I regret not reading this sooner. It's everything I personally love, and I finished it within hours. Emmeline was a young character whose innocence made it refreshing to experience the fantasy world she lived in. Her naivety but genuine need to trust in the only person who was there for her made this book a rather heartbreaking read that I enjoyed. It was quick but well-paced, consistent and sweet. The only issue I had was the frustration I was forced to deal with when she made naive choices that seemed otherwise obvious, but considering that the ending worked out so well, I have no complaints. It's a definitely recommend, as I will be following the series.

3.5 stars

Shadow Weaver is a dark middle-grade fantasy full of shadows, danger, and magic. It’s full of wonder and suspense, and although I found it to be a little slow in places, I think it is a wonderful addition to the middle-grade fantasy genre.

‘The first time my shadow spoke to me, I was a mere infant in the cradle.’


Shadow Weaver started strongly with a strong nod to fairy tales and an unmistakably strange atmosphere. The protagonist, Emmeline, is a shadow weaver – someone who can control shadows – and her only friends are the shadows that she calls to her, and her own shadow, Dar. I loved the idea of being able to manipulate shadows – Emmeline not only calls them to her, she can mould them into toys to play with, and use them to cloak herself and hide – and I liked how there was immediately a sinister undertone with Dar, who seems to revel in hurting, distressing, and playing tricks on others. The darkness continues when strange men visit Emmeline’s family and claim to be able to ‘cure’ her of her talent, with things escalating to breaking point when one of the men is left in a coma, forcing Emmeline to run.

Although the story is full of magic, darkness, and uncertainty, I found it to be lacking in places. The plot moves quickly at first, but once Emmeline is on the run I found it to be very slow – she gets taken in by a family with a talented son and the tension seems to dissipate, especially in the second half of the story. There are mysteries about Dar’s true nature and how she became a shadow, and Emmeline’s foster family, but I found them a bit predictable and could have guessed the outcome before I was halfway through. I wanted a bit more from this – more danger, more magic, more uncertainty – but even though my interest wavered, I know many readers will love reading Emmeline’s story.

While I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher, it in no way influences my opinion. All my thoughts about this book remain my own.
I thought this was a highly imaginative book. It was a theme and idea that I haven't read before and something that really pulled me in and kept me reading. Just when I thought I had figured something out it twisted. The magic is just beautiful and the imagery is vivid enough that it was painting the pictures in my mind. I really, really hope there are more of these books to follow!

Emmeline and Dar have a unique relationship because Dar often gets Emmeline into trouble. The fascinating part is that Dar is not just some naughty friend/bad influence. Dar is Emmeline's shadow. This story is a little dark, but is interesting. I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and I enjoyed it. The plot twist was my favorite part! I ordered the book for my library and am considering presenting it for our annual book fair.

Emmeline is a shadow weaver, she has the unique ability to bend shadows to her will. Leaving home under the pretence of danger, she runs until she finds someone like her. But danger comes knocking again when she starts to realise that the voice of the shadow in her mind may not be a friend...
This is a wonderful middle grade novel set in a world where magic and spirits are real.

Book Review: Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly

Can you trust your own shadow?
Emmeline is a shadow weaver. That means she can shape and control shadows, all shadows except for one, her own. Emmeline names it Dar and treats it like a best friend. It is her only friend. Other children are afraid of her.
Dar maybe her friend but she is not just a shadow.
When Dar does something terrible, Emmeline and Dar escape into the woods Emmeline discovers there are other magical children, each with different abilities including Lucas, a light weaver, Dar gets jealous of him and tells Emmeline she once was human. She needs her help to become flesh and blood again. It requires dark magic. Will Emmeline help her because they were once best friends or do the right thing?
Connolly masterfully shows Emmeline’s struggle between staying loyal to her best- friend and doing the right thing. Shadow Weaver is the first in a promising new series. It is a must-read.

Emmeline is a young girl with the power to control shadows. Sadly for her, her magical gift is not seen as a good thing by her family and constantly gets her in hot water. As she finds out more about the nature of her power, the world in which she lives and those closest to her, she is forced into adventures she would have never thought possible. This is the first in the series, and I liked it but I didn't really love it. There was one character I wanted to shake some sense into. I do think it will find readers in the library though and the slightly slow build might boil over a bit more in the second book of the series.

Beauty comes in the details of MarcyKate Connolly’s Shadow Weaver

SHADOW WEAVER, by MarcyKate Connolly, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, Jan.2, 2018, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-14)

If you’re a fan of darker middle-grade fantasy, then MarcyKate Connolly’s Shadow Weaver may be up your alley. It’s the first book in a duology that’s filled with mystery, magic and adventure.

Emmeline lives in a world where magic used to be valued, but Emmeline’s ability to control shadows is looked upon as anything but a gift.

Emmeline is a solitary creature. Even her own parents ignore her. But Emmeline isn’t alone. For as long as she can remember, Emmeline has had Dar, her own shadow, by her side. Dar isn’t just a shadow. She’s Emmeline’s best friend, and she can talk.

When a noble family arrives as Emmeline’s home and offers to take the girl away and cure her of her magic, Emmeline is terrified. In attempt to save her shadows, Emmeline makes a deal with Dar, agreeing to help make her shadow flesh if Dar will change the noble’s mind. Something goes wrong, though, and the noble falls into a coma.

Only a shadow could have made its way into the noble’s room, and Emmeline is blamed. Rather than face the consequences, Emmeline and dar run away.

Emmeline quickly discovers that a life on the run isn’t as interesting as it sounds. The noble’s guards are on her trail, and a girl who was raised on an estate isn’t well suited for a life in the wild.

Luckily for Emmeline, she’s not the only one with gifts, and they’re just as interested in safeguarding Emmeline’s gifts as she is. As her friendship with these strangers grows, Emmeline realizes Dar might not be the friend she always thought her to be.

The Shadow Weaver is fairly dark with bits of brightness woven throughout. Connolly’s writing takes some getting used to, and it won’t be a fit for everyone. However, her world-building is strong, and her descriptions of how Emmeline manipulates shadows are beautiful.

Emmeline is the true star of Shadow Weaver. She reminds me a lot of Lyra from Philip Pullman’s Golden Compass. She’s a wild thing that most people ignore and later want to use for their own devices. Like Lyra, I had a hard time really liking her character until later in the novel. In the beginning, she feels a bit one-dimensional. It takes a while to get to know Emmeline, which may make Shadow Weaver a harder read for a less mature audience, but if you stick with her, you’re rewarded. I’m looking forward to see where Connolly takes readers with the second book in this duology.

I enjoyed this book immensely and was hooked by the book’s premise as well. Shadow Weaver is a chilling, gripping, yet thrilling tale that ventures into the darker side of friendship. A powerful message of what it means to be a true friend is slowly revealed as the story goes along as well as finding your own voice to say no to peer pressure. This book kept me on the edge of my seat.

I was not sure that I was going to like this book I ended up loving it and I bought it to read to my niece when she comes over! I was surprised how rich the imagery was and Lordy mercy that plot twist had me waging my mouth open like a buffoon! I even could relate to the main character Emmeline and thought that it was a great coming of age storyline! I believe that Dar is my favorite character and I adore his mischief! I wish I could blame my shadows for all the naughty things I did at Emmeline’s age!
I highly recommend this book to Tween parents and teachers to let their kiddos read! It is a new favorite!

Shadow Weaver is a middle-grade fantasy novel that boasts similarity with Robert Beatty's Serafina and the Black Cloak. The big difference for me is that I loved Serafina and disliked Shadow Weaver. My dislike for this book is rather surprising because my good friend who hates all things fantasy actually kinda liked it. You can check out her review of Shadow Weaver here.

So, what did I dislike about this book? Well, there's no real plot and none of the characters really stuck with me. In fact, I had to look back at the book to remember the main character's name to write this review. So, let's talk about her. Shall we?

Emmeline is a whiny, self-centered child who thinks only of herself. I get it, she's a kid. Still, she never once questioned her shadow's mean tricks or hateful attitude. Like my friend said, this book is about the struggle between good and evil that exists in all of us. But even when Emmeline saw her shadow for the evil that it was, it felt like a conclusion reached for selfish reasons. Emmeline has absolutely no sense of right or wrong from my perspective. She is a weak character with little resolve. She is easily led and isn't someone who I could ever trust. I just don't like her.

Emmeline's powers and the event that led to them is cloaked in secrecy. One can only hope that these missing plotlines are explored in a future installment. However, at this point, I don't care to read it.

This novel is very simplistic—nearly too much so. The dialogue was repetitive which left me bored and frustrated.

But, at the end of the day, my dislike for this book falls back solely on forgettable characters who were selfish, whiny and annoying.

This book was nearly a DNF for me after I wasted four days on it. I kept holding out hope because the cover was just so beautiful. Now I'm a little mad at myself that I let a good cover keep me from putting down a book that I didn't enjoy.


A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
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I love a dark, creepy fantasy, and this book did not disappoint me!
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Emmeline is a Shadow Weaver; she has a special talent to manipulate shadows. She is an outcast to everyone around her, all except her personal shadow, Dar. When an unfortunate event happens in her home, it becomes obvious Emmeline’s parents are going to send away. She flees, hoping to find a place to hide from her pursuers. She comes across a boy in a field using his own talent, and she befriends Lucas, much to Dar’s chagrin. Dar tells Emmeline that it is now time for her to turn Dar back into her human form, if only Emmeline will collect certain items and perform a ritual at the blood moon. But all does not go as planned, and Emmeline must choose which friend trust.
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I had a hard time putting this book down. The story moved well, and the suspense kept me engaged in the story. I loved Lucas and his family, and how desperately Emmeline wanted (and needed) to be part of their lives.
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This is a great read for fans of Seraphina and The Black Cloak!

