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Tails of Change #1
Shifted Perspective
Caleb Byrne is a bright high school senior who has enough to deal with between college choices, taking care of his single dad, and dealing with his headstrong girlfriend Joanna and an eccentric set of cousins in California. He was managing to get by until the day he woke up a Cocker Spaniel. Even if it only happens monthly and is more embarrassing than painful, the so-called ability is something that he's anxious to be rid of.
He didn't realize his transformations would drag him into a hidden society of canine and lupine shape shifters as well as a family legacy he hates. To make matters worse, after moving to Los Angeles to learn more about his heritage from his Aunt Moira and his cousin Kalista, Caleb now struggles through life-and-death matters. He keeps angering the werewolves in charge of the shifter world, especially Kalista's boyfriend Peter, the Southern California alpha's son, who also happens to be grade-A sociopath. Worse, Caleb's floundering to keep his secret from Joanna.
While his family offers him some support, they may not be enough as Caleb realizes that the rules in shifter society---number one is supposed to be don't kill humans---are not so ironclad. Some werewolf out there is leaving a blood-soaked trail across the Midwest and it might just be with the alpha's blessing...
He didn't realize his transformations would drag him into a hidden society of canine and lupine shape shifters as well as a family legacy he hates. To make matters worse, after moving to Los Angeles to learn more about his heritage from his Aunt Moira and his cousin Kalista, Caleb now struggles through life-and-death matters. He keeps angering the werewolves in charge of the shifter world, especially Kalista's boyfriend Peter, the Southern California alpha's son, who also happens to be grade-A sociopath. Worse, Caleb's floundering to keep his secret from Joanna.
While his family offers him some support, they may not be enough as Caleb realizes that the rules in shifter society---number one is supposed to be don't kill humans---are not so ironclad. Some werewolf out there is leaving a blood-soaked trail across the Midwest and it might just be with the alpha's blessing...
231 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2012
15 people want to read
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September 15, 2012
*A little bit of spoilers*
Shifted Perspective by J. Bridger is about eighteen-year-old Caleb Byrne. Everything is going well for his senior year of high school. He’s been accepted to his first choice college, Duke University. He has a great girlfriend who is going to college near his. And his father is supportive and actually pushing him out of the nest even though Caleb is concerned about his father being alone. Then he wakes up as a Cocker Spaniel. Well, he’s only a dog for one day out of the month, but he has no ideas what’s going on. Caleb makes the difficult decision to turn down his dream college and distances himself from the love of his life. But things start to look up (sort of) when he realizes that his change to a dog is normal (for him at least) when his cousin shifts into a Cocker Spaniel right before his eyes. Now Caleb realizes why his mother left her family almost 20 years before and left him and his dad six years before. He is a shifter unlike his mother who was only a carrier; and she left without ever telling him anything. So Caleb spends the summer in L.A., 3,000 miles from his North Carolina hometown learning how to shift and the rules of a secret werewolf and shifter culture. But even in a secret society there are deeper mysteries.
The story was entertaining. The summary peaked my interest about a guy that turns into a Cocker Spaniel. I won’t give away too much, but the shifter culture that Caleb enters is well thought out. There is a hierarchy, rules and customs. There are some things that are kept vague in the story. For example, Caleb’s mom is mentioned throughout, but many details about her family are not elaborated on. I assume this is because this is the first book in the series called The Tails of Change, and there will be more to come.
The book is divided into three parts. The first is Caleb’s normal life. The second is his life after shifting and his acclimation. Caleb is pulled into a mystery in the third part. Caleb is funny and has a dry wit. He’s a smart-aleck and it gets him into trouble. Although he does make light of many situations, some of it sounds like a lot of complaining. For someone who has rarely flown on an airplane, he had a not-to-flattering opinion about airplane service, food and recycled air. It got annoying at points where I just wanted to say, Take the bus then! It was just a little too much in some sections. Then there were parts that sounded a bit offensive, like Caleb making fun of his uncle’s Greek accent and his possible ties to the mob. But as the author explains in the summary, the book was written “tongue-in-cheek.”
There were other parts where Caleb was just obtuse about his shifting condition. Things that were just obvious to the reader, he took several chapters to figure out. Like when he talks repeatedly about how his mom left and how weird his mother’s sister and family were. But when he turns into a dog and finds out that it didn’t come from his dad, he doesn’t even entertain the thought that it could have come from his mom’s side of the family.
The other characters were pretty standard one-dimensional. His girlfriend is the nosy reporter. His dad is the laid back but supportive parent who lets him do pretty much whatever he wants. His cousin Kalista is the typical L.A. rich girl. Caleb’s nemesis Peter is a jerk because he can be and torments Caleb even before he finds out that Caleb is a runt (late shifter), the lowest level of shifter. The only secondary character I had a hard time putting my finger on was his mother’s sister Aunt Moira. There was something else going on with her. She appeared to be just following the pack culture, but I’m sure she could hold her own if she had to.
Caleb’s hometown of Mt. Airy is described thoroughly in the beginning. But when he goes to L.A., we get only a little. Granted he grew up in Mt. Airy and had only been in L.A. a couple of weeks. Also, the book is in first person so there are mostly generalizations about places Caleb is not familiar with yet.
The book was an easy read. However, there were some parts that I had to re-read to understand. I think this was because it was written as Caleb would speak, so some of the inflections in his speech were not easily discernible. If it was an audio recording of the book, his sarcasm and wit would’ve come through more clearly. Also, as a personal preference, I was a bit concerned about the certain choice of words in a YA book. Examples were using the Lord’s name in vain and the use of terms like “butt monkey” I didn’t care for.
The plot moved along pretty well. There were parts that seemed a bit convenient. For example, someone gives Caleb information that although I wanted to know, I wondered why they were even telling Caleb. It seemed out of character.
The feeling I got from Shifted Perspective was the challenging of social, class, gender and even species (smile) issues. Caleb is from a working class, modest income background while his uncle and aunt are well off enough to send three of their children to Oxford and the other to UCLA all at the same time. Then there is a species issues. Even though they were all shifters, there is a hierarchy with werewolves at the top and runts at the bottom. There is also tension with shifters when it comes to humans. Caleb, who was raised as human and had no idea about this secret culture, has a hard time accepting and adjusting to it. I think this fact alone will change the course of the shifter society. It seems adequately titled The Tails of Change. Change is definitely coming. Hopefully, many of Caleb’s prejudices will change and maybe so will the superiority complex that the shifter community has against humans. They even like regular non-shifter dogs better than humans. Well, we’ll see.
