Deceiving an empire is a treacherous gameTanwen and the Corsyth weavers race to collect the strands of an ancient cure that might save Gryfelle. But Tanwen has a secret: Gryfelle isn’t the only one afflicted by the weaver’s curse.As Queen Braith struggles to assert her rule, a new arrival throws her tenuous claim to the Tirian throne into question. Braith’s heart is turned upside down, and she’s … is turned upside down, and she’s not sure she can trust anyone—least of all herself.
The puppet master behind Gareth’s rise to power has designs on the story weavers and will stop at nothing to reclaim the throne. A plot to incite the angry peasants of Tir takes shape, and those dearest to Tanwen will be caught in the crossfire. As the fight for Tir consumes the realm, no one can remain innocent.
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“Hope is never lost as long as you’re willing to fight for it. And I do think there is hope for you.”
“For what is honorable does not change with the tides, and when one acts with honor, he need not fear the consequences.”
This book 2 in The Weaver Trilogy picks up right where the first book The Story Peddler ended, so definitely read book 1 prior to reading this. Much like the first story, this one is told from both first person and third person perspectives. The author’s writing is easy to read and flows seamlessly to convey the heartaches, sorrows, and hopes of the characters. The plot is fantastic with lots of twists and surprises along the way as the group of weavers travels the world to proclaim emancipation for those that had been enslaved to the Kingdom of Tir and also to find the cure for an ancient curse slowly bleeding out the memory and life out of a couple of the weavers.
The first 1/3 of the book does move a bit slowly as they prepare to journey into foreign lands to deliver the new queen’s edict and to figure out the cure from ancient texts. Tanwen, the first person narrative main character, starts out as a whiny, bratty, selfish, petty, impulsive teenager with a barbed tongue and it’s somewhat difficult to actually like her until the entire team of weavers are under attack. She does grow up and even learns to think outside of herself during the latter part of the story. The secondary characters are awesome and I especially enjoyed getting to know Tanwen’s father Yestin. The story picks up momentum with a continuous stream of action and revelation of different moving pieces in the plot as the band of weavers fight against the villain only known as the Master. There is much loss, grief, shame, fear, and uncertainty amongst the characters but hope, even though it be small, keeps them working to right the wrongs. The ending, just like the first book, will leave you dangling off a cliff-hanger and wanting to read the third book now.
If you enjoy epic fantasy YA books, you will love this book and the series. I received a copy of the book from Enclave Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Will their mission succeed or be their downfall?
Wow, if this is what book 2 delivers I seriously wondering what the conclusion of The Weaver Trilogy will bring! As if The Story Raider’s super creepy cover, seriously, look at that smoke shrouded hand and tell me it isn’t creepy, wasn’t enough the story inside was kind of a ‘whoa’ experience. Tannie’s curse is worsening, Mor is distant, Gryfelle is fading fast, Braith is walking a tightrope, and someone or something dark is still trying to run the show from the shadows. When you add a desperate sea voyage,a diplomatic mission, and a new contender for the throne, well, the Corsyth weavers will be brought to the brink and readers will be in for a thrilling magic-filled story of adventure and sacrifice.
While I admit that I may still like book 1 the best, I really did enjoy every bit of The Story Raider. The magic and Christian themes were once again seamlessly blended in a story that left me thoroughly entertained and engrossed in the tale. And and I just have to say that the way Lindsay A. Franklin left her characters, and readers, on a cliffhanger is driving me crazy!
If there’s one thing that caught my attention in this story it’s that when disappointment comes anger can soon follow which can open up the person to negative influences that may ordinarily be passed on by the wayside.
Lindsay A. Franklin’s The Weaver Trilogy YA fantasy series has exceeded my expectations. It’s a family friendly tale that can be enjoyed by all ages and really hits the mark for Christian fantasy. I really enjoyed book 2 and now I just can’t seem to want to wait for book 3…
If I enjoyed the first book of the series, I think I may have enjoyed book 2 even more. With colorful characters, swash-buckling adventure, heart-breaking twists and turns, this story tackles some hard topics within a vivid fantasy setting, but it is a story well worth delving into. Recommended for older high school students and adults, especially those who love adventure and fantasy.
