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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
When I started reading this book, I thought for sure it was going to be four stars, maybe even five. The writing is great, descriptive without being long-winded, attention grabbing right from the start. And I mean, how awesome is the premise? An immortal shapeshifting creature bound to protect the royal family. I loved the tension this caused, the fact that Isabel wasn't bound by her feelings but by this force that gave her no real choice.
Except about a third of the way through the book, that stopped being what the book was about at all. You don't get an awesome immortal shapeshifter. You just get Isabel. Which, hey, there's nothing wrong with normal girls, girls are great. But if I wanted to read about that, I wouldn't have picked a book that advertised having a friggin awesome shapeshifter.
I think I'll probably still read the next in the series but I'm left pretty disappointed based on what I THOUGHT I was going to get.
Except about a third of the way through the book, that stopped being what the book was about at all. You don't get an awesome immortal shapeshifter. You just get Isabel. Which, hey, there's nothing wrong with normal girls, girls are great. But if I wanted to read about that, I wouldn't have picked a book that advertised having a friggin awesome shapeshifter.
I think I'll probably still read the next in the series but I'm left pretty disappointed based on what I THOUGHT I was going to get.
This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/
The Shifter is an immortal who lives in Mistwood forest, who is strong, has amazing instincts, and can change her form, she is bound to protect the kings of Samorna when they need help. Isabel remembers nothing when Prince Rokan takes her back to his castle, nothing about who she is and what her powers are. Isabel protects Rokan even though she knows he is keeping the reason he needs her help from her. When the truth comes out and everything changes, Isabel faces a choice which threatens the person she is meant to protect.
Mistwood is a very good YA fantasy book which is full of secrets, lies, loyalty and romance. It is really descriptive but was very slow to start and struggled to pick up for the first third of the book.
I liked Isabel when she was more human, having and struggling with her feelings, but when she was acting more like The Shifter I just could not connect with her as she lacked emotions. I liked Rokan as he was nice but not perfect and made mistakes.
I like that this is a standalone book and has a good but final ending. I would recommend Mistwood to fans of Kristen Cashore and those who have enjoyed Leah Cypess’s other books.
The Shifter is an immortal who lives in Mistwood forest, who is strong, has amazing instincts, and can change her form, she is bound to protect the kings of Samorna when they need help. Isabel remembers nothing when Prince Rokan takes her back to his castle, nothing about who she is and what her powers are. Isabel protects Rokan even though she knows he is keeping the reason he needs her help from her. When the truth comes out and everything changes, Isabel faces a choice which threatens the person she is meant to protect.
Mistwood is a very good YA fantasy book which is full of secrets, lies, loyalty and romance. It is really descriptive but was very slow to start and struggled to pick up for the first third of the book.
I liked Isabel when she was more human, having and struggling with her feelings, but when she was acting more like The Shifter I just could not connect with her as she lacked emotions. I liked Rokan as he was nice but not perfect and made mistakes.
I like that this is a standalone book and has a good but final ending. I would recommend Mistwood to fans of Kristen Cashore and those who have enjoyed Leah Cypess’s other books.
Review originally posted here.
The author did a good job of portraying to the reader Isabel's feelings of distrust, confusion and anxiety. It was very hard to identify with or decide which of the characters were worth trusting and liking. Isabel was torn through most of the novel and so is the reader. Confused by feelings she shouldn't have and memories she doesn't understand, Isabel is relying on instincts that aren't entirely reliable. She has no one she could completely trust because everyone is lying to her and she knows it. I enjoyed the way all the characters were written with such ambiguity. There were unlikable characters abounding, some with very little to recommend them, but the choice Isabel faces in the end is not an easy one (understatement of the century). I was a little bothered by the resolution. I agreed with Isabel's choice but not the reason that she made it. I felt that it really did a disservice to her character. Although the pieces are all there to lend some layers to her decision, I don't feel they were brought together as well as they could have been. This opinion is also due to the fact that I had a hard time believing the romantic thread of the story.
The book is full of mystery and intrigue. It made for good edge of your seat reading, waiting to find out how it would all come together in the end. The language used in the book is concise but renders the setting and Isabel's feelings beautifully. It would make a really good read aloud for upper elementary students.
The author did a good job of portraying to the reader Isabel's feelings of distrust, confusion and anxiety. It was very hard to identify with or decide which of the characters were worth trusting and liking. Isabel was torn through most of the novel and so is the reader. Confused by feelings she shouldn't have and memories she doesn't understand, Isabel is relying on instincts that aren't entirely reliable. She has no one she could completely trust because everyone is lying to her and she knows it. I enjoyed the way all the characters were written with such ambiguity. There were unlikable characters abounding, some with very little to recommend them, but the choice Isabel faces in the end is not an easy one (understatement of the century). I was a little bothered by the resolution. I agreed with Isabel's choice but not the reason that she made it. I felt that it really did a disservice to her character. Although the pieces are all there to lend some layers to her decision, I don't feel they were brought together as well as they could have been. This opinion is also due to the fact that I had a hard time believing the romantic thread of the story.
The book is full of mystery and intrigue. It made for good edge of your seat reading, waiting to find out how it would all come together in the end. The language used in the book is concise but renders the setting and Isabel's feelings beautifully. It would make a really good read aloud for upper elementary students.
With an interesting concept, the book could have been so much more.
However, Cypess turned the plot into what could have been seen on any TV drama.
Also, the romantic aspect of the book was foreseeable but then rushed into one paragraph.
I won't read the stand-alone companion novel but if she brought out an actually sequel to this, I will probably read it.
However, Cypess turned the plot into what could have been seen on any TV drama.
Also, the romantic aspect of the book was foreseeable but then rushed into one paragraph.
I won't read the stand-alone companion novel but if she brought out an actually sequel to this, I will probably read it.
I really liked Isabel, but hated all the other characters in this book, especially the Prince. My hatred for that wimpy, sorry excuse of a man/prince destroyed any hope of me even somewhat liking this book. I wish I could take Isabel and put her in another story. In fact it was because I loved her so much that I was able to even make it to the end of this book. Total disappointment!
Isabel is a Shifter, who originated from the mist in the woods and whose purpose is to protect at all costs the king of the land. Prince Rokan finds her in the woods and enlists her to protect him as he rises to be king, however, a plot to assassinate him emerges and Isabel finds she has a conflict of interest. In fact, Isabel doesn't remember much of her past experience as a Shifter and finds that her identity is not what she expected.
Very enjoyable. Recommend for junior and senior high.
Very enjoyable. Recommend for junior and senior high.
Like the title the story left me feeling as if I was wandering in a mist filled forest, trying to grasps at something and being unable to. I think it was that lack of answers and lack of immediate purpose that that made me give up.
I understand that the Shifter has no memories whatsoever, but it seems unreal how she takes it all in stride without questioning much or looking for clear answers. All she knows is that she is supposed to protect the new king at all costs. Also, her powers are weird, almost too much. She is called Shifter because she has the power to change shape (something she can’t remember how to do), but she has other powers that seem to me more mage/sorcerer related. Like being able to sense things, see people hidden by invisibility spells, etc. Also I didn’t get why her hair constantly change color without her meaning to.
That being said, the prose is nicely woven. I could have read this if only the story had pulled me in instead of leaving me stumbling blind. Very sad about leaving this unfinished, but I’ve got too many other books I want to check out!
I understand that the Shifter has no memories whatsoever, but it seems unreal how she takes it all in stride without questioning much or looking for clear answers. All she knows is that she is supposed to protect the new king at all costs. Also, her powers are weird, almost too much. She is called Shifter because she has the power to change shape (something she can’t remember how to do), but she has other powers that seem to me more mage/sorcerer related. Like being able to sense things, see people hidden by invisibility spells, etc. Also I didn’t get why her hair constantly change color without her meaning to.
That being said, the prose is nicely woven. I could have read this if only the story had pulled me in instead of leaving me stumbling blind. Very sad about leaving this unfinished, but I’ve got too many other books I want to check out!
Isabel wakes up to find her prince. She is the Shifter and is bound to protect him. The writing was beautiful, and the book reads like a mystery, as plot twists are continually revealed. I found a few sections toward the end to be a bit confusing, as there were two female characters and both were referred to as "she." That was a minor issue though, and I sorted it out. All in all, it was an enjoyable fantasy.
Mistwood was such a beautifully written novel. If there was one thing that really blew me away it was the writing. It was exquisite, it really was. That alone will keep me seeking out more novels by Cypress.
However, I found the other elements of the story lacking. The plot was one big mystery. Both the reader and Isabel are in the dark for almost all of the novel. If I had to describe the plot in one word, I'd say confusing. I found that when you start a novel that takes place in a different world, you have to get in a few chapters before you really 'know' what's going on. Does that make sense? Well, that is what I was expecting to happen this time around, but I just found myself waiting for that moment of understanding or at least a smidgen of clarity.... I did finally get it, but it didn't come until the last few pages of the novel. I think that made the plot seem a little slow for me as well, because I had a hard time becoming invested in the story.
The characters were all a little to flat and two dimensional for my tastes. The one character that I did start to enjoy, was killed off! So much for that..... Isabel, despite her flaws, was a very perplexing character, but by the time I really understood her, I didn't care anymore. I wasn't particularly impressed with any of the characters even though I wanted to be.
Somehow I knew that two of the characters were going to fall for each other, but I didn't really see it happening, I just had this hankering. Um, yes, I did just say hankering. But once the proclamation of love is made.... it just seemed so insincere! Something was missing. Perhaps that was just me though. I do love reading a good love story and maybe that's what I was wanting to see from those two characters and it's completely possible that I just missed some of the foreshadowing on that...? Am I alone in that revelation?
The ending, while it was the one thing I think I enjoyed the most about the novel, just sort of ended. This huge bombshell is dropped on the reader and you don't even have a chance to digest it, and neither do the characters. It's just kind of put out there and then... the END.
I'm hoping possibly that this is part of a series...? I would be interested in reading more about this story and know that it could be something magnificent.
Overall, Miswood was beautifully written, but just lacked some of the qualities that I like to see in a great novel.
However, I found the other elements of the story lacking. The plot was one big mystery. Both the reader and Isabel are in the dark for almost all of the novel. If I had to describe the plot in one word, I'd say confusing. I found that when you start a novel that takes place in a different world, you have to get in a few chapters before you really 'know' what's going on. Does that make sense? Well, that is what I was expecting to happen this time around, but I just found myself waiting for that moment of understanding or at least a smidgen of clarity.... I did finally get it, but it didn't come until the last few pages of the novel. I think that made the plot seem a little slow for me as well, because I had a hard time becoming invested in the story.
The characters were all a little to flat and two dimensional for my tastes. The one character that I did start to enjoy, was killed off! So much for that..... Isabel, despite her flaws, was a very perplexing character, but by the time I really understood her, I didn't care anymore. I wasn't particularly impressed with any of the characters even though I wanted to be.
Somehow I knew that two of the characters were going to fall for each other, but I didn't really see it happening, I just had this hankering. Um, yes, I did just say hankering. But once the proclamation of love is made.... it just seemed so insincere! Something was missing. Perhaps that was just me though. I do love reading a good love story and maybe that's what I was wanting to see from those two characters and it's completely possible that I just missed some of the foreshadowing on that...? Am I alone in that revelation?
The ending, while it was the one thing I think I enjoyed the most about the novel, just sort of ended. This huge bombshell is dropped on the reader and you don't even have a chance to digest it, and neither do the characters. It's just kind of put out there and then... the END.
I'm hoping possibly that this is part of a series...? I would be interested in reading more about this story and know that it could be something magnificent.
Overall, Miswood was beautifully written, but just lacked some of the qualities that I like to see in a great novel.