listened to on audio format and loved the narrator. i fell in love with the magic system and characters. i do have to say though it took me a while to really understand and grasp what was happening throughout the beginnings of the story which i normally do not struggle with. as someone who loves romance, i did feel underwhelmed with the relationship between zaria and harken but didnt really mind because i was so engaged with the main story. overall i enjoyed this book but nothing was super memorable. will continue this story

This book is amazing! The world, the politics, the history, the magical system, the characters—everything about this story is intricate and unique to anything I’ve ever read.

The narration was done so well…I found myself bouncing between audio and eBook because sometimes I wanted to read it and other times I wanted to listen to it like hearing a bedtime story.

Absolutely a forever fan of Lucy Holden from here on out and am excited to go back to the rest of her books and spend more time in this world!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced listening copy of women in darkness. this was an interesting fantasy book, it started off pretty hard to follow but definitely got better.

Just finished reading an incredible book set in the captivating world of Astria! This high fantasy tale explores the struggles of Zaria, a strong and determined protagonist who fights against the prevalence of slavery. From the moment Zaria found herself by a dark rip as a child, she became the guiding light for her newfound siblings. But when tragedy strikes and her brother is lost, Zaria makes an unexpected connection with the enigmatic Savage King. 😳 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The author, Lucy, has crafted a complex and immersive world that kept me hooked from start to finish. The concept of the slave braid connection is truly fascinating, and the competitions had me on the edge of my seat, especially the thrilling slave race and the exhilarating Maverick race with gondolas! 🛶

The characters in this book are incredibly likable, and I loved unraveling the mysteries behind their true intentions. There is a character who identifies as 'they,' which took me a moment to grasp because at first it was a bit confusing, but that might be because English is not my native language. I do love this character and I’m sure you will too!⠀

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story to life. Though I occasionally struggled with some names and magical terms, I would recommend having the ebook handy as a reference. The narrator's use of different voices for various characters added an extra layer of immersion. 🎧 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

This book left me craving more, as it ends with an exhilarating cliffhanger! 😱 So brace yourself for an intense conclusion. If you enjoy a slow-burn romance, a richly imagined high fantasy world, and a strong-willed protagonist who embraces the consequences of her actions, then this book is perfect for you. 🔥

“Take what you want and pay for it”

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you love fantasy books with some sort of competition aspect, this one's for you. Zaria is a slave that dreams of freedom for herself and her siblings. She has no memory of her past, but she knows if she can win the slave race it might be her one opportunity to achieve her goal. However, when she is claimed by the Savage King, she makes an agreement with him - his court is in danger so she will stay as his slave for the season of Revels and he will free her in time for the Maverick's Race. There were definitely parts where I was confused with this book - the world is complex and I didn't always understand it. The romance was definitely slow-burn but the pacing was good. Overall, I liked it but I didn't love it.

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

Woven in Darkness by Lucy Holden is a captivating new adult fantasy romance that immerses readers in a world of magic and intricate power dynamics. Inspired by Persian and Greek mythology, this book delivers a thrilling tale of love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of freedom.

The story follows Zaria, a courageous young woman who is determined to liberate her siblings from the clutches of slavery. Her path intertwines with Harken, the enigmatic Savage King, who harbors his own secrets and keeps his court hidden behind a shroud of mystery. As they navigate a dangerous landscape filled with darkness and treachery, Zaria must confront her own hidden truths that bind her to Harken and may hold the key to their survival.

Holden's world building is rich and vivid, drawing upon mythological elements to create a tapestry of magic and intrigue. While the pacing occasionally slows as the intricate history of the world is revealed, this depth serves to enhance the understanding of the characters and their motivations, setting the stage for future installments in the series.

Violence, betrayal, and political maneuvering abound in this tale, adding layers of complexity to the narrative. The characters are well-developed, with Zaria's strength and determination shining through as she faces countless challenges. The emotional depth of the story is palpable, keeping readers engaged and invested in the outcome.

The book culminates in a satisfying finale that ties up key plotlines while leaving room for further exploration in future books. It is a testament to the author's ability to deliver a gripping story that balances action, romance, and intricate world building.

Overall, Woven in Darkness is a compelling start to a new fantasy series that offers a blend of fantasy, romance, and mythology. With its diverse cast of characters, immersive world, and emotionally charged narrative, it is a book that will leave readers eager for more.

Woven in Darkness was easily my favorite fantasy novel of the year so far. 5/5 stars and 10/10 recommendations! I think I found a new favorite author! Lucy Holden novels here I come!

I really enjoyed this book!
I wasn't sure how i felt about it during the first 15% or so, but once the story started picking up i was hooked and couldn't put it down. As an older sister myself i deeply related to the feeling of responsibility Zaria felt for her younger siblings and could feel her struggle.

I 100% recommend this book!

I thought the narration was very good aswell.

I want to preface this by saying this book wasn't for me but I finished the ARC provided by Netgalley. So my review is mainly based on what you'll get from this book.

