When we first started The Everygirl Book Club, we knew that when selecting books for our members, we wanted to bring them reads they may not have picked up otherwise. Obviously, we can’t resist breaking down a highly anticipated new release with The Everygirls here and there, but we didn’t want to regurgitate the same reads you’re already coming across on social media—instead, introducing you to incredible worlds you may have missed out on. Well, that sentiment became a little harder when taking on a genre with perhaps the most passionate fan base: fantasy.
Fantasy readers are boots-on-the-ground, discovering new worlds every day, so finding a book that appealed to the girlies who have made their way through every fantasy bestseller catalog, and wasn’t too deep in the fantasy weeds for those who don’t typically read the genre, proved to be a challenge. But when we came across Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity, we knew it was the absolute perfect read for The Everygirl Book Club.
After weeks of sending “OMG CAN THEY KISS ALREADY”–style reaction texts in our BFF group and getting to interview Heba herself—with the club asking all of our burning questions—we finally got to discuss the book with our club. Below, The Everygirl Book Club’s review of Weavingshaw, and everything else you missed at our meeting.
What is Weavingshaw about?
This yearning, slow-burn gothic fantasy romance follows a young woman haunted by the ghosts of her past and a ruthless merchant known as the Saint of Silence who promises her greatest desire in return for her darkest secret. . .
Shop on Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Libro.fm
Weavingshaw follows Leena, who has been harboring a secret since she turned 17—she can see ghosts. When her brother is on the brink of death, she knows she has to part with the valuable secret to the one person who will willingly pay: the Saint of Silence. He trades coins for every secret shared, and the darker it is, the more he will pay. But the Saint’s tricky bargaining leaves Leena giving up more than she ever expected, and now she’s made a deal to find a ghost he’s searching for. This agreement leads her to the cursed moors and the estate of Weavingshaw, where she realizes she isn’t the only one with secrets—and the Saint’s may destroy them all.
The author, Heba Al-Wasity, is an immigrant, a doctor, and now an author (talk about a multihyphenate!). After graduating from medical school as COVID exploded, Al-Wasity spent hours in high-pressure medical environments, witnessing patients on the brink of death. Writing became a way for her to process those experiences, and out of that writing, Weavingshaw was born.
Leena’s story is inspired by Al-Wasity’s own experience as an immigrant doctor during the pandemic, helping people pass on peacefully—just as Leena aims to in the book. Its themes of identity and displacement are written so honestly and authentically with Al-Wasity’s point of view as an Iraqi refugee in Libya, growing up in Canada, and attending medical school in the UK.
The Everygirl Book Club’s review of Weavingshaw
When we opened the Book Club discussion by asking everyone to chime in with their star rating, the chat was flooded with 4.5s, 4.75s, and fives. Whether they were fantasy regulars or had tried and failed to read A Court of Thorns and Roses during COVID and never revisited the genre, we were all enraptured by Weavingshaw. Its dark, gothic atmosphere. Its unique magic system. Its slowww-burning romance. Weavingshaw is a masterclass in romantasy writing.
A common sentiment among members was honestly… we’re a little fatigued by the romantasy genre. We’ve seen the same tall, dark, and handsome man done over and over. We’ve read hundreds of FMCs who are tiny, frail, and stunningly beautiful, with a bravery streak that’s more like a death wish. Sure, those tropes can be fun, but when you read them over and over, they can also become incredibly boring. Weavingshaw has the tropes we love, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance, yearning, but it does so in a way that feels fresh and new to the genre.
Leena’s ability to see ghosts isn’t just a power or a curse; we actually see the mental toll it takes on her. St. Silas is self-assured and confident, but he isn’t an overly controlling “shadow daddy” who feels more scary than romantic. It makes the connection between Leena and St. Silas feel so much more realistic and earned. Though I will note that, even if we liked the slow burn overall, there were some members who would have liked to speed things along just a bit, feeling like the romance went a little stagnant in the middle of the story.
“Like Leena’s own ghosts, the characters in this story will haunt you long after you close the final chapter—and you won’t want to cast them out.”
