Title: The Weaver (The Weaver Trilogy #1)

Author: Heather Kindt

Pub. Date: August 7, 2019

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Most writers choose the endings to their stories . . . most writers are not Weavers.
Laney Holden is a freshman at Madison College whose life goes from normal to paranormal in a matter of seconds. When the antagonist in the book she’s writing shoves her down the stairs at the subway station, she learns she is a Weaver. Weavers bridge the narrow gap between fantasy and reality, bringing their words to life.
Laney soon meets William whom she also suspects is a character from her book—one she’s had a mad crush on since her pen hit the paper. But he’s in danger as her antagonist reveals a whole different ending planned for Laney’s book that involves killing William. Laney must use her writing to save the people closest to her by weaving the most difficult words she will ever write.
THE WEAVER is the first installment of The Weaver trilogy. It is an NA paranormal romance set in a small town on the north shore of Boston. It will leave you wanting more.

This will be a spoiler free review. Thank you Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a bit disappointing. Overall, I did enjoy it and I really liked the concept, but there were just aspects that continuously pulled me out of the story and somethings that annoyed me. Based on the cover alone, I would have picked this book up. Based on the synopsis, I thought I was going to really like this book. Not so much. It was meh.

It felt really cliché – a lot of typical stereotypes were used. The main character Laney is the “normal” brown-hair girl who doesn’t think she’s pretty, just average. The nice guy jock who likes her thinks she’s “not like other girls, and super stunning, she just doesn’t realize it”. A handful of other various jock characters, plus the girlie-girl roommate that is the exact opposite of Laney. Laney is quiet, introverted likes to read and write and study history, and everyone around her is the exact opposite. Until she meets William.

I also hated the use of third person – or at least the way it was used. Each character was constantly referred to by their names. ‘She’ and ‘her” were rarely used to start a sentence and it the writing became so stiff and formulaic that I started to hate their names. It started to sound like this:

Alexa walked her dog outside, and she waved at the people she saw. Alexa then turned the corner and saw someone she knew. Alexa saw her brother and his girlfriend. Alexa said hello to both of them, and then departed. Alexa continued walking her dog.

Now I know that’s not the best (or really, even good) writing and the writing in the book was better, but I think you can kind of see what I’m saying. Whereas, this –

Alexa walked her dog outside, and she waved at the people she saw. She then turned the corner and saw someone she knew. She saw her brother and his girlfriend. Her brother and his girlfriend said hello, before they all parted ways. Alexa continued walking her dog.

This sounds a little bit better, a little more natural and not quite as stiff. (The subject matter doesn’t help here, but eh.)

I also had some issues with character motives and feelings and I often had to try and go back to re-read to understand what was happening. Eventually I just gave up and opted to be confused.

The story concept as a whole is fantastic. How often do we all wish that we can bring our characters to life? I know I do. I really did like the concept and the story Kindt created, and I’m interested in seeing how this trilogy plays out. I also really liked that it’s set on a college campus and that the characters are college age. I don’t read near enough NA anymore and this was a nice little foray back into that age range.

If this book is on your radar, definitely give it a chance. It’s a quick read with some cutes-y moments and a unique concept. I read it in a handful of hours, and I’m a bit bummed I have to wait for the next one.