Review - Mistwood by Leah Cypess

Published by HarperCollins / Greenwillow Books
Published 27 April 2010

Summary from Goodreads - 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.

As soon as I found out this was a book about a shifter I knew I had to have it.  Shifters are my thing.  Anything that can change into something else is something I am going to love.  So, I think it was safe to assume I was going to really enjoy this book, but what I got was something far better.  I loved it.

Cypess writes in this alluring and captivating way that manages to not reveal much in the terms of character motivation, which makes for such an intriguing read.  Her writing is luchious, rich and magical.    It sometimes happens that when an author tries to build a world they can sometimes feel too forced or unbeleiveable, but this world that she created and the characters was extraordinary.  The storyline never quite reveals itself until right at the very end, its unpredictable and erratic and you never quite know which character to trust or what their motives are, or the reasons behind their behaviour.  

The characters were amazing, from Isobel who is fierce, unyeilding and amazing.  To Prince Rokan who I loved and hated all at once.  To Clarisse who is the best world class bitch I have ever read and ever so cunning and sly.  Seriously, I loved this girl.  She's all like "i'm so evil and nasty and have many schemes shoved under this beautiful dress of mine".  Now, I always like the mean characters the best, so when there is a ruthless crazy woman involved, i'm in for a good time.  I just loved how well crafted the plot was and how we got to see Isobel develop so gradually from beginning to end.  This book was just brilliant.