So, being that this is book 2 of the series I’ll share more about the characters and the storyline so if you don’t want more details, then read book 1 and come back for this review!
I knew that another adventure lie ahead with the Corsythe weavers because with Gryfelle dying from the weavers curse, they had to find the cure. It’s easy to understand how the storytellers bring the stories to life. If I understand correctly, the colormasters are artists, but I’m not exactly sure how they’re helpful in battle. And lastly there are the stoneshapers who actually build with their hands. In my head it’s hard to keep track of how everyone’s talents work.
We watch as the “master” who is behind all of the evil goes after Tanwen and the rest of her weaver friends. We also learn more about how their gifts are meant to have been used for good, but were twisted by some. As they set off to find the cure, black strands follow in their wake ready to destroy what they can.
Once again, book 2, like book 1, reminds me of The Lord of the Rings in how this band of people are all trying to work together for good. Off on a quest where they don’t know who, if anyone, will return. We meet many along the way, some good, some not so good. We grow to care for the main group of characters all the while hoping that Tannie and Mor will be able to figure their way to each other… or if that’s even possible.
The other storyline happening at the same time is with Braith, who is trying to rule a kingdom her father has torn apart with his evil intentions. Cleaning up his mess with nearly everyone against her isn’t an easy task. It’s also not helpful when someone shows up who might challenge her for the throne.
Book 2 is just as fast paced as book 1 and left me itching to finish the trilogy with book 3!
In book two of her Weaver Trilogy, Lindsay A. Franklin, once again brings to life a magical adventure. This story continues and compliments the story of that in the first book. This is a series that will need to be read in order to best understand what is going on. Readers of The Story Peddler, the first book in the series, will be drawn to this story, waiting and wanting to know what will happen next. Although the story is a bit stretched out and slow going and one of the main characters is a bit whiner than some readers may like, this tale is still filled with a beautiful and magical touch that readers will find charming. There is also a bit of a love triangle going on in this story, along with the adventures and pillaging. A theme in the story is strong bonds between family and friends. Readers will be intrigued and drawn to this enticing story and will once again be left wanting more with its cliffhanger ending.
Series: The Weaver Trilogy
Genre: young adult, fantasy, Christian Fiction
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Publication date: July 23, 2019
Number of pages: 368
Other books in the series:
1-The Story Peddler
A review copy of this book was purchased for review. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
That was a wild ride! I feel like this book is better than the first one but at the same time this one had more plot things that I was . . . less than pleased about? XD So I’m just a little mixed on it.
But I definitely enjoyed reading it, and I need the next book yesterday because CLIFFHANGER. *dies* I can’t wait to find out what happens!
It’s going to be sooo hard to review this without spoilers but I’ll give it a shot.
The Awesome
+ It was definitely a really good book. It was so well written, and gorgeous and exciting and (usually) fun and epic. It kind of felt like a movie and really pulled me along. And there were some awesome twists that got me really excited! 😀 Overall, despite having some quibbles (which I’ll get into later) it was a really enjoyable read!
+ THE SETTING. It. Was. Absolutely. Breathtaking. I loved getting to see all the different places they sailed to! And all of the different cultures and peoples and scenery and lands. This world is so gorgeous and vivid—and so are the story weaving parts! *flails around* SO PRETTY. I always love the story parts. There was so much epicness going down and it’s just so visual and stunning, both in setting and with all the weaving scenes. (Like the scene in the white-blossomed grove. You know what I’m talking about.)
+ There’s just so much going ON in this book. I was super impressed at how everything managed to weave together (no pun intended) and fit in this fairly ordinary-sized book when it had such sweeping scales of epic things going down all over the place. It was tight and well-paced, I guess is what I’m trying to say, and had a lot going on which made it super exciting!
