Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the chance to read Woven from clay by Jenny Birch. I requested this YA fantasy because I was intrigued by the main character being a Golem; a magical being not usually portrayed in a positive way. I was able to immerse myself right away in the story of Terra whose is unaware that she is anything but human, and the mysterious boy that shows up at her school assuming she is aware of how she was created. What I really liked about Woven from clay was there wasn't too much world building at the beginning, and I was able to just enjoy the story. Its a great book for anyone looking for a unique approach to magic and witches and totally recommend it for teens, and anyone who enjoys YA fantasy!

Woven From Clay has an interesting, unique premise-the main character, Terra, is a golem, a creature made of clay by a warlock, and she is only just now finding out about it because of this mysterious new dude who has been lowkey stalking her for a while, planning to use her to find the AWOL warlock for his crimes. And also, it's Terra's senior year of high school and she plans for it to be her best year yet.

I do think younger readers (the intended age range, like, high schoolers) will enjoy this more than I did! It features a lot of high-schooly things, like projects, theater, football games, school council, and trying to figure yourself out. It's unique lore and mythical beings (I looked up golems and learned they are originally beings from Jewish folklore! The more you know!) and it's got a pretty cut-and-dry plot.

However, most of the characters came off pretty one-note to me. Terra is a rule-following good girl, and Thorne is a mysterious guy who is an antagonist, then helper, then love interest. It's sorta bland, and though I see its merits, I didn't enjoy it very much. I think probably the main thing keeping me from fully being into it is just the writing style. It's ploppy, and I don't know how to better describe it.

In conclusion, I thought it was fine, but didn't care for it much. I'd recommend it to people who want an easy, quick read and want something new and fresh! Especially younger readers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC!

“Woven from Clay” is Jenny Birch’s first contemporary YA fantasy novel about a high school senior who finds out she is golem when a boy-witch from the Hunters Guild comes to her small town looking to arrest the warlock who made her (unbeknownst to her).

This felt weirdly like I was watching a 2000s era Disney Channel movie, but in the best way: it had a fun plot, angsty teenagers, the quintessential high school setting (accompanied, of course, by high school romances, bullies, and Fall Ball) and with just the right amount of magic.

I have never read anything like this before, especially because it’s urban fantasy (which I did not realize before reading it), and made it very binge-worthy. I liked how the author dove a little deeper into the FMC’s feelings regarding being adopted, and there was GREAT found family. Throughout the story is also woven this idea about what makes us human/valuable in this world, which was neat. I wish there was more golem mythology explained and explored, and
less same-sex couples, but overall it was a fun read.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Terra Slater is your average small town American teenage girl. Excited for her senior year of high school. Ready to take on the year and have fun with her two best friends before they go their separate ways for college. However, when new student, Thorne Wilder, shows up out of the blue - seemingly hating Terra and yet demanding all of her time - both have to learn to navigate the year with each other. Thorne, mysteriously magical thinks Terra can lead him to someone he's looking for, while Terra doesn't know what he's talking about. Both may just be wrong about everything they've ever known.

This novel was a unique take on YA forbidden love, will-they-won't-they, and save the world. I think it definitely has an audience that would love it. Personally it just used too many of my "no thank you words" to find enjoyable. To be fair, when you're talking about golems which are made of mud, I'm not sure how you can get around "plop", "squelch", "sluice", and the like - but it just took what truly is an inspiring and uplifting story and made it kind of gross. For me.

An interesting take on the mythology of a Golem, Woven from Clay is a coming of age story that questions what it means to value life (of all sorts) and what it means to be human. Overall, I think the world-building was good and that the plot was interesting. Some of the characters felt more compelling to me than others, and I tend to be a character-driven reader. Because of this, it took a bit of time for me to get really into the book. Once I hit a certain point (about a third of the way through, I think) I was definitely hooked though.

While this was an easy read, it wasn't all that for me.
The characters were okay, and the plot felt a bit cheesey at times. I may not be the right age demographic for this as it read just a little too young for me.

Woven From Clay was exactly what I needed. It was simple and flowed easily. I felt Terra's frustration with Jett, and her desire to do the right thing.
I really enjoyed how it all felt grounded, which is important for a story where the central question is what makes a person. In times like these it's important to be reminded that our differences don't make us any less human.

Book: Woven From Clay
Author: Jennifer Birch
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. I was unsure as to what rating to give this one. I went back and forth between a three and a four star. I did end up deciding on a four-star rating. This reminded me of so much of the YA books of the 2010s. If you loved those books, then you will love this one.

Terra Slater has never known where she came from, yet she’s determined to make her senior year unforgettable. Everything shifts when Thorne Wilder, a mysterious new arrival with dangerous secrets, appears in her quiet town. Thorne is a magical bounty hunter, and his presence brings answers Terra never expected. She discovers she isn’t human at all. She is a golem, crafted from clay and spellwork by a warlock named Cyrus Quill. Now Quill is a wanted man, hunted by witches for crimes that carry a death sentence. His death would unravel the magic holding Terra and every golem he created together. With time running out, Terra strikes a risky bargain with Thorne and his coven. Mastering the magic woven into her being is the only way to save Quill’s life and protect her own. Failure would mean losing everything. As she learns to harness the threads of power that shape their world, her unlikely partnership with Thorne deepens into something more. Terra begins to understand what it means to have magic, to choose her future, and to fight for the people she loves.

This is a solid addition to the young adult fantasy genre. While it doesn’t necessarily break new ground, it offers a familiar and comforting story that echoes the tone and structure of many YA books from the 2000s and early 2010s. For readers who grew up during that era, it feels like a nostalgic return to the kinds of stories that defined the genre, complete with a magical secret, a mysterious boy, and high-stakes choices about identity and destiny.
The novel moves quickly, making it an easy and engaging read. The plot unfolds at a fast pace, and while the worldbuilding and character development are not especially deep, they are strong enough to keep the story grounded. It may not surprise readers who have experienced similar narratives, but it delivers on what it promises.
One of the book’s strengths lies in the questions it raises about what it means to be alive. Terra, a golem made from mud and magic, is forced to wrestle with her sense of self, her origins, and whether her life has meaning outside of the magic that created her. This also ties into the larger theme of good versus evil, particularly in the way it explores moral ambiguity. The warlock who made her is seen as both a criminal and a creator, and Terra’s journey forces her to challenge simplistic ideas about right and wrong.
Terra herself is a great lead. She’s determined, compassionate, and relatable. Her emotional growth feels authentic, and her bond with Thorne, though familiar in its setup, still carries emotional weight. Watching her come to terms with her identity and claim agency over her fate adds heart to the narrative.
While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it does what it sets out to do with care. It offers a fast-paced, emotionally resonant story that will appeal to fans of classic YA fantasy. For those who miss the kinds of books that once filled teen shelves in the early 2000s, this one may feel like a return home.

Overall, I thought this was a solid read. It’s not going to be for everyone, but I did enjoy the quickness and lightness of it.

This book comes out on August 12, 2025.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/bEaL-wYiXdI

I felt the book could have delved deeper into the golem mythology. Exploring their origins, purpose, and magical mechanics in more detail would have been fascinating, as it felt like we only got a glimpse of their potential

This was really sweet and fun. I'll admit I found some aspects of the story overdone and predictable, but I was able to get over that and enjoy the lovely little romance, the magic, and all the characters and their growth. I liked the golem aspect and how the MC was able to identify her worth and come into herself, like any good YA protagonist does. Overall, it was an light and enjoyable read.

Huge thank you to Jenny Birch, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy!

I love folklore retellings and was so excited when I saw the synopsis to Woven From Clay that I messaged Jenny Birch on IG to inquire more about her inspiration. As a the daughter of a Jewish adoptee, the characters' feelings of abandonment are close to my heart. My self-hype around this book did not disappoint! The characters are complex, the plot pulled me in and kept me suspended in anticipation, the writing was YA friendly while engaging enough for older readers, like myself. The ending left room for a series, while wrapping up the story neatly. In short, this book is everything I had hoped it would be and MORE!

If you love folklore, Golems, and a new spin on old fairytales, this is the book for you!

Tropes:
- found family
-coming of age
-redemption arc
-chosen one
-forbidden love

Woven From Clay reads like a classic early 2000’s young adult novel: a very intriguing magical premise, with a “she’s not like other girls and her bf is in love with her” lead, and a main mystery man full of secrets. It will 100% find its audience, and while I enjoy many YA books, I think I’m just too old for this one to make the intended impression.
That said, I think younger audiences will have a great time with this story.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

Alex Mack but make it witchy? This was a fun young adult witchy story about golems and their fight to survive. I enjoyed the writing and pacing and thought it was a great stand alone.

DNF @ 43%

Terra is the golden girl of her high school, but her world unravels around her when the new boy at school reveals to her that he's a witch hunter and she's a golem of the warlock he's been sent to find and kill. Terra's only hope lies with finding the warlock and proving to his coven that she is capable of magic, because they are willing to kill a creature, but not a person with magic.

