Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly – a Review

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Description:
Emmeline has grown up with a gift. Since the time she was a baby she has been able to control shadows. And her only friend and companion is her own shadow, Dar.

Disaster strikes when a noble family visits their home and offers to take Emmeline away and cure her of magic. Desperate not to lose her shadows, she turns to Dar who proposes a deal: Dar will change the noble’s mind, if Emmeline will help her become flesh as she once was. Emmeline agrees but the next morning the man in charge is in a coma and all that the witness saw was a long shadow with no one nearby to cast it. Scared to face punishment, Emmeline and Dar run away.

With the noble’s guards on her trail, Emmeline’s only hope of clearing her name is to escape capture and perform the ritual that will set Dar free. But Emmeline’s not sure she can trust Dar anymore, and it’s hard to keep secrets from someone who can never leave your side.

Review:

Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly is the first book in her new Shadow Weaver series. In Shadow Weaver, we meet our young heroine, Emmeline from the start.  She is 12 years old, with a magical ability of be able to see and maneuver shadows, including her own.  Emmeline is a sweet girl, who enjoys having fun with her gifts.  Her parents are unnerved with her refusal to stop using those gifts, which can harm people.  Emmeline never wants to hurt anyone, just be able to play.  But the secret Emmeline holds is that she talks and plays with her shadow, Dar.  It is Dar, who is able to do things and creates problems for Emmeline by doing things that hurt people, and everyone thinks its Emmeline.  When a visitor comes to her home, she overhears her parents discussing her gift, and the visitor is willing to take her away to help cure her of her magic.   Emmeline and Dar run away, especially after the visitor suddenly became ill.

With the guards trying to find them, they travel through the forest and slowly Emmeline begins to worry about Dar, and the things she has done.   Dar she convinces Emmeline to help her become human again, by performing a ritual, and they can be friends forever.  While hiding from the guards they come across a boy (Lucas), who also has a magic ability, but his is light.  They quickly become friends, and he will bring her (and her shadow Dar) to his home.  In a short time, Emmeline will befriend the family, especially Lucas and learn that they too are hiding from the villain, who was trying to take her away from her home.  She feels safe with this family, but it is Dar, who is jealous and wants to do the ritual.

What follows is an exciting adventure, where Emmeline will begin to see Dar in another light especially when her new friends are also put into danger.  When Emmeline helps Dar with the ritual, everything changes.  Emmeline will have to learn more about her powers to save Lucas and his family from the evil villain who wants to steal all their powers.  Besides the villain, Emmeline will also need to find way to stop Dar, whose has become more and more dangerous

Shadow Weaver was a different type of read, and though considered middle grade, it was a good story.  I did enjoy the book, and if you like fantasy, with young heroes, then you should give this book a try.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher