I’ve been on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE book!

With the ability to unlock secrets through the passage of doors, Lovett strikes a deal with Eliot Lear a man of mystery himself to reveal who killed his sister in the previous Vainglory. With more than just murder to unveil, Lovett becomes stuck in a deadly game with unknown motives. Through the continuous trials, Lovett must choose whether to trust her gifts and intuition or to follow what her heart says.

Filled with murder mystery, thrill, dark fantasy and forbidden love, The Weaver Bride packs it all! This is the type of book to keep you up all night from needing to know what happens next. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out!

The following review will be posted to my Goodreads account on September 16th, 2025 to comply with the publisher's approval preferences:

DNF at 40%, but I'm chalking this one up to personal preference.

I will say this: Lydia Gregovic's prose is very pretty and well suited for the fantasy genre. Perhaps not as lyrical, but it's reminiscent of Laura Steven's writing in Our Infinite Fates. She created a lush atmosphere with a magic system that manages to stand out in the overly saturated fantasy market.

But that's where my disappointment lies. The gorgeous writing gets in the way of the fast paced plot I was searching for. Truthfully, I wanted to DNF at the 10-15% mark because the pace was so slow. The opening chapters focused too much on backstory and world building, which, while interesting in concept, failed in execution as I had yet to connect with Lovett as a character.

I went into this expecting something more like The Prison Healer or Trial of the Sun Queen. The first chapters of those books are packed with action and tension. But I never felt those same high stakes in The Weaver Bride. Lovett's reasoning for joining the Vainglory made sense, but I didn't care as much as I probably should have.

I held in long enough to read through the first trial, since that's the main appeal of this book and the main reason I requested the arc. But even that didn't give me the propulsive tension I was desperately searching for. But I can see this book being a hit with die-hard YA fantasy readers because the magic system truly is fun and inventive. Just not for me.

I hate to be the first to give this book a bad rating but lying is bad therefore 2.5*

This was definitely one of the books I've read in 2025. The plot was somewhat interesting; the writing style made everything very predictable but Gregovic managed to leave enough engaging crumbs scattered throughout the book so I didn't drop the book. I also feel like Lovett was kinda stupid (even though everyone in the book would jump to tell me how she's soo intellectual) since some clues were staring RIGHT AT HER and she just didn't notice them until too late. And the last, biggest mystery? Yeah she just asked someone about it. Which does not make her feel very smart, honestly.

This book does pretty much what it says in the synopsis — decent mystery, mildly entertaining trials — with one caveat. THE ROMANCE. Gods, I loathed the relationship between the two leads, especially Lovett's treatment of Eliot in her head. I thought she was being spectacularly unkind to my mans who kinda just mewls weakly at her and apologises when he makes a mistake (he does fight back occasionally but I find that is not enough, lol). At one point a clash between the two leads made me want to drop the book right then and there because of how stupid the conflict was.

The characters were the worst part for me. Lovett is the exact flavour of morally grey that I despise the most; entitled, stubborn, and way too prideful. But I understand other people will like her for being strong-willed and intellectual (tbh that bit’s debatable but most people seem to think she’s smart so uh what do I know I guess). Eliot, too, kinda sucked. I do wonder why one would make the conscious decision to make Eliot with one L the most useless person in this entire book. Like, why would you do that, lol? Do you even want me to root for this guy? The secondary characters had flairs and quirks, but I could not care less for them.

I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, as it does have a decent plot there, but my loathing for the characters and predictably written mystery cannot make me rate it higher than 2.5 stars. I’m not sure if I will be reading the sequel (side note: I am annoyed this wasn't made clear beforehand since I don't start unfinished series) because idk if I care enough, but we’ll see.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, Delacorte Press, and author Lydia Gregovic for this ARC in exchange for an honest review :D

What a fantastic read!!!Did I preorder this before I even read it, just because of the stunning cover? Absolutely! Did I love it ? Yes I did! From the very first page, I was hooked. The mix of magic, mystery, and romance kept me totally engaged throughout the story. I really enjoyed the whole premise of the marriage competition, especially since it’s tied to a tragic family mystery. It added so much depth to the plot.

