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The Weaver Saga #1
The Bloodweaver
Not yet published
Expected 23 Jun 26A divisive magic. A shattered family. A brewing war.
In a world where some can manipulate life with a single touch, siblings end up on rival sides, forced to reckon with the choices that led them there.
Three generations ago, ancient and mysterious beings introduced the world to the arcane art of Bloodweaving, which allows its practitioners to manipulate life with merely a touch. Now, Bloodweavers must hide in plain sight or risk being hunted by violent regime soldiers known as Breakers, who will stop at nothing toeradicate weaving once and for all.
Though his family’s vineyard has flourished thanks to Bloodweaving, Kerick DeLuvena has kept his powers a secret from everyone, including his beloved fellow triplets, Mel and Emiel. When a squad of Breakers arrives on the day of Emiel’s wedding, Kerick weaves himself a new face and flees to protect his family, setting out in search of the Ravel, a secret society of Bloodweavers who stand on the precipice of an uprising.
Meanwhile, Mel’s girlfriend is identified as a Bloodweaver and arrested. Devastated by so much loss, Mel hatches a plan to get captured in the same raid, hoping to protect her love at all costs, even if it means allying herself with the Breakers’ ruthless commander and serving the very force that tore her family apart.
As the consequences of the siblings’ diverging paths ripple across a divided and hostile world, both must eventually face the same question: Is Bloodweaving a miracle—or a curse?
The gripping debut of the Weaver Saga is perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab, Andrea Stewart, and Fonda Lee
In a world where some can manipulate life with a single touch, siblings end up on rival sides, forced to reckon with the choices that led them there.
Three generations ago, ancient and mysterious beings introduced the world to the arcane art of Bloodweaving, which allows its practitioners to manipulate life with merely a touch. Now, Bloodweavers must hide in plain sight or risk being hunted by violent regime soldiers known as Breakers, who will stop at nothing toeradicate weaving once and for all.
Though his family’s vineyard has flourished thanks to Bloodweaving, Kerick DeLuvena has kept his powers a secret from everyone, including his beloved fellow triplets, Mel and Emiel. When a squad of Breakers arrives on the day of Emiel’s wedding, Kerick weaves himself a new face and flees to protect his family, setting out in search of the Ravel, a secret society of Bloodweavers who stand on the precipice of an uprising.
Meanwhile, Mel’s girlfriend is identified as a Bloodweaver and arrested. Devastated by so much loss, Mel hatches a plan to get captured in the same raid, hoping to protect her love at all costs, even if it means allying herself with the Breakers’ ruthless commander and serving the very force that tore her family apart.
As the consequences of the siblings’ diverging paths ripple across a divided and hostile world, both must eventually face the same question: Is Bloodweaving a miracle—or a curse?
The gripping debut of the Weaver Saga is perfect for fans of V. E. Schwab, Andrea Stewart, and Fonda Lee
440 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 23, 2026
5 people are currently reading
984 people want to read
About the author
C. N. Kuster
1 book20 followersA former Fulbright scholar, C.N. Kuster attained her MFA in Creative Writing from Regis University and holds an MA in Secondary Education as well. She teaches high school language arts, is an avid collector of fountain pens and loves spending time outdoors. Her debut novel, The Bloodweaver, will be published in Summer 2026 through Podium Entertainment. She’s an active member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and the Lighthouse Writers Workshop, and a founding member of the Tejon Writers Collective. She lives in the Denver area with her husband, daughter, and a very precocious cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 18, 2025
3.75☆
what a great debut into the fantasy genre! i had an overall great time with this, i had a few moments of struggling and confusing feelings but overall i think this was a fun time.
some things i liked: the writing was incredible, along with the magic system being really interesting and im excited to see more of it and its capabilities in the next book(s?). the sibling dynamic was a nice touch too and i do love a multiple pov story. getting to see different journeys through a story is always fascinating and seeing them somehow tie back together, which this did in a great way. the ending also had me shoooook! maybe it was obvious but i honestly had no idea and left it open for a really interesting and exciting start for the second book.
some things i didn’t like: i felt the pacing at times varied and had me losing interest to then not being able to put it down (that was mostly towards the end). the start felt slow and took me a while to get through but the final 60/70% was a blast. i liked the sibling dynamic in this story but the characters themselves didn’t stand out to me as much and felt no connection towards anyone. as someone who really connects with books through characters, i hope we get some more character development and depth in the next book! if those things get expanded on i think this could be a really good series for fantasy lovers.
thank you netgalley for giving me the chance to read this arc.
what a great debut into the fantasy genre! i had an overall great time with this, i had a few moments of struggling and confusing feelings but overall i think this was a fun time.
some things i liked: the writing was incredible, along with the magic system being really interesting and im excited to see more of it and its capabilities in the next book(s?). the sibling dynamic was a nice touch too and i do love a multiple pov story. getting to see different journeys through a story is always fascinating and seeing them somehow tie back together, which this did in a great way. the ending also had me shoooook! maybe it was obvious but i honestly had no idea and left it open for a really interesting and exciting start for the second book.
some things i didn’t like: i felt the pacing at times varied and had me losing interest to then not being able to put it down (that was mostly towards the end). the start felt slow and took me a while to get through but the final 60/70% was a blast. i liked the sibling dynamic in this story but the characters themselves didn’t stand out to me as much and felt no connection towards anyone. as someone who really connects with books through characters, i hope we get some more character development and depth in the next book! if those things get expanded on i think this could be a really good series for fantasy lovers.
thank you netgalley for giving me the chance to read this arc.
November 24, 2025
I had a great time with this one.
This is a very well-written fantasy centering Kerick and Mel, two of three triplet siblings who end up on opposite sides of a brewing war. I’m not normally big on sibling stories, so the fact that this one worked for me is a testament to how well it’s executed. The dynamic between Kerick, Mel, and their brother Emiel is this book’s greatest strength. It’s messy, intimate, complicated, heartwarming, often sad… just very raw and real, emotions gorgeously portrayed in the prose. I really felt the REDACTED FEELINGS over REDACTED (iykyk).
I enjoyed both POVs, but Kerick is the standout. I will defend his every action. Mel was more frustrating to me personally, but her plotline was no less interesting, so I was never bored with either POV. The secondary characters are also well-developed and nuanced—special shout-out to my favorite, Jaz. Helsivic is so much fun as an antagonist.
The worldbuilding is excellent, very well thought out in a way that never feels info dumpy. I actually sometimes felt like I wanted MORE info dumping, because the concept of Bloodweaving is just so cool. I love a magic system with sinister (?) consequences and body horror elements. Some aspects reminded me of Laini Taylor’ Strange the Dreamer, in a good way. I wanted to read Kerick’s textbooks and it’s rude that I don’t get to.
The first ~200 pages are a slow burn, laying the groundwork for a latter half that goes HARD. Overall the pacing is pretty brisk, with an accessible style and themes that I think should appeal to YA as well as adult readers. Lots of crossover potential here.
Finally, that ending! It’s one of the evilest cliffhangers I’ve read this year. I’m super intrigued to find out where the series goes from there.
This is a very well-written fantasy centering Kerick and Mel, two of three triplet siblings who end up on opposite sides of a brewing war. I’m not normally big on sibling stories, so the fact that this one worked for me is a testament to how well it’s executed. The dynamic between Kerick, Mel, and their brother Emiel is this book’s greatest strength. It’s messy, intimate, complicated, heartwarming, often sad… just very raw and real, emotions gorgeously portrayed in the prose. I really felt the REDACTED FEELINGS over REDACTED (iykyk).
I enjoyed both POVs, but Kerick is the standout. I will defend his every action. Mel was more frustrating to me personally, but her plotline was no less interesting, so I was never bored with either POV. The secondary characters are also well-developed and nuanced—special shout-out to my favorite, Jaz. Helsivic is so much fun as an antagonist.
The worldbuilding is excellent, very well thought out in a way that never feels info dumpy. I actually sometimes felt like I wanted MORE info dumping, because the concept of Bloodweaving is just so cool. I love a magic system with sinister (?) consequences and body horror elements. Some aspects reminded me of Laini Taylor’ Strange the Dreamer, in a good way. I wanted to read Kerick’s textbooks and it’s rude that I don’t get to.
