This novel is well written with such a great found family. Holden has fleshed out great characters to root for. The world building is fantastic. Holden has delivered a vibrant, colorful, world that feels real.

I am not a fan of miscommunication plot points.

I did try really hard to get into this book but I just couldn’t do it. The narrators voice was a bit dry and I just found myself falling asleep. The book plot was also just very confusing in the beginning with very little information and too much action to understand what’s actually happening. Perhaps I will try again with the actual ebook and see if that fares better.

I am unable to rate this book because I had the audiobook on my phone and then I had to get a new phone and it was archived. I give them 3 stars to not mess up their ratings.

This one wasn’t for me. I DNF’d at about the 20% mark. I can be a mood reader sometimes so I do plan on picking it up again in hopes I can connect better with the story.

Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this book.

Eine Liebesgeschichte in einer mystischen Welt, die ihre eigenen Geheimnisse hat. Genauso wie Zaria und Harken. Zerstören die Geheimnisse die aufkeimenden Gefühle, oder können sie die Vergangenheit hinter sich lassen?

The morally grey villain we all want! A beautiful woven story about what the darkness can hide and how our inner darkness can be more scary then what surrounds you

This is a really good start in a series. Action packed, romance, swoon-worthy hero, and a strong and brave heroine. What more to ask for? This one is slow to get into, but well worth it in the end.

Many thanks to Fehu Press and Net Galley for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderfully narrated fantasy novel, however, the plot really wasn’t my jam. I enjoyed the characters and setting though!

This book will grab you from the start and won't let go. It's perfect for fans of dark fantasy romances like An Ember in the Ashes with its lush world-building and thrilling plot. Zaria, a slave with a burning desire for freedom, enters a deadly competition where only one can survive. But when she meets a mysterious stranger, her fate takes an unexpected turn. Harken, the morally grey anti-hero, is both captivating and dangerous. The forced proximity between him and Zaria sizzles with tension, while the unique magic system and detailed world-building create a truly immersive experience.

“Woven in Darkness” by Lucy Holden is a new adult fantasy romance novel that takes inspiration from Persian and Greek mythology. The story follows Zaria, a slave who is trying to free her siblings from the slave braids that bind them all.

The characters in the book are complex and realistic. Zaria is a strong heroine who is determined to free her siblings from slavery. Harken is a complex hero who is sworn to protect the immortal Weavers. The author has done an excellent job of creating a complex world filled with both lovable and hate-able characters.

The setting is a fully-realized world with rich world-building. The problems of the book revolve around freeing Zaria’s siblings from slavery and the danger that comes with it. The editing and fluidity of the writing are well-done. The plot is intricate and well-woven, with a slow-burn romance that is swoon-worthy.

The audiobook version of “Woven in Darkness” flows well, with Takano’s narration keeping you engaged throughout the entire book. Her voice fits the characters’ personalities well, and she does an excellent job of bringing the text to life. Her reading style is immersive, and she does a good job of differentiating between characters.

Based on the story, I would give “Woven in Darkness” a rating of 4 stars. The book is well-written, with a complex plot and well-developed characters. The only downside is that the world-building and terminology can be overwhelming at times. However, this is a minor issue that does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys new adult fantasy romance novels.

Could not get enough of this read!!! Zaria is a slave purchased for the Savage King, Harken. Her initial goal was to join a completion and win freedom for her and her siblings. Instead, she has been tasked by Harken to find out who is behind the Dark Rip that took her brother. Soooo much is going on in this one book! I probably would have suggested splitting this story up into, at the very least, a duology. I think it would behave given Holden the opportunity to go into more detail about the world she built. It may have also helped with getting the readers more invested in her characters. That aside, I really enjoyed the plot line and the relationship built between Harken and Zaria. The hateful banter and borderline hostility made this a very entertaining read. I would definitely pick up more by Holden.

Zaria and Harken <3

The two MC's had great banter in this book, and that's something I very much enjoy. The premise of this story was really interesting and the plot had me glued to the book until the very satisfying ending. If you like your books to end in a non cliff hangery way then you'll love this one. This really was a fantastic romance/fantasy book with all the right elements. I enjoyed it very much and would highly recommend. The narration was also really good!

