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The Weaver Bride: Book 1
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A sweeping fantasy about a witch who must navigate a ruthless marriage competition—and try not to fall in love along the way. Part twisting mystery, part thrilling romance, The Weaver Bride is an unputdownable romantasy steeped in a lush magical world.
Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch. Like all girls of her kind, she holds a rare magic—a magic that can be harnessed only through marriage to a Weaver. But finding a Weaver husband requires status, refinement, and money, all of which Lovett sadly lacks. Her one secret ability, to open any door, is her saving grace. Hidden in plain sight, Lovett spends her days using her gift to steal from wealthy families and her nights avoiding the fate imposed on all unwed a life confined to the cloisters.
But opening doors can be dangerous, and when Lovett steals from the wrong person, she finds herself face to face with Eliot Lear, the notorious son of a prominent Weaver. It turns out Eliot’s been watching Lovett. He knows she’s a silkwitch, and he offers her a life-altering entrance to the Vainglory, a competition with the ultimate prize—marriage to Noé Alaire, heir to generations of Weaver wealth. The catch? Last year, the Vainglory ended in tragedy. The winner died. And the winner was Eliot’s sister.
The arrangement is If Lovett solves the mystery of Ophelia Lear’s death and unmasks her killer, Eliot will ensure she has her pick of Weaver suitors, regardless of who wins the competition. Yet unraveling Ophelia’s murder proves far more complicated than either of them anticipated. And Lovett should know better than to take a Weaver at his word.
After all . . . what is love without betrayal?
Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch. Like all girls of her kind, she holds a rare magic—a magic that can be harnessed only through marriage to a Weaver. But finding a Weaver husband requires status, refinement, and money, all of which Lovett sadly lacks. Her one secret ability, to open any door, is her saving grace. Hidden in plain sight, Lovett spends her days using her gift to steal from wealthy families and her nights avoiding the fate imposed on all unwed a life confined to the cloisters.
But opening doors can be dangerous, and when Lovett steals from the wrong person, she finds herself face to face with Eliot Lear, the notorious son of a prominent Weaver. It turns out Eliot’s been watching Lovett. He knows she’s a silkwitch, and he offers her a life-altering entrance to the Vainglory, a competition with the ultimate prize—marriage to Noé Alaire, heir to generations of Weaver wealth. The catch? Last year, the Vainglory ended in tragedy. The winner died. And the winner was Eliot’s sister.
The arrangement is If Lovett solves the mystery of Ophelia Lear’s death and unmasks her killer, Eliot will ensure she has her pick of Weaver suitors, regardless of who wins the competition. Yet unraveling Ophelia’s murder proves far more complicated than either of them anticipated. And Lovett should know better than to take a Weaver at his word.
After all . . . what is love without betrayal?
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First published September 30, 2025
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About the author
Lydia Gregovic
3 books159 followersLydia Gregovic is a Brooklyn-based author and editor, whose identity is rooted in the Texas gulf and along the coastline of Montenegro. She currently lives in New York with her complete collection of the works of Jane Austen and several half-dead plants. The Monstrous Kind is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 761 reviews
May 12, 2025
✦ ✦ ✦ ✧ ✧
ೀ. arc review
⊰࿐ my thoughts
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
ahhhh i’m really not sure what to think of this book! the general idea of the book is really solid- i loved the idea of the magic system and i loved the plot, but the execution just wasn’t there. the magic itself was one of the most confusing parts of this book. actually, i still don’t think i fully understand the magic system but i liked how unique the general idea of it was. and then there’s also the romance… which, unfortunately, also didn’t hit for me. the mmc seeks out the fmc to help him solve his sister’s murder, but here’s the catch: she must join the competition to become the future king’s wife in order to solve the mystery. see, this is one of the parts that i actually really enjoyed. normally, when there are competitions for becoming queen, like The Selection by Keira Cass, the FMC goes into it thinking that she “hates” him, but ends up falling for him. that’s not this book!!! in this book, she’s more attracted to the future king’s friend, the man who sought her out to help solve his sisters murder. the fmc… she’s painted to be this astute character who notices the unnoticed, and yet she’s so oblivious when it comes to this man!! it honestly drove me mad at times how she just couldn’t see it. and the mmc is very bland. kind of reminded me of stale cereal. i do love a morally grey mmc, but he wasn’t even morally grey, he was just kind of broody, and not a hot broody. the ending kind of blew my mind and it’s honestly what redeemed this book for me, so of course you can bet that i’ll be waiting on the edge of my seat for book 2.
⊰࿐ features
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
- reluctant allies to lovers
- political plot
- murder mystery
- romance
- ya
- competition for future queen
- first person
- single pov
somebody needs to get rid of my arc questing privileges. i see a pretty cover and bam- im done for lmao
>> thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc - all thoughts are my own
ೀ. arc review
⊰࿐ my thoughts
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
ahhhh i’m really not sure what to think of this book! the general idea of the book is really solid- i loved the idea of the magic system and i loved the plot, but the execution just wasn’t there. the magic itself was one of the most confusing parts of this book. actually, i still don’t think i fully understand the magic system but i liked how unique the general idea of it was. and then there’s also the romance… which, unfortunately, also didn’t hit for me. the mmc seeks out the fmc to help him solve his sister’s murder, but here’s the catch: she must join the competition to become the future king’s wife in order to solve the mystery. see, this is one of the parts that i actually really enjoyed. normally, when there are competitions for becoming queen, like The Selection by Keira Cass, the FMC goes into it thinking that she “hates” him, but ends up falling for him. that’s not this book!!! in this book, she’s more attracted to the future king’s friend, the man who sought her out to help solve his sisters murder. the fmc… she’s painted to be this astute character who notices the unnoticed, and yet she’s so oblivious when it comes to this man!! it honestly drove me mad at times how she just couldn’t see it. and the mmc is very bland. kind of reminded me of stale cereal. i do love a morally grey mmc, but he wasn’t even morally grey, he was just kind of broody, and not a hot broody. the ending kind of blew my mind and it’s honestly what redeemed this book for me, so of course you can bet that i’ll be waiting on the edge of my seat for book 2.
⊰࿐ features
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
- reluctant allies to lovers
- political plot
- murder mystery
- romance
- ya
- competition for future queen
- first person
- single pov
somebody needs to get rid of my arc questing privileges. i see a pretty cover and bam- im done for lmao
>> thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc - all thoughts are my own
April 2, 2025
This book is just as amazing as the beautiful cover is! It has all the witchy, thriller, fantasy, suspenseful and magical vibes in it! I have never read a fantasy book quite like this one. I love the female main character and the mystery of this book! There is also a forbidden romance in the book. The main character is a witch who has to guide a marriage competition. She is a witch that has rare magic and it can only be used by finding a weaver husband. So, how will this twisty story end? The ending is both unpredictable and satisfying. I found this book to be beautifully written and had a clear thesis! There is a lot that goes on in this book! This is in the young adult genre. Overall, I rate this a high 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Lydia Gregovic and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is set to be published on September 30, 2025!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Lydia Gregovic and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is set to be published on September 30, 2025!
April 13, 2025
4.5⭐️
“We became birds without a cage as soon as our gifts emerged, unhidden and unchanged, but also wholly unprotected.”
Now this was quite delicious. If you enjoyed The Selection or more recently, The Rose Bargain, and you’re still not tired of the whole marriage competition trope, then you might want to check this one out. I’ve honestly grown quite fond of this trope.
I try not to compare books too much, because they each bring something different to the table, but since The Rose Bargain is still fresh in my mind, I will say this story felt a bit predictable in a general sense. That said, when it comes to the worldbuilding, characters, details, and those twists and reveals—oh, this one stands tall and strong on its own. The angst and awe I felt reading was exactly what I crave all the time in a fantasy. I was on edge the entire time, and I loved it.
Now, the characters? I’m obsessed. They are conniving, dubious, backstabbing, ruthless. Every single one of them. You’ll love to hate them, but you’ll also understand their motives. That kind of complexity is Chef’s kiss.
As for the romance, it was... a bit lacking. Some declarations of feelings came a little too early for my taste, and I found myself raising an eyebrow at the believability. A slower burn would’ve fit perfectly here, though the tension was definitely present and kept me intrigued.
Loved the pacing. Loved the darkness. Loved the ever-present danger lurking around every corner. I will absolutely be sprinting to the next book.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
“We became birds without a cage as soon as our gifts emerged, unhidden and unchanged, but also wholly unprotected.”
Now this was quite delicious. If you enjoyed The Selection or more recently, The Rose Bargain, and you’re still not tired of the whole marriage competition trope, then you might want to check this one out. I’ve honestly grown quite fond of this trope.
I try not to compare books too much, because they each bring something different to the table, but since The Rose Bargain is still fresh in my mind, I will say this story felt a bit predictable in a general sense. That said, when it comes to the worldbuilding, characters, details, and those twists and reveals—oh, this one stands tall and strong on its own. The angst and awe I felt reading was exactly what I crave all the time in a fantasy. I was on edge the entire time, and I loved it.
Now, the characters? I’m obsessed. They are conniving, dubious, backstabbing, ruthless. Every single one of them. You’ll love to hate them, but you’ll also understand their motives. That kind of complexity is Chef’s kiss.
