Shifter Made

Shifters Unbound #0.5

by Jennifer Ashley

Note that this novella appears in print as an extra in the book  Hard Mated.

Alanna, sister to a Fae prince, is sent on a thankless mission--to return to medieval Ireland and coerce a Shifter to craft an incredible sword. Niall O'Connell, master sword maker of the old Kingdom of Ciarraí, hates Fae, resenting the time when Shifters were little better than Fae slaves. But Alanna's heartbreaking story and her beauty are difficult to resist. Together, she and Niall forge a sword that changes Shifter history, at the same time forging an unbreakable bond between themselves.

This novella is prequel to the Shifters Unbound series, a standalone story that tells how the Sword of the Guardian came to be.

This is a 10,000 word novella. In print in  Hard Mated.

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Shapeshifters, Fantasy, Fae, Historical

49 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 20, 2011

About the author

NY Times Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance, historical mysteries, and urban fantasy as Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner.

Jennifer's novels have been translated into many different languages, and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly. More about her books at http://www.jenniferashley.com and http://gardnermysteries.com.

Reviews

[Sophia Triad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like a prologue for the "shifters unbound" series. It is set in 1400.
Although it is not important to read this book to understand the series, I suggest you do read it.
It describes a wonderful love story between a fae and a shifter.

You also learn about the sword that Sean uses in the next books:
-Where it comes from
-Why it is used for

[Elaine Howlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here we go again with the "lass" thing, ugh!
Serious instalove, nowhere near believable but I like the mythology and the idea of the sword. The characters are pretty strong as well despite the short length.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review posted on Got Fiction?

This is part of Jennifer Ashley's Shifters Unbound series, and it's a great little novella about the Sword of the Guardian and the Fae and Shifter who forged it.

It can be read as a stand-alone or as a prequel, but it is so much better if you read it after one of the full-length novels so you can grasp the importance of the sword.

The Fae created Shifters to use for, well, for whatever they wanted-sport, hunting, fighting. But the Fae creators were cruel and once the Shifters won their freedom, they never looked back.

So when blacksmith Niall senses a Fae princess in his smith, he's not falling all over himself to help her. Alanna has been sent by her brother to force this Shifter into forging a silver sword. Niall tells her no, but her brother has his cubs. During the forging of the sword, the two of them fall in love, and Alanna adds some of her own spells into the sword.

So what is the original purpose of the sword? And what has Alanna made it into with her new spells?

Right now it's only $.99 for Kindle, Nook and Kobo




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[Ingie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy, these shifter cats are always hot and cozy.
A Novella with a approved prequel, 2.5 stars.

A prequel - The story of the making of the the first Guardian's sword which today's Shifters in the Morrissey family in Shiftertown (the Shifter Unbound books) still use to honor the dead.

Year 1400 in Irland. - Alanna, sister to a Fae prince from Faerie, is sent to force the chosen former swordmaker Niall O’Connell to craft a incredible sword. The widower Niall is a huge Feline (wildcat Shifter) who hates all Fae. Now he must obey the Fae and forge the silver sword to save his kidnapped cubs. Niall and Alanna have one night for the task.

In just 50 pages, a story don't have the opportunity to develops too much but we get a glimpse of the old days when and background to the sword. The shortie is for those who already are big fans of Ms. Ashley's excellent Shifter series and is hardly something to read as a single story. For me, already in love in the present day's romances in this series, is this shortie a delightful and entertaining reading.

Quick and sweet to read.

I LIKE - Just okay, not more!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Don't miss to read the novels in the series. So far I have read the first two and loved them both.]

.

[Melindeeloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Shifter Made" which was previously published in the Mammoth Book of Irish Romance (this review is a a reincarnated version of my review from that anthology) is a short little prequel to Ashley's Shifters Unbound series. Set back in time and in Ireland, Shifter Niall, who is an ancestor to the leads in the [[ASIN:0425240789 Primal Bonds]] and [[ASIN:0425245047 Pride Mates]] is forced to forge a magical sword for the hated Fae as ransom for his kidnapped children. But during the forging he is aided by a Fae women, who is supposed to help him inbue the sword with magic, a woman who may change he's feelings about the Fae or at least about one Fae woman in particular. -

Shifter Made is the story of the forging of the Guardian's sword which plays a significant role in both of the Shifters Unbound books, but the story stands well apart from the series and vice versa. The story has a good set up and a good ending but it is too short to have a satisfying middle - the transition is rushe as the starring pair just jump from being enemies to being more. The bottom line is despite the length it still ended up being pretty good, but since it is an interesting little fill-in to the series it may appeal more to Shifter Unbound fans than newbies.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The was a prequel to the Shifters Unbound Series and a short short story. This story tells us how the Guardian sword was first made and why. We meet the Fae Alanna who wanted the sword made and shifter Niall the master sword maker. It was a cute story of what happened to them while they made the sword and how it came to be in the possession of the shifters.

nice enjoyable read...

