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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
While I had heard mixed things about this books before picking it up, I still had high hopes based on the cover and the synopsis really intrigued me. While I did like it and enjoy it overall, there are a lot of flaws in this book. It was about what I was expecting based on what I had heard. There was a solid story with a few things that did not work for me, but I'll get to that in a moment. The story was dynamic and interesting, but the ending was really confusing. I really think this book would have benefited if it had a few more pages. Things wrapped up really quickly towards the end of the book and I think it would have helped a few of the other issues...
Overall I had 3 main issues with this book. First there was a lack of world building that distracted me from the story. It felt like only two locations existed in this world: the palace and Mistwood Forest. I needed more to keep me rooted in the story. Second, things happened too easily. Even though our main character was supposed to be missing some of her powers, everything was easy to find and accomplish. Every problem had an easy solution. I wanted her to struggle a little more. Finally, the characters were hard to connect to for me especially the main character. Isobel isn't supposed to be human which makes her "Other" already. However, it was really hard to like her. Instead of making her "Other", I thought Cypess just made Isobel stuffy and rude.
There were moments of promise in Cypess' writing which made it even harder that I did not enjoy this book as much as I hoped. I did really enjoy the writing and there was so much potential for this story to be really good. The writing was actually really engaging. The story kept moving and I did read this book in an afternoon. I've already read Nightspell which is the companion novel to this one and thought that was a big improvement in a lot of ways. With that in mind, I think maybe Cypess may just need time and experience to get a better story into print.
I'm going to continue to read books by Leah Cypess because this book is by no means bad and I see a lot of potential in her to become a really good fantasy author. I know she has another book coming out soon (if its not out already) and I hope to check that out soon.
Overall I had 3 main issues with this book. First there was a lack of world building that distracted me from the story. It felt like only two locations existed in this world: the palace and Mistwood Forest. I needed more to keep me rooted in the story. Second, things happened too easily. Even though our main character was supposed to be missing some of her powers, everything was easy to find and accomplish. Every problem had an easy solution. I wanted her to struggle a little more. Finally, the characters were hard to connect to for me especially the main character. Isobel isn't supposed to be human which makes her "Other" already. However, it was really hard to like her. Instead of making her "Other", I thought Cypess just made Isobel stuffy and rude.
There were moments of promise in Cypess' writing which made it even harder that I did not enjoy this book as much as I hoped. I did really enjoy the writing and there was so much potential for this story to be really good. The writing was actually really engaging. The story kept moving and I did read this book in an afternoon. I've already read Nightspell which is the companion novel to this one and thought that was a big improvement in a lot of ways. With that in mind, I think maybe Cypess may just need time and experience to get a better story into print.
I'm going to continue to read books by Leah Cypess because this book is by no means bad and I see a lot of potential in her to become a really good fantasy author. I know she has another book coming out soon (if its not out already) and I hope to check that out soon.
"Mistwood" by Leah Cypess opens with the capture of a girl in a forest. Th girl, Isabel, does not know who she is or was. But we soon discover that Isabel is the shifter, an age old creature charged with protecting the king and his family. The shifter can take on many forms, be it a cat or stone, a bird or a wolf. And although she has been doing this for centuries, she does not remember it at all, and she is in a forest, not protecting the monarchy. But now the ruling prince (soon to be king) has reclaimed her for the task of protection.
Isabel struggles to protect Rokan; her powers are not what they were and her ability to shift is severely impaired. (I will admit that I was disappointed that we didn't get to see more action packed shifting, but I was satisfied with the explanation by the end of the book.) She must deal with sorcerers, admirers, doubters, and lies, in addition to figuring out who she was and who she is now.
Leah Cypess employs a descriptive writing style which I enjoyed. Her descriptions of what a person did, where they were, what they saw, or what they were wearing were detailed providing clear pictures of the book, without getting bogged down in showing every detail of everything; the descriptions were not so much as to make the reader feel as if the book was "filmed" in slow motion.
However, I did not feel that there were clear depictions of explanations of what characters were thinking or feeling. I could see the characters well, but I couldn't always empathize with or understand them.
The first half of the book wasn't precisely slow moving, but it wasn't exciting or captivating. At first, I felt that the plot was predictable, the characters were black and white, instead of gray, and the stories and motivations and conflicts were flat. I felt as though Cypess was trying to paint a picture to set up for the rest of the book but instead left me waiting for anything to surprise me.
The book really took off around chapter nine, when we first meet Kaer. At this point, I read the book very quickly, excited to see what would happen. I was caught up in an interesting story with characters who were neither clearly good nor evil, whose motivations were varied but real. And although I successfully predicted a major plot points conclusion, I was woefully wrong in how we got there. The twists Cypess added throughout the second half kept me reading and guessing, and, happily, guessing incorrectly.
