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Daughters of Light #1
The Castle & the Cloister
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26The Priory of the Orange Tree meets Black Sun in the thrilling launch of a political fantasy duology following three people—a refugee, a heretic queen, and a priest—as they attempt to shape the fortunes of a continent shattered by war.
Two hundred years ago, the warmongering Inver clan conquered the nation of Honoria, suppressing its pacifist goddesses, and ushering in an era of blood and battles. Now, after a brief but fraught peace, a king’s whims threaten to reignite the engines of war.
At the sun goddess Raea’s cloister, the last stronghold of Honoria’s matriarchal religion, Fia and her infant daughter are in search of a safe haven. Fia aims to offer her child more than the poverty and abuse she was raised with, but the price of the cloister’s protection will tear her from what she loves most and thrust her into a game more complex than she could imagine.
Within the Invers’ mountain fortress, Ariana is known as the apostate queen. Once a follower of the goddess of stars, she left her faith for the sake of a king. But old loyalties are not easily severed. Ariana treads a dangerous path, striving for peace in a court made for conquest.
Deep in the heart of the mountain, the Inver Priest bides his time, presiding over his people’s brutal religion. Blinded in the fight for the throne, he harbors a bitter grudge—one that could lead to Honoria’s ruin or renewal.
Amid a treacherous landscape of enemies, allies, and intrigue, three lives will intertwine. Each will have to risk the wrath of gods and kings alike to alter the course of nations.
Two hundred years ago, the warmongering Inver clan conquered the nation of Honoria, suppressing its pacifist goddesses, and ushering in an era of blood and battles. Now, after a brief but fraught peace, a king’s whims threaten to reignite the engines of war.
At the sun goddess Raea’s cloister, the last stronghold of Honoria’s matriarchal religion, Fia and her infant daughter are in search of a safe haven. Fia aims to offer her child more than the poverty and abuse she was raised with, but the price of the cloister’s protection will tear her from what she loves most and thrust her into a game more complex than she could imagine.
Within the Invers’ mountain fortress, Ariana is known as the apostate queen. Once a follower of the goddess of stars, she left her faith for the sake of a king. But old loyalties are not easily severed. Ariana treads a dangerous path, striving for peace in a court made for conquest.
Deep in the heart of the mountain, the Inver Priest bides his time, presiding over his people’s brutal religion. Blinded in the fight for the throne, he harbors a bitter grudge—one that could lead to Honoria’s ruin or renewal.
Amid a treacherous landscape of enemies, allies, and intrigue, three lives will intertwine. Each will have to risk the wrath of gods and kings alike to alter the course of nations.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 4, 2026
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859 people want to read
About the author
Laura E. Weymouth
8 books698 followersLaura Weymouth is a Canadian living in America, and the sixth consecutive generation of her family to immigrate from one country to another. Born and raised in the Niagara region of Ontario, she now lives at the edge of the woods in western New York, along with her husband, three wild-hearted daughters, an unruly garden, and an ever-expanding menagerie of animal friends.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I need the second book of this duology now!
The Castle and the Cloister is a beautiful character driven story following 3 different points of view. Full of power struggles, political intrigue, and the power of motherhood. The ending of this book left me in disbelief and hungry for more.
Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for the gifted eARC. 4.5 stars
The Castle and the Cloister is a beautiful character driven story following 3 different points of view. Full of power struggles, political intrigue, and the power of motherhood. The ending of this book left me in disbelief and hungry for more.
Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for the gifted eARC. 4.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone (Del Rey) and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this ARC! All opinions are my own.
5/5
Truthfully, if I could give The Castle & the Cloister 6/5 stars, I would. The Castle & the Cloister is a political thriller with a fantasy setting, and it mainly focuses on the machinations of international war diplomacy and the struggles of the royal court and everything that the two encompass. The lore consists mostly of the different religions within the continent, and their own magic and loyalties. The royals involved in the diplomatic struggle all have relations, one way or another, to a different religion, and thirst for the abilities they can gain from controlling the gods and goddesses’ gifts. I don’t want to spoil the complex intricacies of the political plot, so I will only mention that those who enjoyed the Letters of Enchantment Series by Rebecca Ross, The Chronicles of Castellane Series by Cassandra Clare, Elantris and Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, and The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison must not skip on this novel. It is equal in quality at all possible levels.
