Mistwood

Reviewed by Ashley B for TeensReadToo.com

Isabel is the Shifter. She is bound to protect the kings of Samorna at all costs. When she is not needed, she resides in her forest, Mistwood. When they need her, she goes to the castle.

When Prince Rokan comes for her in Mistwood, she does not remember why she had left Samorna many years ago. She also doesn't remember how to change forms. Isabel knows the prince needs her to be the Shifter. But she also knows that he is lying to her. The truth can change everything, and Isabel must make a choice.

MISTWOOD is a beautifully written debut novel. Isabel is a confused character who in the end figures everything out. I'm not that big on reading fantasy, but I loved this storyline. I thought the idea of a Shifter was really cool, and the twists and turns in the plot kept me guessing on what was going to happen in the end. I didn't see the *almost* end coming, which always makes a good book even better.

My only problem with the novel was the actual ending. I didn't care for it because it was very abrupt, and it left a cliffhanger. I really wanted to know how things were going to happen, but the story just ends. But other than that, as I said, this was a wonderful book, and I look forward to reading more by Ms. Cypess!

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

why did i pick this book?

bored to death i literally fell asleep it didnt have a good support backround

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Mistwood by Leah Cypess Review

Talk about the author staying one step ahead of the reader until the very end! Leah Cypess is a mastermind in my opinion, she had me guessing until the very end. As her YA debut novel, Mistwood is sure to make an impression on readers everywhere.

This was a story of mystery, intrigue, romance and danger and although Cypess presents readers with clues and puzzle pieces throughout her tale, I didn't stand a chance at putting it all together until she was good and ready to tell me. I will say that at times I loved that I was no closer to solving the mystery that is at the center of Mistwood, but it also frustrated me to no end.

Her writing style and character development have set the stage for what I'm sure will be a fabulous future of upcoming releases from Cypess. The main characters in Mistwood were incredibly unique and fresh and my only complaint where they are concerned is that I would have liked to have been able to get to know them even better. Will there be a sequel? I think there's room for one and would definitely enjoy reading more about Isabel and the whole royal family.

The ending left me torn. On one hand the surprises blew me away, but on the other hand I did feel like it was all wrapped up very quickly. And after having a mystery like this one last throughout the entire book, I thought it was strange the the conclusion really only took up a few pages. I'm hoping Cypess just didn't want to drag out an ending that wasn't meant to be the final glimpse we get, if there's a sequel in the works than I'm slightly happier and more understanding as to why the ending wasn't stretched out with more detail.

With the paranormal genre being so popular at the moment and the repeated characters like vampires, werewolves, fairies, etc...being in just about everything it was a nice change of pace to see a completely new type of character. Isabel is completely unique and I for one do not want this to be the first and only time we see the shifter, more of the likes of Mistwood would be completely welcome!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

good read

It was a rough start, flow a little choppy, but it recovered and in the end was an enjoyable read.

Mistwood is a mythical forest and home of the immortal shifter, Isabel. The shifter's emotionless purpose is to protect the kings of Samorna, when needed. This time she has pledged to protect crown prince Rokan. She is an exceptional guard and very loyal, however she just can't seem to remember details of her past, is having trouble shifting and is full of emotions. Just who is the Shifter and why is she acting human? Where do her true allegiances fall?

There are so many great characters in this story that are well developed and multi-dimensional. I pretty much liked them all, even the bad, evil ones.

First off Rokan is a great name. I like saying it. Rokan, Rokan, Rokan. He was an extremely likeable character, though not very kingly, he was too nice. While reading the book I bordered between thinking he was a bad judge/good judge of character. I still am undecided. Though I do think he was smart, always thinking a step ahead.

I really liked Isabel. She always kept a level head and had good instincts. She was true to her character. However, she had such an internal struggle throughout the whole book, which caused her to make some tough decisions. She was put into such an unusual circumstance, pitted against each other that no matter what she chose it would hurt.

The biggest surprise and my favorite character from the book is Clarisse, Rokan's sister. She was evil, conniving, and resourceful and up until the very end you didn't know whether she was an ally or not.

The storyline and plot were also fascinating and very original. I like the idea of a mystical forest where the mist can shift into various forms.

My one complaint. Kissing. There should have been more of it.

Oh, and I really dig the cover. A castle and fog equals my kind of story. Though, I am not crazy about the title font.

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 STACKS

for more reviews check out girlsinthestacks.com

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Amazing!

This was UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING AND BRILLIANT. I am at a loss of words at how it left me. I never knew what was coming, and all the characters were so well rounded that they left me yelling at the pages when every chapter ended although I would have liked the secondary characters explored a bit more.


I just HAD to find out what would happen next. Not reading it would be like an a drug addict quitting on drugs--bad comparison, but really, I couldn't stop reading. In all the pages, it packs suspense and mystery. It was rivetting going through everything Isabel went through throughout the book as she discovered herself.


