This story wrapped me in its tapestry of magic, mystery, and quiet longing from the very first chapter. The heroine is a master weaver whose threads hold the power to shape fate and emotion. Her journey to reclaim lost heritage and defy destiny felt intimate and deeply felt. The bond she forms with a mysterious guardian grew slowly and beautifully, each moment layered with trust, tension, and unspoken promise. The prose felt lyrical, like watching threads come together into a tapestry of love and self-discovery.

If you love character‑driven fantasy with enchanting magic, emotional resonance, and a romance that unfolds with grace, this one is a hidden gem.

This is a top read for me this year.

Lovett is a silkwitch. The rare magic she holds can only be harnessed by marrying a Weaver. Because of her low status, she's not the best choice to be a wife, thus resorting to stealing with the help of her magic. And when she stole from a prominent Weaver's son, Eliot, she's now thrust in a deal of joining a marriage competition and the assurance of finding a weaver husband in exchange of finding the murderer of Eliot's sister, who died in the same marriage competition.

I'm not the best reader of fantasy books, but this one was easy to pick up. The world building was easy to follow. I'm actually glad that this is not a series. this book is more reliant on the plot rather than the world it revolves on. But don't get me wrong, the world is still interesting.

Lovett is such an interesting character. Her personality resonates on her choices and the things that happen to her. And then there's Eliot. He's so smart and I like how significant he is. These two just clash and I wanted them to get themselves together.

I did not expect a lot from the other characters but Oh my goodness! They definitely made things interesting and because of the mystery aspect of the story, these characters leave me confused in the best way.

Speaking of mystery, this was interesting for sure. The secrecy of the competition, the mystery of Eliot's sister's murder, and the additional adventure of magic, these were amazing combination that made this book great. There are twists and turns from almost every angle. And the way they come together was satisfying.

This was an fun romantacy book to read. I devoured it in just a couple days. It has some twists and turns and somewhat ended in a cliff hanger where you want to know more! I'm hopeful there will be a book 2 to see what happens.

This book took a while for me to get into. Fantasy books usually do, but for some reason the magic system in this book was a tad confusing. Doesn’t mean it was bad, just confusing. BUT, I am a huge sucker for the marriage competition trope so I truly ate this up. I’m a BIG fan of The Selection and The Rose Bargain and this felt similar to me. I’m excited to see where this series leads as the ending was wild. Thank you for the ARC! I look forward to the next.

*3.5

First of all thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC of this book.

Overall I really enjoyed the plot of this book, however, like some of the other reviewers have stated the execution was lacking in places. First of all the first chapter confused me greatly. I thought the way the book jumped into the story line did not make sense and it took me a little bit to understand what was going on. For the most part once I did understand where the story was going I could follow along.

*****Possible Spoilers***********

This may be an unpopular opinion but I didn't like the MMC or the FMC in this book but I did love Noe. I thought he was fun to read about and enjoyed his banter with the other characters. I think one of my favorite things in this entire book was this quote:

""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?'
I matched his smile. 'Wouldn't the nights be exciting, waiting to find out?'"

I was laughing a lot at this part and really enjoyed the witty back and fourth between them.

This book wasn't my favorite book but I did have a good time reading it and plan on continuing on with this series.

This book felt like standing on a fog-drenched cliff, wind whipping, waves crashing, and absolutely no warning for what was about to hit. From the very first page, it hooked me with a whisper of something haunted, then dragged me headfirst into a gothic world dripping with dread and beauty. The magic system is unlike anything I’ve read, it's ancient, eerie, and brilliantly layered. The twists didn’t jump out so much as haunt me from the shadows, each one more unsettling than the last. Just when I thought I had a grip on the story, it pulled the rug out and left me staring at the final page like it owed me an apology. Massive cliffhanger. Zero chill. I’m emotionally whiplashed and I loved every second of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had a really good time with this book. I think it took me a minute to get into it, or understand how things worked in this universe, but overall was very interested in it. The explanation for how the universe functions at a basic level is given to the reader pretty upfront, though it felt sort of quick and still pretty confusing because at the point it's given, we're still trying to wrap our head around the definitions of the titles being used. I think the definition would have served a little bit better if it was given a little later, or we had a little more experience with "Weavers", etc. first.

