A younger woman named Leena is determined to avoid wasting her ailing brother pleads her case to the Saint of Silence (AKA St. Silas), essentially the most harmful man within the metropolis. He collects secrets and techniques and extra, however in flip, supplies the bearer of these secrets and techniques with their coronary heart’s need. Leena’s secret – she will be able to see the useless, a capability/talent/energy long-thought to be witchcraft or not even actual. Looming over every thing is the traditional mansion within the often called Weavingshaw, and it might be the important thing to what Leena is tasked by the Saint with discovering. In fact, Weavingshaw is presupposed to be haunted which is the place the ghost of Percival Avon, the final lord of the mansion.
Three years in the past, Leena Al-Sayer awoke with a horrible energy.
She will see the useless.
Since then, she has hidden herself away from the world, understanding that if she ever reveals her curse she can be locked up in an asylum.
When her beloved brother, Rami, falls fatally unwell, Leena is confronted with a horrible selection: Let him die or purchase the costly medication that may save his life by bartering the one worthwhile factor she has—her secret.
The Saint of Silence, a ruthless service provider who trades in confessions and is shrouded in unearthly rumors of cruelty and energy, accepts her discount, for a lethal worth. Leena should discover the ghost of Percival Avon, the final lord of Weavingshaw—or lose her freedom to the Saint endlessly.
As Leena’s search takes her and the Saint to Weavingshaw, she finds the property and the encompassing moors to be dwelling issues—hungry for blood and sacrifice. Preventing in opposition to Weavingshaw’s would possibly, Leena should additionally battle her rising pull towards the enigmatic Saint himself, whose connection to Percival Avon stays a thriller.
As the home begins to entomb them, time is working out on their determined hunt for solutions.
For Leena has come to see that right here in Weavingshaw, the useless usually are not hushed—and a few secrets and techniques are higher left buried with them.
Rigidity on this novel is quick – Leena is understandably pressured by her struggling brother. He means to see the useless, if found, may tear her away from her household and brother and get her positioned in an asylum. She is instructed many instances by her household who’re refugees, that the Saint of Secrets and techniques is to not be approached in any trend. Tempt a woman… actually any character with one thing and they’re sure to hunt it out, particularly when they’re determined. Leena could be very hesitant to share her true secret, however the Saint could be very highly effective, extraordinarily charismatic and unforgiving. Leena quickly lets the Saint know of her powers which he finds immensely compelling and agrees to offer the remedy for her brother upon completion of the sooner talked about job – discover the spirit of Lord Avon.
As determined as Leena is, she is strong-minded and isn’t any shrinking violet. The Saint is an notorious particular person with a sinister fame, however we be taught that Leena is sort of the person’s equal, no less than in her drive and willpower. We see many of the first half of the novel by means of Leena’s standpoint, preserving St. Silas shrouded in thriller and at a little bit of a take away from her and the reader.
However then the second half of the novel begins and we be taught extra in regards to the Saint, however at a really measured tempo. I liked how this labored – seeing this imposing character solely by means of a personality who’s at fist is in an adversarial relationship with the St. Silas arrange some obstacles and expectations. Getting behind the scenes with a personality with villainous tendencies to solely reveal causes and vulnerabilities made for a particularly fascinating character. Al-Wasity does a powerful job of unveiling the layers of this character and together with that, the connection between Leena and the Saint turns into nearer, emotional and layered. As this relationship will get extra intense, we be taught extra in regards to the world. This was a really spectacular technique to inform the story, Al-Wasity was in a position to construct up a substantial amount of emotion and empathy for these characters earlier than getting extra into the darkish, supernatural nature of the world through which they stay – ghosts are actual, demons as properly, and there’s a properly of darkness suffusing the layers of this world and the veil that separate different phrases from it.
Weavingshaw is an immersive novel with inviting prose and intensely matured storytelling. In different phrases, the truth that that is Heba Al-Wasity’s first revealed novel could be very stunning, as a result of it seems like a novel from a author with a number of novels underneath their proverbial belt. From the even handed doling out of world particulars to the assured characterization to the mixing of horror, fantasy, romance, and gothic parts reveals a author who has nice talent and expertise.
The ebook can have enchantment to those that take pleasure in gothic novels, ghostly tales and sure, the most well liked label/style/pattern immediately, romantasy. This ebook initially appeared prefer it is perhaps a bit bit outdoors my commonplace studying wheelhouse, however I’ve been wanting to tread some in any other case unworn literary style paths this 12 months. I’m very, very glad I gave this one an opportunity and thanks go to the effective of us at Del Rey for sending me a duplicate.
I even have to say how pretty the bodily ebook itself is. Delicate, stylish cowl, nice design on the boards of the back and front and only a good ebook to carry in your palms.
Weavingshaw has set the bar excessive for 2026 debut novels for me and can doubtless keep at or close to the highest of style reads for me in 2026 general.
Extremely really useful.
© 2026 Rob H. Bedford
Hardcover | Del Rey
February 2026 | 464 Pages
https://www.instagram.com/alwasityhh
Excerpt: https://reactormag.com/read-an-excerpt-from-weavingshaw-by-heba-al-wasity/
Assessment copy courtesy of the writer, Del Rey Books
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