Book Review: Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity
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Weavinghsaw by Heba Al-Wasity
ARC Review: Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an early copy of this book!
Published: February 24, 2026
Series: Weavingshaw #1
Genres: Adult // Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️ (Glimpses & Kisses)
Quick Thoughts: Weavingshaw had everything I love about gothic fantasy — hauntings, secrets, and a brooding estate at the center of it all. Though I sometimes felt there was too much going on at times and it started off slow, I still recommend if you're looking for dark atmospheric writing with a quest full of ghosts and demons.
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Blood/Death/Violence
Gun violence
Classism
Xenophobia
Suicide
War
Trauma
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Slow burn romance
Gothic atmosphere
Hate-to-love
Brooding country estates
Immigrant stories
Dangerous bargains
Demons & paranormal creatures
Hidden/Secret Identities
Quest storylines
What is Weavingshaw about?
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 CHOICE: 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.
Weavingshaw Review
I always forget how much I love a Gothic inspired setting until I’m reading one. Weavingshaw had everything I love about gothic fantasy — hauntings, secrets, and a brooding estate at the center of it all.
Pacing
The most important thing to know off the bat is that this is a slower paced story, but I think it serves the story well. There are quite a few subplots, backstories, and characters that need to be established before we make progress on the main quest.
Characters
Speaking of characters, by the time we meet our main character Leena, she has been hardened by years of being the sole caretaker of her and her brother. On top of that she has the ability to see and interact with ghosts, which has led to her alienation in addition to her refugee identity. She comes to St. Silas in a desperate attempt to save her brother's life, and it's the first of many moments where we see her choices shaped by needing to do what it takes to survive in a country that labels her as "other." I can't personally speak to the refugee experience, but I've witnessed the kind of "otherness" that comes with being an immigrant firsthand, and I really connected with how it's portrayed throughout the story.
St. Silas is our sharp, ultra-perceptive, and stoic MMC. I have a real weakness for MMCs like him, so it’s no surprise I loved his character. He's humanized the further we get into the story, and the more Leena saw of him, the harder she worked to figure him out and I honestly found myself doing the same.
Romance
The romance is a true slow burn, and I was absolutely dying at the tension between them the whole time. Personally, I love when characters don't get together in book one, so I'm excited to see where things go from here, but fair warning that there is no spice or really that much romance in this book.
My Main Criticism: Storytelling
My main criticism is that I wish the different storylines tied together more neatly. Between The Wake and their dealings, St. Silas' quest, Leena's father, and the rebellion against the king simmering in the background, there's a lot moving at once. For me, the most satisfying moment in a book is when all the pieces click into place and the bigger picture comes into focus. I was hoping that would happen when everyone finally ended up at Weavingshaw together. It almost did, but there were still enough gaps that I'm not entirely sure how everything connects.
So, should you read Weavingshaw?
FYI, this does end on a cliffhanger. The real downside with reading ARCs is that I have to wait longer for the next book to come out, but I will be adding book 2 to my TBR as soon as I get the chance.
Definitely recommend, especially if you're looking for dark atmospheric writing with a paranormal quest full of ghosts and demons.
Check out this review on Goodreads or Storygraph.
Happy reading!
Kim
Weavingshaw FAQs
Some of the answers may be spoilers if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution!
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Yes, Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity is the first book in a trilogy.
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As of the publication of this post, Weavingshaw book 2 has not been announced yet.
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Weavingshaw is a 1 🌶️ or glimpses and kisses. That means there are no spice scenes on or off page, but there are kisses and plenty of tension.