This book delivered on all the romantasy goodness—grumpy, broody MMC? ✅ A heroine caught in a hero’s quest through a war-torn world? ✅ Fae, magic, high-stakes battles, and betrayals lurking in every shadow? ✅

The slow burn love story was painfully slow (like, I was practically begging them to just kiss already), but the tension? Immaculate. The world-building was rich, immersive, and full of layered politics, ancient magic, and secrets waiting to unravel.

And that ending? Let’s just say book two cannot get here fast enough.

If you love enemies to lovers with actual tension, morally gray characters making reckless choices, and a fantasy world that feels lived in, this one is for you.

This one started out so strong. I was so intrigued by the elemental magic, the mysterious prince and the politics at play but the execution just…tanked.

The romance felt insta lovey one second then ice cold the next and not in a purposeful way. There was too much time wasted with repetitive plot lines when we could have been building relationships among the characters.

Honestly one of my biggest issues was about the earth remanant—they made it seem like this unknown person was important to move forward with a prophecy but then stopped mentioning them by 50% all together? Maybe it’ll come up in later books but…idk. The bad guy story and reasons for being were also a bit confusing. Like I don’t really know why he did the things he did?

I’m bummed because the magic system is so coooooool. The found family was great and I adorreeddd king Soren but…that was it I guess.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy! It’s out 4/8!

The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson is a captivating fantasy with a lush, immersive world and a headstrong heroine at its core. The story weaves elemental magic, political intrigue, and slow-burning romance into an engaging plot that keeps the pages turning. While some pacing issues slowed the momentum at times, the compelling characters and rich descriptions made up for it. The cover is absolutely stunning—its vibrant design perfectly captures the ethereal, windswept magic of the book. A solid four-star read for fantasy lovers!

*Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for an ARC for an honest review*

Okay I honestly had to DNF this book at 42% (225 pages). Typically I’m a book-a-day(or two) girl. 225 pages in 5 days is abysmal for me. And I kinda feel like it was starting to show me an inkling of actual plot. Sooo I can’t keep going. I gave this a two star tho because I did enjoy parts of it, I could see myself trying this book again in audio (provided the narrators fit the dialectic vibes here).

SPOILERS ahead!!<spoilers>
This book’s wordage was hard for me to get into with the Scottish (kinda) old time English wordage. I felt very forced and just didn’t feel like it flowed well for me. But as for the plot: it’s just everyone is fighting. Everyone is at war. She has been hunted, captured, on the brink of death, freed and kidnapped, and just goes along with it. Girl has ZERO survival instincts. Other than she can shoot a bow. Like. Blaahhhh it shouldn’t take this long to introduce all the major players. They have “kept her in the dark” which means the read is in the dark and I’m just over it.

i really enjoyed this!! i love a good elemental magic system and how different they can be. this one was cool! i enjoyed all the characters and the story, and can’t wait to see where it goes from here. i wish we had more of the main character, rhya, really exploring and learning her powers, but i’m sure we’ll get that in the next book! def recommend checking this one out when it releases april 8th!

I was highly anticipating this book so receiving an arc was really exciting, that was until I started reading it. One thing I notices straight off the bat that not only was the initial world building really confusing, it was also alot of telling- not showing. The opening scene, the first chapter or two is just the female lead overhearing a conversation between two of her captors, the were discussing the lay of the land, their exact political circumstances, and what they planned on doing to her and to be totally honest it just didnt feel organic. Learning about the world through their dialogue, only to be backed up by the inner thoughts of the fmc, adding extra commentary and little bits of background information to explain it all to the reader. It didn't feel organic. Moving on to meeting Scythe and him now taking her captive , i did really enjoy their little banter, but again, so much telling. So much that felt like unnecessary details. Overall I was disappointed.
I think this book might have done better if it was marketed for a younger group, because this did not feel like an adult novel.

The Wind Weaver is an engaging and exciting new fantasy romance.