There are four main characters who serve as narrative perspectives within the novel: Fia, Silas, Orden and Ari. Each has an incredible character arc, adding thus more layers to the novel.
I will start by mentioning King Orden. Objectively speaking, he is the hero who managed to overthrow his own family’s former tyrannical rule. He did so through bloodshed, and he is both revered and feared for that. Orden is regarded by others both as the lesser evil and as not cruel enough. His happy ever after with his Queen and Heir is seen as a weakness, and his desire to maintain peace within his realm is regarded by others as naïveté. The tragedy of this hero is that after winning and getting everything he wanted for his country, he is not enough; he is never enough, not for his Queen, not for his brother, not for his people, and all for different reasons. The fact that he cannot pick between one side or the other and tries to find a middle way is ultimately our King’s undoing; he can never satisfy everyone, and even when he tries to do good, he is seen as never enough. Not peaceful enough. Not bloodthirsty enough. Simply not enough. I enjoyed this twist on a character serving as King, seeing how the concept of rule and nobility differs from person to person, all projecting a different image on him, but never the one true to his ultimately chivalrous personality. The undoing of his character is beautifully done, and I enjoyed every moment of it — the author showed masterful writing in constructing Orden.
The Queen, Ari, serves as the trigger of all events in this first novel. Due to the birth of her son, Fia is sent to the castle, due to his love for her, the King acts in uncharacteristic ways to protect her, due to her persistence, Silas acts quietly defiant. She is the centre piece of all the action in this book, and truthfully her existence as the one who controls the narrative both internally and externally is well-done. Ari’s character is both complex and not; she is stuck in a mentality of victimhood and martyrdom, and manages to project a tame and innocent image to others, yet she is ultimately very self-absorbed. Only she can be right, only she can tell right from wrong, only she can view the true value of others, only she can claim life or death. Under the guise of a peaceful nobility, Ari’s character reveals condescension towards even those most loyal towards her. She is always above others, above judgement. The layers of her character unravel as the plot moves forward, like puzzle pieces falling into the right places.
The relationship between Orden and Ari is beautifully tragic; one of the parallels to Letters of Enchantment falls here, for those in the know.
Our main protagonist, Fia, is like the Sun Goddess herself. She burns with passion and persistence, and nothing stands between her and her aim. She is a character who believes that the end justifies the means, and is marvellously observant of the world around her, keen for knowledge and power to protect, and a master manipulator of both words and religion. I absolutely loved her character, and her progression throughout the entire novel. A mother and a practical woman, she is beautiful in all possible ways. She is sadly underestimated by the person she respects most, but her match is found in Silas. He lights the fire within her, brings her out of her shell of isolation, and makes her shine all while being respectful of the limits she sets for him. The mutual yearning of the two was splendid, enchanting and deeply intimate.
Lastly, Silas. The Priest, the King’s brother, the servant of gods he doesn’t believe in. If he has a religion, then it is Fia herself. I wish to speak more of how exquisite his character is, but I would end up spoiling. As such, I can only say he is as noble, royal and gallant as Maia, Raoden and Kitt. Perhaps I should add Faramir to this comparison too, for Silas is the unexpected noble knight in shining armour we all dream of seeing in fantasy novels.
Last, but definitely not least, and perhaps the most magical element of his novel, the prose. Beautiful, elegant, refined and enchanting — its silkiness has something which reminds me of Tolkien, at the very least in the construction of a world so magical it seems shiningly beautiful even at its worst. There’s an organic rhythm, a mixture of metaphors and poetry, all with a different voice depending on the character whose perspective is enhanced. There is a variation of sentences structure wise, the writing having a fluidity adaptable to every kind of scene. Even if everything else were less than perfect (which it is not), the prose itself is so alluring that it would make The Castle & the Cloister worth reading. Excellent work of the author and her editor/s!