Strong female lead
Morally grey MMC
Slow burn with little to no real spice.
World building
Character development

The book contains slavery, demons, alchemist and a dragon. The book is written very well and the narrator for the audiobook is pleasant and easy to listen to.

I found the book to be difficult to follow at times and a lot of information being provided at once.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

While I really enjoyed the book, I felt that there was something missing. I enjoyed the attention to details with world-building. The author did a great job explaining the difference to the tiers of people in the society that they live in. The plot was well done, but I wish that there could have been a glossary or more explaining about different things because I did find myself a few times confused and having to go back and reread. There is a lot of information that you get in the first part of the book that, it did feel like a little too much of an info dump. It could have been too that at the start of the book it was very slow paced, but don’t let make you DNF the book because it does pick up and the story starts to become clearer.

I thought the characters were the best part of the book. I loved that Zaria was a great main female character who was so strong in a world that thought nothing of her more than just a speck of dirt on someone’s shoes, I loved that she no matter what always thought of her siblings and wanted to make sure that she could give them the freedom that they deserved. You can see her love, her fight, the way she thinks things through before just jumping into something. I thought Harken was a perfect match for her, he is a little put offish and doesn’t really want anyone to see through the walls that he has built up, but you can see the cracks throughout the book start shining through and see the man inside of him and what he is wanting to create in the world. I do wish that we had a little more chemistry between the two main characters of this book, but this book is a YA book when it comes to the romance section, but it was done well. However, I loved the sweet storm dragon Huxley so much.

I received the audio book, and I thought the narrator Heather Takano did a wonderful job. She was able to keep me going through the book and really helped to bring the characters to life.

I will see what the next book will bring, because I must see if the next book will give us more answers. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys: Slow burn romances, Strong fmc, intense world building, YA fantasy.

I want to thank NetGalley and Fehu Press for the opportunity to review this book.

This is another book being marketed to fans of ACOTAR (and I'm ok with that). Very interesting world building with a unique magical set of rules. A little convoluted at times, but I'm interested in reading the next in the series.

I unfortunately have to DNF the audiobook at 64%. I was really trying to stick it out but this world was incredibly complex to try to understand over an audiobook. I just couldn’t keep track of the finer details and I just don’t think that was fair to the book. The concept of the story is interesting and the slow burn romance that was just beginning was everything and I did find myself just wanting to move forward to get to those parts between the savage king and zaria. There was also so much paused time between chapters that I often felt like my app was messing up. I do think this will be an amazing fantasy romance that people will love. And I hope to try to read it on my kindle once it is released to give it a better chance. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC for my honest review. If I read this book again I’ll be updating my review!

Read this if you love:
Romantasy
Slow Burns
Strong FMC
Morally Gray Men
Intense world building

Don't let the slow start have you putting this in the DNF pile. It picks up and then it just keeps going. The romance is light steam and slow burn. This is more epic fantasy than a heavy romance and the world-building is involved and fascinating. The storyline is cerebral. My favorite things about this story are the competition and the dragon. I listened to the audio, and it was ok. The narrator got better as it went on.
🪡Woven in Darkness
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚Slow start but don't give up
⚔️Unique competition 
🌶Slow burn
⭐️Epic fantasy 
🌎Detailed, extensive alternate world
🐉A dragon you will fall in love with

I enjoyed listening to this book so much! The narrator is wonderful and the story sucked me in. I can wait to listen to more by this author.

DNF @ 15% - I just cannot get into this! I feel like the plot is all over the place and have no idea what's going on. Unfortunately there is nothing here that is keeping me engaged so I'm not going to continue. Audiobook quality is great though - enjoyed the narrator.

"Take what you want and pay for it"

This book had a great complex worldbuilding and the way it mixes two different timelines really did it for me.
The pacing is slow at the beginning, the action starts around chapter eleven.

I posted a separate review on the ebook copy as I received a copy of both! This tale is intricately woven (pun FULLY intended) and the narrator really did the scene justice. I do have to say, I felt as if the information dropping was a lot, particularly during a lot of the dialogue, and a lot of names of people/places ended up lost on me and I had to consult with the ebook file. That being said, it’s very complex and needs your undivided attention!

I felt like a lot of information was thrown at the reader. I didn’t particularly enjoy this book. I did like some aspects of it, but it didn’t quite hit the mark.

I got this arc from NetGalley

A lot of world building and explanation of the magic system.

The ending for the books make or break, or separates a good book from a great book. Things get resolved, but also some of the resolutions are deus ex machina. So many threads and issues get wrapped up I dont know if I would be interested in reading the next installment, If there is one.

Spice 🌶️🌶️/5
Strong independent female lead
Original magic system

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own

This audiobook was amazing, would definitely recommend. If you love intricate world building, fantasy competitions, slow burn romance and morally grey male main character than this is the romantasy for you. I enjoyed the narrator as well. I definitely would give it 5 stars and am excited for the rest of the series!