A paranormal romance with deep world-building. I enjoyed getting to know the Shifterai, their customs and folklore. I never expect to regret leaving a world at the end of this type of book, but I definitely did feel a sense of disappointment at having the story end. This was my first Jean Johnson read and I'll definitely give more of her writing a try. A change of cover and emphasis on this book being fantasy over romance would not be amiss, though the romance is definitely integral and there are some pretty "racy" scenes. All in all, I was pretty disappointed in this book. I really enjoyed this author's science fiction series (i.e. 'A Soldier's Duty' and 'An Officer's Duty') so I had good hopes with regards to this one. Unfortunately, it was not to be.Good points: The world building was well done: the different peoples as well as their histories, traditions, ways of living, and interactions with one another were well drawn and explained. For example, there were several detailed recountings of the stories and mythology of the plains people (i.e. the shapeshifters). There were also many descriptions of the way these people lived, their traditions, and so on. The two main characters were likeable: the main male character was a responsible leader to his people and tended to put others ahead of himself. He was devoted to his people and tried to do the right thing. The main female character was a determined and strong woman. She was uprooted from everything she had known but found a measure of freedom in her new home with the plains people (she had been raised among another people, who lived near a river). She also tried to do the right thing and had been very close to her adoptive father, apparently the only person to really care about her as she was growing up.Bad points/constructive criticism: The biggest problem with this novel was the fact that the story dragged. And by dragging, I mean it *crawled*....Let me enlighten you.In the first part of the book, the main female character met the main male character and eventually left with him and his companions to live with them for a time on the plains. They travel on the plains. She watches them build a tent to sleep in (insert detailed description of this process) and both characters spend time lusting after each other. More traveling where nothing happens except descriptions of the countryside as well as more details about the way in which the plains people live, which is given in the form of various people droning on about these aspects to the main (female) character. Insert more lusting. All and sundry arrive at the their people's encampment and our young lady is taught more of the people's history and traditions and so on by various characters including priestesses of the plains people, which involves several more passages where someone drones on about this. And more lusting follows. A (very minor!) plotline develops whereby a jealous female who wanted to have our main male character to herself tries to become the leader of the tribe and 'steal' our main (female) character's man. More lusting between the two main characters.The main character decides to stay with the tribe for good. The two main characters consummate their lust (Lust? Love? I wasn't too sure to be honest). The end (i.e. after having essentially nothing happen during the entire novel!). I am exaggerating a tiny bit here, but this was the main problem with this novel, to my mind. Great ideas and descriptions about the people's way of life. Likeable main characters. Good worldbuilding. Which was all ruined by the utter absence of a plot and/or engaging drama of any kind.So yeah, I think I fell asleep several times while reading this one. *snore* Er... sorry. Where was I, exactly?The second problem I had with this novel regarded the notion, apparently accepted by all the characters in the novel, that men need regular sex in order to keep from being violent monsters/rapists/murderers. Apparently without this society would cease to be 'civiled' and the rule of law would collapse. Er... WHAT???Just, no.For one thing, I have a truly *massive* problem with the notion that women are inherently less sexual than men. So, no. For another, men CAN live without sex. Humans in general can live without sex. This is not to say that there is something wrong with sex, or with anyone who has sex. But we DO NOT require it to live, and we do not require it not to be assholes. These are two *completely* unrelated concepts (i.e. read sex and assholery here). Sheesh.(And any man who wishes to try to defend this notion should just learn to use their hands, if you catch my drift. Because honestly, people.) So yeah. I was rather unhappy with this one, as you can see.
What do You think about Shifting Plains (2009)?
I love this book! It it the first read in a long time that I can't put down. I want more.
—Rockthisworld
For me the story went along very slowly and I skimmed over half of story.
—jacob
i don't really like it..all the shapeshiftings..being human is better
—stephev
Intersting book about shape shifters.
—laurenalbury