I enjoy most of the characters in this book. I think I was hoping for a little more interaction between some of the key players in the plot, but not disappointed much in the outcome. I definitely think the chemistry could have been better between the main characters. Just because they like to bicker all the time with one another doesn't mean they are compatible (by bicker, I do mean bicker, but in a "Romantasy" kind of way, you know). I just never felt like the attraction or chemistry was fully present, but it did feel like an agreeable pairing.

There was some things in the plot that I felt like didn't need to be hard black and white decisions. Situations where I felt like the MFC could have been more morally gray or made a decision that broke some rules as opposed to following status quo or completely rebelling against it. There was also some twists or Revelations that I saw very early on and just kept waiting for them to actualize. I will just say, if you don't give the reader any real time to get to know certain side characters, those characters immediately become suspicious. So if you use them in a twist later, it feels really obvious. You never tried to convince me they were good.

I think about 40% of the way through this,(which honestly didn't feel that taxing to get to) I was invested enough to read straight through to the end. I really liked the plot line of this universe, and wanted to see what was going to happen with these characters. I wanted to know the underlying depth of this universe and all its secrets we were uncovering. I will 100% be reading book 2 (,and to the author, if you're reading this, a little love triangle/conflicting emotion might be nice 👀) 😁

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This was my first Lydia Gregovic book, and it did not disappoint! I am a SUCKER for a good romantasy with trials and games.

Our FMC, a silkwitch named Lovett Tamerlane strikes a deal with unlikely and reluctant ally, Eliot Lear. This magical novel takes place within the palace, where Lovett endures a series of trials to win over the heir of the throne, Noé.

I loved the story-telling and the author’s attention to detail. I felt like I was swept away and transported into this dark and mysterious palace. Our MMC was dark, broody, and dreamy.

We are taken on a thrilling chase to the end where secrets unravel and leaves us begging for more. I am really looking forward to the sequel!

3.5 ⭐️
this book promises to be the start of a series that will have you hanging on to every twist and turn. and there sure are a lot of them!

the story
the Vainglory: a mysterious marriage competition of secret trials among eligible silkwitches, held on the very private, very remote estate of one of the most wealthy and powerful Weaver bachelors.
Lovett Timberlane: a silkwitch who has barely scraped by with her clever thievery, feels destined to remain unmarried and surrender her life to the cloisters… until she is unexpectedly presented with another option for her future — compete in the Vainglory for a chance to marry Noé Altaire.
the twist: Noé’s best friend, Eliot Lear, has asked Lovett to enter the competition in order to help him uncover how his sister, who competed in the Vainglory the previous year, mysteriously died before a victor was announced.
the turn: neither Lovett or Eliot are prepared for all the secrets they begin to unearth and they slowly realize that, underneath the elaborate facades, no one is who they appear to be.

my take
this story was certainly interesting, and I think has a lot of potential. the world is unique and there has been a lot of groundwork set for the next book. I have to say, the characters themselves were (at best) childish, flakey, and selfish — but I think there is some intrigue with their flaws. the plotline leaned a little confusing at times, and the trials were just nonsensical. the world-building at the beginning seemed to make sense, however I am still trying to figure out the magic system described. I hope that the following books will take some time to sort out some of the intricacies.

overall, I think this book was a solid start to an entertaining and exciting YA fantasy series. thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC! ✨

This was my first book by Lydia Gregovic. I thoroughly enjoyed The Weaver Bride, both Lovett and Eliot's chemistry and marriage of convenience were so entertaining.