I liked that Caleb was relatable. He was uncertain and honest about it and his other feelings. He still remained true to himself and his human side when everyone wanted or expected him to change. His character does grow. He’s has a strong bond with his dad and is not ready to leave his father. He has a hard time figuring things out for himself at first especially with all his adjustments. His journey into shifter culture parallels his transition into adulthood.
Shifted Perspective was a good read, humorous and I’m looking forward to the next part of the series. There is a relationship between shifters and dogs that I thought was pretty cool too. I would recommend this book to those who like their paranormal with a bit of humor.
Rating 3.7
Shifted Perspective by J. Bridger is about eighteen-year-old Caleb Byrne. Everything is going well for his senior year of high school. He’s been accepted to his first choice college, Duke University. He has a great girlfriend who is going to college near his. And his father is supportive and actually pushing him out of the nest even though Caleb is concerned about his father being alone. Then he wakes up as a Cocker Spaniel. Well, he’s only a dog for one day out of the month, but he has no ideas what’s going on. Caleb makes the difficult decision to turn down his dream college and distances himself from the love of his life. But things start to look up (sort of) when he realizes that his change to a dog is normal (for him at least) when his cousin shifts into a Cocker Spaniel right before his eyes. Now Caleb realizes why his mother left her family almost 20 years before and left him and his dad six years before. He is a shifter unlike his mother who was only a carrier; and she left without ever telling him anything. So Caleb spends the summer in L.A., 3,000 miles from his North Carolina hometown learning how to shift and the rules of a secret werewolf and shifter culture. But even in a secret society there are deeper mysteries.
The story was entertaining. The summary peaked my interest about a guy that turns into a Cocker Spaniel. I won’t give away too much, but the shifter culture that Caleb enters is well thought out. There is a hierarchy, rules and customs. There are some things that are kept vague in the story. For example, Caleb’s mom is mentioned throughout, but many details about her family are not elaborated on. I assume this is because this is the first book in the series called The Tails of Change, and there will be more to come.
The book is divided into three parts. The first is Caleb’s normal life. The second is his life after shifting and his acclimation. Caleb is pulled into a mystery in the third part. Caleb is funny and has a dry wit. He’s a smart-aleck and it gets him into trouble. Although he does make light of many situations, some of it sounds like a lot of complaining. For someone who has rarely flown on an airplane, he had a not-to-flattering opinion about airplane service, food and recycled air. It got annoying at points where I just wanted to say, Take the bus then! It was just a little too much in some sections. Then there were parts that sounded a bit offensive, like Caleb making fun of his uncle’s Greek accent and his possible ties to the mob. But as the author explains in the summary, the book was written “tongue-in-cheek.”
There were other parts where Caleb was just obtuse about his shifting condition. Things that were just obvious to the reader, he took several chapters to figure out. Like when he talks repeatedly about how his mom left and how weird his mother’s sister and family were. But when he turns into a dog and finds out that it didn’t come from his dad, he doesn’t even entertain the thought that it could have come from his mom’s side of the family.
The other characters were pretty standard one-dimensional. His girlfriend is the nosy reporter. His dad is the laid back but supportive parent who lets him do pretty much whatever he wants. His cousin Kalista is the typical L.A. rich girl. Caleb’s nemesis Peter is a jerk because he can be and torments Caleb even before he finds out that Caleb is a runt (late shifter), the lowest level of shifter. The only secondary character I had a hard time putting my finger on was his mother’s sister Aunt Moira. There was something else going on with her. She appeared to be just following the pack culture, but I’m sure she could hold her own if she had to.
Caleb’s hometown of Mt. Airy is described thoroughly in the beginning. But when he goes to L.A., we get only a little. Granted he grew up in Mt. Airy and had only been in L.A. a couple of weeks. Also, the book is in first person so there are mostly generalizations about places Caleb is not familiar with yet.
The book was an easy read. However, there were some parts that I had to re-read to understand. I think this was because it was written as Caleb would speak, so some of the inflections in his speech were not easily discernible. If it was an audio recording of the book, his sarcasm and wit would’ve come through more clearly. Also, as a personal preference, I was a bit concerned about the certain choice of words in a YA book. Examples were using the Lord’s name in vain and the use of terms like “butt monkey” I didn’t care for.
The plot moved along pretty well. There were parts that seemed a bit convenient. For example, someone gives Caleb information that although I wanted to know, I wondered why they were even telling Caleb. It seemed out of character.
The feeling I got from Shifted Perspective was the challenging of social, class, gender and even species (smile) issues. Caleb is from a working class, modest income background while his uncle and aunt are well off enough to send three of their children to Oxford and the other to UCLA all at the same time. Then there is a species issues. Even though they were all shifters, there is a hierarchy with werewolves at the top and runts at the bottom. There is also tension with shifters when it comes to humans. Caleb, who was raised as human and had no idea about this secret culture, has a hard time accepting and adjusting to it. I think this fact alone will change the course of the shifter society. It seems adequately titled The Tails of Change. Change is definitely coming. Hopefully, many of Caleb’s prejudices will change and maybe so will the superiority complex that the shifter community has against humans. They even like regular non-shifter dogs better than humans. Well, we’ll see.
I liked that Caleb was relatable. He was uncertain and honest about it and his other feelings. He still remained true to himself and his human side when everyone wanted or expected him to change. His character does grow. He’s has a strong bond with his dad and is not ready to leave his father. He has a hard time figuring things out for himself at first especially with all his adjustments. His journey into shifter culture parallels his transition into adulthood.
Shifted Perspective was a good read, humorous and I’m looking forward to the next part of the series. There is a relationship between shifters and dogs that I thought was pretty cool too. I would recommend this book to those who like their paranormal with a bit of humor.