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.

📚The premise of this story is intriguing. The start of the book is filled with a great deal of information and it does become tedious. However, it is an interesting story once further into the plot. The mystery of Zaria’s past as well as Harken’s future propelled me through. The audiobook narration was well done. Overall unique!

🎧Thanks to publisher, author, and NetGalley for an audiobook ARC of this story.

🔔Content: foul language, torture, cruelty, brothels

I am behind on this review, and for that I am sorry because it was a lovely story that I really enjoyed!!

This story follows Saria and my new book boyfriend, Harken. Saria is beholden to the slave braid around her neck, and until it’s removed, a slave she will remain. Her sisters are bought by the Indigold lords and her brother is gone. So all her actions are centered around trying to free them. However, her heart is struggling to stay out of it.

Trust is something Saria and Harken both struggle with and what they both need in order to have what they both want. Love, family, belonging, and ultimately. . . Each other.

I enjoyed this book via audio and think it was all the better for it. Fantastic narration.

Thank you NetGalley and Fehu Press for the ARC. It was a great read.

Blurb:
A BARGAIN. A RACE. AND A SECRET THAT BINDS THEM, BODY AND SOUL.
Swoonworthy, slow burn fantasy romance set in a fully realized world, with complex characters and an intricate plot.
“…a fantastically written, rich tale that is almost impossible to set down…”
“ . . .If you enjoyed ACOTAR you're going to love reading this.”
“…I normally don't enjoy fantasy books. I just can't get into them. This one, though, pulled me in immediately.”
ZARIA IS A SLAVE WITH ONE DREAM: FREEDOM.
Her brother is lost to a Dark Rip.
Indigold lords have bought her sisters.
And now Zaria has been claimed by Harken, the infamous Savage King.

Harken trusts no-one, not even the immortal Weavers he is sworn to protect. He keeps his Savage Court locked away behind the Woven mists.

Along with his past.

And his heart.

But now Harken’s court is in danger from an old enemy. And whoever is behind the plot seems determined to kill Zaria, making her the most valuable piece in a savage game.

In a bid to expose his enemies, Harken offers Zaria a bargain: play the part of his slave for Astria’s glittering season of Revels, and in return, he will help her win freedom and riches in the Maverick’s Race.

But Zaria has secrets of her own. Secrets that bind her to Harken, body and soul, and show her the past he guards so fiercely.

Telling him the truth means losing her chance at freedom. Concealing it means betraying his trust—and the Savage King doesn’t tolerate betrayal.

But the darkness is coming, and when it does, Zaria’ssecrets might be the only thing that can save them all.

Book review:
I thank netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC copy.
I was pleasently surprised by how much I liked the book. I normally find hardcore fantasy a bit hard to dake, as the worldbilding is normally hard to understand and I foound so many instances where I had a hard time diving into the story.
In this case I really loved the worldbuilding and found a deep connection with the main character, as as the older sister she is the one that feels all of the responsibility for helping her siblings and because of that makes mistakes. I am not a fan of the romance but I liked how yoned down it was, making the adventure the core of the novel. I liked the side characters and the creativity that came into the plot. I am intrigued to read the second novel of the series and can't wait to discover more from the character's past and entanglements.
I highly suggest this book.

DNF 15%

Sadly the writing just wasn’t for me, and i was having trouble following along.

Maybe it was just the audiobook, maybe my head just wasn’t in the game, but i cannot finish this book. One day i might finish this, but after months of trying to get into it i just gave up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Fehu Press for allowing me to read/listen this book.

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!

I think I would have probably better understood what exactly is happening in this book if I had read it instead of listening to the audiobook. Not that there was anything wrong with the narration; it was narrated quite well but the world building was pretty confusing and as a result my attention waned in places. The story is supposed to have taken some inspiration from Greek and Persian mythology but I couldn't figure out how it was incorporated. I think readers who love fantasy as a genre might like this story.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Fehu Press and the author for the ALC of the book.

Rating: ⭐⭐✨💫