thank you to netgalley for a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars!
a fun read with an interesting world i'd like to read more of! the world building seemed a little choppy/confusing to me though, almost as if there was a book that must've come before this one that truly introduced/explained the world and magic. it was still entertaining and left me wanting to dive back in!
the romance was okay but definitely rushed to me, the chemistry was being built and then it all of a sudden seemed like they were exchanging I love yous with not enough middle/relationship building

⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
0 spice (unless you count kissing)

This book has me torn. I was super into the world-building, which was, to me, not your run-of-the-mill magic system. But then, on the other hand, I read fantasy romance... for the romance (and that includes spice).

And with that I will warn everyone who cares: THERE IS ONLY FADE TO BLACK ROMANCE.

What romance there was between the FMC and Harken was sometimes all over the place. At times it felt real and believable but then there were moments where I genuinely rolled by eyes. It's written like they have an unbreakable love one minute, and then, after a single rejection, the FMC was ready to peace out. She needed side characters to step in and convince her to stay. Also am I the only one wondering how Harken even has the ability to be into her? He was woven into existence... is not human, and only purpose is to protect the woven court. Being into someone is not on the list of things he was asked to do by his creators.

However, at the end of the day, I can't deny that the concept of the book is super interesting. That alone is what pushed my rating up to 4 stars. However, I don't plan on picking up the next books in the series. If you're fine with a less spicy romance and you're all about diving into a unique magic world, then you might love this book.

Overall this was an enjoyable story. At first I struggled a bit with the world building and various terms but eventually was able to make sense of everything. A glossary would be a good addition in the future. I thought it was a good fantasy novel that had some unique aspects which I enjoyed. The fact it had a tied up ending rather than a cliffhanger made it even better. I am excited to read the next novel.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this before publication date.

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. The world building was phenomenal. I loved all the characters. There were a few instances where I got a little confused but as a whole this story kept me intrigued and entertained. Not a lot of spice but things could change In the next book. Strong fmm, hot misunderstood villain, possibly fated mates? Can't wait to read the next in the series!

I will read anything that has both fantasy and romance. those are my two favorite genres and when they are combined, that is something that I will immediately read. Going into this book, I was not sure what to expect from this book going into it but I was not disappointed. I loved every page of this book and the romance was so cute I was constantly giggling.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

Why did I not read this book sooner! I loved it. I can't wait for the ARC of Book2... I finished Book1 and instantly signed up for the author's ARC team, before I could even catch my breath.

This is fantasy at its best!

A dark greedy magical world thronging with extra mundane beings, and sparks of light like Zaria, with the morally grey Harken to shield her...

The book is gripping from the first page to the last... full of adventure, danger, mystery... amazing plot twists... found family, and a beautiful Storm Dragon...

Also, it has no smut, and does not end on a cliffhanger... Yay!

4.5 stars. Wow. Okay, so I LOVED this book.
I was highlighting left and right. I kicked my feet and squealed. I cried. I held my breath and I rooted for Zaria the whole way.

I loved the characters. They grew, confronting long-held truths, and some slowly revealed their depths. The friendships that uplifted and protected each other were so powerful. The interactions between Zaria and Harken were *chef’s kiss*. I’m such a sucker for nicknames and banter. There were some things in the ending that I predicted and others that had me gasping.

The only reason I might be selective with who I recommend this to is because of the world building. There’s a lot and it’s intense. There were certain things that don’t get explained until later as the story progresses which helps to break it up and works with the storytelling quite well – I actually really appreciated how it was spread throughout and gave a more natural feel to the progression. This is a book I could have used one of those dictionaries in the back of. Some people just don’t like intense world building, so I would just preface that and probably not recommend it to someone new to fantasy. Besides the very start, the character interactions always pulled me back into the story before the world building became too much. Very well done.

I still have some questions left, but that’s what the sequels are for! I’m so excited to continue reading this series. I think I could walk away from this and be satisfied with it as a standalone, but I’m invested and the few questions I have make me want the next book now! That being said, please take the time needed to make it as marvelous as this!

Thank you to Netgalley and Fehu Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

In "Woven in Darkness" by Lucy Holden, readers are drawn into a captivating tale of resilience, freedom, and an unlikely romance set against a backdrop of dragons, magic, and an enigmatic dark king. Zaria, a determined slave, yearns for freedom not only for herself but also for her siblings. Her journey centers around winning the Arkady and the Maverick's race, a pivotal event that could secure her future and ultimately rescue her beloved family members from their dire fates.

