Reviews

Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly

emachinescat's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book had potential, and I did enjoy it at times, but ultimately, the story was fairly predictable, the narrator frustrating, the dialogue sometimes redundant or stilted, and the writing, while genuinely pretty at times, was occasionally confusing or awkward. 

juniper_b_jones's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

blackrose52's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

4.5

jnishi's review

3.0

Super quick read. It was okay. It picked up after the pivotal moment but lacked the world building to make it memorable. It could have used stronger character development and explanations of the society in which they lived. I hope the main character gets stronger and more complex in the sequel because she was kind of lacking in this one.

heyshay07's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

tiffani_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

utalan's review

2.0

My daughter likes it. That's the only nice thing I can think to say about it.

zezee's review

adventurous dark medium-paced

3.5

maeghin's review against another edition

3.0

‘To most people, shadows are things that remain stuck to walls and floors, but for me, they become whatever I wish-tacky, like clay, or as thin as smoke. I can mold them all to my will.’

Emmeline can control and manipulate the shadows that are around her. Her friends and family do not understand her powers and are afraid of her. She will meet others that are like her and she learns how to trust and form strong bonds of friendship.

I felt like the story was slow going. The main characters fickle childlike decisions bothered me...but I guess since she is a child that is to be expected. Though the same fickle decision making came from the adults in the story also. The adults in the story could have been more well rounded.

The plot points were a bit predictable but I bet a younger audience would eat this up since they are the intended audience.

maximus_midnight's review

2.0

This book was kind of just... a book. There were parts I liked but a lot of it just felt kind of eh. I've read other middle-grade books and found them great, but I think this book is lower than others I've read. The character development fell flat. The characters felt like beings to act out the story, not their own creatures.

Spoiler

Lucas felt like a one-sided character, like he existed only to be a companion to the main character. In the end, Emmeline blames basically all of her past bad behavior and mistakes on Dar's influence. Although the characters are young and personality development doesn't happen the same way it does with teens and adults, I still feel Emmeline should've been able to recognize something inside herself that was also a factor in her behavior with Dar.

I really enjoyed the worldbuliding of this book, but the characterization was kind of nonexistent. I could tell this was not just readable for middle grades but very much aimed at them.