A review by aduarte
The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 
The Wind Weaver kicks off with a well-paced story that jumps straight into the action, avoiding info dumps that would leave you lost in world-building. The balance between discovery and adventure is solid; while you’re still figuring out the rules of the world, it doesn’t feel like you're drowning in details. 
 
Rhya is an absolute treat—fiery, bold, and more importantly kind. She’s not clueless, just under-informed (thanks, everyone who’s keeping secrets!). Penn, though? He could definitely do with a crash course in communication. And maybe stop treating her like she’s still a kid. Sure, we all love a fae age gap, but when it turns into treating someone like a child, the romance starts to fizzle out for me. 
 
This isn't your typical Romantasy—there’s way more adventure and fantasy than romance and spice. The romance develops at a glacial pace (and I mean glacial). Penn’s whole “I need to control my feelings or I’ll lose control of my power” gives major slow-burn vibes (ah!). Honestly, by the end of the book, I’m secretly hoping for a "why choose" situation. Soren’s fun, he’s gorgeous, and I’m just saying—there’s potential for a very spicy love triangle (or, should I say, a love square?). As Remnant of Earth, where are you? (I have my suspicions!). 
 
Now, let’s talk dialogue. Rhya and Penn share this Bridgerton-esque banter where they’re the bane of each other’s existence, which I loved. But every now and then, the dialogue flips into something way more modern, so a little consistency would go a long way in keeping things flowing better. 
 
But what really sells this book is the found family aspect. Rhya finds her people, and even though Penn keeps her at arm’s length, she begins to realize that perhaps she is worthy of that love. It’s a feel-good moment when she finally sees she is loved by her friends, and it makes you root for her even more, hoping as the story goes that she does see she deserves that love and care. 
 
Overall, The Wind Weaver is a delightful mix of fantasy, slow-burn romance (very slow burn), and an intriguing world. The enemies-to-lovers trope, the tiny bit of spice, and the potential (one can only hope!) for “why choose” are all pulling me back for more. So here’s hoping the next book throws in some curveballs—maybe Penn isn’t the only one in the running after all!

*Netgalley e-ARC received in exchange for honest review