The first ~200 pages are a slow burn, laying the groundwork for a latter half that goes HARD. Overall the pacing is pretty brisk, with an accessible style and themes that I think should appeal to YA as well as adult readers. Lots of crossover potential here.
Finally, that ending! It’s one of the evilest cliffhangers I’ve read this year. I’m super intrigued to find out where the series goes from there.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A sweeping, epic series in the making.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Please note: I read an advanced reader copy of this book, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. #TheBloodweaver #NetGalley
Kerick DeLuvena has a secret. Although Bloodweaving—a powerful and arcane magic that can manipulate life with a single touch—was once more accepted, Weavers are now tracked, tested, and taken for mysterious reasons. Kerick has kept his powers a secret, especially from his fellow triplets, Emiel and Mel. But on the night of Emiel's wedding, all of their lives are changed forever.
Dive into the breathtaking world through Kerick and Mel's eyes, and ask yourself: is everything as incredible as it seems? Is Bloodweaving a gift? Or a curse?
I devoured this book. It's intelligent, heartfelt, and raw. In the first book alone, were swept across oceans and far off lands that paint an incredible picture of Kuster's ability to world build, and show the powerful thread every character's life weaves through it. To a point even, that you ask yourself, is it good for one person to have so much power to remake the world?
Admittedly, I was off to only a slightly bumpy start. It was some times seemed, to me, assumed by the author that readers would have a quick understanding of the complexities of Bloodweaving, the world we're in and its history, and who's who right away. The first chapters spare no time getting right to the fact that these characters are at risk and about to be at war. If you're someone who likes to dip your toes in with the slower roll of characters' lives, take note that it dives in instead. After that, be swept down the river and enjoy the ride.
This is the type of book I wish I could read for the first time again already. The characters are masterfully crafted, motives exact, questions of morality and getting the reader to wonder "What is the truth?" are ever-present throughout. It's a love letter to childhood fantasy novels with the darker realities of what it means to be your own person in a bigger world. Every second or even tertiary character has their own unique arc and purpose. The Bloodweaver is a powerful, intellectual approach to fantasy that's so prevalent for the time we live in.
I loved it, and I can't wait to read more.
Thank you to C.N. Kuster, Podium Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Please note: I read an advanced reader copy of this book, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. #TheBloodweaver #NetGalley
Kerick DeLuvena has a secret. Although Bloodweaving—a powerful and arcane magic that can manipulate life with a single touch—was once more accepted, Weavers are now tracked, tested, and taken for mysterious reasons. Kerick has kept his powers a secret, especially from his fellow triplets, Emiel and Mel. But on the night of Emiel's wedding, all of their lives are changed forever.
Dive into the breathtaking world through Kerick and Mel's eyes, and ask yourself: is everything as incredible as it seems? Is Bloodweaving a gift? Or a curse?
I devoured this book. It's intelligent, heartfelt, and raw. In the first book alone, were swept across oceans and far off lands that paint an incredible picture of Kuster's ability to world build, and show the powerful thread every character's life weaves through it. To a point even, that you ask yourself, is it good for one person to have so much power to remake the world?
Admittedly, I was off to only a slightly bumpy start. It was some times seemed, to me, assumed by the author that readers would have a quick understanding of the complexities of Bloodweaving, the world we're in and its history, and who's who right away. The first chapters spare no time getting right to the fact that these characters are at risk and about to be at war. If you're someone who likes to dip your toes in with the slower roll of characters' lives, take note that it dives in instead. After that, be swept down the river and enjoy the ride.
This is the type of book I wish I could read for the first time again already. The characters are masterfully crafted, motives exact, questions of morality and getting the reader to wonder "What is the truth?" are ever-present throughout. It's a love letter to childhood fantasy novels with the darker realities of what it means to be your own person in a bigger world. Every second or even tertiary character has their own unique arc and purpose. The Bloodweaver is a powerful, intellectual approach to fantasy that's so prevalent for the time we live in.
I loved it, and I can't wait to read more.
Thank you to C.N. Kuster, Podium Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks Netgalley & Podium Publishing for the ARC!
This is a great debut fantasy about oppression of magic users and injustice, with a sibling story at its heart.
In this world, Bloodweavers are a type of magic user who manipulate what is alive. They've only been around for a couple decades, when mysterious beings gifted people this power. The magic system is quite fascinating, and one I'm hoping to see even more of in its sequels. Bloodweaving is something people can be born with, but it is also contagious. A bloodweaver can make someone else into a bloodweaver, which you can imagine leads to difficult situations in regards to the oppression of magic. Sometimes the soldiers hunting down bloodweavers are turned into bloodweavers against their will, and they can also pass on the ability to their children. There are also 'carriers', who are not bloodweavers, but had their physiology altered by bloodweavers, and can also be born this way (inherited from parents), and these are also hunted. Overall, it makes for a very fun and unique system with lots of ethical questions. It is understandable to not want everyone to gain these powers and do whatever with them, but any attempt to rein it in will inevitably lead to hunting down numbers of people who didn't choose what they are.
The story centers on Mel and Kerrick, two of a triplet. The third triplet is also relevant, but his fate is a bit of a spoiler so I won't say too much about him. Kerrick is a bloodweaver, and at the start of the story, he has not told his siblings. He lives on an island that has been relatively safe from Breakers (the people who hunt down bloodweavers), but that is all about to change. To escape, he changes his face and identity and he tries to find the Ravel, a resistance group fighting for Bloodweaver rights.
Mel is left behind on their island home. She's not a bloodweaver, but she has a sensitivity to the world around her that allows her to tell how people feel, if they're lying, but also lets her product the weather. The nature of this ability develops across the story, and was quite interesting to see. She tests negative for the bloodweaver test, to her own surprise, but her girlfriend tests positive and is taken into custody. Here, I think the book synopsis is not entirely accurate. Mel lets herself be captured by faking a positive test, and begins working with their captors not out of choice but because they see how useful her sensitivity is (they think she's a carrier), and exploit it for their own gain. Mel is desperate to do what's right, protect her girlfriend, and gain back control over the situation, but this is really difficult.
Their different paths put the siblings at odds. They don't meet for most of the book, and each has their own plotline, with usually 2 chapters with the same character before switching. The sibling relationship was important mostly at the beginning and the end, but it was quite interesting and with the twists at the end I'm really curious how this will play out in the next book.
The pacing begins slow, but speeds up across the story, and the last part of the book I really couldn't put it down, it was that tense.
I can't wait for the next books, and I would recommend this to fans of epic fantasy with unique magic systems and sibling stories.
This is a great debut fantasy about oppression of magic users and injustice, with a sibling story at its heart.
In this world, Bloodweavers are a type of magic user who manipulate what is alive. They've only been around for a couple decades, when mysterious beings gifted people this power. The magic system is quite fascinating, and one I'm hoping to see even more of in its sequels. Bloodweaving is something people can be born with, but it is also contagious. A bloodweaver can make someone else into a bloodweaver, which you can imagine leads to difficult situations in regards to the oppression of magic. Sometimes the soldiers hunting down bloodweavers are turned into bloodweavers against their will, and they can also pass on the ability to their children. There are also 'carriers', who are not bloodweavers, but had their physiology altered by bloodweavers, and can also be born this way (inherited from parents), and these are also hunted. Overall, it makes for a very fun and unique system with lots of ethical questions. It is understandable to not want everyone to gain these powers and do whatever with them, but any attempt to rein it in will inevitably lead to hunting down numbers of people who didn't choose what they are.
The story centers on Mel and Kerrick, two of a triplet. The third triplet is also relevant, but his fate is a bit of a spoiler so I won't say too much about him. Kerrick is a bloodweaver, and at the start of the story, he has not told his siblings. He lives on an island that has been relatively safe from Breakers (the people who hunt down bloodweavers), but that is all about to change. To escape, he changes his face and identity and he tries to find the Ravel, a resistance group fighting for Bloodweaver rights.
