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My Review:
Shift which is the sequel to Defy - book 1 in the Firstborn trilogy - definitely surpasses it's predecessor as a novel. And that is a lot to say because Defy was a rather perfect book for me. I read it in one day. That's right, one day. And anybody who knows me, knows that I like to take my time with the novels that I read because I like to analyze and dissect, everything. But I have to say, there is something quite magical about reading a Raine Thomas book for me. Her writing style is just so easy to slip into, she really has an amazing talent at creating worlds you can get yourself lost into and at really just painting a picture in your head. You literally feel a bit transported and forget about where you are at for a while, which to me is the testament to great storytelling.
Shift for me definitely was the epitome of what a book should be like when it comes to character development and growth. There is just such an abundance of it and it was really great to get lost in the lives of these tremendously compelling and complex characters that Raine has created for us.
And now to the romance in this book. My goodness does Raine Thomas know how to write her romances. They are just Young Adult perfection. No insta-love. No love triangles. It is just so refreshing and the way she writes her male leads should be illegal. They are just so full of soul, depth without ever coming off as cheesy or sappy or overbearing. I can't get enough. And now to the main romance in this book, which is the story of Sophia and Quincy.
What can I say about Sophia and Quincy except that they have to be one of the most endearing couples I have ever read about it. What is so adorable about them is their cluelessness when it comes to knowing whether they like each other or not, they just have a certain naiveté that is so charming because since both characters are extremely intelligent, the reader can tell that their main problem is getting out of their head and following their hearts. For them in this story, it was about finding a balance between logic and trusting their emotions. And it was really great to read about. They were beyond lovely.
The secondary characters in this novel are also quite amazing. They are all really well developed characters that are fleshed out and have really unique character traits and personal dilemmas to overcome. With Raine Thomas books, I have noticed, you always are gonna be presented with a cast of characters that will not be used as just a literary device to move the story along, but who are just as important as the main characters and also really need to face whatever is challenging them emotionally or psychologically. For fans of the new characters presented in Defy, do not worry, you get a lot of Tate and Zachariah in this book too, who are always so much fun to read about and you also get to learn much more about the personality and quality traits of other characters who were not focused on as much in book 1, but who get to shine much more in Shift.
Something that really shined for me in this book besides the amazing character development, were the villains in this book. They were really delusional and power thirsty and cruel and we all know that in order for a hero/heroine to step his or her game up, you need that ruthless villain in the story to propel him or her from being a passive character to a very proactive one and that definitely happens in Shift.
My Rating: 5/5
The second book in the Firstborn trilogy, 'Shift' follows Sophia as she
tries to deal with the growing unrest in her homeland, as well as guy
troubles and other normal teenage problems. She must find the Elder
Scroll before the Mercesti can get their hands on it and kill those that
Sophia holds most dear. This book is full of action, adventure, and
plenty of romance. The characters were all interesting and had their own
personalities and quirks, which made them instantly likeable. The
storyline is really unique with the varying beings and the different
ranks among those species. The entire story and history of the trilogy
really fascinated me, and I think that the author did a tremendous job
of writing it. The plot is fast paced and written well, which makes it a
quick and exciting read. I think that the combination of the refreshing
storyline and characters, along with the complex world makes this
trilogy stand out the in young adult genre. I will definitely be waiting
for the final book of the trilogy to see how everything will end. Highly
recommended for fans of young adult fantasy! Disclosure: I received a
copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Anonymous
Posted August 28, 2012
I've read every book in this series ,and have been waiting for this one to come out. Raine really did a good job with this one, and kept me sneaking a read during school :) I cant wait for the next one. Tate and Zach all the way!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I fell in love with Raine Thomas’s Firstborn series after reading Defy,
and I've been impatiently waiting for Shift. So that I could see more
Quincy and Sophia’s romance, and it was well worth the wait. Thomas gave
me a wonderful romance between these two. I also love Thomas’s
incredible Estilorian Plane fantasy world building and the unity of the
Estilorians families. It's just beautiful and will touch your heart to
see the strong bond and love between the husbands and wives and their
children in this series. Sophia is a shifter and she’s always felt like
she was a freak from rest of the Kynzesti, but she will finally get the
answer to why she’s different. She will also find out why Quincy never
could look at her or be around her, and now that Quincy has told Sophia
the real reason why he couldn’t, she doesn't know which was worse for
her to believe: that she thought Quincy didn't want to be with her
because she’s a freak, or the fact he could never share truth with her
that he loved her. But Sophia will have to push her love life to the
back. Eirik is trying to get his hands on the Elder scroll. Ariana and
Tate are the only two who can find the other missing scrolls before
Eirik discovers them. But what none of them realize is Eirik's not just
wanting the scroll but Ariana and Tate too. Shift is a fantastic
adventure. The Firstborn series is full of beautiful romance, action and
a magical fantasy world that you will fall in love with. I recommend
Shift the second novel in the Firstborn series as a fantasy world you
will want to be a part of.
Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy this book. I read it every free chance I had. In fact, I had been anxiously awaiting this book after finishing Defy.
Shift picks up about two months after the end of Defy. This book is mainly about Sophia and Quincy. I loved the interaction between those two and knowing what each of them are thinking when they themselves do not. It was great! I also loved seeing Tate and Zachariah together. Their relationship is fantastic.
Shift has a lot of action and adventure. It was wonderful to see the different sides of the characters emerge and develop. Not everyone is as they seem. It was satisfying to see Sophia tap into her powers, finally. Some of the Mercesti are also shown in a different light...they aren't all evil. Poor Knorbis and Ariana. They both are trying to do the right thing which sometimes conflicts with doing what their heart is pulling them towards.
All-in-all, a great read that kept me interested from beginning to end. Speaking of the end, what a cliffhanger!! I cannot wait for the third book to be released!
Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book, especially if you read Defy. If you haven't read Defy, you really should read this series.
Will I read it again: It depends on when the third book is released. I may at some point down the road.
Overview
A shadowy male and deadly beast reside in their midst. The births of the newest Kynzesti loom. Hostile Mercesti continue to hunt for the Elder Scroll, and a traumatized female is too afraid to use her abilities to stop them.
Topping off Sophia’s stress ...