Thank you Jenny Birch, NetGalley, and the publisher for the chance to listen to this ARC!

I thought that this was a fun modern take on the myth of the golem. I think this would be a great book for young YA readers as it touches on themes of kindness, friendship, adoption, and family. I loved the idea of seeing the world woven together and the magic in the cords that bind us together.

Yael Rizowy did a great job bringing the story to life!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for this advanced copy. You can pick up Woven From Clay on August 12, 2025.

Jenny Birch created an interesting mix of early 2010s paranormal nostalgia and a unique magical premise with Woven From Clay. The concept of the golems was fascinating, though I fear the blueprint of this story was eerily familiar to others I read a decade ago. It could also be that this book is simply geared toward a younger audience, while I'm aging out of younger YA books.

It doesn't help that I was not sold on the romance. Perhaps the author was going for "morally grey MMC but teeanged," yet it just came across as asshole behavior. Also, miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes, so the beginning was a STRUGGLE.

Overall, I could def see a middle or high schooler picking this up, but I fear it wasn't for me.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for gifted access to this audiobook. All opinions below are my own.

Terra is ready to enjoy every second of her senior year of high school, that is until a mysterious boy, Thorne, arrives who seems to have a vendetta against her. As they challenge one another Terra learns the terrible truth that her adoption isn't what she thought it was and she's actually a magical golem connected to her maker. A man who has crossed a coven of witches who are out to destory him and all his creations. As Terra reels from the revelation she is desparate to prove she and her mud siblings are real people who deserve to live. And of course, flirty butterflies and all that nonsense.

This is YA like I prefer, the magic system was simple, the teens were only slightly whiny and the danger was cut and dry without too many magical loopholes. It was an easy listen with a fairy tale feel. I love when the magical creatures are unique and while you know it will all turn out in the end, the path to get there is unusual and in this case full of heart.

Honestly, I'm not mad at this book! It's marketed as young adult but reads far more like middle grade fiction. That dropped it from five stars to four, as it wouldn't be a 5-star YA book. However, for MIDDLE GRADE fiction, this book is pretty awesome.

I don't think many adults would appreciate it, which is why I feel like YA is a stretch. But I work with kids for a living and am always looking for new books to recommend to them on their reading level.

And the truth is I would have devoured this book in fifth or sixth grade. Would have absolutely loved it.

The plot is easy to follow but not played out, and the golem aspect is one that doesn't pop up often, so it made it extra interesting. It's an excellent introduction to fantasy without all the things that typically make fantasy hard for younger readers to digest.

I will highly recommend this to my middle schoolers!

As for the audio aspects, those were great, too. The narration was clear and cohesive. I listened at 2x speed, but that's nothing new for me.

Just a really quick, decent read overall.

I am so glad I did not have to deal with magic when I was in high school. Also I am glad it all worked out for our girl and her friends but making babies out of clay and adopting them out is unethical at best.
Perfect narration for the story. What a wonderful ride!

I will start this review with saying that I think that this book reads a little more middle grade than YA so with that being said. I think that the magic system in this book was really neat. I loved the way that the golems were explained and the reason behind the ones in this story being made. I really like the characters and think that the author really did a good job of keeping them true to their age as far as their behavior and interactions. There is a point in this book towards the end where the story takes off at lightspeed and man when I tell you I was on the edge of my seat I am not exaggerating. Over all I really loved this book and really recommend it to those that love younger fantasy!

Yael Rizowy did a fantastic job of bringing this story to life. I loved the way that she made this story feel like you were really there.

Is it the most incredible YA of all time? No. But it’s definitely entertaining and has a great message for readers about kindness and challenging long-held beliefs.

I listened to the audiobook and will admit that I think that tainted my review a bit—the narrator’s chosen voices for the older characters and for the male characters was cringeworthy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Woven From Clay is a deeply moving debut novel. Set in a small fishing village, Birch’s themes of loss, hope, and reclamation weave themselves into a tapestry that lingers long after the final page. I’m so excited for her book‑tour stop with us at Riverstone Books—can’t wait to meet her in person!

Woven From Clay has an interesting, unique premise-the main character, Terra, is a golem, a creature made of clay by a warlock, and she is only just now finding out about it because of this mysterious new dude who has been lowkey stalking her for a while, planning to use her to find the AWOL warlock for his crimes. And also, it's Terra's senior year of high school and she plans for it to be her best year yet.