The characters were definitely one of the highlights for me. Lovett was such an interesting protagonist, with her unique magic and the way she navigated a world where status and power are everything. Eliot, the mysterious guy, was a perfect counterpart to Lovett, and their dynamic had me really invested in their journey together.

The world-building in this book was also incredible. The magic system felt fresh and different from anything else I’ve read, and I loved how the author built such a rich, detailed world around it. The mix of tradition, competition, and personal stakes made the story feel so layered and intense.

What really kept me turning the pages was the tension throughout the book. It had the right balance of suspense, romance, and just enough danger to keep things exciting. Overall, it was exactly the kind of fantasy story I love, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

If you’re into fantasy, mystery, and a little romance, I definitely recommend The Weaver Bride. It was such an enjoyable read, and I’m already looking forward to the next one!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I loved this book! It was the perfect mix of witches and fantasy. This book took me back to what inspired me to read fantasy in the first place. Also, who doesn’t love a good marriage trial? I absolutely loved the plot snd the setting of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Lydia Gregovic and Random House Children's Books for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book! I’m eager to see this book on shelves.

Almost immediately I felt that The Weaver Bride would be a 5-star read…and I was right!

As a reader who grew up on stories like The Selection series, there’s something about dark and twisted marriage competitions that I cannot resist.

The Weaver Bride is such a strong fantasy read because it maintains its vicious nature throughout the entire book. The characters are completely self-serving, the romance is equal parts beautiful and brutal, and the ending offers neither comfort nor closure.

The Weaver Bride had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Lydia Gregovic has woven countless complex perspectives into one impossible-to-put-down story.

Add The Weaver Bride to your TBR if you’re also someone who enjoys:
- fairy tale-inspired fantasies
- secrets upon secrets
- “I hate that I love you”-style romances

Bottom line: The pages are still warm but I’m already planning my next reread.

If witchy, thriller, fantasy, and suspense are your vibes, this book is for you. Everything about it was unique and who doesn’t love a forbidden romance. The main FMC was relatable and likeable….a witch with rare magic that can only be used to find a weaver husband.

Overall, four out of five stars. Thank you to NetGalley, author Lydia Gregovic and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The cover of this book is beautiful, and I was immediately drawn to it. I love the fantasy in this story. I do wish things were not over explained, I feel like that made the book seem a lot longer than it was. The suspense was good. Can't wait to read more from this author.

In The Weaver Bride, Lydia Gregovic weaves a wonderful tale of magic and mystery, love and redemption.

The magic system was particularly intriguing. Basically, silkwitches have hair that can be spun into magesilk, which used to make enchantments. These silkwitches are considered both precious and dangerous by society, requiring them to marry weavers to keep them in line. If they do not marry by a certain age, they will be taken away to the Prisons of Slavery and Loneliness (I made that name up, but it certainly describes that place well enough!). This creates a bit of a problem for our beloved heroine, considering that there is a very limited amount of weavers, and our heroine isn't the most...moneyed/influential of silkwitches.

The mystery comes into play here. Our lovely heroine participates in a marriage competition full of trials and murders, because why not? Now, unlike some heroines, ours is not TSTL, but she does take risks. Many risks that will absolutely send your heart into your throat while reading, or cause your to lose more than a few hours of sleep! You will feel her emotions, and feel them deeply. This book is not for people looking for a quick and easy read. Prepare to get invested.

Let's move onto the love part. The love was sort of slowburn, and it was agonizing in the best way! The redemption part also becomes important here, with the heroine and hero falling into a complex dance of wondering whether they deserve redemption and whether the other is worthy of redemption. It was interesting to see these little snags in their relationship, especially as it was not a case of miscommunication. Every lie was deliberate, which managed to make the story interesting rather than exhausting that way miscommunication does.

