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cjyu's review against another edition
3.0
Confusing..... But props to you Leah Cypress for amazing writing. But the plot line was everywhere.
pagasor's review against another edition
3.0
Not a very good plot in all. Very predictable and not debeloped enough. I admire the world the author created and the Shifter idea but I feel like it could've been developed further. I also believe the story was kind of choppy and didn't always follow through.
jacquelinec's review against another edition
4.0
After hearing the comparisons between Mistwood and the likes of Graceling (which I absolutely loved!), I had to check it out for myself. Along with being young adult fantasy novels, the two books share that rare compelling quality. You know, the one that urges you to keep reading and forget everything else until it's finished.
The tale begins quickly and keeps up with the intrigue and action all the way through. There's never a dull moment with this bunch of scheming and mysterious characters that Cypess has created. Isabel is a strong heroine, both mentally and physically. She's incredibly adept at outwitting and/or out-fighting her enemies and she has to be, with the maneuvering that her foes are capable of. The secondary characters that Cypess has created are just as intriguing. One of the best things about the story is that Isabel's opponents are numerous and often mysterious. Even the most seemingly genuine characters at times appear as if they have something to hide. Loyalties seem to shift endlessly, including Isabel's. Her legendary powers and history make her formidable but, we find, she is not infallible. Her struggle to stay ahead of the game is fascinating...
To continue reading this review, visit my blog The Eclectic Book Lover.
The tale begins quickly and keeps up with the intrigue and action all the way through. There's never a dull moment with this bunch of scheming and mysterious characters that Cypess has created. Isabel is a strong heroine, both mentally and physically. She's incredibly adept at outwitting and/or out-fighting her enemies and she has to be, with the maneuvering that her foes are capable of. The secondary characters that Cypess has created are just as intriguing. One of the best things about the story is that Isabel's opponents are numerous and often mysterious. Even the most seemingly genuine characters at times appear as if they have something to hide. Loyalties seem to shift endlessly, including Isabel's. Her legendary powers and history make her formidable but, we find, she is not infallible. Her struggle to stay ahead of the game is fascinating...
To continue reading this review, visit my blog The Eclectic Book Lover.
goodbetterbetsy's review against another edition
3.0
This started out so good but then about half way through I just lost interest. I finished the book and am glad it's not a series (or it doesn't appear to be). The ending kind of redeemed the book. But I don't know, I think the author tried to put in too much conspiracy and too many twists and turns for it to be easy to keep track of people's allegiances.
lassarina's review against another edition
4.0
A fast, enjoyable read about an immortal shape shifting witch bound to serve the king of a certain kingdom--but she's lost her memory. I whipped through it in one sitting and had a good time with it - the characters are interesting and the flow of political intrigue was well done. I did not predict the twist and it was good stuff.
djinnia's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it. It was a nonstop, action-packed book. I couldn't put it down.
catyalice's review against another edition
2.0
There is a story line in there I promise.... The book starts off so confusing and then not all my questions were answered. The narrator switches to different characters too quickly. There is little development and the thoughts are incomplete. I liked the main character somewhat but it was a very hard book to follow. It doesn't even end.
cyberhuman's review against another edition
5.0
I purchased this book for my daughter but ended up reading it myself too. What makes the book YA is not so much the youth of the main characters as the theme of a young woman finding her own place in an unfamiliar world. However, the story is full of adult themes (in the sense of depth and honesty) that would appeal to mature readers. The ending is especially striking. I had many serious and interesting discussions with my daughter on the choices made the protagonist toward the end. Indeed, the matter stays in mind.
The story has a certain contest-of-wills, duel-of-minds character, much of it revolving around the character of Clarisse, who's among the most memorable secondary characters in the books I've read (and I have read a lot).
The story has a certain contest-of-wills, duel-of-minds character, much of it revolving around the character of Clarisse, who's among the most memorable secondary characters in the books I've read (and I have read a lot).
linneahedvig's review against another edition
3.0
The main thing that held me back from getting into this book was that the protagonist wasn't really human, or at least, her humanity was fuzzy. She/It is introduced as this mystical force called the "Shifter" (ooooo) that has only one purpose--to protect the king (boring...). So the king goes to the Mistwood and gets the Shifter and brings her back to the castle and then she's all like "I'm not sure what I am or what I'm supposed to do, but I can't tell the king that because he thinks I'm the best weapon ever." Anyway, so mystical force that doesn't know what to do--should have been intriguing, but none of the characters was really compelling enough to make it work for me. The book was only 300 pages so I plowed through the first hundred or so until I was caught up in the story enough to make it fun to read. It was an experience a lot like [b:Graceling|3236307|Graceling (The Seven Kingdoms Trilogy, #1)|Kristin Cashore|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255623835s/3236307.jpg|3270810]--female killing machine, vaguely interesting characters, good plot, but not much to flesh it out.
kblincoln's review against another edition
3.0
A prince rides into the Mistwood and binds a magical creature to his service with a magical bracelet.
The Shifter has served the King for thousands of years, rooting out conspiracies, stopping assassins, protecting the throne.
But something happened to the last King, something that changed the Shifter forever.
Now both prince and Shifter are not what they seem. And the Shifter herself must decide where her true loyalties lie.
The story of the shifter is interesting, well-paced, and has a few characters (notably Ven the sorceror's apprentice and Clarisse, the prince's sister with secrets of her own, and a fierce personality not usually enountered in fantasy princessess) that felt vital to me.
However, whether it was due to the difficulty of identifying with a main character unsure of her own identity, or the tendency for long swaths of time to be summarized rather than shown to us (including the main relationship between the Shifter and Prince Rokan), I never found myself emotionally invested.
Overall a pleasant tale, but nothing that grabbed me.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Peanut butter and jelly sandwhich on white bread for the wholesome sweetness of the story that never breaks out of a plain mold.
The Shifter has served the King for thousands of years, rooting out conspiracies, stopping assassins, protecting the throne.
But something happened to the last King, something that changed the Shifter forever.
Now both prince and Shifter are not what they seem. And the Shifter herself must decide where her true loyalties lie.
The story of the shifter is interesting, well-paced, and has a few characters (notably Ven the sorceror's apprentice and Clarisse, the prince's sister with secrets of her own, and a fierce personality not usually enountered in fantasy princessess) that felt vital to me.
However, whether it was due to the difficulty of identifying with a main character unsure of her own identity, or the tendency for long swaths of time to be summarized rather than shown to us (including the main relationship between the Shifter and Prince Rokan), I never found myself emotionally invested.
Overall a pleasant tale, but nothing that grabbed me.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: Peanut butter and jelly sandwhich on white bread for the wholesome sweetness of the story that never breaks out of a plain mold.