Holy crap. I read this right after the rose bargain and the competition marriage trope has become a favorite. Full of angst and fun characters

The Weaver Bride is a beautifully crafted fantasy novel that draws readers into a world rich with unique magic and ancient traditions. The story centers on a young woman whose destiny is intricately tied to the art of weaving, which here is far more than just a craft - it is a source of powerful magic and a connection to the very fabric of her world. Gregovic's prose is enchanting, creating a vivid and immersive setting where every thread and pattern holds significance. The concept of weaving as a magical force is imaginative and well-executed, providing a fresh take on fantasy world-building. The FMC is compelling, navigating challenges and uncovering secrets while learning to master her extraordinary abilities. The narrative unfolds with a blend of gentle pacing and moments of high tension, making for a captivating read. This book is a great choice for those who appreciate lyrical writing, intricate world-building, and a unique magic system. It's a story that feels both classic and fresh, appealing to readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with a strong sense of wonder.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-ARC!

The Weaver Bride follows Lovett, a young thief with a secret - she's a silkwitch. Along with a special power unique to her, the ability to open any door, locked or not, her hair can be spun into magical magesilk by men called the Weavers. After being ostracized from the high society silkwitches are a part of, she turns to stealing evidence and secrets for her clients. Time is running out, however. Any unmarried silkwitches past the age of 21 will be sent to the cloisters - something akin to a prison where the girls will be farmed for their hair. Lovett only has a few years left and no prospects. One night, she is approached by a socialite boy with an offer. Compete in a marriage competition and have her pick of weaver husbands in exchange for investigating his sister's suspicious death using her talents.

The setting and lore of The Weaver Bride is lush and atmospheric, only helped along by Gregovic's wonderful prose. And this isn't to mention I'm a sucker for competition plots, especially when the prize at the end is marriage to a very handsome man?

In my opinion, there are two things that hold this book back. The first is the main character herself. I found Lovett to be very bland. She had very few personality traits. I was often confused by her motivations - She very, very much wanted to solve the mystery of the young woman's death, regardless of her bargain with Eliot. She had nothing to gain from solving it outside of this, and never (to my memory) has a strong feeling that the deceased girl needs justice or closure. Like her determination to win the marriage competition about halfway through the book, she doesn't really have a reason to, aside from unnecessary spite and to prove that she can.

The second was the mystery itself. The clues and warnings were disjointed to me, not making sense when they were pulled together. The final reveals really lacked in tension for me, and it left me wanting more. This must be the first in a duology, although there's no indication in the book or on goodreads that a sequel is imminent. Really, the ending was just a letdown when I was promised a really compelling mystery.

Overall, The Weaver Bride brings you into a lush and atmospheric world where young women are pitted against each other in a marriage competition. The disappointment of the mystery part of the plot is compromised by the spooky manor the competition is set in, along with the scheming and secrets of the other candidate characters. 3 stars.

ARC Reader, thank you for the opportunity to read this wonderful piece! This book took me a little longer to finish than most books would, not because it’s bad, the writing was actually very good, but because there is a lot of detail in the beginning as the author builds the world and there for required a lot of my focus. I think about 14 or so chapters in I was sucked in and finally enthralled with what was happening to our main character Miss Lovett. The magic system is quite unique focusing on the silkwitches, their hair and the weavers who weave it.

The book very much felt like a dinner murder mystery party. Kind of like playing a game of clue but where everyone already knows something you don’t and they’re going to use it as their advantage to win the game. The game prize being a husband.

As for the ending, I’ll read the second. Have I mentioned how much I dislike betrayal endings that are going to cause the characters so much heartbreak even though it’s for good reason?? 😭

A lush, romantic fantasy filled with magic, mystery, and danger. Lovett Tamerlane is a bold, morally complex heroine whose power to open doors leads her into a deadly competition and a tangled web of secrets. With rich worldbuilding, sharp prose, and a twisty murder mystery, The Weaver Bride is perfect for fans of romantasy with high stakes and heart. Can't wait for the full release!

I’m not sure on this book. The story and idea were great, the plot amazing, but it just didn’t excite in a way that got my attention. I think for others this is going to be an amazing read and I plan to revisit it when my headspace is different to see if I catches me more!