I never expected to like it this much, not to mention love it. Even though toward the end it became a teensy bit predictable, I didn't really care. The plot is indeed amazing with subtle romance and a great big hunk of mystery.

Definitely appealing. I really recommend this to everyone! On the back of the book, it says "For fans of Kristin Cashore..." I could see how it was similar with a girl protecting a prince and all, but it is surely really, really special in its own way. I have been told not to compare books by completely different authors so I'll just shut up for now. Shift-shapers are now my favorite supernatural creatures!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Review

This book was really good i liked the unexpected turns the plotline took but the ending just didnt feel like a real ending i wanted a few things resolved more thourouly but overall a really good book

Beyond YA

I purchased this book for my daughter but ended up reading it myself too. What makes the book YA is not so much the youth of the main characters as the theme of a young woman finding her own place in an unfamiliar world. However, the story is full of adult themes (in the sense of depth and honesty) that would appeal to mature readers. The ending is especially striking. I had many serious and interesting discussions with my daughter on the choices made the protagonist toward the end. Indeed, the matter stays in mind.

The story has a certain contest-of-wills, duel-of-minds character, much of it revolving around the character of Clarisse, who's among the most memorable secondary characters in the books I've read (and I have read a lot).

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was magnificent!! its terribly mysterious, sexy, and epic the whole way through!!! It didn't take me that long to read because I just couldn't put it down!!

Couldn't put it down!!!

Mistwood is by far one of my favorite books, alongside the Hunger Games trilogy and the Gracelings. I love the way that it always keeps you guessing, right from the very beginning, and the impossible choice at the end. But don't just take my word for it; read it for yourself! You won't be disappointed!!!

Started off good but felt like a waste of my time by the end

Had a lot of promise but was totally disappointed by the end of the book.

Mistwood impressive debut by Leah Cypress

I was attracted to the fresh idea of a medieval times novel instead of the modernized time books popping up everywhere.Mistwood impressed me immediately because of the depth of the story and intriguing quality to the plot.There is never and i mean never a dull moment and the great thing about Leah's book is that it has illusive secrets that the readers feels like they will die if they do not find out, heroine Isabel is confused and the interesting part is learning more about Isabel as she does about herself at the same time,the startling revelation at the end will make all the twist and turns oh-so worth it.The idea of court intrigue and betrayal play strong roles in the story and deceit and lies is palpable in these pages.The romance was subtle,oh, to a romantic like me, it was, but it was there and that was very much worth reading the book too,I have no doubt I will continue to read Leah's next novel,Nightspell and I await the return of Isabel, Rokan, Clarisse and the other characters of Mistwood.

Good Read

Very good and it keeps you reading until the VERY last page.

Great YA Fantasy

MISTWOOD, by Leah Cypess, takes you far away on a fantastical journey of intrigue with a hint of the supernatural. Isabel is the coveted Shifter, bound to help the king whenever the kingdom is threatened, but the only problem is that Isabel does not remember her previous time as Shifter and why she left the kingdom all those years ago. Cypess creates a world where loyalties are challenged and the threat against a prince is lurking around every corner with only the Shifter to protect him.

I had this book on my shelf for a while and after reading it, I deeply regret not getting to it sooner. I was thrust into Isabel's world without a shred of back story about her or the Mistwood. At first I was quite frustrated but I think that was the intent. The reader follows along and only knows just as much as Isabel does in her journey of self-discovery, which I think has an added element of anticipation for the reader.

I enjoyed learning about the characters in this book. I loved when Isabel was able to shift, the lore of Cypess's Shifter was really intriguing to read. As each new character was introduced, my mind added another person to be wary of, just as Isabel was. With her memory loss, she did not know who to trust within the castle except for Rokan, and there were times when I didn't even trust him.

Overall, this is a really great fantasy book, fans of the genre will want to pick this one up!

Rather terrible

I did not appreciate this book what so ever. The plot was shallow, and The Shifter was a character that constantly waffled back and forth to cover the author's indecisiveness on where she wanted to take the plot. The ending felt like a cop out.

wishing for sequel

loovvved this book! im a big romance and fantasy fan and felt refreshed at how little romance there was. When it finaly does come it is the best timing and you just have to 'awww' I am looking forward to a sequel there has to be one!!''

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fascinating book!

I bought this book because some reviewers said it was similar to Graceling. And it was, but it was also completely different.

The Shifter is a creature of legend. It is said it can change shape into anything, be it animal, wind, or mist. It also has abilities far beyond normal, such as being faster, smarter, and deadlier than anybody. The Shifter is bound to the kings of Samorna, as their protector. The Shifter's duty is to protect the royal family at all costs. When it is not needed, it retreats into the Mistwood, where it remains until called upon once more.
Isabel has no memory of the time before Prince Rokan entered Mistwood to call upon her protection. She does not remember the circumstances that caused her to leave before, and she does not know to what she is returning.
Soon, she's thrust into court, where she must find what stands in her Prince's way to the throne, and stop it before it can become a threat. However, she never expected this threat to change her mind about Rokan.
Isabel must make a choice. Whichever path she chooses, she will feel torn inside, as she tries to figure out who she supports.

