Cover Image: The Weather Weaver

The Weather Weaver

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This was a lovely story, just on the right side of scary for younger readers but enough peril to keep older ones intrigued. I loved the idea of the Weather Weaver and yes, I now want a Nimbus of my own - come on, who wouldn't want cloud cuddles at the moment! :D
I'm assuming this is the start of a series, so will look forward to more weather weaving adventures with Stella, Nimbus and co.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely delightful. This beautiful story will appeal to young and older readers alike. Stella arrives on the Shetland Islands for what she thinks will be a boring summer holiday with her grandpa. Instead? She has the most exciting adventures involving the weather! Can you imagine catching a cloud, fighting a sea witch or maybe stirring up a storm! Stella is faced with all these. Can she manage? Can she keep her cloud and her grandpa safe - along with her tutor Tamar? This is just a lovely story and anyone who reads it, will love it. A refreshing change of subject matter for a magical fantasy.

Was this review helpful?

The Weather Weaver is wise, and touching. A story that grabs you by the hand and spins you along, with magic that wraps you up and warms you along the way. Stella is fierce and wears all her emotions on her sleeve. A reluctant adventurer who doesn’t always get things right but whose heart is firmly in the right place. Perfect for fans of the Storm Keeper’s Island, this book is a fantastic adventure. Wise, touching and full of surprises. We loved it.

Was this review helpful?

Quite a rousing story. I like the idea of having a pet cloud. I was left wondering why The Haken had it in for the island and possibly Stella but do wonder if this may be the beginning of a series.

Was this review helpful?

I was very quickly engrossed in this story of 11 year old Stella who is left in the care of her recently widowed grandfather on a small Scottish island. Grandfather is not very welcoming and when things go badly, Stella runs off. She soon meets the only other inhabitant on the island - Tamar. Tamar soon has Stella catching a cloud. Apparently, Stella is destined to be a weather weaver - someone who can control weather - but she has a lot to learn and not much time to do it in. Something is coming and it's not good!
Tamsin Mori has real empathy for her characters, the struggles they each go through to control emotions and not let them take over. They were all very real, likeable people. The magical elements were also believable as they were tools for the people to solve problems.
There is potential for a second book following a cryptic statement by an as yet unexplored character. I, for one, would love to visit the island again!

Was this review helpful?

When Stella returns to Shetland to spend the summer with her grief-stricken grandfather, the island feels bleak and lonely. It is nothing like she remembers. Everything changes when she meets Tamar, an eccentric old lady who controls clouds and spins weather. It turns out that Stella has a few hidden talents of her own too.

I loved the premise of this book - the idea that weather can be controlled and woven to form magic. It felt fresh, interesting and entirely plausible. It also made me long for a cloud of my own! Stella is a perfectly imperfect character and this made her feel very real. The storyline is unpredictable and the narrative is beautifully written. Themes of grief and loss are dealt with in a very realistic way - not whitewashed into a sob story background.

I thoroughly enjoyed this inventive read and think lots of children in my class will also like it. It would be perfect for fans of Catherine Doyle’s The Storm Keeper’s Island. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I read every day to my Mum with dementia and she and I have both been utterly enchanted and absorbed in this wonderful magical adventure. It is written in a clever, engaging manner with pace that drives the story forward and just makes you have to read 'one more chapter'. Within the genre of magic and mystery the author is able to also touch on on issues such as grief and this is done with sensitivity and care. As an educationalist I would recommend this book to all middle grade readers and anyone who loves myths, legends and all those who look up at the clouds and dream..

Was this review helpful?

This is a magical, enchanting book that will leave you spellbound. A gripping adventure, perfect for nature and sea lovers like myself!

Was this review helpful?

This is a charming story of hope, love and belonging. It also deals with loss in a sensitive and understanding way.

Stella is coming to Shetland to spend some time with her Grandfather and she is feeling nervous as this will be the first time since her Grandmother died. Unsure what to expect, she is disappointed to see some of her grandmothers things missing and the changes in her grandfather's demeanor.
Running away from the house, she runs into an old woman named Tamar who encourages Stella to capture a cloud. Tamar is a fascinating, witchy like character who is set to change the lives of Stella and her grandfather.
Stella is more than shocked when she catches a storm cloud with plenty of power! Learning to control the cloud is a steep learning curve for Stella but she is definitely up for the challenge!

Lore of the island mentions Weather Weavers and it seems as though Stella may be a powerful force for the weather and those set on destroying her will meet their match. Myths and legends are very much intertwined throughout the story and I was captivated by Stella and Tamar but also by the grief and loss suffered by the family.

Adventure, danger and a slightly creepy evil Haken will keep you turning the pages on this incredible tale.

Was this review helpful?