As for the romance, it was... a bit lacking. Some declarations of feelings came a little too early for my taste, and I found myself raising an eyebrow at the believability. A slower burn would’ve fit perfectly here, though the tension was definitely present and kept me intrigued.
Loved the pacing. Loved the darkness. Loved the ever-present danger lurking around every corner. I will absolutely be sprinting to the next book.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
October 30, 2025
This isn't my usual genre, but I was lured by the word 'silkwitch' and yes, apparently that is all it takes to make me interested in a book. Sadly, it wasn't the magical time I had hoped it would be and I overall felt very little excitement towards this story.
At first I was intrigued by the magic system. Some women are born as silkwitches, meaning that their hair holds magic that can be woven into objects. The magic will eventually burn out in adulthood and to use it effectively before that moment, a silkwitch either marries a weaver or is sent to the cloisters where she basically will be a prisoner. So while the women are the most valuable resource of the land, they can't actually utilize the magic themselves. The silkwitches don't have much agency and they are handled like prized possessions and I didn't like that whole set up, but I was willing to see what would come of it. Because Lovett Tamerlane was a promising protagonist. As a silkwitch herself she doesn't want to be a bride or a prisoner, and so she became a thief hiding her true identity. But that only lasts for like two chapters. Lovett is quickly approached by the weaver Eliot Lear who wants to smuggle her into a marriage competition to find out who killed his silkwitch sister. The majority of the book is then about this competition. It was interesting, because all the candidates have one very specific, minor magical talent and they have to use it to pass different trials. It sounds good, but I never was invested. Part of the problem was that I've recently read The Swan's Daughter by Roshani Chokshi and that book had a similar plot about a marriage competition and was absolutely fantastic. It was brimming with strange magic and stranger characters, and The Weaver Bride was just not. This book barely focused on the magic and was more of a character-driven story exploring different people and relationships and intrigues. That's a valid way to tell a story, but it was not what I was hoping for and I ultimately didn't feel anything for any character in here. I, too, had a problem with the writing style. It's not poorly written or anything, but everything about this book was too long. Every talk went on forever and everything was described extensively and it was just exhausting. The book is almost 500 pages long and now I certainly know the reason for that length. I understand that it was used to show Lovett's observing nature, but I still didn't enjoy reading it. And after making it through so many pages, there was very little pay-off in the end. The ending was disappointing because few answers were provided and there was a reveal that was no surprise at all AND there was a cliffhanger. There certainly is a lot of stuff to go through in the second book, but I will not be reading it.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
At first I was intrigued by the magic system. Some women are born as silkwitches, meaning that their hair holds magic that can be woven into objects. The magic will eventually burn out in adulthood and to use it effectively before that moment, a silkwitch either marries a weaver or is sent to the cloisters where she basically will be a prisoner. So while the women are the most valuable resource of the land, they can't actually utilize the magic themselves. The silkwitches don't have much agency and they are handled like prized possessions and I didn't like that whole set up, but I was willing to see what would come of it. Because Lovett Tamerlane was a promising protagonist. As a silkwitch herself she doesn't want to be a bride or a prisoner, and so she became a thief hiding her true identity. But that only lasts for like two chapters. Lovett is quickly approached by the weaver Eliot Lear who wants to smuggle her into a marriage competition to find out who killed his silkwitch sister. The majority of the book is then about this competition. It was interesting, because all the candidates have one very specific, minor magical talent and they have to use it to pass different trials. It sounds good, but I never was invested. Part of the problem was that I've recently read The Swan's Daughter by Roshani Chokshi and that book had a similar plot about a marriage competition and was absolutely fantastic. It was brimming with strange magic and stranger characters, and The Weaver Bride was just not. This book barely focused on the magic and was more of a character-driven story exploring different people and relationships and intrigues. That's a valid way to tell a story, but it was not what I was hoping for and I ultimately didn't feel anything for any character in here. I, too, had a problem with the writing style. It's not poorly written or anything, but everything about this book was too long. Every talk went on forever and everything was described extensively and it was just exhausting. The book is almost 500 pages long and now I certainly know the reason for that length. I understand that it was used to show Lovett's observing nature, but I still didn't enjoy reading it. And after making it through so many pages, there was very little pay-off in the end. The ending was disappointing because few answers were provided and there was a reveal that was no surprise at all AND there was a cliffhanger. There certainly is a lot of stuff to go through in the second book, but I will not be reading it.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2025
I am not even sure where to begin with this one. All I know is that I will always be a fantasy girl. 💫
This is a YA fantasy about a witch who must navigate a ruthless marriage competition—and try not to fall in love along the way. A little romance, a little mystery, and of course, a splash of betrayal. ❤️🩹
This book has multiple layers that I simply couldn't get enough of. The pacing was perfect. I felt like this was the kind of book you could binge or you could really take your time with (which I did).
I especially loved the FMC and MMC, finding their storyline captivating and well-woven. Each of the other characters brought their own intrigue, some more likable than others. The plot was engaging, with a bunch of twists throughout. I absolutely adored the magic system, which was smoothly sprinkled throughout — so seamlessly and so believable! The different types of magic really made this so enjoyable for me.
My only *complaint*, if you can even call it that, is that the romance could have been a little more. I normally gravitate towards books that have a bit more banter/tension amongst the MMC/FMC, but considering this is in the YA genre, I think the author did an excellent job. I won't be knocking any stars, but something to keep in mind.
Lastly, the mystery element also added a perfect touch. I love the curiosity and thrill that part of the story brought. I still feel like there is so much more to unravel.
Overall, I highly recommend it for my fantasy-loving friends. I cannot wait for the second book to be released.
THANK YOU, Random House Children's Book | Delacorte Press, for sending me an ARC of this book. One of my favorite books of 2025. So so good!
Publication is set for Sep 30, 2025! Go grab yourself a copy!!
As always, all thoughts are my own. 💭🖤✨
This is a YA fantasy about a witch who must navigate a ruthless marriage competition—and try not to fall in love along the way. A little romance, a little mystery, and of course, a splash of betrayal. ❤️🩹
This book has multiple layers that I simply couldn't get enough of. The pacing was perfect. I felt like this was the kind of book you could binge or you could really take your time with (which I did).
I especially loved the FMC and MMC, finding their storyline captivating and well-woven. Each of the other characters brought their own intrigue, some more likable than others. The plot was engaging, with a bunch of twists throughout. I absolutely adored the magic system, which was smoothly sprinkled throughout — so seamlessly and so believable! The different types of magic really made this so enjoyable for me.
My only *complaint*, if you can even call it that, is that the romance could have been a little more. I normally gravitate towards books that have a bit more banter/tension amongst the MMC/FMC, but considering this is in the YA genre, I think the author did an excellent job. I won't be knocking any stars, but something to keep in mind.
Lastly, the mystery element also added a perfect touch. I love the curiosity and thrill that part of the story brought. I still feel like there is so much more to unravel.
Overall, I highly recommend it for my fantasy-loving friends. I cannot wait for the second book to be released.
THANK YOU, Random House Children's Book | Delacorte Press, for sending me an ARC of this book. One of my favorite books of 2025. So so good!
Publication is set for Sep 30, 2025! Go grab yourself a copy!!
As always, all thoughts are my own. 💭🖤✨
September 22, 2025
2.5 ☆
His expression softened. “Lovett,” he said in a hushed tone. “You are a fool if you believe I am capable of withholding from you anything you may ask of me.”
i really tried to like this and give it a fair shot, but the writing bogged it down in a way that i couldn’t look past. i’ll give credit to the magic cause it was unique: the idea of silkwitches, weavers and the way their magic fed off one another’s was unique and interesting. the fmc Lovett and the mmc Eliot were completely flat and one dimensional though, i couldn’t buy into their motivations and later.. their romance, either. i’m also extremely picky with mystery subplots in my books and while i was intrigued at first to uncover what had happened to Eliot’s sister, it got to a point where things kept being dragged out and i stopped caring. the writing is overly descriptive which is a huge pet peeve of mine and makes the book feel 700 pages instead of it’s actual page count of under 400 in the copy i had. i just didn’t connect to anything or anyone, i also thought the reveals were predictable. i struggled to finish this in the first place, so i won’t be continuing in the series.
➺ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Random House for the arc, all opinions are my own.
His expression softened. “Lovett,” he said in a hushed tone. “You are a fool if you believe I am capable of withholding from you anything you may ask of me.”
i really tried to like this and give it a fair shot, but the writing bogged it down in a way that i couldn’t look past. i’ll give credit to the magic cause it was unique: the idea of silkwitches, weavers and the way their magic fed off one another’s was unique and interesting. the fmc Lovett and the mmc Eliot were completely flat and one dimensional though, i couldn’t buy into their motivations and later.. their romance, either. i’m also extremely picky with mystery subplots in my books and while i was intrigued at first to uncover what had happened to Eliot’s sister, it got to a point where things kept being dragged out and i stopped caring. the writing is overly descriptive which is a huge pet peeve of mine and makes the book feel 700 pages instead of it’s actual page count of under 400 in the copy i had. i just didn’t connect to anything or anyone, i also thought the reveals were predictable. i struggled to finish this in the first place, so i won’t be continuing in the series.
➺ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Random House for the arc, all opinions are my own.
