Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️

Set to be hung by the humans, fae-born Rhya is rescued by a dark and mysterious soldier, who saves her just to remain aloof and incredibly grouchy throughout their travels. Slowly but sure, Rhya learns more about her rescuer, Scythe, as they come across multiple challenges, friends and different lands. What seems to keep Scythe’s interest in Rhya alive? The mysterious brand on her chest, which she was raised to believe was just a birthmark. As more secrets are uncovered and a prophecy is revealed, it turns out that Scythe knows a whole lot more about Rhya than he’s letting on.

Dang, was this a fun story. It was incredibly long, and it seems almost like there were multiple stories within one book! I loved discovering more and more with our FMC Rhya, trying to piece together her history, her powers and the powers of those around her. Seeing her build relationships with those she thought were foes, as well as the blossoming relationship between her and Scythe (and maybe Soren…?), I was hooked throughout the whole story. SO MUCH POTENTIAL with this world and this magic system… I’m excited to see what happens next!

What I Loved About This Story:
✨ Enemies to lovers (with SO much friction & disdain!)
✨ Hidden & misunderstood powers
✨ Elemental magic
✨ Some fun one-horse AND one-bed situations
✨ Incredible world-building
✨ PERHAPS the start of a tumultuous love triangle AND I’M HERE FOR IT!

Thank you for the free book @BerkleyRomance and @acebooks! I am grateful to be a Berkley Romance 2025 Influencer and given the opportunity to read this book early; my review is all my own.

The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson is a captivating historical fantasy that blends adventure, romance, and mythology. Set in a richly detailed world, the story follows a protagonist navigating powerful forces, personal growth, and a deep connection to ancient magic. Johnson’s writing is immersive, with engaging characters and a plot full of twists and emotional stakes. Fans of fantasy with a strong romantic and adventurous element will enjoy this magical and heartwarming tale.

Loved this one! A smart and stubborn heroine, a richly fleshed out world, and tons of tension that kept me turning the pages. I am invested and can't wait to see where the next books goes!

I enjoyed this so much more than I envisioned I would. The world was compelling and I really enjoyed Rhya as a character, they both hooked me so much. I like that the story drops you right into the action and the world overall without info-dumping on the reader at all---it all felt very woven together, and it's clear a lot of effort went into this story. This book was just great---tight writing, well-paced plot, interesting world and magic, with well fleshed out and compelling characters to boot. I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting the next book/more from this author. Y'all should definitely check out this read!

Upon the first chapter of The Wind Weaver, I was absolutely sucked in! The world building and lore were fascinating and definitely the highlight of the book. The story starts off super strong, so I was really excited to see how the plot progressed. Unfortunately, I found the character development and relationships subpar. None of the characters really show growth or depth, and the bond between Rhya and Pen fell super flat for me. They go from essentially hating each other to suddenly being drawn to each other? I really felt like I got dropped into a different book with a different love interest that I didn’t witness any real interactions or building. Along with that, the plot moved too slow for my taste. I think the author could’ve easily cut 100+ pages of the story. Overall, I think the author had a great idea and premise but the execution just wasn’t there.

Thanks to Ace Pub, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

“It is not a monster to be shoved into a cage, nor a daemon to be subdued. There is no storm to tame. You are the storm, Rhya Fleetwood.”

First, thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A world ravaged by a blight and being torn apart by warring clans and kingdoms, our FMC, Rhya, immerses readers into a fantasy world filled with elemental magic, a prophecy needing fulfilled, and Fae as she travels to the sanctuary of the Northlands after being rescued from her execution by the enigmatic MMC, Commander Scythe. Filled with antagonist banter and heated interactions between the two on their travels, we learn Rhya is a fierce woman who quickly learns of her true, latent identity revolving around her elemental powers while facing dangers along the way that force her to reveal her talents in an awakening of her fears and the darkness within, all while denying the turmoil that threatens to overwhelm her.