Already looking forward to the next volume of this series. I hope everyone who enjoys political fantasy novels will give this a try. This novel is truly a gem.
5/5
Truthfully, if I could give The Castle & the Cloister 6/5 stars, I would. The Castle & the Cloister is a political thriller with a fantasy setting, and it mainly focuses on the machinations of international war diplomacy and the struggles of the royal court and everything that the two encompass. The lore consists mostly of the different religions within the continent, and their own magic and loyalties. The royals involved in the diplomatic struggle all have relations, one way or another, to a different religion, and thirst for the abilities they can gain from controlling the gods and goddesses’ gifts. I don’t want to spoil the complex intricacies of the political plot, so I will only mention that those who enjoyed the Letters of Enchantment Series by Rebecca Ross, The Chronicles of Castellane Series by Cassandra Clare, Elantris and Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson, and The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison must not skip on this novel. It is equal in quality at all possible levels.
There are four main characters who serve as narrative perspectives within the novel: Fia, Silas, Orden and Ari. Each has an incredible character arc, adding thus more layers to the novel.
I will start by mentioning King Orden. Objectively speaking, he is the hero who managed to overthrow his own family’s former tyrannical rule. He did so through bloodshed, and he is both revered and feared for that. Orden is regarded by others both as the lesser evil and as not cruel enough. His happy ever after with his Queen and Heir is seen as a weakness, and his desire to maintain peace within his realm is regarded by others as naïveté. The tragedy of this hero is that after winning and getting everything he wanted for his country, he is not enough; he is never enough, not for his Queen, not for his brother, not for his people, and all for different reasons. The fact that he cannot pick between one side or the other and tries to find a middle way is ultimately our King’s undoing; he can never satisfy everyone, and even when he tries to do good, he is seen as never enough. Not peaceful enough. Not bloodthirsty enough. Simply not enough. I enjoyed this twist on a character serving as King, seeing how the concept of rule and nobility differs from person to person, all projecting a different image on him, but never the one true to his ultimately chivalrous personality. The undoing of his character is beautifully done, and I enjoyed every moment of it — the author showed masterful writing in constructing Orden.
The Queen, Ari, serves as the trigger of all events in this first novel. Due to the birth of her son, Fia is sent to the castle, due to his love for her, the King acts in uncharacteristic ways to protect her, due to her persistence, Silas acts quietly defiant. She is the centre piece of all the action in this book, and truthfully her existence as the one who controls the narrative both internally and externally is well-done. Ari’s character is both complex and not; she is stuck in a mentality of victimhood and martyrdom, and manages to project a tame and innocent image to others, yet she is ultimately very self-absorbed. Only she can be right, only she can tell right from wrong, only she can view the true value of others, only she can claim life or death. Under the guise of a peaceful nobility, Ari’s character reveals condescension towards even those most loyal towards her. She is always above others, above judgement. The layers of her character unravel as the plot moves forward, like puzzle pieces falling into the right places.
The relationship between Orden and Ari is beautifully tragic; one of the parallels to Letters of Enchantment falls here, for those in the know.
Our main protagonist, Fia, is like the Sun Goddess herself. She burns with passion and persistence, and nothing stands between her and her aim. She is a character who believes that the end justifies the means, and is marvellously observant of the world around her, keen for knowledge and power to protect, and a master manipulator of both words and religion. I absolutely loved her character, and her progression throughout the entire novel. A mother and a practical woman, she is beautiful in all possible ways. She is sadly underestimated by the person she respects most, but her match is found in Silas. He lights the fire within her, brings her out of her shell of isolation, and makes her shine all while being respectful of the limits she sets for him. The mutual yearning of the two was splendid, enchanting and deeply intimate.
Lastly, Silas. The Priest, the King’s brother, the servant of gods he doesn’t believe in. If he has a religion, then it is Fia herself. I wish to speak more of how exquisite his character is, but I would end up spoiling. As such, I can only say he is as noble, royal and gallant as Maia, Raoden and Kitt. Perhaps I should add Faramir to this comparison too, for Silas is the unexpected noble knight in shining armour we all dream of seeing in fantasy novels.
Last, but definitely not least, and perhaps the most magical element of his novel, the prose. Beautiful, elegant, refined and enchanting — its silkiness has something which reminds me of Tolkien, at the very least in the construction of a world so magical it seems shiningly beautiful even at its worst. There’s an organic rhythm, a mixture of metaphors and poetry, all with a different voice depending on the character whose perspective is enhanced. There is a variation of sentences structure wise, the writing having a fluidity adaptable to every kind of scene. Even if everything else were less than perfect (which it is not), the prose itself is so alluring that it would make The Castle & the Cloister worth reading. Excellent work of the author and her editor/s!
Already looking forward to the next volume of this series. I hope everyone who enjoys political fantasy novels will give this a try. This novel is truly a gem.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
Orden Inver, the unexpected heir to his family's bloody lineage, is engaged in two wars at once. The Inver's violent gods are at odds with the peaceful religion of the rest of the land, but Orden's violence is held in check by his wife Ariana, who balances her own desires for peace with love of her husband. When Ariana gives birth, her old friend Fia is manipulated into coming to her aid.
Review
I’m a little conflicted in how I feel about this book. It was very competently put together, but with some important flaws, yet redeemed itself in part toward the end.
Technically, in many ways, it was one of the strongest debut novels I’ve seen. The prose is strong, the characters carefully thought out, the emotional highs and lows well placed, the world credible. There’s a lot that’s good about it, and I can add to that an ending that in many ways supported emotional impact rather than Hollywood happiness.
At the same time time, there were some weaknesses. While the world building is well done – clearly deep, but never piled on as dressing – some aspects needed more balance. For example, there are two opposed religions, but one is clearly depicted as the true and honest religion, while the other is evil and venal. In a book that seems in many ways to strive for accuracy, that kind of black and white delineation rings false. That’s true of some of the characters as well – Ariana in particular, while assigned a few token flaws, is too pure for words, and simply doesn’t fit in a world where everyone makes pragmatic compromises left and right. Her complement, Fia, is more credible, but comes across as remarkably flat for someone making such difficult decisions. I read Fia as being much more in service of the plot than as a fully developed character, which is a serious problem in her role as the story’s hinge pin. The story’s main villain is irritatingly two dimensional. These character weaknesses are all the more unfortunate in a story that so clearly was trying to make them credible. Fia at one point betrays someone for seemingly no other real purpose than to betray them – there’s a given story reason, but it’s a thin reed. A few characters are so incredibly convenient that they undermine the story, with only one given a rationale for being so.
There’s also far too much politics in the story for my taste – realistic, but not interesting, in the same way that Katherine Kurtz’ Deryni stories got off track (and were famously called out by Ursula Le Guin). More troubling to me was a continuing S&M-flavored thread of misogyny and submission that was not at all to my taste. There were quite a few moments that I found genuinely repellent, and not only from the designated villains.
Formatting-wise, it was mildly irritating that it takes a long while to get to the actual story – working past page after page of praise, an author’s note that while interesting should have been an afterword, etc. There were only a few typos that will hopefully have been cleaned up by the time this is published.
While this mostly looks to stand as a complete novel on its own, the final chapter and epilogue say ‘sequel’ in big, flashing letters. It could be interesting, but I do think there’s a risk that story will double down on this one’s flaws. For the time being, if you’re interested in a credible, interesting world with complex but sometimes simply drawn characters, try this out.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Summary
Orden Inver, the unexpected heir to his family's bloody lineage, is engaged in two wars at once. The Inver's violent gods are at odds with the peaceful religion of the rest of the land, but Orden's violence is held in check by his wife Ariana, who balances her own desires for peace with love of her husband. When Ariana gives birth, her old friend Fia is manipulated into coming to her aid.
