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The Witches' Weave #1
The Last Stitch: A Time Travel Romantasy
One magical pendant. Two enemies bound by fate. A love that could unravel history itself.
When Oxford graduate student Lily Whitmore inherits her grandmother's mysterious hourglass pendant, she's catapulted into Victorian England, where magic is forbidden and those who wield it are erased from existence. But Lily isn't just any time traveler. She's a Weaver, capable of rewriting the very threads of fate.
Enter August witch hunter, sworn to erase Weavers from existence. Cold. Calculating. Devastatingly beautiful. And bound by duty. Every clash between him and this mysterious woman strips away another layer of his merciless exterior, revealing the tortured soul he's desperate to hide. He should be her hunter. Instead, the witch he's sworn to destroy is unraveling everything he believed about magic, duty, and himself.
As magic bleeds from the world around them, Lily faces an impossible embrace her power and save the Weavers, knowing she'll never see home again, or let magic die forever and watch the man who owns her heart become just another casualty of history.
Some threads bind tighter when pulled. And some enemies are destined to become everything.
The Last Stitch is a romantasy that blends the time-travel wonder of Outlander, the witchy magic of A Discovery of Witches, and the sizzling enemies-to-lovers chemistry readers crave.
When Oxford graduate student Lily Whitmore inherits her grandmother's mysterious hourglass pendant, she's catapulted into Victorian England, where magic is forbidden and those who wield it are erased from existence. But Lily isn't just any time traveler. She's a Weaver, capable of rewriting the very threads of fate.
Enter August witch hunter, sworn to erase Weavers from existence. Cold. Calculating. Devastatingly beautiful. And bound by duty. Every clash between him and this mysterious woman strips away another layer of his merciless exterior, revealing the tortured soul he's desperate to hide. He should be her hunter. Instead, the witch he's sworn to destroy is unraveling everything he believed about magic, duty, and himself.
As magic bleeds from the world around them, Lily faces an impossible embrace her power and save the Weavers, knowing she'll never see home again, or let magic die forever and watch the man who owns her heart become just another casualty of history.
Some threads bind tighter when pulled. And some enemies are destined to become everything.
The Last Stitch is a romantasy that blends the time-travel wonder of Outlander, the witchy magic of A Discovery of Witches, and the sizzling enemies-to-lovers chemistry readers crave.
374 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2026
About the author
Chantelle N. Kerr
3 books107 followersChantelle N. Kerr is the author of new adult fantasy romance that blends real-world struggles with sweeping, magical realms, crafting stories where love is as powerful as destiny and the line between good and evil is never black and white.
A lifelong dreamer and storyteller, she thrives on exploring themes of fate, sacrifice, and the cost of power. When she’s not lost in the worlds she creates, she’s embracing the beautiful chaos of motherhood, devouring books, and connecting with fellow fantasy lovers through content creation.
The Starfire Prophecy is her debut novel, the first of many journeys into epic love, fate-defying choices, and the magic that lingers in the shadows.
A lifelong dreamer and storyteller, she thrives on exploring themes of fate, sacrifice, and the cost of power. When she’s not lost in the worlds she creates, she’s embracing the beautiful chaos of motherhood, devouring books, and connecting with fellow fantasy lovers through content creation.
The Starfire Prophecy is her debut novel, the first of many journeys into epic love, fate-defying choices, and the magic that lingers in the shadows.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW - This was my first time being an ARC reader and what a perfect book to start this off with. I honestly do not get pulled into books so quickly very often, but from the first chapter to the very last word, I didn't want it to end! And to end how this did... I'm trying for no spoilers but holy cow, can we have book 2 already! I am going to go insane waiting to find out what happens next!
Needless to say, this book was well written, intriguing in a way I didn't expect and so unlike many others I have read recently. The characters, especially the 2 MC's, have so much substance, I felt as if I was actually living with them. The settings, I so desperately wanted to be there to view them myself, to take in all the views, experiences and feelings of the story. From heartbreak (yes there were tears) to the overwhelming feelings of love and hate, I felt it all.
I will admit, there was maybe one or two chapters that lost me for a minute, but I was quickly back on track and those chapters not only made sense, but were helpful in explaining situations once I kept going. Reading about time travel has never been my thing, but if it is like this, Chantelle N Kerr has changed it for me!
@chantelkenkerr
Needless to say, this book was well written, intriguing in a way I didn't expect and so unlike many others I have read recently. The characters, especially the 2 MC's, have so much substance, I felt as if I was actually living with them. The settings, I so desperately wanted to be there to view them myself, to take in all the views, experiences and feelings of the story. From heartbreak (yes there were tears) to the overwhelming feelings of love and hate, I felt it all.
I will admit, there was maybe one or two chapters that lost me for a minute, but I was quickly back on track and those chapters not only made sense, but were helpful in explaining situations once I kept going. Reading about time travel has never been my thing, but if it is like this, Chantelle N Kerr has changed it for me!
@chantelkenkerr
June 27, 2026
Such a fun twist on time travel and historical fantasy threaded together. Looking forward to finding out what happens in book 2
March 24, 2026
“I would’ve lost myself, if I’d let myself want you the way I do. Yet, here I am anyway, completely lost in you.”
So much tension, SO much angst and yearning, there’s this irresistible push and pull between our two main characters that continues to deepen the more you read. I LOVED the way this was written. The prose is addictive, and Chantelle really knows how to keep you at the edge of your seat.
Imagine questioning everything that you were groomed to be, because it was all a lie. And now you have to grapple with making a sacrifice of who you are, what you were taught, for who you need to be.
The cliffhanger was diabolical and stressful af and I got an early peek of the blurb for book two and now i’m extremely stressed tf out 🤣 like?? THE WAY IT ENDED?! UGHHH.
I needed book two yesterday!! 😫
So much tension, SO much angst and yearning, there’s this irresistible push and pull between our two main characters that continues to deepen the more you read. I LOVED the way this was written. The prose is addictive, and Chantelle really knows how to keep you at the edge of your seat.
Imagine questioning everything that you were groomed to be, because it was all a lie. And now you have to grapple with making a sacrifice of who you are, what you were taught, for who you need to be.
The cliffhanger was diabolical and stressful af and I got an early peek of the blurb for book two and now i’m extremely stressed tf out 🤣 like?? THE WAY IT ENDED?! UGHHH.
I needed book two yesterday!! 😫
February 15, 2026
Wow..what an ending! I absolutely did not see that twist coming. This book hooked me from the start and never let go. The magic system is rich and imaginative, the suspense is relentless, and the action scenes are incredibly satisfying. I adored the fierce, determined FMC and really appreciated the moral growth the MMC goes through. Now I’m counting down the days until the next book releases, because I need it in my hands immediately.
January 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️¾✩✩ 2.75 stars
I really wanted to love this one—and there is a lot here that I admired—but in the end, the gaps were things I just couldn’t overlook.
The Last Stitch starts with a genuinely compelling setup: a young historian researching erased disappearances, grief, inherited jewelry, and a sudden fall into the mid-1800s. The idea of witches as weavers of fate, history as something stitched and unraveled, and magic tied to threads and time is beautiful on paper. Add in a slow-burn romance and lyrical prose, and this felt like it should have been a hit for me.
What worked:
The writing itself is often gorgeous. The prose leans lyrical, with an almost dreamlike quality that makes the emotional beats—especially the relationship between Lily and August—feel intimate and tender. The slow-burn romance is clearly the heart of the book, and that’s where the story feels most confident and cohesive. I also loved the conceptual parallels between history, memory, fate, and weaving; the inspiration drawn from the idea of the Fates adds a nice thematic layer without being heavy-handed.
What didn’t work for me:
The magic system, while lovely in concept, never fully solidified. We’re told about threads, weaving, mending, unraveling—but rarely shown how any of it actually works in a concrete way. Training scenes feel vague, abilities feel inconsistent, and it’s hard to grasp limits, rules, or stakes, which makes the magic feel more symbolic than functional.
World-building in general felt underdeveloped. Characters appear and disappear without resolution, scenes jump locations abruptly, and entire threads (no pun intended) seem to drop out of the narrative. I kept wanting more grounding—more sense of place, continuity, and cause-and-effect.
August’s POV also never fully comes into its own. While his arc gains some emotional weight later on, his voice remains less distinct than Lily’s, and he often reads as a familiar archetype rather than a fully realized character.
