lets get into this...

i absolutely loved reading this book from start to finish, there was not a single moment where i felt bored and unenthusiastic about getting to the next page and that excitement created alone makes this a 5 star read however it was not just this that made this book a memorable 2025 read for me.
The plot 10/10 genuinely had me on the edge of my seat while simultaneously screaming, crying and throwing up. The freaking angst made me experience like such a wide range of emotions in the span of 10 pages. THE ROMANCE WAS TOP TIER and im not even kidding both the fmc and mmc could keep up with the banter which made everything so much more entertaining i was giggling non stop icl. you guys know i absolutely despise a doormat female lead but when i tell you girly was so strong, funny and just overall so mesmerizing to read about i wish we could swap bodies for a little just so i could be as charismatic as she was.

This book was such a fun read! I really love when authors are able to not only write an unlikable MC but are able to make you fall in love with them while making the character development feel natural. I felt myself relaxing as the characters' tempers did, and feeling tense when they were as well.

I always really love the idea of weaving magic and feeling the world's threads. The only other book I've read with that premise is Mercy Makers and both now hold such a warm place in my heart.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC!


This review has been posted to Storygraph and will be posted to Goodreads once the book shows available on that platform.

I honestly feel super lucky because this book was absolutely perfect for this time of year. If you love witches, enemies to lovers (which was entertaining and phenomenal btw), and a murder that needs to be solved, this is for you. When I tell you that Semras and Esetvan kept me entertained, they kept me ENTERTAINED. Their banter and his ability to go out of his way to just bother Semras were funny to me. I really liked the magic system in this book, and there was no shortage of magic.

Again, I read another book within a two-day span, which should tell you where my priorities lie. I promise I have a life and responsibilities, but I’m a sucker for interesting books with a good cast of characters. It was a really good book; I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and E.M. Riedl for the arc.

First of all, I was just randomly browsing titles on NetGalley one day when the cover for this caught my eye. Second, the description grabbed my attention. And before I knew it (while I was technically on an ARC-application ban), I had requested it.

The beginning was a little slow, but once it picked up, I was completely hooked. I even DM’d multiple friends about how good it was (show yourselves!!!). Before I knew it, I had breezed right through.

The world-building? Chef’s kiss. The chemistry between the leads? Out of this world. And the plot twists? Multiple, and I didn’t see a single one coming.

Then I finally got to the end—DAMN!!! And that exclusive bonus chapter… (zips mouth) Wow. Just wow. I was left absolutely speechless.

This book was so good that I was shocked to learn it was the author’s debut. I cannot wait to read more of her works!

Okay I was both sold and not sold on A Weave of Lies at first, but dare I say, it turned into one of the best arcs I’ve read this year?

I was instantly sold on the MMC. Moody. Brooding. With a constant smirk on? Delicious. He’s a witch hunter and she’s a witch. They should be mortal enemies but… she’s wild and sees the wild in him. He’s tempted. She’s tempted. And it feels like insta love and I just wasn’t buying it. So little time passes, it just didn’t feel believable but I was brought to my knees later. If you read this book, don’t turn around when it feels “just okay” or leaves you grasping for more because trust me, you’re being lulled into a false sense of security and your own superiority, thinking this isn’t that good. Because later..? Think betrayals, reluctant allies to lovers to enemies to maybe lovers to maybe enemies to… I won’t spoil it for you but the romance aspect of it definitely took me on a ride. And once the plot started plotting? In the end, I finished the whole thing in a day, taking break to eat maybe. Wait did I eat today?

At first it doesn’t feel like plot is plotting too much but it is, I just didn’t see it. There are secrets aplenty, there’s so much back and forth banter, and betrayal and moodiness of the world the author created. It’s a fantasy, a murder mystery, there are witches and those hunting them, and there are fey too but not quite the same ones we typically see. Then there’s magic and how unique and fresh it feels. There may be another war at the horizon, but at the very core, there’s these two people that are bringing the worst and the best in each other.

I love Semras, she’s cunning yet sweet, honest, and strong. And Estevan completely disarmed me. He’s cocky and rude and so cute when he yearns for this witch of his. Then we have a few hilarious and dark side characters who unravel as the story goes.

Nothing is as it seems. The stakes are high though they may not feel like that always. And our duo must go through the journey to uncover who or what killed Esteban’s mentor, and for that they must trust one another. Not an easy feat considering how many lies they told each other.