Rhya is fae, in a land stripped of magic where being fae means certain death if discovered by the mortals. She has spent weeks on the run after her village was ransacked, and captured by a group of mortals. When the Commander Scythe arrives to oversee the execution, she finds out that the strange birthmark she bears is actually a Remnant, a mark of elemental power. When Rhya learns of the Remnant prophecy, that when the four Remnants - Fire, Air, Water, and Earth - are reunited, magic will return to the land. Rhya must decide if she can trust the prickly and gruff Commander as he leads her through the wilderness, or if she should try to flee, and risk being captured again. Their desire heats up, and more secrets are revealed, leading Rhya to question her place in a larger story.

I really enjoyed this book! I read it over two evenings, and could not put it down. I was really intrigued by the elemental magic system, and the idea that the Remnants are reincarnated until all four are reunited. Rhya and Scythe also have a unique relationship, and I enjoyed seeing that evolve over the course of the book. I also enjoyed the found family elements. Rhya is alone at the beginning of the story, but eventually finds a place where she is accepted. I also enjoyed seeing her growth as a character - from discovering this power she never even realized she had, to embracing it. I am giving this a 4.5 stars, for small reasons. I wish there was a bit more on the relationship building between Rhya and Penn. They had a very tumultuous start, and while I enjoy the push/pull nature of their relationship, I would have liked a little more pull and a little less constantly pushing each other away. The reasoning for this is explained, though, and does fit with the story. I would also enjoy more depth in the world building - though I imagine more will come in the next book in the series. Overall, this was a fantastic and enjoyable fantasy read that kept me on my toes. I am looking forward to more in this series!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Berkley Publishing Group - Ace for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own!

I loved the quick chapters and high stakes but I wasn’t invested. I wanted more emotional or plot development but at 52% not much was happening so I put it down. I found myself frustrated that our FMC was reliant on multiple other male characters to explain things to her and help her navigate the world. She's theoretically a very powerful person but in the story she has limited agency and that wasn't working for me. Others in the buddy read adored it though so I'm sure many will find a new favorite with this story.

The Wind Weaver is a captivating fantasy debut by Julie Johnson that introduces us to Rhya Fleetwood, a 20 year old halfling fae. The story begins with Rhya's capture and impending execution, only for her to be saved by a mysterious stranger, setting her on an unexpected journey filled with adventure, prophecy, and self-discovery. As Rhya learns more about her true nature and becomes entrenched in a mission to save her world, the reader is swept into an immersive and fantastical experience.

Julie Johnson’s writing in The Wind Weaver is so beautiful with prose that flows effortlessly, pulling you into a richly detailed world with lush descriptions and a sense of magic that feels alive.

While the book has a lot of potential, there were a few aspects that I found a bit lacking. The main issue for me was the male main character, Penn. While it seems like we’re meant to be drawn to his grumpy, broody, and violent nature, I personally didn’t like him at all. His possessiveness, overprotectiveness, secrecy, and overall treatment of Rhya was terrible. He continually kept important information from her, particularly regarding her own powers, which felt manipulative rather than protective. I’m not sure if the author made his character this way so we would root for a different romantic outcome for Rhya or if we really are supposed to like Penn.

The romance between Rhya and Penn just really didn’t feel authentic. There seemed to be a lack of genuine chemistry between them beyond their shared magical connection. Rhya is the typical romantasy lead. She comes from a small town and knows nothing about the powers she possesses, she’s snarky and can take care of herself. Something I really loved about her character was that she had such beautiful empathy and felt so deeply. I was really rooting for her and felt like she deserves so much better than Penn. I continually found myself hoping for the hinted-at love triangle to come into play. Im really excited to see where this possible love triangle takes us in the next books.

Lastly about of MMC Penn…his full name is Pendefyre! Why Pendefyre?!

For those hoping for a romance-heavy or spicy read, The Wind Weaver might not be the book for you. The romance is fairly light, with only one scene where things start to get physical but there is no follow through in the intimacy. This isn’t a book that leans into the spicy or steamy aspects of romance, so if that’s what you’re looking for, you may be disappointed.

