Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Shifting Plains (Shifting Plains, Bk 1)

Shifting Plains (Shifting Plains, Bk 1)
reviewed on
Helpful Score: 2


Summary: Tava Ell Var never really knew her mother, but she did know about her tragic fate at the hands of group of cruel shape shifters--a history set down by Tava's father as a warning about life on the Shifting Plains. After her father is murdered, Tava encounters a Shifterai war band fighting to rid the Plains of the terrorizing bandits.

Shifterai leader Kodan Sin Siin is sympathetic about Tava's suffering, but he's determined to bring the wary young women to the Plains. Because he knows her secret: She, like he and his men, is a shapeshifter. Once she joins them, he believes that she will see for herself the true fate that awaits her on the Plains, and most of all, lose her fear of his people. And, in time she will find her place in their fight--and by his side.

I have enjoyed reading Jean Johnson's novels for awhile now, she wrote The Sons of Destiny, a series of eight books, set in the same world as 'Shifting Plains'. 'Shifting Plains' is actually supposed to be a prequel set a long time before The Sons. Anyway...I love Jean Johnson's other work so I was super excited when I went to the book store to pick this book up. It didn't take me long to read it at all, it was pretty compelling from page one, I read about 150 pages into it before I realized it was lunch time...and for those who read my interviews...know that food is one of favorite things, just after books. I enjoyed the characters in this book...Kodan is a very compelling male and lead character, he grabs your attention and hold it, as does Tava. I would have liked to see a longer courtship for them though, a month seems like a short time to pick your life mare. They are both strong willed and pretty perfect for each other though...so who knows. The story itself was good, but to me seemed like just a story, I didn't really get a sense of urgency, like oh, the climax of is coming up, you know where you do the chair wiggle to get more compfy in order to keep reading longer. It seemed more like a story you would tell your friend about what you saw at the mall today. I am not however complaining about the quality of the story told, it was good, and it was very compelling, I had a hard time actually putting the book down...so its a story your friend tells you about the mall that involved awesome an awesome shoe sale. I really enjoyed it...but by the ending and some questions left unanswered, there will be another book after this one, oh darn!

P.S. There is an ample amount of steam in those pages, enough to need potholders while reading.

EXTRA!!! Jean Johnson will be here for a blog interview TOMORROW...so you know what that means...GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

For more information or for purchasing visit Jean Johnson's webpage.

Also posted: http://www.bibliophilicbookblog.com/2009/11/book-review-and-giveaway-shifting.html