+ The banter and snatches of humor made me so happy! That added a lot of fun and is one of the reasons I had such a good time reading it. I also love many of the characters (even if they frustrate me sometimes. XD) and loved getting to continue reading their story! And we got new characters too, which was awesome, and I’m really liking them. Basically, hanging out with these people mostly made me really happy. ^_^
+ Also, I love Braith! Her chapters and the “feel” of them were some of my absolute favorites! I actually kind of wish the whole book was about her and a certain new character who showed up halfway and did plot-twist things to my mind. XD (A new favorite! :O Joining Mor. Cool, now I have too favorites. XD) I would read a whole book about Braith and her problems at the palace and this spoiler person, please and thank you. 😀 Seriously.
The Less-Than-Awesome (For Me)
(Please note that everything in this category is subjective and totally a “me” thing! I’m not saying it’s a bad book, at all, just that these things were less enjoyable for me, personally—but they might be another reader’s favorites! :))
– Love triangles. Not my thing and kind of frustrating. 😛 In a way it’s better than in the first book, and in a way . . . really not. XD
– Darker, sad stories—also not my favorite. I appreciate that tackling tougher subjects is important in fiction, and I know characters die, but that doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it getting really sad, especially in the second half. (*cue Theoden voice-over* “So much death . . .”) Related, I know spending time with the villains’ POV to see what’s going on is important but I wish we didn’t have to so much because ugh. 😛
– Sometimes things confused me, especially not really knowing what different weaver powers could or couldn’t do. Maybe it’s just the usual nothing-is-explained (especially not magic systems) in fiction these days. Or maybe (entirely possible) it’s the fact that I read the first book over a year ago and forgot details and characters and plot points. 😛
– Mixed feelings about some of the characters, and how some of them did idiotic things. XD Everything about Brac’s plot—meh. I didn’t really care for him in the first place, but REALLY? And I love Mor but I don’t know if I toootally ship him with Tanwen because I dunno if she deserves him. 😛 Sometimes I love Tannie and other times she’s irrational and self-centered and felt fourteen and kinda frustrated me. XD (At this point I’m mostly shipping side characters, because YES. There are two side ships I absolutely love. :D)
– There were just a lot of turns that things took in the plot that I wasn’t enthused about. Some are covered above and some are spoilers, but anyway. I’m curious how things will finish up in the final book, though!
Conclusion
It’s a good book, just with some things that I personally didn’t love, but I still really enjoyed reading it and it was GORGEOUS. And Braith etc.! And that world! And the fun banter! Plus, that cliffhanger! I’m anxiously awaiting The Story Hunter! I need it! What’s going to happennnn?
(Note: I received a free e-ARC from the author, and ended up buying and reading a paperback instead. XD All opinions are my own.)
Welcome to the second book in The Weaver Trilogy. This book to me outshines the first for many reasons. The characters are so wonderfully crafted and easy to visualize. The author shows how talented her creativity is by placing readers in the middle of the action. I kept thinking how brilliant the author is at writing a story that takes us into a fantasy world where everything is bright, colorful and full of adventure.
I was so intrigued about how the Queen had to fight to be accepted and the dangers she encountered. It wasn’t easy for her as she had to make difficult decisions knowing what the consequences were. I admired her strength and ability to stand firm as a leader. The author does a great job of throwing roadblocks around the Queen as some did not bow to her reign.
The other part of the story involves finding a cure to save Gryffelle. Tanwen has joined the ship to help in the search for a cure. Maybe there is another reason she has planted herself on the ship. Is it because she is ill as well or is there someone on board she has feelings for? I loved the adventure of traveling with them to different places and exploring the world through the eyes of imagination and intrigue. There is plenty going on in the book that held my attention and left me wishing the book would have gone on a bit longer.
Brac is hands down my favorite character. He is heart broken that Tanwen has left him to sail away to the unknown, leaving him wondering why she left. But is there more in store for Brac? I enjoyed how the author develops this character and we see glimpses of a power he didn’t know he had. His loyalty to the Queen could be dangerous for him, but I loved how he didn’t back down. He believed that no matter who her father was, she had always been fair and cared for the people.
