The Wind Weaver

Magic and adventure swirl through this spellbinding romantasy where a young woman reignites the embers of an ancient prophecy, unleashing a storm that could save her realm or doom them all.
Fear of maegic plagues war-torn Anwyvn. Halflings like Rhya Fleetwood are killed on sight. But Rhya’s execution is interrupted by an unexpected savior—one far more terrifying than her would-be killers. The mysterious and mercenary Commander Scythe. In the clutches of this new enemy, Rhya finds herself fighting for her life in the barren reaches of the Northlands. Yet the farther she gets from home, the more she learns that nothing is as it seems—not her fearsome captor, not the blight that ravages her dying realm, not even herself.
For Rhya is no ordinary halfling. The strange birthmark on her chest and the wind she instinctively calls forth means she is a Remnant, one of four souls scattered across Anwyvn, fated to restore the balance of maegic…or die trying.
But mastering the power inside her is only the beginning. Desire for the Commander—a man she can never trust, a man with plans of his own—burns just as fiercely as the tempests beating against her rib cage for release. Rhya must choose: smother the flames…or let them consume her.

A book cover can definitely influence me into purchasing a book, which was the case when it came to The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson. Just look at it! Isn’t it gorgeous? The next thing that grabbed my attention was the synopsis, which made me realize this book is right up my alley since I’m in my Fantasy Era for 2025. I also enjoy discovering new authors, and Julie Johnson is a New-To-Me Author. 

The second I started reading The Wind Weaver, I was captivated by the story and its characters, especially in the beginning. The story is told solely from the perspective of the FMC, Rhya Fleetwood. Right from her introduction, she is in danger, with people attempting to kill her because she is a halfling. Fortunately, someone comes to her rescue just in time; however, her savior soon becomes her captor, and their relationship is anything but friendly at first. Throughout her journey, she finds herself in danger multiple times, but it’s her captor who ultimately comes to her rescue. Along the way, she meets and befriends many people and begins to uncover the truth about her identity, realizing that she is part of a prophecy that could save the realm. The challenge is that she has no knowledge of how to use her magic, and it will take her captor, along with another ally, to help her learn how to harness her powers.

I really enjoyed getting to know the FMC, Rhya, and the MMC, Pendefyre, as well as the magic system in this book when it came to the Remnants. It differs from others I’ve read in this subgenre. The story started strong, but unfortunately, it began to drag in the middle, and the pacing slowed down for me as I struggled to keep up with everything being introduced. I found myself setting the book down several times. At times, it felt overwhelming to follow along with what was happening with the characters. 

Don’t get me wrong; I loved learning about Rhya and her powers when Pendefyre wasn’t trying to hold her back from learning how to harness them. There is someone else who actually helps Rhya more in finding out more about the prophecy and herself. He’s a character I hope plays an even bigger role in the next book. 

When it comes to the romance between Rhya and Pendefyre, it’s a slow burn, and there isn’t much but kissing in this book and potentially one steamy scene that is interrupted. I’m not entirely convinced that the romantic relationship between Rhya and Pendefyre is strong, mainly because of how Pendefyre treats her. He is often absent and seems to view her as fragile. Rhya herself is unsure about her feelings for him, and the same goes for his feelings for her, even though others seem to notice a connection. I’m not sure what they see that I may have missed in the book, but perhaps things will change in the next installment of the series.

I’m actually more leaning for her to have a relationship with another character, especially with how the book ended. This character is more there for her than Pendeyre, especially when they are in a battle with the Reavers and Ice Giants. Yes, this potentially means a love triangle, but Julie Johnson may be playing with my feelings a bit. 

Although I found myself putting down the book several times, I remain invested in the story and the characters, particularly with the way it ended. I need to know what happens next. I hope the next book is more gripping and filled with action-packed scenes, along with a deeper romantic connection for Rhya. Perhaps Pendefyre will pay more attention to her and trust her abilities more in the upcoming installment. Here’s hoping!

Overall, it was a decent read, and I would rate this book 3.25 stars. Although it didn’t completely capture my attention, I believe other readers might find it more enjoyable. Therefore, I recommend it to those who are in their Romantasy era, just like I am.

Audiobook Recommendation: I listened to the audiobook of this book (thanks to Libby) more than I read the physical copy, and I really enjoyed the narrator. Billie Fulford-Brown did a fantastic job narrating the story. If you enjoy listening to your books, I highly recommend the audiobook of The Wind Weaver.

What to Expect:
✔️Fae & Maegic
✔️Enemies to Lovers
✔️Touch Her and I’ll ☠️ You
✔️Found Family
✔️Slow Burn

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FranJessca

Owner/Reviewer at A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog

I guess I should type a bio here. I'm FranJessca, or Fran for short. I'm the owner/reviewer behind A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog. I've been reading and reviewing books on my blog since leaving the Navy in 2011, and I will keep doing it as long as possible. My favorite genres will always be Romance & Fantasy, and I read every subgenre underneath those two genres. (Sorry, not a fan of nonfiction, so don't try to convince me to read it.)
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)

Latest posts by FranJessca (see all)

• Review: ‘The Wind Weaver’ by Julie Johnson - May 3, 2025
• Cover Reveal: ‘The Overtime Kiss’ by Lauren Blakely - May 2, 2025
• Review: ‘Kiss of Snow’ by Nalini Singh - May 2, 2025