Rating 3.7
November 2, 2012
I received Shifted Perspective in return for an honest review from the author. Caleb has big plans for the future his toughest choice is choosing which college to attend. Suddenly everything changes and he wakes up a Cocker Spaniel, who happens to now be able to speak to his old blood hound Samson. Thankfully for him it only lasts one day and the first few times he can play it off to his dad that some stray dog must have gotten in but soon he's caught by his dad who helps him on his "puppy days" as they are now calling them which happen once a month. Neither of them know how or why this is happening to Caleb but they are dealing with it till the night of his graduation when he's turned into a Cocker Spaniel and can't change back for his speech.
It's then that he learns his wacky cousin Kalista and Aunt Moira are also Cocker Spaniels that his mother was a carrier and he inherited it from her. Typically your born with being able to shit it's not something that shows up later in life so they didn't know that Caleb was going to be able to shift. Upon learning about Caleb's new abilities they demand that he leave with them for California where he will join the pack of shapeshifting K9's. Stubborn as he is Caleb refuses to leave without his father and the old bloodhound Samson they accepted the dog better than his father since he's considered a outsider. His dad holds his own and both are accepted into the pack based on the fact that his father helped and protected him when the pack didn't know he existed.
While in California Kalista attempts to set Caleb up with one of her best friends a beagle shapeshifter named Penny who also happens to work as a private investigator and psychic to pay the bills. When Penny get's called in on a case involving the death of two in a park she suspects that the killer might be a werewolf. Since he doesn't know anyone and Penny isn't ready to go to the alpha till she knows who the killer is she teams up with Caleb because he doesn't know anyone yet and he doesn't care much for the wolves either. With the help from Calebs ex-girlfriend Joanna the trio will need to find out who the killer is, and keep Joanna in the dark about who they really are.
I found Shifted Perspective entertaining better than I was expecting and I say that because I'm used to my shapeshifters being able to rip people apart. I liked the unique twist with the different breeds of dogs, very different then your typical shapeshifter book. There's a spot where we learn that Kalista is actually being shown in dog shows in attempted to win the Westminster dog show, but she hasn't won enough to get there it had my laughing a human pretending to be a dog to win. The characters are very well developed its hard not to connect with them on some level, they all have their own little personality quirks and I like that. I think Penny is a great character she may not be a big tough wolf or large dog but she has a great personality and I really enjoyed her. Plus you can't not love Caleb since he is the one after all that's dealing with threats from his cousin's werewolf boyfriend, and just trying to learn how to be who he is. Overall it's a great first in the series, I found it entertaining and frankly I couldn't put it down but I was so tired last night sleep won out or I would of been up all night I'm sure.
It's then that he learns his wacky cousin Kalista and Aunt Moira are also Cocker Spaniels that his mother was a carrier and he inherited it from her. Typically your born with being able to shit it's not something that shows up later in life so they didn't know that Caleb was going to be able to shift. Upon learning about Caleb's new abilities they demand that he leave with them for California where he will join the pack of shapeshifting K9's. Stubborn as he is Caleb refuses to leave without his father and the old bloodhound Samson they accepted the dog better than his father since he's considered a outsider. His dad holds his own and both are accepted into the pack based on the fact that his father helped and protected him when the pack didn't know he existed.
While in California Kalista attempts to set Caleb up with one of her best friends a beagle shapeshifter named Penny who also happens to work as a private investigator and psychic to pay the bills. When Penny get's called in on a case involving the death of two in a park she suspects that the killer might be a werewolf. Since he doesn't know anyone and Penny isn't ready to go to the alpha till she knows who the killer is she teams up with Caleb because he doesn't know anyone yet and he doesn't care much for the wolves either. With the help from Calebs ex-girlfriend Joanna the trio will need to find out who the killer is, and keep Joanna in the dark about who they really are.
I found Shifted Perspective entertaining better than I was expecting and I say that because I'm used to my shapeshifters being able to rip people apart. I liked the unique twist with the different breeds of dogs, very different then your typical shapeshifter book. There's a spot where we learn that Kalista is actually being shown in dog shows in attempted to win the Westminster dog show, but she hasn't won enough to get there it had my laughing a human pretending to be a dog to win. The characters are very well developed its hard not to connect with them on some level, they all have their own little personality quirks and I like that. I think Penny is a great character she may not be a big tough wolf or large dog but she has a great personality and I really enjoyed her. Plus you can't not love Caleb since he is the one after all that's dealing with threats from his cousin's werewolf boyfriend, and just trying to learn how to be who he is. Overall it's a great first in the series, I found it entertaining and frankly I couldn't put it down but I was so tired last night sleep won out or I would of been up all night I'm sure.
November 12, 2012
Kindle version free via author for honest review
The Goodreads summary was a great one, so I am not going to write my usual one just to repeat the above. I will jump right into what I thought about the book instead.
When I was contacted by the author to read this book I was totally sucked in by the summary. It sounded like such a different and interesting book I had to say I would read it. I was not disappointed. I found this book to be fast moving, interesting, and full of adventure and fun. I loved the twist on the shifter turning into a dog rather than the usual werewolf. I think that is what made the story so great. If it wasn't bad enough for Caleb to find out he is a shifter, but to find out he turns in to a cute floppy eared, curly haired black Cocker Spaniel instead of a werewolf or at least a bigger dog just adds insult to injury for him. The characters were fantastic, as was the plot. I thought the whole book just flowed and didn't really have those awkward lulls that other books I have read have. My favorite character has to be Caleb, but I really enjoyed Penny too. I think Caleb made some mistakes in his thinking in this book that will probably cause real trouble later on in the series. However, they will make for a continued interesting plot in books to come. I chuckled to myself when I was out the other day because I was deep into this book and then stopped to run an errand, and on the way I saw a man walking a Beagle and thought of Penny and this book. I can look at dogs in a whole new way now. I was not crazy about the ending to this book though. I know it was written how it was because of it being a first in a series of books, but I still wasn't thrilled at all with how it ended. I don't mind having an ending that makes me want to read on in the series, but I also like to not feel like I have a many month commercial in between books either. What do I mean by that? Well, I just mean when it ends with me wanting to read on, I feel like I have just watched a TV episode, but worse, because who knows when the next book will come out. The ending was great as far as drawing the reader in right up until the last page though, that's for sure, and making the reader want to read the next book. So in that respect, the author definitely did the job of drawing readers back for the next book. The book was well written, with great characters whom you got to watch develop, and with a great plot that you watched unfold. I enjoyed this book a lot, and will be on the lookout for the next in the series!
