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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
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).
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.
More like a 3.5. It was decent, I really started enjoying it in the last 30 pages or so.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
Isabel is a shifter. When Prince Rokan arrives in Mistwood seeking the shifter's protection, Isabel agrees to go with him. However, she has no memory of her past life before her time in Mistwood. Isabel knows Rokan is keeping something from her, but she doesn't know what.
I was expecting a pretty standard plot. Nothing too unusual, but a decent sort of fluff read. Instead, I found myself captivated by the way Cypess has crafted this story. As a reader, we only knows what Isabel knows, which isn't a lot to begin with. She's familiar with the castle where the majority of the book takes place, but that's about it. We learn things at the same pace Isabel does, which brings the reader into the story. If something is not making sense, there's usually an answer out there- Isabel just hasn't figured it out yet.
Cypess included a few plot twists I hadn't seen coming. I enjoyed them, but they could have had a bit more set up. I can't easily think of things that were foreshadowed within the book, so the "A HA!" moments just turn into "ohhhhh" moments.
The biggest thing I wished this novel would have included was more character development. There were several scenes where I thought we were almost there, but the author seemed to lose steam. The interactions between Isabel, Rokan, and the rest of court could have used a bit more of something. It could have been longer conversations, interactions between the characters, or even Isabel's thoughts about how the characters were talking and acting toward each other. These small changed would have taken the book from good to great.
Overall, I gave this book a 3.5/5 stars, and decided to round down to a 3. While I loved the way the story was told, it definitely won't be for everyone. However, if you're looking for a stories about shifters that's outside of the box, I would definitely suggest checking out Mistwood.
Isabel is a shifter. When Prince Rokan arrives in Mistwood seeking the shifter's protection, Isabel agrees to go with him. However, she has no memory of her past life before her time in Mistwood. Isabel knows Rokan is keeping something from her, but she doesn't know what.
I was expecting a pretty standard plot. Nothing too unusual, but a decent sort of fluff read. Instead, I found myself captivated by the way Cypess has crafted this story. As a reader, we only knows what Isabel knows, which isn't a lot to begin with. She's familiar with the castle where the majority of the book takes place, but that's about it. We learn things at the same pace Isabel does, which brings the reader into the story. If something is not making sense, there's usually an answer out there- Isabel just hasn't figured it out yet.
Cypess included a few plot twists I hadn't seen coming. I enjoyed them, but they could have had a bit more set up. I can't easily think of things that were foreshadowed within the book, so the "A HA!" moments just turn into "ohhhhh" moments.
The biggest thing I wished this novel would have included was more character development. There were several scenes where I thought we were almost there, but the author seemed to lose steam. The interactions between Isabel, Rokan, and the rest of court could have used a bit more of something. It could have been longer conversations, interactions between the characters, or even Isabel's thoughts about how the characters were talking and acting toward each other. These small changed would have taken the book from good to great.
Overall, I gave this book a 3.5/5 stars, and decided to round down to a 3. While I loved the way the story was told, it definitely won't be for everyone. However, if you're looking for a stories about shifters that's outside of the box, I would definitely suggest checking out Mistwood.
This was ok. I liked it, it was just a bit hard to follow.
What I like about this book is that it uses its limited perspective narrator to help world build. By the end of the book, you have a satisfying picture of the world and a neatly encapsulated story that's unfolded. You also have a good sense of character motivation that's brought them to this point, but I wanted to know more about how these characters lived in their day to day life, which is a good sign that an author has made me care.
Tuck Everlasting + Graceling + Superpowers + Super Crusable Literary Boys = A book I want to read again. Right now!
I give this a 3.5 stars, I found it to be a very enjoyable read.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was a great story.
Thinking about it, I suppose all legends have to die somewhere to make room for the modern world that rejects the existence of magic, but still.
Spoiler
Though I think I would have chosen to stay in Mistwood, given the choice. I imagine an alternate ending, or even a sequel, being about how she can find a way to extract herself from Kaer's sisters body and become the shifter again. If she would even want to. I understand that she had no purpose for existing until that first king sought her out, but she can shift loyalty just like she can shift her body, I think. As long as she has a king to protect, she has a purpose for existing.Thinking about it, I suppose all legends have to die somewhere to make room for the modern world that rejects the existence of magic, but still.