Despite these critiques, I am looking forward to the next installment in this trilogy. This was extremely reminiscent to ACOTAR so I’m hoping as the story unfolds it becomes more original. It has the bones to be a great story and for a debut fantasy it was really immersive and well written. Julie Johnson has long been a favorite author of mine, and I’m thrilled to see her venturing into the fantasy genre. I’m excited to see where the story takes us next.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

4ish stars. Buckle up book tok, because The Wind Weaver is going to be huge. It has a lot of the components that will end up making this a seriously popular romantasy release: 1) the meet cute- the heroine is saved but also essentially kidnapped by the MMC and from the get go, 2) their tension is palpable. 3) The FMC has a one of a kind power that the entire world is searching for, and 4) the MMC is pretty morally gray when it comes down to protecting her. He will literally go full on scorched earth, and that's causing me some serious swoon. And I think all of these things combine to make The Wind Weaver a seriously popular romantasy release for 2025. Plus, look at that stunning cover.

The Wind Weaver features an elemental magic system, which is definitely a magic system that I've seen before, but is also a magic system that I always enjoy. The book is 500 pages, and towards the end, I did start feeling the length a bit. I do think it could've been shorter. There is, however, a TON of action. Why didn't I rate this higher? I felt like there kind of was no plot, and even though there was a lot of action, I honestly just kept waiting for some sort big reveal or twist or moment that never came. The author also did their share of telling rather than showing, which is a bit of a pet peeve of mine. That said, I did find The Wind Weaver to be really entertaining. I can absolutely see myself reading book 2. And let it be known that I'm officially obsessed with Soren. I lived for all the Soren scenes and I'm hoping we get even more of him in the next book.

Thank you so much to Johnson, Berkley Romance/ Ace, and netgalley for a complimentary copy.

thank you to berkley publishing group and netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

3.75/5 stars rounded up

let me start off by saying the writing itself was beautiful, chalk full of poetic prose and world-building (though i did miss not having a map). it was easily digestible, giving me a clear vision of the scene i was reading into my head. and while all together i enjoyed my time reading this book, unfortunately many of the elements lacked originality and felt copy and paste for many books the fantasy romance genre already offers. i found the tropes and dialogue quite predictable, and while that isn’t necessarily a bad thing as fantasy romance is my favourite genre, it didn’t resonate with me the way i normally expect it to. i love elemental magic systems and especially the reincarnation aspect of the four remnant powers (very avatar: the last airbender esque, as has been mentioned in other reviews), but the history of how the remnants came to be was glazed over pretty quickly and i struggle to remember the importance of some key pieces to the plot which isn’t a good sign. they also mention how important it is for all of them to control their powers as the strongest living beings in the land, foremost for rhea considering she JUST learned she had this power, yet she goes through no level of training and instead is just able to harness her power without a problem when they need her most even though she had lost control every time she tried throughout the book. this is a huge plot hole for me.

the characters, while intriguing, lacked the dimension and depth i was hoping for. i was waiting for a little more oomph, a bit more of a opportunity to believe these characters had a reason to care about each other, but it kind of just felt insta-connecty. her “found family” in the princes inner circle accepted rhea right away with no background to their banter and relationship. same goes for the romance—while they continually referred to each other as enemies, you could feel the lust almost right away between the two of them to the point where it almost didn’t make sense. it was semi explained that all remnants feel a pull in their souls for each other, but that didn’t really appease me for an explanation. this was not to say there was not tension and yearning between the two as there definitely was (penn had me kicking my little feet and squealing a few times there) but it didn’t feel believable as an enemies to lovers romance. this story also could have drastically benefitted from a duel POV between the main characters—felt like a massive missed opportunity to fit in some backstory and buried underlying feelings.

this is not to say i didn’t have a good time with this one. i wholeheartedly did, and am super interested in finding out what happens next, especially since it’s probably going to focus a lot on soren (are we about to be tamlin’ed???). i’m hoping julie will really lock in on the next instalment and blow me away as we dive deeper into the premise.