4/5 Stars!
The Goodreads summary was a great one, so I am not going to write my usual one just to repeat the above. I will jump right into what I thought about the book instead.
When I was contacted by the author to read this book I was totally sucked in by the summary. It sounded like such a different and interesting book I had to say I would read it. I was not disappointed. I found this book to be fast moving, interesting, and full of adventure and fun. I loved the twist on the shifter turning into a dog rather than the usual werewolf. I think that is what made the story so great. If it wasn't bad enough for Caleb to find out he is a shifter, but to find out he turns in to a cute floppy eared, curly haired black Cocker Spaniel instead of a werewolf or at least a bigger dog just adds insult to injury for him. The characters were fantastic, as was the plot. I thought the whole book just flowed and didn't really have those awkward lulls that other books I have read have. My favorite character has to be Caleb, but I really enjoyed Penny too. I think Caleb made some mistakes in his thinking in this book that will probably cause real trouble later on in the series. However, they will make for a continued interesting plot in books to come. I chuckled to myself when I was out the other day because I was deep into this book and then stopped to run an errand, and on the way I saw a man walking a Beagle and thought of Penny and this book. I can look at dogs in a whole new way now. I was not crazy about the ending to this book though. I know it was written how it was because of it being a first in a series of books, but I still wasn't thrilled at all with how it ended. I don't mind having an ending that makes me want to read on in the series, but I also like to not feel like I have a many month commercial in between books either. What do I mean by that? Well, I just mean when it ends with me wanting to read on, I feel like I have just watched a TV episode, but worse, because who knows when the next book will come out. The ending was great as far as drawing the reader in right up until the last page though, that's for sure, and making the reader want to read the next book. So in that respect, the author definitely did the job of drawing readers back for the next book. The book was well written, with great characters whom you got to watch develop, and with a great plot that you watched unfold. I enjoyed this book a lot, and will be on the lookout for the next in the series!
4/5 Stars!
September 24, 2012
k, first, I gotta say the main character is the CUTEST shifter EVER!!! Umm, I wouldn’t chose a cocker spaniel, but they are still so cute! LOL! This is a special kind of story. I am calling it cute, because it is, but not like reading a 5 year old’s book. It’s got some romantic sides, some mystery, and even some action I am trying hard to think of how to review without being spoilery… Ever have this issue? I want to tell you “this”, but then I’d give something major away so I will talk about things in the blurb lol
Caleb is a typical teenage boy, who happens to be quite intelligent. All he wants is to go to Duke, which he got accepted early to, and see his dad on breaks, and be close to his girlfriend. But the end of his senior year is not shaping up this way. I actually really like Caleb. He’s got an interesting mind set, he’s pretty funny, and he’s got his own kind of sarcasm going on. he gets funnier when he turns into a cocker. I feel bad for him a good bit. I’d love to be a shifter, but maybe not with all of Caleb’s problems
Caleb’s maternal family out in California freak me out a bit. Let me say I like Kalista, and her mom, but the rest, oh if only you could pick your family- these are the ones you’d run from and then things get darker and scarier, and real serious real quick. Excellent writing going on here
Caleb’s dad is pretty cool, if I must say so. And I LOVE SAMPSON- who is their bloodhound he is the all wise dog encyclopedia lol and his personality is just great. First, I personally love bloodhounds! I love when they come to my clinic, so Sampson is an automatic like. But him being so funny, like the way he describes things or calls them funny names, he’s just so loveable!
The writing is great, as I got into the story and didn’t have any pauses or me trying to figure out a meaning or what was actually being said easy flow! Interesting plots and an all around fun read!
I would recommend this to pretty much any one. It’s easy, it flows, and I can���t help but still call it cute Even if it’s got a dark side I really enjoyed it. Especially the talking dog! Sampson is my favorite from the book! I am looking forward to reading more of this series
Caleb is a typical teenage boy, who happens to be quite intelligent. All he wants is to go to Duke, which he got accepted early to, and see his dad on breaks, and be close to his girlfriend. But the end of his senior year is not shaping up this way. I actually really like Caleb. He’s got an interesting mind set, he’s pretty funny, and he’s got his own kind of sarcasm going on. he gets funnier when he turns into a cocker. I feel bad for him a good bit. I’d love to be a shifter, but maybe not with all of Caleb’s problems
Caleb’s maternal family out in California freak me out a bit. Let me say I like Kalista, and her mom, but the rest, oh if only you could pick your family- these are the ones you’d run from and then things get darker and scarier, and real serious real quick. Excellent writing going on here
Caleb’s dad is pretty cool, if I must say so. And I LOVE SAMPSON- who is their bloodhound he is the all wise dog encyclopedia lol and his personality is just great. First, I personally love bloodhounds! I love when they come to my clinic, so Sampson is an automatic like. But him being so funny, like the way he describes things or calls them funny names, he’s just so loveable!
The writing is great, as I got into the story and didn’t have any pauses or me trying to figure out a meaning or what was actually being said easy flow! Interesting plots and an all around fun read!
I would recommend this to pretty much any one. It’s easy, it flows, and I can���t help but still call it cute Even if it’s got a dark side I really enjoyed it. Especially the talking dog! Sampson is my favorite from the book! I am looking forward to reading more of this series
December 3, 2012
This review was originally posted on Melissa's Midnight Musings on November 29, 2012.
This is an interesting take on shape shifting. I don't think I've ever read a story where the main character shifted into a cocker spaniel. I have to admit that at first I thought this was really strange. I just couldn't wrap my head around shifting into a dog. I know that werewolves aren't that far of a stretch, but a cocker spaniel was just...different.
I was slightly disappointed that there wasn't more backstory about Calebs' mom, and her leaving them. That's just a personal preference of mine though, I'm always curious about the characters' backgrounds. Even though I was hoping for more of their background, I see now how not explaining it works well to set up the story and leave Caleb wondering about his shifter heritage.
The writing flows easily for the most part. There are a few patches where the wall is broken and instead of speaking in character, as Caleb, the author seems to be speaking directly to the reader. Sometimes this can work, but in this case it breaks the flow slightly.
