I had high hopes for the magic system and for the circus aspect, and was not let down by the magic system. It was unique and very interesting to learn about throughout the book. Maybe I was just spoiled by Caraval but I was hoping for more about the circus aspect. Overall it was a decent read with mid characters and a really intriguing magic system!

was a pretty good read, but I found the pacing a bit slow in the middle. The world-building was fantastic, and I loved the magic system, but I felt like the plot could have been a little more fast-paced. The characters were well-developed, and I enjoyed their interactions. Overall, it was a solid debut, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Corey L. Lee writes next. Thanks to Corey L. Lee And NetGalley for the ARC

DNF at 35%

I absolutely hate dnf-ing ARCs, but I was having a really difficult time making it through this and had a gut feeling that my reading experience wasn't going to change as the story progressed - so it seemed unfair to continue knowing that I was most likely not the target audience.

I can tell the amount of work the author put into this, the magic system is very unique (storm magic but with actual development!), and I truly believe this is a story that would work for so many people. Unfortunately, I'm just not one of them. I think I was expecting Dark of the West meets Caraval and that's not really the case.

The circus is very much a minor part (so far, at least; that might have changed as the story went on) and the politics felt very... 2010s dystopian fantasy, to me at least. Which is fine, but not what I'm looking for. I feel like if you liked Lauren Oliver's writing style and wanted something much more developed, with magic - you'd probably love this.

Grateful for the chance to read this, even if it didn't work for me. I hope the right audience finds this book and gives it the love it deserves.

A Russian-inspired fantasy with a very unique magic system. Celka is a circus performer by day and a resistance fighter by night who has to hide her ability to call the storms. Gerrit is a student at the Storm Guard Academy learning to use the storms to create weapons for the regime to continue their wars against neighboring countries and the secret police to put down the resistance. The two meet and there is an instant connection, especially with their magic and the idea of what they can provide for each other. Gerrit wishes to escape the cruel tactics that the secret police are now using on the cadets at the academy so hiding in the traveling circus gives him time to learn to use his abilities without being tortured. Celka wishes to learn how to use any of these abilities after her father was taken away from her a few years ago at the beginning of her training. The two together learn to question the way they view the world and come to know just how dangerous the current regime is.

I did really enjoy this book but the magic system is so confusing, it really took until one character made a comparison to pottery that I really started to get it. The book really did read as YA not Adult Fantasy or Adult Fantasy Romance but that was fine even if there is the classic YA love triangle. I like the characters and would plan to continue on with this series.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and lovable. The pacing was perfect and left you wanting to read more. I can't wait to read more by this author!

A young acrobat and a dictator's son learn to use storm magic in a world inspired by 1910s Russia. Great writing style and prose, with creative worldbuilding and a unique magic system - but when the magic requires a dictionary and a primer, it's time to admit it's too complicated. The plot is fairly basic; somehow a lot happens but not a lot actually happens. Not one for me.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Solaris and NetGalley for my digital review copy.

My review is for the edition published by Solaris in 2024. My edition had an authors note at the front saying that this edition has been revised since the original published edition in 2020

I like the whole gender/pronouns being chosen by people! Though I wish there was a concrete explaination for this (as to my knowledge, a person's pronouns are chosen by them and this is signified by earrings) I love casual gender diversity!

I do really like the magic system. It is quite complex and I would gladly read something explaining it in depth. I loved how the magical ability of the magic users are unique to each person and seeing just how different the individual manifestations of the magic system were ( I find this makes it easier to remember the characters by).

I really liked Celka as a character. She was very headstrong and I wanted to see her succeed. I loved how Lee wove the real world and Celka's perspective of her magical abilities together.

My main issue comes form the pacing and that it felt like a lot of effort to get through the middle section of the book. But the second it hit 75% of the way through, the pace picked up and I couldn't put it down. There are a lot of threads at play during the slower parts and I think that keeping track of them all did mean I read through this at a slower pace than normal.

I am interested to see what happens in the next book and will be picking it up when it is released!

"Weave the Lightning" transports readers to Bourshkanya, a land long devoid of magical storms until their sudden return ignites hope for rebellion. Celka, a high wire walker with an untamed gift, finds herself at the heart of this upheaval. Her struggle to control her magic, learned through fragmented lessons from her father, is a central theme that resonates with the reader, though it sometimes feels rushed and underdeveloped.