Finally, the pacing falters in both directions: the middle lingers too long in atmosphere without enough narrative momentum, while the final stretch rushes through major developments so quickly that the urgency paradoxically disappears. The inclusion of multiple late-stage spicy scenes also felt tonally out of sync with the slow-burn, character-first story that came before and pulled me out of the larger conflict.
Overall:
If you’re here for vibes, lyrical writing, and a romance-forward fantasy with a cool central idea, there’s a lot to enjoy. But if you’re someone who needs clear magic rules, stronger world-building, and tighter narrative structure, this may leave you wanting more. For me, it was a book full of beautiful ideas that never quite stitched itself together.
I really wanted to love this one—and there is a lot here that I admired—but in the end, the gaps were things I just couldn’t overlook.
The Last Stitch starts with a genuinely compelling setup: a young historian researching erased disappearances, grief, inherited jewelry, and a sudden fall into the mid-1800s. The idea of witches as weavers of fate, history as something stitched and unraveled, and magic tied to threads and time is beautiful on paper. Add in a slow-burn romance and lyrical prose, and this felt like it should have been a hit for me.
What worked:
The writing itself is often gorgeous. The prose leans lyrical, with an almost dreamlike quality that makes the emotional beats—especially the relationship between Lily and August—feel intimate and tender. The slow-burn romance is clearly the heart of the book, and that’s where the story feels most confident and cohesive. I also loved the conceptual parallels between history, memory, fate, and weaving; the inspiration drawn from the idea of the Fates adds a nice thematic layer without being heavy-handed.
What didn’t work for me:
The magic system, while lovely in concept, never fully solidified. We’re told about threads, weaving, mending, unraveling—but rarely shown how any of it actually works in a concrete way. Training scenes feel vague, abilities feel inconsistent, and it’s hard to grasp limits, rules, or stakes, which makes the magic feel more symbolic than functional.
World-building in general felt underdeveloped. Characters appear and disappear without resolution, scenes jump locations abruptly, and entire threads (no pun intended) seem to drop out of the narrative. I kept wanting more grounding—more sense of place, continuity, and cause-and-effect.
August’s POV also never fully comes into its own. While his arc gains some emotional weight later on, his voice remains less distinct than Lily’s, and he often reads as a familiar archetype rather than a fully realized character.
Finally, the pacing falters in both directions: the middle lingers too long in atmosphere without enough narrative momentum, while the final stretch rushes through major developments so quickly that the urgency paradoxically disappears. The inclusion of multiple late-stage spicy scenes also felt tonally out of sync with the slow-burn, character-first story that came before and pulled me out of the larger conflict.
Overall:
If you’re here for vibes, lyrical writing, and a romance-forward fantasy with a cool central idea, there’s a lot to enjoy. But if you’re someone who needs clear magic rules, stronger world-building, and tighter narrative structure, this may leave you wanting more. For me, it was a book full of beautiful ideas that never quite stitched itself together.
December 20, 2025
I can’t decide if I want to hug the author right now for writing such a thrilling and beautiful book, or yell at her for that ending because I cannot believe the cliff she left us on, with everything hanging in the balance at the end! I need the next book like NOW please!!
The FMC Lily is a student at Oxford when she is magically transported back in time to the exact period she was studying mysterious disappearances. She ends up caught in the battle between those with magic who can weave the threads of the world (the weavers) and a group of witch hunters who wish to eliminate them all. When the MMC August is thrust into a world that forces him to question everything he’s believed by a tempting women who claims she’s from the future, he must decide what path to take and if he really knows the truth about the weavers.
As each stitch of this story is woven, I became more and more enthralled in this story. The storytelling and world building enriched a world based in reality that I was somewhat familiar with being 1890s English society, while putting an exciting twist on it through adding the world of magic. I truly enjoyed the relationship that developed between Lily and August and how they were both trying to use each other while resisting the undeniable tension between them. They both must learn the truth about this magic system and work together even when they are at odds to protect Lily and try to get her back to her 2025 timeline. I also loved the side characters sibling duo of Garrick and Adeline, they both brought fun sass and some added twists to the status quo of the story that kept me entertained!
This book was filled with plenty of twists and turns, running for their life, some hidden powers/identity and of course plenty of romance and tension that I was on the edge of my seat, rapidly turning to the next page. This was a beautiful, well crafted story and I cannot wait to see where the author takes us next after the cliffhanger ending! Overall my rating 4.8/5!
The FMC Lily is a student at Oxford when she is magically transported back in time to the exact period she was studying mysterious disappearances. She ends up caught in the battle between those with magic who can weave the threads of the world (the weavers) and a group of witch hunters who wish to eliminate them all. When the MMC August is thrust into a world that forces him to question everything he’s believed by a tempting women who claims she’s from the future, he must decide what path to take and if he really knows the truth about the weavers.
As each stitch of this story is woven, I became more and more enthralled in this story. The storytelling and world building enriched a world based in reality that I was somewhat familiar with being 1890s English society, while putting an exciting twist on it through adding the world of magic. I truly enjoyed the relationship that developed between Lily and August and how they were both trying to use each other while resisting the undeniable tension between them. They both must learn the truth about this magic system and work together even when they are at odds to protect Lily and try to get her back to her 2025 timeline. I also loved the side characters sibling duo of Garrick and Adeline, they both brought fun sass and some added twists to the status quo of the story that kept me entertained!
This book was filled with plenty of twists and turns, running for their life, some hidden powers/identity and of course plenty of romance and tension that I was on the edge of my seat, rapidly turning to the next page. This was a beautiful, well crafted story and I cannot wait to see where the author takes us next after the cliffhanger ending! Overall my rating 4.8/5!
December 27, 2025
The Last Stitch hit all the themes I love- intergenerational friendships, a slow-burning romance, a fight against the patriarchy, time travel, and magic. In this story, set in Victorian England, women have the power, and the hunters refuse to allow even one woman to live: they literally erase any trace of their existence. The idea of one man having the ability to unravel women of power resonated with me because what is a witch, really, except a woman with too much power. Kerr's characters are strong, determined women who will fight for their way of life with the support of unlikely allies. The story is told through the perspectives of Lily and August as they find themselves at opposing ends of the genocide that August's father is orchestrating.
This is the first book in The Witches' Weave series, and it ends, leaving the reader ready for book 2 immediately. It is a great start to what I expect will be an excellent series.
This is the first book in The Witches' Weave series, and it ends, leaving the reader ready for book 2 immediately. It is a great start to what I expect will be an excellent series.
March 31, 2026
4.5!!! This is incredible and severely Underhyped. I love any time travel/ historical fantasy and so many of the themes in this are extremely poignant and relevant.
February 13, 2026
Thanks to Chantelle N. Kerr for providing the eARC. This is my honest opinion.
Threads of Fate and Forbidden Desire
Some stories draw readers in with speed, others with atmosphere. ‘The Last Stitch’ by Chantelle N. Kerr belongs firmly to the second category.
This romantasy unfolds through a third person dual perspective, following both Lily and August. That choice strengthens the emotional core of the story, especially within the enemies to lovers dynamic. By allowing access to the inner worlds of both characters, the tension grows naturally through misunderstanding, restraint and unspoken desire. The romance develops slowly, deliberately, and feels grounded in emotion rather than convenience.
Chantelle Kerr’s writing style is lyrical and richly atmospheric. The prose leans toward the poetic, often prioritising mood and feeling over sharp plot progression. Victorian England is portrayed with a misty, almost dreamlike quality, and the shift from modern Oxford into the past feels immersive and intentional. This is a novel that invites readers to linger within scenes rather than rush through them.
The concept of the Weavers, individuals who manipulate fate through threads of time, is original and intriguing. It adds a unique layer to the story and sets it apart within the genre. At the same time, the magic system remains somewhat abstract. Rules and limitations are not always clearly defined, and certain developments rely more on emotional logic than on a solid structural foundation. For readers who prefer clearly outlined magical systems, this may occasionally feel frustrating.
Pacing shows a similar contrast. The middle section slows down considerably, focusing on character interaction and internal conflict, while the final chapters move at a much quicker pace. This uneven rhythm does not derail the story, but it does make the overall structure feel slightly unbalanced.
Character work is one of the novel’s strongest elements. Lily is a thoughtful and emotionally driven protagonist whose doubts and choices feel believable. August sometimes leans toward familiar tropes, yet gradually gains depth as the story progresses. Their connection is charged with tension and quiet emotion, making even small interactions feel significant.