ARC review - Thanks Netgalley.

It’s taking me a while to pull my thoughts together in this; requested this due to the underlaying murder mystery plot. However, even though the murder mystery was great; I could not latch on to the magic system. I think I was trying to over complicate it. This is very clearly book 1 in the series as you will leave the book with 100 unanswered questions and a little confused on the last 10%.
The FMC & MMC were actually quite fun. Their banter was great and I’m instructed to see if these two just stay partners in their schemes or if it will become romantic.

This is a great choice for someone looking for a new type of magic system, a little mystery, court intrigue, and trials

The Weaver Bride is a YA (light) romantasy with a murder mystery twist. Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch, a creature who's hair holds power. All silkwitches are required to marry a Weaver, a man who has sole access to her powerful hair to make enchanted objects. Lovett is approached by a yound Weaver man who lost his sister the previous year during a trial to become a powerful Weaver's wife. This young man, Eliot, offers Lovett and invitation to this year's marriage trial in his sister's place, in exchange for helping him find out the truth of what happened to his sister. Set in an ancient estae in times similiar to the 1800's, the Weaver Bride was such a fun read. I loved the combination of trials' games with a murder mystery in a gothic mansion.
I really enjoyed Lovett's character however, the two MMC's kind of fell flat for me. Eliot is Lovett's tentative ally, but we really know very few details about him that don't regard his late sister. This made his character feel rather one dimensional to me.
Noe is the Weaver who's hand in marriage Lovett is vying for. We also know very little about him, but I believe this is intentional on the author's part. We don't really know what to make of him and his feeling on these trials. He is written more as a background character which feels out of place as he is central to the storyline. I love the plot, but I think the characters need some dimension added to them so we feel more attached to them.
This being said....THAT PLOT TWIST?! I wasn't expecting that at all. WOW.
This was a fun read, and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's books for the eARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.25 🌟 ok I admit that when I saw the cover I immediately ran to request this arc but I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it this much!! I got a bit of The Rose Bargain vibes (which I absolutely LOVE!!) so maybe that’s why I ate this up.

The beginning was kinda slow and it took me days to get past the 25% but once I did, I flew through the rest in literally one sitting. I liked all the characters but my heart definitely saved a special little spot for Lovett, I don’t even know why but I just loved her so much. Eliot though… I wish we had gotten more of him since he’s the mmc :( The romance has so much potential but I just wanted MORE, ngl there were moments I was lowkey rooting for her with Noé over Eliot 🫣. The murder mystery felt kinda anticlimactic (which is actually hilarious considering * literally says that when they explain what happened lmao). The ending was fine, nothing mind-blowing but it definitely made me curious to pick up the sequel.

Overall I loved it, this is exactly the kind of YA fantasy that never fails to win me over.

4.5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
This book was really good and I really enjoyed the plot! There is some romance sprinkled in but in this book the main focus is the storyline. I am hoping there is a book 2 as I want to know what happens next!

This book follows Lovett Tamerlane who is a silkwitch. Silkwitches hold a unique magic that can only be harnessed by marrying a weaver, which is hard to find. Lovett’s is being able to open any door even if it is locked. This gets her into some trouble and she gets caught by Eliot Lear who offers her a deal. He would find her a weaver if she would find out who killed his sister.

Only catch is, she would be entered into the Vainglory to do this, which is a competition to marry the Weaver Heir, Noé.

I really enjoyed each of the main characters as well as the side characters and girls we got to meet in the competition. The small bits of romance were so cute and it was natural and grew over time. I am so hoping for another book to see where that goes, especially with how this book ends!

I really enjoy books with romance, mystery, and competitions so I highly recommend this book if this is something you also enjoy!

✨reluctant allies to lovers
✨competition to marry the heir
✨murder mystery
✨YA fantasy romance (slow)
✨fast paced
✨political intrigue
✨magical powers
✨deadly secrets

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for this arc. All opinions are my own.