I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had gone into it expecting a slower-paced more character-focused book than the swashbuckling, magical pirate adventure that the synopsis talks about.

Nothing much happens in this book until about 70%, after which point too much happens too quickly. Again, I think if I'd been expecting a slower-paced book this might not have bothered me as much as it did.

The premise was interesting, with an interesting world that I just wanted more detail about as some things were skimmed over leaving me a bit confused.

The characters were the main focus, and I did enjoy them. I liked their development in learning to trust one another, and as the FMC learned to trust herself and her abilities.

The romance was insta-attraction and most of the romance throughout is repetitive pining. It is sweet though.

Overall, I had too many issues with this book to really recommend it, but maybe if I'd gone into it expecting something different I would have enjoyed it more, which bumped up my rating a little.

Thanks to the author and to Entangled Teen for the copy of the book. This review was left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

This was such an fun read! I loved the characters (especially Manseray) and the plot was so unique and interesting. Who doesn't love a book that combines magic and pirates? I did find the pacing to be a bit slow at times, but it was an overall great book!

Let's preface with this is a YA book!!! Did I dislike the ages of the characters... a little bit, but I knew going in that it was a YA book and as such that doesn't affect my overall rating.

L. E. Sterling does a great job at weaving together self-discovery, magic, and destiny into one captivating story. The characters were mostly well-developed but it was sometimes hard to follow along with the POV switches. The insta-love with the MMC was a little cringey but he was a total cinnamon roll which made up for it. I think there's definitely room for a second book with al of the open threads left in the plot but I think I would have liked book 1 a little bit more if we had tied at least a couple of those strings up.

This book was fine and enjoyable but not particularly memorable. I liked it while I was reading it but found I didn't really think about it after I'd put it down. I'd suggest people try it if they like magic and pirates though!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for review.

Starling's Weave by L.E. Sterling is a captivating fantasy that weaves together themes of magic, destiny, and self-discovery. The story follows a young protagonist as she navigates a richly imagined world filled with vibrant characters and intricate lore. Sterling's writing is both lyrical and engaging, drawing readers into the unfolding adventure. With its blend of enchantment and heartfelt moments, this novel is a delightful escape for fans of fantasy literature.

I loved Nieve and Manseray. There were many similarities in how they both felt about their places in their respective villages and the world. Nieve had tried for so long to help those around her despite her lack of magic, but her grandmother seemed to be the only one who knew there was something very special about her deep down. The first meeting between both of our main characters was cute, I loved how inquisitive Nieve is and the fact that even though traditions in her village taught the women to keep away from men, she somehow felt comfortable enough to ask him questions about many things she was curious about. While Nieve has not had an easy life, I am glad she found someone who believed in her and always encouraged her to be herself. There are so many beautiful moments in this story, despite all the characters' tragedy, and I find Elder Wright fascinating. A very beautiful story that keeps you wanting more!

Thanks to Entangled Teen and Brittany for the e-arc!!

Thank you NetGalley, Entangled Publishing and LE Sterling for the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

I struggled a bit with this book. There were portions where I was ready to give it a higher rating, and then others where I was really frustrated. We start with Nieve, a young woman that is an outcast in her village due to her not having magic. This community is very reclusive and not much is known or taught about the outside world. Their world is now starting to have death and decay and the loss of the gods that brought magic to the world is thought to be its cause.

I enjoyed the characters themselves and their relationships amongst each other. There is a found family component to the pirates/mutineers, which seems to be a common theme in books with pirates. I really liked the intent and the plotlines, I just was lost in some of the execution. I typically enjoy POV switches, but I did struggle a bit with the construction of those switches. Nieve has a fairly typical hero’s journey so you can expect the leaving of her homeland, tragedy, a mentorish type person, etc. There is also a lot of the plot that isn’t explained. You are told that the Elder Wrights brought magic to the world, but nothing more than the Talin have water magic. There is mention of threads and weavers, but not who they are or what they do. The evil king is present, but no backstory on why he nor his ancestors are trying to rid the world of magic. The back quarter of the book seemed to be a bit rushed with a lot going on in order to get us to the end. I also didn’t feel like the end really tidied up a lot of the plot points.

I enjoyed the book and I wouldn’t tell someone not to read it. And it had a lot of high points, but was missing just enough to keep it from getting a higher rating from me.

Flat three stars for this one. I did enjoy it, but I’m not sure if I would recommend it or not. I don’t dislike it. I don’t not recommend it. It’s left me a little torn. That is probably partly because the pacing of the book felt very slow at times. While there’s always something
happening, the action is almost muted by the world building and character nuances. In the end the book just felt slow. And I was also expecting more pirate vibes, and while the MMC is a pirate (sorry mutineer) it really is more of a story of magic than pirates.