Not much is learned about Scythe and why he is content to remain dark and brooding, yet a spark ignites between him and Rhya that leads to their misconceptions being dispelled and their attraction to grow as vulnerabilities are slowly revealed. I enjoyed the dynamic take of their relationship with one of them struggling for a need of control while the other resists it, creating tension and conflict between them while facing external pressures. Yet just when I thought they would both find common ground, I felt our MMC disappear from the story just when we thought we’d get a glimpse into his insecurities warring with his attraction towards Rhya, the plot becoming solely focused on her needing to face her inner darkness filled with her fears that prevent her from fully reaching her potential and embracing the storm within.

The story has a unique take on magic in a high-stakes world and I enjoyed the found-family take Rhya finds with other characters tied to the MMC’s inner circle, yet it was slow to get into and I wanted the world building to be expanded, including why the villain wants to attack the north and is chasing after Rhya so desperately. I think the story tried to focus more on the relationship between our two characters, pitting their fierce personalities against each other beautifully, but I didn’t see how they come to accept each other as they both have differences in handling their flaws and their control over their elemental powers that still puts them on uneven footing.

Overall, the author makes you feel so connected with most of the characters and described the epic-battle scenes in a way that makes you feel like your a part of the action, leaving us with an ending that has me anticipating the next story and applauding this debut novel. However I hope our love interests finally decide on what they want with each other and I am eager to read the next chapter of Rhya’s journey with her powers and self-acceptance. #TheWindWeaver #JulieJohnson #debutnovel #AdultFantasy #NetGalley

What a breath of fresh air! We're pulled into this world during the most brutal moment of Rhya's life, and I was instantly hooked! The world building was so good! No info dumping here! The characters are fascinating! Seriously though, the side characters were the best parts! Jac, Farley. And Carys were fantastic! The magic is so well fleshed out that it's easy to understand. Elemental magic in the simplest form, yet so intriguing. I have not one single iota of a complaint about this book. I will be anxiously awaiting the next book and hoping we'll see more of Soren 😏

Y’all, put this book on your 2025 romantasy TBR! When I tell you I did not want to put this book down, I’m not exaggerating and for a book that is over 500 pages, that’s not an easy feat.

This book had all of the great components of an amazing romantasy while still being super unique. It has the strong willed FMC, the brooding and mysterious male MMC and the amazing tension and chemistry between the two. It also does a great job of balancing the intense, hard moments with moments of levity and happiness.

Now what probably intrigued me the most about this book was the elemental aspects to it. As a huge fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, it was so much fun reading another take on reincarnated elements especially with the added romance, it was everything I could’ve hoped for!

Thank you @netgalley and Julie Johnson for an advanced copy of this book - I’m excited to see what’s in store for the rest of the series!

Read if you like:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Secret identities
- Elemental Powers
- Found family
- Avatar: The Last Airbender

This book had me from the first sentence...

"The noose chafes, a necklace of death."

Rhya is a faerie halfing destined for death. He is a commander of the guard with no remorse, emotion, or feeling. Before she is to be hung and put to the pyre, he slaughters all of the guards and whisks her away on his horse to lands unknown.

Penn is crude, ruthless, and a villain. He is a monster who risks everything to save her and keep her safe.

The Wind Reaver has the vibes of:
The Road of Bones - an epic, fast-paced journey
ACOTAR - two men who are leaders of different realms at odds with each other
Avatar, the Last Airbender - elemental magic

It has everything I look for in a fantasy:
-Fast-paced action
-One horse
-Morally gray broody MMC
-Epic journey
-More fantasy, less romance (slow burn)

This book is action packed right from the beginning. The journey from where she is taken to the city of Caeldera is full of danger. Everyone wants to capture her. She has no idea what makes her so important until she learns she is the Remnant of Air, and she is one of four Remnants who can restore the balance.

Even when the action slows down a bit in the middle, it's important to understand Rhya's feelings as she goes from running for her life to being left alone in a palace with nothing to do. She needs to figure out a way to live a new life in a place that is unknown to her, and she doesn't know she's welcome.

This book may be one of my favorite reads of the year at the end of this year! I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish, and cannot wait to read more from Julie Johnson.

