Such a fun read! So excited to see how others view the magic system, I think it was a bit confusing at first but it really picked up in the first half of the book.

** spoiler alert ** Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Now first off I know there's always a back and forth with 3 stars. Some say they're bad, some say they're good. I'm personally giving this 3 stars because it was good. There were plenty of elements I enjoyed. However there were some that I wasn't a huge fan of.

This book is gorgeous. I wanted the ARC because of that. Honestly even at 3 stars I 100% plan on buying this book for my shelf it's so dang pretty. The plot itself was good although I know some people I've seen recently are a bit burnt out on the trials thing. Overall it's enjoyable and I recommend it if you like romantasy.

This book does not end in the way you'd expect in that it's got more coming. Which is fine except I wasn't aware of that lol. Also I was left wanting more details about certain characters who didn't get a lot of page time at the end and more details on certain parts of the plot itself as it was a little bit rushed.

Overall a very solid book. 3.5

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of The Weaver Bride!

This was such a unique magic system, but didn’t feel too complicated to understand. The plot was very addicting with a mystery component that keeps you guessing basically the whole way through.

I loved Eliot but I feel like Noé could make some waves in book 2?

Overall, this was a fun unique read and I definitely enjoyed it!

Holy COW this was fun.

The magic system in this is truly unique and SO fun. The plot is paced well and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I'm genuinely dying to read the sequel on this one already.

This was so good! I’m calling it now this is the fantasy book of 2025!

A totally unique magic system
Characters you will love rooting for!
Will they won’t they romance!
THE BANTERRRRRRRR

Need the sequel now!!

Where do I start with this one, honestly? I suppose at the beginning.

I took half a star because the pacing in the first 20% felt slow. I was intrigued by the world building, and especially by Lovett herself, but the magic system isn't SO heavy or foreign that it needed a quarter of the book to make it all make sense. Additionally, some of the writing felt a little unnecessarily prose-y. There were moments I was just waiting for the point.

I'm not sure if the writing got more punchy after that introduction or if I just got used to the writing style (probably a little of both) but once the game got started, this book absolutely didn't quit, and it more than delivered on all the things I had hoped for based on the introduction.

Firstly, the magic system is something original that I haven't seen a hundred times before and I LOVED that. It wasn't something super difficult to understand or the kind of witchcraft that requires an entire understanding of every rule; if anything, it's compelling in its simplicity, and originality, and the power dynamic OF the magic system is built into every sentence. This is a great example of the dynamics of the power system informing the story. Just so well done.

Lovett was a character I adored. She's surviving by her wit (and her Wit, as it were!) and it actually shows in the story. There was only ever one part in the story where I was like "Oh no, Lovett!" and it wasn't frustrating so much as heartbreaking. She never did anything so grossly idiotic that I wanted to reach in and throttle her, and in fact occasionally put pieces together faster than I did, which I love in a story. Also, we love a little baddy who's definitely leaning into that morally gray territory without ever feeling totally villainous.

Things never felt too predictable, and although I had some guesses along the way, I was never SURE. And the things I became sure of along the way only led to more questions! All of that to say, this was such a crafty and gratifying mystery from start to finish. All of the players all of the pieces were never so much as to be totally confusing or make me feel lost but were still enough to keep me guessing.

The games and trials trope was honestly superb. That's not always my forte but I loved it here. Additionally, this is perhaps the only book I've ever read where I can say I actually really LIKED the love triangle. Partly, the romance is such a secondary plotline, or maybe even lower, and the triangle is such a result of the rest of the story that it never felt forced or there for its own sake, and it added a great layer of uncertainty to the whole book. I also really liked all points of the triangle, instead of leaning heavily in one direction or another, and even though I wasn't disappointed in the result, it still managed to break my heart in the best way.

And the end. The END!!!!!!! What an absolute home run of a finale. I knew there was certainly going to BE a twist but I wasn't certain of what it would be until it came and it was absolutely worth it.

All in all, this was a banger of a read that I loved. Absolutely recommend getting hold of it when it comes out at the end of September.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you to the publisher and author for giving me the chance to read and review The Weaver Bride.

So I want to start by saying this story had a lot of really great world building, and I wanted more of that fleshed-out. There was a considerable amount of purple prose, and while that does work for high fantasy, it didn't really fit here. The female protagonist is 18, all of the others around her are roughly her same age. Even if we are talking about older forms of English, teenagers don't typically speak or write that way. It made our FMC less accessible to a teenage audience.