There are a lot of nice touches in the details, regarding the shifting and Calebs' abilities. When Joanna starts having seizures, Caleb has times when he realizes when they're coming and helps her through them.
The romance between Caleb and Joanna is sweet, and definitely realistic, not insta-love. I thought for a second that there might be a love triangle between Penny, Caleb and Joanna, but thankfully there's not. Though, now that I'm thinking about it would be unusual in some ways because most if not all love triangles I've read lately have involved a girl and two guys, so it would be interesting to see a love triangle from a guys' perspective. That being said, I hope that doesn't happen. Penny and Caleb's relationship is perfect as is: friends/working partners.
Overall the story is good. It's well paced and has just enough detail to leave you guessing. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a unique twist on shifter stories.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
This is an interesting take on shape shifting. I don't think I've ever read a story where the main character shifted into a cocker spaniel. I have to admit that at first I thought this was really strange. I just couldn't wrap my head around shifting into a dog. I know that werewolves aren't that far of a stretch, but a cocker spaniel was just...different.
I was slightly disappointed that there wasn't more backstory about Calebs' mom, and her leaving them. That's just a personal preference of mine though, I'm always curious about the characters' backgrounds. Even though I was hoping for more of their background, I see now how not explaining it works well to set up the story and leave Caleb wondering about his shifter heritage.
The writing flows easily for the most part. There are a few patches where the wall is broken and instead of speaking in character, as Caleb, the author seems to be speaking directly to the reader. Sometimes this can work, but in this case it breaks the flow slightly.
There are a lot of nice touches in the details, regarding the shifting and Calebs' abilities. When Joanna starts having seizures, Caleb has times when he realizes when they're coming and helps her through them.
The romance between Caleb and Joanna is sweet, and definitely realistic, not insta-love. I thought for a second that there might be a love triangle between Penny, Caleb and Joanna, but thankfully there's not. Though, now that I'm thinking about it would be unusual in some ways because most if not all love triangles I've read lately have involved a girl and two guys, so it would be interesting to see a love triangle from a guys' perspective. That being said, I hope that doesn't happen. Penny and Caleb's relationship is perfect as is: friends/working partners.
Overall the story is good. It's well paced and has just enough detail to leave you guessing. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a unique twist on shifter stories.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
January 5, 2013
Caleb is a senior in high school with a pretty normal life, when he wakes up one day as a Cocker Spaniel. He soon learns that it runs in the family; his mother was a carrier, and he is a runt (because he changed years later than normal). He goes to stay with his mom's side of the family in California, so he can become part of the pack and learn the ways of the shifters.
This was a neat spin on the usual shifter mythology. I love shifters, and the idea of there being a hierarchy based on the type of animal you shift into is pretty cool and not something I've seen before.
So I liked the idea, and the main plot line involving a serious of mysterious murders that seem to be the work of a rogue werewolf was pretty interesting. But I did have some issues, which seem easiest to describe in point form:
1. This is kind of minor, but the shifters are real jerks in this book. I found I didn't care for that. Their disdain for humans and thinking they're so superior was a little tiresome.
2. When Caleb calls his (ex-)girlfriend, a high school journalist, to California to help solve the mystery, that just felt like a plot device to get her there to complicate things. First of all, it was weird that a teenager was working on solving a mystery rather than going to the pack leader or just letting someone else deal with it, but calling in a high school journalist because she's good at figuring things out?
3. There are a couple of pages of racism regarding the Romani people. They are called gypsies, described as having magical powers and being the enemies of the shifters, and Caleb says that he didn't think they existed anymore. It was actually hard to read.
So, there were things that bugged me. Overall it was an enjoyable story, though, and I'll probably check out the next book in the series.
3 stars.
Full disclosure: Free ebook copy received from the author.
This review is copied from my blog, The Towering Pile. It was originally published here.
This was a neat spin on the usual shifter mythology. I love shifters, and the idea of there being a hierarchy based on the type of animal you shift into is pretty cool and not something I've seen before.
So I liked the idea, and the main plot line involving a serious of mysterious murders that seem to be the work of a rogue werewolf was pretty interesting. But I did have some issues, which seem easiest to describe in point form:
1. This is kind of minor, but the shifters are real jerks in this book. I found I didn't care for that. Their disdain for humans and thinking they're so superior was a little tiresome.
2. When Caleb calls his (ex-)girlfriend, a high school journalist, to California to help solve the mystery, that just felt like a plot device to get her there to complicate things. First of all, it was weird that a teenager was working on solving a mystery rather than going to the pack leader or just letting someone else deal with it, but calling in a high school journalist because she's good at figuring things out?
3. There are a couple of pages of racism regarding the Romani people. They are called gypsies, described as having magical powers and being the enemies of the shifters, and Caleb says that he didn't think they existed anymore. It was actually hard to read.
So, there were things that bugged me. Overall it was an enjoyable story, though, and I'll probably check out the next book in the series.
3 stars.
Full disclosure: Free ebook copy received from the author.
This review is copied from my blog, The Towering Pile. It was originally published here.
October 9, 2012
I've come to realize that I have a very low tolerance for characters in books -- especially family members -- keeping information of the life-altering variety from our heroes. While part of me understands this from a storytelling point of view, the other part of me gets weirdly ragey and gives everyone the side eye. I did like that both Caleb and his father called his family on the information-hiding. I do understand that they kept the information from him because it was a sacred law that they were forced to uphold. But... not telling someone that they have the potential to turn furry once a month seems vastly irresponsible, especially when the person in question is beginning to show signs that they're on the verge of shifting.
My intense dislike for liars aside, I did enjoy this book. Caleb is struggling to find his place in this suddenly new world he finds himself in. He can't tell the truth of what he is to his girlfriend. His family expects him to simply embrace his animal side even though he's been raised as a human and had no idea that shapeshifters were real until very recently. He's torn between instinct and how he believes he should act as a human and it makes for one very confused young man.
The story itself really picks up once Caleb starts looking into the killings with Penny. Enlisting the aid of Caleb's brainy (now ex-)girlfriend while trying to keep his (and Penny's) abilities secret keeps everybody hopping. I liked the mysteries that were uncovered about various members of the shifter community and what that could mean for the future.