Mel is left behind on their island home. She's not a bloodweaver, but she has a sensitivity to the world around her that allows her to tell how people feel, if they're lying, but also lets her product the weather. The nature of this ability develops across the story, and was quite interesting to see. She tests negative for the bloodweaver test, to her own surprise, but her girlfriend tests positive and is taken into custody. Here, I think the book synopsis is not entirely accurate. Mel lets herself be captured by faking a positive test, and begins working with their captors not out of choice but because they see how useful her sensitivity is (they think she's a carrier), and exploit it for their own gain. Mel is desperate to do what's right, protect her girlfriend, and gain back control over the situation, but this is really difficult.
Their different paths put the siblings at odds. They don't meet for most of the book, and each has their own plotline, with usually 2 chapters with the same character before switching. The sibling relationship was important mostly at the beginning and the end, but it was quite interesting and with the twists at the end I'm really curious how this will play out in the next book.
The pacing begins slow, but speeds up across the story, and the last part of the book I really couldn't put it down, it was that tense.
I can't wait for the next books, and I would recommend this to fans of epic fantasy with unique magic systems and sibling stories.
December 14, 2025
3.75⭐️
The Bloodweaver is a well-crafted, magic-filled debut that left me eager for the next installment. While I enjoyed the story overall, I do believe the marketing is targeting the wrong audience.
Kuster’s prose is beautiful while remaining highly accessible. The worldbuilding is well fleshed out, making it easy for the reader to vividly imagine the setting. I especially enjoyed following the perspectives of Mel and Kerick, two siblings who are part of a set of triplets and who ultimately find themselves on opposing sides of an intense war. I do wish there had been more clarity surrounding the magic system, as it felt convoluted at times. That said, the story is fast-paced and consistently engaging. I flew through the pages. The ending was explosive and kept me on the edge of my seat.
Overall, this is a very strong debut. However, I believe the marketing missed the mark. The novel is presented as an adult fantasy for fans of The Fifth Season and Jade City in its NetGalley synopsis, but it doesn’t feel comparable to those titles. Instead, The Bloodweaver reads more like a YA or new adult fantasy. It shares many qualities commonly associated with YA: a brisk pace, accessible writing, themes of identity, younger characters (early twenties), and, at times, juvenile dialogue, especially in the opening chapters. To be clear, this is a solid YA fantasy, but I don’t personally feel it fits within the adult fantasy category.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
The Bloodweaver is a well-crafted, magic-filled debut that left me eager for the next installment. While I enjoyed the story overall, I do believe the marketing is targeting the wrong audience.
Kuster’s prose is beautiful while remaining highly accessible. The worldbuilding is well fleshed out, making it easy for the reader to vividly imagine the setting. I especially enjoyed following the perspectives of Mel and Kerick, two siblings who are part of a set of triplets and who ultimately find themselves on opposing sides of an intense war. I do wish there had been more clarity surrounding the magic system, as it felt convoluted at times. That said, the story is fast-paced and consistently engaging. I flew through the pages. The ending was explosive and kept me on the edge of my seat.
Overall, this is a very strong debut. However, I believe the marketing missed the mark. The novel is presented as an adult fantasy for fans of The Fifth Season and Jade City in its NetGalley synopsis, but it doesn’t feel comparable to those titles. Instead, The Bloodweaver reads more like a YA or new adult fantasy. It shares many qualities commonly associated with YA: a brisk pace, accessible writing, themes of identity, younger characters (early twenties), and, at times, juvenile dialogue, especially in the opening chapters. To be clear, this is a solid YA fantasy, but I don’t personally feel it fits within the adult fantasy category.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this, my favorite book this year ❤️
August 19, 2025
I can safely say I’m one of the triplets’ oldest fans, and I can’t wait to read the sterling version of this eloquent and powerful first of three. Kuster brings us to another world that feels so familiar yet endlessly surprises. A sibling story, a journey of fluctuating trust in strangers, an awakening to one’s own power sort of story. Political and terrifying, the parallels to our own reality and the what if’s of the magic keep you always wondering.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5⭐
Thank you to Podium Entertainment and NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
I have conflicting feelings about this book. There were parts of the book that gripped my attention and made me unwilling to put the book down, but there were other times where it felt like a real slog to get through. The stand-out part of this book was it's writing, Kuster's prose was fantastic! It made the book feel very atmospheric and fit well with the subject matter and plot of this novel. However, as good as I felt the writing was, I struggled with a few key aspects of this book.
First of all, I felt the world building was a little weak at times, and left me a little confused at times. I think this could be helped with the aid of a map (which could already be in the finished book but as I was given an uncorrected proof copy by NetGalley, my copy did not have one.) I would've liked to see a little more world building throughout the book rather than a large info dump at the beginning of the novel.
Additionally, the magic system felt a little bit complex at times so I think a little bit more information, especially as the characters are learning themselves, could've been more helpful. However, I did find the magic system to be incredibly interesting! The art of bloodweaving itself was something I thought was very cool, especially as we continue through the novel and are able to see more of the different uses of it. I think the magic system will be explored further in the sequel so I'd be intrigued by that.
The overall plot of this story was also intriguing but I just couldn't find myself connected to it. I'm unsure if this was because I felt the pacing to be quite slow, especially in the first 20-30%, or if I felt unconnected to the characters. Pacing-wise, I did really struggle at the beginning, especially throughout the entire first part, I found it quite clunky, and I couldn't find myself interested enough to continue. However, this did change around the 60% mark onwards as I found this part of the book to be capturing my interest and very well-done. I found myself shocked at the ending as well! It makes me excited for the continuation of this series, and although I guessed parts of the ending, I was quite shocked at how it actually happened!
Now for the characters, I just couldn't find them very captivating at the beginning. Kerick made some decisions that were frustrating, although you can understand his reasoning, and Mel felt quite close-minded throughout the beginning half of this book. As I began to understand the characters more, I began to like them more increasingly, but I still found myself pointing out their flaws and their decisions that annoyed me.
I really enjoyed the villain of this story! I found myself very angry on behalf of our main characters and I was rooting for his downfall!
Overall, this is a solid fantasy debut! Kuster has amazing potential as an author and I'm really interested to read from her in the future, but I don't think this story in particular was for me. In saying this, I do still want to check out the future instalments of this series, because despite our rocky relationship, I did find myself invested by the end.
Thank you to Podium Entertainment and NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
I have conflicting feelings about this book. There were parts of the book that gripped my attention and made me unwilling to put the book down, but there were other times where it felt like a real slog to get through. The stand-out part of this book was it's writing, Kuster's prose was fantastic! It made the book feel very atmospheric and fit well with the subject matter and plot of this novel. However, as good as I felt the writing was, I struggled with a few key aspects of this book.
First of all, I felt the world building was a little weak at times, and left me a little confused at times. I think this could be helped with the aid of a map (which could already be in the finished book but as I was given an uncorrected proof copy by NetGalley, my copy did not have one.) I would've liked to see a little more world building throughout the book rather than a large info dump at the beginning of the novel.
Additionally, the magic system felt a little bit complex at times so I think a little bit more information, especially as the characters are learning themselves, could've been more helpful. However, I did find the magic system to be incredibly interesting! The art of bloodweaving itself was something I thought was very cool, especially as we continue through the novel and are able to see more of the different uses of it. I think the magic system will be explored further in the sequel so I'd be intrigued by that.
The overall plot of this story was also intriguing but I just couldn't find myself connected to it. I'm unsure if this was because I felt the pacing to be quite slow, especially in the first 20-30%, or if I felt unconnected to the characters. Pacing-wise, I did really struggle at the beginning, especially throughout the entire first part, I found it quite clunky, and I couldn't find myself interested enough to continue. However, this did change around the 60% mark onwards as I found this part of the book to be capturing my interest and very well-done. I found myself shocked at the ending as well! It makes me excited for the continuation of this series, and although I guessed parts of the ending, I was quite shocked at how it actually happened!
