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!

Oh. My. Stars. This is the kind of romantasy debut that grips you by the heart and doesn’t let go. The plot is a masterclass in blending character development, plot twists, and romantic tension; all while building up to a destiny that could either save or shatter the entire realm. It left me breathless and eagerly flipping the pages, and I’m already counting down to see what happens next in this electrifying series.

I really liked Soren and I hope he is endgame 🥰 Rhya is a force to be reckoned with and I hope she works more on her power in the next book.

The only reason I couldn't give 5 stars is because of the lack of communication, that started to get annoying at the half way mark, when Penn started getting angry even though he had been withholding a lot of information from Rhya. He also didn't bother showing her anything to do with her power! Barely anytime spent with Soren and Rhya was informed and powerful. Penn is clearly a beloved leader but Rhya deserves better.

The worldbuilding is fascinating and the world the author has created is huge! The pacing is good and the writing is great as it caused me to be sad and angry at multiple points. The magic is intriguing and I want to know more.

I am looking forward to the next instalment and more Soren 😍

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A slow burn, enemies to something more, magic filled fantasy. Fun read. Slow start. I decided that was okay realising this going to be a many booked series, and it allows the author to introduce the characters, setting and magical system. By the end the action heats up, and leaves an enthralling cliff hanger to be developed in the next book. Thank you to Michael Joseph,Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Firstly, a huge thank you to Julie Johnson, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House publishing and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this eARC of The Wind Weaver.

The Wind Weaver was fantastic and everything I look for in a fantasy read. I absolutely loved it. Though I am still attempting to put the pieces of my shattered heart back together after that ending Julie! 😭

The book follows our wonderful heroine Rhya, a healer and a halfing who has been hunted and captured by those who want to hang her just for existing. Rhya is spared the noose due to a timely intervention from the sharp-tongued and brutish Commander Scythe, only to become a captive once again. The more time she spends with the mysterious commander, the more secrets come to light and Rhya is forced to question everything she thought she knew and her place in the world. She’s no ordinary halfing, she’s a weaver of wind, a Remnant, and one of 4 souls tied together, fated to restore the balance of maegic…

The Wind Weaver has some of my all time favourite tropes:

💙 Found Family
⚕️FMC is a healer
🐍 Monsters
🌬️ Elemental Magic
🔮 Prophecy
🗡️ Morally Grey MMC
❤️‍🔥Grumpy X Sunshine
🔥 Slow Burn Romance

As a reader I was completed immersed in the vivid world Julie has created. I adored the characters, the world building was excellent and I was hooked from the get go. I will 100% be continuing the series and I can’t wait to see more of Rhya’s journey.

The Wind Weaver is out in April 2025, get it on those TBRs 😍