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5; 2 stars; C

I read this in preparation for reading the Shifters Unbound series with my buddy group. It was ok. Book 1 has a lot of good ratings so I will proceed on faith. If I wasn't doing a buddy read I probably wouldn't proceed, based on this prequel.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shifter Made it's was a very interesting Introduction to the Shifters Unbound series.
Jennifer Ashley created shifters who are more animals that humans in fact: part animal, part Fae.

This story is about the creation of the Sword of the Guardian by the shifter Niall and a Fae princess Alanna.

The story is short and almost to the point. Alanna's brother - Kieran - needs a sword to imprison the shifter's souls. He sends her blacksmith and shifter Niall. To get Niall's cooperation Kieran has his children kidnapped.
There is an almost instant attraction between Niall and Alanna and they become unusual allies and lovers.

The book sets the stage for the future stories and brings a very interesting view in the shifter creation and reasons behind their continuous fight against their masters - the Fae people.

I am still having difficulties understanding how the animal instinct is overriding the human side but I can see a very interesting series starting. The shifters seem to be more animals that human or fae and they seem almost wild. The mate bond is something that I am looking forward to explore in the future books.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally have the back story on the making and enchanting of "The Guardians Sword", enjoyed finding out the back story on its beginnings and creators... This is a charming prequel, just enough of a story to whet your appetite with a very beguiling Shifter male and a very intriguing Fae female to keep the reader happy in the romance department as well... I strongly recommend if you get a chance to read this little 6 chapter novella if you are thinking about this series or even if you have already read book 1 Pride Mates and book 2 Primal Bonds as it answers some questions left hanging and it is also a very entertaining set up for the full length books!

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Alanna, a fae, has been sent on a mission by her brother to seek out a Shifter, Niall, so that he can help her brother.

This is a short, cute story that is a prequel for a new series (for me) I think I am going to really enjoy. Things betwen Alanna and Niall were meh. It seems like they had more of a friendship more than that of lovers, but still I hope I see them further on in the series.

[Frankie Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to create fully realized characters in such a short package, but Jennifer Ashley does a great job. Compared to a novel, this felt a little rushed, but not horribly so. She captured the cadence of the Irish lilt without burdening the reader with a lot of non-standard spellings, too. I enjoyed reading this, and I recommend it.

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok.
Too short. I would have believed it a little more, if the 2 characters hadn't had sex.
Could have left it till the end, or even left it out.
The characters were good. And would have liked a little more.
Will I read the rest ......
Watch this space !!

[Angela Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5

When a Fae comes seeking out Niall, he’s determined to get rid of her before she can cause harm to his kind. Although when he discovers that Alanna’s brother, the Fae Prince, has had his cubs kidnapped so Niall will do his bidding and forge a special sword, Niall’s reluctant yet willing to do so to get back his cubs. As Niall and Alanna work side-by-side forging the sword, they find themselves growing closer. Will their bond endure or will the sword be used against Niall and his kind?

The Shifter’s Unbound Series is one of my favorite shifter/paranormal series and it was nice to go back to the beginning to see the origin of the Sword of the Guardian.

Yes, this one was short and a bit insta-love/lust but it worked. I often find that I don’t mind the whole insta-love/lust thing if it’s a paranormal romance. I would have liked to have seen a bit more after everything was said and done yet I still enjoyed this one.

Overall, it was a quick read but one that I enjoyed. If you’ve only read the full length books in the Shifter’s Unbound Series, I highly recommend picking this one up and checking out the other novellas.

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Series: Shifters Unbound #0.5
Rating: 2 stars - It was ok

This was an interesting introduction to this world of shifters and fae. I wish it had been more flushed out though because the romance was disappointing. They went from hated enemies to lovers without any real build up or emotion behind it so it was hard for me to really fall in love with these two. I still liked them as a couple, but wish there had been more emotional connection between them.

I am looking forward to learning more about this world of fae and shifters.

You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was very short, a little too short IMO. It's a back story to a series I guess but since I wanted to read them in order I started here and I probably shouldn't have. We get a very quick set up of fae vs shifters, lots of shifter I hate fae but you act different so I love you and fae just plain old you are hot and are doing something for me even though you are blackmaled into doing it so I love you and a half night of rolling in the hey. Oh and death to the king because he's an ass. That's it. Literally. The End.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this story wasn't bad it didn't work as a prequel to the series. having greatly enjoyed the first 2 i got this in a kindlebox set of in between books in the series. The whole books give you more background on the story line as between fae and shifters. This was just a little romantic short about how the guardians sword came to be. I liked it well enough but the romance wasnt paced well. The author never said the couple were mates yet they were at i love yous in 20 or so pages. you gotta either have them be mates or flesh things out a little or it just doesnt work well. It also felt a little dispassionate in tone/writing style compared to the other 2 i've read. I would recommend this after reading some of the series because it doesn't really act as a prequel. It wouldn't really pique my interest in the series if i didnt already like it, it didn't really explain the world, and unless you know why this couple and this sword are important already i think youd be confused as to why she even wrote this story much less made it the first of the series

[Maria Faewon · Rating 3 out of 5]

No está mal, pero al ser tan corto me ha faltado la parte en la que dejan de ser enemigos mortales a amarse. Ha sido un visto y no visto, tenía la sensación de haberme perdido un par de capítulos.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was quite surprised by this story. I don't usually read this type of story, but thought I'd give it a go. I got hooked and will be reading #1. I loved the HEA ending, which at one point I thought would not happen. 4☆

[Dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was not what I thought it was going to be, but oh so better! This held a lot of information of the history of the Guardian’s Sword, and maybe some hints to help current shifters

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this a 3, even though it really ticked me off. The saving grace for it in my eyes was the world-building. Ashley's setting the scene for her future stories, and judging by what we learn in this one, I think it could be an interesting series. If this was a standalone book, though, I'd leave it at 1 star. I have a hard time with short stories anyway, because they always seem so rushed. This one was no exception. Hero meets heroine and hates her, falls in love a couple hours later, spends the night with her, and then can't live without her the next day. Granted, the story is based on fantasy, but that's just a little too ridiculous for me. What really irked me, though, is that Alanna comes to Niall and tells him they've kidnapped his kids and are holding them hostage until he makes this sword for them. What does he do while waiting to get his kids back? Gets his groove on with the enemy, of course. WTF? What kind of parent would fall into bed with a stranger while his kids are being held hostage? I wouldn't even be able to sit still for that length of time, much less be able to fall in love, make love, and then drift off to dreamless bliss in each other's arms. Gag me.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alana is Fae princess who is sent by her brother to craft a sword that will steal the souls of Shifters and force them to do his bidding. When she goes to meet the swordsman Niall, she is drawn to him over the course of the night. Once she takes the sword back to her brother, he realizes all to late that she had betrayed him. Once her brother is killed, Alana and Niall live happily ever after.
I know this was supposed to be a short story, but even I thought it was too short to explain their romance away. At first they both dislike each other, and then they find out they had both had great loves before (he, his Shifter mate and she, a human slave of her brothers), and poof insta-romance. I did like the mythology behind it. I have always loved anything about faeries. And I liked the premise. I just wish it would have been longer, to give the story a little more depth, and explain their romance.
I am not saying that I will not read anything else by the author. It had an excerpt from the first in the series to which this is a novella, and it looked interesting. I think I am going to give it a shot, but I can't really say I recommend this novella to anyone.

[PepperP0t · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short prequel covers the romance of Niall (sword maker/shifter) and Alanna (fae princess) who unite under dire circumstances and together create an artifact pivotal to the series. The relationship that builds between Niall and Alanna is steamy and naturally covered quickly in this short but not necessarily rushed. As stated previously, the sword they create is very important to shifter lore for this series and is explained in Pride Mates and Primal Bonds (books 1 and 2 of the series).

In my opinion because the sword information is revisited in the series and since I read this prequel after I'd begun the read was unnecessary for me (but I am a completist). What was new for me was who created the sword and why the sword was created. A sharper reader may pick up on something I missed. A completist should absolutely read this short, but a more casual reader of the series would be fine without it.

Originally read July 2011
Rating: 3 Stars
More reviews can be found at: http://www.ireadthatbook.com

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Niall O’Connell is a feline shifter who led a quiet life as a blacksmith in a small village. But then, one night a Fae showed up - Alanna. She needs Niall to make her a sword, and her (evil) brother is keeping Niall's cubs as hostage.

During that long night they fall in love. No matter how impossible it seems. A shifter and a Fae? But love knows nothing of obstacles.

It's a good prequel to the Shifters Unbound series. I liked Niall and Alanna, but the story is way too short. Okay, so they managed to fall in love and forget all the prejudice so quickly? But otherwise, it's good. And I liked the fact that we learn more of the shifter's history.

I just realized that it was a part of The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance. No wonder it's short.

Rating:

4 stars

[harlequin {Stephanie} · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The story was ok. Here is what I found dumb.

Them jumping in the sack so soon. Ok, they are convinced they are going to die. I don't have kids, but if I did and some ass fae was going to kill them I would not be makin' it in the back room with the enemy. Would have been more plausible if the hookup came after.

Why on God's green earth would we have a villain so brainless. She brings him the sword and asks what it does. He admits he knows what a powerful mage she is & doesn't doubt for one moment that she cast the spell as she was told. ????????????? RIGHT!!!! He was dropped on his head as a little fae baby. That explains it.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

As reviewed on Read Our Lips:

Prequel to the Shifter Unbound series, explaining how the Guardian swords came about.
Alanna, a fae and enemy of the Shifters, comes to shifter and sword maker Niall with an offer he can´t refuse.
Neither of them expected what happens next.
Smutty fluff and action & suspense.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This prequel novella tells the tale of a feline shifter named Niall and a fae woman named Alanna who together forged the sword that releases a shifter's spirit into Summerland. Though a very short novella, it was beautifully written and I loved it. Nice to finally know the story of the powerful sword that would later end up in the hands of the Guardian, Sean Morrissey.

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggling 2.5 Stars

I love Jennifer Ashley but this just didn't do anything for me and I am struggling to see why others loved it....Suppose we all different and we can't win them all!

I hope Pride Mates is a lot better and the series picks up!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Explains where the guardian's sword came from.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and I really enjoyed this little bit of insight into the Sword of the Guardian and how it came to be.