3.5 stars!

Emmeline was born with the gift of shadow weaving in her blood - she can exert her power of shadows, going so far as to even turn them into tangible things. To top it off, her own shadow, nicknamed Dar, speaks to her and happens to be her best friend. Emmeline loves Dar, but no one else even believes she exists. It's unheard of for a shadow weaver to be able to talk to shadows as if they are living things, and this supposed power of her is seen as impossible by many and insane by most. Even her own parents are afraid of what she can do. It doesn't help that bad things seem to happen to those closest to her, and that Dar seems to be involved in those "accidents" more often than Emmeline would like to admit.

So when her parents get offered a "cure" that will save Emmeline from her powers they jump on it, deciding to send her away without a second thought. But Dar has other plans, and soon the man who came to take her away is in a coma, Dar and Emmeline are on the run, and life will never be the same.

Emmeline is an interesting character - she's definitely very naive and sheltered, and it shows in her POV, but I liked going on the journey with her and watching her learn more about the world. As she journeys through the wilderness, meeting people along the way, she learns a lot about loyalty, friendship, and trust. I think she had a good character arc with a lot of growth, which is something that I admire in a MG novel.

Dar, on the other hand, is a tricky little thing, and I didn't really trust her from the beginning. I could tell there was going to be more from her story than what she let on, and I was rooting for Emmeline to see that and stop doing everything Dar says. But it's complicated when the only friend you've had your entire life is asking for favors - you want to trust them, no matter how sketchy their story is, and I get that. But it was like watching a little girl make deals with the devil the entire book. Very creepy. I can't say I didn't see the twist with Dar coming though.

Lucas and his family were highlights - new friends Emmeline meets and stays with in the woods - and I think there is a LOT of potentional for character development between Lucas and Emmeline in the next book. He's got hidden depth (and he's adorable).

Overall, I enjoyed this one, but it was a little bit slow at times and I feel like the stakes never reached the heights I was hoping for. But it's a fun book and definitely a good chioce for younger readers!

I found this book far more of a nuanced read than I had been expecting. Emmeline is feared by the servants and barely tolerated by her parents, who are clearly at a loss to know what to do about her. Left to her own devices, she spends her time sneaking around the grounds and the house, eavesdropping on conversations and playing tricks on the servants, or playing with the shadows.

I very much liked the fact that as her circumstances change and she finds herself with other people, she slowly begins to question her own behaviour. This isn’t a quick transformation and the book is as much about Emmeline’s own self-realisation as it is about the story of her emerging magic. The worldbuilding is well handled. Initially we don’t know all that much about what is going on in the wider world, apart from the snippets that Emmeline gleans from her snitching expeditions. However, as she leaves the family home and encounters other people, she learns just how much people with her gifts are being hunted and what they have to do to evade capture and a terrible fate. I very much liked the idea that people are invested with magic if they are born when a particular comet passes over every twenty-five years.

Emmeline’s growth and increasing discomfort with her own behaviour is one of the main themes throughout the book, as is the comparison with dark and light. While the imagery is obvious, it works well and is well aimed at a young audience. There is plenty going on in this well-written, pleasingly plotted book to keep an independent reader between the ages of 9-12 engrossed and I thoroughly recommend it. While I obtained an arc of Shadow Weaver from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10

I really, really, really wanted to love this novel. But I just didn't.

The concept is fantastic--a girl who can weave shadows into tangible things? I'm here for this. But I couldn't connect to any of the characters and the writing was just really average. There's nothing remarkable to make it stand out in my mind or to help me remember this clearly months from now. It's a quick read (I breezed through it in a couple of days), but I couldn't past the writing. It felt distant and lacking in many areas.

The ending also left quite a bit to be desired. It is a planned duology, so maybe some of the questions will be answered in book two. Even putting the unanswered questions aside, the climax of this book felt stale because I never connected with the characters enough to truly care about what happened to them, again, because of the writing. It needed more voice from Emmeline and some more realistic dialogue. Not a one of these kids sounded like kids, and it drew me even more out of the story.

It's appropriately creepy and dark for MG readers and those who likes her other books are likely to enjoy this. Those who enjoyed the Serafina series (another one where I didn't connected because the writing was lacking) are likely to gobble this up.

