ARC Review: Starling's Weave -

Starling’s Weave

Author: L.E. Sterling

Pages: 321

Pub Date: October 21, 2024

In ancient times, the Elder Wrights infused magic into the seas, but now those oceans are dying, leading to starvation among the Talin, a race of hidden mages. Nieve, one of the Talin, finds herself without magic and ostracized, determined to uncover the truth behind the old stories. Her life changes when a charming pirate arrives, launching her on an adventure across the seven seas alongside an eclectic crew and a woman claiming to be an Elder Wright. As Nieve navigates this new world, she discovers the realities of tragedy, royal interference, and betrayal. While she seeks to weave her own legend, she must also contend with the risks of love and deceit that could change everything.

I really enjoyed Nieve and Keir’s story; it was exactly what I was looking for. However, I found the beginning to be quite slow and not quite aligned with my expectations. At times, I questioned the purpose of the story during those early chapters and had to keep myself pushing forward. While the conclusion offered some interesting twists, I felt it was a bit rushed and left me wanting more from the big reveal (avoiding spoilers here). There were moments in the middle that felt like filler, which detracted from the overall pacing. I would have liked to see more action in between, more obstacles, and a bit longer of a conclusion.

Overall, I did enjoy this and really loved the characters. I just wanted more of a conclusion.

Thank you to Entangled Teen and Netgalley for the ARC.