Mistwood

The characters were great, loved the twists & turns in this book. I only wish that the end wasn't so rushed & it definitely needed an epilogue. The 2nd book is absolutely not worth reading however. Has nothing to do with this book at all, not even the characters are the same so dont bother.

While the idea for this story is very intriguing... actually reading it leaves you scratching your head. It jumps around a lot. The main character, the "shifter", is supposed to be this epic "thing". But instead she goes back and forth saying she is one way then doing something that completely counters that. It tries to have its twists and turns but it doesn't have any characters that you grow to like so you end up not caring.

Isabel is the Shifter. She is bound to protect the kings of Samorna at all costs. When she is not needed, she resides in her forest, Mistwood. When they need her, she goes to the castle. When Prince Rokan comes for her in Mistwood, she does not remember why she had left Samorna many years ago. She also doesn't remember how to change forms. Isabel knows the prince needs her to be the Shifter. But she also knows that he is lying to her. The truth can change everything, and Isabel must make a choice. MISTWOOD is a beautifully written debut novel. Isabel is a confused character who in the end figures everything out. I'm not that big on reading fantasy, but I loved this storyline. I thought the idea of a Shifter was really cool, and the twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing on what was going to happen in the end. I didn't see the *almost* end coming, which always makes a good book even better. My only problem with the novel was the actual ending. I didn't care for it because it was very abrupt, and it left a cliffhanger. I really wanted to know how things were going to happen, but the story just ends. But other than that, as I said, this was a wonderful book, and I look forward to reading more by Ms. Cypess! Reviewed by: Ashley B

In the spirit of books like Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore it is always a bonus when the main character in a book is a strong female lead who is portrayed as smart and powerful. Isabel is all of the above, but for reasons unknown vulnerability and humanity seep through her mask of stoic indifference as the inhuman Shifter. Isabel knows that everything she feels towards Prince Rokan should be instinct and bonds formed long before he was born. Something is different...her feelings for him feel almost human but this can't be...this is not the way of the Shifter. With the help of an uncharacteristically friendly sorcerer, Isabel researches her past to try and understand what happened and why she is feeling so "different". Why does she have such a hard time shifting outside her forest? Why can't she remember why she fled the castle so many years ago? Things get even more complicated when Isabel learns the truth and finds out what Prince Rokan has been hiding from her. Lines are drawn and sides are taken, but you'll have a hard time figuring out who is on what side....there are plenty of betrayals and double-agents to keep you guessing! The truth about Isabel's past is a real shocker and something I did not see coming. Great writing and an original story will make this a sure hit among teens and young adults! Appropriate for ages 12 and up.

As others have noted, the start of Mistwood is a bit choppy, but the reason for some of that becomes clear later on. Cypess set herself quite a challenge with the character of the immortal Shifter, one that she handles beautifully through the intrigues of an otherwise apparently normal court. But the book piles secrets, revelations and betrayals all around the well-drawn central characters. As an author myself, I find I'm seldom surprised by the supposed revelations in a fantasy world, but this book managed it. I was caught up in the emotional richness and complex concerns of the Shifter and those around her. There are a few things I would have tweaked--perhaps a little more foreshadowing was in order--but the payoff is well-worth any minor complaints.

Mistwood is a book shrouded in mystery and deceit, with a heroine who doesn't even know herself, which can make this a tough book to emotionally connect with at times. Isabel is a shifter, a mystical creature bound to protect the king of Samorna. She isn't human, but when the book opens she finds herself trapped in her human form, unable to remember the lifetimes that she has spent protecting the royal family. She returns to the castle at the request of Prince Rokan, who is preparing for his coronation. The castle is awash in treachery, and the more Isabel learns, the less certain she is of anything but her compulsion to protect the king. I really liked this book, but as I said above, Isabel as narrator can be tough-going. She remembers very little of her past, and has no real emotional life beyond her need to protect the king, and she does this because she has to, not because she wants to. It can be like reading a book from the terminator's point of view, only this terminator is starting to feel human emotions, emotions that should not be happening to a creature with no heart and no soul. Because we get everything from Isabel's perspective, it can be hard to really feel what is going on with the characters. In the end it all works, though, and I look forward to reading it again. My one complaint about Mistwood is that it needs a sequel. This story might be complete, but I want more. I want to know what happens next with these characters. To say anything else would reveal too much, but this is a story that needs another chapter. I really hope I get to read it one day.

MISTWOOD LEAH CYPESS YA Paranormal Rating: 5 Enchantments Travelling deep into the dangerous Mistwood, a young prince and soon to be king call upon an ancient power. Summoning and then binding Isabel to them, it would seem that all of their problems are now solved. Or are they? Isabel is the Shifter, bound to protect the royalty of Samorna both with her strength and her mind. Immortal and able to take on any shape she chooses, the Shifter is a formidable weapon and great protection for a king in need. When Rokhan summons her and brings her back to the castle with him, however, Isabel soon learns that everything is not as it should be. Strong in character and wise beyond the appearance of her years, Isabel is a fantastic character with quite a bit of depth to her. This is easily a character one could follow throughout many stories as there always seems to be something new to discover about her. Prince Rokhan, next in line to the throne after the death of his father, finds himself relying heavily on Isabel. Her powers and physical abilities should help protect his life while her mental capacity and experience advising past kings should help Rokhan lead his people well. With a strong desire to better his kingdom and rule wisely, Rokhan appears to have great potential. With Isabel at his side, he truly believes nothing can go wrong. Unfortunately for him, however, secrets rarely stay hidden and when his come to the surface, losing his crown may be the least of his worries. MISTWOOD by Leah Cypess is a robust tale of royalty, deception, self-discovery, romance and a decent amount of the paranormal. As we follow Isabel throughout the story, we learn more about her and the memories that slowly come back to her. Snatches of memory and good reasoning skills allows Isabel to discover that Rokhan may not be who he truly seems although the compulsion of the Shifter magic forces her to protect him anyway. Uncovering more about Isabel and Rokhan, we find ourselves in the midst of deception. Full of sorcerers, princes, princesses, kings and the Shifter, MISTWOOD is a wonderful tale of magic and the strength of the human spirit. Originally drawn to MISTWOOD by the beautiful cover, I was amazed at just how good the story was. Isabel is unlike many of the shape-shifters that we see nowadays. Ms. Cypess has done an amazing job of creating her own world and her own set of rules. What really made this book fantastic was how well she stuck to those rules. I have experienced many paranormal books where suddenly the characters could do things that had been impossible for them to do previously in the story. Here, Ms. Cypess gives Isabel her quirks and limitations while actually sticking to them. That made the story much more believable and realistic, which is great for something so full of magic. Relationships played a major role in MISTWOOD. As Isabel learns more about herself and uncovers the truths about others, we see relationships grow and falter. This is mor