Overall what started as a 3, maybe 3.5⭐️ turned into a solid 4.5⭐️ and I wish there was more to the story of Estevan and Semras, but as it is a standalone, I truly must applaud E.M. Riedl for weaving all this mystery and bloody good romantic fantasy into a single book! Can’t wait for its official release and you my friends can preorder your copy on Amazon or read it on Kindle Unlimited from 23rd October. Excellent witchy fantasy with some grit for the spooky season if I say so myself!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to review A Weave of Lies - I’ve had a wonderful time! My review on TikTok @dorota.reads coming on 23/09/2025

Wow, I devoured this book in 3 days. I loved this book, it was an amazing and fun read! I think is the perfect slow-burn and enemies-to-lovers romance, and I don’t typically like that trope, but Riedl does it perfectly here. A Weave of Lies was such a breath of fresh air from all the fantasy-romance books that I have read. I found the romance between Semras and Estevan to be so well done and perfectly combined with the rest of the plot and the main mystery. I loved that the mystery was not tossed aside once the FMC and MMC got together. I find that in most romance/fantasy books, once the main couple gets together, the plot is sacrificed for the smut. Not that I mind smut, but sometimes I do want to see the main couple outside of them boinking, you know. A Weave of Lies hit all the marks for me, and I was getting major Cullen Rutherford vibes (Dragon Age) from Estevan, which I loved. I did think Estevan could have groveled a little more after everything he put Semras through, but that's just me; I like a man to suffer lol. But overall, this is such a strong debut novel, and I am excited for the next book in the series!

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing, and E.M. Riedl for the ARC! ♥️

¿𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳?

Semras lives a quiet life in the woods, that is until inquisitor Velten approaches her with an unexpected request. Now she’s bound to assist him, but the man has secrets and it's only a matter of time before she gets caught in his weave of lies.

First of all I want to thank NetGalley , Victory Editing and E.M. Riedl for providing this arc, I had the best time reading it🤎

If there’s one thing you need to know about me, it is that I love enemies to lovers and this book delivered exactly that. It wasn’t something like they hated each other for the first five chapters and then fell in love all of a sudden, no, there was actual hatred there! And the banter omg it was amazing😩

I loved the plot so much, it was mysterious and intriguing and had me hooked from the very start trying to figure out who was behind all of it, and the plot twists? Just let me say my jaw was on the floor

The characters were amazing🤌🏻 The fmc is what I would consider a soft fmc but equally strong and fierce, and I adored her! The mmc was everything I would expect in a man bound to hunt witches. They were both very complex in their own ways and that’s what I love the most✨ the side characters were also incredible and I'm hoping we get to know their stories (I have a feeling we will😌)

Now the romance, uff I just couldn’t stop kicking and giggling the whole time. Like I said, they hated each other but the tension was so palpable and when they finally admitted their feelings was so wholesome I looked like an idiot smiling at the screen🤭💗

A weave of lies is coming out oct 23, so if you're interested in books with eerie vibes, off-page intimate scenes, amazing plot and a delicious romance, this one's for you✨🤎

4.5⭐️ I love a good witchy read, and Weave of Lies delivered everything I was hoping for. Set in a richly imagined world of weaving magic, the story follows Semras, a skilled witch navigating a dangerous web of secrets and intrigue. The magic system is beautifully crafted, and the imagery of weaving spells into the world around her is vivid and enchanting. The pacing starts off a bit slow as the world and characters are introduced, but it quickly picks up, pulling you into the story.

I absolutely loved Semras—she’s such a strong, independent FMC with a sharp wit and hilarious banter that keeps the story fun even in tense moments. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic with Estevan kept me on my toes, making me want to bash him at times, but he redeems himself in ways that feel satisfying and earned. Their chemistry was unmatched.

The fact that this book is a standalone was refreshing, though I found myself wanting more of Semras and Estevan after the ending. All in all, Weave of Lies is a beautifully written, immersive read full of magic, intrigue, and a slow-burn romance that will stay with you long after the last page. I really enjoyed it.

This was the most easily 5✨✨✨✨✨ I’ve ever given!! Omg I loved every second of this book the world building and magic system was fantastic and the plot omg the plot (screaming) so so good, when you think you know what’s happening then bam plot twist then bam another plot twist 😂 I’m upset it’s a standalone I wanted to read so much more 😢 but I have a hunch that we will get another book for a different pov.

Inquisitor Estevan Velten reminds me so much of Jacks from Once Upon A Broken Heart and I’m here for it!! 😍 he’s a witch hunter who loves to smirk a lot and has trust issues (which I mean don’t we all).
He’s also kind of cute how embarrassed he gets from saying something that isn’t intentional like

“if you want my tongue witch, just say it directly and I will oblige…” 🥵

then he goes on to apologise saying that was inappropriate 😅 bless him it’s like he knowns how to flirt but doesn’t understand when he is flirting. He also gives me whiplash one minute he’s being cruel next he’s being this sensitive, understanding and protective guy 😵‍💫
Semras is a witch who can see far beyond in time she’s also had me chuckling a few times with her dry sense of humour. She’s frisky, guardian, and misunderstood. She’s has a lot of admirers and I know for a fact Inquisitor Estevan Velten get jealous 🤭 if the death stares aren’t obvious is the little things he doesn’t to state his claim.

Highly highly recommend this book 😍
Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing Publisher for the e-arc

Rating : 6⭐

I'm SCREAMING at everyone to read this book ❤️‍🔥

This is the perfect, fantasy romance for this fall ( with a plot of mystery) . I was honoured to read this book earlier this year, and I am still thinking about it.

I'm not going to write paragraphs and paragraphs because I'll never stop, but this book is PERFECTION. All I'm going to say is : Witch and a Witch Hunter. 🧹🧙🏹

Do yourself a favour, and pick this book up ❤️