The story is a fascinating journey with danger, a bit of romance and twists that make the story exciting. The ending is one that makes your heart beat a little faster. The author leaves us hanging with a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next book to come out. I must know what happens to……
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
What I think you should know:
The Story Raider is a Young Adult Epic Fantasy novel. It is the second book in the Weaver Trilogy, the first book in the series The Story Peddler should be read prior to this book if you don’t want to be lost for half of the story.
From a Reader’s Perspective:
Lindsay A. Franklin, the author has created a very intriguing and fast paced story. The weavers a very interesting concept, the worlds that are created and enhanced by the weavers is wonderful to imagine, but the darkness in the book is very real too. The relationship between Tanwan and Mor is hard to read about, my heart hurt for both of them. Queen Braith’s portion of the story started out slow but by the end of the book I was disappointed that I have to wait for the next story to have resolution.
From the Mom of a Young Adult Reader:
This book is being sold as Christian YA Epic Fantasy, I will be honest I think is a stretch to call it Christian, I understand it is fantasy but I see not themes that I would call remotely Christian. This however does not mean it is not a good book for young Christians who want to read Fantasy, it is clean does not contain questionable language or inappropriate behavior. This story is unique and intriguing, I would recommend that the reader be 13 or older due to violence.
Who will enjoy this book ( just to name a few):
Fans of Fantasy
Fans of Young Adult Fiction
I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
The Story Raider
This book is part of a series, I recommend reading the first book. This book continued to book 3 so the first book probably continued to this one.
It was a interesting story. I did not know what was going on a lot of time. That is because I am not used to reading this genre. They are trying to find if the king was murder or natural causes. Also is one of the characters being poisoned.
If you like fantasy I believe you will love this book.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This review is my own opinion.
Wow. I was blown away by book one, how can you top that? I may not know the words to describe it, but this installment certainly did. I was already hooked into the storyline before I started reading, but this brought me even deeper. Franklin’s creative storytelling is simply amazing. There’s really no other way to describe it.
The Story Raider had even more action, more excitement, and more breath holding moments. Yes, I do hold my breath every now and then when reading a book! It was intense at times, in a good way. In this book you get to see a little bit more from a few characters, but the one that intrigued me the most was Naith. Yeah, he’s the bad guy, and while I don’t always like reading the POV of the bad guy, I enjoyed his.
Of course the ultimate thing I want to know is, Who is the Master? You may or may not find out the answer to that in this book. Of course we know who that refers to in real life, and Franklin found such a fun and creative way to display that here. The references are spectacular – the power of the Master, the mention of the Creator, the white light and it’s meaning, and so many more. Oh I just can’t get enough of it!!
I have one complaint. Just one. The ending. I totally was not expecting that ending. AT ALL. My complaint is really that it was such a jaw dropper and now I have to wait until the next release comes out, which is not soon enough for the record. So you see, it’s really not a complaint at all – just me being me
All in all, readers of all ages are going to love this book. I do recommend starting this series from the beginning if you haven’t. There is so much meat in the first book that paves the way for this book that I think it’d be confusing to read them out of order. But I think you’ll find that you will be thankful you did. Yes, it’s that good!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tanwen and her friends embark on a quest to find a cure for Gryfelle while unrest stirs in Tir. Y’all I was so excited to spend time with these fictional friends again, and Lindsay A. Franklin did not disappoint.
The Story Raider has a good balance of action and adventure with the weavers traveling across the lands in search of the cure and the internal struggles and realizations. Between Tanwen’s illness and her relationships with many around her (mostly Mor and her father but others as well) and Braith’s challenges as the new queen, there’s no shortage. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also an unseen enemy who is after Tanwen and creating havoc around Braith.
And Oh. My. Word! The very last word of this book made my jaw drop. Franklin delivers a blow that’s going to stick with me until the next book. And because of that (and everything else I am loving about this series), I cannot wait for the third and final book in The Weaver Trilogy.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
A fantastic continuation to the fantasy
I fell in love with The Story Peddler when I read it last year. The imagery of telling stories by weaving pictures in the air in living color is just incredible. And the adventure and mystery were thrilling. I have been anxiously waiting for The Story Raider‘s release ever since.
