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Woven
Woven
For thirty years, Elaina has sat in her tower, fingers caught in an eternal dance, cursed to weave the tapestry of life on her loom. Bound by an enchanted mirror whose magic shows her the distant lives of the people of Camelot, she must forever watch a land which remains ever beyond her reach. Elaina despairs that she will never experience more than just the shadows of life, until one day a face appears in the mirror that will change her life, and possibly her fate, forever.
Guinevere is losing her mind. When a severe injury to her head nearly kills her and awakens alternate personalities suppressed from her past, Guinevere learns that one of them is plotting with a knight of the round table to murder King Arthur and take control of Camelot. In the midst of war, Guinevere fights to save both her own life and the man she loves, each day coming closer to succumbing to the violent personalities within her.
Inspired by Arthurian legend and Lord Alfred Tennyson's ballad, "The Lady of Shalott," Woven spins a tale of two women who must risk everything to save those they love most into an epic of enchantment, love, and madness.
Guinevere is losing her mind. When a severe injury to her head nearly kills her and awakens alternate personalities suppressed from her past, Guinevere learns that one of them is plotting with a knight of the round table to murder King Arthur and take control of Camelot. In the midst of war, Guinevere fights to save both her own life and the man she loves, each day coming closer to succumbing to the violent personalities within her.
Inspired by Arthurian legend and Lord Alfred Tennyson's ballad, "The Lady of Shalott," Woven spins a tale of two women who must risk everything to save those they love most into an epic of enchantment, love, and madness.
374 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2017
10 people are currently reading
973 people want to read
About the author
Bree Moore
34 books138 followersBree Moore lives in Iowa with her amazing husband and six children. When she's not busy homeschooling or folding laundry, she sneaks off to write more urban fantasy.
Bree has a passion for pregnancy and childbirth, which influences her female-led stories. She loves shopping for groceries like other women like shopping for shoes (no, seriously), movies that make her cry, and Celtic music. She likes both her chocolate and her novels dark.
Get THIEF OF LIES: A Shadowed Minds prequel for free when you sign up for her newsletter. Go to www.authorbreemoore.com and click on "Get a Free Book".
Bree has a passion for pregnancy and childbirth, which influences her female-led stories. She loves shopping for groceries like other women like shopping for shoes (no, seriously), movies that make her cry, and Celtic music. She likes both her chocolate and her novels dark.
Get THIEF OF LIES: A Shadowed Minds prequel for free when you sign up for her newsletter. Go to www.authorbreemoore.com and click on "Get a Free Book".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
November 25, 2017
🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS
I Loved Woven, Bree Moore has taken an old legend that we all know and love and put her own fresh twist on it.
It was just so easy to lose yourself in the vivid history that was portrayed between these pages.
So Woven, of course, tells the story of that famous love triangle between Guinevere, Arthur and Lancelot.
Except, in this case, Guinevere seems to be suffering from multiple personality disorder.
She hears voices and the main one seems to occur whenever she is near Lancelot, causing fainting and passing out from Guinevere.
It's soon apparent that these two have some sort of connection to Morgan Le Fey and Mordred.
But Guinevere herself finds she is drawn romantically in Arthurs direction.
Which obviously in itself comes with its own set of unique issues.
Meanwhile, imprisoned in her tower cursed to weave the tapestry of life, desperate for freedom Elaina enters this tale.
Unbeknown to them all, their stories are intertwined in love and life, ready to play out before the reader's eyes.
So firstly as I mentioned before Woven is extremely rich in history and sets such a believable tapestry. I could almost smell and feel the history involved, so much research has so obviously gone on here. and it works Bree Moore has brought this legend to vibrant life.
and even know roughly knowing the way this was going to play out I still found myself wishing I could tweak the outcomes, I was obviously facing, so invested was I in this fascinating tale.
This story flowed well and easily kept my attention throughout and the characters involved felt fresh and not recycled, not an easy job when reselling a story that has been told so often so a very well done to the author herself for this feat, I was impressed.
The females I found especially, were such strong individuals, showing up there male counterparts completely.
Merlin was the only male I generally liked here, he was the only one I felt had a core of genuine integrity.
It was ironic really all the honour and loyalty that was bandied around by the men when it was the woman themselves that were the towers of strength and steadfastness.
This really was a joy to read. The way this tale was narrated with multiple personality inputs was great, it gave a very rounded portrayal of all involved here.
I just wish there could have been a happier outcome for our fair ladies, I know, I know, it's the way the legend play's out, but this is a fable and as such I think is open to interpretation, so why not tweak the outcome, stack the deck and give all involved a much happier ever after.
That is except for maybe Arthur and Lancelot, I really didn't like these two very much, a pair of douchbags in my modern day opinion, the females portrayed here got totally shafted, big style, by these two.
This legend so needs a rewrite with a proper ending for the girls, give them a break jeez.
So if you like stories rich in history and steeped in legend this is the book for you.
But before I go a warning Woven contains sexual assault and rape scenes if this at all is a trigger for you please do avoid.
The scenes are in keeping with the story and it's not there for shock value, this is days of old when times were different and woman were seen as chattel but it's there all the same, so thought you should be aware before reading.
So that's it for me, Thank you to the author Bree Moore for providing me with a copy of Woven.
This is my own free and honest opinion.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
May 23, 2018
Story: 4
Narration: 4
Overall: 4
Woohoo! A dark twist on a classic tale is something that this reviewer loves to see. I was very intrigued by the description of Woven and I can’t say that I was disappointed. The very beginning of Woven gives background for how one of our leading ladies, Elaina, becomes trapped in the tower that she unfortunately spends thirty years in. The point of view swaps often between Elaina and Guinevere who whilst being different in personality are very strong women. Elaina seems rather demure in certain chapters, but as the book goes on her determination to escape and recover memories, that she seems to have lost, becomes a very admirable trait. Guinevere was written quite feisty which personally I had always imagined her to be, so she was an instant like. She is drawn to King Arthur almost instantly upon meeting him, however whenever Guinevere is around Lancelot she feels strange and faint. What could this mean for her?
I would like to add the disclaimer that there is sexual abuse further on in the book, however it is true to the time period and not for shock value.
At the start I wasn’t sure that I was fond of the narration, as I felt that there wasn’t much emotion in Rebecca McKernan’s voice. There was clarity and good pacing to her voice but I hadn’t yet felt that the heart of the character was portrayed, however further in the book when the characters were more fleshed out I listened in a whole different light so upon reflection I think that this was more due to me not knowing the characters well at that point.
In conclusion I think that this is an extremely creative take on the classic tale, and works well as an audio book, and I was entirely invested in where the story took our main characters who I had come to really appreciate.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Bree Moore. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Narration: 4
Overall: 4
Woohoo! A dark twist on a classic tale is something that this reviewer loves to see. I was very intrigued by the description of Woven and I can’t say that I was disappointed. The very beginning of Woven gives background for how one of our leading ladies, Elaina, becomes trapped in the tower that she unfortunately spends thirty years in. The point of view swaps often between Elaina and Guinevere who whilst being different in personality are very strong women. Elaina seems rather demure in certain chapters, but as the book goes on her determination to escape and recover memories, that she seems to have lost, becomes a very admirable trait. Guinevere was written quite feisty which personally I had always imagined her to be, so she was an instant like. She is drawn to King Arthur almost instantly upon meeting him, however whenever Guinevere is around Lancelot she feels strange and faint. What could this mean for her?
I would like to add the disclaimer that there is sexual abuse further on in the book, however it is true to the time period and not for shock value.
At the start I wasn’t sure that I was fond of the narration, as I felt that there wasn’t much emotion in Rebecca McKernan’s voice. There was clarity and good pacing to her voice but I hadn’t yet felt that the heart of the character was portrayed, however further in the book when the characters were more fleshed out I listened in a whole different light so upon reflection I think that this was more due to me not knowing the characters well at that point.
In conclusion I think that this is an extremely creative take on the classic tale, and works well as an audio book, and I was entirely invested in where the story took our main characters who I had come to really appreciate.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Bree Moore. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
August 30, 2020
4.5 stars
This is an indie book by a local author I met and chatted with at a convention last year. I was excited for a signed copy even though it turned out I’d already bought it on Kindle. But Moore deserved it. It was really good!
King Arthur retelling meets Tennyson’s The Lady of Shallot.
If you are not familiar with the poem, fear not, there is a copy at the end of the book. So there’s a trapped girl in a tower plus Guinevere, who starts experiencing multiple personalities just as Arthur starts to court her. So cool, right??
The writing and craftsmanship is brilliant; it’s so much better than many traditionally published books now. It deserves a lot of hype. It was a real page-turner and edited well until the last 50 pages. I’m not sure what happened there; maybe last-minute revisions.
Your part in life can only be told by you. What you do matters an incredibly amount because no one else will ever do it for you, and yet, in the grand picture of the world, it would seem that it doesn’t matter. Life’s greatest lie is that what you do has no effect, when it does, immensely and grandly and without any doubt.
Caution: It does contain a lot of rape. It’s handled well and is not explicitly graphic but is still emotionally disturbing.
No strong language | Non-explicit sex and rape (and a little bit of cheating) | Non-graphic violence
This is an indie book by a local author I met and chatted with at a convention last year. I was excited for a signed copy even though it turned out I’d already bought it on Kindle. But Moore deserved it. It was really good!
King Arthur retelling meets Tennyson’s The Lady of Shallot.
If you are not familiar with the poem, fear not, there is a copy at the end of the book. So there’s a trapped girl in a tower plus Guinevere, who starts experiencing multiple personalities just as Arthur starts to court her. So cool, right??
The writing and craftsmanship is brilliant; it’s so much better than many traditionally published books now. It deserves a lot of hype. It was a real page-turner and edited well until the last 50 pages. I’m not sure what happened there; maybe last-minute revisions.
Your part in life can only be told by you. What you do matters an incredibly amount because no one else will ever do it for you, and yet, in the grand picture of the world, it would seem that it doesn’t matter. Life’s greatest lie is that what you do has no effect, when it does, immensely and grandly and without any doubt.
Caution: It does contain a lot of rape. It’s handled well and is not explicitly graphic but is still emotionally disturbing.
No strong language | Non-explicit sex and rape (and a little bit of cheating) | Non-graphic violence
May 19, 2018
A preface to my review: this author and I should definitely be friends. Evidence:
1) She wrote retellings of Arthurian legends (as did I)).
2) The same narrator who read her book is currently reading Intangible for me: the very talented Rebecca McKernan. What are the odds?!
3) I know this is kind of the same as #1, but her book actually contains the full text of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s The Lady of Shalott, and Elaina is arguably the main character. (I mean, I have this painting (https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/John-...) hanging over my bed… largely because of Anne of Green Gables’ reference to the poem, but I do love the poem in its own right, also.)
So now that that’s out of the way…
I love retellings in general: they’re the perfect blend of something familiar and something unique. I know how the story should go (at least for the most part), but I’m constantly guessing what new twists this particular author is going to add. Woven was definitely full of twists, in many ways turning the tales upside down. No spoilers, but let’s just say that certain characters aren’t (only) who you think they are, nor are relationships between characters exactly what you’ve always heard them to be… and because we’re already in a world of magic, nearly anything is possible.
The story is told in third person limited, jumping around to different points of view—but primarily it bounces between Elaina (the Lady of Shalott), Sir Gareth, and Guinevere. Elaina and Mordred are lovers, well before Camelot’s time, and she becomes pregnant before her sister Morgan has her confined to her tower for her own protection. The Lady of Shalott pines away for unrequited love of Lancelot, or so we’ve been told… and this is both true, and not true in this story. Guinevere is unfaithful to King Arthur with Lancelot… which is also both true, and not true. Mordred and Arthur are said to be mortal enemies, and also father and son… which is true, but not in the same way you’ve always heard. The Lady of the Lake, the Sorceress Nimue, does imprison Merlin… but not for the reason you think. Moore even works in the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (only in this case it’s Sir Gareth). The way she weaves these familiar tales together (no pun intended) was delightful.
The story still ends the way the stories all end—it is a tragedy, after all, and generally I don’t like sad stories. But it’s kind of like going to see the film “Titanic”: you kind of know what you’re in for by the title, and to me, it’s somehow easier to take when I know it’s coming. The fun was figuring out how we’re going to get there this time around.
(One caution though: this story contains quite a few fairly descriptive rape scenes toward the end. I didn’t care for this part, but it didn’t bother me as much as it otherwise might, because it was really the only possible way I can think of to explain the story’s main twist. If this isn’t for you, though, I’d steer clear.)
1) She wrote retellings of Arthurian legends (as did I)).
2) The same narrator who read her book is currently reading Intangible for me: the very talented Rebecca McKernan. What are the odds?!
3) I know this is kind of the same as #1, but her book actually contains the full text of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s The Lady of Shalott, and Elaina is arguably the main character. (I mean, I have this painting (https://www.1st-art-gallery.com/John-...) hanging over my bed… largely because of Anne of Green Gables’ reference to the poem, but I do love the poem in its own right, also.)
So now that that’s out of the way…
I love retellings in general: they’re the perfect blend of something familiar and something unique. I know how the story should go (at least for the most part), but I’m constantly guessing what new twists this particular author is going to add. Woven was definitely full of twists, in many ways turning the tales upside down. No spoilers, but let’s just say that certain characters aren’t (only) who you think they are, nor are relationships between characters exactly what you’ve always heard them to be… and because we’re already in a world of magic, nearly anything is possible.
The story is told in third person limited, jumping around to different points of view—but primarily it bounces between Elaina (the Lady of Shalott), Sir Gareth, and Guinevere. Elaina and Mordred are lovers, well before Camelot’s time, and she becomes pregnant before her sister Morgan has her confined to her tower for her own protection. The Lady of Shalott pines away for unrequited love of Lancelot, or so we’ve been told… and this is both true, and not true in this story. Guinevere is unfaithful to King Arthur with Lancelot… which is also both true, and not true. Mordred and Arthur are said to be mortal enemies, and also father and son… which is true, but not in the same way you’ve always heard. The Lady of the Lake, the Sorceress Nimue, does imprison Merlin… but not for the reason you think. Moore even works in the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (only in this case it’s Sir Gareth). The way she weaves these familiar tales together (no pun intended) was delightful.
The story still ends the way the stories all end—it is a tragedy, after all, and generally I don’t like sad stories. But it’s kind of like going to see the film “Titanic”: you kind of know what you’re in for by the title, and to me, it’s somehow easier to take when I know it’s coming. The fun was figuring out how we’re going to get there this time around.
(One caution though: this story contains quite a few fairly descriptive rape scenes toward the end. I didn’t care for this part, but it didn’t bother me as much as it otherwise might, because it was really the only possible way I can think of to explain the story’s main twist. If this isn’t for you, though, I’d steer clear.)
September 16, 2020
When you weave a mashup of Camelot and the Lady of Shallot into a twisted tale you get Woven. This retelling of two classic stories is neither derivative nor imitative. It’s an excellent original tale.
I have read at least one Arthurian/Guinevere series a year for over 30 years (that tells you how many there are and how deeply embedded these stories are in our collective psyche)
The magic of this book is the fascinating way the stories are woven together.
The Narration is excellent. The characters voices are distinct and add to the experience.
This book is definitely on my “re-read” list. I highly recommend this book.
I asked for an advance copy and I am writing an honest review.
I have read at least one Arthurian/Guinevere series a year for over 30 years (that tells you how many there are and how deeply embedded these stories are in our collective psyche)
The magic of this book is the fascinating way the stories are woven together.
The Narration is excellent. The characters voices are distinct and add to the experience.
This book is definitely on my “re-read” list. I highly recommend this book.
I asked for an advance copy and I am writing an honest review.
September 16, 2017
Woven was was an interesting and new take on the famous Arthurian legend.
It is mostly told from Guinevere's and Elaina's perspective. Elaina has been stuck in a tower for about thirty years, cursed weave a magical tapestry and unable to leave. While Guinevere fears she is losing her mind when she starts hearing voices in her head. Unknowingly, Guinevere's and Elaina's lives are intertwined and they will risk everything love.
Woven was a tale filled with love, adventure, bravery and magic.
It is mostly told from Guinevere's and Elaina's perspective. Elaina has been stuck in a tower for about thirty years, cursed weave a magical tapestry and unable to leave. While Guinevere fears she is losing her mind when she starts hearing voices in her head. Unknowingly, Guinevere's and Elaina's lives are intertwined and they will risk everything love.
Woven was a tale filled with love, adventure, bravery and magic.
January 12, 2018
I absolutely loved this book! It's an Arthurian retelling that will not stop leaving you shocked. Just when I thought I had the scheme of things figure out...BAM...the author went and flipped the script. I can't wait to check out the next book in this series, because book 1 just blew me away! I'd recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of legend and tale retellings, and is willing to wade though quite a few unfortunate circumstance between characters to reach the deeper truths.
August 17, 2020
Although the legend of King Arthur has been retold many times, Bree Moore has created a new a unique version of the story. Rebecca McKernan did a wonderful job with narration. My only complaint with the audio version is with the editing. Some lines were repeated.
October 21, 2017
Woven is an Arthurian retelling which I found interesting. You can read my full review on my blog http://www.myhopefulstory.com/2017/10...
September 29, 2017
Review coming soon.
January 7, 2018
3.75 stars Arthur Legend retelling. Has reincarnation and alludes to sexual abuse.
June 12, 2018
I was looking forward to digging into this book. It’s Camelot as seen through a woman’s eyes and I expected new insights to this ancient tale. The story partially delivered. It wasn’t everything I hoped for but there were still parts that I enjoyed.
Guinevere and Elaina are the two main characters in the tale. Mostly, they simply react to situations they find themselves in. Morgan le Fey plays a role but she’s really working behind the scenes. However, I did like that she takes an active role instead of merely reacting to situations. Guinevere and Elaina were caught up in the plot instead of driving the plot.
Nearly every character is an emotional mess and this made the story feel one dimensional. Guinevere doesn’t know what she wants even when Morgan and Morgase aren’t messing with her memories and will. Elaina is angry and sad, rightly so since she’s imprisoned, but she also lets her fear keep her frozen in her situation. King Arthur is driven by pride and deep need to be loved completely and unconditionally. Lancelot/Mordred may or may not still be under an enchantment that makes him a lustful, self-centered man. Garrick’s heart yearns for glory and courtly love, turning him away from the solid love and comfort of wife and family. The emotional turmoil never ended and that made the plot a little exhausting and it dragged at times.
Half way through, I felt I needed a character map since some of the characters are doubled or tripled up. I believe Guinevere has Morgan and Morgase in her mind. Then Lancelot carries Mordred’s soul… or perhaps it’s the same soul but reincarnation is in play… I really wasn’t sure. Mordred of old (long before Lancelot was born) had a fling with Elaina. I am still not sure how much time has passed with Elaina trapped in the tower. In retrospect, I think there was some leaping back and forth in time but when I was listening to the tale, I thought Guinevere’s and Elaina’s tales were parallel.
I mostly enjoyed the side characters. Merlin comes into play late in the tale but he gets to be all mysterious and possibly all knowing. Garrick (or is it Gareth?) was an intense character. His dedication to his dream of becoming a knight was inspiring until I realized what it was costing his family. He’s so caught up in his dreams and goals he fails to see that perhaps his wife might also have dreams that she’s sacrificing for him. He was truly a tragic figure in this story and that made his role memorable. The Green Knight also puts in a spooky appearance and I would have liked more of him.
I never bonded with Guinevere or Elaina so the repeated near-rape scenes didn’t pull me into the story as much as I expected. I kept waiting for more from these ladies however they were just big balls of emotion and little else. I wanted to be on their side but I usually yawned through their scenes, enjoying the minor characters quite a bit more. All told, 3.5/5 stars.
The Narration: Rebecca McKernan did an OK job with this story. She had distinct voices for each of the characters and she usually did well with the emotions. There were several lines that were repeated and occasionally there were some mouth or throat noises. 4/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Bree Moore. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Guinevere and Elaina are the two main characters in the tale. Mostly, they simply react to situations they find themselves in. Morgan le Fey plays a role but she’s really working behind the scenes. However, I did like that she takes an active role instead of merely reacting to situations. Guinevere and Elaina were caught up in the plot instead of driving the plot.
Nearly every character is an emotional mess and this made the story feel one dimensional. Guinevere doesn’t know what she wants even when Morgan and Morgase aren’t messing with her memories and will. Elaina is angry and sad, rightly so since she’s imprisoned, but she also lets her fear keep her frozen in her situation. King Arthur is driven by pride and deep need to be loved completely and unconditionally. Lancelot/Mordred may or may not still be under an enchantment that makes him a lustful, self-centered man. Garrick’s heart yearns for glory and courtly love, turning him away from the solid love and comfort of wife and family. The emotional turmoil never ended and that made the plot a little exhausting and it dragged at times.
Half way through, I felt I needed a character map since some of the characters are doubled or tripled up. I believe Guinevere has Morgan and Morgase in her mind. Then Lancelot carries Mordred’s soul… or perhaps it’s the same soul but reincarnation is in play… I really wasn’t sure. Mordred of old (long before Lancelot was born) had a fling with Elaina. I am still not sure how much time has passed with Elaina trapped in the tower. In retrospect, I think there was some leaping back and forth in time but when I was listening to the tale, I thought Guinevere’s and Elaina’s tales were parallel.
I mostly enjoyed the side characters. Merlin comes into play late in the tale but he gets to be all mysterious and possibly all knowing. Garrick (or is it Gareth?) was an intense character. His dedication to his dream of becoming a knight was inspiring until I realized what it was costing his family. He’s so caught up in his dreams and goals he fails to see that perhaps his wife might also have dreams that she’s sacrificing for him. He was truly a tragic figure in this story and that made his role memorable. The Green Knight also puts in a spooky appearance and I would have liked more of him.
I never bonded with Guinevere or Elaina so the repeated near-rape scenes didn’t pull me into the story as much as I expected. I kept waiting for more from these ladies however they were just big balls of emotion and little else. I wanted to be on their side but I usually yawned through their scenes, enjoying the minor characters quite a bit more. All told, 3.5/5 stars.
The Narration: Rebecca McKernan did an OK job with this story. She had distinct voices for each of the characters and she usually did well with the emotions. There were several lines that were repeated and occasionally there were some mouth or throat noises. 4/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Bree Moore. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
May 27, 2018
Audiobook Review
I love retellings and this one immediately captivated me by the worldbuilding and the beautifully done narration which immediately transports the listener into days of old steeped in myths and folklore. The characters are intriguing and the scenes feel so real. I am so happy I took a chance on this audiobook and recommend it to lovers of medieval fantasy. -The Voluptuous Book Diva
I love retellings and this one immediately captivated me by the worldbuilding and the beautifully done narration which immediately transports the listener into days of old steeped in myths and folklore. The characters are intriguing and the scenes feel so real. I am so happy I took a chance on this audiobook and recommend it to lovers of medieval fantasy. -The Voluptuous Book Diva
September 22, 2017
This book is wonderfully written. Bree Moore captures a unique tone in this Arthurian legend retelling. She covers classic themes of betrayal, honour, infidelity, love, dark magic and human courage, but then she goes even deeper... She casts a new angle and perspective on the story of Guinevere that is captivating, sometimes frightening and heartbreaking (be prepared to delve into some adult themes here). She takes us into the tower of the Lady of Shalott to experience the anguish of Elaina as she longs for contact with the outside world. I love Aurthurian legend and she managed to pull in every one of my favorite elements into this book
August 6, 2017
I really enjoyed this Arthurian novel--interesting take on traditional characters and very believable motives. Intense and descriptive scenes. Great first novel from this author and looking forward to many more!
June 1, 2018
Prepare to enter a story that takes us back to a classic that so many of us know. Bree Moore takes us back into an Arthurian tale, but rewrites the story, blending it with old and new. In this book, a new story is woven that gives us a new view of the original, and a unique twist that others have not given us. Elaina is in love. She goes out one afternoon with Mordred, her beloved, and when a storm sets in they are separated and she gets lost. Lured to a tower, she learns that she is now a captive of it, and that should she attempt to escape the enchantment placed upon her will kill her. Elaina is cursed to only look at a mirror and weave what the loom and magic direct her to do. Years pass, and no one comes to find her. She resigns herself to her fate until...one fateful day arrives and a young man who wishes to become a knight happens upon her in the tower. This happens chance encounter is but a single piece of a larger picture being woven. Guinevere, at her own home, rejoices at the return of her father from war. He does not come alone though. With him comes the King, Arthur Pendragon. As the original story goes, Arthur takes a fancy to Guinevere, but when she encounters Lancelot, she always has a fainting spell. Something is not right and soon the root of the problem will make itself known. There is a dark secret hiding in the shadows, and with each passing day, it will creep closer and closer to the forefront. War, betrayal, truth and more are coming and many will be lost along the way.
Woven by Bree Moore is the first book by this author and I have to say that I truly enjoyed this story. When it comes to Arthurian tales I have a love-hate relationship towards them. I've not always been a fan of Guinevere, but this book casts her in a different light than I am used to, so she grows on me this time. Like a steady stream or river, this book flows from one moment to the next. The characters are engaging and well done, and there are more than a few twists and surprises to be found. I found this story to be truly unique and enjoyable. There are complicated situations, strong human emotions and some hints of magic in the story. I love how the author brings the characters to life the way that she does. You can almost feel yourself with them as you are reading. I like how the author sticks to the original story but gives it her own unique twist. The variety of characters that the author shifts between are each interesting. The author gives us a background in the appropriate places and answers most of the questions that are raised throughout the story by the end. I will warn that there are some questions that are left unanswered, but this is not a downside for me since the author intends to give us a sequel that I am eagerly anticipating.
There a few minor editorial issues in this book, but there is nothing to the point of where you can't move past it or that it interrupts the overall enjoyment of the story. I will warn that there are a couple scenes/situations in this story that might not be for everyone. The author touches on a sensitive subject, but she does so in a delicate manner. The scenes and situations are not explicit in any way and are handled in a decent manner for readers. I applaud the author for this.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed this author's take on an Arthurian tale. The ending is open-ended but is still well done in my opinion. The characters are engaging, dynamic and interesting. I look forward to reading the next book by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Woven by Bree Moore is the first book by this author and I have to say that I truly enjoyed this story. When it comes to Arthurian tales I have a love-hate relationship towards them. I've not always been a fan of Guinevere, but this book casts her in a different light than I am used to, so she grows on me this time. Like a steady stream or river, this book flows from one moment to the next. The characters are engaging and well done, and there are more than a few twists and surprises to be found. I found this story to be truly unique and enjoyable. There are complicated situations, strong human emotions and some hints of magic in the story. I love how the author brings the characters to life the way that she does. You can almost feel yourself with them as you are reading. I like how the author sticks to the original story but gives it her own unique twist. The variety of characters that the author shifts between are each interesting. The author gives us a background in the appropriate places and answers most of the questions that are raised throughout the story by the end. I will warn that there are some questions that are left unanswered, but this is not a downside for me since the author intends to give us a sequel that I am eagerly anticipating.
There a few minor editorial issues in this book, but there is nothing to the point of where you can't move past it or that it interrupts the overall enjoyment of the story. I will warn that there are a couple scenes/situations in this story that might not be for everyone. The author touches on a sensitive subject, but she does so in a delicate manner. The scenes and situations are not explicit in any way and are handled in a decent manner for readers. I applaud the author for this.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed this author's take on an Arthurian tale. The ending is open-ended but is still well done in my opinion. The characters are engaging, dynamic and interesting. I look forward to reading the next book by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 28, 2018
This book ties together three main stories from Arthurian legend: Guinevere's story, the story of Sir Gawain (changed to Gerek) and the Green night, and the story of the Lady of Shallot (Elaina of Astolat). We get to see Arthur's rule and Lancelot's betrayal through their eyes. Each has a unique perspective, and each person's story comes together near the end of the book to create an amazing tale.
This book is beautifully written. I have not heard or read any fiction about the Lady of Shallot legend outside of the Anne of Green Gables movies (and of course the original poem), so that aspect of the story was new and different for me. Being trapped in a tower and forced to weave for decades is strangely interesting, although I did find myself wondering what the purpose of it was. What do they do with all the tapestries? Elaina has good character growth. She is certainly weaker in the beginning, but by the end of the book she has grown considerably.
I love the Gerek storyline because the struggle is very relatable. He is a man who is trying to follow his passion of becoming a knight, sacrificing time with his wife and children as a result. His marriage is deteriorating, and Lancelot treats him like dirt. In fact, Gerek is the only one who seems to be able to see Lancelot for the snake he is. I really love how Gerek's story is told and how he experiences redemption and lots of character growth.
Guinevere's story was a roller coaster. So much happened to this poor girl -- it was a rough ride. I began by not really liking her that much. She seems kind of spoiled and shallow, but as the story progresses, she really becomes a much stronger character.
This book is beautifully written. I have not heard or read any fiction about the Lady of Shallot legend outside of the Anne of Green Gables movies (and of course the original poem), so that aspect of the story was new and different for me. Being trapped in a tower and forced to weave for decades is strangely interesting, although I did find myself wondering what the purpose of it was. What do they do with all the tapestries? Elaina has good character growth. She is certainly weaker in the beginning, but by the end of the book she has grown considerably.
I love the Gerek storyline because the struggle is very relatable. He is a man who is trying to follow his passion of becoming a knight, sacrificing time with his wife and children as a result. His marriage is deteriorating, and Lancelot treats him like dirt. In fact, Gerek is the only one who seems to be able to see Lancelot for the snake he is. I really love how Gerek's story is told and how he experiences redemption and lots of character growth.
Guinevere's story was a roller coaster. So much happened to this poor girl -- it was a rough ride. I began by not really liking her that much. She seems kind of spoiled and shallow, but as the story progresses, she really becomes a much stronger character.
May 8, 2018
I honestly have never cared much for books about King Author but decided to give this book a shot. I was actually quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The book is actually a dual story book that in the end meets up. First of all the book is written from Guinevere's perspective. So far I have never read or even heard of a book from her perspective.
Elaina has been held captive in the Tower for 30 years. Her life has been to weave a tapestry of life. The tapestry is in control of her, it makes her weave for days and nights on end at times without letting her stop to eat or drink even. When she awoke in the Tower on that first day she was told she could not look out the window or at any man that may come along or she would die. All she has to see life moving on outside of her room is a Enchanted Mirror. One day the face of a man shows u in the mirror that will change her life forever.
Guinevere has an accident and gets a bad head injury after she awakes she finds she has multiple personalities. One of the personalities is a young abused girl the other is a grown woman with an agenda. She is making plans Sir Lancelot to kill King Arthur. Guinevere must try to save him.
This is where the 2 stories start to meld together.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Elaina has been held captive in the Tower for 30 years. Her life has been to weave a tapestry of life. The tapestry is in control of her, it makes her weave for days and nights on end at times without letting her stop to eat or drink even. When she awoke in the Tower on that first day she was told she could not look out the window or at any man that may come along or she would die. All she has to see life moving on outside of her room is a Enchanted Mirror. One day the face of a man shows u in the mirror that will change her life forever.
Guinevere has an accident and gets a bad head injury after she awakes she finds she has multiple personalities. One of the personalities is a young abused girl the other is a grown woman with an agenda. She is making plans Sir Lancelot to kill King Arthur. Guinevere must try to save him.
This is where the 2 stories start to meld together.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 12, 2018
For original review: https://holedupinabook.blogspot.com/2...
A 3.5* star review.
The premise of this book sounded really promising but this was definitely a case where the first part lacked a lot. It was slow, it was confusing and I honestly did not like the narrator at all. To be frank, I found the narrator’s wailing voice to be a bit much. Okay, she wasn’t supposed to be wailing – she was supposed to be yelling someone’s name but to me, it sounded like wailing and I could not get into it. It took me almost three quarters of the book to finally start to enjoy the story.
The main thing that drew me in was how Arthur and Camelot was interwoven into the storyline. I really enjoyed the story of Camelot growing up so this premise really drew me in. I also thought it was a unique spin for Guinevere because she was always portrayed as this regal Queen (though there are mixed stories about her loyalty to Arthur and her betrayal for Lancelot). To me, I found interesting that in this book, she was losing her mind.
Another aspect that I found intriguing was Elaina’s part. I am not really familiar with the Lady of Shalott but I liked how Elaina’s predicament was somewhat similar with Rapunzel. The whole idea of being locked up in a tower and only having this old sorceress/witch as her captor. Then there was that whole situation with a man climbing up the tower to rescue her. Sounds familiar? So anyways, I thought I liked the idea of this strange mix-mash of a beloved Disney fairytale with the ballad of “The Lady of Shalott” as well as the court of Camelot.
Anyways, there was a lot of world-building in this book to the point that it was a little too much and therefore it ended up making the book way too slow in my opinion. However, the ending more than made up for it hence why I ended up giving it a 3.5* instead of 3*.
The one thing that bothered me, to be honest, other than the narrator’s voice, was the female representation in the book. Both Elaina and Guinevere were portrayed as such weak people. I think if I had read the book in a physical format, it might have been a bit different because the narrator really played out those scenes with those “OMG, I can’t move” or “OMG, what do I do” or “OMG, my eyes won’t open”, or “OMG, it’s not me!” etc. For me, it was even more bothersome because the Guinevere that I know in the Arthurian legends is supposed to be this strong female leader but in this book, that wasn’t the case at all. Instead, she came off as weak and was always struggling with herself.
Overall though, the ending was decent and I still enjoyed the parts where Arthur and Merlin were there. I actually really liked them for the most part. But I can completely forego that narrator.
A 3.5* star review.
The premise of this book sounded really promising but this was definitely a case where the first part lacked a lot. It was slow, it was confusing and I honestly did not like the narrator at all. To be frank, I found the narrator’s wailing voice to be a bit much. Okay, she wasn’t supposed to be wailing – she was supposed to be yelling someone’s name but to me, it sounded like wailing and I could not get into it. It took me almost three quarters of the book to finally start to enjoy the story.
The main thing that drew me in was how Arthur and Camelot was interwoven into the storyline. I really enjoyed the story of Camelot growing up so this premise really drew me in. I also thought it was a unique spin for Guinevere because she was always portrayed as this regal Queen (though there are mixed stories about her loyalty to Arthur and her betrayal for Lancelot). To me, I found interesting that in this book, she was losing her mind.
Another aspect that I found intriguing was Elaina’s part. I am not really familiar with the Lady of Shalott but I liked how Elaina’s predicament was somewhat similar with Rapunzel. The whole idea of being locked up in a tower and only having this old sorceress/witch as her captor. Then there was that whole situation with a man climbing up the tower to rescue her. Sounds familiar? So anyways, I thought I liked the idea of this strange mix-mash of a beloved Disney fairytale with the ballad of “The Lady of Shalott” as well as the court of Camelot.
Anyways, there was a lot of world-building in this book to the point that it was a little too much and therefore it ended up making the book way too slow in my opinion. However, the ending more than made up for it hence why I ended up giving it a 3.5* instead of 3*.
The one thing that bothered me, to be honest, other than the narrator’s voice, was the female representation in the book. Both Elaina and Guinevere were portrayed as such weak people. I think if I had read the book in a physical format, it might have been a bit different because the narrator really played out those scenes with those “OMG, I can’t move” or “OMG, what do I do” or “OMG, my eyes won’t open”, or “OMG, it’s not me!” etc. For me, it was even more bothersome because the Guinevere that I know in the Arthurian legends is supposed to be this strong female leader but in this book, that wasn’t the case at all. Instead, she came off as weak and was always struggling with herself.
Overall though, the ending was decent and I still enjoyed the parts where Arthur and Merlin were there. I actually really liked them for the most part. But I can completely forego that narrator.
May 5, 2018
Bree Moore achieves a radical new vision of King Arthur and his court in this imaginative and creative tale about two women spinning webs behind the scenes at Camelot. There is the demure Elaina, who has been cursed to spend her life in a secluded in a tower weaving the tapestry of life, while Guinevere, a spirited and feisty young woman, begins a duplicitous love affair that sets the stage for King Arthur’s eventual downfall.
Moore’s telling of the Camelot story is a unique and fascinating blend, injecting ancient folk songs and fairy tales like “Rapunzel” into the traditional and well-known plotline. Her introduction of new characters into the familiar legend is seamless as she weaves these fine threads into a tapestry of gallant deeds, sinister villains, damsels in distress, and courtly life. This absorbing tale creates unconventional binds between certain characters that are so strong, they will either dispel the most terrible of curses or destroy an entire kingdom.
Moore’s telling of the Camelot story is a unique and fascinating blend, injecting ancient folk songs and fairy tales like “Rapunzel” into the traditional and well-known plotline. Her introduction of new characters into the familiar legend is seamless as she weaves these fine threads into a tapestry of gallant deeds, sinister villains, damsels in distress, and courtly life. This absorbing tale creates unconventional binds between certain characters that are so strong, they will either dispel the most terrible of curses or destroy an entire kingdom.
February 10, 2019
Elaina is stuck in a tower, forever weaving the tapestry of life on a loom. She has been enchanted, she doesn’t know why or who holds her there. She wants to escape, but can’t figure out how to.
Guinevere is plagued with these awful headaches and doesn’t seem to know what she wants. She hears voices from past lives and doesn’t know what to do about them.
It took me a long time to figure out what was going on. There were some really good parts to the story and I did enjoy the descriptions of the landscapes. A few of the characters were really great too, King Arthur and Sir Gareth were my favorites. I wish Elaina and Guinevere would’ve been stronger and more decisive. They both did come around near the end, but I would’ve loved to see them have the same spirit throughout.
The narrator had a great voice and distinct character voices, my only complaint is, I noticed a lot of repeating of sentences throughout the book.
Guinevere is plagued with these awful headaches and doesn’t seem to know what she wants. She hears voices from past lives and doesn’t know what to do about them.
It took me a long time to figure out what was going on. There were some really good parts to the story and I did enjoy the descriptions of the landscapes. A few of the characters were really great too, King Arthur and Sir Gareth were my favorites. I wish Elaina and Guinevere would’ve been stronger and more decisive. They both did come around near the end, but I would’ve loved to see them have the same spirit throughout.
The narrator had a great voice and distinct character voices, my only complaint is, I noticed a lot of repeating of sentences throughout the book.
September 3, 2020
Interesting version of Arthurian legends
This story was overall enjoyable. The narration was ok, differentiations were slight but you can notice them sort of. There were some weird parts in the audio where a line or two were repeated (happened probably 5-6 times). The narrative felt a bit jumpy and took away from the cohesion of the story somewhat.
Parents: this would be a rate R film. There are several instances that could be triggering for victims of assault (of intimate nature) but it carries a message of it not being the victims fault (so some redemption there). Mild language to my memory, I was more distracted by the assault stuff even though it was not fully explicit in nature.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This story was overall enjoyable. The narration was ok, differentiations were slight but you can notice them sort of. There were some weird parts in the audio where a line or two were repeated (happened probably 5-6 times). The narrative felt a bit jumpy and took away from the cohesion of the story somewhat.
Parents: this would be a rate R film. There are several instances that could be triggering for victims of assault (of intimate nature) but it carries a message of it not being the victims fault (so some redemption there). Mild language to my memory, I was more distracted by the assault stuff even though it was not fully explicit in nature.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 26, 2023
If legends, knights of the round table and King Arthur are your thing then you are going to love this! Welcome to Camelot in this wonderful, well written and intriguing retelling of love, of action, of mystery, of magic and so much more as we greet all our favourite Arthurian characters and then some. An incredible interwoven story set in an incredible, descriptive and beautiful world that has twists and more than a few surprises as we embark on this amazing adventure!
May 3, 2018
Camelot as you have never seen it before some major twists and turns although there are parts that stay true to what we are given in the King Arthur story. However in this many characters have past lives of other characters we have come to know in the original story. Really enjoyed this as I have always loved King Arthur type books especially mists of Avalon.
May 21, 2018
This book was very surprising! I wasn't sure what to expect from this story going in but once I got started I just couldn't stop! I don't want to give away any of the surprises that pop up because that was half the fun of reading this story, every time I thought I had it figured out BOOM she threw another twist in. Very talented writer and I hope to read many more by this author.
June 1, 2018
she is cursed to sew the life of others. it has like this for 30 years, then he appears and her life may be about to change as he may be able to save her from her cursed life. will she ever be free? see if she can
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 14, 2020
Bree Moore does an amazing job of not only retelling this story but also adding other known fairly tale bits into the story as well. I was kept enthralled from page 1! Looking forward to more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 28, 2020
Marvelous reinterpretation of many of the myths surrounding Camelot. Highly entertaining, and well written. The narrator did get distracted several times and repeat lines, but the story was so good that it is easily forgiven. I received a free review copy of the audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2020
This was a different view on the Camelot story. I really liked the tie in of the Tower to the legend. Quite believable in the tales told. Well done. The narration was well done but I did find it hard to listen for long periods of time due to the narrators voice being so high. Otherwise it was quite enjoyable.
February 21, 2022
Like Nothing Else I've Read
As a huge fan of Arthurian legend, this book was a surprise and brought forth a roller coaster of emotions. The story of Elaine and Gereck weaves through and its importance is shown in the ending chapters. The characters of Guinevere and Lancelot are not what you've been used to, making this book unique. Definitely will read the follow-up book.
As a huge fan of Arthurian legend, this book was a surprise and brought forth a roller coaster of emotions. The story of Elaine and Gereck weaves through and its importance is shown in the ending chapters. The characters of Guinevere and Lancelot are not what you've been used to, making this book unique. Definitely will read the follow-up book.
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