"Mistwood" was an enjoyable read. It was neither particularly intricate, philosophical nor complex, but it had enough twists and turns to keep it exciting. I would reccomend it to anyone looking for a fun, light fantasy book. I plan on reading the sequel, not only to finish the story, but to see more of the characters and plots I saw during the intriguing second half.
This book was reviewed for Reader Views Kids
Isabel struggles to protect Rokan; her powers are not what they were and her ability to shift is severely impaired. (I will admit that I was disappointed that we didn't get to see more action packed shifting, but I was satisfied with the explanation by the end of the book.) She must deal with sorcerers, admirers, doubters, and lies, in addition to figuring out who she was and who she is now.
Leah Cypess employs a descriptive writing style which I enjoyed. Her descriptions of what a person did, where they were, what they saw, or what they were wearing were detailed providing clear pictures of the book, without getting bogged down in showing every detail of everything; the descriptions were not so much as to make the reader feel as if the book was "filmed" in slow motion.
However, I did not feel that there were clear depictions of explanations of what characters were thinking or feeling. I could see the characters well, but I couldn't always empathize with or understand them.
The first half of the book wasn't precisely slow moving, but it wasn't exciting or captivating. At first, I felt that the plot was predictable, the characters were black and white, instead of gray, and the stories and motivations and conflicts were flat. I felt as though Cypess was trying to paint a picture to set up for the rest of the book but instead left me waiting for anything to surprise me.
The book really took off around chapter nine, when we first meet Kaer. At this point, I read the book very quickly, excited to see what would happen. I was caught up in an interesting story with characters who were neither clearly good nor evil, whose motivations were varied but real. And although I successfully predicted a major plot points conclusion, I was woefully wrong in how we got there. The twists Cypess added throughout the second half kept me reading and guessing, and, happily, guessing incorrectly.
"Mistwood" was an enjoyable read. It was neither particularly intricate, philosophical nor complex, but it had enough twists and turns to keep it exciting. I would reccomend it to anyone looking for a fun, light fantasy book. I plan on reading the sequel, not only to finish the story, but to see more of the characters and plots I saw during the intriguing second half.
This book was reviewed for Reader Views Kids
I am not sure where to even begin with this book. I bought it on a whim because it was on sale, and, honestly, I wish I hadn't.
I'm not arguing that it was well written but being a good writer doesn't mean you are a good story teller. I wasn't even sure there was an actual plot until I was three-quarters done with the book. none of the characters were really like-able, except one, and he was killed off. I had to force myself to finish the book.
It was very lack luster. If I had any connection with the characters, I might have made it through. Or, at least, some real fight scenes.
Needless to say, I won't reccomend this book.
I'm not arguing that it was well written but being a good writer doesn't mean you are a good story teller. I wasn't even sure there was an actual plot until I was three-quarters done with the book. none of the characters were really like-able, except one, and he was killed off. I had to force myself to finish the book.
It was very lack luster. If I had any connection with the characters, I might have made it through. Or, at least, some real fight scenes.
Needless to say, I won't reccomend this book.
It was promising, but kind of a let down. Honestly i sort of flipped through the last 50 pages because i didn't really care what ended up happening.
The whole 'shifter' thing never made sense to me, and the fact that she is mentioned every *single* page like some sort of deity got tiresome and lost it's original charm. Like 'that's right, i AM the SHIFTER.' or 'she WAS the SHIFTER' or 'she could do this and be awesome because after all she WAS the SHIFTER'. Okay, i get it. She isn't human apparently, and the fact she acts like a human is SO not weird at all...lots of plot holes.
The POV kept confusing me. Third person omniscient is not something i look for in a book, and usually avoid. Like, it worked for this one, but most of the time, i lots track of what was going on, because it switched around too much. And for internal thoughts separated by facts, there were no italics to help me discern the two, or anything, which annoyed me.
I like that it takes place in a completely made up world; that's true fantasy. It was just too vague for me, and slightly inconstant.
The whole 'shifter' thing never made sense to me, and the fact that she is mentioned every *single* page like some sort of deity got tiresome and lost it's original charm. Like 'that's right, i AM the SHIFTER.' or 'she WAS the SHIFTER' or 'she could do this and be awesome because after all she WAS the SHIFTER'. Okay, i get it. She isn't human apparently, and the fact she acts like a human is SO not weird at all...lots of plot holes.
The POV kept confusing me. Third person omniscient is not something i look for in a book, and usually avoid. Like, it worked for this one, but most of the time, i lots track of what was going on, because it switched around too much. And for internal thoughts separated by facts, there were no italics to help me discern the two, or anything, which annoyed me.
I like that it takes place in a completely made up world; that's true fantasy. It was just too vague for me, and slightly inconstant.
I really enjoyed the underscoring of non-human reactions and decisions by Isabel, the central character, and while I thought the climactic reversal came a little too quickly, I do think it resolved all the outstanding questions well. The paranormal/magical/fantastic elements to this world Cypess has created are at once subtle and brazen, and are welcome for their uniqueness. I am excited to read the companion book (and hope that, despite the lack of indication in the blurb) that we see more of Isabel/Rokan or the Shifter at a different time in her timeline in it.
I've re-read this book more times than I count and it's still amazing every time I read it.
The tricky unreliable narrator is written beautifully. Honestly, it must be so difficult to write a character with no memory of who she was, with a less than stellar personality, and a stunning lack of empathy, but still make the reader want her to succeed! And to write a character with enough powers to label her a Mary-Sue but always avoid her becoming a Mary-Sue? I'd say that's near impossible, and for the life of me I can't figure out how the author did it - hence the re-readings. Well done, Leah Cypess!
Prince Rokan is about to be crowned as King, but even if he makes it to the day of his coronation without being assassinated, the days afterwards will be far from peaceful. Not everyone wants him, or any of his family on the throne.
It's time to look for the Shifter, an immortal creature who watches over the ruling family of Samorna.
Deep in the Shifter's Mistwood Rokan finds her and binds her to his line with an enchanted bracelet - though not before the Shifter, Isabel, manages to scratch his face. And that, in itself, is weird... the Shifter should not be able to so much as think to cause harm to a member of the royal family...
Rokan is lying to Isabel, she can tell he is, she can tell there is something the entire royal family is keeping her from finding out. But Isabel has secrets of her own - for though she is the shifter she finds herself unable to do any significant shifting. She can change her hair and she can make herself impervious to blades or quickly heal wounds she's sustained protecting the Prince. But she can't change herself into a cat, she can't change herself into an eagle. What good is a Shifter who cannot shift?
Then events come to light and Isabel's allegiance, something that should be set in stone for the Shifter is a creature with a single purpose, starts wavering.
Rokan was a delightful character! He is not one of those boring alpha male warriors we so often encounter in the fantasy genre. He doubts himself, he's unsure if he'll make a good king, he loves and trusts too easily, he is betrayed, he's too much of a romantic in love with legends and too little of the ruthless ruler he's supposed to be.
His sister, Clarisse, seems more suited to rule but she finds her ruling ambitions thwarted because she was not born a man. This doesn't stop her from delving deeply into political intrigue and playing everyone to the point where the reader isn't even sure where her loyalties lie.
And then, of course, there is Isabel who, as I wrote, has everything to be a Mary-Sue but never becomes one, who is off-putting, and has no patience for anyone. Who is not nice and finds no problem with this. Who is more than she seems...
So many feelings, not sure how to put it into words. Mistwood started off like its title: hazy but somewhat enervating in all its potential; as it condensed, the story and plot started narrowing until it almost missed the mark. Even a few days later, I’m not sure whether I think this is a good book or not. I guess the truth is that I liked so many parts of this book, but in other respects Leah Cypress seemed to leave out or gloss over dimensions that might have made it even better.
The Shifter is a creature of legend, protector to the monarchy of Samorna. Isabel is the Shifter, freshly “recaptured” by the heir to the Samornan throne after she fled from the castle under mysterious circumstances decades ago. Her memory is full of gaps, however, and her powers are on the blink. She spends most of the novel attempting to rediscover who the Shifter is—who she is—even as she questions her supposedly unquestionably loyalty to the king and the throne. The theme, of course, is that these last two are not necessarily one and the same. Oh, and there are some romantic and sibling subplots that kind of dangle awkwardly until the end, where it sort-of-but-not-really gets resolved.
I loved the amnesia part of the plot. It reminds me of a story idea I have, which also involves someone returning to a fantasy court with amnesia (and there the similarities end), and Cypress exploits this trope very well. Isabel is at a great disadvantage, and she knows it, so she has to start making decisions and forming alliances. The characters seem one-dimensional at first, but you gradually get the feeling that even the most outspoken (like Clarisse) have hidden depths. Indeed, the revelation about Clarisse at the end might have been the best “twist” in the book. In contrast, the revelation about Isabel/the Shifter was a little ho-hum and predictable after what we learn about two thirds through.
And so it goes: great little moments amid otherwise unimpressive story elements. Dukes conspiring against a possibly illegitimate king? Yawn. The plotting and palace intrigue is all very pedestrian, with little enough to keep my interest. Similarly, Cypress doesn’t go very deeply into sorcery and why sorcerers seem like such dicks. She hints at things, at how difficult it is, how much it takes from you, but I would have liked to learn more.
Finally, while I enjoyed the revelation about Isabel’s nature, the rest of the book’s climax and conclusion felt too contrived for me. It wasn’t any one thing so much as a lack of good foundations: I didn’t really have any reason to care about one side of the conflict or the other. The true nature of Isabel’s loyalty to the crown is kept so vague for so much of the novel that when it finally matters, we don’t really have a good idea of whether she has actually made a choice, as she thought, or is just following a compulsion. In the end, because we never got to experience the Shifter as the Shifter, pre-Isabel, we lose out on a chance to understand the true impact of humanity’s touch.
You’ll notice I haven’t spent much time examining the themes or anything beyond the surface story. Don’t let this fool you: Mistwood has some profound moments. It might be labelled as YA by dint of Cypress’ sparing prose style and simplified intrigues, but it has all the hallmarks of a strong fantasy novel meant for all ages. Aside from the personal struggle that Isabel faces with finding an identity cruelly ripped from her, Mistwood is a good example of how arbitrary monarchical rule feels. “Legitimacy” is such a tenuous concept, both in our actual history and in fantasy worlds, and the definition of a “good” ruler is very debatable.
Unfortunately, most of these ideas don’t get the exploration they deserve. Mistwood is genuinely entertaining: I certainly wanted to keep reading it. And perhaps that is why my dissatisfaction is so keenly felt now. A lesser book would be easier to write off because it is just all-around disappointing, whereas this one has so many good qualities. It’s not essential reading, perhaps, but one you might pick up if you like “this sort of thing.”
The Shifter is a creature of legend, protector to the monarchy of Samorna. Isabel is the Shifter, freshly “recaptured” by the heir to the Samornan throne after she fled from the castle under mysterious circumstances decades ago. Her memory is full of gaps, however, and her powers are on the blink. She spends most of the novel attempting to rediscover who the Shifter is—who she is—even as she questions her supposedly unquestionably loyalty to the king and the throne. The theme, of course, is that these last two are not necessarily one and the same. Oh, and there are some romantic and sibling subplots that kind of dangle awkwardly until the end, where it sort-of-but-not-really gets resolved.
I loved the amnesia part of the plot. It reminds me of a story idea I have, which also involves someone returning to a fantasy court with amnesia (and there the similarities end), and Cypress exploits this trope very well. Isabel is at a great disadvantage, and she knows it, so she has to start making decisions and forming alliances. The characters seem one-dimensional at first, but you gradually get the feeling that even the most outspoken (like Clarisse) have hidden depths. Indeed, the revelation about Clarisse at the end might have been the best “twist” in the book. In contrast, the revelation about Isabel/the Shifter was a little ho-hum and predictable after what we learn about two thirds through.
And so it goes: great little moments amid otherwise unimpressive story elements. Dukes conspiring against a possibly illegitimate king? Yawn. The plotting and palace intrigue is all very pedestrian, with little enough to keep my interest. Similarly, Cypress doesn’t go very deeply into sorcery and why sorcerers seem like such dicks. She hints at things, at how difficult it is, how much it takes from you, but I would have liked to learn more.
Finally, while I enjoyed the revelation about Isabel’s nature, the rest of the book’s climax and conclusion felt too contrived for me. It wasn’t any one thing so much as a lack of good foundations: I didn’t really have any reason to care about one side of the conflict or the other. The true nature of Isabel’s loyalty to the crown is kept so vague for so much of the novel that when it finally matters, we don’t really have a good idea of whether she has actually made a choice, as she thought, or is just following a compulsion. In the end, because we never got to experience the Shifter as the Shifter, pre-Isabel, we lose out on a chance to understand the true impact of humanity’s touch.
You’ll notice I haven’t spent much time examining the themes or anything beyond the surface story. Don’t let this fool you: Mistwood has some profound moments. It might be labelled as YA by dint of Cypress’ sparing prose style and simplified intrigues, but it has all the hallmarks of a strong fantasy novel meant for all ages. Aside from the personal struggle that Isabel faces with finding an identity cruelly ripped from her, Mistwood is a good example of how arbitrary monarchical rule feels. “Legitimacy” is such a tenuous concept, both in our actual history and in fantasy worlds, and the definition of a “good” ruler is very debatable.
Unfortunately, most of these ideas don’t get the exploration they deserve. Mistwood is genuinely entertaining: I certainly wanted to keep reading it. And perhaps that is why my dissatisfaction is so keenly felt now. A lesser book would be easier to write off because it is just all-around disappointing, whereas this one has so many good qualities. It’s not essential reading, perhaps, but one you might pick up if you like “this sort of thing.”
Really gorgeous YA fantasy court intrigue. Read in one sitting, delicious!
