About me, two things are true; I am a liar and a thief. And my doors never failed.

Rating: 4.5 Rounded up! ★ (review copied from my goodreads review!)

Born into a life in which the magic meant marriage and marriage meant survival, Lovett Tamerland learned early that the only doors worth opening were the ones others tried to keep shut. She must find a weaver husband before her magic fades, or be sent to the cloisters to live out her days. But with no title, wealth, or family that can influence the scales, Lovett uses her Wit, the ability to open any door, to steal from the elite world that sunned her. But when her next target set a trap, she finds herself in Eliot Lear's grasp, a boy from a powerful Weaver line, who enlists her help in the competition of a lifetime- the Vainglory. He offers her a spot to win Noe Alaire's hand in marriage, the Weaver King's son himself, the promise of safety, wealth, and protection from being sent to the cloisters. All he asks is one thing- help him find his sister's killer. Love is a weapon, but who will be its victim?

I finished this book within 2 days because that's how much the story hooked me! We have witches and sorcerers, a unique magic system, and one of my favorite tropes, reluctant allies to lovers. I loved Lovett as the FMC; her struggles and inner monologues and her outlook on herself really hit the mark for me. She was easy to love and root for. Eliot Lear oh my god, protect him at all cost. He was the typical sharp tongue MMC at first glance who guards his feelings carefully, but once he unfolded, the vulnerable boy and how he pins for her, ugh I LOVED IT. The yearning, the jealously, the stolen glances, and soft touches- I couldnt get enough! I was also rooting for Noe as a side character, and the way his character developed throughout the story- I cannot wait for book two. The competition aspect interested, each trial felt unique and kept me interested.

I think that while Wits are a big aspect of a silkwitches's identity, I wished we got to explore it more in terms of her opening more doors, or a look into how others utilized their powers. The ending itself was shocking, and I didn't see the twists coming, but I really really thought this was a standalone for some reason so now I have to wait for book two. I get why it ended the way it did but I wished we got more insight on Eliot but I'm sure it will be explored in book 2. Overall great read so addicting, and cannot wait for the next book! Thank you Netgalley team for providing me with an advance ARC!

Now my favorite quotes!
"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?.....Wouldn't the nights be exciting, waiting to find out?"

"Is that wait you think I am, Miss Lovett? Afraid of you?....I don't think of you at all Mr. Lear...Then why," he asks, leaning closer, "are you blushing?"

"I want a life free of the cloisters, and I want comfort and wealth. and I want to win. And you-you-are ruining all of it...You are ruining me."

"Tell me what you need me to say, please...I cannot-I cannot go on like this. It is torture." *screaming crying throwing up, justice for my boy*

what can be a great book, but honestly the writing was dreadful. The conversations were the best writing of the book, the end twist was captivating and also exciting because the epilogue wasn’t what I personally wanted. However, the world building was mediocre, almost rushed through and not descriptive. I felt as though I had to force myself to get through this book. Half of the scenes were written so poorly I couldn’t even picture the rooms or the scene. As a YA book, I think the writing needs to be better and easier to get through.

New from Lydia Gregovic comes a fantasy steeped with magic, love, daring trials, and betrayal.

Lovett Tamerlane is what is known as a silkwitch. She is a woman that possesses magical power, though the potential of this will only truly be understood when she marries. A silkwitch must marry before the age of twenty one, or she is sent to a place called the Cloisters, and is doomed to stay there the rest of her life.

To avoid the Cloisters, a silkwitch must marry a Weaver. To do so, one needs money, status, and grace—none of which Lovett has at the start of the story. She spends her days stealing from the wealthy to make a living for herself, being helped by her ability to open any door.

One day, she steals from Eliot Lear, son of a Weaver, who has been watching her in secret. Knowing her desperation, he invites her to enter a competition known as the Vainglory, where the winner is wed to Noe Alaire, one of the wealthiest and most powerful Weavers.

Eliot has a personal connection to the Vainglory, as his sister perished after winning the competition. He invites Lovett to solve the mystery of her death, and if she does, she can have the pick of any Weaver husband she chooses.

I loved this book! It is whimsical and magical and so well written. There are twists and turns to the plot as well as mystery and romance. There is something for everyone here!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review!

*Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved this book. The plot was great, and reminded me of The Selection but with magic, and I thought all of the characters were so well developed. Lovett was an iconic FMC and I really appreciated that the story followed her and didn't change POVs, which is sometimes a bit confusing for books like this.

I think if I had one minor complaint is that the ending/cliffhanger (I am assuming this isn't a standalone and will have multiple books) was a bit too flat, but the twist was really good.

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!!