I've said quite a lot here, but it all boils down to the fact that The Weaver Bride is worth the money. Worth the borrow. Worth the time. Read it, but prepare to lose sleep and obsess over it for the next week at the very least!

I'm the biggest sucker for a beautiful book and the cover made me gasp and drew me in. But the story itself is magical and captivating (I literally never get tired of books about competitions) and had an element of mystery woven throughout that kept me guessing up until the end. The magic system felt new and creative, and I was smitten with the MCs. Lovett is fun to follow, and I loved the chemistry between she and Eliot - their first meeting had me cackling. I can't wait to continue the series! Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

I'm a sucker for romantasy marriage competitions. Add in a mystery, romantic tension and an incredibly unique magic system? Yes please.

It did take me a little while to really get into the story. Some of the writing (a lot of the writing, tbh) was overly descriptive, but once I got used to it I had a really good time with this book. The mystery kept me guessing, and I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters.

I didn't realize that this wasn't a standalone until the very end (& that cliffhanger), so now I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.

Thank you to Random House | Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read & review this arc.

I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing this book as a 'free' read.

This is the second time I tried this author and suprisingly, I stuck the book out until the end and walked away enjoying it - immensely.

If you like gothic mysteries with a twinge of fantasy, this is your book. So fantasy of manners? Yes. That's what we can all this.

The chemistry between the two leads was one of those 'they both liked one another but were afraid of admit it for sake of duty / mission'. She was the means to figure out how his sister died. She was trying to bide time until she hit 21. Trapped in this gothic mansion with the looming death of his sister the year prior, and someone in the mansion who was there then as the killer made it a good read. I liked that I had no idea where the story was going.

The reason I am bringing it down a star is that the world building was rather surface level and some characters felt like red herrings than actual characters with meaning. I'd name one or two but then it would confirm who didn't kill the sister.

I am excited for book two - and finding out that it was going to get a sequel. I hope for more world building and that we get out of the mansion and into the world / politics of society. With the reveal of a certain plot element it makes you wonder what the author has in store.

This is definitely the most unique fantasy book I’ve read in a while. The world, the witch system, all of it is entirely different from anything else I’ve read.

I went into this thinking it would be somewhat similar to The Princess Trials or Trial of the Sun Queen, but it was totally its own thing. The only similarity is the sort of trial aspect that exist in all three of these books.

I was pleasantly surprised.

Thank you very much to Random House Chilren’s Books, Delacorte Press, Lydia Gregovic, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the manner in which I received this book.

4.75 stars rounded up. Bachelor style romantasy with high stakes and twists you (or at least I didn't) see coming!

Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch: her hair can be spun by Weavers to craft enchantments and is one of the most precious commodities around. However, the magic of silkwitch hair can ONLY be harnessed by a Weaver; typically, marriage between the two is the answer at least in high society. Silkwitches who are not married by the age of 21 - when their magic starts to wane - are sent to the cloisters and never leave. Lovett is determined to have neither be her fate, choosing to instead make her living stealing from the rich using her Wit, which is being able to open any door, locked or not. When she chooses a mark that's waiting for her, Eliot convinces her to work with him and enter the Vainglory, a competition for silkwitches to win the hand of Noe, son of the Weaver King. The Vainglory is also the competition that stole his sister's life the year prior, and Eliot needs Lovett and her unique Wit to help him solve what really happened. However, as the trials begin, Lovett finds herself part of a much bigger mystery and she quickly learns: trust absolutely no one.

I'm a fan of anything that is bachelor style fantasy, I love them and eat them up! I think the magic and the way it's woven into this world is incredibly unique and I really enjoyed it. Even the silkwitches were all different from each other in terms of power and that was part of why it was so easy to pit them against each other during the trials. The descriptiveness made it so easy to imagine this world in my mind and paint a picture of each scene vividly.

I have said it once and I will say it again, no one yearns like in YA! The romance of it all had me clutching my chest, desperate for more moments between Lovett and the men who want her. The relationships built in this story were not fickle or frivolous and are so essential to the bigger plot that I literally cannot wait to see what happens in book 2.

