Title: Shift
Author: Rachel Vincent
Publisher: Mira Books
Publication Date: 1 March 2010
Paperback: 448 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
.jpg)
Rating: 9/10
Summary Back Cover:
TROUBLE IS IN THE AIR…
Being the first female werecat enforcer isn’t easy. Scars accumulate, but I’m stronger in so many ways.
As for my personal life? It’s complicated. Choices worth making always are. Ever since my brother’s death and my father’s impeachment, it’s all I can do to prevent more blood from spilling. Now our Pride is under attack by a flight of vicious thunderbirds. And making peace with our new enemies may be the only way to get the best of our old foe.
With the body count rising and treachery everywhere, my instincts tell me to look before I leap. But sometimes a leap of faith is the only real option…
Review:
This is one of those books you can barely stand to put down. Secretly sneaking pages between tasks in the hope that no one will notice your obsession.
It is book five in Rachel Vincent’s Shifter series following Faythe Sanders. So if you haven’t read any before I’d recommend you start with the first: ‘Stray’ and read through. But this is hardly a hardship as they’re all fantastic. In fact, I find myself envying you your first read!
The series is set in the patriarchal world of werecats, where very few female shifters survive, and the feminist movement seems to have been completely bypassed. Women are prized commodities for breeding and raising children. Faythe is unwed and the first ever female to be allowed, despite many protests, to become an enforcer.
But, as Shift begins it’s no longer about what Faythe wants from her life, but how her pride can survive. Riding on their grief and anger from the death of her brother in the previous novel, it seems that civil war among the werecats is both inevitable and unavoidable.
The plot’s as turbulent as a hand-glider in a hurricane, the action catapulting to life from the very first chapter along with your heart rate.
Rachel Vincent isn’t afraid to hold back, this isn’t the type of book you can sit back and relax because you know your favourite character is going to be OK. As Vincent’s unafraid to do what’s right for the narrative, even if it’s not necessarily what you want to happen. Making the book an addictive, adrenalin rush of a page turner.
The relationship between Faythe & her lover Marc still sizzles and the love triangle between Faythe, Marc & Jace moves from painful to gut wrenching. There are times I can barely stand it and find myself reading between half closed fingers, wondering just how Faythe is going to mess things up this time. Unable to bear the consequences.
With the Pride’s situation escalating out of control, and their future in the balance Faythe has to put her personal problems to one side and make some very difficult decisions. As danger comes not only from the treacherous Calvin, but the arrival of a new species: Thunderbirds, which it would seem the werecats are no match for when it comes to battle.
The introduction of the Thunderbirds was a bit of a sidestep of the narrative I hadn’t expected and I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, but it adds an interesting twist to the story.
Faythe is wilful, brave, impetuous, rash and at times immature but you can’t help but experience the exhilaration, desperation and pain with her.
Verdict:
The series is coming to a close with the next and last book ‘Alpha’ and if it were out next week (which sadly it isn’t) it wouldn’t be soon enough for me. This is a brilliant book that I’d recommend you go and read this now if you haven’t already…
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
You can find out more about the author here:
.jpg){kind=link}
14 Comments
I've only read parts of your review here, for fear of spoilers, as I haven't read any of this series yet (but have Stray waiting). I'll just say your first and last paragraphs have made me think I should start this series sooner – great review Laura!
Reply
I haven't started this series yet, although I too have Stray waiting to be read…
Reply
100% agree! This is one of my all time favourite series. And I might just cry a little when Alpha comes out and its all over
Reply
@propechgirl – Thank you! Sorry there was a teensy spoiler in there as I had assumed you had read the previous book. But, honestly start the series asap it's great. Stray's probably the best of them all too.
@bookchickcity – oh yes start it you won't be sorry!
@Natasha I get sad when a series comes to an end too. As I read so much I prefer series for their character development. I have no idea how it will all be concluded in one book though! Can't wait…
Reply
And the TBR keeps growing….
Paula
Reply
I loved the first book and have 3 of the series waiting to be read. I so need to get back into the series. Thanks for the review!
Reply
@luv46kdv my tbr book is getting so long, but prefer that to no books, can't cope with no books!
@melissa oh yes, do get started on the next three! They're really good
Reply
I am starting to think that I need to stop visiting this blog, because my TBR pile just keeps on growing and growing!
Now I've added Shape to my list as well!!
Reply
Fab review – I loved Shift & would rate it right up there as my favorite urban fantasy series!
Reply
sounds fantastic! so glad i found your blog!
Reply
I haven't read this series yet but so many peeps love it I want to start it soon…
Reply
The Thunderbirds reminds me of the old south American mythology. Thank you for the review. The urban fantasy genre is definitely starting to make a huge spot on almost all bookstores. Which is a good thing, if the older generation have Tolkien, generation now is still discovering who will be the Tolkien or Lewis of our time.
Reply
Sounds amazing! I read the first book, and need to catch up since this is book five. Love the sound of the Thunderbirds as a new enemy. Great review!
Reply
This series sounds amazing. I have it on the list to get to, I just have to get through some of the books I have here waiting. Thank you for the great review.
Reply