The enigmatic Harken, known as the Savage King, becomes an unexpected player in Zaria's quest. During the Arkady race, he claims her as a partner, driven by his own motives: to uncover the identity of the culprit responsible for rift openings and to break Zaria's slave weave. As they navigate a treacherous path filled with intrigue and danger, both fight the undeniable attraction that simmers between them, steadfastly pursuing their individual goals.

In this slow-burn fantasy romance, Lucy Holden weaves a rich tapestry of a world brimming with dragons, magic, social hierarchies, and hidden riches. The narrative, while intriguing, occasionally left me grappling with elements of the unique world-building. It diverges from the conventions of popular fantasy literature, presenting a fresh and distinctive lore, though one that is shrouded in mystery. While this adds to the allure of the story, it also left me yearning for a deeper exploration of the intricacies of this fascinating universe in future books.

I connected with Zaria as the eldest sister needs to protect her siblings at all costs. Her struggles to protect them, even when her choices inadvertently cause harm, make her a relatable protagonist. Likewise, Harken's burdened by a heavy sense of responsibility and a need for self-isolation had me rooting for him. 4 out of 5 stars.

Woven In Darkness is a slow burn fantasy romance with greek and Persian mythology. I haven't read Persian mythology before and I enjoyed reading this with it in it. I'm excited to read the next book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an arc of this book.

Unfortunately, that’s 6ish hours of my life I’ll never get back.

First and foremost, for anyone scanning reviews for the actual spice level (I can’t be the only one, right?), there is next to none. Seriously, I’d give this *maybe* 1/4 🌶️ because there is kissing (very little) and the two mains sleep together (no detail, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it). I was promised spice in the blurb, and there was so little spice that I’d be perfectly content if this was sitting on the library shelves of my kids’ catholic elementary school.

Now, let’s talk world-building, because I was also promised world-building. In order for world-building to be effective, the reader needs to SEE what the author is building. That does not happen here. I think the author has a great story in her head, but I’m not sure it translates to the page. I finished the book and I still do not know what the places are or who the various groups of people are. What is The Seam, the Interweave, or the Nexus? What’s the Drop? How do they relate to Astria? Is Astria the world, the country? What are the Paladin and Weavers and Pathfinders and Indigold? Are they the same species or race? And when people use their needles in the plot, what are they actually doing? I felt like the author did a brain-dump of people, places, and things, but never connected the dots.

Finally, our love story. Except, it’s not really that at all. Harken and Zaria have this odd, borderline-abusive (from both) relationship. Harken throws epic tantrums and disappears when Zaria asks any questions he decides are off-limits. Then he’ll come back a few days later and she’s all relieved, even though she literally barely knows him. Zaria creeps into Harken’s memories via her space braid and invades his privacy. Oh, did I mention she’s his actual SLAVE when they “fall in love” and get together? And when they get together? No lead-up, at all. There’s a minuscule amount of “he’s standing so close to me, it’s so intimate” in the first half of the book, but that’s it. And suddenly, they love each other.

I think this book had potential, but the storyline needed to be fleshed out more. Unfortunately, I do not think I will continue with this series.

When I say this book was everything, this book was everything!!! I was hooked from the very beginning to the very end. I honestly could not put this one down. The world building and character development were so strong, the magical elements were perfect, and the romance and all around tension were A+. This is the type of book I've been looking for after going through Sarah J Maas withdrawal. Highly recommend. Cannot wait for the sequel!!

I'm sorry, I don't normally do this, but I DNF'd at 42%
The plot sounded interesting, but there was so much info-dumping and it felt like we were being told what was happening instead of shown.
Once I put the book down I just didn't care enough about the story to pick it back up. It just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Holden, and Fehu Press for sending me an e-copy of the arc to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.

Woven in Darkness
Lucy Holden

5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Fehu press for my copy of Woven in Darkness by Lucy Holden. I have not received any compensation for this review. All thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own and mine alone.

In summary: A low magic fantasy with a low heat romance arc. Slow burn to start but satisfying finish, building up to next story in the series.