I did enjoy the book overall, I was just gritting my teeth over his family keeping a fundamental part of what he could be a secret. It does make sense in the context of the story, it's just something that tends to bug me to no end when it crops up. I have issues, I guess. Still, enjoyable and a nicely different take on your usual type of shifter.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
My intense dislike for liars aside, I did enjoy this book. Caleb is struggling to find his place in this suddenly new world he finds himself in. He can't tell the truth of what he is to his girlfriend. His family expects him to simply embrace his animal side even though he's been raised as a human and had no idea that shapeshifters were real until very recently. He's torn between instinct and how he believes he should act as a human and it makes for one very confused young man.
The story itself really picks up once Caleb starts looking into the killings with Penny. Enlisting the aid of Caleb's brainy (now ex-)girlfriend while trying to keep his (and Penny's) abilities secret keeps everybody hopping. I liked the mysteries that were uncovered about various members of the shifter community and what that could mean for the future.
I did enjoy the book overall, I was just gritting my teeth over his family keeping a fundamental part of what he could be a secret. It does make sense in the context of the story, it's just something that tends to bug me to no end when it crops up. I have issues, I guess. Still, enjoyable and a nicely different take on your usual type of shifter.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
November 8, 2012
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to J. Bridger.)
Caleb thinks that the most he has to worry about is tuition, and leaving his dad on his own when he gets an early admissions letter to Duke University to study engineering. That’s until he wakes up naked in the basement one morning.
No knowing what’s going on, he thinks he must have started sleep-walking, but nothing prepares him for the morning he wakes up to find that he isn’t himself at all – in fact he has paws and fur, and can understand everything his pet dog is saying!
Unfortunately for Caleb, he’s turned into a cocker spaniel, one of the least magical and ferocious things he can think of to turn into.
Hiding it from his dad isn’t an option, and the second time it happens he has to confess. Luckily his dad is happy to help him, although his dreams of Duke are over – how could he possibly hide this from a roommate?
More surprises are in store when it seems that Caleb isn’t the only member of his family who’s able to do this, and he suddenly finds himself in a ‘pack’ situation in LA where his mother’s estranged family live.
This was an interesting little book with a fairly unique idea that I hadn’t really heard of before. I loved that Caleb shifted into something less than spectacular, although he did unfortunately have to put up with some more standard ‘pack’ rules once he got to LA.
I thought that the number of shifters Caleb’s family claimed to exist was a pretty sizeable number, and was a little unsure as to how such a large number of shifters could remain under the radar, but they seemed to manage fairly well.
I felt really sorry for Caleb at times. He hadn’t exactly had a normal upbringing due to his mother’s absence, and it seemed really unfair that not only was he unable to take his place at Duke, but he was also unable to tell the girl that he loved exactly what was going on either.
Overall; a different kind of YA shifter novel!
6.5 out of 10.
Caleb thinks that the most he has to worry about is tuition, and leaving his dad on his own when he gets an early admissions letter to Duke University to study engineering. That’s until he wakes up naked in the basement one morning.
No knowing what’s going on, he thinks he must have started sleep-walking, but nothing prepares him for the morning he wakes up to find that he isn’t himself at all – in fact he has paws and fur, and can understand everything his pet dog is saying!
Unfortunately for Caleb, he’s turned into a cocker spaniel, one of the least magical and ferocious things he can think of to turn into.
Hiding it from his dad isn’t an option, and the second time it happens he has to confess. Luckily his dad is happy to help him, although his dreams of Duke are over – how could he possibly hide this from a roommate?
More surprises are in store when it seems that Caleb isn’t the only member of his family who’s able to do this, and he suddenly finds himself in a ‘pack’ situation in LA where his mother’s estranged family live.
This was an interesting little book with a fairly unique idea that I hadn’t really heard of before. I loved that Caleb shifted into something less than spectacular, although he did unfortunately have to put up with some more standard ‘pack’ rules once he got to LA.
I thought that the number of shifters Caleb’s family claimed to exist was a pretty sizeable number, and was a little unsure as to how such a large number of shifters could remain under the radar, but they seemed to manage fairly well.
I felt really sorry for Caleb at times. He hadn’t exactly had a normal upbringing due to his mother’s absence, and it seemed really unfair that not only was he unable to take his place at Duke, but he was also unable to tell the girl that he loved exactly what was going on either.
Overall; a different kind of YA shifter novel!
6.5 out of 10.
September 20, 2012
Shifted Perspective by J. Bridger was a very entertaining debut novel. I was asked by this author for an honest review and when I read the book description I thought it was interesting.
Caleb is a young man who wakes up one morning to discover that he is in dog form. It appears he is from a shifter family and apparently can shift into a dog. Caleb’s mother left him and his father six years ago and never bothers to tell them that she is from a canine shifter family. Because Caleb never showed any signs that he inherited the gene, his aunt and uncle never prepared him. Luckily for Caleb his father is a fabulous man who will do anything for his son and support him in every way he can.
Caleb and his father go to Los Angeles to visit Caleb’s shifter family, where he can learn to control his shifting and learn more about the shifter society. They both face the pack alpha, which happens to be a big bad wolf and if they don’t follow the shifter rules, there will be consequences.
J. Bridger has written a great debut novel, with lots of humor, great characters and a little mystery crime to solve. I found myself turning page after page so I could read what Caleb was doing next. I loved Caleb’s interaction with his own dog, it appears he can communicate with him after his first shift and I have to say there were funny moments. I’m curious to see how this story will continue in the second book of this series.
Caleb is a young man who wakes up one morning to discover that he is in dog form. It appears he is from a shifter family and apparently can shift into a dog. Caleb’s mother left him and his father six years ago and never bothers to tell them that she is from a canine shifter family. Because Caleb never showed any signs that he inherited the gene, his aunt and uncle never prepared him. Luckily for Caleb his father is a fabulous man who will do anything for his son and support him in every way he can.
Caleb and his father go to Los Angeles to visit Caleb’s shifter family, where he can learn to control his shifting and learn more about the shifter society. They both face the pack alpha, which happens to be a big bad wolf and if they don’t follow the shifter rules, there will be consequences.
J. Bridger has written a great debut novel, with lots of humor, great characters and a little mystery crime to solve. I found myself turning page after page so I could read what Caleb was doing next. I loved Caleb’s interaction with his own dog, it appears he can communicate with him after his first shift and I have to say there were funny moments. I’m curious to see how this story will continue in the second book of this series.
