I’m actually feral for this book- what the hell!!!!!
I was LIVING for this slow burn — IT WAS SOOOOO GOOD!
The plot : 500000⭐️
The characters: 50000⭐️
EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL AND SO WELL THOUGHT OUT!!!

Rhya, a halfling, a persecuted race, is saved from execution by a mysterious brooding knight who doesn’t like to take his helmet off. This book promises so much in the blurb and doesn't deliver very much, it certainly shouldn't have been classified as Adult or Romantasy. It's a very long book, where not a huge amount happens for large parts. It has some saving graces, like Soren, who is chaos incarnate, and the book could have done with a hell of a lot more of him.

The middling - The world building and main plot is fine but predictable (though the timeline is wonky, there are times where it sounds like weeks are passing, but a few pages later it mentions the number of days), the FMC is fine, what you’d expect for a Romatansy female lead, fierce and independant but also a little ignorant and sheltered. She has good moments, but towards the end of the book, her actions and thoughts get repetitive; there is no progression, just constant running away and failing to remember the people who have helped her. The MMC is your standard brooding hero; he also ends up being repetitive, constantly failing to communicate. I wouldn’t call it a romantasy either. There is a little tension, some simmering longing and the standard ‘we had a steamy kiss but really can’t be together and need to be emotionally detached’.

The bad stuff - (why this is rated less than 3) you have to get 23% into the book before a woman other than the FMC appears on the page. I was getting concerned that the book wasn’t even going to pass the Bechdel test. It’s then another 27% before another woman appears on the page. 270 pages, and other than the FMC, we get just two other women speaking on page.

This book feels out of place for 2025 - all the warriors are male, which is sad for a high-fantasy world where our world history doesn’t need to be applied. Even across the fae realms, the same misogyny exists, which makes no sense for what is meant to be a more advanced culture - surely they would be different in their perspectives of gender stereotypes than humans? “A man is not his history.” “Poison’s a woman’s weapon.” There are lots of moments like this that jerk you out of the fantasy world. The women we are introduced to in the second half of the book are maids and a seamstress… traditional ‘women’s roles’. And spend most of their time talking about the men. This would all be fine if the misogyny and sexism were addressed and railed against in the book, but it’s not questioned or seen as anything but normal.

Again, we need to do better in 2025; reinforcing gender stereotypes has no place in high fantasy.

Immediately after finishing The Wind Weaver, I was largely speechless. This is a fast paced read that packs so much action into its 500 pages, but at no point was I bored, nor did I feel it was dragging. Rhya is a wonderful protagonist, flawed and vulnerable but still strong and fierce. She is endlessly witty and holds her own. Penn is a wonderful morally grey MMC and utterly dreamy. The yearning is perfection. This is the ultimate slow-burn and I ate up every little look, touch and word. This book has so many wonderful friendships, and I liked them instantly. I thoroughly enjoyed the world building. Whilst there is so much lore to take in, it never felt overwhelming or forced, rather I felt I had lived in this world all my life. This was an exquisite read, I had such a good time and it left me breathless.

This was an easy Romantasty read. I loved the way the MMC was introduced slowly. The FMC was annoying as she kept doing that thing of running away and the MMC didn't communicate so I started to get irritated by their relationship by the end. I wish they had got together a lot sooner instead of the author trying to prolong the 'will they, won't they' dynamic.

I loved the beginning and the world building. The side characters were great but some of them seemed to have the same personality. Depending on which chapter, I either liked the FMC or I was as annoyed by her. She didn't listen and she was good at putting herself in danger. But she was a good friend and challenged people who looked down on her.

The ending was amazing and I can't wait to read book two.

This has very little spice. I'm not a spice fan so I liked this. I'm just putting this for information for other readers.

The Wind Weaver kicks off with a well-paced story that jumps straight into the action, avoiding info dumps that would leave you lost in world-building. The balance between discovery and adventure is solid; while you’re still figuring out the rules of the world, it doesn’t feel like you're drowning in details.

Rhya is an absolute treat—fiery, bold, and more importantly kind. She’s not clueless, just under-informed (thanks, everyone who’s keeping secrets!). Penn, though? He could definitely do with a crash course in communication. And maybe stop treating her like she’s still a kid. Sure, we all love a fae age gap, but when it turns into treating someone like a child, the romance starts to fizzle out for me.

This isn't your typical Romantasy—there’s way more adventure and fantasy than romance and spice. The romance develops at a glacial pace (and I mean glacial). Penn’s whole “I need to control my feelings or I’ll lose control of my power” gives major slow-burn vibes (ah!). Honestly, by the end of the book, I’m secretly hoping for a "why choose" situation. Soren’s fun, he’s gorgeous, and I’m just saying—there’s potential for a very spicy love triangle (or, should I say, a love square?). As Remnant of Earth, where are you? (I have my suspicions!).

Now, let’s talk dialogue. Rhya and Penn share this Bridgerton-esque banter where they’re the bane of each other’s existence, which I loved. But every now and then, the dialogue flips into something way more modern, so a little consistency would go a long way in keeping things flowing better.

But what really sells this book is the found family aspect. Rhya finds her people, and even though Penn keeps her at arm’s length, she begins to realize that perhaps she is worthy of that love. It’s a feel-good moment when she finally sees she is loved by her friends, and it makes you root for her even more, hoping as the story goes that she does see she deserves that love and care.

Overall, The Wind Weaver is a delightful mix of fantasy, slow-burn romance (very slow burn), and an intriguing world. The enemies-to-lovers trope, the tiny bit of spice, and the potential (one can only hope!) for “why choose” are all pulling me back for more. So here’s hoping the next book throws in some curveballs—maybe Penn isn’t the only one in the running after all!

I really enjoyed The Wind Weaver! The world-building is rich, the magic system is unique, and Rhya is a strong, compelling protagonist. Her dynamic with Commander Scythe is filled with tension and slow-burn romance, which kept me hooked.

At times, the pacing felt a little slow, but the story more than made up for it with its emotional depth and action. If you love fantasy with a mix of romance, adventure, and found family, this is definitely worth reading!

Many thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Wind Weaver is the start of a new romantasy series by Julie Johnson and this book contains some of the most popular tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Prophecy
Slow burn
Magic system
Found family

This was an enjoyable read with a well paced story. It starts off by throwing you right into the action and engaged me right away. At no point did I feel bored or that things were moving too slowly, even though it is quite a long book. The history and lore are revealed gradually throughout and at moments relevant to the narrative so I was never overwhelmed by the world building or felt that the author was info dumping, which I definitely appreciated.

The main character, Rhya, is feisty, brave and resilient and I thought she was a strong FMC.
The MMC is perhaps not as interesting, and he is the broody, silent, overbearing, strong warrior archetype that is quite stereotypical of the fantasy genre. I found the secondary characters (eg Jac and Farley) far more entertaining and with way more personality, especially one character who only has two appearances, but these are memorable, and I am sure this person will be more significant in the future.

The plot is contrived and predictable at times but I can overlook this because it helps keep the story moving. I am hopeful the magic system and political intrigue will be flushed out further because they are a bit undeveloped. There is a lot of setup (even though it doesn’t all pay off) so potential to explore all these dangling threads in subsequent books in the series.

The romance is definitely a slow burn and I felt it steadily building throughout even if I did not sizzle off the page.

Is this the best fantasy/romantasy I’ve ever read? No.
Does this story feel brand new and original? No.
Did I have a fun time while reading? Yes.
Do I plan on reading the next book? Yes.

This book does at times feel like a blend of other stories from the same genre and may struggle to stand out from the crowd but I enjoyed reading it and hope it finds an audience.

A breathtaking fantasy adventure with lyrical writing and a heroine you can’t help but root for. Julie Johnson weaves a story full of magic, danger, and romance, making this a must-read for fantasy lovers.

A solid romantasy debut with an interesting premise. I enjoyed the band of men that Rhya was with and enjoyed their camaraderie. At times the characters felt more YA and juvenile in their language and reactions, but overall an interesting read.

Avatar the Last Airbender but add fae and romance

“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒍 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒔. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒚𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍.”

Genuinely…a 6⭐️ read for me. I absolutely INHALED this. A unique magic system paired with world-building that is so effortlessly crafted and characters you can really connect with and love. Rhya and Penn are such wonderful main characters, this book is packed with tension and yearning which is exactly what I want from a romantasy. I am devastated that I can’t immediately read what’s next for them.

If this is a debut fantasy then I’m really excited for what comes next because this was incredible. An endless thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy.

I really enjoyed this, It’s a long, slow burn enemies to lovers romantasy with a brilliant cast of characters. I loved the world building, the banter between Rhya and Soren, but personally, although I like Penn I hoped for a little less angst between the two love interests. I’m so looking forward to what happens next. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this.

The Wind Weaver is a beautifully written romantasy that effortlessly captivated me. The characters are exceptionally well-developed, making it easy for me to form a deep connection with them. The vivid immersion was so intense that I found myself craving strawberries (you'll definitely want some on hand while reading!).

The banter throughout the book is smart and witty, adding an enjoyable layer of humour to the story. The plot is meticulously crafted, with a clear path that ensured I was never lost. From the very first page, the action was intense and gripping, making it nearly impossible for me to put the book down.

I absolutely adored The Wind Weaver and cannot wait for the release of the second book in the series. It's a must-read for fans of romance, fantasy, and engaging storytelling.

Really enjoyed this book and the journey it takes you on. 100% will be reading the next book.
The conversational language at the beginning of the book almost put me off reading it but this soon changed and became a more relaxed conversational style. Definitely a slow burn romance but great story building throughout.

Incredibly paced with a slow-burn romance to die for!
I loved the plot and the world-building of the story, alongside the fabulous romance. What more could you want?
The perfect book to break you out of a slump, this ticked all of the Romantasy boxes.
I will 100% be purchasing a copy and looking out for more by this author!

A brilliant fae fantasy. Had me gripped. Love the use of the four elements and different courts. Can't wait for more.

Thank you Julie Johnson, Michael Joseph Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the ARC

After a harrowing hunt, Rhya has been captured and is about to be executed. Her crime? Being born half-Fae.

However at the last moment she is rescued by a surly warrior with his own agenda, who spirits her away to lands she never knew existed...

I really really enjoyed this book! It was a bit too long - although I was impressed that it still didn't feel like it was dragging - and most of the action is squeezed into the last hundred pages or so. I wasn't totally convinced by the romance to start with, but it grew on me by the end. I'm really looking forward to the sequel!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

When an ancient prophecy ignites, Rhya, finds her life is turned upside down. Fighting for her live in the Northlands, she soon discovers she is a Remnant, a Halfling fated to restore the balance of magic. But if she is to have a chance at saving the realm she must learn to control her power and master not only her magic but her heart…

I enjoyed the premise of Wind Weaver. The synopsis was right up my alley and world Julie Johnson builds is interesting and parts are definitely captivating.

However I struggled with the pacing of this book, for me there just wasn’t enough plot to pull the narrative along through long chapters and an ultimately long novel. The FMC was also not one I gravitated towards. Her actions and relationships with others didn’t make sense to me from the start and I found it hard to invest in her character arc.

I don’t enjoy giving ARCs less than positive reviews, but equally want to be honest and my take away was that this book isn’t for me.

I. Loved. It.

The slow burn. The angst. The longing. It was everything. The lack of communication between Rhya and Penn had me screaming internally at times - it was both frustrating and incredibly hot, all at the same time.

Really liked Soren's character and can't wait to see how this part of the story develops into the next book.

Give me book two now!!

I loved this book SO much. Such a wonderfully written romantasy... the romance - chef's kiss!
Really really looking forward to the next book!