to try and send secret messages to Catalina. Only, when she begins to learn that the Llacsans lives have been no better than the Illustrians, she begins to trust in some of those closest to her in the Castillo.

A lovely, rich world influenced by Bolivian culture and politics. The colors and the world-building is vivid, the magic is beautiful, and the characters are colorful and complex. It is a beautiful world, and I really want to eat the food! Standalones are a breath of fresh air, and I loved everything about this. Their is a fantastic slow-burn, enemies to lover romance, and I wasa extremely satisfied with the ending!

Cannot recommend this book enough!

WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT is a lush fantasy that transports the reader into the world of Inkasisa, a place which is frequently under revolt by different tribes. This stand-alone was beautifully written, and I completely devoured it. Ximena has been a decoy to the Condesa (title of an Illustrian queen) since she was eight years old and had been found by a guard after the revolution left her an orphan. When the Llacsan king, Atoc, demands that Catalina (the true Condesa) marry him, Ximena must of course take her place.

She does so hoping she can spy on him and send messages back. In particular, they are searching for the Estrella, a magical item that can command a ghost army and had won the revolt for the Llacsans. As Ximena journeys to the palace, she realizes darker truths about the state of the current king and the history of her people, which was one of oppression over the other tribes.

With messages about politics, ethics, and the path to doing what is right, this magical fantasy is an enthralling read. The characters, world-building, and magic are all unique and really drive forward a lovely story. Add that on to an interesting plot and the fact that this is a stand-alone, and you have an unforgettable read.

Towards the end, there are some bumps in the plot, which I hope will be smoothed during editing, as some of the actions of certain characters- while overall necessary for plot- just did not quite seem to fit. These were minor, however. I would add some warnings for domestic violence, torture (graphic at times), and ritual sacrifice, as well as past child bride type mentions.

Overall, this is a beautifully constructed story, and I would love to read more from this talented author. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was a beautifully written story that I couldn't get enough of. The magic system in this story is fascinating. I wish that I had gotten more about it than we had in the story, because I truly wanted to know how it all worked. People have different gifts, and Ximena’s is one that is unique, even among her people. However, I loved the idea of her creating thread out of moonlight. It was such a beautifully described aspect of the story. Honestly, the depictions of magic and food in this story are truly beautiful. The images of La Ciudad came to life in my mind, and I loved each and every moment that I got to spend in this story surrounded by magic. Ximena’s creations were truly what took my breath away in this story. I loved each and every one.
As I mentioned before, things are a little more complicated than at first glance within this story. It isn’t simply about a usurper displacing a group of people, but also about the motivations behind the displacement. I love that we go into the prejudices Ximena holds against her enemies, until she starts learning there’s a whole other side to the events. As she begins to understand these, she begins to develop an understanding of her enemy that isn’t black and white. The shades of grey that she begins seeing are truly a wonder to behold, and what I think Isabel does so well. While we have forces of good and the forces of evil in this book, it’s not quite that simple. I loved seeing that the villain in this story didn’t necessarily start that way. The struggles for power can truly taint a leader's heart.
I did love the pacing in this story, it’s not too fast, but it keeps readers wanting to keep turning the page. Another thing that I loved was the fact that the advanced reading copy didn’t italicize the use of Spanish in the book. It was so wonderful to read my language as part of the narrative, and to KNOW and UNDERSTAND what it means? I don’t think there is anything more valuable to a Latin American reader.

Woven in Moonlight was an impressive debut from Isabel Ibañez.
The fantasy setting, based off Bolivia was refreshing and unique. The atmosphere was enthralling and immersive. Descriptions of the food, clothing and palace made the world tangible.

Woven in Moonlight covers the aftermath of war and the intricacies of morality when nothing is black and white.
There were clear parallels between political and cultural aspects of past and present Bolivia, and the Spanish Inquisitor overthrow of the native Incan people.

The characters were a bit hit and miss for me. For the most part I liked our main character, though she could get on my nerves at some stages. I loved Rumi and his sarcastic banter. I thought Atoc was a well developed villain who definitely gave me the creeps. However some others felt a bit one dimensional to me.

I personally was a fan of the romance! It was slowburn- but that paid off in the end. I would love to read more books following these characters.

The magic of this book was what really brought it to life. Abilities such as magical weaving and reading the stars just elevated it to another level.

It was hard to believe this is a debut, as the writing was lyrical, descriptive and beautiful.

Isbañez masterfully wove those elements into a whimsical and intoxicating novel.


My main problems with this story was
1. It was very predictable.
I guessed very very early on who El Lobo was, and thought it was so obvious that it couldn't possibly be him. But no, I was right.

2. The story lacked the tension that should be present from being a decoy in the midst of the enemy. She was more focused on her inner turmoil than her surroundings and it showed, I was very surprised no one figured out she was a decoy- she didn't make it difficult. I would have expected since she had been the Condesa's decoy since she was so young- she would be... better at it?

overall, I would recommend this one when it releases in January 2020
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this title.