Review
I’m a little conflicted in how I feel about this book. It was very competently put together, but with some important flaws, yet redeemed itself in part toward the end.
Technically, in many ways, it was one of the strongest debut novels I’ve seen. The prose is strong, the characters carefully thought out, the emotional highs and lows well placed, the world credible. There’s a lot that’s good about it, and I can add to that an ending that in many ways supported emotional impact rather than Hollywood happiness.
At the same time time, there were some weaknesses. While the world building is well done – clearly deep, but never piled on as dressing – some aspects needed more balance. For example, there are two opposed religions, but one is clearly depicted as the true and honest religion, while the other is evil and venal. In a book that seems in many ways to strive for accuracy, that kind of black and white delineation rings false. That’s true of some of the characters as well – Ariana in particular, while assigned a few token flaws, is too pure for words, and simply doesn’t fit in a world where everyone makes pragmatic compromises left and right. Her complement, Fia, is more credible, but comes across as remarkably flat for someone making such difficult decisions. I read Fia as being much more in service of the plot than as a fully developed character, which is a serious problem in her role as the story’s hinge pin. The story’s main villain is irritatingly two dimensional. These character weaknesses are all the more unfortunate in a story that so clearly was trying to make them credible. Fia at one point betrays someone for seemingly no other real purpose than to betray them – there’s a given story reason, but it’s a thin reed. A few characters are so incredibly convenient that they undermine the story, with only one given a rationale for being so.
There’s also far too much politics in the story for my taste – realistic, but not interesting, in the same way that Katherine Kurtz’ Deryni stories got off track (and were famously called out by Ursula Le Guin). More troubling to me was a continuing S&M-flavored thread of misogyny and submission that was not at all to my taste. There were quite a few moments that I found genuinely repellent, and not only from the designated villains.
Formatting-wise, it was mildly irritating that it takes a long while to get to the actual story – working past page after page of praise, an author’s note that while interesting should have been an afterword, etc. There were only a few typos that will hopefully have been cleaned up by the time this is published.
While this mostly looks to stand as a complete novel on its own, the final chapter and epilogue say ‘sequel’ in big, flashing letters. It could be interesting, but I do think there’s a risk that story will double down on this one’s flaws. For the time being, if you’re interested in a credible, interesting world with complex but sometimes simply drawn characters, try this out.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was given an advance reader copy of The Castle and the Cloister for an honest review. This is Book #1 of The Daughters of Light Duology – releases August 2026.
This book was great! I love character driven stories that also bring action, intrigue, and immersive world building. The plot moves with and through the internal motivations of the characters giving it depth and purpose. Two of the main character’s (Fia and Ariana) are strong parental figures showing the physical and emotional challenges of negotiating the religious, political, romantic, moral, and other aspects within themselves and the kingdoms they are trying to influence or save while balancing their number one motivation – the well-being of their child and the world they live in. I love these two and how they are portrayed. When characters have layers, it keeps me reading.
The setting has thoughtful deep world building – with each region within this world feeling real and lived in. The areas have a purpose (not just window dressing) that lends connection to the characters in the story. For me, some of the regions were characters unto themselves.
I knew this story was part of a duology, so I was curious as to how this book would end and lead into the second book. The author did not disappoint and I’m looking forward to the next part of this story.
I highly recommend giving this a read.
This book was great! I love character driven stories that also bring action, intrigue, and immersive world building. The plot moves with and through the internal motivations of the characters giving it depth and purpose. Two of the main character’s (Fia and Ariana) are strong parental figures showing the physical and emotional challenges of negotiating the religious, political, romantic, moral, and other aspects within themselves and the kingdoms they are trying to influence or save while balancing their number one motivation – the well-being of their child and the world they live in. I love these two and how they are portrayed. When characters have layers, it keeps me reading.
