Title: WeavingshawAuthor: Heba Al-Wasity
Pages: 464
Publication Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Publisher: Del Rey
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy
Synopsis:
In this debut gothic fantasy, the first book of an enthralling fantasy romance trilogy, a young woman who can see the dead strikes a deal with a magnetic and dangerous purveyor of dark secrets to save her brother’s life.
Three years ago, Leena Al-Sayer awoke with a terrible power.
She can see the dead.
Since then, she has hidden herself from the world, knowing that if she ever reveals her curse she will be locked away in an asylum.
When her beloved brother, Rami, falls fatally ill, Leena is faced with a terrible Let him die or buy the expensive medicine that will save his life by bartering the only valuable thing she has—her secret.
The Saint of Silence, a ruthless merchant who trades in confessions and is shrouded in unearthly rumors of cruelty and power, accepts her bargain, for a deadly price. Leena must find the ghost of Percival Avon, the last lord of Weavingshaw—or lose her freedom to the Saint forever.
As Leena’s search takes her and the Saint to Weavingshaw, she finds the estate and the surrounding moors to be living things—hungry for blood and sacrifice. Fighting against Weavingshaw’s might, Leena must also fight her growing pull toward the enigmatic Saint himself, whose connection to Percival Avon remains a mystery.
As the house begins to entomb them, time is running out on their desperate hunt for answers.
For Leena has come to see that here in Weavingshaw, the dead are not hushed—and some secrets are better left buried with them.
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Weavingshaw is such a fantastic debut Gothic romantasy! It completely captivated me with its rich and atmospheric world-building, romantic tension, unsettling vibes, and layered characters and plot. It feels dark and moody and emotional, and I found it hard to put down.
The Gothic elements throughout the story are SO good. Weavingshaw, in particular, is incredible. The estate, the moors, the restless dead, the sense that the house is watching and waiting, everything makes it almost a character in itself. It reminded me of Rebecca‘s Manderley in its haunted yet alive feel. Intricate and layered, the worldbuilding is definitely a strength of the novel, and it’s very much tied to class struggle, power, prejudice, and the way secrets control people. I love Manderley and Rebecca and the Gothic, atmospheric writing style, which I very much felt when reading this story too. It made it easy to become invested in Leena’s and St. Silas’s worlds.
Leena Al-Sayer is a compelling heroine, and her story sets the tone for the novel. Three years ago, she woke up able to see the dead, and she has been hiding ever since, knowing her ability puts her life at risk. But when her brother falls fatally ill, she makes an impossible (and frightening) choice and barters her secret to save him. Her love for her brother and father very much guides her actions. I like that even though she’s terrified and unsure of her own fate, she remains determined and steadfast. She’s also really stubborn, a bit morally grey, and determined to survive in a world that would rather silence her, and I loved this about her character. She’s a smart woman and a fighter, and she never stops fighting for herself and those she cares for, which I’m thinking is one of the many reasons St. Silas is so drawn to her.
St. Silas. He’s moody and magnetic, broody and dangerous, and ruthlessly fascinating! He’s like a mix between Damon Salvatore, Mr. Darcy, and Kaz Brekker. What can I say? I adored him, and I don’t think it will be a surprise that I’d like to add him to my ever-growing list of book boyfriends. lol A collector of secrets and confessions, St. Silas is intimidating, but there’s so much more to him beneath his cold and heartless exterior. Ugh, his backstory is a heartbreaker! Morally grey, mysterious, and a little bit terrifying, he definitely has Gothic hero vibes, and I loved slowly learning more about him and seeing those growing cracks in his armor when it came to Leena. Swoon! I always love it when a hard and seemingly heartless MMC falls hard and becomes soft for the FMC, and this fits the bill perfectly.
The romance between Leena and Silas is slow-burning swoon-tasticness! From the start, the tension between them is palpable, and I love how they slowly let their guard down around each other. Leena’s days are filled working for Silas, and they constantly challenge each other while trying not to reveal too much. Every conversation between them is filled with tension and chemistry. And the yearning!! Just fantastic. The forced proximity situations they’re in, the danger they both face, and the incredible banter between them make everything that much more intense, as do all the secrets that stand between them.
The plot was also great with mystery, intrigue, and suspense, and I loved it! The search for Percival Avon, the secrets buried in Weavingshaw, Silas’s connection to both, and the situation with Leena’s brother were all so engrossing. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, an unexpected twist took the story in a different direction. I liked that not everything was predictable, and I really appreciated the deeper themes woven into the story.
I thought this was a brilliant read. It’s rich, layered, immersive, and after that ending, I am already desperate for the next book! Special thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- slow burn
- enemies to lovers
- Gothic vibes
- magical contracts
- so much yearning!!!
Heba Al-Wasity was inspired to write by her own experiences of being born an Iraqi refugee in Libya, growing up in Canada, and attending medical school in the UK. She has worked in emergency care and most recently in primary care, gaining firsthand insight into the ways that poverty and deprivation can lead to social inequalities. She currently lives with her husband near Manchester, England, just close enough to the moors to set her imagination alight.
Another book all of the bookbloggers are raving about!