thank you to berkley publishing group and netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

3.75/5 stars rounded up

let me start off by saying the writing itself was beautiful, chalk full of poetic prose and world-building (though i did miss not having a map). it was easily digestible, giving me a clear vision of the scene i was reading into my head. and while all together i enjoyed my time reading this book, unfortunately many of the elements lacked originality and felt copy and paste for many books the fantasy romance genre already offers. i found the tropes and dialogue quite predictable, and while that isn’t necessarily a bad thing as fantasy romance is my favourite genre, it didn’t resonate with me the way i normally expect it to. i love elemental magic systems and especially the reincarnation aspect of the four remnant powers (very avatar: the last airbender esque, as has been mentioned in other reviews), but the history of how the remnants came to be was glazed over pretty quickly and i struggle to remember the importance of some key pieces to the plot which isn’t a good sign. they also mention how important it is for all of them to control their powers as the strongest living beings in the land, foremost for rhea considering she JUST learned she had this power, yet she goes through no level of training and instead is just able to harness her power without a problem when they need her most even though she had lost control every time she tried throughout the book. this is a huge plot hole for me.

the characters, while intriguing, lacked the dimension and depth i was hoping for. i was waiting for a little more oomph, a bit more of a opportunity to believe these characters had a reason to care about each other, but it kind of just felt insta-connecty. her “found family” in the princes inner circle accepted rhea right away with no background to their banter and relationship. same goes for the romance—while they continually referred to each other as enemies, you could feel the lust almost right away between the two of them to the point where it almost didn’t make sense. it was semi explained that all remnants feel a pull in their souls for each other, but that didn’t really appease me for an explanation. this was not to say there was not tension and yearning between the two as there definitely was (penn had me kicking my little feet and squealing a few times there) but it didn’t feel believable as an enemies to lovers romance. this story also could have drastically benefitted from a duel POV between the main characters—felt like a massive missed opportunity to fit in some backstory and buried underlying feelings.

this is not to say i didn’t have a good time with this one. i wholeheartedly did, and am super interested in finding out what happens next, especially since it’s probably going to focus a lot on soren (are we about to be tamlin’ed???). i’m hoping julie will really lock in on the next instalment and blow me away as we dive deeper into the premise.

I give this book 4 1/2⭐️ I really enjoyed this book the world building was done so beautifully while not taking away from the story and the characters and the slow burn and tension and the battles action done great

Julie Johnson's The Wind Weaver had me hooked from the beginning. This book is action-packed with great pacing in the storyline. Once I started reading, it was extremely difficult to put it down.

We open with Rhya Fleetwood, a halfling with a mysterious birthmark, on the eve of her execution. This scene sets the stage for the rest of the story, so it's important not to breeze through the first couple of chapters. Julie's book is rich in detail and prose and every word matters in telling the story. Rhya's execution is halted when Commander Scythe slays every last captor and takes her on an unknown journey. And what a journey it is.

Rhya and Scythe meet up with some men that Scythe knows, but they call him Penn (short for Pendefyre). I love the subtly in his name because later on, there will be a moment when you're like, "oh wow, that's why she named him Pendefyre." Or least that was my reaction. By this point in Rhya and Penn's journey, the tension between the two is top=notch and it's a slow-burn to something more. And I have to mention Soren. He's infuriating to both Rhya and Penn, but for different reasons. I'll have to admit Soren adds a slight love triangle angle to the story and I'm not going to lie, I love it.

This book is long, over five hundred pages, but there was never a lull in the story. I need the second book ASAP because that ending was fantastic! One final note--I've seen some people a bit confused about the story's connection with the book cover. All I can say is that you have to pay extra close attention to the story in order to make the connection. Once you do, your mind will be blown!

Without a doubt, pick up a copy of Julie's debut on April 8th! Thank you Berkley and Ace Books for the e-ARC in exchange for the honest review!

THE WIND WEAVER begins a new fantasy series. Given that fact, it should also be noted that the book ends on a cliffhanger.

Rhya Fleetwood is rescued by a man who is named by those around him as Commander Scythe. He shows up at an opportune moment since she has been captured by soldiers and is on the verge of being executed for being half fae.

