Okay so I really enjoyed this book! Right from the beginning, I loved the back and forth between Lovett and Eliot. I felt their relationship progression was realistic, if a teensy bit sped up at one point.
The book itself has good world building, interspersed within the writing instead of just dumped into the book in giant paragraphs merely dedicated to that purpose.
Im happy to say that I did not realize what was discovered at the end of the book, like I normally do. I feel sometimes I pick up on the surprise or twist really easily so when I find a book that can hide it from me, I really appreciate that.
I'm not sure if it was the way I was reading (pages instead of continuous read) but there were a few times when I swiped to the next page, it would start in the middle of a sentence. Enough of the sentence and context was there that I could make a good guess, but after the third time, it was a bit annoying that the whole sentence wasn't there.

While this book did not end on a cliffhanger, it definitely set up for at least another if not two more books. I'm very excited to see where this series is going to go!

Well, the cover drew me in but the incredible storytelling kept me here, hardly able to breathe until the very last page. This was fresh and intriguing, with a interesting magical premise, a mystery to solve, enemies to lovers vibes and grey characters I was rooting for. I thought the ending felt a little rushed but my main complaint is having to wait for book 2!

Where do I start with The Weaver Bride… I absolutely loved this story. The writing is fantastic and the characters are so intriguing. It was the perfect mix of gothic and mystery. A few of my favorite tropes were represented as well. I need the sequel asap.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for this wonderful arc.

This book was awesome! I really enjoyed the world-building, and the mystery aspect of this story. I thought that the message of the book was very relevant and it got me to really think about what happened at the end of the book and how it relates to real life. I think that the cliffhanger was insane, but I'm looking forward to reading the next book!

I really enjoyed this fantasy set in a world where certain women called silkwitches are born with power in their hair. Once they turn 18, silkwitches have three years to find a weaver husband or be sent to the Cloisters to live out their days. Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch from an unremarkable family who spends her days using her Wit to steal from wealthy families to sustain herself. She meets the son of a notorious Weaver who offers her an opportunity she can't refuse, one that will guarantee that she doesn't have to spend her life confined to the cloisters. The book kept me guessing, and the ending was definitely a surprise. I'll be adding this selection to my high school library.

Lovette Tamerlane goes to great measures to ensure her hair does not shine the way that comes naturally to silkwitches. The power in her strands cause her to stand out, and as a thief that's the last thing Lovette wishes to do. Especially when her punishment for being caught is a lifetime in the cloisters, a horrible prison designed to hold criminal silkwitches who remain unwed to a Weaver past what is allowed. Lovette considers herself lucky though, until an attempt to steal a magical item puts her directly in the line of sight of Eliot Lear. The son of a Weaver politician, Eliot is determined to enlist Lovette's skillset to find the truth of what truly happened to his sister Ophelia. The catch? Lovette must enter the competition of a lifetime to win the hand of The Weaver King's heir. And that is a position some are willing to die for.

I absolutely LOVE a book based around a high stakes competition, and Gregovic delivered! And a marriage competition!? Immediately reminded me of The Selection by Kiera Cass, but at a higher reading level and with magic.
I will say, the writing style is not my favorite; very flowery and poetic, everything is over-explained. Sometimes things can be written plainly, not everything must be a simile. It's like Gregovic took your freshman year English teacher's "what did the author TRULY mean" speech way too seriously.
This might be a controversial take, but this book did not have to be a series. In a world of drawn out plots, 'The Weaver Bride' could have been a wonderfully thought out 500 page standalone. The plot could have been tied up after the big reveal, but I know that I will devour the sequel nonetheless. I do have a sinking feeling that the sequel will be used to further along the non-existent love triangle. I had such high hopes for one potential love interest, but it was made clear who Lovette will end up at the conclusion.. and it's cliche and not at all who I'd hoped.
The twist was exciting, but not completely original or unpredictable. I wish there could have been more information about the other Maidens. I thought Drake's character could have very spicy, but was given so little "screen time" that he just felt under-developed and fell flat. And I'd love to learn more about the magic! It's so crazy interesting to me, I want a series of shorts about interesting Wits!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House, and Delacorte Press for the eARC! Projected publishing date: September 30th, 2025

I was intrigued by the idea of a marriage contest and was hoping it would remind me of The Selection but that part was just not satisfying. I also didn't really care much about the overall mystery when the answer was so obvious. The pacing was very slow and really dragged on. The fmc was quite bland and though we were told she had a bold personality didn't really see much on the page. Was hoping for more flirty banter and even a love triangle but she really didn't have chemistry with anyone. I did like the magic system and the literal spinster threat and pressure to marry. I'm not sure if I will end up reading the sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)
The Weaver Bride is a dark, magical romantasy with serious Selection meets Knives Out vibes. Lovett is a fierce, lock-picking silkwitch who enters a deadly marriage competition to solve a murder—and maybe fall for a broody, secretive rival along the way 👀.

