Five stars because self-publishing is hard. Kudos for getting it done and out there.

I personally found the prose itself over-written, over-narrated and a bit clunky. I stopped after chapter 2. It probably could have used another round of line edits. That said, some people really enjoy that style of writing. I hope this book finds its readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rachel Krotec for the opportunity to read the book.

Another book where the cover drew me to it instantly!

So glad I did as this turned into a really fun read, mixing various mythologies up into a magical adventure with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure.

One thing that threw me to begin with was the in-sentence explanations/translations of Japanese words/terms threw the pace a bit and could have been covered in a little glossary at the front beside the explanation of the honorifics.

This was a story of two halves (well one and two thirds, the first part a very descriptive tale beautifully told, then the action and romance increased as the barriers between worlds thinned.

This is a great tale of outsiders mixed with forbidden loves, found family, Imperial intrigue, spirit possession, a little bit of sword play, and a lot about not living up to others expectations of you.

If you like a bit of mythology and action this is a good book for you though I’m still wondering what happened to the prisoner with the facial scar, it felt as though there was going to be more but sadly not.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Although I did end up DNF'ing this book, this largely just due to taste/what I was in the mood for reading at the time. I also have a lot of trouble with the "innocent but framed guilty" trope, though it's a common one in many a good mystery, and so that trigger ultimately is what pushed me off finishing. Woven Song is based off Japanese mythology and is your classic fantasy at its core - we start off with a little mythos, and then do a couple heavy world-building episodes, as we watch Yuki return to her home city and to the emperor who's summoned her after a mysterious banishment. She's clearly someone of renown/notoriety, and is looking to make her way through the world. Rachael Krotec has vivid writing, writing Yuki as this world-weary heroine, while at the same time, is not hesitant about fully immersing herself into the Japanese mythos and to my surface level knowledge, seems to have clearly done her research for this novel. Unfortunately, I feel as though I have to be in a specific time and place and mindset in order to read a fantasy that does heavy worldbuilding at the start, and that isn't where I am; Krotec has also written her book in that classic "fantasy" voice that is just more removed, and doesn't have the character's voice built in, but rather that of a narrator, despite being from Yuki's POV. If all those elements of a fantasy novel appeal to you, however, this would be the perfect novel for someone who is ready to sink into a completely different world with a badass heroine!

Absolutely loved the focus on Asian mythology. As someone that loves mythology in general I absolute devoured this book. Even though I’m not super familiar with Asian mythology I still think this book was a pretty easy read. I also enjoyed the fact that the characters aren’t cliche flawless one dimensional characters they all have some level of depth which makes them so much easier to like.

Woven Song by Rachael Krotec is a beautifully written story with a mashup of Chinese and Japanese mythology that will appeal to those who enjoy being emersed in the cultures. This book is well-paced and picks up in the last third of the story. Rachael did an amazing job with world-building, character development, and the plot of the story. From the first page to the last I was swept away to the world of Gobe and with every twist and turn that occurred I wanted to read more. Woven Song really played on my heart strings with themes such as found family, chronic illness and many more. If you enjoy mythology sprinkled with the right amount of romance this is the book for you!

Thank you NetGalley, Nib and Feather, LLC, and Rachael Krotec for providing the ARC ebook!

The overall story was interesting but I felt like there was a missing element in the overarching plot to tie it together. The characters were really good and I enjoyed seeing the dynamics shift as the story progressed. The characterisations and multiple povs helped maintain my interest throughout. I initially thought from the prologue that it would be similar to the Celestial Kingdom duology by Sue Lynn Tan but it fell short in a number of areas and the pacing was off in the last third of the book. I would have loved to have explored the different realms more and developed a deeper understanding of the mythology.

As a whole, it was an easy and enjoyable standalone read. I would recommend this for those wanting to start exploring the YA fantasy genre.

I loved how the author put so much thought into this book, especially with the honorifics, you can clearly tell how passionate Rachael was about this book, down to the last detail,
the characters were easily loveable and now that I've finished the book I really do miss them!

Asian mythology

The cover is absolutely beautiful. I could see this being a special edition with beautiful sprayed edges sitting on my shelf.

This book was such an interesting read. I watch a ton of anime and enjoy Japanese mythology so this book was easy for me to understand. The author does help paint a beautiful picture and describes everything so that even if you aren't familiar you'll still be able to appreciate the world.

I really enjoyed the story and read it all in one sitting xD

The characters are pretty likeable as well. They all have a hidden pain or something that kind of shapes their personality. Ryu was my favorite character, I'm sure for obvious reasons lol.

This isn't my typical read but I really enjoyed a change of pace that this book gave.

