Light Weaver

By: Lusine Torossian

Narrated by: Erin Evans-Walker

When 18-year-old relic thief Satya steals an ancient resurrection artifact from the Golden King, she uncovers his dark secret: he's a puppet to a soul-harvesting sorcerer who is building an undead army—one that includes her fallen family.

Her escape through the treacherous Sophene Highlands leads her to Rei, an enemy warrior whose haunted history is intricately woven with her tragic past. As forbidden love blossoms amidst a divine war, Satya discovers that the legendary relic holds dual powers.

Now she faces an impossible choice: resurrect her family by sacrificing her soul, or save the kingdom and lose them forever. Caught between gods and demons, love and duty, Satya must decide what price she's willing to pay for the dead.

Some legends refuse to stay buried. Some choices demand everything. Light Weaver, a coming-of-age dark epic cultural fantasy, is inspired by Armenian mythology, fairytales, and folklore.

©2025 Lusine Torossian (P)2026 Lusine Torossian

This is gorgeous

This is a dark epic YA fantasy that completely won me over with its characters, emotional depth, and myth-infused worldbuilding. This has some really cool elements right from the start. The hook is strong and immediately pulled me in, setting the tone for a story that doesn’t shy away from difficult choices or moral weight.

Satya is such a compelling protagonist. She’s resourceful, brave, and stubborn in ways that feel earned, but what really stood out was her internal struggle. The way the story explores her darker inner self (and how that darkness connects to mental health, grief, and self-worth) was excellent. Her growth is messy and painful in the right ways, and the resolution of that internal arc was genuinely satisfying. What an incredibly coming-of-age story!

The cast as a whole is another major strength. The characters are nuanced, varied, and feel like fully realized people rather than archetypes filling roles. Their motivations differ, clash, and evolve, which made the relationships (both friendly and romantic) feel genuine and emotionally grounded. The romance itself unfolds slowly and naturally, built on shared trauma, mistrust, and hard-earned understanding rather than instant attraction.

The worldbuilding is rich without being overwhelming. The magic system, especially the relics and the cost of wielding them, is great. Power demands sacrifice. The influence of Armenian mythology and folklore adds a depth and texture that makes the world feel so unique and real.

Overall, Light Weaver is dark without being bleak, emotional without being melodramatic, and expansive while still feeling deeply personal. If you love character-driven fantasy, myth-inspired worlds, and stories that explore the cost of power and survival, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you to the author for the ALC - the audiobook is wonderful - and Hidden Hollows Tours for the eARC. This review is voltunary and all opinions are my own.

Beautiful story, enriched by audio narrator

What a beautiful and thoughtful story. Very poetic writing style, brought to life by the narrator. Thoughtfully done coming of age story that combines dark elements with hope and love.

Lots of introspection

I was happily surprised by the depth of character development in this author's first book. The first person narration allows us a peek into the heroine's inner struggles, which are many! The horrors of war - magnified by magic - plus moral growth through careful self analysis and observation of both friend and foe, make this young adult fantasy a worthy listen. The narration is impressive. I was amazed by Ms. Evans-Walker's skillful representation of many generations, societal levels, genders and morality. This audio book is fast paced and entertaining.