Loved the slow-burn romance, murder mystery, and rich worldbuilding. Twisty, lush, and full of betrayal. I’m hooked!

Perfect for fans of To Kill a Kingdom and House of Salt and Sorrows. Definitely grabbing the special edition!

#TheWeaverBride #NetGalley #RomantasyRec

This cover alone is enough to draw you in immediately, and the immersive world-building and writing keep you invested!
The pacing was great, and I did not find myself bored during any big sections, which was definitely a plus. The concept of these silk witches and the magic system felt fresh and unique. There is a very obvious imbalance in how Weavers are viewed versus the silk witches, which of course seems very relevant to our society and how women are perceived versus men in their capabilities and worth.
I don't necessarily always enjoy a love triangle situation but honestly, I am not minding this one so far. After the ending, I cannot wait to see how this plays out next! I love how this was a much darker in nature and more magically complex version of a bachelor situation with some Bridgerton flare.

Throughly enjoyed this book.
The slikwitches were such a unique brand of witches, a new twist on how most witches are portrayed. Power in hair, mich like Samson. I really liked that.
I also loved the whole bachelor trials that I was not expecting but with the twist.
The magic system and world building was great. I'm looking forward to continuing the story and hearing more.

So let's start off with just how beautiful this book is. Don't judge a book by its cover.... hahaha, I am judging and I thoroughly approve. On to the content of the book. So I loved the premise of the magic system. Very unique from anything that I recall reading before. Definitely a combination of The Selection, Bridgerton, and CLUE. So our main character, Lovett, is a silk witch and she has access to her own power, Wit, and also her precious hair that allows a Weaver to access and instill magic in things. She must marry by 21 or she is sent to a cloister to waste away. So Lovett enters a competition to try to win the hand of the most eligible bachelor Weaver who comes from a very esteemed Weaver family. However, this is not the first time this competition was held but it was canceled the year prior due to a death of one of the silk witches. Now Lovett is embroiled in a search to find out how the silk witch died and why. So I really enjoyed the mystery of this book. I don't feel like it was super predictable. There were a lot of characters to explore and investigate. What I struggled with was really understanding and relating to our FMC. About half way through the book, I started to getting annoyed at Lovett. She came off as very angry, impulsive, defensive and it read as a little childish to me. Additionally, the romantic interest came off as very bland and underdeveloped. I feel like I missed all the chapters leading up to them liking... or even loving each other but even their interest in each other seemed one note. Overall, an enjoyable read.

I am REELING. Reeling. What did I just read, I picked a book based on a pretty cover and interesting description and got hit with an ingrossing book that just blew my mind.

Ok, let's break it down:

The pacing was great, fast. It started and went in a logical direction. Even though I don't necessarily agree with some of the character choices, they do, in the end, make sense and fit with the personality of those characters.

World building largely felt constricted to the city they story takes place and then in the estate where our story continued. I am not very sure of the world outside of those places, but the places where our story took place were well visualized. I am always curious for more outside of where our story takes place, but for the purposes of the story, the world building feels sufficient. The magic presented in this story has a deep lore and explanations. It is a fascinating magic system, and honestly, one I have never heard of before. I absolutely was intrigued by this and how the magic was woven into society and the story itself. It was so well thought out, and it was quite refreshing to read.

Our cast of characters is fairly extensive, but they are all so unique that it's easy to separate and recall everyone. They are fascinating in the depth of the characters of the individuals presented. Motivations aren't always straightforward, and quite frankly, that was delightful.

I loved the mystery aspect of this story and pervasive it is throughout as you are reading. The story unfurls in such a beautiful manner, layering in important information slowly building to that all important crescendo. BUT, IS THERE GOING TO BE A SECOND BOOK? I have questions. Maybe I should have done a quick search. Either way, I need a second book. I wasn't entirely satisfied on how one thread of our story wrapped up, but it does make sense that nothing always has to be (it's not why I have questions, though). There was a large portion of the book relied heavily on a trope that I don't prefer, but it does fit in with the story. The storyline does make sense, and I think it's just a me issue not preferring that trope.

This story absolutely blew my mind in the most unexpected way. It was captivating, engrossing, and quite frankly, I need more. This is going to leave me in a bookslump. Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

I would like to request compensation for the anticipated emotional damage of waiting for book #2 (After that ending, there has to be a book 2. Come on.)

