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.

I just didn't love this book. The cover art for the ARC is very intriguing (it attracted my attention to begin with) and the premise is very interesting, but I had to make myself finish it. The first half just really dragged and I stuck with it so I could leave a review. I didn't find Emmaline to be a very sympathetic narrator, and Dar was just annoying. The story got more exciting in the second half, but the first half was just a lot of Emmaline's inner dialogue about how she knew she was doing the wrong thing but she was going to do it anyway because she wanted to bring her evil shadow to life.

I hope that maybe the writing will be tightened up a bit between the ARC and the final draft. I don't think I'll try to read this again, although I might borrow the audio from the library if it's available.

I don't typically read MG novels but the premise for this one seemed pretty interesting so I thought "Why not?". From the description I was getting major Coraline vibes.
Turns out, I wasn't really a fan of hardly anything that happened in this book. The writing is really basic, the story line is pretty basic. So I started trying to imagine myself as an 11-12 year old trying to read this novel, thinking about it from a younger/less experienced reader perspective I did find myself enjoying it a little more.
Overall the story was bogged down by the main character and just how unbelievably naive she is. The overall plot is enjoyable and had some things been written just a little differently, this could have been a home run for me!
I would recommend this book for younger readers, wanting to branch out into adventure/fantasy/more YA style novels, but outside of this, I think everyone else reading this will find it very predictable.

I loved this book! It was awesome!

I started reading Middle Grade books last year. I have read several now, and I have been pleasantly surprised by them. So far, I think The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding was my favorite, then this book and Ludlow Lost probably tie for second place with the MG books I've read so far. From the description and reviews, I was expecting something kind of along the same lines of Coraline. There were definitely some similarities in the feel of the story, and think it was just as good as Coraline (the book, not the movie. Well, I haven't seen the movie, so maybe the movie...)!

This book has an interesting concept. Emmeline can manipulate shadows, and her only friend is her shadow. When a man comes to offer her parents a chance to cure her of her magic, she runs away with her best friend, her shadow named Dar.

That is the main plot, but there are lots of twists and turns. Like Coraline, it is a little dark for a children's book (definitely not a bad thing). It almost reminded me of Miss Peregrine a little, too.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially if you like YA books that are a little dark.

I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series! My only complaint is that I have to wait so long to see what happens next!

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Emmeline has a skill, one which terrifies those around her. She can talk to Shadows, and manipulate them to her own purposes. Since she was little this has been a source of comfort to her, though it scares everyone in her house. When her family prepare to let her be taken to a mysterious Lady who says she can cure such children, Emmeline believes she has to run.
We follow Emmeline on her adventure as she journeys away from her home. She meets Lucas, a young man with his own talent. The question, however, is who can Emmeline trust?
I had suspicions throughout the story and it did go as expected. However, the story is well-told and I think younger readers will empathise with Emmeline’s situation.
Thank you NetGalley for sending the advance copy in exchange for my review.

I give this book credit for having an interesting idea for the magical powers that it's characters had. I found the kinds of magic described to be easy to visualize and beautiful. I just wish that there was a better story and characters to go with them. I found the characters to be one dimensional and flat. I didn't care about any of them, even the main character. The story was slow and rather boring, and I could guess very near the beginning where it was going. I found it very unfortunate because the magic seemed so beautiful.

I cannot wait to share this one with the 4th and 5th graders at various elementary schools we visit each month. They are absolutely going to go wild for this one! I thought the plot was well thought out. I had wished there had been some more world-building, since the characters seem to live in a totally different time. I also loved how spooky and creepy Emmaline's voice was at the beginning of the story, but that ghoulishness seemed to diminish throughout. Overall, I was very captivated and thought this one was a page turner. It is sure to be a hit with our patrons!

Once upon a time, children with talents were admired and cherished, as their gifts were bestowed on them every twenty-five years from a magical comet. Now they are hunted by the nefarious Lady Aisling, but twelve-year old shadow weaver Emmaline knows nothing of this. Isolated and alone save for her shadow companion (who no one believes exists) after a series of mysterious accidents injure her childhood friends, Emmaline has nothing to do but play with Dar and practice her shadow weaving. When a childhood prank goes too far, mysterious visitors come to take Emmaline away. She escapes just in time, and stumbles upon Lucas—a light wielder—and his family. Yet the closer Emmaline becomes to Lucas, the more jealous Dar gets.

Rule #1: Never trust a child with a name that ends in “line.” Coraline was the first thing that sprang to mind when I saw Emmaline’s name. Granted, Coraline is not the baddy in her story and neither is Emmaline, but they get wrapped up in some pretty creepy shit.

