Special thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

✨Thoughts ✨
I felt very "meh" about this book. While I think the premise is interesting and it had potential for me, I ultimately did not find myself caring for the book and I predicted a lot of things. I will say that I really liked the writing style, for there were some really great quotes in here that were very swoony and thought provoking.

So while this did not become an absolute favorite of mine, I will definitely read other things that the author comes out with!

This was a book *full* of similes. Everything was like everything else and it made a kind of poetry throughout the book. The relationship between Lovett and Elliot was beautiful and heartbreaking and it was a fascinating world. Having silkwitches have magical hair that's used in magical devices was amazing. Having to be controlled by a husband, less so. It gave off dystopian vibes in the sense that women couldn't hold their own power, that it was held above them. Either get married or get sent to the cloisters where they're even more used. Lovett was a feisty-think on her feet sort of girl, as evident in her answers in the Vainglory trials. The book was beautifully done and set up exactly for a sequel-- you want to know more of what's going to happen to Lovett and Noe and Elliot. It read as very dark at times, but still a good read. Would recommend.

What a lovely read! I thoughly enjoyed and flew through the pages. the concept of Silkwitch was really creative and interesting.and the mystery was nice.

The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic delivers an irresistible blend of intrigue, romance, and magic, set in a world that feels as lush as it is treacherous. Lovett Tamerlane, a silkwitch surviving on wit and the gift of opening doors (both literal and metaphorical), makes for a compelling and fiercely likable protagonist. Her journey, from a streetwise thief to a reluctant competitor in a deadly marriage tournament, had me hooked from the first page.
The Vainglory competition is a brilliant narrative device, layered with high-stakes tension, subtle social commentary, and just enough danger to keep the pages turning. Gregovic skillfully weaves in mystery with the death of Eliot Lear’s sister, adding depth and purpose to what could have been just another romance-focused competition. The romance itself simmers slowly, with enough angst and betrayal to satisfy any romantasy lover without overwhelming the plot.
The worldbuilding is rich, and while I occasionally wanted more clarity around the rules of silkwitch magic and Weaver politics, the atmosphere was immersive and beautifully described. Some pacing hiccups in the middle slowed the momentum slightly, but the twists (especially in the final act) more than made up for it.
With its clever plot, morally gray characters, and haunting questions about trust and power, The Weaver Bride stands out as a smart, emotionally resonant addition to the romantasy genre. I’ll definitely be watching for whatever Lydia Gregovic writes next.

Title: THE WEAVER BRIDE
Author: Lydia Gregovic
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Re-readability: Yes, I will reread prior to reading the sequel.
Binge-Read Score: Read in 3 days!

Overall Thoughts:
Magic, betrayal, and mystery are all interwoven in THE WEAVER BRIDE (pun intended 😉)! Envision a murder mystery meets Rapunzel with magical abilities. The book in general was hard to put down and this was a really well written fantasy with elements of mystery and suspense. There were moments where I honestly could not predict the ending, who our murderer was, or other elements of the story which was refreshing. I also enjoyed the back and forth between the morally grey main characters. This book is a page turner and I recommend!

Thank you to the author, Lydia Gregovic, and Random House Children’s Books for the ARC.

I'm torn on this one. The Weaver Bride started out fantastic. I loved the concept, magic system, and mystery, but the romance fell flat for me.

While the concept seems neat and the cover is GORGEOUS I struggled to get through this one. The pacing is slow, there didn’t seem to be much chemistry between the love interests, and the ending was unsatisfying.

Many times in fantasy if there is a misogynistic system or any other repressive system there is some sort of rebellion or commentary on the system. In Weaver Bride, in order to keep your magic women need to be married. Why hasn’t anyone rebelled or found a loop hole?

I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

I had so much fun reading The Weaver Bride and honestly felt like I flew through it, especially the last 40%!

While this is a YA fantasy focused on a marriage competition, I was really drawn to the gothic vibes and murder mystery subplot. I was so captivated by all the characters and enjoyed each of their personalities. I do wish there could have been just a touch more interaction and dialogue between the 10 girls since I felt like the FMC was alone most of the time but I completely understand how that fits into the story and why it’s needed.

