The switching between 1P and 3P really drove me up a wall, I was just like, stick with one or the other, please! I really loved the concept of this book and thought it could have been so amazing, but I am just not about the switching of first/third person.

Well well, I fell in love with the cover and then I fell in love with the fast paced, twisty, and highly entertaining story featuring a cast of interesting and fleshed out characters in an fascinating world.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I think what I enjoyed most in this book was the world building and magic system. I had a good time with the dual POV between Nieve and Elder. This book was a little slower paced than I typically lean towards but overall the plot was interesting.

Here's the review rewritten in your own words:

"In L.E. Sterling's 'Starling's Weave,' the fate of a magical village rests on the shoulders of Nieve, a young woman born without the water magic that sustains her people. When a pirate captain arrives with his own agenda, Nieve is drawn into a perilous adventure.

This story, with its intricate magic system and richly imagined world, reminded me why I love fantasy. Sterling masterfully weaves together the perspectives of Nieve and the pirate captain, revealing their motivations and the complexities of their relationship. The story is full of suspense, with twists and turns that kept me hooked until the very end.

Nieve's unique perspective, as someone who doesn't possess the magic she's surrounded by, adds a fascinating layer to the narrative. Her journey of self-discovery and her growing understanding of magic are truly compelling. 'Starling's Weave' is a captivating and unforgettable read."

I don't know how else to describe my feelings about this book, other than it feels like a translation with something lost in the translation.

Now, from what I can tell, that isn't actually the case, but the writing is oddly soft...with not plot holes exactly, but connection holes.

Also, this is another one that was so busy world building that the author got to almost the required page length and was like "oh no, we need a resolution" and resolved everything in 5 pages. I had truly been expecting a cliffhanger because there didn't seem like enough pages left to resolve things properly.

I would definitely try another book from this author again, because I liked the characters and the interesting magic system, but it just needs a bit more polish and firming up.

DNF—this one sadly was just not for me. I loved the premise, but the execution was too disjointed for me to be able to stay on board. Hopefully the editing process added/will add some polish to this otherwise enticing narrative.

Starling’s Weave follows Nieve, an outsider in her village, as she strives to save her village and find her place within it.

A mix of a pirate adventure with living gods and goddesses trying to save the world by bringing forgotten magic back into it, I enjoyed this story and the unique world it builds.

Not for me, but that's not to say you won't like it so give it a try! I thought I would love this one, but it was just a bit slow and kinda all over the place.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for allowing me to arc read.

This book had an interesting concept. However, the writing style was not for me. I do think that there are people who will love this book.

Book Name: Starlings Weave
Author: L.E. Sterling

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen Press for an ARC

Stars: 5
Spice: (0 YA)

New Series
Cliffhanger (ish)
Fast Paced
Dual POV
High Seas Pirate Fantasy

Similar to Fable by Adrienne Young

- The Good
- Highly Entertaining
- TROPE heavy
- The MMC POV is some of the best parts
- Tension and Longing
- Finding One's Place Themes
- The Bad
- Does it Reinvent the Wheel… No
- The Ending was… a bit jump the shark but it is YA
- Infant and Mother Death in the first 20 pages messed with me (we could have had this effect less brutally)
- Overall
- It is a GREAT bridge book from Younger YA to Older YA (you get Tension and Some DARK elements but an overall fun and engaging storyline
- As an Older Reader, I loved this but as a Parent this is for a tougher kid who can handle the emotional scenes

This book was really good. I liked how well the author described the characters and the environment of the scenes. The world building was also really good, I especially liked the magic system. Since I like fantasy books with magic and mages this one was perfect. The story also captured me, after reading the synopsis already not gonna lie. It didn´t get boring (for me) because I was invested into the story.
Definitely going to recommend this to friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for allowing me to read an E-ARC of Starling’s Weave.

Plot: Nieve is a member of the Talin race who are hidden mages and harness the power of Ocean - their deity. The power of Ocean is starting to wane for the Talin race and food sources are starting to die off and people are dying. Nieve swears that she is going to figure out the issue. Enter Keir Manseray who blows Nieve’s world wide open. She ends up traveling the seven seas with Keir and his crew and meeting Elder Wrights who help her find her true power.

Review: I enjoyed the book. I thought the storyline and concept was creative and inventive. I really liked the MMC, Keir. He was dark and broody but caring and sweet. He had total cinnamon roll vibes. Even though he had insta-love I still liked him for the way he supported Nieve and her journey. The FMC Nieve was determined and driven on her quest to find the story to help her people even though she gets thrown off course by Keir and his quest. However, there were a few things that I struggled with. It took about 50% of the book before I truly got into it but once it got going, it was so good. The slow burn was definitely burning. This one ended with an opening for a second book. I truly hope there is because Keir and Nieve’s story needs to be completed.

Fantasy Tropes
➡️Hero’s Journey
➡️Chosen One
➡️Mentor
➡️Good vs. Evil
➡️Magic
➡️Pirates “Mutineers”
➡️YA fantasy

Review posted to GoodReads on 10/8/24
Review posted to IG story on 10/9/24
Review posted to Amazon on 10/21/24
Review posted to Barnes and Noble on 10/10/24

🌊If you're craving a YA fantasy full of swashbuckling pirates, epic quests, and a magic system that'll make your jaw drop—Starling’s Weave is it!