Rule #2: Regard rule #1.

This was an entertaining and altogether enjoyable story. While not completely original, it is definitely well written and brings along enough foreboding and foreshadowing to leave older readers dreading what’s to come and younger readers curious for more. Emmaline is a character who is faced with lots of different revelations, and who grows from a lonely, miserable child who doesn’t know how to do anything to a self-sufficient girl with friends and newfound family. There is tension and danger throughout the tale, and enough sense of darkness to scare younger readers without giving them nightmares (hopefully). I look forward to reading book 2!

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I was lured to this book by its magnificent cover and intriguing synopsis. This is such an imaginative premise- Emmeline was born with magic, in the year of a passing Red Comet, and weaves Shadow Magic. Her own shadow, the mercurial and chaotic Dar, is her companion and best friend. Dar has caused more than a bit of trouble for Emmeline, necessitating her leaving her home and all she knows. Along the way, she meets Lucas, a boy similarly affected with magic, albeit magic with light. There can be no shadows without light, but Dar is an unsettled shadow soul.

This book is beautifully written, with elegant prose. I felt that the secondary and tertiary characters were merely sketches, however. The malevolent dynamic with Dar was broadly drawn. The outcome of the first book and its necessity seemed evident from the first few chapters. I felt like I just wanted more from this tale, from its characters and from its central moral.

MarcyKate Connolly's Shadow Weaver is the first book in a dark fantasy series for middle grade readers.

The book began a little slower than I would have liked--I almost gave up on it but by the time I got to the 25% mark, I was invested in determining whether or not my predictions would pan out. There is a LOAD of foreshadowing for middle grade readers. Unfortunately, I was able to predict much of the plot and it fell a little short for me. I don't see myself picking up the next books in the series.

DISCLAIMER: Fantasy is not my genre of choice, so take my review with a grain of salt. If you have middle grade fans of Robert Beatty's Serafina and the Black Cloak series in your household, chances are, this will be a safe bet.

Thank you, Netgalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, for providing me with an advance copy of Shadow Weaver in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful tale of magic-shadow magic. Emmeline was born under the comet that gave her the gift of magic. She is the daughter of a wealthy family who keeps her isolated to keep her secret. Emmeline's only friend is her own shadow, Dar. Guests arrive and promise Emmelines parents that she can be cured of her magic. FIlled with fear and Dar whispering in her ear Emmeline runs away.

This is a good read overall, and I know several of the kids that frequent my library that will enjoy the spooky edge in this story. Shadow Weaver establishes new lore and and world with infinite potential for more stories.

*I received a free copy from NetGalley*

Every 25 years a comet passes over and grants select unborn children incredible powers. Emmeline is one such child, able to weave shadows into any shape possible. Emmeline's shadow, Dar, is also alive, an Dar is Emmeline's best friend. Em's powers cause fear and distrust to bloom in all of her friends and family, and her parents eventually seek a cure. Emmeline and Dar run away from home, but Dar begins to grow secretive and Emmeline must wonder if she can truly trust her only friend.

This was a wonderful children's novel, and I experienced much anxiety and suspense as the story barreled quickly along. Full of memorable characters, anguishing realizations, and powerful children, this was a story I am very glad I was able to read. This is the first start of a new series, and I will be highly anticipating the rest of the novels.

A darker fantasy for children. I loved the concept of a shadow being alive and having its own personality. However, I had trouble liking the characters and never did fall in love with the plot.

Don’t you just love that cover? It really sets the tone for this book quite well. It was one of the reasons I picked up the galley, plus the summary. I was very curious about what a shadow weaver was, how she came about her powers and what exactly was Dar?

Emmeline was an endearing character, although I felt sorry for her throughout most of the book. She was immensely naive at times, especially when it came to Dar. But once you reflect on her upbringing and how her parents treated her, I can accept some of the choices she makes. She is a nice mix of trusting her instincts and not wanting to trust people with her secrets. Her shadow weaving sounds amazing as well, and not quite what I was expecting. The way she received her abilities was unique, and you know from the start that there are others like her.

Lucas was another adorable character with a remarkable gift that compliments Emmeline’s gift very nicely. He was maybe a little to trusting considering his up bringing, but I loved watching their friendship grow. Lucas is a happy kid who has grown up knowing that his parents love him and appreciate his gift, unlike Emmeline. I’m looking forward to seeing their friendship grow in the next book.

