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Shifters
Differences are what made them outcasts, but it's those differences that also bring two outcasts together. Farel is released from a ten-year prison sentence and left to find his own way in a human-dominated world, a world that only sees shifters as criminals. So he heads to Nos Bathan, a name given to the White Forest by his people centuries before humans arrived. Now it is the largest city in the country, and the only place a shifter can go to disappear.
These days Sunny mostly avoids people, not only because of her natural introversion but because she's learned that people are not kind to women like her, women born in bodies the world does not accept. With a disappointed father and few friends, Sunny retreats into her beloved books, losing herself in fantasy worlds where nothing is complicated. Her own adventure starts when she comes upon a homeless shifter named Farel, who has more secrets than words. They come from two completely separate worlds, yet together they learn that while bodies change, souls remain the same.
Includes: "Werewolves" (shifters), MtF transgender character, bigotry, violence, sexual misunderstandings, characters of color (Sunny is Asian, Farel could be considered generically indigenous) and lots and lots of angst
Does not Include: Alpha/beta/omega/faux pack dynamics. In case you're like me and don't read werewolf stories because of those, here's one in which they don't really apply. Heats come into play, but I've attempted to make them as realistic as possible.
These days Sunny mostly avoids people, not only because of her natural introversion but because she's learned that people are not kind to women like her, women born in bodies the world does not accept. With a disappointed father and few friends, Sunny retreats into her beloved books, losing herself in fantasy worlds where nothing is complicated. Her own adventure starts when she comes upon a homeless shifter named Farel, who has more secrets than words. They come from two completely separate worlds, yet together they learn that while bodies change, souls remain the same.
Includes: "Werewolves" (shifters), MtF transgender character, bigotry, violence, sexual misunderstandings, characters of color (Sunny is Asian, Farel could be considered generically indigenous) and lots and lots of angst
Does not Include: Alpha/beta/omega/faux pack dynamics. In case you're like me and don't read werewolf stories because of those, here's one in which they don't really apply. Heats come into play, but I've attempted to make them as realistic as possible.
ebook
First published November 20, 2013
3 people want to read
About the author
Wanda Walker
19 books9 followersWebcomic artist primarily employed as a curmudgeon who yells at clouds, but also an artist, writer, equestrian, and recluse. Focuses primarily on LGBTQ stuff
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 10, 2018
I read this because I was in the mood for something werewolf-y without a/b/o-faux-pack dynamics, which is exactly what Shifters was advertized as. The shifter culture was still weird (as in, different from human) but it definitely did deliver.
From the other books I read by this author I knew this probably wouldn't be a feel-good-happy book, and I was right.
It's bleak at times, like damn.
After 10 years in prison, Farel, a shifter, is finally free. With no family, no money, no education or skills to speak of an a government that counts on him going back to prison soon so they can exploit him for cheapt labour again, he decides to head north to Nos Bathan, the biggest city in the country. He's not looking forward to city-life, but the great mass of shifters and humans there will give him anonymity and, more importantly, there's money to be made by tough ex-con shifters like him in illegal fight clubs.
Sunny's life isn't much brighter. She works in her father's restaurant, and while he might have crossed her out of his inheritance after she came out as transgender, he at least didn't freak out and leave like her mom. She has few friends and her natural introversion and struggle to fit her gender identity with how she looks and how people perceive her keep her from making more.
Through circumstances and compassion on Sunny's side, she and Farel meet and slowly become closer.
Veeeery slowly become closer. Farel has no concept of what it means to be transgender, and Sunny has never been around Shifters before and knows nothing about them. They both make mistakes - a lot of mistakes. Farel misgenders Sunny, and Sunny uses slurs for Farel, but slowly they learn about the other. Through each other they grow past what they used to be and there is tons of character development.
What there also is tons of is bigotry. Sunny faces transphobia in her daily life both from strangers and people close to her, while Farel has to deal with the constitutional racism and racial prejudices against Shifters in a Human-led world. All of this is texually challenged and not just taken as it is, though the direct reactions vary from situation to situation.
It's infuriating and heartbreaking - but there are also heart-warming and gentle moments.
Like Maura and Tima, Sunny's neighbours and a lesbian Shifter couple. They quickly befriend Sunny and not only offer to help with Farel (be it protection -they are wary of him- or advice), but also in form of a steady support network: Maura has a big circle of queer friends and provides not only resources for things like possible transition or access to hormones, but also introduces her to friends who are a guaranteed safe space.
I also really liked the romantic relationship between Sunny and Farel that only starts late in the book, naturally, given the rocky start of their friendship. But once they get there.... man, they are the best. And SO CUTE. Not everything goes smoothly, of course, but it made them feel real and like they are truly working through their differences rather than making compromises they would both be unhappy with.
I want to talk a little bit about Shifter culture. The roles it assigns are pretty similar to human gender roles - the significant differences here is how they value these roles. Family and children take the upmost priority, making the role of a mother much more important and valued than basically anything else, and making Shifters an almost matriarchal society. One line specifically stuck with me: "A male [shifter] fights for sex. Female [Shifters] fight for their children and the ones they love. One means far more than the other."
This refers to the fact that female shifters go into heat and sometimes male shifters will fight over the priviledge of who gets to be with her. The decision ultimately lies with the female shifter though. Another aspect of heat is that they are generally the only times female shifters are interested in sex, and they can only get pregnant during these times. Given how valued children are, it is generally assumed that female shifters will want and have sex during their heats which is why male shifters seek them out when they smell one. Shifters marry but often are non-monogamous - a child's biological father is irrelevant, they will always be raised by the mother and possibly her partner.