I give this book 4 1/2⭐️ I really enjoyed this book the world building was done so beautifully while not taking away from the story and the characters and the slow burn and tension and the battles action done great

Julie Johnson's The Wind Weaver had me hooked from the beginning. This book is action-packed with great pacing in the storyline. Once I started reading, it was extremely difficult to put it down.

We open with Rhya Fleetwood, a halfling with a mysterious birthmark, on the eve of her execution. This scene sets the stage for the rest of the story, so it's important not to breeze through the first couple of chapters. Julie's book is rich in detail and prose and every word matters in telling the story. Rhya's execution is halted when Commander Scythe slays every last captor and takes her on an unknown journey. And what a journey it is.

Rhya and Scythe meet up with some men that Scythe knows, but they call him Penn (short for Pendefyre). I love the subtly in his name because later on, there will be a moment when you're like, "oh wow, that's why she named him Pendefyre." Or least that was my reaction. By this point in Rhya and Penn's journey, the tension between the two is top=notch and it's a slow-burn to something more. And I have to mention Soren. He's infuriating to both Rhya and Penn, but for different reasons. I'll have to admit Soren adds a slight love triangle angle to the story and I'm not going to lie, I love it.

This book is long, over five hundred pages, but there was never a lull in the story. I need the second book ASAP because that ending was fantastic! One final note--I've seen some people a bit confused about the story's connection with the book cover. All I can say is that you have to pay extra close attention to the story in order to make the connection. Once you do, your mind will be blown!

Without a doubt, pick up a copy of Julie's debut on April 8th! Thank you Berkley and Ace Books for the e-ARC in exchange for the honest review!

THE WIND WEAVER begins a new fantasy series. Given that fact, it should also be noted that the book ends on a cliffhanger.

Rhya Fleetwood is rescued by a man who is named by those around him as Commander Scythe. He shows up at an opportune moment since she has been captured by soldiers and is on the verge of being executed for being half fae.

Cammander Scythe throws her on the back of his horse like a sack of grain and hauls her off to an unknown destination. He barely speaks to her and doesn't answer any of her questions about where he is taking her or why until they reach their mysterious destination in the Northlands.

Once there, Rhya learns that the strange birthmark on her chest means that she is one of four fated Remnants who are prophesied to be able to cure the ills of the land which began when humans overthrew and massacred all the fae they could find. The human population is still hunting down and killing any fae or half fae that they can find and the land is blighted and getting more blighted every day while the humans divide the lands among more and more ineffective kings.

Rhya learns that she is the third Remnant to have been found. Water is King Soren of Llyr who has quite a reputation for brutality among the humans. Fire is Prince Pendefyre who has been masquerading as Commander Scythe and who has been traveling the human lands in search of the Air Remnant who happens to by Rhya.

But before they can search out the Earth Remnant, they need to deal with an enemy who wants to capture Rhya for her maegic and conquer all the fae in the Northlands. And Rhya has to learn to use her Air powers - powers she didn't even know she had.

It doesn't help that Rhya thinks she is falling for Penn who isn't willing to do anything because of his bad experiences with the previous Air Remnant.

This was an entertaining Epic Fantasy that hits a lot of the tropes of the genre. I enjoyed it and will be looking to continue that story as further books are published.

I thought this was an excellent romantasy that had some great elements that I haven’t seen in other books yet! I do think during the middle of the book the plot felt flat and the lack of training for the FMC was vert disappointing for me.

4.5 ⭐️ This book caught my interest from the very first page!!!!

- Enemies to lovers
- Magical prophecy,
- Halflings, faes, humans
- Mythical creatures
- Found family
- Forced proximity

We follow the story of Rhya, a halfling (half human half elf) on the run. The kingdom of Anwyvn is in war and her hometown was destroyed. In the past, it was ruled by a fae emperor and magic was seen as a gift to be embraced. Humans and fae lived in harmony. At some point, things changed. The mortals overthrew the emperor and magic became punishable by death. Bloodline mixing was outlawed and the land started dying, poisoned and no longer producing crops, with mortals living short lives full of hunger and suffering.

The story begins with Rhya being saved from execution by commander Scythe, a mysterious and rude man who exchanges very few words with her but seems determined on ensuring her well being with no apparent reason.