August 25, 2025
⭐️ 2.5 ⭐️ I am surprised how flat this fell for me. I was very sure that I would enjoy the story but was disappointed in many aspects of it. Firstly, I found the writing difficult to follow and had a zealous amount of descriptions. I’m a strong believer that over-explanations can make the story boring and bland. Not everything has to be explained down to the T, which is what the first third of the book felt like.
It also had too many similes, metaphors and analogies. Almost every other sentence had some form of figurative language which was completely unnecessary and took away from the intended literary effect. Sometimes less is better. Instead of sucking me in, it furthered me away. I also think it took away from the point the author was trying to make.
Secondly, none of the characters were fleshed out. Neither did they further the plot or in any way support it. I didn’t particularly enjoy the romantasy aspect of the story. The love interests’ had no chemistry and Gregovics’ attempt at romance was not intriguing. I couldn’t understand the hate-love feelings & where they came from. Lovett, our FMC, was just too prideful and Eliot, our MMC had zero depth to him. It just honestly wasn’t as exciting and interesting, regardless of its YA status. Somewhere along the lines, I began to lose interest.
Lastly, the competition trials—where is the creativity? I mean they were monotone in everything. I forced myself to not give up. That’s how boring this book was!
Not everything was bad. I really enjoyed the idea of this created world—a silkwitch with magic that is limited to the raw power of her hair and whose power can only be harnessed through marriage to a Weaver. The concept was great! The magic and power of silkwitches did not shine as it should have! It had so much potential, but unfortunately reading this felt like the author tried to break down things for us as if we were toddlers.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books and the author, Lydia Gregovic for providing me with an eARC. The deluxe version is simply gorgeous!
Publication date: September 30th, 2025
It also had too many similes, metaphors and analogies. Almost every other sentence had some form of figurative language which was completely unnecessary and took away from the intended literary effect. Sometimes less is better. Instead of sucking me in, it furthered me away. I also think it took away from the point the author was trying to make.
Secondly, none of the characters were fleshed out. Neither did they further the plot or in any way support it. I didn’t particularly enjoy the romantasy aspect of the story. The love interests’ had no chemistry and Gregovics’ attempt at romance was not intriguing. I couldn’t understand the hate-love feelings & where they came from. Lovett, our FMC, was just too prideful and Eliot, our MMC had zero depth to him. It just honestly wasn’t as exciting and interesting, regardless of its YA status. Somewhere along the lines, I began to lose interest.
Lastly, the competition trials—where is the creativity? I mean they were monotone in everything. I forced myself to not give up. That’s how boring this book was!
Not everything was bad. I really enjoyed the idea of this created world—a silkwitch with magic that is limited to the raw power of her hair and whose power can only be harnessed through marriage to a Weaver. The concept was great! The magic and power of silkwitches did not shine as it should have! It had so much potential, but unfortunately reading this felt like the author tried to break down things for us as if we were toddlers.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books and the author, Lydia Gregovic for providing me with an eARC. The deluxe version is simply gorgeous!
Publication date: September 30th, 2025
May 25, 2025
4.5⭐
Sometimes you just find a great, new and exciting book in the middle of the sameness of most romantasy these days, this is one of those times. This was a phenomenal book, I loved it from beginning to end.
The characters are well written, complex and they are coherent with the description. I am so tired of seeing badass protagonists that don't act accordingly with what the author tells us. Here, Lovett is exactly what has been presented to us, she will do whatever is best for her, she will put herself and her plans first no matter what. That is so refreshing.
The romance is there but it's low in the list of my preferred things in this book. I loved the competition, the cast of characters is great, I just wish we got to know more about the other girls, it's the only thing I can think of that would make the book better for me.
The ending was perfect, I need the next book immediately!
Please read this book, you won't regret it.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC!
Sometimes you just find a great, new and exciting book in the middle of the sameness of most romantasy these days, this is one of those times. This was a phenomenal book, I loved it from beginning to end.
The characters are well written, complex and they are coherent with the description. I am so tired of seeing badass protagonists that don't act accordingly with what the author tells us. Here, Lovett is exactly what has been presented to us, she will do whatever is best for her, she will put herself and her plans first no matter what. That is so refreshing.
The romance is there but it's low in the list of my preferred things in this book. I loved the competition, the cast of characters is great, I just wish we got to know more about the other girls, it's the only thing I can think of that would make the book better for me.
The ending was perfect, I need the next book immediately!
Please read this book, you won't regret it.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC!
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May 7, 2025buddy reading with my wonderful wife, ray!!
hopefully this book will be better than our last ☹️
first time i’ve ever seen ‘read now’ instead of ‘request book’ on netgalley 😭
but ig i get the arc now?!
okay 😭
hopefully this book will be better than our last ☹️
first time i’ve ever seen ‘read now’ instead of ‘request book’ on netgalley 😭
but ig i get the arc now?!
okay 😭
October 13, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
this reminded me of the early 2010s YA dystopian novels that revolved around procuring a marriage to a wealthy man/family to survive through a competition (cough the selection cough) — in the weaver bride, there’s a similar vein of survival plot, but this time the women participating in the marriage have magic in their hair that they provide to their weaver husbands… overall an interesting plot, when you mix in the death of our mmc’s sister, the bride originally selected, which causes the contestants from last year to return (catching fire…), with our fmc being the sole new face.
i also listened to the audio and barely retained any names. i’m not sure if it was me, or the book.
this reminded me of the early 2010s YA dystopian novels that revolved around procuring a marriage to a wealthy man/family to survive through a competition (cough the selection cough) — in the weaver bride, there’s a similar vein of survival plot, but this time the women participating in the marriage have magic in their hair that they provide to their weaver husbands… overall an interesting plot, when you mix in the death of our mmc’s sister, the bride originally selected, which causes the contestants from last year to return (catching fire…), with our fmc being the sole new face.
i also listened to the audio and barely retained any names. i’m not sure if it was me, or the book.
September 30, 2025
the weaver bride is a sweeping romantasy that blends love, sacrifice, and tradition. at its core, it’s a story of two people trying to find their place in a world where duty often clashes with desire.
while I enjoyed the overall premise of the story, the first third of this story was difficult to follow. the magic system was super interesting and unique, but left much to be desired in terms of explanations. with a bit more of a focus on how the art of weaving works, I think it would’ve added a lot atmosphere to this story and raised the stakes higher.
my other big critique is on the pacing. there were a few scenes where I felt that the transitions were a bit clunky and I had to backtrack to understand how we got from one point to another.
but once I reached the 50% mark and on, I got so invested!! the whole murder mystery, the romantic tension (🤭), and competition truly had my whole attention! I felt that the pacing improved drastically and although the magic still didn’t make complete sense, there were other parts of the story holding my interest. I guessed some aspects of the ending, but was still shocked by other revelations and I’m very curious where the story goes in book 2!
I’d recommend this for any fans of the rose bargain or the selection series!
thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
while I enjoyed the overall premise of the story, the first third of this story was difficult to follow. the magic system was super interesting and unique, but left much to be desired in terms of explanations. with a bit more of a focus on how the art of weaving works, I think it would’ve added a lot atmosphere to this story and raised the stakes higher.
my other big critique is on the pacing. there were a few scenes where I felt that the transitions were a bit clunky and I had to backtrack to understand how we got from one point to another.
but once I reached the 50% mark and on, I got so invested!! the whole murder mystery, the romantic tension (🤭), and competition truly had my whole attention! I felt that the pacing improved drastically and although the magic still didn’t make complete sense, there were other parts of the story holding my interest. I guessed some aspects of the ending, but was still shocked by other revelations and I’m very curious where the story goes in book 2!
I’d recommend this for any fans of the rose bargain or the selection series!
thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Weaver Bride (Book 1) by Lydia Gregovic A witchy “marriage competition” with murder, magic, and enough twists to leave you breathless. Intrigue, romance, secrets—and a heroine you’ll root for even when she’s playing for keeps.
Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch—a girl whose magic sleeps in her hair and can only awaken when married to a Weaver. Trouble is, she’s broke, status-less, and already outgrown the time limit. Her secret to survival? She can open literally any door. It’s equal parts gift and curse—until it lands her in the Vainglory competition, a ruthless contest for Noé Alaire’s hand. But to enter, she must solve the murder of Eliot Lear’s sister—the previous winner. Welcome to the dark side of fairy tales.
What You’ll Love
Worldbuilding with texture: Think gothic halls, silk-thread magic, and a system that feels lived-in: silkwitches, Weavers, and cloisters make it all feel tactile—like climate control for intrigue.
Magic that’s potent, not pastel: Silk-thread enchantments are clever, original, and tied directly to Lovett’s emotional arc. The stakes feel intimate but wide-reaching.
Lovett = queen energy: She’s brash, resourceful, layered, and stubborn—but that vulnerability underneath? Pressure-build gold.
Mystery & romance intertwined: Murder investigation meets slow-burn tension with Elyot Lear, reluctant ally and puzzle personified. Their banter is sharp, the chemistry is simmering, and the stakes keep rising.
Twist-laced tension: Nothing is what it seems. The revelations leave you reeling, and yes—last-chapter gasps are real.
A Few Fringy Thoughts
Starting pace: The early chapters do take a moment to warm up—some readers found it slow amid setup, but it builds beautifully once the mechanics are in motion.
