The Weight of Wishes

by Tori Weed

If dreams can come true, it is vital to remember that nightmares, well, they exist too.

Seren was only four when the Stellean king killed her mother. Sixteen years his servant, Seren understands her place in his cruel court: Stay quiet. Stay out of trouble. And most importantly, stay alive.

But now, the Fae king wants her dead too, and there is only one way to stop him.

Thrust into a challenge not undertaken for centuries, Seren must navigate trials more dangerous and twisted than she could ever imagine.

With the fate of her kingdom hanging in the balance, can Seren defy the odds and uncover the truth about her past?

The clock is ticking. The gods are watching.

Genres: Fantasy

530 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2024

About the author

Tori Weed is the author behind The Weight of Wishes, the first book in her debut fantasy series that she began writing as a psychology student still in university. She is a writer, equestrian, photographer, an ENFJ and a creator from Denver, CO.
Visit her online and say hi on
X (@ToriRWeed)
Tiktok (@Tori.Rhiannon)
Instagram (@toriweed)

Reviews

[Yves V.H. [Slow reading] · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 33%

I loved the idea of the story that's why I signed up for the ARC. The first few chapters were intriguing enough to keep me going up to where I felt like enough is enough. There were a lot of unnecessary information thrown here like why the dress fits her (does that woman have a child? If so, where? Where's the husband?) I don't think I need to know that ...it didn't contribute to the story since she left that place very quickly...and tbh, I don't even know how she got there.

Lots of unnecessary information, dialogues and yet a lot of things are happening very quickly. I have no time to process things because suddenly she tripped and then she hurt her elbows oh, and then a prince helped her then she eavesdropped on that same prince then she got tired...then next its her birthday the king gave her some day off and then a lot happened during that day off... it felt like from point 1 to suddenly point 3

I think this book could have been cut in to 2 books at least because I think the MC needs more time to develop and as well as the stories about the fae kingdoms but the author squeezed all of that in the first few chapters of this book. This book could have been edited more to be improved.

💎 Received a copy but all thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Mel Lenore]

Soft dnf at 25 pages in. I'm just not vibing with the writing atm and will probably come back to it later

[Liz Fully Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great magic filled fantasy book. Seren is a slave who escapes and goes on a journey to overthrow the evil king who plans on overtaking and controlling all the kingdoms. What ensues is a story with found family, angst, magic, gods, magical creatures, and plenty of action.

The author does a great job of world building and character development. You really love or hate most of these characters, and some you love to begin with and then hate, and vice versa. And the magical world created with the trials Seren has to go through were very creative.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Perfect for all fantasy fans, I’m looking forward to reading what happens next!

I received an advance reader copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ciel Silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy lately, and let me just say that this book was a very refreshing read! Seren is a girl at the mercy of a cruel Fae king, but when she is set upon a path to complete a set of trials that haven’t been completed in centuries, she ends up going on a journey and finds family, friendship, and romance along the way. There is a theme throughout this book of not only companionship, but also self-improvement and healing for several of the characters in the book. Every new part of Seren’s journey showed another facet of her character as she began to open up throughout the book, and the growth of others alongside her was very rewarding to read.

Tori’s style is great; the prose isn’t too frilly, and she hooked me in from the very beginning to take me on this wild ride. Experienced readers can usually tell where some aspects of a story will go before they get there, but I was able to do that less with this story than with most others that I have read recently. There are plenty of twists and turns in this book that keep it fresh, the world building was phenomenal, and the characters were well-developed.

Things really pick up near the end of the book and, while I never lost interest due to slow pacing, I feel like the end rushed up a little too quickly. However, the story is good enough to forgive that, even if I wanted to go yell at Tori after I finished it. I can’t wait for book two! I’ll be buying this in physical form so it can have some shelf space next to my other favorite authors.

[Cat Bowser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

If you like the concept of Fae courts, you’re in for a treat with this book. The author takes that element and gives it a unique flavor, so that it feels both familiar and utterly unique all at once.