Nieve’s story is one of fighting against the odds, discovering hidden truths, and falling for a charming (but oh-so-mysterious) pirate along the way. 😏✨

Nieve may not have magic like her people, but that doesn't stop her from diving headfirst into an adventure that could save—or doom—the world.

Alongside the brooding pirate Keir Manseray (who had me swooning with his cinnamon roll vibes 🍂), she unlocks ancient secrets, finds unexpected allies, and weaves her own legend. But trust me, this isn't just a simple voyage—it’s a wild ride filled with betrayal, heart-stopping action, and a few stolen kisses that had me blushing. 😍🔥

Some favorite moments? Check these out:

🏴‍☠️”Harm one hair on her head and we'll both learn how creative I can get with your murd3r." Um, excuse me? Keir is serving major “touch her and die” energy! 🖤

🏴‍☠️And who can resist: "I keep trying to tell you, Starling. Without you, there's no such thing as freedom." 🥺💫

The slow burn romance between Nieve and Keir is EVERYTHING! It's the kind of tension that leaves you on the edge, waiting for that one moment—and when it hits, OH BOY. 🔥💋

And did I mention the twists? Because Starling’s Weave delivers with shocking surprises that left me counting down for the next book.

If you’re a fan of Shadow and Bone or Dark Water Daughter, trust me, this fantasy gem needs to be on your radar!🗺️✨

⭐️ Fantasy Tropes Galore!
➡️ Chosen One
➡️ Found Family
➡️ Pirates (yes, with attitude 😏)
➡️ Slow Burn
➡️ And the ultimate battle of Good vs. Evil

📚 If you want magic, mutineers, and an adventure that keeps you guessing, grab Starling’s Weave! I promise it’ll hook you!

Completely captivated! This book is a stunning blend of fantasy, adventure, and rich world-building that had me hooked from the very first page.

Sterling’s writing is absolutely enchanting. The way she weaves together magic and emotion creates a tapestry of storytelling that feels both immersive and relatable. I was drawn into the protagonist's journey, filled with challenges and triumphs that made me cheer for her every step of the way.

The characters are beautifully developed, each with their own unique quirks and depth. I loved the friendships and alliances that formed throughout the story, adding layers of complexity and warmth. The dynamics between the characters are so engaging, and the dialogue sparkles with wit and authenticity.

What really stood out to me was the intricate world Sterling has created. The vivid descriptions and imaginative settings made me feel like I was right there, experiencing the magic firsthand. The plot twists kept me on my toes, and I couldn’t put the book down!

I am going to have to DNF this one, but if I do end up completing it, I will come back and revise this. It could be a right book, wrong time type of situation. I have been trying to read this book since, I received it and haven't made very much progress at all.

I have been provided with a review copy of Starling's Weave from NetGalley for an impartial review. I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Loved this! A fast-paced story, full of actions and twists I hadn't seen coming. Especially the ending! I read it super quickly. I really liked that the end leaves the door open for a sequel but doesn't necessarily require one. You could choose to end the adventure here or to keep going if a sequel is published and be satisfied either way.

I'm always drawn to "sea fantasy" and this gave me all the traditional aspects I enjoy in that genre. It's not a super orignal story, but it's intriguing and well-crafted, with characters I quickly grew attached to and no unnecessary filler chapters and really that's all I'm asking for when I pick up a book like this. I liked the dual POVs but wasn't a fan of the switch between first person for one POV and third person for the other. I'd much rather have third person all along, but that's very much personal preference.

It does fall into some of the traps that often come with the genre, namely a slow-burn romance but with seemingly instant feelings the moment the characters meet and slightly clumsy emotional scenes. I felt the author did action a lot better than sentiment, and as a result the emotional scenes didn't really work as well as the rest. Fortunately, the book is very much action-packed so it's still great fun to read!

This was a fantastic book! I am on the edge of my seat hoping that the story will continue. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the chance to read this author!!

Feels a bit like Moana to start off and transitions into a world that is difficult to envision. Maybe more character background or setting background would be helpful. I enjoyed the book ok and would recommend to late teens, but probably would not pick up a sequel

Nieve is a Talin female, part of a reclusive magical race of mages. She has not shown her powers yet, which most Talin come into once they come of age. She should already be paired up with someone within the community and given an apprenticeship in order to help contribute to the community. One day she is instructed by the elders in her village to show a pirate crew marauding as traders the respect intended to the Elder Wrights, a long lost ancestral magic race, and she ends up making friends with a Talin male who is their captain. Her world is dying, and she tries to seek out the source of all magic in order to make things right again. She teams up with an Elder Wright and the creator of magic, Arisame, her Priestess Hiram, and Manseray, the Raven lord pirate she previously met in her village. She is recruited to help Weave the fabric of everything back together.

Nieve has a lot of character development along the way on her journey, as does Manseray. She meets and loses many new characters, some that help her and some that hinder her. This is an end-of-the-world/ save-the-world with a hint of romance type trope. It was a fast and easy read, and the ending leaves it open for a follow-up story to continue.