I did think this was a little long, with some scenes feeling more like filler than necessary. Also I don't trust that Lovett referred to someone as "the most beautiful man I had ever seen" when he's not a love interest. That makes me nervous for book 2. And I'm gonna snap that up as soon as it's released too!

Thank you to Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this expecting a standalone, so the cliffhanger ending was disappointing. Beyond that, several aspects of the book didn’t work for me. The beginning was weighed down by heavy info-dumping, making it hard to get immersed. The prose also felt overwrought, with an excessive number of comparisons—once I noticed them, I couldn’t unsee how frequently they appeared. They stuck in my head like a bad song someone hums nearby, impossible to shake. As for the characters, they lacked depth, which made it hard to connect with them. When they exchanged I love you’s, I was genuinely surprised because I never felt a spark between them. While the mystery element was somewhat engaging, the fantasy and romance didn’t hook me enough to continue following Lovett, Eliot, and Noé’s story.

Review: The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)

Lydia Gregovic’s The Weaver Bride is a beautifully woven tale of resilience, tradition, and self-discovery set against the backdrop of 19th-century Montenegro. The novel follows Ana, a young weaver whose skill with the loom is both her gift and her burden. As she faces an arranged marriage and the rigid expectations of her community, Ana must decide whether to accept her fate or fight for a future of her own making.

Gregovic’s prose is rich and immersive, bringing to life the textures of Montenegrin society—from the intricate weaving techniques that serve as a powerful metaphor for Ana’s journey to the cultural customs that shape her destiny. The novel excels in its historical detail, offering readers a vivid glimpse into a time and place rarely explored in fiction.

Ana is a compelling protagonist, her inner turmoil and quiet strength making her easy to root for. The relationships in the book, particularly those between women, add depth to the narrative, highlighting both the bonds and limitations imposed by tradition. While the story’s pacing slows at times, particularly in its focus on daily life, these moments also enhance the authenticity of the setting.

Overall, The Weaver Bride is a poignant and atmospheric read, perfect for fans of historical fiction that delves into themes of duty, love, and personal freedom. Gregovic’s storytelling is as intricate and carefully crafted as the weavings at the heart of her novel.

Would I recommend it?
Yes! If you enjoy richly detailed historical fiction with strong female protagonists and a deep sense of place, The Weaver Bride is worth reading.

I loved the premise of the book, it had things that I enjoy - romance, magic, mystery, and a marriage competition. The world building and character development was well done. I loved the chemistry between Lovett and Eliot. There were points where the plot felt predictable, but was still enjoyable to read. The cover and edges on this book is also absolutely stunning. Excited to see where the story goes in the second book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House | Delacorte Press for an arc.

I have to say, the cover of The Weaver Bride is absolutely stunning. The premise had me hooked—I really liked the magic system, especially the idea of some girls having magical hair. It definitely gave off Rumpelstiltskin vibes, which was fun.

That being said, I did run into one big issue with the book. There was just too much explanation. Lovett tends to over-explain everything she sees, and while I understand it was meant to build the world, it kind of bogged things down. It made parts of the story feel a little slow and harder to get through.

Even with that, though, the marriage competition and the mystery kept me interested, and honestly, I kept reading even when I was getting frustrated with all the details. The book did end on a cliffhanger, and now I’m really curious to see what happens next, especially with Lovett and Eliot's relationship in the second book!

I had a hard time getting through this. The bloated, boring prose and lack of any depth to the characters prevented me from being invested in anything that happened to them.

first off… this cover is so gorgeous. My eyes immediately went to this book because of it. The book itself was really unique but with common tropes people love. Arranged marriage, witchy FMC, royalty, marriage competition, forbidden romance. It’s super engaging but also the plot makes sense and has some twists and turns. I loved the FMC Lovett and Elliott (also love those names) even the side characters had pretty well developed complex and strong personalities.

I loved this book can’t wait to purchase it too because it’s just so beautiful