Now for the characters, I just couldn't find them very captivating at the beginning. Kerick made some decisions that were frustrating, although you can understand his reasoning, and Mel felt quite close-minded throughout the beginning half of this book. As I began to understand the characters more, I began to like them more increasingly, but I still found myself pointing out their flaws and their decisions that annoyed me.
I really enjoyed the villain of this story! I found myself very angry on behalf of our main characters and I was rooting for his downfall!
Overall, this is a solid fantasy debut! Kuster has amazing potential as an author and I'm really interested to read from her in the future, but I don't think this story in particular was for me. In saying this, I do still want to check out the future instalments of this series, because despite our rocky relationship, I did find myself invested by the end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have incredibly mixed feelings on this book, but let me start out with this: 'The Bloodweaver' is a great debut fantasy novel that I am really pleased to have been given the chance to ARC read & review.
The world feels authentic and fleshed out, and there was no point at which I was confused by the lore. Kuster communicates this vibrant setting without heavy-handed exposition and it makes it a really compelling world that I loved exploring.
The plot itself is again a testament to the care and attention that was put in to creating the story. Twists never felt cheap, the story flowed beautifully, and I found both POVs -- Mel & Kerick -- distinct enough that it didn't feel like we were repeating the same beats. Their development and journey within this world of Bloodweavers, Breakers, and the evils that lie in the nuances of power was one of the most gripping storylines I've ever read in a fantasy novel. It's a slow-burn start, but the last 40% of the book picks up massively and makes the build up totally worth it.
In the interest of not spoiling, all I will say is this: holy sh*t. The last 40 pages were built up to so spectacularly I literally missed my bus stop because I was so engrossed.
Unfortunately, as much as I loved the concept of the book, the execution felt unfinished. Characters all felt very similar -- Mel and Kerick especially. There was a lack of balance with how emotions were portrayed that made it feel unrealistic, and I struggled to connect with them on a deeper level.
The way the POV switches were done was strange to me: Mel would have 2 chapters, then Kerick would have 2 chapters, and this pattern repeated for most of the book. As much as I loved having a dual POV, the structure itself broke things up in a strange way; having a chapter break only to stay with the same character and the same storyline interrupted the flow of reading. I had this same issue with the writing style, which was by far my biggest gripe with the book.
Everything was so choppy. Sentences cut off short, only to start the next sentence with 'And' or 'But', leaving me to wonder why they didn't just combine them into one thought. Certain sentiments were repeated multiple times in the same paragraph, and these issues cropped up more the further I got in the book. The writing pulled me out of the book & I struggled to read it for more than half an hour at a time, because I was constantly fighting the flow of the writing just to get to the underlying coherent thought.
It was disappointing that the writing style brought it down so much, because this absolutely could have been a 5-star read if it weren't for the fact that I struggled to actually read it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy! Even though I struggled to connect with this book in some aspects, the world and story it wove was delightful, and it was a great first step into the world of fantasy writing.
The world feels authentic and fleshed out, and there was no point at which I was confused by the lore. Kuster communicates this vibrant setting without heavy-handed exposition and it makes it a really compelling world that I loved exploring.
The plot itself is again a testament to the care and attention that was put in to creating the story. Twists never felt cheap, the story flowed beautifully, and I found both POVs -- Mel & Kerick -- distinct enough that it didn't feel like we were repeating the same beats. Their development and journey within this world of Bloodweavers, Breakers, and the evils that lie in the nuances of power was one of the most gripping storylines I've ever read in a fantasy novel. It's a slow-burn start, but the last 40% of the book picks up massively and makes the build up totally worth it.
In the interest of not spoiling, all I will say is this: holy sh*t. The last 40 pages were built up to so spectacularly I literally missed my bus stop because I was so engrossed.
Unfortunately, as much as I loved the concept of the book, the execution felt unfinished. Characters all felt very similar -- Mel and Kerick especially. There was a lack of balance with how emotions were portrayed that made it feel unrealistic, and I struggled to connect with them on a deeper level.
The way the POV switches were done was strange to me: Mel would have 2 chapters, then Kerick would have 2 chapters, and this pattern repeated for most of the book. As much as I loved having a dual POV, the structure itself broke things up in a strange way; having a chapter break only to stay with the same character and the same storyline interrupted the flow of reading. I had this same issue with the writing style, which was by far my biggest gripe with the book.
Everything was so choppy. Sentences cut off short, only to start the next sentence with 'And' or 'But', leaving me to wonder why they didn't just combine them into one thought. Certain sentiments were repeated multiple times in the same paragraph, and these issues cropped up more the further I got in the book. The writing pulled me out of the book & I struggled to read it for more than half an hour at a time, because I was constantly fighting the flow of the writing just to get to the underlying coherent thought.
It was disappointing that the writing style brought it down so much, because this absolutely could have been a 5-star read if it weren't for the fact that I struggled to actually read it.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy! Even though I struggled to connect with this book in some aspects, the world and story it wove was delightful, and it was a great first step into the world of fantasy writing.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Just a lil about me: I’m an avid adult-fantasy reader (especially epic fantasy) and fantasy writer myself.
This is a stunning debut by a talented new voice in fantasy. While it is pitched as adult epic fantasy, I could easily see this book appealing to New Adult or YA audiences as well due to the fast pace and the younger age of the protagonists (early 20s).
What I loved most about The Bloodweaver was the characters (I did end up favoring Kerick, just a bit). Firstly, I adore the focus on siblings; we don’t see that often enough in fantasy! Mel and Kerick feel so ALIVE compared to most characters because they are oozing nuance: they are flawed, introspective, and so dynamic. Kuster is a master at writing character interiority—something I often find lacking in fantasy (and most books outside of upmarket/literary, honestly). It is plot-driven without sacrificing character development. I really enjoyed how Mel and Kerick interact (and fight!) with each other, how they each deal with frustration and obstacles, and how different they are from one another. They seemed wholly fleshed out and real.
I found the prose accessible but artful; it wasn’t overly flowery, which really helped in keeping the story moving. The lore and world-building were awesome; I love the concept of the Isthii and want to know more about them! Also, very cool that the story is set in a time period (feels like 1700s-ish?) that feels fresh for fantasy, even though the prose and dialog are certainly modern (which makes it a hell of a lot easier to read!). The dialog felt incredibly believable, and there was just enough cheeky humor (scene with Kerick and his new friends, I'm looking at you). The world politics were well-conceived and set the stage for intrigue in the future books. The soft magic system is highly inventive (although the body horror-factor was a tad tough for sensitive people like me at times!). I prefer when magic is treated as a tool, neither good nor bad; it’s the user who dictates the outcome, which is how Kuster handles it. This served as a great catalyst for conflict, creating two opposing factions, each with its own compelling argument. The villain, while certainly nasty, has a justifiable reason to do what he’s doing (at least in his mind).
My favorite part of the book was the end—it will knock your socks off! Totally didn’t see the twist coming, and absolutely loved the final two chapters. The beginning was also fantastic: I was sucked right in, which is rare for me. Usually, I have to plod along for a while and give the author the benefit of the doubt. Not the case here!
The Bloodweaver has loads of heart, cool magic, and an amazing twist/cliffhanger ending that will leave you wanting more!
This is a stunning debut by a talented new voice in fantasy. While it is pitched as adult epic fantasy, I could easily see this book appealing to New Adult or YA audiences as well due to the fast pace and the younger age of the protagonists (early 20s).
What I loved most about The Bloodweaver was the characters (I did end up favoring Kerick, just a bit). Firstly, I adore the focus on siblings; we don’t see that often enough in fantasy! Mel and Kerick feel so ALIVE compared to most characters because they are oozing nuance: they are flawed, introspective, and so dynamic. Kuster is a master at writing character interiority—something I often find lacking in fantasy (and most books outside of upmarket/literary, honestly). It is plot-driven without sacrificing character development. I really enjoyed how Mel and Kerick interact (and fight!) with each other, how they each deal with frustration and obstacles, and how different they are from one another. They seemed wholly fleshed out and real.
