Princeweaver by Elian J Morgan
Their marriage is to save a warring kingdom. But in the process, it might destroy them both.
Born with forbidden, nature-infused magic in an occupied land, anxious apothecary Meilyr survives by keeping his head down. Until he ends up engaged to invading prince Osian in order to save his brother’s life. Now, he is in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse to hide his true self.
When nobles in Osian’s court are gruesomely murdered by the same magic that flows through his veins, Meilyr realises someone is seeking revenge for his homeland. As suspicion towards him grows, he and the prince work together to uncover the killer or risk losing the crown – or their lives.
Between court politics, unwieldy magic and a murderer on the loose, Meilyr must keep his wits about him. Especially as his feelings for Osian grow deeper with every passing day…
One of my absolute favorite things on this planet is a well-written queer romantasy with an exciting political plotline. I can not get enough of these kinds of books, and I'm always on the hunt for more. I learned about Princeweaver recently and pre-ordered it as soon as I read the blurb. It sounded like it was the exact kind of book I am always searching for!
Khaim has ruled Cyngalon for generations, and the second prince of Khaim, Osian, is about to be crowned as the Prince of Cyngalon. Meilyr, a Cyngaleg healer who works at an apothecary, is distraught when his brother suddenly finds himself in danger of arrest (or even death) while the two are out together in town. Osian, however, quickly intervenes and offers Meilyr a chance to save his brother: marry him, and his brother will be protected. Meilyr will do anything for his brother, but his new title as Consort puts him in grave danger, as he possesses magic abilities that Khaim has outlawed and almost entirely eradicated. Meilyr is a Weaver, someone who can communicate and command a small amount of control over all other living things.
The characters in this are fantastic. Meilyr is instantly sympathetic and likable and is very easy to root for. I was a little unsure of Osian at first, but he is not his ancestors. He's trying to right the wrongs his family has done, and I soon grew to love him just as much as I love Meilyr.
There is a large cast of supporting characters, yet they all feel distinct, each with their own allegiances and motives. Unlike many books with a lot of characters, I never had trouble remembering who each character was, and I think that's always a sign of memorable, well-written side characters.
The murder mystery plot is exciting, with elements of plant-based magic and body horror that reminded me a little of The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. Meilyr is the top suspect for many once the first murder happens, and it only gets worse as more victims turn up. Each attack seems to implicate Meilyr, and Osian works to keep him safe in an increasingly hostile environment. What I loved most about the plot was how layered it is. There were multiple suspects, and I had a few guesses about who was behind it all and why, but it still surprised me. The last 25% of this book, especially, is a wild ride that had me absolutely riveted! I literally screamed at my Kindle at one point!
The romance is a true slow burn. The two marry quickly, but it starts as a romance that they're only faking for the public. Their relationship simmers for much of this book, but when it finally boils over, it gut-punches readers with so many incredible and swoon-worthy moments back-to-back. By the end, I was obsessed with these two and was crying and flailing over several scenes. That ending nearly took me out!
I recommend this to all fans of queer romantasy. Fans of books like A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows and A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland should love this. Even in a year where I've already found several new all-time favorites, this is a true contender for my favorite book of 2026; it's certainly another new all-time favorite! Brace yourself for the ending, though; It's going to be a painful wait for the second book, Princebreaker, in 2027!
My Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 (5/5 stars)
Pages: 474 (Kindle Edition)
Tropes/Tags: Queer, Achillean, Slow Burn, Romantasy, Fantasy, Mythology, Arranged Marriage, Fake Relationship, Enemies to Allies to Lovers, Minor Love Triangle, Who Did This To You, Hurt/Comfort, Queer Normative Society, Cliffhanger Ending
Contains Depictions Of: Body Horror, Blood, Death, Discrimination & Oppression. You can find full, spoilery content warnings on the author's webpage.
Links: Storygraph | GoodReads | Pagebound | ElianJMorgan.com
Princeweaver will be released on April 21, 2026, and is available for pre-order!
I received an advanced copy of this book for free, thanks to Netgalley and Canelo. The above are my honest feelings about the provided book.
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