"The Wind Weaver" has utterly bewitched me, breathing fresh life into the fantasy genre I've grown to love. Julie Johnson's masterful storytelling weaves a tapestry of elemental magic, fae intrigue, and prophetic whispers that has not only captivated but stirred my imagination.

At the heart of this mesmerizing narrative stands Rhya, our wind elemental protagonist. I've found myself completely enthralled by her journey of self-discovery, which unfolds like a tempest - each gust of growth and revelation more exhilarating than the last. As Rhya harnesses her elemental abilities, I've been inexorably drawn into her world, cheering her triumphs and aching for her struggles as if they were my own.

The chemistry between Rhya and Penn, our brooding Alpha male, crackles with such electric tension that I could almost feel the sparks flying off the page. I've watched, spellbound, as their relationship evolves from icy hostility to smoldering passion with the gradual intensity of a gathering storm. This slow-burn romance adds layers of complexity to the narrative, intertwining personal growth with heart-pounding attraction in a way that left me breathless.

Johnson's world-building, in my opinion, is nothing short of spectacular. I've lost myself in epic confrontations between warring kingdoms, felt the surge of elemental magic through every page, and found an emotional anchor in the bonds of found family and friendship amidst the chaos. These elements coalesce into such a rich, immersive experience that I find satisfying.

And then there's Soren, the enigmatic water remnant, whose presence ripples through the story with tantalizing mystery. His role in the grand tapestry of fate has left me yearning for future installments, my curiosity as insatiable as a parched desert awaiting rain.

Johnson's prose flows with such effortless grace that I've found myself lost in the pages. Her writing style is so engaging that I've often lost track of time.

As I reached the story's end, I was left in awe of Johnson's finesse as a master storyteller. The conclusion sets the stage for future adventures in a way that left me deeply satisfied, yet eagerly anticipating more. "The Wind Weaver" has truly swept me off my feet, and I find myself already impatient for the next gust of magic to carry me back into this extraordinary world.

Thank you, Ace and NetGalley, for my free book for review.

I really enjoyed this!! I found the world building to be very unique and I loved the magic system. Rhya's character was fun to read and Scythe was perfectly broody. Great romantic chemistry, but I hope to see more emotional connection in future books. I loved the little tease of a potential love triangle?!? Super excited for the rest of the series.

I had a great time reading this one, although I don't think it'll be a favorite I'm definitely curious about the sequels!

One thing I will say is that this isn't the kind of book if you hate modern lingo in your fantasy romance and if you love getting a lot of details and explanations for the magic and world. There were a lot of things with the magic system that I had questions about and it felt not fully fleshed out, same with the world.

Also I'm convinced that Penn and Rhya aren't endgame, he doesn't understand her at all and is absolutely pulling a Tamlin with the whole I-just-want-to-keep-you-safe act. I 1000% believe that it'll be Rhya and Soren just based on the way he's written!

The pacing was okay and I did feel invested in Rhya's story and the side characters, so I'm definitely looking forward to the next book!

I was desperately looking for a book to fall effortlessly into and captivate my entire attention instantly, and immediately after the first page of The Wind Weaver, I FELL for this book, its characters, and its addictive story.

Growing up, Rhya’s life has always been in danger. As a halfling, she is wanted and killed almost instantly in her kingdom. But when an unexpected turn of events in the form of a mysterious stranger becomes her path to survival, she realizes the world she knew was bigger and more was out there for her than she ever thought was possible.

I absolutely adore this book! If you want a story that’s not only easy to read, in the sense of it capturing your attention in every single sentence in every chapter, but also lush and vibrant with magic, destiny, and adventure—then this new fantasy is the perfect next reading escape.

It wove in elements that held my attention and made me theorize about what’s to come. From enemies to lovers to forced proximity, hidden identities, elemental magic, and found family, this story was bursting with incredible tropes but didn’t feel super trope-heavy—they were all immersed well in the story.