Gerrit, the son of the despotic Stormhawk, adds an interesting contrast. Despite the State’s rigorous training, he too struggles with his abilities. His encounter with Celka in her traveling circus sets the stage for a reluctant partnership that evolves into a mutual dependency. Their relationship, built on distrust and necessity, adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. However, the romantic element, while touching, occasionally feels overshadowed by the larger conflict.

The circus setting adds a unique and captivating backdrop to the story, enhancing the sense of danger and mystery. The world-building is vivid, immersing readers in a land teetering on the edge of rebellion.

The plot is rich with potential, yet the pacing can feel uneven at times. Key moments, particularly the climax, would benefit from more buildup to fully convey the stakes and emotional intensity.

Overall, "Weave the Lightning" is a solid read for fantasy and romance enthusiasts, offering a blend of magic and rebellion. It’s a promising story with characters that are easy to root for, even if the execution sometimes leaves you wanting more depth and detail.

I read it years ago but I just check the gorgeous cover. This was my review:
It's not one of those books that keeps you hooked since the first pages but it's a fascinating and well told story, entertaining and engrossing.
I liked the Russian setting and the world building. The characters are well developed and interesting.
I'd like to read other books by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

"Of course you won't have a future if you believe you won't" ...
"You're a tiger, Gerrit. Tigers fight until the end".

The author's note at the beginning mentioned that changes were made from the original story to help new readers navigate the magic system. I have to say, even though I had to re-read some parts a couple of times to fully grasp it (yes, there's a detailed explanation at the end of the book before the acknowledgments, but I didn't notice it), it was definitely worth it. The magic system is unique and unlike anything I've found in other books.
Now, I'm curious to read the original version.

Although I predicted some of the twists, I was concerned that the story might be too predictable.
However, I couldn't have been more wrong.


Actually, the only downside of this book was the complexity of the magic system, which made it challenging to follow the story and its details at first. But once I got the hang of it, I found myself enjoying the plot and the characters even more.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read the eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

~ 3.5 ⭐️

What a different book! I had never read Corry Lee's writing before, but this was really good. It gave me Night Circus vibes, where I didn't know exactly what was happening but that was ok because the story was so enjoyable.

Corry L. Lee’s Weave the Lightning is a spectacular demonstration on all fronts. I’m aggressively grateful for this rerelease for bringing this trilogy to my attention. 

Celka’s performances with her family in the traveling circus are the perfect cover for supporting the resistance. It’s dangerous work, but so is living under the Stormhawk’s brutal regime. But it seems not even the circus can hide her when the magical storms that power her forbidden magic return. Gerrit has been waiting for the storms’ return for years. They’ll allow him to prove his value to the state and his father – the Stormhawk. When their first storm proves more difficult than anticipated they’ll both need to look outside their worlds if they want to survive.

The grittiness of Bourshkanya’s world was as encompassing as the moments of beauty found within. The world-building was encased in the magic system particularly elegantly, the religion and cultural tics bookending the experience. I found the magic’s practical applications particularly exciting. Storm mages can imbue objects to help them fulfill one of their six categories of need: combat, protection, strength, healing, hunger, and concealment. It’s fascinating to have a magical system broken into such concrete brackets, but simultaneously broad enough to let individual characters shape its usage on fundamental levels.

Celka and those around her are delightfully layered, providing rich perspectives on Bourshkanya and its struggles. I can’t really think of an example of another love triangle where I was genuinely unsure who I was rooting for. Lee presents two paths for Celka in these two boys that bring out different parts of her and fill her in unique ways. It was lovely to see Celka coming to terms with herself and her power in not only the resistance but also as a person who can make a difference. And these two young men through their support really highlight the choices she has to make about who she’ll become. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re both swoony in different ways.

Corry L. Lee has created something remarkable in this first installment and the next book is calling my name! There were more than a few twists that’ll be haunting me in the meantime, though. They’ve made something truly special and I can't wait to see what else they do! Puns about this story being electrifying are low hanging fruit... and accurate. 👀

Dystopian fantasy with a complex magic mythos

In an Industrial Revolution totalitarian state, high wire performer Celka hides her magical connection to the newly-arrived storms crisscrossing the land, as well as her family's connection to the resistance. On the other side of the guerrilla way is Gerrit, son of the supreme leader and gifted storm mage himself, but one facing obstacles in his advancement. As events bring these two opposites together, suspicious and untrusting thanks to violence in their childhoods. Celka and Gerrit attempt to control the wild powers that threaten to destroy them, even as the many factions around them attempt to pull them apart.

