Nightweaver

by R M Gray

Violet Oberon had never stepped foot on land.

Six hundred years after the Nightweavers claimed human lands for their own, the ocean is a haven for seventeen-year-old Violet and her family. Notorious pirates of the Western Sea, the Oberon clan are undefeated in battle-until an Underling murders Violet's brother, and she discovers there are monsters more fearsome than the Nightweavers that have taken them captive.

When the son of a wealthy Nightweaver shows Violet and her family mercy, offering employment at his estate rather than enslavement, Violet vows not to forget that he is everything she hates. But as she adjusts to her new role as a kitchen maid at Bludgrave Manor, she finds that hatred is a curious thing. Arrogant, entitled, right hand to the wicked prince, William Castor might be the key to avenging her brother-and reclaiming her freedom.

But mercy always comes with a price. As Violet hunts the Underling responsible for her brother's death, dark secrets threaten to unravel everything she thought she knew about the Nightweavers, herself, and her world. Torn between family loyalty and a chance at revenge, the cost of learning the truth about her brother's murder could be her life.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1662942850
• ISBN13: 9781662942853
• Release Date: October 2023
• Publisher: Merlin's Pen Publishing
• Length: 482 Pages
• Weight: 1.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 13 to 16 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 11

Customer Reviews

Pirates.Ominous creatures.Forbidden love and loyalties.A read to haunt my thoughts until the sequel!

I found out about the book on an Instagram ad, and was excited to give it a try. Nightweaver is a thrilling and ominous read for YA fantasy. I was drawn initially by the aesthetic, and upon reading, I was glad to be involved in the mystery and tension of the story. Violet Oberon is a stabby pirate heroine, constantly being forced to make tough choices. Her struggle between desiring freedom and keeping her family together is relatable, albeit slightly annoying as a reader. You want her to make up her mind! (But her dilemmas keep you reading.) The exposition near the end brought so many things together and was necessary, even if it did feel like a really long villain monologue. Throughout… there’s a lot of blood and death. At times the killing feels a *little* unnecessary, but it does show what a bleak and cutthroat world the characters reside in. Also, I didn’t appreciate some of the language. There was one section of the book in which there were a few occurrences… like they were just added all of a sudden. It interrupted the reading experience for me a bit. (Maybe it was just because of the interactions with a particular character? I wasn’t sure. I had expected some language sprinkled throughout considering the story’s vibe, and I can overlook it as an adult reader, but if some are expecting a “clean” read—this may upset you.) Regardless, in my consideration, the instances were pretty light. What I really liked about the book? The characters, creatures, and monsters (They are so cool and unique!). The unfolding lore. Nightweavers and their powers. Guessing friend vs. foe. Being conflicted about a character’s loyalties. The map. The settings (I’m a sucker for ships and conservatories.) Counting the number of times the color “red” is represented. The exciting romance. The author’s faith and the theological ideas woven into the story—like the power of blood. I thought this book very unique from what I typically read—historical fiction/Christian romance. The “closest” darker YA fantasy books I have read include Marissa Meyer’s fairytale retellings (the Lunar Chronicles is my favorite series). This book is more akin to her darker works, like “Heartless” and “Gilded”. I also thought of the Finishing School series by Gail Carriger, which is more steampunk/paranormal than Nightweaver. I’d recommend this book if you like mystery, pirates, dark fantasy, and forbidden romance. I look forward to reading the next tale—as the characters face their next adventure, and seeing Violet develop into a stronger and more mature character!