I found the prose accessible but artful; it wasn’t overly flowery, which really helped in keeping the story moving. The lore and world-building were awesome; I love the concept of the Isthii and want to know more about them! Also, very cool that the story is set in a time period (feels like 1700s-ish?) that feels fresh for fantasy, even though the prose and dialog are certainly modern (which makes it a hell of a lot easier to read!). The dialog felt incredibly believable, and there was just enough cheeky humor (scene with Kerick and his new friends, I'm looking at you). The world politics were well-conceived and set the stage for intrigue in the future books. The soft magic system is highly inventive (although the body horror-factor was a tad tough for sensitive people like me at times!). I prefer when magic is treated as a tool, neither good nor bad; it’s the user who dictates the outcome, which is how Kuster handles it. This served as a great catalyst for conflict, creating two opposing factions, each with its own compelling argument. The villain, while certainly nasty, has a justifiable reason to do what he’s doing (at least in his mind).
My favorite part of the book was the end—it will knock your socks off! Totally didn’t see the twist coming, and absolutely loved the final two chapters. The beginning was also fantastic: I was sucked right in, which is rare for me. Usually, I have to plod along for a while and give the author the benefit of the doubt. Not the case here!
The Bloodweaver has loads of heart, cool magic, and an amazing twist/cliffhanger ending that will leave you wanting more!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A massive thank you to NetGalley, Podium Publishing, and the author for providing me with an eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own, this is my honest review!
I absolutely adored this book. It was honestly so incredibly well-written and thoughtful, had me literally on the edge of my seat and had me actually speechless more than a couple times. The book is written as a dual perspective between siblings going down vastly different paths in a world in which wielding (or even having the potential to wield) magic is punishable by death and this book does not take that threat lightly. It is at times brutal and cruel and quite frankly heart-wrenching in how the world and those in power are constructed.
I often find that books which involve more than one perspective normally lead me to prefer one over others – be it because I find the storyline more interesting or because I relate more to a certain character or situation. This book is genuinely one of the few that I didn’t actually find myself preferring anything, I wanted it all and I wanted to know what was happening with all the characters all the time.
The world-building and magic systems are fascinating and I think have a lot of potential for some really incredible storytelling to emerge as the series goes on. I’m also so interested in where the author is going to take the characters – their allegiances and motivations and how they navigate some morally very murky concepts. I love anytime a book doesn’t necessarily draw the cleanest line between good and evil or right and wrong, especially when even asking that type of question makes you wonder if you’re in fact “the bad guy.” I think anyone who enjoys a little bit of a darker fantasy will enjoy this a lot – the book doesn’t hold your hand or water down the pain and cruelty faced by the characters and perpetuated by the world around them. That being said, the author uses that brutality and violence very purposefully – it’s not just shock value and it’s not gratuitous. It feels like an important element to understanding the world that’s being built and to understand the perspectives of the characters – including their overall arcs.
I’m super excited for other people to read The Bloodweaver so I can discuss it at length with everyone who wants to talk about it lol. And I’m even more excited for the next book in the series because I want more (I wanted more the second I finished reading the final page).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Bloodweaver by C.N. Kuster is a dark fantasy centered on bloodweaving, a rare and dangerous magic capable of miraculous healing, but one that also inspires fear, control, and violence from those who do not possess it.
The story follows triplets Emiel, Kerick, and Mel, whose lives begin to unravel after a brutal encounter with the Breakers while traveling to celebrate Emiel’s wedding. The Breakers hunt both Bloodweavers, active users of the magic, and Carriers, those who possess it in a more passive form and may not even know they have it. What follows is a story driven by love in many forms: love of family, devotion, sacrifice, and the difficult choices people make when those bonds are threatened.
I have conflicted feelings about this book. There were moments that fully held my attention and made me eager to keep reading, but others felt slow and difficult to push through. Many of the climactic moments fell flatter than I expected. The standout for me was the writing itself. The prose is atmospheric and well suited to the darker tone of the story, and even when I struggled with certain elements, I found myself pausing to highlight some truly lovely passages.
The magic system is another area where I felt both impressed and frustrated. Bloodweaving is a compelling concept, particularly because it comes with a physical and emotional cost to the user. However, the rules surrounding the magic often felt unclear, which made key moments confusing rather than tense. I expected more clarity as the characters learned and grew into their abilities, so it was frustrating when they seemed to understand something while I, as the reader, still felt lost.
Overall, The Bloodweaver feels like a decent fantasy debut with strong ideas and beautiful writing, but one that could have benefited from more refinement in pacing, clarity, and character development. While I am unsure if I will continue the series, I can see the potential here and understand why newer fantasy readers may enjoy it more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows triplets Emiel, Kerick, and Mel, whose lives begin to unravel after a brutal encounter with the Breakers while traveling to celebrate Emiel’s wedding. The Breakers hunt both Bloodweavers, active users of the magic, and Carriers, those who possess it in a more passive form and may not even know they have it. What follows is a story driven by love in many forms: love of family, devotion, sacrifice, and the difficult choices people make when those bonds are threatened.
I have conflicted feelings about this book. There were moments that fully held my attention and made me eager to keep reading, but others felt slow and difficult to push through. Many of the climactic moments fell flatter than I expected. The standout for me was the writing itself. The prose is atmospheric and well suited to the darker tone of the story, and even when I struggled with certain elements, I found myself pausing to highlight some truly lovely passages.
The magic system is another area where I felt both impressed and frustrated. Bloodweaving is a compelling concept, particularly because it comes with a physical and emotional cost to the user. However, the rules surrounding the magic often felt unclear, which made key moments confusing rather than tense. I expected more clarity as the characters learned and grew into their abilities, so it was frustrating when they seemed to understand something while I, as the reader, still felt lost.
Overall, The Bloodweaver feels like a decent fantasy debut with strong ideas and beautiful writing, but one that could have benefited from more refinement in pacing, clarity, and character development. While I am unsure if I will continue the series, I can see the potential here and understand why newer fantasy readers may enjoy it more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2026
A brilliant, engaging, action-packed, politically intriguing and intense story. The world-building was well-done and beautifully constructed, from the establishment of the mythology, of the lore, of the rumour and law, of the political interactions, to past rebellions and justification for persecutions, the gifts forbidden and the establishment of testing blood. The character introductions are done brilliantly as well, three siblings, with different gifts and responsibilities, different views of the world. One the patriarch, the leader, the empathetic but duty bound mediator. One the responsible daughter, matronly and ordered, valuing family and live above all else, suspicious and sensible and scared. Last, the wayward son, with big secrets and big boots to fill, nervous but impulsive, desperate and insecure. One is removed and the other two are flung into chaos, everything comes between them including their own wants, their own choices, their own actions. Separated, but still connected, through memory and thought, they are the voices in each other's heads, and they have very different paths to follow.
While both characters are flawed and face immense struggles, both have people to depend on, connections forged and strengths to play into. One is chasing their dream, living a life they longed for, but it's not everything they hoped for in the end. The other is living through a nightmare, forced to choose themselves and their loved ones over everyone else, sacrificing innocents for their continued survival, against their own morals and will. It's clever, it's terrifying, it's engaging. Their eventual reunion is messy, painful and imperfect. The ending leaves them separated once more, perhaps forever, they are powerful and they are desired by the political powers at play. Everything has changed, but family remains, however distant they are.
An amazing read! I look forward to reading more of this world and these characters in future!
While both characters are flawed and face immense struggles, both have people to depend on, connections forged and strengths to play into. One is chasing their dream, living a life they longed for, but it's not everything they hoped for in the end. The other is living through a nightmare, forced to choose themselves and their loved ones over everyone else, sacrificing innocents for their continued survival, against their own morals and will. It's clever, it's terrifying, it's engaging. Their eventual reunion is messy, painful and imperfect. The ending leaves them separated once more, perhaps forever, they are powerful and they are desired by the political powers at play. Everything has changed, but family remains, however distant they are.
An amazing read! I look forward to reading more of this world and these characters in future!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, Podium Entertainment and NetGalley, for providing me with the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
In a world where magic wielders are killed, our characters Mel and Kerick try to survive and prevent both normal humans and magic wielders from killing them. They cross oceans and countries to look for savety, but will they find it?
