Mistwood Review

Author: Leah Cypess
Release Date: April 27, 2010Pages: 320 (ARC)
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: From Kim for review

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.

But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty--because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.
---------------------------------------------------------
Books have been passing my expectations quite a bit lately, and Mistwood was no exception.

The back of the book says that Mistwood is similar to Graceling and Tamora Peirce novels--and if that's true then I'm going to need to bump those books up on my To-Be-Read list! I immediately fell in love with the setting of Mistwood, as well as the concept. The twists and turns don't stop and I was left guessing where the story would go until the very end.

I loved the characters! Isabel was fierce, determined, and level-headed, which adds up to one awesome main character. I also really liked Rokan. So of course I wanted their romance to work out. This was one of those books that didn't focus too much on the side characters, but I didn't really mind, since the main character's story was such a good one.

Leah Cypess is an excellent storyteller. I've read better writing, but I've also read worse. I think Leah Cypess is very good at describing feelings and settings, and I'll definitely be interested in what she puts out next. She's an excellent storyteller.

I didn't think I would have any complaints about Mistwood...until I got to the end. The way that Isabel's past was explained just sort of popped up and left me confused and wanting to go into more detail about it. Other than that, the ending was very satisfying. There definitely doesn't need a sequel, but I'd like one. Overall, Mistwood impressed me. Give it a shot.