"Light Weaver by Lusine Torossian is a mesmerizing read that had me hooked from start to finish. The storyline is expertly woven, with characters that leap off the page and a plot that's both captivating and emotionally resonant.

As a reader, I was deeply invested in Satya's journey, which perfectly captures the ups and downs of adolescence. Torossian's writing masterfully conveys the turmoil and uncertainty of growing up, making it easy to become fully immersed in Satya's world.

One of the most poignant moments for me was the reunion between Satya, her little brother Caral, and her mother. I won't lie – I cried hard during this scene! Torossian's ability to evoke such strong emotions is a testament to her skill as a storyteller.

Overall, I devoured Light Weaver in record time, and I'm still reeling from the experience. If you're looking for a book that will make you cry, and maybe even cry some more, then this is the perfect read for you."

An amazing story of growth and accepting your inner shadows.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing style was clear and descriptive, painting a beautifully vibrant world. Lusinie Torossian has the ability to write a beautiful fantasy story. Personally, I was excited to read a story based on Armenian myths, as I have never done so before and I can say that I learned a lot. It is always nice to learn about different cultures and their stories.

Satya, our main character, is a strong young girl that has to overcome her self-doubts and accept her innermost self in order to fullfill her fate. Each challenge helps her grow as a character and shows her, that not everything is black and white, but balance is needed.

The romance is more of a subplot in this story, wich I am happy for, even though I would have liked to see more of their relatonship develop at the end of the book. The development in feelings between Satya and her love interest throughout the story, however, felt natural and not forced.

My only real point of critique would be, that I would like to know more about the Enlighters motives and his plans overall. I feel like that fell a bit flat. In addition I feel that the reason for the unrest between the gods could have been a bit more explained.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lusine Torossian for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be posted on Fable, Storygraph, as well as on my TikTok Account (@mellii_zz) and on my Instagram (@melanies_bookish_life).

Light Weaver follows Satya, a relic thief on the run after stealing an ancient artifact from the king. She discovers a dangerous secret: the king is a puppet to a soul-harvesting sorcerer building an undead army. An army that includes Satya’s dead family. Fleeing with her professor, Satya finds herself far more powerful than she once believed. With her family’s souls on the line, Satya has to face impossible choices and save herself and those helping her from deadly demons.

As someone who loves lore and myths from other cultures, this was so interesting! I can’t say I know anything about Armenian mythology, but now I really want to read more. I loved the world the author created. It was so magical and atmospheric. The gods/goddesses and magic system were so fascinating. The whole concept of Light Weaving and weaving souls into tapestries was so cool and unique. The plot is engaging throughout the novel and keeps you on your toes. The ending was great and I really enjoyed all the twists and turns.

Satya is a great fmc! She’s very courageous and strong while still having vulnerabilities. Her growth and journey through the novel was really well done. There's a great slow-burn romance that gives you the perfect amount of chemistry and intrigue. Their ending was really cute!

Overall, if you like unique magic systems and Armenian mythology, I’d definitely recommend checking this one out!

Thank you to The Wild Rose Press and Netgalley for the arc!

I really liked the plot of the book. Personally I really like books that are based on a culture.

The pacing of the story was a bit slow at certain times, I'm okay with character having an inner monologue and reflection about the things around them but I consider it was overly extended sometimes, specially at the beginning. Anyhow, there were faster moments that compensated later and the final episodes were very entertaining and appealing.

The world building, I think, are very unique and new, I haven't seen books like this being promoted in social media, so it's refeshing. Since I don’t have much knowledge in Armenian culture, the magical twist made it very easy to get a first taste of it and peak my interest. The places were very well described. One part that I loved was the magic system and the concept of the tapestries in it, I hope it's further developed in the next book(s). But I think there should be some kind of guide to explain certain words or expressions that are mentioned in the book that are specific to the culture so it can be accesible for everyone.

The dynamic between characters are really good, Satya's devotion for her father and family, Satya's changing feelings with Raman, the whole relationship between Satya and Sakaya. This last one is a perfect example of the phrase: "The hero will sacrifice you to save the world", it's good to have an example of this, I loved that Satya kind of understood why Sakaya did the things he did even if she didn't like them, show a lot of maturity in her part. I also really liked Satya's friendship with Mona, who at first seemed to hate her but then they fought alongside each other and protected each other fiercely.

And the love story as SO good, I need more of them. Satya and Rei whole relationship was perfectly done, from enemies to reluctant allies to friends to lovers. I hope I get to see more of them and their relationship gets more developed in the future.

In my opinion it’s a good start of a series, there are some things that could be improved but I would recommend it a 100%.

The world building in this is absolutely top notch. It is definitely written to where as I closed my eyes I could imagine everything jump to life around me. The plot was unique and I love how immersed in culture this story is. I will say the pacing did seem off in parts but otherwise it was great.

“Our stories meant nothing to the king, whose only revelry came from sacrificing other kingdoms like a lion devouring its prey.” -Satya

“Who am I but a selfish girl drowning in a sea of errors?” Satya

“Heed the night’s truth to tell the story of dawn.” Goddess Ayg

Light Weaver is a stunning YA fantasy debut that breathes new life into the fantasy sub-genres by drawing from Lusine Torossian’s Armenian heritage, mythology and traditions. In a market saturated with Greek, Roman and East Asian influences, Torossian’s novel is a welcome addition. The rich fantasy culture, expanded by mentions of food, language, folklore and faith grounds the magical narrative in something that feels both ancient and new. I hope a glossary is included in the final edition to help readers unfamiliar with Armenian terms fully appreciate the experience.

Light Weaver is a slow-burn adventure wrapped in a coming-of-age tale with just enough romance to keep the heart fluttering. The FMC is fierce, flawed and incredibly human while her love interest offers the emotional complexity and mystery. Their introduction and time to warm up to each other feels natural and builds with tension rather than tropes. Torossian doesn’t shy from darker and mature themes such as secrecy, death, betrayal, spiritual lore. All of this is applied in an age appropriate way while still engaging adult readers alike. Parents should note the inclusion of elements like murder, a vampirism-adjacent affliction and references to multiple deities, an afterlife and the underworld.

One of the shining stars in this story is its intuitive magic system. Torossian masterfully reimagines familiar themes like light and dark magic, adding layers of originality with god-touched relics: the healing spool, the wall breaker, the ring with its epic powers. The physical toll and moral weight of magic are brilliantly portrayed, adding personal sacrifice, urgency and depth. I originally committed to 2 chapters before switching to another activity but found myself 12 chapters in and fully hooked. I can’t wait for what Torossian does next. This is one to watch.

Thank you to Netgalley and The Wild Rose Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I’ve used an academic writing style to compose this review. The book releases May 28th 2025. Look for it on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles Online and Bookshop online.

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