The Shadow Weaver by Ssamridhi Gulati
My take on the book:
As Mayaa moves along the familiar lanes where she lived all her life, she felt a certain uneasiness; she later realised that she had this gift to move between multiple worlds. The worlds that are a what-if version of her imagination, the places she could have been, a path not taken, a word not said and a risk she averted. Hence Mayaa becomes the weaver and explorer of the worlds she imagined but never lived in them. Each of the worlds represent her myriad emotions like her ambitions, her grief and her regrets. In this journey, Mayaa traverses these worlds in a hope of finding a better version of herself.
The Shadow of Ambition explores what Mayaa could have been if she chose career over her first love. The Shadow of Comfort explores what might have happened if Mayaa chose to stay in her small hometown. The Shadow of Grief explores what if a tragic accident could have been avoided. Will Mayaa be able to change her fate by visiting these worlds forms the rest of the story.
For her debut, the author blends psychological fantasy with multiverse concept, while relying heavily on emotional pathways instead of a typical fantasy landscape. The concept of the protagonist exploring the worlds that could have been her reality is the USP. Along with the fantasy world-building, the author gives importance to the emotional journey of Mayaa thus adding a humane touch to the story.
The story signifies that every major decision we make influences our reality and how it is important to own our mistakes and move forward instead of blaming it on fate and destiny. The author portrays this through Mayaa as she is not just visiting her alternate lives but confronting her own varied personalities. The story hence highlights that there is never a perfect path in life. Like Mayaa, the reader will also be transformed by the end of the story on how decision and regret are two sides of the same coin.
Pick this one if fantasy with a deeper meaning and exploration of human psyche excites you.
My rating:
4/5.