Ivy Cliffwater’s debut novel The Shadow Weaver, a new entrant into the world of romantic fantasy, is an exhilarating read. Set in a medieval fantasy world complete with provinces, royalty and knights, it’s vividly told and full of action. It establishes Cliffwater as an author to watch and leaves readers looking forward to book 2, set to be released June 2026.

Main character Caris Ironside is badass. Unconventional, trained as a blacksmith and swordsperson, Caris has a mission: find the man who killed her mother. She risks her life entering a tournament disguised as a man, to get closer to the King and become a knight. She not only can hold her own in her fight but has wicked strength and skills. 

'Today, my eyes fell on a woman who was easily six feet tall, maybe more.  It wasn’t just her height that caught my attention – it was the way she carried it, like it belonged to her, like the world was built too small and she refused to shrink for it.'

Girls and women can admire Caris’ strength, and perhaps aspire high as she does. The book delves into themes of femininity, pushing against society’s expectations and the boundaries that are traditionally given to women. We wondered if Cliffwater was making a statement on today’s society, or whether Caris was intended as a ‘super-woman fantasy’, that readers can cheer on as she runs rampant over high-ranking men. 

Caris is fuelled by vengeance, but her courage and perseverance in her heart-pounding, action-filled journey is endearing. Themes of trust and betrayal run throughout and test Caris’s ability to stay true to her values and goal. A slow-drip reveal of her unexpected past and connections keeps the reader on their toes. 

'Three souls bound across eternity, fated to find each other in every life.'

Cliffwater’s introduction of a love triangle into the story feels less engaging than the trials Caris faces and the hurdles she overcomes elsewhere. Entwined with an easy-going blacksmith, she’s also intrigued by and inexplicably bound to a fellow soldier–the dark and stormy Captain. Caris’s longing for stability and refuge is understandable, but could have used more development to show the importance of these men to her mission, as the romantic storyline felt secondary to the main thrust of the story. 

However, as we see Caris form friendships, these allude to deeper, potentially familial connections that will hopefully be developed and explained in book 2. Caris is a member of the Cursed, carrying a type of magic she has to conceal and struggles to understand. This magic ability is linked neatly to the novel’s title, satisfying for those who look for meaning in titles.

Cliffwater’s story line and magic system is easy for the reader to follow and kept these readers wanting more. The story ends with unexpected revelations to hook readers in, hinting at much more magic development to come in the sequel. This is a well envisaged, engaging fantasy read and great debut novel. Romantic fantasy lovers who enjoy strong female leads and are fond of books like Quicksilver should grab this one.