There was a nice contrast between Emmeline’s parents and Lucas’s. It was also nice to see that even though Emmeline’s presence in their family does them more harm than good, they don’t give up on her in the end. They are the nice supportive adults that I like to see in middle-grade books.

The plot was very intriguing and although I did not trust Dar almost from the beginning, I was not quite prepared for her to be as evil as she was, or who exactly she was. I know it is hard for children to see the evil in their friends, but many things did not add up about Dar that I kept wishing Emmeline would pick up on. There were some slow spots in the story which may loose some kids, but otherwise the pacing was good.

I will confess that I almost gave up on this book in the first 50 or so pages. But it did grow on me. I think it was the writing style at first that I didn’t like and then also the cliche of an unloved child with supernatural powers. But the book grew on me as I kept going and I ended up really liking it.

Shadow Weaver is a book about a girl who is able to handle shadows and form them into any objects she likes/needs. Moreover she has her own shadow to talk to, which makes her feel less lonely, as her ability is used by her parents to shut her off the outside world.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is utterly inventive and interesting.
It picks up speed when she flees from her home and takes her life into her own hands, gets to know other people, learns about the implications of right and wrong.
It is brilliant to emerge into this magical world with people full of exciting abilities having to fight for their right to live their lives as they want to.
I wholeheartedly recommend this unique title for any curious 9 to 12 year old.

When I first saw this book cover on NetGalley several months ago, I knew I simply had to get it. Much like the cover, Shadow Weaver is creepy, and eerie, and dark. Sadly, it was not enough to keep me hooked or make me love it.

While the story itself is interesting, I the writing style didn't fully do it for me. It seemed too simplistic at times, even for a middle-grade novel. There was something about it that never fully got me fall into the world of the story. It's a tale of magic and shadows and yet, the writing lacked some magic, at least, in my opinion.

Plotwise and characterwise, the book actually did very well. The plot was interesting and engaging, especially in the second half of the novel. I also really enjoyed the characters, especially Lucas whom I would like to see more from. 

As for Emmeline, there were moments I liked her and moments I didn't. She was always lying and eavesdropping and whining about one thing or another. Her thoughts were also a bit repetitive at times, which I guess ties back in with the writing style. Lastly, it was frustrating to see how blindly Emmeline trusted her shadow, Dar, and how oblivious she was to its dark nature, despite all the signs.

Still, in the end, I actually liked reading through her adventure and watching her come into her own.

The book is a battle between light and dark, and dealing with our own shadows and it displays this very clearly and very well. Despite my problems with it, I highly recommend it. I have doubt that had I read it at a younger age, I would have probably loved it.

**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**

This was such a great story and I am so happy that there appears to be a planned sequel. It's a fantasy-horror-mystery that is both exceptionally well written and deeply engrossing. Emmeline is a wonderful protagonist. Her loneliness and longing for belonging are palpable and even as you know she is making mistakes, you understand why she is making them. Even as you sense Dar's malevolence, you understand Emmeline's loyalty to her. And really it's the exploration of friendship, of self-acceptance and self-reliance that make this book so captivating. Although, yes, the whole shadow and light magic interplay is interesting too (As I noted as I read, "It's like the Darkling and Alina if they were kids...and gender swapped...and in stead of being evil, the Darkling was just under the influence of a most likely malevolent spirit.") as is the mystery behind those "bad people" kidnapping magical children. It's just an all around great read and I cannot recommend it enough. Definitely one of my favorite middle-grade reads this year.

She has an usual power. She can hide in shadows, weave them into something solid and even has a relationship with her own shadow. It's her best friend. After all, her parents are afraid of her...

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 1st.

Emmeline has been hidden in the house away from the eyes of the neighbors. She's not taken to any functions and they limit their visitors. But she gets bored, so she sneaks out to play with shadows and then she gets in trouble. When more visitors are announced, she's told she must be on her best behavior. It's hard to be good when you're favorite thing to do is eavesdrop. What she doesn't expect is that they will bring a young ghost girl with them. She finds her...

The worst thing ever happens, she's being sent away by her parents to another kingdom where they will "cure" her. She doesn't want to be cured, so she runs.

Nothing is as it seems in this story. There's a Queen who seeks the magic the children have and she "eats" it, leaving them with nothing. She then plants them in her garden. The family she runs into after leaving home is kind and willing to share what they have. But the guard comes after her and soon everyone is on the run.

This read is full of fright. Anyone with a magical power is sought for the Queen. Hiding is very hard to do even if you hide your magic. Here's a suspenseful look at the world of magic and the greed of a magic eater. Not even her shadow can be trusted...