"The Weaver Bride" by Lydia Gregovi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Selection meets The Rose Bargain meets The Bachelor in this excellent romantasy. I’ve read both books and loved them. Despite the similarity in tropes, The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovi offers a unique spin. The premise is familiar—a marriage competition to win a husband—but the execution is original.

Written in first-person POV, the book follows a silkwitch named Lovett Tamerlane, who uses her wit (a.k.a. secret ability) to open any door—to pilfer from the gentles to survive. In this world, all silkwitches must find a husband who is a Weaver by the age of 21 or be banished to the cloisters.

A meeting with Eliot Lear, the notorious son of a prominent Weaver, changes her path. The two strike a deal: she will enter the marriage competition of his best friend, Noé Alaire—heir to generations of Weaver wealth—and, in return, she will help him uncover what happened to his sister, who died under mysterious circumstances in the previous competition, a.k.a. the Vainglory.

This is no simple competition. Ten silkwitches will be tested, ranked, and gradually eliminated until only one remains—the lucky bride. What follows is an incredible story chock-full of mystery, slow-burn romance, cutthroat rivalry, betrayal, magic, and all the other hallmarks of a great fantasy novel.

I loved the book! The world-building is incredible. There are different kinds of wits, the magic is inventive, and unexpected twists keep you on your toes. Silkwitches’ hair can be woven into objects, making them magical—how cool is that??

The writing is compelling—you can vividly picture each character, setting, and scene. The two main characters are strong and obstinate. You can't remain indifferent to them; you either love them or hate them. I loved them both and found them fascinating. The supporting cast is colorful and kept the book engaging, though not all of them felt fully three-dimensional.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was how easy it was to slip into this world. Lydia Gregovi definitely knows how to capture the imagination. I was hanging on her every word. The book is well-written, well-plotted, and kept me hooked from start to finish. It combines all the elements I love: mystery, witty repartee, a magical world, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a convoluted plot.

Mystery, suspicious deaths, and intrigue woven into a magical world make for an entertaining ride! The twist at the end was fantastic and left me breathless. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m eager for the sequel. The author takes familiar tropes and spins them into something entirely fresh and exciting. Highly recommended to fans of the trope who are looking for an original read!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Weaver Bride" by Lydia Gregovi