Secondary cast: Intriguing, but a bit under-utilized. I wanted more dimmed-lights character moments—maybe a deeper snare of side drama.
Romance timing: The slow-burn is satisfying, but if you’re craving fireworks early, know it’s a simmer before it blazes.
4 stars—for its lush magic, sharp mystery, and heroine who steals scenes (and doors). Lovett’s voice carries you through courtly manipulation, high-stakes drama, and illusions of security. This is fantasy that flirts with danger—dark, romantic, and impossible to ignore.
If you’re into:
Silkwitches whose hair holds power (and secrets)
Murder mysteries wrapped in silk ribbons
Political theater, emotional tension, and a heroine who surprises herself …you’re in for a treat.
The competition is brutal. The secrets are deep. And Lovett? She’s the bright, stubborn light that threads it all together. Bring a bookmark—this one hooks hard.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this eArc, all opinions are my own.
The Weaver Bride (Book 1) by Lydia Gregovic A witchy “marriage competition” with murder, magic, and enough twists to leave you breathless. Intrigue, romance, secrets—and a heroine you’ll root for even when she’s playing for keeps.
Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch—a girl whose magic sleeps in her hair and can only awaken when married to a Weaver. Trouble is, she’s broke, status-less, and already outgrown the time limit. Her secret to survival? She can open literally any door. It’s equal parts gift and curse—until it lands her in the Vainglory competition, a ruthless contest for Noé Alaire’s hand. But to enter, she must solve the murder of Eliot Lear’s sister—the previous winner. Welcome to the dark side of fairy tales.
What You’ll Love
Worldbuilding with texture: Think gothic halls, silk-thread magic, and a system that feels lived-in: silkwitches, Weavers, and cloisters make it all feel tactile—like climate control for intrigue.
Magic that’s potent, not pastel: Silk-thread enchantments are clever, original, and tied directly to Lovett’s emotional arc. The stakes feel intimate but wide-reaching.
Lovett = queen energy: She’s brash, resourceful, layered, and stubborn—but that vulnerability underneath? Pressure-build gold.
Mystery & romance intertwined: Murder investigation meets slow-burn tension with Elyot Lear, reluctant ally and puzzle personified. Their banter is sharp, the chemistry is simmering, and the stakes keep rising.
Twist-laced tension: Nothing is what it seems. The revelations leave you reeling, and yes—last-chapter gasps are real.
A Few Fringy Thoughts
Starting pace: The early chapters do take a moment to warm up—some readers found it slow amid setup, but it builds beautifully once the mechanics are in motion.
Secondary cast: Intriguing, but a bit under-utilized. I wanted more dimmed-lights character moments—maybe a deeper snare of side drama.
Romance timing: The slow-burn is satisfying, but if you’re craving fireworks early, know it’s a simmer before it blazes.
4 stars—for its lush magic, sharp mystery, and heroine who steals scenes (and doors). Lovett’s voice carries you through courtly manipulation, high-stakes drama, and illusions of security. This is fantasy that flirts with danger—dark, romantic, and impossible to ignore.
If you’re into:
Silkwitches whose hair holds power (and secrets)
Murder mysteries wrapped in silk ribbons
Political theater, emotional tension, and a heroine who surprises herself …you’re in for a treat.
The competition is brutal. The secrets are deep. And Lovett? She’s the bright, stubborn light that threads it all together. Bring a bookmark—this one hooks hard.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this eArc, all opinions are my own.
September 16, 2025
Threads of Love, Power, and Betrayal 🕸️🖤
The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic — ARC Review ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // 5 Stars
Let me be clear: I am obsessed. This book has everything I crave — enemies-to-lovers tension, banter that cuts like silk, a dangerous competition, and a romance that made me scream into my pillow at 2am.
🕸️ The World:
At the center of this story are silkwitches and Weavers. Silkwitches are young women born with rare magic — but here’s the catch: that power can only be truly harnessed through marriage to a Weaver. Without a husband, their fate is the cloisters, locked away from the world. Each silkwitch’s gift is unique. Lovett’s? She can open any door. 🗝️
Weavers are the men of power. Once wed, they can bind and control a silkwitch’s magic, giving them the political and social dominance in this world. The imbalance between them is the perfect breeding ground for betrayal, manipulation, and obsession.
💔 The Story:
Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch who steals from the wealthy to survive. One wrong heist throws her directly into the path of Eliot Lear, the sharp-tongued son of a prominent Weaver family. Eliot offers her a deal: enter the Vainglory competition — a deadly contest where silkwitches fight for marriage to Noé Alaire — and help him solve the murder of his sister. If she succeeds, she’ll secure her future. If she fails… well, last year’s winner died.
The arrangement sounds simple. But nothing with a Weaver is ever simple.
🔥 The Romance:
Eliot + Lovett = enemies-to-lovers perfection. Their banter? Chef’s kiss. Their tension? Off the charts. And the slow burn payoff? Worth every page.
But here’s the kicker: the love triangle with Noé was written so well, I found myself rooting for him at times. (Yes, I screamed. Yes, I panicked. Yes, I loved it.)
🖤 Why It Worked for Me:
Banter sharp enough to draw blood 🗡️
A competition with deadly stakes
A mystery woven seamlessly into the romance
A love story that balances heartbreak and hope
Worldbuilding that feels fresh but instantly immersive
📚 Final Thoughts:
The Weaver Bride is gorgeous, unputdownable, and unforgettable. It’s not the “dark romance” label I expected — more YA-adjacent dark fantasy with thoughtful trigger warnings (violence, blood, death, trauma) — but it worked perfectly for me.
This book gave me everything: swoon, suspense, heartbreak, betrayal. I am counting down the seconds until Lydia Gregovic gives us book two.
💌 Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Lydia Gregovic for the ARC.
The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic — ARC Review ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // 5 Stars
Let me be clear: I am obsessed. This book has everything I crave — enemies-to-lovers tension, banter that cuts like silk, a dangerous competition, and a romance that made me scream into my pillow at 2am.
🕸️ The World:
At the center of this story are silkwitches and Weavers. Silkwitches are young women born with rare magic — but here’s the catch: that power can only be truly harnessed through marriage to a Weaver. Without a husband, their fate is the cloisters, locked away from the world. Each silkwitch’s gift is unique. Lovett’s? She can open any door. 🗝️
Weavers are the men of power. Once wed, they can bind and control a silkwitch’s magic, giving them the political and social dominance in this world. The imbalance between them is the perfect breeding ground for betrayal, manipulation, and obsession.
💔 The Story:
Lovett Tamerlane is a silkwitch who steals from the wealthy to survive. One wrong heist throws her directly into the path of Eliot Lear, the sharp-tongued son of a prominent Weaver family. Eliot offers her a deal: enter the Vainglory competition — a deadly contest where silkwitches fight for marriage to Noé Alaire — and help him solve the murder of his sister. If she succeeds, she’ll secure her future. If she fails… well, last year’s winner died.
The arrangement sounds simple. But nothing with a Weaver is ever simple.
🔥 The Romance:
Eliot + Lovett = enemies-to-lovers perfection. Their banter? Chef’s kiss. Their tension? Off the charts. And the slow burn payoff? Worth every page.
But here’s the kicker: the love triangle with Noé was written so well, I found myself rooting for him at times. (Yes, I screamed. Yes, I panicked. Yes, I loved it.)
🖤 Why It Worked for Me:
Banter sharp enough to draw blood 🗡️
A competition with deadly stakes
A mystery woven seamlessly into the romance
A love story that balances heartbreak and hope
Worldbuilding that feels fresh but instantly immersive
📚 Final Thoughts:
The Weaver Bride is gorgeous, unputdownable, and unforgettable. It’s not the “dark romance” label I expected — more YA-adjacent dark fantasy with thoughtful trigger warnings (violence, blood, death, trauma) — but it worked perfectly for me.
This book gave me everything: swoon, suspense, heartbreak, betrayal. I am counting down the seconds until Lydia Gregovic gives us book two.
💌 Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Lydia Gregovic for the ARC.
September 21, 2025
3.75 / 5 Stars
This YA fantasy had a lot of things I love: a competition (that is pretty deadly), a murder mystery who dunnit, and a unique magic system. It lacked in a few places but still sucked me in. The plot in layperson terms: In “The Weaver Bride,” Lovett is a silkwitch. Silkwitches hold power in their hair which can be spun into magesilk to be used by Weavers (sorcerers). But a silkwitch’s magic can only be used by a Weaver who is her husband and silkwitches who don’t have a husband by the age of 21 are sent to the cloisters never to be seen again (what a hellish patriarchy where you’re a spinster by 21!!!!!). Each silkwitch also has a Wit, a magical ability unique to her. Lovett’s Wit is that she can open any door, which is very handy to steal from wealthy families. As a silkwitch not from a powerful family, this is all that Lovett can do for some money and agency. But Lovett decides to steal from the wrong person – Eliot Lear, son of a powerful political Weaver family. Eliot makes a deal with Lovett. She will compete in a marriage competition to marry Noe Alaire, a wealthy Weaver with a scary dad. The catch? She has to figure out how last year’s almost winner died and the almost winner was Eliot’s sister.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🔮 YA fantasy with a romance subplot
💖 A unique magical system where witches hold power in their hair
🔮 A marriage competition
💖 Murder mystery who dunnit
🔮 Secret identities
💖 Big twist at the end
The plot was super intriguing. The marriage competition was full of hidden motives, twists, and clues to pieces together. Lovett was super clever and was really good at outwitting her competition including the men who devised the competition. Loved seeing her stick it to them. The murder mystery around Eliot’s sister was woven in well throughout.
The magic system was also super cool but the world building lacked for me. Tying magic to hair was a super cool idea and had a lot of interesting implications (like silkwitches wore cauls and different hairstyles to keep their hair safe). And each silkwitch’s Wit was also super intriguing – Lovett can open doors, while others had powers of intuition or seeing secrets or finding any object. The Weavers also could do pretty much anything as long as they had magesilk. But beyond that, I feel like I don’t know a ton about the whole magical world. What is life like outside of the capital and does it differ by region and how many regions are there? Who do other people who aren’t silkwitches and Weavers do? Are there other magical realms and are there rivalries between or within them? Lovett’s world was super vivid but I just felt like we were within her bubble the whole time and I know nothing outside of that bubble.
The romance was also slightly lacking. Eliot and Lovett had a ton of tension, butted heads a lot, and didn’t fully trust each other but they were two hot adults so I guess that led to sparks? And Lovett and Eliot saw the worst of each other, used that against each other, and yet somehow felt safe and seen by each other, I think? I wasn’t 100% sure what drew them to each other but if you are looking for low spice (kissing only), this might be for you.
The end dragged a little for me but there was a big, fun twist at the end that made it worth it. The book also ended by setting up the second book so while some things got resolved, many were left unresolved (you have been warned).
Thank you Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: September 30, 2025
_______________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: 10000% picked this based on how pretty the cover is. And I am pretty easy to please with fantasy that has an inkling of romance 🤷♀️
This YA fantasy had a lot of things I love: a competition (that is pretty deadly), a murder mystery who dunnit, and a unique magic system. It lacked in a few places but still sucked me in. The plot in layperson terms: In “The Weaver Bride,” Lovett is a silkwitch. Silkwitches hold power in their hair which can be spun into magesilk to be used by Weavers (sorcerers). But a silkwitch’s magic can only be used by a Weaver who is her husband and silkwitches who don’t have a husband by the age of 21 are sent to the cloisters never to be seen again (what a hellish patriarchy where you’re a spinster by 21!!!!!). Each silkwitch also has a Wit, a magical ability unique to her. Lovett’s Wit is that she can open any door, which is very handy to steal from wealthy families. As a silkwitch not from a powerful family, this is all that Lovett can do for some money and agency. But Lovett decides to steal from the wrong person – Eliot Lear, son of a powerful political Weaver family. Eliot makes a deal with Lovett. She will compete in a marriage competition to marry Noe Alaire, a wealthy Weaver with a scary dad. The catch? She has to figure out how last year’s almost winner died and the almost winner was Eliot’s sister.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🔮 YA fantasy with a romance subplot
💖 A unique magical system where witches hold power in their hair
🔮 A marriage competition
💖 Murder mystery who dunnit
🔮 Secret identities
💖 Big twist at the end
The plot was super intriguing. The marriage competition was full of hidden motives, twists, and clues to pieces together. Lovett was super clever and was really good at outwitting her competition including the men who devised the competition. Loved seeing her stick it to them. The murder mystery around Eliot’s sister was woven in well throughout.
The magic system was also super cool but the world building lacked for me. Tying magic to hair was a super cool idea and had a lot of interesting implications (like silkwitches wore cauls and different hairstyles to keep their hair safe). And each silkwitch’s Wit was also super intriguing – Lovett can open doors, while others had powers of intuition or seeing secrets or finding any object. The Weavers also could do pretty much anything as long as they had magesilk. But beyond that, I feel like I don’t know a ton about the whole magical world. What is life like outside of the capital and does it differ by region and how many regions are there? Who do other people who aren’t silkwitches and Weavers do? Are there other magical realms and are there rivalries between or within them? Lovett’s world was super vivid but I just felt like we were within her bubble the whole time and I know nothing outside of that bubble.
The romance was also slightly lacking. Eliot and Lovett had a ton of tension, butted heads a lot, and didn’t fully trust each other but they were two hot adults so I guess that led to sparks? And Lovett and Eliot saw the worst of each other, used that against each other, and yet somehow felt safe and seen by each other, I think? I wasn’t 100% sure what drew them to each other but if you are looking for low spice (kissing only), this might be for you.
The end dragged a little for me but there was a big, fun twist at the end that made it worth it. The book also ended by setting up the second book so while some things got resolved, many were left unresolved (you have been warned).
Thank you Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: September 30, 2025
_______________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: 10000% picked this based on how pretty the cover is. And I am pretty easy to please with fantasy that has an inkling of romance 🤷♀️
August 4, 2025
3⭐️
Thank you again Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for a review <3
--minor spoilers--
I was soooo excited for this arc, and I still mostly enjoyed it. The plot and only the plot was fireeeee. Fantasy meets The Bachelor and Survivor. The magic system and the concept of Wits was also super interesting.
However, other than those couple of likings I have^^, I have several dislikes.
Lovett was a bland, boring, too prideful and vanilla character. No character development from her (or anyone really) I also felt like her and Eliot had no chemistry and barely knew each other but he claimed he was "in love" with her?? But Lovett honestly didn't have chemistry with anyone either, with the synopsis, I was expecting somethinggg... Also towards the end of the book Eliot just disappears, we don't hear from him or get any answers on his opinion of her *decision*.
The ending felt super rushed, it was over so quick. Which leads me to my next dislike, if this was a start to a series, I would have loved for that to of been mentioned :) (I'm not sure if it's going to be but with an ending like that, seems like it)
The trials of the competition lacked tension, I wish they would have been more suspenseful, drama between the girls and just overall more played up.
It also took me a while to get used to the writing style. As an English major, I hatttteeed it. The overuse of : and ; really irked me lol
Towards the end, Lydia Gregovic did wrap up the mystery nicely. I think if this did become a series, that sequel has sooo much potential to be better. I would love to see Lovett grow and not be so bland and prideful.
Overall, cute book. I did enjoy it.
Thank you again Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for a review <3
--minor spoilers--
I was soooo excited for this arc, and I still mostly enjoyed it. The plot and only the plot was fireeeee. Fantasy meets The Bachelor and Survivor. The magic system and the concept of Wits was also super interesting.
However, other than those couple of likings I have^^, I have several dislikes.
Lovett was a bland, boring, too prideful and vanilla character. No character development from her (or anyone really) I also felt like her and Eliot had no chemistry and barely knew each other but he claimed he was "in love" with her?? But Lovett honestly didn't have chemistry with anyone either, with the synopsis, I was expecting somethinggg... Also towards the end of the book Eliot just disappears, we don't hear from him or get any answers on his opinion of her *decision*.
The ending felt super rushed, it was over so quick. Which leads me to my next dislike, if this was a start to a series, I would have loved for that to of been mentioned :) (I'm not sure if it's going to be but with an ending like that, seems like it)
The trials of the competition lacked tension, I wish they would have been more suspenseful, drama between the girls and just overall more played up.
It also took me a while to get used to the writing style. As an English major, I hatttteeed it. The overuse of : and ; really irked me lol
Towards the end, Lydia Gregovic did wrap up the mystery nicely. I think if this did become a series, that sequel has sooo much potential to be better. I would love to see Lovett grow and not be so bland and prideful.
Overall, cute book. I did enjoy it.
October 1, 2025
݁➳ 4 stars ★
╰ arc review.ᐟ
🌷🪡 ₊˚.꒱ thoughts.
⟡ i had so much fun with this book!! i didn't have very high expectations initially but i actually really enjoyed it. it took a little while to get going but after the 25% mark i was so invested that i couldn't put it down. some of the twists were absolutely insane and i loved the mystery. this book had a really gothic and mysterious atmosphere that i absolutely adored.
⟡ the magic system was really unique and the writing was gorgeous! the worldbuilding could have been explained a bit more as i was slightly confused about its particulars in the beginning, but i still really liked it. i do wished the trials and competition were a greater part of the story, they sort of lacked tension. the characters were well-written, although i would have loved to know more about some of the side cast.
⟡ lovett and eliot were cute, but i wasn't a huge fan of the romance—i did really like their reluctant allies to lovers dynamic, but was a bit rushed and i feel like their love confessions came out of nowhere. i was so invested in the mystery that i didn't really care, but the romance definitely could have been more developed.
⟡ the ending absolutely shocked me, especially since i didn't know this wasn't a standalone before reading it, and i'm really excited for the second book!
🌷🪡 ₊˚.꒱ tropes.
⟡ marriage competiton
⟡ reluctant allies-to-lovers
⟡ whodunnit murder mystery
⟡ betrayal and secrets
⟡ unique magic system
🌷🪡 ₊˚.꒱ overall.
this was a very solid, well-written and entertaining romantasy. some aspects of the story could have had more depth, but it was still a really fun read that's perfect for fall. i really enjoyed it and i will definitely be seated for the sequel! <3
⤿ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
╰ arc review.ᐟ
“about me, two things were true: i was a liar and a thief. and my doors never failed.”