Without any spoilers, I wasn't the biggest fan of the ending. I like books that aren't necessarily happily ever after, but this felt rushed, like the author wrote herself into a bit of a hole and struggled to make it work.

It had a great premise and use of power imbalances within the world and magical system, and highlighted how that society is blinded to the oppression they perpetuate. It might be nice to revisit this world in a sequel.

Gorgeous, gorgeous writing. This book was so utterly atmospheric, so unique (in terms of the magic system, the strands of hair, the magical candles used to communicate, the underground tunnel system). Truly a delight to read. It felt very "old world" fantastical, in the voice. I love a fantasy that truly reads like a fantasy, swaying from modern day verbiage, and Lydia Gregovic did just that. I LOVE a FMC that's a bit shady, a mystery that feels truly strange (I really could not figure out what truly happened to Ophelia). The relationship between Noe and Eliot was so well done in the sense that I never truly knew if they were REALLY as friendly as it seemed....until the ball scene. A ball scene always breaks me. All in all, fantastic read, lots of gorgeous prose and stellar storytelling. Well done--looking forward to book 2. Pleasantly surprised to find this was a series.

Step into a magical world where marriage is key to unlocking rare power that is possessed by few and that can only be harnessed by Weavers. Meet Lovett Tamerlane, a resourceful silkwitch, who is coerced into partaking in a ruthless competition for the hand of a handsome & wealthy Weaver. Lovett strikes a deal with enigmatic Eliot Lear to solve his sister's death. By entering the Vainglory, Lovett hopes of winning in order to marry before her 21st birthday & avoid being sent to the cloisters. As Lovett unravels the deadly mystery, she comes face-to-face with danger, hidden agendas, and forbidden attraction. Can she uncover the truth and claim her freedom, or will the secrets and lies tear her apart?

Once I started, I could not put this book down-it was simply wonderful!
If you're a fan of worlds that have a unique magic system that are full of mystery, suspense, and yearning, then you will love this!
I cannot wait to continue Lovett's story!

A romance mystery set in a Bridgerton style fantasy world, SIGN ME UP. 4 stars, I NEED this book in my collection when it really comes out. Also thank you to net galley and Random House publishing for giving me early access. Review below:

Ok this may be one of the best writing styles i’ve seen in a LONG time. This author has the most amazing ability to write metaphors and put things into words SO perfectly. An example I pulled from the beginning of the book is

“We could be stolen, of course, we could be lured, but a silkwitch given freely in marriage. Well, did one consider the safety of a string of pearls, when passing it off to a happy customer? It had-been bought. It was a belonging—it belonged. You will be safe with him. Such an easy promise to make, so meaningless, and yet...
And yet for a half second, I believed him.”

IS THAT NOT JUST THE MOST LIKE AMAZING WRITING YOUVE EVER SEEN. And maybe I just think it’s good because of the fact I’ve been reading books like Zodiac Academy and Powerless but I’ve also read MANY classics and I honestly think that this is almost on par with those.

The World building: This has great world building and a very unique idea. I do have to say I wish we got a little more on what it actually means to be a weaver and like how that came to be and what’s biologically diffrent, but that’s personal taste. Normally I’m very show not tell and she did a great job of that but the one instinct where I found it very helpful that she just told was when explaining all the other silkwitches in the competition. Like, THANK YOU. That may just be because I can’t remember names but I loved that. That’s just another example of her amazing writing

The plot: This had SUCH a good plot. I loved the concept and the setting. I loved the fact it was like a mix between competition, murder mystery, romance. Like this book may aswell have been made for me. OH, AND it’s set like briderton courting. This was just the perfect plot, other than the romance for me, which i’ll discuss in a second.

The romance just fell short for me, I think it was supposed to be like enemy to lovers but it was really more of a insta attraction with reluctant allies. But, the romance was still good and it doesn’t really take away from the plot.

Overall, DEF recommend the book for when it comes out in sept, already added release date to my calandra so I can get those sprayed edges to my collection.

Very easy to fall into! Loved the romance between the two characters and really felt like I could relate to the main character.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for this ARC! It quickly captured my attention with it's characters and premise of competition for love and the outcome of love intertwined suspense and intrigue grabbed my attention. I liked the mystery that was throughout it, too. I couldn't help but root for Lovett and her transition of thief to competitor, hitting high's and low's, and a marriage to become high society with their magic. I definitely cannot wait for book 2!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Lydia Gregovic for the opportunity to read and review “The Weaver Bride”
{⭐⭐⭐⭐}

“The only remaining mystery is, if I took you as my wife, would you lie down beside me in peace, or slit my throat while I slept?”

