Book Review: All Woven with Ivy by Thea Hawthorne

June 30, 2025

So, I was one of the really lucky people who got an ARC copy of this book, and I was supposed to read it in the month of May, so Thea, I am deeply sorry that I was unable to do so. If you saw what I read in the month of May, you can see that it was literally nothing. I did not finish a single book. June has been much kinder to me ( as has my second trimester) and I was able to read this incredible book during the month of June.

We follow the story of a young scholar, Zanthi, and her struggle to find a position that she desires straight away. We are back in the world of Esk, and learn more about what is means to be a scholarly figure in this world, as well as what keeps the magic alive. Zanthi longs to study the god that she knows was at the root of the creation of Esk, all the other major towns have one, but there is no record of anything before the Heirs. Even the Gardens seemed to be there already, but what were they originally for and why is there so much aether everywhere if there was no reason? While attempting to get the most information out of the library before she is no longer considered a student, she runs into one of the socially illite, and famed heir to the healing Gardens, Madoc Casca. He is known for being a party boy and senseless flirt, and she is not really sure what to think of him. Zanthi does what she can to stay out of the public eye, for a couple reasons. The first being that she truly does not enjoy the attention. The second is her eyes; witches eyes. Eyes that can see aether and have been rumored to mean that a person is cursed. Her whole life, people have been afraid of them, which didn’t ever bother her, but Madoc doesn't shy away from them in the slightest. He looks at her and seems to see her soul. Something that is as equally intriguing as it is alluring.

This book is cozy and thought provoking and adventurous and romantic. It is like the perfect cup of tea on a cold autumn evening, while still leaving you hungry for what is written on the next page. The romance is sweet and honest and feels written by someone who has known love and heartache. Thea’s writing is exquisite and I truly cannot wait to see what she writes next. Her worlds are full of just enough magic to make them fantastic, but no so much that makes them feel like they are too far to grasp. If you are wanting to get into the fantasy genre and don’t know where to start, honestly, please turn to Thea Hawthorne. I adore her.