Woven in Moonlight was such an unique and beautiful story! I loved the Bolivian setting and atmosphere, the story itself and the characters! Our MC is Ximena, a strong woman willing to do anything to save her people, even changing her mind and beliefs in order to do the right thing. I also adored the other characters, and the romance (enemies to lovers, YAS) was amusing and sweet at the same time, and never rushed. Plus, we have a lot of action and some twists I didn't see coming. So, yes I loved Isabel Ibañez's debut novel and I really recommend it to you!

4.5 Stars

I’ve been following Isabel since before she was a “writer” (she owned 9th Letter Press and is from my area of Orlando). So when I finally joined bookstagram and it coincided with the release of her ARCs, I took my overly confident self, my 150 follower count, and wrote to her publicist begging for a copy AND IT PAID OFF BECAUSE I GOT IT!

Isabel is the daughter of two Bolivian immigrants and has created a rich world full of that culture in Woven in Moonlight. This story follows the civil war between the Llacans and Illustrians with a dash of YA Fantasy Magical Realism. Ximena, our main protagonist, is the stand-in Condesa (princess) of the Illustrian people. They have been banished from their city and when the ruler over Inkasisa (named Atoc) demands the Condesa’s hand in marriage, Ximena is sent as decoy in Catalina’s (the real Condesa) place.

While there, Ximena uses her magical weaving powers (she can weave the light of the moon into her tapestries to hide messages) to send messages back to the Illustrian keep, to help the revolution start. But while she is kept in the Llacsan Castillo, she befriends many Llacsan people (like Rumi, the healer, Juan Carlos, her guard, and even El Lobo, the masked Robin Hood of the story) and starts to realize they would be overthrowing one dictator for another and needs to figure out where her loyalties lie: with her people/Catalina or her country.

The cast of characters, the South American setting, THE FOOD, and the romance and drama really drive this story about what is right and wrong and what it means to be a good ruler. Ximena is a strong protagonist who really helps the story feel personal...afterall, she is named after the author’s mother!

Isabel took the Spanish Conquistador (Illustrians) overthrow of the native Incan people of the Andes (Llacsan) as inspiration and has woven (pun intended) a tapestry of political and cultural insight from past and modern Bolivia into YA Fantasy fiction that we can all be inspired by.

This releases on January 7, 2020 and I CANNOT wait for everyone to read it! Meanwhile, I’ll be anxiously awaiting Woven in Starlight (book 2) to be released so I can continue with this story!

First off, the cover is absolutely gorgeous and it was what first thing that caught my eye about this book.
This book started slow, but if you stick with it it’ll start picking up around halfway. The worlding building is decent and the culture well developed. The food in this book is quite descriptive, so I recommend you don’t read while hungry! Be warned though, this book is a bit heavy on the political intrigue/theme.
Most of this book is actually about Ximena learning that people and the world are not black or white, rather shades of grey spanning from artic white to blackest night. It covers the aftermath of war and the devastation that resulted, on both sides.
Ximena is not actually the queen. She is only a decoy for the last Illustrian royal. A decoy who has to marry a tyrant king in her place. Her people were all but wiped out when the Atoc used a relic to help force the Illustrians from most of their lands, La Ciudad. Xinmena is angry, wanting revenge. So, if she has to marry the prince, Atoc, to get revenge, she will. But only because it gives her the means to become a spy and weave hidden messages into the tapestries she’s so adept at making, able to weave in star/moon light into thread. Her goal is to find the relic, take it, and aid her queen in returning to her throne.
But when she gets there, she discovers things are far more complicated than she imagined. Her views on the world and how things should be and work are challenged, forcing her to reconsider, adapt and grow.
Atoc was a bland bad guy. Ximena is smart, witty, and well aware of her precarious position. Rumi was awesome, rather sarcastic, which I like. And everyone else was just kind of…there for me? I don’t know. I feel like I didn’t really relate to any of the characters…other then Rumi’s use of sarcasm. Also, I could have done without the romance.

This book is a standalone, but there is plenty of room for the author to write additional books set in this world.
.

When I saw the cover of this book I knew I needed to read it. The colors are beautiful and then you read the synopsis and it pulls you in. I was so excited to dive in and let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint.

Ximena is living a double life to her people and even her enemies. She can be brash and doesn’t always think about the consequences of her actions. One of the things I love about her character was how much growth she had. She learned to make friends with her enemies and I loved seeing those friendship unfolds.

There are other characters that also caught my attention, like the masked figure El Lobo. He was so suave and wanted to help everyone. He reminded me of Zorro. I also thought I had him figured out but I was not expecting who it actually was!

When it came to Catalina and Atoc, they had a lot more in common than they thought. At times I felt sad for both parties and I understood why Ximena had such difficulties with making choices.

