The Bloodweaver

The Weaver Saga #1

by C. N. Kuster

A 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

Genres: Fantasy, Queer, Adult, Lesbian, LGBT, Epic Fantasy, Fiction

440 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2026

About the author

A 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.

Reviews

[Evie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am going to do that thing where I try to be brief about an ARC I didn’t like cause it was a debut work and that always makes me feel terrible.

I requested this book because the plot sounded interesting, I had heard that there was sapphic rep and this cover has been done by one of my favourite cover artists. And like that should have been enough to at least keep me engaged and make it a passably good time, but apparently not? Full disclosure, I started reading this book in December and have put it down like 3 times cause I just could not vibe with it and it would have been a DNF in a world where this wasn’t an ARC.

When I was speaking to Teru about how much I didn’t enjoy this and how I was struggling to articulate quite why it didn’t work, she asked me if it was the characters, a boring plot line or a good idea with a bland execution and its like….can I answer all of the above?? The premise had some promising world building and the initial idea of blood weaving magic was cool, but the boundaries of the magic system in this world just felt like they were constantly changing, and not in a fun ‘power is evolving way’, but more in a ‘let’s make it up as we go along and the feeling strikes’ way. Also both of the main characters, Kerick and Mel, just grated on me from the get go and never did enough to endear themselves to me, which meant that I struggled to invest in either of them and that connection for me is a critical part of enjoying the reading experience.

I think that this book could still work for some people who are after a high fantasy world that attempts to tackle some interesting moral elements, but I really struggled to finish this one off. I hope that this finds its audience, as this author clearly has some talent to be nurtured into the future, however that audience is not me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

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[Sue Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

"sometimes, in order to keep yourself and the people you love safe, you have to . . . do dangerous things."

This is a very fresh take on the overly used "magic is bad" theme in fantasy

⚜ rating: 4.25 🌟🌟🌟🌟 🔅
⚜ Genre: High Fantasy
⚜Theme: Forbidden Magic
⚜type of magic: Hard Magic
⚜Targeted audience: 16+
⚜ main Characters: Kerick - Mel
⚜Representation: LGBTQ+ wlw
⚜Pace: slow to Medium
⚜TW: Sibling loss, violence, torture. Execution
⚜ tropes: outlawed magic, hidden identity, rebellion, secret society
⚜ POV: third person double POV
⚜ spice: zero (though there is a love relationship, this is not a romantacy, not even a fantasy with romance)
⚜standalone: no
⚜ Ending: cliffhanger - setting the scene for the next book
⚜ book read: eARC
⚜ short synopsis: Three triplets - Mel (FMC), Kerick (mmc) and Emiel who live in the Ithisui where Bloodeeaving is frowned upon and weavers - called BloodBlights as a slur - are hunted down by Breakers and persecuted because long time ago Bloodweavers tried to take over the kingdom of Quorva.
On Emiel auspices day, Kerick comes out as a bloodweaver. He accidently kills his brother and escapes the clutches of Breakers to find the rebellion group the Ravel leaving behind his sister thinking she'd be safe without him.
Mel's wife, Ismene, also is discovered to be a bloodweaver and is taken by the Breakers. To help her, Mel reveals that she is a Carrier who can sense other weavers.
The two siblings face different ordeals, each thinking the other is safe

I have to say that the book started out very slow and dull. It read like the dozens of fantasy that deal with "magic wealders are a danger and we must get rid of them" trope.
However, turning events took the story into a very exciting route and by 30% I couldn't put the book down
I was on the edge of my seat reading the two siblings different journey and feeling their struggles and heartbreaks and how, eventhough each wanted different choices, they were bound by the same path.