🌷🪡 ₊˚.꒱ thoughts.
⟡ i had so much fun with this book!! i didn't have very high expectations initially but i actually really enjoyed it. it took a little while to get going but after the 25% mark i was so invested that i couldn't put it down. some of the twists were absolutely insane and i loved the mystery. this book had a really gothic and mysterious atmosphere that i absolutely adored.
⟡ the magic system was really unique and the writing was gorgeous! the worldbuilding could have been explained a bit more as i was slightly confused about its particulars in the beginning, but i still really liked it. i do wished the trials and competition were a greater part of the story, they sort of lacked tension. the characters were well-written, although i would have loved to know more about some of the side cast.
⟡ lovett and eliot were cute, but i wasn't a huge fan of the romance—i did really like their reluctant allies to lovers dynamic, but was a bit rushed and i feel like their love confessions came out of nowhere. i was so invested in the mystery that i didn't really care, but the romance definitely could have been more developed.
⟡ the ending absolutely shocked me, especially since i didn't know this wasn't a standalone before reading it, and i'm really excited for the second book!
🌷🪡 ₊˚.꒱ tropes.
⟡ marriage competiton
⟡ reluctant allies-to-lovers
⟡ whodunnit murder mystery
⟡ betrayal and secrets
⟡ unique magic system
🌷🪡 ₊˚.꒱ overall.
this was a very solid, well-written and entertaining romantasy. some aspects of the story could have had more depth, but it was still a really fun read that's perfect for fall. i really enjoyed it and i will definitely be seated for the sequel! <3
⤿ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
April 14, 2025
3.5 ⭐
I really liked this book, it has a unique magic system (at least for me). It perfectly portrays the deceitful nature of men whether they hated you or loved you they still will try to deceive you. It ended in a cliffhanger which is a bummer cuz I thought it was a standalone. Will def read the sequel 🩷
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
OH MY GOSH! what a beautiful cover 😍😍 thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for the eARC 💕💕
Find my review on Instagram
I really liked this book, it has a unique magic system (at least for me). It perfectly portrays the deceitful nature of men whether they hated you or loved you they still will try to deceive you. It ended in a cliffhanger which is a bummer cuz I thought it was a standalone. Will def read the sequel 🩷
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
OH MY GOSH! what a beautiful cover 😍😍 thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for the eARC 💕💕
Find my review on Instagram
May 1, 2025
“I have a feeling you’re able to open a great many doors, Miss Lovett Tamerlane,” he went on, gazing down at me. “Perhaps you’ll even open one for me.”
rating: 3.75
after reading lydia gregovic's debut novel, the monstrous kind, i was excited to see what she would write next.
the weaver bride is like gothic bridgerton meets the bachelor with a murder mystery and fantasy. i found the magic system really interesting; the silkwitches are women born with magic powers (Wit) and spotted by their glowing hair, which can be used to transfer their powers, while the weavers are the male sorcerers who they must be married off to in order to avoid being locked up far beyond when their powers fade around 25.
“With silkwitches about, a man may never be sure whether his thoughts are truly his own.”
lovett, a resourceful pickpocket with the Wit to open any door locked or not, is propositioned by Weaver Eliot Lear to help solve the murder of his sister in a competition the year before to marry, Noé Alaire, his best friend and son of the most powerful Weaver.
i found the magic system original and the various powers different silkwitches had was interesting, including the charmed objects that could be made from their powers and how it was were harnessed. the mystery kept me interested in the story and i really couldn't put this down, with maybe a slight lull in the story around 60%. i enjoyed the setting, the writing, and the lush descriptions.
some things that didn't work for me: i found the romance was a bit fast-tracked for my liking, i wish there had been more development between lovett and eliot. i even wish there was more of a love triangle w noé considering he's the fiancé she's vying for - and we don't know his guilt or innocence. dorian also was an intriguing character but we just didn't get enough of him (how're you gonna say he's the most beautiful man she's ever seen and then barely feature him???).
i also felt like there was some info dumping in the beginning and the reveals toward the end were simply told. i also wanted to competitions to up their game a little.
“You are far too interesting to be good, Lovett.”
overall though, i enjoyed the cliffhanger ending and i do want to see what's going to happen in book 2 👀
an honest arc review ♡
rating: 3.75
after reading lydia gregovic's debut novel, the monstrous kind, i was excited to see what she would write next.
the weaver bride is like gothic bridgerton meets the bachelor with a murder mystery and fantasy. i found the magic system really interesting; the silkwitches are women born with magic powers (Wit) and spotted by their glowing hair, which can be used to transfer their powers, while the weavers are the male sorcerers who they must be married off to in order to avoid being locked up far beyond when their powers fade around 25.
“With silkwitches about, a man may never be sure whether his thoughts are truly his own.”
lovett, a resourceful pickpocket with the Wit to open any door locked or not, is propositioned by Weaver Eliot Lear to help solve the murder of his sister in a competition the year before to marry, Noé Alaire, his best friend and son of the most powerful Weaver.
i found the magic system original and the various powers different silkwitches had was interesting, including the charmed objects that could be made from their powers and how it was were harnessed. the mystery kept me interested in the story and i really couldn't put this down, with maybe a slight lull in the story around 60%. i enjoyed the setting, the writing, and the lush descriptions.
some things that didn't work for me: i found the romance was a bit fast-tracked for my liking, i wish there had been more development between lovett and eliot. i even wish there was more of a love triangle w noé considering he's the fiancé she's vying for - and we don't know his guilt or innocence. dorian also was an intriguing character but we just didn't get enough of him (how're you gonna say he's the most beautiful man she's ever seen and then barely feature him???).
i also felt like there was some info dumping in the beginning and the reveals toward the end were simply told. i also wanted to competitions to up their game a little.
“You are far too interesting to be good, Lovett.”
overall though, i enjoyed the cliffhanger ending and i do want to see what's going to happen in book 2 👀
an honest arc review ♡
September 21, 2025
dnf, very slow writing and could not get into it
thank you netgalley for this arc !
thank you netgalley for this arc !
April 6, 2025
I was first drawn to this book because of the pretty cover, and I'm glad I read it! I was hooked from the very beginning of the story, and there were so many twists and turns throughout that kept me on my toes. There was a lot more suspense in this book than I was expecting, but I ate up every word of it. The ending doesn't end on a cliffhanger per-se, but I really hope there is a book 2 because I need to know what happens next for the characters!
The magic system in this book is so unique, and I loved reading about it. At first I was hesitant about women needing to get married or be forced into a life of misery, but I was pleasantly shocked that things aren’t always what they seem to be.
There was a lot of character growth for Lovett, and
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC! :)
The magic system in this book is so unique, and I loved reading about it. At first I was hesitant about women needing to get married or be forced into a life of misery, but I was pleasantly shocked that things aren’t always what they seem to be.
There was a lot of character growth for Lovett, and
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC! :)
July 11, 2025
This gave me The Cruel Prince vibes even though fae were not involved. Maybe this is better compared to The Rose Bargain.
A binge-worthy recommendation!
Hidden identity, streets to manners, conspiracies, tunnels, trials, secrets, magic.
Lovett is a silkwitch, her hair a source of magical power. If she is not married to a Weaver (a sorcerer) by the age of 21, she is sent to the cloisters.
When Lovett steals from a cocky bachelor, Elliot offers her the undeniable opportunity to participate in the Weaver King’s Vainglory - a competition to win the hand of his heart. In exchange, she must find out how Elliot’s sister died in the last Vainglory.
"You are ruining me, Lovett," he asserted softly. "You have destroyed me."
My breaths were shallow. With his speech, the air in the room seemed to have gone, replaced by something that fizzed drunkenly in my mind like champagne. "Sometimes," I said, "I think I detest you."
He chuckled at that. "Well," he said dully. "I wish you would. Sisters know, your hatred would be far easier to bear than this."
I am very surprised this has gone under the radar.
We have a low-key love triangle, a morally grey, underdog heroine, slow burn will-they-won’t-they, and a twisty ending.
Like talk about a whiplash ending. Especially when I thought it was a standalone.
I do wish we got to know more about the world as the bare minimum information was given. You could understand enough to get by, but I would have loved more background information, more politics, more culture.
A note on the book - mine was really stiff and not floppy, and hard to read. I am hoping this is just the first edition arc.
Physical arc sent by the author.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
A binge-worthy recommendation!
Hidden identity, streets to manners, conspiracies, tunnels, trials, secrets, magic.
Lovett is a silkwitch, her hair a source of magical power. If she is not married to a Weaver (a sorcerer) by the age of 21, she is sent to the cloisters.
When Lovett steals from a cocky bachelor, Elliot offers her the undeniable opportunity to participate in the Weaver King’s Vainglory - a competition to win the hand of his heart. In exchange, she must find out how Elliot’s sister died in the last Vainglory.
"You are ruining me, Lovett," he asserted softly. "You have destroyed me."
My breaths were shallow. With his speech, the air in the room seemed to have gone, replaced by something that fizzed drunkenly in my mind like champagne. "Sometimes," I said, "I think I detest you."
He chuckled at that. "Well," he said dully. "I wish you would. Sisters know, your hatred would be far easier to bear than this."
I am very surprised this has gone under the radar.