Beyond the romance, another aspect of Weavingshaw The Everygirl Book Club absolutely loved (and that is noticeably missing from many romantasy new releases) is how it critiques our current society. Leena’s struggles as an immigrant and refugee in Morland reflect the reality of xenophobia, racism, and the search for belonging in our own society. There are also parallels between Leena being haunted by ghosts and the metaphorical ghosts we may all carry when it comes to mental health and depression. The characters in Weavingshaw will also do anything to hoard their wealth and power and maintain their ancestral homes. Seeing all of these very real issues represented in the book pushes us all to reflect on how they impact our lives and the people around us. The world in Weavingshaw may be fictional, but in its pages are so many universal truths.
In addition to the perfect balance of romance and societal critique, Weavingshaw also delivers an immersive world you can’t help but get lost in. Our readers described it as “atmospheric,” “mysterious,” “engrossing,” and “engaging,” which paints a picture of just how locked into Al-Wasity’s world we were. With foggy moors and industrial London vibes, it’s reminiscent of gothic greats like Wuthering Heights and Rebecca while still having an identity all its own. One member put it simply, calling Weavingshaw “Pride & Prejudice meets fantasy,” and that encapsulates the book perfectly. Leena’s ability to see ghosts is written in such a haunting way, getting truly spooky at times, that it pulls you even deeper into the story. It had our book club researching whether we should be salt-circling our own beds at night… just to be safe.
While Weavingshaw was a hit across all of our members, we did have a few critiques, most of them centering around the fact that this is the first book in a trilogy, and we have to wait a year to get closure on a cliffhanger ending. Honestly, I’m not sure how we’re going to make it that long. We also wished the characters got to the actual estate of Weavingshaw a little earlier in the book, but because it’s a series, I’m sure we’ll spend plenty of time there in the following installments. With such a large cast of characters arriving later in the novel, we also found it a bit difficult to keep everyone at Weavingshaw straight. But regardless of our memory lapses on their names, we’re looking forward to following their journeys throughout the series.
So, should you read Weavingshaw?
If you ask our Book Club, Weavingshaw should be at the very top of your TBR. Whether it’s the top-tier romance, the political commentary, or the atmosphere (or, most likely, all of the above), there’s something in this book for every kind of reader. Like Leena’s own ghosts, the characters in this story will haunt you long after you close the final chapter—and you won’t want to cast them out. Our apologies in advance when you, too, have to suffer the fate of waiting for the next installment in the trilogy.
Weavingshaw Book Club discussion questions
- At what point did you feel fully invested in the story? Were there any moments that pulled you out of it?
- Al-Wasity created a very vivid world for Weavingshaw. How do you imagine the world looks? Smells? Sounds like? Think of movies or shows or songs that capture the essence of the book.
- What were your favorite moments in the book? Were there any scenes in particular that really resonated with you?
- The author was a doctor during COVID, and her experience informed parts of Leena’s story. Where did you see that come through?
- Leena and St. Silas have a very slow-burning romance. What did you think about how their relationship developed?
- Which twists or reveals shocked you the most?
- How did you feel about the cliffhanger ending? Where do you think the story is going to go from here? Will you be reading the rest of the series?
Everything else you missed at The Everygirl Book Club meeting
Like every good book club, our meetings strike the perfect balance between staying on topic and diving into plenty of bookish tangents. I mean, that’s part of the fun, right? I left with about 10 new books added to my TBR that the girlies were raving about, and of course, I offered plenty of suggestions of my own. The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem was recommended as a must-read post Weavingshaw!
The books we read may change every month, but the one constant in every The Everygirl Book Club meeting is a group of women eager to find community through our shared love of reading. Yes, it’s a place to discuss our monthly pick, but it’s also a space where you can take an hour and a half for yourself. It’s a room where you can truly be yourself, geeking out over your recent reads, and take a much-needed break from the chaos of life outside of our Zoom. If you weren’t able to join for April, let this be your sign to start reading our May pick with us.
Lauren Blue, Associate Editor & Book Club Co-Host
As an Associate Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives, from must-read books and behind-the-scenes interviews to beauty products she can’t live without. When she isn’t sitting in an AMC watching the latest buzzy release, she can be found scouring Goodreads for the perfect pick for The Everygirl Book Club. There, she co-hosts discussions with members, debating plotlines, fancasting characters, and, of course, tossing in her own recommendations.