I absolutely enjoyed learning about the Hard Magic system, something very few fantasies do well
To use Blood as the source of magic

It reminded me of Sanderson's three laws:
-the system is understandable
-it had limitations
-it's aexpandwd by something new

The surprises and and how the story behind the truth of bloodweavers unfolds is excellently done that I am going to keep reading this series as it comes out

I loved the world building and magic system that is drawn from the number three. I thought it was a stroke of genius

I have very high hopes and expectations for this series

Having said that, I have to say that the book needs heavy editing. I know that it's still some months before it comes out and that the author probably is working on it, nevertheless the editing needed is not just on the scattered mistakes, but also on the long paragraphs that take up sometimes a whole page and more in addition to the repetitive lines and internal monologues

Also, eventhough this is a High Fantasy in a completely made up world with supernatural beings, the language used was very simple and modern to the point that it took me out of the made-up world sometimes

Nevertheless, this is did not damper my enjoyment

A big thank you to Netgalley and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine

3.5 stars (rounded up)

Look, between the premise of siblings with dangerous, divisive magic ending up on opposite sides of a brewing war, a magic system built around manipulating life with a single touch, and some great queer vibes, C.N. Kuster honestly had me sold before I even opened The Bloodweaver. And honestly, I think it delivered on all of that while also not being exactly what I was anticipating, so this turned out to be quite an unexpected and wild ride, for better or worse.

Now, I always appreciate it when authors establish the emotional stakes early on, and The Bloodweaver absolutely comes out swinging. We are dropped into the lives of triplets Kerick, Mel, and Emiel right as everything implodes when government soldiers known as Breakers arrive on the day of Emiel's wedding. Kerick is forced to flee after revealing his connection to the forbidden art of Bloodweaving, while Mel takes a very different path after her girlfriend is arrested for possessing the same dangerous magic. Before long, they're caught on opposite sides of a conflict that's only getting bigger, messier, and increasingly painful to watch unfold, and I was so here for the tension and emotional turmoil of it all.

At the same time, I think starting the story at such a big pivotal moment for these characters was almost a bit too bold and ambitious, and I was still figuring out who everyone was when the trauma train had already left the station. That initial emotional disconnect lingered for a while, which was frustrating because I genuinely enjoyed so much of what The Bloodweaver was trying to do. The whole concept of the forbidden Bloodweaving magic was so fascinating to me, and I liked how Kuster played around with the basic set-up of ‘people with dangerous powers are hunted and feared by the government’, because apparently I never get tired of institutional oppression mixed with magical trauma.

What really kept me hooked, though, was the strong dual POV storytelling in The Bloodweaver. Following Kerick and Mel as they slowly and almost accidentally end up on opposite sides of a brewing war was equal parts tragic and wildly entertaining to me, and I really appreciated how different their journeys felt. All of Kerick’s guilt, grief, identity struggles, and his complicated relationship with Bloodweaving itself were compelling and well-written, though I have to admit it was Mel who really captured my heart. My sapphic babe was out there making increasingly questionable decisions and alliances for the sake of the people she loves, and every time I wanted to shake some sense into her, I also completely understood why she was doing it.

See, I absolutely live for morally gray messiness, and I liked how Kuster really embraces that in The Bloodweaver. Nobody gets to sit comfortably on the side of righteousness, and I liked how both Kerick and Mel were constantly confronted with the question whether Bloodweaving is a miracle or a curse, and more importantly, who gets to make that decision. That said, I do think some of the character development, thematic depth, and emotional weight suffered because of the odd pacing. There are quite a few awkward timeskips throughout The Bloodweaver, and while I appreciated how they kept things moving, there were points where I felt a bit frustrated that we were just circling the same internal conflicts while entire chunks of development happened off-page.

Still, I think it's a testament to Kuster's storytelling that I kept flying through the pages despite those frustrations. I felt like I could see the quality and confidence of the writing improving with each chapter, and while I never got emotionally hooked, the second half of The Bloodweaver definitely made up for the wobbly start. By then, I had mostly adjusted my expectations, and I liked that we got to dig into so many different character dynamics beyond just the central sibling bond along the way. The friendly banter and found family vibes between Jaz and Kerick entertained me to no end, and the refreshingly healthy, established, and emotionally mature sapphic relationship between Mel and Ismene's was easily one of my favourite parts of the book.