I haven’t even touched on all the yearning that goes on within these pages and I'm here for it alllll!! My favorite part was reading that exact moment when things switched for the two MCs and would love to see more soft moments between the two as we continue on with the series.

Lastly, I just need to say OMG to that ending! I wasn’t expecting that final plot twist and I am so excited for the next book! Also, I paired up my reading with a gothic ambiance and it was 😙🤌🏽

Tropes:
🕯️ Marriage competition with tricky trials
🕯️ Reluctant allies to friends
🕯️ Hidden tunnels, magic candles, & lots of secrets.
🕯️ Witches & sorcerers
🕯️ Whodunit subplot

Overall, this was a really enjoyable YA fantasy with a lot of interesting plot twists and the best gothic vibes! 🕯️

Thank you to Netgally, Delacorte, and Lydia Gregovic for the eARC. This is my voluntary review!

This was just amazing all the way through. It started strong and ended stronger. I will absolutely be reading book two. This was like if you took The Bachelor and added a murder mystery, magic, and an extra love triangle on the side into the mix. Every character was a suspect to me at one point. I absolutely did not see that ending coming and I love a plot twist. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I need the next book immediately!

I was so eager to get to the last page because I wanted all the answers but when I did, I felt frustrated. I did get my answers but the way it ended was so unexpected that it kind of left me in a daze!

The way the author wove everything together was so PERFECT that it will leave you wanting more once you finish reading the epilogue. This book has some unforgettable characters, a well-crafted plot, a dash of romance, a suspenseful mystery and a brilliant magic system!

It’s definitely a must-read book!

It was so, so good!
Murder investigation and sleuthing, lots and LOTS of tensions and yearnings, I'm SOLD.
I love the magic system and the worldbuilding! The lore! All the perfectly placed twists! And ofc all the (morally grey) characters. I adore Lovett's strong will (she is stubborn but I would say in a good way lol) and Lear is such a dear to me (I mean people would question his loyalties but I'm team Lear from the start!). Noe is cool and I'm excited to see how his character will grow in the next installment (I hope we get one!)

I really enjoyed reading this book aaaa I NEED MORE

I am the biggest fan of unique magic systems in the books I read and The Weaver Bride started out so strong. The concepts were there but the follow through, making everything work, and making everything make fool-proof sense was just not there. The longer I spend thinking about this book after having finished it the more confused I get by why things played out in certain ways or why things couldn't be resolved or made easier with the use of that magic.
My biggest gripe is the romance because I don't think I could even call what exists between Lovett and Eliot a romance subplot. It's not just that they are putting on a facade and pretending to not like one another - these characters genuinely don't like each other. Think of the romance here like if Tamlin took Feyre Under the Mountain BEFORE getting to know her and then stood by Amarantha's side while she was tested. No chemistry. No understandable feelings for one another until you turn the page and they're kissing for a paragraph and a half before going back to icing one another out fully.
The main character is also very unlikable. While she doesn't get sucked into subplots of trying to save side characters from themselves, nor does she attempt to forge friendships or bonds, she is the epitome of selfish. She's self-aware enough to call herself as much in the book but the problem is that selfishness is her whole character. There's never a moment when you think she's about to do something other than for herself. She's very one dimensional but at least she gets the job done.
I do like the writing style, the descriptions of the world, and what's going on around the main character but not much else. The cover of the book is absolutely gorgeous. Ultimately I'm grateful for Random House Children's Books, Delacorte Press, and Lydia Gregovic for the chance to read this as an ARC.

Lush, thrilling, and full of secrets

The Weaver Bride swept me into a world of silkwitches, high-stakes courtship, and deadly secrets. Lovett Tamerlane is a bold, scrappy heroine with a unique magical gift, and her journey from thief to potential bride of the powerful Noé Alaire is both gripping and emotional. The worldbuilding is rich and imaginative, with a magical system that feels fresh and intriguing.

The romance has tension and bite, the mystery kept me guessing, and the competition at the heart of the story adds that perfect layer of drama. I especially enjoyed the slow-burn dynamic between Lovett and Eliot—full of distrust, chemistry, and just enough danger to keep me hooked.