Advance copy from NetGalley; thanks to the publisher. Charming middle grade novel. A few unanswered questions... Like the time setting, for example. Is this current day? If so, why no mention of phones or internet, etc.? Also, an 11 year old going into a creepy lady's house doesn't ring true for 2020 either. Setting that aside, though, it's a delightful story with a bit of unusual magic. Inventive and clever.

Was this review helpful?

A lovely story about a girl who builds relationships with an unlikely group.

Stella is sent to live in Shetland with her grandfather and learns she is a weather weaver. Between her, her cloud and her mentor, Tamar, they have to save the island from the dreaded Haken. This is a fabulous little story but the real gem within it is the relationship Stella has with her cloud, Nimbus. Stella goes from a reluctant owner to a loyal friend to Nimbus and it is just delightful.

Was this review helpful?

An absolutely delightful book! Highly original I hope I get to learn more about the magical adventures of weather weavers...Tamsin Mori descriptive and atmospheric writing truly brings the island of Shetland to life...and as you are reading you can really "feel" the weather you get a chill from the cold of the fictional storms in which you're reading about...it was charming use of magic...and I don't think I will ever look at clouds the same way again!

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this story and got totally sucked in to the action. This book tells the story of Stella, who travels to Shetland to stay with her grandpa.
With the background of folk tales shared by her grandma, Stella meets Tamar, a weather weaver.
I enjoyed the developing relationships between Stella, her grandpa and Tamar, and most of all Nimbus, my favourite character!
My only complaint is that it was over too soon!
A really interesting story, I hope there will be further adventures to come.

Was this review helpful?

Such a sweet and unusual story, I really enjoyed getting to know Stella and her Grandpa against the beautiful background of the Shetlands. I'm sure my nephew will enjoy reading the Weather Weaver too. Surely everyone needs a cloud as a friend?
Congratulations to Tamsin Mori on weaving this beautiful story, and thank you to Netgalley for this advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

Stella has a lot to learn about weather magic in the magical setting of the Shetland Isles. She befriends a cloud (Nimbus) and is taught by Tamar, another weather weaver.
The author used folklore for inspiration and discusses grief and family issues in a sensitive way. A pleasant read but I found it tedious in parts and wanted a bit more ‘weather action’.

Was this review helpful?

A beautiful totally unique story. Full of magic and adventure with a gutsy female protagonist this book will appeal to both boys and girls and I see it being popular for a long time.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this and I think children will love it too. Who'd have thought a cloud could be such a character? What an original idea - now everyone will want a cloud of their own! I'm guessing there will be more of these, as the ending wasn't quite resolved - what did the Haken want? Hopefully that will be answered in book 2.

Was this review helpful?

This book was absolutely beautiful. It has certainly made me look at the weather in a different way.

This is magical and clever and I would love everyone to read it.

Was this review helpful?

I received an advance copy of this via NetGalley.
Stella has to spend the six week summer holiday with her Grandpa on Shetland as her parents are working away. Her Grandpa seems angry with her but she discovers it is worry about her due to a dream her grandmother had when she was much younger.
Whilst out, Stella meets a woman who was apparently expecting her arrival. She also expects her to be able to control clouds and other weather. Stella struggles to keep her emotions in check to stop her cloud wreaking havoc.
All the myths and stories of Shetland Stella’s grandmother had read to her when she was younger seems to be very firmly based on truths that are coming back to threaten Stella and the island.
This is a fast paced adventure filled with myth and magic, clouds and storms. It explores family relationships, emotions and memories. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

Stella is on her way to stay on Shetland with her Grandpa while her parents are working. It's six years since Stella and her parents moved away from the island and in the meantime Gran has died and both Stella and Grandpa miss her. Gran used to tell stories of the ocean and mermaids and selkies, although some of these gave Stella nightmares. Since her return, Grandpa has been morose and grumpy, not allowing Stella to go out at all as it's far too dangerous. But after trying to be useful one day, Grandpa loses his temper and shouts at Stella, resulting in her running out of the cottage blindly. She bumps into Tamar, a strange old lady who asks Stella to go and catch a cloud. Completely baffled by this, Stella does as she's told, and discovers that actually she can catch a cloud which she brings back to Tamar. Returning to Tamar's cottage, Stella then learns lots more about Tamar being a Weather Weaver and having the gift herself. Her cloud has now become her companion and follows Stella around and Stella has to learn to live with a love this new relationship.
Although Stella tries to keep all this a secret from Grandpa, worried this will be high up on the dangerous activities Grandpa fears for Stella, she soon finds she needs Grandpa's help, as alongside Tamar they all have to fight a battle Gran had foreseen against the Haken, or sea witch. With Tamar's magic, Grandpa's handiwork skills and Stella's desire to be kind to Haken slaves of clouds, the trio face the Haken in an almighty battle to prevent destruction of the island.
With myths, nature and magic, this is an enjoyable read for middle grade readers.

Was this review helpful?