I loved learning about the world as we explored it though some elements were left mysterious. I hope we get some more exploration of them in later books because there really is a unique universe here.

Seren is a great main character. You immediately feel for her plight but she’s also very human, for lack of a better word, with flaws and mistakes that shape her journey.

I can’t wait to return to this world again.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost I would like to thank Tori for providing me with this ARC copy. I apologize that it took so long to finish, I genuinely had things come up and I wanted to make sure I put 100% of my focus into this book.

That being said, this book was extremely captivating. We see Seren, the main character, truly grow as a character, an entity, and as a person. I believe there is a lot we can learn from Seren’s trials.

Seren attempts to take on 5 trials, the trials that lay beyond each court to stop her tormentor. The reason her life has been nothing but chaos and misery… maybe even more than she originally thinks.

This book teaches you that you can only rely on yourself but also the ones who you TRULY {emphasis on truly} trust. There were twists I saw coming with the story other characters- but there were twists that left my jaw LITERALLY hanging and the tears to well up.

Several times in the last 25% of the book did I find myself having to stop and wipe my eyes because the lessons Seren has to learn are TOUGH.

I found myself uneasy at times with certain situations because I THOUGHT I knew what was coming… was I sorely mistaken.

Going into this I had no clue this book wasn’t only a debut but also the beginning of a series. I sorely wish I didn’t take so long to read this because this book holds so much potential for Tori. So so much.

Thank you again and if you’re interested in this book because the cover is super pretty then PLEASE read it. You won’t be left disappointed !

[sootski · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC provided by author in exchange for honest review!


Thrown into a world of fae courts, found family, and a trial- this book is for those who like their strong FL having to persevere against all odds. I had fun with this book- it was a fast enough pace that I didn’t feel bored and the writing hooked me from beginning to end. Maybe I just wasn’t the person for this book though, but I know booktwt is going to eat this up for sure. The beginning started off one way and immediately did a 180 flip for me in a few chapters with the main character finding herself in a new place with new characters. I really liked the guys she met, though I did feel like their only purpose in the story was specifically for their relationship to Seren. Some points- FL catching eye of Fae prince, FL having to compete trials in order to save the world- are plot points seen before but they were enjoyable nonetheless!! Some of the parts did feel like one of those “I wish we were given some more explanation and backstories, but you just have to go along with what’s happening” moments which definitely confused me in the beginning but other than that- a fun read for sure!

[Beatrix · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tori Weed, thank you very much for a copy of the ARC ❤️

A very beautiful world and interesting premise. The story primarily focuses on Seren as she embarks on fulfilling a proprechy. I really enjoyed how her back story is drawned out. However, some may find the pace quite slow.

I did find that the book seemed like it was split into 3 distinct sections: Seren's life prior to finding out the prophecy; Seren on an adventure somewhat related to prophecy; Seren undergoing trials to fulfill the proprechy. I really enjoyed the first and the later section. The middle section felt like a completed 180 to both the plot and Seren's character. Because of this, I really struggled to like Seren.

Seren is portrayed as a naive orphan who has suffered a great deal of trauma. However, certain interactions she's had make her seem very timid but also quite entitled. I guess I was a little confused on where her character development was heading. I did really like how Tori wrote about her trauma. That was one thing that made Seren relatable.

For the romantasy lovers out there, this book has a smidge of romance in it. But, those tiny bits are your classic enemies-to-lovers.

I think overall, I felt like the execution of the premise was a little rushed. Certain areas of the book focused heavily on the day-to-day conversations, which ultimately made the book feel incredibly long. I didn't really feel like there was much movement in the plot until the trials. However, it was still an enjoyable read and that ending 👀, bring on book 2❤️

Tropes: Fantasy with a reluctant heroine, Fae and royalty, Prophecy to fullfill, Found family.