The world building and descriptive prose were insanely good and it was everything I wanted from a fantasy novel. The magic system and world are really thought out and wonderfully described. I love that the siblings think about eachother all the time. It shows that they care a lot about eachother. Some silly and dumb decisions were made by the characters, but I can look past that.
What I did not like about this book was that the pain and suffering just seemed endless. I like to read books that give some hope that things will turn out alright.
I wish there I felt more towards the characters. I feel like there was just not enough for me shown at the beginning of why we should root for these characters. Because of this, I felt less sad about their pain and suffering then I should have. It felt like it took too long. The plot did not advance that fast and I wished it was more suspenseful.
I wish that in the beginning of the story, you would get more eased into it instead of info dumping. I found that this got better towards the end when new information was given, but it made the beginning feel a bit like a chore to read.
This book does contain descriptions and depictions of bodily gore and grief. My advice would be to give the reader trigger warnings in advance.
I recommend this book to fantasy lovers who love an original and creative magical system. It explores the feeling of belonging and sibling love. This book is definetly for people who don't mind a 440 page book.
My rating: *3.75
In a world where magic wielders are killed, our characters Mel and Kerick try to survive and prevent both normal humans and magic wielders from killing them. They cross oceans and countries to look for savety, but will they find it?
The world building and descriptive prose were insanely good and it was everything I wanted from a fantasy novel. The magic system and world are really thought out and wonderfully described. I love that the siblings think about eachother all the time. It shows that they care a lot about eachother. Some silly and dumb decisions were made by the characters, but I can look past that.
What I did not like about this book was that the pain and suffering just seemed endless. I like to read books that give some hope that things will turn out alright.
I wish there I felt more towards the characters. I feel like there was just not enough for me shown at the beginning of why we should root for these characters. Because of this, I felt less sad about their pain and suffering then I should have. It felt like it took too long. The plot did not advance that fast and I wished it was more suspenseful.
I wish that in the beginning of the story, you would get more eased into it instead of info dumping. I found that this got better towards the end when new information was given, but it made the beginning feel a bit like a chore to read.
This book does contain descriptions and depictions of bodily gore and grief. My advice would be to give the reader trigger warnings in advance.
I recommend this book to fantasy lovers who love an original and creative magical system. It explores the feeling of belonging and sibling love. This book is definetly for people who don't mind a 440 page book.
My rating: *3.75
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The things we do for love...
Love of family, love of a romantic partner. While I wouldn't call this a romance, in many ways this is the story of what love can make you do.
The magic system is unique, which is always something I appreciate. It also has a cost to the caster, which is something I believe is important. I enjoyed the worldbuilding, Kuster went into a lot of detail and included the economics of Mel's family. There was a bit of telling vs showing, but I am not a stickler for what my English teachers told me. There's a time and place for both and Kuster balances well.
She also balances multiple points of view, which is a solid choice when the world is developed on a grand scale. Any one of the POV could make a novel on its own, but with the many, we see the story develop slowly and can be thoroughly immersed.
I found the pacing effective in the telling of the story, allowing the reader to absorb not just the depth of the oppression the bloodweavers are exposed to, but the ripples around Mel as she makes difficult decisions.
Choices get taken away early on in this book when forbidden magic is exposed to the enforcement arm of the law. When the population is tested for carrying what amounts to a gene, people are taken away to who knows what, but you know it's going to be pretty awful. There's a throwback to the Hunger Games where Mel acts on an impulse and changes her life forever, though instead of saving a sibling, Mel intends to be with her love.
Well worth reading and I'll be buying the next one.
Thank you to Netgalley and Podium Publishing for the opportunity to read and review the ARC.
Love of family, love of a romantic partner. While I wouldn't call this a romance, in many ways this is the story of what love can make you do.
The magic system is unique, which is always something I appreciate. It also has a cost to the caster, which is something I believe is important. I enjoyed the worldbuilding, Kuster went into a lot of detail and included the economics of Mel's family. There was a bit of telling vs showing, but I am not a stickler for what my English teachers told me. There's a time and place for both and Kuster balances well.
She also balances multiple points of view, which is a solid choice when the world is developed on a grand scale. Any one of the POV could make a novel on its own, but with the many, we see the story develop slowly and can be thoroughly immersed.
I found the pacing effective in the telling of the story, allowing the reader to absorb not just the depth of the oppression the bloodweavers are exposed to, but the ripples around Mel as she makes difficult decisions.
Choices get taken away early on in this book when forbidden magic is exposed to the enforcement arm of the law. When the population is tested for carrying what amounts to a gene, people are taken away to who knows what, but you know it's going to be pretty awful. There's a throwback to the Hunger Games where Mel acts on an impulse and changes her life forever, though instead of saving a sibling, Mel intends to be with her love.
Well worth reading and I'll be buying the next one.
Thank you to Netgalley and Podium Publishing for the opportunity to read and review the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My biggest issue with this book is the pacing. While I don’t mind leisurely books, this one felt downright slow. It took forever for Kerrick to get to the Ravel, and when he did, it settled into a sort of lackluster tour of the city. Mel’s scenes, on the other hand, had more life to them but they were still just dawdling along — and then a burst of action. It left me feeling bored more than engaged, and I struggled to finish this one.
And it’s a shame, because the story is interesting … when it shows up. The idea of a colonizing force targeting small ethnic groups in a eugenics driven effort to control a population combined with a rebellion more interested in hiding than helping, all so the main characters can try to spark definitive action and save the world is well set up. In dribbles. Between very boring set pieces.
The magic system is well done, the hints of an alien or other species are interesting, but there’s just not enough here. Kerrick is a tiresome character who mostly goes along, feels ill used, and exists. Mel is stronger — both as a character and a person — trapped in difficult circumstances and making difficult choices, but because of that she’s darker, more sour, and often reactionary.
Still, this is the first book in a series and I imagine that now that the setup is done there should hopefully be more time for characters to develop and grow. I regret I’m not interested enough to keep up with the series, though. The writing is good, but those pacing issues just really turned me off on this book. Still, that’s just me, and other readers will have different opinions.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This debut novel follows triplets Mel, Emiel and Kerick and their adventures in a world where bloodweaving - the art of manipulating life through touch - leads to difficult decisions and political tension.
After their home gets invaded by Breakers, cruel guards seeking to unmask and destroy Bloodweavers, Mel and Kerick find themselves on opposite sides of a brewing war between Bloodweavers and non-weavers, forced to make dangerous decisions and risk their lives to find a place to belong.
With Kerick seeking out the Ravel, a secret underground society seeking to unite Bloodweavers, Mel follows her captured girlfriend and ends up working with a commander seeking to capture useful Bloodweavers and spread their abilities to his side.
The worldbuilding and pacing are strengths of the novel. It never once felt strongly info-dumping which I appreciated.
I wanted to enjoy this book a lot more, but sadly didn't feel much of a connection to anyone in particular. I enjoyed the siblings' dilemmas and difficulties with supporting one another as the political tension amps up, but I felt they were both pretty selfish and didn't try to actually listen or see things beyond black and white territory. I didn't really care for the romance either as it was already established but didn't add much besides stakes for Mel. I didn't feel her girlfriend was a character outside of Mel.
After their home gets invaded by Breakers, cruel guards seeking to unmask and destroy Bloodweavers, Mel and Kerick find themselves on opposite sides of a brewing war between Bloodweavers and non-weavers, forced to make dangerous decisions and risk their lives to find a place to belong.
With Kerick seeking out the Ravel, a secret underground society seeking to unite Bloodweavers, Mel follows her captured girlfriend and ends up working with a commander seeking to capture useful Bloodweavers and spread their abilities to his side.
The worldbuilding and pacing are strengths of the novel. It never once felt strongly info-dumping which I appreciated.