Everything just built up to this delightfully dramatic climax full of emotional turmoil, and Kuster definitely delivered. I do think it was a bit frustrating how the final twists relied so heavily on magical abilities that we never knew about and suddenly made the characters feel very overpowered, which took away some of the impact and tension for me. Even so, the revelations were compelling, and the ending was absolutely diabolical in the best possible way, setting up the sequel in a way that left me both impressed and mildly annoyed that I couldn't immediately start the next book.

Ultimately, I think it is best if you just ignore the marketing comps of Jade City and The Fifth Season, because to me The Bloodweaver feels much more like a fast-paced new adult fantasy in the vein of Wexler’s Burningblade & Silvereye series or Schwab’s Shades of Magic. It might not have been a flawless read for me, but I think it is a very ambitious and promising debut that I would highly recommend if you like your fantasy diverse, imaginative, politically charged, emotionally tangled, and packed with delicious family drama.

Thank you to NetGalley & Podium Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own. The Bloodweaver is scheduled for release on June 23rd, 2026.

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this one, but I’m sad to say that it fell flat. I requested this from NetGalley months ago, and when I dove in later, I didn’t look at any of the marketing. I was astonished to find that this is being marketed as an adult fantasy. In no way, shape or form should this be marketed towards adults. In my opinion, it shouldn’t even be considered new adult—it’s very, very much a YA book. The dialogue (internal and spoken) makes this clear, from the beginning.

I think the author has great potential, though. The worldbuilding is interesting, and Kuster definitely has talent. However, a world map is sorely needed, and the magic system of Bloodweaving is all over the place. What exactly can a bloodweaver do, and what can no one do? I understand the concept of affinities to a certain type of magic, but throughout the book, bloodweaving changed what could and couldn’t be done. I found this frustrating and longed for a more definitive write up of the parameters of the magic. Maybe I’m spoiled by Brandon Sanderson.

Ultimately, this gets a 3.25, rounded down. Again, there is much potential for growth, with regards to the author and this series in particular. Also again, future books in the series should really be marketed under YA, and I think by doing so, they will find a much wider readership.

Thank you to NetGalley and Podium Publishing for the advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

[bee ⭑.ᐟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Bailey (Myveinsbleedink) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is going to sit at a 3.5 for me. The story is fantastic. I love the concept with Bloodweaving as a forbidden magic. I'm a big fan of an oppressed magical system building up for a rebellion. I enjoyed the characters but to a point. I found they droned on and on about the same things and I felt like it really took away from it for me. I did receive this book on audio from Podium and I found at certain points I sped it up as our MCs were rehashing the same things and going on and on about them. Kerick, one of MCs, is a really complex interesting character but his lack of back bone and stammering really irked me at times. Mel, his sister and triplet, pissed me off at times with her negative talk about Kerick and her self righteous attitude. But at times I got it everything was iterated perfectly and I was able to really get into the story. I do really want to continue with the series but I think I would do it eye-ball reading!

[Jesse Aragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. 

[Emilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Nina van der Kooij · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Mella aka Maron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

3.5 rounded up because I really liked the ending.

This one is very hard to rate for me. On the one hand, there were some very good moments in the book, namely the beginning and the end. On the other hand, the middle suffered from being too wordy and too long. I think the story could have had 50-100 pages removed and still given me the same plot.

The main plot was decently basic: people with powers are unjustly killed due to the fear of the government. It’s a very basic plot. The worldbuilding was overall pretty good - there were a few things that were odd but overall, it was good. I just wish we had a more unique main plot. The characters were also a bit bland. I didn’t enjoy that they were always in their heads SO much, thinking repetitive thoughts every chapter. It got annoying and I ended up skimming a lot of their internal dialogue in the middle portion.

