The premise of this book felt fresh and fun. From the first chapter, I was hooked! The writing and plot very strongly reminded me of a Holly Black book, which was certainly a plus. Although I loved the magic and worldbuilding of this book, I felt that the characters and their relationships with one another fell flat. Most of the characters got on my nerves at some point and none felt like they were well-rounded, instead fitting into exhausted and expectable archetypes.

The only thing that I really disliked about this book was the subplot of Brick and Terra's relationship, which made me feel uncomfortable and angry. It's established in the book that Terra has rejected Brick several times, but he still goes out of his way to ask her out again and again to her discomfort. The scene where she's trying to escape from the hallway as he makes his way to ask her out with flowers felt more like it belonged in a horror story than a YA book. I would have been okay with this if it was written as what it was– off-putting and harassive– but it felt like Brick was treated more like he was the victim when Terra turned him down, meanwhile he had crossed her boundaries and refused to listen to her when she told him that she was not interested. I didn't appreciate it at all how Terra was treated like she was in the wrong for this by everyone– including herself. It was increasingly frustrating to read about how Brick apparently got his heart broken by a girl he was told several times wasn't interested in him, and it honestly did make me want to stop reading a bit. I don't think it's constructive to push this sort of message that a girl is in the wrong for not reciprocating someone else's feelings– especially when that someone has disrespected hers several times like Brick had to Terra. I was very glad that this subplot took a backseat in the last part of the book.

Woven From Clay is an interesting take on magic and golems, weaving in high school/teenage dynamics and drama seamlessly. Terra is beginning her senior year of high school when new kid Thorne gives her a reality check - that she's not just an adopted girl but like every other child in town that was adopted, she's actually a golem created by a powerful warlock... and Thorne is there to bring the warlock to justice which will result in all of his creatures disappearing for good. Birch wove together all the teenage emotions while Terra processes her new reality and what that could mean for those around her, and I loved her determination the most. I definitely appreciated the ending and how it could leave the door open for another Terra and Thorne adventure!
Thanks, St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books, for the arc!

This YA book follows Terra who is navigating her senior year of high school in her small town. Only, she finds out that her and many other adopted kids in town are not really human, but golems. So Terra and her friends must use their own magic to help save themselves before a council has them destroyed. This had good readability, but I found it to be a little young for me. While it is labeled YA, I thought it didn't have the depth I look for in my reads typically.

While the writing itself wasn’t terrible, I couldn’t connect with this book. It felt verrrrrry YA, maybe perfect for the 13-16 age range. Terra wasn’t a bad character, but I also couldn’t connect with her. Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC.

A slow starting, but amazing modern magical fantasy about what makes us human and finding our power. I want more!

Books about Jewish folklore always warm my heart and remind me of my Litvak grandfather's bedtimes stories. I've loved the concept of Golem's ever since reading The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, and the concept was similarly well-explored here. While the folklore was well-researched and thoughtfully integrated, the rest of the story didn't live up to my expectations. These days, romantic love triangles in fantasy are almost an instant turn-off for me, and I thought the heavy focus on this tiring dynamic took page space away from what was actually a very interesting plot and magic system. Another example and an over-reliance on popular tropes sinking a story with genuinely interesting original material.

This was a heartwarming story about Terra, who is adopted and at times feels she doesn’t fully belong. Even though she is surrounded by family and friends that love and support her, and she is very successful in her High School endeavour's, she still feels lost. After discovering who she really is and then faced with the possibility of her and others’ being unraveled, she does all she can to fight for her right to exist against those who believe that she doesn’t belong. Great message of resiliency, what it means to be human (the good, bad, and ugly) and how expansive the definition of family is. The fantasy element was okay, simple. It was the basis for the character’s story/ journey. I think the core of the story was about discovering who you are, your purpose, and proving to yourself that you are worthy of existence and love.

I was so excited to read this book. I love a story about witches and it was a fun twist to see the main character was actually not the witch in question.

The story was just ok. The premise laid out in the synopsis really wasn’t the focus for most of the book which was confusing but overall, it was an ok story.

I had some issues with the writing as well as the naming conventions. All of the golems were names after very obvious “earth” references and it felt silly.

Similarly, the writing itself was clunky. It needs more editing or a good read out loud to really hear how the dialogue in particular could use some tweaks.

Lastly, I know it’s fiction, but the logistics of the world didn’t really hold. The golems clearly age but what are they supposed to do after the story ends? Most of them don’t know what they are. Can they also harness magic?

The story seems to ask the question if the golems are “human” but kind of fails to answer it with actual logistics. Terra and friends are definitely human in the sense that they have feelings, hopes, dreams, etc. but the problem I had is that they are only human when it’s convenient for the writing.

As I mentioned above, I liked this but I think the story and writing need work. It’s a cool concept but the execution was not there for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Woven From Clay by Jennifer Birch is a tender, introspective debut that beautifully explores healing, heritage, and the quiet strength found in everyday life. With lyrical prose and heartfelt characters, Birch crafts a story that lingers like a whispered truth passed down through generations. A gentle yet powerful read.

This had that fantasy romance element that I was looking for and was invested in what was happening. The golem element worked well overall and was glad it was so well done, and engaging from the story, I really felt for Terra in this story and was so well done. The characters had that overall feel worked in the fantasy element that I was wanting. I was glad I was able to read this and loved the way Jennifer Birch wrote this.