I do think younger readers (the intended age range, like, high schoolers) will enjoy this more than I did! It features a lot of high-schooly things, like projects, theater, football games, school council, and trying to figure yourself out. It's unique lore and mythical beings (I looked up golems and learned they are originally beings from Jewish folklore! The more you know!) and it's got a pretty cut-and-dry plot.

However, most of the characters came off pretty one-note to me. Terra is a rule-following good girl, and Thorne is a mysterious guy who is an antagonist, then helper, then love interest. It's sorta bland, and though I see its merits, I didn't enjoy it very much. I think probably the main thing keeping me from fully being into it is just the writing style. It's ploppy, and I don't know how to better describe it.

The narration was good! I like when it feels like the narrator is the character through and through, and isn't just reading the book, and the narrator did a good job of that.

In conclusion, I thought it was fine, but didn't care for it much. I'd recommend it to people who want an easy, quick read and want something new and fresh! Especially younger readers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for Young Readers for the e-ARC and e-ALC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5

Woven From Clay is a compelling, magical YA contemporary fantasy.

This one was delightful. The characters were entertaining and well-developed, although they felt younger than their ages. The romance was sweet and tender, and I enjoyed the magic system and world-building. Jennifer Birch’s prose was vibrant and propulsive, presenting a fast-paced, emotional story. The plot was intriguing, and the ending was satisfying. I would absolutely recommend this one to fans of YA contemporary fantasy!

Yael Rizowy was a wonderful narrator for this one. Her voice fit the characters and story beautifully, and I enjoyed the emotion and energy she brought to the story. I highly recommend the audiobook!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

I felt the book could have delved deeper into the golem mythology. Exploring their origins, purpose, and magical mechanics in more detail would have been fascinating, as it felt like we only got a glimpse of their potential

This was really sweet and fun. I'll admit I found some aspects of the story overdone and predictable, but I was able to get over that and enjoy the lovely little romance, the magic, and all the characters and their growth. I liked the golem aspect and how the MC was able to identify her worth and come into herself, like any good YA protagonist does. Overall, it was an light and enjoyable read.

I went into this book unfamiliar with Jenny Birch’s work, so picking it up felt like a bit of a coin toss. What I found was a cozy, creative, and largely uncomplicated teen novel with a concept I’ve genuinely never encountered before—mud-melting powers? That’s new.

Structurally, the plot leans toward formulaic beats, but the story has its own distinct flavor. Birch’s imagination is evident, even if the execution occasionally feels rushed or unrefined. It’s got good bones—which is impressive, considering mud usually just slumps there and vibes.

Given the folkloric origins of golems, particularly their genesis in Jewish Torah and mysticism, I anticipated some religious or historical threads woven into the narrative. Part of me appreciated the author’s choice to steer clear of biblical depth, keeping things accessible for YA readers. But another part wished for a richer backdrop that explored those origins—there’s so much mythic potential there.

Some of the character choices raised an eyebrow, particularly moments that could benefit from a more progressive lens. The ending, in particular, struck an odd chord: Terra describes someone as feeling like “home,” which feels emotionally heavy for a character who’s still a teenager. That framing may resonate with some readers, but for me, it missed the mark in terms of nuance and emotional maturity.

These critiques aside, there's plenty here for readers seeking something fresh and folklore-adjacent. If you're looking for something light with a sprinkle of mythic influence—sans theology—this might still be worth exploring!

The premise for this book was so different then anything I have read in a while. I girl who is made of mud. Terra Slater is a Gollum. But she doesn't know it. She was adopted, she is in her senior year and has everything planned out. When Throne, the new student, is basically assigned to her, everything changes. But everything is not as it seems.
I liked the premise I thought it was fresh. I really disliked Throne at first...and I liked how strong Terra was as a main character. I really liked the magic system. I really liked the idea of them regaining their energy. The amount of snacks that were had in this book were comical to me! I really liked that this is a standalone. I would read another book by this author!
I did receive this as an audio and I really enjoyed Yael Rizowy as a narrator. This was my first experience with her and I really liked the energy her narration gave off. The pacing was good but I did personally speed it up. I also thought the different voices she did were pretty good as well!