The Shifter, a creature born of mists and magic, is sworn to protect the king and his family. She does this with great power, and without emotion, for she is not truly human. Or so the legends say.
Isabel doesn’t remember being The Shifter, though. She doesn’t remember anything at all. When Prince Rokan takes her from the Mistwood, binding her to him with a bracelet rumored to have first created her from the mists, she only knows that she wants to protect him.
But Rokan is hiding things from her, and secrets abound in the royal court. Isabel begins to question who she is, and what she is, and ultimately, her loyalties will be put to the test.
Mistwood is one of those young adult books that has wide appeal. In fact, as an adult, it didn’t feel at all childish to me. The characters were in their late teens, but sometimes I had to remind myself, as they dealt with very adult concerns and decisions.
The characters were well developed, especially Isabel, and the political intrigue at the heart of this story was both satisfying and devious.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys fantasy, regardless of whether you usually go for young adult or not. This was an other-world tale full of magic and intrigue enough to satisfy fantasy fans of any age.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Title: Mistwood
Author: Leah Cypess
ISBN: 0061956996
Publication Date: April 27, 2010
Great review!
I’m glad that this novel has wide appeal. Often times some books don’t transfer over well to adult readers.