I wanted to enjoy this book a lot more, but sadly didn't feel much of a connection to anyone in particular. I enjoyed the siblings' dilemmas and difficulties with supporting one another as the political tension amps up, but I felt they were both pretty selfish and didn't try to actually listen or see things beyond black and white territory. I didn't really care for the romance either as it was already established but didn't add much besides stakes for Mel. I didn't feel her girlfriend was a character outside of Mel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed reading this story, it was well written and very readable, which meant that once I started, I finished it pretty quickly. It did have an odd start, jumping straight in to an incident that turned out to be a scene setter for the story, and jeopardy for the people who failed to prove themselves pure.
The DeLuvena siblings are our main characters for this book, two brothers and a sister. Life sounds pretty good for them in their successful vineyard on the island of Isthius. However, there would be no story if that remained true, so external factors take a hand in changing whatever plans each of them had for the future.
I enjoyed the magic of them learning how to use talents that they knew they had, but did not necessarily know how to manipulate and make use of. They had to go through their experiences to develop, hard as some of it was to live through.
What I found a little irritating was the tendency for Mel and Ismene to be too overtly clingy and gushing at each other. I felt they would have been more covert in reality.
Overall a quality story with more to follow, and soon I hope. I really enjoyed it and happily recommend it to others.
I am thankful to the author, Podium Entertainment | Podium Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for free.
The DeLuvena siblings are our main characters for this book, two brothers and a sister. Life sounds pretty good for them in their successful vineyard on the island of Isthius. However, there would be no story if that remained true, so external factors take a hand in changing whatever plans each of them had for the future.
I enjoyed the magic of them learning how to use talents that they knew they had, but did not necessarily know how to manipulate and make use of. They had to go through their experiences to develop, hard as some of it was to live through.
What I found a little irritating was the tendency for Mel and Ismene to be too overtly clingy and gushing at each other. I felt they would have been more covert in reality.
Overall a quality story with more to follow, and soon I hope. I really enjoyed it and happily recommend it to others.
I am thankful to the author, Podium Entertainment | Podium Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for free.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
Thanks tk NetGalley and C. N. Kustet for the arc.
I had mixed feelings about this book. At times it was engaging and hard to put down, but just as often it felt slow and difficult to get through.
The writing is undeniably strong — Kuster’s prose is atmospheric and fits the story beautifully. However, the repetitive monologues became too much, often slowing the pacing even further.
The worldbuilding felt underdeveloped in places, which left me confused at times. A more gradual approach instead of heavy early exposition would have helped. The magic system, while interesting — especially the concept of bloodweaving — could have used clearer explanation to make it easier to follow.
The pacing was one of the biggest issues. The beginning was particularly sluggish and hard to stay invested in, though things improved significantly later on. By the final stretch, the story became much more engaging, and the ending was impactful, even if somewhat predictable.
The characters didn’t fully connect with me. Kerick’s decisions were often frustrating, and Mel came across as quite narrow-minded early on. However, I did enjoy the villain and found myself rooting for their downfall.
Overall, this is a promising debut with clear potential. While it didn’t fully work for me, I’m still curious to see how the series develops.
Thanks tk NetGalley and C. N. Kustet for the arc.
I had mixed feelings about this book. At times it was engaging and hard to put down, but just as often it felt slow and difficult to get through.
The writing is undeniably strong — Kuster’s prose is atmospheric and fits the story beautifully. However, the repetitive monologues became too much, often slowing the pacing even further.
The worldbuilding felt underdeveloped in places, which left me confused at times. A more gradual approach instead of heavy early exposition would have helped. The magic system, while interesting — especially the concept of bloodweaving — could have used clearer explanation to make it easier to follow.
The pacing was one of the biggest issues. The beginning was particularly sluggish and hard to stay invested in, though things improved significantly later on. By the final stretch, the story became much more engaging, and the ending was impactful, even if somewhat predictable.
The characters didn’t fully connect with me. Kerick’s decisions were often frustrating, and Mel came across as quite narrow-minded early on. However, I did enjoy the villain and found myself rooting for their downfall.
Overall, this is a promising debut with clear potential. While it didn’t fully work for me, I’m still curious to see how the series develops.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can only say that I loved this book! Especially since we FINALLY get protagonists that are not the cliche heroes but normal people learning how to be brave and fight for whatever they want.
Mel and Kerick are some of my favourite siblings and protagonists of the last months. Why? Because they put themselves first even if that makes them the villain. I never realised I was sick of the typical hero character until I’ve read this book and enjoyed it so much.
Those two characters with flaws made room for so much character development, it was simply amazing. And honestly- I can imagine book 2 will make the development even more impressive.
The worldbuilding was complex and nicely structured, I loved the world and the magic system very much. Generally it’s a nice change to read a book which is closer to high fantasy then Romantasy since it became so rare.
I just put down one star because there was a period halfway through the book where I thought the pacing could have been faster but tbh it’s more 4,5 stars then 4 stars in reality for me.
A recommendation for everyone who wants high fantasy settings and not your typical hero!
Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!
Mel and Kerick are some of my favourite siblings and protagonists of the last months. Why? Because they put themselves first even if that makes them the villain. I never realised I was sick of the typical hero character until I’ve read this book and enjoyed it so much.
Those two characters with flaws made room for so much character development, it was simply amazing. And honestly- I can imagine book 2 will make the development even more impressive.
The worldbuilding was complex and nicely structured, I loved the world and the magic system very much. Generally it’s a nice change to read a book which is closer to high fantasy then Romantasy since it became so rare.
I just put down one star because there was a period halfway through the book where I thought the pacing could have been faster but tbh it’s more 4,5 stars then 4 stars in reality for me.
A recommendation for everyone who wants high fantasy settings and not your typical hero!
Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
I feel like this one had a lot of promise, but ultimately it's held down heavily by pacing issues. That, and throughout the entirety of the novel (barring the very end) I felt a sense of deja-vu, both in terms of some of the plot and how the world was built up. It just felt predictable and coupled with the pacing issues made for a bit of a slog through a good portion of the book. This wasn't helped by the fact that Kerick and Mel were both pretty frustrating characters in vastly different ways. I don't think we got enough build-up of their sibling bond at the beginning because there were times when it was like "do you guys even like each other?", which wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the author reiterating that, despite their occasional irritation with one another, they DID care for one another.
I think there were aspects of the writing that were quite nice, however I just don't have any interest in continuing with this series. If the pacing weren't so all over the place, I think I might have enjoyed it a little more.
I feel like this one had a lot of promise, but ultimately it's held down heavily by pacing issues. That, and throughout the entirety of the novel (barring the very end) I felt a sense of deja-vu, both in terms of some of the plot and how the world was built up. It just felt predictable and coupled with the pacing issues made for a bit of a slog through a good portion of the book. This wasn't helped by the fact that Kerick and Mel were both pretty frustrating characters in vastly different ways. I don't think we got enough build-up of their sibling bond at the beginning because there were times when it was like "do you guys even like each other?", which wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the author reiterating that, despite their occasional irritation with one another, they DID care for one another.
I think there were aspects of the writing that were quite nice, however I just don't have any interest in continuing with this series. If the pacing weren't so all over the place, I think I might have enjoyed it a little more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this book and actually liked the whole moral dilemma on both siblings' sides and you can't even pick and choose who's right if you think about it both by the knowledge they were raised by and then later the ideology of each side they were stuck with. And speaking of characters in hoping for Ismene to be a more involved character to the plot other than being Mel's girlfriend cause that's how she mostly felt like...The worldbuilding was also pretty nice but got confusing at some point so a map would've been really useful at least!
The concept of weaving in general was so cool, I don't wanna talk much about it without possible spoiling but I'm hoping for the future books to have some extra chart of how far it can go
Even though the book was marketed as an adult fantasy it felt more YA or new adult imo, but I'll definitely continue the series cause the cliffhanger was killing me and I recommend it if you like sibling angst
Thank you NetGalley and Podium Publishing for this ARC!
The concept of weaving in general was so cool, I don't wanna talk much about it without possible spoiling but I'm hoping for the future books to have some extra chart of how far it can go
Even though the book was marketed as an adult fantasy it felt more YA or new adult imo, but I'll definitely continue the series cause the cliffhanger was killing me and I recommend it if you like sibling angst
Thank you NetGalley and Podium Publishing for this ARC!
December 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book for an honest review.