This book was amazing! I seriously recommend this to anybody who has a love for medieval sorts of stories. I definitely set this book onto my list of favorites!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Sonnet Review (from All-Consuming Books)

"The Shifter is immortal, and as such
she doesn't have to worry over things
like fear, love, and betrayal (well, not much),
she just has to protect Samorna's kings.
Prince Rokan finds her Mistwood home and calls
her out to be his guardian but there's
a hitch in all his plans--the Shifter mauls
imposters to the throne, and there are heirs
far more legitimate than he (perhaps).
But Isabel's more focused on her lost
memories, and once in a while she snaps
because she feels confused. A Shifter tossed
about by worries is quite strange.
What does it mean when the changeless change?"


Whenever I've read stories about a semi-human guardian of anything, it's been a male character, and I enjoyed seeing the trope inversion of a female defender of the kingdom. I like that Isabel feels possessive and protective of Rokan, but she doesn't trust him completely. She doesn't let anyone get the best of her, including Albin the high sorcerer (you know, with a name like Albin and a profession like sorcery, it seems that his last name should be Dumbledore), who hits her with a fireball of malevolent energy the first time he's alone with her, but Isabel's so hardcore it barely phases her.

There are a few difficulties with the story. Isabel seems to know both too much and too little. For a feral creature, she can mimic and understand courtly manners, intonations, and intrigues as good as any duchess, but she has to be told about basic things, like the fact that a creature called the Shifter can shift into other forms. It's hard for me to empathize with Isabel, because of her circular thinking. She has to keep reminding herself that she's the Shifter, and every time she feels an emotion she either denies it and tells herself, "If I were human, I would be feeling something right now," or she'll admit that she's experiencing emotion and berate herself for it, because the Shifter shouldn't have feelings. Add to that, among the other characters there seems to be too much scheming, plotting, and guesswork. Keeping track of what Rokan, Clarisse, Albin, Ven, Daria, Duke Owain, and everybody else are trying to accomplish at any given moment can be perplexing.

The twist at the end of the story is great, though, and Mistwood is worth a look for fans of high fantasy.

Isabel is a twist of a shifter!

I have been looking at this book for a while now and I finally decided to read it. I must admit I was a little confused in the beginning. I wasnt so sure I would like how this story ended, and I was pleseantly suprised. I really enjoyed the ending and half way through the book the plot thickend and I could not stop myself from turning the pages. Isabel is a new character in the shifter world, were so used to reading about wolfs as the only shifters but isabel is not just a wolf, shes a hawk, a cat, a snake, and even a squirl among other things, shes also strong, wickedly fast, and cleaver. You have never read about a character as complex as Isabel and you want to read more. Especially about Rohkan. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fresh look at shifters, and who love to unravel plots because I gaurentee that you will never guess this plot till it ends. A great first novel for Mrs. Cypess and I look forward to another tale from her mind.

Mistwood

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.

Mistwood

In a world where sorcerers and kings walk, there is the legend of the Shifter. It is said to be formed from the mist and fog and can choose to change forms. For centuries its purpose has been to protect the royal family at the cost of her life, returning to her home, Mistwood, in times of peace. When Prince Rokan summons Isabel from Mistwood, she cannot remember anything. So without any choice she keeps to the loyalty she has known from the beginning. But Isabel has a problem not only does she not remember anything, she cannot shift. Secrets pile up between the king and his Shifter. When one is revealed everything comes crashing down. Isabel must decide where her loyalties lie and who exactly she is while facing the dangers that come with being an immortal bodyguard.

The Good: This novel was an exciting, unique read that I enjoyed thoroughly. It was very different from the average paranormal novel. It first and foremost did not have romance as a main focus. But surprisingly, as a romantic, this did not bother. I actually preferred it this way. The fantasy aspect was also refreshing because many novels do not contain this. The time period it took place is one I have been interested in years. I have always loved kings, princesses, knights, castles. But if you do not like period novels this story is not for you. I would like to commend Cypess on is writing a single novel. It seems lately everything I read has at least one sequel if not more. Don't get me wrong I love series, but I think it takes a lot more talent to write a stand-alone novel that has enough of a plotline to keep you reading but does not leave too many unanswered questions. In Mistwood it was very well done.

The Bad: One of the things I love best about period novels are the dialect; big words and fancy wording. I found several line of dialogue to be a bit modern to flow in this setting. This, for me, took away from melodic flow of Middle Ages' speech. One thing I never take too much notice in is the titles of books. But for some reason this one bothered me. I can't be too critical because whenever I have to title something I cringe but the title "Mistwood" had little to do with the novel or plotline. Only three scenes (chapters) took place here. I feel another title may have been more appropriate.