That’s kind of why I landed where I did. The book was good, but I think it could have been better. I’m still unsure if I will continue the series or not. My bet is probably not? I liked the ending twist a lot but I also feel like the second book might be a lot of internal dialogue again and it felt like a chore to get through that. Ultimately, I am glad I gave this one a shot but I’m not sure it will remain in my memory enough to keep going.

I’d recommend this to readers who want a very dark sibling-focused story and those who don’t mind a pretty basic discrimination plot line.

[Sam Cortez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Podium Entertainment, and NetGalley for providing an early copy. This is my honest review.

The Blood Weaver is a fast-paced epic fantasy featuring an imaginative magic system, compelling characters, and a story driven by difficult choices and conflicting loyalties.

At the heart of the novel are three siblings, each gifted with unique powers and following very different paths. As their beliefs, alliances, and ambitions begin to diverge, they are forced to confront impossible questions: what are you willing to do to survive and protect your loved ones? do you continue fighting for a cause when the system you’re supporting may be just as flawed as the one you’re trying to overthrow?

The characters are easily the highlight of the book. Each sibling feels distinct, with their own strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and worldview. Their individual journeys not only make them compelling on their own but also contribute meaningfully to the larger narrative.

The magic system is creative, intriguing, and woven naturally into the worldbuilding. I especially enjoyed discovering new aspects of it alongside the characters. By the end, it’s clear we’ve only scratched the surface, and I’m excited to see how it expands in future books.

The pacing keeps the story moving, balancing action, character development, and worldbuilding in a way that made it easy to stay engaged. There are plenty of twists, shifting alliances, and moments that raise the stakes as the story progresses.

[Cher Van Der Woude · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review — The Bloodweaver
⭐ 3.75

The Bloodweaver is a uniquely structured fantasy novel that immediately stood out to me because of its focus on one family told through multiple perspectives. Each storyline adds a different emotional layer, and I loved how the characters’ choices, loyalties, and secrets slowly wove together into something larger. That multi‑POV family dynamic is what made the book feel fresh and engaging.

The world itself is rich and atmospheric, with a magical history that feels deep and lived‑in. I enjoyed exploring the political tensions, the threat of the Breakers, and the lore surrounding the Bloodweavers, it all created a setting that was easy to fall into.

The pacing, however, was a bit uneven for me. Some chapters moved quickly and pulled me right along, while others slowed down enough that I felt myself stepping out of the flow. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did keep the book just shy of a full four‑star read.

Despite that, I genuinely had a great time with this story. The characters are compelling, the emotional moments land, and the ending sets up plenty of intriguing threads for the next installment. I’m definitely curious to see where the series goes from here.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the blurb sounded like something I'd enjoy but the execution was unfortunately mediocre and the whole book read like a basic and predictable fantasy I've read countless times before, with the exception of the ending which had one great moment. I really struggled to get through the first 50% of the book because it felt like nothing of note was happening, which I can be willing to overlook if the characters are interesting. However, all the main characters were extremely uncompelling and I honestly did not care about any of them or their relationships. Special shoutout to Kerick who was the most insufferable character in the book, my heart dropped every time a chapter began with his name and I wanted to wallop him on the head multiple times. He also had a rather bizarre love at first sight moment and I'm not sure why it was included.

Despite my scathing comments I think people new to fantasy could have a good time reading this, but for more seasoned fantasy readers I wouldn't recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

This fantasy is not focused on romance but on learning who you are when the world appears against you. Bloodweavers and Carriers are being tested and either killed or collected. One of a set of triplets is a Bloodweaver, while the other has a sensitivity. It opens with a public execution on the way to a betrothal for the eldest triplet and the urgency doesn’t really let up.

The world building and backstory is well developed in this first book of what will be a series. One of the triplets I found hard to relate to or really be sympathetic towards - but absolutely believable.

This would be a great book for people who want more fantasy and less romantic relationship focus and a great addition to a YA library.