We have a low-key love triangle, a morally grey, underdog heroine, slow burn will-they-won’t-they, and a twisty ending.
Like talk about a whiplash ending. Especially when I thought it was a standalone.
I do wish we got to know more about the world as the bare minimum information was given. You could understand enough to get by, but I would have loved more background information, more politics, more culture.
A note on the book - mine was really stiff and not floppy, and hard to read. I am hoping this is just the first edition arc.
Physical arc sent by the author.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
May 1, 2025
Gorgeous, gorgeous writing. THE PROSE. I cannot, there are so many pull quotes, yall.
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 (No spoilers, but I know which team I'm on and it never changed, from chapter 1)
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 (No spoilers, but I know which team I'm on and it never changed, from chapter 1)
December 19, 2024
furious. outraged. incensed. suing for emotional damages
October 5, 2025
The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Going into The Weaver Bride slightly blind is honestly the best approach! I was immediately drawn into the world-building and found it fascinating to unravel. Lovett finds herself in a tricky situation after stealing from the wrong man: Eliot Lear, a wealthy and blunt aristocratic. He gives her two options, face the consequences of theft or join a competition to "win" the prince’s heart. But Lovett is secretly there to solve a murder that happened the year before.
This book has the perfect blend of murder mystery, trials/competitions, a unique magic system, and a slow-burn, hate-to-love romance. It completely took me by surprise, I ended up reading it in a single day. The banter between Lovett and Eliot is delicious and the romantic tension is done well, and the magic system is unlike anything I’ve read before.
It ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m already dying for book two. I really hope we get to see more of the other girls again, I absolutely loved reading about their magical abilities, too.
I’d highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys:
Slow burn romance
Sassy banter
Hate-to-love
A good murder mystery wrapped in a magical world
Thank you to NetGalley, Lydia Gregovic, and Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers for the ARC! 💙
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Going into The Weaver Bride slightly blind is honestly the best approach! I was immediately drawn into the world-building and found it fascinating to unravel. Lovett finds herself in a tricky situation after stealing from the wrong man: Eliot Lear, a wealthy and blunt aristocratic. He gives her two options, face the consequences of theft or join a competition to "win" the prince’s heart. But Lovett is secretly there to solve a murder that happened the year before.
This book has the perfect blend of murder mystery, trials/competitions, a unique magic system, and a slow-burn, hate-to-love romance. It completely took me by surprise, I ended up reading it in a single day. The banter between Lovett and Eliot is delicious and the romantic tension is done well, and the magic system is unlike anything I’ve read before.
It ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m already dying for book two. I really hope we get to see more of the other girls again, I absolutely loved reading about their magical abilities, too.
I’d highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys:
Slow burn romance
Sassy banter
Hate-to-love
A good murder mystery wrapped in a magical world
Thank you to NetGalley, Lydia Gregovic, and Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers for the ARC! 💙
October 1, 2025
4.5 ⭐ - "You are ruining me, Lovett. You have destroyed me."
Sometimes I just know I'm going to love a book, and this one was no exception. I've been supporting the author for a while but this was my first book by her and it was amazing!! It had all my favourite parts of a novel: heartaching angst and yearning, mystery and murder and allure and secrets.
Similar to The Selection, 10 girls undertake trials to win the hand of the Weaver King's son, Noé. I've said this before but I genuinely think these are the most unique version of a "trials" book I've read, where there's less focus on most of the trials, and most trials amount to wit, cunning and secrets rather than physical ability. Most of the trials are also conducted individually and Lovett (fmc) hardly interacts with most of the girls outside of them, keeping her relationships central to a few important ones. I loved this take on it and I also appreciated that the book focused mostly on the mystery and Lovett's relationships with the others rather than the trial aspect, which really makes it stand out to me.
Also the romance!! This is definitely very enemies to lovers (I wouldn't necessarily say in the want to kill each other way? but it's not rivals to lovers either) in the sense that they really do NOT like each other, but they have a bond nonetheless. Eliot is my king of YEARNING. I love love love a yearner and he does it so well!! Him and Lovett's back and forth is so entertaining and angsty! It pulled me out of a slump like I read this in a day. I also loved the vulnerability they had and their tension.
I see so much of myself in Lovett and I really loved how this book tackled gender injustices and discrimination of silkwitches, the way men hate women in power and how the women defy that. And after that ending, I NEED MORE. Just picture me like this 😨 when I finish a chapter and there's NOTHING AFTER THAT LIKE WHERE'S BOOK 2 I NEED IT NOW???? Pls pls pls I will give my right arm for book 2 now pleaseeeee
Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC on Netgalley! This is my honest opinion.
Sometimes I just know I'm going to love a book, and this one was no exception. I've been supporting the author for a while but this was my first book by her and it was amazing!! It had all my favourite parts of a novel: heartaching angst and yearning, mystery and murder and allure and secrets.
Similar to The Selection, 10 girls undertake trials to win the hand of the Weaver King's son, Noé. I've said this before but I genuinely think these are the most unique version of a "trials" book I've read, where there's less focus on most of the trials, and most trials amount to wit, cunning and secrets rather than physical ability. Most of the trials are also conducted individually and Lovett (fmc) hardly interacts with most of the girls outside of them, keeping her relationships central to a few important ones. I loved this take on it and I also appreciated that the book focused mostly on the mystery and Lovett's relationships with the others rather than the trial aspect, which really makes it stand out to me.
Also the romance!! This is definitely very enemies to lovers (I wouldn't necessarily say in the want to kill each other way? but it's not rivals to lovers either) in the sense that they really do NOT like each other, but they have a bond nonetheless. Eliot is my king of YEARNING. I love love love a yearner and he does it so well!! Him and Lovett's back and forth is so entertaining and angsty! It pulled me out of a slump like I read this in a day. I also loved the vulnerability they had and their tension.
I see so much of myself in Lovett and I really loved how this book tackled gender injustices and discrimination of silkwitches, the way men hate women in power and how the women defy that. And after that ending, I NEED MORE. Just picture me like this 😨 when I finish a chapter and there's NOTHING AFTER THAT LIKE WHERE'S BOOK 2 I NEED IT NOW???? Pls pls pls I will give my right arm for book 2 now pleaseeeee
Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC on Netgalley! This is my honest opinion.
Want to read
June 4, 2025❀° ┄───╮
pre-read
╰───┄ °❀
we share a name so I have to read this 🤭
edit (06.04.25): AND I GOT THE ARC!! 😜💗
pre-read
╰───┄ °❀
we share a name so I have to read this 🤭
edit (06.04.25): AND I GOT THE ARC!! 😜💗
September 25, 2025
This novel is fantastic! I was immediately sucked into the world and magic system. I read the author’s debut, “The Monstrous Kind”, last year and liked it, and I didn’t understand why it had mixed reviews. With “The Weaver Bride”, Gregovic has officially landed a spot on my auto-read list.
Lovett, the main character, has turned 18, which means, as a silkwitch, that she has until her 21st birthday to find a Weaver (read: sorcerer) husband, or she will be confined to “the cloisters”, a place where unwed silkwitches go…and never come out. A girl can become a silkwitch with the onset of puberty, and although they are relatively rare, any girl has the potential to wake up one day with glowing, lustrous locks along with a Wit—a unique magical talent that can be quite useful. Lovett’s Wit is that she can open any door, no matter what security measures have been placed on the other side of it…a skill that she uses to steal from the wealthy once she moves to the big city and realizes she has no chance at getting into polite society.
Everything is going all right—until Lovett tries to steal from the wrong person, Eliot, the only son of a prominent Weaver. With her identity exposed, she has no choice but to make a deal with him to become one of ten silkwitches in the Vainglory, a competition in which the winner will wed the only son of THE most prominent Weaver—the Weaver King. However, Lovett is also tasked with uncovering the truth of why a silkwitch died during last year’s competition—Eliot’s sister.
Twists and turns abound in this addicting murder-mystery, both literally and figuratively. The setting is haunting, majestic and forbidding. Lovett has no friends and can trust no one.
And the competition starts…
NOW.
4.5 stars, rounded up. I cannot wait for the follow-up!!
My thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC! All opinions are mine alone.
Lovett, the main character, has turned 18, which means, as a silkwitch, that she has until her 21st birthday to find a Weaver (read: sorcerer) husband, or she will be confined to “the cloisters”, a place where unwed silkwitches go…and never come out. A girl can become a silkwitch with the onset of puberty, and although they are relatively rare, any girl has the potential to wake up one day with glowing, lustrous locks along with a Wit—a unique magical talent that can be quite useful. Lovett’s Wit is that she can open any door, no matter what security measures have been placed on the other side of it…a skill that she uses to steal from the wealthy once she moves to the big city and realizes she has no chance at getting into polite society.
Everything is going all right—until Lovett tries to steal from the wrong person, Eliot, the only son of a prominent Weaver. With her identity exposed, she has no choice but to make a deal with him to become one of ten silkwitches in the Vainglory, a competition in which the winner will wed the only son of THE most prominent Weaver—the Weaver King. However, Lovett is also tasked with uncovering the truth of why a silkwitch died during last year’s competition—Eliot’s sister.
Twists and turns abound in this addicting murder-mystery, both literally and figuratively. The setting is haunting, majestic and forbidding. Lovett has no friends and can trust no one.
And the competition starts…
NOW.