Once again, Lindsay A. Franklin captivated my imagination and transported me to another world. The adventures continue and twists and turns abound. The battles were stunning. There is pain, oh such grief! And hope! And did I mention twists and turns?
Ooh! In the end, we even learn who the “Master” is! Let me just say that I was stunned. Scratch that. I AM stunned! Don’t even try to guess because you won’t be able to.
I don’t want to give any spoilers here so I’m being very careful with what I’m saying. However, I just have to tell you this. At a particularly dismal point for our intrepid band of weavers, Tannie begins to imagine a world, not where good triumphs over evil but a world where there simply is no evil. No pain, no suffering. This gave me such a deep longing for heaven. You know how you know how marvelous it is going to be! And you want to go, yet somehow the cares of this life often make you lose your focus? Yeah. I was startled when I read that part and was flooded with anticipation. What an incredible reminder!! I am so excited and can’t wait!
Yes, I should have taken the time to re-read The Story Peddler before starting The Story Raider. (I always appreciate when an author doesn’t attempt to re-write the previous books in the next installments) and it has been just enough time that a refresher would have been good. Yet most of the things I needed to know came back to me as I read.
Instead of me continuing to gush, though, let me just recommend that if you enjoy compelling fantasy, don’t hesitate to start reading The Weaver Trilogy.
Read my review of The Story Raider by Lindsay A. Franklin at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
This book is absolutely INCREDIBLE. As a sequel, it perfectly carries on from the character arcs and storytelling of the first book and it heightens the tension and the stakes and dives in deeper into what makes the characters who they are. It’s an absolutely glorious ride.
I loved the character development that happened in this story. How the relationships were growing and changing, and oh-so naturally too. There’s so much conflict between the characters and it just fuels the plot like nothing else.
Tannie is such a great character. So relatable in so many ways. I loved seeing her relationships with her father and the other cast and crew, and all the crazy twists of change.
Count me in for #MoreMor in book three! xD
I may have cried a little bit in a few parts of this story.There’s some absolutely beautiful moments, moments where you just want to smash some sense into the characters, and other moments where it’s just so sad but so true to the heart of the story at the same time.
The plot thickens in this book, and we start learning more about who the villain is and what their secret plan is. Lindsay has done an amazing job with the mystery and tension in this corner and I’m SO dying to know more! Book three is so far away.
I also have to give a moment of appreciation to the adventure and seafaring aesthetic of this story! I ADORED that!!
Overall, this book absolutely swept away my expectations with something even grander, and I love love LOVE it.
NOTE: I received an ARC from Lindsay Franklin in exchange for an honest review.
The Story Raider was an amazing story with good characters who are going through hard times. The magic in this series is all original and the author really added to the magic in this second book. The writing of this book is definitely a step up from the first book, The Story Peddler. I really enjoyed reading this book. I just could not put it down and I cannot wait until the next book comes out!
So, the first book in The Weaver Trilogy was The Story Peddler, and it was amazing in its own right. But, The Story Raider takes all the great characters in The Story Peddler, throws them into a mish-mash of danger and strife, and forces every single one of them to grow in very unexpected ways. Plus, there are new characters added, each of which are completely endearing. The plot has several twists, including something at the end that makes me want to read the end of the trilogy ASAP.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s not only for fans of YA fantasy. It’s for anyone who enjoys well-written characters, surprising plot twists, and engaging story lines.
Finished this book within the first 24 hours I got it, and I still can’t put my feelings into words. Lindsay Franklin has woven an incredible story in her first book, and this one just kept getting better!
Not only does the action and plot intensify, but the emotions and characters are written so naturally and beautifully. I was touched so often throughout reading it and I cannot wait for the next book.
Great for young adult or any fantasy loving reader!
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, The Story Peddler, so I was very excited to get my hands on this one. I was not disappointed in any way. The twists and turns are exciting and mind-blowing. The characters continue to delight. There are dire things that happen to characters written with a depth and thoughtfulness I don’t see from other writers.
My only problem? That book three is not in my hands, like now!