September 24, 2012
I like the idea of this read, I have never heard of a plot similar to this one before and it intrigued me right from the get go. The first thing that comes to your mind when you think of a shifter is something bad-ass like a werewolf, not so much a cute and cuddly dog. It was neat when Samson the family dog started communicating with Caleb, he had a bit of a sense of humour that dog as well, it added a fun element to the story.
I didn’t particularly care much for a few of the female characters, I didn’t like Joanna or Penny especially, I found them both quite irritating and self-serving. I am interested to know if Caleb will ever get to find his mother and get some more answers, and maybe he will find a girl along the way that isn’t Joanna or Penny who will support him and help him find himself. I feel a tad bad for Peter, even though he is a real jerk, with all he has had to put up with from his family you can understand his harsh behaviour.
Althea turned out to be a surprise, she may be nuts but she sure is crafty. I sense a lot of trouble ahead of Caleb. I think as a starting off point this wasn't a bad read, it didn't enthral me however but I can see that as this series continues, which I hope it does, it has a lot of potential. If you like a read that is on the quirky side, or are looking for something different to read, then you might want to give this book a try.
*Submitted for review by author*
I didn’t particularly care much for a few of the female characters, I didn’t like Joanna or Penny especially, I found them both quite irritating and self-serving. I am interested to know if Caleb will ever get to find his mother and get some more answers, and maybe he will find a girl along the way that isn’t Joanna or Penny who will support him and help him find himself. I feel a tad bad for Peter, even though he is a real jerk, with all he has had to put up with from his family you can understand his harsh behaviour.
Althea turned out to be a surprise, she may be nuts but she sure is crafty. I sense a lot of trouble ahead of Caleb. I think as a starting off point this wasn't a bad read, it didn't enthral me however but I can see that as this series continues, which I hope it does, it has a lot of potential. If you like a read that is on the quirky side, or are looking for something different to read, then you might want to give this book a try.
*Submitted for review by author*
November 7, 2012
Shifted Perspective is a clean and entertaining tale that will take the reader to a place with shape shifters that are not of the normal kind and many ways to get in trouble. It is a good story, well thought-out, a must for readers of any age. This read is a paranormal story full of werewolves, witches and dogs.
Caleb is a normal young adult who has just started his senior year in high school. That is until he starts to wake up naked in his house and can’t remember how he got there or why.
For Christmas, his mother’s sister invites him and his father to spend it with them in California. The families are somewhat close, especially after his mother up and left one day without a note. The timing is great since Caleb was accepted at the University he wants and that means he needs a lot of money.
His uncle and aunt are a bit eccentric, but they have all the money they want, while Caleb’s father owns a modest little store that survives due to tourism in the summer. His need for money means he will put up with all the weirdness his uncle’s family can ditch out. He just doesn’t know if he will be alive to enjoy the University afterwards.
Shifted Perspective takes a new approach to shape shifting stories that works wonderfully in this tale. I enjoyed the story plot and look forward to the next on the series. It does need some editing to flush out some redundant phrases and move the story faster. It is a great read for pre-teens to adults.
Caleb is a normal young adult who has just started his senior year in high school. That is until he starts to wake up naked in his house and can’t remember how he got there or why.
For Christmas, his mother’s sister invites him and his father to spend it with them in California. The families are somewhat close, especially after his mother up and left one day without a note. The timing is great since Caleb was accepted at the University he wants and that means he needs a lot of money.
His uncle and aunt are a bit eccentric, but they have all the money they want, while Caleb’s father owns a modest little store that survives due to tourism in the summer. His need for money means he will put up with all the weirdness his uncle’s family can ditch out. He just doesn’t know if he will be alive to enjoy the University afterwards.
Shifted Perspective takes a new approach to shape shifting stories that works wonderfully in this tale. I enjoyed the story plot and look forward to the next on the series. It does need some editing to flush out some redundant phrases and move the story faster. It is a great read for pre-teens to adults.
December 6, 2012
I was first attracted to this story because, unlike most fantasies in which people can change into animals, this one is told from the perspective of someone who is not the top dog -- literally. Caleb is a late bloomer who only discovers his shifting ability in his last year of high school. Such a special power doesn't thrill him because he doesn't turn into a cool werewolf or a panther or an eagle or something fierce, but a Cocker Spaniel. It turns out that his shifter relatives also look down on him. Caleb has to undergo initiations, say goodbye to his purely human friends and even his human dad, and come to terms with his life being nothing like he planned when a series of murders means he must risk everything -- even his life.
The story comes in three parts: the discovery, the initiation, and the murder mystery. I felt the structure was a little odd, but by the end I realized it was necessary in order to set up the other books to come in the series. The resolution of the mystery turns out to be an interesting story about pushing the boundaries of what's allowed for these powerful shifters in the human world.
If you love dogs, this is the series for you. The culture of the shifters, with its ranks and its initiation methods, is based on the reality of dog dynamics. Caleb doesn't fit in to the brutality of a system dreamed up by werewolves, and even the most sensitive female readers will sympathize with such a sweet, earnest boy.
The story comes in three parts: the discovery, the initiation, and the murder mystery. I felt the structure was a little odd, but by the end I realized it was necessary in order to set up the other books to come in the series. The resolution of the mystery turns out to be an interesting story about pushing the boundaries of what's allowed for these powerful shifters in the human world.
If you love dogs, this is the series for you. The culture of the shifters, with its ranks and its initiation methods, is based on the reality of dog dynamics. Caleb doesn't fit in to the brutality of a system dreamed up by werewolves, and even the most sensitive female readers will sympathize with such a sweet, earnest boy.
October 11, 2012
Shifted Perspective by J. Bridger is about a werewolf, but he's really only a were-spaniel. When Caleb suddenly turns into a Cocker Spaniel once a month, he and his father don't know what to do. Until they find out that his mother's side of the family all do it too.
The characterization in this book was wonderful. From the very beginning I loved everyone. They are all very authentic and complex. The beginning has this great little twist, and as the story progresses it just moves in ways that aren't normal but flowed well. The very ending was particularly good as it wasn't open, all the loose ties were neatly knotted, but a new idea was introduced and draws the reader in, ready for the next installment.