‘The Last Stitch’ is not a book driven by action or strict rules. It is a story that values emotion, atmosphere and romantic tension above all else. Despite a few loose threads in world building and pacing, it remains an immersive and compelling read that leaves a strong desire to continue the journey.
A beautifully written romantasy that prioritises feeling over clarity, and does so with confidence.
Enemies-to-Lovers | Slow-Burn Romance | Time Travel | Magic / Magical System | Historical / Victorian Setting | Secret Identities / Hidden Powers | Forbidden / Complicated Romance | Fated Connections / Destiny | Coming-of-Age / Self-Discovery | Family Secrets / Legacy
Threads of Fate and Forbidden Desire
Some stories draw readers in with speed, others with atmosphere. ‘The Last Stitch’ by Chantelle N. Kerr belongs firmly to the second category.
This romantasy unfolds through a third person dual perspective, following both Lily and August. That choice strengthens the emotional core of the story, especially within the enemies to lovers dynamic. By allowing access to the inner worlds of both characters, the tension grows naturally through misunderstanding, restraint and unspoken desire. The romance develops slowly, deliberately, and feels grounded in emotion rather than convenience.
Chantelle Kerr’s writing style is lyrical and richly atmospheric. The prose leans toward the poetic, often prioritising mood and feeling over sharp plot progression. Victorian England is portrayed with a misty, almost dreamlike quality, and the shift from modern Oxford into the past feels immersive and intentional. This is a novel that invites readers to linger within scenes rather than rush through them.
The concept of the Weavers, individuals who manipulate fate through threads of time, is original and intriguing. It adds a unique layer to the story and sets it apart within the genre. At the same time, the magic system remains somewhat abstract. Rules and limitations are not always clearly defined, and certain developments rely more on emotional logic than on a solid structural foundation. For readers who prefer clearly outlined magical systems, this may occasionally feel frustrating.
Pacing shows a similar contrast. The middle section slows down considerably, focusing on character interaction and internal conflict, while the final chapters move at a much quicker pace. This uneven rhythm does not derail the story, but it does make the overall structure feel slightly unbalanced.
Character work is one of the novel’s strongest elements. Lily is a thoughtful and emotionally driven protagonist whose doubts and choices feel believable. August sometimes leans toward familiar tropes, yet gradually gains depth as the story progresses. Their connection is charged with tension and quiet emotion, making even small interactions feel significant.
‘The Last Stitch’ is not a book driven by action or strict rules. It is a story that values emotion, atmosphere and romantic tension above all else. Despite a few loose threads in world building and pacing, it remains an immersive and compelling read that leaves a strong desire to continue the journey.
A beautifully written romantasy that prioritises feeling over clarity, and does so with confidence.
Enemies-to-Lovers | Slow-Burn Romance | Time Travel | Magic / Magical System | Historical / Victorian Setting | Secret Identities / Hidden Powers | Forbidden / Complicated Romance | Fated Connections / Destiny | Coming-of-Age / Self-Discovery | Family Secrets / Legacy
August 11, 2026
3.5 Stars
The story itself was genuinely interesting, though the writing felt repetitive and a bit cringeworthy at times. Knowing it was self-published, I was able to overlook some of those issues and still enjoy the overall story. I may continue with the next book in the series. Overall, it was a cute, quick, and fun read if you don’t mind the writing style.
The story itself was genuinely interesting, though the writing felt repetitive and a bit cringeworthy at times. Knowing it was self-published, I was able to overlook some of those issues and still enjoy the overall story. I may continue with the next book in the series. Overall, it was a cute, quick, and fun read if you don’t mind the writing style.
January 1, 2026
This book was a 5/5 for me before I even got the chance to finish it. The narrative is beyond captivating. Lily & August carry the perfect banter throughout the book. I didn’t just want to read this story.. I wanted to be a part of this story.
It’s beautiful, it’s so deeply thought out and I’m so thankful I was able to read it. The realization that Lily may have been the one to leave the necklace for herself —- mind blown! I didn’t even consider such an idea but yes on every level. “I think I’ve always been here, August. I just didn’t know it yet” !!!!!!!! The cliffhanger ending has me wanting more now. Can’t wait for book 2.
It’s beautiful, it’s so deeply thought out and I’m so thankful I was able to read it. The realization that Lily may have been the one to leave the necklace for herself —- mind blown! I didn’t even consider such an idea but yes on every level. “I think I’ve always been here, August. I just didn’t know it yet” !!!!!!!! The cliffhanger ending has me wanting more now. Can’t wait for book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Author
what can I say about this book that doesn't give to much away? It's captivating, wonderfully written, made me feel like I was there in the thick of it all. I loved this book so much. Chantelle Kerr has a way to bring you into the world she creates with such ease, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
February 25, 2026
I devoured this book. I couldn’t put it down. I’ll be living in August and Lily’s world until the next book comes out. So so good!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Last Stitch absolutely scratched the Outlander-wanting itch in my soul. If you love time travel, forbidden magic, broody morally-conflicted men, and enemies-to-lovers tension so thick you could cut it with a knife, this book delivers in all the best ways.
Lily Whitmore is pulled from modern Oxford into a Victorian England where magic is outlawed and Weavers, people who can manipulate fate itself, are hunted down and erased. The world-building here is immersive without being overwhelming, and the concept of “weaving” fate is genuinely fresh in a genre that can sometimes feel repetitive. The magical system feels purposeful, dangerous, and beautifully tied into the emotional stakes of the story.
And then there’s August Hawthorne. Cold. Ruthless. Witch hunter. Bound by duty. Emotionally constipated in the most delicious way. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Lily and August is chef’s kiss. Every interaction is loaded. Every argument feels like foreplay. Watching his rigid beliefs slowly unravel because of her is incredibly satisfying, and their chemistry is one of the strongest parts of the book.
The time travel elements really do have that Outlander feel. Being dropped into a past that feels alive, political, and hostile, where survival depends on learning fast and trusting carefully. If you loved that aspect of Outlander, you’ll feel right at home here.
That said… I did have one big frustration. It took way too long for Lily to realize that Elias, the Unraveler, was August’s father. The clues were practically waving flags, and she remained completely oblivious until the Pemberton ball. I found myself internally yelling at her more than once. It didn’t ruin the story, but it definitely tested my patience.
And then the ending. I won’t spoil it, but HOW did the Weavers not sense what was happening?! HOW did no one put it together?! I was equal parts shocked, stressed, and slightly exasperated, in the way that makes you immediately need the next book. Which, honestly, is the mark of a good romantasy. This book weaves together magic, fate, romance, and time travel in a way that feels both epic and intimate. If you’re a fan of Outlander or enemies-to-lovers romances with high stakes and emotional tension, this is one you’ll want on your shelf. Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for Book 2 because I need answers.
Lily Whitmore is pulled from modern Oxford into a Victorian England where magic is outlawed and Weavers, people who can manipulate fate itself, are hunted down and erased. The world-building here is immersive without being overwhelming, and the concept of “weaving” fate is genuinely fresh in a genre that can sometimes feel repetitive. The magical system feels purposeful, dangerous, and beautifully tied into the emotional stakes of the story.
And then there’s August Hawthorne. Cold. Ruthless. Witch hunter. Bound by duty. Emotionally constipated in the most delicious way. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Lily and August is chef’s kiss. Every interaction is loaded. Every argument feels like foreplay. Watching his rigid beliefs slowly unravel because of her is incredibly satisfying, and their chemistry is one of the strongest parts of the book.
The time travel elements really do have that Outlander feel. Being dropped into a past that feels alive, political, and hostile, where survival depends on learning fast and trusting carefully. If you loved that aspect of Outlander, you’ll feel right at home here.
That said… I did have one big frustration. It took way too long for Lily to realize that Elias, the Unraveler, was August’s father. The clues were practically waving flags, and she remained completely oblivious until the Pemberton ball. I found myself internally yelling at her more than once. It didn’t ruin the story, but it definitely tested my patience.
And then the ending. I won’t spoil it, but HOW did the Weavers not sense what was happening?! HOW did no one put it together?! I was equal parts shocked, stressed, and slightly exasperated, in the way that makes you immediately need the next book. Which, honestly, is the mark of a good romantasy. This book weaves together magic, fate, romance, and time travel in a way that feels both epic and intimate. If you’re a fan of Outlander or enemies-to-lovers romances with high stakes and emotional tension, this is one you’ll want on your shelf. Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for Book 2 because I need answers.
