This was an alright read if you like the kind of thing. It is told in first person, which I generally dislike. To complicate things it is told in first person from the perspective of two people. I found this really distracting and annoying. Now, I did appreciate being able to see both character's POVs, but I've found myself constantly having to double check the chapter headings to remember who was currently narrating.I really, really liked that this was not a case of insta-love. I found the romance a lot more realistic for the time it took to develop. But this was definately one of those books where the heroine manages to charm everyone effortlessly and by the end it starts to feel just a little too kumbaya for my taste--with everyone throwing wonderful affirmations around. This always strikes me as an underdevelopment.The book seemed to throw the magic in all of a sudden. One moment Kira is going along as a normal girl unknowingly hanging out with the werewolves, the next she is suddenly off doing her thing. (I don't want to give a spoiler, but suffice it to say there is no build up and so the reveal seems very abrupt.) I also didn't quite grasp the seriousness of her situation. I understood she was in hiding because of the war. But she wasn't anyone special to it, not a princess or the daughter of a leader or an active participant. She was just one girl so I saw no reason for her to be any more hunted than anyone else. Therefore all of her and her family's precautions seemed really over the top.It also ended without ending. I know that this is the first of a series, but my absolute, number one, literary pet peeve is...I would call it a cliffhanger, but that's not right. A cliffhanger infers an actual conclusion of some sort while leaving some thread open for continuation. Nothing in this book concludes. There is one red herring event that substitutes an ending, but that's just a cheat. The perpetrator of the mysterious attacks that plaque the whole book is not only not revealed it isn't even addressed because it is still open and in the air.I think this probably counts as New Adult as opposed to YA since the characters are all in their mid-twenties, but there isn't any sex. I'm still figuring out what falls into that genre. I enjoyed the read. Got this book as a freebie and I thought, eh... why not, I will see how it goes. I started reading it and was instantly engrossed. I didnt want to stop. I bought it this morning at 9am and finished about 10 minutes ago. The only reason why I didnt finish earlier was I had to work. Well written, wonderful group of characters and just enough smart assery to keep me giggling. Sure, its more geared toward young adult and is considerably a PG-13 book and I am hardly young adult and not even PG-13, this book entertained me. I enjoyed every minute of it and was all grumpy when it ended. I always grade a book on how much I want to get the sequel or how often I start arguing with the characters in the book. Definitely cant wait for the sequel and I argued with the characters more than I care to admit. All in all a great read.
What do You think about Shifting Shadows (2000)?
Pleasantly surprised by this book and I am anxious for the story to continue
—Matilda
Cute first book in the series, I am looking forward to reading the next one.
—vbousquet