Now, one of the cool things that was included in this book was the magic. There were new abilites I hadn’t read about before like magical weaving and reading of stars. They were fun concepts and I loved how Ximena used her weaving to not only create beautiful tapestries but to also help in her missions.

The plot is thrilling, heartbreaking, and definitely engaging. I read it in one sitting. I enjoyed seeing how everything came together and really hoping it would all work out for the best. The ending was pretty open ended so I hope that there will be another chance to dive back into this world.

As for the romance, it is slow and perfect. That’s all I’m going to say.

Overall, I enjoyed this beautiful book and can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next!

I’d first heard about this book from Twitter after the cover reveal. It’s so gorgeous, and bonus, the author designed it herself! It fits the book perfectly. Woven in Moonlight is a thrilling tale of magic and destiny.

The writing was so pretty! I loved reading Ximena’s point of view. The descriptions of the world are so detailed as well. The magic system was interesting, although I was confused by which people had magic and who didn’t.

The romance was cute! We love a nice hate-to-love relationship. Their banter was humorous, and I really liked Rumi.

What was particularly intriguing to me about this book was the discussion about the people who’ve taken land from the native peoples and who is owed what (although we’re not talking about white colonizers here). There was a lot of talk about oppression; the Illustrians took over the lands of the Llacsans, forcing them into a lower social class. Then they took their land back and put the Illustrians in the reverse tradition.

However, there’s still a great enmity between the two peoples. Ximena starts out as despising the Llacsans for what they’ve taken from her (her family, her life, everything). Over time, though, she realizes that not all Llacsans are bad. While there are cruel ones, there are also kind ones; you shouldn’t judge a person by their ethnic background.

This is a decoy story, but it lacked the tension of one to me. While Ximena struggles with her own identity after feeling like the Condesa for so long, I thought she didn’t really think about pretending to be the Condesa most of the time. She talks about her childhood to so many people. I felt like it would be obvious she didn’t grow up as a royal because of her different experiences, but no one caught it.

Overall, Woven in Moonlight was a lovely debut. The writing is pretty, the characters are great, and the worldbuilding detailed. I definitely recommend if you want to read and support an ownvoices Latinx (Bolivian) fantasy!

It's either a hit or miss, and unfortunately it was a miss for me. Typically I gravitate towards YA fantasy novels filled with diverse characters but for whatever reason I wasn't able to resonate with Ximena storyline on becoming a decoy Condesa, the stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal or anything else pertaining to her journey. Despite the great spanish mythology and cultural setting, I found myself zoning out and re-reading the same paragraph over and over again, it than became apparent that this novel wasn't the best fit for me.

In short, I love this book and it is definitely becoming a favourite YA fantasy of mine. There is a fast-paced plot with several twists and turns as well as a really unique magical system in it. I love the Bolivian culture present in the book which is really unique and kind of added it the mystifying element of the story. There is a great romance that I am obsessed with and a badass and sassy female character that we all love.

Very excited for the release in 2020 so I can get my hands on a physical copy of this book with its absolutely stunning cover.

My full review can be found in the link below:

Thank you to Isabel and the publisher for sending me a copy to review!

Woven in Moonlight is a rich and beautiful fantasy set in the world of Inkasisa. It is heavily influenced by Bolivia and Bolivian politics and culture. Ximena is the decoy Condesa- taking the place of Catalina, the real Condesa- the last Illustrian royal. The Illustrian people lost everything when Atoc, the Llacsan usurper, took over the throne in a violent revolution, aided by an ancient relic that can summon ghosts. Ximena is driven by her thirst for revenge against Atoc and the Llacsans. When Atoc summons the Condesa to be his wife, Ximena goes in Catalina's place. Ximena believes she can find the deadly relic Atoc is hiding and use it to help the resistance overthrow him. But once in enemy territory, Ximena learns all is not what it seems. She meets people who change her views, and make her question all she thinks she knows about Llacsans and Illustrians.

When I first started reading, I was slightly confused by who was who. It was easily cleared up a couple chapters in, once I started to get to know each character. The world building was great and beautiful. I could picture the scenery and landscape. I can't wait to see the map in the finished copy!

The magic system in WIM is really unique and interesting! The Illustrians worship Luna, the moon goddess, and are given magic gifts through her. Ximena has the ability to turn moonlight into thread, which she uses in her weaving. I won't say more to avoid spoilers, but I love how her ability played out through the story! The world building was beautiful and well done. And all the wonderful food descriptions left me constantly hungry! I also really loved the characters. Ximena's growth and change throughout the book made her such a likable and relatable character. I also love the princess and the friendship she developed with Ximena. Rumi is wonderful as well. And El Lobo! I love a good vigilante character. I did guess right on who he was, but it didn't stop me from enjoying Ximena trying to figure it out! Also I love Juan Carlos.

This is a standalone, but there will be another book set in the same world! The ending left some things open that I think/hope will be in the next book!

Overall, this is a beautiful debut! Excellent world building and character development, and a really cool magic system! I definitely recommend!