[AshleyReadsThings]

Okay normally this deep in, I don't DNF but the pacing is just so slow I cannot. So I am stopping myself at 49%e. The beginning started off strong, but overall, it just started to feel a little repetitve and when it didn't feel repetive it was holding my attention. I was listening to the audiobook which the narrators sounded amazing and I think thats the only reason I pushed as far as I did. At first I was like hey wow grishaverse lovers would enjoy this book, now im just like I need to move on.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much Podium entertainment for this fantastic audio! You can never go wrong with a book narrated by Anthony Palmini 🤣 I really enjoyed how he and Sabrina Morvillo brought these characters to life. This story is filled with adventure, challenges, sadness, and a sprinkle of happiness, but that ending had me like. 😱 it was def a fun ride, but it got pretty dark at times. I enjoyed how we got to see two sides in the story and how everything isn’t always black and white. The magic was intriguing and so was the journey.

[Gabrielle Riha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave this a 4 because the beginning was really good, the middle was a little long, then the end picked back up. I loved the ending! Didn’t even think that being a possibility so now I can’t wait for the next one!
I don’t know if I would say there was a lot of world building, there was a fair amount but not a ton. I really loved the magic in this book! Totally different than what I’ve read. Loved that the story was centered around triplets 🩶.

I received this ALC from podium! Absolutely loved the audio 🥰

[Stephanie Sutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this, my favorite book this year ❤️

[Elizabeth Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Podium Publishing, C. N. Kuster and NetGalley for sending me an eARC of The Bloodweaver.

The Bloodweaver follows triplets Kerick, Mel and Emiel, the heirs to a prosperous winery on their island of Isthius. Generations ago, their great-grandfather was one of the founders of the island and was bestowed with the power of Bloodweaving by ancient gods, along with the rest of his companions. Despite Bloodweaving being the force that made Isthius flourish, the power is now reviled and those who possess it are hunted. Kerick hides his power from his siblings, until tragedy strikes and he is forced to go on the run to find the Ravel, a secret society of Bloodweavers that fight back against the Breakers, those who persecute Bloodweavers. Left in the wake of the tragedy, Mel chooses to follow her love, Ismene, when she is found to be a Carrier, and will do anything to protect her, including using her unknown abilities to help the Breaker commander hunt down Bloodweavers. On opposing sides, the siblings must challenge their beliefs and discover whether Bloodweaving is the curse they always believed it would be.

This book is hard to rate for me as I completely appreciate what the author was trying to do with this story but the execution just fell flat to me. The pacing in this is quite slow to start with, and then we get our inciting incident which had me on the edge of my seat, but then the pace slowed down once more until the ending which felt quite rushed. I think a pacing rework would have been good in this situation, as some parts just dragged on. I think part of that is my disinterest for long travelling arcs in some stories; I tend to get bored of long travelling sequences and this was the case here with both POVs. Also the characters didn't hook me as much as I wanted; Kerick and Mel both were interesting in their own ways but I ended up not really connecting to them as characters. They both made questionable decisions in the beginning of the story and I ended up feeling more exasperated about what they'd got themselves into than anything else. I did really like their relationships with side characters in their POVs; Mel with her girlfriend Ismene and Kerick with Jaz. Having those closer relationships and friendships really humanised them, and I enjoyed those relationships more than the sibling bond between the two of them.

I did enjoy the worldbuilding and parts of the magic system in this; I definitely think a map would have helped me with placing everything in this world so hopefully a map is included in the published version. Isthius felt like a really magical place, however once we leave it, the rest of the world felt a bit less fleshed out. I do wish we'd stayed on Isthius in one of the POVs as that was the place I knew most about and was anchored to. The magic system of Bloodweavers and Carriers was fun, and I really liked the inclusion of these ancient beings who bestowed the power upon the settlers of the island, however what wasn't super clear to me was how people from other places became Bloodweavers. Was it just people from Isthius moving to other places and passing down their gifts to others? This may have been explained and I just didn't realise it, but after finishing the book that's one of my main questions. Also what are the limits to the ability? I enjoy when a magic system has clearly explained rules, and we do end up getting some of those rules explained later in the book, but it feels like Bloodweaving is pretty infinite in its possibilities and can be used to do a lot of miraculous things. I feel like my questions will be more explained in the sequel to this, however I do wish they were a bit more explained in this one.