Publication date: June 7, 2024

Absolutely fantastic piece of fiction! An interesting an engaging take on the The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, filled with rich worldbuilding, excellent action, fun characters, and a lot of intrigue! Highly recommended to any lovers of fantasy! Thank you to NetGalley and Nib & Leather, LLC for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was an interesting blend of Chinese and Japanese mythology.

Initially I was turned off by the writing style. It felt like the tone kept a barrier between me as the reader and the characters. Maybe that was the point, considering the main character is a god, but it took some getting used to.

I will say that I came to love the characters and was cheering for them the whole way. That was a definite positive.

The plot itself didn’t feel like it had a central purpose or conflict. Rather, it was a winding plot that seemed to lack in structure.

All that being said, the story itself was interesting, and the characters were compelling. I definitely recommend reading this if you want a little introduction to the gods it is based on, though there are some deviations from the mythology.

Beautifully written. I think this would be ideal for younger fantasy readers or anyone that's just getting into fantasy!

Sweeping fantasy, beautiful worlds and love the characters and how they make you care about them. Very expansive

This book is so so so good. Loved every second of it. Super well written. Loved the characters. I give it 4 stars. I recommend everyone!

”Remember, remember, who you truly are, Kory. Make them regret ever challenging us.”

OMG, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE COVER?! It's seriously stunning, like I can't even handle how cool it is 😍. But for real, this book was awesome! I was hooked from the start, totally sweet, adventurous, and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Loved it!

What to expect:
🐉 Found Family
🐉 Fallen Gods
🐉 Asian mythology
🐉 Will they, won’t they?
🐉 Fight Scenes
🐉 Chronic illness rep
🐉 DRAGONS
🐉 Girls with swords

Alright, here's a quick summary! So, we've got Kaguya-hime, banished from the moon, and Yuki, accused of murder and kicked out of the imperial city of Gobe. Things get spicy when Yuki's life collides with the dragon god Ryu, and suddenly they're smack in the middle of a battle to save the mortal realm from Izanami, the ruler of the land of the dead. It's all about love, loss, betrayal, and loyalty, with secrets flying left and right.

Intrigued? SAME HERE! When I read the blurb, I was like, "Count me in!" So, I took a chance and requested this arc, and when I got accepted, I was over the moon (thanks for that!). As soon as I started reading, the writing had me hooked from the get-go. The first line? Pure gold. It got me wondering where this book was headed, and I gotta say, I was not disappointed. While that first line grabbed me, the rest of the writing kept me in its grip. The pacing? Just right. The short chapters gave it this kinda slow burn feel, but with a bit of oomph, you know? It had me turning pages like crazy. Rachael Krotec? A total talent. Plus, she made Japanese myths super accessible. I mean, I'm no expert in that stuff, but she explained it all so seamlessly. Now I feel like I've got a handle on it. Impressive, right? Loved every bit of it!

The characters? Pretty cool, if you ask me. They had their quirks and all, but I kinda wish they had a tad more depth. Like, I don't LOVE them, but I do like them. Their personalities, their inner battles, and how bold they were? All on point. But a little more depth would've pushed them into LOVE territory for me. What really got me, though, was the lesson they taught: rewrite your OWN story. Super important stuff, you know? Watching them face their challenges and eventually rewrite their own perfect story? That hit different. It's a reminder for all of us to take charge of our own narratives. Pretty beautiful, if you ask me.

So, about the romance... it wasn't smack dab in the middle of the book, but it was sprinkled in there, you know? I savored every little bit of it. Plus, the whole found family vibe added a sweet touch. Towards the end, the romance kicked up a notch, and man, it was just lovely. I had a blast with this book, seriously. Totally recommend it, especially if you're into Asian, especially Japanese, mythology. But even if you're not, give it a shot!

PUBLICATION DATE:
7th of June, 2024

*Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and the author for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you as always to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author Rachael Krotec for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions and review!

I'll be straight up: teenage girls are going to love this, especially if they have any passing interest in Japanese mythology. Dragons, yokai, mononoke, and Shinto myths walk across the pages in this very loose retelling of Kaguya-hime and the Bamboo Cutter. I would definitely recommend some familiarity with Japanese myths, but it's not required at all, the author does a solid job at giving you enough info to understand what's going on, and I suspect this book could be kindling to ignite interest in learning about Japan's mythology and Shinto religion. If I had been 13-16 when this book came out, it would've been my everything; (Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things was one of my favorite books to re-read at that age) If you have younger teen readers in your house, I highly recommend this book for them. It's a fun, pretty easy read with a colorful ensemble cast of likable characters, and it comes to a satisfying conclusion.