Review of advance copy
3.5 stars
Stories about witches, time travel, and magic have always enchanted me, and this one sounded really different. I love the idea of witches as weavers, manipulating the threads of reality to heal, to see the future, to create change, etc. And more often than not, where witches exist so do witch hunters.
Lily is a young historian sent back in time from 2025 to 1892 in Oxford, England by a magical necklace. Arriving suddenly in a dark forest, Lily is immediately entangled in the conflict between weavers and hunters. Captured by August, captain of the hunters, and taken to his home for questioning, Lily's only hope of finding her way home is to cooperate.
The story itself captured my attention and I'm invested enough that I'd like to read the next book in the series. That being said, there were several things that didn't work for me.
- The historical fiction aspect did not feel very authentic. While Lily has modern-day speech and manners, the other characters should not. An upper class gentlemen like August would not take a lady out for dinner at tavern, nor would a lady like Constance or Adeline stop by a tavern for a drink. Adeline is meant to act as a chaperone for Lily, yet Lily is alone with August frequently, and he sees nothing wrong with barging into the bathroom while she is bathing. Despite the emphasis placed on Lily being a historian familiar with the time period, as well as Adeline drilling her in proper etiquette, Lily constantly behaves inappropriately.
- Characters disappear from scenes and even from the story entirely without explanation. August's housekeeper, Mrs. Hartley, is never present or mentioned in the last 2/3 of the book. Adeline is in the forest with Marigold, and Garrick is there with Lily (chapter 39), until suddenly they're not. They aren't mentioned again for several chapters without any explanation of when or how they left the forest or avoided the hunter attack in chapter 40.
- There are several other issues with continuity and subjects being dropped, such as in the following examples. On page 80 August tells Lily he expects a description of the necklace and they agree to trade questions, but then he never asks about it again. On page 290 August tells Lily, "“You’re going to tell me everything you know about my mother," and then they never discuss his mother again or the vision Lily had of her. On page 300, Elias says, “Seal the exits. No guest departs until the child is found," but on the very next page, Lily, August and Garrick are leaving without any explanation as to how that was permitted.
- The writing at times was extremely beautiful and lyrical, but by the middle of the book many phrases became repetitive and lost a lot of the initial emotional impact.
- The pining/romance felt like it overshadowed the rest of the plot. Having two spicy scenes very close together near the end of the book pulled me out of the story. One would have been more than sufficient.
- There were a lot of magical terms and types of weaver magic that weren't clearly explained and Lily's magical training felt quite vague. I actually liked many of the weavers and would have enjoyed learning more about these secondary characters.
-The last part of the story felt extremely rushed and there were so many things left unexplained. The final chapter introduces yet another type of weaver, a threadbreaker, without explaining what the term actually means. Perhaps that part will come in the next book.
Overall I feel like the story has so much potential, and with some thorough editing and polishing it could really shine.
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Stories about witches, time travel, and magic have always enchanted me, and this one sounded really different. I love the idea of witches as weavers, manipulating the threads of reality to heal, to see the future, to create change, etc. And more often than not, where witches exist so do witch hunters.
Lily is a young historian sent back in time from 2025 to 1892 in Oxford, England by a magical necklace. Arriving suddenly in a dark forest, Lily is immediately entangled in the conflict between weavers and hunters. Captured by August, captain of the hunters, and taken to his home for questioning, Lily's only hope of finding her way home is to cooperate.
The story itself captured my attention and I'm invested enough that I'd like to read the next book in the series. That being said, there were several things that didn't work for me.
- The historical fiction aspect did not feel very authentic. While Lily has modern-day speech and manners, the other characters should not. An upper class gentlemen like August would not take a lady out for dinner at tavern, nor would a lady like Constance or Adeline stop by a tavern for a drink. Adeline is meant to act as a chaperone for Lily, yet Lily is alone with August frequently, and he sees nothing wrong with barging into the bathroom while she is bathing. Despite the emphasis placed on Lily being a historian familiar with the time period, as well as Adeline drilling her in proper etiquette, Lily constantly behaves inappropriately.
- Characters disappear from scenes and even from the story entirely without explanation. August's housekeeper, Mrs. Hartley, is never present or mentioned in the last 2/3 of the book. Adeline is in the forest with Marigold, and Garrick is there with Lily (chapter 39), until suddenly they're not. They aren't mentioned again for several chapters without any explanation of when or how they left the forest or avoided the hunter attack in chapter 40.
- There are several other issues with continuity and subjects being dropped, such as in the following examples. On page 80 August tells Lily he expects a description of the necklace and they agree to trade questions, but then he never asks about it again. On page 290 August tells Lily, "“You’re going to tell me everything you know about my mother," and then they never discuss his mother again or the vision Lily had of her. On page 300, Elias says, “Seal the exits. No guest departs until the child is found," but on the very next page, Lily, August and Garrick are leaving without any explanation as to how that was permitted.
- The writing at times was extremely beautiful and lyrical, but by the middle of the book many phrases became repetitive and lost a lot of the initial emotional impact.
- The pining/romance felt like it overshadowed the rest of the plot. Having two spicy scenes very close together near the end of the book pulled me out of the story. One would have been more than sufficient.
- There were a lot of magical terms and types of weaver magic that weren't clearly explained and Lily's magical training felt quite vague. I actually liked many of the weavers and would have enjoyed learning more about these secondary characters.
-The last part of the story felt extremely rushed and there were so many things left unexplained. The final chapter introduces yet another type of weaver, a threadbreaker, without explaining what the term actually means. Perhaps that part will come in the next book.
Overall I feel like the story has so much potential, and with some thorough editing and polishing it could really shine.
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
“Because I knew the truth now: survival meant choosing sides. And I’d just run straight back into the home of the very thing I was supposed to fear. The enemy. The man I was falling for.”
✨ Enemies-to-lovers
✨ Captor x captive
✨ Forbidden magic
✨ Hidden identity
✨ Slow burn romance
Lily Whitmore is suddenly pulled from her world and thrown into Victorian England, where magic is forbidden and survival is more than just staying alive. It is choosing who to trust, who to fight, and who to let into your heart. She’s a Weaver, capable of bending threads of fate, but every step forward is a test of courage and instinct.
“The woman in my arms held secrets. They clung to her like the strange fabric of her clothing, the impossible device on her wrist, the way she didn’t belong to this world at all.”
August Hawthorne is controlled. Measured. A man shaped by duty, loyalty, and a belief system he has never had reason to question. He approaches Lily first as an obligation - something to assess, contain, understand. And that restraint? That’s where the tension lives. Every flicker of softness, every moment his composure falters, feels earned.
“She was a source of intelligence. A puzzle to be solved. A potential threat that needed to be understood and neutralized.”
The romance is a slow burn, layered in every stolen moment, every spark, heightened by the stakes surrounding them.
“I kissed him back like I was drowning and he was air.”
The magic system is clever, the pacing is easy to sink into, and the characters are instantly likeable. Lily and August’s dynamic evolves naturally, making their connection feel authentic.
“Love. Such a small word for something that was rewriting my entire existence.”
This is a well-crafted, immersive read that blends time-travel wonder, clever magic, and soft romance.
Thank you to Chantelle N. Kerr for sharing this story ✨
Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share. ✨
“Because I knew the truth now: survival meant choosing sides. And I’d just run straight back into the home of the very thing I was supposed to fear. The enemy. The man I was falling for.”
✨ Enemies-to-lovers
✨ Captor x captive
✨ Forbidden magic
✨ Hidden identity
✨ Slow burn romance
Lily Whitmore is suddenly pulled from her world and thrown into Victorian England, where magic is forbidden and survival is more than just staying alive. It is choosing who to trust, who to fight, and who to let into your heart. She’s a Weaver, capable of bending threads of fate, but every step forward is a test of courage and instinct.
“The woman in my arms held secrets. They clung to her like the strange fabric of her clothing, the impossible device on her wrist, the way she didn’t belong to this world at all.”
August Hawthorne is controlled. Measured. A man shaped by duty, loyalty, and a belief system he has never had reason to question. He approaches Lily first as an obligation - something to assess, contain, understand. And that restraint? That’s where the tension lives. Every flicker of softness, every moment his composure falters, feels earned.
