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A review by cschaepe84
Woven in Darkness by Lucy Holden
3.0
Thank you Netgalley for the Arc
I really wanted to love this book so much more than I did because of the intriguing plot and premise and wonderful characters. The story is about a girl who is enslaved along with her four siblings (even though they are not biological siblings). She wants to win the Braid Race so she can buy her and her family's freedom. Well, a Dark Rip steals her brother from her, and along with that, she meets a mysterious stranger who wants to know why there have been an increase in Dark Rips.
So our heroine, Zaria enters the Braid Race, but loses, and none other than the Savage King Harken, who is the mysterious stranger she meets, claims her for his own as decreed in their laws to spare life. Naturally, she's suspicious of him and his also concerned about his reputation, finding out though that he is not quite what he seems. He in turn starts having feelings for her as well despite knowing that he needs to keep those feelings for her at bay because he feels that she is she may be the key of why there are Dark Rips as he is the sworn protector of the Woven Court, now known as the Savage Court after a war that had torn the world apart...
I really enjoyed the romance between Zaria and Harken, but alas, it was buried underneath way too much political intrigue and world building. Lucy Holden can really write good spicy scenes, so it kind of disappointed me that I didn't get more romantic tension between Harken and Zaria, especially when considering the nature of their relationship and what they are: A Savage King and a little Criminal (even thought I didn't really care much for the nickname to be honest). I felt like most of the story was a lot of explanation about the history and politics and yet I still managed to be confused.
This story would have been a two star had it not been for the fact that I really liked the characters and the story premise, though it would have been 4 or a 5 had it focused more on Zaria and Harken's relationship, which in and of itself is an intriguing story, but the opportunity was missed.
I really wanted to love this book so much more than I did because of the intriguing plot and premise and wonderful characters. The story is about a girl who is enslaved along with her four siblings (even though they are not biological siblings). She wants to win the Braid Race so she can buy her and her family's freedom. Well, a Dark Rip steals her brother from her, and along with that, she meets a mysterious stranger who wants to know why there have been an increase in Dark Rips.
So our heroine, Zaria enters the Braid Race, but loses, and none other than the Savage King Harken, who is the mysterious stranger she meets, claims her for his own as decreed in their laws to spare life. Naturally, she's suspicious of him and his also concerned about his reputation, finding out though that he is not quite what he seems. He in turn starts having feelings for her as well despite knowing that he needs to keep those feelings for her at bay because he feels that she is she may be the key of why there are Dark Rips as he is the sworn protector of the Woven Court, now known as the Savage Court after a war that had torn the world apart...
I really enjoyed the romance between Zaria and Harken, but alas, it was buried underneath way too much political intrigue and world building. Lucy Holden can really write good spicy scenes, so it kind of disappointed me that I didn't get more romantic tension between Harken and Zaria, especially when considering the nature of their relationship and what they are: A Savage King and a little Criminal (even thought I didn't really care much for the nickname to be honest). I felt like most of the story was a lot of explanation about the history and politics and yet I still managed to be confused.
This story would have been a two star had it not been for the fact that I really liked the characters and the story premise, though it would have been 4 or a 5 had it focused more on Zaria and Harken's relationship, which in and of itself is an intriguing story, but the opportunity was missed.