Cammander Scythe throws her on the back of his horse like a sack of grain and hauls her off to an unknown destination. He barely speaks to her and doesn't answer any of her questions about where he is taking her or why until they reach their mysterious destination in the Northlands.

Once there, Rhya learns that the strange birthmark on her chest means that she is one of four fated Remnants who are prophesied to be able to cure the ills of the land which began when humans overthrew and massacred all the fae they could find. The human population is still hunting down and killing any fae or half fae that they can find and the land is blighted and getting more blighted every day while the humans divide the lands among more and more ineffective kings.

Rhya learns that she is the third Remnant to have been found. Water is King Soren of Llyr who has quite a reputation for brutality among the humans. Fire is Prince Pendefyre who has been masquerading as Commander Scythe and who has been traveling the human lands in search of the Air Remnant who happens to by Rhya.

But before they can search out the Earth Remnant, they need to deal with an enemy who wants to capture Rhya for her maegic and conquer all the fae in the Northlands. And Rhya has to learn to use her Air powers - powers she didn't even know she had.

It doesn't help that Rhya thinks she is falling for Penn who isn't willing to do anything because of his bad experiences with the previous Air Remnant.

This was an entertaining Epic Fantasy that hits a lot of the tropes of the genre. I enjoyed it and will be looking to continue that story as further books are published.

I thought this was an excellent romantasy that had some great elements that I haven’t seen in other books yet! I do think during the middle of the book the plot felt flat and the lack of training for the FMC was vert disappointing for me.

4.5 ⭐️ This book caught my interest from the very first page!!!!

- Enemies to lovers
- Magical prophecy,
- Halflings, faes, humans
- Mythical creatures
- Found family
- Forced proximity

We follow the story of Rhya, a halfling (half human half elf) on the run. The kingdom of Anwyvn is in war and her hometown was destroyed. In the past, it was ruled by a fae emperor and magic was seen as a gift to be embraced. Humans and fae lived in harmony. At some point, things changed. The mortals overthrew the emperor and magic became punishable by death. Bloodline mixing was outlawed and the land started dying, poisoned and no longer producing crops, with mortals living short lives full of hunger and suffering.

The story begins with Rhya being saved from execution by commander Scythe, a mysterious and rude man who exchanges very few words with her but seems determined on ensuring her well being with no apparent reason.

Rhya has a mysterious birthmark and eventually discovers she is a Remnant. There’s a prophecy that speaks of a fae tetrad, where four souls with different powers (fire, wind, water and earth) are fated to restore balance to the land. Rhya has the ability to command the wind and must learn to master her strong powers that can very much kill her if she loses control over it. She navigates a complicated journey with the Scythe, Pendefyre, discovering she has a much deeper connection to him than anticipated. Both try to avoid their feelings towards each other, but the bond and pull they feel is so strong and complex that it becomes inevitable.

The story starts strong with action right from them beginning, and then it gets a bit of a slower pace mixed with some quick action moments as we get more of the world building. The plot twists and reveals put my heart in my throat.

It really feels like we are living through Rhya’s eyes, constantly feeling frustrated with what’s happening to her but at the same time curious and eager to put together all the small bits of information we slowly get along the way.

Pendefyre is an immortal, he has lived through so much and has been fighting for so long against the war that he became a stiff and controlling person, keeping people at an arm’s length and not allowing himself to get too close to anyone.

This book is a SLOW SLOW burn with little spice. So much angst and tension that made my heart beat faster and feel the same longing and yearning that our main characters were feeling. Rhya and Penn, I’m rooting for you!!!!

I felt like this was a good balance in between plot and character building. It gave us just enough information to understand what’s going on and to be extremely curious for what’s coming next. There’s a trope there that gets more suggestive towards the end that makes me a little nervous, but I’m having faith for the people I’m rooting for (please Julie, consider this my plead)!! 😹❤️

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this eARC.

Prickly Rhya and Scythe are right at home in mainstream romantasy, with a hefty dose of repressed ancient powers, protective instincts, and magical bonds and ceremonies to please the trope collectors. Nothing wrong with a by-the-numbers fae romance, but in this case I didn’t understand the lead relationship at all. Stubbornness, proximity, a mystery connection, something something? Maybe try being nice to each other? The most interesting part for me was the magic and elemental reincarnation, which evokes both Avatar: The Last Airbender and Rise of the Guardians, a pairing I didn’t know I needed.

