Weaver's Web

by Philippa Ballantine

Betrayal by one you love is the cruellest cut of all. And when the Lord of Crisfell betrays it is done on a grand scale. Ashi'mei Candre feels her life is destroyed in that instant, but her love's betrayal goes far further- he is sacrificing his own people. Amongst the islands of Crisfell, honour and clan is everything, but that may also be their undoing. A dark secret from the past will now come back with a vengeance, and Ashi'mei must put her own troubles aside to face this greater danger. For over the dark sea is a menace of flesh and hunger, which having been turned back once, is only more determined to remake Crisfell in its image. When the danger comes from within as well as without, Ashi'mei's world is doomed. And yet there are two from beyond the island who may help, one a passionate young man from their traditional enemy, and the other a compelling creature with mastery of the flesh to rival the menace beyond the sea. With friends and clan her only hope, the time to stand and fight has come. Ashi'mei must search within herself for salvation for her people, face her darkest fears, and risk everything she loves.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

Nook

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand, Philippa is a writer and podcaster of fantasy fiction.
Immersed in books from an early age, she moved onto to become a librarian. She'd been dreaming of being a writer since a teenager, but in the last ten years she's devoted herself to it.
She's the author of the Books of the Order series from Ace Books. Geist, Spectyr, Wrayth (2012) and Harbinger (2013).
Also, with Pyr books the Shifted World series, Hunter and Fox (2012) and Born and Made (2013)
Philippa is also the co-author of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. Phoenix Rising and the Janus Affair (2012)
Philippa currently resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband and co-writer Tee Morris, their daughter and a clowder of five cats who keep them all in line.

Awards

2011 Goodreads Short Listed for Best Science Fiction
2011 Airship Award winner for best written work (with Tee Morris)
2011 Sir Julius Vogel Award nominee for Best Novel- Adult
2010 Parsec Award finalist for Best Speculative Fiction Magazine or Anthology Podcast
2010 Sir Julius Vogel Award finalist for Best fan production
2009 Parsec Award finalist for Best Speculative Fiction Magazine or Anthology Podcast
2009 Sir Julius Vogel Award winner for Best fan production
2009 Sir Julius Vogel Award nominee for Best Novel- Adult
2007 Parsec Award finalist for Best Writing Podcast
2006 Sir Julius Vogel Award nominee for Best Novel

Reviews

[Doc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is Philippa Ballantine's first podcast novel. Listening to it, one can tell that she was still learning her way around the trick of the trade with podcasting. She dismisses this story as an example of her awful early writing.

She should not.

Yes, the story could use more polish, and it doesn't compare with some of her later works, but Weaver's Web is worth note in itself. It paints a picture of an interesting world with three distinct styles of magical power. One of these styles belongs to the Weavers: beings capable of remaking living flesh into any shape they desire. Some weavers are simple healers and shape shifters, but the Alpha has transcended the flesh and has the power to dominate the minds and bodies of others. The Alpha sees himself as a god and wishes to re-make the world in his own image.

Most maddening of all is that there is no sequel. While the book is complete in itself, there are dangling threads all over the place that beg for a sequel. Or a Prequel. More work in this verse!

[Gary Colcombe]

Some fascinating concepts in the realm of shape-changing and mutation in this fantasy novel. You can see Philippa's skill developing in this early work.

[GaryandRuth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fascinating concepts in the realm of shape-changing and mutation in this fantasy novel. You can see Philippa's skill developing in this early work.

[Simon C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some decent characters and ideas and some villains who are sporadically hateworthy. Definitely worth a listen but perhaps a bit rough around the edges generally.