“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.”
MarcyKate Connolly, Shadow Weaver
Emmeline’s only friend is her shadow, Dar, but this friendship, and her ability to manipulate shadows is unnatural and makes her an outcast. When two strangers appear at her family’s home offering to help, after a series of harmful tricks played by Dar, Emmeline realizes their intentions and flees. Can she survive in a world where people target those bestowed gifts by an ancient comet? Can she trust her only friend whose malice continues to grow?
I was drawn to this Middle Grade book from the moment I saw the blurb reading, “for fans of Coraline.” However, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped to. The concept of the powers and abilities given by the comet, like Emmeline’s shadow manipulation and another’s light manipulation, are enticing, but beyond that, I only thought the story was okay. There were several paragraphs of writing that screamed cottage-core so intensely, and I loved those, but as a whole, it wasn’t for me.
That being said, Shadow Weaver is a well-written book. While it wasn’t my cup of tea, I know several kiddos at school who would have a great time with it. It is fast-paced, which might have been some of my beef, and is full of magic. There are several shocking twists and turns that I had a lot of fun with while reading. There is definitely substance to this story. Give it a shot, and continue with the series!
Thanks for reading.
I Literary Can't! 