Starling's Weave by L.E. Sterling is a mix of magic, mystery, and self-discovery. Nieve, the FMC, finds herself caught up in the return of long-dead gods while trying to figure out who she really is. The story focuses on her growth and responsibilities, making it more than just a typical pirate adventure. Although there are some moments of instant attraction in the romance, the book mostly focuses on Nieve's journey instead of the romance plot.

The pacing can feel slow at times, and sometimes found myself confused about whose POV I was reading. Still, the world-building is intriguing, and the character development keeps you engaged. Overall, I found the book to be pretty average; I am not sure I would recommend this one to others but I wouldn't NOT recommend it. If you enjoy the typical plot about a magicless FMC trying to save her village and her character growth along the way, this book could be worth a read.

Starlings Weave started out with an interesting concept, the magic, world building, and characters were unique. However as the book continued I lost interest and found the writing to be hard to follow. I could see the appeal to this book, it just wasn’t for me.

I loved this book! This book earned a 4.5/5 stars for me, which is amazing, as I am very picky about books 5 star reviews or 4.5. I really fell for Nieve's journey and all the trouble she went through just to try to feel like she fit in, while also feeling her heartbreak at the beginning of the book with all the tragedies that befell her. I do love seeing some good green flag men and Manseray was ~mostly~ a green flag for me. This book had no spice, but it was still an absolutely adorable romance through and through. All the characters had such great development throughout the book, and there was not one character that I felt was not done justice (other than Leander because of course I loved him). Additionally, I sometimes am weary of shorter books that seem to be solo, as I never know if they will have everything I want in them story, plot, and description wise, but this book did an amazing job of making me feel as though I had everything I wanted and not leaving me feeling as though I was missing something. Thank you so much to the Entangled Publishing group and L.E. Sterling for giving me the opportunity to read this book. It definitely delivered, and I cannot wait for it to come out to look at getting a permanent copy!

This is a book you have to settle in to read. While there's action and intrigue and suspense, the nuanced character growth and worldbuilding will pass you by, as Sterling weaves them in masterfully amidst the overall plot. I really enjoyed getting to know the world of Starling's Weave and the motley crew of characters and hope to see more stories set in this setting!

Starling's Weave by L.E. Sterling was not quite the pirate adventure I expected, but it blew me away with its magic and mystery🌊✨

Nieve, the main character, finds herself caught between the return of long-dead gods and the search for answers about her own path. This book is all about self-discovery, responsibility, and the journey toward freedom. The romance is perfectly balanced, but the focus really lies on Nieve’s growth and the magical world she uncovers.

While I expected a swashbuckling pirate adventure, the real focus is on the deeply magical and mysterious aspects of the story, with gods long thought dead suddenly reappearing, sparking intrigue, danger, and an urgent quest for answers.

The book delves into Nieve's personal journey of self-acceptance, as she navigates the weight of her responsibilities, her past, and the newfound truths she uncovers about herself. There’s a beautiful romance woven through the story, but it complements rather than overshadows her personal growth.

If you love magic, gods, and a heroine finding her way in the world, this one’s for you! 💫

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful young adult fantasy book. I loved this book’s unique magic system as well as the world that the author created. This was such a fast-paced and delightful read that I found very difficult to put down. Starling’s Weave has an action-packed plot full of twists and turns. I loved the cast of characters and the overall storyline of this book. I definitely recommend picking this one up.

Read this if you like:

📖 Found family
📖 Unique magic systems
📖 Great world building
📖 Slow burn romance

Thank you for the opportunity to read the arc! I enjoyed the book and our library will be ordering this book for our readers!

As always, thanks to Entangled Teen for providing me with ARCs! I have yet to read a book published by Entangled that I haven't rated 4 or 5 stars, they know a good story!

This book has EVERYTHING you would want in a YA romantasy!
Full of action - CHECK
Unique plot - CHECK
The ONE true love - CHECK
High stakes - CHECK

The end of the book finished perfectly and yet I feel like could very much leave it open to a sequel (PUHLEASE L.E. Sterling!)
There was so much backstory they gave us also through out the book that we could even get a prequel/novella talking about the history before this book (*cough cough*, L.E. Sterling are you listening!?)
This book comes out October 21st and definitely one to add to your TBR!

3.5 stars. This book was a fun read it was interesting and the characters were well written. It just wasn’t anything super special that I’ll be thinking about as time goes on honestly. The romance was kinda insta-lovey but also slow burn. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I blew through this book in a day. I read a TON of fantasy so I found the book to be a little predictable but overall I really enjoyed it. I can't wait to find out what happens next with the characters!

I really enjoyed this book!! The plot was so interesting and full of adventure that I was never bored. The author did a great job with character development because I was full invested in there stories. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family.

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.