The pacing dragged slightly in the middle, and a few twists felt a bit telegraphed, which is why it’s not a full 5 stars for me. But overall, The Weaver Bride is a beautifully written romantasy that blends court intrigue, magic, and romance in all the right ways.

Can’t wait to see what the author does next!

This book was interesting, especially due to its magic system. Magic hair giving "Wits" to girls who are called "silk witches" I enjoyed this concept quite a lot. It's also interesting to note that the girls must be married off to male sorcerers also known as "Weavers" or else their powers fade or even worse, they get locked up by the cloisters.
I liked our main character Lovett, she was fun and interesting and didn't back down from a fight and I liked that. Her attitude towards the situations she was put in kept me loving her character. I do think that her relationship with Eliot is quite something. I don't know how I feel about it yet, and I'm interested to see what happens in book two with them.
There are twists and turns in this book, some that I was expecting whilst others I was not and I'm interested to see how this story will continue.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children Delacorte Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I really liked the fantasy elements and the character development. I want to read more from this author

A beautifully atmospheric debut with lyrical prose and a touch of folklore. Slow to unfold, but ultimately rewarding.

The son of a powerful politician strikes a deal with a witch, who makes a living stealing from wealthy men, to infiltrate a marriage competition to find out who killed his sister a year before.

If The Selection and Knives Out had a kid, that kid would be The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic!!!

I loved this book so much that I ordered my trophy hard copy, which is stunning, when I was 32% in!
Lydia did a great job building this world, I had no trouble understanding how everything worked.
It's a good mix of familiar tropes with a few twists, making this book the perfect safe choice. I say that in the best way possible. If you like women sleuths, magic, and competition, this is the book for you.

I sat speechless for a good 10 minutes after finishing it. That ending?!

Thank you to NetGalley, Lydia Gregovic, and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 rounded up! I would describe this novel as The Rose Bargain meets The Selection. This was a fun read, and I definitely plan on picking up the sequel when it’s released. I did find the beginning was slow and the explanation of the magic system felt repetitive without giving new insight. I also wish we got more time with the other competitors. They felt like they were just there without a lot of depth or tension — would’ve loved to see some more drama, especially how they reacted to Lovett emerging as a favorite. Lastly, I felt like it was a lot of telling and not showing with her relationship with Eliot. It felt like we saw their love story through people mentioning how he looked at her but that was it.

The middle of the book really picked up, and then I didn’t want to put it down! I loved the idea of a mystery to solve, and the author is a very talented writer who really made you feel like you were transported to Fortblanche.

This is a great book for someone beginning to get into the romantasy genre.

It has an intriguing concept, with excellent world building.

The relationships between characters, however, fell a little flat for me. Lovett's relationship with Eliot, for example, had me YEARNING for more of an enemies to lovers feel vs insta love. I also felt there could have been more development between side characters and Lovett during the competition.

I do think there's more to Lovett's story and hope that gets a more indepth look in the next book.

Overall, 3.75/5 stars for me

I was drawn to this book for its GORGEOUS cover and interesting premise and I am SO glad I did! I cannot wait for more of this story!

Our FMC Lovett Tamerlane is a silk witch. Basically she is a girl with rare magic that stems from her hair that can only be harnessed once she is married to a Weaver. Unfortunately there are not enough Weavers to go around and if a silkwitch isn’t married soon enough, they ship her off to harvest her hair.

Let’s talk about this incredibly unique and interesting magic system first. The magic hair is such a fun concept and this magic system is really fresh in a very saturated fantasy market. I loved the “Wits” that the girls had. The manifestation of their magic like that is a very fun addition and makes all the girls very special and sets them apart from one another.

I LOVE a trial story or a marriage competition concept so that aspect was great of course. The added layer of mystery surrounding Ophelia’s death added to the fun of this plot. Her secret meeting with Eliot had me in a choke hold. I cannot wait for this to come out so I have people to talk to about it!

Lastly, that twist ending I did NOT see coming, which is a huge plus because I am rarely genuinely surprised by a twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my eARC of this book! It was a delight!