Customer Reviews

Mistwood

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

MISTWOOD has been on my radar for close to a year now, if you can believe it. I've been monitoring its status updates on Amazon and GoodReads and checking Leah Cypess' site regularly for any news. There have been tantalizingly few details about this book floating around the verse. I knew it was YA fantasy. I knew it was about a girl who was a shifter. And I knew it took place in a kingdom in trouble. The back cover copy proclaims it, "For fans of Kristin Cashore's Graceling and Fire, Tamora Pierce, and Megan Whalen Turner's Attolia books." Ahem. That combination right there is only like the holy triumvirate of YA fantasy awesome. And so it was with unmitigated glee that I started reading it the night it arrived.

She has no memory. No concept of an existence before the moment they came riding into the Mistwood to drag her back to a castle full of high walls, dark secrets, and the suffocating need of the prince. They call her Isabel. The Shifter. The mythical being who can take any form at a moment's notice, who is faster and stronger than any human, whose entire reason for existing is to protect the rulers of Samorna. From harm. From death. With her own life if necessary. And though she answers the insistent pull to protect Prince Rokan, Isabel cannot reconcile who she might be and what she might have been with who they expect her to be. Set apart by her uncertain status and the legend of her origins, she struggles to harness her abilities and come to grips with human emotions and motivations. Amid a swirl of court politics, scheming factions, and doubtful loyalties, the Shifter must race against time to save the man who would be king. A man she is bound to. A man she distrusts. A man she has come to call her friend.

First things first. The cover copy does not lie. Fans of Kristin Cashore, Tamora Pierce, and Megan Whalen Turner will definitely find much to delight among MISTWOOD's pages. Leah Cypess' debut novel is tense, intricately woven, and filled with an almost palpable sense of mystery and foreboding. The entire time I was reading it, I kept thinking to myself--anything could happen. I had no idea how things were going to play out. And I loved that about it. You literally have no idea who to trust. There are those you want to trust so badly, but are afraid to for fear of how much it will hurt if they betray you. And there are those you wouldn't put anything past, so devious do they appear. But all of them surprise you at one point or another. And at the heart of it all is a girl who is neither one thing nor another. Ms. Cypess does an excellent job of endearing Isabel to her readers, no mean feat when she is a supernatural being, a creature purportedly without feeling or even the basic understanding of human emotions. Despite this, I felt Isabel's emotions. With her I felt trapped. I felt confusion, longing, and a desperate drive to understand and to fulfill the measure of my existence.

A favorite passage early on:

***

Rokan took a deep breath. The directness of his gaze strengthened his resemblance to the man in the painting, though there was nothing cold or judgmental in his eyes. He was trying to appear as regal as he could, but uncertainty was written all over him, and his face was flushed from his argument with Clarisse.

"I wasn't able to wake you earlier, or I would have warned you. Nobody knows I went to the Mistwood. We think it would be best to keep your true identity a secret for now. I hope you're not offended."
"Of course not," said Isabel, who had no idea what her true identity was. "That seems wise."

"Rokan ran his hand over his hair and clutched the back of his neck. "Oh. Good." He hesitated again, then blurted, "I don't actually know that much about the Shifter."

Then you know more than I do, Isabel thought, and saw an opportunity. She gave him her most enigmatic smile and said, "Tell me what you do know."

"Most of it is legend. An immortal creature who protects the kings of Samorna with her wisdom and magic." He massaged the back of his neck. "When the realm is peaceful, the Shifter sometimes leaves the castle and goes to the Mistwood. Then there may be no Shifter for twenty, fifty, once even a hundred years. But when she is needed, she always comes."

"There's even a song about you," Clarisse put in. "It's very pretty, if you like the high notes."

Isabel ignored her. Based on her brief experience, that already seemed like the best way to deal with Clarisse. She stepped closer to the door and turned sideways, so that she could be closer to Rokan without allowing Clarisse or Will out of her line of sight.

Rokan dropped his hand to his side and continued. "You left ten years ago, and at the time you were called Isabel. I was a child then, but . . ." He faltered and glanced at his sister. "We weren't sure you would come back. When you left . . . there were circumstances."

Running through the snow, blood trailing behind her. Tears falling, not leaving a mark like the blood, and that seemed wrong. Pain. Terrible, terrible pain . . .

"Yes," Isabel said without thinking, "there were."

Rokan straightened, pulling away from the wall. He, Will, and Clarisse looked at one another. They were afraid. Rokan and Clarisse both hid it almost well enough, but Will's face was near white.

Rokan recovered first, leaning back gingerly against the wall, trying to act casual. "So why did you leave?"

Isabel lifted her eyebrows. "I am not going to tell you that, Your Highness."

Rokan's hand tightened against his leg, but all he said was, "I understand."

Isabel highly doubted it.

***

I was glued to the page with this one, guys. Cypess' writing is quiet, yet gripping. The world itself felt truly unique and, as is the case with my very favorite fantasies, as though it possessed a long and winding history that precedes and encompasses this time and these people. By the time I reached the point of no return, I had abandoned all hope of guessing the outcome and simply devoured the final emotionally charged pages. With a cast of conflicted, compelling characters and a mystery so serpentine your mind is left spinning with explanations and implications, MISTWOOD is a bewitching and beguiling debut. I loved it.

This review is going to, probably, sound mostly negative. But I do not want to give the wrong impression to people reading this review. I did enjoy this novel, quite a lot. I couldn't stop reading it, and when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it. This book was fast pace, and enjoyable. But in the end, I came to conclusion of giving it three stars. Now onto the review!!

Something in Mistwood that bothered me, was Isabel (protagonist) knew things that were never mentioned before. The best way to describe this is, there are scenes were she'll just randomly start thinking about someone (or talking). She'll say there name and all about them, and as a reader your thinking: when did she meet this person. I felt this story biggest problem was the timing. It was rushed way to much, to the point where I was getting confused.

Now for anyone who hasn't read this novel, Isabel comes to this castle as a shapeshifter. But she has no previous memory of her life. Now I believe that this rush in the story, made me feel that her loss of memory was unbelievable. I think that if the story weren't so fast paced, and spent more time going through the days when the main character first got there then it would be a bit more realistic.

The characters were all strongly built, my favorite being Rokan and his sister Clarisse. Even though the story is told in third person, which by the way was magnificently done, Isabel was the character you as a reader felt more in touch with. At first I found her character development quite slow, and really saw none. I really didn't notice any change in her until the very end, and somehow that worked out really well. Especially with the romance element, which is very distant in the novel. It's obvious, but you don't really feel it until mid way through. But when the scene comes for romance between protagonist and love interest you'll be happy and disappointed.

Which leads me to my next point, I hope there is a sequel. This novel would feel incomplete without it. Some of the mysteries are still yet to be resolved/found out.

The plot twists were mostly predictable, there was only one that shocked me.

Overall it was a good book, but I thought it could of been developed in some areas. The writing is beautifully done, and it will be easy for readers to get into the world of Mistwood and become attach to it.

In the spirit of books like Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore it is always a bonus when the main character in a book is a strong female lead who is portrayed as smart and powerful. Isabel is all of the above, but for reasons unknown vulnerability and humanity seep through her mask of stoic indifference as the inhuman Shifter.

Isabel knows that everything she feels towards Prince Rokan should be instinct and bonds formed long before he was born. Something is different...her feelings for him feel almost human but this can't be...this is not the way of the Shifter. With the help of an uncharacteristically friendly sorcerer, Isabel researches her past to try and understand what happened and why she is feeling so "different". Why does she have such a hard time shifting outside her forest? Why can't she remember why she fled the castle so many years ago?

Things get even more complicated when Isabel learns the truth and finds out what Prince Rokan has been hiding from her. Lines are drawn and sides are taken, but you'll have a hard time figuring out who is on what side....there are plenty of betrayals and double-agents to keep you guessing!

The truth about Isabel's past is a real shocker and something I did not see coming. Great writing and an original story will make this a sure hit among teens and young adults!

Appropriate for ages 12 and up.

Isobel is the Shifter, a legendary creature capable of shape shifting and magically bound to unwaveringly protect the life of the king. The book opens with Prince Rokan capturing the shifter in her forest and rebinding her. She submits willingly and accompanies him back to his kingdom where he will be crowned king in a few days. Nothing is what it seems, however, and Isobel soon comes to realize that she is both more and less than the legend that precedes her. Political scheming abound and add conflict to the story that will keep the reader guessing until the very end.

Making the main character a non-human creature made Mistwood stand out in the fantasy/court genre. As a non-human, Isobel is strikingly different. Her emotions, responses, behaviors, and demeanor are all alien. The author convincingly created a character that is distinctly non-human. Most of the time authors rely on physical differences and a few token cultural differences or strong features to separate their non-human characters. Not Cypess. Her Shifter is fully fleshed out and distinct in ways that are far more believable and integral to the core of her character. That said, the twist relating to this character was both unexpected and yet completely believable. The reader can see the clues building, but won't know quite how to assemble them until the end.

Speaking of twists, the political intrigue in this story is top notch. The reader never knows who to trust or who to root for. Most of the characters are both easy to sympathize with and equally easy to dislike. There are legitimate grievances and claims on both sides, and I'm still not really sure who I would want to see in power.

I really enjoyed this story, though I'm not sure how it would hold up on a reread. The mystery of Isobel and the court keep the momentum high, but once those secrets are known, I'm not sure the characters are strong enough on their own to warrant a reread. For the most part, they were well formed, but it was hard to get close to anyone. Isobel's other-worldliness made her an interesting character to read about, but less easy to relate with. The constant confusion and intrigue made it difficult to allow yourself to let your guard down and get to know any of them very well. Then again, maybe knowing how everything turns out would allow for a more relaxed read.

What I would like to see is a sequel. After what happened in the end, I would be very interested in reading how life went on for the characters. The romance seemed a little forced and obligatorily thrown in at the end, but it has the potential to develop nicely and would face some interesting challenges in a sequel. There were a few loose ends that I just can't believe are the end for some of the characters' stories. I'm looking forward to Leah Cypess' future works.

Quick & Dirty: This books premise is interesting, but it never fulfills its promise.

Opening Sentence: She knew every inch of the forest, every narrow path that twisted and wound its way beneath the silver branches.

The Review:

Prince Rokan braves the "magical" forest in search of The Shifter. The Shifter has many abilities and cunning skills that will come in handy for the protection that Prince Rokan is so desperately seeking. The Shifter is bound to serve and protect the Kings of Samorna, and Prince Rokan will do anything to protect his throne. The problem is that The Shifter, Isabel, has no memory of her existence. She doesn't even know how to shift. Isabel struggles to regain her memory, and identify the threat of which Prince Rokan is so fearful. Betrayals, dangers and lies unfold as Isabel searches for clues and answers.

The execution of this fantasy tale doesn't quite live up to the promise of the story. Unfortunately, Mistwood can't overcome an absence of a solid plot and lackluster characters. I never felt as if I got to know the characters. The pacing of the book is also slow and I was always hoping for something exciting to happen. I expected a much more gripping story. Reading about betrayal, loyalty, and political intrigue should have been a very fulfilling experience, yet the story fell flat. Most of the various plot points were fairly predictable.

Initially, I thought that Isabel was an interesting character. Ultimately, the way in which her character is crafted made her hollow. I understand that Ms. Cypess wanted to convey Isabel's internal struggles with her identity, but I never felt it, let alone cared about it. In my opinion, despite all of Isabel's struggles, she had little depth.

The romantic elements in the book are quite thin. Romance doesn't always have to be woven into the story for me to enjoy it, but if it is, then it should be believable. I had a hard time believing that Prince Rokan and Isabel actually shared a romantic connection. I think the romance comes off as forced, unfulfilling, and not present enough for it to be an integral part of the story.

The character that I enjoyed the most was Clarisse, Rokan's sister. Her character definitely surprised me. Beyond all of the plotting and scheming, she's an intelligent and strong character. She's definitely a scene stealer.

I don't have an issue with the writing style of the book, but the world-building wasn't enough to draw me in. Many aspects of the kingdom aren't fully realized. The readers are told that Mistwood is this magical forest, yet nothing about it seems or feels all that magical.

Overall, Mistwood is just a so-so read. While I did enjoy parts of the book, I was also fairly bored. There is too much dull dialog and the seemingly cold heroine is unsympathetic.

Notable Scene:

If she had been human, it would have ended right there. But she was the Shifter, and when the moment ended she was still fast enough to snatch a goblet off the table and throw it with deadly accuracy. It hit the knife and shattered, and Rokan turned just in time to take the blade in his shoulder.

FTC Advisory: Harper Teen provided me with a copy of Mistwood. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don't receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.

She is mist and fog, deer and bat, wolf and stone. She can look like you or me, but she is definitely not human. She is........Isabel. She is the Shifter, and no one can stand against her. No one can fight her and most of all; no one can make her feel.

This amazing tale of a prince and his guardian is written by well known author Leah Cypess. She has been writing since fourth grade and has put all her talent into creating the fantasy fiction book of Mistwood. It is a fantastic story about a girl called Isabel who is like no other. She is sworn to protect the king of Samorna. The choice to protect is not her own for she is the protector and the king is her charge. She is bound by what she is, it is her duty, and her duty is her life.

Isabel's loyalty belongs to Rokan for he is going to be king and he is the one who brought her out of the Mistwood and into his castle. She knows she is supposed to protect him, yet she can't shift and it worries her. She knows Rokan is in danger, but from what? Plenty of people want to hurt him but she doesn't know who..............until she does. This is when her world turns upside down and her thoughts become jumbled. Kaer, a mystery boy, soon comes into the picture and confuses Isabel even more. Now no one is sure where her loyalties really lie, and she has everything to lose.

Now I really like this book. I like every aspect of it. I love the characters, the mystery, the romance, and even the evil. Something I definitely appreciate in the book is that I could connect with the characters, even though they were nothing like me. All the work Leah Cypess put into creating a great book really paid off.

I think that young teens would probably appreciate this fantastic book more than other people. Children might not fully understand the plot and adults or older teens might feel that it is a bit immature because it is a fantasy book. I give it 5 stars which is the highest I can go. This is the first book I`ve read by this author and I really want to read more by her.

Okay, I will admit that the eyes on this books is what got my attention. It just drew me in like a beacon.
Isabel is a shifter, sworn to protect the king. Isabel wast taken from the forest by the new king, seeking her protection. Isabel goes with him, but does not remember the past. She knows that something happen in the past and is haunting her.

Isabel begins to quickly pick up on things from the past putting them together. Will she ever discover the puzzles to unlock what happen the fateful day?

I admit that the beginning of this book confused me. Usually I am very good at picking up things, but this book was written so suspenseful that it took me a while to see the big picture. I was intrigued by the very idea of this type of shifter and all the drama that is going on. I loved the way the characters played out in the medieval times. Even how Isabel loyalty was tested and wavered was good. I was captured by all the suspense. It seems like at every turn of a new page a new secret was revealed to Isabel bringing her one step closer to what really happened.

Leah wrote this book really good. I have never come across a book in the ya genre that is that suspenseful. She had me hooked right away. The way she tied it all up in the end was an added bonus. I would have like to read a little more romance, but in all it was a great read.

I really enjoyed the book. It was different...my sister encouraged me to read it...glad I did and I've bought Nightspell with the hopes I'll enjoy it as much....Good Job Leah:)

Why couldn't Isabel remember her previous lives? Why did Isabel start developing human emotions? Who would she choose to pledge her allegiance? Mistwood kept you wondering throughout the whole plot.

Isabel was an immortal creature conjured from fog and mist by magicians from the previous king of Samorna. Her sole purpose of existence was to protect the throne of the kingdom from all harms, and if necessary, with her own life.

When Prince Rokan bounded her to his side with a bracelet (Shifter's Seal), Isabel had no choice but to follow him back to the castle and performed her duty to serve and protect him. However, once Isabel was in the castle, she lost her shifting ability and she started having human emotions and flash-backs of her past. Furthermore, Isabel felt that everyone in court was hiding an important secret from her, the reason of her fleeing the castle in her previous life. The plot took a turn when Kaer, the former prince, presented himself and revealed that dreadful secret, which prompted Isabel to re-evaluate her once-cleared loyalty.

Although sometimes slow and boring, the plot in general is gripping. Whenever you think something is going to happen, it takes a completely different turn. It makes you want to read more and find out what is actually going to happen. The romance, however, seems flat. Even though Isabel had developed human emotions, it wasn't strong enough to warrant the romance part of the book. After finished reading the book, I am still not sure why Isabel chose the one to protect. Was it the newly developed love or the shame of her previous failure? Actually it took me by surprise when I learned of that secret and kept me debating with myself what Isabel should do. And to be honest, I was kind of disappointed on her decision. It would be better if the romance is skipped (or elevate it more), and concentrate more on her inner self conflict between her two princes, old allegiance vs new allegiance, and her true nature.

Overall, this book is a good read. Although not her favorite book, my 12 year old literally couldn't put it down. She'd rather sacrificed her TV time to keep on reading.

More like 3.5 star.

A past shrouded in mystery, a possibility of conspiracy, and betrayal hound the story of Mistwood.

Samorna will now have a new King in the person of Rokan. He sought the help of the legendary immortal Shifter who served the royal family but have retreated to the Mistwood for reasons unknown. Afflicted by memory loss, the Shifter grapples to aid Rokan in politics as well as seek out the threat that made Rokan seek her in the first place. But she feels that isn't the same Shifter in th ...more Past shrouded in mystery, a possibility of conspiracy, and betrayal hound the story of Mistwood.

Samorna will now have a new King in the person of Rokan. He sought the help of the legendary immortal Shifter who served the royal family but have retreated to the Mistwood for reasons unknown. Afflicted by memory loss, the Shifter grapples to aid Rokan in politics as well as seek out the threat that made Rokan seek her in the first place. But she feels that isn't the same Shifter in the legends anymore. Confused by her emotions and the flashes of memory that makes her question her loyalty to the royal family and even the truth about herself.

I like reading this one because it started out with an uncertainty that led to a mystery. There's new a revelation or question in every chapter that left me wanting to read the next pages. I was definitely surprised by how things ended. I was just thrown a bit off by how the love angles developed or evolved in the story that made me somehow wish there was a next book after this.