Customer Reviews

Changing Fate

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Elisabeth Waters manages to fit it all into this comparatively slim novel. Remarkable in its lack of stereotypes, Changing Fate is a truly enjoyable fantasy.

Shape-changer Acila is forced to leave her home when it is captured by a Lord Ranulf. She and her dreamy, impractical brother, Briam, eventually come to the city of Diadem. In a kingdom of women-rulers, Briam is chosen as Year-king-- one scheduled to be sacrificed at the end of the summer.

Acila's certainly not going to stand for it! But how to rescue him? With the help of Druscilla, the reluctant heir to the crown of Diadem, her companion, Wolf (incidentally a wolf) and her own unique powers, Acila knows she must save Briam.

The characters are done very well. There are no villains in Changing Fate. The Queen sacrifices Year-kings merely to keep her people happy; Lord Ranulf...well, he's not at all a cold-hearted invader. I particularly liked the handling of Druscilla, a competent and intelligent woman whom everyone underestimates at first, including Acila. If you're at all into fantasy, Changing Fate is that rare and obscure book that is a must.

_Changing Fate_ is an enjoyable fantasy adventure. Elisabeth Waters is not overly ambitious in her world-building, but she doesn't recycle: nary an elf or a unicorn in sight. The main characters are intelligent without being improbably bright. Lack of purple prose and sentimental meanderings make this book more palatable than many other contemporary romantic fantasies. The hero, a young woman hiding her shape-shifting ability, is forced to abandon her ancestral home and undergoes a number of adventures. Most conflicts are solved with mis-direction or flight: there is only one short sword-fight.

CHANGING FATE is one of those fantasy books that, sadly, seem to be going out of style; that is, an uncomplicated yet imaginative and interesting plot, realistic characters you can relate to, and almost no sex or violence. It is a great book to read when you are relaxing, because it doesn't send you on an emotional roller-coaster, but it still holds your attention and keeps you entertained. I would like very much to see more from Ms. Waters.

_Changing Fate_ is an enjoyable fantasy adventure. Elisabeth Waters is not overly ambitious in her world-building, but she doesn't recycle: nary an elf or a unicorn in sight. The main characters are intelligent without being improbably bright. Lack of purple prose and sentimental meanderings make this book more palatable than many other contemporary romantic fantasies. The hero, a young woman hiding her shape-shifting ability, is forced to abandon her ancestral home and undergoes a number of adventures. Most conflicts are solved with misdirection or flight: there is only one short sword-fight.
--inotherworlds.com

My main complaint for this story is probably that it was a little too short.

That said, it's been a favorite since I first got a copy over ten years ago.

Acila has always been her (rather simpleminded) brother's keeper. Lord Ranulf, who has come to take over her home, recognizes her as a fellow shapechanger and, as could be expected, wants to marry her for her talent. Through cleverness and magic, Acila and her brother escape into the unknown world where, of course, her brother ends up as the Year King of a city where he will be sacrificed at the end of the year.

The characters were well written and even the ones you rather disliked were well rounded enough to be likable, after all. With a fast paced plot and smart heroine, it was almost like one of those old fairy tales where the clever and steadfast heroine saves the day (rather then the hero.)

I really enjoyed this book. Unlike most fantasy thses days, the characters are non-steriotypical and the magic is original. No sorceresses and handsome knights in this one! The characters were all real people I could actually relate to. I can't believe this book went out of print!

The characters are exotic, but likable, the magic is very strong and well used, and the style is very good at drawing the reader, and it's absolute heaven to the hard-core fantasy reader

All that the other reviewers have said about this book is true, so I won't add to that. I was a close friend of Elisabeth for almost twenty years, and was with her when she wrote Changing Fate. We discussed it over a load of laundry, as I recall. The book is a gentle tale, much like her character. She said the wolf was based on Signy, her Wolf/shepherd cross, and often joked that she lived in a wolf pack, so she might as well write about it. She has an impressive body of work, all varied and imaginative. We collaborated on some tales, notably "Connecticat," in Catfantastic 3.

This story is a classic! It keeps you interested and entertained. Elizabeth Waters is and an amazing author and I hope to read more from her! The story of a woman and her amazing ability to transform - what could be more perfect? :-)

This is one of my favorite fantasy novels, mixing shape-shifting, romance, kings, and adventure into a captivating tale. Elisabeth Waters is a great author and I only hope she keeps on writing!