The setting has thoughtful deep world building – with each region within this world feeling real and lived in. The areas have a purpose (not just window dressing) that lends connection to the characters in the story. For me, some of the regions were characters unto themselves.
I knew this story was part of a duology, so I was curious as to how this book would end and lead into the second book. The author did not disappoint and I’m looking forward to the next part of this story.
I highly recommend giving this a read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating 4.5
The Castle & the Cloister literally takes place in the fragile space between two powerful symbols, the weight of the crown and the hush of a postulant’s prayers. This isn’t a sweeping fantasy of sprawling realms that demands a gilded map and a glossary to navigate. Instead, Weymouth offers something quieter and far more intimate. We are given an atmosphere thick with history, where every stone seems to remember the past. The world feels forged by conquest, ancient and taut with tension, burdened by the relentless struggle between faith and oppression.
This is not a plot-heavy fantasy, there are no large-scale battles with rapid political twists or an Intricate magic system so be aware going in. This is character-driven fantasy that is gradual, lingering and restrained. Much of the high stakes drama unfolds internally with emotional and spiritually with the external stakes sometimes feeling muted compared to the internal ones. The writing is really well done and really quite beautiful without feeling forced or overdone.
Overall, I found The Castle & the Cloister thoughtfulI to be a political fantasy that wrestle with faith and identity and is thoughtful, atmospheric, and quietly powerful.
The Castle & the Cloister literally takes place in the fragile space between two powerful symbols, the weight of the crown and the hush of a postulant’s prayers. This isn’t a sweeping fantasy of sprawling realms that demands a gilded map and a glossary to navigate. Instead, Weymouth offers something quieter and far more intimate. We are given an atmosphere thick with history, where every stone seems to remember the past. The world feels forged by conquest, ancient and taut with tension, burdened by the relentless struggle between faith and oppression.
This is not a plot-heavy fantasy, there are no large-scale battles with rapid political twists or an Intricate magic system so be aware going in. This is character-driven fantasy that is gradual, lingering and restrained. Much of the high stakes drama unfolds internally with emotional and spiritually with the external stakes sometimes feeling muted compared to the internal ones. The writing is really well done and really quite beautiful without feeling forced or overdone.
Overall, I found The Castle & the Cloister thoughtfulI to be a political fantasy that wrestle with faith and identity and is thoughtful, atmospheric, and quietly powerful.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
As someone who has read Laura Weymouth's YA books, I was excited to get my hands on her adult fantasy debut. Laura has stated she's been working on this story for many years, and it shows. The Castle and the Cloister is a highly political fantasy, focused mostly on behind-the-scenes scheming, court machinations, and religious tension. It was so refreshing to read a fantasy where our main characters navigate religious influence on power. And even though this was not a fast-paced or plot-heavy novel, the story did not lack violence and tension. In fact, I would recommend you look up trigger warnings when picking this up, particularly for blood and any kind of child-bearing trauma.
That said, this book has a strong focus on the emotional and physical struggles of motherhood, as well as the power mothers wield. I have never seen the impact of raising a young child depicted so honestly in a fantasy before, especially newborns. Usually if children are present in a fantasy series, they are either near or in the double-digits.
Though the start of the book felt like a slow-build, the story more than rewards your patience, especially towards the end of the book. I NEED that sequel!
That said, this book has a strong focus on the emotional and physical struggles of motherhood, as well as the power mothers wield. I have never seen the impact of raising a young child depicted so honestly in a fantasy before, especially newborns. Usually if children are present in a fantasy series, they are either near or in the double-digits.
Though the start of the book felt like a slow-build, the story more than rewards your patience, especially towards the end of the book. I NEED that sequel!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Books filled to the brim with political machinations are rarely my cup of tea, but when handled well, they make for intense stories that are both difficult to put down and easy to recommend. The Castle & the Cloister is very much one of those. I cannot wait for this book to be published so that I can recommend it to people. It was so good!