Overall I think The Bloodweaver is a good start to this series, but could have done with a bit of reworking to make the pace more suitable and to address a few things. that might have been left open. I was intruiged by the ending, despite guessing the plot twist pretty early on, and I am interested to see where the story goes in the sequel so maybe I'll give it a go when the sequel releases. I think this was just a case of me reading this at the wrong time and not appreciating the slower pacing and character work that went into this.

[Celine Wu · Rating 3 out of 5]

tl;dr I appreciated what the author was trying to do in telling this story, but I didn't like the way it was done.

Through Kerick and Mel and what they go through, Kuster asks several hard-hitting questions, imploring the reader to dig deep into their own morality to consider that doing the right thing isn't so easy or simple as ethics might suggest.

Will you allow yourself to become complicit in injustice when you have no choice? Are you then liable? Once you start on that path, will you stop or finally cross every line you once thought impenetrable? When faced with danger, should you work to save everyone or batten down the hatches and focus on defending your own? How much sacrifice is justifiable in the name of the greater good? Would you go against someone else's autonomy? What is the greater good?

The setup for all this is where the book fails for me. The worldbuilding is undeniably detailed and painstakingly crafted. That said, it also feels like the flaws to the worldbuilding are baked in and unavoidable. The main drawback for me was that Bloodweaving had no limits. There were costs (low ones, imo), but no limits. This seemed to be a point the author was trying to make, that you can expand on these skills and you should do so. It even gets questioned whether one should have the power. I admire that and think it's an intriguing aspect.

However. Every time I encountered yet another fantastic application of Bloodweaving, I felt like ripping my hair out. Every limitation it was given was later broken. It can heal, it can hurt. Good, reasonable, already too OP to really justify being able to be persecuted when you can do so much. But then—you can make others Bloodweavers, you can form a telepathic connection, you can even download a book into your brain. But WAIT there's MORE. Bloodweaving's not even the only form of weaving out there!

Another thing that bothered me, but to a smaller extent that I might call it nitpicking, is the language. The writing is solid and at times painfully evocative. But considering the setting, I really disliked the snippets of more "modern" words and phrases that were anachronistic. It was jarring to read the word "switch" (like a light switch) when the people travel by ships and horse-drawn carriages. But maybe this is just a pet peeve.

There's also just something about this book that tears me in different directions. It feels too long, but I couldn't begin to tell you where things could be cut. I oscillated between being bored and riveted. I also couldn't connect with the characters much, and I felt like I was supposed to feel for them without any reason. They do so many stupid things (some of them even very justifiably!) that I kept saying to myself, "This is so stupid," while reading.

And yet, the story is just compelling enough that I want to read the next one. There truly is the potential here for it to be an epic fantasy, despite its overall YA quality. It just misses the mark with this book, but maybe the next, with all the foundations built, it can do better.

ETA: I don't know if the published version will have a map, but I think it's sorely needed.

I received an e-ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and Podium Entertainment for the chance to read this.

[Lisa Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bloodweaver is a fantasy story with a unique magical system that centres on the diverging paths of siblings Kerick and Mel in a conflict-torn world.

This is primarily a plot-driven story, and that is where its strength lies. The world building is intricate, the magic system is unusual and the narrative is woven around the mythology of the land. I loved the depth and scope of it all and it kept me reading page after page.

I love a innovative magic system, and while we are still learning about this one, bloodweaving has vast capabilities but realistic limits, which is so important. I enjoyed the chapters where the characters are learning about their abilities the most (and who doesn’t love a good fantasy library as a resource?)

The mythology and the way it is woven into the story was a joy to read. I love worlds that feel like I could step into them and the plot is so tightly woven with the established mythology is exciting because it gives the plot so much potential.

The story opened up when we left the confines of the ‘home village’ and the dual POV allowed us to contrast the differing experiences of the main characters. It was the perfect choice of POV for this story.

