THE BLOODWEAVER

Kuster’s fantasy novel, the first installment in the Weaver series, follows three siblings as they navigate a tumultuous realm that sees supernatural abilities as inherently evil.

Triplets Emiel, Meliana, and Kerick DeLuvena own a successful vineyard on the island of Isthius. Emiel, the head of the family at 22 years of age, is the youngest winemaker on the island. With his wedding looming, Emiel and his siblings are preparing for a monthlong celebration. But the island’s populace quickly devolves into chaos when squads of Breakers show up, searching for Bloodweavers—those with the ability to manipulate living things. (“The touch of a talented Bloodweaver could incapacitate a person in seconds. Stop a heart. Destroy a mind.”) Kerick, who’s over seven feet tall, knows he has the ability to weave, and he’s terrified that he’ll not only put his own life in jeopardy, but those of his brother and sister as well. When he tells Emiel about his power, he demonstrates it for him and accidently creates a massive sinkhole into which Emiel disappears, presumably dying in the fall. Kerick and Mel soon become targets of the Breakers, who’ve heard rumors about the triplets’ grandparents’ weaving powers. Kerick vows to somehow find a safe haven with the Ravel, a resistance movement that sees those with weaving abilities as beneficial to society. Mel attempts to save her lover, Ismene, after she is tested and imprisoned by the Breakers. Fantasy fans will find a lot to like here. The rich worldbuilding is arguably the novel’s biggest strength, but the well-developed dynamics between the main characters, particularly Mel and Ismene’s complex relationship, are also compelling. The narrative has an impressive pace fueled by intertwining and action-packed plotlines that maintain the pedal-to-the-metal momentum. Unfortunately, the conclusion is both predictable and somewhat unsatisfying, as it’s more of a cluster of cliffhangers than an ending.

The intriguing beginning of a promising fantasy series.