I am giddy with excitement for the next book and can’t wait to see what will happen!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

this was a hard read. it was giving acotar fanfic and i was not connected to the writing or dialogue, which jarringly switched from old english to modern slang. as much as i wanted to support a debut, im dnf’ing at 40%.

This book delivered on all the romantasy goodness—grumpy, broody MMC? ✅ A heroine caught in a hero’s quest through a war-torn world? ✅ Fae, magic, high-stakes battles, and betrayals lurking in every shadow? ✅

The slow burn love story was painfully slow (like, I was practically begging them to just kiss already), but the tension? Immaculate. The world-building was rich, immersive, and full of layered politics, ancient magic, and secrets waiting to unravel.

And that ending? Let’s just say book two cannot get here fast enough.

If you love enemies to lovers with actual tension, morally gray characters making reckless choices, and a fantasy world that feels lived in, this one is for you.

This one started out so strong. I was so intrigued by the elemental magic, the mysterious prince and the politics at play but the execution just…tanked.

The romance felt insta lovey one second then ice cold the next and not in a purposeful way. There was too much time wasted with repetitive plot lines when we could have been building relationships among the characters.

Honestly one of my biggest issues was about the earth remanant—they made it seem like this unknown person was important to move forward with a prophecy but then stopped mentioning them by 50% all together? Maybe it’ll come up in later books but…idk. The bad guy story and reasons for being were also a bit confusing. Like I don’t really know why he did the things he did?

I’m bummed because the magic system is so coooooool. The found family was great and I adorreeddd king Soren but…that was it I guess.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy! It’s out 4/8!

The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson is a captivating fantasy with a lush, immersive world and a headstrong heroine at its core. The story weaves elemental magic, political intrigue, and slow-burning romance into an engaging plot that keeps the pages turning. While some pacing issues slowed the momentum at times, the compelling characters and rich descriptions made up for it. The cover is absolutely stunning—its vibrant design perfectly captures the ethereal, windswept magic of the book. A solid four-star read for fantasy lovers!

*Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for an ARC for an honest review*

Okay I honestly had to DNF this book at 42% (225 pages). Typically I’m a book-a-day(or two) girl. 225 pages in 5 days is abysmal for me. And I kinda feel like it was starting to show me an inkling of actual plot. Sooo I can’t keep going. I gave this a two star tho because I did enjoy parts of it, I could see myself trying this book again in audio (provided the narrators fit the dialectic vibes here).

SPOILERS ahead!!<spoilers>
This book’s wordage was hard for me to get into with the Scottish (kinda) old time English wordage. I felt very forced and just didn’t feel like it flowed well for me. But as for the plot: it’s just everyone is fighting. Everyone is at war. She has been hunted, captured, on the brink of death, freed and kidnapped, and just goes along with it. Girl has ZERO survival instincts. Other than she can shoot a bow. Like. Blaahhhh it shouldn’t take this long to introduce all the major players. They have “kept her in the dark” which means the read is in the dark and I’m just over it.

i really enjoyed this!! i love a good elemental magic system and how different they can be. this one was cool! i enjoyed all the characters and the story, and can’t wait to see where it goes from here. i wish we had more of the main character, rhya, really exploring and learning her powers, but i’m sure we’ll get that in the next book! def recommend checking this one out when it releases april 8th!

I was highly anticipating this book so receiving an arc was really exciting, that was until I started reading it. One thing I notices straight off the bat that not only was the initial world building really confusing, it was also alot of telling- not showing. The opening scene, the first chapter or two is just the female lead overhearing a conversation between two of her captors, the were discussing the lay of the land, their exact political circumstances, and what they planned on doing to her and to be totally honest it just didnt feel organic. Learning about the world through their dialogue, only to be backed up by the inner thoughts of the fmc, adding extra commentary and little bits of background information to explain it all to the reader. It didn't feel organic. Moving on to meeting Scythe and him now taking her captive , i did really enjoy their little banter, but again, so much telling. So much that felt like unnecessary details. Overall I was disappointed.
I think this book might have done better if it was marketed for a younger group, because this did not feel like an adult novel.