Unfortunately, the weakest part of the book for me was the characters themselves. I didn’t feel their relationships, I had to just take them as given. Ismene, for example, doesn’t feel like a fully developed character, she is just ‘Mel’s girlfriend’.

Kerick is, to put it bluntly, an idiot and it really is his defining characteristic, but not in a way that makes him particularly endearing. It stopped me connecting with the character because I knew he was going to keep doing the stupidest thing possible and never reflect on his actions.

Mel was more likeable, her conflict and character development made for interesting reading though she does still have a few moments of holding the idiot ball that I found frustrating, particularly towards the end of the story.

The book ends in such a way that a sequel is expected so hopefully there will be further character development, which is badly needed, especially for Kerick.

The beginning of the book was slow, it focused on establishing the character relationships and unfortunately didn’t quite hit the mark. I didn’t care enough about the characters to be particularly bothered when the inciting incidents happened to them.

The middle was the best part. We got to dig deep into the world building, meeting new characters and visiting new places. There was reveal after reveal about the magic and the lore. This was when I found I couldn’t put the book down, it was so compelling.

The ending, unfortunately, felt a bit rushed. There were some good plot developments and reveals, the sequel hook is strong but the long-awaited reunion between Mel and Kerick was rushed and the outcome illogical. As with the rest of the book, the plot was strong but it fell down on the character relationships.

If there is a sequel (and I hope there is one) I will read it because the strength of the plot outweighs the weakness of the character relationships and I am intrigued to see where the story goes.

I think fans of Brandon Sanderson will enjoy the plot-driven nature of the story and the well-developed magical system.

I received an eARC via Netgalley

[amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[elion · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Hilary H. White · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Siavahda · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*

DNFing this one baffles me, because Bloodweaver is kind of excellent? The prose is mostly lovely? The magic is really interesting? I don’t love any of the characters, but they all feel satisfyingly multi-faceted? Even in just 25% of the book (the point at which I set this down) the plot took SO MANY turns I didn’t see coming???

And yet it’s grating on me. It’s something about the prose, something I can’t put my finger on, that keeps making me wince and twitch. I think it’s…over-written? To the point that the pacing is snail-slow: it takes forever for anything to happen, and when things are happening time just streeeeetches so the scene lasts so many more pages than it needs. We get lovely description, but of things we really don’t need. And sometimes the phrasing is just wonky – quotes taken from my advanced reader copy, so they may be edited or removed entirely from the final version of the book.

They’d spent so many afternoons here, bathing in the shade of their own little sanctuary where the world melted away. Responsibilities waited, commitments deferred, pressures abated.

That second sentence just doesn’t make sense to me. I know what it’s meant to mean, but the actual phrasing doesn’t make sense to me. ‘commitments deferred’ = perfect sense. But ‘responsibilities waited’ makes it sound like, you know, the responsibilities are WAITING, expectant, impatient, making you anxious. And are the pressures ACTUALLY abated, or just ignored or turned low for a few hours?

He’d grown–for the first time in his life–a full beard, reddish-brown hair covering his upper lip and jaw. The longest, an Oren-reminiscent goatee at his chin, needed to be dealt with at the earliest possible moment.

The longest what? The longest beard? The longest hair? The longest upper lip or jaw? You mean the longest BIT of the beard, I think, but that’s not what you said.

It’s like – slightly odd phrasing, sentences that don’t quite make sense on a line level. It’s extra jarring because most of the prose is quite lovely – not A+ level, but at least a B, maybe a B+. But that makes these little jolts stand out all the more by contrast, you see? And my weird prose sensitivity can’t take it.

If you have no idea why these quotes bother me, then I think you should give this book a try, because without this issue with the prose this is a pretty great book! And so if you have a saner taste in prose than I do, you should have a good time with Bloodweaver.

[Katryna · Rating 5 out of 5]

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).

[Chrissy ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Keturah Sergeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!