The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson
Reign of Remnants #1
Fantasy Romance
April 8, 2025- Ace
ARC

Review by Angela

I may be at the point where I’ve read too many romantasy books this year. They all seem to be blurring together. I swear I read the blurb before I grabbed the ARC for review, but for some reason I thought there would be dragons in this book. Maybe because of the cover? I don’t know.

ANYWAY, The Wind Weaver doesn’t have dragons, but it does have elemental powers, magic, and the fae. There are also complicated court politics and an enemies to lovers storyline. I will admit to being a little taken aback at the beginning of the book, because the FMC, Rhya Fleetwood, is basically being tortured and is mentally preparing for her death at the hands of soldiers whose orders are to kill all halflings. Enter in the mysterious Commander Scythe, who upon seeing a birthmark on her chest kills all the soldiers and spirits her away. I won’t call it a rescue, because this man is not helping her out of the goodness of his heart, and he isn’t kind to her either. I won’t say the reasons why he takes her with him, because that would spoil so many plot points, just suffice it to say that he has REASONS.

For the most part this book is a fantasy adventure with the two main characters evading the enemy, meeting up with allies, and trying to make it to the safety of Commander Scythe’s (who by this time is revealed to be someone else altogether) home. I’m pretty sure readers don’t glimpse another female character until at least past the 50% mark. I wasn’t sure if this was an actual romance because when I say this is an enemies to lovers storyline the emphasis should definitely be on enemies. These two are adversaries to their cores. And to be honest despite Scythe’s gaslighting from the middle to the latter part of the book, he really gives Rhea no reason to believe he’s on her side or trying to help her in any way.

Despite that, I was glued to the page because the world-building is well done. I liked the history and aspects of the elemental magic and their users. The secondary characters are fleshed out and interesting. I especially liked one particular secondary character (I won’t mention names, you’ll know if you read the book) and was almost hoping that I was mistaken and HE would actually be the love interest. But alas, no. All signs point to Commander Scythe, now revealed as Penn, as being who Rhea is destined for.

If you are hoping for spice, you’ll need to keep that hope alive for book two. This is not an especially sexy romance. Once Penn and Rhea arrive at their destination there is some relationship building, but mostly just misunderstandings and Penn treating Rhea like a child who needs to be protected for her own good. It was frustrating.

Will I read the next book in the series? Probably. The ending was left in such a way that I really need to find out what happens next and if the earth elemental will be found and how will they fit in with the three already revealed. I’m such a sucker for a cliffhanger.

Grade- C+