What do you think?
Rate this book
Shifting Paths #2
Only Human
For over one hundred years, Leif Villers changed very little. The past three years have been a whirlwind.
Married to his beloved selkie wife Gemma MacLugh is a dream come true. Having one child together and with another one on the way only enhances that dream-made reality. He's back in his apple orchard, tending his trees just like he used to during the Frost Boarding House years.
But Gemma fears he's falling back into reclusive habits, and arranges a getaway vacation at the Japanese shifter school, Mirāju. The school's director, kitsune Keiko Suzuki and her husband Ren are excited to have Leif and Gemma as guests, hoping that Leif will be open to addressing the school's student body in an assembly.
Almost immediately upon their arrival at the flying school, an attack on a student occurs. The school goes on lockdown, and Leif finds himself trapped in the middle of a mystery involving a creature known as the Naga Psycho.
Stuck in an unfamiliar place and separated from Gemma, Leif is forced to face the powerful threat sweeping through the school, all without his lost vampire abilities. Success isn't guaranteed as he discovers what it means to be only human in a dangerous, supernatural world.
Married to his beloved selkie wife Gemma MacLugh is a dream come true. Having one child together and with another one on the way only enhances that dream-made reality. He's back in his apple orchard, tending his trees just like he used to during the Frost Boarding House years.
But Gemma fears he's falling back into reclusive habits, and arranges a getaway vacation at the Japanese shifter school, Mirāju. The school's director, kitsune Keiko Suzuki and her husband Ren are excited to have Leif and Gemma as guests, hoping that Leif will be open to addressing the school's student body in an assembly.
Almost immediately upon their arrival at the flying school, an attack on a student occurs. The school goes on lockdown, and Leif finds himself trapped in the middle of a mystery involving a creature known as the Naga Psycho.
Stuck in an unfamiliar place and separated from Gemma, Leif is forced to face the powerful threat sweeping through the school, all without his lost vampire abilities. Success isn't guaranteed as he discovers what it means to be only human in a dangerous, supernatural world.
366 pages, Paperback
Published November 5, 2024
1 person want to read
About the author
Jesse B. Booth
26 books46 followersJesse Booth is a USA Today Bestselling Author. He works as an IT Professional. He grew up along the Wasatch Front, but lived a couple of years in Washington State.
Jesse's parents helped him harness a love for books at a very young age. He started writing for fun in the second grade. His very first piece was a continuation of the Soup series by Robert Newton Peck. Fully illustrated by Jesse, it was called Soup on Water.
Jesse's older brother introduced him to Redwall by Brian Jacques, and the series set the foundation for Jesse's love for the Fantasy genre. Jesse then delved into Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain.
Since then, Jesse has become an avid fan of JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and Orson Scott Card's Ender and Shadow series'. Most recently, Jesse's discovered a new favorite author: Brandon Sanderson.
Jesse has written twenty novels, as well as many short stories and poems.
Also a musician, Jesse plays the piano, guitar, and alto saxophone. He writes music on a contractual basis.
Jesse's parents helped him harness a love for books at a very young age. He started writing for fun in the second grade. His very first piece was a continuation of the Soup series by Robert Newton Peck. Fully illustrated by Jesse, it was called Soup on Water.
Jesse's older brother introduced him to Redwall by Brian Jacques, and the series set the foundation for Jesse's love for the Fantasy genre. Jesse then delved into Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain.
Since then, Jesse has become an avid fan of JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and Orson Scott Card's Ender and Shadow series'. Most recently, Jesse's discovered a new favorite author: Brandon Sanderson.
Jesse has written twenty novels, as well as many short stories and poems.
Also a musician, Jesse plays the piano, guitar, and alto saxophone. He writes music on a contractual basis.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
Read
November 23, 2025This book took me over a year to complete! There were struggles in the beginning, mostly because I started writing it from Ren Suzuki's perspective. The dark tone of the book didn't fit with his lighthearted nature, so I archived those chapters and started over from the perspective of Leif Villers. It worked so much better, and I'm so happy with how it all turned out!
Did you know Leif's overall story arc is told over the span of 11 books? Only Human can certainly be read as a standalone, but if you want the full experience, here's my suggested reading guide:
1. The Frost Boarding House Trilogy (written by Joanna Reeder)
2. Outcast (by me!)
3. The Siren Prophecy Trilogy (cowritten with Shifter Academy authors)
4. The Reclaim Trilogy (cowritten with Joanna Reeder)
5. Only Human (by me!)
Did you know Leif's overall story arc is told over the span of 11 books? Only Human can certainly be read as a standalone, but if you want the full experience, here's my suggested reading guide:
1. The Frost Boarding House Trilogy (written by Joanna Reeder)
2. Outcast (by me!)
3. The Siren Prophecy Trilogy (cowritten with Shifter Academy authors)
4. The Reclaim Trilogy (cowritten with Joanna Reeder)
5. Only Human (by me!)
Displaying 1 of 1 review