There are a lot of moving parts in this simple novel: the circus, both travelling cornucopia and not-so-underground railroad; the military overlords, with cadets and stormtroopers and arsenals; the common people, ground down by years of war; Celka's family, also high wire performers but also key members of the resistance; and Gerrit's fellow wizardly cadets, fodder for their superiors' mind games and the glorification of the country. Whether all of these parts are as well managed is a judgement call, when, as is the case in any book with a central enemies-to-lovers romance (with added magical connection), all of them are subservient to the relationship. It was inevitable that Celka and Gerrit would have to fall for each other, but it feels more like mutual Stockholm syndrome rather than a joining of equals.

The whole thing is a weirdly workaday affair, possibly because of the technical aspect of the magic engine of storm-fuelled 'imbuements' and Slavic influenced names for everything. There's no room for subtlety or ambiguity in the fantastic elements of the world, and it's described each time in the same detail. which, in all honesty, I had to skim.

Three workaday stars: perhaps the sequel builds on this?

This one took a while to get into, like the first third of the book I contemplated DNFing it. I enjoyed the chapters with Celka, but I just wasn't connecting with Gerrit. However, I stuck with it, and ended up really enjoying it.

The magic system is kind of hard to visualise in this. It's complex and a bit different, which I like. I also like the brutality of the regime and the resistance fighting back.

There are some uncomfortable truths for each of the main characters to face in the book, and I enjoyed seeing the character growth.

I look forward to reading the next.

Engaging and inventive, with fantastic worldbuilding and fun characters, this title comes highly recommended! Thank you to NetGalley and Rebellion for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had the privilege of getting to read Corry L Lee’s revised writing of “Weave the Lightning” before it was published. I will definitely be telling all my friends who love a good fantasy series to read this when it comes out. I crushed this book in less than two days and immediately started the second.
Quite frankly I am surprised there isn’t more hype for this book. When I did some digging before starting into my e-ARC (advanced readers copy), I found that there were next to no reviews on Goodreads for either of their books- and I must say I am SHOCKED !!!!
Lee created a fantastic and unique fantasy world. Initially, I found it hard to grasp. However, I think Lee did a wonderful job building their world without simplifying it too much.
I’m not one to rate books 5 stars, but I believe this one deserves more than my usual silence or occasional 4.5

I am enjoying this book so much! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author. All opinions are my own.

This story is a bit confusing. Its a circa early 1900s, historical and magical. What drew me to this was the cover but the characters and the story were too complex for me to follow and enjoy. I kept asking myself what was happening and if i missed something. Certain parts by itself were beautifully written and captured the scene but as a whole I couldnt get into it. Thank you to netgalley for sending me a digital copy all opinions are my own.

4.5 stars
"Weave the Lightning" is an excellent fantasy book, with a very unique magic system.
It got me hooked from the first chapter ; everything was laid so perfectly to captivate my attention. The reader get to know a little about the context (there is a resistance, so that must mean an authoritarian state) and one aspect of the magic, which get expanded in the second chapter.
I just need one moment for the magic system. Storm pulling? Genius. Loved it.
The dual pov was great because, together, we could (and they could) understand everything about the world. We learn more about the resistance and sousednia through Celka, and more about the State and the weaving of nuzhda through Gerrit. Also, we see the world through those two different set of eyes, who have different background, and it shows the indoctrination of the State.
The book didn't feel like it had a "strong" plot, but i don't mean that in a negative way. It followed Celka and Gerrit as they learned to control the storms and to imbue, with sometimes a sidequest from the resistance. But it was really good, as it makes the reader really understand the magic and the politics of the world, and feel familiar with it.
Also, the plot twists were plottwisting. Loved it.
Honestly, I don't know why I've never heard anybody talk about this book, but I hope more people will read it because it's just so good.

I rated this book 5 stars because it was so good and I wasn't expecting some things that happened in the story (NO SPOILERS HERE!) and the characters were so good and immaculate.