Contains adult language. Low spice.

Assorted notes:
- 1st person present POV
- There’s a phoenix on the cover? Did I miss the in-book phoenixes?
- The local holiday known as Fyremas. Discuss.
- An unfortunate reality of being a former resident of the great state of Pennsylvania is that anyone named Penn doesn’t conjure up the desired allure or mysticism.

The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson is a thrilling and magical adventure filled with intrigue, danger, and undeniable chemistry. Rhya, a halfling in a world where magic is feared, is saved from execution by the enigmatic Commander Scythe, only to find herself entangled in a dangerous journey. As she discovers the true extent of her power and her fated role, she must navigate a realm on the brink of destruction—and the growing attraction to the man who could destroy her.

Johnson expertly blends romance with high-stakes adventure, creating a world full of tension and wonder. Rhya’s journey of self-discovery is compelling, and the slow-burn tension with Scythe adds layers to their intense dynamic. With an engaging plot, vivid world-building, and a fiery romance, this is a must-read for fans of romantasy.

this was one of my most anticipated reads - i am so thanful i was able to read it. i really, really loved the story and the way this was written!!

I really liked this book, but there were a few plot points that just fell flat for me. A lot of the book is world-building and establishing relationships which I enjoyed, but the main character basically does no training the whole book. It's established early on that Rhya has considerable skill with archery, but other than that she doesn't really train in combat or her magic. It's really frustrating to me and I wish the character would have developed more.

The base of the story is that Rhya gets rescued from her own execution and discovers that she's not an ordinary halfling. She's a Wind Weaver, basically she is one of four elemental Fae destined to help restore balance. The man who saves her is frustrating and hot. There are a few steamy moments, but no sex scenes. I do think that future books will have more steam to them, but this one was relatively tame. I think this book does a lot of groundwork and I'm excited to see where the story goes.

This book is a good fantasy book and I think the next installment will be even better.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing - Ace for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Fear of maegic plagues the war-torn land of Anwyn, where anyone with fae blood, like Rhys Fleetwood, is executed on sight. But when her own execution is interrupted by the ruthless Commander Scythe, she’s thrust into an even deadlier game—one that takes her far from home and deep into the barren Northlands.

Over the course of their travels, Rhya learns she is no ordinary halfling but a Remnant, one of four fated to restore balance to a dying realm. Yet her growing power is only part of the battle. Because the deeper she falls into this world of secrets and rebellion, the more she questions whether she can trust the man who saved her—or the fire he ignites within her.

Wind Weaver is Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Lord of the Rings, blending elemental magic and epic adventure into a hard-to-put-down Romantasy. I loved the magic system, especially how each of the four elements was embodied in a Remnant. The rich history and lore added so much depth to the world-building, making the story even more immersive.

To top off an already fantastic plot, this was the slowest of slow burns. Both Rhya and the MMC are hot-tempered and feisty, making their interactions crackle with tension. I loved how their personalities reflected the elements they were tied to, adding another layer of depth to their dynamic.

The only downside was the pacing in the middle—it slowed down a lot, which was a bit jarring at first. But I stuck with it and was rewarded with an epic ending that made it all worth it. I’m excited to see where this series goes next! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: April 8, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the twists and turns in this story. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happens next.

Why am I not seeing The Wind Weaver listed anywhere as must read for 2025? Where has Julie Johnson been all my life?
I need all my friends to read this because I could talk about this for hours. I am obsessed with this Remnant concept. I've never read anything like this before (I suppose it is kind of Avatar-like) but I LOVE it. Our main character, Rhya, is an icon. She is trong-willed, resourceful, compassionate, determined but does not let the changes to her life change her. She feels every emotion and is always striving to be true to herself. I think the world-building here was great; there we no massive info dumps that overwhelming, everything this intentionally weaved into the story. And for the love interest? Sheesh, this is a SLOW BURN. The only thing is....I think I'm rooting for a different spark to ignite.

Okay, I LOVED this!!