2.5⭐

[Twanette Bester · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8⭐️

𝙔𝙤𝙪,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙨𝙤 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.
𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙨𝙠, “𝙒𝙝𝙮?”
“𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩"

Thank you so much to the author Tori Weed for gifting me a copy of the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I had so much fun reading this book. It took me nearly two weeks to complete, but my awful reading schedule is in no way a reflection of how much I enjoyed it.

We mainly follow our FMC Seren, and we see the abuse that she has been experiencing at the hands of the Stallean King Hellevi. After a series of events, Seren flees from the court and is rescued by Rae in the Galaxius forest. From here on, we are thrown into a world of political scheming, trials, found family, unlikely allies, and creatures that were once thought to be extinct.

The writing in this book was superb for a debut novel. The conversations flowed seamlessly, even with the story taking a complete 180 about a third into the book-It read as if it was written in 3 parts, with the sections being the character introduction, friendship and the god trials. There are many hints at deep secrets that almost every character harbors, which at times can feel as if the character building is incomplete. However, towards the end, the secrets start unravelling, and we get a sense of who our characters really are.

That being said, friendship is a big theme in this book, and the way that Seren was welcomed and accepted was lovely. I also loved the fact that the characters were relatable in so many ways and how raw and honest they were- well, mostly, apart from the ultimate betrayer.

There is minimal romance in this book, but I suspect that might change in coming books.

I will definitely continue with this series to see where Seren's story leads.

[Bret White · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Just like the moons, we all go through phases-some light, some dark. But sometimes we have to live through the darkness before we get to feel the light again.”

ARE YOU KIDDING?? There’s literally one more day left in December, and this was the BEST book to end my year with. OMG. I’M STILL SHOOK. the world building? phenomenal. the characters? perfect. the plot? *CHEF’S KISS*

Tori has given us a fantastic world with characters that are super relatable - even if they’re not exactly human. The trials and just life experiences that these characters faced in general is so heartbreaking, and it hit home with me. I am very glad that the characters were vulnerable with each other - even if some of that will be regretted when Seren finds out what *massive eye roll* was up to the entire time. I swear I hate him but some of the quotes in the book like the one I opened this review with alludes to maybe that character redeeming himself 👀 even so I have no idea if I can forgive him. It would take a lot - but I would definitely be open to it. I also enjoyed that this book focused more on the world building and character developments rather than romance. The fantasy plot contained within this book is honestly one of the best I have ever had the pleasure of living in. I am sure there’s something great in store in book two and I absolutely cannot wait to read it!!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the easiest 5 stars I've given omg!
I would've finished this a lot sooner but I really wanted to take my time and soak in everything.

This is a new fae series I'm gonna love, the one other fae series I have is based on the seasons, TWoW is elemental AND celestial! Had no idea I needed something like that in my life 😫

The world building, the lore, the characters, the creatures and THE MAGIC...I loved everything this book has to offer! THERE'S EVEN A PLAYLIST IN THE BACK!! I WILL be adding it to my Spotify, I can't read and listen to music at the same time but hopefully when I do listen I can recall bits of the book <3

Casimir is my new book bf and the cliffhanger has got me swinging 🤜💢

If my love and excitement for this book isn't apparent and you're still not sold then let me end it with this. I have a love hate relationship with starting a new series ESPECIALLY with ones that literally just started! I never do this to myself but I did this time because I wanted to support my moot Tori, the anguish and torment I've put myself through was so worth it. I love love this book so much and I'm waiting in anxiety for the next one and the next one and the next one and th-

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to be picked as an ARC reader! After finishing the book I was left in awe. First off my true love is world building. Tori Weed did a spectacular job at describing the world. I was able to picture it in my noggin. Second, making character struggles relatable(as in the train of thought to accept and adapt to what happened/is happening) was amazing. Wasn’t just ok with what happened and is to come but she describes the struggle in the choices Seren(fmc) has to make. Last plot, I typically like my books spicy but let me just say that having a story that kept me wanting more and more doesn’t happen often. Tori made me crazy because I had adult things to do and I had to stop reading to fulfill my grown up responsibilities and I didn’t want to put it down. A story that wasn’t about falling in love and whatnot but a story about self discovery with the help of found friends while dealing with betrayal and secrets. A well deserved 5/5 stars. I will be buying a physical copy January 25, 2024.

[Kayleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating and suspenseful found-family novel with a touch of slow-burn romance and a jaw-dropping plot twist I did NOT see coming! I knew only a quarter of the way through this book that it was going to be one of my favorite reads this year. My only complaint is that I'm not certain I can bear to wait for book two! 


Fans of Sarah J Maas and Carissa Broadbent will LOVE The Weight of Wishes. Between the enchanting world-building, the suspenseful and twisty plot, and the characters who have so much depth, I feel as though I know them in real life, this series-to-be has me hooked right off the bat. TWOW features a charming found family of shape-shifting males, a strong FMC, magical trials, tyrannical fae, and more! There is also a bit of slow-burn romance that I imagine will develop further in the coming novels. No "spice" in this book, but I promise it is not needed! If you're a fantasy lover, READ THIS. You won't regret it!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

“But when it’s night and the darkness looks infinite, that doesn’t stop the sun from rising again the next day.”

I thought this was great! I think this book is going to be really popular for sure! Seren was a strong female mc with a troubled past that molded her into a courageous, yet humble character. She takes on 5 trials set forth from the Gods/Goddesses of the 5 Fae courts in an attempt to thwart total war. She discovers a found family who helps train and advise her before starting the trials.

The trials were all very well done and beautifully written. I loved how TW wrote the first trials and how she depicted the different Fae courts and Gods/Goddesses. The last trial was really anticlimactic to me and I just couldn’t get past it. It all built up to this final point, and then sizzled away for me. If the last 50 pages didn’t seem so rushed, I would probably have given this 5 stars.

3.5⭐️

Tropes: found family, enemies to lovers, fae, magic, good v. evil, reluctant hero

[Noriboo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a wonderful, high fantasy story.
This book is a strong beginning of the series. I appreciated that the slowburn romance was secondary. However, I personally felt that the attraction was mostly physical and trauma bonding. I didn't think there was any chemistry beyond that. If it had been all friendships all around, I would have been okay with that. I adored the Verti lads and their friendship with Seren.

I liked the worldbuilding and enjoyed seeing different parts of the realm. I hope that in the next book, we'll be learning more about the different magical traits of the different regions and creatures.

The epilogue had my jaw hitting the floor.
I'm very curious to see how the characters will further develop and where this adventure will take us.

Spice level:
🌶

•••

I received an ARC. My opinions are my own.

[Hilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The clock is ticking. The gods are watching.”

The weight of wishes by Tori Weed is a fantasy story with a lot of suspense, which made me turn the pages faster. The worldbuilding is amazing and the characters are well developed. The FMC is a strong person, and you feel for her, with what has happened in her past.

The writing style is great, flowing and fast paced. There is a slow burn romance, along with suspense and a very unexpected twist.

This book is all you need in a fantasy novel and it is definetely a must read for fantasy lovers.

[Nicole Talbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy wild ride!! Be careful what you wish for... This book takes a very strong female lead and follows her journey through a lot of hard things. There is found family, enemies that are close, secrets revealed and secrets kept, magic awakening, magic subdued, so many different courts and peoples. And the gods and their trials-holy smokes so much to absorb. Outstanding world building, unexpected surprises and betrayals, and so much more. I cannot waut until the author releases the second installment with so much unfinished business!! Highly recommended!!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good start to a series. I look forward to seeing how the story continues. The world building was well done. Tori Weed did a good job with character development. Seren is a strong FMC who grows throughout the book.
I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars due to the fact that several parts of the book were a bit drawn out too much.
Overall, a good story.

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Tori and it was so enjoyable. It caught my attention right from the beginning and I'm so glad I gave this author a chance. It's always awesome when you can read a book by a new author and thoroughly enjoy it.