From the first page I was hooked with the world and the progression of the story. It was easy to follow and not convoluted in the fantasy land Lucy the author has built.
Zaria the heroine of this story is a slave with her siblings. Her ultimate goal is freedom as her siblings from Hodda. I found Zaria was well built as the main character and I found myself cheering for her despite the conflicts she faced as the story progressed.
The best element of this story was the Storm Dragon. I loved this concept and I could visualise Huxley (the storm dragon’s name) as she appeared in the story. I would love to see a story with just Huxley and her origins and maybe even beyond. I enjoyed reading about her, it gave me How To Train Your Dragon / Toothless vibes.
Zaria and Harken’s love story was built really well in terms of pacing, the character’s ‘dark night’ they face and then how they got their happily ever after resolution.
For a fantasy story I believe Lucy gave the story the right amounts of everything. I have seen other reviews discussing ‘info dumps’ at certain points of the story. I didn’t see that personally, I guess I was more focused on the romance element of the story.
The one thing I did have trouble with is the visualising of a tool that some characters had called either a gold or silver needle. I’m trying to imagine a wizard or sorcerer with a sewing needle, thinking how big is this needle? Is it another name for a wand? I didn’t feel I could get my head around these people using sewing needles or even maybe knitting needles.
Overall, as someone who doesn’t read much of fantasy, I did enjoy this book. I liked the pacing, the voice and the characters. I felt the villains were well thought out as well. I liked the character names and terms. I didn’t feel they were too bizarre or out there so much. I felt the action around the plot was sufficient to hold my interest despite the book length.
Thank you Lucy for a great book!

This book tells a captivating story filled with desperation, bravery, and the twists of fate. Zaria, a young woman, is determined to save her family. Her journey leads her to a moment that changes her destiny forever – a surprising claim by the Savage King, Harken.

Harken turned out to be a complex character, with a guarded exterior hiding vulnerability. Their interactions create a push-and-pull dynamic.

Zaria and Harken's relationship develops as they work together toward a common goal. Their interactions are full of banter, tension, and a chemistry that adds excitement to the story. They live in a world where alliances are fragile, and secrets have the power to reshape lives. Flashbacks provide insight into their shared history, revealing the motivations and wounds that shape their actions.

However the pace of the plot was a bit slow. This book does not end in a cliffhanger and can be read as a standalone.

This is a good read! It is a slower paced dark fantasy, but it will hold your attention if that’s what you are into. The world building is a bit complicated. There were times where the author dumped a lot of information that left me confused, but thankfully I ended up understanding it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy <3

Thank you to NetGalley for access to the book in exchange for an honest review.

Bottom line: good premise obscured by an over-abundance of detailed lore.

I was immediately drawn to the book by the absolutely lovely cover, the comparison to ACOTAR, and the blurb promising enemies-to-lovers court intrigue with a unique magic system. While the characters of Zaria (captive Chosen One) and Harken (king of a hidden court) had some snappy dialogue and interesting interactions, I felt overwhelmed by the rest of the characters and the lore. There was simply too much: too much Capitalization, too much world history dropped at once, too much telling instead of showing, too many named characters to keep track of... I found my attention wandering more often than it should've. This one simply wasn't for me. If you like lots of detail and history in your epic fantasies, this one might be for you.

This book was so DAMN awesome! I even had the audiobook with me and that just added more to its pre-existent perfection! The plot, the characters, the SLOW BURN... gosh! Everything was so well written and I loved, just LOVED, this book with all of my heart.
It's not a super quick read but it's definitely worth whatever time you take to read it. Honestly, for a long while I had this book on my shelf, just 70% completed, I didn't want this book to end, I didn't want the book to leave me hanging, wanting for more but then finally, I decided to complete it and it's something I regret and I don't at the same time. I don't regret completing it because this book was a masterpiece and I do regret it because I never wanted to come out of that world! This is such an awesome book and absolutely not one you can afford to miss!

Overall I really liked the storyline of this book, however I found it really hard to get into in the beginning. I am a regular fantasy reader so I know there can be a lot of info dumping in the first bit, however I just felt like some of the concepts were hard to grasp in the beginning. I did really like the characters and the story, but thought the world building was a bit hard to comprehend at first. I feel like Zaria is such a wonderful character and I can’t wait to see where the rest of this series goes!