Weaver’s Folly

Written by Sarah Madsen

Narrated by Emma Lysy

Alyssa D'Yaragen is just an elf trying to make ends meet. Thankfully, working as a freelance thief - a runner by the street name Lysistrata—pays more than she would make in a month selling cell phones to retropunks at her antique shop. Though she's low-tech, she has an advantage over her fellow larcenists. She has magic.
Logan Turner, a techie and fellow runner, offers to bring her in on a high paying run stealing data from megacorporation Americorp. She accepts, partially for the payout, mostly for the challenge. Things get complicated, though, when her ex-boyfriend Tristan McCullough shows up with apologies—and, infuriatingly, the perfect recon opportunity for the Americorp job. Adding more fuel to the bad-decision fire is the mysterious Seraphina Dubhan, and Alyssa finds herself falling hard for the enigmatic elf.
But when Alyssa suddenly becomes the target of mystical attacks, things stop being about the money and become all about survival. With others caught in the crossfire, she needs to find and stop the attacker before the Americorp job is ruined and she—or one of her friends—pays the ultimate price.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Everand Productions
• Release date: Nov 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094432496

Sarah Madsen

Sarah Madsen is an Atlanta-area author and freelance TTRPG writer. A few of her favorite things are gin cocktails, expensive lattes, and romanceable NPCs. When she’s not at Starbucks, you can find her on Twitter (@UnfetteredMuse), Facebook (facebook.com/SarahMadsenAuthor) or WordPress (unfetteredmuse.com). Weaver’s Folly is her first novel.

Reviews for Weaver’s Folly

[nateburger62 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good but slow its a little to indepth for me

[judiththorne · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The construction and development of the storyline was so good I only stopped listening to eat lunch and dinner. Please write many more. The narrator’s voice was such a good fit with the story character as was her acting. Thankyou both for lovely respite from long COVID

[Jenny Taylor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story, Good writing and narration, hope there's more to come

[Rebecca · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an unexpected surprise. The world starts off as something truly wonderful with elves mixed into our society, and the characters really grow on you.

[David Holland · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fun ride. Engaging characters. I hope there will be a sequel.

[Denise · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Intriguing with subtle changes to the usual characters and settings!
I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to a sequel.
The author has created a world in which magical and nonmagical character live side by side and work together in both legitimate and shady businesses. Yet not many of the secrets of the magical world are revealed to nonmagicals.

[Ka'iulani Kauahi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 Stars! Liked it, would continue series.

FMC is a professional thief in a not too distant high tech future, but she’s an elf and a magic user who runs a shop by day and has a best friend/roomie. The world makes me think of Netflix’s Bright - Slightly cyberpunk, slightly dystopia, low fantasy without going all the way into any of sub genres. She gets caught in a lovequadrangle between a new business partner, sexy new acquaintance, and old flame.

[Jess · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The book blurb's phrase "bad decision fire" sums this book up entirely too well. I started this book while looking for some sapphic fiction not set in the real world. So disappointed. I thought the main character was unlikable, selfish, and foolish. She was constantly complaining, largely about things she had done to herself or allowed to happen through an astonishing lack of caution. She was ridiculously trusting of people she had only just met or who had already proven themselves untrustworthy for someone who makes her living as a thief. All seemingly because these people were behaving as though they were various levels of attracted to her, maybe? And the explanation for her having become a thief in the first place was pretty unsatisfactory - in the same paragraph it was doing something in the human world that would shock her parents, who were never mentioned before or after, and also to evade the ex fiance who wouldn't stop cheating on her? Not sure how or if those are supposed to be related, but it felt pretty thinly contrived to me. She was in the human realm hiding from said ex, but they had come to the world together before he had started cheating? The timeline on that whole thing was nonsensical.

It didn't help that a lot of the plot felt pretty predictable, so the fact that she couldn't figure out what was going on just made her seem a lot more foolish to me. She was constantly demanding favors from those around her to manage whatever emergency she was currently in, and getting them, despite barely ever behaving like a true friend, life-saving battles aside, even to her supposedly dear roommate/bestie.

The world building was the better part of the book, and while it's not especially original these days, barely anything manages to be anymore. It would be a good space for the author to continue exploring. As it seems she somehow was contracted for a series, I would strongly hope she either gets better at character writing or tells the next story through someone else's eyes. Or maybe Alyssa finally fucking grows up.

[Mindy Ngo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Had a lot of potential in the author’s writing style, attempt at humor and storyline. It was decent enough for passing the time.

[Shannon Bass · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Definitely looking forward to the rest of the series. Hope they'll be coming soon

[Jack · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Unique world and lore, cluttered by alot of unnecessary fluff and character interactions

[Sam Atkins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed the story for first time rider it was a very very good book very interesting story I listen to it on audiobooks and your narrator was spot on she made the character very believable thank you both

[phillip mcgill · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good book plot wasn't as predictable as I thought still gave me a bit of trouble but I did like the full story and enjoyed it up till the end wonderful Job and eloquently put together

[Matt Hutch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn't like it I LOVED IT. I can not wait for books more from Sarah Madsen. Weaver's Folly is a epic story.

[Peggy Clausing · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I look forward to more books by this author. I would like another book about Alyssa and a chance to get know Rose, Logan, and others a bit more. Excellent narrator.