[❤️‍&#x1fa79; · Rating 4 out of 5]

First arc read!! Review coming soon

[Maria]

DNF at 29%.

[Ayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING. I don’t even have anything else to say. Just amazing

[EP Gazette · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4.5
🌶️ Mildly steamy in a few scenes
Trigger apply: mentions of torture and attempted suicide, psychological trauma

A thought provoking journey of self discovery and growth. Seren is a truly amazing character, despite everything she's been through she still sees the good in the world and others. She's spirited, sassy, kind-hearted, and ultimately selfless in her goals. As she completes the trials with the help of her band of friends she is faced with life's most important lessons and hardships and must rise above them all.

The majority of the book is from Seren's PoV which leaves us in her shoes, learning as she does and experiencing her inner turmoil. While there is a lot of info dumping and some parts are a lil slower I feel this fits the narrative. I did come across some creative metaphors and analogies I'd never heard, several of which had me laughing!

I love all the guys, so drool worthy😍

And the plot twist!! Totally unexpected and heartbreaking, I need to know more.

[Courtneybeth Boaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. What a journey.
I’ll be honest, I kind of thought it would be a standalone book and that it would be a boring end, but oh was I wrong. The epilogue really threw me for a loop. It was the perfect world building book with enough action and adventure to keep you entertained throughout the building. Really excited to continue this series and follow Seren, and the gang through their battle.


I received this as an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Mariana Saraiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a while since I started a book I knew I was going to love within 50 pages. And that’s exactly what happened here. I absolutely adore this book!
A few of my favorite things from the story:
1) The world building is so fascinating without being overwhelming as other fantasy books tend to be. Tori does a great job of giving you info as you go so that it doesn’t become confusing. I love that we got a glimpse into each land and I really really hope that we get to see more of them in the next book.
2) I LOVED this FMC. She is brave, fierce, quick witted and doesn’t back down. She also has a few moments of hilarious rebuttals. She reminds a lot of the FMC in the SJM universe. With that said, I also adored how Tori handled the FMC trauma in the story. It was beautifully written.
3. The romance is great but I appreciate that it doesn’t necessarily take center stage. It’s not meant to but the moments for romance were well received. But can we talk about Cas for a second because swoooooon!
4. The entire plot was fantastic! The twists and turns kept me engaged and I literally couldn’t put it down at certain points. And THAT ENDING?! I mean, you kind of assumed something will happen but I didn’t expect that! I was immediately so upset that there wasn’t book 2 ready to go 😅

[Kaitlyn Alcorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first portion of the book was a little heavy on the info dumping and tropes which made things feel a little forced. The trials got progressively more exciting and interesting and by the end I was invested in the plot! Will definitely read the next book!!

[Dodge Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seren is our brave FMC, she was quickly made a servant forced to work for the king who had murdered her mother as a child. She’s grown up with assaults and abusive people. Now, she learns that the future of a brighter world rests in her hands. To go from being told you are nothing to finding out that you must be everything is our FMC’s journey. She faces the power that had raised her but like the writer had hinted in the beginning, she’d fantasized of killing that cruel power very early on.
“Where Hellevi desired pain, Shaya desired justice.”
“A sheeps heart - for the life of an innocent.”
“Shaya had designed the sun trial to prove that her pain was justified and over one hundred souls had testified that her darkened heart was not her fault, that it was impossible to have witnessed such horrors and still see the good. But if Seren was to pass, she had to see the light.”


This was a fantasy with a strong FMC with the “weight” of the world on her shoulders. Heavy topic theme about power and suffering. Grown up without family, she meets new friends in her journey for justice. #foundfamily


“Guilt sprouted in Seren’s gut, but Mare’s sudden full embrace cut the nasty weed down before it had the chance to grow. Squeezing her hands on Seren’s shoulders, Mare pushed her head back to appreciate the gown, a toothy smile taking over her face.”
—-
She laughed at the thought now - facing off with the king, holding nothing but a simple kitchen utensil.
——-

“Wishes are granted for those willing to fight for them.”