The Weaver Bride follows a young silkwitch named Lovett Tamerlane. Silk witches in this world process rare powers, but not only that, their powers can be harnessed when they marry a weaver. Though weavers aren't easy to come by as most are wealthy and unobtainable. Silk Witches are vulnerable, as most would do anything for a lock of their hair so they can sell it or bind it to objects. Because of this, life as a silkwitch without a weaver suitor is very dangerous. Our FMC Lovett has an ability of her own, she can unlock any door she wishes. With this talent in mind Lovett becomes a thief, and steals from the wealthy. One day she steals from a young man processing a woven object named Eliot Lear, who just so happened to be the son of a well known weaver. When caught Eliot admits that he has had his eye on her and knows that she is a silk witch. He offers her an invitation to the vainglory, a competition other silk witches Enter. if they win? they get to marry Noe Alaric, heir to a generational weaver wealth. Though there is a catch, last year the winner mysteriously died, and this girl just so happens to be Eliot’s sister. So Elliot strikes a deal, help him find out how his sister died, and she in exchange can have a pick from the weaver suitors regardless of if she wins or not. Though weavers and their sons are slippery men and what happens when all is not how it seems in the Alaric estate?

I was SAT for this.
I will give flowers where flowers are due 💐…
For only being her second published book I was pretty amazed. For starters it had a unique, but easy to understand, magic system (hair magic). It had an interesting mystery element, which happens to be one of my favorite elements in a book. The pace in which things were revealed/uncovered was perfect. It kept me wanting to read by giving me just enough without giving too much. Again, it had another micro trope that I loved when it came to pretending to be someone, sorta spy vibes if you will. I Loved our FMC, she didn’t suffer from the chosen one syndrome like alot of main characters do. She had the perfect amount of flaws to make her feel human and have her own agendas in this “game”. The romance in this was so great. I really loved as this progressed all her decisions didn’t line up solely because of this element, she had a very clear path for her motive even if that meant pushing her feelings aside. Some may find this annoying but I personally loved it, and when books include this element personally to me it makes it feel more realistic. I just love when romance isn’t the driving factor into the character's decision making, and this book really nailed that. I will say the romance in this is more fantasy with romance rather than romance in fantasy. The plot in this, if you were to remove the romance, would still very much exist.

“You are a fool if you believe I am capable of withholding from you anything you may ask of me.”

The author gave some of the key tropes that are included in this book on her instagram. which i think really give you a good look into this. Including things like, Reluctant allies, magical mafia family, yearningggggg (Don’t even get me started on the love interest im obsessed)

“Tell me what you need me to say, please”... “I cannot– I cannot go on like this. It is torture”

Also the cover is gorgeous so naturally I'm obsessed. I loved every second of this, and the ending was so well done to set up the next book. This book has so many well loved elements but still managed to feel unique.

Read if you love…
- Regency vibes
- Competitions
- mystery elements
- Hair magic
- Stubborn main characters ( WITH LOVE! BC I LOVE STUBBORN CHARACTERS)
- Complicated romances
- A man who yearnssss

If I HAD to pick something I wish got included into this book, I would have loved to see our FMCs backstory in depth. She had such strong motivations throughout this book, and to further have an understanding behind those and feel like I'm really right alongside her in her decisions, I feel like I needed to know more about how she got to the point she did when we found her in the beginning.

Overall this felt like such a good start to a new series, and I will definitely pick up a copy to add to my shelves this fall. Along with any books that come out in this series.

I’m a huge fan of enemies-to-lovers stories, and this book absolutely delivers! It’s a captivating tale of magic, murder, mystery, and dark fantasy that immediately draws me in and keeps me hooked from beginning to end. I’m thoroughly impressed with every aspect of this book. The setting is expertly crafted to enhance the plot, and the characters are both real and believable. I find myself forming deep connections with each one.

One of the standout features of this book is its ability to maintain suspense throughout. Unlike many books that reveal the ending in the first chapter, this one keeps me guessing until the very end. Additionally, I’m thoroughly impressed with the cover design. It’s a visual masterpiece that piques my curiosity and makes me eager to read more.