The theme of the book plays out well. Every mention of something dog like made the story that much more: Caleb wraps a present for his girlfriend in Peanuts paper; his cousin Kalista 'wolfed down' so much food; the family dog calls the telephone a talking box. The humor is engaging and fun without being condescending or stupid.
There was a bit too much setup, the real story didn't start until almost three quarters in. But it was never boring and was a great take on the typical werewolf tale.
I received this book from the author for review.
The characterization in this book was wonderful. From the very beginning I loved everyone. They are all very authentic and complex. The beginning has this great little twist, and as the story progresses it just moves in ways that aren't normal but flowed well. The very ending was particularly good as it wasn't open, all the loose ties were neatly knotted, but a new idea was introduced and draws the reader in, ready for the next installment.
The theme of the book plays out well. Every mention of something dog like made the story that much more: Caleb wraps a present for his girlfriend in Peanuts paper; his cousin Kalista 'wolfed down' so much food; the family dog calls the telephone a talking box. The humor is engaging and fun without being condescending or stupid.
There was a bit too much setup, the real story didn't start until almost three quarters in. But it was never boring and was a great take on the typical werewolf tale.
I received this book from the author for review.
November 25, 2012
I’m going to let you in on a little secret:
This book is so not me: No sex, little violence, like 3 cuss words, high cuteness factor. And I LOVED every minute of it.
But I am not going to beat myself up over that. No, instead I am going to tell you all why J. Bridger is now on my watch list. If she is this good a writer now, imagine what she can do in the next few years.
This book was a fast-paced, fun read full of humor and wit. I read it in three nights, the last night reading over half the book. I simply didn’t want to put my ‘little cocker’ book down. My man was amused. I simply found it fascinating to watch Caleb deal with this ridiculous situation; what would you do if you found out Senior year you were a shape shifter and that the shape you’re stuck with is a cocker spaniel? I loved how Caleb had to muddle through much of it on his own (that’s what coming of age is) but he still had the support of some caring adults and contemporary friends. Throw in the tension of relationship problems and male dominance pissing contests, and you have some real life scenarios that readers can relate to.
This book is so not me: No sex, little violence, like 3 cuss words, high cuteness factor. And I LOVED every minute of it.
But I am not going to beat myself up over that. No, instead I am going to tell you all why J. Bridger is now on my watch list. If she is this good a writer now, imagine what she can do in the next few years.
This book was a fast-paced, fun read full of humor and wit. I read it in three nights, the last night reading over half the book. I simply didn’t want to put my ‘little cocker’ book down. My man was amused. I simply found it fascinating to watch Caleb deal with this ridiculous situation; what would you do if you found out Senior year you were a shape shifter and that the shape you’re stuck with is a cocker spaniel? I loved how Caleb had to muddle through much of it on his own (that’s what coming of age is) but he still had the support of some caring adults and contemporary friends. Throw in the tension of relationship problems and male dominance pissing contests, and you have some real life scenarios that readers can relate to.
September 15, 2012
Shifters Perspective is what the title says. It is a story of a newly late shifted shifter who shifts into a cute little curry Cocker Spaniel. Caleb is 18 and is considered a runt to his shifters family because he shifted late. It is a fictional book that basically speaks about Were-dogs and how Caleb deals with his new life as a shifter.
When I first saw read the synopsis of this book, I didn't know what to expect. It was different and to be honest I kind of giggled when read it, because I didn't really know what to think about a were-dog or shifters.
I personally found Shifters Perspective to be an average book about a boy who discovers that he is more than a normal human. I didn't get overly excited nor overly disappointed. It was an easy read plut it being interesting made it much more of an easy read.
Shifters Perspective is an easy read that will keep you curious of what's going to happen next. I recommend this to those YA readers out there and to those who love reading about crime and mysteries.
When I first saw read the synopsis of this book, I didn't know what to expect. It was different and to be honest I kind of giggled when read it, because I didn't really know what to think about a were-dog or shifters.
I personally found Shifters Perspective to be an average book about a boy who discovers that he is more than a normal human. I didn't get overly excited nor overly disappointed. It was an easy read plut it being interesting made it much more of an easy read.
Shifters Perspective is an easy read that will keep you curious of what's going to happen next. I recommend this to those YA readers out there and to those who love reading about crime and mysteries.
October 4, 2012
This book was just not my cup of tea and it fell flat for me. The reason that I accepted this review request was because I read the blurb and thought it was interesting and different to what i´m usually reading. Sometimes everyone needs something new. This review is really hard for me to write since I feel so bad about giving this book such a bad rating, but I always give my honest opinion so here it goes.
The charachters overall was good and the story was well written and it was kind of funny with this whole changing into a cocker spaniel thing but other than that it was kind of boring. I read over half of the book but then my interest really faded and it could go like three days without me reading.
Then I thought, why am I not reading? I love to read! And I usually have a book up my nose every free second of the day if the book appeals to me. Which this one apparently did not.
A kind of plain book, so if you are like me who needs a lot of action and happenings in the story this is not for you.
The charachters overall was good and the story was well written and it was kind of funny with this whole changing into a cocker spaniel thing but other than that it was kind of boring. I read over half of the book but then my interest really faded and it could go like three days without me reading.
Then I thought, why am I not reading? I love to read! And I usually have a book up my nose every free second of the day if the book appeals to me. Which this one apparently did not.
A kind of plain book, so if you are like me who needs a lot of action and happenings in the story this is not for you.
December 7, 2012
I enjoyed this book. It is fun, different, and interesting. It is well written and has some great twists and turns. I really liked the characters, especially Caleb, his dad, Joanna, and Penny. I thought it was rediculous that Caleb couldn't tell Joanna, and I hope he will in the next book. There is a big surprise at the end that makes you want to scream and then pick up the next book. There is some language and violence in this book, along with some innuendos, that make it inappropriate for young readers. I would recommend it for ages 14 and up. You may read my full review on my book review blog: www.the-readathon.blogspot.com.
December 11, 2012
A good paranornmal fantasy for young adults (and not so young adults) with a touch of mystery thrown in. Not too gory or violent, which I liked. I really liked the protagonist Caleb as well, I think the author nailed a teenager going through "changes" really well. I enjoyed reading it.
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