Rhya has a mysterious birthmark and eventually discovers she is a Remnant. There’s a prophecy that speaks of a fae tetrad, where four souls with different powers (fire, wind, water and earth) are fated to restore balance to the land. Rhya has the ability to command the wind and must learn to master her strong powers that can very much kill her if she loses control over it. She navigates a complicated journey with the Scythe, Pendefyre, discovering she has a much deeper connection to him than anticipated. Both try to avoid their feelings towards each other, but the bond and pull they feel is so strong and complex that it becomes inevitable.

The story starts strong with action right from them beginning, and then it gets a bit of a slower pace mixed with some quick action moments as we get more of the world building. The plot twists and reveals put my heart in my throat.

It really feels like we are living through Rhya’s eyes, constantly feeling frustrated with what’s happening to her but at the same time curious and eager to put together all the small bits of information we slowly get along the way.

Pendefyre is an immortal, he has lived through so much and has been fighting for so long against the war that he became a stiff and controlling person, keeping people at an arm’s length and not allowing himself to get too close to anyone.

This book is a SLOW SLOW burn with little spice. So much angst and tension that made my heart beat faster and feel the same longing and yearning that our main characters were feeling. Rhya and Penn, I’m rooting for you!!!!

I felt like this was a good balance in between plot and character building. It gave us just enough information to understand what’s going on and to be extremely curious for what’s coming next. There’s a trope there that gets more suggestive towards the end that makes me a little nervous, but I’m having faith for the people I’m rooting for (please Julie, consider this my plead)!! 😹❤️

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this eARC.

Prickly Rhya and Scythe are right at home in mainstream romantasy, with a hefty dose of repressed ancient powers, protective instincts, and magical bonds and ceremonies to please the trope collectors. Nothing wrong with a by-the-numbers fae romance, but in this case I didn’t understand the lead relationship at all. Stubbornness, proximity, a mystery connection, something something? Maybe try being nice to each other? The most interesting part for me was the magic and elemental reincarnation, which evokes both Avatar: The Last Airbender and Rise of the Guardians, a pairing I didn’t know I needed.

Contains adult language. Low spice.

Assorted notes:
- 1st person present POV
- There’s a phoenix on the cover? Did I miss the in-book phoenixes?
- The local holiday known as Fyremas. Discuss.
- An unfortunate reality of being a former resident of the great state of Pennsylvania is that anyone named Penn doesn’t conjure up the desired allure or mysticism.

The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson is a thrilling and magical adventure filled with intrigue, danger, and undeniable chemistry. Rhya, a halfling in a world where magic is feared, is saved from execution by the enigmatic Commander Scythe, only to find herself entangled in a dangerous journey. As she discovers the true extent of her power and her fated role, she must navigate a realm on the brink of destruction—and the growing attraction to the man who could destroy her.

Johnson expertly blends romance with high-stakes adventure, creating a world full of tension and wonder. Rhya’s journey of self-discovery is compelling, and the slow-burn tension with Scythe adds layers to their intense dynamic. With an engaging plot, vivid world-building, and a fiery romance, this is a must-read for fans of romantasy.

this was one of my most anticipated reads - i am so thanful i was able to read it. i really, really loved the story and the way this was written!!

I really liked this book, but there were a few plot points that just fell flat for me. A lot of the book is world-building and establishing relationships which I enjoyed, but the main character basically does no training the whole book. It's established early on that Rhya has considerable skill with archery, but other than that she doesn't really train in combat or her magic. It's really frustrating to me and I wish the character would have developed more.

The base of the story is that Rhya gets rescued from her own execution and discovers that she's not an ordinary halfling. She's a Wind Weaver, basically she is one of four elemental Fae destined to help restore balance. The man who saves her is frustrating and hot. There are a few steamy moments, but no sex scenes. I do think that future books will have more steam to them, but this one was relatively tame. I think this book does a lot of groundwork and I'm excited to see where the story goes.

This book is a good fantasy book and I think the next installment will be even better.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing - Ace for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.