4.5 stars, rounded up. I cannot wait for the follow-up!!
My thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC! All opinions are mine alone.
April 22, 2025
˚₊۶ৎ˙⋆
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
3.75
First off, this cover is absolutely stunning and the reason why I wanted to read this book in the first place! Like hello? That pink is gorgeous!!
Let's move on to the contents of the book! Okay so the plot is pretty simple you know, she's a silkwitch, he's the son of a prominient weaver. Ooh tension, a little banter and you've got a plot!
She's in some desperate times and so Eliot (the rich dude) offers her a ticket (in other words) in an entry to the competition to win Noé Alaire's hand in marriage. Basically, our mc needs to solve Eliot's sister's death, and Eliot will make sure she has her pick of Weaver suitors (because girliepop needs some help).
"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."
There's lies, there's tension, there's romance!!! Note, I'm so tired of love triangles where there's such an obvious clear option. (Or I hope so...???)
I didn't like Noé that much and I'm not sure if that was on purpose. Tbh from the second he stepped on page something ticked me off about him.
Eliot, however. . .
Is almost giving a little Darcy???
"𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞," 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬. "𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭--𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞."
The fact that our cutesy little mc (lovett) couldn't figure out that Eliot is literally in love with her gets me so much.
"𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥," 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐲𝐥𝐲. "𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡."
Alright! Wrap up!
I loved the plot and the uniqueness of the marriage competition and her trying to figure out a murder mystery of Eliot's younger sister. It flowed nicely and it was fun to see Lovett's character develop as she figured things out and outsmarted people because girlipop is smart for sure! That ending though...I better have a sequal next year! The reason I'm ranking it a middle three stars is because at some points I just wasn't "feeling" the book and that's why it took me so long to read! It's a good fun read though!
۫ ꣑ৎ
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
3.75
First off, this cover is absolutely stunning and the reason why I wanted to read this book in the first place! Like hello? That pink is gorgeous!!
Let's move on to the contents of the book! Okay so the plot is pretty simple you know, she's a silkwitch, he's the son of a prominient weaver. Ooh tension, a little banter and you've got a plot!
She's in some desperate times and so Eliot (the rich dude) offers her a ticket (in other words) in an entry to the competition to win Noé Alaire's hand in marriage. Basically, our mc needs to solve Eliot's sister's death, and Eliot will make sure she has her pick of Weaver suitors (because girliepop needs some help).
"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."
There's lies, there's tension, there's romance!!! Note, I'm so tired of love triangles where there's such an obvious clear option. (Or I hope so...???)
I didn't like Noé that much and I'm not sure if that was on purpose. Tbh from the second he stepped on page something ticked me off about him.
Eliot, however. . .
Is almost giving a little Darcy???
"𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞," 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬. "𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭--𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞."
The fact that our cutesy little mc (lovett) couldn't figure out that Eliot is literally in love with her gets me so much.
"𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥," 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐲𝐥𝐲. "𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡."
Alright! Wrap up!
I loved the plot and the uniqueness of the marriage competition and her trying to figure out a murder mystery of Eliot's younger sister. It flowed nicely and it was fun to see Lovett's character develop as she figured things out and outsmarted people because girlipop is smart for sure! That ending though...I better have a sequal next year! The reason I'm ranking it a middle three stars is because at some points I just wasn't "feeling" the book and that's why it took me so long to read! It's a good fun read though!
۫ ꣑ৎ
April 4, 2025
I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing this book as a 'free' read.
This is the second time I tried this author and suprisingly, I stuck the book out until the end and walked away enjoying it - immensely.
If you like gothic mysteries with a twinge of fantasy, this is your book. So fantasy of manners? Yes. That's what we can all this.
The chemistry between the two leads was one of those 'they both liked one another but were afraid of admit it for sake of duty / mission'. She was the means to figure out how his sister died. She was trying to bide time until she hit 21. Trapped in this gothic mansion with the looming death of his sister the year prior, and someone in the mansion who was there then as the killer made it a good read. I liked that I had no idea where the story was going.
The reason I am bringing it down a star is that the world building was rather surface level and some characters felt like red herrings than actual characters with meaning. I'd name one or two but then it would confirm who didn't kill the sister.
I am excited for book two - and finding out that it was going to get a sequel. I hope for more world building and that we get out of the mansion and into the world / politics of society. With the reveal of a certain plot element it makes you wonder what the author has in s
This is the second time I tried this author and suprisingly, I stuck the book out until the end and walked away enjoying it - immensely.
If you like gothic mysteries with a twinge of fantasy, this is your book. So fantasy of manners? Yes. That's what we can all this.
The chemistry between the two leads was one of those 'they both liked one another but were afraid of admit it for sake of duty / mission'. She was the means to figure out how his sister died. She was trying to bide time until she hit 21. Trapped in this gothic mansion with the looming death of his sister the year prior, and someone in the mansion who was there then as the killer made it a good read. I liked that I had no idea where the story was going.
The reason I am bringing it down a star is that the world building was rather surface level and some characters felt like red herrings than actual characters with meaning. I'd name one or two but then it would confirm who didn't kill the sister.
I am excited for book two - and finding out that it was going to get a sequel. I hope for more world building and that we get out of the mansion and into the world / politics of society. With the reveal of a certain plot element it makes you wonder what the author has in s
June 27, 2025
Wow, I absolutely loved this. Already excited about the sequel, especially after that crazy but not OTT ending. Definitely going on my preorders list for this year. Finally I judged a book by its beautiful cover and sprayed edges and it paid off for once.
Lovett is a silkwitch in hiding, forced into thievery when she finds out that only wealthy silkwitches have luck on the marriage market. But thievery suits her better, with her cleverness and her talent at opening any door without a key. In this world, the hair of silkwitches powers magesilk, a magical power that supplies the wealth and technology of this world, but only if silkwitches are bound in heterosexual marriage to a Weaver man. They also have a Wit, a talent, along with the power of their hair.
The hair was kind of treated like a limitless resource, when I have frizzy hair and I end up cutting mine about twice a year. (A minor quibble.)
Lovett spies a wealthy, handsome man at a bar and intends him to be her next mark. But Eliot Lear has other plans for her. He wants to sponsor her in a marriage competition run by his best friend, Noé, the son of the Weaver King. He didn't spend much time training a comparative gutter rat to do well in the world of royals. But he has another game in mind; he wants Lovett to find out the truth of who murdered his sister.
Eliot, an idealist who refuses to marry a silkwitch for noble but naive reasons, and Lovett are soon fighting a growing attraction to one another as the competition turns fierce.
They betray each other over and over again, but in this instance I did not mind the betrayals because their dynamic was sizzling with slow-burn tension and heat. The betrayals only raised the stakes of their forbidden love. Their romance was tortuous without being overly angsty. That ending just killed me, in a way that makes me yearn for Book 2.
I loved these characters and fell in love with both of them. I even liked the love triangle because Noé was such a cunning, complicated character, not the spoiled rich boy he first seems. I also loved the worldbuilding and this fascinating, unique universe (though not sure it entirely got all its sewing terms right. I did not think spinning wheels had bobbins!)
I also loved how the story didn't shy away from the ethical ramifications of the oppression of the silkwitches and the power dynamics between the silkwitches and Weavers.
Overall though this hit all my favorites in a romantasy that was charming, swoonworthy, and fun, and it featured a gripping murder mystery and vast political conspiracy.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lovett is a silkwitch in hiding, forced into thievery when she finds out that only wealthy silkwitches have luck on the marriage market. But thievery suits her better, with her cleverness and her talent at opening any door without a key. In this world, the hair of silkwitches powers magesilk, a magical power that supplies the wealth and technology of this world, but only if silkwitches are bound in heterosexual marriage to a Weaver man. They also have a Wit, a talent, along with the power of their hair.
The hair was kind of treated like a limitless resource, when I have frizzy hair and I end up cutting mine about twice a year. (A minor quibble.)
Lovett spies a wealthy, handsome man at a bar and intends him to be her next mark. But Eliot Lear has other plans for her. He wants to sponsor her in a marriage competition run by his best friend, Noé, the son of the Weaver King. He didn't spend much time training a comparative gutter rat to do well in the world of royals. But he has another game in mind; he wants Lovett to find out the truth of who murdered his sister.
Eliot, an idealist who refuses to marry a silkwitch for noble but naive reasons, and Lovett are soon fighting a growing attraction to one another as the competition turns fierce.
They betray each other over and over again, but in this instance I did not mind the betrayals because their dynamic was sizzling with slow-burn tension and heat. The betrayals only raised the stakes of their forbidden love. Their romance was tortuous without being overly angsty. That ending just killed me, in a way that makes me yearn for Book 2.
I loved these characters and fell in love with both of them. I even liked the love triangle because Noé was such a cunning, complicated character, not the spoiled rich boy he first seems. I also loved the worldbuilding and this fascinating, unique universe (though not sure it entirely got all its sewing terms right. I did not think spinning wheels had bobbins!)
I also loved how the story didn't shy away from the ethical ramifications of the oppression of the silkwitches and the power dynamics between the silkwitches and Weavers.
Overall though this hit all my favorites in a romantasy that was charming, swoonworthy, and fun, and it featured a gripping murder mystery and vast political conspiracy.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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