✔ Lovett is so so smart but also so wonderfully flawed - sometimes she plays 4-D chess while everyone else attempts to trick her at checkers, and sometimes she’s dropping the ball on something obvious. Her characterization feels real and genuine because she’s talented but not perfect. She plays to her strengths to figure things out, she prioritizes herself and isn’t ashamed of it, she double crosses others to get to her goals. I love it, I love her.
✔ The magic system is so well thought out. It seems very simple at first but the story layers in reveals until everything is twisted up - it’s complex but it’s also dark (in a YA way).
✔ The imbalance between Weavers/Silkwitches and how that plays into the choices women make in this story is incredibly relevant commentary on how oppressed groups react to and deal with not being part of the dominant group in a society. I loved how none of the women competing in the Vainglory were characterized as catty or as mean girls. They were all complex with individual goals for the competition.
✔ I deeply enjoyed the writing style and atmosphere. The vibes were incredible.

✖ I don’t think I liked the love triangle and how it is playing out but I am willing to wait and see how it will be handled in the sequel.

4.5/5 stars!

This was an amazing read - I was so invested and I wouldn’t have guessed, based on the synopsis, how much I would end up enjoying the plot. I was expecting something The Selection-esque but got something much darker and more jaded than I thought I would based on the pale pink cover - and I am entirely happy with this surprise.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun little fantasy that follows Lovett, a silkwitch whose powers will strengthen if she marries a Weaver, so she enters a marriage competition to marry one.

This very much has The Selection vibes, so if you liked that series, I think you should definitely give this a read.

Lovett is cunning, she has a secret little Robin Hood thing going on. But she eventually gets caught by a Weaver. He enlists her to help him solve the mysterious death of his sister and in exchange, he won't rat her out..

And, oh my god, this is such a pretty cover!

This was such a unique magic system and that is such a rare thing to say when you read as many fantasy books as I do!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Wow - this was delightful. I stayed up until 3 AM just to reach the conclusion, because I could *not* rest until I learned what the truth was.

A huge portion of my love for this book stems from the main character, Lovett. She's, by definition, a complex character - she's cunning and ruthless, and due to the circumspect nature of her society, she remains a character that you root for because you can sympathize with her motivations. I loved how completely unapologetic and unyielding she was in her pursuit for glory, even if winning required legerdemain, backstabbing, and betrayal. I support women's rights, but more importantly, I support a woman's right to take advantage of others for personal gain. <3

I will say, I did guess parts of the twist before it came to light, but this did not in any way impede my experience of reading the grand reveal. I still held my breath the whole way through, flipping the pages at top-speed to find out what was going to come next.

That said... Lydia, girl, I need a sequel!

this book has all the witchy, thriller, fantasy, suspenseful and magical vibes in it! The main character is a witch who has to guide a marriage competition. She is a witch that has rare magic and it can only be used by finding a weaver husband thank you to netgalley and the author for my first approved arc! excited to read this one. the cover is Stunning

Love love loved it! This book was gorgeous and I was so excited to read based off the beautiful cover. It lived up to the cover for sure!

This book has its hooks in me! It took me a while to understand the silk maidens powers and what the weavers do, but once I did I was so hooked. The mystery aspect of the book was a nice touch in a book that looks and reads like a romance. I for sure think there will be another book since it leaves on such a short note. I’m so glad the Lovett got the answers and so pissed on who she chose. I understand why and hope there is another book to help me calm my thoughts and hope there is a happy ever after.

The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic is everything I want in a YA. If you loved the whimsical charm of Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber and the eerie mystery, yearning tension, or unique magic system of One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, you’re going to devour this book like I did.

That cliffhanger? I need the sequel immediately.

Huge thanks to @_lydiagregovic_ , @randomhousekids and @netgalley for the ARC! The Weaver Bride releases September 30th!

Magic, mystery, maidens, matrimony?

The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic follows Lovette Tamerlane, a silkwitch—a woman whose hair holds rare, coveted magic. But without a Weaver husband to wield it, her power is pretty much useless. At 21, any unmarried silkwitch is sent to the Cloisters, where their magic is harvested for life—and Lovette’s deadline is fast approaching.

With no prospects and nothing to lose, she’s been using her one secret talent, unlocking any door, to rob unsuspecting bachelors. That is, until she’s caught mid-heist by the infuriatingly charming Eliot Lear, who offers her a deal: enter Vainglory, a deadly matchmaking competition to marry Noé Alaire. Eliot doesn’t need her to win—he needs her to find out who killed his sister in last year’s game. If she pulls it off, he’ll make sure she never sets foot in the Cloisters.
The magic system in this book was so unique! I just wish we’d gotten more of it—especially time with the other contestants. I wanted more drama, more gossip, more behind-the-scenes tea.

The ending felt a bit rushed, which makes me wonder (and hope!) that a sequel might be in the works. Still, the mystery wrapped up in a really satisfying way. Lovette is a complicated heroine—her decisions made me gasp, toss my head back, and yell a couple times—but I was so here for the chaos.

I also adored the writing style and how naturally the characters’ voices fit the setting, it felt lived-in and authentic.

This book is like a magical Bridgerton meets a Jane Austen mystery with a deadly twist. I had so much fun with it. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The Weaver Bride is expected to release September 30, 2025.