Calling the Shifters here Werewolves would not only be inaccurate but they would also consider it a slur. For one, they dislike being compared to animals, and for another they do not shift into wolves. Their true form (as opposed to the humanoid cloaked form that leaves them tall, very heavy, hairy and with black and orange/yellow eyes and pointed ears) is a massive mix of bear, gorilla, wolf and horse attributes. They are also always conscious and in full control in their true forms.
I recommend checking out the author's tag for Shifters as it contains awesome art of the characters and more world-building information!
Talking about world-building: the setting is a fictional country reminiscent of North America in the 80s/90s. The history and relationship between Humans and Shifters is equally similar to those of Natives and colonialists with all the murder and continued oppression. There are special detainment centers for Shifters where their strength is exploited in what is basically slave work and there are few resources for convicts to get out of the toxic cycle of the prison systems. Just shifting into their true form is illegal.
Overall I enjoyed the book a lot, despite all the heavy topics and how bleak it often was. The ending was good and hopeful, and while not all threads were closed to my personal satisfaction (some felt rather forgotten) I do consider it a happy ending.
The book is free to read on Fictionpress.
Content warnings include violence, transphobia, (gender) dysphoria, racism, overall bigotry, (sexual) assault, abduction and repeatedly being drugged against one's will.
From the other books I read by this author I knew this probably wouldn't be a feel-good-happy book, and I was right.
It's bleak at times, like damn.
After 10 years in prison, Farel, a shifter, is finally free. With no family, no money, no education or skills to speak of an a government that counts on him going back to prison soon so they can exploit him for cheapt labour again, he decides to head north to Nos Bathan, the biggest city in the country. He's not looking forward to city-life, but the great mass of shifters and humans there will give him anonymity and, more importantly, there's money to be made by tough ex-con shifters like him in illegal fight clubs.
Sunny's life isn't much brighter. She works in her father's restaurant, and while he might have crossed her out of his inheritance after she came out as transgender, he at least didn't freak out and leave like her mom. She has few friends and her natural introversion and struggle to fit her gender identity with how she looks and how people perceive her keep her from making more.
Through circumstances and compassion on Sunny's side, she and Farel meet and slowly become closer.
Veeeery slowly become closer. Farel has no concept of what it means to be transgender, and Sunny has never been around Shifters before and knows nothing about them. They both make mistakes - a lot of mistakes. Farel misgenders Sunny, and Sunny uses slurs for Farel, but slowly they learn about the other. Through each other they grow past what they used to be and there is tons of character development.
What there also is tons of is bigotry. Sunny faces transphobia in her daily life both from strangers and people close to her, while Farel has to deal with the constitutional racism and racial prejudices against Shifters in a Human-led world. All of this is texually challenged and not just taken as it is, though the direct reactions vary from situation to situation.
It's infuriating and heartbreaking - but there are also heart-warming and gentle moments.
Like Maura and Tima, Sunny's neighbours and a lesbian Shifter couple. They quickly befriend Sunny and not only offer to help with Farel (be it protection -they are wary of him- or advice), but also in form of a steady support network: Maura has a big circle of queer friends and provides not only resources for things like possible transition or access to hormones, but also introduces her to friends who are a guaranteed safe space.
I also really liked the romantic relationship between Sunny and Farel that only starts late in the book, naturally, given the rocky start of their friendship. But once they get there.... man, they are the best. And SO CUTE. Not everything goes smoothly, of course, but it made them feel real and like they are truly working through their differences rather than making compromises they would both be unhappy with.
I want to talk a little bit about Shifter culture. The roles it assigns are pretty similar to human gender roles - the significant differences here is how they value these roles. Family and children take the upmost priority, making the role of a mother much more important and valued than basically anything else, and making Shifters an almost matriarchal society. One line specifically stuck with me: "A male [shifter] fights for sex. Female [Shifters] fight for their children and the ones they love. One means far more than the other."
This refers to the fact that female shifters go into heat and sometimes male shifters will fight over the priviledge of who gets to be with her. The decision ultimately lies with the female shifter though. Another aspect of heat is that they are generally the only times female shifters are interested in sex, and they can only get pregnant during these times. Given how valued children are, it is generally assumed that female shifters will want and have sex during their heats which is why male shifters seek them out when they smell one. Shifters marry but often are non-monogamous - a child's biological father is irrelevant, they will always be raised by the mother and possibly her partner.
Calling the Shifters here Werewolves would not only be inaccurate but they would also consider it a slur. For one, they dislike being compared to animals, and for another they do not shift into wolves. Their true form (as opposed to the humanoid cloaked form that leaves them tall, very heavy, hairy and with black and orange/yellow eyes and pointed ears) is a massive mix of bear, gorilla, wolf and horse attributes. They are also always conscious and in full control in their true forms.
I recommend checking out the author's tag for Shifters as it contains awesome art of the characters and more world-building information!
Talking about world-building: the setting is a fictional country reminiscent of North America in the 80s/90s. The history and relationship between Humans and Shifters is equally similar to those of Natives and colonialists with all the murder and continued oppression. There are special detainment centers for Shifters where their strength is exploited in what is basically slave work and there are few resources for convicts to get out of the toxic cycle of the prison systems. Just shifting into their true form is illegal.
Overall I enjoyed the book a lot, despite all the heavy topics and how bleak it often was. The ending was good and hopeful, and while not all threads were closed to my personal satisfaction (some felt rather forgotten) I do consider it a happy ending.
The book is free to read on Fictionpress.
Content warnings include violence, transphobia, (gender) dysphoria, racism, overall bigotry, (sexual) assault, abduction and repeatedly being drugged against one's will.
December 30, 2016
I loved the world this took place in. Sunny and Farel were an amazing couple and I loved everything about them also.
Such a great read that had all the pieces put together so well. thank you to the author for sharing, and writing it!
Such a great read that had all the pieces put together so well. thank you to the author for sharing, and writing it!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews