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Daughters of Light #1
The Castle & the Cloister
The Priory of the Orange Tree meets Black Sun in the thrilling launch of a political fantasy duology following three people—a refugee, a heretic queen, and a priest—as they attempt to shape the fortunes of a continent shattered by war.
Two hundred years ago, the warmongering Inver clan conquered the nation of Honoria, suppressing its pacifist goddesses, and ushering in an era of blood and battles. Now, after a brief but fraught peace, a king’s whims threaten to reignite the engines of war.
At the sun goddess Raea’s cloister, the last stronghold of Honoria’s matriarchal religion, Fia and her infant daughter are in search of a safe haven. Fia aims to offer her child more than the poverty and abuse she was raised with, but the price of the cloister’s protection will tear her from what she loves most and thrust her into a game more complex than she could imagine.
Within the Invers’ mountain fortress, Ariana is known as the apostate queen. Once a follower of the goddess of stars, she left her faith for the sake of a king. But old loyalties are not easily severed. Ariana treads a dangerous path, striving for peace in a court made for conquest.
Deep in the heart of the mountain, the Inver Priest bides his time, presiding over his people’s brutal religion. Blinded in the fight for the throne, he harbors a bitter grudge—one that could lead to Honoria’s ruin or renewal.
Amid a treacherous landscape of enemies, allies, and intrigue, three lives will intertwine. Each will have to risk the wrath of gods and kings alike to alter the course of nations.
Two hundred years ago, the warmongering Inver clan conquered the nation of Honoria, suppressing its pacifist goddesses, and ushering in an era of blood and battles. Now, after a brief but fraught peace, a king’s whims threaten to reignite the engines of war.
At the sun goddess Raea’s cloister, the last stronghold of Honoria’s matriarchal religion, Fia and her infant daughter are in search of a safe haven. Fia aims to offer her child more than the poverty and abuse she was raised with, but the price of the cloister’s protection will tear her from what she loves most and thrust her into a game more complex than she could imagine.
Within the Invers’ mountain fortress, Ariana is known as the apostate queen. Once a follower of the goddess of stars, she left her faith for the sake of a king. But old loyalties are not easily severed. Ariana treads a dangerous path, striving for peace in a court made for conquest.
Deep in the heart of the mountain, the Inver Priest bides his time, presiding over his people’s brutal religion. Blinded in the fight for the throne, he harbors a bitter grudge—one that could lead to Honoria’s ruin or renewal.
Amid a treacherous landscape of enemies, allies, and intrigue, three lives will intertwine. Each will have to risk the wrath of gods and kings alike to alter the course of nations.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Laura E. Weymouth
8 books728 followersLaura Weymouth is a Canadian living in America, and the sixth consecutive generation of her family to immigrate from one country to another. Born and raised in the Niagara region of Ontario, she now lives at the edge of the woods in western New York, along with her husband, three wild-hearted daughters, an unruly garden, and an ever-expanding menagerie of animal friends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Huge thanks to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster Canada for a chance to review this arc!
The Castle & the Cloister is a political fantasy following three characters trying to shape the future of a war shattered continent.
The political aspect of this novel was its success. A lot of thoughts were put into politics & it didn’t feel convoluted. Information was given at a good pace, and made it easy to follow.
Where the novel lost its spark for me was how religion was handled. Maybe it’s on me, but I didn’t expect this story to be so religiously heavy. From an atheist point of view ; I found both religions to be problematic. Unfortunately, it was clear which one was intended as the ‘good’ one vs the ‘bad’ one. I struggled with the narrative in that aspect and would’ve preferred an impartial view.
One aspect I think should’ve been mentioned in the synopsis is how heavily pregnancy/motherhood is present & a major part of this story. I think this would help find its rightful audience.
As for the characters… I did feel that the tone regarding them was cold & lacked depth. Fia was probably the one character that had the most character development. That character did rub me the wrong way at first though because she made me think of every single person that wants you to act like their child is the most important human being on earth while completely disregarding your own. How she disregarded the orphanage babies while only wanting safety for her child was off putting, to be quite honest.
Overall, i honestly think I wasn’t the intended audience for this. If you want to read a political fantasy that has a focus on religion & motherhood - this will be for you!
The Castle & the Cloister is a political fantasy following three characters trying to shape the future of a war shattered continent.
The political aspect of this novel was its success. A lot of thoughts were put into politics & it didn’t feel convoluted. Information was given at a good pace, and made it easy to follow.
Where the novel lost its spark for me was how religion was handled. Maybe it’s on me, but I didn’t expect this story to be so religiously heavy. From an atheist point of view ; I found both religions to be problematic. Unfortunately, it was clear which one was intended as the ‘good’ one vs the ‘bad’ one. I struggled with the narrative in that aspect and would’ve preferred an impartial view.
One aspect I think should’ve been mentioned in the synopsis is how heavily pregnancy/motherhood is present & a major part of this story. I think this would help find its rightful audience.
As for the characters… I did feel that the tone regarding them was cold & lacked depth. Fia was probably the one character that had the most character development. That character did rub me the wrong way at first though because she made me think of every single person that wants you to act like their child is the most important human being on earth while completely disregarding your own. How she disregarded the orphanage babies while only wanting safety for her child was off putting, to be quite honest.
Overall, i honestly think I wasn’t the intended audience for this. If you want to read a political fantasy that has a focus on religion & motherhood - this will be for you!
Did Not Finish
April 8, 2026Dryer than eating a cracker first thing in the morning.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I need the second book of this duology now!
The Castle and the Cloister is a beautiful character driven story following 3 different points of view. Full of power struggles, political intrigue, and the power of motherhood. The ending of this book left me in disbelief and hungry for more.
Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for the gifted eARC. 4.5 stars
The Castle and the Cloister is a beautiful character driven story following 3 different points of view. Full of power struggles, political intrigue, and the power of motherhood. The ending of this book left me in disbelief and hungry for more.
Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for the gifted eARC. 4.5 stars
August 9, 2026
Thank you Saga Press for the free book!
✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
The Castle and the Cloister was a heavily political, truly epic historical fantasy that focuses largely on the quiet, visceral sacrifices of motherhood (a criminally underrepresented role in fantasy) and religious practice under oppression.
The character work is immense, with a layered, multi-POV structure that added a lot of nuance to the plot. I really loved how each perspective worked together to build their own unique tension throughout the story. The characters themselves were my favorite part of this book, each having incredible depth, their own distinct background, and clear motivations.
The political web within this story is vast and complicated. I loved how messy everything and everyone became over time, but I would have loved a bit more of that excitement laced throughout the story. The narrative moved at such a deliberately slow pace that it required an immense amount of patience, and felt a bit too weighed down for my personal preference. Many of the dialogue is done as internal monologues, which were drawn out and became a little repetitive for me.
That said, all of these pieces fall into place within the last 25% of the novel, leading me to wholeheartedly proclaim that each meticulous detail is worth it by the end.
Overall, if you’re in the mood for an ultra-slow burning, character driven, historical fantasy with an incredible payoff, I do recommend checking this one out. However, make sure that you have the time and mental energy necessary for a very dense story.
✄----------
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
✄----------
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✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ✦
The Castle and the Cloister was a heavily political, truly epic historical fantasy that focuses largely on the quiet, visceral sacrifices of motherhood (a criminally underrepresented role in fantasy) and religious practice under oppression.
The character work is immense, with a layered, multi-POV structure that added a lot of nuance to the plot. I really loved how each perspective worked together to build their own unique tension throughout the story. The characters themselves were my favorite part of this book, each having incredible depth, their own distinct background, and clear motivations.
The political web within this story is vast and complicated. I loved how messy everything and everyone became over time, but I would have loved a bit more of that excitement laced throughout the story. The narrative moved at such a deliberately slow pace that it required an immense amount of patience, and felt a bit too weighed down for my personal preference. Many of the dialogue is done as internal monologues, which were drawn out and became a little repetitive for me.
That said, all of these pieces fall into place within the last 25% of the novel, leading me to wholeheartedly proclaim that each meticulous detail is worth it by the end.
Overall, if you’re in the mood for an ultra-slow burning, character driven, historical fantasy with an incredible payoff, I do recommend checking this one out. However, make sure that you have the time and mental energy necessary for a very dense story.
✄----------
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
✄----------
Follow me on Instagram for more bookish content
August 5, 2026
Let me start by saying: excuse me?!? What was the last 20% of this book? I was so nervous I was practically SHAKING. The twists just kept coming, and I felt swept out to sea. And the epilogue?! Mind blown. I am absolutely feral for the next book.
Laura Weymouth actually reached out to me to see if I would be interested in a copy of The Castle and the Cloister, because we both share a deep love of Robin Hobb. Laura has a Q&A at the end of the book where she mentions Hobb as one of her favorite writers for fiercely intelligent, fully immersive worlds. And Laura has done that in her debut adult fantasy novel.
This world Laura had created is intricate and hauntingly beautiful and grotesque but striving for goodness and peace and light. This is a medieval-esque fantasy world with deep religious ties, that every character is using to further their own agenda. You’re going to need to enjoy complex court politics and following multiple povs all doing morally grey things. You’ll enjoy this authors deep devotion to women and children, and how motherhood changes women and their perspectives. You’ll enjoy this if you like a character driven story where motives and clear, where the narrators are unreliable, and where no one is going to behave in the way in which you expect.
This is a high fantasy story. And while there is a small romantic subplot that has left my heart aching, it is not the main plot of the story. Badass women plotting and scheming and doing bad things in the name of the greater good is what it’s all about. Loved this!
Laura Weymouth actually reached out to me to see if I would be interested in a copy of The Castle and the Cloister, because we both share a deep love of Robin Hobb. Laura has a Q&A at the end of the book where she mentions Hobb as one of her favorite writers for fiercely intelligent, fully immersive worlds. And Laura has done that in her debut adult fantasy novel.
This world Laura had created is intricate and hauntingly beautiful and grotesque but striving for goodness and peace and light. This is a medieval-esque fantasy world with deep religious ties, that every character is using to further their own agenda. You’re going to need to enjoy complex court politics and following multiple povs all doing morally grey things. You’ll enjoy this authors deep devotion to women and children, and how motherhood changes women and their perspectives. You’ll enjoy this if you like a character driven story where motives and clear, where the narrators are unreliable, and where no one is going to behave in the way in which you expect.
This is a high fantasy story. And while there is a small romantic subplot that has left my heart aching, it is not the main plot of the story. Badass women plotting and scheming and doing bad things in the name of the greater good is what it’s all about. Loved this!
August 4, 2026
This book starts a very enjoyable new fantasy series. The setting is the continent, The Hand, split into three waring lands: Honoria, Caervallion and Vesper. Another land, Song Royale sometimes aligns itself with Honoria, sometimes with Caervallion. And there are also the pacifist Corrin people, who are overrun and abused by all.
There are four important gods: the three goddesses of peace (Silith, Raea and Lyria) and the warlike Tyrus.
Most of the action takes place in Inverlyn, Honoria, where Orden Inver is king. His wife, Ariana, is a former soria of a Lyria cloister, and his blinded brother, Silas, a priest of Tyrus. The other main character is Fia, who yearns to be accepted as a soria in the very prosperous cloister of Raea, more for security for herself and her daughter, than a particular religious calling.
Ariana and Fia became friends when tending to the wounded soldiers of a major battle between Honoria and Caervallion. Later, Fia becomes wet nurse to Ariana’s son in Inverlyn. Both women have been set missions by their respective cloisters, but neither are able or willing to fulfil the missions as directed.
The Inver ruling family has always been militant, and has sought to conquer the entire Hand. Orden Inver, under the influence of his wife, appears to be working towards a more peaceful solution. But has he genuinely changed?
Orden and Ariana have gathered the leaders of the factions (except Vesper) in Inverlyn to discuss terms for ending the wars: Afon of Caervallion; Gileta of Song Royale; and the Corrin Arbiter and Arbitress.
The story involves divisions and loyalties within religion, politics and family. It is obvious from the start, who is evil (Afon), but never who is fully good. Apart from Afon, the other characters have their doubts and flaws.
Who will survive?
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by either the author or publisher.
There are four important gods: the three goddesses of peace (Silith, Raea and Lyria) and the warlike Tyrus.
Most of the action takes place in Inverlyn, Honoria, where Orden Inver is king. His wife, Ariana, is a former soria of a Lyria cloister, and his blinded brother, Silas, a priest of Tyrus. The other main character is Fia, who yearns to be accepted as a soria in the very prosperous cloister of Raea, more for security for herself and her daughter, than a particular religious calling.
Ariana and Fia became friends when tending to the wounded soldiers of a major battle between Honoria and Caervallion. Later, Fia becomes wet nurse to Ariana’s son in Inverlyn. Both women have been set missions by their respective cloisters, but neither are able or willing to fulfil the missions as directed.
The Inver ruling family has always been militant, and has sought to conquer the entire Hand. Orden Inver, under the influence of his wife, appears to be working towards a more peaceful solution. But has he genuinely changed?
Orden and Ariana have gathered the leaders of the factions (except Vesper) in Inverlyn to discuss terms for ending the wars: Afon of Caervallion; Gileta of Song Royale; and the Corrin Arbiter and Arbitress.
The story involves divisions and loyalties within religion, politics and family. It is obvious from the start, who is evil (Afon), but never who is fully good. Apart from Afon, the other characters have their doubts and flaws.
Who will survive?
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by either the author or publisher.
August 4, 2026
Excellent, twisty story of religion and politics across four POVs, centring experiences of early motherhood.
This is intricately plotted such that I needed to reread the first few pages just to make sure I had my head around the kingdoms and deities, though I'm not sure if that's the book's own pacing or me whisking through the pages too quickly. However, once I had everything straight, this was deeply satisfying. The POV characters, particularly the two women, were all very different and very grounded. Fia is an absolute force of nature and if I read a better character this year I'll be delighted because she's a phenomenon. Ariana is likewise completely believable in her behaviour and motivation, and I do feel for the two men -- no mean slouches in their own right -- but definitely having to work to keep up in the story.
I am still confused about one plot twist (and rereading that part didn't clear things up) but otherwise cannot wait for the second half of the duology to come out.
Rating: 16/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance review copy provided by the publisher.
This is intricately plotted such that I needed to reread the first few pages just to make sure I had my head around the kingdoms and deities, though I'm not sure if that's the book's own pacing or me whisking through the pages too quickly. However, once I had everything straight, this was deeply satisfying. The POV characters, particularly the two women, were all very different and very grounded. Fia is an absolute force of nature and if I read a better character this year I'll be delighted because she's a phenomenon. Ariana is likewise completely believable in her behaviour and motivation, and I do feel for the two men -- no mean slouches in their own right -- but definitely having to work to keep up in the story.
I am still confused about one plot twist (and rereading that part didn't clear things up) but otherwise cannot wait for the second half of the duology to come out.
Rating: 16/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance review copy provided by the publisher.
July 16, 2026
“𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫.”
The Castle and The Cloister immediately reminded me of Game of Thrones, where the women were honestly the backbone of the entire story. Fia and Ariana are no exception - they gave me strong Cersei and Sansa vibes. I also found it really refreshing how motherhood was embraced in a fantasy novel, as it’s not something you often get to see. Laura’s writing is absolutely incredible as well and had me hooked from start to finish.The Castle and The Cloister proves, once again, that we would, in fact, be better off without men (lol).
the vibes ™:
- strong fmc’s
- motherhood
- religion
- politics
The Castle and The Cloister immediately reminded me of Game of Thrones, where the women were honestly the backbone of the entire story. Fia and Ariana are no exception - they gave me strong Cersei and Sansa vibes. I also found it really refreshing how motherhood was embraced in a fantasy novel, as it’s not something you often get to see. Laura’s writing is absolutely incredible as well and had me hooked from start to finish.The Castle and The Cloister proves, once again, that we would, in fact, be better off without men (lol).
the vibes ™:
- strong fmc’s
- motherhood
- religion
- politics
August 6, 2026
The Castle & the Cloister was an interesting fantasy with politics, religion, and motherhood at its heart. It reminded me a lot of Priory of the Orange Tree and Game of Thrones with a medieval fantasy setting, constant political machinations, and strong female characters.
We follow Fia, a postulant for the sun goddess, and a new mom, who is just looking for a peaceful place to make a life for her and her daughter. Unfortunately, Fia gets sent to be the wet nurse for the queen, an apostate soria of another goddess, who she knew in her youth. In spite of herself, Fia becomes a strong political ally to the queen, and helps shape the future of the court. This was a slower read that required more focus, but was very interesting and well-woven.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC!
We follow Fia, a postulant for the sun goddess, and a new mom, who is just looking for a peaceful place to make a life for her and her daughter. Unfortunately, Fia gets sent to be the wet nurse for the queen, an apostate soria of another goddess, who she knew in her youth. In spite of herself, Fia becomes a strong political ally to the queen, and helps shape the future of the court. This was a slower read that required more focus, but was very interesting and well-woven.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC!
July 1, 2026
3.5 rounded up
July 28, 2026
“Laura Weymouth is a genius.” ~ A thought I thunk ten times while reading this book.
July 18, 2026
The Castle and the Cloister is a sprawling, hypnotic political fantasy that weaves together religion, motherhood, and an enduring hope for survival and peace. Fia is a new mother who longs for nothing more than an ascetic life within her cloister. But as the threat of war looms, she is plunged into the role of an unlikely political queenmaker, going into the very kingdom that endangers both her and her daughter's safety.
Fia is fiery and stubborn, making her a hilarious presence amid the court's increasingly deadly events. There is also Ariana, apostate queen married to a tyrannical king. Their obsessive relationship is fascinating and grotesque, becoming a fault line that threatens to split the kingdom apart.
Together with a blind priest, they emerge as éminence grises, wielding influence through perceived frailty of their roles. It's this inversion of power that makes the story so captivating, especially against the feckless and violent masculinity that comes easily to men as kings.
Without going into spoilers, the novel is at its strongest when it explores the sacrifices each character makes, forcing them to reckon with selfish desires and morally fraught choices. Fia, bound by her blood prohibition, has to choose violence in the pursuit of peace—an unsettling contradiction that asks whether virtue can survive when reality is often otherwise.
The world is steeped in mysticism and devotion to the gods, yet Weymouth challenges their blind belief by confronting the horrors it can excuse.
If you're looking for a pacey read, this might not be for you. But patience is rewarded by Weymouth's meticulous plotting, as layers of disquieting secrets gradually come to light. It's a gripping political thriller wrapped in fantasy, with a tender thread of love against impossible odds and knowing that achieving something extraordinary always requires risking everything.
Fia is fiery and stubborn, making her a hilarious presence amid the court's increasingly deadly events. There is also Ariana, apostate queen married to a tyrannical king. Their obsessive relationship is fascinating and grotesque, becoming a fault line that threatens to split the kingdom apart.
Together with a blind priest, they emerge as éminence grises, wielding influence through perceived frailty of their roles. It's this inversion of power that makes the story so captivating, especially against the feckless and violent masculinity that comes easily to men as kings.
Without going into spoilers, the novel is at its strongest when it explores the sacrifices each character makes, forcing them to reckon with selfish desires and morally fraught choices. Fia, bound by her blood prohibition, has to choose violence in the pursuit of peace—an unsettling contradiction that asks whether virtue can survive when reality is often otherwise.
The world is steeped in mysticism and devotion to the gods, yet Weymouth challenges their blind belief by confronting the horrors it can excuse.
If you're looking for a pacey read, this might not be for you. But patience is rewarded by Weymouth's meticulous plotting, as layers of disquieting secrets gradually come to light. It's a gripping political thriller wrapped in fantasy, with a tender thread of love against impossible odds and knowing that achieving something extraordinary always requires risking everything.
July 24, 2026
I don’t know if I finished this book or if it finished me.
I was screaming, crying, throwing the book across the room and cursing Laura E Weymouths name.
10/10 reading experience. Will read again.
I was screaming, crying, throwing the book across the room and cursing Laura E Weymouths name.
10/10 reading experience. Will read again.
August 5, 2026
Fia, a postulant to one of the Beloved Three goddesses, is sent by her order's Matria to be a wet nurse to the new prince. The queen is an old friend of Fia's and so she's soon pulled in to court politics. She's also drawn to the Priest, the King's half-brother, ally to the queen, and, theoretically, the religious leader of the royal family's bloody and fiery god.
These three provide our three points-of-view and we follow each of their struggles to follow their beliefs whilst trying to protect those they love and do what's best for the country.
This is a slower paced fantasy that's heavily character driven with fairly lowkey magic related to the different goddesses.
I've read quite a few books recently that feature a lot of court politics along with religious conflict - usually a more brutal, often misogynistic religion of a conquering force replacing a gentler or more open religion. Although I understand why a lot of those books leaned towards the grimdark, I was glad to have a story with complex political setting and morally grey characters that doesn't feel so dark overall. There's also a very strong thread of motherhood - what someone will do for their children and also the more practical everyday care. (Trigger warnings for pregnancy, birth trauma and stillbirths)
I did occasionally become a little overwhelmed with all the different religions, religious orders, warring or squabbling countries etc, but overall I quite liked the slower pace and wider development of the world.
I enjoyed both Fia and the Priest as characters, I didn't always like them and Fia, in particular can be quite abrasive, but I was always interested in what they were doing and thinking. Ariana might be a divisive character as she struggles with her pacifist beliefs and the consequences of them, but I liked the contrast between the three of them and how they dealt with the world in front of them.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the next story continues to unfold in the next book.
Thanks to Del Rey UK for the netgalley arc to review
These three provide our three points-of-view and we follow each of their struggles to follow their beliefs whilst trying to protect those they love and do what's best for the country.
This is a slower paced fantasy that's heavily character driven with fairly lowkey magic related to the different goddesses.
I've read quite a few books recently that feature a lot of court politics along with religious conflict - usually a more brutal, often misogynistic religion of a conquering force replacing a gentler or more open religion. Although I understand why a lot of those books leaned towards the grimdark, I was glad to have a story with complex political setting and morally grey characters that doesn't feel so dark overall. There's also a very strong thread of motherhood - what someone will do for their children and also the more practical everyday care. (Trigger warnings for pregnancy, birth trauma and stillbirths)
I did occasionally become a little overwhelmed with all the different religions, religious orders, warring or squabbling countries etc, but overall I quite liked the slower pace and wider development of the world.
I enjoyed both Fia and the Priest as characters, I didn't always like them and Fia, in particular can be quite abrasive, but I was always interested in what they were doing and thinking. Ariana might be a divisive character as she struggles with her pacifist beliefs and the consequences of them, but I liked the contrast between the three of them and how they dealt with the world in front of them.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the next story continues to unfold in the next book.
Thanks to Del Rey UK for the netgalley arc to review
August 5, 2026
‘The Priest did know— Fia had been leaving ever since she arrived.’
When I say that was one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read, I truly truly mean it. Did it take me 3 times as long to read than is normal for me? Yes. Did I care? No.
‘The Castle and The Cloister’ is an incredibly beautiful novel about a young wet nurse, a priest and a queen and the politics of a troubled court and country that twists them all together. It’s such a slow burning and intense tale, each character rich with life and morals that have you questioning who to root for.
Life has been busy for me recently so it wasn’t able to read as quickly as I usually am and this book requires concentration and a lot of peace and quiet - which wasn’t always possible. When I managed to escape to a quiet place, I was thrown into this beautiful world and transported through the words of the author. I literally kept saying out loud how incredible this book was.
Fia, the Priest and Ari were my favourite characters and I will not choose between them - though maybe Fia takes the top place as I was closest to her. Their differing backgrounds and present situations gave so many varying perspectives. This trio is the epitome of morally grey and I was LIVING for it.
I could rhapsodise about this story forever, the beautiful and painful story between the Priest and Fia, the tumultuous relationship between Ariana and her warmongering king, the beautiful presence of motherhood and the pains of mother a child - it was all just so exceptionally written and plotted.
Weymouth is truly an excellent talent, her writing felt like a cosy bed and an open window with a cold breeze all at the same time. I loved every second of this book.
It has just come out, so please show it some love!
When I say that was one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read, I truly truly mean it. Did it take me 3 times as long to read than is normal for me? Yes. Did I care? No.
‘The Castle and The Cloister’ is an incredibly beautiful novel about a young wet nurse, a priest and a queen and the politics of a troubled court and country that twists them all together. It’s such a slow burning and intense tale, each character rich with life and morals that have you questioning who to root for.
Life has been busy for me recently so it wasn’t able to read as quickly as I usually am and this book requires concentration and a lot of peace and quiet - which wasn’t always possible. When I managed to escape to a quiet place, I was thrown into this beautiful world and transported through the words of the author. I literally kept saying out loud how incredible this book was.
Fia, the Priest and Ari were my favourite characters and I will not choose between them - though maybe Fia takes the top place as I was closest to her. Their differing backgrounds and present situations gave so many varying perspectives. This trio is the epitome of morally grey and I was LIVING for it.
I could rhapsodise about this story forever, the beautiful and painful story between the Priest and Fia, the tumultuous relationship between Ariana and her warmongering king, the beautiful presence of motherhood and the pains of mother a child - it was all just so exceptionally written and plotted.
Weymouth is truly an excellent talent, her writing felt like a cosy bed and an open window with a cold breeze all at the same time. I loved every second of this book.
It has just come out, so please show it some love!
August 7, 2026
We need to talk about The Castle and the Cloister by Laura E. Weymouth. I had the e-arc from Net Galley and Saga Press and I received the finished paperback from Saga Press so I was able to read this in the paperback. I loved this story. We have three POVs in The Castle and the Cloister, a nursing mother, who is being referred to as a wet nurse and I really hate that term. She is seeking sanctuary for herself and her daughter, but she is sent on a mission to deliver a letter to a queen. Our second POV. She is a peace loving queen, a pacifist and she is married into a kingdom that wages war and she is walking a very fine line politically. The third POV is a blind priest who know more than he should. I love this story, the writing, the world building - it flows organically as the story is told, the characters, the plot - all the political machinations. This story was so well done. 4.5 stars. I absolutely loved it. This is the first book in a planned duology and I cannot wait for book 2. Thank you so much to Net Galley and Saga Press for my advance copies!
August 5, 2026
Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone/ Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.25 stars.
In a fantasy world where peace is fragile, a postulant from a convent comes to the kingdom's castle to assist the queen who has just given birth to an heir, and who is trying to influence her king towards a better future for the kingdom. Our other main POV is a priest with his own motivations.
I found this to be a very compelling read, with a lot of the focus on the political machinations of these characters, rather than on action. I liked that the politics were complex enough to be interesting but not to the extent that I got confused. I also appreciated how the different religions in the kingdom are woven into the story.
The world was well-fleshed out, and the motivations of the characters made sense within the story.
The book ends on a tantalising note, setting up the sequel nicely, and I'll be very keen to pick it up when it's released.
4.25 stars.
In a fantasy world where peace is fragile, a postulant from a convent comes to the kingdom's castle to assist the queen who has just given birth to an heir, and who is trying to influence her king towards a better future for the kingdom. Our other main POV is a priest with his own motivations.
I found this to be a very compelling read, with a lot of the focus on the political machinations of these characters, rather than on action. I liked that the politics were complex enough to be interesting but not to the extent that I got confused. I also appreciated how the different religions in the kingdom are woven into the story.
The world was well-fleshed out, and the motivations of the characters made sense within the story.
The book ends on a tantalising note, setting up the sequel nicely, and I'll be very keen to pick it up when it's released.
Did Not Finish
August 4, 2026I think the premise and the setting of this book sounded very interesting and promising, and like something I would like. I am very sad to say that I tried very hard to get into the book, but it did not work for me. Since the book is releasing today and I got acess to the audiobook I also tried listening to that for a bit, but it did not help.
This book is very character driven and we follow 3 different people/perspectives. Every chapter is very long and took me very long to get through. Something about the way this book is written just made it terrible slow and I was pretty bored. I think the first 15% used too much time to actually tell me what the book was about. It was slow in a way that I did not really managed to absorbe what I was reading.
I think that if you enjoy slow paced books that are very character driven this book can be for you! Sadly I enjoy a little more fast paced books and I need something to hook me at least when I am 15% in a book.
DNF at 15%.
This book is very character driven and we follow 3 different people/perspectives. Every chapter is very long and took me very long to get through. Something about the way this book is written just made it terrible slow and I was pretty bored. I think the first 15% used too much time to actually tell me what the book was about. It was slow in a way that I did not really managed to absorbe what I was reading.
I think that if you enjoy slow paced books that are very character driven this book can be for you! Sadly I enjoy a little more fast paced books and I need something to hook me at least when I am 15% in a book.
DNF at 15%.
June 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
For fans of Samantha Shannon is right! Might I also add ‘for fans of Shauna Lawless’? I absolutely adored this one after the first 150 pages or so. It was a little slow to start, but Weymouth has built such a compelling world that once I was into it, there was no getting out. It’s so refreshing to read ‘morally gray’ characters whose conflicts derive almost entirely from the standards they hold themselves to and the belief systems they occupy, rather than guilt over being a bad person! All of them are trying to be good! But their beliefs about what goodness and justice mean and how far they’re willing to go to uphold those ideals get in the way and cloud their judgment! More of that, please!
Fia, of course, was my favorite character, but I think Ariana’s POV was by far the most compelling. And the Priest! So good! Weymouth has such a talent for crafting believable and deeply flawed characters, and illustrates their inner turmoil with prose both lyrical and cutting. The magic system and worldbuilding seem somewhat basic from the description, but I promise you there’s so much more to this book than what the description offers. Push through (and/or relish) the first part of the story, because the payoff is incredible. And the blooded touch? Hello!?
For fans of Samantha Shannon is right! Might I also add ‘for fans of Shauna Lawless’? I absolutely adored this one after the first 150 pages or so. It was a little slow to start, but Weymouth has built such a compelling world that once I was into it, there was no getting out. It’s so refreshing to read ‘morally gray’ characters whose conflicts derive almost entirely from the standards they hold themselves to and the belief systems they occupy, rather than guilt over being a bad person! All of them are trying to be good! But their beliefs about what goodness and justice mean and how far they’re willing to go to uphold those ideals get in the way and cloud their judgment! More of that, please!
Fia, of course, was my favorite character, but I think Ariana’s POV was by far the most compelling. And the Priest! So good! Weymouth has such a talent for crafting believable and deeply flawed characters, and illustrates their inner turmoil with prose both lyrical and cutting. The magic system and worldbuilding seem somewhat basic from the description, but I promise you there’s so much more to this book than what the description offers. Push through (and/or relish) the first part of the story, because the payoff is incredible. And the blooded touch? Hello!?
Want to Read
May 13, 2026thank you Penguin for the physical ARC!
can't wait to read this, also the uk cover is SO PRETTY
can't wait to read this, also the uk cover is SO PRETTY
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rtc in the morning. That ending though, i feel like I've run a marathon. I need book 2 🙏
I have been collecting Weymouth's books since the first one, The Light Between Worlds, was released. Each book has been a different adventure, something unique that I've enjoyed each time I receive a new book by Weymouth to read, and I have LOVED each and every book release. This one, however, is my new favorite. The characters and their motivations, the politics that they have to navigate while trying to make a better world for the future, everything kept my attention engaged while I worked out who to root for and who to watch with a wary eye. The world that Weymouth has built in this story is so detailed and well-crafted and filled with people that could be real, it was hard to sit with their turmoil at moments because I just wanted to swoop in and save them. I knew that in the end, Weymouth would leave me wanting more from this story and I can't wait for the final book to be released.
The Castle & The Cloister is set in the nation of Honoria, conquered two centuries earlier by the Inver clan, who choose to rule with ongoing wars and blood. Honoria's current king is set on a course to start a new war that could mean more pain and loss for Honoria. Honoria used to have their people devoted to pacifist goddesses and certain cloisters still hold to the old beliefs, resisting the changes wrought by the Inver clan. In the sun goddess Raea's cloister, Fia and her daughter are seeking refuge, with Fia determined to give her daughter the safety and security she lacked growing up. But before they can truly be allowed in as part of the cloister, Fia is given a task that takes her into the heart of the kingdom, to the mountain fortress where the Inver king and queen reside, and to the political machinations at work there. In the fortress, Ariana Inver was once a follower of the goddess of the stars but is now the queen. After years trying to keep peace for the nation, Ariana has to find a way to keep her husband from moving forward with his new plans for conquest. In the mountain itself, underneath the fortress, the man known only as the Priest is in charge of keeping the Inver religion. Blinded during an attempt by the king to clear all claims to the throne, the Priest will have to work to find a way to a new future for Honoria, one that might change everything that the people have known. Together, these three will either find a way to bring peace or have the nation dragged into another war.
First of all, the world-building here is so vast and intricate, it felt like something that could have existed once in history. From the way the pacifist goddesses used to keep the nation of Honoria to the way the Inver clan moved in and, well, demolished everything, all of it held my attention, making me feel rage or wonder at different turns in the book. I hated certain characters, I rooted for others, and so much of that was also based in how much this world was made to feel real to the reader. Weymouth focused on the settings described in the title itself, the Castle where the Inver clan keeps their stronghold and then the Cloister, where Fia had hoped to make a life for herself. Two opposing forces bent on changing the other to their own ends. The castle wants to take control of the cloister and for the sake of forcing them to bend to Inver rule, to unite all the people so that Honoria will be a force to contend with when it comes to other nations declaring war against them. The castle also wants all the resources of the land that the cloister keeps under its protection. On the other hand, the cloister is determined to keep the peace, to help all of the people, not just those in Honoria, and the only way that can happen is by trying to curb the murderous tendencies of the king and possibly forging an alliance that both sides can uphold. The world-building also had an interesting religious system in place to further fill in the ways of the Inver clan as opposed to the cloister and their followers.
The fact that the Invers made blood the focus of so much of what they did, even offering blood when they prayed, drove home the fact that they were a brutal force, used to making threats and following through on them. The fact of the matter is that the king himself dispatched most of his siblings and his father in order to gain the throne and these acts proved that he was the best candidate for king because of what the people believed. It felt like everything was settled with some kind of fight to the death scenario and with this being the accepted way of things in the world made it that much more of a hard hitting truth. With the cloister however, they were meant to keep peace and spilling blood was something they were supposed to avoid unless it was meant to heal. It was an intriguing force to oppose the Inver way, the fact that the cloister had its own beliefs that were yes, against the Invers, but at the same time, could be argued that they weren't exactly the best to be in charge either, with their vows and tasks given to postulants, or the women who followed the goddesses in their cloisters. The cloister also had their own methods for doing things that felt difficult to understand, seen with Fia and Ariana and their paths in the book. Weymouth made these people feel real because everyone had their reasons, their beliefs, and neither side was strictly right or wrong. That precarious sense of middle ground for the world, where the leads make their home, is what draws the reader in because if neither side can be wholly in charge, perhaps the next step towards an actual lasting peace would be to find a way they can meld together.
As for the characters, I can honestly say that aside from one secondary character, I was sincerely impressed with every person focused on in this story. I can't even say that I have a favorite because each lead had their own path, their own things that I supported and their own things that I was against. I loved Fia because of the fact that she was a nursing mother, forced to leave her daughter behind for the sake of helping the queen, Ariana, in trying to stop a war from starting. Fia also helped with Ariana in the post-partum recovery, as the start of the book has Ariana giving birth to the new heir of the kingdom. Both of these women are so strong already but to show them in these situations as new mothers adds another layer to their fortitude, showing just how people in all ways of life have to pick themselves up and continue on after one of the most excruciating experiences of their lives. And I appreciated this so much because of the, let's call it, recognition it provided for people who have been in the same position. Ariana is literally bleeding through her clothes but she is putting herself in front of peace talks because she is queen and she hopes to prevent a war.
Both Fia and Ariana were also motivated by their own beliefs, Fia with her neglected childhood and her search for a home and Ariana with her upbringing in a cloister where all she ever knew was her religion and devotion to her goddess which has now been cast aside in her new role as queen to a king whose family history was filled with cruelty and murder. Fia could be cold and calculating but over the course of the book, she slowly comes to realize that the circle of people she cares for has grown and that change means she will take up whatever new role comes for her and make the best of the situations she finds herself in. Ariana has to find a way to reconcile the life she now leads with the beliefs she still holds, as keeping them separate for so long has not done much good for herself or her role as queen. There is also much to say about the Priest, who I felt had been dealt a hard hand in his life and yet managed to be such an intriguing character. I could not have made the life that he had created for himself after what he'd gone through. I would have thought he'd be motivated by revenge but the Priest surprised me by how level-headed he was, how quick he tried to protect people and the way he chose to step up when change was inevitable. His devotion to his new nephew was lovely to see compared to the way the king, Orden, regarded his new son. As for Orden, while I didn't love this character, I did appreciate his devotion to his queen, even though he never truly understood Ariana. I found it interesting that he did everything he could to make her happy, to protect her in his court, and yet at the same time, he loved the way she would show her devotion to him in turn, which came across as an imbalance in the power dynamics of their relationship. Weymouth drew every character with a deft hand, filling them with real world concerns and because of that, every nuance feels earned and respected over the course of the story.
Concerning the plot, it felt straightforward enough at first. Our three leads have to find a way to stop a war before it begins. Their positions in the kingdom and their backgrounds make it difficult to find a true, sure way through to making that a reality. At the same time, Weymouth had so many twists and turns, reveals that made me sit up and reconsider everything that had come before that moment. Various things that were exposed over the course of this story made my jaw drop because in the end, there were so many threads weaving together or being pulled apart that the final picture at the end of the story was not the one I expected to see. Honestly, I'm still sitting here after that epilogue and reconsidering everything that was seen in the book and I'm eyeing the release date like I could somehow make it change to earlier in 2027 because I NEED to know how everything resolves. I'm grateful for the fact that this release is book one of a duology. I don't know if my heart could take waiting years for a series to come to a conclusion.
At the end of the day, this is such a respectable read. I was infinitely impressed with everything Weymouth created here and when my copy arrives, I will be going through it with a fine-toothed comb, just to be sure I grasped everything that was so carefully crafted for this book. For now, I will be trying to find the time to go back and read every other Weymouth book I own while I wait for the conclusion to this book to be released.
Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars!! I had no doubt in my mind that I was going to absolutely LOVE this book. I want to find other readers so we can discuss everything about this book for hours. Read this book for the political intrigue set in a fantasy world and meet a cast of characters that pull at your heartstrings whether or not they are the hero of the story.
My thanks to NetGalley, Saga Press and Laura E. Weymouth for this eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
I have been collecting Weymouth's books since the first one, The Light Between Worlds, was released. Each book has been a different adventure, something unique that I've enjoyed each time I receive a new book by Weymouth to read, and I have LOVED each and every book release. This one, however, is my new favorite. The characters and their motivations, the politics that they have to navigate while trying to make a better world for the future, everything kept my attention engaged while I worked out who to root for and who to watch with a wary eye. The world that Weymouth has built in this story is so detailed and well-crafted and filled with people that could be real, it was hard to sit with their turmoil at moments because I just wanted to swoop in and save them. I knew that in the end, Weymouth would leave me wanting more from this story and I can't wait for the final book to be released.
The Castle & The Cloister is set in the nation of Honoria, conquered two centuries earlier by the Inver clan, who choose to rule with ongoing wars and blood. Honoria's current king is set on a course to start a new war that could mean more pain and loss for Honoria. Honoria used to have their people devoted to pacifist goddesses and certain cloisters still hold to the old beliefs, resisting the changes wrought by the Inver clan. In the sun goddess Raea's cloister, Fia and her daughter are seeking refuge, with Fia determined to give her daughter the safety and security she lacked growing up. But before they can truly be allowed in as part of the cloister, Fia is given a task that takes her into the heart of the kingdom, to the mountain fortress where the Inver king and queen reside, and to the political machinations at work there. In the fortress, Ariana Inver was once a follower of the goddess of the stars but is now the queen. After years trying to keep peace for the nation, Ariana has to find a way to keep her husband from moving forward with his new plans for conquest. In the mountain itself, underneath the fortress, the man known only as the Priest is in charge of keeping the Inver religion. Blinded during an attempt by the king to clear all claims to the throne, the Priest will have to work to find a way to a new future for Honoria, one that might change everything that the people have known. Together, these three will either find a way to bring peace or have the nation dragged into another war.
First of all, the world-building here is so vast and intricate, it felt like something that could have existed once in history. From the way the pacifist goddesses used to keep the nation of Honoria to the way the Inver clan moved in and, well, demolished everything, all of it held my attention, making me feel rage or wonder at different turns in the book. I hated certain characters, I rooted for others, and so much of that was also based in how much this world was made to feel real to the reader. Weymouth focused on the settings described in the title itself, the Castle where the Inver clan keeps their stronghold and then the Cloister, where Fia had hoped to make a life for herself. Two opposing forces bent on changing the other to their own ends. The castle wants to take control of the cloister and for the sake of forcing them to bend to Inver rule, to unite all the people so that Honoria will be a force to contend with when it comes to other nations declaring war against them. The castle also wants all the resources of the land that the cloister keeps under its protection. On the other hand, the cloister is determined to keep the peace, to help all of the people, not just those in Honoria, and the only way that can happen is by trying to curb the murderous tendencies of the king and possibly forging an alliance that both sides can uphold. The world-building also had an interesting religious system in place to further fill in the ways of the Inver clan as opposed to the cloister and their followers.
The fact that the Invers made blood the focus of so much of what they did, even offering blood when they prayed, drove home the fact that they were a brutal force, used to making threats and following through on them. The fact of the matter is that the king himself dispatched most of his siblings and his father in order to gain the throne and these acts proved that he was the best candidate for king because of what the people believed. It felt like everything was settled with some kind of fight to the death scenario and with this being the accepted way of things in the world made it that much more of a hard hitting truth. With the cloister however, they were meant to keep peace and spilling blood was something they were supposed to avoid unless it was meant to heal. It was an intriguing force to oppose the Inver way, the fact that the cloister had its own beliefs that were yes, against the Invers, but at the same time, could be argued that they weren't exactly the best to be in charge either, with their vows and tasks given to postulants, or the women who followed the goddesses in their cloisters. The cloister also had their own methods for doing things that felt difficult to understand, seen with Fia and Ariana and their paths in the book. Weymouth made these people feel real because everyone had their reasons, their beliefs, and neither side was strictly right or wrong. That precarious sense of middle ground for the world, where the leads make their home, is what draws the reader in because if neither side can be wholly in charge, perhaps the next step towards an actual lasting peace would be to find a way they can meld together.
As for the characters, I can honestly say that aside from one secondary character, I was sincerely impressed with every person focused on in this story. I can't even say that I have a favorite because each lead had their own path, their own things that I supported and their own things that I was against. I loved Fia because of the fact that she was a nursing mother, forced to leave her daughter behind for the sake of helping the queen, Ariana, in trying to stop a war from starting. Fia also helped with Ariana in the post-partum recovery, as the start of the book has Ariana giving birth to the new heir of the kingdom. Both of these women are so strong already but to show them in these situations as new mothers adds another layer to their fortitude, showing just how people in all ways of life have to pick themselves up and continue on after one of the most excruciating experiences of their lives. And I appreciated this so much because of the, let's call it, recognition it provided for people who have been in the same position. Ariana is literally bleeding through her clothes but she is putting herself in front of peace talks because she is queen and she hopes to prevent a war.
Both Fia and Ariana were also motivated by their own beliefs, Fia with her neglected childhood and her search for a home and Ariana with her upbringing in a cloister where all she ever knew was her religion and devotion to her goddess which has now been cast aside in her new role as queen to a king whose family history was filled with cruelty and murder. Fia could be cold and calculating but over the course of the book, she slowly comes to realize that the circle of people she cares for has grown and that change means she will take up whatever new role comes for her and make the best of the situations she finds herself in. Ariana has to find a way to reconcile the life she now leads with the beliefs she still holds, as keeping them separate for so long has not done much good for herself or her role as queen. There is also much to say about the Priest, who I felt had been dealt a hard hand in his life and yet managed to be such an intriguing character. I could not have made the life that he had created for himself after what he'd gone through. I would have thought he'd be motivated by revenge but the Priest surprised me by how level-headed he was, how quick he tried to protect people and the way he chose to step up when change was inevitable. His devotion to his new nephew was lovely to see compared to the way the king, Orden, regarded his new son. As for Orden, while I didn't love this character, I did appreciate his devotion to his queen, even though he never truly understood Ariana. I found it interesting that he did everything he could to make her happy, to protect her in his court, and yet at the same time, he loved the way she would show her devotion to him in turn, which came across as an imbalance in the power dynamics of their relationship. Weymouth drew every character with a deft hand, filling them with real world concerns and because of that, every nuance feels earned and respected over the course of the story.
Concerning the plot, it felt straightforward enough at first. Our three leads have to find a way to stop a war before it begins. Their positions in the kingdom and their backgrounds make it difficult to find a true, sure way through to making that a reality. At the same time, Weymouth had so many twists and turns, reveals that made me sit up and reconsider everything that had come before that moment. Various things that were exposed over the course of this story made my jaw drop because in the end, there were so many threads weaving together or being pulled apart that the final picture at the end of the story was not the one I expected to see. Honestly, I'm still sitting here after that epilogue and reconsidering everything that was seen in the book and I'm eyeing the release date like I could somehow make it change to earlier in 2027 because I NEED to know how everything resolves. I'm grateful for the fact that this release is book one of a duology. I don't know if my heart could take waiting years for a series to come to a conclusion.
At the end of the day, this is such a respectable read. I was infinitely impressed with everything Weymouth created here and when my copy arrives, I will be going through it with a fine-toothed comb, just to be sure I grasped everything that was so carefully crafted for this book. For now, I will be trying to find the time to go back and read every other Weymouth book I own while I wait for the conclusion to this book to be released.
Rating on my Scale: 10 Stars!! I had no doubt in my mind that I was going to absolutely LOVE this book. I want to find other readers so we can discuss everything about this book for hours. Read this book for the political intrigue set in a fantasy world and meet a cast of characters that pull at your heartstrings whether or not they are the hero of the story.
My thanks to NetGalley, Saga Press and Laura E. Weymouth for this eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone (Del Rey) and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this ARC! All opinions are my own.
5/5
Truthfully, if I could give The Castle & the Cloister 6/5 stars, I would. The Castle & the Cloister is a political thriller with a fantasy setting, and it mainly focuses on the machinations of international war diplomacy and the struggles of the royal court and everything that the two encompass. The lore consists mostly of the different religions within the continent, and their own magic and loyalties. The royals involved in the diplomatic struggle all have relations, one way or another, to a different religion, and thirst for the abilities they can gain from controlling the gods and goddesses’ gifts. I don’t want to spoil the complex intricacies of the political plot, so I will only mention that those who enjoyed the Letters of Enchantment Series by Rebecca Ross, The Chronicles of Castellane Series by Cassandra Clare, Elantris and Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, and The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison must not skip on this novel. It is equal in quality at all possible levels.
There are four main characters who serve as narrative perspectives within the novel: Fia, Silas, Orden and Ari. Each has an incredible character arc, adding thus more layers to the novel.
I will start by mentioning King Orden. Objectively speaking, he is the hero who managed to overthrow his own family’s former tyrannical rule. He did so through bloodshed, and he is both revered and feared for that. Orden is regarded by others both as the lesser evil and as not cruel enough. His happy ever after with his Queen and Heir is seen as a weakness, and his desire to maintain peace within his realm is regarded by others as naïveté. The tragedy of this hero is that after winning and getting everything he wanted for his country, he is not enough; he is never enough, not for his Queen, not for his brother, not for his people, and all for different reasons. The fact that he cannot pick between one side or the other and tries to find a middle way is ultimately our King’s undoing; he can never satisfy everyone, and even when he tries to do good, he is seen as never enough. Not peaceful enough. Not bloodthirsty enough. Simply not enough. I enjoyed this twist on a character serving as King, seeing how the concept of rule and nobility differs from person to person, all projecting a different image on him, but never the one true to his ultimately chivalrous personality. The undoing of his character is beautifully done, and I enjoyed every moment of it — the author showed masterful writing in constructing Orden.
The Queen, Ari, serves as the trigger of all events in this first novel. Due to the birth of her son, Fia is sent to the castle, due to his love for her, the King acts in uncharacteristic ways to protect her, due to her persistence, Silas acts quietly defiant. She is the centre piece of all the action in this book, and truthfully her existence as the one who controls the narrative both internally and externally is well-done. Ari’s character is both complex and not; she is stuck in a mentality of victimhood and martyrdom, and manages to project a tame and innocent image to others, yet she is ultimately very self-absorbed. Only she can be right, only she can tell right from wrong, only she can view the true value of others, only she can claim life or death. Under the guise of a peaceful nobility, Ari’s character reveals condescension towards even those most loyal towards her. She is always above others, above judgement. The layers of her character unravel as the plot moves forward, like puzzle pieces falling into the right places.
The relationship between Orden and Ari is beautifully tragic; one of the parallels to Letters of Enchantment falls here, for those in the know.
Our main protagonist, Fia, is like the Sun Goddess herself. She burns with passion and persistence, and nothing stands between her and her aim. She is a character who believes that the end justifies the means, and is marvellously observant of the world around her, keen for knowledge and power to protect, and a master manipulator of both words and religion. I absolutely loved her character, and her progression throughout the entire novel. A mother and a practical woman, she is beautiful in all possible ways. She is sadly underestimated by the person she respects most, but her match is found in Silas. He lights the fire within her, brings her out of her shell of isolation, and makes her shine all while being respectful of the limits she sets for him. The mutual yearning of the two was splendid, enchanting and deeply intimate.
Lastly, Silas. The Priest, the King’s brother, the servant of gods he doesn’t believe in. If he has a religion, then it is Fia herself. I wish to speak more of how exquisite his character is, but I would end up spoiling. As such, I can only say he is as noble, royal and gallant as Maia, Raoden and Kitt. Perhaps I should add Faramir to this comparison too, for Silas is the unexpected noble knight in shining armour we all dream of seeing in fantasy novels.
Last, but definitely not least, and perhaps the most magical element of his novel, the prose. Beautiful, elegant, refined and enchanting — its silkiness has something which reminds me of Tolkien, at the very least in the construction of a world so magical it seems shiningly beautiful even at its worst. There’s an organic rhythm, a mixture of metaphors and poetry, all with a different voice depending on the character whose perspective is enhanced. There is a variation of sentences structure wise, the writing having a fluidity adaptable to every kind of scene. Even if everything else were less than perfect (which it is not), the prose itself is so alluring that it would make The Castle & the Cloister worth reading. Excellent work of the author and her editor/s!
Already looking forward to the next volume of this series. I hope everyone who enjoys political fantasy novels will give this a try. This novel is truly a gem.
5/5
Truthfully, if I could give The Castle & the Cloister 6/5 stars, I would. The Castle & the Cloister is a political thriller with a fantasy setting, and it mainly focuses on the machinations of international war diplomacy and the struggles of the royal court and everything that the two encompass. The lore consists mostly of the different religions within the continent, and their own magic and loyalties. The royals involved in the diplomatic struggle all have relations, one way or another, to a different religion, and thirst for the abilities they can gain from controlling the gods and goddesses’ gifts. I don’t want to spoil the complex intricacies of the political plot, so I will only mention that those who enjoyed the Letters of Enchantment Series by Rebecca Ross, The Chronicles of Castellane Series by Cassandra Clare, Elantris and Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, and The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison must not skip on this novel. It is equal in quality at all possible levels.
There are four main characters who serve as narrative perspectives within the novel: Fia, Silas, Orden and Ari. Each has an incredible character arc, adding thus more layers to the novel.
I will start by mentioning King Orden. Objectively speaking, he is the hero who managed to overthrow his own family’s former tyrannical rule. He did so through bloodshed, and he is both revered and feared for that. Orden is regarded by others both as the lesser evil and as not cruel enough. His happy ever after with his Queen and Heir is seen as a weakness, and his desire to maintain peace within his realm is regarded by others as naïveté. The tragedy of this hero is that after winning and getting everything he wanted for his country, he is not enough; he is never enough, not for his Queen, not for his brother, not for his people, and all for different reasons. The fact that he cannot pick between one side or the other and tries to find a middle way is ultimately our King’s undoing; he can never satisfy everyone, and even when he tries to do good, he is seen as never enough. Not peaceful enough. Not bloodthirsty enough. Simply not enough. I enjoyed this twist on a character serving as King, seeing how the concept of rule and nobility differs from person to person, all projecting a different image on him, but never the one true to his ultimately chivalrous personality. The undoing of his character is beautifully done, and I enjoyed every moment of it — the author showed masterful writing in constructing Orden.
The Queen, Ari, serves as the trigger of all events in this first novel. Due to the birth of her son, Fia is sent to the castle, due to his love for her, the King acts in uncharacteristic ways to protect her, due to her persistence, Silas acts quietly defiant. She is the centre piece of all the action in this book, and truthfully her existence as the one who controls the narrative both internally and externally is well-done. Ari’s character is both complex and not; she is stuck in a mentality of victimhood and martyrdom, and manages to project a tame and innocent image to others, yet she is ultimately very self-absorbed. Only she can be right, only she can tell right from wrong, only she can view the true value of others, only she can claim life or death. Under the guise of a peaceful nobility, Ari’s character reveals condescension towards even those most loyal towards her. She is always above others, above judgement. The layers of her character unravel as the plot moves forward, like puzzle pieces falling into the right places.
The relationship between Orden and Ari is beautifully tragic; one of the parallels to Letters of Enchantment falls here, for those in the know.
Our main protagonist, Fia, is like the Sun Goddess herself. She burns with passion and persistence, and nothing stands between her and her aim. She is a character who believes that the end justifies the means, and is marvellously observant of the world around her, keen for knowledge and power to protect, and a master manipulator of both words and religion. I absolutely loved her character, and her progression throughout the entire novel. A mother and a practical woman, she is beautiful in all possible ways. She is sadly underestimated by the person she respects most, but her match is found in Silas. He lights the fire within her, brings her out of her shell of isolation, and makes her shine all while being respectful of the limits she sets for him. The mutual yearning of the two was splendid, enchanting and deeply intimate.
Lastly, Silas. The Priest, the King’s brother, the servant of gods he doesn’t believe in. If he has a religion, then it is Fia herself. I wish to speak more of how exquisite his character is, but I would end up spoiling. As such, I can only say he is as noble, royal and gallant as Maia, Raoden and Kitt. Perhaps I should add Faramir to this comparison too, for Silas is the unexpected noble knight in shining armour we all dream of seeing in fantasy novels.
Last, but definitely not least, and perhaps the most magical element of his novel, the prose. Beautiful, elegant, refined and enchanting — its silkiness has something which reminds me of Tolkien, at the very least in the construction of a world so magical it seems shiningly beautiful even at its worst. There’s an organic rhythm, a mixture of metaphors and poetry, all with a different voice depending on the character whose perspective is enhanced. There is a variation of sentences structure wise, the writing having a fluidity adaptable to every kind of scene. Even if everything else were less than perfect (which it is not), the prose itself is so alluring that it would make The Castle & the Cloister worth reading. Excellent work of the author and her editor/s!
Already looking forward to the next volume of this series. I hope everyone who enjoys political fantasy novels will give this a try. This novel is truly a gem.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
Orden Inver, the unexpected heir to his family's bloody lineage, is engaged in two wars at once. The Inver's violent gods are at odds with the peaceful religion of the rest of the land, but Orden's violence is held in check by his wife Ariana, who balances her own desires for peace with love of her husband. When Ariana gives birth, her old friend Fia is manipulated into coming to her aid.
Review
I’m a little conflicted in how I feel about this book. It was very competently put together, but with some important flaws, yet redeemed itself in part toward the end.
Technically, in many ways, it was one of the strongest debut novels I’ve seen. The prose is strong, the characters carefully thought out, the emotional highs and lows well placed, the world credible. There’s a lot that’s good about it, and I can add to that an ending that in many ways supported emotional impact rather than Hollywood happiness.
At the same time time, there were some weaknesses. While the world building is well done – clearly deep, but never piled on as dressing – some aspects needed more balance. For example, there are two opposed religions, but one is clearly depicted as the true and honest religion, while the other is evil and venal. In a book that seems in many ways to strive for accuracy, that kind of black and white delineation rings false. That’s true of some of the characters as well – Ariana in particular, while assigned a few token flaws, is too pure for words, and simply doesn’t fit in a world where everyone makes pragmatic compromises left and right. Her complement, Fia, is more credible, but comes across as remarkably flat for someone making such difficult decisions. I read Fia as being much more in service of the plot than as a fully developed character, which is a serious problem in her role as the story’s hinge pin. The story’s main villain is irritatingly two dimensional. These character weaknesses are all the more unfortunate in a story that so clearly was trying to make them credible. Fia at one point betrays someone for seemingly no other real purpose than to betray them – there’s a given story reason, but it’s a thin reed. A few characters are so incredibly convenient that they undermine the story, with only one given a rationale for being so.
There’s also far too much politics in the story for my taste – realistic, but not interesting, in the same way that Katherine Kurtz’ Deryni stories got off track (and were famously called out by Ursula Le Guin). More troubling to me was a continuing S&M-flavored thread of misogyny and submission that was not at all to my taste. There were quite a few moments that I found genuinely repellent, and not only from the designated villains.
Formatting-wise, it was mildly irritating that it takes a long while to get to the actual story – working past page after page of praise, an author’s note that while interesting should have been an afterword, etc. There were only a few typos that will hopefully have been cleaned up by the time this is published.
While this mostly looks to stand as a complete novel on its own, the final chapter and epilogue say ‘sequel’ in big, flashing letters. It could be interesting, but I do think there’s a risk that story will double down on this one’s flaws. For the time being, if you’re interested in a credible, interesting world with complex but sometimes simply drawn characters, try this out.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Summary
Orden Inver, the unexpected heir to his family's bloody lineage, is engaged in two wars at once. The Inver's violent gods are at odds with the peaceful religion of the rest of the land, but Orden's violence is held in check by his wife Ariana, who balances her own desires for peace with love of her husband. When Ariana gives birth, her old friend Fia is manipulated into coming to her aid.
Review
I’m a little conflicted in how I feel about this book. It was very competently put together, but with some important flaws, yet redeemed itself in part toward the end.
Technically, in many ways, it was one of the strongest debut novels I’ve seen. The prose is strong, the characters carefully thought out, the emotional highs and lows well placed, the world credible. There’s a lot that’s good about it, and I can add to that an ending that in many ways supported emotional impact rather than Hollywood happiness.
At the same time time, there were some weaknesses. While the world building is well done – clearly deep, but never piled on as dressing – some aspects needed more balance. For example, there are two opposed religions, but one is clearly depicted as the true and honest religion, while the other is evil and venal. In a book that seems in many ways to strive for accuracy, that kind of black and white delineation rings false. That’s true of some of the characters as well – Ariana in particular, while assigned a few token flaws, is too pure for words, and simply doesn’t fit in a world where everyone makes pragmatic compromises left and right. Her complement, Fia, is more credible, but comes across as remarkably flat for someone making such difficult decisions. I read Fia as being much more in service of the plot than as a fully developed character, which is a serious problem in her role as the story’s hinge pin. The story’s main villain is irritatingly two dimensional. These character weaknesses are all the more unfortunate in a story that so clearly was trying to make them credible. Fia at one point betrays someone for seemingly no other real purpose than to betray them – there’s a given story reason, but it’s a thin reed. A few characters are so incredibly convenient that they undermine the story, with only one given a rationale for being so.
There’s also far too much politics in the story for my taste – realistic, but not interesting, in the same way that Katherine Kurtz’ Deryni stories got off track (and were famously called out by Ursula Le Guin). More troubling to me was a continuing S&M-flavored thread of misogyny and submission that was not at all to my taste. There were quite a few moments that I found genuinely repellent, and not only from the designated villains.
Formatting-wise, it was mildly irritating that it takes a long while to get to the actual story – working past page after page of praise, an author’s note that while interesting should have been an afterword, etc. There were only a few typos that will hopefully have been cleaned up by the time this is published.
While this mostly looks to stand as a complete novel on its own, the final chapter and epilogue say ‘sequel’ in big, flashing letters. It could be interesting, but I do think there’s a risk that story will double down on this one’s flaws. For the time being, if you’re interested in a credible, interesting world with complex but sometimes simply drawn characters, try this out.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC!
The Castle & The Cloister is a character-driven political fantasy that explores the realities of pacifism in a familiar world in which rule has become determined and driven by might where the conflict of the internal becomes the driver of external conflict. It contains a diverse set of perspectives: Ariana, apostate queen torn between love for her goddess and her king, unable to serve both; Fia, recent mother split between building a world for her daughter and being there for her daughter; a Priest with little choice and fewer desires discovering what might make his life worth it; and Orden, the battle-borne King with depths even he struggles to acknowledge.
There is in those characters a rich level of complexity that I found myself often enjoying reading. Ariana and Orden’s perspectives especially felt like they captured an interiority that showcased those inconsistencies we fail to see in ourselves and those secrets we do not even want to say in our thoughts without outright telling the reader. They brought a new and heartbreaking take on the star-crossed lovers, and I think you could’ve made them just their own book on all the painful and beautiful parts of being changed and changing for the one you love. The priest presented an interesting take on the ‘passive’ side-character, the facilitator in so many novels, and gave him that same level of internal conflict.
I felt that this book was at tis best when it was focused on its characters and their internal conflicts, using those to spur action that drove the plot forward for good and ill. Perhaps it’s my own preference for character-driven fantasy, but I found myself caring much less for whatever wider message the plot kept trying to tell and more about the choices each character faced.
In that sense, I often felt the plot subsumed by these characters, struggling against them to tell a story. Fia is meant to be the spindle, turning the wheel of the plot with her introduction, but I struggled to feel connected to her beyond that. To me, she felt a constant deus ex machina or vehicle for one, dropped into the plot to be plot turner, rather than a character whose decisions are driven by internal conflict like the rest of the cast. The events around her often felt contrived, and it made her whole character feel stilted to me.
The plot itself also revolves around themes of belief, intended to be pacifism, but applied to religion in a way that felt dogmatic and didactic. Religion itself as a mode for philosophical discussion is not an issue, and many fantasy books I’ve read have used it to a variety of effects. However, in this case, it felt counterproductive. Rather than serving as a true vehicle to explore the consequences and facets of pacifism as the book professes, the use of magically verified religion created a bedrock backstop that prevented true exploration or questioning. There were also some references to martyrdom that were disturbing, and one scene that specifically felt reckless in its vindication and lack of interrogation.
I think Laura Weymouth has great sense of character, and I’d be intrigued to read their other books. Those looking for more character-driven political fantasy may find more enjoyment in The Castle & The Cloister than I did, as I think many of the hangups might be my own personal preferences.
The Castle & The Cloister is a character-driven political fantasy that explores the realities of pacifism in a familiar world in which rule has become determined and driven by might where the conflict of the internal becomes the driver of external conflict. It contains a diverse set of perspectives: Ariana, apostate queen torn between love for her goddess and her king, unable to serve both; Fia, recent mother split between building a world for her daughter and being there for her daughter; a Priest with little choice and fewer desires discovering what might make his life worth it; and Orden, the battle-borne King with depths even he struggles to acknowledge.
There is in those characters a rich level of complexity that I found myself often enjoying reading. Ariana and Orden’s perspectives especially felt like they captured an interiority that showcased those inconsistencies we fail to see in ourselves and those secrets we do not even want to say in our thoughts without outright telling the reader. They brought a new and heartbreaking take on the star-crossed lovers, and I think you could’ve made them just their own book on all the painful and beautiful parts of being changed and changing for the one you love. The priest presented an interesting take on the ‘passive’ side-character, the facilitator in so many novels, and gave him that same level of internal conflict.
I felt that this book was at tis best when it was focused on its characters and their internal conflicts, using those to spur action that drove the plot forward for good and ill. Perhaps it’s my own preference for character-driven fantasy, but I found myself caring much less for whatever wider message the plot kept trying to tell and more about the choices each character faced.
In that sense, I often felt the plot subsumed by these characters, struggling against them to tell a story. Fia is meant to be the spindle, turning the wheel of the plot with her introduction, but I struggled to feel connected to her beyond that. To me, she felt a constant deus ex machina or vehicle for one, dropped into the plot to be plot turner, rather than a character whose decisions are driven by internal conflict like the rest of the cast. The events around her often felt contrived, and it made her whole character feel stilted to me.
The plot itself also revolves around themes of belief, intended to be pacifism, but applied to religion in a way that felt dogmatic and didactic. Religion itself as a mode for philosophical discussion is not an issue, and many fantasy books I’ve read have used it to a variety of effects. However, in this case, it felt counterproductive. Rather than serving as a true vehicle to explore the consequences and facets of pacifism as the book professes, the use of magically verified religion created a bedrock backstop that prevented true exploration or questioning. There were also some references to martyrdom that were disturbing, and one scene that specifically felt reckless in its vindication and lack of interrogation.
I think Laura Weymouth has great sense of character, and I’d be intrigued to read their other books. Those looking for more character-driven political fantasy may find more enjoyment in The Castle & The Cloister than I did, as I think many of the hangups might be my own personal preferences.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
4.5 stars
THE CASTLE AND THE CLOISTER is a novel about difficult choices and clinging to your beliefs no matter what - and the consequences of that.
Fia and Ari narrate, along with the Priest and the king (Orden). It was really interesting to see all their perspectives on the book, their different approaches to gaining what they wanted. Fia is certainly the main character with the Priest next. I definitely preferred Fia over Ari (it seems like most people find one or other calls to them more) - she has such determination and is very openly ruthless when she decides there is something she wants.
I also really liked the Priest - he's the king's half-brother, blinded after a botched assassination attempt, and surviving by being the overlooked priest. He slowly begins to grasp the immense power this could have (and looks like next book he will be wielding that power openly) but at the same time is wracked by doubts in his faith (the brutal, patriarchal opposition to the goddess-lead peaceful one). It makes for a really interesting character and one you want to know what he'll do, which side he'll choose.
This is a book about religion and what it costs to follow your faith. There are two main religions in the book - one headed by three goddesses that requires peace and mercy at any cost and one that demands victory and violence under male gods. On the surface, this would seem a pretty obvious "patriarchy is bad" set up, but the matriarchal religion does not feel perfect. It demands non-violence even in self-defence, leading to endless martyrdom of its adherents. And the head priestesses (matria) are scheming and demanding sacrifices of their followers. I liked how complex the faiths were and that they demanded so much of its followers. It's not easy to truly follow either faith, something the characters were struggling with. This made the faiths feel so much more real than often the case in fantasy.
There are no easy answers in this book to any of the questions it poses. The characters are flawed and human and clinging doggedly to their beliefs - and not always asking if clinging to them so resolutely is actually twisting them into opposition to those beliefs. This is one of the things that really distinguishes adult from YA - the questions are not really answered and the exploration is so complex.
It's also a story about motherhood. Fia being a mother drives her actions, her determination to protect her daughter and forge another world. Ari gives birth early on and is dealing with the postpartum effects. I appreciate that there are books out there that centre the experience of motherhood (other great examples are THE LAST HOUR BETWEEN WORLDS and THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI). I think someone who has a more personal experience of motherhood will identify with those themes more, but even if, like me, you don't, I think it's important and interesting to read about it and to have it centred in a book.
I am looking forward to the sequel!
4.5 stars
THE CASTLE AND THE CLOISTER is a novel about difficult choices and clinging to your beliefs no matter what - and the consequences of that.
Fia and Ari narrate, along with the Priest and the king (Orden). It was really interesting to see all their perspectives on the book, their different approaches to gaining what they wanted. Fia is certainly the main character with the Priest next. I definitely preferred Fia over Ari (it seems like most people find one or other calls to them more) - she has such determination and is very openly ruthless when she decides there is something she wants.
I also really liked the Priest - he's the king's half-brother, blinded after a botched assassination attempt, and surviving by being the overlooked priest. He slowly begins to grasp the immense power this could have (and looks like next book he will be wielding that power openly) but at the same time is wracked by doubts in his faith (the brutal, patriarchal opposition to the goddess-lead peaceful one). It makes for a really interesting character and one you want to know what he'll do, which side he'll choose.
This is a book about religion and what it costs to follow your faith. There are two main religions in the book - one headed by three goddesses that requires peace and mercy at any cost and one that demands victory and violence under male gods. On the surface, this would seem a pretty obvious "patriarchy is bad" set up, but the matriarchal religion does not feel perfect. It demands non-violence even in self-defence, leading to endless martyrdom of its adherents. And the head priestesses (matria) are scheming and demanding sacrifices of their followers. I liked how complex the faiths were and that they demanded so much of its followers. It's not easy to truly follow either faith, something the characters were struggling with. This made the faiths feel so much more real than often the case in fantasy.
There are no easy answers in this book to any of the questions it poses. The characters are flawed and human and clinging doggedly to their beliefs - and not always asking if clinging to them so resolutely is actually twisting them into opposition to those beliefs. This is one of the things that really distinguishes adult from YA - the questions are not really answered and the exploration is so complex.
It's also a story about motherhood. Fia being a mother drives her actions, her determination to protect her daughter and forge another world. Ari gives birth early on and is dealing with the postpartum effects. I appreciate that there are books out there that centre the experience of motherhood (other great examples are THE LAST HOUR BETWEEN WORLDS and THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI). I think someone who has a more personal experience of motherhood will identify with those themes more, but even if, like me, you don't, I think it's important and interesting to read about it and to have it centred in a book.
I am looking forward to the sequel!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I have followed Weymouth's books for quite a few years now, since being completely charmed by The Light Between Worlds (her YA debut asking "what if Susan and Lucy came back to the real world with trauma after Narnia") and eagerly awaiting the switch to adult.
Summary: Fia is a single mother of a very young baby, and she is trying to join a cloister of nuns- one of the last strongholds of a Sun goddess sort of religion of love and warmth, in an increasingly wartorn country. The sisters tell her they will look after her baby and consider her application to join... as long as she goes to the court of the rampaging king to serve as a wet nurse for his queen, who is due to deliver a child any day now. She knew the queen long ago, when the queen was a sister in a Star goddess cloister. But the court is now under the rule of a warring leader and Fia will have to reckon with her own morals and ethical code in order to keep babies safe through fickle and evil times.
I liked this book a lot. I tend towards softer fantasy myself, loving anything Robin McKinley, Juliet Marillier, Patricia Wrede, and Tamora Pierce. This book verges on slightly too adult for me- at times it reminded me of Game of Thrones or Priory of the Orange Tree, which both veer a bit too heavily into politics and violence for my personal taste. So that is my only major reservation.
I found myself wishing we had more time in the sunny cloister with Fia's little daughter- I wanted to see more of the fiercely loving motherhood that was the spine behind all of Fia's actions. She leaves Miriel (her daughter) behind early in the book and we spend almost no time with her. All of Fia's mother-love is directed at the queen's son or done in the long-distance abstract calculus of "will this get me home to Miriel faster". Meaningful, but less impactful.
Orden, the war-hungry king, and Ariana, the gentle queen, have a very confusing relationship. It reminded me of the S&M adjacent dynamic from Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey (another favorite of mine), however I didn't feel like Orden ever really earned it, nor did I feel like I understood why Ariana made some of the choices she did.
All that being said: Fia the wet nurse and The Priest (the blind brother of the king who is one part spymaster, one part priest, and one part rebellious and angry man) were my favorite parts of the story. The characterization of a blind man who runs a court via strings and favors (literally, strings vibrate along the court and lead to his chambers and he knows what is happening where based on vibrations) was incredible. The descriptions and writing in his POV scenes are done entirely in touch and scent and sound based writing. This obviously makes the sex that much hotter. He reminded me of Varus from Game of Thrones, if Varus were more like Jaime Lannister or Ned Stark- inextricably tied to the crown, conflicted by his duty and his family and his faith, trapped in the cross fire of a regime hellbent on violence and destruction.
It was an excellent book and a very promising adult fantasy debut.
I'm looking forward to the sequel with high expectations!
I have followed Weymouth's books for quite a few years now, since being completely charmed by The Light Between Worlds (her YA debut asking "what if Susan and Lucy came back to the real world with trauma after Narnia") and eagerly awaiting the switch to adult.
Summary: Fia is a single mother of a very young baby, and she is trying to join a cloister of nuns- one of the last strongholds of a Sun goddess sort of religion of love and warmth, in an increasingly wartorn country. The sisters tell her they will look after her baby and consider her application to join... as long as she goes to the court of the rampaging king to serve as a wet nurse for his queen, who is due to deliver a child any day now. She knew the queen long ago, when the queen was a sister in a Star goddess cloister. But the court is now under the rule of a warring leader and Fia will have to reckon with her own morals and ethical code in order to keep babies safe through fickle and evil times.
I liked this book a lot. I tend towards softer fantasy myself, loving anything Robin McKinley, Juliet Marillier, Patricia Wrede, and Tamora Pierce. This book verges on slightly too adult for me- at times it reminded me of Game of Thrones or Priory of the Orange Tree, which both veer a bit too heavily into politics and violence for my personal taste. So that is my only major reservation.
I found myself wishing we had more time in the sunny cloister with Fia's little daughter- I wanted to see more of the fiercely loving motherhood that was the spine behind all of Fia's actions. She leaves Miriel (her daughter) behind early in the book and we spend almost no time with her. All of Fia's mother-love is directed at the queen's son or done in the long-distance abstract calculus of "will this get me home to Miriel faster". Meaningful, but less impactful.
Orden, the war-hungry king, and Ariana, the gentle queen, have a very confusing relationship. It reminded me of the S&M adjacent dynamic from Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey (another favorite of mine), however I didn't feel like Orden ever really earned it, nor did I feel like I understood why Ariana made some of the choices she did.
All that being said: Fia the wet nurse and The Priest (the blind brother of the king who is one part spymaster, one part priest, and one part rebellious and angry man) were my favorite parts of the story. The characterization of a blind man who runs a court via strings and favors (literally, strings vibrate along the court and lead to his chambers and he knows what is happening where based on vibrations) was incredible. The descriptions and writing in his POV scenes are done entirely in touch and scent and sound based writing. This obviously makes the sex that much hotter. He reminded me of Varus from Game of Thrones, if Varus were more like Jaime Lannister or Ned Stark- inextricably tied to the crown, conflicted by his duty and his family and his faith, trapped in the cross fire of a regime hellbent on violence and destruction.
It was an excellent book and a very promising adult fantasy debut.
I'm looking forward to the sequel with high expectations!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The worldbuilding around the goddesses and their religious orders was great, but as a story I found this really leaden. The first quarter of the book is very tell-don't-show, which got old fast, and most of the characters were so...basic? They felt stolid, all of them, plodding. Even the ones with Super Important Secrets did not feel like complex, multi-layered people, just collections of very obvious tropes. The prose turns pretty when it's describing nature - trees or fields or whatever - but otherwise it's... Honestly, I'm confused, because the prose seems like it SHOULD be lovely, but it sounds just a little off to my inner ear. I can't pinpoint why.
I had a lot of trouble believing in a lot of the conversations, a lot of the actions of the various characters. Dialogue often sounded really forced, and I couldn't figure out how or why this character or that one had ended up where they had, why they were doing what they were doing. For example, the king's Priest (capital p) secretly smuggles refugees through the cave system he lives in. But he...has no idea where the tunnel he leaves them at goes? It makes perfect sense for someone part of an underground railroad like this to not know who or where the next person on the railroad is; what bothered me was that he lives in these tunnels, but he...doesn't know where this one tunnel comes out? Why not? Sir, you live here. Or the way the queen is giving birth, but all the attendants are rude and awful and not helping her - even though a) the king adores her, and b) she is giving birth to the heir to the throne. It's BONKERS for them to not take the best possible care of her, even if they don't like her, because the king will STRING THEM UP if she comes to any harm, or the baby does. But no, we need to have them be awful so we can have a moment of the Priest telling them off. Or, the almost-priestess who is sent to take an (unsealed?!) letter to the queen - the guards on the gate check out the letter (?!), then she is SHOWN INTO THE ROOM WHERE THE QUEEN IS GIVING BIRTH.
A COMPLETE STRANGER.
A REPRESENTATIVE OF A LOATHED RELIGION, AT THAT.
IS ALLOWED...INTO THE ROOM WHERE THE QUEEN IS GIVING BIRTH TO THE HEIR OF THE THRONE. ON WHAT PLANET WOULD THIS HAPPEN?!
Oh, and the priestess is actually there for more than delivering a letter. But she only realises that when she sees the queen, because gods forbid the head of her order actually explained anything.
It's all so contrived. Things don't have to make sense, they have to be Dramatic, I guess.
I found myself thinking that this story is set too late - I needed a novel set, I don't know, fifteen years earlier, to set up the events of this book. As it was, I felt like we'd skipped over or hand-waved a lot of backstory - when it wasn't clumsily info-dumped on the reader, anyway. So much info-dumping, and so much of it repeated several times, especially all the stuff about the officially-not-a-war going on up north. You do not actually need to give me the exact same info four or five times in a handful of chapters!
Trying to read this just wasn't any fun, so I'm tapping out.
I had a lot of trouble believing in a lot of the conversations, a lot of the actions of the various characters. Dialogue often sounded really forced, and I couldn't figure out how or why this character or that one had ended up where they had, why they were doing what they were doing. For example, the king's Priest (capital p) secretly smuggles refugees through the cave system he lives in. But he...has no idea where the tunnel he leaves them at goes? It makes perfect sense for someone part of an underground railroad like this to not know who or where the next person on the railroad is; what bothered me was that he lives in these tunnels, but he...doesn't know where this one tunnel comes out? Why not? Sir, you live here. Or the way the queen is giving birth, but all the attendants are rude and awful and not helping her - even though a) the king adores her, and b) she is giving birth to the heir to the throne. It's BONKERS for them to not take the best possible care of her, even if they don't like her, because the king will STRING THEM UP if she comes to any harm, or the baby does. But no, we need to have them be awful so we can have a moment of the Priest telling them off. Or, the almost-priestess who is sent to take an (unsealed?!) letter to the queen - the guards on the gate check out the letter (?!), then she is SHOWN INTO THE ROOM WHERE THE QUEEN IS GIVING BIRTH.
A COMPLETE STRANGER.
A REPRESENTATIVE OF A LOATHED RELIGION, AT THAT.
IS ALLOWED...INTO THE ROOM WHERE THE QUEEN IS GIVING BIRTH TO THE HEIR OF THE THRONE. ON WHAT PLANET WOULD THIS HAPPEN?!
Oh, and the priestess is actually there for more than delivering a letter. But she only realises that when she sees the queen, because gods forbid the head of her order actually explained anything.
It's all so contrived. Things don't have to make sense, they have to be Dramatic, I guess.
I found myself thinking that this story is set too late - I needed a novel set, I don't know, fifteen years earlier, to set up the events of this book. As it was, I felt like we'd skipped over or hand-waved a lot of backstory - when it wasn't clumsily info-dumped on the reader, anyway. So much info-dumping, and so much of it repeated several times, especially all the stuff about the officially-not-a-war going on up north. You do not actually need to give me the exact same info four or five times in a handful of chapters!
Trying to read this just wasn't any fun, so I'm tapping out.
August 8, 2026
The Castle and the Cloister is a fantasy novel following a series of people embroiled in alliances, schemes and political plays. Fia seeks to be a nun under Rhea to protect herself and her young daughter, and is sent to the capital to help the queen. Ariana was a nun of peace, now married to the king who insists on inciting war and entering childbirth. The Priest is the king’s brother, blinded in submission and desperately trying to undermine his brother’s violent ways. The three must manipulate and maneuver to save their homeland and their people.
This book was engaging and interesting, with compelling characters and complex layers. The story heavily emphasized all of the political maneuvering, the subtle layers of insults and compliments given in attempting to stop an impending war. There’s also a solid emphasis on the religious differences between each region, especially around elements like death, blood, darkness, fire, peace and violence.
The pacing in this book did run a little slower than most popular fantasy on the market, but felt appropriate for a traditional fantasy novel. The beginning has a heavy emphasis on world building and establishing political alliances and conflicts. The author also spends significant time introducing a variety of characters, religions and belief systems that create a lot of depth to the story but also slow the pacing down.
Our story follows four points of view at various points, and I believe the changes in point of view enhance the story. Our author successfully selects which scene should be seen from which character to deepen the overall narrative. I found myself eager to see what happens, especially as the story progresses.
The magic system felt a little thin; the author spends more time emphasizing the political elements than the magic system itself. Essentially, some people are given a mark that dedicates them to a specific goddess. These marks are outlawed in Honoria culture because of their devotion to the male gods of war and brutality rather than the female gods of peace. Those who have various marks seem to have specific powers, which we see used once in the middle of the story. We also see that the goddesses can give our characters visions or dreams, but the substantiation of those dreams are questioned throughout the story. I would have liked to understand a little more. Even a glossary would have gone a long way in explaining some core religious elements without giving any spoilers.
I really appreciated that this book is not being marketed as a fantasy romance or a Romantasy novel. This book has a romance subplot, but it is not the largest emphasis of the story. There are a handful of kissing scenes and one explicit scene with on-page intercourse. The subplot felt appropriate for an epic fantasy novel.
Altogether, I really enjoyed this book and its complex characters. The layers of political maneuvering and mixed motives were interesting and engaging. I’m excited to see what the second book in the duology accomplishes.
Thank you to Saga Press, Laura E. Weymouth and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!
This book was engaging and interesting, with compelling characters and complex layers. The story heavily emphasized all of the political maneuvering, the subtle layers of insults and compliments given in attempting to stop an impending war. There’s also a solid emphasis on the religious differences between each region, especially around elements like death, blood, darkness, fire, peace and violence.
The pacing in this book did run a little slower than most popular fantasy on the market, but felt appropriate for a traditional fantasy novel. The beginning has a heavy emphasis on world building and establishing political alliances and conflicts. The author also spends significant time introducing a variety of characters, religions and belief systems that create a lot of depth to the story but also slow the pacing down.
Our story follows four points of view at various points, and I believe the changes in point of view enhance the story. Our author successfully selects which scene should be seen from which character to deepen the overall narrative. I found myself eager to see what happens, especially as the story progresses.
The magic system felt a little thin; the author spends more time emphasizing the political elements than the magic system itself. Essentially, some people are given a mark that dedicates them to a specific goddess. These marks are outlawed in Honoria culture because of their devotion to the male gods of war and brutality rather than the female gods of peace. Those who have various marks seem to have specific powers, which we see used once in the middle of the story. We also see that the goddesses can give our characters visions or dreams, but the substantiation of those dreams are questioned throughout the story. I would have liked to understand a little more. Even a glossary would have gone a long way in explaining some core religious elements without giving any spoilers.
I really appreciated that this book is not being marketed as a fantasy romance or a Romantasy novel. This book has a romance subplot, but it is not the largest emphasis of the story. There are a handful of kissing scenes and one explicit scene with on-page intercourse. The subplot felt appropriate for an epic fantasy novel.
Altogether, I really enjoyed this book and its complex characters. The layers of political maneuvering and mixed motives were interesting and engaging. I’m excited to see what the second book in the duology accomplishes.
Thank you to Saga Press, Laura E. Weymouth and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!
August 4, 2026
This book is mostly about the fate of two women. Both have small babies. And it was while reading this one that I realised the nitty gritty of motherhood is rarely tackled in fantasy – other than having a child to up the stakes. But having to breastfeed and change small babies, for instance, in a medieval society, isn’t addressed all that often. It is in this book.
Fia and Ariana knew each other in another life. Before circumstances pulled them apart and took them in very different directions. Fia’s relationship with a certain dangerous individual is now over, though she has a baby and is hoping to be able to bring up her small daughter in the peace and comparative safety of the cloister. However there is a price for that safety. A price that Fia is willing to pay.
Ariana is also paying a price. She was put in the path of a handsome young king in need of an heir and is willing to be made his queen in order to sway him into the path of peace. The political situation is nuanced and somewhat complicated. I wasn’t sure if it entirely worked, until I read the author’s afterword and realised she was basing her world on the political situation of southern Europe during the start of the Reformation. And then it all made sense. This means the story starts a bit slowly as Weymouth sets up the worldbuilding and establishes the characters.
However, once Fia arrives at Court, the story took off for me. The two women are the main protagonists and are very different. Fia is combative and feisty – apart from anything else, she’s very fed up at having to leave her adored daughter at the cloister and set off alone for the Court. However, once she finds Ariana in the throes of a difficult labour and not getting much help – she immediately gets involved and helps deliver her babies.
It was refreshing to see that motherhood doesn’t immediately make either woman a helpless victim, or automatically on the side of right. Initially, Ariana seems to be the pliant queen, alert to the needs of her king and putting herself at some risk and loss of dignity to try and broker a peace between Honoria’s quarrelsome neighbours. But as the story continued, it was increasingly clear that Ariana’s role is far more nuanced.
And when a certain event occurs near the end of the story – one I didn’t see coming, but made entire sense given the circumstances – we see the whole situation in a different light. It’s cleverly done and suddenly turned this book into a page-turner I couldn’t put down. I will mention that there is a sequel planned and all the main storylines are left dangling, waiting for the next slice of the narrative to complete the tale. I will definitely be one of those keen to get hold of a copy to see what happens next to this cast of conflicted, charismatic characters. Highly recommended for fans of medieval fantasy worlds with plenty of political tension and conflict. While I obtained an arc of The Castle & the Cloister from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
Fia and Ariana knew each other in another life. Before circumstances pulled them apart and took them in very different directions. Fia’s relationship with a certain dangerous individual is now over, though she has a baby and is hoping to be able to bring up her small daughter in the peace and comparative safety of the cloister. However there is a price for that safety. A price that Fia is willing to pay.
Ariana is also paying a price. She was put in the path of a handsome young king in need of an heir and is willing to be made his queen in order to sway him into the path of peace. The political situation is nuanced and somewhat complicated. I wasn’t sure if it entirely worked, until I read the author’s afterword and realised she was basing her world on the political situation of southern Europe during the start of the Reformation. And then it all made sense. This means the story starts a bit slowly as Weymouth sets up the worldbuilding and establishes the characters.
However, once Fia arrives at Court, the story took off for me. The two women are the main protagonists and are very different. Fia is combative and feisty – apart from anything else, she’s very fed up at having to leave her adored daughter at the cloister and set off alone for the Court. However, once she finds Ariana in the throes of a difficult labour and not getting much help – she immediately gets involved and helps deliver her babies.
It was refreshing to see that motherhood doesn’t immediately make either woman a helpless victim, or automatically on the side of right. Initially, Ariana seems to be the pliant queen, alert to the needs of her king and putting herself at some risk and loss of dignity to try and broker a peace between Honoria’s quarrelsome neighbours. But as the story continued, it was increasingly clear that Ariana’s role is far more nuanced.
And when a certain event occurs near the end of the story – one I didn’t see coming, but made entire sense given the circumstances – we see the whole situation in a different light. It’s cleverly done and suddenly turned this book into a page-turner I couldn’t put down. I will mention that there is a sequel planned and all the main storylines are left dangling, waiting for the next slice of the narrative to complete the tale. I will definitely be one of those keen to get hold of a copy to see what happens next to this cast of conflicted, charismatic characters. Highly recommended for fans of medieval fantasy worlds with plenty of political tension and conflict. While I obtained an arc of The Castle & the Cloister from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
I'm not totally settled on how I feel about this book. I enjoyed its prose and the characters. It's a slow political fantasy, and I enjoyed the political maneuvering that dominated the plot.
The story, at least in book 1, has a much smaller scope than I expected. While the events of the book have wide consequences for the larger world, the narrative is very zoomed in on the three main characters and the setting is pretty limited as well. I liked all three main characters a lot, although I found some of the relationships between them better developed than others.
There's a lot of discussion of these characters' and their communities' differing perspectives on violence and martyrdom, and their hypocrisies, that I think sets up an interesting thematic conflict. I'm curious to see if the follow-through in book 2 navigates its nuance in a satisfying way. The cultural perspective on these varying philosophies is a bit weak, in part because the story is so focused on the protagonists that the communities they come from feel a bit flat and underdeveloped. Book 2 in this series probably needs to broaden its perspective and expand the setting significantly. I also hope the next book provides some detail on the magic system and its relationship to the different religions.
This book heavily focuses on motherhood and the postpartum experience. Fia has an infant daughter, and Ariana is in labor at the beginning of the book. The author also has the note at the start about her own postpartum experience and how it contributed to this book. After reading that note, I was surprised by how small a role the children themselves played. They certainly matter to the plot and to the character motivations, but they feel more like plot devices than characters. This isn't a criticism — most of the children involved are infants, but beyond that I found the centering of these women's experiences, informed by their motherhood but not revolving around their relationships with their children, to be a really interesting decision. I enjoyed seeing the lengths Fia would go to in the name of providing a better world for her daughter, and seeing that dedication in the form of political maneuvering and manipulation rather than a traditional martyred mother story.
The Priest is blind and I think this is generally handled well, but some of the mechanics of what he is and is not able to perceive I found confusing, particularly in one very crucial scene. There were a few similar moments where the mechanics of who knew what and who was where were unclear, in a way that muddled a plot line that I believe was supposed to be a dramatic reveal.
Overall I think this was a decent read despite its issues, and I'm leaning toward continuing with the sequel whenever it comes.
I'm not totally settled on how I feel about this book. I enjoyed its prose and the characters. It's a slow political fantasy, and I enjoyed the political maneuvering that dominated the plot.
The story, at least in book 1, has a much smaller scope than I expected. While the events of the book have wide consequences for the larger world, the narrative is very zoomed in on the three main characters and the setting is pretty limited as well. I liked all three main characters a lot, although I found some of the relationships between them better developed than others.
There's a lot of discussion of these characters' and their communities' differing perspectives on violence and martyrdom, and their hypocrisies, that I think sets up an interesting thematic conflict. I'm curious to see if the follow-through in book 2 navigates its nuance in a satisfying way. The cultural perspective on these varying philosophies is a bit weak, in part because the story is so focused on the protagonists that the communities they come from feel a bit flat and underdeveloped. Book 2 in this series probably needs to broaden its perspective and expand the setting significantly. I also hope the next book provides some detail on the magic system and its relationship to the different religions.
This book heavily focuses on motherhood and the postpartum experience. Fia has an infant daughter, and Ariana is in labor at the beginning of the book. The author also has the note at the start about her own postpartum experience and how it contributed to this book. After reading that note, I was surprised by how small a role the children themselves played. They certainly matter to the plot and to the character motivations, but they feel more like plot devices than characters. This isn't a criticism — most of the children involved are infants, but beyond that I found the centering of these women's experiences, informed by their motherhood but not revolving around their relationships with their children, to be a really interesting decision. I enjoyed seeing the lengths Fia would go to in the name of providing a better world for her daughter, and seeing that dedication in the form of political maneuvering and manipulation rather than a traditional martyred mother story.
The Priest is blind and I think this is generally handled well, but some of the mechanics of what he is and is not able to perceive I found confusing, particularly in one very crucial scene. There were a few similar moments where the mechanics of who knew what and who was where were unclear, in a way that muddled a plot line that I believe was supposed to be a dramatic reveal.
Overall I think this was a decent read despite its issues, and I'm leaning toward continuing with the sequel whenever it comes.
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