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smutworm's review
4.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
0 spice (unless you count kissing)
This book has me torn. I was super into the world-building, which was, to me, not your run-of-the-mill magic system. But then, on the other hand, I read fantasy romance... for the romance (and that includes spice).
And with that I will warn everyone who cares: THERE IS ONLY FADE TO BLACK ROMANCE.
What romance there was between the FMC and Harken was sometimes all over the place. At times it felt real and believable but then there were moments where I genuinely rolled by eyes. It's written like they have an unbreakable love one minute, and then, after a single rejection, the FMC was ready to peace out. She needed side characters to step in and convince her to stay. Also am I the only one wondering how Harken even has the ability to be into her? He was woven into existence... is not human, and only purpose is to protect the woven court. Being into someone is not on the list of things he was asked to do by his creators.
However, at the end of the day, I can't deny that the concept of the book is super interesting. That alone is what pushed my rating up to 4 stars. However, I don't plan on picking up the next books in the series. If you're fine with a less spicy romance and you're all about diving into a unique magic world, then you might love this book.
0 spice (unless you count kissing)
This book has me torn. I was super into the world-building, which was, to me, not your run-of-the-mill magic system. But then, on the other hand, I read fantasy romance... for the romance (and that includes spice).
And with that I will warn everyone who cares: THERE IS ONLY FADE TO BLACK ROMANCE.
What romance there was between the FMC and Harken was sometimes all over the place. At times it felt real and believable but then there were moments where I genuinely rolled by eyes. It's written like they have an unbreakable love one minute, and then, after a single rejection, the FMC was ready to peace out. She needed side characters to step in and convince her to stay. Also am I the only one wondering how Harken even has the ability to be into her? He was woven into existence... is not human, and only purpose is to protect the woven court. Being into someone is not on the list of things he was asked to do by his creators.
However, at the end of the day, I can't deny that the concept of the book is super interesting. That alone is what pushed my rating up to 4 stars. However, I don't plan on picking up the next books in the series. If you're fine with a less spicy romance and you're all about diving into a unique magic world, then you might love this book.
caitlin_marsss's review
5.0
This book was so phenomenally written that I didn't even care that it was a whopping 71 chapters!
I really enjoyed the strength and determination of Zaria as she tackles all the obstacles in her way to improve not just her life, but her siblings' lives as well. Even as a slave in a not so great place to live, she still held hope, even in the face of death-- especially in the Braid Race.
Harken is a morally gray anti-hero known as the Savage King and there's a lot of "who did this to you" and "don't touch my girl" involved-- and he calls Zaria "little criminal" and just ahhhhhh, I love it.
Also, the world building is just *chef's kiss* perfection, so intricately woven and well thought out that it was like I was there. The history and the magic system and the characters were amazing and I really enjoyed all the details. It did take me a few chapters to full immerse myself since it is so info heavy.
I would definitely suggest this to anyone searching for a new high fantasy read with magic, high-stakes, romance, forced proximity. Thank you sincerely to NetGalley and Lucy Holden for sending me a eARC copy of this wonderful book. It was great!
I really enjoyed the strength and determination of Zaria as she tackles all the obstacles in her way to improve not just her life, but her siblings' lives as well. Even as a slave in a not so great place to live, she still held hope, even in the face of death-- especially in the Braid Race.
Harken is a morally gray anti-hero known as the Savage King and there's a lot of "who did this to you" and "don't touch my girl" involved-- and he calls Zaria "little criminal" and just ahhhhhh, I love it.
Also, the world building is just *chef's kiss* perfection, so intricately woven and well thought out that it was like I was there. The history and the magic system and the characters were amazing and I really enjoyed all the details. It did take me a few chapters to full immerse myself since it is so info heavy.
I would definitely suggest this to anyone searching for a new high fantasy read with magic, high-stakes, romance, forced proximity. Thank you sincerely to NetGalley and Lucy Holden for sending me a eARC copy of this wonderful book. It was great!
ember1999's review
3.0
I received a free copy and am choosing to leave a review.
I liked the storyline and the characters. It was slow for me and seemed to drag on. The ending had closure for everyone except for Huxley. I need to know what happened to Huxley.
I liked the storyline and the characters. It was slow for me and seemed to drag on. The ending had closure for everyone except for Huxley. I need to know what happened to Huxley.
meganbernard's review
4.0
I really struggled on how to rate this book if I'm honest; on one hand I loved and devoured it and on the other the overload of information nearly killed me.
There was so much information thrown into this story, so much so that even now after finishing the book I'm still not convinced that I full understand the world or half the plot. Usually this would be enough for me to DNF or rate really low but for some reason I still ended up entirely invested in our FMC Zaria and her desire to find freedom for herself and her siblings. I also read this book in less than 48 hours and for that I really can't rate less than 4 stars
I found the surface level plot really compelling and I'm pretty confident that despite the information overload I'm still going to continue the series until we learn more of the FMC's background and past.
I didn't care either way for the romance aspect of the book as I felt like there wasn't enough build up for my liking but I would still be interested to read more of the relationship to see how it develops over the later books. *There is no spice in this book*
I would absolutely recommend to readers who enjoy a lot of world building and a complex magic system.
There was so much information thrown into this story, so much so that even now after finishing the book I'm still not convinced that I full understand the world or half the plot. Usually this would be enough for me to DNF or rate really low but for some reason I still ended up entirely invested in our FMC Zaria and her desire to find freedom for herself and her siblings. I also read this book in less than 48 hours and for that I really can't rate less than 4 stars
I found the surface level plot really compelling and I'm pretty confident that despite the information overload I'm still going to continue the series until we learn more of the FMC's background and past.
I didn't care either way for the romance aspect of the book as I felt like there wasn't enough build up for my liking but I would still be interested to read more of the relationship to see how it develops over the later books. *There is no spice in this book*
I would absolutely recommend to readers who enjoy a lot of world building and a complex magic system.
ginalonifer's review
2.0
DNF 15%
Sadly the writing just wasn’t for me, and i was having trouble following along.
Maybe it was just the audiobook, maybe my head just wasn’t in the game, but i cannot finish this book. One day i might finish this, but after months of trying to get into it i just gave up.
Thank you to Netgalley and Fehu Press for allowing me to read/listen this book.
Sadly the writing just wasn’t for me, and i was having trouble following along.
Maybe it was just the audiobook, maybe my head just wasn’t in the game, but i cannot finish this book. One day i might finish this, but after months of trying to get into it i just gave up.
Thank you to Netgalley and Fehu Press for allowing me to read/listen this book.
ashm21's review
4.0
Thank you NetGalley! This book was really interesting. I will say the first part of the book had me really confused and not really sure what was going on. However, it really picked up and I couldn't put it down!
minipanda's review against another edition
Zaria, a slave, is desperately trying to save her family. She entered a competition, hoping she could win her freedom. Instead, she was claimed by the Savage King (Harken). Zaria then agrees to help Harken find whoever is behind the Dark Rip; in return, he will help her save her family.
I was initially excited to start the novel since the concept sounds intriguing. Unfortunately, I was struggling to get into the story. First, too much telling instead of showing and info-dumping. The author could of focus on using more descriptive and immersive language to show the reader what is happening in the story, rather than simply telling them. Second, too many names were thrown around. I wish the author had introduced a few key characters first, giving us time to become familiar with them before introducing more. Lastly, the pacing was too slow.
I wasn't invested enough to want to pick the novel back up once I had put it down.
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Holden, and Fehu Press for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I was initially excited to start the novel since the concept sounds intriguing. Unfortunately, I was struggling to get into the story. First, too much telling instead of showing and info-dumping. The author could of focus on using more descriptive and immersive language to show the reader what is happening in the story, rather than simply telling them. Second, too many names were thrown around. I wish the author had introduced a few key characters first, giving us time to become familiar with them before introducing more. Lastly, the pacing was too slow.
I wasn't invested enough to want to pick the novel back up once I had put it down.
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Holden, and Fehu Press for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
adrihean's review against another edition
4.0
In "Woven in Darkness" by Lucy Holden, readers are drawn into a captivating tale of resilience, freedom, and an unlikely romance set against a backdrop of dragons, magic, and an enigmatic dark king. Zaria, a determined slave, yearns for freedom not only for herself but also for her siblings. Her journey centers around winning the Arkady and the Maverick's race, a pivotal event that could secure her future and ultimately rescue her beloved family members from their dire fates.
The enigmatic Harken, known as the Savage King, becomes an unexpected player in Zaria's quest. During the Arkady race, he claims her as a partner, driven by his own motives: to uncover the identity of the culprit responsible for rift openings and to break Zaria's slave weave. As they navigate a treacherous path filled with intrigue and danger, both fight the undeniable attraction that simmers between them, steadfastly pursuing their individual goals.
In this slow-burn fantasy romance, Lucy Holden weaves a rich tapestry of a world brimming with dragons, magic, social hierarchies, and hidden riches. The narrative, while intriguing, occasionally left me grappling with elements of the unique world-building. It diverges from the conventions of popular fantasy literature, presenting a fresh and distinctive lore, though one that is shrouded in mystery. While this adds to the allure of the story, it also left me yearning for a deeper exploration of the intricacies of this fascinating universe in future books.
I connected with Zaria as the eldest sister needs to protect her siblings at all costs. Her struggles to protect them, even when her choices inadvertently cause harm, make her a relatable protagonist. Likewise, Harken's burdened by a heavy sense of responsibility and a need for self-isolation had me rooting for him. 4 out of 5 stars.
The enigmatic Harken, known as the Savage King, becomes an unexpected player in Zaria's quest. During the Arkady race, he claims her as a partner, driven by his own motives: to uncover the identity of the culprit responsible for rift openings and to break Zaria's slave weave. As they navigate a treacherous path filled with intrigue and danger, both fight the undeniable attraction that simmers between them, steadfastly pursuing their individual goals.
In this slow-burn fantasy romance, Lucy Holden weaves a rich tapestry of a world brimming with dragons, magic, social hierarchies, and hidden riches. The narrative, while intriguing, occasionally left me grappling with elements of the unique world-building. It diverges from the conventions of popular fantasy literature, presenting a fresh and distinctive lore, though one that is shrouded in mystery. While this adds to the allure of the story, it also left me yearning for a deeper exploration of the intricacies of this fascinating universe in future books.
I connected with Zaria as the eldest sister needs to protect her siblings at all costs. Her struggles to protect them, even when her choices inadvertently cause harm, make her a relatable protagonist. Likewise, Harken's burdened by a heavy sense of responsibility and a need for self-isolation had me rooting for him. 4 out of 5 stars.
snarkymotherreader's review against another edition
5.0
Zaria and her four siblings have been slaves as long as they can remember. Found as small children with shadow braids around their necks, they've dreamed of a day where they could be free.
Zaria sees their chance in the Braid Race, a race where slaves compete for their freedom. The winner has their braid unwoven; the losers are killed. If she can win the race, she can be free and find a way to buy her siblings' freedom.
Strange forces are at work to stop her. A tall, savage stranger saves her life, heals her wounds, and sparks her curiosity. Powerful enemies emerge. And a forbidden temptation may be Zaria's salvation...or her undoing.
Woven in Darkness is one of the best fantasy novels I've read this year. It has a strong FMC, morally grey hero, immersive worldbuilding without info dumps, a slow burn romance, intrigue, and a dragon!
What more could you ask for??
Harken is a fascinating character. I love that we're given glimpses into his past through their connection. It makes it more heart-wrenching to see it all unravel. His care for Zaria is exactly how I'd imagine someone created vs born would act.
Zaria and her siblings have so much potential, and I hope we get to see more about their futures. Her sisters have been through hell and her younger brother may rival her older brother for the title of Strong Stoic.
The cast of side characters made the story rich and easy to get lost in. Exactly how much does Gemory know? What happened to Huxley? Will the wolves play a pivotal role in the next book? Can Harken's sworn enemy be redeemed? I feel like that meme of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory - I MUST KNOW!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Zaria sees their chance in the Braid Race, a race where slaves compete for their freedom. The winner has their braid unwoven; the losers are killed. If she can win the race, she can be free and find a way to buy her siblings' freedom.
Strange forces are at work to stop her. A tall, savage stranger saves her life, heals her wounds, and sparks her curiosity. Powerful enemies emerge. And a forbidden temptation may be Zaria's salvation...or her undoing.
Woven in Darkness is one of the best fantasy novels I've read this year. It has a strong FMC, morally grey hero, immersive worldbuilding without info dumps, a slow burn romance, intrigue, and a dragon!
What more could you ask for??
Harken is a fascinating character. I love that we're given glimpses into his past through their connection. It makes it more heart-wrenching to see it all unravel. His care for Zaria is exactly how I'd imagine someone created vs born would act.
Zaria and her siblings have so much potential, and I hope we get to see more about their futures. Her sisters have been through hell and her younger brother may rival her older brother for the title of Strong Stoic.
The cast of side characters made the story rich and easy to get lost in. Exactly how much does Gemory know? What happened to Huxley? Will the wolves play a pivotal role in the next book? Can Harken's sworn enemy be redeemed? I feel like that meme of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory - I MUST KNOW!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.