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sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first in a series where certain people can shapeshift into animals or other beings. Not my usual fare but a nice change of pace.
wetdryvac's review against another edition
4.0
If it seems like it'll be dumb, don't. Fun read though.
bookstuff's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I enjoyed it, but I had a similar problem (to a lesser degree) that I had with Heart of Light. I didn't care about one of the main characters (in this case Tom).
Great world building. Looking forward to the sequel.
Great world building. Looking forward to the sequel.
rincondejoss's review against another edition
2.0
it seems is not so apealing to me it's like i'm always finding something for not read more and such, interesting but not my thing really
mousegoddess's review
4.0
I snagged this from the Baen Free Library and there were some major formatting errors. Fair warning for any of you. However, I didn't find it impossible to read, just a little jarring sometimes.
Enjoyed this book, enjoyed the characters, enjoyed that the leads acted in character, enjoyed that NOBODY was perfect. Paragons are rarely fun to read about (unless they're being taken down a few pegs). Will probably read the next book when I get a chance to get my hands on a copy, but that will take awhile. Would recommend to fans of urban fantasy, and possibly traditional fantasy fans as well. I'd advise anybody reading it to give the tension a chance to build. While this is fantasy, it's also a mystery so it's got a lot of slow-building moments.
Enjoyed this book, enjoyed the characters, enjoyed that the leads acted in character, enjoyed that NOBODY was perfect. Paragons are rarely fun to read about (unless they're being taken down a few pegs). Will probably read the next book when I get a chance to get my hands on a copy, but that will take awhile. Would recommend to fans of urban fantasy, and possibly traditional fantasy fans as well. I'd advise anybody reading it to give the tension a chance to build. While this is fantasy, it's also a mystery so it's got a lot of slow-building moments.
aisforawkward's review
1.0
Free is free, which is why I gave this book a try. I didn't hate it, but I will be honest and say there is almost no chance I will read anything else by this author unless it was a first book.
The story background concept wasn't a bad one, if a bit basic. Magical shifter community is suddenly forming in a random town for no reason, isolated shifter suddenly finds herself in the midst of other shifters when for years she believed herself to be simply crazy. Murders, and fighting animal (or bug) nature, etc.
But the writing was strangely and inconsistently choppy throughout, with one paragraph fine, and the next stilted, and the storyline felt abrupt and incomplete. Her dialogue and descriptive text was randomly awkward and full of missing words, strangely stiff phrasing (lack of contractions for eg), and it just made for a very inconsistent read.
Her characters were pretty good, but sadly felt incomplete as well, with compelling backstories, that aren't ever really discussed, character motivations that are almost interesting, but meh, in terms of characterization nothing ever happens on page, instead it had already happened off page.
It was just interesting enough for me to finish it, and just enough potential for me to briefly waver on my rating, but ultimately I can't justify giving it more than 1 star, even though I almost liked the (overly obvious) plot.
The story background concept wasn't a bad one, if a bit basic. Magical shifter community is suddenly forming in a random town for no reason, isolated shifter suddenly finds herself in the midst of other shifters when for years she believed herself to be simply crazy. Murders, and fighting animal (or bug) nature, etc.
But the writing was strangely and inconsistently choppy throughout, with one paragraph fine, and the next stilted, and the storyline felt abrupt and incomplete. Her dialogue and descriptive text was randomly awkward and full of missing words, strangely stiff phrasing (lack of contractions for eg), and it just made for a very inconsistent read.
Her characters were pretty good, but sadly felt incomplete as well, with compelling backstories, that aren't ever really discussed, character motivations that are almost interesting, but meh, in terms of characterization nothing ever happens on page, instead it had already happened off page.
It was just interesting enough for me to finish it, and just enough potential for me to briefly waver on my rating, but ultimately I can't justify giving it more than 1 star, even though I almost liked the (overly obvious) plot.
buttonsbeadslace's review
4.0
This is another of the books that I got on sale from Amazon. I read this on and off on my iPod for several months, and I'm very glad I decided to go back to it and finish it.
The main thing that made me consider giving up on this book was the number of comments about various characters' exotic attractiveness.
What kept me reading was the handling of Tom's relationship with his father, Edward. I'm glad Kyrie sees through Edward right away, and I'm very glad he doesn't get to totally redeem himself. He makes good progress during the book, but most of it happens because he realizes Tom might be able to be a Good Respectable Son for him after all, not because he actually values Tom as a person. You can't go from the kind of person who has considered his son hopelessly troublesome and disobedient since the kid first learned to speak, to a decent father, overnight. Kyrie's reaction has a dash too much "the poor kid just needs to be seen" for me, but I'm certainly glad she doesn't swallow the idea that there's something wrong with Tom.
The ending is incredibly sweet, and I like that it subverts a lot of romance-novel-derived expectations. The guy with the incredible sexy magnetism is a bit of an asshole, and mostly the main character just doesn't like him. When she does end up in a relationship, they both recognize that they know nothing about relationships, and they agree to take it very slow- slow enough that they aren't going to do anything but kiss for the foreseeable future.
The main thing that made me consider giving up on this book was the number of comments about various characters' exotic attractiveness.
What kept me reading was the handling of Tom's relationship with his father, Edward. I'm glad Kyrie sees through Edward right away, and I'm very glad he doesn't get to totally redeem himself. He makes good progress during the book, but most of it happens because he realizes Tom might be able to be a Good Respectable Son for him after all, not because he actually values Tom as a person. You can't go from the kind of person who has considered his son hopelessly troublesome and disobedient since the kid first learned to speak, to a decent father, overnight. Kyrie's reaction has a dash too much "the poor kid just needs to be seen" for me, but I'm certainly glad she doesn't swallow the idea that there's something wrong with Tom.
The ending is incredibly sweet, and I like that it subverts a lot of romance-novel-derived expectations. The guy with the incredible sexy magnetism is a bit of an asshole, and mostly the main character just doesn't like him. When she does end up in a relationship, they both recognize that they know nothing about relationships, and they agree to take it very slow- slow enough that they aren't going to do anything but kiss for the foreseeable future.
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