After the shocking finale, I can’t wait for a sequel to delve deeper into the world of Lydia Gregoric’s characters and explore further mysteries. Lydia Gregoric is an exceptional author, and I’m thrilled to have read this captivating book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for the ARC!

I was so captivated by these characters. Lovett is such a strong and independent woman. I truly believe there are not enough books with strong female leads. This book had many! I will say however the ending has left me feeling unsettled. I'm not sure what I was hoping for, but I'm not sure I can be content with just letting this story end. I look forward to any future this series might have and how this author's creativity continues to bloom.

This was such a fun and honestly more light-hearted fun fantasy! It had lots of fun vibes and that cover is sooooo pretty!!

This book was absolutely amazing! The story was very fast paced and action packed! If you loved the rose bargain then you should definitely read this book!

To be totally honest with you… I ate this up.

The Weaver Bride was such a fun, unserious chick-lit mystery romance, and I was completely buckled in for the ride. It had all the right elements to keep me intrigued, even as the plot became increasingly predictable.

What really carried this book for me was the writing. Even when the story veered into cliché territory, leaned on overused tropes, or dipped into slightly cringey scenarios, the writing made it all feel intentional and enjoyable. It had that poetic, engaging tone that makes you keep turning pages without thinking too hard.

That said, I was a little disappointed that many of the major plot discoveries were just handed to the main character. I really wanted to see her piece things together on her own. Despite her curious and daring nature, she wasn’t particularly clever or sharp, and it felt like everything was spoon-fed to her. She’s not a bad character by any means, but I wish she had more agency and showed more skill—especially considering she was hired to solve a mystery, which she kind of... didn’t. At least not on her own, everything was just abruptly confessed to her in the last 5 pages.

Also, we’re introduced to a variety of intriguing side characters with fascinating abilities—someone who can spy through mirrors, another who can glimpse your past, present, or future with a single touch, and someone else who can make you tell the truth with a single kiss. These powers had so much potential for chaos, mischief, and complications, and yet… we barely saw them in action. Many of these characters were sent home or dismissed from the narrative so early that we never got a chance to explore their dynamics or what they could truly do. It felt like such a wasted opportunity, and honestly, a deep letdown.

Furthermore, a lot of the story’s twists felt unnecessary or misleading. We were led to believe the most obvious theory to the central mystery were too predictable—only to circle back and reveal that, yes, it <i>was</i> the most obvious answer after all. What was the point of the goose chase if there was no actual chase? We were set up for a juicy murder mystery—maybe even with a killer twist—only to have the rug pulled out from under us with no murder, no killer, and an ending that felt strangely anticlimactic. By the end, it felt like we hadn’t really gone anywhere.

I didn’t realize going in that this was part of a series—I fully expected a standalone with a closed ending, so that’s on me. That said, I wouldn’t mind picking up the sequel if I’m ever in the mood for something light, fun, and fluffy.

The concept of Weavers and Silkwitches was refreshingly unique, and I appreciated that the story offered more than just a romance. There’s a surprising amount of history and lore woven in (pun intended), which added depth and kept things interesting.

All in all, I liked it!

A true enemies-to-lovers story.

I’ll admit that I had no idea what this book was about, just that the cover was absolutely gorgeous. Luckily, the book was great! I’d probably give it a 4.25 star rating.

I thought it was thrilling and mystical, and I was here for the vibes. If you like Belladonna and Phantasma but without the ghosts and more magic, this is the book for you. I think my favorite part about the book was the magic system. I thought that was so unique and different, but still understandable. I love a good take on witches. I also really loved the characters because they were likeable and felt authentic. The tension between the main characters was so good. 

The only negative thing (but not really that bad and not a spoiler because this is marketed as a romance, so we know where it's going) was the admission of love between the characters. I felt like it wasn’t the right time, and there wasn’t enough of a change of mind from the FMC to prove to me that she was that advanced in her feelings for the MMC.  

Other than that, I thought the book was great, and I would definitely read the next one. Especially with that ending.

And again, the cover was amazing!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC.

I loved the cover of the book. It caught my eye immediately. I liked the world that was created with the women’s “wit”. I am so thankful to have been able to read it however the writing style was not my favorite. The writing had too much descriptors and elaboration that didn’t seem necessary to me. The plot was somewhat unique but I was very uneasy the entire book about the women’s place in the world and even more uneasy when I found out about the sorcerers secret in the end.