This book caused quite the discussion the other night between Kristin and I. Of course that same night I might have fallen asleep while we are on the phone. That has caused some serious doubt that I was actually invested in any conversation that night, though to be fair it was long after the ‘Shadow Weaver’ discussion. Let’s be honest (my review is posting before her’s so I don’t have a lot to share from her end…yet), she didn’t like the book. At all. I sorta kinda maybe did. Yes, there were flaws and I’ll share some of them with you. But there’s also some redeeming qualities to the book that I think have enough merit that I’m interested in reading the next book in the series to hopefully find some clarification.

Let’s get nitty gritty, shall we? I’m really not sure where to begin so I’m just going to random all over the place and pray you can make heads or tails of it all in the aftermath. For a middle-grade book the level of detail was random. Some things were explained in too much detail that was unnecessary (the mortar and pestle or even the apple gathering comes to mind) while other things didn’t make a whit of since due to lack of detail (the comet is a huge comes to mind). Another thing that is completely lacking in understanding is the environment and setting. I need to remind ya’ll that fantasy is not my favorite genre, I don’t read a lot of it though I don’t not like it. Following? When you create a world in a fantasy realm there needs to be a setup. An understanding of what that realm/world/what ever ya wanna call it is like. That was really not set up in this book. There were hints at this or that but I never got a feel for what was what here. With a lack of creating the environment there was a lack of creating what the special gifts/skills/powers/what have ya. I didn’t ever get the full picture of these powers and while it was skimmed over why they were being sought after it wasn’t enough. I didn’t have enough information to care even one hoot for the characters, much less two.

All of that being said the symbolism of the book carried it for me. The interplay of light/dark, shadows/light, to some degree even good and evil. The knowledge that it’s easy to be snowed under by someone you have grown up with and love and trust. (Yes that story arc was completely transparent and I knew where it was going before I think the author did – but…middle grade.) I want to see more about how these special powers play out and how they actually work. I want to understand this world and the motivation for the characters to exist and do the things they do. I have hopes that this series is redeemable and I want to be a part of that. Yes, it didn’t draw me in and make me love it but it did bring something to the table that has potential to become even more.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

DNF. This one wasn't for me however that will not prevent me from recommending it to young readers of my acquaintance. I will not post a review as I didn't finish it.

Great story with a different type of magic in this wonderfully inventive premise. A passing comet endows people with 'talents' every 25 years. But what was once considered an honored blessing has become a curse. This is the first in a series that I look forward to reading more of!

The first time my shadow spoke to me I was a mere infant in the cradle. They say on the night I was born that even the stars fled the sky and the moon hid under a dark cloak. That I was a quiet thing, with a shock of black hair and eyes like glittering onyx. I did not scream like other newborn children. And I did not reach for my mother like instinct should have instructed me.

Instead, I held out my tiny arms and smiled at the shadow in the corner of the room.

And it smiled back.

Didn't know what to expect going into this, but so glad I requested it on Netgalley - a really solid middle-grade adventure. I will be buying my own copy, reading it to my class and can' wait until the second part of this duology. This reads like a future classic and I can see it being very popular with children aged 7+ who have also enjoyed stories such as The Worst Witch, or for slightly older readers who have enjoyed the creepieness of Coraline.

I found myself drawn in immediately and could really relate to Emmeline and her isolation - she sees her magic as something beautiful but those around her are frightened by it. As the reader, we also have a faint thread of unease running through the text as Emmeline's shadow appears in mysterious places and, almost, seems to have a mind of its own...

The sense of menace deepens when some of Emmeline's shadow play goes wrong and the arrival of some visitors who say they can help her with her 'problem'.

Read on and enjoy - highly recommended book!

With so few people around with magic talents, you'd think they'd want to show me off. But they don't see how wonderful the shadows are, the beauty in the darkness, not like I do.

Only Dar understands me.

She squeezes my ankle like she knows my thoughts. You're not crazy and you;re not an embarrassment; you're gift. Someday we'll prove it to them.

What I liked: Emmeline's character, the storyline and world-building which hint at so much more going on behind the scenes, the mystery about Dar and the people Emmeline meets on her journey.

Even better if: I want Part 2 of this duology now!

How you could use it in your classroom: This would make an interesting read-aloud for upper primary school or a recommendation for those who have already enjoyed books such as Coraline and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. It could also spark a discussion about the attitude towards people who are different - how would you feel if your friend or family member had magic? Would you treat them differently? Would the world be better with magic or not? Another interesting discussion could be looking at the unintended consequences of Emmeline's actions - this links back to old fairytales where wishes often go wrong in unforeseen ways. Is there something you have done which hasn't worked out as planned? How do you handle it?

This was a really cute middle grade with a dark twist. A bit of a slow start but otherwise a very fast read. Once I got going it was hard to put it down.