“She was a source of intelligence. A puzzle to be solved. A potential threat that needed to be understood and neutralized.”
The romance is a slow burn, layered in every stolen moment, every spark, heightened by the stakes surrounding them.
“I kissed him back like I was drowning and he was air.”
The magic system is clever, the pacing is easy to sink into, and the characters are instantly likeable. Lily and August’s dynamic evolves naturally, making their connection feel authentic.
“Love. Such a small word for something that was rewriting my entire existence.”
This is a well-crafted, immersive read that blends time-travel wonder, clever magic, and soft romance.
Thank you to Chantelle N. Kerr for sharing this story ✨
Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share. ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Last Stitch by Chantelle N. Kerr
5 out of 5 stars
ARC- Releases Feb 17, 2026
Thank you Chantelle for an early copy of The Last Stitch. All parts of this review is of my honest opinion 💚
Let me tell you, this book will leave you wanting to pull a Homer Simpson to force more of the story out. For now I'll imagine my kindle app is Bart while I shake my phone around. Now that's out in the open 😂 here's the rest of my review:
I have found most time travel books to be more complicated and difficult to understand, but that was not the case in The Last Stitch. Each bit was written clear, concise, and was so enjoyable to read. And that ending had a twist I did not see coming and for it to end there was torture 😅
I also enjoyed the characters and their personalities (besides Elias, f*ck him). Lily is so intelligent and has such a strong will that makes you know that she will never give him fighting and making things right. Then you have August who starts out as a Hunter that would destroy Lily if he knew, but his gut and soul tells him that he has to question the world he once knew. Even through his inner turmoil, he is kind, protective, and slowly growing a spine. We also can't forget about our side characters. Our sibling duo, Garrick and Adeline, added an amazing touch that I LOVED. I'm so glad we were able to meet these two and see how they help bring the story to life.
If you want a book that will have you on the edge of your seat and demanding more, please give this book a shot. It is a beautiful story (just like its cover) and could easily become one of your top 10 books! 🥰
5 out of 5 stars
ARC- Releases Feb 17, 2026
Thank you Chantelle for an early copy of The Last Stitch. All parts of this review is of my honest opinion 💚
Let me tell you, this book will leave you wanting to pull a Homer Simpson to force more of the story out. For now I'll imagine my kindle app is Bart while I shake my phone around. Now that's out in the open 😂 here's the rest of my review:
I have found most time travel books to be more complicated and difficult to understand, but that was not the case in The Last Stitch. Each bit was written clear, concise, and was so enjoyable to read. And that ending had a twist I did not see coming and for it to end there was torture 😅
I also enjoyed the characters and their personalities (besides Elias, f*ck him). Lily is so intelligent and has such a strong will that makes you know that she will never give him fighting and making things right. Then you have August who starts out as a Hunter that would destroy Lily if he knew, but his gut and soul tells him that he has to question the world he once knew. Even through his inner turmoil, he is kind, protective, and slowly growing a spine. We also can't forget about our side characters. Our sibling duo, Garrick and Adeline, added an amazing touch that I LOVED. I'm so glad we were able to meet these two and see how they help bring the story to life.
If you want a book that will have you on the edge of your seat and demanding more, please give this book a shot. It is a beautiful story (just like its cover) and could easily become one of your top 10 books! 🥰
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 14, 2026DNFing an ARC always makes me feel guilty, especially when the author has been generous with their readers. This one, in particular, gave ARC readers two months to finish, and I genuinely wish more authors were that considerate with their timelines. For that alone, I truly appreciate Chantelle N. Kerr.
This was actually one of the very first ARCs I ever applied for. Back then, I didn’t really know what I liked yet. I saw a gorgeous green cover, some intriguing tropes, and hit apply. Rookie mistake. Lesson learned. My experience with time travel stories is limited, but the last one I finished was The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It was a thick book, yet I never felt bored. But I couldn't read The Last Stitch past 31%.
My first issue is how the time travel happens almost immediately in chapter one. In Audrey’s book, we at least get a prologue and a solid foundation for the main character’s life before all the clocks start going crazy. Here, Lily’s life in 2025 barely exists. No friends (eh, wonder why? 🤨) no hobbies (*insert shocked Pikachu face meme* 😮), no personality outside of research. Her grandmother is her only connection. A professor is mentioned maybe twice. That’s it. Does she have a favorite movie? Any quirks? We never find out. So when she lands in 1892, it feels less like she lost something and more like she simply started existing there.
If we compare this to The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow, which explores similar themes and much more closely than Audrey’s book, the difference is obvious. Owen actually feels like a historian because his knowledge matters, and Una never treats him like a captive.
Lily, on the other hand, could be replaced with "random woman who likes history" and nothing would change. She rarely uses her expertise, rarely pushes back, and oddly seems willing to just ... Accept being August’s prisoner. She barely tries to escape. The first time she leaves his house, she basically just waltzes out the door with a side character’s blessing 😏 Pretty easy for a captive, huh? Hmmm, okie. The thing is, I don’t need her to succeed every time. I just need her to try. Let her make bad plans. Let her fail spectacularly. Anything is better than passivity.
Second: August.
I didn’t like him from the moment he appeared. He gave me Draco Malfoy energy, but without the charm or bite. Just spineless, obedient 26/27 year old boy with ✨ daddy issue ✨ I swear this man thinks his dad farts rainbows 😂 This book made me realize I have a new ick: spineless men. And this is coming from someone who likes subby men. But there’s a massive difference between submissive and spineless. One is a dynamic. The other is a personality void.
August is not compelling; he was just someone with (ofc) a tragic past who’s angry at the world. Mostly women. Mind you, he hunted a little girl when he met Lily. Idk why that’s barely mentioned. Please die :) As a love interest, August feels painfully generic. Someone save me from shadow daddies and give me golden retriever boyfies anytime.
Third: the romance.
I didn’t buy it for a second. Lily admits August is "the most devastatingly handsome man" she's ever seen. And August notices her because she looks different, dresses different, talks different. And yup, she’s pretty!! Who could’ve guessed 😍 That’s all. Their attraction is basically based on physical appearance, mwah 😘 You call that chemistry? My cat has more chemistry with my neighbor’s tom.
By chapter 8, he’s already possessive. By chapter 14, she trusts him. Enemies to lovers where? 🤡 I blinked and apparently we were already at soft gazes 🥺 and emotional dependency after he saved him when he was distracted by OW, oh nooo 😭 I’m so exhausted with the trope where "trust" is built by putting the FMC in danger so the man can rescue her, often in situations involving sexual threat. It’s overused, tiring, and lazy. Next time, maybe include something like, contains: instalove, heroine forgets she has legs, possessive shadow daddy, rescue based romance progression.
Also, how the hell does someone get attacked near a restaurant??? We’re talking about Oxford in the late 1800s, not Gotham City. It’s a town. A busy one. Full of shopkeepers, students, grandmas who know everyone’s business, and old men staring out of windows like unpaid security cameras. People back then were nosy as hell. This isn’t modern "everyone films for TikTok and does nothing". There was no TikTok. No TVs. No headphones. You sneeze wrong and three neighbors already know your entire medical history.
I don’t remember Lily even trying to scream. If someone grabs you and drags you into a dark alley, your body does NOT wait for some tall, brooding man to show up. Screaming isn’t bravery. It’s instinct. Toddlers scream. Cats scream. I scream when I see a cockroach. She basically said, "I guess I’ll die quietly so the hero can have his entrance." 🤤 Girl. Use your mouth. God gave you vocal cords for free. One scream and Auntie Petunia would already be out there bonking the attacker like, "NOT IN MY STREET, YOUNG MAN!"
Oh, and August? Please explain how you just walked away after nearly killing two men, honey. This is not a mafia romance. This is Victorian England. You don’t get immunity because your daddy has money. Cracking someone’s skull in public isn’t "protective boyfriend behavior". It’s felony behavior.
Lastly: the pacing.
This book moves slower than a 100 year old crossing the street. I’m fully aware we’re supposed to be patient and wait for Lily to settle in. I think 8 chapters is reasonably enough, right? RIGHT? 😬 So I was happy when something interesting finally happened in chapter 9: someone from the other side wanted to meet Lily. Great. Momentum. Stakes. I was ready. Hooray 🎉 But guess what? They didn't meet until chapter 16. That's SEVEN fucking chapters apart. Seven. Over the course of one single day in the story. I repeat: one day!
At that point, it felt like the romance kept interrupting the plot instead of serving it. By the time the meeting finally happened, I just didn’t care anymore. No investment. No tension. I wasn’t rooting for Lily. I still didn’t like August, even when he started rebelling against his daddy thanks to Lily, who actually did ... Nothing? But somehow she inspired him 🥰 Idk man. Like I said, their relationship never convinced me. I'm done.
In the end, The Last Stitch taught me two things: don’t apply for ARCs based on pretty covers, and be far more selective with my time. Hard lesson, but a useful one. Still, thank you to the author for the opportunity, but sometimes a beautiful cover simply isn’t enough.
This was actually one of the very first ARCs I ever applied for. Back then, I didn’t really know what I liked yet. I saw a gorgeous green cover, some intriguing tropes, and hit apply. Rookie mistake. Lesson learned. My experience with time travel stories is limited, but the last one I finished was The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It was a thick book, yet I never felt bored. But I couldn't read The Last Stitch past 31%.
My first issue is how the time travel happens almost immediately in chapter one. In Audrey’s book, we at least get a prologue and a solid foundation for the main character’s life before all the clocks start going crazy. Here, Lily’s life in 2025 barely exists. No friends (eh, wonder why? 🤨) no hobbies (*insert shocked Pikachu face meme* 😮), no personality outside of research. Her grandmother is her only connection. A professor is mentioned maybe twice. That’s it. Does she have a favorite movie? Any quirks? We never find out. So when she lands in 1892, it feels less like she lost something and more like she simply started existing there.
If we compare this to The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow, which explores similar themes and much more closely than Audrey’s book, the difference is obvious. Owen actually feels like a historian because his knowledge matters, and Una never treats him like a captive.
Lily, on the other hand, could be replaced with "random woman who likes history" and nothing would change. She rarely uses her expertise, rarely pushes back, and oddly seems willing to just ... Accept being August’s prisoner. She barely tries to escape. The first time she leaves his house, she basically just waltzes out the door with a side character’s blessing 😏 Pretty easy for a captive, huh? Hmmm, okie. The thing is, I don’t need her to succeed every time. I just need her to try. Let her make bad plans. Let her fail spectacularly. Anything is better than passivity.
Second: August.
I didn’t like him from the moment he appeared. He gave me Draco Malfoy energy, but without the charm or bite. Just spineless, obedient 26/27 year old boy with ✨ daddy issue ✨ I swear this man thinks his dad farts rainbows 😂 This book made me realize I have a new ick: spineless men. And this is coming from someone who likes subby men. But there’s a massive difference between submissive and spineless. One is a dynamic. The other is a personality void.
August is not compelling; he was just someone with (ofc) a tragic past who’s angry at the world. Mostly women. Mind you, he hunted a little girl when he met Lily. Idk why that’s barely mentioned. Please die :) As a love interest, August feels painfully generic. Someone save me from shadow daddies and give me golden retriever boyfies anytime.
Third: the romance.
I didn’t buy it for a second. Lily admits August is "the most devastatingly handsome man" she's ever seen. And August notices her because she looks different, dresses different, talks different. And yup, she’s pretty!! Who could’ve guessed 😍 That’s all. Their attraction is basically based on physical appearance, mwah 😘 You call that chemistry? My cat has more chemistry with my neighbor’s tom.
By chapter 8, he’s already possessive. By chapter 14, she trusts him. Enemies to lovers where? 🤡 I blinked and apparently we were already at soft gazes 🥺 and emotional dependency after he saved him when he was distracted by OW, oh nooo 😭 I’m so exhausted with the trope where "trust" is built by putting the FMC in danger so the man can rescue her, often in situations involving sexual threat. It’s overused, tiring, and lazy. Next time, maybe include something like, contains: instalove, heroine forgets she has legs, possessive shadow daddy, rescue based romance progression.
Also, how the hell does someone get attacked near a restaurant??? We’re talking about Oxford in the late 1800s, not Gotham City. It’s a town. A busy one. Full of shopkeepers, students, grandmas who know everyone’s business, and old men staring out of windows like unpaid security cameras. People back then were nosy as hell. This isn’t modern "everyone films for TikTok and does nothing". There was no TikTok. No TVs. No headphones. You sneeze wrong and three neighbors already know your entire medical history.
I don’t remember Lily even trying to scream. If someone grabs you and drags you into a dark alley, your body does NOT wait for some tall, brooding man to show up. Screaming isn’t bravery. It’s instinct. Toddlers scream. Cats scream. I scream when I see a cockroach. She basically said, "I guess I’ll die quietly so the hero can have his entrance." 🤤 Girl. Use your mouth. God gave you vocal cords for free. One scream and Auntie Petunia would already be out there bonking the attacker like, "NOT IN MY STREET, YOUNG MAN!"
Oh, and August? Please explain how you just walked away after nearly killing two men, honey. This is not a mafia romance. This is Victorian England. You don’t get immunity because your daddy has money. Cracking someone’s skull in public isn’t "protective boyfriend behavior". It’s felony behavior.
Lastly: the pacing.
This book moves slower than a 100 year old crossing the street. I’m fully aware we’re supposed to be patient and wait for Lily to settle in. I think 8 chapters is reasonably enough, right? RIGHT? 😬 So I was happy when something interesting finally happened in chapter 9: someone from the other side wanted to meet Lily. Great. Momentum. Stakes. I was ready. Hooray 🎉 But guess what? They didn't meet until chapter 16. That's SEVEN fucking chapters apart. Seven. Over the course of one single day in the story. I repeat: one day!
At that point, it felt like the romance kept interrupting the plot instead of serving it. By the time the meeting finally happened, I just didn’t care anymore. No investment. No tension. I wasn’t rooting for Lily. I still didn’t like August, even when he started rebelling against his daddy thanks to Lily, who actually did ... Nothing? But somehow she inspired him 🥰 Idk man. Like I said, their relationship never convinced me. I'm done.
In the end, The Last Stitch taught me two things: don’t apply for ARCs based on pretty covers, and be far more selective with my time. Hard lesson, but a useful one. Still, thank you to the author for the opportunity, but sometimes a beautiful cover simply isn’t enough.
December 22, 2025
I am a sucker for fantasy and romantasy books. I also love witch tropes! This book definitely did not disappoint. I realize there will come a time when so many books have been written and/or read, that new books can feel predictable. While this book was a bit predictable, it was written with such a beauty and passion between good and evil, right and wrong, love and hate that I wasn’t even upset that I figured parts out early! Chantelle Kerr will take you on a beautiful journey through this book!
Lily’s character brings modern day feminism into historical times where women were silenced.
August’s character brings to the reader the typical male bravado but we see Lily’s fierceness start to slowly chip away at August, showing him that he can be strong and sensitive. The weavers definitely have the type of magic that I truly love. Pure magic, magic to help and heal, not magic to harm. I love a white witch or green witch moment! As someone who feels grounded in nature and feminine powers, I enjoyed these women living in trees and living in a community of solely women.
Throughout the book, the battles were both physical and mental. To find out August’s mom was a weaver, the one thing his father hunted down, showed the mental war going on in August’s thoughts. Follow his father or fight those who were like his mother.
To find out that August was a weaver….. that was a great twist since weavers were all female. This book was fast paced read, full of great banter by the sub characters and I can’t wait for the next book to come out so I can continue to follow Lily and August!
Lily’s character brings modern day feminism into historical times where women were silenced.
August’s character brings to the reader the typical male bravado but we see Lily’s fierceness start to slowly chip away at August, showing him that he can be strong and sensitive. The weavers definitely have the type of magic that I truly love. Pure magic, magic to help and heal, not magic to harm. I love a white witch or green witch moment! As someone who feels grounded in nature and feminine powers, I enjoyed these women living in trees and living in a community of solely women.
Throughout the book, the battles were both physical and mental. To find out August’s mom was a weaver, the one thing his father hunted down, showed the mental war going on in August’s thoughts. Follow his father or fight those who were like his mother.
To find out that August was a weaver….. that was a great twist since weavers were all female. This book was fast paced read, full of great banter by the sub characters and I can’t wait for the next book to come out so I can continue to follow Lily and August!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2025
Mind..truly..blown! 🤯 I was excited to receive an ARC of The Last Stitch because I had a feeling it was going to be special. Special is an understatement. I could not put this book down once I started.
I’ve seen The Last Stitch being compared to Outlander. I confess I’ve never seen Outlander so I had zero preconceived notions beginning this story.
Our FMC is Lily, a historian from England thrust back in time after accidentally breaking a magical glass pendant. She comes to discover she possesses the magic of a weaver. Our MMC is August. He’s broody, he’s sexy and he has always done what was expected of him. He also happens to be a hunter who has vowed to put an end to all weavers.
The characters were so well written in this series. Lily was such a strong FMC. I could also feel and sympathize with August’s struggle of doing what his father and position demand of him vs what he uncovers to be the truth. August is so controlled and here comes Lily, chipping away at all the walls and restraint he has built up. The chemistry between Lily and August was fire! That ending though?! I wanted to throw my kindle across the room and I mean that in the best way possible.
I ADORED this book and will be one of the first in line when the second book comes out.
I’ve seen The Last Stitch being compared to Outlander. I confess I’ve never seen Outlander so I had zero preconceived notions beginning this story.
Our FMC is Lily, a historian from England thrust back in time after accidentally breaking a magical glass pendant. She comes to discover she possesses the magic of a weaver. Our MMC is August. He’s broody, he’s sexy and he has always done what was expected of him. He also happens to be a hunter who has vowed to put an end to all weavers.
The characters were so well written in this series. Lily was such a strong FMC. I could also feel and sympathize with August’s struggle of doing what his father and position demand of him vs what he uncovers to be the truth. August is so controlled and here comes Lily, chipping away at all the walls and restraint he has built up. The chemistry between Lily and August was fire! That ending though?! I wanted to throw my kindle across the room and I mean that in the best way possible.
I ADORED this book and will be one of the first in line when the second book comes out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Last Stitch is the kind of book that sinks its teeth into you quietly then refuses to let go.
Lyrical and emotionally precise, this story weaves time travel, forbidden magic, and a devastating slow burn into something that feels both intimate and dangerous. The world is rich without being overwhelming, the magic system is elegant and unsettling, and every choice carries weight. Nothing is easy. Nothing is free.
The romance is exquisitely restrained, glances, hesitation, tension that coils tighter with every page. It’s the kind of love that feels earned, risky, and inevitable all at once. August is layered and unraveling in ways that feel painfully human. Lily is sharp and brave.
What truly sets this book apart is it asks hard questions about power, memory, and what it costs to save someone when the world is determined to erase them.
By the final pages, I wasn’t just emotionally wrecked, I was changed. This is not a story you read once and forget. It lingers.
Highly recommend for readers who love slow-burn romantasy, forbidden romance, and fantasy worlds that are grounded in the reality. If you are looking for a historically accurate Victorian representation this may not be for you.
Lyrical and emotionally precise, this story weaves time travel, forbidden magic, and a devastating slow burn into something that feels both intimate and dangerous. The world is rich without being overwhelming, the magic system is elegant and unsettling, and every choice carries weight. Nothing is easy. Nothing is free.
The romance is exquisitely restrained, glances, hesitation, tension that coils tighter with every page. It’s the kind of love that feels earned, risky, and inevitable all at once. August is layered and unraveling in ways that feel painfully human. Lily is sharp and brave.
What truly sets this book apart is it asks hard questions about power, memory, and what it costs to save someone when the world is determined to erase them.
By the final pages, I wasn’t just emotionally wrecked, I was changed. This is not a story you read once and forget. It lingers.
Highly recommend for readers who love slow-burn romantasy, forbidden romance, and fantasy worlds that are grounded in the reality. If you are looking for a historically accurate Victorian representation this may not be for you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐| Spice: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
The Last Stitch is a beautifully written enemies-to-lovers time travel romance packed with yearning, tension, and everything I crave in a book. Lily and August had undeniable chemistry that had me genuinely laughing and smiling at my Kindle as I read.
What to expect:
- Witch x witch hunter
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn romance
- Yearning
- Forced proximity
- Time travel (2025 → Victorian Oxford)
- Strong-willed, intelligent FMC
- Morally conflicted hero MMC
- Unique magic system
- Dual POV
- Cliffhanger ending
I knew from very early in the book that it was going to be a five-star read, and that does not happen often for me. The story had me in a chokehold from the very first chapter.
The writing style was beautiful, thought-provoking, and so engaging. Did it seem historically accurate for Victorian Oxford? Not quite; I found some parts a bit unbelievable. But was it a highly enjoyable and addictive read? Absolutely. I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR.
Thank you to the author Chantelle N. Kerr for an eARC copy of this book! I loved it so much that I preordered a beautiful hardcover copy with sprayed edges from your website. I can’t wait for the next one.
The Last Stitch is a beautifully written enemies-to-lovers time travel romance packed with yearning, tension, and everything I crave in a book. Lily and August had undeniable chemistry that had me genuinely laughing and smiling at my Kindle as I read.
What to expect:
- Witch x witch hunter
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn romance
- Yearning
- Forced proximity
- Time travel (2025 → Victorian Oxford)
- Strong-willed, intelligent FMC
- Morally conflicted hero MMC
- Unique magic system
- Dual POV
- Cliffhanger ending
I knew from very early in the book that it was going to be a five-star read, and that does not happen often for me. The story had me in a chokehold from the very first chapter.
The writing style was beautiful, thought-provoking, and so engaging. Did it seem historically accurate for Victorian Oxford? Not quite; I found some parts a bit unbelievable. But was it a highly enjoyable and addictive read? Absolutely. I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR.
Thank you to the author Chantelle N. Kerr for an eARC copy of this book! I loved it so much that I preordered a beautiful hardcover copy with sprayed edges from your website. I can’t wait for the next one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ok Ms Kerr, we need to have a talk. When are you giving us book two because I neeeeeeeeed it! How dare you leave the book off like that?! *insert me sobbing here*
This book has so many elements I love. Time travel, friendship, magic, forbidden love, a big bad that hits a little too close to reality.
Lily lives an ordinary life as a graduate student in Oxford. Her days are spent researching disappearances from the late 1800's for her thesis. When her grandmother passes she finds a strange necklace that transports her to Victorian Oxford, the one she's been researching, except this one....has magic.
Enter August, a beautiful witch hunter who is out there doing his fathers bidding and waging a war on Weavers, witches who can change the threads of fate.
When these two meet worlds collide and lives are changed forever.
This was so beautifully written. The world building and magic was fresh and unique. The characters were all so well fleshed out and wonderful. My only qualm was the pacing felt a little off. A little too fast paced. But maybe I just wanted to savor it more.
I don't know what I'm going to do until book two. Ugh.
Thank you to the author for the ARC of The Last Stitch!
This book has so many elements I love. Time travel, friendship, magic, forbidden love, a big bad that hits a little too close to reality.
Lily lives an ordinary life as a graduate student in Oxford. Her days are spent researching disappearances from the late 1800's for her thesis. When her grandmother passes she finds a strange necklace that transports her to Victorian Oxford, the one she's been researching, except this one....has magic.
Enter August, a beautiful witch hunter who is out there doing his fathers bidding and waging a war on Weavers, witches who can change the threads of fate.
When these two meet worlds collide and lives are changed forever.
This was so beautifully written. The world building and magic was fresh and unique. The characters were all so well fleshed out and wonderful. My only qualm was the pacing felt a little off. A little too fast paced. But maybe I just wanted to savor it more.
I don't know what I'm going to do until book two. Ugh.
Thank you to the author for the ARC of The Last Stitch!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“My father would say you're bewitching me. That this is how it starts—the corruption, the fall...And part of me. . . God help me, part of me still wonders if he's right.”
I am right there with you, I am utterly bewitched by this book.
Do you remember the first book that truly captivated you? That swept you away?!
This book was that feeling I have been chasing!
The Last Stitch by will absolutely enthrall you,leave you equally in love and in pieces.
The perfect blend of time traveling from Outlander and the grittiness from A Discovery of Witches.
Magic is outlawed and wielders are hunted.
This is a huge problem for Lily who can not only time travel, she also has the power to weave fate.
Whats a girl to do?!
Well...she meets a witch hunter of course.
August is as handsome as he is grumpy and he has vowed to eradicate all witches.
They say opposites attract....right?!
As fates bind and unravel, we are caught in an epic hunt between worlds, duty, and love.
Absolutely lush!