This novel was engagingly written, but I decided not to finish reading it because the dehumanization of the main character, coupled with the appropriation in the way the concept was written about, significantly put me off. This novel draws significantly from Jewish mythology, but there is no indication that the author has any connection to a Jewish background, and the mythological creature is demonized. The only people who create golems are evil warlocks, and golems are thought to be evil creatures. This feels like offensive appropriation, because in Jewish mythology golems are protective, good creatures created by spiritually powerful Jews as a *good* thing. Would it have been so difficult for the author to just describe Terra as a construct or another word that doesn't have a deep spiritual root in the tradition of marginalized people? The whole "these powerful people secretly have a lot of money and control things behind the scenes but only believe people with their special powers are worthy of life" thing was also... rough. The witches are the Jewish-adjacent people because of their ability to create golems, so to have them both be secretly super-powerful and wanting to kill people not like them left a bad taste in my mouth.

You don’t see many golem themed romance books out there so I was thrilled to give this a go. It’s pretty heavy on the nostalgic ya tropes and many readers will eat that up.

Review goes live July 21

This was such a quick read and I really enjoyed it! While it was fun, it also left me pondering a lot of things like "what makes us human" and "where does our worth as a person come from?" Jenny did a fairly good job of tackling this tough topics while providing a fun story.

I really appreciated seeing both Terra and Thorne come into their own as individuals and make so much growth! I'm hoping there is a sequel so we can continue to see how these two make things work and shake up all the systems set in place.

The names for all the golems were so fun! I loved that Jenny gave them all names related to earth/stone/gems.

I definitely could have done without the Brick and Jett storylines. I especially feel like the Jett storyline wasn't properly tied up, but I don't feel like that detracted from the conclusion of the story.

I think this was a great YA novel that I think is accessible for everyone. Definitely add it to your TBR!

It’s the classic teen paranormal setup. Senior year, awkwardness in the friend zone, the handsome new kid who’s kind of mean and keeps saying weird things but can’t be escaped because administration stuck him in all of the same classes as the protagonist. Golems are the supernatural creature of choice, and ever since reading Wrath Becomes Her, I’ve been curious to learn more about their particular folklore. In this case, there’s a good mix of goofy and spooky wrapped in, with both melty mud moments and something about living bone required to create life. I guess when reading the synopsis I didn’t realize “contemporary” would mean so much time spent in school (but we love the message - stay in school kids!). Anyway, the anxiety of dreaded promposals was too much for me, but the story overall is very readable and knows how to appeal to its audience.

DNF at 25%.

dnf p. 41

There's just something about it that is making it hard to enjoy. I don't find myself picking it up or feeling engaged in it.

Could be the characters...but not sure.
The plot didn't quite pull me in either.

Mmm I don't think middle school or high school me would have picked this book up and enjoyed it either.

There are many things that don't quite make sense in Northern Heights. How a purple bunny doesn't make Terra's father question it much. The reaction is "Oh how interesting, we should run some test's on it". Doesn't seem realistic. The Golem names are so ridiculous and on the nose like Rocky... or wait for it... Gaia.... or Eartha... or Brick... or Clay or even Flint. I get it for the main character but for all the Golems? Author could have dug deeper (pun fully intended).

The amount of times these teens in Northern heights can eat pastries.. should be a tad worrisome, but at least Terra counteracts the pastries with carrots right?

The whole disappearing act for 3 days and then for 5 day's with no contact got tiresome with Thorne, bro it's the 21st century pick up the phone and type a sentence out. Along with the almost instantaneous forgiveness that Terra gives him bothers me.

I am ALL for a soft female main character but this is almost cotton candy wispy. As in barely any personality other than being THE ultimate shiny star. Helpful, loving, sweet, caring, hates breaking the rules, hates sneaking out etc... UGH please give something to mar the shine on this character. It's too blinding.

The way her golem form is written as well struck me odd and maybe a little gross. Not all the time but certain scenes like trying to sneak into the high-school and the mop and bucket scene. Maybe I just couldn't connect what has happening. I definitely thought of that hospital scene in Stranger Things Season 3. If you know, you know..

I would think this book set in a different time period would have made it more interesting. Were there are no cell phones so it solves at least one problem. I think the modern day timeline was used for easy filler. Highschool, dances, senior projects etc.

What the author did do a good job of were the parts involving magic. Her use of colors to describe different strands, descriptions of how Thorne used magic were all very well written.

I just think she had to add grit to Terra (pun again fully intended), maybe rethink the time period and it would have been a solid read.

The world of magic in this book was unlike many fantasy books I’ve read and I liked how unique it was. The relationship between main characters in the book was odd and he is constantly aggressive in the beginning. Overall it was a just OK book and it just wasn’t my type of book.