The Bloodweaver is an epic fantasy set in a world split by a divisive magic - bloodweaving . Kerick DeLuvena has kept his powers a secret from everyone, even his fellow triplets, Mel and Emiel. He has wanted to pursue it but had accepted not doing so to remain with his family. But that all changed when soldiers arrived on their island to root out Bloodweavers. Kerick had to run to escape persecution, and then after her girlfriend was marked as a Bloodweaver, Mel hatches a plan to save her and leaves the island too. As both go about their journeys, they wrestle with the same question - is bloodweaving a gift or a curse?
I enjoyed this book and the DeLuvena siblings’ stories. Both Mel and Kerick were interesting characters driven by determination and love. I was rooting for them from the get go and couldn’t wait to see how the book would finish off.
Kuster’s writing was incredible and flowed so beautifully. I found the magic system so interesting and I’m excited to see how it develops in the series.
The Bloodweaver is an epic fantasy set in a world split by a divisive magic - bloodweaving . Kerick DeLuvena has kept his powers a secret from everyone, even his fellow triplets, Mel and Emiel. He has wanted to pursue it but had accepted not doing so to remain with his family. But that all changed when soldiers arrived on their island to root out Bloodweavers. Kerick had to run to escape persecution, and then after her girlfriend was marked as a Bloodweaver, Mel hatches a plan to save her and leaves the island too. As both go about their journeys, they wrestle with the same question - is bloodweaving a gift or a curse?
I enjoyed this book and the DeLuvena siblings’ stories. Both Mel and Kerick were interesting characters driven by determination and love. I was rooting for them from the get go and couldn’t wait to see how the book would finish off.
Kuster’s writing was incredible and flowed so beautifully. I found the magic system so interesting and I’m excited to see how it develops in the series.
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December 6, 2025La isla de Isthius vive de sus viñedos y de la calma que ofrece la rutina, pero todo cambia cuando un destacamento de soldados llega sin aviso y transforma una celebración en un acto de terror. Mel DeLuvena es la primera en sentir que algo anda mal, una tensión que se incrusta en la piel y que se confirma cuando presencia la violencia de un poder dispuesto a marcar a toda la población como sospechosa.
Su hermano Kerick es quien más sufre la presión. La habilidad que ha ocultado durante años se convierte en una amenaza directa cuando los recién llegados imponen pruebas obligatorias para detectar a los Bloodweavers. Su familia intenta mantener las apariencias para sobrevivir a un pueblo dividido, a promesas políticas que pesan más que la verdad y a la mirada atenta de quienes buscan culpables entre sus vecinos.
Mientras la isla se llena de miedo y resentimiento, la familia DeLuvena comprende que ya no basta con guardar silencio. La llegada de los soldados no es solo una inspección, sino el inicio de un control que pretende erradicar todo rastro de aquello que consideran una alteración del orden natural. Para Mel y sus hermanos, cada decisión se convierte en un riesgo y cada paso en un acto de resistencia. La paz que siempre creyeron proteger se convierte en un terreno frágil donde la sangre puede decidir el destino de todos.
__
Que paciencia la de Mel.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Su hermano Kerick es quien más sufre la presión. La habilidad que ha ocultado durante años se convierte en una amenaza directa cuando los recién llegados imponen pruebas obligatorias para detectar a los Bloodweavers. Su familia intenta mantener las apariencias para sobrevivir a un pueblo dividido, a promesas políticas que pesan más que la verdad y a la mirada atenta de quienes buscan culpables entre sus vecinos.
Mientras la isla se llena de miedo y resentimiento, la familia DeLuvena comprende que ya no basta con guardar silencio. La llegada de los soldados no es solo una inspección, sino el inicio de un control que pretende erradicar todo rastro de aquello que consideran una alteración del orden natural. Para Mel y sus hermanos, cada decisión se convierte en un riesgo y cada paso en un acto de resistencia. La paz que siempre creyeron proteger se convierte en un terreno frágil donde la sangre puede decidir el destino de todos.
__
Que paciencia la de Mel.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"though Mel professed a deep fear of losing Kerick, too ... she never refuted him. She never gave him the words he wanted most.
I don't wish it was you." Kerick is just like me fr.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
An interesting story and concept, with a well-thought-out and equally fun magic system. The writing wasn't lacking either. The characters were fun to follow most of the time, when they were not making dumb decisions (mostly Kerick, ofc), even though they weren't having the best time of their lives, let's say.
Unfortunately, I got a bit bored during part two, which I didn't expect, since I loved the first one. And then when the third part came along, I just couldn't bring myself to care much. The twist was pretty obvious too.
Anyway, it's more like a 3.5star, but Goodreads hasn't graced us with that option yet.
I don't wish it was you." Kerick is just like me fr.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
An interesting story and concept, with a well-thought-out and equally fun magic system. The writing wasn't lacking either. The characters were fun to follow most of the time, when they were not making dumb decisions (mostly Kerick, ofc), even though they weren't having the best time of their lives, let's say.
Unfortunately, I got a bit bored during part two, which I didn't expect, since I loved the first one. And then when the third part came along, I just couldn't bring myself to care much. The twist was pretty obvious too.
Anyway, it's more like a 3.5star, but Goodreads hasn't graced us with that option yet.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had such a great time reading The Bloodweaver, especially as someone trying to get more into epic fantasy. The magic system was fascinating, and I really wanted to learn more about the bloodweavers and the other elements of the world (no spoilers!).
I also enjoyed the dual narrative, though I found myself more invested in Kerick’s chapters. Experiencing the world through his POV made discovering the lore and wider setting especially engaging.
The story did start a bit slow, so it took me some time to fully get into it, but once it picked up, I couldn’t wait to keep reading. And that ending?! I absolutely cannot wait for the next book.
Thank you Netgalley and Podium Entertainment for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I also enjoyed the dual narrative, though I found myself more invested in Kerick’s chapters. Experiencing the world through his POV made discovering the lore and wider setting especially engaging.
The story did start a bit slow, so it took me some time to fully get into it, but once it picked up, I couldn’t wait to keep reading. And that ending?! I absolutely cannot wait for the next book.
Thank you Netgalley and Podium Entertainment for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such a great read! It combined so many of my favorite things: good high fantasy worldbuilding, well-written prose, a really cool magic system that we get to learn and experience along with the characters, and incredibly well done sibling dynamics. Seriously, I am a sucker for books about siblings.
I loved both POV characters for different reasons. Despite being the technical youngest, Mel gave me such good eldest daughter vibes while Kerick felt like reading about my own little brother who I want to shake by the shoulders but also hug tightly. Throughout the whole book, the intrigue around bloodweaving as the magic system was a high point for me--I am very excited to read the next book to find out more. Also, that ending?? I am ravenous to continue this story.
I loved both POV characters for different reasons. Despite being the technical youngest, Mel gave me such good eldest daughter vibes while Kerick felt like reading about my own little brother who I want to shake by the shoulders but also hug tightly. Throughout the whole book, the intrigue around bloodweaving as the magic system was a high point for me--I am very excited to read the next book to find out more. Also, that ending?? I am ravenous to continue this story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Fantasy has long needed more sibling stories, and if you agree with that statement, read this book. Both deuteragonists were such well-rounded characters. Kerick in particular stood out to me as a unique, flawed, compulsively readable character. The magic system gets more and more interesting and complex as the book goes on as well, in satisfying ways. The plot payoff at the end of the novel was utterly fantastic.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is an outstanding book. Imaginative and well written but not in such a way that stops you from progressing naturally through the pages, in fact anything but, you will tear through them. I love the characters, the worldbuilding is outstanding, and at every turn you’ll wonder what is going to happen next to these characters and you’re always going to be surprised, but pleasantly so. I can’t wait for the entire series.
September 5, 2025
I had the privilege of reading a couple early drafts of this book and let me just say: yes. You have very real and rich sibling relationships, love, badass magic, gritty descriptions, vineyards, rebellion, betrayal, running for your life, and killing for it too. It grips from the beginning to the end and was truly a treat read—and also very well crafted. Do your self a favor and pre-order it.
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