This author does an amazing job weaving an intricate story without it feeling muddled. It's gripping and beautifully written. I was glued to every word and just a fair warning, there is a slightly cruel cliffhanger I am currently still dangling from.
I am right there with you, I am utterly bewitched by this book.
Do you remember the first book that truly captivated you? That swept you away?!
This book was that feeling I have been chasing!
The Last Stitch by will absolutely enthrall you,leave you equally in love and in pieces.
The perfect blend of time traveling from Outlander and the grittiness from A Discovery of Witches.
Magic is outlawed and wielders are hunted.
This is a huge problem for Lily who can not only time travel, she also has the power to weave fate.
Whats a girl to do?!
Well...she meets a witch hunter of course.
August is as handsome as he is grumpy and he has vowed to eradicate all witches.
They say opposites attract....right?!
As fates bind and unravel, we are caught in an epic hunt between worlds, duty, and love.
Absolutely lush!
This author does an amazing job weaving an intricate story without it feeling muddled. It's gripping and beautifully written. I was glued to every word and just a fair warning, there is a slightly cruel cliffhanger I am currently still dangling from.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If this book doesn’t go viral, all hope for humanity is lost. I could not put this book down. The Last Stitch consumed me in the best possible way. The tension is exquisite, the romance is a slow, aching burn, and the atmosphere wraps around you until the real world feels distant and wrong. Every chapter pulls tighter, every moment feels deliberate, and the emotional payoff hits hard.
Lily is the kind of heroine you ache for, quietly powerful, wounded, and brave in ways that matter. August is everything you want in a morally conflicted love interest, dangerous, restrained, and unraveling one choice at a time. Their connection feels inevitable and forbidden, threaded with longing and impossible stakes. This story doesn’t just entertain, it lingers. When I finished, I stared at the wall, heart racing, already desperate to reread and counting the days until the next book. An absolute must-read for romantasy lovers who crave depth, tension, and a love that feels fated and feral all at once.
Lily is the kind of heroine you ache for, quietly powerful, wounded, and brave in ways that matter. August is everything you want in a morally conflicted love interest, dangerous, restrained, and unraveling one choice at a time. Their connection feels inevitable and forbidden, threaded with longing and impossible stakes. This story doesn’t just entertain, it lingers. When I finished, I stared at the wall, heart racing, already desperate to reread and counting the days until the next book. An absolute must-read for romantasy lovers who crave depth, tension, and a love that feels fated and feral all at once.
January 21, 2026
The Last Stitch had so much of what I love: history, witches, slow-burn, enemies to lovers, and friendship. Lily as a present-day historian flung back into the Victorian period she was studying had be hooked. I enjoyed the heat between Lily and August. August really grew on me becoming one of my favourite characters. Adeline ended up being a favorite character of mine, I loved her “let me get blood on my boots this time” quote. I enjoyed seeing the arc of the battles of morals vs doctrine in multiple characters.
I thought the writing style was great and many beautifully deep quotes in the story. However, the editing was lacking in ways such as confusing point of view switches and some inconsistencies.
There are some excellent life lessons in this story!
The author brilliantly led the story into a book 2. Looking forward to the next weaver’s book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I thought the writing style was great and many beautifully deep quotes in the story. However, the editing was lacking in ways such as confusing point of view switches and some inconsistencies.
There are some excellent life lessons in this story!
The author brilliantly led the story into a book 2. Looking forward to the next weaver’s book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I genuinely don’t know whether I want to hug the author or yell at her—in the best way possible—because that ending left everything hanging and I need book two immediately.
This story pulled me in from the first chapter and never let go. It’s packed with twists, danger, hidden truths, and a slow-building romance full of tension and banter that felt natural and earned. The characters, especially the two main leads, were emotionally rich and easy to connect with, and the setting was so vivid I wanted to step right into it myself.
The author puts a fresh, exciting spin on familiar fantasy elements, and the pacing kept me turning pages late into the night. From heartbreak to hope, I felt every emotion along the way. A beautifully written, gripping read with a brutal cliffhanger—I can’t wait to see what happens next.
ARC received from booksirens; review given voluntarily.
This story pulled me in from the first chapter and never let go. It’s packed with twists, danger, hidden truths, and a slow-building romance full of tension and banter that felt natural and earned. The characters, especially the two main leads, were emotionally rich and easy to connect with, and the setting was so vivid I wanted to step right into it myself.
The author puts a fresh, exciting spin on familiar fantasy elements, and the pacing kept me turning pages late into the night. From heartbreak to hope, I felt every emotion along the way. A beautifully written, gripping read with a brutal cliffhanger—I can’t wait to see what happens next.
ARC received from booksirens; review given voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was delightful! Time traveling, magic, and a brewing rebellion...what more could you want in a story! Not to mention the banter between the two main characters was so charged you could feel the tension building throughout the book.
I enjoyed the world the author built, blending the Victorian era with magic. More than that, I appreciated the FMC's status as a historian which I found brought relevance of this story into current events of the world, since history tends to devestatingly repeat itself and do significant and irreparabale damage to people. It is a reminder that if you have a voice, you have a responsiblity to use it in defense of those who have lost theirs.
The characters were incredibly likeable and I am looking forward to book two of this series to find out what happens next.
4.5 🌟
Also, HUGE shout out for the cover, it is gorgeous!
I enjoyed the world the author built, blending the Victorian era with magic. More than that, I appreciated the FMC's status as a historian which I found brought relevance of this story into current events of the world, since history tends to devestatingly repeat itself and do significant and irreparabale damage to people. It is a reminder that if you have a voice, you have a responsiblity to use it in defense of those who have lost theirs.
The characters were incredibly likeable and I am looking forward to book two of this series to find out what happens next.
4.5 🌟
Also, HUGE shout out for the cover, it is gorgeous!
January 22, 2026
This book was everything I expected it to be and more!
Lily starts out in present day Oxford 2025 studying as a historian about hundreds of missing girls just erased from history in the late 1800s. Vanished without a trace.
Events happen and somehow Lily is magically thrust back into Oxford, 1892. The exact time period when all of these girls were being erased from history.
Now, not only is she living in the piece of history she was studying, she is determined to uncover the truth about these missing girls!
What she doesn’t expect is to fall for a devastatingly, handsome hunter in the process.
The story unfolded in a way I was not expecting. I had so much fun reading this book! I love the author’s writing, it was easy to connect with, easy to visualize and hard to out down. I can’t wait for the next one! Because yes, there will be more!
Lily starts out in present day Oxford 2025 studying as a historian about hundreds of missing girls just erased from history in the late 1800s. Vanished without a trace.
Events happen and somehow Lily is magically thrust back into Oxford, 1892. The exact time period when all of these girls were being erased from history.
Now, not only is she living in the piece of history she was studying, she is determined to uncover the truth about these missing girls!
What she doesn’t expect is to fall for a devastatingly, handsome hunter in the process.
The story unfolded in a way I was not expecting. I had so much fun reading this book! I love the author’s writing, it was easy to connect with, easy to visualize and hard to out down. I can’t wait for the next one! Because yes, there will be more!
February 18, 2026
How is this book not talked about more? It deserves all the hype in the world.
Tha magic system is sooo cool and something I have not read about yet. It is also described in a way that I can really see the magic when reading. It is amazing!!
Lily is a great FMC. Smart, direct, honest and lovable with a moral compass. I love to see her evolve from the lonely and broken scholar to a badass FMC who takes sugar from nobody.
I really enjoy August‘s character arc. He starts off blindly following orders and thinking his cause is the only right one. Later on we see him doubt everything and using his chance to be a good person.
The chemistry between Lily and August is perfection. I love the tension, slow burn and their conversations. Executed brilliantly!
This book has it all:
Slow burn
Magic
Time travel
Enemies to lovers
You name it 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Tha magic system is sooo cool and something I have not read about yet. It is also described in a way that I can really see the magic when reading. It is amazing!!
Lily is a great FMC. Smart, direct, honest and lovable with a moral compass. I love to see her evolve from the lonely and broken scholar to a badass FMC who takes sugar from nobody.
I really enjoy August‘s character arc. He starts off blindly following orders and thinking his cause is the only right one. Later on we see him doubt everything and using his chance to be a good person.
The chemistry between Lily and August is perfection. I love the tension, slow burn and their conversations. Executed brilliantly!
This book has it all:
Slow burn
Magic
Time travel
Enemies to lovers
You name it 🙌🏻🙌🏻
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