I feel terrible as I write this review because I wanted <b>so</b> badly to love it, but it just didn't resonate with me. I did enjoy the sisters' relationship and the bond that they shared. The story was actually confusing due to different timelines but with no real time frames given. The MC, Reya is not what I'd call a strong protagonist, so that definitely decreased my interest. I wasn't able to make a real connection with her character, so that stumbled me as well.

I chose to read this because it was written at the time by a young seventeen-year-old girl. I was very curious to see how she did and was truly rooting for her. So, for me to not really like the book made me feel bad. I do think that her intended audience is young people, teens to be precise. I do think that others who are more her age, interested in Indian mythology, and writing a piece themselves it would be a good read for them to look at the good, the bad and the ugly. It was a good first attempt by someone so young.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book, I was super excited about this book but I was a let down, I wasn’t able to connect to the characters and the plot, ended up DNF-ing it

I loved the cover and it drew me in to check out the book. I liked the blurb and trying books outside of my normal reads.

As far as debut books go, this one was done well for an author who was 17 at the time. You can see that she has the talent and with a little more fine tuning in certain aspects, she can go very far in her writing.

I liked the idea of the story and the characters. The world building could use some work and there were parts where it was too detailed and others in which there wasn't enough.

Overall, as a whole, it wasn't the best fit for me. I am very hard on fantasy reads, I have had more DNF than ones that have blown me away which is always hard when you really wanted to like a story.

If you love fantasy and aren't as picky about them, then this would be a great read for you. For me, it just fell short where I couldn't justify loving it. As I mentioned, it was the first book by a young author who does show the talent to go far. Just refine a few of the issues mentioned and she will become an author to watch.

The Bookweaver's Daughter by Malavika Kannan
Rating: ★★★☆☆

The Bookweaver's Daughter by Malavika Kannan intrigued me with its unique blend of Indian mythology and fantasy elements. The concept of books shaping destinies and coming to life added a refreshing twist to the usual fantasy tropes. Kannan's world-building is vivid, immersing readers in a magical realm where words hold incredible power. However, the pacing occasionally felt uneven, alternating between moments of intense action and slower, more contemplative scenes. While the characters were well-conceived, they sometimes seemed overshadowed by the richness of the world Kannan created, which made it challenging to fully connect with their journeys. Despite this, The Bookweaver's Daughter is a promising debut that delves into themes of identity and the impact of storytelling magic, offering something compelling for fans of mythological fantasy and diverse narratives.

This book is a popular theme that I enjoy. It’s about an orphaned girl with secret magic and the whole kingdom is after her. I love adventure books, throw in some fantasy, and it takes you away to another place. What’s not to love?! I felt like this book was very wholesome so that is great for the younger kids whose parent might frown at the more mature books. The only confusing thing to me was that it seemed to mix Muslim and Hindu. It wasn’t so apparent that kids were going to notice if they are involved in the adventure of it all, but I think their parents might be interested.

"The Bookweaver's Daughter" by Malavika Kannan is a captivating young adult fantasy novel that combines rich world-building with themes of identity, family, and the power of storytelling. Set in a world where magic is bound to the written word, the story follows protagonist Reya as she grapples with her destiny as the daughter of a bookweaver and the complexities of her own magical abilities. Kannan's vivid prose and imaginative storytelling create a spellbinding narrative that will enchant readers of all ages, offering a compelling exploration of the importance of embracing one's true self and the transformative nature of literature.

I wanted to like this book, but I couldn’t get into it. Love the concept and it sounds really interesting! I had a new baby at home when it came out, so my attention was not what it usually is.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

The Bookweaver's Daughter is a strong, own voices debut fantasy with a lot to offer readers! While it didn't quite land for me, it does have powerful female characters and strong femme friendships, set in a historical fantasy world, inspired by Indian lore.

This book was a huge let down. I read the description and walked in excited. However all hope was quickly diminished.

This book was simply not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I was really excited for a book with Indian rep, especially in a fantasy world where I felt like it would be very well done. Unfortunately, this book rehashed a lot of tropes that we've seen before and did not do them well. There were issues reading the book as the sentences sometimes felt stilted which made it hard to read. Nothing made this something that would stand out compared to the several other novels that tackled the same idea. I can't think of anyone I'd recommend this to as the rep was incredibly bad and I don't think it can stand by itself as a fantasy novel.

I liked this book because of the representation and plot. Unfortunately the writing ruined it for me.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had an amazing plot, the writing was okay.. but the story is what matters. Character driven goodness.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

I was not impressed. There seem to be a lot of cultural miss cues and flaws. Sorry, I just did not like this book at all.

This was a dnf for me. I didn't make it far which was pretty sad, but I was not a huge fan of the writing style.

I rarely review books without finishing them, but due to the feedback given on this novel, I found that I did not want to continue reading it and voice my own opinions when there are other reviewers who have expressed their hurt and frustration. From what I read, the plot book is written decently, with a promising-if not a bit basic-story and interesting magic system.

Where this book really fell flat is in the way that it aims to represent Indian mythology. Multiple reviewers have stated that the representation is problematic and shows that no research took place in the creation of this novel. I have linked some of the Goodreads reviews that express why this book is harmful:
-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3222585702?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1
-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3485409710?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1

I did not enjoy it. I thought there were many plot holes, as well as cultural appropriation. At first, I thought it was because I lacked knowledge of the culture; but I soon realized it was a writing error. The plot also felt very typical to any normal fantasy.

Although I did finish this book, it was a struggle. I was very uncomfortable with many of the author's choices. I do feel like, as a young, author, there is time to hone and perfect her craft and this book might have benefitted from time and edits. The name choices and ideas presented seemed like poor representation.