Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly

The shadows that surround us aren't always as they seem...

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 guard 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.

The first in a dark middle-grade fantasy duology, MarcyKate Connolly weaves a tale filled with shadows, danger, and magic that has the feel of a new classic. 

Review

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 a 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.