The Shape of Desire

( 8 )

Overview

For fifteen years Maria Devane has been desperately, passionately in love with Dante Romano. But despite loving him with all of her heart and soul, Maria knows that Dante can never give all of himself back-at least not all the time.

Every month, Dante shifts shape, becoming a wild animal. During those times, he wanders far and wide, leaving Maria alone. He can't choose when he shifts, the transition is often abrupt and, as he gets older, the time he spends in human form is ...

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The Shape of Desire

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Overview

For fifteen years Maria Devane has been desperately, passionately in love with Dante Romano. But despite loving him with all of her heart and soul, Maria knows that Dante can never give all of himself back-at least not all the time.

Every month, Dante shifts shape, becoming a wild animal. During those times, he wanders far and wide, leaving Maria alone. He can't choose when he shifts, the transition is often abrupt and, as he gets older, the time he spends in human form is gradually decreasing. But Maria, who loves him without hesitation, wouldn't trade their unusual relationship for anything.

Since the beginning, she has kept his secret, knowing that their love is worth the danger. But when a string of brutal attacks occur in local parks during the times when Dante is in animal form, Maria is forced to consider whether the lies she's been telling about her life have turned into lies she's telling herself...

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Loving a shape-shifter requires a life full of lies in this touching domestic fantasy by Shinn (Troubled Waters). Maria has known, and kept, her lover’s secret since they were in college together. Dante is only human a few days a month, and he cannot control when he shifts or what he shifts into. Maria has lied about him to her family and friends for almost half of her life. But when Maria suspects that a shape-shifter is behind recent murders in local parks, she begins to fear that, whether or not Dante is innocent, their lives will irrevocably change. The tale of their relationship meanders like a stream, with strong characterizations and poetic prose polishing the story until it shines. Shinn’s frequent comparisons of humans and animals are subtle, quietly building the question of whether the true monsters are those who change shape or humans with the capacity to hurt those they love. Agent: Ethan Ellenberg, the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. (Apr.)
Library Journal
Maria has been madly in love with Dante for years but hides their relationship because Dante is a shape-shifter. Increasingly he spends time as an animal, cutting short the precious days they can spend together as people. The tumultuous ups and downs of this love affair make it impossible for Maria to have a normal life, and her dream of having children seems forever out of reach. A series of ferocious murders forces her to confront the truth of what Dante is capable of doing while he's an animal. VERDICT Shinn (Troubled Waters) is unmatched when it comes to creating believable fantasy worlds, so setting this novel in the mostly real world doesn't play to her strengths. Nevertheless, she has written an enthralling mystery with compelling, gritty characters. A sequel is in the works. The novel should appeal to fans of paranormal and urban fantasy, especially those who prefer a more serious tone.—Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781937007171
  • Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
  • Publication date: 4/3/2012
  • Pages: 336
  • Sales rank: 635,075
  • Product dimensions: 5.90 (w) x 9.10 (h) x 1.40 (d)

Meet the Author

Sharon Shinn is a journalist who works for a trade magazine. Her first novel, The Shapechanger's Wife, was selected by  Locus as the best first fantasy novel of 1995. She has won the William C. Crawford Award for Outstanding New Fantasy Writer, and was twice nominated for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. A graduate of Northwestern University, she has lived in the Midwest most of her life.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5
( 8 )
Rating Distribution

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(3)

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Sort by: Showing all of 8 Customer Reviews
  • Posted May 12, 2012

    Eh

    I am a big fan of Sharon Shinn. I've read almost all of her books and I think she is an amazing author who creates complex and creative story lines and amazing characters.
    Shape of Desire is not all that terrible, but I don't believe it is anywhere near the standard of story telling I am accustomed to from Shinn. The book is an easy read. I after reading it I felt like she had lowered her standard of writing in an attempt to appeal to the masses and in a way write her own "Twilight"
    I will of course continue to read her books, but I can't help but feel like a disappointed teacher handing a paper back to a student and telling them "I know you can do better"

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted April 6, 2012

    Sharon Shinn has been a favorite author of mine for a long time

    Sharon Shinn has been a favorite author of mine for a long time now. I have read and have all of her books in my personal library. One of the main reasons I appreciate her as an author is that her books have always been clean. This book, however, threw me for a loop! It is the one book that she has written that I wish I had not purchased. I realize that in the world today I'm considered a prude...and I'm okay with that. I believe that a great story leaves many things to the imagination of the individual reader. That is why, if you ask 100 people the same question about the same book, you'll get just as many different answers. A story can be extremely romantic in nature without the nitty-gritty details, for the same reason. So my question is this...why not leave the level of graphic sexual content to the imagination of the individual reader? We all have great imaginations...that is why we read. Sharon Shinn...your stories are beautifully written and do not need the "extra content" to make them desirable and romantic. I hope your next book will be one that I can happily add to all of the others on my book shelf and one that I feel good in recommending to others (like I have with all your other books).

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 29, 2012

    Awful - huge disappointment

    I usually really like Sinn's work. I don't even know where to begin here. It's chock full of melodrama and misguided passion being mistaken for love. The main character is so incredibly weak in character that I actually think there are bodice ripper romances that have stronger female characters. The best I can say about this book is that it illustrates why women get in abusive relationships. Such a shame considering her strong female characters in other books.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 15, 2012

    Awesome story

    Loved it. Was a slow moving story but I could not put it down. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 6, 2012

    Loved it!!

    I'm probably a bit biased because this is my favorite author but I loved the characters and the story. I'm told it is going to be a series and I cannot wait to see what happens next!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 14, 2012

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 15, 2012

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 23, 2013

    No text was provided for this review.

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