Review: The Weavers of Alamaxa

The Weavers of Alamaxa

Written by: Hadeer Elsbai

Harper Voyager

2024

A startling and explosive finale, The Weavers of Alamaxa delivers freedom, equality, and a little heartbreak.

I absolutely loved this book. Once again, for anyone who loves Avatar the Last Airbender, this is the book for you. Not only that, the story tackles issues such as equality and sexuality.

Storytelling

Much like in the first novel, the women of Izdihar are still fighting for equal rights among men. They have a suffrage movement undermined by those who oppose weaving. If you remember, Giorgina was never trained to use her earth-weaving abilities. When the situation was out of hand, so did her ability to control her power, fluctuating with her emotions.

Nehal was kidnapped at the end of The Daughters of Izdihar, but not before discovering that she is a blood weaver and that her water-weaving abilities go behind what she thought was capable.

Nehal is now in a foreign country that has developed a vaccine to subdue weaving abilities, believing those born with the abilities are abominations and that the power belongs to the gods and the gods alone. And this kingdom is ruled by a woman, not a man.

She advocates for what Nehal and Giorgina are fighting for, but it comes at a steep price.

There’s a lot of talk about bodily autonomy and equality, and how they are done is thoughtful and emotional.

Nehal’s abilities were taken from her without her permission, this piece of her that she loved and treasured. And now the Queen of a foreign nation is trying to impose her personal beliefs not only on her people without their permission but also on a foreign nation that has their own belief system.

Sound familiar to anyone?

It’s a deeply involved story that has excellent characterization as well.

Both Giorgina and Nehal have grown so much since the last novel.

Giorgina’s family basically told her to “conceal, don’t feel” regarding her woman position and weaving abilities.

After being abandoned by her family, she has only the Daughters of Izdihar. She struggles with her past, with control over her abilities, and with her insecurities. And when she realizes she can control the other elements, she builds up her confidence.

Georgina’s path is one of self-love, of discovery. And it’s empowering to read.

As for Nehal, once a spoiled brat, she has been humbled and fully sees how she can help with her privilege. In the previous novel, she begins this journey but is still selfish.

Now, after experiencing prison and starvation on her journey home, she sees how unfairly not only women genuinely are treated but how the lower classes are also mistreated. Her eyes and heart have been opened. And as a queer character, she also has to learn to handle how people treat her and her relationship with another woman.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved The Weavers of Alamaxa. It was such an excellent and thoughtful novel that left me feeling empowered. Voices matter, and sometimes, the smallest actions can make a difference.

Cynthia Ayala

Cynthia Ayala-Bujnicki majored in Writing and Publishing from Emerson College. Editor-in-chief of Cyn's Workshop, she loves to read and write while tending to her pepper plants. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband, two kids Dante and Selene and two furbabies Mr. J the Kitten who Thinks He's Batman (yes, that is his full name) and Nyx.