I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Weaver Bride but, I was attracted by the idea of a new take on a magic world and a magic system that appears to like Hercules be founded in the hair of Silkwitches. This alone is something I hadn’t really considered previously and was enticed by the idea that magical powers can be shared via hair from a Silkwitch’s hair.

What is a Silkwitch? A Silkwitch is a woman born with a single magical skill, called a ‘wit’ and according to the magical structure of this world, will not be able to fully harness their magical skills unless they marry a Weaver by the age of 21. A Weaver is a man with wealth and status, without whom a Silkwitch will not only be unable to realise her power but, will also find themselves locked away in the Cloisters for the rest of their lives, unable to realise their power. The challenge for women born as Silkwitches is that there is only a finite number of men available in society whom hold the wealth, power and status that make them eligible Weavers, and the number of Silkwitches far outweighs their number.

Lovett our protagonist is very much facing this dilemma, she was not born into a family of status and has struggled to engage with the marriage mart to find a suitable Weaver husband and has instead found herself on the edge of society, using her wit for less legal and moral means. During such activities, she meets Eliot, a Weaver with power, status and wealth who can offer her a chance to marry and avoid the Cloisters. There’s just one condition, she needs to take part in a magical marriage tournament and investigate the sudden and unexpected death of his sister during a prior iteration of the tournament.

I really like Lovett, she’s got guts, determination and despite her mistakes, she keeps trying, and she also recognises her own personal shortcomings. She admits she’s not going to fix them but, she does recognise and acknowledge them, if only to herself. Eliot is a robust foil for Lovett and I really enjoyed their confrontations and challenges, there was no lack of intellectual, personal and romantic spark between the two in this slow burn, enemies/rivals to lovers romance, even if both were determined to not acknowledge it.

On the other hand, Noé the marriage tournament prize Weaver husband, I was a little disappointed in. As a character he had all the morally-grey characteristics that you could want but, it just felt like there could have been more of a play-off between him and Eliot for Lovett’s affections, however, that’s not to say the core elements were missing. I was just hoping for a little more.

From a pace perspective, I actually enjoyed the gradual increase in plot speed and the abrupt and unexpected twists and turns that at times left me reeling. I enjoyed the unpredictability of the tournament events and the over-arching mystery of Eliot’s sister’s death. This alongside the compelling world-building, magical system development and political intrigue worked together to present an immensely patriarchal and misogynistic world that I’m hoping will truly explode in the next book in the series.

Overall, I was initially intrigued by concept of The Weaver Bride and remained so until the final page and the staggering reveals that have left me awaiting the next book in the series. I am hoping that this is just the foundation for what could be a truly compelling series.

Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and NetGalley for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I really wanted to love this book, as it offers a truly unique premise. In the end, I didn’t exactly dislike it, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations either.

In the world of The Weaver Bride, magic is intricately tied to the strands of a silkwitch’s hair. Silkwitches – women born with a minor magical power known as a “wit” – can only fully harness their abilities through marriage to a Weaver. If they don’t marry by 21, they’re locked away in cloisters. The challenge, however, is that finding a suitable husband requires wealth and status, neither of which the protagonist, Lovett, has. This is when she meets Eliot, a Weaver who proposes a deal: help him investigate the mysterious death of his sister during a tournament for the hand of one of the wealthy Weavers called Noé, and he’ll give her a chance to compete and find a husband. What follows is a blend of magical intrigue and romance, which sadly, ultimately falls short of its potential.

The idea behind the worldbuilding and magic system is undeniably captivating. Silkwitches, Weavers, and the mysterious powers tied to their hair are intriguing concepts, and the world holds a lot of potential for expansion. However, I was quite irritated by how the narrative was sometimes weighed down by heavy exposition, bordering on over-description. Especially at the beginning, the story goes into lengthy explanations of the magic system and world-building, but it feels detached from the actual plot.

As for the romance, it didn’t quite hit the mark. The book sets up what should be an engaging love triangle, with Lovett caught between the brooding Eliot and the kind-hearted Noé. Unfortunately, neither relationship really sparkles. The dynamic between Eliot and Lovett is meant to be an enemies-to-lovers or rivals-to-lovers arc, reminiscent of the slow-burn tension between Darcy and Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice (think: "I hate you, yet I suffer because I love you"). However, their relationship lacks the chemistry and emotional depth that would make it compelling, leaving me indifferent. The connection with Noé had the potential to serve as an effective foil, raising the emotional stakes with Eliot, but unfortunately, that dynamic never fully materializes.

The most engaging part of the story for me was the criminal mystery surrounding the death of Eliot’s sister. The plot is full of twists and turns, centered around a tournament. The resolution of the mystery was definitely intriguing, as it opens up many opportunities to explore broader aspects of this world in a future installment. The society depicted here is heavily patriarchal, and I believe there’s significant potential to delve into themes of injustice and resistance through the main character. While this could have been addressed more deeply in the first book, I still hope that the sequel will offer a more thorough exploration of gender roles and power dynamics.

In the end, Weaver Bride presents an intriguing concept but falls short of fully delivering on its promises. If it were a standalone novel, I would definitely give it a lower rating. However, knowing that a sequel is planned, I remain intrigued. The open ending leaves room for the story to grow into something more meaningful than just a bride tournament, with potential for deeper exploration of the book’s most compelling themes, such as gender roles and power imbalance.

What a fantastic read!!!Did I preorder this before I even read it, just because of the stunning cover? Absolutely! Did I love it ? Yes I did! From the very first page, I was hooked. The mix of magic, mystery, and romance kept me totally engaged throughout the story. I really enjoyed the whole premise of the marriage competition, especially since it’s tied to a tragic family mystery. It added so much depth to the plot.

The characters were definitely one of the highlights for me. Lovett was such an interesting protagonist, with her unique magic and the way she navigated a world where status and power are everything. Eliot, the mysterious guy, was a perfect counterpart to Lovett, and their dynamic had me really invested in their journey together.

The world-building in this book was also incredible. The magic system felt fresh and different from anything else I’ve read, and I loved how the author built such a rich, detailed world around it. The mix of tradition, competition, and personal stakes made the story feel so layered and intense.

What really kept me turning the pages was the tension throughout the book. It had the right balance of suspense, romance, and just enough danger to keep things exciting. Overall, it was exactly the kind of fantasy story I love, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Definitely recommend!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book 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 couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it

The Weaver Bride combines so many elements I love: a fantasy world with a fairytale feel, regency style courtship, a marriage competition and a murder mystery plot, all within a gothic castle setting. The cover and description gave me a similar vibe to The Rose Bargain which I really enjoyed so I was hoping for something equally fun and whimsical. In theory it should have been the perfect book for me but unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectations.

I liked the writing style but I found the pacing incredibly slow in the first half of the book and I had to force myself to keep reading. While it did start to pick up after the 60% mark and the plot took an interesting turn towards the end, it wasn’t enough to make up for the lack of interest I felt in the beginning.

I was looking forward to getting this ARC and I think The Weaver Bride really lived up to expectations, the world building and magic system were unique, but I found the ending a bit rushed. I'm looking forward to the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Hodderscape for an arc in exchange for an honest review.