This story was so much fun, and I am SO INVESTED. We're dropped right into the thick of it with the action--no extensive worldbuilding for the first 5 chapters, just immediately in the mind of a girl trying to save her life only to be captured and kidnapped by the person sent to execute her. You spend the book feeling lost and clueless, just like our FMC, only getting snips of information as she does.

And when I say this is a slow burn, it is a SLOW BURN. The TENSION. The INTERRUPTIONS. Absolutely incredible--this is how a slow burn should be done! And let me tell you, there's something for everyone. We've got found family, we've got a grumpy MMC, we've got a (well...more than one) "F*** it!" moment, magic, fae, prophecies. If you can't find something you like in this book, I'm pretty sure you're not a fantasy reader.

I'm already so invested to see where the story goes next--this book does a great job of setting up the overarching plot in this first book without giving everything away or creating too much of an info dump. It's definitely more focused on relationship building (not just the romantic relationships, but platonic ones too) over plot, which I see flipping a bit in the second book. This is definitely more character driven than plot, but the plot is still there and definitely is setting up for an interesting series continuation.

This book had me hooked from the first page. I fell in love with the writing, the characters, the world, and literally everything about it. It is so action packed and the perfect definition of an emotional roller coaster.

The romance is so well done. It’s a slow burn but darlin’ when it burns it BURNS🔥

I cried multiple times reading this book (at least 5 times). By the end I was desperate for it to end because I wanted to know what would happen next but also terrified of reading and getting my heart broken.

Thank you to Ace and Berkley Romance for the gifted copy.

I absolutely loved this first in the series and can’t wait for book 2!
While I wasn't fully sold on the romance of this I still enjoyed the action and characters.

With that ending I’m very excited to see what book 2 brings!

This was a great read! I thought it did a good job setting up the rest of the series, the world-building was interesting and the characters were easy to root for. Looking forward to the next one!

I had high hopes for The Wind Weaver, but I found some aspects of the book didn't resonate with me. While the premise is intriguing, I felt that the plot struggled to maintain momentum throughout, and the development of both the female main character (FMC) and the male main character (MMC) could have been improved. The MMC, in particular, seemed underdeveloped and didn't make a strong impact on the story.

The romance between Rhya and Penn lacked the chemistry I was hoping for, which ultimately affected my connection to the characters. I found it challenging to relate to Rhya, as her character came across as a bit childish.

Additionally, with over 500 pages to explore the world, I felt there was an opportunity for more detailed worldbuilding to enrich the story. A stronger narrative flow could have helped keep readers engaged.

All and all, while The Wind Weaver has potential, it may benefit from further character development and plot enhancement. I think younger readers might find some enjoyment in it, but it may not fully engage an adult audience.

3.5 STARS

Ryha Fleetwood has lived in fear most of her life as a reviled halfling. She is saved from execution by the brutal Captain Scythe who turns out to be someone other than she first thought. Ryha bears an unusual mark which she discovers is called a Remnant; it appears to be part of a prophecy for the land of Anwyvn where she has known nothing but war. They embark on an epic journey to his homeland; Ryha realizes the Commander, also eventually known to her as Penn, is important to her unknown history and leashed powers.

Ryha has much to learn about her heritage and the man who believes she is the answer to his prayers for reclaiming the magical heritage and kingdom of his fae people. Rhya has a big learning curve mastering her own powers as well since they might just tear her apart. Ryha’s feelings are very complicated for the Commander who seems to be her captor but also something entirely else.

This story has potential but is too lengthy and drawn out. The characters are well done and the writer is clearly talented; however, the narrative goes on for much too long before anything of importance happens. This seems to be the current style for Romantasy, in part due to the massive popularity of ACOTAR, to write very wordy lengthy books. At 544 pages, it could have been a lot shorter and be much more engaging. That being said, fans of this genre and style of writing will enjoy this first in a series for the most part.

Thrilled to have received an ARC from NetGalley. Although the pacing was slower than I could have handled, I really enjoyed the book. Rhya, orphaned and hunted halfling, made for an emotional and compelling FMC. I very much enjoyed every time she ran away or disobeyed orders. On the other hand, Penn was far too controlled. Trying to keep his maegic on a tight leash and his emotions numbed, I felt left wanting. However…in walks Soren. Is this a Tamlin/Rhysand switcheroo moment for book 2? Can’t wait for the next book to be released!