This was sooo interesting!!!! I mean, a mc who discovers she isn't born but made of mud and magic?! WHOA, how cool! I was very excited to read it! In fact, I think that the worldbuilding with the golems was the best part of the book!
- I liked Thorne and Terra in a sort of nostalgic kind of way. He's the broody handsome guy, she is the girl who discovers things about her. They make an agreement neither really wants and fall in love. Look, I get it, it's not groundbreaking, but what can I say? I liked it!
- The pacing was a bit off, though. We spent too long on setting things up and for Terra discovering she is a golem.
- The part with the witches was a tad confusing, too. What exactly was their purpose?

Overall, this is a lovely contemporary fantasy with unexpected creatures (GOLEMS!) that reminds you of early 2000s fantasy. I'd read another book in this universe.

I received a copy through NetGalley and the publisher, thank you for the approval!

This one was pretty solid, it does however read less YA and more like a Teen or Middle Grade book.
Even though the main character was a High School student, there was nothing stronger romantically than teen love professions and kissing.

Terra is a senior, who seems like a pretty great well rounded kid, with a good ethic and is pretty happy with her adopted parents and trying to let her best friend know that despite his feelings she sees him more as a brother and is looking for a way to let him down gently.

She lives in a non descript small town where many of the children were adopted by families who really wanted kids, a community figure Mr. Quill helped facilitate those adoptions

Turns out Mr. Quill is a bit more than the polite, quiet older man the community loves and respects- he’s a warlock who’s wanted for crimes and Terra and her friends who he helped get adopted aren’t really human. They’re actually very well crafted golems, constructed from mud and magic.
But here’s the thing, they don’t function like any golems the witch council has ever seen and Terra may be a golem, but she has her own magic but she’s running out of time to save herself and her friends from being unmade.

While I personally found it a tad more juvenile than my usual reads, it was pretty solid. A good mix of light petty teenage drama, character grown and development, unlearning magical and personal biases, taking ownership of themselves and finding out hidden secrets and than everything is not as it seems.
It’s got a nice resolution and happy ending.

Woven From Clay is a YA fantasy about high schooler Terra and the new kid in town who rocks her world by revealing that she is a Golem. The books follows Terra in her search for her identity in a new, immersive, magical world.

picked up Woven from Clay not knowing what to expect, but it completely floored me. From the first chapter, I was hooked by Terra’s journey—her confusion, her longing to belong, and the raw, relatable struggle with her identity. The reveal that she’s a golem, crafted from mud and magic, was both shocking and fascinating, and I instantly rooted for her as she tried to make sense of her new reality.
What really made this book special for me was how much I connected with Terra’s emotional arc. Watching her go from lost and unsure to someone who embraces her power was incredibly satisfying. The magic system, with its weaving and tangible threads, felt vivid and alive, and I loved how the world-building was rich without ever being overwhelming.

The slow-burn romance with Thorne had me on edge the whole time—the tension and respect between them made every scene together electric. I found myself wishing for a few chapters from Thorne’s perspective, just to see how he was processing everything.

#thankyounetgalley

strong female character- check
fun urban fantasy- check
broody male love interest- check
slow burn - check
enemies to lovers- check
This was a very fun fast paced read and I definitely recommend it for young adults looking to get into YA novels and fantasy. I think it's got the perfect mix of relatable but also fantastical which is perfect for people trying to get into the fantasy genre. It also has this coming of age vibe thats very well suited for teens!

Story was too slow. Did not finish it. Couldn’t stay connected to the story or characters. Maybe it’s for the younger age group

An interesting & unique premise but there were some plot holes I was struggling to move past! I don’t full understand the issue with the golems but I think this would be a fun read for middle schoolers!

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. A very different kind of fantasy and new concept (to me) with golems. Whilst it does present the usual high school cliques and teenage angst, there is also so much more in this high stake story with complicated relationships and relatable characters, found family, elemental magic and hope. A refreshing and niche fantasy must read for fans of this genre.

Terra Slater doesn't know anything about her birth family or where she comes from, Still she is determined to mame her senior year her best yet. Everything is going great until the dark and mysterious Thorne Wilder, a magical bounty hunter, arrives in town, bringing revelations that will upended everything.

When Terra learns she is a golem, crafted from mud and magic by a warlock, her world is turned upside down. The warlock who made her, is a fugitive, on the run from the witches who want to hold him accountable for his past crimes. His sentence is death, which would unravel the threads of magic that hold Terra, and all of the other golems that he created, together.

In order to save herself and her friends, Terra strikes a deal with Thorne and his coven to preserve the warlock’s life and his magic. If she can prove her worth to the coven by mastering the magic within her, the golems will survive. If she can’t, they’ll perish along with Cyrus.

The cover of the book is fantastic. It's dark and mysterious. The beginning has a completely different feel to it though. I was a little thrown at how the story began and it takes a while to get into things.

The story is a unique and concept. I just didn't have as much fun with it as I expected. I definitely can see many other readers enjoying this though.

There was a glitch with this book title. I could not upload, or read a copy of this book through NetGalley. So, I cannot review it.
Pennsylvania Literary Journal: Spring 2025 issue: https://anaphoraliterary.com/journals/plj/plj-excerpts/book-reviews-spring-2025