While Laura E Weymouth crafts a complex and highly detailed world that easily captures the attention, it's the characters that make this story as great as it is. Each one is so layered and multi-faceted, making each of their stories and complicated motivations uniquely intriguing. I was glued to the page throughout the whole book, eager to see how things would unfold. The three protagonists are all vastly different from one another, yet you desperately want each of them to succeed, in some shape or form.
Keep an eye out for this one, folks!
While Laura E Weymouth crafts a complex and highly detailed world that easily captures the attention, it's the characters that make this story as great as it is. Each one is so layered and multi-faceted, making each of their stories and complicated motivations uniquely intriguing. I was glued to the page throughout the whole book, eager to see how things would unfold. The three protagonists are all vastly different from one another, yet you desperately want each of them to succeed, in some shape or form.
Keep an eye out for this one, folks!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A marvelous new fantasy steeped in political intrigue and religious conflict with young mothers as major characters in the story. I was drawn to this book when the author said she was compelled to write a story where the great love the protagonist would change the world for is the love she holds for her infant. While the story is lighter on the magical/fantasy elements, there's plenty of intrigue, scheming, machinations, and stakes to keep any fantasy lover interested. And readers who are hungry to see new parenthood experiences woven into a high-stakes fantasy should absolutely reach for this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a beautiful juggernaut of a read. The plot galloped, the characters plotted, and the author smiled. At first, the sense of politics is jagged but this felt very intentional as one of our pov characters was grabbed by the collar and tossed into the deep end, so to speak. The sense of embodied pain across characters and actions/injuries was gorgeously and accurately rendered, in my opinion. And the characters were truly unique - I especially loved the Priest and Fia!
March 31, 2026
The Castle and the Cloister is a slow, but driven political fantasy following a wet nurse who finds herself in a vicious court at the directive of her Cloister to stop an oncoming war. We follow four characters—a wet nurse, a priest, a queen, and her king—as their experiences with parenthood and religion shape their choices and the future of their world.
I am a huge fan of political fantasy and I’ve never seen one that largely tackles themes of parenthood and the choices parents make to ensure their children’s futures. Overall, I loved it and I cannot wait for the sequel, which is unfortunate because this was an ARC and I now have to wait a year and a half at least for it 😭😭
I am a huge fan of political fantasy and I’ve never seen one that largely tackles themes of parenthood and the choices parents make to ensure their children’s futures. Overall, I loved it and I cannot wait for the sequel, which is unfortunate because this was an ARC and I now have to wait a year and a half at least for it 😭😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I tell you that this book has stayed with me, I mean it.
Here are my official thoughts: At once achingly sweet and lavishly dark, Weymouth deftly weaves a tale of war, love, sacrifice and devotion. Add in poignant portrayals of motherhood and faith, and The Castle and the Cloister brings something truly human and honest to the adult fantasy landscape.
Here are my official thoughts: At once achingly sweet and lavishly dark, Weymouth deftly weaves a tale of war, love, sacrifice and devotion. Add in poignant portrayals of motherhood and faith, and The Castle and the Cloister brings something truly human and honest to the adult fantasy landscape.
Read
January 28, 2026Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Every character felt complex and interesting. The setting is seemingly simple at first, but I love how fleshed out and immersive it becomes. Book 2 can't come soon enough!
March 9, 2026
Hell yes. Weymouth mentions in the afterword that this is a novel that's been brewing for a long time for her, and you can tell with the level of detail that she's put into the intrigues and interactions here. We get the story of a woman who is trying desperately to secure her place in a convent with her young daughter, and the mission to an ex daughter of the convent, now queen of a neighboring country, that she is sent on. The intrigue between religion, politics, and on a personal level? Immaculate, and intricate. The characters? Exquisite. What actually ends up going down, and what is being set up down the line here, is exactly what I was looking for in a fantasy book when I sat down with this. Comes out in August, and highly recommended when it does.
October 20, 2025
Literally my magnum opus. It took me twelve years to perfect this story, and I cannot WAIT to share it with all of you!!!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews